Travels through sydney australia

In 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip sailed his ship into Sydney Cove and one of the great cities of the world was born. Today Sydney is home to over four million Aussies who love to bathe in the glorious sunshine and surf on the open waters that break upon its wonderful beaches. Sydney Harbour is irresistible. Its famous bridge dominates the view, a magnificent feat of engineering. But for sheer elegance, the Sydney Opera House takes centre stage with its unique appearance and over 2,500 shows annually to keep the opera buffs fulfilled. Try to catch the Sydney Film Festival when all manner of Hollywood stars honour the city with their presence. If you’ve joined in with the Aussie spirit and sank one or two pints of lager, try burning off the calories with a climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The ascent commences at regular intervals and the view from the top is inspirational, though you will need a strong nerve and a good head for heights. Today Sydney is a multicultural city. Prior to WWII, most of the inhabitants were of British or Irish descent. But later years have led to an influx of immigrants from all over Europe and Asia. The diverse ethnic groups have led to a vast range of bars and restaurants throughout the city, catering for most people’s tastes. One must-try restaurant is the Longrain. Serving an excellent choice of Thai dishes, diners are catered for well into the night. Once dinner is over, try drinking schooners at the Hollywood Hotel. Don’t forget your best slacks and designer shades if you’re out to impress. Alternatively, take in a movie at the OpenAir cinema in the Domain. Watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters with the moon and stars for company. Revelling in the limelight, Sydney is all about glitz and glamour, always ready to offer you a memorable experience.

When daddy moves to an apartment

Divorce is hard, there’s no question about it. Not only has your marriage ended but, most likely, your lifestyle is undergoing some drastic changes also. This is especially true if you are forced to leave the place that was home to you and your family. Depending on your particular situation, you may find that moving into an apartment is your only option. Many times it’s hard to think of an apartment as home after you’ve been accustomed to living in a house surrounded by family. But, if you choose your apartment wisely, you may find it’ll become a cozy, comfortable haven. Take some time to select your apartment. Remember, this is going to be your new home. Don’t rush the selection process. Decide how much you can afford to spend for rent and look at as many apartments in that range as you can. Location should be one of your prime considerations. Your life is complicated enough right now, don’t make it worse by choosing an inconvenient location where commuting becomes a problem. If your children will be visiting regularly be sure your apartment is large enough to let them feel at home. If possible, select an apartment with a room just for them. Let them have a hand in decorating it so they’ll feel a part of it. If you have joint custody of the children and they will be living with you while attending school, you’ll also want to choose an apartment that is convenient to their schools and recreation areas. The type of apartment you choose will be important to how well you adapt to living in it. Like a house, choose one that fits your personality. If you like puttering in the yard, make sure there is some private space where you can do that ~ even if it’s just planting flower boxes on your patio. If you enjoy cooking, make sure the kitchen meets your requirements. You also need to consider the atmosphere of your apartment complex. If you’re going to have children living with you part time, most likely a singles community would not be the best choice. Neither would you probably want to choose an apartment in a building that is filled with senior citizens. If there are pets involved, make sure rules don’t prohibit them. Turn your apartment into a home. Don’t consider your apartment a place of exile! It’s your new home and if you want to be happy there, you must give it your attention. Unpack the boxes and arrange your furniture in a way that’s pleasing to you. Hang pictures or other art work on the walls and stamp your new home with your own personality. If you take pride in decorating it according to your own tastes, you’ll find it becomes a welcoming and comfortable place to be. Remember you no longer have to consider anyone else’s preferences ~ this is all yours to do with as you please! The more you’re apartment reflects you and your interests, the more it will seem like home. Enjoy it!

Contemporary or classical musical instruments

Playing a musical instrument is a gift to all those who hear it. Does it really matter if you play a classical musical instrument or a contemporary musical instrument? It can. First and foremost, playing a musical instrument should be fun and rewarding. If it’s not, you are not likely to practice it at all and eventually you will lose interest. Playing classical music with a classical instrument can be remarkably challenging and rewarding. As a general standard, classical music is more intricate that contemporary music, although there are naturally exceptions to every rule. Playing contemporary music with contemporary instruments can also be tremendously satisfying and rewarding. While not everyone may agree that contemporary music is a gift when they hear it, those who appreciate it will appreciate it deeply. One of my favorite trends as of late is to either play contemporary music with a classical instrument or classical music with a contemporary instrument. Both sounds are considerably remarkable and both aspects take quite a bit of talent and practice. Creating this interesting twist can ultimately please more crowds, as classical music played with a contemporary instrument can reach the younger generations and actually turn them on to classical styles. The same can be said about contemporary music that is played with classical instruments. When choosing between classical or contemporary instruments, the best method of decision making is simple preference. When choosing for a child, or helping a child make the decision, preference of course still matters, but opening the doors to new music and different experiences can really benefit the child tremendously. The basic goal for choosing an instrument, either classical or contemporary, is finding an expression that works well with the personality. Children who learn at least a little of both classical and contemporary expression are more equipped to make the decision for themselves later on. Classical music and instrumentation can teach strong basic skills, while venturing into contemporary music and instrumentation can be both inspiring and fun for kids, especially older children. Being well versed in classical music can actually provide a better platform for kids or adults who want to play a more contemporary instrument. Contemporary music is often written with the use of only a few chords and a basic beat while classical music demands a higher level of instrumentation. If we never teach kids the classical instruments or the classical music, the classical arts are destined to die.

Big questions that could change your business

How does your business perform in these areas? Effecitve Meeetings What if people: * Called a meeting only when they had a specific goal supported by a detailed agenda? * Checked with the key participants to help them prepare for the meeting? * Involved all of the participants in the work during a meeting? * Obtained results with a team process based on consensus? * Took responsibility for implementing the decisions made in a meeting? > Could this help your business become more profitable? Business communication: What if people: * Helped others express their ideas during a conversation? * Created a safe environment that facilitated clear thinking and free expression? * Treated each other with respect in their conversations? * Listened carefully and completely to what the other person was saying? * Let others be the star in their conversations? > Could this help your work proceed more efficiently? Business presentations What if people: * Understood the goal for a presentation before preparing for it? * Spoke with key people in the audience to learn about what they hoped to gain from the presentation? * Rehearsed what they planned to say with a clock (to make sure that they finished on time)? * Spoke about the audience and their needs instead of about themselves? * Delivered compelling presentations that informed and inspired others? > Could these leaders be more influencial? Personality styles What if people: * Could recognize how others preferred to think, work, and communicate? * Knew their own strengths and how to apply them for maximize benefit? * Knew their weaknesses and how to manage them? * Were able to work together in harmony? * Could earn trust and respect from each other? > Could this help people get along with each other?

Unlocking your dungeon how to finish a basement without finishing off your checkbook

One thousand square feet, fifteen hundred square feet, three thousand square feet—however big your home is, you know it could always be a little bit bigger. Whether you’re in the throes of parenthood and trying to find spaces to stash your kid’s toys, or you’re starting a home business, you could probably use an extra room or two. One way to get more space is to buy a whole new house. For those of us in the real world, though, a far more economical and practical solution is to finish the basement. Yes, that creepy, crawly dungeon can be turned into a playroom for your children, a home office for your bustling new business, or an entertainment room for the weekend’s big game. You’ll just need to cover over the cold concrete floors and the gray foundation walls. Then there’s the pipes hanging from the ceiling that you’ll want to hide, and the washer, dryer, and storage boxes that you might want to section off. OK, maybe this project isn’t sounding so practical or economical anymore. But actually, despite the time and effort that goes into it, finishing your basement is basically easy and cheap—if you know how to go about it the right way. There are eight key considerations you ought to make if you’re down with finishing your basement. They’ll help you figure out how to go about it, as well as help you decide if you really want to go about it in the first place. No. 1: Just how much value will the basement add to your home. Chances are, a finished basement will make a “cellar” want to offer more to buy your home. But by how much? To be worthwhile, make sure the increase in your home’s value will over-compensate what you spent to finish your basement. Talk to neighbors who have finished their basement, or do research online or with your real-estate agent to see what houses are worth in your area, with and without finished basements. No. 2: Have a good sense how long you will be in your home after you finish the basement. Sure, a finished basement will bump up the value of your house, but you also want to be sure you will get some value yourself out of all that new space. No. 3: Be realistic about costs and work time. Depending on your basement, finishing it could be more intensive than you first imagine. Can you really spent (or borrow) $10,000 at this time? Do you want contractors in your home for two weeks? No. 4. I don’t need a contractor to do work I can do myself! (Oh, really?). Even handymen or women can get themselves in over their heads when it comes to major projects like finishing a basement. And don’t get us wrong. You may be capable of doing all of the necessary work. But are you able—meaning, do you have the time and energy after your 9-to-5 job, your children’s sports practices, and a few hours of sleep? No. 5: Local laws may have something to say, too. Hiring a contractor or doing it yourself—whatever way you decide, you may have to comply with local or state codes for such construction. Again, a neighbor who’s recently done a similar home renovation could be a wealth of information, as well as municipal or state Web sites. Following such regulations may seem like a pain, but they may help you prevent real pain that comes from injuries if you carry out your project without safety codes in mind. No. 6: Sure, it’s a good idea to finish the basement—but exactly how? Here’s the fun part. Once you determine that it will be worth it to go through with the project, now you need to figure out what sort of room you want down there. Will the theme be a spare bedroom, a playroom, work-out gym, office, home theater, etc.? No. 7: Are you being realistic about the basement’s new theme? OK, it would be great to have a fitness room down there, but do you really have the room for the treadmill and the weights? Do you have the square footage for two couches and a 60-inch high-definition TV? Will you have the ceiling height to fit your 7-foot-tall bookshelves? No. 8. Your basement can handle your vision of finished glory—great, now make it happen. Start shopping around for all your necessary appliances and furniture. Do your research on price and selection and get your best value. In many cases—such as with office furniture or fitness equipment—buying used is the way to go. Used stuff can be none the worse for wear, and at online classifieds or auction sites, you can more often than not--get great deals on it. Steps 1 through 8—just like that, it’s simple to make your house that much closer to being that figurative castle, or that is, to turn your castle’s dungeon into the king’s (or queen’s) court!

How to build your own web site for your online business

: Most everyone will agree, if you are going to do business online, you need your own web site. It can be a mini-site or a full blown multi-page site. These days, maybe you just need a blog as a web site. Find out what you need to know to build your own web site, get web hosting for that site and start your online business right. If you are serious about sustaining a long term home based internet business, you should have a web site of your own. Having your own web site will give you much more flexibility on how you approach your online business as well as provide you with a means to give your web business a presence on the internet. Having this presence and making yourself known on the internet will improve the level of trust you will receive by your potential customers. Having your own site may open up many possibilities that you could never have imagined. For the many who embark upon their own web site adventure, it becomes a learning experience with no equal. Your web site will take on a personality of its own and be the front door to your online home business. You may see it as a very patient friend, waiting calmly for you to discover some little hidden function, which opens up a whole range of entirely new possibilities, and starts your thoughts racing - thinking about how to capitalize on that particular feature. You may get a little careless, or get too relaxed with it, then bam! Right between the eyes - you end up with a big problem. But, building your own web site for your online business is fun, can be profitable, and most certainly can feed that creative flair in all of us. The first thng to do when starting your web site is to pick a domain name. The domain name will be something like yoursite. A domain name should be researched carefully. Its best to have highly searched for keywords in the name. A neat and free tool to help you pick a domain name is The Domain Twist. There are many places to get domain names. I prefer Godaddy or Netfirms for domain name registration. Netfirms currenty has a promotion to receive a 1 year domain registration for $4.95. You can also use Wordtracker's FREE trial to give you keyword ideas: wordtracker Searching Google at google will give you an idea about competition for any particular keyword. Use Overture's search box to find how many times your keyword was searched on last month: inventory. overture/d/searchinventory/suggestion Once you have a domain name you will need a web site hosting account to host the domain. Web hosting accounts vary significantly with disk space allowed, bandwith, number of supported domains, and other important considerations. Most annual hosing accounts that would be more than adequate to run your online business will cost between $6 - $10 per month. Currently, I recommend BlueHost and Host Gator web hosting accounts. Both have recently received performance awards and they have very competitive hosting plans for your web site. When selecting a web host, pay special attention and compare capability like PHP support, MySQL database allotment, subdomains, script support and others. The next thing that you need to do is build your actual web site. I am not an html or javascript programmer per se, but I can do minor html programming/editing with a good editor. I like Coffee Cup or HTML Edit for small jobs and one page web site editing. You can also use a template to build your actual web pages. You can find them all over the internet for free. ibdprince - has all kinds of webmaster goodies, including really great looking CSS templates. diyminisite - templates and videos about mini site creation - click the "not yet a member" link to join. It's FREE. Then go to the download area and pick what you need. My absolute favorite for program for building web sites though is Killer SEO Site Builder. This is a PHP script that you install on your web host account. The script provides you with a real easy rich text html editor. It also has tons of features that optimize your site for the search engines. Get a FREE copy of "7 days to Massive Web Site Traffic" at seoelite. It outlines the steps to a web page that can rank high in the search engines, and even goes beyond just your web pages, to tell you "the rest of the story." I thoroughly enjoyed it. When you get ot the SEO Elite web site, scroll through the sales pitch, then close the page. The "7 Days" popup appears. It sounds like a lot of trouble, but believe me, it's worth it. Don't load your site down with slow loading banners and images. Use low-res images that have been optimized for use on the web. Write your web site page content, commonly referred to as copy, then play editor: write, hack, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, until it is crisp, clear, to the point, and utterly understandable. Repeat your strongest point or benefit a number of times (at least three). Some people just don't get it the first time or two. Spread your text out a bit. Don't double space, but use very short paragraphs, and lots of headings with some space between the heading and the paragraph. When you put together your web site, target your audience. Don't talk about network marketing to veterinarians. They may be interested in network marketing, but they probably got to your site via a search for a pet animal product and that's what they're looking for. When you know your target audience you can be sure not to speak (write) above their heads. Use words they will understand without Webster's help. You may get by with writing a little below their level, but never above it. Keep your fonts constant throughout your site. Variety may be the "spice of life" but can really look lousy on a web page. You can vary the size a bit, and throw in a little color, but stay conservative with the type style. Know your target audience, and be sure not to speak (write) above their heads. Use words they will understand without Webster's help. You may get by with writing a little below their level, but never above it. Highlight important selling words and phrases with bolding, italics, underlining, and color. Just don't overdo it. Don't forget, purchases are never made on logic, but on emotion. Use copy that is designed to trigger an emotional response, such as a sense of loss, one of the strongest: "If you wait, this offer may no longer be available at this price. Get it now at this ridiculously low price, and it's yours forever." Once you have your web site built you will need to upload it to your web site host (unless you are using KSEO Site Builder). A good and free FTP program to use for uploading and downloading to and from your host is SmartFTP. When you upload your site, you must upload the index. html file, any other linked HTML files, all the graphics files and any external CSS or Javascript files you may have created. Once you are online focus on driving targeted traffic to your web site by writng articles, getting backlinks and Search Engine Optimization.

Travel insurance tips advice resources for seniors

RIDDLE! What is it? They spend thousands encouraging us to buy it. We are advised never to go on holiday without it. But when we want to buy it, they don't want to sell it to us. Read on ........... So after much deliberation we have chosen the holiday destination, sorted out the flights, and already we are picturing ourselves languishing on warm sands with the inviting blue sea stretching before us, and we just have the minor formality of the holiday travel insurance and then all the arrangements will be complete. Did I say MINOR? Well, yes, holiday insurance was once just a minor formality, but now for retired folk or senior citizens it has become a MAJOR, MAJOR problem. (In fact, when talking to friends it appears that holiday insurance has replaced house prices as the after dinner discussion). The problem is not just about how health affects the cost of insurance but it's about how age affects the cost of insurance. Isn't it amazing how an insurance company can take your annual holiday insurance payments for years, you have never made a claim, and suddenly because you have just passed a certain birthday you are too risky to consider. Your medical history may be fine, in fact you may be fitter than the 30 year old couch potato on the end of the telephone, but that doesn't count - the only thing that counts is the date on your birth certificate. And when you do find an insurance company who will cover you, you find that the premium costs more than the holiday. However, one thing is certain, WE MUST HAVE HOLIDAY TRAVEL INSURANCE (you realize how essential it is when you consider that an air ambulance from the USA will set you back approx Ј35,000), and another important point is to be honest when declaring your medical history, because Insurance Companies are not charities and will possibly look into your medical history hoping to find some information (however slight you may have considered it at the time it was recorded) to avoid paying for example that air ambulance cost from the USA. A timely reminder that the E111 was discontinued on 31 December 05 and was replaced by the EHIC (the European Health Insurance Card), which you can obtain from the Post Office or dh. gov. uk. It is useful to take this, but it is definitely not a substitute for personal holiday insurance. And whilst on the subject of European holidays; a couple of years back we met a group of Spanish pensioners having a great time on the Costa del Sol. We found out why it was such a joyous occasion, it came courtesy of the Spanish Government - the Government treats senior citizens to a week's free holiday. On reflection, it could possibly work out cheaper for the National Health if our senior citizens were sent to warmer climes during the winter when bronchitis and respiratory problems abound. Mr Brown, it's food for thought. After all, he informs us that in 2008 we shall be receiving free bus travel throughout the country, so perhaps we can but dream that the boundaries be extended somewhat. However, there is still the problem of the necessary holiday travel insurance. A recent survey found that 9 out of 10 annual travel policies impose an upper age limit. It is slightly easier to obtain single trip policies: but this can work out expensive is you plan to take more than a couple of holidays a year. Here are a few worth contacting, but do shop around as prices vary enormously – All Clear of Brentwood - allcleartravel. co. uk Citybond - citybond. co. uk Churchill - churchill) Age Concern ) will insure the over 80s Help the Aged ) will insure the over 80s Saga ) will insure the over 80s Norwich & Peterborough - npbs. co. uk Flexicover - flexicover. co. uk

How to write a successful application essay

So you are now ready to join the college. But getting admission into the college of your choice won’t be that easy, as more and more pupils are applying for the limited slots every academic year. You are now facing the challenge of writing the most successful application essay for the eyes of admission officers; who would also be judging the essays of all the other applicants, probably with the same profiles, backgrounds and test scores as you have. This 500-word application essay becomes the bases for the acceptance and rejection, as it is the only way admission officers can judge the worth of the applicant. It is very natural to feel concerned at this stage; standing out in a crowd is not an easy task and thus calls for extra care and preparation. But what ever the case may be, let not the essay stress you out, be very playful to gain utmost. Follow the following while you write the essay: Brainstorming; a crucial step: The key to truly presenting an insightful and incisive application essay is to go through the exercise of brainstorming. It brings out the ideas and thoughts out on the paper that might not be consciously significant to you in the first place. If you are finding it difficult you can always take help from your friends and family that knows you well. There point of view would be different and really revealing at times. If you have a role model, study his or her personality to discover yourself. It would be better if you set out goals for the life ahead of you. Brainstorming sessions will help you go through it. It might give you a fresh outlook of what you really want out of life. Prepare a rough, unedited initial draft and consider the following when pondering: 1. Note down your skills, aptitude and interests no matter how meager they seems to be, like wise accomplishments and ambitions. 2. Noticeable highlights of your life, which have changed your perspectives in anyway. 3. The struggles of your life and their outcomes; either positive or negative and how it has changed your life. 4. Your contributions towards the society through community services etc. 5. And most of all, brainstorm why you want to join the specific institute, what is compelling you to apply there and how will you proof commendable of it. What to write; choosing the theme or topic of the essay: The essay could be about anything, you can describe you in any way you desire. You can discuss any topic you wish on earth. But the challenge remains of using the essay up to the maximum. Remember it is the only way of proving your self to be outstanding. Present your goals, ambitions and accomplishments of life. If you are not the high achiever explain why you are not so. Always keep the theme of the essay positive. Show yourself as a stronger person rather than a pitiable one. Present as if you the one who could work against all odds and can put up a good fight against obstacles. You must attempt writing on such topic that shows your individuality and promotes your desire to be the attendant of the college as well. Choose a theme about which you have ample amount of knowledge. Difficult and tricky topics, merely to impress the readers will render you with nothing. More avoid the complex, controversial topics. Like politics and religious affairs, even if you choose to write about them, write down more about your point of view rather than commenting who is right and who wrong. Final Draft: Tips for writing good essays: 1. It is quite advisable to visit the desired college or visit its website and read brochures and introductions. This way, you will have the insight of what the organization believes in and you can arrange the essay accordingly. 2. Take your time and understand what you are expected to write. Understand the questions you have been asked and the requirements you have to fulfill. Take about three or four weeks to ponder on the essay and the ideas you have in mind. 3. Analyzing other previously attempted application essays would help you a lot. Writing application must be a new task for you and going through the others gives you a good idea for writing your own. 4. Copying the style of others would not help, be original and be you. There would be experiences in your life that can set you apart from other people and similar actions. So be open to express yourself and your feeling about a topic you decide to write about. 5. Make an outline or a plan to follow through out the process and refer back continually. The paragraphs of the essay should relate to each other, follow the rules of logical flow in writing. 6. You could be creative in your presentation. Catchy openings can do much more then a dry, lengthy and uninteresting essay. Introduce yourself in the first paragraph as the readers are found to maintain the interest for first few minutes. Show off your self as captivating as you can for those few moments. Creating Mystery is one good idea of keeping the interest of the readers for the rest of the essay. 7. Show what have you achieved by using the action verbs and active voice. Describe your life by applying adjectives and descriptive nouns. It would be more impressive and will make a picture in the mind of the admission officers. Imagery presentations are like five-sense experience and eye catching. At the end of the day, after reading thousands of the essays, your way of presenting yourself will be in the minds of the admission officers. 8. Conclude your essay with caution. It might be the last chance of convincing your reader that you deserve to be in there. 9. Your essay should not be the repetition of your information given in the other parts of the application; it must discuss the dimensions of your personality that needs description. 10. Use different words to express yourself. Do not hesitate to use dictionary or thesaurus. It will give a good perspective to your essay. Remember too much of the repetition of the words would dull the essay and loss of interest on the part of the readers. But using thesaurus doesn’t mean complex words can impress the officers, it might rebound if you use them out of context and if simple and common words are better off. 11. Too many long or short the sentences makes the presentation monotonous and boring. 12. Take great care in using the language. Look out for the spelling mistakes and other common grammatical errors. These avoidable errors make the essay off-putting and the impact on the readers about your personality is ruinous. You might be assumed as careless person. 13. You can proof read the essay before submitting it. Revision is one of the most important key to a successful and custom written admission essay. 14. It would be better if you could leave the essay after writing for few days; and then get back to it. The fresh look might help you improve the essay.

The future of digital art schools

Digital technology has opened up great opportunities not only for the printing industry but also for art schools. Digital technology has improved tremendously the way art is created. It has made designing an easier job. Some of the world’s greatest works of art are easily reproduced having the same degree of vibrancy of colors and crispness as the originals. Digital technology has removed the boundaries. There are now boundless opportunities for fine arts, fashion, computer arts, graphic design or motion pictures and video, all with the use of excellent cutting-edge techniques and professional training. The United States of America is actually in the forefront of the digital arts revolution and provides solutions to the ever-expanding entertainment industry that requires the creation of a new and advance technology, coupled with some creative concepts and fresh talent. The spectacular successes of special effects films are due to the undying and relentless creativity, as well as effort, of various types of artists who come from diverse disciplines. These contributions have made the United States of America, and especially California, take the lead in the digital arts realm. There are various programs that are offered in various types of digital art schools but all have one goal, and that is to deliver convincing digital art works that can rival any type of traditional printing. These are made possible by the use of new equipment. Since the industry is continuously changing, there is a big demand for investing in new technologies. Internships, as well as work experience and job placement, are equally important factors to consider when deciding on a school. Some digital arts school also assist graduates with job placement through recruitment drives, portfolio reviews, and workshops. A career in digital arts/graphic designing after digital arts school A career in digital arts or graphic designing is more a marrying of art and commerce than it is one or the other. Graphic designers make use of a variety of prints, electronic and film media, in order to come up with designs that meet their client’s needs. A graphic designer makes use of Adobe Photoshop, QuarkXPress, Illustrator and/or Macromedia Fireworks, Flash, and Freehand to create the overall layout design for magazines, newspapers, journals, corporate reports, and any other type of publication that requires professional designing. These types of projects usually involve the use of vector images that can be easily manipulated. Graphic designers also play important roles in creating promotional displays, outdoors advertising, as well as some marketing tools for various types of businesses. Graphic designers are the ones who design effective and unique company logos and signs that help promote businesses. Likewise, more and more graphic designers all over the world are developing materials for the web. These types of graphic designers are called web designers, which is one of the fastest growing career fields. Other designers combine working with the web and also working with traditional media. Lastly, graphic designers are responsible for providing our homes and business with creativity that inspire and persuade us.

Make money with writing books on spirituality and self help 10 great reasons to become an author today

: It was the first time I overheard someone whisper "she’s the author", as I walked into a book signing, that I suddenly realized that I had achieved something very special. Not only had I managed to get my book published, I now received respect and admiration from total strangers. Being an author even it today’s digitized world, is still an awe-inspiring accomplishment. In 2005 USA TODAY reported eighty-two percent of Americans say they plan to write a book someday. I think the critical word here is 'plan'. If you want to be someone who really does write a book, you can begin right now by understanding how being an author will improve your life. Here is my top ten list why you should become an author today, especially if you are a spirituality, self help or personal growth expert:

1. Authors are recognized as experts by virtue of having a book with their name on the cover


2. The media loves authors (i. e. experts) and uses them often, on all levels


3. Being an author improves your chances of getting paid speaking engagements


4. While you may not become a millionaire from writing a book, you can certainly improve your chances of increasing your income


5. When you go to your high school reunion, you can finally shove your book under the noses of all who snubbed you in your teenage years


6. If you ever felt that you weren’t 'smart enough', writing a book will certainly go a long way in curing that.


7. Being an author gives you a stronger sense of self-esteem


8. Your book will open doors and create business opportunities you wouldn't have received without it


9. Having a book gives you a platform for teaching workshops and seminars


10. Being an author is a great icebreaker at cocktail parties. (Hint: authors are often considered VIPs or celebrities! It’s true!)

When I started writing my first book, it wasn’t because I was sure I wanted Bill O’Reilly’s producer to have my name in his Rolodex to call whenever he needed a 'mystical' New Age expert. (In fact I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted that at all!) I didn’t devote hundreds of hours to stories of couples finding one another through magical, mystical ways just to impress strangers at a cocktail party. And I can definitely tell you I didn’t write six books just to tell my old high school classmates about it. I wrote because I had to. I had a story inside of me that wouldn’t rest until I put it onto the page. The benefits of actually finishing the book and becoming a bona fide author and the other "reasons" were simply an afterthought. I can do everything short of putting a cattle prod under you to get you started on writing your self help book, but, at the end of the day, writing has to be something you want to do. Sure, it’s hard to sit down day after day and stare at a blank computer screen. I know how hard it is to tell your mom or your husband that you only typed two pages in an entire day. I can tell you hundreds of great things about being an author, but not a single one will really get you to the finish line. What will get you down the home stretch is the satisfaction of knowing that you’re being true to yourself. You dreamt of becoming an author because you had to. You envisioned title ideas and chapter outlines because they came to you and wouldn’t go away. You told your friends you wanted to write a book because you could and you will. You are an author, and you always have been. All you need to do now is make it happen. It might not be scintillating cocktail banter that puts a finished manuscript in your hands, but keeping your eyes on the prize can’t hurt.

A podium is no place for a projector

Remember the days when presentations before an audience consisted of boring lectures told from a podium while someone clicked slides or moved transparencies? The world has changed. Both in education and business, presentations are now more visual, more interesting, more dynamic. And the furniture industry has jumped on board. No longer do you need a second person to run that Power Point projector for you. No more turning around to make sure he/she switched the slides at the right time. You can do it all yourself with a projector cart—something no university lecture hall, conference center, or meeting room should be without. So what exactly is a projector cart? We found an excellently designed projector cart from Versa Tables, called the Projector Fusion Laptop Cart. Available in two colors and for under $300, the Projector Fusion Laptop Cart provides four distinct surfaces designed to help you keep your presentation organized. The first is an adjustable, pole-mounted laptop tray with a raised lip and locking mechanism to keep your laptop securely where it should be—at your fingertips! Adjust the laptop for your most comfortable standing or seated height and control the laptop yourself. In addition, the cart also offers three more adjustable platforms constructed from high-density wood; ideal for holding a projector, printed handouts, visual aids, and more. The frame is made of scratch-resistant steel and the entire cart is mounted on liquid-ease rolling casters. The casters also lock, keeping your cart in place even on uneven surfaces. Base storage trays and cable management units can be added for a nominal charge giving you even more storage space and easier cable organization. The carts fit easily into a closet or storage space when not in use. The platforms can be added or removed as needed and adjust independently, giving the user the option to customize according to the needs of his/her presentation. The platforms, as well as the laptop tray, also rotate around the core pole, so they're perfect for right-handers or left-handers. Show the speakers you invite to your venue that you care about their comfort by providing them with everything they need to give a successful presentation. Podiums are great for debates, but with today's business and education trends leaning toward the visual, a laptop fusion cart is perfect for any speaker. They're also ideal for trade shows, medical offices, and retail stores. Several manufacturers of computer furniture are now offering similar products, but Versa Tables' Projector Laptop Fusion Cart carries Versa's no-hassle, lifetime warranty, and ships for absolutely free to any customer in the contiguous United States. Versa also offers a quantity discount on this product—like all of their products—which is a great bonus for institutions like hotels, conference centers and universities which need to furnish multiple lecture halls or meeting rooms. Available in Warm Gray or Black River, the colors are pleasing to the eye. An additional pole-mounted monitor arm can be added for a fee, but the cart is truly functional without it.

Repairing household cleaning equipment

One thing we probably don’t stop to think about everyday in terms or our home is cleaning equipment repair. Of course as soon as something doesn’t work right, then the subject comes to mind. The best way to avoid having to fix something is to take care of it in the first place. For example most of us have floor or bathtub cleaners and/ or “stand-up” dust pans with screw on handles. If we happen to break the handle, rather than throwing the whole implement away, it costs less and is easier on the environment to replace the handle (#820, #803 Fuller One Piece Steel Handle). Cleaning equipment repair is more responsible than treating everything we own as disposable. In fact, this is something we should add to our list of helpful household hints. Many companies are coming out with flimsy cleaning implements that can easily be thrown away. They try to appeal to consumers by saying these items will make their household cleaning schedules go more quickly. When you stop and think about it, cleaning is cleaning. It makes more sense to use sturdy tools and practice cleaning equipment repair. For one thing our landfills are overflowing and it’s silly to run to the store every month to buy something that would last for years if we just take good care of it. Planning Your Time These days it seems we’re all so busy that we don’t know where the days even go. We get up on Monday morning, get the kids off to school, and head to work. The next thing we know, it’s Friday and we don’t know where the week went. Week-ends fly by, and we’re back at Monday already. Somewhere in that blur, we need to do some cleaning. It’s helpful and smart to create household cleaning schedules. Using this technique, it will be easier to stay on top of our chores. Part of the routine should be cleaning equipment repair. If we keep everything in top working order all the time, we won’t have to stop and order a part or take something to be repaired. A simple example is to keep an extra vacuum cleaner belt on hand. That way if you’re vacuuming one day and the belt breaks, you’ll be able to just put on the new one. This is an instance of thinking ahead about cleaning equipment repair. You can find a lot of books and websites offering helpful household hints, but most of them forget this important idea. Outdoor Cleaning Not all of the routine cleaning on our household cleaning schedules is inside the house. Although we may not do it each week, we definitely should keep the outside of our homes and the surrounding areas neat and tidy. This includes windows, patios and decks, siding, yards, and of course our cars and driveways. Not only do we feel a sense of pride when we put our helpful household hints to use outdoors, but our neighbors appreciate living in a tidy neighborhood. Once again it’s just as important to keep ahead of the game by maintaining cleaning equipment repair. Outdoor cleaning presents some variables that we may not find inside the home. If we have a two-story house for instance, the windows and side walls will call for a squeegee with a long handle. Probably the ladder will have to come out as well. Once again cleaning equipment repair is important. We may want to add a longer handle to the squeegee head or put another squeegee on an existing handle (Fuller #808 Adjustable Telescopic Handle). No matter what chore we’re attacking, we write our household cleaning schedules for a good reason. We want to be well organized and finish our tasks as efficiently and quickly as possible. Car Care In addition to the inside and outside of the house, we also need to put some focus on our cars. The price of automobiles has gone through the roof. In many cases that means we’ll be driving them longer. Even if we’re able to buy a new one every year, we still need to keep them clean and in good working order. Most of us spend hours and hours each week in our cars and there’s no good reason for them to be messy and dirty. Washing a car is good for the finish. With so much pollution in the air, it’s constantly being bombarded by harsh chemicals. Use mild eco-friendly soap and a soft brush made specifically for auto paint. Something else you should add to your list of helpful household hints is to turn the water off while you’re not actually hosing the car. You can also attach a nozzle that only activates the water when you push on it. In the spirit of cleaning equipment repair, you can keep the same handle and change the brush head when it starts to wear out (Fuller Brush#227 Vehicle Wash Brush Replacement Head). With just a little bit of planning ahead, we can make all of our cleaning activities go smoothly.

Spy cameras how are they used and why

You usually only hear about spy cameras being used in the movies. However, in the real world they are used for good and bad purposes. When they are used for security they can help catch criminals. There are people who will use spy cameras for their own selfish and bad reasons that are illegal. Let me explain what I mean. There have been many options available through the times for protecting society from people who are breaking the law. However, with the proliferation of computers, complex political and social systems and industrialization there is a greater need for a heightened level of security. The police and military will continue to protect us from the criminals and terrorists of the world. However, there are also individuals that use other security services and private investigators to conduct their own investigations and to protect their families, properties and businesses. They use modern surveillance to help them protect what they feel strongly about. You will continue to see more and more houses that are equipped with spy cameras so that the families that live there can continue to be safe and to warn them of suspicious individuals. Spy cameras have become a more frequent method to use when you are trying to protect your home or business. These cameras are also known as a hidden spy camera, wireless spy camera or a wireless mini spy camera. These cameras are very small and can't usually be detected unless you know that they are there. The police and private investigators use them to help provide them with valuable leads and information that will help them catch the people who are breaking the law. They are also used to provide the courts with hard and accurate evidence against the criminals. The video from a spy camera doesn't lie and thus they are relied upon to help get criminals convicted. They are also great for helping to alarm us of robberies and crimes before they are actually committed. Most of the time these cameras are used in places that require a lot of security to protect their businesses and the customers of their business. Some of these places are banks, casinos, airports (to spot any crimes of terrorism), military facilities and even ATM's. These are just a few of the places that they are used. They are also used in private homes to protect children and the elderly citizens. People like to know that their loved ones are being protected and not abused. So they use a spy camera to help them determine that everything is as it should be in their homes. These cameras are also called nanny spy cameras, digital spy cameras, pinhole spy cameras and wearable spy cameras. There are people however that will use them for blackmail and prostitution. These are the people who are using them for illegal purposes. They are the ones that the police are trying to protect society against. You want to make sure that you know what spy cameras are being used for and make sure that you don't use them illegally. It is always a good idea to talk to a lawyer to find out what the laws are concerning these types of cameras.

No cost online advertising

To sell your product online is very costly affair. To have more competitive prices you should reduces the overhead on the product. There is free advertising technique for online promotion about the products. Hundreds of dollars you have to spend on preparing online advertising materials that makes the product costly. No doubt it may be cheaper if you prepare it yourself. If there will not be a monthly fees or cost-per-click fees then you can save plenty of dollars that you can divert for online advertising. To reduce such cost you have two options 1) you should obtain an organic search engine listing and distributing expert articles and they have rights to republish the articles. 2) Low-to-no cost online advertising options that include link exchanges, banner exchanges and participation in online forums. The only thing you should keep in mind about the organic placement in the search engines is to maintain the position in the search results. As the organic placement in search engines is almost no cost online advertising except the search engine optimization charges. You have to be very careful to maintain the position, for that you should continually monitor your search engine advertising results. You will get new ideas about online advertising and also about the new search engine optimization techniques, they are effective way as the search engines changes their ranking rules. If you do so, then it occupies you constantly in networking activities so you get chance to have contact with the experts in the Internet business. It opens a whole new bright future ahead to become an expert rather than dependent on them when they share their challenges and strategies. To distribute the expert articles related to your product or services that make fruitful rewards to you and this will be another online advertising technique that is virtually free and most effective. While you distribute such articles for online advertising purpose, you should not forget to include a resource box that direct the reader to your website, it will work effectively. Naturally the reader will divert to your website in search of more information of related products and services and your purpose is solved! This could also be a more effective way to grab new customers and online advertising about your product. There are multiple benefits for online advertising by publishing expert articles. First, many websites also do so and they publish your article and indirectly you will benefit by getting more traffic from their websites. Second, your website have linking from many other websites and you gain a link popularity which is a factor in search engine optimization. Such things are considered by most of the search engines when ranking your website in their search results. You should do efforts that your expert articles shall publish on other related websites whose topics are very similar to yours. Now the question arises that how to get expert articles to be republished? Out of various ways to do so, you should choose any of the following options. First, contact relevant websites by phone or by email with a free content offering. They will be happy to allow you to republish such articles as the successful website operator know the importance of content of their websites published and if your high quality expert articles will naturally attract the targeted audience. So there is no reason for them to refuse for such publication. Second technique to post them in industry-related forums or on many free content sites where very large audience can see and you get larger exposure. There are numbers of forums online where such online advertising can be easily possible. Discuss Forum is one of such forum (1888Discuss) that is an SEO online advertising related forum. It is having a discussion boards that are useful for networking with other online advertisers. Not only that, also it has free ebooks and a free online advertising section where you can post advertisement to be seen by many other forum members. So your online advertising has multifold advertising campaign. Many other forums which are industry-specific forms and free content websites that will divert high traffic to your website by the use of free online advertising techniques. By participating in online forums about the online advertising. More effective and superior way for online forum participation for online advertising

Internet security the secure free option

This high speed revolution has increased the swiftness of accessibility for unscrupulous hackers to upload private information quickly and easily, through your home internet connection. With the threat of viruses, identity fraud, phishing, spyware and keyloggers, never has it been more important to protect the valuable contents of your home computer. There are many types of internet security software out there, which offer varying ranges of performance when it comes to security. The most popular software requires the computer owner to purchase a license and download the software over the internet or buy the software from a reputable computer outlet for a set fee which includes 12 months of free updates, with a view to paying a further fee every 12 months to keep this update service going, this for some computer owners can be a slightly expensive encounter and can put owners off placing that all important security software on their home computer. Is there a FREE and secure alternative? The answer I’m happy to say is yes. Home internet security comes in four main categories of protection, Spyware Protection, Anti-Virus Protection, Firewall Protection and Windows Updates. Spyware Protection Spybot found at spybot. info is an excellent free spyware removal tool which helps clear your system of any threats from Adware, Keyloggers, Malware etc, the program is very easy to use and updates can be downloaded for free and are updated on a regular basis to help make sure you are protected. Anti-virus Protection Avast! Anti-virus found at avast is a more than adequate anti-virus protection, registration is absolutely free for home and small business users and just requires the user to register once every twelve months, which is a very small burden especially when you can download virus definitions and program updates totally free. Firewall Protection Sygate Personal Firewall found at sygate is again a totally free for home and small business users personal firewall, the setup of the program is very user friendly and can easily be setup by someone with little computer knowledge. The protection is highly suitable and very secure. Windows Update All computer users should make it their fortnightly chore to visit the Windows update service and download the latest security patches, these are most important to cover any floors which have been discovered in Microsoft applications. You can also switch the update to automatic, so when important downloads are available windows will download them using low bandwidth, so not to disturb your internet browsing. CONCLUSION Internet security is a high priority for all computer users, and whether this service is paid for or users wish to take advantage of the three excellent and secure software programs above for free, that is completely up to the individual. Some sort of internet security is better than none at all.

Beef pot pie recipe homemade beef pot pie

Hearty beef pot pie is a great meal to serve on a cold day or any time you want something that really sticks to your ribs. You can add extra zing to this recipe by adding 1 large chopped onion and mix in 1/3 cup of red wine with the gravy. 1 pound sirloin steak, cubed Salt and pepper to taste 1 (14 oz.) can beef broth 3 large carrots, cubed 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1/3 cup water 2 (9-inch) refrigerator pie crusts Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan over medium high heat, brown the pieces of meat on all sides. Pour in enough water to almost cover the meat. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer meat until it falls apart easily (about 2 to 3 hours). Place meat in a large bowl. Slightly shred the meat and season with salt and pepper to taste. In a 2-quart saucepan, combine the beef broth, carrots and potatoes. Cook over medium high heat until almost tender (about 15 to 20 minutes). When the carrots and potatoes are done, transfer to a large mixing bowl and combine with the beef. Reserve the liquid in the saucepan. Mix the peas in with the vegetables and beef. Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/3 cup of water and pour this into the reserved beef broth. Bring to a simmer while stirring constantly; reduce heat. Cook for 5 minutes. Line a 9-inch pie plate with one of the pie shells following package directions. Spoon the beef mixture into the pie crust. Pour the gravy on top. Cover with remaining pie crust. Bake for 25 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. => Hamburger Pie Recipe: All American Hamburger Pie This recipe is an American favorite. We love hamburgers, so making a pie out of our favorite meat sandwich is a winning idea. To give this recipe a richer flavor, you can substitute 1 can of mushroom soup for 1 can of tomato soup. 4 potatoes 1 pound lean ground beef 1 onion, chopped 2 (10.75 oz.) cans condensed tomato soup 1 (15 oz.) can green beans, drained 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Peel and quarter the potatoes and put into boiling water; cook for 15 minutes, or until tender. Drain and mash. Set aside. In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium high heat until the beef is brown; drain. Stir in the tomato soup and green beans. Pour mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Mound the mashed potatoes around the meat mixture (do not cover meat). Sprinkle cheese on top of the potatoes. Bake for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are golden. => Cheeseburger Pie Recipe: Easy Cheeseburger Pie Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger! Need I say more? 1 pound ground beef 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tomato, sliced 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup buttermilk baking mix 1 cup milk 2 eggs Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 10-inch deep dish pie plate. In a large skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until beef is brown; drain. Spread beef mixture into the pie plate. Sprinkle beef with salt, pepper and oregano. Arrange tomato slices on top of meat. Sprinkle cheese on top. In a small bowl, combine together the baking mix, milk and eggs. Pour over cheese. Bake for 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before serving. => Hamburger Pie Recipe: Corn Bread Hamburger Pie This is a nice variation on the basic hamburger pie recipe. The cornbread mix adds a nice sweetness and blends very well with the other ingredients. For an extra treat, add 1 can of creamed corn to the cornbread mix. 1 pound ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium green pepper, chopped 1 (10.75 oz.) can condensed tomato soup, undiluted 1/4 cup salsa 2 tablespoons ketchup 1 tablespoon steak sauce 1 (8.5 oz.) package corn bread/muffin mix Minced fresh parsley (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large oven proof skillet, cook the beef, onion and green pepper over medium high heat until meat is brown; drain. Stir in the soup, salsa, ketchup and steak sauce. Prepare the cornbread batter according to package directions; let stand for 2 minutes. Spoon batter over beef mixture. Bake for 15 minutes or until corn bread is lightly browned. Garnish with parsley.

Private label resell rights what you need to know

Private Label Resell Rights: What You Need to Know If you are looking for ways to make money online, you are not alone. Each day, there are many individuals, just like you, who are searching for money making opportunities. While you would assume that this competition would have a negative effect on you being able to find work, it doesn’t always. While there are millions of Americans looking for these opportunities, there are also the same number of opportunities available; however, not all of them can be considered amazing. Each year, a number of hardworking Americans are scammed out of thousands of dollars; don’t let yourself be one of them. If you are looking to make money online, you will have to do a little bit of research. This research is essential to finding the perfect business opportunity, especially one that is legitimate. While this research may be time consuming, it is important. Not only will fully researching and examining all of your available business opportunities ensure that you will make money, but it will also protect you from being scammed. As previously mentioned, there are a number of different money making opportunities that can be found online. One of those opportunities involves acquiring the resell rights to private label products. These products are most commonly e-books, content articles, and software programs. The process generally begins with a professional writer or software developer. Those professional will create a product that they feel will be useful to others. The only problem is that many times these professionals do not have time to approach prospective buyers or advertise their products. Therefore, instead of selling to their products to new customers, they sell their products to others looking to make money. If you are able to obtain the resell rights to a private label software program, e-book, or collection of content articles, you will then need to sell them. This where the money making opportunity comes in. It will be your responsibility to ensure that the product sells. Once you have paid to obtain the resell rights to the product in question, you will then be able to collect the profits from each sale. If you make enough sales, you can easily replace what you originally paid for the resell rights. Buying the resell rights to private label products is an amazing and potentially money making business opportunity. However, like all other business opportunities there are some things that you need to be on the lookout for. With acquiring the right to resell private label products; you need to be careful who you do business with. There are a large number of individuals who can quickly write an e-book or develop a software program, but that does not mean the products are perfect. Before agreeing to acquire the resell rights to a particular product, you are encouraged to request detailed samples. This will help to ensure that you will be purchasing the resell rights to a quality product. If you are required to sign a contract, it is advised that you examine that contract and look for anything that stands out. There are a large number of professional software developers and freelance writers that have stipulations on how their products can be used. Even though you are obtaining the right to resell their product, you must still abide by these stipulations. Each professional will likely develop their own, unique rules and restrictions. You are advised to watch out for advertising restrictions, price restrictions, and other similar restrictions. These restrictions may prevent you from using a certain advertisement method or selling the product for a certain amount of money. These restrictions may turn, an otherwise money making opportunity, into a financial trap. By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you may be able to turn a profit by acquiring the resell rights to a particular product. You can get some great insights by going to plrtips where you can download a free 2 houra audio plr course on this subject. While it is possible to find a number of different products with their resell rights for sale, the most profitable ones tend to be e-books, software programs, and content articles. If you are able to acquire these rights and effectively market the product, you may end up making money in no time at all. Word Count 688

How to appeal your denied social security claims

Social Security is an agency of rules and regulations. These rules and regulations command for strict compliance among its members. During the processing of claims it cannot be helped that some claims are rejected or denied. The rejections of the claims are based on a thorough analysis of all supporting documents and papers submitted to the agency. Nevertheless, it is also natural for members to challenge the decision of the agency. But as I mentioned the agency has rules and guidelines to follow so if ever a member would like to complain he or she should know the proper procedures involved in appealing. Members are given sixty days or two months to file for an appeal. There are four levels of appeal which members may apply to and these are as follows: reconsideration, hearing by an administrative law judge, review by the appeals council and the federal court review. Appealing for reconsideration means that you are asking for another complete review of your submitted claim but this time the reviewer would be a different agency personnel. This person will try to review every minuet detail of your claims as well as your submitted documents and will try to look for new evidences that will help you in your appeal for claims. The hearing by an administrative law judge is usually held within 75 miles away from the member’s home. The administrative judge will simply notify the appealing member of the time and place where the hearing will take place. A member is allowed to employ the service of a Social Security Lawyer to help provide him or her with the necessary legal assistance. The administrative judge may also request for some witnesses so it is important that a member to have their witnesses present especially during hearings. The appeals council is called upon if ever after the hearing still the member disagrees with the verdict. However, not all requests for appeals in appeals council are granted especially when after a thorough deliberation of the hearings result shows that the decision was correct. And if after again filing for an appeal on the appeals council a member is still not satisfied of the decision he or she may brought the whole matter to the federal court. The federal court is actually a member’s last resort. And lastly hire the services of a Social Security Lawyer so that you will be ensured of a much greater chance of getting your claims approved.

Interesting facts about poker

Every gambling enthusiast loves a good game of Poker. Conversely, every trivia player loves a good does of trivia. So, for the gambler a set of poker rules, a deck of cards, some poker chips and an place to ante-up will suffice, but what about all of those trivia lovers out there? Guess what, there a ton of fun and interesting facts about poker that trivia enthusiasts are sure to love. Let’s take a look at some of these amazing poker facts below. Did you know that nearly 50 million Americans partake in the game of poker every year? Poker is an incredibly popular game, even more so with its increasing availability on the Internet. Further, poker has grown in leaps in bounds: no longer is it just a Thursday night gathering for avid Poker players, it is also a big time gambling business. Such a fact is proven when statistics indicate that some 70 million standard decks of playing cards are sold every single year! Another amazing poker fact that you can use to astonish your friends is the fact that President Richard Nixon used a large sum of money that he won in a poker game to fund his first campaign for Congress! That’s right, after winning a cool six grand playing poker with his Navy buddies; Nixon won his way into office with his big poker winnings. Is Richard Nixon the only famous person to be noted to play poker? Of course not! In fact, Groucho Marx earned his name from his poker playing tendencies. Groucho Marx used to wear a grouch bag around his neck all the time. Do you know what was in that grouch bag? You guessed it—his poker money! Alternatively, we can take a look at John Mantagu, the Earl of Sandwich. Mantagu venerated the game of poker, so much so that he would often engage in hours of gaming and would actually refuse to leave the tables to eat. His solution? He would have someone serve him bread and meat. So, not only do we have the Earl of Sandwich to thank for our noontime meals, we also owe the fascinating game of poker a tribute for the sandwich. Finally, the origins of poker remain highly debated. Conversely, what there seems to be absolutely no debate about is that poker is here to stay. Poker, possessing both a fascinating history and recreational appeal will continue to be played both online and in brick-and-mortar casinos everywhere!

A look at the crystal bridges museum of art

Some critics might say Jasper Cropseys The Backwoods of America, part of the Crystal Bridges growing American Art Collection, is a symbolic icon for billionaire Alice Waltons passion for the arts. Designed by world renowned architect Moshe Safdie, and funded by billionaire Alice Walton, the 50 million dollars that is just the cost of the facility and does not include the artworks Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is scheduled to open in 2009, in Bentonville, Arkansas. It was two years ago this month that the daughter of Sam Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart, made the controversial announcement. The museum will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art, but oddly enough, this monumental task is not making everyone happy. The depth of the museum is indicated in a purchase from Christies Americas auction house in New York City in 2004 of Charles Wilson Peales portrait of George Washington for $6.1 million. This is causing some critics to puff up, believing that the art works are being snatched from their own backyard. No need to worry, collaborating with other institutions will be an important focus of Crystal Bridges, even before the museum opens, and they can also rest easy to know Bentonville does have an airport. A number of the works from the Crystal Bridges permanent collection are already on loan at various museums throughout the United States including: The Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits which was loaned to The National Gallery in Washington, D. C. for public viewing from 2005 - 2007. It is currently on loan to the Brooklyn Museums exhibition by the same name featuring the works of Asher B. Durand. The same exhibition will also travel to Washington D. C. and San Diego. Thomas Eakins Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand is currently on loan to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Jasper Cropseys majestic depiction of early American frontier life, The Backwoods of America, is now featured in the American galleries of The Nelson-Atkins in Kansas City, and the most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture, the Levy-Franks family paintings, is currently on loan at The Jewish Museum in New York City. Also, the distinctive painting George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait) by the American painter Gilbert Stuart is currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. While the puffers puff, others admire Waltons passion and dedication to the arts, and recognize the fact Crystal Bridges will be the premier American Art Collection, once it is in place. The collection is headed up by Bob Workman, formerly associated with the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. When completed, the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, gallery rooms suitable for large receptions, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. Walton is building this American Dream on 100 pristine, wooded acres her family owns in Bentonville.

Survey parents need the facts about injury risks to children

A national survey of 1,000 parents found that many don't know key facts regarding potential safety hazards for children. Among the survey's findings: One in three parents are unaware that children can drown in as little as 2 inches of water. Less than half of parents know falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries to toddlers. And more than half underestimate how long children should be in a booster seat. "Particularly in the area of car safety seat usage, parental knowledge tends to decrease as children age," said Dr. Michael Gittelman, an emergency room pediatrician and medical adviser to "Get on Board with Child Safety," a national child injury prevention initiative. "Parents need targeted information about the different unintentional injury risks to children as they grow, from infant stage to toddlers to kids and all the way through adolescence." Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for U. S. children ages 14 and under. "Get on Board with Child Safety" was spearheaded by the children's brand "Safety 1st" and the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions. They offer the following tips for parents: * Use a booster seat for children up to 8 years or 80 pounds. Adult seat belts usually do not fit such children properly unless they are in booster seats. When the belt sits too high in the abdominal and neck areas, it can cause serious injuries in an auto crash. Your child is approximately half as likely to be injured when using a booster seat instead of a seat belt alone. * Always have your children wear a helmet. Bike injuries send hundreds of thousands of kids ages 5 to 14 to the emergency room each year. * Supervise the trampoline. Approximately 90,000 kids visit the emergency room each year after a trampoline injury. Trampolines are even more dangerous when multiple kids are jumping at once or when a child does somersaults. * Never leave children unattended in or near the water. Install gates around pools and use doorknob covers to prevent toddlers from getting out of the house and into water without supervision. Always drain small pools when not in supervised use.

Make way for the gmc canyon

: The GMC Canyon is a compact pickup. This vehicle shares it basic design and powertrain with the Chevrolet Colorado. Offered in three body styles, the GMC Canyon is a pickup to consider. This vehicle looks impressive. It also brags about a lot of power as well as a spacious interior. The cargo space is also very accommodating. The body styles comprise of the regular cab body style, the extended cab body style, and the Crew cab body style. For regular cabs, the maximum capacity of passengers it can take in its cabin is three. The extended cab has a rear hinged back door and has the capacity to take in a maximum passenger capacity of five due to two rear jump seats. As per the Crew cab, this body style holds four doors and has a maximum capacity of welcoming in six people because of its folding rear bench. The GMC Canyon is very much suited for personal use as well as light duty use. Even if it is a pickup it probably would not be able to work well for commercial use, heavy hauling, as well as for towing functions. The GMC Canyon has a couple of engine choices for interested parties. There is the standard 2.9 liter Vortec inline engine which has four cylinders. This engine can produce some 175 horsepower and 185 pound feet of torque. The optional 3.5 liter Vortec engine has five cylinders and it can make 200 units of horsepower and 225 pound feet of torque. Both of these engines come with an electronic throttle control, variable valve timing, and coil on plug ignition. The vehicle also comes with an all new five speed manual transmission system. The interior of the GMC Canyon holds 60/40 bench seats in cloth of vinyl. Made available for this vehicle are reclining bucket seats. The other features also include two forward facing rear seats with under-seat storage and a flat-load floor. There also is a driver information center with system readouts, an electrochromic rearview mirror with compass and outside temperature gauge, heated leather bucket seats, an AM/FM stereo with an optional in-dash six CD changer, the OnStar system, and the XM satellite radio. The GMC Canyon also has a six foot cargo box, a two tier loading, as well as a locking tailgate. For safety, the GMC Canyon has dual stage front air bags, optional head curtain side air bags, a reinforced safety cage and side guard door beams, high intensity halogen headlamps, fog lamps, an all-steel body, three point lap shoulder belts, and the LATCH system. Auto Parts Discount on the other hand meets GMC’s high standards to preserve GMC vehicles’ performance at its best as well as make the vehicle last for years. This does its share by having a wide array of impressive GMC Canyon parts as well as other auto parts, performance parts, replacement parts, aftermarket parts, and accessories. All auto parts in Auto Parts Discount’s online collection include tailgate handles, fog lights, front bumpers, harmonic balancers, and oxygen sensors among many others. These are all genuine quality GMC parts and they are available in great discounts and wholesale deals.

Backgammon rules learn how to play backgammon

: The board game backgammon is one of the most ancient games known to man. It is believed that early variations of the game were played in Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Ancient Rome. Since then, the game has evolved, changed several names and spread to different parts of the world. It is currently a popular pastime all over the US, East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. In order to play backgammon all you need is a partner, two dice and a special backgammon board with checkers. The backgammon board is divided into two sides with each one is the mirror reflection of the other. Each side contains 12 triangles called points numbered from 1 to 24. Points 1 to 6: Home Board or Inner Board
Points 7 to 12: Outer Board 7 point: Bar Point 13 point: Mid Point At the starting position of the game, each player has 2 checkers on the 24 point, 3 checkers on the 8 point and 5 on the 13 and 6 point. Each player moves from his home board through the outer board towards the opponent home board. The object of backgammon, then, is to move your checkers towards your opponent home board and remove them off the board before your opponent moves his checkers towards your home board. The speed of the progress of each move is determined by the outcome of the dice roll. The backgammon play begins with both players tossing one die. The player whose outcome is the highest, makes the first move using both his and his opponents number. If the outcome of the dice toss is even, the players toss the dice again until an uneven outcome appears. From now on, each player tosses both dice on his turn. After each toss of dice, you should move your checkers forward the number of steps appears on both dice. You can move either one checker the number of steps summed up by both die or move two checkers. To make it clearer: if the outcome of the dice roll is 5 and 4, you can either move one checker 9 steps forward or move one checker 5 steps forward and then move the other piece 4 steps forward If the dice rolls a double, which means an even number on both dice, you can move double the number appears on the dice. For example, if you roll double 2, you can move 2 points four times. In that case, you can either move one checker 8 steps forward; move two checkers a total of 4 steps; move two checkers a total of 2 steps each plus a total of 4 steps; move one checker a total of 6 steps plus 2 steps; or move four checkers 2 steps. You can move a checker to a point where there is another one of your checkers or no more than one checker of your opponent, called blot. When you hit a blot, it is moved to the middle of the board to the part divided between the home board and the outer boards, called the bar. The checkers placed on the bar are kept out of play until the bar can be entered by a dice roll in the opponent’s home boards. For example, if you roll 2, you can enter a checker to the 23 point and enter the opponents home board and re enter the bar checkers into the game. You cannot move the other checkers unless your entire bar checkers are at your opponents home board. By the time your checkers are in your home board, you must remove the checkers from the board, to bear off, using a roll of dice. For example, if you roll 1, you can bear off one checker from the 1 point; if you roll 2, you can move a checker form the 2 point, and so on. If your opponent has not borne off any checkers while you have borne off 15 checkers, you win the gammon. If your opponent has not borne off any checkers and still some of his checkers are placed on the bar, while you have borne off 15 checkers, then you win the backgammon.

New improvements on video security out now

Tired of the slow motion movement and the silence of your surveillance system? Upgrade your video security system for your home and business now with the latest video security gadgets. You can rest easy while at work and play. Go Incognito, Go Wireless If you are already fed up with those regular surveillance cameras, it is about time to spice up your electronic spying. Park newer items around the house and nobody would be none the wiser. Nobody would also suspect that the new clock on the mantelpiece is a camera or the black ballpoint pen perched innocently on your breast pocket is recording all movement in quality color. Video security has gone a notch higher with digital video recording or DVR. The newcomer is eclipsing the VCR in so many ways. You can now eliminate fast-forwarding through lengths of tapes and save frames in hard disks for long periods of time without risk to the quality of the recording. This way, you can easily pull up recordings when needed. Start with the cameras When upgrading your video security, start with the cameras. There are different types for different purposes. To deter pranksters, mount fake security cameras outdoors. The hitch? You have nothing to show when something really happens. Covert cameras like the wall clock or rag doll in the kid’s playroom are great ideas for monitoring the nanny’s care of the children. It will take a lot of quick thinking on your part where to place the hidden cameras for maximum recording. You can also get those wireless security cameras. These are easy to set up and can be moved or transported easily because these do not have obvious wires. Be sure to get wired surveillance cameras for permanent sites. This would be best for the baby’s room and the play room, depending on your priority. For the porch and the kitchen, night vision cameras are ideal when lights are off after you have retired to bed. These cameras provide the surveillance and protection you need to keep your family and property safe. The video security setup in your home will allow you to monitor the activities in the different parts of the house while you are at work. Video security should not be limited for home surveillance. This should be used in your car and in your office. You can check for suspicious movements, bombs under the car, and other threats to your life. Go digital A DVR will save you a lot of time from searching for particular frames or video footages. It automatically retrieves data of a particular time and date. You can also record and play previous recordings simultaneously, which can’t be done with a CR. A VCR only takes pictures by a picture per second. It may cost a bit more to go digital, though. You can upgrade to DVR if you already have multiplexer and IP-ready paraphernalia. When it comes to your safety, get the best video security. There is no best time like now.

Vacation rental or holiday home advertising at a bargain price

You have a vacation rental or holiday home and want to rent it? OK, but how and where and how much it will costs? There are so many questions that every vacation property owner has. It is certain that vacation rentals advertising is not allays expensive. There are literally hundreds of holiday home directories and vacation rental sites that you can use to advertise your vacation rental property. Some of them are well established, others are brand new. Some of them are beautiful with nice design, others are simple vacation property listing. With so many sites to choose from, you shouldn't stick with one or two of the expensive sites! I can assure you, that the most "new" vacation rentals websites have better service, than many "established" sites. They are young, flexible and motivated and they offer advertising at a bargain price. There are lots of factors to consider before paying sums of money to advertise your vacation property website. The most important are: - Ensure that the vacation rentals site is cost effective. Check if there is a free trial or a special offer ( e. g. arrangeyourvacation offers "premium" advertising of holiday homes for 1$ per month, standard listings are free of charge). Do you want to advertise on one web site - with annual advertisements typically around $130-$160 per year or you want to spread your offers on many "bargain" web sites? - Chose vacation rental sites that specifically target travellers to a specific region or country in which you have your property. ( e. g. mexico-holiday-homes, italy-vacation-homes or greece-holiday-homes). - Consider user-friendly vacation rentals sites with nice features, such as the ability to search by keyword or search for properties that are available for specific dates and than you can save the founded "favorite" properties. - Ensure that the vacation rentals site offers the ability to modify your listing and photos and allow you to update your availability calendar. - It is helpful, if the site offers tracking of statistics, as number of times your site was viewed as well as the enquiries that you have received. Summary: You should list on as much as possible vacation rental sites to maximize your bookings, but chose carefully and don't pay more than necessary! The Price is not allays mark of quality!

How webcam baccarat is played

The rules of Baccarat is pretty simple. In the version that is played in casinos and online casinos in the United States, Canada, Sweden, Australia and Macau is called the Punto Banco version. This is the easiest of the three variations to learn. Some people when they walk through a casino and they see a high limit Baccarat table they get intimidated but the truth is that Baccarat is perhaps the easiest game to understand and the easiest game to play in the entire casino. The premise is simple, the player with the highest card total wins. On the Baccarat table there will be three betting spots the Tie, Player and the Banker. These names do no refer to you as the player or the house as the banker for the sake of this game the names are betting tools. Each bet will get two cards and both cards will be face down . The croupier who works for the casino will turn over the cards and then add the two cards together. The object is to get a perfect score of 9 but that isn’t as easy as it sounds. The croupier can call for extra cards to be placed on the cards if they need be. For example, if the Player has a total of 0 which is possible to a 5 then the croupier will call for one more card. The Player has a 6 or 7 then the croupier will stand, If the cards total an 8 or a 9 then there will be also be no cards given out. Keep in mind as you read the rules here that the ultimate goal is 9 points, not a single 9 card but a combination of cards that will equal 9. The Banker can draw cards as well, but the croupier’s decision to take extra cards will depend on the Player. If the player did not take a card at all and the banker will take a card if he has a 0 through 5 then like the Player he will also stand at a 6 or a 7. If the player initially had a 2 or 3 then the banker will take a card if he has 0 to 4 and will stand on a 5, 6 or 7. If the Player has a 4 or a 5 then the Banker will also take a card if he has a 0 to 5 and will also stand on a 6 or a 7. If the Player has a 6 or 7 then the Banker will take a card if he has a 0 to 6 but they will stand on a 7. Now, if the player draws an 8 then the Banker will take a card if he has a 0 to a 2 and will stand on 3 through 7. If the Player has an ace, 9 or 10 or even a Jack, Queen or King then the Banker will take a card if he has a 0 through 3 and will stand in 4 through 7.

No credit check personal loan to overcome bad credit scores

You no longer need to feel threatened by bad credit, CCJ’s or even if you are self employed. Good credit, adverse credit or no credit at all-Online no credit check personal loan, deals with all that you need! You can choose between secured and unsecured loan no credit check options according to your needs and constraints. Loan secured on home implies the best competitive interest rates, preferential repayment terms and conditions and the chance to borrow more. This adds up to a TRULY best personal loan deal! Secured loans are risk-free for a borrower as he can recover the costs of the loan (incase you fail to keep up the repayments) with the collateral you have offered. On the other hand unsecured loans don’t require collateral but come with slightly higher interest rates. However, it can help you secure a best personal loan-irrespective of your choice of secured or unsecured loan. No credit check cash loans! Surprise your loved one with a dream wedding? Approval guaranteed loan personal deal can help you! You can choose between secured and unsecured personal loan options. If you feel that you need help, our specialist advisors will offer you free, independent advice to determine the unsecured personal loan deal for your stated needs. If you feel the need to discuss your options with an expert before applying for an immediate loans no credit check, online specialist advisors can help! Deal with your immediate financial requirements with a no credit check loan. Fill up simple online enquiry form and our representative will get back to you within 24 hours! You can take up your home improvement projects, deal with educational loans for your children, take off on a dream holiday to an exotic locale, surprise your loved one with a dream wedding or even consolidate your bad debts without worrying about risking your home/property! Don’t let bad credit history put your refinancing plans on hold! There are plenty of No credit check cash loan options. Why don’t you check out online options for bad credit home loan with the most competitive interest rates before you decide on the option that is right for you? Enjoy the quickest and most efficient no credit check express service for your needs. Over the years they have established themselves as a friendly source for instant cash.

What makes reality tv so special in today s society

When Survivor appeared on CBS for the first time, it quickly became a topic of conversation around water coolers everywhere. Even people who didn’t watch the show couldn’t escape conversations about which castaway would be voted off the island next. Today, there are dozens of reality shows that offer to turn everyday people into chefs, actors, singing stars, brides or grooms, millionaires, and almost anything else you can imagine. And while people make the obligatory negative remarks about reality TV, many harbor secret addictions to one show or another. What makes reality TV so popular? There are probably several factors. First, reality TV participants come from all walks of life. Whether you’re gay or straight, male or female, Christian or Buddhist, Black or white, it is easy to turn on reality TV and spot someone like yourself whisked away into an adventurous or luxurious lifestyle. We experience a vicarious thrill seeing ordinary people like us compete for fabulous prizes. And, if you are being absolutely honest, you have to admit that you’ve sometimes thought, “I could do that!” Another reason people enjoy reality TV is the suspense. On most shows, each episode finds another participant being eliminated until there is only one player left standing. We agonize with our favorite players as they endure challenges and hardships, hold our breaths when it looks like they may be on the chopping block, and breathe a sigh of relief when they squeak by for one more week. Watching reality TV also gives us an avenue to communicate with acquaintances and co-workers. As the second season of American Idol drew to a close, for instance, you could start a conversation with a complete stranger simply by asking, “So, is it going to be Clay or Ruben?” Still another reason reality TV is popular may have to do with certain socioeconomic factors. With so many people in debt, the cost of living consistently outstripping people’s paychecks, relatively high unemployment, and wars being fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, reality TV gives people something less threatening to focus on. It may even help people feel better about their own lives. “I may have it bad,” some viewers think, “but at least I’m not wearing filthy clothes and eating insects.” Or, “I may have had a bad day of work, but at least the entire viewing public isn’t watching Simon Cowell blast my singing voice.” Finally, reality TV initially had a strong viewing because it was something unique. Audiences in the United States were used to watching television actors deliver scripted lines—we were completely unprepared for a show without a script featuring real people engaged in real competition. The real live cat fights, backbiting, and scheming delighted wide eyed viewers. Of course, from the beginning there were a few dissenting voices claiming that reality TV was somewhat less than real. Furthermore, familiarity has begun to breed contempt. The second installment of Survivor, for instance, was the most watched series of the 2000-2001 TV series. Survivor China, the fifteenth installment in the Survivor series, is ranked number eleven among the current fall lineup. Other reality TV shows have seen similar rating drops as their novelty faded. But even if reality TV is no longer quite as robust as it once was, it is far from dead. New reality TV concepts are pitched every season, and millions of fans continue to tune in to watch their favorite reality programs. For all the reasons discussed above, reality TV is definitely here to stay.

Caribbean stud poker how to play

: Caribbean Stud Poker is gradually gaining in popularity as compared to its stud twin: Texas Holdem mainly because it is an easier game to learn and you can play it face to face and still enjoy. Originating in the Caribbean and based loosely on five card stud poker rules, this game offers a fan alternative to traditional table games with an opportunity to place a side bet and hit a big jackpot too. Some of these jackpots are progressive and you can win millions of dollars if you break those machines or tables.. What is Caribbean Stud? It is not a traditional poker game in the sense that you play against the other players and the best player wins the pot. Caribbean stud belongs to the family of games including Pai Gow poker, Let it Ride and Three Card poker for example, where your opponent is the dealer and your goal is to form a better poker hand than the dealers hand. However, basic knowledge of traditional poker hand ranking is required. The Rules of Playing Caribbean Stud: 1) The game begins with the players placing an ante bet at the same amount as the table minimum on the ante circle on the table. 2) At the same time, you should decide whether to place an additional side bet for the progressive jackpot. 3) Then, the dealer deals each player five face down cards plus four face down cards and one up to himself. 4) After looking at your cards, you should decide whether to fold or to call. If you decide to call, you should place an additional bet double the amount of your former ante bet. 5) After all the players have made their decisions, the dealer shows his hand. In order to qualify in a Caribbean stud poker game, the dealer must have an ace and a king or better. If he does not qualify, you will be paid back your ante bet but the call bet is a push. 6) If the dealers hand qualifies, he compares hands against each of the players individually. If his hand is better than yours is, you lose both your ante and your call bets. 7) If your hand is better than the dealers hand, you would be paid even money for your ante while for your call you would be paid according to a paytable. The paytable can vary from one casino to another. Generally, US casinos pay out 50:1 on a straight flush; 20:1 on four of a kind; 7:1 on full house; 5:1 on a flush; 4:1 on a straight; 3:1 on three of a kind; 2:1 on two pairs and even money on one pair or less. In case your hand and the dealers hand are even, both ante and raise will push. One of the reasons that Caribbean stud poker is so popular is the option of placing a one dollar side bet and winning a large progressive jackpot prize. In order to qualify for the bonus payout you should have a flush or better. For a flush, you would be paid a 50 dollars bonus and in order to win the jackpot that usually resets from 10,000 dollars, you must have a royal flush. However, your chances to hit a royal flush are estimated as about 650,000 to 1, therefore I would recommend skipping it.