Sports Conversion

Protein: A Hikers Best Friend

2009-09-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

Author: Gerald Fitz

While it is true that carbohydrates provide for lasting energy; people often overlook the need for protein. In fact, protein can be the most valuable nutritional tool in a hiker’s toolkit, especially on the most difficult and rewarding backcountry trails.

While carbohydrates provide energy that is sorely needed on a long calorie burning trek; protein is essential and often overlooked. While hiking you work out muscles over long periods of time. If carrying a pack you are also working out often overlooked (and under-exercised) muscles in your legs and back. The evidence of this is plain; your muscles get sore and tired, often in strange spots. The reason for this is that muscles degrade over time when used. Over the course of a long hike, muscles need the tools to repair themselves, and that is where protein comes in. Protein is the building block of muscle, and providing your body with a good source of protein can greatly reduce recovery times while on the trail.

The most common source of protein for hikers comes in the form of food on the trail. However, it is important to pay special attention to what the snacks you are eating are giving you. Many “power” bars advertise their protein content, and can be a good source of protein. However, that protein often comes with lots of extra fat and sugars that aren’t going to provide the most stable trail diet. Beef Jerky can also be a good source of protein, but it comes with a heavy cost. Jerky dehydrates your body, and will increase your need to intake water in order to stay hydrated. Nuts and dehydrated berries are other common munchies on the trail that pack a similar need to drink extra water.

One way of getting protein that is often overlooked is through dietary supplements. Because its dairy based, whey protein is easier to digest than soy protein making it perfect for the trail. Also, studies show that whey protein is more effective than soy based protein; which is often the protein that gets added to power bars. Since whey protein usually involves mixing powder with water; it is easy to get your protein while hydrating yourself. This makes whey protein a decent way to re-hydrate yourself rather than simply dehydrating yourself with salty nuts or jerky. And since whey protein isn’t packed with unnecessary fats or sugars, you’ll be able to incorporate it into a stable trail diet. For both of those reasons, whey protein can be an excellent way to get protein over a long hike; and protein is the hidden crux of a hiker’s nutritional needs on a long rewarding backcountry trail.

About Author: For more info on whey protein, visit Top Form Supplements.

Related Sites:
Naked Pinay Views, Friendly Remarks , Greeny Fashion, Money Talk s , Marc Nand's Blog , Nodding Nanding's Journal, Amusing Disclosur e , PC Operatis , Online Shopster
Sites to visit :

Mizuno, Calvin Klein, Nike, Moschino, Adidas, Puma, Converse, Dickies, Skecher, DKNY, Emerica, Kayland, Miss Sixty, Umi Kid s, Tommy, Wee Box, Onex, Olukai, FlyFlot, Fratelli, Gravati, Daniel Green, Jumping Jack, Yellow Box, Nine West, Tatami, Coclico, , Via Spiga, Naturalizer, Ecco Golf

Internet Gaming Tips for Newbies

2009-09-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

By: Paul Wilson

Internet games use the cyber world technology for playing. Games are extremely popular and constantly evolving.

There are:

Games played using e-mail.
Games played on a browser window by using a web address.
Games played using Internet Relay Chat, Telenet, MUD client, or a Web based forum.
Games that are graphic need stand-alone software that permits players to play with or against one another using an Internet connection.

The first game, MUD, was developed in 1978, and the market has burgeoned since then.

To play, one needs:

A reliable Internet connection.
A personal computer or game console.
Selected software required by specific games.

One can play simple board games like scrabble, or bingo, or games like poker, mahjong, and pool. Another popular category is simulation games-these imitate real-life situations and cover aspects like combat, city planning, strategies, as well as flight simulation.

For serious gaming the computer performance must be optimized. This can be done by:

Running the disk defragmenter and organizing the computer files. This should ideally be done once a month at least.
Correct folder and file errors by using scandisk---use once a week and the computer will give trouble free performance.
Clean your hard drives-get rid of Internet files, temporary files, as well as files in the trash/recycle bin. Clear the cache and uninstall programs that are not in everyday use.
Update the operating system software. Download any new security patches. Keep video drivers updated.
Clear space on the hard drive---store files on a back up system.
Clear any spyware you have inherited from websites.
Minimize number of programs running-when playing a graphic intensive game if there are too many programs running simultaneously the graphics will become choppy and game will be slow.
Delete add on game files-wall papers and other paraphernalia will just clutter the computer.
Run an anti-virus program regularly but disable it when you are loading/playing games. Antivirus programs slow down games.
Always shut down the computer properly.

The Internet allows gamers to compete with people across oceans, on the other side of the world and anywhere in the universe. Some use PCs while others use consoles. What you use is a personal choice and depends on issues like costs and so on.

Before you buy a game you must:

Consider "system requirements" - some games can run on systems that are not exact others need specific hardware.
Find out if the game is single player or multi-player. Many games need the Internet-and, the broadband connection is more efficient than the dial-up connection. Many like Xbox Live only work on a broadband connection.
Find out if the game can be played using a mouse/keyboard or whether it will need a full-featured joy stick.

Be wise and try a demo before making an actual purchase. Playing a demo benefits the player as well as game developer. Many online games offer free trial periods - beta testing is a great opportunity to find out if the game suits your taste as well as pockets.

Do your research thoroughly-usually there are several games competing for players within a genre. Read game reviews before taking the final step.

Author Bio: Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com, the premier website to play thousands of free online games including arcade games, action games, card games, flash games, strategy games, puzzle games and more. He also freelances for the premier Computer Article Submission Directory Site www.1888Articles.com/computer-articles-11.html

2009-08-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

Beach volleyball is a great impromptu game. Almost anywhere that there is sand and a net; groups of friends, acquaintances, and sometimes even strangers will gather for a few rounds of beach volleyball. A playful game of beach volleyball doesn’t have to be too strenuous, so it is easy to have teams with people of all different ages and with mixed levels of fitness. This makes beach volleyball an ideal family game for a lively summer afternoon.

Of course, beach volleyball can be also be a very strenuous game in a competitive setting. When serious athletes get together for a beach volleyball tournament, the ball flies through the air fast and viciously.

To play beach volleyball, you only need a minimum of two people per team for a total of four players. However, the less experienced and skilled the players are, the more people you will probably want to have on each team in order to keep the ball in the air. The more players that are involved, the less ground each player will be responsible for covering. A game with just a few participants is likely to be quite a workout as everybody scrambles across the sand to reach the ball; whereas in a game with a large team different players can concentrate on their own areas of the sand, enabling them to rest a bit when the ball is elsewhere. The fact that beach volleyball can be a fun, low-key game for a friendly crowd of casual players or a serious endeavor with a quartet of accomplished athletes makes it one of the most versatile sports.

The rules of beach volleyball are the same as the rules for any form of volleyball, but play on the sand tends to be a bit different than play on a court. It is much more difficult to move quickly on sand than it is on most surfaces, so play is generally slower than in court volleyball. To train for beach volleyball, athletes must spend a lot of time developing their lower body strength so they can move quickly and accurately across the ground despite the friction and resistance of the sand. While powerful legs are an important part of successful volleyball play, the ability to jump high and hard and land without injury are substantially more vital in beach volleyball than in court volleyball.

Even experienced court players often don’t anticipate how difficult it will be to run and jump on sand, so volleyball players who are new to the beach often sustain injuries because they misjudged how much resistance the sand would give them. Skinned knees and elbows are par for the course among players at all levels of the game, especially because a player often forgets to protect him or herself when diving for the ball in the heat of the game.

Article Source: http://www.sportsarticlelibrary.com

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for VolleyballAdvice.com. To learn more about beach volleyball how to play volleyball, visit us.

Play around these sites also:

Naked Pinay Views, Friendly Remarks , Money Talk s , Marc Nand's Blog , Nodding Nanding's Journal, Amusing Disclosur e , Cyber Tweaks , PC Operatis , Bytamin I , Cool Gizmodgets , Online Shopster

Fashion and Sports Commingled at the Olympics

2009-07-26T04:38:00.000-07:00

The euphoria of Olympic victories has not only slithered into the thumping heartbeats of athletes and coaches but has also crept into the steady admiration of fans, supporters, enthusiasts and viewers worldwide. The Beijing Olympics is one event that everyone, in some way, has creatively identified with. The global sporting extravaganza brought out drawn awareness in people not normally predisposed to national pride and levels of sporting interest. The fact is that Olympic fever has a habit of creeping up in point-up corners and one such bend is the fashion world.

International sports events, just like the Olympics, offered the best opportunity for visibility. The collaboration between fashion and sports, with joint ventures between athletes and labels other than Nike, Adidas, Converse, Puma, Asics, Reebok, Speedo, Diadora, Umbro, Fila, Spandex, and New Balance is nothing new. Fashion has the freedom of creativity, while sportswear has the knowledge of the best fabrics to make items functional. The upshot is greater sports awareness and participation, more creative expression and enthusiasm, quality training accessories and materials, enhanced pride and glory in achievements, as well as better opportunities for business, entrepreneurship and employment. It has become a global mission for sports and fashion to come together to do something good, despite the political drama surrounding the games.

For one, Beijing Olympics showed the scope of these two worlds’ commingling in a number of guises, illustrating how far-reaching their mutual influence really is. From the realms of high fashion to the mainstream, fashion and sports have far more in common than you might assume. The relationship between contemporary fashion and global sportswear brands have been inspired by street style and have been working in closer collaboration in recent years. The link between fashion and sport is undeniable, even the fashion heavyweights such as Ralph Lauren, Polo, Lacoste, and Fred Perry have history in sporting activities of various types. If you think fashion and sport are unlikely teammates, Beijing Olympics Opening doubles as the sportiest catwalk on earth, the wisdom being that, in appealing to a huge, new audience, sports brand’s own label would reap the benefits. The link is even more noticeable in the street fashion scene with dominant sport's companies like Adidas and Nike pretty much owning the game with vintage re-releases and limited editions.

There’s no excuse for poor shapes and bad colors, they don’t make you run faster. Designing sportswear perceives no compromise; it should keep pushing till it gets the best results – just like Olympic athletes. What the athletes wear may not be quite as important as how fast they will run, but, with an unprecedented worldwide audience of more than four billion viewers, that’s a huge amount of brand exposure. Today, fashion needs sport and sport needs fashion. In an increasingly casual world, how many people wear couture? But the sportswear giants now face the opposite challenge: over-distribution has threatened to make their garments too ubiquitous – thus their need for an injection of style savvy. When you’re working out, you don’t have to look like rubbish. Fashion keeps the true sports performance there and complements its needs.

Fashion sense has played a role in sportswear today. Women athletes and delegates at the Beijing Olympics generally showed national pride in the modern or unique print. American Olympic team looked sporty and sophisticated, the image that they would like to voice out. Canada flashed modern sensuality. It’s true that Summer Olympics are all about running harder, jumping higher and swimming faster, but looking better is important, too. The business target is making sportswear fashionable as well as performance-friendly. Athleticism was not the only one on display at the Olympics. Outstanding personal, national and international qualities were carried on display from the bleachers to TV screens and newsprints around the world. Fashion in Sports kicks off the complexities in human undertakings into a more tangible, descriptive and gainful level.

Assuming you're not head to toe in made-to-order outfit and a pair of wingtips it's an almost certainty that you're wearing some kind of sportswear, unless of course you're reading this article naked. Check out the slideshow below and see for yourself the extent of sporty fashion at the 2008 Olympics:

Fashion And The Olympics

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: olympics fashion)

Sports fashion Links:

Mizuno, Calvin Klein, Nike, Moschino, Adidas, Puma, Converse, Dickies, Skecher, DKNY, Emerica, Kayland, Miss Sixty, Umi Kid s, Tommy, Wee Box, Onex, Olukai, FlyFlot, Fratelli, Gravati, Daniel Green, Jumping Jack, Yellow Box, Nine West, Tatami, Coclico, , Via Spiga, Naturalizer, Ecco Golf

DON'T FAIL TO SEE:

Naked Pinay Views, Friendly Remarks , Money Talk s , Marc Nand's Blog , Nodding Nanding's Journal, Amusing Disclosur e , Cyber Tweaks , PC Operatis , Bytamin I , Cool Gizmodgets , Online Shopster

Sporty Fashion at the Olympics

2008-08-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

The euphoria of recent Olympic victories has not only slithered into the thumping heartbeats of athletes and coaches but has also crept into the steady admiration of fans, supporters, enthusiasts and viewers worldwide. The Beijing Olympics is an event that everyone, in some way, has creatively identified with. The global sporting extravaganza brought out drawn awareness in people not normally predisposed to national pride and levels of sporting interest. The fact is that Olympic fever has a habit of creeping up in point-up corners and one such bend is the fashion world.

Olympics 2008 offered the best opportunity for visibility. The collaboration between fashion and sports, with joint ventures between athletes and labels other than Nike, Adidas, Converse, Puma, Asics, Reebok, Speedo, Diadora, Umbro, Fila, Spandex, and New Balance is nothing new. Fashion has the freedom of creativity, while sportswear has the knowledge of the best fabrics to make items functional. The upshot is greater sports awareness and participation, more creative expression and enthusiasm, quality training accessories and materials, enhanced pride and glory in achievements, as well as better opportunities for business, entrepreneurship and employment. It has become a global mission for sports and fashion to come together to do something good, despite the political drama surrounding the games.

Beijing Olympics showed the scope of these two worlds’ commingling in a number of guises, illustrating how far-reaching their mutual influence really is. From the realms of high fashion to the mainstream, fashion and sports have far more in common than you might assume. The relationship between contemporary fashion and global sportswear brands have been inspired by street style and have been working in closer collaboration in recent years. The link between fashion and sport is undeniable, even the fashion heavyweights such as Ralph Lauren, Polo, Lacoste, and Fred Perry have history in sporting activities of various types. If you think fashion and sport are unlikely teammates, Beijing Olympics Opening doubles as the sportiest catwalk on earth, the wisdom being that, in appealing to a huge, new audience, sports brand’s own label would reap the benefits. The link is even more noticeable in the street fashion scene with dominant sport's companies like Adidas and Nike pretty much owning the game with vintage re-releases and limited editions.

There’s no excuse for poor shapes and bad colors, they don’t make you run faster. Designing sportswear perceives no compromise; it should keep pushing till it gets the best results – just like Olympic athletes. What the athletes wear may not be quite as important as how fast they will run, but, with an unprecedented worldwide audience of more than four billion viewers, that’s a huge amount of brand exposure. Today, fashion needs sport and sport needs fashion. In an increasingly casual world, how many people wear couture? But the sportswear giants now face the opposite challenge: over-distribution has threatened to make their garments too ubiquitous – thus their need for an injection of style savvy. When you’re working out, you don’t have to look like rubbish. Fashion keeps the true sports performance there and complements its needs.

Fashion sense has played a role in sportswear today. Women athletes and delegates at the Beijing Olympics generally showed national pride in the modern or unique print. American Olympic team looked sporty and sophisticated, the image that they would like to voice out. Canada flashed modern sensuality. It’s true that Summer Olympics are all about running harder, jumping higher and swimming faster, but looking better is important, too. The business target is making sportswear fashionable as well as performance-friendly. Athleticism was not the only one on display at the Olympics. Outstanding personal, national and international qualities were carried on display from the bleachers to TV screens and newsprints around the world. Fashion in Sports kicks off the complexities in human undertakings into a more tangible, descriptive and gainful level.

Assuming you're not head to toe in made-to-order outfit and a pair of wingtips it's an almost certainty that you're wearing some kind of sportswear, unless of course you're reading this article naked. Check out the slideshow below and see for yourself the extent of sporty fashion at the 2008 Olympics:

Fashion And The Olympics

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: olympics fashion)

GPS Insight: the best tracking system that offers much more

2008-08-17T03:45:00.000-07:00

Managing successfully a vehicle-based business requires close monitoring. One should regularly verify to ensure that his business is operating efficiently and to the required standards. Equipments, activities, persons and service locations should be carefully checked in order that essential services are delivered within the shortest latency from unexpected obstructions. However, these intentions and processes remain intricately difficult to sustain even with popular communication facilities and this is especially so with service and trucking companies (long haul trucking, delivery vehicles, sales forces, HVAC, roofing, plumbing, construction, etc). Now, this uncertainty can be addressed with a more precise data-gathering technology that is universally encompassing. You can now closely and even remotely monitor your business operations and eventually effect cost-effective and sound management decisions based on accurate and reliable data. The GPS (Global Positioning System) is the answer. GPS provides numerous means of achieving efficiency, waste identification, and cost-reduction with its highly dependable data-gathering capability. Let’s have a short overture on GPS.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a radio-navigation system that uses a around 24 to 32 Medium Earth Orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals to GPS receivers and therefore provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to civilian users in all weather, day and night, anywhere in the world. This brings about increased efficiencies and safety for vehicles using highways, streets, and mass transit systems. The number of problems associated with the routing and dispatch of commercial vehicles is considerably reduced or eradicated with the GPS assistance.
With a GPS tracking device, you can use GPS to establish the precise location of a vehicle, person, or other asset to which it is attached and to record the position of the asset at regular intervals. The recorded location data can be stored within the tracking unit, or it may be transmitted to a central location data base, or internet-connected computer, using a cellular (GPRS), radio, or satellite modem set in the unit. This allows the asset's location to be displayed against a map backdrop either in real-time or in post analysis, using customized software.

With your service or trucking business now on focus, GPS Insight Vehicle Tracking System, a hardware and web-software vehicle-tracking product, pooled together GPS, wireless networks (AT&T/T-Mobile), internet access and Google Earth to create at your convenience, detailed reports on vehicle locations, driver activities and driving habits. GPS Insight draws together some modern advances in 3D and satellite mapping with real-time updates in a Web-based configuration to generate reports on trip and stop times, as well as their averages and variances, which sustain operational scrutiny/exploration. Additional reports can also be generated quantifying who is speeding, how long vehicles are used during the day, vs. payroll hours, when vehicles are used outside of regular business hours, whether or not the prearranged route is taken, how many miles/hours are used-up driving in each state, etc.

It is really quite difficult to accurately monitor your business to success, but with GPS Insight you can rest with real-time assurance. Your purchase of such an avant-garde product also builds a gainful partnership with GPS Insight. You will be equipped with the finest and most accurate tool to gear up your business, whether you are working with vehicles or working in the field to make business happen. GPS Insight provides for synchronization and operational efficiency because accuracy and timing are essential to every economic activity everywhere. Moreover, expansions on complimentary data warehousing and data mining service are underway to facilitate clients’ filtering of relevant data. GPS Insight reduces uncertainty on many quantities efficiently; it qualifies as a very practical measurement tool and thus, renders this vehicle-tracking mechanism absolutely necessary for your vehicle-based business.

With your convenience as the top priority, the GPS Insight website comes very friendly with its online offer of vehicle-tracking product which are equally friendly and easy to use. GPS Insight support wiki for customers provides support information, helpful tips, and general information about the GPS Insight product. The excellent customer service you obtain when you call with questions or concerns renders the entire package acceptably friendlier. Purchased units will get to you installed and running in less than 24 hours or as early as the next day! They deliver the same day when paying by credit card, and have adequate inventory. Other GPS providers will take up to 60 days to perform a credit check, program your units, set up your account, and so on. GPS Insight’s well-organized process provides customers the swift response they require to unravel problems with their convoy.

Overall, GPS Insight cost $1.50 - $2.00 per day per vehicle, and your company makes money on fuel savings, routing efficiencies, and streamlined vehicle maintenance, elimination of possible accidents, no more labor paid when people aren't really working, and more. And yes! For orders of $2,000 or more, (4 units, typically), GPS Insight offers lease at cutthroat rates with the paperwork accomplished within 3-4 days. For your advantage, GPS Insight provides a 30-day money back guarantee, and offers free trials for qualified companies. They do not bind you with long contracts, either

This topnotch hardware offers you more! GPS Insight is the only company which integrates engine diagnostics (engine light status/fault codes, real speeds, real odometer readings, real idling/RPM & actual fuel consumption/MPG) with its baseline product, no hidden fees, no commitment to a long contract, and the best mapping available. The Blog for GPS vehicle tracking provides detailed illustrations, feedback, reports and other relevant specifics to keep you on track and well-informed. Live demos can be gladly arranged for you in their offices, at your location, or via WebEx presentations.

GPS Insight as a fast evolving product, takes input and advice from customers to extend further the capabilities and functions of the product and its website which is being updated regularly. All of these requirements and enhancements, combined with the best in modern technology and 3D mapping, are what makes GPS Insight the best so far. Get hold now of this amazing product and seize a first-hand tang of distinctive quality in both product and support.

Live TV at Blogtv.com

2008-04-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

If you are tired and fed up with your usual live tv viewing in the internet in which you are watching the almost the same thing, then you should try to visit Blogtv.com where you can watch live show of every user in the internet. They also offer online live broadcast where you can have the latest information you would like to have. For more details and information, you can visit them in their website at www.blogtv.com now.

Best Male Enhancement Pills

2008-03-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

Get the best male enlargement pills which have been clinically proven safe and effective. You can only have that at Sinrex. They offer male products which are very effective and other products like penis stretcher.

Go on and visit their website now and buy male enhancement at www.sinrex.com for more information before others can get it all.

Arundo Donax - How to turn a bog plant into a serenade

2008-03-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

I began playing the clarinet when I was 11 years old, back in 1984, after many months of pestering my parents. Although I wasn't particularly good when I started, I loved the look and feel of the instrument and I persevered, and I finally ended up as a music student at Leeds University with the clarinet as my first instrument. I didn't find the notes that hard when I was a kid; I could produce a tune without too many tears, but my tunes just didn't sound very nice until I'd got to about grade 6. A lot of young players experience the same problem, and the problem is really twofold- 1) producing a beautiful sound takes lots of practice, and 2) producing a really beautiful sound depends on your reed.

What a Reed is All About

If you don't play a reed instrument you may well be wondering what I'm talking about, so I'll explain a little bit here. (For the already initiated, feel free to skip this bit!)

A clarinet is fundamentally a tube which is approximately 2 feet long; in fact it's the same length as a flute or an oboe. The flute has a small hole which you blow across. This makes the air inside the tube start vibrating, (like if you blow across the top of a bottle and hear a note). The oboe and the clarinet, however, use reeds. These are small bits of cane, (or sometimes plastic), which are attached to the top of the instrument. The cane goes in your mouth and you make it vibrate with your lips and jaw; this sets the column of air vibrating, and hey presto a note sounds. (It's very hard to describe how you actually do this because it all happens inside your closed mouth!) You can't play the clarinet (or the oboe or bassoon) unless you have a reed attached to the top, and these essential bits of kit have, unfortunately, quite a short life span. How long a reed lasts depends on lots of things, like how often you play, what brand you're using, and even what the weather's like. (It's a natural material so it's affected by the humidity of the atmosphere).

The Reed you really Need

So now you know you need a reed, off you pop down to your local music shop, or find one online. The first question they'll ask you is what kind of reed do you need? Narrowing it down to just "a clarinet reed" won't get you very far. You have to specify the strength of your reed. And choose a brand. And choose one of a range of reeds within that brand. And how many do you need to buy?

So how can a little bit of cane be so diverse and complicated? How can you possibly choose?! Let's take a look at the first dilemma: Strength.

Reeds are categorised by their thickness, and given a grading from 1 to 5, including half grades. Basically speaking, the thicker the reed, the more difficult it is to produce a note, but the nicer the note will sound. So, if you are a beginner, (and therefore in possession of relatively weak jaw muscles compared to a veteran), you should choose a low number, known as a "soft" reed. Around 1.5 would be good, but go for a 1 if the 1.5 is too difficult to blow on. As you get better, you'll gradually be able to progress to thicker reeds (known as "hard"). To get a decent sound, you need to be playing on a minimum 3.5, and most professionals will be playing on 4.5 to 5s. Personally, I play on a 3.5. OK, let's move on to brand and product:

In the UK there are mainly 2 companies battling it out in the clarinet reed field, and they are Vandoren and Rico. I'll try to make a comparison between them, since your basic purchasing decision will be between these two brands. Here's what Vandoren say about their standard B flat clarinet reeds:

"The most widely played reeds in the professional world."

And here's what Rico claim about their most similar product:

"The world's most popular reed." One thing you may be able to deduce from this is that Vandoren reeds are better and also more expensive. They produce a better tone for professionals, who are more picky about these things than amateurs. However, there are many more amateurs piping away in their bedrooms on a Sunday afternoon than there are professionals, and they tend to choose Rico, so they can't be all bad.

Here's how the prices compare from 2 reputable online firms, for a box of 10, (the normal number you get in a box).

>From www.myatt.co.uk Rico Reeds cost £8.50 and Vandoren cost £11.00

>From www.dawkes.co.uk Rico cost £6.25 and Vandoren cost £10.25

Rico are well ahead in the tasty price league, so why is it that all these professionals are choosing Vandoren? It really boils down to the sound that comes out when you blow, which to the professional is the only major issue. For us mere mortals though, there are another couple of points to consider- how many of these 10 newly purchased reeds actually work properly, and how long will one last before I have to change it? I've played on both these brands of reeds over the 20 and a bit years I've been playing this instrument, and I believe that Rico are more consistent in the strength grades they put in the box, and they last for the same length of time as Vandoren's, but whereas a box of Vandoren sometimes produces a really stunning beautiful reed, a box of Rico never does.

When you buy a box of reeds, it is quite normal to find that some of them just won't work. This is rather annoying, (especially if you're paying more than a pound a piece), but it's a fact of life. The cane is rigorously tested by both companies, and left to mature for a considerable time, but nothing can stop the cane from becoming slightly modified once it's been packaged up in its box. My personal average from Vandoren is 50% usable reeds per box, while Rico usually gives me 7 or 8 that are playable. So, in effect, they work out even cheaper than you'd bargained for. I think that Rico's testing technology is perhaps superior to Vandoren's, to produce these results. They are more effective at eliminating inferior cane earlier in the process, before it actually gets in the box. In my mind there is no doubt that Vandoren Reeds sound better, but the large difference in price is not justified by the small difference in sound. Going back to my earlier point about the quality of!

my early attempts at the clarinet, I should point out that playing on the correct strength of reed, (and one that isn't too old), will ensure an acceptable sound from anyone. So how to find the correct strength? Read on!

How Strong is your Jaw?

Rico Reeds come in strengths 1-5 (not all brands do). If you're a complete beginner, buy a 1, a 1.5 and a 2. (You can buy reeds singly, both online and in shops. Some shops let you try the reed out before you buy it just in case it's a duffer (see above), but not all of them.) Try the 2 first. If you produce a sound quite easily and without pain, congratulations! You've found the right strength. If you find it takes lots of breath to get a note and you can hear air escaping from the side of your mouth as you blow, the reed is too hard. Try the 1.5, and repeat the process. Remember that with clarinet reeds, the only way is up! When you have been playing on your 1.5 for some time, try the 2 from time to time. Don't play for too long, as your jaw will tire easily and you may bite into your bottom lip. If this happens, your mouth will be too sore to play until it's healed, and you'll have to start with a softer reed again. Gradually increase your playing time, until you can play on the 2 with no problems. Then move on to the 2.5, and repeat the process.

If you stick with a softer reed once your jaw muscles have become stronger, your sound will deteriorate. Playing on a soft reed produces a buzzy kind of tone and can sound flat. Higher notes on the instrument are more difficult to reach with a softer reed, which is another reason why you need to climb that reed ladder! Sometimes reeds are a little bit too hard or a little bit too soft, without being impossible to play on. You don't have to chuck them away in cases like this, you can "doctor" them slightly to make them more playable: if the reed is too soft, trim a VERY narrow (hair's breadth) strip from the tip of the reed with a sharp knife. Or push another reed between it and the mouthpiece of the instrument, pushing it away from the rectangular hole in the mouthpiece slightly. If the reed is too hard, you can sand it a little. Use a piece of 220-grain sandpaper. Rub just a little, then test the reed- a tiny rub can produce a large difference (which is why they don't always get it right in the factory- it's a precision art!)

Breaking in Reeds

All new reeds need to be "broken in". They won't produce a consistent sound until they've been used a few times. Rico reeds are faster to break in than Vandoren. You need to wet the reed (in your mouth or with water- I prefer my mouth, but Rico advise water, as some people have very acidic saliva apparently, eeww), then play on it for just a few minutes each day, until the sound becomes consistent. It's good to have a few reeds "breaking" as you never know when you'll need a new one.

Replacing Reeds

It's easy to tell when your reed needs replacing- after serving you well for a week or 3 (depends how much you play), one day it'll just sound rubbish, completely different to the last time you used it. Every time it goes in your mouth the reed is getting attacked by various germs and other organisms, and your saliva begins the process of breaking down organic matter ready for your tummy, so it's no wonder that they don't last forever! Another obvious sign that you need a new reed is when you accidentally slice it in half while attaching it to the instrument, a tragically common event. (It's held onto your plastic mouthpiece by metal band called a ligature. This has quite sharp sides and if you're not careful it'll cut right through in one go. Don't worry though, I've never heard of anyone cutting their finger on one!)

Arundo Donax

This is the technical name for the reed plant which Rico and Vandoren use to make their reeds. It grows in India and the Mediterranean, and can get as high as 6 metres tall. If you live in the right climate you can grow it in your garden, but I wouldn't suggest trying to grow and make reeds yourself from scratch, although some fanatics do.....

Other Types of Reed

For the standard clarinet, you will be buying B♭ clarinet reeds. It's unlikely that you would buy the wrong reed size, as this is what 99% of people play on, but just for the record, there are also E♭ and bass clarinet reeds. E♭ reeds are for a smaller instrument, and bass clarinet reeds for a beast of an instrument, so neither will fit. The A clarinet takes the B♭ reed, as it is only very fractionally bigger than the B♭ instrument. (Orchestral players need two instruments, an "A" and a "B♭"; see for more on transposing instruments).

Final Verdict

The Rico clarinet reed is a great choice for the amateur player. They are reasonably priced, reasonably consistent within the box, and produce a nice sound. They are easy to get hold of and excellent value for money, especially if you frequently slice them in half! If you want to get serious on the instrument, you should probably move on to more expensive reeds from Vandoren.

Web-Programming: An Alternative To Unproductive Advertising

2008-03-11T20:43:00.001-07:00

As of this writing the television writers in Hollywood are on strike. The significance of this strike will be felt far beyond the current television season and impact what and where people will get their entertainment in the future. People are now not only embracing the Web for their information needs but are also increasingly turning to it for their entertainment needs as well.

The Web will soon be 'the place' that fills the programming vacuum that network broadcasters have been unwilling and/or unable to fulfill. People were prepared to tolerate constant reruns, dreadful programming, and incessant repetitive ads as long as there was no alternative, but that is no loner the case. Viewers now have an option to bad television and it's the Web, but why should you care and more importantly how can you take advantage of the opportunity it creates?

Why Should You Care?

Information and entertainment have melded in recent years creating what has been dubbed 'infotainment.' It can be argued that the evening news has become more entertainment than hard news and let's not even get into venues like the History Channel where fact and fiction seem to be presented in equal and indistinguishable doses. So what does all this have to do with you and how you deliver your marketing message?

The time is coming, if it is not here already, that companies will not be able to get away with merely uploading online brochures and catalogues, or even extensive screeds singing the praises of every feature and benefit associated with their offering. People demand more, they insist your website be interesting, informative, and entertaining; and it is this aspect of entertainment that potentially makes your marketing presentation memorable.

What Is Web-Programming?

Web-programming takes the creative Web-video campaign concept and pushes it one step further up the evolutionary marketing scale by integrating the message into a programming environment.

This concept is not an entirely new idea, in fact one of the most noted television commercial campaigns of 1991 was the Taster's Choice soap opera-like series of spots that wove the marketing message into a courtship relationship between two apartment neighbors. In an environment where information and entertainment blur, it seems like an ideal solution to capturing an audience's attention and interest, and creating a viral buzz that few products or services can generate by presenting a bulleted list of features.

Build Brand Relationships

James E. Aisner, in his article 'More Than A Name: The Role of Brands in People's Lives' (HBS Working Knowledge For Business Leaders) references the research of Harvard Business School Professor, Susan M. Fournier, "Fournier has created a typology of fifteen different types of relationships between consumers and their brands." These brand relationships include the secret affair, the best friend, kinship, the fling, courtship, the marriage-of-convenience, casual friendship, childhood friendship, mother and child, and master-slave.

What kind of relationship does your brand have with your audience? Is it a short-term fling that starts with a lot of heat and passion and then quickly cools-off, or is it a long-term marriage that will last a lifetime? Finding, and promoting the most appropriate and beneficial brand relationship is the marketing goal of your Web-programming marketing initiative.

Part of the problem many smaller organizations have in developing successful marketing campaigns is that they think in terms of products and services rather than brands; features and benefits rather than relationships. Almost every product or service on the market can be replaced with a competitive substitute, but brands are much harder to replace; brands create a competitive barrier through the development of relationships based on prototypical psychological and emotional factors, the same kinds of factors that govern your personal relationships.

Generate Trust, Confidence, Loyalty and Passion

In his article, "A Brand New You," (Psychology Today), W. Eric Martin tells us that brands came into vogue in the post Civil War era as a response to an increasing mobile population that began to lose touch with local merchants and shopkeepers. Brands became a substitute for the personal relationships that people had with their suppliers. This seemingly minor historic fact helps us understand the significance of brands in today's Web-centric marketplace.

Today's consumer-client, whether retail or business-to-business is more remote, more isolated from the supplier than ever before. The Web allows us to market our products and services anywhere in the world, but in order to actually make a sale, we must establish a relationship that generates a sufficient level of trust, confidence, loyalty and passion. Sneer if you will at the passion and loyalty most Macintosh users have for their computers, but what other computer company can claim such brand allegiance?

Relationships Are Based On Psychological Needs

At the heart of any relationship is the emotional or psychological need that that relationship fulfills. If you haven't found that connection in what you do then you are at a definite competitive disadvantage; and you are competing on the most fickle and transient of factors: price and features. In business, there will always be someone who is prepared to sell a substitute product or service for less, or with more bells and whistles. So why would you ever want to compete on that basis?

It really doesn't matter what business you're in, there is always some emotional or psychological component to what you do. The iPod is the market leader in its category despite numerous competitors; it holds that position not because it's the cheapest, which it definitely isn't, or the product with the most features, which it probably is, but because it's an iPod - not a tool but a status symbol, a badge of intelligence and taste, a brand relationship akin to being a member of the coolest club in town.

Web-programming Development

In short, Web-programming is a marketing campaign based on a series of episodic Web-videos tied together by plotline and character development; an ongoing initiative that weaves into its storyline the marketing pitch. The integration of the marketing pitch can be done subtly using product placement techniques or overtly making the pitch part of the story arc.

This marketing technique is not for everyone; it is certainly not for the unsophisticated or for the marketer who is afraid to experiment or to take a chance.

If you are looking for an instant direct financial return like a big sale sign in your storefront window then you are not looking for marketing, you're looking for promotions. Marketing is all about building a brand relationship with your audience. The more time and effort you invest in marketing, the more solid your brand relationship will be, and the more appropriate the clients you'll attract and keep.

Web-programming - Where To Begin

There are four minimal requirements needed to create an episodic Web-video marketing campaign: need identification, point-of-view, attitude, and transformation. These are the same elements defined by Syd Field, the well-respected author, producer, screenwriter, and lecturer, in his book, "The Screenwriter's Workbook;" and they are the same elements that all top-notch salesmen use to build client-relationships - ask yourself - have you ever met a top salesman who wasn't a great storyteller?

Need Identification

Like all episodic series yours will need a hero or protagonist; this is the person your audience will identify with and who will act as their surrogate.

Your protagonist must be searching for something that relates to the emotional or psychological need fulfilled by your product or service. Anyone who has ever had to deal with an insurance company certainly understands the Geico caveman's need for respect. His frustration is the perfect foil for the company's marketing message, 'it's so easy a caveman can do it.' We are all cavemen at heart, seeking respect from big business bureaucracies that make us jump through hoops just to place an order.

Point-of-View

You must present your material from a particular point-of-view. Is your presentation told from the protagonist's point-of-view or is it told from an objective observer's, perhaps through voice-over. It can even be counter-intuitive and be told from an antagonist's point-of-view.

If your scenario is more procedural based, you can even present it from different points-of-view each delivering alternative perspectives, each highlighting different aspects of the emotional fulfillment.

Attitude

Attitude is especially important for Web-based presentations, but it is also one of the scariest aspects of marketing for the faint-of-heart. All too often businesses shy away from bold statements, or extreme displays for fear of alienating some segment of the audience, but it's attitude that grabs people's attention, makes the presentation memorable, and qualifies leads and inquiries.

Transformation

One of the hardest things a commercial-based episodic series has to deal with is story arc. What change takes place over the life of the series and is the campaign concept strong enough to sustain itself? What transformation takes place? Does your protagonist find fulfillment or does he fail to find the emotional or psychological answer he's looking for. If you're not sure what deep-seated need your product or service satisfies, find the conflict.

All stories are based on conflict, frustration, and desire, whether it's the search for 'whiter whites' or better insurance. If your concept is without conflict, you are not illustrating the need for your solution.

You can show successful transformation based on the adoption of your solution or you can show failure whichever works best for what you're marketing and the audience you are trying to attract.

Conclusion

The Web has from its infancy provided business with enormous marketing opportunities. As the Web's capabilities increase over time, these opportunities increase as well. As much as other media tries to adapt to the competitive pressures created by the Web, old methods and attitudes die-hard; the writer's strike being just one example of a group trying to maintain dominance in an environment they cannot control. The opportunities are there to make your marketing mark if you have the courage to act.

Web-Programming: An Alternative To Unproductive Advertising

2008-03-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

Web-Programming: An Alternative To Unproductive Advertising

2008-03-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

Sex Crimes and Their Defense in Minnesota

2008-03-11T20:40:00.000-07:00

Under Minnesota law, criminal sexual conduct or sex crimes may include: rape, statutory rape, unwanted sexual contact, criminal sexual assault, child pornography, child solicitation or child enticement, solicitation of mentally impaired persons, sodomy, incest, fornication, pimping, and prostitution. Some prohibitions, like those against sodomy and fornication, are technically still on the books, but rarely enforced.

The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor has the following statistics on sexual conduct and sexual assault crimes:

The number of reported sex offenses in Minnesota increased almost threefold between 1971 and 1984, but has remained relatively constant since then.

The number of sex offenses (sexual assault, rape, sexual conduct) reported to the police increased from 2,303 offenses in 1971 to 6,589 offenses in 1984. In 1993, 6,439 sex offenses were reported, of which 49 percent resulted in an arrest.

Between 1981 and 1992, adult convictions for sex offenses involving force remained at the level of 145 to 190 each year, but convictions for child sexual abuse nearly tripled, rising from 160 to 461, and convictions for interfamilial sex abuse increasing from 3 to 154.

Reflecting these trends, about 90 percent of the victims of convicted sex offenders were children or adolescents. Nearly all of the victims of adjudicated juvenile offenders were under 18 years old, as were 84 percent of the victims of adult offenders (with 46 percent under age 13). Nearly all convicted sex offenders (97 percent) were male and most of their victims were female, although 18 percent of the victims of juvenile offenders and 13 percent of the victims of adult offenders were male.

Criminal sexual conduct is divided into four degrees depending upon the age of the victim, age of the accused, whether force is used, and the existence of any special relationship between the parties, such as parent-child or physician-patient. In Minnesota, judges are required to double the punishment imposed on a pattern sex offender, which is someone who repeats or is likely to repeat a sex crime, or someone who plans the crime. Moreover, if convicted of a sex crime, offenders must register with police departments across the state.

FIRST DEGREE. First Degree sexual conduct/assault requires sexual penetration with another person. Remember - A mistake regarding the complainant's age or consent by the underage person is not a defense to a sexual conduct crime.

Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority.

Fear of Great Harm. Circumstances existing at the time of the act cause the complainant to have a reasonable fear of imminent great bodily harm to the complainant or another;

Armed with Weapon. The actor is armed with a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the complainant to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon and uses or threatens to use the weapon or article to cause the complainant to submit;

Personal Injury. The actor causes personal injury to the complainant, and either of the following circumstances exist:

The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish sexual penetration; or

The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless;

The actor is aided or abetted by one or more accomplices and force or coercion is used or the accomplice is armed with a dangerous weapon.

Significant Relationship. A significant relationship generally means that the parties live together. It is a crime if the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual penetration.

Penalty. Not more than 30 years and a fine of not more than $40,000. There is a presumptive executed sentence of 144 months.

SECOND DEGREE. Second degree criminal sexual conduct/assault does not require penetration. Instead, it involves "sexual contact." Sexual contact has been defined by case law to mean touching of the genital area, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks with a sexual intent. The sexual touching may occur on the flesh or through the clothing.

Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority.

Fear of Great Harm. Circumstances existing at the time of the act cause the complainant to have a reasonable fear of imminent great bodily harm to the complainant or another;

Armed with Weapon. The actor is armed with a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the complainant to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon and uses or threatens to use the weapon or article to cause the complainant to submit;

Personal Injury. The actor causes personal injury to the complainant, and either of the following circumstances exist:

The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish sexual penetration; or

The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless;

The actor is aided or abetted by one or more accomplices and force or coercion is used or the accomplice is armed with a dangerous weapon.

Significant Relationship. A significant relationship generally means that the parties live together. It is a crime if the actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was under 16 years of age at the time of the sexual penetration.

Penalty. Not more than 25 years and payment of a fine of not more than $35,000.

THIRD DEGREE. Third degree criminal sexual conduct is similar to first degree in that it requires sexual penetration. Penetration is liberally construed to included penetration of the anal or genital openings and specifically includes digital and oral penetration. Third degree sexual conduct is generally charged for behavior that is not as extreme as first degree sexual assault.

Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is more than 36 months older than the complainant; or the complainant is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 24 months older than the complainant. In any such case it shall be an affirmative defense, which must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence, that the actor believes the complainant to be 16 years of age or older. Consent by the complainant is not a defense.

Force or Coercion. the actor uses force or coercion to accomplish the penetration

Mental & Physical Infirmity of Victim. The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.

Position of Authority. The complainant is at least 16 but less than 18 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense.

Penalty. If the actor in such a case is no more than 48 months but more than 24 months older than the complainant, the actor may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years. Otherwise a person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 15 years and a payment of not more than $30,000.

FOURTH DEGREE. A person who engages in sexual contact with another person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree if any of the following circumstances exists:

Age Difference. The complainant is under 13 years of age and the actor is no more than 36 months older than the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age or consent to the act by the complainant is a defense. In a prosecution under this clause, the state is not required to prove that the sexual contact was coerced. Additionally, if the complainant is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant or in a position of authority over the complainant fourth degree sexual conduct may be charged. Consent by the complainant to the act is not a defense. In any such case, it shall be an affirmative defense which must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the actor believes the complainant to be 16 years of age or older.

Force or Coercion. The actor uses force or coercion to accomplish the sexual contact.

Mental & Physical Infirmity of Victim. The actor knows or has reason to know that the complainant is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.

Position of Authority. The complainant is at least 16 but less than 18 years of age and the actor is more than 48 months older than the complainant and in a position of authority over the complainant. Neither mistake as to the complainant's age nor consent to the act by the complainant is a defense.

Significant Relationship. The actor has a significant relationship to the complainant and the complainant was at least 16 but under 18 years of age at the time of the sexual contact.

Penalty. A person convicted may be sentenced to not more than ten years and a payment of a fine of not more than $20,000.

FIFTH DEGREE. A person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree:

(1) if the person engages in nonconsensual sexual contact; or

(2) the person engages in masturbation or lewd exhibition of the genitals in the presence of a minor under the age of 16, knowing or having reason to know the minor is present.

"Sexual contact" does not include the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the buttocks. Sexual contact does includes the intentional removal or attempted removal of clothing covering the complainant's intimate parts or undergarments, and the nonconsensual touching by the complainant of the actor's intimate parts, effected by the actor, if the action is performed with sexual or aggressive intent.

. Penalty. A person convicted may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year and payment of a fine of not more than $3,000. The charge may be increased to a felony with imprisonment for not more than five years and payment of $10,000, if the person has prior violations.

AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE

In today's world much hysteria and controversy swirls around sexual abuse. A person accused may find that even if acquitted they are looked upon with suspicion and fear. The allegation itself can carry with significant stigma and social repercussions. Too often, prosecutors charge out criminal sexual conduct cases based solely on an allegation. There is often little physical evidence. Though it may seem the case is weak, an aggressive and proactive defense is necessary. That may include hiring experts to review witness interviews for suggestive language and improper techniques.

If you are accused take these steps:

Do not give any statements to law enforcement and do not discuss the case with any other people until you have retained legal counsel;

Hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer;

Write down the names of potential helpful witnesses;

Only after retaining a lawyer should you make written notes regarding the allegations. these should be provided to your lawyer.

Sex Crimes and Their Defense in Minnesota

2008-03-11T20:38:00.001-07:00

Sex Crimes and Their Defense in Minnesota

2008-03-11T20:37:00.000-07:00

Getting The Right Vacuum Cleaner For Your Home

2008-03-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

Buying a vacuum cleaner might seem easy, but there are important issues to consider. These include price, features, and what type and size of house a person has. A large house needs a stronger vacuum if the house is carpeted. In addition, pets or children can affect how often a home is vacuumed and how hard a vacuum cleaner will need to work to ensure cleanliness. People with hardwood floors may also want vacuum cleaners, but they will likely be more interested in a canister vacuum as opposed to an upright. A canister vacuum is better designed to handle rugs and draperies, as well as upholstery. These kinds of vacuums do not do well, however, for individuals with wall to wall carpet, because their cleaning power is not the same.

The price of a vacuum cleaner is very important, but not to everyone. Some people have more money than others, and those who are rich simply buy what they want. For the majority of individuals, however, how much a vacuum cleaner costs affects whether a person buys it or not. In addition, many people look at the price of a vacuum cleaner based on several factors, such as the width of the cleaning path, the size of the motor, and what kinds of attachments come along with it. A vacuum with a stronger motor and more attachments should generally cost more. However, there are some discrepancies in price in almost any category of vacuum cleaner, and taking one’s time to find the best deal is often worth it.

The brand of vacuum cleaner that is purchased can also affect price and be very significant for many people. There are some people who swear by a particular brand and will not purchase anything else, just as there are some people who do not care what brand they buy, as long as it works well and is priced right. Most people fall somewhere in the middle. They have certain brands that they like, but they will pick from among those brands based on price and other factors. In addition, they might consider going outside of that group of brands if they find something that seems to be a particularly good deal, or if something else has been recommended to them from someone who they trust.

There are some vacuum choices that a lot of people do not consider, but which are still good options for many people. For those who have multi-story homes, having a vacuum cleaner on each floor is generally a good option, to avoid carrying a vacuum cleaner up and down stairs. Some of these individuals will opt to have a central vacuum cleaner installed in a home so that there is only a very lightweight hose to carry around when vacuuming. In addition, some people use a robotic vacuum if they have a small area of hard floor which they want to clean very easily. These are not designed for large areas, however, or for carpeted areas. There are so many choices for a vacuum cleaner today that people can generally find whatever it is that they are looking for, making their cleaning easier.

Getting The Right Vacuum Cleaner For Your Home

2008-03-11T20:31:00.001-07:00

Getting The Right Vacuum Cleaner For Your Home

2008-03-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

How to Make Warhammer Modeling Flock

2008-03-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Spending almost $200 of your budget for a modeling flock is too big just to produce a 4' x 4' grassland gaming board. Is always be a problem you will face in making a gaming terrain but this will not be a hindrance for you to experiment on what decision to undertake. Because you want to work on a small budget this is something you had get over.

Doing research on Yahoo or Google on how to create a modeling flock or by just simply asking a friend who knows how to create one. That can lower the $200 to a $10 or less. But be sure to watch and read on the instructions for they will cause you problems in the results of your modeling flock. You should admit that making your first modeling flock will not be that easy for it will not produce similar to the modeling flock that cost $200. You should not be afraid to try every thing every possible way to have your modeling flock be the flock you want.

Without further delay the content of this article is the detailed instruction on how to make a modeling flock.

Step 1 - Get Your Materials Ready

Here is what you’ll be needing:

-a container to mix it in (we use a gallon sized ice cream container)

-a cookie sheet to dry the modeling flock on (don’t use new ones, your mother / wife won’t be happy)

-a tube of green paint (in the picture it shows a tube of blue paint and a tube of yellow paint, but we found it easier to just get a tube of green paint)

-water

-a stirring stick

-sawdust (that’s right, modeling flock is just dyed sawdust!)

-a fine strainer

The tubes of paint that we use are 4 U.S. fl oz, or 118 mL. We buy them at the dollar store for $1.

You can get the sawdust from any lumber mill that near your place. They should be more than happy to hand over a garbage bag full free of charge. If not, then just find someone you know who is a carpenter.

Take note that the sawdust should have been made from sanding, not from cutting wood.

Step 2 - Dilute The Paint

First you will need to dilute the paint that you are going to use to dye the saw dust. The amount of paint that you water down will determine how much flock you will make.

You will discharge the entire 118 mL tube of green paint into the container and then fill the container 3cm (about 1 1/4 inches) full of water.

WARNING: If you water down the paint too much your flock will be brown.

This is the common mistake which will end up with ugly stuff and waste. Even though it started out a nice green it will end up an ugly brown, which was useful only to be used as dirt and not grass. But we are going to create a grassland so better careful.

Mix the water and paint with a stirring stick. You can use any typical stirring sticks that you get from the paint stores, but you can really use anything that you don’t care getting stained with green paint.

(Important Note: The colour of your flock will be slightly browner than the green paint that you mix, so choose a colour paint that is slightly brighter than your desired modeling flock colour.)

Step 3 - Add the Sawdust

The next procedure is to add the sawdust on the paint. First add a small amount just to turn the watered down paint mixture into a compact sludge. Then continue adding more and more sawdust until it is mixed in well with the paint.

The easiest way to tell when to stop adding sawdust is when you add a bit more and it is very hard to mix in (i.e. it is hard to get rid of the brown sawdust). This is the point where you should stop.

Warning: If you stop sooner your flock will not be fine enough.

However, don’t expect your flock to be as fine as the Games Workshop version at this point for they already perfected the mixing of the paint and the sawdust. That will come sooner or later.

Once you have finished mixing the flock you are ready to move to next step.

Step 4 - Spread Out Your Modeling Flock to Dry

You will now need to spread out the modeling flock to dry. You can use two cookie sheets to dry out the amount of flock made with your desired proportions.

In spreading out the damp modeling flock it should be evenly as possible, then put it in a cool dry place and not be hit by strong winds for 24-48 hours. Make sure it is completely dry before proceeding to the next step, or else you will not get the same quality results as what Games Workshop produces.

Step 5 - Screen the Modeling Flock To Make It Finer

A fine strainer with a small openings you will have in doing the last step and that is to screen the modeling flock through it. There may be bunches that are just too hard deal with. You should really work if this happen until you cannot screen a dust from it. This will not be garbage cause it can be use as a mossy rock on another models.

How to Make Warhammer Modeling Flock

2008-03-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

About Essential Fatty Acids and Fish Oil

2008-03-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

By now, most of us have heard of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their potential health benefits. They’re said to sustain cognitive function and memory, benefit the heart and immune system, aid in cell reproduction and repair, and even help balance hormones. Fish oil, duly noted by the medical community as having similar benefits, contains high levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, thus establishing the link between a daily regimen of fish oil and good health. Fish oil is sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement and comes in both liquid and capsule form.

What are essential fatty acids?

Essential fatty acids are unsaturated fats typically found in the oils of vegetables, certain nuts and seeds and some fish. They’re said to benefit health more than the saturated fats found in meat and dairy products and may even have a positive impact on cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Essential fatty acids are referred to as "essential" because they must be obtained through diet and are essential to the normal growth and function of muscles, nerves, cells and organs in humans. There are two families of essential fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids – the fatty acids found in fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat present in many coldwater fish including trout, salmon, sardines, anchovies, herring, mackerel, tuna and cod. The two most potent forms of omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), both known as "good fats" – unlike saturated fats, which when consumed in excess can lead to cardiovascular problems, neural and brain disorders.

EPA helps to produce the prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) which help control blood-clotting and arterial functions. EPAs may also help to lower serum triglyceride levels.

DHA is a major component of human brain and retinal tissue and aids the transmission of nerve impulses.

The term "omega-3 essential fatty acid" has become synonymous with "fish oil" in modern American marketing literature.

Sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids other than fish oil include, but are not limited to:

• Avocadoes (whole or oil)
• Brazil nuts
• Flaxseed
• Flaxseed oil
• Fortified milk products
• Hempseeds
• Hempseed oil
• Omega-3 eggs
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sesame seed
• Soybean oil
• Walnuts
• Wheat germ oil

Omega-6 fatty acids – not found in fish oil

Omega-6 EFAs are found in animal products such as dairy and meat and are common in cooking oils such as safflower, olive, sunflower, hemp, soybean, pumpkin, sesame, walnut and flaxseed oils. Too many omega-6 EFAs, say nutritionists, can throw off the balance of prostaglandins and lead to health problems. Experts recommend a ratio of three parts omega-3 essential fatty acids to every one part omega-6 fatty acid in the diet. Research indicates that Americans consume far more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 as a result of overindulging in fried foods, red meat and cheese.

Omega-6 fatty acids are dependent on interactions with omega-3 essential fatty acids in order to benefit good health, which is why a balance of the two is crucial in the diet. The American Heart Association cautions against a high dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids as it can lead to the development of gallstones and promote tumors.

Prostaglandins

Prostaglandins encompass a number of hormone-like substances found in every cell in the body. They’re critical to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels, the contraction and relaxation of muscles, the regulation of blood pressure and the modulation of inflammation. Prostaglandins are needed for overall good health and maintenance and must be replenished constantly. It’s easy to understand why having a good balance of prostaglandins in the body is essential to well-being.

Where does fish oil come from?

Most fish oil is extracted from the fatty flesh of the fish, unless a product specifically states otherwise, as is the case with cod liver oil or shark liver oil – extracted from fish liver. Nutritious fish oil is usually derived from deep, coldwater fish and those swimming in the wild (wild fish eat other fish and marine animals and vegetation to survive, whereas farm-raised fish are typically fed some type of less nutritious, less expensive, commercial-grade pellet). Some experts say the best fish comes from the deep Atlantic of Norway and other Scandinavian countries: the deeper and colder the water, say experts, the less chance of toxins such as mercury, lead, dioxins, furans and PCBs occurring in the fish oil. Fish from eastern Pacific waters is known to contain elevated levels of mercury.

Fish oil supplements – good ones / bad ones

"Product disclosure" is the operable phrase when seeking out nutritious fish oil supplements. From what kind of fish is the oil extracted and from where is it extracted naturally through pressing or with a centrifuge; or are petrochemical solvents such as hexane used to extract the oil from the source? How is the fish oil refined? Is it molecularly distilled, which to date is the most reliable form of fish oil purification, or does the label read something like "extra-distilled" or "super-distilled?" Such terms have no bearing on quality or safety. Because the hundreds of thousands of fish oil supplements on the market remain unregulated by the FDA, the safety, consistency, efficacy and strength of these products varies immensely among brands.

When reading fish oil supplement labels:

• Make sure the type of fish from which the fish oil is extracted is listed.
• Look for terms "coldwater," "deep water" and "wild" as opposed to "farm-raised."
• In what ocean or hemisphere was the fish caught? North Atlantic, deep, coldwater is said to be the most nutritious.
• Make sure the fish oil is molecularly distilled, which better ensures the absence of PCBs, heavy metals and other contaminants.
• What parts of the fish were used? Fish oils extracted from fish liver may be higher in heavy metals and contaminants.
• What fish oil extraction method was used? Cold or modified expeller pressing means that the oil was produced without damaging temperatures or unnecessary pressure.

Marketing claims that have no defined meaning in relation to fish oil supplements, and which often mislead consumers, include:

• Ultra-pure
• Professional grade
• Pharmaceutical grade
• High-potency
• Super-distilled
• Natural
• Extra-distilled
• Best
• Finest
• Highest quality
• Pure
• Purest
• Purified

Essential fatty acid health benefits and risks

Few argue the benefits of fish oil and essential fatty acids in the diet. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the omega-3 fatty acids can benefit cardiovascular health and that "good unsaturated fats" derived from vegetables and fish are far more nutritious than "bad saturated fats" which come from red meat, animal products and dairy. The cardiovascular benefits to balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet include lowered serum cholesterol, decreased serum trigylcerides and reduced platelet aggregation. Although many fish oil supplement companies claim that fish oil supplementation may aid brain function and strengthen the immune system, a complete body of evidence has yet to be produced.

Along with the health benefits of fish oil come some risks, most associated with taking too high doses of fish oil or having dangerously high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in the blood. Some of these risks can include:

• Thinning of the blood and reduced ability of the blood to clot.
• Increased risk of bleeding.
• Too large doses can increase glucose levels in persons with already elevated blood sugar levels.
• In excess, fish oil may suppress the immune system.
• Increase the occurrence of nosebleeds and easy bruising.
• Upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea and belching.
• Poisoning from heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins and pesticides.

Experts and nutritionists are convinced that the health benefits of fish oil far outweigh the risks. However, many warn that fish oil shouldn’t be taken with blood-thinning medication such as warfarin or aspirin and shouldn’t be taken by anyone with bleeding disorders or uncontrolled hypertension. It is highly advisable to consult a physician before supplementing a diet with fish oil.

EPAs, DHAs, efficacy and the FDA

In September of 2004, the FDA announced they would allow a qualified health claim for reduced risk of coronary heart disease for conventional foods that contain EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids as outlined in FDA’s "Interim Procedures for Qualified Health Claims in the Labeling of Conventional Human Food and Human Dietary Supplements." Notwithstanding inconclusive research at the time of release, the FDA said it would exercise its enforcement discretion with respect to the following qualified health claim:

"Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of [name of food] provides [x] grams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. [See nutrition information for total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content.]"

In 2000, the FDA announced a similar qualified health claim for dietary supplements containing EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids and the reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The FDA recommends that consumers not exceed more than a total of three grams per day of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, with no more than two grams per day from a dietary supplement.

Be sure to shop at www.vitacost.com for all your essential fatty acid and fish oil needs!

References

1. Supplement from the sea: the fat from fish oil can benefit your heart, eyes, joints, and brain. Tom Weede. Natural Health. Oct 2007 v37 i9 p105 (2).

2. Omega medicine. Is fish oil good for what ails you? Bonnie Liebman. Nutrition Action Healthletter. Oct 2007 v34 i8 p1 (5).

3. The government’s big fish story: Pick the perfect fish oil supplement. Men's Health. July-August 2007 v22 i6 p158.

4. Fish oil and brain development. Alan R. Gaby. Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine. Oct 2007 i291 p49 (2).

5. Effects of fish oil supplementation on myocardial fatty acids in humans. R.G. Metcalf, M.J. James, R.A. Gibson. Alternative Medicine Review. Sept 2007 v12 i3 p307 (1).

6. Essential fatty acids. Douglas Dupler and Teresa G. Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 4 vols. Updated July 1, 2006.

7. Mighty omegas (ways to score more essential fats). Nancy Duncan. Women's Health. Dec 2006 v3 i10 p47.

8. Essential fatty acids and eicosanoids: their role in preventing inflammation, cardiovascular disease and cancer. James Meschino. Dynamic Chiropractic. Dec 3, 2007 v25 i25 p28(3).

9. Fish oil. Mai Tran and Teresa Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 4 vols. Updated July 1, 2006.

10. On call: Fish oil revisited. Staying Healthy from the Faculty of Harvard Medical School. August 21, 2006 pNA.

11. By the way, doctor: How much fish oil should I be taking? Staying Healthy from the Faculty of Harvard Medical School. August 21, 2006 pNA.

About Essential Fatty Acids and Fish Oil

2008-03-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

Viva La Vegan - Why it's not hard to be a vegan

2008-03-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

People are generally pretty shocked that I choose not to eat animal products of any kind. “Don’t you feel like you’re missing out?” they ask wide-eyed with their eyebrow raised. The answer is no. The only thing I feel I’m missing out on is contributing to the mass slaughter of farmed animals. Eating meat; fish and dairy causes environmental destruction, damages human health, contributes to global hunger and inflicts immense suffering on billions of animals across the world.

Sometimes they get the vegetarian thing. Most people have seen images of factory farming, which are pretty shocking. They push it to the back of their minds, but kind of understand vegetarians. Vegans on the other hand seem like freaks, after all what’s wrong with taking the cows excess milk right? Well the cow wouldn’t have had milk without a calf and what happens to the calf? They get ripped away from their mother within the first days, the males often going to veal crates, or being killed on the spot and the females enduring the same fate as their mother; Excessive milking, mastitis and slaughter when she gets worn out due to overwork.

Chickens bred for laying eggs are only useful if they are female. Thousands of male chicks (yes the cute yellow fluffy ones) are crushed alive or left to die in rubbish bags, suffocating and squashed by the other chicks. Therefore even free-range eggs raise ethical questions and as for battery cages, they are outdated and extremely cruel.

The hardest thing about being a vegan, isn’t resisting temptation to eat meat, but trying to avoid hidden animal products in everything from sweets and beer to bread and even soy products. The best thing to do is to get used to reading ingredients. If a product that you like contains an animal product that could be easily replaced, write the company a letter and explain why you won’t be using their product anymore and suggest a simple change they could make.

Viva La Vegan - Why it's not hard to be a vegan

2008-03-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

Playing Cornhole At A Tailgate Party

2008-03-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

Cornhole is a very popular game in some areas of the country, and not so popular in others. For the areas of the country where the game has a following, however, it is often played at tailgate parties and other gatherings. One of the reasons that cornhole does so well at a tailgate party is because it is so easy to transport. The board that is traditionally used in the cornhole game is four feet by two feet, which fits in the bed of a truck, and it will also go in the trunk of a larger car. In addition, there are some smaller versions of the board made. These are three feet by two feet, and they are often called by the name of beanbag toss, instead of cornhole.

Because of this, the cornhole game is popular at many different gatherings, and the game is very often played at tailgating parties in the Northern part of the country. While the game does not seem to be as popular in the South, there are pockets of interest in it. In these areas, the individuals who like to play the cornhole game will bring their cornhole game boards and the bags to tailgate parties and other gatherings so that everyone has a chance to play. They organize tournaments, play the game at backyard barbecues, and predict that the game will one day be big enough to be televised like bowling and other activities that some people believe is a sport and others do not.

One of the best things about the cornhole game, however, is the ease with which it can be played. This is a great thing for any kind of party, because virtually anyone can play it without worrying about how to understand the rules. The game is not difficult, and the rules are not complex, making the game something that can be enjoyed by anyone, young or old, at any skill level. People can also make their own cornhole boards and cornhole sets. There are plans available on the Internet for almost everyone to use. The cornhole board can be made quite easily with a few simple tools by someone with only a moderate level of skill.

Even a beginner can make a cornhole board by following the instructions carefully. Most cornhole boards � either homemade or factory made � are made of wood. Some of them, however, are made of plastic, but they are often not as popular. For those who make their own boards for tailgate parties, however, there are also cornhole bags that need to be made. The older ones were made of a heavy cloth such as denim or burlap and stuffed with corn. Today�s cornhole bags are usually made of a somewhat softer cloth, and they are either stuffed with beans or with plastic pellets. Either way, however, they are easy to make and can last a long time when made correctly. They need to be sewn very tightly and they have to be the correct size and weight. By either buying or building a cornhole board the next tailgate party can be a huge success.

Common Mistakes In Business Plans

2008-03-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Your business plan is typically the first impression potential lenders of investors get about your business idea. Even with a great product, team, and customers, and you are unable to convey to properly convey your image, it could be the last impression if your plan has some of the following, common mistakes.

Lenders and investors review hundreds of business plan every year and with every plan, lenders and investors become more cynical because the same mistakes pop up with regular frequency. With so much competition for a limited amount of capital, it is imperative to not make these mistakes.

1. Financials

Unrealistic Financial Projections - Simply saying that you are going to do $100,000 in sales is not enough nor can you simply say there is no way of knowing. Everyone knows there is no way to accurately come up with financial projections over the next three years, especially in a start-up. But, what is required in your plan is that reasonable assumptions are made and supported with research. By incorporating a detailed list of assumptions and how you arrived at your numbers, the lender/investor can judge your analysis and decision making process. If you are projecting to generate high sales outside of industry norms, explaining how you arrived at this conclusion is a must. Lenders and investors have seen many, many plans that claim sales are going through the roof once funded and as a result are very jaded at statements like this. Financial data that is inconsistent with industry averages and overly aggressive sales figures will raise flags. Explain every number.

Confusing Cash with Profits - Revenues do not always equal cash. For example, suppose you make a sale this month for $100 that cost $50 to produce. Assuming your buyer doesn’t pay for 30-60 and even 90 days if dealing with state or federal sources (and assuming they all pay), the effect on your cash flow is significant. Suppliers and employees still have to be paid for their work while you are waiting on payment from the buyer.

While you may not have a significant portion of sales coming from receivables, the timing of cash flows is critical for developing a financial strategy as cash flow is much more important than profits. Profits are an accounting concept while cash is money in the bank. If you don’t believe me try paying your bills with profits.

No Adjustment for Seasonality - All businesses are seasonal to some extent, some more significant than others. Seasonality refers to the percentage of sales that are made in a month. For example, most retailers have huge November and December sales and lousy January and February sales. Did you make enough cash during the good months to cover the slow months to cover salaries, rents and lights?

If You Build It They Will Come - Be careful in assuming once your doors open people will be streaming in to buy. You have a new, relatively unheard of business. This is a time when your business is particularly vulnerable as most of new owner’s cash reserves have typically been used to open the store. If sales projections are off during the first couple of months and you don’t have enough working capital to keep the lights on, you may be quickly going out of business.

Insufficient financial projections - Basic financial projections consist of four elements: Income Statements, Profit & Loss, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow Statements.

For most businesses a three-year projection is sufficient, but if yours is a capital intensive one and will take longer to show profitability then use five. Actual figures are a must if you can get them and any number in the projections needs to be in the business plan narrative. If you are purchasing an existing business use the historical financials to show support for your sales figures.

No Quotes - Any significant expenses should have a quote accompanied in the appendix, especially for construction or remodeling as this is an area where most entrepreneurs slip as they do it themselves and greatly underestimate the costs.

2. Marketing

Failing to relieve the customer’s pain - Businesses are rewarded to make consumer’s pain go away. Pain can include; my car stopped working, my doggie is sick or my tax returns are too hard to prepare.

If your business plan can’t show how you are relieving the customer’s pain, then the chances for success in the marketplace is extremely limited.

Remember pain equals market opportunity. The greater the pain, the greater number of customer’s with this pain and the better you can relieve the pain equals greater market potential.

One Billion Customers Served - Claiming everyone needs your product/service will send a strong message to the reviewer that you don’t know your market and remove any credibility to your plan. In the good old days the shotgun approach to marketing could work as there were limited channels for advertisement. Today with unlimited outlets and more narrowly defined markets, this approach does not fly.

While it’s true everyone eats, not everyone will eat at your restaurant, nor could you effectively advertise to everyone. By researching the segments that are most likely to use your product/service and showing how your message will get to them will ultimately make your endeavor more successful. Having clearly defined target markets will show you have done your homework and be the cornerstone of a marketing strategy that can succeed.

We have no competition - Use this statement if your want your plan rejected. Every business has competition. While there may not be a direct competitor, meaning one that offers the same or similar product, there is always an indirect competitor.

Saying there is no competition tells the reviewer that you have either not done any market research or there is not a market for your product.

3. Organization

Writing For The Wrong Audience - A plan for a lender should be written differently than one for an investor. Banks are interested in seeing the likelihood that debts be repaid and investors are interested in the upside profit potential. Be sure to write your plan to your audience. For both, keep to the facts, keep it clear and keep it simple. If you don’t feel you have the writing abilities to make your plan shine, then get help.

Poor spelling and grammar - Leaving spelling and grammatical errors in your plan only tells the reviewer that you are not paying attention to details and may not pay enough attention to the business. Use spelling and grammar checkers and let others review your plan to make sure there are no errors.

Too repetitive - Many times, plans will cover the same points over and over. A well-written plan should cover key points only twice: once in the executive summary then again in greater detail in the narrative of the plan.

Remove the Jargon - Using simple language is imperative to getting a technical business funded. Don’t think that by using complex terms that lenders/investors will be so impressed with your knowledge that they will whip open the checkbook. Businesses that can’t be understood don’t get funded. If you can’t explain your business to a sixth grader your chances of funding are in jeopardy.

Investors are really only interested in your technology if it solves a problem that people will pay for, is better than the competition, can be protected through patents and can reasonably go to market without spending a lot of money.

Keep the technical details out of the business plan and in the white papers.

Appearance matters - Make sure your plan looks professional. Use professional printing, binding, keeping fonts consistent and easy to read. The more money being requested means investing more time in making sure your plan will stand out from the crowd. Be careful that you don’t go overboard and give the impression that the plan is all style and no substance.

Length - A long business plan does not make a better business plan. All of the industry and marketing research won’t save a flawed plan. Too many plans have been immediately rejected because they are too long. Lenders and investors favor entrepreneurs who can efficiently demonstrate the ability to efficiently get to the point.

An executive summary should be no more than 1-3 pages. Ideally it should only be one page but some complex plans require more. An ideal business plan is 20-30 pages, including financials. Remember less is more!

Use operating plans, white papers and marketing plans for the in-depth details.

Fluffing - Using phrases like "unmatched in the industry;" "narrow window of opportunity;" or "ground floor" are empty phrases filled with hype. If anything, the cynical reviewer will be turned off by the hype and trash your plan. Stick with laying out the facts – what is the problem, how will you solve the problem, how big is the market, how will consumers buy it and what is your competitive advantage. If the opportunity is there the lender/investor will be able to make the decision for themselves.

Overvaluing the business idea - What gives a business value is not the idea but the execution of the idea. A great idea is a start, but almost everyone has had a great idea at some point in their lives. How you will execute this idea is what sets apart a real business from the dreamers.

4. Execution Mistakes

Waiting too long - Funding a business takes a long time. Expect three months at a minimum after finishing your business plan to get funding. Unless you have sufficient capital, other sources of income and can be funded in-house at a bank, this number may be reduced. Bank financing for business with less than two years of operating history are typically funded through an SBA guarantee, which requires additional time, patience and paperwork. Financing through investors is usually an even longer process as they have a lot of people competing for their money and they tend to do significant due diligence to secure their investment. Waiting until you need the money is a sure way to keep your business from launching.

Unreasonable time lines - Many business owners underestimate the timelines for completing milestones. Its human nature to think we can do things faster than is possible. When getting a business started there will be several tasks you could not have anticipated and the some tasks you think will be easy which will end up taking much longer. It is best to overestimate and finish early, rather than scramble and execute your opening poorly.

Failing to seek outside review - When preparing your plan, be sure that you have at least a few people review it before sending it out. Preferably look for people in your industry or who have a specialization in sales, distribution, etc that could lend a fresh set of eyes and find any flaws in the plan. Being so close to the action can keep you from being objective and this additional scrutiny may save you countless headaches and money down the road.

Perfecting - It can be easy to spend countless hours perfecting your plan and ultimately never launching. Remember, your plan will never be perfect and in practice should be continually updated as you learn more about the business, market and customers. Don’t make your plan an academic practice, finish it and get in front of investors and lenders. Use this feedback to see if your plan really needs the additional perfection.

10 Points To Check Before Buying A Motorcycle

2008-03-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

Buying a new or used motorcycle is serious business. It needs thought and careful selection. A motorbike is sacred to many and just a vehicle to some. However no motorcycle buyer should be without a check list that will help him or her make a great selection.

10 musts before paying for a motorcycle:

1. Check it out and do so with a motorcyclist friend in tow. Check if the motorcycle is clean and straight down centerline and forks.

2. Take along a list of models and their pros and cons. Discuss the nuances with the friendly sales person.

3. Find out about gears, brakes, clutch, and all other mechanics.

4. Determine engine specifics and details of gas tank and wheels.

5. Ask about service and warranties.

6. Get details of accessories and other musts like helmets, rear view mirrors and so on.

7. Sit on a lot of bikes to get a feel of height and riding position.

8. Read up on bikes in discover Today’s Motorcycling. Get all the information on types of bikes, financing, bike care and more.

9. If you are new to motorcycles choose a light-weight bike rather than the coolest, sexiest bike that only pros can ride. New riders should aim for a four-cylinder of less than 600 cc or 75- cc for sports machines and 150cc for everyday use.

10. Ask about safety gear and budget for this too in the cost of the motorcycle. Use pants, helmet, gloves, and jacket meant for motorcycling.

All motorcyclists must consider safety and reliability. Get a valid motorcycling license and insurance too. Be wise and take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course see: http://www.msf-usa.org/ .

Refer to magazines like beginner Bikes magazine for recommendations on good starter bikes. According to dedicated bikers, a good choice of a motorcycle for a beginner would be Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Buell Blast.

Choose a bike that suits you and not one that looks good on the cover of a magazine. The rule of thumb is the motorcycle and its rider must fit like hand in glove. Test ride the motorcycle and get a feel. A large part of selecting a motorcycle is comfort and instinct. So choose a motorcycle with care so that you get long hours of riding as well as comfort and safety.

Never buy a bike on first sight or visit. Take your time in making a selection. Visit the many motorcycle websites on the internet and comparison shop. Find out what offline prices of motorcycles are and compare features as well as prices, service contracts, and warranties. Many people find that the best deals are available on the internet. Others feel a motorcycle must not be bought without viewing and test riding. So get all your thoughts and options in order before you make a choice.

Make Your Own Website

2008-03-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of options to make your own website. I will cover a few no cost, easy to set up sites. I will also discuss registering a domain name and choosing a hosting service. A blog is essentially a website but with more functionality and there are quite a few sites that will allow you to set up a blog for free. Make your own website for free, it sounds to good to be true. The trade off with free sites is they will usually display ads on your site unless you upgrade to their paid account option. You can try out a blog host for a couple of weeks and if you like the service you can either live with the ads or pay to upgrade your account. Blogger is one exception they have done away with their ads and it is easy to use with a robust feature set for users of all levels. Another popular option is Wordpress it has a clear interface and powerful features and best of all it is free. Xanga which is also free is one of the most popular blog host providers for teenagers and young adults. Another interesting feature than you can use in conjunction with your Blogger or Wordpress account is Audio Blogger, you can find it at audioblog.com. It allows you to create an audio blog by either recording with your web browser or by calling in on a telephone. You can call from your cell phone from anywhere in the world and even interview someone on a conference call. A few years ago who would have have thought you could make your own website and call in audio from your cell phone, to create a podcast that could be heard by millions of people. Audio Blog also allows you to to upload videos to your blog. You can record digital video on your cell phone or webcam and upload it. The only drawback is it is 4.95 a month. If you would like to have more control over your blog you can chose your own domain name and web hosting service. I personally use business hosting from Yahoo! Web Hosting. I chose Yahoo because it is reliable and comes with a free domain name, all you have to do is pay the low monthly hosting fee. It also has one click installation of Wordpress. Hostgator is another affordable service and it is also easy to install Wordpress on their server as well. It has never been easier to make your own website. The reason I think blogs are better than a traditional website is that they have an RSS feed which stands for Really Simple Syndication. It allows readers to subscribe to your blog and easily keep track of new and updated content. Well there you go, I have given you a few options to make your own website. You should have one up and running in no time at all. Drop me a line and let me know how it works out for you.

A List of Reasons Why You Need to Start a Blog

2008-03-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

Blogging is taking the world of journalism and marketing by storm and easily the most influential activity on the internet. A blog is allowing individuals and businesses to post the state of the world, upcoming business promotions and anything personal someone may feel is important.

Think of your blogs as an opinion piece on anything in particular that you may feel is important. Some people have blogs on specific topics or specific areas like a city or vacation spot. Some blogs are set up as a source for highly specialized topics in the news which are often ignored by the mainstream media. Blogs are also tools of internet marketers and business owners promoting a product or service.

It isn’t just computer savvy people either that are starting their own blogs. It’s people like you and me. If you're thinking of starting a blog for whatever reason you want, but aren't quite convinced, think about some of these following reasons why it is a great idea to start one.

Simple as can be – If there ever was a better time to start a blog, then this is it. There are a plethora of free blog templates available which are extremely user friendly. The only work you need to do is register then follow a few simple instructions. Even if you have with little or no technical skills, you can still start a blog.
Make some money with your blog - Pay-per-click advertising programs like Adsense, and affiliate programs available with Amazon.com and Commission Junction can produce a nice chunk of change in your pocket. The only requirement is you need to have a website or blog.
Say something– Blogs are great way to state your point of view and possibly change someone point of view if you’re the kind of person who likes to talk about issues. It’s only a matter of time before you build up steady traffic, and more in-depth discussions among like-minded bloggers and blog readers will take place.
Keep in touch – A great and cheap way to stay in touch is to start a family blog. Publish family related newsletters and have everyone can keep in touch via the comments.
Make a difference – You have the ability to touch and reach people through your blog. While your traffic might be low at first, given a little bit of time and the right theme, your blog has the potential to reach thousands, even millions of people just like yourself. Blogs are quickly becoming a powerful medium.
Express your creativity to the world – You’ll have an outlet for others to see your work if you are an up and coming poet, artist, comedian, or author. You’ll reach more people easier through a blog than normal channels and methods.
You're the best – What are you good at? If you think you are the best at something such as model trains, darts, or marketing, don’t be afraid to show everyone. Start a blog for other experts like yourself or offer tips and advice to your readers.
Promote your business - Blogging leads to new clients and business opportunities as well as keeps existing customers updated on company news. Promote your latest breakthrough; update existing products changes; and alert customers to future promotions. It will also allow you to receive important feedback on products and services through its comment section.

Angels Or Devils by DISHWALLA

2008-03-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

this is the last time
that I'm ever gonna come here tonight
this is the last time - I will fall
into a place that fails us all - inside

I can see the pain in you
I can see the love in you
but fighting all the demons will take time
it will take time

the angels they burn inside for us
are we ever
are we ever gonna learn to fly
the devils they burn inside of us
are we ever gonna come back down
come around
I'm always gonna worry about the things that could make us cold

this is the last time
that I'm ever gonna give in tonight
are there angels or devils crawling here?
I just want to know what blurs and what is clear - to see

still I can see the pain in you
and I can see the love in you
and fighting all the demons will take time
it will take time

the angels they burn inside for us
are we ever
are we ever gonna learn to fly
the devils they burn inside of us
are we ever gonna come back down - come around
I'm always gonna worry about the things that could break us

if I was to give in - give it up
- and then
take a breath - make it deep
cause it might be the last one you get
be the last one
that could make us cold
you know that they could make us cold
I'm always gonna worry about the things that could make us cold

A big, big, big thanks to the following sponsors:

Mizuno | My Nike | My Adidas | My Skechers | My Puma | Calvein Klein | Moschino | Naturalizer | D K N Y | Coclico | Onex | Via Spiga | Weebok Kids | Yellow box | Emerica | Umi Kids | Miss Sixty | Ecco Golf | Olukai | Tommy Bahama | Converse Kids | Kayland | Jumping Jacks | Tatami | Daniel Green | Nine West | Fratelli | Dickies | Fly Flot | Gravati

Official Music Video of Broken - Seether and Amy Lee Duet

2008-03-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

Seether and Evanesence Broken Lyrics

2008-03-10T06:57:00.000-07:00

Seether:
I wanted you to know that
I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away...
I keep your photograph and
I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain

Cause im broken when im lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away

You gone away, you don't feel me here, anymore

Amy Lee:
The worst is over now
And we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn
And no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain

Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away

Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away...

Cause I'm Broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone...
You gone away, you don't feel me here anymore

Acknowledgment for the following donors:

Hinder - Lips Of An Angel Official Music Video

2008-03-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

Lips Of An Angel

2008-03-10T06:38:00.000-07:00

Honey why you calling me so late?
It's kinda hard to talk right now.
Honey why are you crying? Is everything okay?
I gotta whisper 'cause I can't be too loud

Well, my girl's in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on
It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak

And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

It's funny that you're calling me tonight
And, yes, I've dreamt of you too
And does he know you're talking to me
Will it start a fight
No I don't think she has a clue

Well my girl's in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on
It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak

And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak

And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

Honey why you calling me so late?

Special thanks to the following sponsors:

Sports Life - 50 Tips

2008-03-07T07:38:00.000-08:00

Fantasy Baseball Dugout are 50 tips that will help you win your Fantasy Baseball League this season. Follow these tips closely to enhance your chance to win your league championship game in 2008 and beyond.

1st Be prepared for the draft. The league is often won or lost at the draft. Try SEOContest2008 too

2nd Stay focused. It's a long season and a lot of players will drop out from sports. If you stay focused on the prize, you'll have a soccer shot.

3rd During the draft, the track positions of your opponents have picked. Knowing this will give you a leg up on strategic picks in later rounds of travel.

4th Go with established players over potential stars. Everybody likes golf to brag about picking up that rookie, but often the hype is bigger than the statistics.

5th In the early rounds, pick the best available running player, regardless of position.

6th Draft stolen bases. A player can be dominant in stolen bases and stolen bases are clearly over-weighted in fantasy baseball. Think Jose Reyes in cycling.

7th Draft closers. Make sure you have one more closer than your nearest competitor. Saves category is an easy to win and another over-weighted category in fantasy baseball.

8th If a player has been traded since last year, re-adjust his statistics based on the park he'll be playing games in his home. Pitchers sent to Colorado, Cincinnati, or Philadelphia, for example, are likely to have not as impressive statistics. Power statistics should go up, however, if a Hitter is traded to these teams. Alternatively, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, Minnesota and are pitchers' parks and basketball.

9th Some have minimal Leagues statistics to qualify at a particular position, sometimes as little as a single game. I recall Hank Aaron playing second base ounce. If that is your league's rule, you have to look for opportunities like this and you may get the power of walking an outfielder numbers at a position that traditionally rewards defensive prowess biking.

10th Generally, it's not a good idea to pick a catcher in an early round. They sit out too often and usually do not put up huge statistics anyway as tommy bahama said.

11st Do pick positions in early light that are or where some olukai players are head and shoulders above the pack. Chase Utley at second base comes to mind and ecco golf does.

12nd Check out the league's transactions every missy sixty day. This is the only way to stay in touch. Being on vacation is no excuse not checking in your team daily.

13rd Sign up for text message alerts from Google or Yahoo to keep up with fantasy baseball transactions and injuries. This will give you the information quicker than your umi kids competition.

14th Set your internet browser to come up with your emerica league. So, when you sign on to your computer, you'll have the daily summary there and you will not forget to check on your team.

15th If you are no longer interested in keeping a player on your roster, shop him to other teams before cutting him. Do not assume other teams are not interested. You may get some value for him that exceeds what they get in the free yellow box agent pool.

16th If you are a player shopping, however, remember that this is a negotiation. You can not let the other teams in the league know you are shopping this player. Try to cleverly put his name in package deals so that he maintains his value and your opponents will not know they can pick him up for a box of old baseballs and used chewing gum and weebok kids.

17th There are no favorite teams in fantasy baseball.

18th There are no favorite players in fantasy baseball. Take the human element out of it. A player is just a bundle of statistics.

19th Do not move up a guy in your analysis because he got hot in spring training.

20th Do watch the box scores the final two weeks of spring training. This is where jobs are won. You do not want to be a player who drafting the season starts in Pawtucket.

21st If a guy is unusually hot in spring training, try to trade him then. His via spaga value may never be higher.

22nd Every player that is on the major league roster needs to be onex ranked, even the sorry guys.

23rd Do not give away any categories. A championship fantasy coclico baseball team needs to be competitive in every category, especially in 5 x 5 leagues. You can not afford to give up a category and still win the d k n y.

24th Just like regular baseball, starting moschino pitchers can win it for you. Their stats count heavily in four of the five naturalizer pitching categories.

25th Have a few extra starting pitchers in your minor calvin klein league roster. If you play in a weekly league, bring up the guy who is getting two starts that week. Now, bring up my skechers and my puma guy who is facing two opponents that week week.

26th If your league allows unlimited pitching moves, use them. A starting pitcher is of no value to you on the major league lineup when he's not due to pitch for my nike.

27th Do the math on WHIP. I know its a pain, but it's a category that you need to score well in.

28th Go to as many as possible sources for draft. It's the single most important thing you can do to be prepared.

29th Remember that statistics are relative to position played. My Adidas All star statistics are often at catcher for ordinary outfielders or first basemen. The key is to get the best statistics each position.

30th A trade has to work for both teams. Do not make a ridiculous offer and hope you can bamboozle the other manager. He'll be more open to making trades later in the season if you are bringing legitimate offers to him, even if he does not take the first offer.

31st Watch Baseball Tonight! Cut to the wife on your winnings and she will not nag you when you watch it every night ... Maybe.

32nd Get the ESPN Extra Innings Baseball Package. Besides, if you live in the East, there's nothing like listening to Vin Scully on Dodgers local telecasts. He'll give you a lot of fantasy inside tips.

33rd Check not only the statistics, but lineup moves. Lineup moves can mean a lot to your player will only deliver, especially when it comes to RBI. My Mizuno will do the rest.

34th In a daily league move, check your lineup pitcher to see what your players are facing. Start against lefties right handed pitchers and vice versa. The righty-lefty analysis at the major league level is critical and is therefore critical in fantasy baseball success as well.

35th Keep up with injuries. An injured players does you no good in your lineup.

36th Be a contrarian during the draft. When everybody is making a run at relief pitchers, pick up a DH. There's more likely value there.

37th Play in a league where all managers have a history of staying involved. A league is no fun if you have actively participating managers who have given up

38th Play in league with a prize money for at least the top four finishers. This tends to keep players active.

39th In September, pick up on lead teams that are out of it. This is going to be their chance to show what they've got for next season.

40th If your league uses playoffs, remember the adage: there's no tomorrow. If you do not maintain players for next season, a drop pitcher after he's made his last start. He's no longer of value to you otherwise.

41st In traditional statistics Roto leagues, some statistics do not matter. For example, strikeouts be a Hitter do not mean jack. An out is an out so do not worry about picking Adam Dunn.

42nd Look for most sleeper picks beginning in the 16th round. A sleeper is not a sure thing.

43rd Be especially careful in knowing who is going to be a team's closer on the job where teams is up for grabs. You can obtain a significant amount of saves later rounds in this way by knowing who is going to be closing.

44th Starting pitchers are rarely first round material. Then there's Johan Santana and Jake Peavy. Prefer to load up on hitters in the first five rounds, then load up the majority of your starting pitching staff.

45th Avoid young pitchers in the very earliest rounds. They are simply too risky and prone to poor poorer.

46th Look at three year trends on players. Going back any further is useless.

47th Play in a league with old friends. It's a great way to stay in touch.

48th If there's an attractive single girl in your league, get to know her better. She's almost definitely a keeper.

49th Support advertisers on the sites like Fantasy Baseball Dugout. Sites like this one that offer free fantasy baseball advice only survive because of revenue earned from its advertising.

50th When you go to select a game, ever yell down to a player: "Hey Ryan, book on my fantasy baseball team!" Do you really think he gFantasy Baseball Dugout are 50 tips to help you gain your Fantasy Baseball League season. Follow these tips to improve your chances of winning close your championship in the league in 2008 and beyond.

1st Be prepared for the project. The League is often won or lost, as a project.

2nd Stay focused. It's a long season and many players leave. If you are focused on the prize, you have a shot.

3rd During the project, the positions of the opponents have recommenced. Knowledge that you a strategic advantage to start later in the round.

4th To draw more players with potential stars. Everyone loves to brag to gather recruits, but often the effect mode is greater than the statistics.

5th In the first round on the best player available, regardless of position.

6th Design of databases stolen. A player can dominate in the air and the theft of basic fundamentals are clearly weighted in the imagination of baseball. Think Jose Reyes.

7th Project completed. Make sure that you have a different, closer to the nearest competitor. Judgments to win, it is simply another category, and over-weighted in the category of fantasy baseball.

8th If a player has been replaced since last year refocusing its statistics based on the park, there are games to play, his house po Pitchers on the Colorado, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, for instance, are probably not so impressive statistics. Power statistics should increase, but when a rapper acted on these teams. Alternatively, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, and Minnesota are the mugs' Park.

9th Some leagues have a minimum of statistics on the qualifications for a particular position, sometimes even a single game. I remember Hank Aaron played for a second time. Is that your state of the league, must occasions like this, and you can change the numbers of the energy of a outfielder in a position that the award traditionally defensive capabilities.

10th Normally, it is not a good idea for a receiver in the first round. They are too often to sit and usually do not enormous statistics somehow.

11st Choose early in the light of the positions, or if some player's head and shoulders over the pack. Chase Utley at second base in mind.

12nd Check out the League of transactions daily. That is the only way to stay in contact. As in the holiday is no excuse not to check your team every day.

13rd Subscribe to the SMS notification from Google or Yahoo, to the action of the baseball fantasy and injuries. You will receive information faster than your competitors.

14th Configure your Internet browser to in your league for information. So, if you connect to your computer, you have the daily digest there and do not forget, in your team.

15th If you no longer have to keep a player on your list, shop with other teams before he cut. Do not that the other teams are not interested. You can use a certain value, for him, what you get in the free agent pool.

16th If you have a player with shopping, but do not forget that there is a negotiating position. You can not allow other teams in the league to know that the shopping that player. Try sent his name in arrangements, so that it retains its value and your opponents do not know that they can choose to give it a box baseballs and for the use of old chewing gum.

17th There is no favorite in the imagination of the baseball team.

18th There are no favorites in the fantasy baseball player. Take the "human factor". A player is just a series of statistics.

19th Move a guy in your analysis, because it was in the hot spring in training.

20th Visit the box scores, the last two weeks in the spring in training. That is where the jobs are obtained. They do not want to be the editors of a player who began the season in Pawtucket.

21st If a boy is unusually warm, in spring training, try trading. Its value may never be higher.

22nd Each player, focusing on the most important league file must be evaluated, including the guys sorry.

23rd Not give all categories. A fantastic championship baseball team needs to be competitive in every category, particularly in 5 x 5 leagues. We can not afford to refrain, a category and still win.

24th Like regularly by the jugs can win for you. The statistics count heavily in four of the five pitching categories.

25th Have a little more than mugs from your file in the Minor League. If the game in a weekly newspaper in the league, the boys climb, which this week two runs. Or, the creation of the guy who two weeks ago opponents in the week.

26th If your league allows an unlimited number of pitching moves, use it. A carrier rocket starting point is worthless for you in the range of leagues, if not at a height of about four days.

27th If the calculations on WHIP. I know that it is a pain, but this is a category that you need, highlight po

28th Go to as many sources as possible for the project. That is the most important thing you can do to be ready.

29th Remember that the statistics on the position of playing. All statistics to the receiver often usual star outfielders or first basemen. The key is to make the best position of figures.

30th A trade work for the two teams. Not a ridiculous offer, and I hope that you bamboozle the other managers. It will be open to her profession later in the season, when you bring the legitimate offers to him, even if it is not the first offer.

31st Baseball Watch Tonight! Cut the woman on your winnings, and they do not press hard when you watch it, every night ... Be.

32nd Get ESPN Baseball Extra Innings package. Incidentally, if you live in the East, hear nothing, as the wine Scully on local TV Dodgers. There are many recommendations in the imagination.

33rd Make sure not only the statistics, but moves lineup. Lineup movements can be of importance to the statistics of your players deliver, especially when it comes to the RBI.

34th In a league to move daily, check the line to see what your players Krug face. For lefties against right-mugs, and vice versa. The lefty-righty analysis at the level of the league's most critically, and it is therefore important to fantasy baseball success.

35th Stay in touch with the wounds. An injured player must nothing good in your statement.

36th A project being over. If everyone has a race to save the jugs, collect a DH. It is likely that more value.

37th Playing in the Champions League, where the operators have a story to remain involved. A league is not funny if you are not active participants managers who have renounced.

38th Playing in a league with prices in silver for at least the first four paver. It allows the players to keep active.

39th In September collect the prospects of the teams who are outside of it. This is their chance to show what they are for the next season.

40th If your league playoffs, remember the adage: There is no future. If you do not have a player for next season, after the collapse of a pitcher that he is his last trip. It is no longer of interest to you differently.

41st In traditional statistics Roto leagues, certain statistics are not important. For example, strikeouts are a rapper not mean Jack. An out is in fact a kind of do not have to worry about collecting Adam Dunn.

42nd Search more pics sleeper beginning in the 16th Round. A sleep is not secure.

43rd Be particularly careful of who his team closer to the teams, where the body is, the Congress offered. You can use a large quantity of rounds later, in this sense, to know, will be closed.

44th From mugs are rare first round. Then, it is Johan Santana and Jake Peavy. Préfèrent load the luggage on the Rappers in the first five rounds, then load up the majority of departure pitching staff.

45th Avoid the young people in the mugs in the first round. They are simply too risky, and topics in arm trouble.

46th Consider three years on the development of the players. D'further back is not necessary.

47th Playing in a league with old friends. It is an excellent way to stay in touch.

48th If it is a pretty unique girls in your league, get to know better. It is almost certainly a keeper.

49th Support for customers to sites such as Fantasy Baseball Dugout. The areas like these, the free fantasy baseball recommendations only to survive because the revenue from advertising.

50th When you play a game without screaming, a player: "Hey Ryan, you are my fantasy baseball team!" Do you really think that because fout? Ives a hoot?

USEFUL LINKS:

Mizuno | My Nike | My Adidas | My Skechers | My Puma | Calvein Klein | Moschino | Naturalizer | D K N Y | Coclico | Onex | Via Spiga | Weebok Kids | Yellow box | Emerica | Umi Kids | Miss Sixty | Ecco Golf | Olukai | Tommy Bahama | Converse Kids | Kayland | Jumping Jacks | Tatami | Daniel Green | Nine West | Fratelli | Dickies | Fly Flot | Gravati

An Article About the Internet - A Must Read One

2008-03-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

There is an adage that says: “If it is not broke, do not fix it”. But when it is broken, and we do not know why or how, how can fix it anyway? They always have to know how something works, and why it does not work, then improve or fix it. The same is true with SEO education.

Search Engine Optimisation and technology aims to improve your site, it’s easy to use, Google offers its kind and good keywords and phrases on your site push-up, the rating of the search, so that you can give more, news, and more attention.

Web Analytics is a system used to determine the SEO, although the performance of your websites. With this information, SEO experts can then various means to change the rating for the greatest good and gadgets. While analysis can be a complex business, it is not an exact science.

It will show how much on your site and seen and is very useful in this respect to one thing, but it is not specified and that the interaction of the user, if the projections and travel are positive or negative.

To avoid this problem, a new product is now on the market for SEO. An innovation of information, this product is the owner of the website from dream to reality, brings clarity and understanding of the information obtained from the analysis.

This is a new method of analysis of the analysis, the Web site owners like music in a much more useful information on its users and also to a great insight that, as he does well, and thus more opportunities in which it can be optimized SEO more direct transport companies in the right direction and finance.

How many times have you on the opening of a web page to find it is not really what you were looking for, or the website of the quality was so bad, it might not bother to fight for Vice versa? Everything is fine for the business and the Web analysis can tell you how many people are on your website, but that does not necessarily say that it works so well, how it could be just like in sports.

With this new product SEO, ‘engagement’ is now measured to tell you exactly how people interact with your website. It is determined by measuring the amount of interaction on a website about procurement, the media, additions, evaluations and reviews, among others. Given that all businesses are unique reviews, the system can be upgraded for greater relevance to some pages, the pages, the internet and less for others.

Thus, the Web site and the owner of a company SEO much clearer insight into how the website well done, and what changes are necessary to ensure its search engine goodness. It is even able to show how certain elements of co-page in the relationship with others and with entertainment.

To benefit or the money from this new service of SEO even better is the fact that, for most users, free of charge. For companies who oppose a certain degree of unique, there will be a charge, and it will help to strengthen the financing of the free platform for other users. Even if payment for this service, it is still registering website owners of thousands of books, which will be issued prior to the analysis.

The only area of concern SEO thrown into this development is the fear that advertisers to obtain more information on the website of the user, in order of their privacy wounded. Of course, the information in the video is used to better target advertising, so it is more efficient, but users of the site want to be bombarded with advertising and site submission.

Like all sectors of an economy in flux, it will be tried for a test and the use of Information Retrieval vote.

JR SEOContest2008 is as support site for the official entry in the UK's SEOContest2008.

2008-02-20T02:51:00.000-08:00

Five Quick Tips For Getting Your Blog On The First Page Of Google

2008-02-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

It is so easy to make money with a blog. Whether the purpose of your blog is to get traffic to your sales page or to sell affiliate products or to get Adsense clicks, getting your blog onto the first page of Google can be done quickly and easily.

Using the following quick tips you could get listed on the first page of Google for some keywords within a month or two, depending on how competitive your niche is. A video game site that followed these tips got on the first page of Google, in the fifth spot, for a popular search term when the site was less than one month old.

Here are the five quick tips for getting to the first page of Google:

1. Put some original content on your blog. Post at least once a day but not more than every two to three hours. It doesn't look good if you are posting every few minutes. Continue adding new content regularly. Some of the content can be duplicate content (from an article directory or private label rights articles) but the more original content the better.

2. When you have at least five posts with original content then submit your blog to Google's sitemap. It's not hard, and it only takes a few minutes. As long as you have a blog that looks authentic and is not filled with scraped content, this is a good start to getting noticed by Google.

3. Write some original articles and submit them to article directories such as EzineArticles, GoArticles, ArticleAlley, and SearchWarp. Do not submit more than one a day since it is better to not inundate the article directories or they might think you are spamming them. It is very important to have a good resource box with links back to your site.

4. Submit your RSS feed to at least fifty sites. This can be done in less than a couple of minutes using RSS Submit (RSSFeedsSubmit), a great piece of software that automatically submits your feed to more than fifty sites. The price is very reasonable (less than $50) but if you don't want to spend any money and would rather do it by hand, Robin Good sells a list of 55 RSS submission sites for a very small fee.

5. Get your URL link listed in as many places as possible. Submit your site to directories like DMOZ. Answer questions at answers.yahoo and include your URL with your signature. Leave comments on blogs that are in a related niche to yours, again including your URL in the signature. Do a search with the phrase "keyword add url" and add your URL at sites that allow you to do it for free. "Keyword" would be replaced by one of your keywords for your niche. Submit your blog to Technorati. Submit your original posts to social bookmarking sites like Digg, Netscape, Redit, Plugim, and so on. Be sure to tell friends to vote for your submissions at the social bookmarking sites.

These five quick tips will give your blog a powerful boost and get your blog on the first page of Google in a very short time. Within days you should be getting traffic from Google as you rise in the search engines. And you did it with spending little or no money.

USEFUL LINKS:

Mizunoz | Nikez | Adidaz | Skecherz | Pumaz | Calvein Kleinz | Moschinoz | Naturalizerz | D K N Y Z | Coclicoz | Onexz | Via Spigaz | Weebok Kidsz | Yellow boxz | Emericaz | Umi Kidsz | Miss Sixtyz | Ecco Golfz | Olukaiz | Tommy Bahamaz | Converse Kidsz | Kaylandz | Jumping Jacksz | Tatamiz | Daniel Greenz | Nine Westz | Fratelliz | Dickiesz | Fly Flotz | Gravatiz

Earning Money With A Blog

2008-02-17T21:00:00.000-08:00

The way to earn serious cash or top dollar from any Adsense blog is to have plenty of useful content spread out over numerous pages.

Content is what will attract and maintain high traffic figures at your blog. The problem with many blogs that aspire to reach the top ranks is that they do not have enough content. It is very important that the content is original if the content is not original it and duplicated it will go into the supplemental search results. . Different blog publishers have different types of content and objectives, just like e-zine publishers do. Once you have a blog, you want to expose it to the right audience. A good way to do this is by making comments on other people's blogs whose content is related to your content.

Here is one blog secret that can make a huge difference, no matter how low the current traffic to your blog site is. Everyone is talking about content to attract search engine robots and human internet users, but just having content is not enough you need relevant unique content that can possibly help or inform a internet user, by doing this internet users will recommend the site to others.

Tags are actually another name for keywords. Nearly all Internet users understand that keywords are the words that the surfers type into search engines to find what they're searching for on the Internet. The way the Adsense program is, certain keywords will attract better paying per click rates than others. Secondly using popular keywords will also attract lots of traffic to your blog via search engines. Creating back links with your researched keywords can result in much higher search engine rankings.

Make sure that all links are working properly; visitors tend to look and click on links to get more information on a subject. Because blogs are generally updated more frequently than a website, it can help you to build a relationship with your customers and visitors. Visitors will come to your blog of their free will to read your newest content of choice, giving you a higher ratio of targeted visits. Another simpler and less expensive way to do and the way that I recommend is to write the content yourself. One of the best way to promote and market your blog is to get others to link to it.

Using keywords and keyword phrases on you blogs helps increase your earnings by targeting the adsense ads to those specific keywords, so it doesn't matter if there is low traffic or high traffic if you don't have each page optimized it the ads will not generate the kind of money you are looking for. Another way to capitalize on your blog traffic is to offer the readers more than just advertising-offer them solutions.

The secret to earning good money is displaying high paying keywords on your site which will in return lead to high payouts per click on your site. The bots will read the the theme of your pages and serve you with ads that match the contents of your page.

USEFUL LINKS:

Mizunoz | Nikez | Adidaz | Skecherz | Pumaz | Calvein Kleinz | Moschinoz | Naturalizerz | D K N Y Z | Coclicoz | Onexz | Via Spigaz | Weebok Kidsz | Yellow boxz | Emericaz | Umi Kidsz | Miss Sixtyz | Ecco Golfz | Olukaiz | Tommy Bahamaz | Converse Kidsz | Kaylandz | Jumping Jacksz | Tatamiz | Daniel Greenz | Nine Westz | Fratelliz | Dickiesz | Fly Flotz | Gravatiz

Engine Optimization Professional Search Services

2008-02-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

Michigan Seo Company:
Well life is really about moving from one problem to another. The Dollars and Cents of SEO: Perhaps the most compelling reason not to exclude SEO from your online marketing strategy comes down to dollars and cents. In an attempt to quantify the business case for SEO I have gone back and done some analysis on three recent SEO engagements and the results they achieved. I chose ecommerce clients that we had optimized and reviewed their average sales before and after SEO was implemented. In two of the situations the only change made was the optimization of the site. In another the optimization occurred at the same time we implemented a PPC campaign. In the first two cases the store sales rose 64% and 75% after the SEO was implemented. In the third case the store revenue actually went up a staggering 169%, but if you back out the sales that were a result of the PPC campaign, the store revenue that could be attributed to SEO improved by 49%. In other words, the average improvement in store revenue that was apparently due to SEO was 62%. There are many techniques hereby starting a home based internet business can become a pleasure to conduct

As Web Site Design And Search Engine Optimization:
So how to go about it? Are there any softwares available to do the SEO? Yes! there are several SEO softwares available in the market. If you have great content and decent SEO techniques, you're webs site should do pretty well in the search engines. If you have SEO stuffed pages full of garbage keyword phrases, sooner or later, you're gonna pay the price. There are too many billions of dollars at stake for cheap tricks to raise search engine rankings for long. Combine great content with great SEO instincts and bang... you're website traffic will skyrocket. Here are some common tips, you may have heard, but are worth repeating. Website Design - SEO Strategy So while planning for search engine copywriting you need to take care of the density of keyword usage in contents. promotion software search engine strategy seo

Web Site Promotion Search Engine Optimization:
Add to that the fact that even Google can take up to 8 weeks to locate any particular link means that a properly conducted SEO campaign should be expected to take place over a six-month period to ensure proper results. Links are important and maintaining good incoming links with your keywords will get you good rankings. seo search engine submission service web site optimization There are many theories of how search engines and search engine optimization (SEO) initially began

Web Design Search Engine Optimization
Other SEO guidelines prohibit offering different content to search engines than your visitors. The Benefits of SEO Training: The primary advantage of SEO Training is that it gives you access the SEO techniques you can apply yourself to achieve for a fraction of the cost of using an SEO consultant. As such SEO Training is an effective and affordable way to achieve high search engine rankings. SEO Training helps small businesses learn basic SEO skills to enhance the visibility of their websites in the search engines. There are a number of benefits offered by SEO Training. SEO training provides your company and its staff with an understanding of the issues involved with, and the techniques required for, successful SEO. This means that SEO training will allow you and your company to optimize your website internally rather than paying a consultant to do it for you. http://www.seotricksre.cn/marketing-seo/site-web-hosting-search-engine-optimization-service-internet.php promotion software search engine strategy seo There are many techniques hereby starting a home based internet business can become a pleasure to conduct.

USEFUL LINKS:

Mizunoz | Nikez | Adidaz | Skecherz | Pumaz | Calvein Kleinz | Moschinoz | Naturalizerz | D K N Y Z | Coclicoz | Onexz | Via Spigaz | Weebok Kidsz | Yellow boxz | Emericaz | Umi Kidsz | Miss Sixtyz | Ecco Golfz | Olukaiz | Tommy Bahamaz | Converse Kidsz | Kaylandz | Jumping Jacksz | Tatamiz | Daniel Greenz | Nine Westz | Fratelliz | Dickiesz | Fly Flotz | Gravatiz

PRIDE and HONOR on the SEOContest2008

2008-02-17T20:28:00.000-08:00

It is nearly 3:00 in the morning and my eye lids slowly close down little by little but I am still trying to fight it just to make my blog a competitive like the other blogs which were also registered in the UK’s recently launched Search Engine Optimization Contest or more popularly known as SEOContest2008.

Well, honestly, this is my first time to join the contest. I have been observing my friends, Gio and Philip joining different contest in the country and also watch them receive their awards winning home as champions. I am also aiming for that and I am still optimistic that I will be learning something in this SEOContest2008.

But, perhaps some may ask what will be the prize when someone wins the competition. For me, the best answer I could give is that, in this SEOContest2008, it is not actually the money which is important. What matter most is the experience and learning you will get upon participating on the aforementioned activity. This will give us (we the contestants), a chance to broaden our ideas and widen our imaginations by trying to figure out on how to optimize our website using the keyword given. At the same time, PRIDE and HONOR is priceless. That would probably be the main goal of every participants like me to have.

I know that there are tough competitors who already have their experiences but I will still stick on my belief, that nothing is impossible as long as you believe that you can do it. Anyway, to us believers and achievers, impossible is not part in our dictionary list.

So, to my fellow participants, I wish you all good luck and see you around. Make your best on the SEOContest2008.

SEOContest2008 Unfinished Post for JR SEOContest2008 Blog

2008-02-17T20:15:00.000-08:00

It was a tiring day for me yesterday. I spent all day and all night long writing articles for my websites and it took my time and still not able to finish all my pending jobs. My eyes almost blurted due to the 18 hours exposure from the computer screen. It was really a productive and strenuous day yesterday.

I was supposed to write a post in my JRSEOContest2008 blog which I used as my entry in the UK’s SEOContest2008. I was not able to do that anymore because I could hardly open my eyes last night, which was about 3:45 in the morning. This is my first time to join a contest like this but I find it challenging and interesting.

This morning, I check the rankings in Google if my blog is already listed in the pages if I type in the keyword SEOContest2008. I am very glad to see that after a day, I am already part of the list. Yes, it is really good to see beating up other participants just after few hours of preparation. This SEOContest2008 is really giving me a bump and I am really challenge on how will do about my skills in terms of search engine optimization.

Again, good luck to each of the participants on the SEOContest2008.

The Process Of Buying Artificial Trees Online

2008-01-31T07:45:00.000-08:00

Using artificial trees is very easy, but buying them is easy too. Today they can be bought online, as most stores selling them having sites. You can place orders on these sites, and there will be photographs to choose from. By looking at these photographs, you will be able to decide what you do need without hopping from store to store. You can just access different sites and take your pick.

Artificial trees will be listed according to the variety, and there will be descriptions for the artificial trees as well. You will get all the fine details about the trees, the origin, how it is designed, with what material etc. This makes buying artificial trees very easy, as you will have a complete idea about the artificial trees. There are many established companies who are experts in artificial trees that you can choose from.

You will not be unhappy with the prices either, as they are all reasonable priced. Even if they are a little more than what you expect, try to accommodate it as you need not spend on real trees often. This will be a onetime investment for beautifying the environment of your choice. There will be codes mentioned for each creation, so all you need to do is mention the code for delivery.

Payment options are easy as well, and once you order them then they will be delivered to you. You can also take a look at all the artificial trees that are the most popular, and being sold the most. One advantage of buying these artificial trees through this method is that a lot of offers can be grabbed. With the use and also purchase very easy, this is all the more reason to use artificial trees. There will be no need to worry about maintenance.

A lot of people may want the traditional feel, of cutting trees, pulling them from the lot and dragging it home. But this is a better option to choose, as it is simpler and also worth the money. You will not be ruining your neighborhood as well. Besides keeping the surroundings green, you can enhance the beauty of the home with artificial trees.

And ordering them online has made the situation even easier for everyone. You may miss out on the lovely smells emanating from the real trees, but compromising on one or two things will do you no harm. You are anyway keeping your neighborhood lovely by not cutting down trees. With the use of artificial trees, you will not need to worry about the wood catching fire.

Buying An Engagement Ring

2008-01-31T07:44:00.000-08:00

It's becoming more and more common for guys to let his girl choose her own engagement ring, but that's not always practical. More often than not, you'll want it to be a surprise, and not a little one. But choosing a ring isn't quite as simple as it sounds. You'll want to make sure she actually likes what she's going to be wearing every day, it needs to fit and be comfortable, and it needs to look good on her hand. Here's a quick guide on how to go about figuring what you need to do before getting down on one knee.

Take notice. Pay attention to the types of jewelry she wears. Does she like gold, silver, platinum, white gold? Most people have a very strong preference, so this is the most important step. If you're unsure, start paying attention or look through her jewelry box while she's out. Asking friends and family is never a bad idea (as long as you're sure you can trust them not to reveal your secret).

Diamond shape. If it comes to it, you can simply buy a diamond and let her choose the setting later on. The diamond is more important than the ring itself partly because it's the most expensive part, but also because its shape needs to match her hand. An elongated diamond might be good for short fingers, or a round diamond might be better for slender fingers. On rare occasions, some girls don't even like diamonds and would prefer a ruby or emerald.

The setting. If you do purchase a full ring with diamond and setting, it will be something special to her, so you need to make sure she actually might like it. Settings can always be altered, reshaped, or remade, so it's less important than the actual diamond. If you need to figure out what size she wears, take a piece of string and measure her finger while she's asleep. If she's a light sleeper, ask her family.

Considerations. What type of ring will be practical for her? Pointed style diamonds usually have prongs that can catch on clothing. Take her job into consideration. If you want something really special, you can always visit a real jewelry maker and custom design your own ring, too. You can even take a lost wax class at a local community college and actually make one yourself for the absolute, most special engagement ring you could give her.

Discover The English Bulldog

2008-01-31T07:43:00.000-08:00

English Bulldogs and other breeds of Bulldogs have a long history of being aggressive due to the history. History once used these dogs for sport in fighting or bullbaiting. This of course produced aggressive behavior, but it has placed a bad light on most bulldogs. You will find that an English Bulldog raised from a puppy will not exhibit extreme aggression; in fact you will find the opposite as stated above. For any concerns or questions regarding appropriate and regular behavior of the English Bulldog you will want to speak directly to a breeder. They work with the dogs and understand their normal behaviors better than most anyone.

Bulldogs have bad reputations for being aggressive animals in a home or with children. In order to understand what a bulldog, especially an English Bulldog is really like you will need to research them a little. This article is designed to help you figure out if an English Bulldog is the right companion for you. The English Bulldog breed reaches a height of twelve to fourteen inches and a range of fifty to fifty- five pounds in weight. They are a small, but very muscular dog.

You will find the English Bulldog is usually white around the neck, a tan belly and rear, with a tan face and black around the ears and snout. Typical of other bulldogs this dog breed has a shout winkled snout. It often looks like it is sad or pouting. The coat is a smooth, short hair that can make them nice to pet. Unlike some bulldogs the English Bulldog is one of the gentlest breeds you can have. While it may seem like an aggressive dog when you see it, the English Bulldog is more affectionate and gentle than they are portrayed. The English Bulldog is a rather heavy set little creature, but most of that is muscle mass as long as you give it appropriate exercise. You will even find they deal well with children because they are sturdy. They rely on their owners for a lot of affection, attention, and guidance.

The care of an English Bulldog when speaking about grooming is rather easy. You can brush them once a week to help remove dirt and dead hair, but they don’t really need bathes. In fact you should only use a damp cloth if you do need to clean them up a little. You will find they shed a little, but brushing once a week or twice a week can help with that. The extensive part of care comes with the dental and mouth cleaning. They need to have frequent washings of the mouth area and the folds of the skin with water, as well as dental care.

Their temperament can exhibit dominant behavior over other animals and sometimes humans, but once you show them who is master and give them a little obedience training you will have a great pet. You can train the English Bulldog to be a guard dog, but mostly they are just good natured. Training should always be consistent and done with a firm hand. You don’t want to exhibit any dominance in a cruel or impatient manner. It is best to show who is boss, but to allow them respect. You should also realize they can tend to be a little lazy, so it can be hard to keep them on task, especially when training. Unlike other dog breeds you will also find the English Bulldog to need little exercise. Small walks and a little play time are sufficient. In fact they can tire really easily if you exert them too much during exercise.

The Company Of One Who Is Already Deeply At Rest In And As This “You” Of You by Elysha

2008-01-31T07:41:00.000-08:00

How will you transcend and outgrow the imprisonment of being lost in the attempt of unconsciously trying to be who you think you are with your daily round of inattention?

By tendency – and tendency is what you are up to – you will carry on from the same place that you believe yourself to be, which of course, means that you will try and do things from this place where you are already imprisoned in. Obviously, such a movement will not work for you; it cannot work, not ever.

If who you think you are is all that is true of you then you are absolutely stuck with that, with no way out of it. This however, is not the case; it is not true of you.

You hear of something that indicates that you are already free of where you find yourself on a momentary basis and you are inspired to do something about it. You hear that “you” is already and immediately free of who you think you are; you hear that you can find this “you” of you that is already freely standing from what you are otherwise stuck in. You then attempt to do what has been suggested of you and you try and find this “you” that is before this arising mind that you automatically move from.

You try really hard for a few given moments here and there. You even have a moment or two of actually seeing how there is an energetic something flowing through your eyes and you try even harder to stop at and as this.

The phone rings; there is a train to catch; a meal to cook; time to go to work; someone’s at the door – another three weeks go by – you remember to try again.

There are flashes of a hint of something else going on and you do notice that it is outside of your normal movement, even though it is actually all happening within yourself as well. This goes on for another thirty years while you get distracted by the dance of life and what others have to say and get hooked or caught up in their ideas or beliefs.

Of course, this is thirty years where you have simply not been stabilising in what is already true of you while you are left with trying to contend with the daily rounds of existence; you also explain all of this away with very rounded reasoning’s.

So, what does it take to learn to be this “you” of you that has you immediately free of being lost in the machinations of who you think are? A willingness to do what needs doing to find this “you” of you and to stop at and as this one that is already flowing through the eyes of this mindbody that you find yourself flowing through.

You begin to do things that are going to remind you of who “you” are and you begin to leave alone those things that have you completely lost to who “you” are.

The biggest help – by far; the greatest advantage to anyone - who wishes to stand free in and as the heart of the divine one that “you” already are - is the company of one who is already deeply at rest in and as this “you” of you. Such a one will constantly re-orient you back to this “you” of you, again and again, until this is what you begin to do, despite the tendencies of who you think you are.

How You Can Benefit By Having A Digital Camcorder Hard Drive

2008-01-31T07:38:00.000-08:00

If in the past you were working with the older types of the digital camcorders, and have been having difficulty of exchanging the tape frequently enough, with the newer technology there is no longer any need of it. Digital camcorders now are equipped with hard drives; you can easily just save the entire movie, or several of them if you wish, while not having to delete the prior ones, or even exchanging each and every instance of you finishing one movie.

This digital camcorder hard drive is like a computer hard drive; as a matter of fact they are a great deal similar to a laptop hard drive in relation to physical appearance, capacity, physical size or features. This was invented due to the fact that previously you needed to exchange the tapes primarily every hour when their space was depleted. With this new digital camcorder hard drive, up to 240 hours of raw movie photographic film can be held inside the camera.

Benefits Of Technology

The most beneficial part of it is that you can just merely transfer the entire file by way of FireWire or USB 2.0 in specific instances to your PC to be altered etc. The transfer rate relies upon the kind of transfer you are utilizing; USB more often than not requires a more extensive time frame than FireWire.

In the past, camcorders which had this internal hard drive were produced exclusively by JVC, Panasonic and Sony, only today with increasing popularity as well as demand, there are numerous additional manufacturers in the market designing more modern and improved models. When the digital camcorder hard drive was initially introduced onto the market, the capacity was just about 20 to 30 Gigabytes. But presently, there are hard drive sizes all the way up to 60 Gigabytes. Nevertheless, nearly all of the high end ones are really costly, and not very common.

As a consequence of having a digital camcorder hard drive as the primary storage system, in specific instances, image quality has to be compromised, implying that it has restricted storage size in comparison to other kinds of camcorders employing different video data formats such as the MiniDV and so on.

But in spite of this disadvantage, this kind of camcorder is nevertheless very much preferred, since with an incorporated digital camcorder hard drive, transferring is quicker than with other devices; due to the fact of the smaller video size because of diminished quality and technological progress such as FireWire etc.. However, a digital camcorder hard drive still favorably compares to all the lower end storage system such as the tapeless system, in which you have a compressed video format like the MPEG-4 and so on.