Joint pain relief

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Sports-related activities, as well as falls and other trauma, can injure the cartilage within a joint and, if it is not provided sufficient time to heal, chronic pain and persistent disability can follow. These activities and incidents may increase the risk of osteoarthritis, especially if there's impact involved or there's the risk of injury to ligaments. Additionally, damage to the bone surface can start a biological process that results in joint degeneration. This, in turn, often leads to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

Arthritis is often a chronic disease meaning it can affect the person afflicted over a long period of time. It cannot be cured, but it can be treated through a variety of methods and products. Learning how to manage your joint pain over the long term is an important factor in controlling the disease and maintaining a good quality of life. This is a brief overview of some of the methods that arthritis sufferers can use to alleviate many of the symptoms associated with arthritis, especially joint pain. Products, both prescription and over-the-counter, for of relieving arthritic joint pain are described in Joint Pain Products.

Heat and cold

Heat and/or cold therapy is not recommended to alleviate symptoms associated with all types of arthritis and as such, the decision whether to use it or not should be discussed with your doctor or physical therapist. If your care provider determines that the use of heat and/or cold is appropriate for use on your arthritis pain, it must be determined which kind of temperature treatment should be used. Moist heat, such as a warm bath or shower, or dry heat, such as a heating pad, placed on affected joint for about 15 minutes may relieve the pain. An ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel and placed on the sore area for about 15 minutes may help to reduce swelling and stop the pain. If you have poor circulation, do not use cold packs.

Joint protection

In order to relieve the stress of everyday activity on an afflicted joint, which can exacerbate the condition and may lead to additional injury, a splint or brace can be used to allow joints to rest and keep them from being used. As with many other treatments, a medical care provider such as a physician or physical therapist can make recommendations and possibly provide you with the brace.

Massage

Massage is associated with temporarily relieving joint pain, one of the major symptoms associated with arthritis, rather than treating the underlying cause of a loss of cartilage. A massage therapist will typically lightly stroke and/or knead the muscles around the joint, which increases blood flow to the stressed area. It is important to realize that arthritic joints are very sensitive, so the massage therapist must be familiar with the disease and problems associated with the affected joints.

Exercise

Low-impact exercises such as stretching exercises, swimming, walking, low-impact aerobics, and range-of-motion exercises may reduce joint pain and stiffness while increasing joint mobility. A physical therapist or gym trainer can help plan an exercise program that will give you the most benefit with the least stress on the arthritis-stressed joints.

Weight Reduction

In addition to alleviating some symptoms, the weight loss associated with an exercise program is beneficial in relieving the extra stress that extra pounds put on weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees. Studies have shown that overweight women who lost approximately 10 pounds substantially reduced the development of osteoarthritis in their knees. In addition, these studies suggested that if osteoarthritis has already affected one joint such as the knee or hip, weight reduction would reduce the chance of it occurring in the other knee or hip. A physical therapist or gym trainer can help plan an exercise program that will give you the most benefit with the least stress on the arthritis-stressed joints.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation uses a small device that is placed near the joint afflicted with arthritis and directs mild electric pulses to nerve endings in and around the arthritic joint. It is theorized that TENS blocks the pain messages sent to the brain from the nerves and modifies the body's perception of pain. Although TENS relieves some joint pain associated with arthritis, it doesn't offset the joint inflammation that is associated with arthritis.

Surgery

In some extreme cases of persons with arthritis, surgery may be necessary. The surgeon may perform an operation to remove the synovium, realign the joint, or in extreme cases, replace the damaged joint with an artificial one. Total joint replacement provides not only dramatic pain relief but also significant improvement in joint motion and mobility for many people with arthritis.

Carpal tunnel syndrome a pinching pain for your wrists

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is a very common problem affecting your hands and wrists. Many believe that computers are a major cause for such kind of a problem. But Before this problem was already in existence due to the kind of work we used to do. Computers do add to the risk of the syndrome but, is not termed as a main culprit. There are other reasons for suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome such like knitting, wood carving, minute work or detailed work, excessive use of vibrating machines and driving for a long time.

Carpal tunnel lies in the wrist and the very important nerve called the median nerve is also present there. This nerve helps in controlling some of the muscles which help in movement of the thumb. Problem occurs when too much pressure is applied on the median nerve. This pressure leads to the swelling of the tendons which squeezes the carpal tunnel leading to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Anyone can be affected by this syndrome. Age is not a barrier. It is being noted that women are affected more by this syndrome, in comparison to men. The worst affected areas are the thumb, middle finger and index finger. You can experience continuous pain, tingling sensation or numbness. The pain can be very severe as it might wake you up in the middle of the night. Do not ignore the symptoms as it may be one of the most serious things which could always cause problems to your hands, arms, shoulders and wrists.

Reasons for Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

-Rheumatoid Arthritis

-Pregnancy

-Osteoarthritis

-Diabetes

-Amyloidosis

-Hypothyroidism

-Tumors and similar conditions

-Fluid retention

-Swelling or inflammation of the tendons

Some of the things which you can do to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome

-Regular exercise for your wrists and hand

-Avoiding too much stress on your hands and wrists

-Follow a proper posture while sitting on your computer

-Usage of acupuncture or osteopathy

-Get your arms, wrists massaged

-Avoid pressures on your wrists. Use your elbows and shoulders instead

-Take short breaks during work

-Warm up before you start your work

-Avoid sleeping on your hands

-If you are a regular user of the computer you can set your keyboard in a flat position rather than a slanting position

-Do not rest your wrists on the keyboard

-Try using a mouse pad and avoid resting it on the desk

-Type softly

-Sleep in an upright position to avoid pressure on your nerves

-Don't tie the hand bandage very tightly

Some simple remedies for Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

-You can apply ice pack for relieve

-Usage of acupuncture or osteopathy

-Get your arms, wrists massaged

Introduction to smart phones

Smartphones

If you haven't heard of smartphones, we'd like to learn where you've been hiding all this time. Smartphones have been all over the news and chances are, you do know what they are - only you know them under a different name. Smartphones are mobile phones with computer like capabilities and internet search.

What's that? Aha! Yes, you've not only heard of them, you've probably seen them as well. Packed with Internet access, email capabilities, address books, and a whole lot more, cell phones have come a long way since their first debut.

Sandbox devices are tools that come pre-loaded with things like calendars, calculators, and a notepad. What differentiates them from smartphones is that users can add (download and install) additional programs to smartphones and they seemingly become good portable computers for the people who use them. That - and the ability to edit the content that sits on them - is what makes these phones "smart."

Some of the more popular brand names include the Blackberry, PalmSource, Nokia, and Windows CE. Yet the craze is extending to even some unknown company names. Today, it's hard to find a cell phone that doesn't offer some sort of "smart" technology because it's in such a high demand. The convenience of having information at our immediate access is phenomenal - so much so that thousands of programmers have jumped on the opportunity to build unique applications specific to these small machines.

As a result, you can find tons of games, databases, GPS systems, weather reporting programs, and even small encyclopedias on these things - each accessible not at the click of a mouse - but at a few presses of a free thumb. Of course a small keyboard is available for the text-messaging fan or for the poor fellow who can't seem to get away from the office. In the latter case, don't be surprised if you find the entire Microsoft Office suite displayed within a screen no bigger than a matchbook.

Is this a phase? That's highly doubtful. The market for these devices extends from the highly technical and professional all the way to the pre-teen socialite. The product crosses all demographics and thanks to decreasing expense - it sees no economic boundaries as well. The Wikipedia encyclopedia claims that "Out of 1 billion camera phones to be shipped in 2008, Smartphones, the higher end of the market with full email support, will represent about 10% of the market or about 100 million units."

But what is it that makes smartphones so appealing? As I told earlier, smartphones give us the ability to not only carry our data around with us where ever we go, it also gives us the ability to edit that data any place - any time. In today's "reality" based generation, we're always looking for the opportunity to capture and relive a moment. And we want to share that moment with others. At best, smart phones give us the opportunity to express ourselves impromptu with entertaining results.

Attempting to do the same with a bulky regular computer or laptop is to cumbersome. Even some of the smallest peripherals (digicams, digital cameras, etc.) don't give us the same opportunities that smart phones do. Being able to carry around a device for communication, creation, recording, and editing simply compliments the need for today's generation to do more and then do it, faster!

For more information for smart phones like iPhone and accessories check phoneishop. com/

Five big myths about women debunked

1. Women don't like or enjoy sex as much as you do.

Is there anyone who still believes this? Read an issue of Cosmopolitan or watch an episode of Sex and the City, and you'll know what's up. When you're fighting hard for that tiny little bang (which is supposed to be your orgasm) while your girl has just gone off for the third time in a row, it makes you wonder who really enjoys sex more, right?

Whenever you go out, keep this in mind: The girl you're talking to wants to have sex every bit as much as you do. It's just that she needs more time to relax and lose her inhibitions, because society is likely to label a more sexually active girl a “whore.” Just provide the circumstances in which she can feel comfortable in your company, and the rest is guaranteed.

2. Women don't like porn and aren't turned on by visual triggers.

There's an urban legend that women don't like to watch porn — well, my friend, it's time to blow that one out of the water. The fact is they DO like to watch porn — it's just that they won't admit it. According to my girlfriends and countless other women I've asked, upon seeing a new man, a woman always looks at his ass first — and even librarian types will sneak a second or third glance.

Although women tend to be more attuned to their other senses — sounds and smells — than men, visual triggers are just as important to them. Your girlfriend will occasionally watch a porn flick when she's horny, although she won't spend an hour every day searching for sex on Google.

3. Women like badass machos who are rough and don't show any emotion.

It's a common misconception in our society that men should be as badass as Chuck Norris and never cry or show any emotion. If you think this is the key to getting laid, then I hate to be the one to break it to you, but being badass won't make you a man.

A man is confident and knows how to lead a woman and how to make decisions. But a man should also be passionate and capable of showing emotion toward a woman.

Would you prefer a teddy bear to a real, live girl? Just as you like it when your girlfriend gives you a kiss or caresses your face, she also likes to feel the same kindness from you.

4. Women need a lot of freedom, and they hate to be controlled.

Don't be afraid to show emotion and tenderness when you're with a girl — but please be careful not to become a wimp and lose control. A woman likes to be controlled by a strong man to a certain degree, and to keep her, you must be prepared to give her your own special brand of “tough love.”

A girl likes to feel secure and likes to have a guy who is able to protect her. But how can she feel secure that you can provide for her properly if you let her take control? Taking control might feel nice to her the first time she does it. But after a while, she finds it increasingly boring and tiresome.

A woman does need freedom, but at the same time, she likes to be taken care of. Thus, a man who knows how walk that thin line between giving her enough space and making all her decisions for her will be very attractive to a woman.

5. You need to become a player and develop serious game to attract women.

To attract women, you don't need any fancy techniques or skills. What you DO need is to learn how to take care of yourself and dress properly, to develop certain social skills, to live your life with passion (note that passion doesn't have to mean bungee jumping; you can be passionate about everyday things too) and to loosen up and be yourself around women.

If you're starting from ZERO, there's a learning curve you'll have to go through. Most important, you need to approach and talk to many women before you can actually come out of your shell and be your true self. Interacting with many women is also key to finding your Manliness, which you may have been pressured to hide by society and/or your upbringing. Your shortlist for success is:

a. Take care of yourself.

b. Go out and socialize.

c. Be passionate about your life, and feel good in your skin.

d. Let go of societal pressure to have a girlfriend, and you'll see that she comes to you when you least expect her.

Want to learn more about these topics? I've written an e-book called “All About Women” that takes you by the hand and guides you through everything you need to know: how women think, how to be the Man, where and how to approach women without fear, how to make your dates more effective and how to move easily from your first conversation to sex. If you liked this article, make sure to check out my book!

Creative financing for your mortgage - pros and cons of using creative financing

Why Don't We Hear More About Creative Financing? The largest majority of residential real estate financing is provided to home buyers by traditional mortgage lenders through traditional channels. However, there are multiple alternatives to the traditional mortgage that are unknown to most borrowers, and some of these alternatives present potentially greater benefits. The reason for the lack of popularity of such options is they have miniscule or even non-existent compensation for mortgage brokers. Since brokers account for the largest majority of loan originations, these agencies and their employees will obviously steer borrowers toward options that provide better commission.

The Pros - However, for the borrower with the time and motivation to investigate alternative funding methods for real estate purchase, there exists a wealth of information and resources that can lead to property acquisition without the need for a traditional bank loan. Some of the positive aspects of such programs are lower overall costs, less stringent documentation requirements, and potentially significant leverage opportunity. Some of the potential risks associated with such alternative methods include a lack of contract guarantees, inability to capitalize on market fluctuations, time pressure, and the need for reliance on multiple individuals and/or organizations.

The Cons - For the inexperienced real estate investor or home buyer, the use of such alternative financing techniques is usually not recommended simply because of the dramatic risks and potential problems. Home buyers are usually best suited to mortgage loans with predictable and fixed payments, and the use of unorthodox acquisition techniques presents a plethora of complications that could threaten the home owner’s ability to retain possession of the property.

The majority of alternative financing solutions are utilized by professional and experienced real estate investors whose knowledge of such methods includes enough a comprehensive understanding of the worst case scenario. Only those investors who are sophisticated enough and have large enough financial reserves to handle any potential problems should consider the use of techniques outside the traditional lending channels.

Allergic to your dog or cat

Pets definitely help us live longer and healthier lives. This is especially true of the elderly and those of us who live alone. Pets make wonderful and faithful companions. They are always there for us. However, this relationship can become strained, and sometimes even be broken when someone in the household develops an allergy to a beloved pet.

Studies show that approximately 15% of the population suffers from an allergy to a dog or cat, and about one third of those with an allergy to cats choose to live in a household with a cat despite the allergy. Some allergy suffers live happily with a pet for a year or two before an allergy starts.

There are sometimes long term health ramifications of repeated allergy flair up's, especially for children. Repeated flair-up's can cause permanent lung damage in children. This should be carefully and thoroughly discussed with your physician. One of the ways to live happily with an animal you are allergic to is to decrease your exposure to the animal. Keep the animal outside if possible.

If the allergy sufferer only has a mild reaction to the animal there are ways for the two of them to live together in harmony, but it takes work. The animal should not be allowed in the allergy sufferers bedroom or on the bed. Keep the animal off of any upholstered furniture in the house as dander can be transferred to upholstered furniture. Use a room purifier to remove airborne animal dander. Remove carpets from the home if possible and replace with wood floors. Wash area rugs on a regular basis with warm water. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in order to trap dander. The allergy sufferer should wash his or her face and hands after handling the animal. The animal can be bathed weekly in specially formulated shampoo that removes dander.

In some cases where the above methods and the use of over the counter antihistamines and decongestants do not help, the allergy sufferer may need to seek the help of an allergist. Immunotherapy can be thought of like a vaccination against your allergies. Given on a regular basis as shots, immunotherapy helps your body build up a natural tolerance to specific allergens.

With the use of the above methods you'll be able to live a long and healthy life with your pet!

Car loans turn your distant dream into reality

You feel tempted when you see your dream car displaying in the showroom, but your frail economical position becomes an obstacle for you. You unwontedly give up your wish and compromise with your financial circumstances. However, you dream can become a reality with the help of car loans.

People who cannot afford cars directly from their pocket are procuring for car loans. You can go either for a new car or for the used one. Car has become a basic need in life and you can use for any personal as well as commercial purpose, but it is equally true buying car is a white elephant for the common people as it involves big investment. Thus, taking out car loans may be an intelligent decision to enjoy the pleasure of a car with your family.

You can opt for car loans in two different ways they are, secured and unsecured car loans. Secured car loan is secured against collateral and thus it is ideal for those who possess a valuable property such as homeowners. Presence of collateral makes terms and conditions flexible for you. You enjoy low interest rate and long period of repayment. The unpleasant side of this loan is losing the property if you become a defaulter.

On the other hand, unsecured car loan is designed for those who do not have a property. It is difficult to obtain, as lender does not have any security thus he is particular about your credit record and monthly income. He charges high interest rate with heavy monthly instalments. You can research the financial market on the Internet and apply online for direct responses from the lenders.

How to save on car insurance

Everyone who owns a car needs auto insurance. This article will give you some tips on lowering your auto insurance costs. You will find a checklist of items to ask your insurance agent that may qualify for discounts. Keep in mind that not all discounts can be applied with all insurance companies in all states.

1. Shop Around

Go to your favorite search engine and type in "free car insurance quotes online". You'll see a long list of insurance companies that you may even be familiar with. Visit at least five car insurance websites and look for a link to free quotes. You will then be asked basic information about yourself, your driving history, and your car's make, model, and year. It just takes a couple of minutes, and shortly thereafter, they will email you a no obligation quote. Write down their website address, their toll free number, and customer service email address.

Each insurance company will ask you generally the same questions, and will give you options about how much coverage you will want. Find your current policy, if you have one, and take note of the coverage you currently have. Always provide the same information and ask for the same coverage at each company so you will be comparing apples to apples. Read the fine print and make sure nothing is excluded from the quote like Rental car coverage, towing, medical, etc...

For the purposes of the quote, the insurance company will not ask you your social security number, but keep in mind your actual cost maybe higher or lower depending on your credit history. If you're not sure about some of the terminology or coverage, take notes so that you can ask the insurance company about them directly.

Once you have at least five quotes emailed to you, take the lowest two or three quotes and see if they are less than what you are paying now. Most likely at least one of them is much lower. At this point you will want to call them directly to get the most accurate quote by providing additional personal information. For additional discounts, here is a checklist of things you should ask about.

[ ] $500 deductible

[ ] $1,000 deductible

[ ] Paying monthly, semi-annually, or annually

[ ] More than 1 car

[ ] No Accidents in 3 Years

[ ] No Moving Violations in 3 Years

[ ] Driver Training Courses

[ ] Defensive Driving Courses

[ ] Anti-Theft Devices

[ ] Low Annual Mileage

[ ] Air Bags

[ ] Anti-Lock Brakes

[ ] Daytime Running Lights

[ ] Student Drivers with Good Grades

[ ] Auto and Homeowners Coverage with the Same Company

[ ] College Students away from Home

[ ] Long-Time Customer

[ ] Other Discounts

2. Saving Insurance Premium on cars you own outright.

If you own a clear title to your car, meaning there is no bank loan on it, then you may want to consider dropping the collision/comprehensive coverage. As a rule of thumb, if the cars value is less than $3000, it may not make sense for you to pay for this additional coverage. Over time, the cost of the additional insurance premium will exceed the value of the car. It's pretty simple math.

Check the fair market value of your car either through Edmunds. com or even your local newspaper. See what other people are trying to get for the same car. Keep in mind your cars mileage, condition, and age. Has it been in an accident before? Does it have unusually high mileage in excess of 15,000 miles per year? Does it need new tires? You get the idea. Be realistic, because in the event that this car is in an accident and is damaged beyond repair, it is unlikely you will get the full value of the car.

3. Ask About Insurance Rates in Different Areas

Rates can vary widely even in the same state. Different locals have different accident rates, population, and crime. These all factor in to the final cost. If you are moving to a different area, ask about what the rates are for that town.

4. Ask About Getting Other Insurance Policies Together With Your Auto Insurance

Combining insurance policies with the same company can often give you additional discounts. If you own a home, ask about combining your homeowners insurance with your auto insurance. Also ask about other polices, such as life, health, and business insurance. Most insurance companies cover a wide range of policies and will give substantial discounts when you do business exclusively with them.

5. A Clean Credit History Can Reduce Car Premiums:

Having good credit can also lower your insurance costs. Many insurance companies will use credit information to price auto insurance policies. Drivers with good credit and a clean driving record may qualify as a "preferred" customer with lower risk and will be rewarded with lower premiums.

6. Low Mileage Discounts

Some companies offer discounts to drivers who drive a lower than average number of miles per year. If you car pool, take public transportation like the subway, or work from home, you will most likely drive few miles per year than the average driver.

7. Group Insurance

Some insurers offer discounts to drivers who work for certain companies or belong to professional associations, and alumni groups. Ask your employer, group or clubs that you belong to if they have any special arrangements with different insurance companies.

Using all of these tips can save you hundreds of dollars per year, especially when you have multiple cars and multiple drivers in the same household.

Building a website the easy way

Being an entrepreneur, I was anxious to stake my claim on the web and join the community of those who were making a living online. The only problem was, I didn’t have a clue how to build a website or the patience or time to learn all that code.

So, what did I do? I started a search for an easy website creator. My thinking was surely some ambitious entrepreneur had already realized the earnings potential of a website builder for the do-it-yourself person? As you can probably guess, I found one. Well, actually, I found quite a few. Of course, back then there weren’t nearly as many options on the fiber optic highway as there are today…so my selection was a bit limited when compared to today’s market. Back then was approximately six years ago, which at the speed of changing technology might as well have been the ice age.

I made my selection and started building a website. Was it easy? No. Remember I was inexperienced and soon learned that not all site builders are alike. My first attempt was definitely with a stone age product in a modern day world. Believing that all products, from a well-known company, are surely quality was my first mistake. While this company offered several affordable services and quality products, their easy website builder wasn’t one of them.

I began my search again. This time, however, I relied on the feedback from other website builders like myself. Hence, ask someone who has already been there, done that. After garnering a few referrals, I set out to try the mentioned services and finally settled on one.

Am I happy with my choice? Absolutely! So happy in fact I saved my money, earned on the web, and purchased a partner’s program with the company. You see, I was referring so many people to their services, I finally wised up and realized I might as well be earning from all those referrals….and now I am.

After much trial and error, I did learn a few important keys to online success and building a website. Here are a few tips to help you get started and stake your claim on the world wide web:

•Target your market. Don’t try to be a website for everything. Find your niche and fine tune your site to match.

•Stay away from dark background colors and wallpaper. Keep your site clean and easy to navigate.

•Add quality content. Keep your site content fresh and updated.

•Quality link exchanges do work. Exchange links with websites that fit the demographics of your site. Stay away from link farms.

Now that you have your website online, marketing and maintaining your site will be the key. It’s not like the movie, “The Field of Dreams - If you build it, they will come.” If you don’t market your website, guess what? They don’t come. It’s that simple.

Marketing is such a big and hot topic that I won’t go into it in this article, however, I do suggest doing a search on the web for keywords, “website marketing.” You will discover there are millions of responses and endless information and debate on what is the best solution. My experience: there is simply no one solution for this issue as the internet is ever changing and updating. Make time to read and learn about marketing your business online and locally. There are many great resources on the web which can help you stay informed and updated.

Importance of w3 standards

When the Internet first began its boom, the technologies used in design were forgiving. W3-Compliance wasn't as necessary because there were fewer browsers, fewer users, and overall fewer technologies in use. With the burgeoning popularity of the internet, new developmental tools are created daily. With these tools come new challenges - marketing, design, cross-browser transitions, etc. All of these can be a daunting task for those web gurus who aren't well-versed in the W3 Standards. W3 (w3schools. com) is a resource for webmasters and programmers who want the most for their viewing public.

There are numerous technologies used by programmers (ASP, PHP, and Javascript to name a few), but this article will focus solely on XHTML and CSS. W3 has a set of standards for both of these technologies, and making a website W3-compliant ensures that most all viewers will see the site exactly the same way (no matter what browser they're using). Validation also helps with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) because clean code means easier search-engine spidering.

Cascading Style Sheets, or CSS, is a technology often used in sites with many pages to make aesthetic changes easier. The style sheet is an exterior file that runs interdependently with the HTML (or outputted HTML) of a site. The style sheet serves as a template for the entire site's color and font schemes, while also controlling borders, sizes, and more. Being able to edit a single file, instead of 100s of changes in many files saves time and precious web design dollars. Validation is imperative to get the most out of a website. That is, a user can upload or copy-and-paste their CSS file to the W3 site, and they'll be given a list of any errors it contains.

Another of the technologies becoming more popular is Extensible Hypertext Markup Language, or XHTML. XHTML is an extension of HTML 4.0, and, while in its infancy, has become quite prevalent. XHTML conforms to standards moreso than HTML. As such, it is more search-engine and user-friendly:

- XHTML documents conform to XML. XML Tools can double as XHTML tools.

- XHTML is an extension of HTML 4.0. It is more user-friendly and streamlined than HTML.

- XHTML is a combination of HTML and XML in that it can run scripts and applets that use both the HTML and XML DOM (Document Object Model)

- As XHTML grows, XHTML 1.0 documents will be able to interoperate among other XHTML documents making it a more browser transitional language.

(Source: w3.org)

To conclude, using the standards of web development lined out by the W3 is imperative for users to get the most out of a site. Often, making a webpage W3-compliant is the first step of SEO, a marketing tool to get the most out of your advertising dollar. Validation is easy, and can be completed if a user has a basic knowledge of HTML-editing and FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Using these tools, coupled with the set of W3 standards can save a lot of money and help the site's overall functionality.

Website validation: w3schools. com/site/site_validate. asp

How to get the most out of your camping food

Camping is a passion shared by many of us mostly through the summer but others will even venture in the cold winter season. Camping is always an adventure as no matter how well you prepare yourself there is bound for something to happen out of the blue and make your trip extraordinary.

Planning Your Camping Food

There are a few points to consider when planning for the camping food and they are: first and foremost, the amount of time you will be gone, you need to consider the fact that you will have a bigger appetite when camping then when you are at home because of the fresh air and exercise.

Quantity is not the answer to extra food but nutrition, so, think in terms of how nutritious the food you are about to pack is and not its quantity. However, while thinking about nutrition don’t ruin your camping pleasures by packing totally boring food with no taste that you don’t particularly like but you just bring it because you think it is good for you to eat.

While some energy bars will be handy now and then, you will also enjoy sitting around the fire camp in the evening cooking a traditional camping meal; so, plan ahead efficiently thinking about nutrition, quality and the fun that you are planning to have while enjoying your camping food.

Packing The Camping Food

Yet another angle that needs your organization skills is that you need to pack every meal separately and probably mark them as well so that you don’t have to unwrap everything when in search for the meal you have in mind.

If you are placing them in a backpack, place them in the order you think you will eat them so you don’t have to empty your whole back pack to get to the next meal. This is especially important if you are doing some hiking as well and will be carrying all your belonging in the backpack everyday.

Plan At Least One Traditional Camp Meal

Camping is all about enjoying the outdoors and getting away from the hi tech world and daily routine, therefore, indulge and plan in advance at least one specific camping meal that you will make from scratch in order to truly enjoy camping food in the great outdoors.

Camping is a tradition with many families but camping food seems to slowly but steadily loose its touch due to many reasons; don’t loose the charm of camping by going hi tech on the food as well, add some adventure and fun in that department as well, it will be memories well cherished and time well spent.

Going the extra mile benefits everyone including yourself

In a world where mediocrity is becoming alarmingly common, it's a refreshing change to encounter people who are willing to go the extra mile.

If we are lucky we encounter such people on a daily basis. A checkout clerk who is particularly courteous, a co-worker who helps you do something not in their job description, or even a family member who does something to lighten your load.

Going beyond what others expect of you can never be a bad thing. It's a great principle to live by no matter who you are or what you do.

Your attitude is something that shines out beyond the boundaries of what you present to others. There's nothing that beats the feeling when someone surprises you by going the extra mile.

Nature encourages the habit of going the extra mile. If every animal/plant in the ecosystem had a lazy attitude the world would end. It's as if mother nature encourages working harder than is called for.

If every human on the planet adopted a philosophy of going the extra mile the world would undoubtedly be a better place.

Imagine a world were service is always courteous and delivered with a smile.

While it's possible to still earn a living without ever having to push the boundaries of what you will and will not do much in terms of helping you achieve your goals.

10 Reasons to go the extra mile:

1. Can foster a sense of direction in life

2. Develops a positive mental attitude

3. Encourages initiative

4. Creating a more pleasant environment for everyone

5. Gives job security

6. often there's extra compensation

7. Has a positive effect on all those around you – coworkers, clients etc.

8. Clear conscience

9. Can prevent procrastination

10. Going the extra mile can stimulate your soul.

That warm feeling you get inside when you go the extra mile for someone else is irreplaceable. There's no substitute for a heartfelt thanks and you can rest easy in the knowledge that you have made life just that little bit easier for those around you.

Why not try to incorporate this idea into your daily life. By setting a goal that you will go out of your way for someone else on a daily basis – you commit yourself to that warm fuzzy glow daily too!

Going the extra mile can make you stand out in a crowd. And of course it might just help you achieve that financial success you dream of.

Gold medal wines the ideal way to ensure you are drinking something special

There are many wine writers and wine competitions throughout the world, all of them rate wines by scores out of 10, 20 or 100 or by awarding stars or medals. These medals are given by experts of wine who taste the product using a blind tasting method. The results of the tasting determine which wines are judged as being of particularly high quality. The Gold Medal Wines have been declared by the panel to be particularly good examples of wine using the grape and from the area they have been produced in.

One of the foremost of these competitions is the International Wine Challenge, which is an annual competition held in London. No less than 9,300 wines from 35 countries were reviewed in 2007, judged by a panel of 400 experts from 19 countries and the resulting winners are awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. A total of 260 gold medals were awarded in 2007 (representing 2.8% of entries). 1,129 wines won silver medals (12.1 per cent) and bronze medals were awarded to 1,839 wines. Other prestigious competitions are held in Macon, Paris, Brussels and Vienna. If you think you prefer the same tastes and flavour components as the experts, why not use the guide of medal winners to guide your decision.

But where can you get your hands on bottles of Gold Medal winning quality?

One of the best ways of picking up a gold medal wine is to look for it online. Independent online retailers are able to buy directly from smaller wine producers and are therefore able to get their hands on more sought after vintages and fine wines.

But just because it has a Gold Medal does not mean that it has to cost the Earth. Some medal winners come in at about Ј6 a bottle. A great deal on a wine that comes recommended by impartial experts.

Using an online wine retailer means that you will be able to spot the gold medal wines immediately – there is a section on the pages telling you what awards the wine has won – something to look out for is that some of the wines have won more than once. Surely if a wine can win more than one competition you have to be onto a good thing.

But remember the golden rule of wine, just because it has won copious awards doesn’t mean you will like it, if it is a style of wine that doesn’t suit your tongue. Stick to types of wine you usually like and then look for the ones which have won medals. That way you know you will like it and you never know, it might just blow you away with its fantastic taste and smell – there’s something really special about the unique subtleties of medal winning wines.

Why not take a look at the gold medal wines available from an independent online retailer? For more information on competition winners and Gold Medal wines go to Laithwaites.

The secrets about search engine optimization you need to know

Nowadays, the Internet practically equates to Search Engine Optimization. It’s the way of the Web world. Make sure you know SEO to succeed online!

Search Engine Optimization or SEO is now the leading website promotion tool nowadays. Due to its many benefits, mastering the art of Search Engine Optimization is a challenge that many determined web players gladly take on. And it’s a worthy feat, mind you, because knowing the ins and outs of SEO can take you a lot farther in the Web world than any other web promotion tool.

The term “Search Engine Optimization” is now almost spoken with reverence among web players. Those who are masters in this art are also respected by aspiring web players. Not to mention that they are probably also masters of their manors and mansions. Although a bit exaggerated, the difference between a mansion and an ordinary house best symbolizes the difference between the amount of income you will earn when you apply Search Engine Optimization for your site and when you don’t. Yes, Search Engine Optimization is that powerful. It’s obvious, right? Practically anyone who needs information log on to the Internet to find it, and almost every single one of these information-seekers goes straight to search engines. There is probably no need to question that.

The main objective in Search Engine Optimization is to increase a website’s page ranking with the search engines. The higher your site’s page rank is, the closer to the top of the Search Engine Results Pages or SERPs you are. The closer to the top you are, the more chances you have of getting visited by searchers.

There are a lot of ways improve your ranking with the search engines using Search Engine Optimization strategies, and the top two ways that matter are these: keywords and links. First, your website should contain keywords and key phrases that are relevant to your site and most likely very searchable by your target audience. It’s not just about bombarding your site with keywords or key phrases that come to mind. You have to use relevant keywords that searchers will most likely use when they need to find information. Think of yourself as someone who is looking for information. What are the keywords would you use? Use your own ideas to come up with targeted keywords that will certainly up your chances of getting to the top of the SERPs. Due to the importance of keywords for websites, there are now some online companies that offer keyword analysis services for websites.

Aside from keywords, links are also important to search engines. Search engines prefer to show sites that have a lot of links in it. But, don’t go placing as many links as you can on your site. Make sure they are relevant links. Relevant links are links that lead your viewers to websites that complement yours. Also, you should have links to your site displayed in other websites that, again, complement yours. It is also better to use one-way links, since search engines also prefer to show sites with such links. This shows that it is not only the quantity of the links that count. The quality of the links you place also matter in Search Engine Optimization. This is why the concept of Search Engine Optimization branches out further into link-building strategies and the like.

If you are a web player, surely you are aware that without Search Engine Optimization, it will be hard for a site to succeed online. The Internet houses a limitless horde of websites, and the need to grow, succeed, and be established is even greater. There is no need to doubt that your website needs strong Search Engine Optimization strategies, so don’t wait any longer. Start making more money through your website by applying SEO strategies.

Car hire - what not to do

This is my experience in hiring a rent a car and this is what not to do. My misadventure happened in the late 1980s. I wanted to visit some friends several hundred miles away. At the time I lived in a small town in the country. I didn't own a car and there was no direct convenient bus or train service to where my friends lived. I decided to take the bus, then rent a car, at the nearest place available.

I traveled to the town where the car hire or rent a car place was located. By the time I arrived at their business to rent the car, the sun had set and it was dark. I went in to the business, to enquire about renting a car. The owner had one ready to go. It was a compact blue station wagon. Being dark outside I couldn't see the car too well, but it seemed ok, so we went back to the office to do the paperwork. The car hire form had details about the car, how long I expected to rent the car for, and the insurance coverage choices, so the business owner filled out all that. I was sure that I chose to have the car and myself covered in full by insurance. I thought the insurance box was checked, as covered. He took an imprint of my credit card to pay for the car hire and that was it. He gave me the car keys, and I drove away.

I had a long way to drive in the dark. My route took me through rugged mountainous rural country side, to a large lake, where there was a ferry crossing.

At night when you're driving in a rural mountainous area always be on the lookout for deer, moose and other animals roaming along the road side. You want to see their little shining eyes, so you can slow down and be ready to swerve to avoid hitting them. Sometimes deer become alarmed by the noise and headlights of the car approaching and they want to dash across the highway in front of you. You want to be ready to slam on the breaks, so as not to damage the hired car you're traveling in.

Another good idea, especially if you are driving at night, is to take a highway map of the area you are traveling through. Then you can mark off where you are and the places to turn ahead, so you don't make a wrong turn, like I did.

I made a wrong turn some where along the way. Instead of taking the direct route to my destination, I ended up taking an indirect route. It was dark and snowy, and I realized that the road and country side, didn't look like where I should be. I kept driving and a sign appeared with the next town ahead and how far to go to get there. Then I realized, it was just a slight detour or side trip for me. I felt a lot better when arriving at the next town, and knew which direction to go. The remainder of my trip went well and I arrived safely at my destination.

I had a good weekend with my friends, catching up, going out to dinner.

The return trip was more interesting because it was day time. I could enjoy the beautiful country side. Every thing went well to begin with. I arrived at the last town before the lake ferry and I thought it might be a good idea to put gasoline in the car, at that point, since it was a long distance to the next town with a gas station.

I checked the time, and it looked like there was just enough time to reach the ferry by driving a little faster than usual. That was a mistake. Give yourself more than enough time when using a car you've hired. So again I'm driving over mountainous rural terrain at the edge of a lake rushing to catch the ferry. I'm watching the scenery and my watch, making calculations of where it is I should be, and how long left to drive to catch the ferry. It looks like I need to go faster, so I do. I step on it. I'm hoping to cut my time of travel down to just arrive before the ferry leaves.

This is definitely not the thing to do when driving a rented car, especially in a rural area where there are birds around. As I am speeding down a hill a rather large dark coloured bird darts in front of the car. This is a big bird, about the size of a chicken. At the high speed I am traveling at I hit the bird. There was a sickening popping sound as the car and bird collided. The feathers and bird flew up and to the side of the car. I keep going and get to the ferry on time. I drive on the ferry and park. Getting out to inspect the car grill, I get a shock. There was a large hole in the plastic car grill. Broken pieces of plastic and feathers showed what had happened. So now I'm sick about the damage.

I continue on my way to return the car to the rental company. When I arrive at the car rental place I have to tell the owner about the bird collision. He's not too impressed. We look at the rental form where the insurance section is not checked as covering the damage. The owner wants several hundred dollars and that charge goes on my credit card too. So don't do what I did.

Go to a major name car rental company. Be absolutely sure of your insurance coverage details. Check that you are covered for all damage. Know what the insurance deductible amount is. That is the amount that you will need to pay, before the insurance pays the balance of any damage. Read the form over carefully a couple of times before you sign it. Be a careful driver, and take your time. Have a great trip in the car you hire.

What you need to know about emergency contraceptives

We live in the modern world, and with modernization comes a change in the way society thinks. The then prudish outlook on sex has been replaced by a more liberated mindset that is open to the idea of casual sex. It is because of this change that more and more contraceptive products are being released into the market. One of the more popular birth control product are emergency birth control pills.

Emergency contraception

Emergency birth control pills, also referred to as “morning-after” pills, refer to contraceptive pills that are taken after sex with the intention of preventing pregnancy. It is used occasionally, when primary means of birth fails or when no other means of contraception are unavailable at the time of intercourse.

These pills were designed to be taken withing seventy-two hours of having sex, with a second dose to follow after twelve hours. As compared to abortion pills, emergency birth control pills aim to prevent pregnancy from occurring, and not terminate an existing pregnancy. Emergency birth control methods act before implantation takes place. It is because of this fact that emergency contraceptives were accepted both medically and legally. It is considered a hormonal birth control method as it may contain estrogen, progestin, or both. It differs from the typical birth control pills in terms of the doses of the hormones they contain. Just like in the regular birth control pill, the estrogen stops the ovaries from releasing eggs, the progestin prevents the sperm from reaching the egg and prevents implantation of a fertilized egg.

On average, the combination emergency birth control pill decreases the chances of becoming pregnant by seventy-five percent. The more preferred type of emergency contraceptive pill is the progestin-only pill. On average, reduces the risk of having an accidental pregnancy by eighty-nine percent. Effectivity increases to ninety-five percent when taken twenty-four hours after having intercourse.

Although helpful, these medications also come with side effects, these side effects include: nausea, vomiting, breast-tenderness, fatigue, abdominal pain, irregular bleeding or spotting, headaches, and in some cases, dizziness. Most women prefer using the progestin-only pill as it has relatively lesser side effects than that of the combined estrogen and progestin emergency birth control pill. Using emergency contraceptive pills is generally safe as it does not bear any harmful effect to an already growing baby inside a mother's womb. Also, keep in mind that even if these pills are effective, they will not protect you against sexually transmitted disease.

Obtaining emergency birth control pills is generally easy. For women seventeen years and below, emergency contraceptive pills can be bought on a prescription basis. But for women 18 years and older, these are approved for sale even without prescription at any drugstore, all that is required is an id to prove your age.

Choosing to engage in casual, unprotected sex is risky. It leave you open not only to accidental or unwanted pregnancies, it also leaves you at risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases. So always keep in mind that aside from using contraceptive methods, it is best to keep the number of sexual partners down to a minimum and to know your partner's sexual history in order to also keep yourself disease-free.

3 ways you can generate cash using google adsense

In many webmaster forums, you are likely to come across this question: "How can I make money with Google Adsense?" Google Adsense is arguably the most popular pay-per-click advertising program today. Many webmasters are earning considerable money by displaying Google Adsense on their sites.

Yes, it is very possible to make money with Google Adsense. There are several effective and proven ways you can do this. The best part is that they are not complicated ways; they are in fact very simple and easy to implement. Of course, exactly how much you make from Google Adsense largely depends on how much effort you put into your sites. Don't fall into believing that you can make money from Google Adsense overnight. Like other types of work, you need to spend time as well as have the commitment and perseverance.

With all that said, you will learn three effective ways you can generate cash with Google Adsense -- through niche sites, forums and blogs.

Niche Sites: Targeted Market Equals Targeted and Higher Adsense Clicks

The word "niche" is today's buzz word. A niche is a specific market you want to focus on. If you are in the antique business, exactly what kind of antique do you deal with? Are you in the antique furniture business? antique dolls? antique cars? That's your niche.

Niche websites are sites that are focused on very specific markets or audience. Instead of a broad category, you narrow down into a target market or audience. For instance, a guitar website can be further made specific and focus on Fender Stratocaster guitars. People who are into Fender Stratocaster guitars are your target audience. Google Adsense ads that appear on this particular niche website appeal to your target audience and visitors. By being specific, you can generate higher clicks to your Google Adsense, which translate to higher Google Adsense earnings.

If you want to maximize your Google Adsense earnings, put up several niche websites instead of one website devoted to a broad category or topic. Instead of putting up a website about cars, put up several small websites focused on car repairs, care restoration, antique cars and such. By narrowing down your website's focus, you can attract targeted visitors who are likely to click on your Google Adsense ads.

Forums: Placing Google Adsense Ads that Stand Out

Do you run a highly active forum or online discussion board? If your forum receives a lot of traffic and has many members who regularly participate in online discussions, you can monetize your forum pages by inserting Google Adsense in them. While forum users are known to be "ad blind", you can insert Google Adsense codes smartly.

For instance, you can make your Google Adsense ads stand out by using very bright colors. On niche sites, it is recommended that your Google Adsense ads blend in with the site. In online forums, however, you can make money with Google Adsense by making the ads stand out. You can also make Google Adsense appear after a certain number of posts. Many forum owners have discovered that Google Adsense ads placed at the bottom of the last post on every page generates a lot of clicks.

Blogs: Easy to Monetize with Google Adsense

Today, many are able to establish an online presence and have their voices heard. They do this by creating and maintaining their own blogs. In the last two years alone, literally hundreds of thousands of blogs have cropped up. Blog software like Wordpress and blog networks like Blogger make it easy for anyone, even the least techie, to set up his or her own blog and make money from it. There are bloggers who are reportedly making four-, five - and six-figure yearly income just by placing Google Adsense on their blogs.

Since Blogger is owned by Google, people with blogs on Blogger can easily integrate Google Adsense into their account. Even if you don't have an account with Blogger, you can still make money displaying Google Adsense ads on Wordpress-powered blogs hosted on your server or third-party host. Blog software like Wordpress have Google Adsense plugins. This means you can easily insert Google Adsense ad codes in your blog posts with just a click of a button.

To make the most out of your Google Adsense ads, it is recommended that you place a Google Adsense unit after each of your blog posts. If you are posting a long article, consider placing a Google Adsense unite in the middle of the article. And if you technically inclined (or you aren't afraid of a challenge), you can insert Google Adsense codes into your blog template. Do it this way and your Google Adsense ads will display on all your blog pages.

There you have it -- three ways you can generate cash from Google Adsense. Niche sites, forums and blogs are only three of the many ways you can make money from Google Adsense. If you are new online, start with a blog. Create an account on Blogger. com and test out the waters. As you become comfortable and acquire more technical skills, you can advance to creating niche sites and starting your own online forums and monetizing with Google Adsense.

Seo - should you use blog blasting software

An examination of blog blasting software and whether or not using this type of program to send out tons of blog headlines to different sites is part of a good SEO strategy.

You can use a blog as blog advertising. Blog advertising is a cross between blog and an ad. You are probably familiar with the concept of an Ad Blaster, which blasts out an ad to thousands of search engines and FFA sites. Blog Blaster works much the same way, virally transmitting and linking your blog to thousands of other sites who will also want to link back to you.

It is no secret that blogging has become a powerful form of self-expression as well as promotion. Usually defined as a frequently published, chronological publication of personal thoughts, web links and information, the blog is the Internet expert or guru's best friend. It is a persuasive literary form that can be used to expose the flaws of your competition, raise enthusiasm for your topic and help establish your credibility and reputation as a seller or provider. Automated published systems simplify and accelerate the publishing process.

Using these programs is very easy and it only takes a few minutes. You simply insert your blog into pre-designed template and choose your blog advertising category. You press a button and your blog advertising is then posted to thousands of blogs that will be glad to have your link on their site because you message is relevant to their subject areas. This of course can boost your rankings.

Currently there are millions of blogs on the net. Blasting systems like Blog Blaster automatically places your blog advertising on millions of blogs that pertain to your topic. This is a way to exponentially increase your site traffic as well as sales. In many instances people who have used this type of article header distribution software have increased their targeted traffic so much that they have ended up with in one of the top three rankings on the Google search engine.

Unfortunately, Blog Blasting, also known as blog spamming can get your site blacklisted and is therefore a high risk form of SEO.

What to expect from your pigeon forge cabin vacation

Have you decided on Pigeon Forge for your family vacation? You’ve made a great choice. Get ready for lots of relaxation mixed with a ton of fun and adventure in this ultimate vacation. This is a perfect choice for a family get-away.

Most of the cabins in Pigeon Forge are more luxurious than many hotels. Shove aside images of “roughing it” in a cabin with no electricity or modern indemnities. Think luxury. Think Jacuzzi. Think spacious with great views and lots of “extras”.

The best part of it is that outside your window is a virtual paradise. The mountains offer a picturesque backdrop for this vacation of a lifetime. Waking up in your bed will be a joy because when you gaze outside, you are treated to a picture that rivals anything you’ve ever seen hanging in an art gallery.

Your Pigeon Forge cabin vacation is sure to be packed with activities. There are so many things readily available to tourists. One of the most popular attractions for the family is white water rafting. Both kids and adults will love riding on the raft across the river, enjoying the scenery and the thrill of the bumpy ride.

Pigeon Forge also offers Dollywood, a wonderful amusement park that’s perfect for the thrill seekers. This isn’t an ordinary amusement park. Roller coasters, rides, and attractions are just the beginning. Set amongst a theme of country music, the park is a definite treat for the whole family.

If you are looking for a relaxing form of entertainment, the city offers a multitude of shows. If you are a country music aficionado, you will be in your element. The shows are a lot of fun for both children and adults and definitely something you’ll want to include on your itinerary.

The bottom line is that if you’ve chosen Pigeon Forge as your vacation destination, you won’t be disappointed. There truly is something for everyone in this dream vacation spot. Whether you enjoy the thrill of amusement parks, the excitement of rafting, or just love down-home country music, you’re in for a treat.

5 ways to get a flood of targeted visitors

Just a few months ago I received a mail from one of my subscribers describing launching of his new site. He was really very excited and thought that this site really bring him a handful of money. When I visited his site I was also surprised by the creative designing, easy and quick navigation, graphics, etc. but what I came to know by his second email after some time that he is not earning a single penny.

In fact he has not earned that much amount that he spend on developing the site. He was really very upset and sounds dull. What the reasons is that his mind blowing site not earn a single paper money? The answer is his site didn't get targeted visitors which really want to buy the products he is offering.

The back bone of internet based business is Traffic. Traffic is first need for success of any e-commerce business. If you don’t have traffic on your website, you can’t make even a single penny, no matter how beautiful and attractive your site is. Even if you have the best product in the world but don’t have traffic, you can’t make any sale.

Traffic is the most essential thing to a successful e-commerce business. Every book you will find about internet marketing would always include the importance of generating traffic.

If you are reading this article, I am sure you already have a site and you are not getting enough traffic that you're supposed to be getting.

To help you out in generating more traffic for your site, here are some ways to get a flood of targeted traffic.

1. Link exchange with similar sites

Link exchange with similar sites is a great way to increase traffic to your site because both sites get benefited. The more you exchange links with different sites, the more traffic you’ll get. One thing you should remember that always exchange links with compatible sites not competitor sites.

2. Write Articles and submit to article directories

This is a sure and proven method for targeted traffic. Writing articles and submitting to article directories can give massive exposure to your site. Not only your site’s page rank and search engine ranking will increase, you will also become as an expert in your field. You can write articles yourself or get it written by freelance writers for a small fee.

3. Start your own Newsletter

If you want life time traffic to you site, it’s time to start your own newsletter. It’s a proven fact that only 5% visitors buy from any site at first visit. If you get them in your opt in list, you can follow up with valuable content and they will come back again and again to your site.

4. Participate in Online Communities and Forums

Forums and online communities can became huge source of traffic to your site. It requires only your time and nothing else. All you have to do is sharing your knowledge and expertise. It’ll also build your reputation as an expert and people always want to work with experts.

5. Viral Marketing

Viral marketing is the fastest way of getting traffic. Do you know what the reason behind the grand success of Hotmail is? It’s viral marketing.

Viral marketing allows you to spread the word about your company and product without any costs or low costs only. You can create a short report or tiny software and allow others to pass it to their friends and relatives. You can also attach your link to a funny video or entertaining game.

Just follow these simple and easy to follow tips and get your site flooded with traffic. Not only traffic but better say targeted traffic which really want to buy your product as they need it.

Utilize a music search for your wedding

A bride-to-be has a full plate when it comes to making decisions and narrowing away options for her special day. If you are about to be married, then you know all about the potential stresses of wedding planning. Who knew it would be so hard, right? With so many details to organize and so many elements of your wedding day to make special, it is hard to keep track of everything that is important. One element of great weddings that is often overlooked is the music. A ceremony and a reception are never complete without a great selection of wedding music. Doing a music search or two can be the best ways to find great tunes.

I love helping brides plan every detail of their weddings. It is what I do for fun and it is also my job. I love helping make weddings extra special by adding little touches that are often overlooked by a busy bride. The music is one such element that is often thrown together at the last minute. I encourage all my brides-to-be to do a vast music search to come up with music choices for both the ceremony and the reception.

Doing a music search can seem overwhelming to brides, but it doesn't have to be. While there are many places that a bride can do a music search, I always encourage a bride to start with going through her personal CD collection to begin the music search. Why? It's simple: because all of your CD's represent the music you love most, so why not do a music search through your albums and see what kind of great tunes you can find for your big day. You will come upon some of your favorite songs that you haven't heard in years but that will be perfect for wedding ceremony or to dance to at your reception.

Another great source for a music search is through the CD's of your close friends and family. Gathering music this way is a great method to ensure that you are choosing music that is already listened to and enjoyed by people. There is nothing worse than getting to a wedding reception and knowing none of the music. So do a music search through CD cases and I guarentee that you will come up with a lot.

If you are still in need of more good music, do a music search online. There are many great sites to sample music and to purchase songs for a minimal fee. You can round out your wedding music collection by visiting an online music search or two.

Take your time. Find great music. Everyone who attends your wedding will love it.

Having a merchant account is no longer an option

Setting up a merchant account makes it easy and affordable for your business to accept credit cards.

• Setting up merchant account services offers you:

• Improved customer satisfaction

• Larger customer base with more payment options

• Increased credibility for your business

With a merchant account you can offer your customers several payment options:

• Point of sale processing—Using physical terminals to process your sales

• Virtual terminal processing—To process telephone, fax, or Internet sales made at a web site

• Software—to make sales using your computer to process orders

Your company cannot afford to ignore the need to accept credit cards. Setting up a merchant account solves this problem. Any good merchant account representative can give you the information you need on how you can either add credit card acceptance to, or improve credit card processing for, your business.

Even if your company is considered high risk, (adult sales, gambling sites and other similar high risk business categories) a merchant account can be set up for you! Most US banks will not set up high risk merchant accounts. However, if your credit is good, offshore merchant accounts provide the perfect solution for your business needs.

When a customer says: “I would like to buy your widget. Do you accept credit cards?” A yes answer results in a sale. A no answer results in a no sale. Which answer is best for your business health? Well, that is pretty obvious!

Your merchant account services should offer a comprehensive line of payment solutions for your business—credit card acceptance, debit cards, and check acceptance—for all types of businesses including retail storefronts, restaurants, hotels, service companies, wireless merchants and mail, telephone or Internet order businesses.

Additionally, your merchant account should provide customer service 24/7/365 to provide the following information:

• Transfers of money into your designated checking account, monthly statements, chargeback and retrieval requests, and other issues that face merchant account holders very day

• Provide answers about your point of sale credit card terminal, need to schedules telephone training for you or your employees, need to replace broken equipment, or need additional supplies

Some important definitions:

What is a merchant account?

A merchant account is a special account that allows your business to accept credit cards as payment in person, over the telephone, by mail order, or over the Internet. You must have a merchant account if you want to be able to accept credit cards from your customers.

What is an acquiring bank?

An acquiring bank is the bank that holds your credit card merchant account. It is also the bank that transfers funds from your merchant account into your local bank account.

How do I apply for a merchant account and a payment gateway?

It's easy to establish a merchant account. You can submit an application online, by fax, or by meeting with a sales representative at your business location. Your application will be approved almost immediately, your account will be activated, and, if you're buying or leasing new credit card processing software or terminal equipment, it will arrive in just days.

What credit cards will I be able to accept?

You'll be able to accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and Diners Club/Carte Blanche. In addition, you'll be able to accept debit cards that carry a Visa or MasterCard logo, purchase cards, and online checks.

What is the discount rate?

The discount rate is one of the processing fees charged to your merchant account. It is a percentage of your gross sales.

What is the "per transaction" fee?

The "per transaction fee" is a nominal charge for processing each transaction through your merchant account service.

What is a charge back?

Charge backs occur when a credit cardholder informs the credit card company that the charge was not authorized, or that goods or services were not delivered as promised.

What is a merchant account?

A merchant account is a special account that allows your business to accept credit cards as payment in person, over the telephone, by mail order, or over the Internet. You must have a merchant account if you want to be able to accept credit cards from your customers.

What is an acquiring bank?

An acquiring bank is the bank that holds your credit card merchant account. It is also the bank that transfers funds from your merchant account into your local bank account.

How do I apply for a merchant account and a payment gateway?

It's easy to establish a merchant account. You can submit an application online, by fax, or by meeting with a sales representative at your business location. Your application will be approved almost immediately, your account will be activated, and, if you're buying or leasing new credit card processing software or terminal equipment, it will arrive in just days.

What credit cards will I be able to accept?

You'll be able to accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and Diners Club/Carte Blanche. In addition, you'll be able to accept debit cards that carry a Visa or MasterCard logo, purchase cards, and online checks.

What is the discount rate?

The discount rate is one of the processing fees charged to your merchant account. It is a percentage of your gross sales.

What is the "per transaction" fee?

The "per transaction fee" is a nominal charge for processing each transaction through your merchant account service.

What is a charge back?

Charge backs occur when a credit cardholder informs the credit card company that the charge was not authorized, or that goods or services were not delivered as promised.

How often will I receive funds from Total Merchant Services?

Total Merchant Services will transfer funds from your merchant account to any checking account you designate on a daily basis.

What type of equipment do I need to accept credit cards?

If you have a retail storefront, restaurant, hotel, or service business you can use either a hard-wired or wireless point-of-sale (POS) credit card terminal or a personal computer equipped with credit card processing software. If you have an Internet business, or a telephone order or mail order business, you can use a virtual terminal. With a virtual terminal, you do not need to load any software onto your computer. Since this is Internet-Based software, you simply need access to the internet. Other options include using credit card processing software. This is software that you load onto your computer. Authorizations are obtained by dialing into the credit card processor with your computer modem. Or, you can hand enter (key in) data into a point of sales (POS) credit card terminal.

Why do I need a separate account for orders I accept over the phone, fax, mail or Internet?

Because you never take physical possession of a credit card so that you can swipe it through a magnetic strip reader, both Visa and MasterCard use different criteria for evaluating risk and have different fee structures for card-not-present transactions.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway links your web site to the credit card processing companies and your merchant account. When your customer enters his or her credit card number on your web site, the payment gateway obtains authorization for the charge and later handles the transfer of funds into your merchant account. Total Merchant Services works with the industry's most widely used and reliable gateways including the Total Pay powered by Authorize. Net, Plug N Pay, and VeriSign Payment Systems.

Flying stars fengshui for 2006 yearly analysis remedies for main door facing north east

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(Chinese Solar Year : 04.02.2006 to 03.02.2007)

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from the past influences.

The Flying Stars Chart or the 9-Grid Meteor Plan for the Bing-Xu, Year of the Yang Red Fire Dog has been plotted and the effects of their energy patterns are analyzed. The analysis also contains suggested remedies/cures for reducing the impact of negative energy and recommended enhancers for increasing and improving upon the beneficial energy.

For the remedies/enhancers to be effective, they should be cleansed, energised, blessed and programmed not only for the particular individual/family but also for the specific purpose/problem. They should also be placed in the indicated location.

The direction in which your main door lies is very important to any form of Geomancy, including Fengshui & Vaastu. The primary reason for this is that the air currents and energy flow in and flow out through the mouth of the main door. Thus you receive positive energy for the year, if the main door faces a direction of auspicious stars or meteors (powerful energy bodies) and receive negative energy for the year, if the main door faces a direction of evil stars or meteors. In case negative impacts are forecast, you can simply offset the negative energy by installing the recommended remedies there. Any or all of these remedies can be reused for the coming years, the only thing is that they should be repositioned according to the new year.

Please note that the effects may be felt in varying degrees depending upon the exact compass degree of the main door.

ANNUAL FORECAST & REMEDIES FOR FLATS/HOMES/OFFICES/FACTORIES WITH MAIN DOOR FACING NORTH EAST :

A great 2006 for you. The Fortune Star # 6 visits and in combination with other lucky stars, blesses you with fame, power and wealth. The members of this household, whether employed or in business, will prosper. Some of you may don new roles or occupy new positions, with more responsibilities. Money will flow in. Cashflow can be consolidated. More assets will be bought. Investments will increase. Expansions will automatically happen. You will gain more authority. Your circle of friends and well-wishers will expand and your social recognition and status will enhance. You might also have to travel a lot.

If you are in politics, marketing, computer hardware, interior decoration, construction or in real estate business, you will have an extra great time. If any of you are in sports, security, police or armed forces, you may wish to boost your career luck by stringing up 8 golden colured I-Ching Coins near the door.

Do not lend money even to your closest friend or relative. Do not sign as guarantor for anybody.

Display the “Safety Talisman for 2006” in the North West sector and carry a miniature version of it always.

Door Mat Colour for the Main Door : Golden Yellow or Brown (on the outside).

COMMON MINIMUM REMEDY FOR ALL BUILDINGS FOR 2006 :

To minimise damage due to gossiping and rumours, arguments and disputes, avoid the colours green and blue in the center of your home. Do not place any moving water features like fish aquarium or water fountains here. Display 8 red roses without thorns and leaves in the center of your home/office/building and light up a small red coloured bulb which will burn continuously, 24/7. This is applicable for all buildings, irrespective of the direction of the main doors.

Prom dresses are for curvy girls too

Those of us who grew up as plus-size girls may have less than fond memories of proms, homecoming dances, or even our quinceanera. Back in our day, self-esteem and body image issues were compounded by the sheer lack of plus-size prom dresses and formal eveningwear. Plus-size fashion was an oxymoron, and most of the clothing that was available simply wasn't appropriate for formal occasions.

Thankfully, times have changed. Not only are curvy girls staking their rightful claims on the prom and homecoming scenes, but wonderfully fashionable prom dresses are available in all sizes. If you're a plus-size girl, there's no need to be a wallflower. You can dazzle and shine at your special event alongside your friends.

Choosing Plus-Size Prom Dresses

It's never too soon to start shopping for prom dresses. When you do, be sure to check out two of the best plus-size lines: Calito and Igigi. If you're looking for a long formal, first think about the bodice. Do you want wide straps, spaghetti straps, or a strapless formal? Would you prefer that the bodice be fitted or more flowing? (Remember, don't be afraid to show your curves!)

Next, think about the skirt. Do you want a long formal where the hem reaches almost to the floor, or do you want something more playful, like a handkerchief hem or an asymmetrical hem? Then, consider your fabrication options. A satin crepe will hug your body and show your curves to their best advantage, an organdy will make you feel ultra-feminine, and a shimmer fabric will have you sparkling inside and out.

Finally, find the right fit. Everyone's body is shaped differently, so don't be alarmed if you need to have your eveningwear altered. However, do make sure that you purchase the right size. You may need to get the advice of a trusted friend, sister, or even your mom in order to find the right fit - especially if you're used to wearing clothing that is on the baggy side.

Fashion From the Inside Out

Once you've finished shopping for prom dresses, it's time to consider other fashion elements. One of the biggest mistakes that women make (regardless of their size) is not giving thought to undergarments. The right foundations can make or break the look you're trying to achieve. If, for example, you're wearing a clingy crepe, make sure that your bra is seamless and smooth. If your prom dress is strapless or has spaghetti straps, but you need support, find a strapless bra or shapewear that will give you the support you need without unnecessary discomfort. If you're going barelegged, that's fine, but if you're wearing pantyhose, consider wearing thigh-highs so you can forego the panty line

Accessories

Prom dresses generally need few accessories, so keep it simple. A beautiful pair of earrings may be all you need, or you might want to add a choker as an accent. Handbags should be compact and complement prom dresses, while shoes should be in keeping with the dresses' style.

Above all, remember that beauty is as much about attitude as it is about appearance. When you have the confidence that comes from appreciating your body inside and out, you're sure to be the belle of the ball!

Hiring the right property manager for your rental income property

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I'm often asked what to look for when picking a property manager. Its a great question, and I’ll try to cover a few important points. Although they can sometimes be expensive, they can also save you from many headaches that go along with being a landlord. I’m going to ask more questions then I’ll answer, but these are questions you’ll want to keep in mind when interviewing managers.

1 - Cost: Managers generally charge a monthly fee to watch and maintain your property. Those fees can range from as low as 5% or so, to upwards of 20%. Obviously, you should look for a company that charges less and provides more services.

2 - Communication: For me, communication with a manager is of the utmost importance. I need someone who uses email, and is responsive to both the telephone and email. If I don’t get a response back in a timely manner, it is time to walk. In addition, you need someone who can deal with you and your idiosynchricies. Some of us are needier then others. You want to let companies know up front where you stand, and make sure they’re willing to be flexible for you.

3 - Termination of your Agreement: In the event that your “relationship” does not work out, you want to know up front what exactly it will take to terminate your agreement. Is there a charge for breaking your contract? Penalties?

4 - Repairs and Maintenance: Does the company have their own maintenance crew, or do they contract out to a handyman? How much do they bill out at? Can they handle all kinds of repairs? What happens if they can’t do something? Do they have other contractors that they work with?

In addition, you probably want to have a maximum that the company can spend without contacting you. Generally, I will allow my managers to do what they need to as long as it is for something under $100. I must confirm any expenses over that.

If you are a bit more of a control person, you can also request invoices/reciepts for expenses.

5 - Monthly Statements: Does the company send out monthly or quarterly statements. I wouldn’t deal with anyone that does not provide monthly income/expense statements.

6 - Evictions: How does the company handle evictions? What are the costs to evict?

7 - Yard Work: How much do they bill yard work out at? Landscaping? Do they handle snow removal? Mow lawns? How much does each cost?

8 - Reserves: What kind of reserve does the company require? The reserves are used in case anything comes up. Most managers will require a certain amount.

9 - Accounting: When will the manager mail your check to you? Beginning of the month? State laws usually dictate accounting rules for managers, but you wo want to know all of this up front. Tenant Deposits: How do they handle deposits? Are they comingled, or simply put together with all other income for your account?

10 - Vacancies: I’ve actually interviewed companies that will charge you 1/2 a month’s rent to fill vacancies in your property. I quickly ended my interview with these people. There is no reason to pay this fee, since many managers don’t need to charge it. You will need to fill your vacancies, so you will need some advertising done . . .

11 - Advertising: Where do they advertise properties? Are for rent signs put on the property’s lawn? Do they advertise in the paper? Online? There are quite a few effective places to advertise properties for free, online. Do they use these? In addition, you want your property advertised effectively. Do they have the basic HTML skills to add images to their for rent ads online? This makes a huge difference, trust me.

12 - Section 8: Do they have experience dealing with section 8 properties / tenants? Do they know what is entailed with such properties?

I also like to know how many properties they manage, how many managers work at the company, what specific areas they focus on, how long they have been in the business, and other questions about their experience. This should be a good start to get you going.

If there is anything else you want to know about finding a property manager, visit the Rental Property Questions & Landlording Issues Discussion Thread at BiggerPockets. com Real Estate Investing Community - biggerpockets. com

Why you should avoid paying income taxes with a credit card

We all agree that the credit card is very convenient. That is why the IRS allows you pay your taxes through it. To sweeten the deal, credit card companies offer rewards in the form of frequent flyer miles. So you can get a free air ticket too. But hang on, is that convenient to your pocket too? Sadly, the answer is no.

Disadvantages

The IRS has authorized third party companies to process your credit card payments. However, you, the taxpayer has to pay for it. So, every time you use your credit card to pay tax, you also have to pay a fee that is usually around 2.49 % of your tax. Thus if you are paying $18,000 in taxes, you also pay an additional fee of around $450. Now add the fee charged by travel rewards credit cards and you can drop the second letter from the word ‘free’ as in free airline ticket.

If you are in debt, the last thing you want is more debt. Annual interest charges are quite high, even going up to 30%. You could spend the rest of your life paying for the $18450 ‘convenience.’ If you are in debt with many credit cards, this additional debt can lead to bankruptcy. But even that cannot save you. As per law, you still have to pay taxes along with other payments like child support or alimony.

It is for these reasons that consumer agencies like the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCA) suggest alternative ways of paying income tax. You could dip into your savings bank account or take a loan at a lower interest rate.

There are only two conditions under which this transaction looks good. You pay the IRS with your credit card and simultaneously pay off the credit card company as well. This way, you avoid the interest payments, if it is any consolation. The other condition is that if it is impossible for you to meet the IRS deadline. While the IRS can grab most of your assets immediately, your credit card company cannot. While the case is in court, you may just win a lottery or inherit a windfall!

A wedding band the ultimate symbol of love devotion

A wedding band is a ring made of precious metal, worn on the ring finger to symbolize marriage. A wedding band is indicative of the fidelity of the spouse. It is usually worn on the left ring finger. It was a Greek belief that the vein in the left ring finger goes directly to the heart. The vein was called vena amori. However modern medicine has proven the belief incorrect. The custom of wearing a wedding band is European and has now spread widely across the world. However in Eastern Europe and some parts of Western Europe like the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany the wedding band is worn on the right hand ring finger. Some people wear wedding bands over the neck on a chain. Traditionally the wedding band is worn nearer to the base of the ring finger than the engagement band. Most of the times on the engagement band the spouse’s name is engraved after marriage and the engagement band changes status to become the wedding band. In traditional marriages it is the duty of the best man to take care of the wedding bands and produce them at the time of the ring giving and receiving ceremony. Often the ring bearer (usually a young boy related to the bride or groom) carries the wedding bands on special cushions or pillows.

The ring symbolizes the couple’s love for each other. Making overtures to a man or woman wearing a ring is frowned upon in society. The rings of men and women are little bit different in design. The bands of men are usually broader than the wedding bands of women. The usual thickness of the bands range from 2 mm to 10 mm. Generally more women wear wedding bands than men. Some people due to their occupations like police men, soldiers, electricians, actors etc do not generally wear wedding bands.

There are thousands of designs of wedding bands available in the market. Generally they are made of precious metals like gold (white gold & yellow gold), titanium, platinum, tungsten carbide, gun metal, stainless steel, nickel etc. Poisonous or corroding metals like aluminum, silver and brass are never used. However as per customs wedding bands can be made of any material. The designs available are domed bands, milgrain bands, two tone bands, flat bands, fancy bands, diamond bands, designer bands, engraved bands, knife edge bands, brushed center bands, plain flat bands, Celtic bands, Irish bands, antique designs, etc. Usually the wedding bands for couples are sold in pairs with matching designs. Sometimes the names of spouses are engraved on the wedding bands. The most common pattern is a plain gold band. It is easier to clean it and gives an elegant look.

Wedding bands are available in attractive designs, studded with gems, with bright polish etc. The gems are available in many shapes like round, marquise, heart, emerald, trillion, multi cut, pear, princess, oval etc. In France and French speaking countries generally the wedding bands are made of three interwoven rings. They represent love, faith and hope. The price of wedding bands range from below $50 to millions of dollars depending upon the type of band and gem.

Choosing a wheelchair

When looking to buy a wheelchair, probably the most important feature is comfort. It is also important to try out the wheelchair and make sure it fits and you are comfortable on it, as well as in it. Looking for the wheelchair that is right for you, might start to get long and tedious, but with the variety of models that are out today, you should be able to find one that suits all of your needs. When looking at wheelchairs, think about how you spend your day and what sorts of tasks you do, this will help to pick out the chair that will best fit you. If you need to transfer yourself, it is optimal to buy a chair model that is able to change heights.

Apart from what you will be doing with your wheelchair, it is also important to consider that type of environment that you will be using your chair in. Will you be traveling a lot outdoors in your wheelchair? Or will you being using it indoors only? If you decide that you will need to use your chair outdoors, you will be better off picking a model that is powered. This will help to give the wheelchair more power to move you in different types of outdoor environments. It is also safer to use a wheelchair with a motor when going outdoors. You will also need to have access to a vehicle that is wheelchair accessible. If you do not already have one, make sure to have arrangements before hand and that the wheelchair will fit inside the vehicle.

Having a wheelchair is not just a way for someone who is disabled to get around, it is a way of life. People who are confined to a wheelchair, need their chair to be comfortable, accessible, and also easy to use is important. When buying a wheelchair, it will help to make your lifestyle more active and help to keep you more independent, so you do not have to always rely on another person.

There are many different types of wheelchairs available today. The standard type of wheelchair is one that is manually operated and is best for those who suffer from only temporary injuries and for those that require minimal use of their spine and/or legs for a short time period.

Electric wheelchairs are best for those who are permanently confined to a wheelchair. An electric wheelchair will be able to give you more independence and the ability to freely move around.

Wheelchairs come in a wide variety of different weights and sizes. Trying out many is common and will help to ensure the best fit for your body.

Regardless of the type of wheelchair you are looking for, either manual or powered, the most important criteria for buying one is comfort, independence, and functionality.