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Advertising: Friend, not Foe!

2007-05-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

They say advertising is excessive: it interrupts TV series, preceding movie shows and dominating music award ceremonies. Some even lament that advertising not only occupies the media, but is also present everywhere else; the latest music editor softwares could be seen at bus shelters, and online VoIP products pictured in public telephone booths. It is irrelevant and disruptive.

If you agree with my last sentence above, continue reading. You might decide to change your mind.

First of all, I dont think advertisers occupy the media. As a matter of fact, it is the media that courts companies, maybe except for over-popular shows. TV stations need funds to run your favorite programs, and radio broadcasts have to pay for the Music on Demand. It boils down to us consumers: we demand, and the media provides, at a price of course.

Ah, you might now argue that it is the advertisers who flock to the media and pay for available ad space. True! But how many time slots are so coveted over? Shows like the Super Bowl Football are rare. Other less endowed channels, in fact, have some hard time securing long-term ad contracts to be financially sufficient. It is thus fair to conclude that advertisers and the media, and us, are in a multilateral relationship.

Besides its commercial relevance, there is more to this misunderstood industry that we often miss out on, like how advertisements might effect cultural understanding, especially in this globalizing world of business. HSBC features newspaper ads of cultural differences across countries. FedEx has their TV ads filmed in Japan, showing the way Japanese people live and work. And I actually learned from a MasterCard ad that in India, people release white doves for luck. Interesting, isnt it?

In addition, informative ads feed useful information to our preoccupied minds. Public service messages could be conveyed effectively through ad-works on air. And people get to know the latest products available on market during review hours. I mean, it would be a pity if we work so hard to produce all these commodities just to, in the end, know nothing of them. And because we work so hard, we could hardly afford to find out about whats going on ourselves. Informative ads keep our society functioning as it is meant to.

But most of all, advertisers are creative (e-mails are not advertisements; they are spam). The appealing advertisements that crack you up or hook your eyes for the hundredth time take much more than the 30 seconds of airtime. Creativity, and the resulted attention, increases sales, and the advertising environment is so competitive nowadays it truly stimulates the human edge of creativity and nurtures it to flourish. Advertising signifies the human drive to succeed.

To me, what makes modern advertising desirable, besides bridging cultural gap, informing the populace or generating new ideas, is that it empowers every individual possible. It no longer takes an established firm to put up an ad. Any one anywhere can promote their ideas, products and even themselves through the thriving medium of the internet. 15-year-olds can now economically design and effect ads to promote their companies (yes, dont look down on these young entrepreneurs). Any one could adopt different voices using voice changer softwares, and edit audio as well as video ads with the many music editor softwares and video editor softwares available. Because advertising could so omnipotently enable far-reaching creativity of expressions, it is relevant to our human society that values progressing thoughts and selective reception of ideas.

The staunchest critics of advertising might ask, what would be the future of advertising, now when people are able to get rid of the commercials. MythTV offers a plug-in that automatically filters out commercials during recording, whereas video editor softwares allow you to freely cut out unwanted ads from pre-recorded clips. Yes, people are actually paying to be free of advertisements.

But hey, think again! Advertising is not that inconsiderate. Have you ever listened to radio broadcasts so excessively loaded with audio commercials its impossible to follow? And advertising might be excessive and disruptive, but I suppose only to a minority few. In fact, like I have said, informative ads are actually desirable. Dont you or your children feel excluded if you are not aware of the new iPod, or the latest music editor gadgets?

Trust the media. They are doing their work. Isnt Google putting into place keyword-related ads to better suit your preference? Trust the authority, too. They approve all circulating ads, or at least those we often see. And most of all, trust the advertisers. We are mutually dependent; we need them for our TV shows, and they need our money votes.

Business Card Blog

It Looked Pretty Good to Me: Junk In! Junk Out! It May not be as Sweet and Full of Flavor as You Thi

2007-05-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

Don't fiddle with the characteristics of a best-selling existing product. Remember that a few years a go the owner of the "most valuble" trade name in the World changed the taste of their "battleship" cola. They did it after much testing and trials by consumer groups. But when they put it on the market, their customers didn't give one hoot about all of their thinking and testing. They took one sip and said, "What in all hell is this?" The company had to rename their classic cola to get their customers back. The new cola never took hold. After a company has been in business for many years, the idea to change an existing brand often comes from new employees. They use their testing results to overcome the objections of the old hands that know better. Watch out! Read on from my experience.

As bad as things were during the depression, some businesses struggled along and stayed in business. Of those that survived, not a few made a bundle during WWII. One company in my home town made stoves for army barracks. The owner became a millionaire in just a couple of years.

In my neighborhood, on the wrong side of the tracks, near the state fairgrounds, there was a small popcorn company. The main product was called something like Krispat. I don't remember how the name of the product was spelled, even though I must have eaten a zillion of the things.

This small company blossomed when the army decided to turn the fairgrounds into an army training camp. We kids loved the obstacle course and we could zip over it about twice as fast as the recruits being trained. After and during all this training, the family that owned the popcorn factory made sure the product was near the noses of the G.I.s and they sold thousands of "Krispats."

At the end of the war, the company was well-positioned and had a large clientele of retail outlets for their products. However, the owners moved to Hawaii and decided to sell the business. A gentleman bought the business and things went well. My mother, my sisters, and half the women in our neighborhood worked there at one time or another. I worked there too. I was dressed as a clown and dumped at the junction of three roads up a canyon east of the city. On weekends it was very busy. I would wave my popcorn at the cars and many of them stopped. At the end of the day when I was picked up, I would be out of product.

Well, the "Krispat" was a yummy thing. I used to watch them make them in the factory. The popcorn was mixed with a wonderful caramel syrup, then pressed into hockey-puck-sized discs which came down a conveyor belt. The girls and women on both sides of the belt grabbed about four of those disk and pressed them together into a role. Each roll was placed in an easily recognizable paper wrapper that said, "YUMMY!" These were placed in cartons ready for shipment.

Then the business went Kaput over night!

The new owner had bought some crummy-tasting syrup at a low cost. As soon as I tasted the product, I knew he was in trouble.

And I was an "expert" on what happened and I knew what to do about it.

After the war, a company which an older friend of mine invested in (and worked in too) went Kaput! It was a soft drink company with an excellent product. One of the major stockholders got a bargain on some syrup. It ruined the flavor. He wouldn't get rid of the junk. The company went bankrupt.

That is exactly what happened to the popcorn company. I was only a teenager, but I warned the owner. I begged him to get rid of the crummy-tasting caramel syrup he had bought at a bargain. But the poor man ran out of money before he decided that he would have to change the syrup to survive. It made me so sad to see a company go under that I thought was a model for my future in business. The owner couldn't keep from going under: BLUB! BLUB! BLUB!

Home Business Tips: Don't let others tell you how to run your business.

A Tippy from Flippy: What may seem to be a bargain may be a one-way ticket to oblivion.

Keeping Up with the Jones': The need for speed is fed by greed. Common since does not equal, It looks pretty good to me!

Fiddle Dee & Fiddle Dum: When you see little fingers poking their noses into your operations, cut them off!

Can't Ya' Get Goin'?: Maybe if you had someone look at what you are doing, it would help. But don't just let anybody look. Find somebody with some brains and experience.

All Things Come: Quality spells success. They will come!

Life Success Quotation: Life can be a dream. Life can be a nightmare. Well, wake up and saddle that critter!

Business Success Quotation: Get out of bed before the competition goes to bed.

From the Eye of the Potato

The Colorado Connection

How NHL and NHLPA Raise Money For Cancer Reserach

2007-05-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

There's a difference between a fight and a fight, both in hockey and in real life.

The NHL and the NHLPA have joined forces and founded the Hockey Fights Cancer organization and they have been able to raise more than $6.5 millions to cancer research organizations.

Cancer develops when cells begin to grow out of control and although there are many kinds of cancer, they all have in common that they start because of the growth of abnormal cells.

Even though the numbers of cancer cases expect to double in next 50 years, the cancer death rates are declining thanks to fundraising and research.

Hopefully the Hockey Fights Cancer organization can contribute to the even more to the declining.

In the National Hockey League all team captains join the fight against cancer during games played between January 9-11 2004.

Every captain wear a special team jersey featuring a Hockey Fights Cancer patch to underscore their pledge to fight cancer.

After the games, each captain signs his autograph on the game-worn jersey and it is donated to the Hockey Fights Cancer On-Line Charity Auction, as a force for good.

The auction have many different items you can bid on and at the same time you support the cancer research.

Without research even more people would have lost their life to this common disease.

Hockey Fights Cancer is a force for good.

Online Dating

Cardio Enthusiasts: Discover a More Effective Training Method for Fat Loss and Heart Health!

2007-05-25T00:29:00.000-07:00

It is common to hear fitness professionals and medical doctors prescribe low to moderate intensity aerobic training (cardio) to people who are trying to prevent heart disease or lose weight. Most often, the recommendations constitute something along the lines of "perform 30-60 minutes of steady pace cardio 3-5 times per week maintaining your heart rate at a moderate level". Before you just give in to this popular belief and become the "hamster on the wheel" doing endless hours of boring cardio, I'd like you to consider some recent scientific research that indicates that steady pace endurance cardio work may not be all it's cracked up to be.

First, realize that our bodies are designed to perform physical activity in bursts of exertion followed by recovery, or stop-and-go movement instead of steady state movement. Recent research is suggesting that physical variability is one of the most important aspects to consider in your training. This tendency can be seen throughout nature as all animals demonstrate stop-and-go motion instead of steady state motion. In fact, humans are the only creatures in nature that attempt to do "endurance" type physical activities. Most competitive sports (with the exception of endurance running or cycling) are also based on stop-and-go movement or short bursts of exertion followed by recovery. To examine an example of the different effects of endurance or steady state training versus stop-and-go training, consider the physiques of marathoners versus sprinters. Most sprinters carry a physique that is very lean, muscular, and powerful looking, while the typical dedicated marathoner is more often emaciated and sickly looking. Now which would you rather resemble?

Another factor to keep in mind regarding the benefits of physical variability is the internal effect of various forms of exercise on our body. Scientists have known that excessive steady state endurance exercise (different for everyone, but sometimes defined as greater than 60 minutes per session most days of the week) increases free radical production in the body, can degenerate joints, reduces immune function, causes muscle wasting, and can cause a pro-inflammatory response in the body that can potentially lead to chronic diseases. On the other hand, highly variable cyclic training has been linked to increased anti-oxidant production in the body and an anti-inflammatory response, a more efficient nitric oxide response (which can encourage a healthy cardiovascular system), and an increased metabolic rate response (which can assist with weight loss).

Furthermore, steady state endurance training only trains the heart at one specific heart rate range and doesn't train it to respond to various every day stressors. On the other hand, highly variable cyclic training teaches the heart to respond to and recover from a variety of demands making it less likely to fail when you need it. Think about it this way -- Exercise that trains your heart to rapidly increase and rapidly decrease will make your heart more capable of handling everyday stress. Stress can cause your blood pressure and heart rate to increase rapidly. Steady state jogging and other endurance training does not train your heart to be able to handle rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure.

The important aspect of variable cyclic training that makes it superior over steady state cardio is the recovery period in between bursts of exertion. That recovery period is crucially important for the body to elicit a healthy response to an exercise stimulus. Another benefit of variable cyclic training is that it is much more interesting and has lower drop-out rates than long boring steady state cardio programs.

To summarize, some of the potential benefits of variable cyclic training compared to steady state endurance training are as follows: improved cardiovascular health, increased anti-oxidant protection, improved immune function, reduced risk for joint wear and tear, reduced muscle wasting, increased residual metabolic rate following exercise, and an increased capacity for the heart to handle life's every day stressors. There are many ways you can reap the benefits of stop-and-go or variable intensity physical training. One of the absolute most effective forms of variable intensity training to really reduce body fat and bring out serious muscular definition is performing wind sprints.

Most competitive sports such as football, basketball, racquetball, tennis, hockey, etc. are naturally comprised of highly variable stop-and-go motion. In addition, weight training naturally incorporates short bursts of exertion followed by recovery periods. High intensity interval training (varying between high and low intensity intervals on any piece of cardio equipment) is yet another training method that utilizes exertion and recovery periods. For example, an interval training session on the treadmill could look something like this:

Warm-up for 3-4 minutes at a fast walk or light jog;
Interval 1 - run at 8.0 mi/hr for 1 minute;
Interval 2 - walk at 4.0 mi/hr for 1.5 minutes;
Interval 3 - run at 10.0 mi/hr for 1 minute;
Interval 4 - walk at 4.0 mi/hr for 1.5 minutes;
Repeat those 4 intervals 4 times for a very intense 20-minute workout.

The take-away message from this article is to try to train your body at highly variable intensity rates for the majority of your workouts to get the most beneficial response in terms of heart health, fat loss, and muscle maintenance.

Ringtones

Want A $10,000 House?

2007-05-24T23:24:00.000-07:00

How do you find a house for ten or twenty thousand dollars? In three steps:

1. Find towns that are affordable.

2. Find houses you like.

3. Make an offer.

1. Affordable Towns

Altoona, Pennsyvania still had dozens of homes for sale for less than $30,00 when I checked today. The cheapest one is listed for $7,500. As the photo on our site shows, this is a cute little town, yet still big enough to have everything you need.

Hot Springs, Arkansas has houses under $20,000, the cheapest at the moment being $13,500. Alamogordo, New Mexico is a town we like a lot, and it still has homes for sale under $30,000. Independence, Kansas has really inexpensive homes. Prices start under $10,000!

2. Affordable Homes

To find houses that are for sale in these towns and others, you can look up their local newspapers online, and check out the classifieds. You can find a local real estate agent online too, and give them a call. One of the best resources, though, is probably www.Realtor.com, where you can search any town for homes listed by price, number of bedrooms, and many other criteria.

3. Buying A $10,000 House

Don't think that if you don't see homes listed for $10,000, you can't buy one. When we were living in Anaconda, Montana (where we bought a beautiful house for $17,500), we watched as a house listed for $18,000 eventually dropped to $9,900, and then was finally sold for $6,000! In towns where houses are this cheap, they often sell for much less than their initial asking price. Make an offer!

Computer Repair Blog

Giving Gretzky The Benefit Of The Doubt

2007-05-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

Wayne Gretzky has been drawn into a gambling controversy because his wife Janet Gretzky has been alleged to have made non-hockey related bets in a gambling ring.

Many members of the media are trying to link Wayne Gretzky to the scandal and have called for him to resign as head of Canada's Olympic hockey program.

This is completely insane. Wayne Gretzky has not been named in the scandal and he has denied any involvement in the gambling ring.

We will take Mr. Gretzky at his word and give him the benefit of the doubt. During his hockey career, fellow teammates knew Gretzky as a model human being and hockey player. Players have said that Gretzky didn't even play cards.

Mr. Gretzky has been an ambassador to the game of hockey. I believe that he represents everything that is good about sports. Until I see credible and irrefutable evidence that he was involved in any wrongdoing, he will receive my support.

Wayne Gretzky has raised millions of dollars in the United States and Canada for various charities. Gretzky has represented the game of hockey with class and dignity.

I believe Gretzky brought credibility to his sport and deserves our support. Gretzky has been kind to the media and this is how they repay his kindness. It's shameful but not surprising that the media has acted like a bunch of thugs and goons.

Mr. Gretzky should accompany team Canada to the Olympics in Turin. Hopefully his team will bring home the gold. We salute Mr. Gretzky and everything he stands for.

Learn Blogging

Two Hot Tips for Bass Fishing

2007-05-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in Bass fishing and this has led to many new business sprouting up to ride along with the wave of excitement. Hooking, pardon the pun, new Bass anglers is easy. All you have to do is to invite them for a Bass fishing trip and before you know it, they are now passionate about the sport. Businesses seek out hot interests like a heat seeking missle and we see resorts, sports gears and fishing related things being built - all with the aim to capture this hot market. As a Bass angler, clearly we have benefited from all these interests.

Right now, more and more are getting their feet wet to learn and find out what the big bass buzz is all about. For the uninitiated, Bass fishing is more than just fishing. Having a prized big bass in your hands and the opportunity to show it off is a feeling that is hard to describe. Only those who have done it will know the feeling and once you have done it once, you want to do it over and over again. But after the first bass fishing expedition, for the beginner, there is still lots more to learn.

First, you have to know the lures that you must have to enjoy bass fishing.

What the top 3 lures for catching Bass? No real surveys have been conducted but it is generally agreed by pro bass fishermen that plastic worms makes the best lures, followed by the spinner bait and then the crank bait.

After considering the lures, there are still other factors to consider, chief of which is how you intend to cover the waters

in your fishing. Do you want to cover a smaller segment of water thoroughly or do you want to skim across a larger area as quickly as possible to find fishg. Worm baits are very effective and Bass are absolutely seduced by it. However, worm baits tend to be slower and are best in certain areas which will come with experience.

One main problem with learners fishing with a worm is that they do not realise that the worm does not have the ability to sense strikes. And the main reason for the inability to sense them is due to the fisherman using a sinker that is too heavy and a line that is too thick.

To overcome this predicament, a variable buoyancy worm using lead strip sinkers can be adopted. The advantages are:

No moving lead on the line to dampen the feel of a gentle pickup

Precise amount of lead can be applied to deliver the worm action needed

Bass finds it easier to inhale the worm

It helps in hook setting

In snags, you can quickly shake yourself loose

Worms can be hung virtually suspended over the bottom when fishing in shallow water.

To tell how much lead strip is needed, wrap one strip around the hook and bury the barb in the worm. Ease it into the water

and watch it sink, it should barely settle toward the bottom. If it sinks to fast, take some off, etc. Make sure to use no heavier than 8-pound mono line - preferably 6 pound.

How much lead strip do you need? Well, one tested way is to wrap one strip around the hook and bury the barb in the worm.

Now, gently ease it into the water and watch it sink. It should barely settle toward the bottom. If it sinks too fast, start

again by taking some off, etc. Use a mono line that is no heavier than 8-pounds - preferably 6 pound.

Spinner baits, by virture of its construction, can move more quickly across the surface. It can be bounced on the bottom,

against tree limbs and moved in many different ways in order to stimulate strikes. It is a great probing lure for the shoreline because of its tangle-free construction.

Lastly, Crank baits are great if you want to check out a spot without wasting too much time. They cover a lot of water in a hurrry and you can use them for locating fish that may be scattered.

The most important rule is this - make it easy for the Bass to get to the lure - no matter where you are fishing in. Drop that lure right in front of them! Scientists have proven that Bass can calculate the amount of energy it will take them to go after the prey and if they decide its too much effort, they won't bother.

The bottom line is this - discover and learn to use each type of lures and find what suits you. Once you find the right one for you, you will really find enjoyment in bass fishing!

Aside from considering the lures, the other important factor is to know the accurate time in going for bass fishing.

The Biggest Bass are definitely caught at dawn or dusk. Remember - bass love to prey at ambush spots, which seems to offer lots of cover for the baitfish. They like to hide, and then pounce on their prey.

These bait fish are most active in the dusk or dawn. When they feeding, the bait fish's guard is down and less aware of threats, So that is when the bass strikes. Fish during these times for the best chances of success.

When retrieving an underwater lure in poor light conditions, pull in the lure at a steady pace once it is set in motion. This makes it easier for bass to locate and grab it.

Although I mentioned that dawn or dusk is the best time to fish for bass, there is one exception. Don't bother trying when the water is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature causes certain aquatics species to disappear, which in turn, nullifies the food chain feeding.

Just by keeping these 2 factors in mind for bass fishing - lures and the time to fish - you are on your start to winning the game of bass fishing. Once mastered, you can then consider other factors like water quality and weather conditions. Happy Bass fishing!

Free Online Dating

Dog Clothes make Great Gifts

2007-05-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the art of giving, a gift of clothes is fraught with peril. We all have stories to tell, and if you don't, you will. Just give it time.

Mine started early. My grandmother, having survived the Depression, knew how to stretch a dollar. Clothes for her grandkids were always purchased 3 or 4 sizes too big so we could "grow into them". And she passed this charming trait on to my mother. So, we endured our baggy clothes, with the sleeves and pant legs rolled up, until we were finally big enough to wear them with dignity. By which time they were ready for donation.

Then there's my husband. Heaven forbid I should try to give the man a Polo shirt with an uneven hemline. Most Polos are made longer in the back to help them stay "tucked", but hubby goes un-tucked -- always. He rejects any polo that breaks the rule, no matter how subtly. For an otherwise easy-going guy, his behavior is almost perverse.

If you must give clothes this season, there's one giftee on your list who's sure to look great in any outfit you buy him. He'll wear your gift with pride and appreciation, head held high and tail wagging.

That's right, your dog. Or your best friend's dog. It's so easy you'll wonder why you didn't think of it before.

Dogs love any kind of attention you lavish on them. So, Spike will wear his outfit - whether it's cute or ridiculous - as soon as he sees how happy it makes his owner. Spot will eat up all that extra attention he gets from strangers. And Fifi might even want to Vogue for the camera.

Clothes shopping for dogs is a lot like clothes shopping for babies. Unless you're going for practicality, cuteness is what counts. And that's easy to accomplish, given that any dog wearing clothes looks pretty darned cute.

Choices in dog clothes range from winter sweaters to football jerseys and summer tees. You can get a set of flannel PJ's for bedtime or a terry robe for after bath. There's even an entire line of Harley clothes for dogs, complete with leather cap and studded collar. Dog costumes made for parties and holidays are just too cute for words.

If you really want your gift to be a hit with admirers, accessorize. Try a designer dog collar and maybe a cool pair of sunglasses--they make them just for dogs. And I recently heard that leg warmers are making a come back.

Got a mischievous sense of humor? Making the baby look silly might be a no-no, but it's good clean fun when it comes to dressing up a dog. There are some really creative doggie costume out there that are good for a chuckle or two.

There's really only a couple of rules you'll need to keep in mind when shopping for dog clothes:One is that if the dog in question is an avid chewer, you should avoid buying him anything tempting. Shiny buttons, fringe, and feathers are examples that come to mind. An object that can easily be chewed off and swallowed is a choking hazard and can get stuck in the dog's digestive tract.

The other rule is that any dog, no matter how tolerant, will be more comfortable wearing clothes that fit. Proper fit typically requires measuring from the dog's collar to the base of her tail for length. Most garment's girth can be adjusted with velcro tabs, but could still be an issue with a barrel-chested breed such as a bulldog. Measurements are typically in inches.

Remember that a dog will never "diet down" into an outfit that's too small , or -- unless you're shopping for a puppy or a pregnant female -- "grow into" an item that's too big. (Sorry, Grandma.)

Oh, and one more thing--if you're handy with a sewing machine, you can make your own dog clothes creations. Just don't forget to include an opening for the dog to relieve himself. Don't laugh, it happens a lot!

Now, if you're shopping for your own dog, you're all set. But if you're buying clothes for someone else's dog, I've got a few more tips for you.

Surveys conducted on the subject of gift preferences of men and women have shown that men prefer gifts that are more playful or practical. So, if the dog's owner is male this might translate into a doggie Harley jacket, a funny costume, or a reflective hunting vest (more on practical clothing in another article!).

Women, on the other hand, prefer gifts that are beautiful, memorable, and personal. It shouldn't be hard to find an item of clothing for a woman's dog that's either beautiful or memorable or both, and it will of course be personal!

Exception: if the woman is someone you don't know well. The more distant the relationship between giver and receiver, the riskier it is to give a personal gift. So, be they man or woman, if you don't know the dog owner very well, you probably shouldn't be buying dog clothes for their pet.

I hope you'll have fun picking out something nice for the canine on your shopping list. If you get a chance, send me a photo!

Job Hunter's Paradise

Without Aggravation Would We Have Pearls?

2007-05-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

Is there any reason on earth to get out of a warm, cozy bed in the morning, if one way or another, your bills will be paid, youll have some dough left over, and the birds will still sing, outside your window?

We like to see human beings as incessantly creative, motivated by higher urges than seeking food, shelter, and the perpetuation of the species. Ever since we were given the psychology of Abraham Maslow and his humanistic cohorts, weve been smitten with the idea that people are inexorably rising up the rungs of being-ness to what he called, self-actualization.

Its certainly a rosy picture of human nature, but is it true?

Probably, not. To paraphrase Dostoevsky, you can put a man in clover, give him everything he wants, and it wont be good enough.

The obverse of this is also valid: You can deny man certain things, putting him behind the proverbial 8-ball, and then, only then, will he get off his derriere and do something.

Do we learn better from success or from failure?

Is adversity or acclaim a better teacher?

Sadly, it is the challenge, according to historian Arnold Toynbee, that makes man respond with ingenuity, with boundless energy, and with determination.

Oysters, you can get anywhere. But pearls can only be harvested after something irritating, a pesky piece of sand has upset the status quo, making what was a peaceful environment, disturbed.

So, be thankful when someone abrasive comes along. Hes just helping to make you a precious, more valuable gem!

The Departed

Some More Random Musings and Observations on Life

2007-05-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

Constant affirmation without accountability is a sure-fire way to cripple a child. In other words, belief in yourself without responsibility leads to a sense of entitlement.

Raise your hand if you've ever been rejected for anything, anytime, anywhere. We all have. How would you like to have a nice little four-letter word for the next time you're rejected? It's: NEXT. Next sale, next job, next date, next whatever.

Beware of people who use their own emotional pain as a tool to manipulate others instead of as a motivation to change themselves.

Parents of teens need to watch out for NMK Syndrome: Not My Kid, as in "my kid couldn't have done ___" (fill in the blank). Well, yes, they could have. Even if you have faithfully raised them not to do certain things, kids still have the power of choice, which means they can make bad choices. NMK Syndrome can blind you to something that needs immediate attention. Trust in your kids and in your parenting, and always check out what you hear.

When you receive a notice in your credit card statement that says, "Congratulations, because of your excellent payment history, there is no minimum fee due this month," it's not a time for celebration. You're still being charged interest. These people are not your friends.

It's a humbling and sobering experience to have a child who wants to be like you.

I've noticed more and more people doing what I call "caboose living."

Picture a three-car train. The engine in front we'll call facts/reality; the car in the middle is our thoughts, beliefs, decisions, choices and behaviors based on the facts; the caboose is our feelings. The facts/reality come first, then thoughts and behaviors followed by feelings.

Many folks try to run their life train with the caboose (feelings) in the lead. Feelings are interesting and important, but they cannot drive the train. Pay attention to your feelings, but let the facts/reality drive the train.

A successful marriage requires selective and strategic ignoring. The right things to ignore are little habits and irritating peculiarities that we all have. The problem comes when you select the wrong things to ignore.

I wonder if it's a bad thing to believe that football on TV is one of the first sounds of fall approaching.

Most folks live with the illusion that worrying about something can actually make a difference. The only possible way that worrying can make a difference is if the worrying motivates you to take action to do something about the subject of your worry.

People often say, "Well, I'm just going with the flow." The problem with going with the flow is that many times the flow is lost and does not know where it is going.

Best quote I've seen since last time, by Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts: "At some point, though, a problem ought to be defined less by our ability to explain why it happens than by our willingness to demand that it happen no more."

Jaques Blog

Premiership Transfer Window Review - Part One

2007-05-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

The January transfer window gave Premiership clubs the opportunity to add new players or ship out those surplus to requirements. David Walker looks at who came and went and how these moves will impact on each teams success.

Arsenal

The Gunners have invested in the next generation of young talent after a disastrous season. Vassiriki Diaby joined from Auxerre and Togo striker Manuel Adebayor arrived from Monaco but the most talked about transfer was the capture of Southamptons 16 year old Theo Walcott. The transfer fee could rocket to 12 million.

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Jeremie Aliadiere joined Spartak Moscow and Wolves respectively while David Bentley joined Blackburn permanently.

Such change is vital to both Arsenals immediate and future success. They currently lie in sixth place but a massive 25 points behind leaders Chelsea. The bookmakers arent convinced and offer them at 12/1 in the without Chelsea market to win the Premiership.

Aston Villa

After a pre-season transfer investment with very little to show for it, there have been no more funds made available. The Villains, despite spending 11 million on new players in the summer, are only seven points clear of relegation.

Kevin Phillips has scored just three goals, Milan Baros has netted five and defender Wilfred Bouma has been something of a 3.5 million misfit. Poor home and away form could see a bit of value in the 22/1 relegation odds.

Birmingham City

Struggling in the bottom three is never the best position to be in when trying to attract new players but with goals in short supply, two new attacking options arrived in January.

Striker Chris Sutton arrived on a free transfer from Celtic after scoring 63 goals in 130 league appearances and Brentfords DJ Campbell, 24, signed for 500,000. Campbell may be an unknown quantity for top flight defences but his two goal salvo which dumped Sunderland out of the FA Cup will send out a warning to Premiership managers.

The bookmakers are not convinced Steve Bruces side are relegation fodder just yet, at 4/6 to stay up or 5/4 to go down.

Blackburn Rovers

Rovers may be out of both Cups but are making good progress in the league under manager Mark Hughes. Unbeaten in their last six matches and sitting in eighth position is marked improvement from last seasons flirt with relegation.

Arsenal striker David Bentley made his loan move a permanent transfer and scored a hat-trick in the 4-3 win against Manchester United on February 1. Rovers also boosted their bid for a UEFA Cup place with the loan signing of Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle and Martin Olsson from Hogaborgs for a nominal fee.

Bolton Wanderers

There wasnt much evidence of the usual wheeling and dealing at the Reebok Stadium with only Matt Jansens free transfer arrival from Blackburn. Despite losing five players to African Cup duty, manager Sam Allardyce has kept faith with his current squad.

January has seen more interest in Big Sams future at the club following Sven Goran Erikssons decision to quit as England manager after the World Cup. He is one of the favourites to take over the role and can be backed at 5/1.

Charlton Athletic

After a slump in form which saw the Addicks lose seven out of 10 Premiership matches from the end of October to New Years Day results are beginning to improve and they are unbeaten in their last three league matches.

Marcus Bent arrived with a bang following his 2.5 million transfer from Everton by scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea. Manager Alan Curbishley will hope he can ease the goalscoring burden off 11-goal Darren Bent who can be backed at 20/1 to finish the season as the Premierships top goalscorer.

Chelsea

With a 15 point lead at the top of the Premiership and having spent 53 million on new players this season so far, it is not a big surprise that Chelsea have been quiet in the transfer market.

One new player arrived in the form of Portuguese winger Maniche, making a loan switch from Dynamo Moscow although defender Wayne Bridge has headed out of the Stamford Bridge exit door to join West London rivals Fulham on loan.

The Blues are unbackable now as far as Premiership success is concerned with odds of 1/66 the most generous available. Frank Lampard is available at 12/1 to finish as the Premierships top goalscorer.

Part two will look at the transfers impacting Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United.

Chrysler Crossfire Fanclub Blog

MVP - Mike Vick's Planet

2007-05-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

I like when people start to criticize and complain. It tells me that the fear of change is in the air and that is the way they are compelled to deal with it. It means to me that somebody is doing something right. Of course, there are those who get paid to deliver a disparaging word to keep any due hype in check, especially in sports where the business of hype often generates more revenue than the business of the sport itself. American football is the world's most popular sport, so hype is something it doesn't really need. But there is something happening now that the league didn't ask for: a major overhaul to the entire look and feel of the game.

Football is a team sport, much more than any other major sport. That in itself makes this phenomenon even more significant than it otherwise would be. In sports, there are few legendary talents. Athletes who possess intangibles that players of similar talent do not. Then there are those who elevate the status of their sport to heights never before seen or imagined. But there is one other level of athletic aptitude defined by players who possess so much athletic genius that the game can no longer contain them. They can't help it, it just happens. They don't just play the game. They change the game.

We saw it in basketball with Michael Jordan. We are witnessing it now in golf with Tiger Woods. Baseball had Babe Ruth. Wayne Gretzky did it in hockey. Football can thank Lawrence Taylor for changing the way defense is played. Now it can point to MVProdigy as the One who will lift up the standard for the future of pro football.

Mike Vick is the most exciting player in football, if not the most exciting athlete in sports. He has led a perennial loser to elite status in the National Football League. His team, the Atlanta Falcons, are a legitimate contender to win the Super Bowl. He is the most feared player in the league. Period. While in college at Virginia Tech he was touted as 'The Future'. His moves with the ball cause future hall of fame defensive backs look like they belong in Sunday School. It's appropriate that he's a Falcon because once he takes off, you're not catching him.

If you didn't know Mike Vick is a quarterback, you wouldn't guess it by this description of him.

Vick is not just a quarterback. He's a game breaker. An MVPlaymaker. He's the Experience. He makes it happen. Without him, the Falcons have little chance of even making the playoffs, much less contend for a Super Bowl. The Falcons have quality players who can win games, but without Vick they just might be able to beat USC.

Regardless, I don't like what I'm hearing about MVPeriod. People who think they know football say he is too one-dimensional. and he will have to learn to pass first if he is to lead his team to championships. Why does it matter if he can pick up 40 yards with his legs after line protection breaks down? Or if he is able to scramble for another 15 yards after he picks up the blitz on 3rd and 8? But wait. It isn't just running for positive yards that adds value to this player. His legs have the ability to avoid defensive pressure and knock out a quick 7 yard pass play on 1st or 2nd down. Those are yards created by instincts created by the situation. This is the way MVPlays it. Other QBs may lose 7 yards on that same play or throw an interception. Vick throws picks or gets sacked like every other QB, but more times than not he will create something out of nothing. That's the MVexPerience. The NFL doesn't realize it yet but the days of the 6'5" prototypical dropback QB being a commodity are quickly passing by. That player won't go away completely - look at Peyton Manning and Tom Brady - but over the next 10 years, as football produces more and more MVPretenders at QB, NFL teams will need to adjust their offensive philosophy to take advantage of these immensely talented players.

The strong winds of change are reshaping the landscape of American football. Some are having a difficult time accepting that superior players will rule the future, not just of football, but of all sports. It's not about 300 yard, 2TD afternoons anymore but about the inevitability of the MVPrototype becoming the future of the NFL QB. Eventually, the critics will have to sing MVPraises.

2005 warmCHiL/MJ Style

Learn Blogging

Knowledge When Properly Applied

2007-05-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

As a Champion, I know that you heard this statement many, many times. Get ready to learn what Knowledge truly means! Lets begin by breaking down this word.

Know: You must know your business, which means you must know the power of Network Marketing. You must also know how to prospect and recruit Champions, handle objections and deal with rejection. Most importantly, you must know in your heart that you can and will achieve your dreams in the industry of Network Marketing.

L Listen: You must listen to those that have walked in your shoes. For example, a football coach that coaches a NFL team usually has many records under his belt and has proven himself as a Champion in the game of foot ball. You wouldnt see a world renowned hockey player coaching a NFL football. In Network Marketing, you wouldnt take direction from anyone that has not built a group of their own. There are many so-called coaches out there attempting to coach Network Marketers yet they have NEVER built a group or made any money in the industry. You must listen and learn from those that have been where you are now and have gone all the way to the top!

E Edge: You must have the edge and live on the edge to truly succeed in your business. That means you are willing to dedicate yourself to your business and become the best that you can be. This includes filling your mind with motivational, business building strategies on a daily basis to constantly be one step ahead of others in the industry. You must also attend events, seminars and boot camps hosted by those that have built a Networking Marketing group. This will give you the edge that you need to be more successful than other Networkers or other entrepreneurs.

If you live by these keys, then Knowledge when applied to your business will create Action and rock your future! Make today the day to truly understand the word Knowledge.

Find Your Why & Fly,
John Di Lemme
www.FindYourWhy.com

Dating Advice

Vancouver, Hidden Jewel Of The Pacific Northwest

2007-05-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

Vancouver will receive a lot of attention as the 2010 Olympics approach, but why wait to visit during the most crowded, tourist deluged period since they hosted Expo 86?

Skiing and winter sports will receive the lion's share of attention during the 2010 Olympics - it is the Winter Olympics, after all - but summer is Vancouver's best season.

After a fall and winter of grey skies and rainy days, Vancouver emerges to a summer of endless blue skies, gorgeous ocean views and warm but fairly dry climate. This is when you want to come to Vancouver!

There are 5 star hotels available on the waterfront in downtown Vancouver, but there are two great hostels, one just off the famous gay area of Davie Street - its maybe six blocks of the shopping area of Robson Street as well - or another across from Jericho beach, looking across at downtown Vancouver. Very well run, situated in spectacular spots, and cheap!

Vancouver is famous for international cuisine. Sushi, Thai food, Greek, Italian, French, Indian, Chinese - but not just run of the mill varieties - some world class representatives of every type of cuisine. Hy's Steak House is a venerable, 50 year old steak house. Cioppinno's has the kind of Italian cooking where everyone at the table raved about having the best______ they'd ever had. C Restaurant on the water has the best seafood. Bishop's has been rated the best restaurant for years, but Rob Feenie at Lumiere has won the Iron Chef competition. There are probably 300 outstanding restaurants in Vancouver!

What to do? Stanley Park is second only to Central Park in new York for size of an urban park - and it is simply spectacular, surrounded by the ocean. Over in North Vancouver, cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge, swinging side to side, 300 feet over the Capilano River. There are 3 ski hills poised overlooking Vancouver, so great sightseeing - take the gondola up to the top of Grouse Mountain. Storeum in Gastown is a new tourist attraction - find out about BC's history. See Vancouver Canucks hockey, BC Lions football, Whitecaps Soccer and catch a "nooner" at Nat bailey Stadium and watch Vancouver Canadians baseball.

Granville Street is the entertainment district, with bars lined on both sides of the street, including the Yale, Vancouver's old time blues bar. There is a gay district with most gay bars on Davie Street. There is a Pride Parade in August, and four nights of the Symphony of Fire fireworks competition - just you and 400,000 of your closest friends watching fireworks timed to music!

Though you'd never need to leave Vancouver, there are great side trips to Victoria (more English than England), Tofino, Vancouver Island and smaller Gulf Islands, Whistler, and the always scorching hot Okanagan Lake. Believe me, you WILL find lots to do!

The Colorado Connection

Tucson Land for Sale - Investing in the Future

2007-05-13T23:30:00.001-07:00

Nearly everywhere you look on the outskirts of the metropolitan area, you will find Tucson land for sale. Whether you are considering building a home or a business, you will probably find a piece that is to your liking. There are commercially zoned lots, residential lots, manufactured home lots, and even horse properties. When looking for Tucson land for sale there are some things that you need to be aware of before you buy, so that you wont end up making a costly mistake.

Driving around the metro area you will find all different types of neighborhoods and developments with Tucson land for sale . There are luxury home communities in the mountains and foothills of the Catalinas, and Tucson Mountain Park, and family oriented communities like those in South Tucson and Oro Valley, and even some adult communities in the outer areas of the city. Manufactured homes are also becoming extremely popular as a way to use Tucson land for sale. Not only do these areas have land for sale for home builders, but for the shopping, entertainment, and recreation needs as well.

Newcomers to the area looking for Tucson land for sale for a home or a business need to be aware of certain features of the land in the Tucson area. As Tucson is a desert, the soil is sandy and may have to be treated if you want to landscape with grass. Many homes and businesses use desert landscaping to conserve water. However, when it rains, because of the sandy soil and poor drainage, washes that were dry for years can become flooded. Your Tucson land for sale should be carefully inspected for flooding danger.

You will also need to be aware of any easements, liens or deed restrictions on the Tucson land for sale you are considering purchasing. An easement is something on your property that is used by another individual or business. An example would be a neighbors driveway that goes through your property. A lien is the same as on a home or car. If there are outstanding judgments or debts on the home, they will need to be cleared up before you buy. A deed restriction is something that a seller stipulates. They say how the Tucson land for sale can and cannot be used.

When you are looking to purchase land for your home or business in Tucson, a realtor can help to guide you through the process to help you avoid any mistakes. Find a realtor that specializes in land buying and you can be more confident that the purchase you are making is a wise one and a good investment.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

League Two Betting Review - 26 February 2006

2007-05-12T23:25:00.000-07:00

A late strike from Simon Hackney kept Carlisle United at the top of League Two. An own goal from Derek Holmes gave hosts Barnet the lead after 53 minutes but Michael Bridges restored parity just 20 seconds later. Hackney netted the winner for the 13/10 Cumbrians with 15 minutes remaining.

Wycombe Wanderers remained level on points with Carlisle after a 2-1 win against Oxford United. Kevin Besty after 17 minutes and veteran Tommy Mooney on the hour secured the points for the 4/6 Chairboys while Yemi Odubades goal after 72 minutes was just a consolation for the Us.

Northampton Town consolidated third place in the league with a hard-fought win over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground. The 7/4 Cobblers struck a decisive winners through Ryan Gilligan after 68 minutes.

Grimsby Town kept up the pressure on the top three and condemned Mark Wright to a losing start as Chester City manager. Gary Jones goal three minutes before the break was enough to secure all three points for the 8/13 Mariners.

Leyton Orient continued their promotion push with a narrow victory against Darlington. Shane Tudors goal after 13 minutes proved decisive for 4/5 Orient.

A Richard Hope own goal after two minutes gifted Bury a precious 10/3 victory at Shrewsbury Town, their first win since January 14 which sees the Shakers three points clear of relegation.

Drewe Broughton handed Rushden & Diamonds a relegation lifeline with a winning goal against Macclesfield Town nine minutes from time. Diamonds had two goals disallowed but Broughtons counted to earn a vital 6/4 win.

Stockport County failed to edge further away from the drop zone after slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Stockport County. Julian Joachims header after 67 minutes for the 11/5 Pilgrims proved decisive.

Mansfield Town sent Torquay United to the bottom of the league with a 2-0 win at Plainmoor. On loan Sheffield Wednesday striker Danny Reet broke the deadlock after 11 minutes and Simon Brown secured a 19/10 victory with seven minutes remaining.

Pet Supplies

Using Google

2007-05-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a unique algorithm that produces most relevant results to any given query, Google has become, indisputably, the best search engine on the Internet. On the last count, Google has indexed over 4 billion pages and tackles around 200 million searches a day! A cluster of 100 thousand servers are used to store, crunch and spew out the query results with lightning speed that you are so accustomed to see.

This phenomenal growth has made Google from a garage startup to an Internet behemoth faster than any company has done before. The prodigies behind this unique search engine, Larry Page and Sergey Brin in the process already got enlisted themselves in billionaire club.

Google is no longer a mere search engine! It is increasingly broadening its offerings to include great new services and excellent tools. Among these services, most notables are News - a news aggregation and searching service, Blogger - an online journal-keeping solution, Froogle - a marketplace for comparison shopping, Groups - online discussion groups, Answers - a place to get hard-to-find information for a price, etc.

Google also recently unveiled two more programs. Orkut - a social networking service and Gmail - a free web mail service. Orkut is an online community, where a person can participate in it by invitation from a member only.

If you constantly frown over limited space of your hotmail or Yahoo accounts because they get filled up with junk mails and force you to delete old messages frequently, you will love Gmail with its 1 GB of storage capacity. There are several great features available in Gmail system too. One of them, dubbed as Conversations, allow you to view all exchange mails with somebody, once you select one of the mails. Sorting and searching emails also become much easier with Gmail. The only catch is Gmail displays relevant ads - based on the keywords found in your email - on the right side of the screen when you view an email, much like Google displays ads when you view search results.

Although, Google is constantly adding new and extremely useful features, most of us unfortunately do not use all the capacities of the search engine itself. The following tips will make your Internet browsing more effective if even you are an avid net user.

Choose most specific search words

Google returns web pages that contain all the words in your query. If you would like to see the most relevant pages on the first page of your search result, be very specific with your choice of words. For example: if you would like to research on former NHL hockey player Makarov, you should start your search with Makarov not hockey player. Even better if you search for the words: hockey player Makarov. Because just the word Makarov will show web pages on "Makarov" a Russian-made handgun and numerous other people and products with the name Makarov. Refining your query in Google means adding more specific words to your initial search. In this example you will hit the right web pages if your search contains: NHL hockey player Makarov.

Sets - a new feature

What if you are looking for a pair of Valentino designer jeans but can't recall the name of the designer? Query on Italian designer jeans may bring you the right result; however, there is a better tool that Google is planning to implement soon, called "Sets".

Fill up the names of some designers that you remember in the given form such as Levis, Wrangler, Versace and click either of the two buttons and voila! You will get a list of designers name and probably, Valentino will be there. But bear in mind that this feature is still at Beta stage.

Calculator

The other day, I was sitting in a colleague's office. She needed to calculate some basic stuffs and looking for her calculator on her desk. Much to her dismay, she could not find the calculator and started to fumble through her computer programs in her attempt to find Microsoft calculator. I noticed that she was online and the browser was open. I, politely, asked her whether she knew that Google could actually calculate most common mathematical expressions. It came out to be, she did not! She was just amazed after trying it herself. Google is even capable of unit conversion! Give it a try!

Definition

If you are looking for a definition of a particular word or a phrase, Google is the best place to get it. In Google search box, write "define: the word or phrase" without the quotation marks and click search button. If there is a definition available for your search term you will, most certainly, get it. It's a very useful feature for students and people, those who write research papers.

Synonyms

You may think that search engines are too dumb to show query results of the synonyms of your search term. It's not so! At least, in the case of Google! If you use tilde "~" in front of a keyword in your search term, Google will bring results on the synonyms of that word as well.

Searching within a website

Another great feature of Google search engine allows you to make your query within a specific website. First you write your search term in the Google search box and then write "site: the website or domain name". For example: if you are looking for word "Microsoft" within the websitewww.micromedia.com you will write: Microsoft site: micromedia.com.

Check backward links to your website

If you have a website, Google search engine also has a nice feature to show you which web pages are linking to yours. In the search box, write: Link: you website address.

Other important tips to remember are:

There is no need to use "AND". Google always relate all the words in a search term with Boolean "and".

However, if you would like to make your query for two words - one or another - you can use "OR". You have to write "or" in capital letters to give it Boolean value.

Google is not case sensitive. You can write your search terms either in capital or in small letters. You can even mix them up.

Google omits most of the very common words, such as the, in, etc. If you, indeed, need to add a specific word forcefully, use plus (+) sign in front of that particular word. Same way, you can exclude a word from your search expression by putting minus (-) sign in front it.

If you would like to make a search on an exact phrase or expression, put the words within quotation marks. That way, your search result will show only those pages where the exact expression was found. In order to search the phrase: For whom the bell tolls, write "For whom the bell tolls" in the search box. I'll also suggest you to download the Google Toolbar. Apart from the search box and its ability to block pop-ups, Google Toolbar also shows the pagerank of the website you are visiting now. Pagerank is a system of evaluating web pages - developed by Google founders and used as the core of Google's search engine algorithm. The Toolbar also includes feature with the ability to fill up online forms from stored information automatically. You can also keep your daily journal or blog right from the toolbar.

Much to net users delight, Google, in accordance with its ambitious mission statement to organize world's information and make it universally useful and accessible, so far doing a great job by providing us the best search engine and extremely handy features and services. We can only hope that the flow of innovative ideas from Google will not slow down in future, when it becomes a public company.

Mortgage Refinancing

Staging Homes for Top-Dollar Sales

2007-05-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice to have Roger Hazards design team from "Sell This House" come visit for a weekend?

Many "redecorators" and designers offer "Staging Homes" services from $250 to $5,000. These services usually give good advice, some help with the actual work involved, and others even move in new furniture for you.

However, using Design Psychology strategies will help you make the right choices on what is necessary to stage your home for a top-dollar sale.

Residential Design Psychology encompasses your entire home setting, from the fist sighting, whether your home is a condominium, single family home, or a manufactured home. Design Psychology, based on years of research on how our environments affect our emotions, helps stage homes with the buyers emotions in mind. Also, this interior decorating system uses the underlying physiological response to design details-- how our senses react to colors, patterns, textures, and furnishings, to entice a buyer to REALLY want your home.

Home buyers make their ultimate home selection based on their emotional reactions to the properties they visit. The way their brains interpret what they see, hear, touch, smell, and even taste causes them to feel connected to the home they choose. Buyers may think they make a choice based on economics, but even this decision is based on the way they feel because they're getting a deal.

You, as a home seller, have two initial choices.

1. Sell your home as a bargain to investors or bargain shoppers with limited income, or

2. Sell your home for top dollar to your target market.

To prepare your home to sell to investors and bargain shoppers, all you need to do is look for a real estate agent who does a lot of advertising. This agent will list your home under market value. Then sit back and allow the agent to sell your home for a rock-bottom price. Don't be surprised when you get many offers for lower than your asking price right away.

If you want to work a little, or perhaps a lot, you can sell your home for top dollar. Explore ways to create a buyers dream home. Because buyers let their emotions rule their decisions, stage your home for your specific buyer profile. Learn how certain colors, textures, and even plants help attract buyers who will spend more money on your home. Get busy removing clutter, packing memorabilia, staging, and sell your home for top dollar. Don't be surprised when you get many offers for more than your asking price right away.

You may be able to assemble your own team of friends to help you clear out your crowded rooms, paint, and spiff up your gardens. Who needs Roger Hazards team when you've got a few good friends and Design Psychology?

Chrysler Crossfire Fanclub Blog

Why Study Math? - The Polyhedron

2007-05-06T22:31:00.000-07:00

This article will launch my new series in the Why Study Math? category. This will be the start of a fascinating series which show that mathematics is more than just a pain in the neck; indeed these essays will permit a fascinating peek into the world of this curiously strange discipline. We start in the land of geometry, where shapes and figures and their many properties drive students to the breaking point of insanity. Each article will feature a specific aspect of a particular branch of mathematics, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; and each will endeavor to shed some light on how these fields are used in the real world. So come on board and enjoy the ride.

In the field of geometry, particularly as pertains to the high school geometry course, a student is introduced for the first time to the wonderful world of mathematical proofs. Often times students will be scratching their heads wondering why in the world they would be learning things as proving two triangles congruent or about the different properties of shapes such as trapezoids, parallelograms, or even those solid figures called polyhedrons. What is not understood or even seen is that such shapes play a fundamental role in many areas of science and indeed nature.

For example, the helix structurethat winding pattern best typified by a spiral staircaseis the structure most abundant in nature. Watson and Crick, the scientists who won a Nobel Prize for their groundbreaking work with DNA, the genetic material responsible for heredity, showed that the very structure of the DNA molecule exhibited a double helix structure. Running a close second to the helix structure, we have those solids which are formed by regular pentagons and hexagons, those five and six sided figures. Because it is impossible to enclose space (in other words form a polyhedron ball) with just hexagons, it is necessary that pentagons be added to the mix. In fact 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons form the recipe for a nice type of polyhedron ball, which has come to be called a truncated icosahedron.

The soccer ball is the perfect real-life example of the truncated icosahedron. What is even more, many virusesthose potentially deadly nuisancesexhibit this structure. Viruses have outer shells called capsids that are often in the form of an icosahedron. And for those of you who are not familiar with chemistry, the eponymous buckey ball, is an organic molecule made mostly of carbon, which exhibits the soccer ball structure. In fact, chemists have now discovered a whole family of these soccer-ball-like molecules, which are called fullerenes. New and interesting discoveries are being made with these molecules and fascinating applications for their use in diverse fields as medicine and pharmacology are being researched.

Thus understanding geometryshapes, figures, and their related propertieshas profound implications for all of us. Just remember this the next time you go to fill a prescription for that drug which is going to kill that buckey-ball shaped virus that is wreaking havoc on your insides. For without understanding the very nature of the shapes of these viruses, chemists and pharmacologists would be at a loss in their attempt to battle these viral parasites. Stay tuned for more in my Why Study Math? series...

Better Marketing Tricks

Portable Air Conditioner Rentals

2007-05-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

Air conditioners that can be made to move from one place to another on casters are called Portable Air Conditioners. These can be as large as window units, but they can be easily transported on their wheeled casters. Portable Air Conditioners find great use in industries, warehouses, temporary businesses, and more.

Some industrial warehouses are so large that they cannot be cooled by a single central cooling unit. Such spaces rent Portable Air Conditioners for their spot cooling needs. As their workers or machines move, the air conditioners can also be made to move along with them. Several machines in factories need such spot cooling. Even places where many computers are installed require cooling for their optimum use.

Portable Air Conditioners are specially designed for rough use; hence, their capacities are higher than the usual ones. Portable Air Conditioners with cooling capacities of 3.5 to 60 tons can be rented. They are available with both Freon and evaporation technology. Air conditioners that work on evaporation principles are more expensive to rent than Freon ones.

Portable Air Conditioners are also rented by organizers of functions and events such as weddings, live performances, football matches, and more. Rented air conditioners are placed at strategic positions so that there is an average cooling throughout the place. Once the program is finished, the air conditioner can just be wheeled away to the next location.

Vehicles on the move sometimes rent Portable Air Conditioners if they require cooling especially when there is some shipment aboard that requires cooling, such as perishable foods. Water transport vehicles such as boats and ships also find it easier to rent a Portable Air Conditioner for their cooling needs.

One can rent Portable Air Conditioners both on a long term and a short term basis. Factories require long term rentals their rentals can extend to a couple of months or even years. But social events may rent Portable Air Conditioners for a day or so. Depending on the type of air conditioner rented and the period for which it is rented, the cost may range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.

Dating Help

Surf's Up, It's a Beach Party!

2007-05-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

Some of the best beach parties can happen in the Midwest, with temperatures below freezing. Sounds crazy? It is, but it is a memorable and fun way to celebrate a birthday, retirement or special occasion. Beach parties can happen in the summer too, near a pool or a lake in any region.

A beach party needs radical invitations, man! You can follow a surfer theme and use surfboard shapes or any beach theme motif from the party supply store. Other supplies like paper products for food and decorations can match your beach party motif.

Decorating can be fun. Buy plastic beach balls and blow them up to toss around your party, whether its inside or out. Buy an old fishing net and hang from the corner of one room. Fill it with sea creatures and marine life, or use it to put in pictures of the guest of honor. If your party is outside, truck in some sand for beach volleyball.

Use the sand and have a sandcastle competition. Give away personalized party favors to all the winners. Besides volleyball, other sand activities can be horseshoes, Frisbee and football. If there are kids at the party, bury a treasure and create a map for them to follow. Depending on their ages you can make it difficult or easy to find. Use a treasure chest and bury candy or plastic trinkets for them.

If your beach party is inside in the winter, have guests bring their swimsuits and change into them. Turn your thermostat really hot to get them in the mood. Heat and swimsuits will make everyone in a better mood and look forward to spring and summer.

Serve finger food and anything with a beach theme. Make surfer sandwiches or tidal wave macaroni salad. Use regular dishes but jazz them up with a title.

Computer Repair Blog

Decorating for Renters - Part 1 Getting Started

2007-05-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

When you are renting an apartment, you often feel like making changes is not on the agenda. After all, you dont own the space so what can you do? In this three part series, we will teach you how to devise a game plan to decorate to make your apartment feel like a home.

For every decorating project, large or small, the first step is always a walk through. You need to get a tablet or a notebook and walk through the area you are thinking of decorating while following these five steps:

Check for trouble spots that will cause a problem later; off center architectural elements, windows, fireplaces doors.

Look for anything permanent which would cause a problem in arranging a room or giving the effect you want. Particularly in older homes and apartments make a note of pipes, radiators, doorways that are closed off, uneven floors etc. In newer homes and apartments, builders often put things like heat ducts, cold air returns and thermostats just where you want to put a piece of furniture or hang a picture. Make note of these.

Check for trouble spots, things that throw a room off center, or 'uglies.' As a renter you don't have the options of a home owner to paint, pull apart, tear down or add to the permanent fixtures in your home. So if you don't like the looks of the layout or the color of the carpet, write it down here.

Mark down and measure electrical, phone, or cable outlets for TVs and computers.

Check windows. Do they need to be covered for privacy or to keep out light? Are the windows unusually high or too close to the floor? Are they off center, or in the middle of a wall you need for furniture placement? Now is the time to measure windows. Measure the distance from the wall and between windows, the actual size of the window, and most importantly how many inches there are from the floor to the sill (or base of window). Make a note on which windows receive sun and when.

Next you need to make a checklist of the contents of the room. Decide how the room will be used; single or multi purpose. In apartments and smaller houses you will often find you need to use the dining area for the computer or the bedroom as a craft area. Once you have your purpose you are ready to start your shopping list.

List and measure the things you have that you will keep. If you are doing a floor to ceiling make over, you will need measurements of pieces of furniture, as well as the length and height of walls. If you have a digital camera, better yet. You can put the information into your computer. The pictures dont have to be perfect, they are just memory jogs.

List the things that are worn out or wont work and which you will either eliminate or replace with something else.

Finally list any purchases that need to be made with descriptions if necessary and sizes.

When you have done all this, look over your notes and take one last look at your rooms to make sure you havent missed anything which could cause a major problem.

Now for some fun! Go through decorating magazines and books. Perhaps you have saved some pictures of rooms you love. Take a fresh look at them. Perhaps there are things in these pictures which can be used to get the look you want. Or perhaps youll see a room that reminds you of the ones you have. Go to furniture showrooms and shops that sell soft furnishings and see what is out there. If you are interested in antiques, check out the antique shops and used furniture/consignment places.

Youve done the preliminary work so you are ready to go to the next step. Remember that nothing is etched in stone. If you decide on a color scheme and on your first shopping trip fall in love with something that doesnt match, take a deep breath and reconsider. You can always adjust the plan. However, once the first major purchase is made color changes are expensive.

Part II of this series will help you chose a color palette which will work well for your living space, lifestyle and personal taste.

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