Overland park attractions - arabia steamboat museum

Are you planning on visiting the Overland Park, Kansas area soon? If you are you must read this article. It will tell you about one of the best places to visit in Overland Park. That place is the Arabia Steamboat Museum. Keep reading to learn a little more about this great destination.

The Arabia Steamboat Museum is a museum dedicated to preserving a steamboat by the name of the Arabia which traveled the rivers until 1856. In 1856 it sank and was lost only to be rediscovered 132 years later with its cargo still intact. It is an interesting destination to say the least. So what is there for you to see and experience at the museum? The museum will give you a glimpse into the life of the frontiers of the past. When you arrive you will be taken on a guided tour which will tell you about this steamboats history. It will tell you about its history, its sinking and its resurrection. The tour even includes a short video of the excavation process which will show you what went into reclaiming the vessel. You will then be taken to the actual ship which is quite a sight for any history buff. The museum is not only about the vessel though. It is also about the contents of the steamboat which were also recovered. Case after case was recovered from the vessel. This includes glass bottles, fabrics, sewing supplies and a number of different personal belongings which are of great interest. There is for example tools, dolls and more items that belonged to those aboard the ship. And since the museum is still a work in progress more items are being offered every day. Items are still being painstakingly restored behind the scenes. This means that the museum is constantly changing and expanding so even if you have been to it before you might want to take a return trip.

Hopefully this article has give you enough information to convince you to add the Arabia Steamboat Museum to your list of things to see in Overland Park. You can find the museum at 400 Grand Boulevard in Overland Park. For more information call (816) 471-1856 . Enjoy.

How to have a kauai getaway - on a budget

So you want to visit Kauai, Hawaii, one of the most beautiful places on the earth, but it just doesn’t seem possible financially. I’ve been there and it is certainly worth the visit, so it is just a matter of figuring out how to make it happen.

As you plan your getaway to Kauai, Hawaii, it would be wise to think about the best times of year to travel. I’m not talking about the weather; I’m talking about traveling during the least expensive time of the year. Numerous people dream of taking a vacation in Hawaii, and while the location of the islands makes it a gorgeous spot all year, there are periods of the year to vacation that are significantly less costly than others. If you know when to travel and different opportunities to save money, you should be able to have an incredible Hawaiian getaway on a budget.

Here are some examples. During the fall, when school has just gone back, is a great moment to travel because typically, airfares and hotel is less expensive. The low-season in Kauai is mid September through mid December and January through May. During the high-season air, car rental and hotel tend to go up, especially in the summer months. Many times this period of time can be full months in advance. Because of this, you should getaway during the low-season when you can get a bigger savings. What are some of the other benefits of traveling “off-season”? Well, consider not having to share the small island with as many people or the exceptional weather that they have in Kauai year round. Seeing as Hawaii is one of the best locales for sunshine and vacation activities all year, there is not a compelling rationale not to visit in the off-season.

Beyond the considerable savings on your accommodations and airfare, here are a few other opportunities to keep the cash in your wallet.

More Ways to Save in Kauai

Rent a vacation home rental

Most people choose hotels in Kauai to enjoy for their vacation getaway. However, this is a more costly route and they don’t present the same comforts and privacy that a villa or condo could offer. In additional, hotels in Kauai are extremely costly, considerably more so than an equivalent cost of renting a condo or home for a week or more. There are a tremendous amount of villas, homes and condos to rent on Kauai with amenities like ocean front view, tons of extra’s, luxury kitchens, and so much more. in addition, there are villas, cottages and homes you could rent with anywhere from one to 8 bedrooms or more, accomadating just about any size group that you can bring with you.

Should you have an interest in renting a Kauai vacation home or villa, there are many places online that you can search to find a tremendous amount of options offered. This will allow you to locate the options that are the perfect size, with all the options you would like, without destroying that pocketbook. Don’t forget that when you take your vacation will be key in how expensive, or inexpensive, it will be. Try to figure out a time to visit in the off-season when it will cost less than if you go in the middle of the primary travel season for Kauai.

Finally, consider other options while preparing and taking you Kauai vacation. Don’t eat out every meal if you don’t have it in the budget as that can get expensive. When you get to the island, visit the grocery store, pick up the items that you need to help keep you and the family fed for however long you are going to be on the island. Eating out 3 times a day gets expensive. The beauty of a vacation home rental is that you typically have a kitchen and a full size refrigerator. Eating out only one time every one to two days can save you hundreds of dollars over a week’s time. Other ideas for cost savings are searching the web for travel discounts, being careful not to get the shopping bug while on the island and maybe just find a few keepsakes of your vacation.

If you put these things into practice for your Kauai getaway, it can potentially save you thousands of dollars over just a 7-14 day trip.

Car insurance be assured for a safe drive

Shopping for car insurance is the only way to save on the car insurance. Car Insurance is the perfect solution for your problem on car theft, accidents etc. People are quite dependent on their vehicles and losing a vehicle by an accident or theft will be a financial loss. Moreover it will affect our day to day activities like office, school, doctor's appointment etc.

Benefits of Car Insurance Policy

Some insurance policies offer number of standard benefits, while other benefits are available as optional covers in return for an extra premium. Some of the more common Car insurance policy benefits are:

• Windscreen

• Driving other cars

• Medical expenses

• Personal effects

• New car benefits

• Lock replacement

Many auto insurance agencies offers you benefits like less premium, 70% discount on first-rate service (if our recommended garages have not repaired your car), free car servicing (if your car has been repaired by one of our recommended garages). They also provide you additional services like breakdown assistance and motoring protection at minimal price. A car insurance agency controls your car insurance policy from beginning to end.

Nowadays it’s easy to buy your auto insurance online. Online auto insurance is the best option if you want to save your money and time.

Additional Car Insurance policy services include

• Motoring protection

This service pays for personal injuries that you have sustained from the accident and also we pay for injuries that others might have sustained. This service also covers for any kind of property loss. This service also handles any legal technicalities.

• Breakdown assistance

This services provides assistance incase your car breakdown and more often than not at a worst possible time. Complete details of these services are available when you get your car insurance quote or renew your policy online.

Snoring on both genders

Snoring is a habit done by most men and its most of the time, uncontrollable. The main cause of snoring is the vibration of the air coming from the passage way to the nose connecting to the mouth. Of course it doesn’t mean that snoring can’t pass one way, it can actually use both passage ways during sleep without the snorer’s awareness.

Snoring can be loud but there are people who snore quieter than others too. It all depends on the tissues located on passageways where the air goes through. So you ask, how can be snoring become loud and not so loud at times? It all happens when the air passes through a narrow passage way. It can be passing through a narrow throat going to the nose or mouth or it can also be passing through a narrow airway to the nose. Either way, its how snoring is produced.

There’s also a tiny detail you need to know about why people only snore at night while sleeping. After all, we all use air passing to and from all the different parts of our body everyday, why does snoring only happens at night? The reason is simply because all the muscles and tissues of the body become relaxed and it all goes back to the narrow passage airway again. But then, the loudness of snoring also has something to do with the air through the mentioned passageways.

Looking at the anatomical structure of men (the gender that is greatly affected by snoring), their necks are larger than that of the women’s and this too, causes snoring because larger necks could mean more tissues. In terms of hormones, men’s body doesn’t produce Progesterone which the women’s body does. Progesterone is the hormones present in women which makes them snore-free (well, in most cases).

Generally, both genders are still affected due to outside factors and which are mostly accumulated as allergies, cold and flu. The lifestyle of a person also has something to do with how severe snoring can become.

Gambling in the movies

The September, 2006, release of Hollywood’s latest poker themed movie, “Lucky You” starring Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore continues a decades-long love affair between gambling and the movies. Gambling has long fascinated the movie-going public, and many fans of this genre enjoy the thrill of watching big stakes gambling without any risk to their own bankrolls. As an example, the following is a brief description of a few films based on this theme:

1922: Dr. Mabuse – Der Spieler ( “The Gambler” )

One of the earliest films to incorporate high stakes gambling in the storyline, the film centers around arch-criminal Dr. Mabuse, a counterfeiter, hypnotist, master of disguise and card shark. At the gaming tables, Dr. Mabuse reaps a fortune in card play by using his intense hypnotic powers to manipulate wealthy players into seeing cards that don’t exist, and to make choices guaranteed to ruin their game.

Under the guidance of acclaimed German film director Fritz Lang, this movie has gained recognition as one of the most important and influential films of the silent movie era.

1961: The Hustler

Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie, Jackie Gleason:

An unforgettable performance by Paul Newman as “fast” Eddy Felson, a drifter and pool hall hustler, who is manipulated by sleazy manager Scott into a high stakes match with the legendary pool shark Minnesota Fats, ( Gleason ).

Although this gambling-themed movie is about pool, poker players will recognize the similarities in strategy; the importance of body language (known in poker jargon as a “tell”), holding back the sweat, the look of confidence, etc.

1965: THE CINCINNATI KID

Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, Karl Malden, Joan Blondell, Tuesday Weld:

Steve McQueen gives a great performance as an itinerant card shark traveling from one big game to another. The climactic poker game between McQueen and Robinson is the film’s highlight.

1966: A BIG HAND FOR THE LITTLE LADY

Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards Jr., Burgess Meredith:

Fonda and wife Woodward arrive in Laredo during an annual high-stakes poker game. Hoping for a windfall, Fonda decides to risk the couple’s savings and joins the game. Henry is on a big losing streak and in danger of busting out when “the little lady” comes to his rescue at the table.

1973: THE STING

Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw:

Newman and Redford are two small time con men operating in and around Chicago in the mid-1930s. A big stakes card game takes place as the duo try to put “the sting” on mobster Shaw.

1974: CALIFORNIA SPLIT

George Segal, Elliot Gould:

Gould and Segal are two compulsive gamblers with strange lifestyles. This is an entertaining, compelling and powerful film that captures poker parlor habituйs down on their luck and hoping for a reprieve, The title of the film is western-slang jargon for cutthroat poker.

Socially challenged you are not alone

I got a call from a lady friend of mine one early morning. After picking up the receiver, I immediately sensed her fright. In a slightly shivering voice, she told me that she felt nauseous and lightheaded right after she woke up. While crying, she told me that she was so dizzy that her room spinning in circles. I told her to calm down and wait for me to fetch her. After a few tense minutes, I finally arrived at her place and then rushed her to the nearest hospital. At the emergency room, the doctor gave her some medicines to help her calm down. She was discharged right away. I found out later that she was supposed to have her first big date with a guy that was introduced to her by her officemate. She told me that her anxiety began when “Mr. Right” appeared at the front door of the Italian restaurant where they were supposed to meet. She said that after seeing the guy, she hurriedly stood up and left the place using the back door. It was supposed to be her first real date. But somehow, she could not stand the thought of knowing what this guy would say about her hair, her dress, her teeth...her make-up...and a million other things about her.

While she looked fine to me, my friend actually saw herself as “wallflower”... a “Plain Jane” that would never attract anyone, much less have the interest of Mr. Right. In the taxi, she confessed to me that she felt really bad about the canceled date. She said that, all her life, she felt embarrassed or uncomfortable in meeting new people. Just when she felt she was ready to step out and go out on a date... technically, she got stood up.

After hearing her story, I told myself, “We have a case here.” This “Plain Jane” is actually suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia. The basic feeling of social anxiety disorder is being very anxious in the presence of other people.

Research shows that social anxiety is the third leading psychological problem in the United States today. It is said that 15 million Americans are affected by this type of anxiety in any given year, and majority of those affected are women. But unfortunately, unlike any other psychological problems, this disorder is not well understood by the general public. Sadly, people who suffer from this condition are sometimes labeled as “clinically depressed”, “maladjusted”, “schizophrenic”, and even “weirdo.”

Some degree of social anxiety is felt by most normal people. However, people with social anxiety disorder are already so disturbed that even their word and daily routine is affected.

Before you panic and start running to your doctor like a mad animal to check if you too are suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder, try answering these questions:

· Do you try to avoid social situations that may cause you to be very anxious or self - conscious?

· Have you ever had a panic attack before or during a social situation that you are afraid of as a result of your anxiety?

· Do you experience symptoms such as nausea, trembling, sweating or blushing before or during any kind of a “feared” situation

· Do you have an unusual intense fear of meeting new people or be in a situation where you don't know the people well?

· Does your fear of embarrassment has kept you from speaking in public?

· Do you worry for days or weeks ahead of time about an anticipated fearful situation?

· Do you constantly feel that you are being judged and watched by other people?

· Are you continually afraid of making mistakes in front of other people?

If your answers to the above questions are mostly “yes”, you may already have symptoms of social anxiety disorder. But know that you can still prevent this condition from interfering with your normal, everyday life.

This disorder is usually treated with therapy or medication or a combination of both. It is very important to seek proper treatment as soon as you found out that you have these symptoms so as not to make the situation worse. However, do not worry as research have already shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy works effectively in the treatment of social anxiety.

If you have social anxiety disorder, the first step to take is to educate yourself about this condition. After getting information, make a decision that you will deal with this problem. Any delay or failure to get appropriate treatment for this condition can wreak emotional and psychological havoc that could scar for life.

If you are among the Plain Jane's who are still mum about your suffering and agony, it may now be time to come out in the open. Remember that there are people who understand and care for you. Aside from getting professional help, you can also join a social anxiety therapy group that can slowly but gradually help you with your social anxiety. There are a lot of therapy groups that are positive, supportive and encouraging out there...waiting for others like you to join them in their own journey towards anxiety-free living.

Always remember that social anxiety disorder can be conquered through proper treatment, support groups and therapy. If you think that you are one of them, do not be afraid. Get out of your shell and take comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

Sec filing services

SEC Filings: What you need to know before contacting an agent

When you are in charge of the EDGAR filings for your public company, you know that you have to be accurate, time effective, and very thorough. It is a real challenge to do all of this on your own, and that is why most public companies turn to agents to do their EDGAR filing.

Before you begin your filing for the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, you need to have all of your financial documentation prepared. Your agent can help you determine which reports and information you need to include, and will help you prepare those filings for submission to the SEC.

Learning Securities filing on your own or sending someone to be trained on it is more costly in terms of time and money spent in most cases than it would be to simply hire an experienced agent to do the filing for you, therefore many companies work with outside tax preparers. This way you can save the time, money, and headaches of trying to file without assistance as well as the potential costs to you if you make a mistake in your filings and are charged a fine.

An experienced filing agent - and experience really is the key, here - can help you get you paperwork together and can translate it into the proper format for EDGAR filings very quickly, helping you to get your filing done on time and at a fraction of the cost that it would take to train someone within the company to do it instead. Turnaround varies by company, but some agents will be able to convert your documents for filing within a single business day, and some are willing to work hard to get you documents that you urgently need that same day.

Costs for filings can also vary, so before you make contact with an agent make sure that you have an idea of what their company charges for their services and what the competition charges as well. This will help you get a better idea of which service is going to offer you the best value, and if you go with a more expensive service then you can know to expect a bit of extra effort for your money. If you aren't satisfied with your current EDGAR filing agent, then take a look around for an agent who will better meet your needs and still get your paperwork filed quickly, accurately, and for the right price.

This article is originally published here: SEC Filing Services.

Lasik eye surgery and the benefits of the procedure

LASIK (Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) is a common type of eye surgery that many are using to be able to decrease their dependency on glasses and contact lenses.

LASIK is a method of refractive surgery that is a regular procedure, often used for treating nearsightedness. Its popularity is due to the improvement of vision, without the major side effects that other eye surgery methods may produce.

With the eye being one of the most sensitive areas of the body, it might be somewhat surprising to learn that the LASIK procedure is relatively simple. In fact it's not uncommon for those patients that have undergone the procedure to be working again the following day.

The eye is firstly washed out with a solution to numb the area. The next step is to hold the eyelids open using clamps. This will prevent blinking. After the solution begins to take effect, the surgeon will make an incision in the cornea. Once enough tissue is removed using the laser, the surgeon can then close where the incision is made, and the procedure is complete.

The benefits of LASIK eye surgery is there for all to see (excuse the pun!). Thousands of people have undergone the procedure, but for some the apprehension to go through with eye surgery may be attributed to the main benefits not being made clear, which are mainly two-fold:

1) The possibility to live life without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

2) An increase in the quality of vision.

The cost of having LASIK eye surgery performed can vary. The price depends on factors such as the equipment used for the surgery and also the testing carried out before the procedure. You may find that different providers will perform different levels of testing, so ensure that you research into different providers and find out what is included in the price. Of course you cannot put a price on your vision, but there is certainly no harm in discovering which provider offers the required features in the quoted price. One point that must be considered though is to find a surgeon that has experience with the procedure. Do not simply opt for the cheapest as they may not necessarily be the best.

Security system the way to protect your home or business

A security system is the key to protecting your home or business from intruders and burglars. Today security systems are increasingly popular and are installed in the majority of homes. There are many different models available from wired systems to wireless systems. You can also purchase do it yourself alarm systems that will range in price from $10 to $100, but for a sophisticated whole home security alarm system you will need to call in the experts.

A security system is built around a basic design concept and this concept uses a simple electric circuit. This circuit is built into an entry way and once the circuit is broken the alarm system is triggered. There are two types of circuits that are used and these are closed circuit systems and open circuit systems. Closed circuits are normally seen as the better choice.

Magnetic sensors are also used for closed circuit systems and when a door is closed the magnet closes the circuit. Other methods use small buttons which are embedded in the door frame and these buttons are pushed in when the door closes. If the door is opened the button is released and this will trigger the alarm.

The control box is the next most important piece of equipment used in security systems and these control boxes are normally located just inside your entrance door. Once your alarm system has been triggered you must enter your security code into the control box to disable the alarm.

The control box is also used to turn your alarm system on when you are leaving your home and is crucial to any security alarm system.

These are the key components to a security alarm system; sensors or circuit breakers and a control box. There are many additional components that can be used and these include motion detectors.

Whatever type of alarm system you decide to have installed in your home or business, it is always advisable to shop around before purchasing anything.

Architectural outsourcing

The outsourcing industry worldwide is booming. There are very few Information Technology sectors which are not into outsourcing.

The question arises, that when everybody is jumping on the outsourcing bandwagon for obvious benefits, then why not the construction and real estate industry.

One aspect where the real estate industry can immediately benefit is in outsourcing designing of 3d models or renders of their present and future projects. It is widely acknowledged that the 3d representation of a real estate venture creates a stunning impression in the mind of the buyers, if designed appropriately.

Today, architects and builders recruit in-house designers who design 3d models for them. But then most of these people are not 3d specialists, not at least specialists in designing 3d models for real estate ventures. To achieve this purpose one needs the help of civil engineers, architects and designers working in tandem. Also, the cost of outsourcing this work is much less than compared to getting it executed in-house.

Also, to allocate resources to 3d modeling is a problamatic affair for such consultants and companies as their core business is construction and not 3d design.

To tap this opportunity many companies have emerged worldwide who specialize specifically in 3d modeling. For an architect or builder to outsource such work to these specialist companies, is a proposition of significant benefits. Not only it saves them costs but also takes the headache off their shoulders.

Also, the architectural expertise and the design expertise of 3d modeling companies

can be combined to create life-like models which would be utilized on the project website, brochures and other sale materials.

After all, a real estate venture is not a virtual commodity and folks would like to have a glimpse of the future before they invest.

Many architects have already realized this and a significant amount of work is being outsourced. Its time others realize it too and make a head start.

Best dogs for families with kids

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Choosing the right dog for your family with kids need some research if you are new to the dog ownership. Families with kids need to pay attention on certain dog qualities such as temperament, size and energy level before adopting or buying a dog.

Kids like to play with dogs. Sometimes they forget to respect dog's cue to back off. You need a dog that won't mind if his hair or tail gets pulled. Size is the another important consideration. This is for the safety of children as well as for dog. There are dog breeds that are very good with children but too big; especially with small children who may be accidentally stepped on or knocked over.

Some dog breeds that are good with children have high energy or activity levels than others. If dogs don't receive the exercise they physically require, they are more likely to develop behavior problems such as excessive chewing or barking. Select a dog breed that loves children but requires less exercise if your family is not so active.

Here are some breeds that work well with kids:

Beagle: Generally a non-biting breed. Good with kids. Approximate size: 40 to 59 lbs. Beagles do shed. if you or a family member suffer from allergies, it is worth looking into other breeds that do well with kids.

Bassett Hound: Generally a non-biting breed. Good with kids. Approximate size: 50 to 65 lbs. Gets along well with other dogs and pets. Minimal exercise needed.

Cairn Terrier: Generally a non-biting breed. Good with kids. Approximate size: 13 to 25 lbs. Minimal shedding.

Cocker Spaniel: Generally a non-biting breed. Good with kids. Approximate size: 13 to 30 lbs. Regular exercise may be needed.

Dachshund: Generally a non-biting breed. Good with kids. Approximate size: 16 to 32 lbs. Minimal exercise needed. They are medium shedders and require modest exercise. Housebreaking can be difficult.

Golden Retriever: Generally a non-biting breed. Good with kids. Approximate size: 65 to 75 lbs. Easy to train. Get along well with other dogs and pets. Daily exercise needed. Loves to pay with balls and other toys, so exercise is fairly easy.

Labrador Retriever: Generally a non-biting breed. Good with kids. Approximate size: 60 to 75 lbs. Minimal grooming required. Requires daily exercise.

Pug: Generally a non-biting breed. Good with kids. Approximate size: 14 to 18 lbs. Sheds copious amounts, usually seasonally.

While there is no guarantee a certain type of dog will get along well with children, there is a wide range of dog breeds (many more than mentioned here) that are known for being excellent family dogs. Always remember, before adopting or purchasing your next puppy, please do your homework.

To find puppies and dogs online, visit http://www. Petboro. com

Stand up for your feet

Most people walk nearly 115,000 miles in their lifetimes-the equivalent of walking around the world five times.

One person who knows the toll life can take on someone's feet is Katy Rowland.

"Foot care should be a number-one priority, especially for the more than 20 million Americans with diabetes," she said. "Diabetes can cause changes in the skin of the feet and nerve damage which impairs the sensation of feeling. It shouldn't be taken lightly since unhealed diabetic foot ulcers account for more than 60 percent of all nontraumatic lower limb amputations."

As senior vice president of clinical services for National Healing Corporation, Rowland is on the leading edge of foot-wound care for the firm, which manages 20 percent of the nation's wound healing centers.

She offers these tips that everyone can use to put their best foot forward:

• Your feet contain 25 percent of all the bones in your body. Buy shoes that fit comfortably without expecting them to stretch to fit.

• Most people's feet are two different sizes. Stand up when having your feet measured so that they are at their maximum width and length.

• Your feet contain a quarter of a million sweat glands. You should always wear seamless socks with shoes and change them daily.

• Medicare and many health care providers will reimburse a certain amount of money for shoes and custom inserts prescribed by a doctor. Don't buy more than one insert at a time since the size and shape of your feet may change.

• Cut toenails straight across at a length slightly longer than the tips of your toes. Use an emery board to smooth the corners.

• Diabetics should never go barefoot and need to inspect the inside of their shoes daily for torn linings and foreign objects. They should also examine their feet each day for blisters, cuts and scratches using a mirror to see the bottoms of their feet. People with a chronic wound, one that has not healed in more than 30 days, should seek medical treatment.

The consequences of credit card company created bankruptcy

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Chances are that back when you first began using credit cards, the credit card companies were never shy about offering you more cards and larger credit lines. They acted this way because they wanted you to live beyond your means and take on more debt than you could reasonably pay off on a monthly basis. These companies do not make money when customers charge low amounts and pay off their balances in full; they make money when customers carry high balances and pay hefty interest rates. Then, once these same consumers are maxed out and finding it difficult to make even the minimum payment, what do the credit card companies do? They raise their interest rates even higher!

Based on these business practices, it should be no surprise that the credit card companies actively sponsored recent legislation making it harder than ever to declare bankruptcy—even for those who need it most.

Legally, there are two types of bankruptcy available to individuals: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Most people think of bankruptcy in terms of Chapter 7, which means almost all current debts are canceled, and after they file, they owe nothing. They also get to keep all of their current belongings. The credit card companies are obviously against Chapter 7, because it means they will never see any more money from those customers.

The more common type of bankruptcy (and the one preferred by creditors) is Chapter 13. A person filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy has their debts, income, and assets carefully looked over by a court representative. The court then decides how much, if any, of the debt they still have the ability to pay, and then sets up a strict payment plan (often, money is taken directly from paychecks). Any and all personal assets, from a car to furniture and clothing, can be ordered by the court representative to be sold to pay off your debts.

While the credit card companies would prefer bankruptcy did not exist, they greatly prefer it when people file for Chapter 13, because the companies have a chance at receiving even more money. New legislation passed in 2005 made it harder than ever to qualify for Chapter 7, which means even more consumers may be forced to sell their vehicle or their family home to satisfy debts—debts that in many cases were actually paid off years ago, with only the years of high interest payments left.

The Real Consequences of Bankruptcy

After filing for bankruptcy, you no longer have your old debts, but you also no longer have any of your old lines of credit. For someone who has been living beyond their financial means for a long time, this new situation can be a painful and difficult shock.

If you filed for Chapter 13, you will start with a five-year repayment plan, as ordered by the court. You will not have access to old credit lines, and have very limited (if any) access to new credit. Shockingly, your bankruptcy does not actually start to count down until the end of this five-year period.

Bankruptcy goes on your credit report, and remains there for up to ten years. (With Chapter 13, the ten years start after your five-year repayment ends, adding up to as many as 15 years in total.) Immediately after filing, your credit score will go down, and for at least the first year getting any new line of credit may be impossible. Over time, your credit score will slowly improve, and you may be eligible for some credit offers. Be wary of opening any new accounts, remembering your earlier debt problems. Remember, you can only declare bankruptcy once every seven years, so no matter what new circumstances come up (medical expenses, death, etc.), you are completely liable for any new debts for at least seven years forward.

Your first credit offers post-bankruptcy will likely be for small credit lines (a few hundred dollars), with high interest rates and usually an annual fee. To get back on track to good credit, open one of these cards only if you are ready for the responsibility. Pay on time, and don't exceed your limit. As time goes on, you will be offered cards with larger credit lines, lower rates, and less or no fees.

How safe is safe

There has been an increasing amount of emphasis in recent times on the subject of keeping the information on your computer safe. The terms Back-Up, Archive, Data Storage and Security being mentioned frequently, but what is all about?

In simple terms, people are increasingly holding more and more information on their computers, be it photos, personal data and finance, business data, accounts, contacts, addresses and much more.

What everyone needs to understand is that the information held on your computer is a very vulnerable entity and can be very easily and completely lost, either by component failure, malicious acts or theft. If loss of the information you keep on your computer would cause you distress, then you need to take steps to ensure it is kept safe and that you would be able to continue even if your computer was stolen.

The only definite way of safeguarding against the many different kinds of threats is to have a copy of the valuable information and keep it away from the computer, this is commonly referred to as back-up. In case of loss, the information can then be restored to a computer from the safe back-up copy. A back up consists of an exact copy of this important data, kept on a separate storage medium such as a CD / DVD or an external tape or hard disk drive.

Naturally, a back-up is only as good as the last time that you actually made a back-up copy, so it is common practice to create a new back-up frequently and overwrite the old copy. How frequently you do this depends on how often your valuable information changes, the more changes, the more frequent the back-up. A back-up can be performed manually by simply copying the data you wish to back-up to your chosen media, or the process can be automated by using specialist back-up software programmes. Back-up software allows you to select the data that needs to be backed-up, when to make the back-up and where to copy the backed-up data to, this set up can then be memorised by the back-up software. Backing-up your data then becomes a relatively quick and simple process.

Many confuse back-up with "archiving". Archiving is where you transfer data, which is important enough to keep, but no longer required (e. g. old photos, old accounts) to an external, safe storage medium for future reference. The archived data is then removed from the computers main hard drive to free-up space.

Whether backing-up or archiving, there is a choice of media you can record your copy on to:

Floppy or Zip Disk

A Floppy or Zip Disk drive provides a simple solution. The downside to this method however, is very limited recording space and not a particularly reliable or long-term solution.

Recordable CD or DVD

If you have a CD or DVD recordable drive, this is a better longer-term solution with more space. The downside is that the recording process can be a pain as you cannot just drag and drop and that you need CD's or DVD's to record on.

This type of backup can be cumbersome, time consuming and sometimes frustrating, depending on the software and the quality of disks used.

When using this method of backup, remember to check the disk you have transferred your data to, to make sure your computer can read the disc ok in future.

USB Pen Drives

Also known by various other names USB Pen Drives are an excellent low cost solution for smaller back-up purposes being easy to use and they are also great for transferring data from one computer to another.

External USB Hard Drives

For most users the best storage solution for back-up and archiving purposes is the USB external hard drive, being reliable, easy to install (just plug in to your USB port) and easy to use (just drag and drop your files to be backed-up). USB External Hard Drives are available in pocket or desktop sizes and storage capacities from a few Gb to 250Gb + offering a huge amount of recording space. Being a plug in device they can be easily disconnected and kept separate from your computer and out of harm's way. Some external USB Hard Drives like Iomega come packaged with back-up software too.

I love watching caricatures being made

I am not the most artistic person that has ever happened. In fact, my friends and family often laugh at me for how little I know about all things art. I cannot paint a picture to save my life, and any photographs I take usually end up off of center and unusable for anything. There is, however, one part of art that I cannot get enough of: caricatures. I absolutely love them. I cannot create them myself, yet I still never tire of watching them be made by other people.

I will never forget the day that I fell in love with seeing caricatures being made that truly reflected people. I was at a theme park with my family for vacation. I couldn' have been more than ten years old. I was loving everything about the theme park, but when we walked upon a station where artists were creating caricatures I was mezmorized. I could hardly believe the way the artists were making true yet silly representations of the people that sat before them.

I was so intrigued with the process of caricatures that I convinced my mother to let me stay a little while and just watch. Looking back, I am quite shocked that she let a ten year old stay by herself in the park, but she did. And I loved that hour of watching. My eyes moved back and forth from the face of the subject being painted to the face of the artist to the hand of the artist doing the work.

I have continued to be intrigued with caricatures of all kinds. In fact, I have started a growing collection of caricatures. These represent attempts at creating likenesses of myself, my family, some of my closest friends, and a variety of other people that I admire. The caricatures are wide in variety yet they are of the same essence. I have many of them framed in my office and they make for the most interesting conversation starters.

If you're looking for a new thing to collect or for a new hobby to pick up, then consider caricatures. I have taken two classes aimed specifically to help people learn to do proper caricatures. I am still a long way from considering myself an artist, but my skills have greatly improved. So consider the uniqueness and beauty of caricatures and incorporate them into your life however you can.

What is it about private label articles

If you’re receiving many internet marketing newsletters at all right now, you’re probably hearing about new private label articles at least every couple weeks. They’re the hot way to build sites quickly and look like an expert, earn AdSense income, etc.

But do they really work that well?

So much depends on the quality of the articles themselves. I’ve bought private label articles myself. Some were great. Others were pure, unusable junk that got basic facts wrong. All from the same private label article site. So much depends on the particular writer assigned to the topic.

Now, I’m the kind who likes to be unique, so I was rewriting quite extensively. In fact, I dropped my membership on realizing that I was spending quite a bit of time rewriting. The articles I got were often little more than research or inspiration for me. The title alone was enough in some cases.

Of course, I’m not everyone. Lots of people don’t enjoy writing, so for them private label articles are a wonderful addition to their business. I’d still suggest making a few changes, and definitely check for accuracy.

There are some factors you need to consider when choosing a resource for private label articles. Accuracy, as mentioned above, is quite important, as is the quality of writing. You don’t have to be a good writer to recognize good writing.

However, you also need to take a look at the terms of the website. What are the rules for using the articles? What if you quit? How many other members can there be?

I started writing this article after getting an email advertising a new turnkey private label article membership site. It’s limited in its membership, but I wonder what restrictions there are for members offering membership to the sites they run using this technology. Are the articles all the same for everyone?

Since you know that others will have the chance to use the private label articles you buy with a membership, you need to consider how many others you might be competing with. On average, most members will do nothing with the articles they get on these sites, but some articles and subjects will prove more popular than others. Since you can’t know in advance, you want to be certain that membership is limited and the articles aren’t being distributed across several different private label sites.

Is there any way to be sure of this? Not really. The best you can do is find out what others think of the membership you are considering. Honest opinions can be hard to come by, so take a little time with your research. You can also take a look at the guarantee, and be ready to use it if the articles are honestly not what you needed.

Do I have a favorite private label article site? No, so I won’t be pitching one here myself. I was a member of one for a while, but as I said, quality ranged from good to poor. I might try one again in the future, but for now it’s an area I’ll leave alone.

They are a good way to get content for your site, certainly easier and cheaper than hiring a writer. But make certain that you know how you are going to use the articles and make the most of your investment.

An overview of toronto

Toronto is the capital of the Province of Ontario. It is Canada’s largest city, and with a population of 2.6 million it is the fifth largest in North America. It is also at the center of the Golden Horseshoe, a densely populated region along the western shores of Lake Ontario which is home to roughly eight million people, or one quarter of the population of Canada.

The skyline of the city is stunning and unmistakable. Its best-known landmark, the CN Tower, is the world’s tallest tower and dominates the surrounding skyscrapers. Beyond the skyscrapers is a city center which consists of lush green residential areas and parks, notably along the ravines that cut through the city.

Toronto's history dates back, long before Europeans came to settle Canada. It was a meeting place for First Nations people (Native Indians). The name "Toronto" is derived from the Huron Indian word for "meeting place".

Initially claimed by the French in the 18th century, it was not until the American Revolution caused a huge number of United Empire Loyalists (loyal to England) to flee to Toronto that the city became an established settlement. The new town was named "York" and its beginnings can still be seen in the historic garrison of York near the Canadian National Exhibition grounds in downtown Toronto. Its current name was adopted in 1834 when the town was incorporated.

Over the years the city grew gradually, mainly with people of British origin. From the 1950's, a surge in the arrival of immigrants infused Toronto with new foods, new languages and, most importantly, new attitudes. Toronto's diverse restaurants and communities are a testimony of the variety of people who have immigrated to Canada and settled here. This can be seen in Toronto neighborhoods named Greektown, Little Italy, Indian Bazaar, Little Poland, Portugal Village, Chinatown and others. Visiting these places is like taking a trip around the world without leaving Toronto.

Today, the city is a lively, cultured place with hot summers and cold, dry winters, It is the most economically important city in Canada, the center of finance, media and services, and home to more corporate head offices than any other. By night, its people indulge themselves at the city’s numerous restaurants, bars and clubs, or at the symphony, opera and theater. More than anything, however, Toronto is defined by its people – friendly, efficient and one of the most multi-cultural in the world.

Toronto has an extensive public transit system which includes buses, subways and streetcars. In fact, for a little over $2 you can use the city transit to get from the Lester Pearson International Airport to the city center. It is one of the safest cities in the world, with a crime rate lower than many other cities of equivalent size.

For entertainment, Toronto is recognized as the third-largest theater center in the English-speaking world, after New York and London with over 90 venues in the greater Toronto area. The city's sports fanatics can get their fill by taking in a hockey game with the Maple Leafs, basketball with the Raptors or a Blue Jay baseball game at the SkyDome.

Television and film entertainment is also a major local industry here. Toronto often stands in on screen for large American cities like New York and Chicago. Most importantly, Toronto is the proud host of the annual Toronto International Film Festival, which is the world's largest and rivalled only by Cannes in importance.

Toronto is a city of many museums, galleries, festivals, comedy clubs and events. It is generally considered to be Canada's dominant cultural center.

Shopping is plentiful as well and in the winter months - you don't even need to go outside! Walk the labyrinth of shops under Toronto's streets - no coat required!

Before you come to Toronto, be sure to visit http://www. toronto. ca

Source: www. toronto. ca and personal knowledge

The basic starting point in selecting a new comforter set

There are literally thousands of options available in comforter set designs. However, there are several critical issues that one must consider in order to make the best choice possible when picking out a comforter set. Many comforter sets, quite frankly, can be a bit of an investment for your home. That is why it so important to do your homework and make your selections based upon multiple factors, not just one or two.

It is after numerous hours of dedicated research and careful consideration, that the average consumer will understand their options well enough to make a solid product purchase decision. Hopefully, as you conclude reading this article, you will have a much better idea as to which direction you would like to go in selecting a new comforter set for your bedroom.

A comforter set can mean many things to different people. There are some sets, which come only with the comforter, while others will include the complete "bed in a bag." If you know up front what accessories you wish to get with your comforter set and the budget you have to spend on your bedding, it will help you reach the end of the process in a more satisfactory purchase decision.

Bed comforter sets can run the gamut of styles and pricing, ranging anywhere from a hundred dollars to thousands. This is why it is so important to understand how much you are willing to spend before you engage the shopping process. Once you understand your spending limits, then you are better prepared to determine whether you might just want a comforter, a bed in a bag package, or the full meal deal with pillow shams, canopy covers, dust ruffles, additional sheet sets, etc. If your budget is not a major concern, you may even opt to have a comforter set custom made just for you.

Once you have determined how much you are willing to spend on a comforter set, now it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty of picking one out.

One of the primary questions to answer, after you have set your budget, is how many bedding accessories do you want to purchase with your comforter? Many bedding manufacturers will offer items such as a matching dust ruffle, coordinating pillow sham, sheet sets, even window treatments. Depending upon the name brand of the product, many bed comforter sets can also be found with additional elements that the average consumer may not have even considered, such as wallpaper, borders, and coordinating bathroom decorations. Many of the comforter sets available today provide so many more options, which are designed as companion products to be sold with the comforter set.

Once a shopper understands how many and what accessories they want to get with their comforter set, they need to determine what types of materials they want to pursue in their bedding products. Polyester, cotton, and silk are the primary fabrics used to enclose the comforter package. On the inside of the comforter, polyester fibers, cotton, wool and down are often used as a stuffing material. Each kind of material, at each level of the comforter's design, has its positives and negatives to consider.

It is important to understand in advance what fabrics you would like your comforter and bedding to be made from, because, depending on the individual, there are some fabrics that the consumer will want to avoid at all costs. For example if you want to stay within a reasonable price frame, then choose fabrics such as cotton or polyester synthetic blends. There are multiple comforter sets available in these fabrics, which tend to be reasonably priced with various design options. If money is no issue you may want to go the route of a silk comforter set. Lightweight yet warm, this may be a great choice for you if you have no fears of breaking the bank.

Wool filled comforters can be a wise choice in a comforter set if you are allergy-prone and desire a natural product. These, however, can get very warm so you should know your internal thermometer well, before choosing this kind of comforter. Additionally, a down-filled comforter can make for a great comforter set that offers plenty of warmth on those cold, winter nights, but down-filled products can create havoc for those who are prone to allergies. Many people like the down-filled option, since it typically offers product choices that range from lightweight to heavy, and the new baffle box stitching keeps the down product from shifting like it did in the comforters of old.

You should also consider your individual style when it comes to making a comforter set selection. After all, the design and styling of a comforter set speak to the personality and taste of its owners. There are numerous choices that one now has when choosing styles, colors, and patterns. Determine which color palette works best with your individual tastes and start there. Decide if you would like to see this palette in solids or if patterns are a better fit with your taste. Also know which patterns and styles work with your fabric choices and this will further help in the decision making process.

Choosing the right comforter set for you can be a challenge, but it can be made just a bit easier when you follow the above guidelines. If you do that, you will be able to turn your humdrum bedroom into one of luxury and bliss with your new comforter set, suitably tailored to meet your own unique individuality.

Up is not the only way

Copyright 2006 Red Ladder, Inc.

When I first entered the workforce, the path for moving forward and advancing my career was steep and hierarchical. In some ways, it reminded me of the steps required to ascend the temples in Chitza Nitza, Mexico. If you have ever climbed the pyramid at Chitza Nitza, you know that it’s not too bad at the lower levels, but gets more challenging the higher you go. And as you might expect, it was pretty lonely at the top.

Today, the organizational realm in which we work has been dramatically altered. Organizations are flatter, with fewer middle management positions. Those that do hold those positions now have broader spans of control with more responsibility. Downsizing or “rightsizing” has become an accepted business practice in most companies. And, we have come to know, that we all have limited -- if any -- job security.

Not to worry! There are still plenty of opportunities for those that want to move ahead and ascend the corporate ladder. It does require you to change your perspective and develop a new vocabulary.

If you want to move ahead in your company, here are a few tips to get you started:

- Develop a "Me, Inc." attitude. Identify your key assets and liabilities. Then create a plan to leverage your assets and offset your liabilities. Think about how you will communicate your interest in being promoted. Involve your manager when appropriate. But remember, you are responsible for your own career success.

- Invest in your "work portfolio." Develop a wide range of experiences and desirable skills. Think about what specific skills the next job will require. For example: supervising, team-building, decision-making, budgeting, or scheduling. Then take steps to develop your skills. Do this internally at your company or externally through volunteer work, a self-study program, or taking a local course. And remember, embrace lifelong development and continuous learning by taking advantage of degreed programs, industry seminars, continuing education and company training programs.

- Be a change agent. Get comfortable with handling ongoing change. This means not only embracing change but also seeking it out in the form of new and challenging experiences. Move around willingly and proactively. That includes up, down, and sideways within your company, and outside of your company when necessary.

Follow these tips and you can expect new avenues to open up for you. And remember, in the new world of work, up is not the only way!

Cheap holidays in fiji

The perfect cheap holidays in Fiji might include planning your itinerary to include a visit to Sigatoka to see the beautiful and adventurous Naihehe Caves. These caves are something to see as they show the history of the area because they were the Korovusolo fortress. In the same area, you will find the best beach, you have ever seen. Natadola Beach has shade trees, the whitest sands and if you want to take a horseback ride on the beach, the horses are gentle and well trained, children and adults will find this a great way to spend the day.

After a couple days in Sigatoka, you might take a ride to Nadi to see the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple. This religious site is amazing and the architecture is just beautiful. Then it is off to Suva for The Fiji Museum with exhibits dating back over three thousand years. This is the oldest museum around the South Pacific. A favorite in Suva is the flea market called the Suva Municipal Market. This is a festive area and they have something for everyone to enjoy. Of course, you cannot forget the Parliament with its government building with an orange color. The Albert Park is another place to see before moving on to the other areas of Fiji.

Your cheap holidays to Fiji are just getting exciting. You can visit the Garden of the Sleeping Giant in Nausori. This is amazing to see. There are so many orchids, over two thousand types and was originally started by Perry Mason star Raymond Burr. This place is amazing and it shows his much devoted love and attention to orchids. As you might remember, he was a man who loved to give orchids on his television shows. You do not want to miss this attraction in Fiji.

After a few days of this area of Fiji, you might enjoy your cheap holidays in Fiji by visiting Taveuni Island. The Bouma National Heritage Park is a great place to visit and walk around the rainforest. You can hike or do some swimming. Yes, the water is safe to swim. You will not see any creatures popping out. The Lavena Costal Walk is a true nature trail that shows you the wild side of the island area as well as the black sands and awesome forests. You are going to enjoy spending a few days here.

The one place your cheap holidays in Fiji take you is the Taveuni Island’s beautiful Tavoro Waterfalls. You can spend the entire day in this part of the world and have peace and tranquility. The three different waterfalls have different levels of altitude and are so beautiful to watch all day. After you have had your fill of daytime activities, sit and relax with a drink from one of the local club and lounges. You will find the tropical drinks are superb, but hold it down to just a few. You want to enjoy the outdoors the next day while enjoying your cheap holidays in Fiji.

Preventing student loan default

There are several ways that you can make to prevent the onset of student loan default. It is just somehow necessary for you to place your interest and efforts on preventing it. Here are the possible ways that you can consider:

1. Make sure that you understand your loan options as well as the related responsibilities prior to taking out a student loan.

2. Simply make your payments on time.

3. If possible, inform your lender or service provider promptly about any of the possible adjustments that may affect the repayment of your student loan. In case you move or change your address, let them know. Also, make sure that they know about the name changes, which are very possible because of marriage; graduation or termination of studies; leaves of absence as well as transfers to another institution.

4. If certain financial difficulties are encountered, try to consider applying for a deferment or forbearance on your loans. Many experts often suggest that it is much better to defer your payments than to go in to default status. Along with this, ask your lender or service provider about the available options while you are still making payments, before you enter the default status of your loan. Always note that after you default, you won’t be able to get a deferment or forbearance anymore.

5. If for instance you are having trouble making your payments, try to contact your lender as they may be able to suggest an alternate repayment options for you. Some of the possible options include graduated repayment, income sensitive repayment, as well as income contingent repayment. Also note that the types of available repayment options currently depend on whether the student loan was issued under the FFELP or FDSLP or Direct student loan programs.

6. A student loan consolidation can be considered as another way for preventing student loan default. Combine all of your educational loans into one big loan as this gives you the chance to send your payments to just one lender. What’s more, you may be able to extend the term of the loan in order to lessen the size of your monthly payments.

7. Simply keep records regarding your student loans. If possible, try to back up copies of all your letters, canceled checks, promissory notes, disbursement notices, and some other necessary forms in a file folder.

Is google having a tough time with their website limit

If you are one to pay attention to what happens within the Google realm, you might find yourself thrown for a loop these days. As Google updates their results, it seems like they are having some issues dealing with so many new websites popping up.

Indexing 8 billion websites is quite an accomplishment for Google. As they are reluctant to increase this number, they are faced with many challenges in trying to keep some sites within these 8 billion pages while losing some others, after each update they do to their database.

So how do you determine which listings to lose?

We've all heard of the "sandbox theory"! (New sites are added to a group of other new sites until a certain amount of time has passed and you've proven your worth. Once you've proven your site is valuable, Google releases it within its regular search results).

It seems to me that if you don't own a large network of websites that can easily increase the websites link popularity overnight, your newly created website won't get hit as hard and is added to the sandbox for only a certain period of time.

On the other hand, if you do own a large network of websites and increase the amount of websites you have, your newly built website(s) will get hit harder and may take a lot more time and promotional effort to get good search rankings results within Google.

Let's take a look at why this may be true:

1st) It has been long speculated that Google searches through the "WHOIS" data base regularly ("WHOIS" - Contact record of who owns a specific domain name). By doing this Google can now see who owns what and how many domain names they own. By doing this Google can now determine that "Company A" owns 25 websites. This collection of 25 websites can now all be crawled to look for content copying, ghost pages, mimic pages, irrelevant link directories, etc. By knowing that you own 25 websites, Google can quickly determine their worth and rank them accordingly.

2nd) With this knowledge provided by the "WHOIS" data base, Google can also see how many years you've registered each domain name for. For instance, if you register all your domain names for only 1 year, there is a possibility that you don't plan on using these domain names for the long term. Instead, you may be using these new domain

names simply to keep up with new changes on the internet and new standards in search engine optimization.

On the other hand, if you register all of your new domain names for the next 5 years, it is more likely that you are going to use these domain names in the future. This now gives more relevance to each domain name you register for more than 1 year.

I am now recommending to all my clients not only to make sure to register a domain name related to their country (i. e. Canada =.ca), but to also make sure that they register their domain name for 5 years. If you are truly serious about increasing your business online, why would you risk missing your domain name renewals every year and possibly loose your domain name?

Google may also look at how long you've owned this website for!

It may be true that by adding your new website to the "sandbox", Google may also add your website to a "history report". This history report can give their database detailed information about how old your website is. These days, I believe that it takes about 6-8 months before Google updates your "history report". By updating, I mean possibly releasing your website further within search results.

See, this combination of "who owns the domain", "how long will you own the domain name", and "how old is the website", can provide a more accurate report to Google as to whether or not this website will survive, stay the course, or provide great content. Through this "history report" and "sandbox report", your website will go through an "exam" after 6-8 months in order to determine whether or not you are ready to play with the big boys online or whether or not your website has what it takes to succeed online.

Until Google increases the amount of websites it will index within its results, we are all going to have to battle to stay on top. Internet marketing in general is becoming increasingly tougher with every month that passes. It has finally caught up to us and we are now starting to fight a hard battle.

One more thing you may notice:

Google's cache (Snapshot image of your website when it crawls through) is becoming a little wonky lately. One day Google will have an updated cache, the next day it won't have a cache at all, and the following day it will have a cache of your website from 2 weeks ago.

What does this all mean?

When Google crawls a certain page, it looks at everything. Let’s take one specific internal page in your website. This specific page may be ranked 10 different times within the search results for 10 different key searches depending on the content within that certain page.

As Google increasingly fights to keep certain pages, its cache may be having a tough time keeping up and delivering the most relevant cache to date. More times than not, the front page of a website doesn't have a cache at all anymore! This is very interesting. It may mean that your front page may not be the "key" anymore since more and more people are trying to cram everything under the sun within their front page.

It is possible that your "Main Sub-Categories" are weighing higher in Google's eyes for the quality and relevance of your internal content.

What you want to do is to provide a clean map to all your internal pages. Your front page was the best solution for providing a map to all of your pages. Maybe these days, your front page should be used only to link to your main "sub-categories" and also to show your most recent posted content!

I will leave you with this. If you are new online or even an experienced marketer online, buying many new domain names may not be the key to increase your success right now. Buying new domains should be a long term investment. Try increasing the popularity of your already established websites in order to gain more exposure for your business. Owning more domains increases the amount of time and effort you need to promote each one. Like I've mentioned many times before, owning a network of websites is not enough! You need to expand your horizons online, increase your content and create more business partnerships every chance you have.

For more of Martins articles, go here: http://www. smartads. info/newsletter

Profit boosters copywriting checklist

You can use this copywriting checklist when you are copywriting - or to evaluate copywriting. It is based on what works best from over 1,200 copywriting projects we have done since 1978. It will lead to significantly more response from your copywriting.

Before writing:

1. Study the company and the product/service being sold thoroughly so you have all the information you will need.

2. Research the prospects and the market to determine what benefits the prospect wants most, secondary benefits wanted, objections, and what would get him to buy now. Key: Don’t guess; research.

3. Develop the main emotions you can touch with your copywriting for this project, and how you will do it. The strongest emotions are love, fear, greed, acceptance, survival, anger, and health.

4. Think like your prospect; and not like the marketer.

5. Develop the best offer(s) you can make to the prospect. Your offer includes pricing, terms, bonuses and guarantee.

At this point, you know the company and product, what the target prospect wants most, his objections, the main emotions you can touch, and you have developed a terrific offer.

Headline and start of copy:

6. Write at least 20 different headlines before choosing the best one.

Headline winners include a big, bold promise of the benefits the prospect wants most, specific figures, a guarantee, credibility enhancers, a special offer.

Legendary marketers John Caples and Claude Hopkins proved that one headline can pull 10 times the response as another headline … with no other changes in the copywriting.

7. Start of copy should re-enforce the main benefit(s) of the headline, elaborate, and incorporate the secondary benefits the prospect wants most.

Body of copy:

8. Develop the prospect problem and pain points. Reinforce how these problems will remain or even get worse unless he takes action, and how your product/service is the best solution.

9. Copywriting should be first person, one-to-one, conversational.

10. List the prospects likely objections to buying, and overcome those objections.

11. Sincerely flatter the prospect if you can.

12. Get the prospect to mentally “picture and enjoy” the end-result benefits of buying.

13. Use testimonials, specifics, tests, clients, studies, success stories and memberships to add credibility and believability.

14. Be sure it is easy to read and “scan”. Use sub headlines with prospect benefits, short sentences, short paragraphs.

15. If any copy is dull or boring, cut it or revise it.

16. If the flow gets slowed or stopped at any point in the copy, fix it.

17. Copywriting must be passionate, enthusiastic.

18. Create urgency to get a response now.

19. Tell the prospect what he will lose if he does not respond now.

20. Tell the prospect exactly what to do.

21. Close, Close, Close. Get action now.

How to start a business through ecommerce

Starting business through ecommerce is an excellent way to provide you with additional income when marketing nutritional supplements or wellness products. With the increasing popularity in today’s world for online shopping, you can reap the benefits of starting business through ecommerce.

Ecommerce will allow you to reach a global market. Your customers will be from all around the world. In the nutritional supplements and wellness product industry, these types of products are needed by humans in general. Your market is not restricted to just one type of consumer or one geographical region. Starting business through ecommerce will allow you to reach vast numbers of potential buyers for your products.

It can become costly for companies to stock, supply and have employees to keep an offline store open. Additionally, the store is typically not run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and on holidays. Being able to have your business operate all the time will maximize your profit potential.

Starting business through ecommerce allows you to operate an online store without the overhead costs of stocking, employee costs, physical facility costs, and other operational costs. You will find that operating an offline store costs a great deal more than running an ecommerce site.

Ecommerce allows you to save money on mailing and billing. Typically customers will pay for the products immediately. There is no cost for mailing out invoices or sending out notices to collect payment.

In fact, you have fewer product loss potential with ecommerce than with an offline store. There is no way for customers, thieves, or employees to shop-lift your products.

You will enjoy having more inventory control. It will be easier to track what your customers want to purchase at your ecommerce site than with a regular offline store. The majority of the time you can order your inventory from suppliers as the orders come in on your site. This means that you have fewer products in stock that did not sell well. This creates a tremendous money saver for distributors and marketers.

Did you know that many product items can be shipped for free and electronically? An offline store has to have brochures, coupons, advertising flyers, and even business cards printed. These items then have to be placed on a display for customers to pick up or mailed out to a mailing list which costs money for both printing and postage. These same types of items can be sent electronically without printing and shipping costs through an ecommerce site.

With a limited geographical region of an offline store it can be difficult to build your customer base to purchase your products and services. An ecommerce site not only allows you to connect to people on a global level but you can send out electronic re-order forms through email to clients. You can even offer refer friend incentives to increase your customer potential at little cost.

If you have a nutritional supplement that the buyer will take daily and the bottle size is 30 pills, you can send out reminders every 25 days to re-order the supplement. You can also email brochures of complimentary products to encourage further buying from regular customers.

With an offline store you would need to stop with each person that purchases an item and have them fill out a mailing list form. No-one is going to do that or the lines would be a million miles long and customers would become angry to never return again. Each time a customer purchases from your ecommerce store, you automatically have their email address and their shipping address. They didn’t mind giving you the information because you need it to ship their product.

Get quotes fast for air ambulance transportation services

Get Quotes Fast for Air Ambulance Transportation Services

Air ambulance transportation is not a common service that everyone uses on a daily basis. This type of flight is not one that you can click on a travel website and get the cheapest fare available from city to city, or is it?

In non-emergency situations, patients and their family have time to prepare for special circumstances that may arise during medical treatment. If travel by air is necessary, but standard commercial flights are not available due to specific medical restrictions, the patient may require the specialized care from an air ambulance service. Customers can't logon to well-known travel sites for price quotes and information, but options are available. By contacting air ambulance service companies, you will be able to quickly receive a price quote. Some air ambulance services will require potential clients to contact them by phone while others respond to email inquiries.

Many company websites for reputable air ambulance service will have a link to get an immediate quote. This option is great for families who want to privately compare prices and learn about each organization before bothering the air ambulance service with the details.

One of the best ways to get accurate quotes for air ambulance transport is by letting the companies fight for your business. Certain websites will allow customers to input the pertinent travel and medical information and let the companies send in their prices. From the comfort of your home, you can peruse the information at your leisure. Based on the price quotes from the air ambulance transport companies, you can then do a little more research on the organization to find the one that is right for you.

When comparing price quotes from air ambulance transportation service companies, make certain that you are comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges. Find out what is included in each price quote. Does the air ambulance fee cover any and all ground transportation to and from the aircraft? Are family members permitted to fly in the air ambulance with the patient? If so, is this fee part of the price quote?

Another important factor to consider during this process is the type of medical care the patient will receive during the flight. Learn what type of staff will be on board the aircraft. Are there additional fees for specialized services such as a respiratory therapist or NICU team?

Before settling on a specific company, find out what type of aircraft will be used. For trips over 500 miles, a jet is recommended for patient comfort and speed. Air ambulance companies will vary their price quote based on the type of aircraft, so this is a major factor when considering cost.

In today's high-tech world, it can be easy to enter a bit of information into a form on a website and retrieve valuable information. Let the internet save you valuable time and effort by effortlessly getting price quotes from air ambulance transportation services with just a few simple keystrokes. As companies compete for your business, you are assured a reasonable rate. With the extreme cost of air ambulance travel, this can be a great benefit to customers. Take advantage of the opportunity to find a great value from a company that meets your needs.

Fishing for beginners

Fishing is probably one of the most popular forms of recreation in the world. You can find people of all ages and gender, from all walks of life, enjoying the sport from shore and from boats. The equipment used in fishing, or tackle as it is called by fishermen, is relatively uncomplicated. All you really need to start fishing is a rod, a reel, fishing line, hooks and lures. The cheap equipment and abundance of fishing spots all over the world make it easy for anyone to fish. For others, it can be another source of food; for many, it’s a chance to go out into the outdoors and spend time alone or with like-minded friends.

Fishing, or angling, can be enjoyed either in fresh water or salt water. When you fish in streams, lakes, rivers, and ponds, then you’re going freshwater fishing. You can catch trout, bass, and several other species this way. On the other hand, saltwater fishing takes place in oceans, estuaries, and tidal rivers. The fish you can catch here are typically bigger than the usual ones you can catch while freshwater fishing. These include tuna, snappers, marlin, sailfish, and tarpon.

You’ve probably heard about spin fishing, bait fishing, and fly fishing. These are the most common types of angling used both in salt water and fresh water fishing. But what exactly are the differences between these three?

Bait fishing means using live or dead bait to catch fish, plain and simple. When a fisherman goes bait fishing, the bait is placed on a hook and then cast into the water, where the bait sinks. Now, depending on the type of fish, the fisherman may then let the bait sink to the bottom of the water, jig the bait up and down to attract fishes by the movement, or reel the bait in to attract fish swimming near the surface of the water.

Spin fishing uses metal or plastic lures to entice and catch fish. These lures spin as the fisherman reels in the line. Fishermen using this technique always pay close attention to the speed by which they reel in the lure, as well as the depth, or how deep is the lure in the water. These actions, along with the spinning of the lure, are necessary to imitate the movements of common game fish prey. When a fish bites the moving lure, it usually hooks itself, and then all the fisherman needs to do is to reel it in and land it with either a net or a gaff. Lighter fishing rods are used for smaller fish, and bigger rods are reserved for larger ones.

Fly fishing is generally considered the most difficult method. A typical fly fishing rod weighs less than the rods used for spin and bait fishing, and longer, too. This type of fishing uses feathered lures particularly created to resemble the appearance of insects or small fish. In casting, the fisherman whisks the rod forward then back with only the forearm. The line is then cast into a specific spot in the water with a sharp and smooth flick of the wrist. Depending on the type of fly, it can then float or sink in the water. What makes fly fishing so difficult is the smooth, precise movement necessary to introduce the fly into the water as naturally as possible.

The spring and autumn seasons are generally considered the best for game fishing, since these are when the fish are most active. Fish can still be caught during summer and winter, although the fish are usually a bit more sluggish and less inclined to chase lures or bait. Water temperatures also play an important part in deciding the best time to fish, since different types of fish are active at different temperatures. If their natural prey is around, you can also expect game fish to be more active.

Impact of hybrid cars on environment

The 21st Century is beginning to realise the full extent of the effect we have on the environment around us. If we continue to abuse it the way we have been for many years, who knows what the future will hold? The result of any changes we make now may not be seen for many years – perhaps not even in our lifetime. But our children and grandchildren will certainly be affected by what we do now, and the good news is there is a lot we can do to help the environment.

Hybrid cars could make a huge change to the amount of damage we inflict on our surroundings. The hybrid car’s impact on the environment is much less than the traditional cars we use day in and day out. The hybrid car’s impact on the environment comes from the fact that it uses rechargeable batteries to provide much of the energy needed for it to work. Not only does this mean they use far less gas for the same length journey that a normal car would use, they also produce much less in the way of emissions as well.

The hybrid car’s impact on the environment is such that if we all decided to trade in our old cars today and buy hybrid cars instead, the environment would breathe a huge sigh of relief almost immediately. Just think of all the emissions, harmful gases and pollution trapped inside the earth’s atmosphere. Much of this is as a direct result of the emissions kicked out by cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles. We’re reluctant to give up the sanctity of our cars, so why not take advantage of the hybrid car’s impact on the environment instead? Better air quality also means the worst affected areas will have less health problems to contend with. Asthma and other lung conditions are made worse by poor air quality, so changing to a more efficient mode of transport can help us in the here and now as well as in the long term.

In an ideal world the electric car will totally replace gas powered and even hybrid cars. These have a minimal impact on the world around us, but until then, the hybrid car’s impact on the environment is small enough to greatly improve the air we are breathing in every day. It’s just a question of how many of us will make the change for a better future.

For information on buying and selling new and second hand cars and bikes visit http://www. bharathautomobiles. com/index. php

Feel good teeth whitening for the summer

When you think teeth whitening you might think this is something that is going to appeal to mainly women but more and more men are taking are turning to teeth whitening as a way of improving their wellbeing and beauty.

Teeth are very much unique to each individual and therefore impossible to promise exacting results and the end result will change depending on the amount of staining they had in the first place. Typically things like coffee, tea, red wine and smoking are the main things that stain teeth and after laser teeth whitening it is recommended to reduce the consumption to avoid re-staining of the teeth.

Having a bright white smile is something that people are striving to desire and with Hollywood superstars all having glowing white teeth this has helped the teeth whitening industry grow over the last five years.

Teeth Whitening like most of the other beauty industries have seen massive growth over the last five years mainly due to people desiring to look glamorous and beautiful and this applies to both men and women. Pop icons, football players and movie stars have all made their mark on people wanting to look great and having a similar look.

Other methods of teeth whitening includes the teeth whitening strips which are not sold in the UK because of legal reasons but are brought in to the UK through the likes of Ebay and selling direct over the internet. Again the teeth whitening strips require a discipline every day and this is not always possible due to many factors and this will defer the effectiveness of the treatment.

Lastly there is the laser teeth whitening treatment which has seen a massive increase in popularity due to the treatment only taking one hour and the results being effective and safe.

Before any teeth whitening treatment it is important to follow good dental health and ensure you visit the dentist prior to teeth whitening and of course, the results you receive from any tooth whitening system will fade over time. Trying to avoid dark colored drinks and not smoking will help you enjoy the results longer.

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New York, New York and New York!

The sentiments behind the words "I love New York" is one you’d certainly feel the moment you step out of the plane and see for yourself what the Big Apple has in store for you. With a population of over eight million people, thousands of high rise buildings dominating the scene and blinking lights all over, sometimes it’s hard not to be overwhelmed when you first set your eyes on the city that never sleeps.

Although a lot of people believe that New York is one of those big bad cities with crime rates that would make your heart palpitate in fear, official reports actually claim that New York is one of the safest places to be these days, with crime rates reaching an all time low since the 1960’s.

If it’s your first time to travel to New York, here are a few tips for you to make your visit in New York safer, cheaper and more memorable.

Where To Stay : If you don’t have some friends with pads in New York that you could bunk in for a night or two then there are a wide range of hotels for you to choose from. Most of the hotels in New York are concentrated in Manhattan but if you’re flying for business purposes then maybe you’d prefer to stay somewhere near Wall Street. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for something quirky and fun, then maybe Chelsea and Greenwhich are good places to start.

Where To Eat : One good thing about New York: the food is a fusion of a bit of everything from the four corners of the globe. If you desire lasagna, then Italian eateries are just around the corner. If you desire some good old fashioned beef stew and yangchow rice then there are a lot of Chinese delis that are willing to deliver food right on your doorstep. From ultra-posh, exorbitantly expensive first class restaurants to bohemian dining to fixed rates for eat all you can buffets, New York will have no problems in satisfying your gastronomical inclinations.

Where to Go : New York has a lot of points of interest to boast of and the list just keeps getting longer and longer. Remember the animation movie, Madagascar? Well, that’s Central Park in drawing but wait till you see the real one and all eight hundred acres of it. And then there’s Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum. They say that a visit to New York isn’t complete until you check out the lifelike "creatures" in that particular museum. And who can forget the Empire State Building, once the tallest among them all high rise buildings? And of course there’s the Statue of Liberty, the very symbol of American welcome. Then there’s the Rockefeller Center, with its famous Christmas tree right in the middle of all the action.

How to Stay Safe : Although New York is considered as "safe", it wouldn’t hurt to take the necessary precautions and avoid the attention of pickpockets on the lookout for out-of-towners. Don’t make a fuss when going to the ATM and always go out in groups.

How Not to Get Lost : New York is a very busy city so the bustling city may end up overwhelming first time visitors. Hence, it’s advisable that you always carry your map and cellphone with you. If unsure of the destination, don’t just board the subway but instead, spend extra cash for a cab ride.

Lastly, enjoy your New York tour!

Pass your driving exam

You may know how to drive well, but there are things you can keep in mind that will make your driving test go more smoothly.

Before you ever leave home, check your turn signals, brake lights and headlights. These will be tested before you ever leave the parking lot for your road test. Make sure you have any paperwork that must be turned in, and take your learner's permit with you. Travel to the testing location with a licensed driver. Getting turned down and rescheduled is not an auspicious beginning to this banner day in your life.

Get to the testing location on time. Most license bureaus are quite crowded and there are sometimes long waits beyond your appointed time. Bring a book to keep you occupied in the lobby if this happens to you.

Either leave your cell phone at home or turn it off. The middle of your road test is not a good time to receive a phone call. Try to relax with your examiner. Be friendly, but let him do most of the talking. Remember, he does not know you, and he is about to go into traffic not knowing if you can drive safely or not. He may be as nervous as you are!

Listen to your examiner carefully. He will not ask you to do any maneuvers you haven't already become familiar with in your driving manual. Hopefully you’ll have studied it and practiced a great deal. If you are unsure what it is he wants you to do, ask for clarification. He would rather you understand his request than have you do something wrong, or dangerous.

Keep your eyes on the road as much as possible when you are driving. Check your speedometer often but briefly. Do the same with your rear-view mirrors. Your examiner needs to know that you are aware of the traffic around you. This tells him you are prepared to react in case of an accident or unexpected move by another vehicle.

Brake as evenly as you can. Use your turn signals at all times when making lane changes, or right/left turns. Do what the examiner asks you to do with as much finesse as you can muster.

Be prepared with the maneuvers many people have trouble with. Practice parallel parking every chance you get until it becomes second nature to you. Three-point turns are also difficult for some. Go over these and anything else that gives you trouble. Remember the rules for three - or four-way stops. Go to a location where you can practice these, but remember to watch out for other drivers. They aren’t as freshly tutored in the rules as you are.

Stay calm and trust the examiner. If you have practiced your driving sufficiently and you know the rules well, you’ll have no trouble passing the driving portion of your test. Congratulations, new driver! Now go get your picture taken. You won’t like the way it turns out, but that won’t stop you from showing it proudly to your family and friends every chance you get.

Aikido-basic-complete-technique

A Basic Guide to Aikido

Aikido is a unique form of martial art. Its emphasis lies on the harmonious fusion of mind and body with the natural laws of Nature. Aikido focuses on accepting and respecting the energy of life and nature and channeling this harmony onto techniques that expresses this energy in physical forms.

Aikido is often viewed as more of a defensive martial art since its techniques and teachings are designed for you to avoid or get out of trouble. On the contrary, Aikido's techniques are very powerful and effective.

Basically, there are four levels of technique in Aikido training. These are the katai which refers to the basic training and is intended to build the foundation of body movements and breathing; the yawarakai trains the defendant to deflect attacks and fuse movements to take control of the attacker or situation; the ki-no-nagare which involves training the defendant to defend or counter attack by merging his movement with the attacker even before the latter makes contact; and the ki which is the absolute Aikido technique and involves establishing a link of ki or spirit from the defender to the attacker.

When training for Aikido, you need a sparring partner. The uke and the nage. The Uke is the initiator of the attack and receives the Aikido techniques, while the Nage is the defender and the one that neutralizes the attack.

Aikido basic techniques include ikky which involves control an attacker by placing one hand on the elbow and one on near the wrist giving an opportunity to throw the attacker to the ground; the niky which draws in the uke using a wristlock and twists the arm while applying painful nerve pressure; sanky which is a rotating technique aimed at applying a spiraling tension on the whole arm including the elbow and shoulder; yonky a shoulder control technique with both hands gripping the forearm; goky is another variant of ikky

wherein the hand gripping the wrist is inverted and is quite useful in weapon take-aways; shihnage or the four-direction throw; kotegaeshi or wrist return which involves a wristlock-throw that stretches the extensor digitorum; kokynage also known as breath throws or timing throws; iriminage or entering-body throws which resembles a "clothesline" technique; tenchinage or heaven-and-earth throw; koshinage or the Aikido's version of the hip throw; jinage or the shaped-like-'ten'-throw; and kaitennage or rotation throw wherein the nage sweeps the arm of the uke back until it locks the shoulder joint after which the nage applies forward pressure to throw the attacker.

These are just basic techniques and from the list thousands of possible implementations or combinations can be drawn by the aikidokas. In Aikido, the strikes employed during the implementation of the Aikido technique are called atemi. For beginners, grabs are the first ones to be taught. It is safer and the aikidoka can easily feel the energy flowing from the uke to the nage.

Among the basic grab techniques are the katate-dori or single-hand-grab which involves using one hand to grab one wrist; morote-dori or both-hands-grab which uses both hands to grab one wrist; ryte-dori another both-hands-grab technique wherein both hands are used to grab both wrists; kata-dori or the shoulder-grab technique; and the mune-dori or chest-grab which involves grabbing the clothing of the chest of the attacker.

Mastering each technique involves discipline and dedication. To be a good aikodoka, one must master both the techniques and principle of the marital art.