What foods hold the most weight loss protection

Obesity is one of the number one health concerns in today’s society. The US Centers for Disease Control estimates that over 60 million Americans, or 30% of the adult population, are obese. The term obese refers to people who weigh over 30 pounds more than their ideal weight, or who have a Body Mass Index of 30 or more.

One of the national health objectives in the US is to reduce the incidence of obesity to less than 15% of the adult population by 2010; however, current statistics indicate that the problem is still on the rise. In addition, the percentage of young people in America who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980.

Over 9 million children and teens between the ages of 6 and 19 are considered overweight. This equates to 16 % of the population.

There’s no question that losing weight is not easy. And, it’s also clear that we’ve changed our lifestyles in ways that are making it easier for us to become obese. Some of the biggest culprits in the battle of the bulge are the following.

• Busy Schedules – The average family has a much more demanding schedule than in years past. Because of this, mealtimes often go by the wayside, and we choose lots of fast food. Our stress levels may also lead to emotional eating, where we have no concept of how many calories we’ve consumed. These factors combined have made our diets poor and our concept of a normal meal skewed.

• Sedentary Lifestyles – Today many people spend lots of time sitting down between our desk jobs and our love of watching television and playing computer and video games. For many of us, regular exercise is simply no longer a part of our daily life.

• Large food portions – Most restaurant portions are 2-3 times the size that makes up a reasonable meal. From this we’ve gained a distorted image of the size portions we should be eating, and we’re consuming far too many calories in a day.

• Poor nutrition – Processed foods are a staple in the American diet. In addition, we eat lots of red meat and products made with white flour. These overly processed and high fat foods make it easy to gain weight. They also lead to heart disease and high cholesterol.

So, what do we do to overcome our weight problems? Well, as with many things, there are no magic bullets. To lose weight, we have to expend more calories than we consume. It’s just that simple.

Losing weight is simple, but it’s not easy, particularly since much of the food we’re presented with every day is not conducive to weight loss. So, if you want to lose weight and keep it off for good, you need to make a commitment to making long term changes in your life.

Starving yourself is not the answer; making changes you can live with is the way to go.

First, take a look at what you eat. If you’re guilty of eating lots of processed foods, red meat, sugar and white flour, make changes in what you eat.

Substitute chicken and fish for red meat most days of the week.

Cook your own meals using fresh ingredients; don’t rely on processed foods that are loaded with preservatives.

Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables

Choose whole grain products over those made with white flour

Reduce the amount of sugar in your diet.

These changes alone should help you lose weight. However, for many people it will also be necessary to look at how much you eat. Portion control is very important, because very large portions of even healthy food can mean that you’re consuming too many calories.

The second half of the weight loss equation has to do with exercise. Not only will exercise help you burn more calories each day, but it will also help you build muscle. Muscle is important because even when resting, muscle mass burns more calories than fat. So, if you have a lot of lean muscle, you’ll burn more calories in a day, without even trying.

Aim for 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise five times a week. Walking is a great way to get your cardiovascular exercise, and it will help build muscle in the lower body, too. Just be sure that you’re walking at a pace that will make you sweat. Raising your heart rate during your cardiovascular workout is important for keeping your heart healthy.

In addition to your cardiovascular workout, get in some strength training three times a week for about 20 minutes each session. You don’t need to become a body builder, but adding some lean muscle will speed up your metabolism and make your body look thinner and leaner.

Finally, take a look at adding some “functional foods” to your diet. Functional foods are those that have benefits to the body above and beyond their basic nutritional qualities. Foods that would be considered functional foods for weight loss would be those that make us feel full and satisfied for longer, and those that have the potential to increase our metabolism.

For example, you may have heard of negative calorie foods. These are foods that contain fewer calories than your body uses to digest them. Some examples of negative calorie food include raw carrots, celery, asparagus, apple, beet, berries, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chili, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, grapefruit, lemon, mango, onion, orange, papaya, pineapple, spinach, turnip, and zucchini.

There are likely other functional foods for weight loss. Foods that are believed to be functional for weight loss include low fat milk, nuts and tea. A study reported by the UK Tea Council discusses certain foods and their potential to be functional weight loss foods.

Studies have shown that people who drink 24 ounces or more of milk each day tend to weigh less than people who don’t drink milk. So, it appears that adding 24 ounces of milk to your diet each day might be a good way to lose some weight, and help keep it off.

Nuts have gained a lot of attention because of two important properties. The first is that nuts are very satisfying. Nuts can help you feel full for longer, helping to ensure that you eat fewer calories in a day.

Secondly, nuts are a good source of healthy fats. These are the fats that help raise your HDL cholesterol level. HDL cholesterol is what is known as “good cholesterol” because it has the power to carry molecules of LDL cholesterol “bad cholesterol” to the liver, where it can be removed from the body.

A final food that is likely functional to weight loss is green tea. Green tea has been shown to help regulate blood sugar naturally, which may help us store fewer calories as fat. Secondly, green tea has been shown to promote thermogenesis; heat that burns body fat.

Green tea is extremely low in calories, and very healthy overall. So, if it can also help us lose weight, it may just qualify as a “super food”. There have been numerous studies linking green tea with preventing disease and protecting health.

So, if you’re battling the bulge, get some exercise and make some changes in your diet. And, make sure that one of those changes is adding some “functional foods”, so that losing weight can be easier than ever!

The right clothes for go karting

The Right Clothes for Go Karting

Go karting can be just a simple hobby or by getting so much involved in the sport, this can turn into a racing career. Whether it is for the mere recreation or a serious Go karting, it is important to know the right kind of clothes and the necessary safety gear that should be worn when riding the Go kart and zipping around the circuit.

It may be a bit of a challenge choosing the right kind of clothes. As for beginners, a good amount of research or perhaps a little help from the more experienced karters will do.

Just For Recreation

For those who loves Go karting and enjoys it only as a pastime as well as for those who are still new to this kind of sport, splurging for expensive karting gear is not really advisable. Since it will only be used a couple of times, the basic karting clothes are good enough to enjoy the sport.

What composes the basic outfit for Go karting? One essential racing gear is the protective helmet. As a head gear, it is important that the face is all covered up or perhaps as much of it as possible. One should also have protective overalls that can either be fireproof or waterproof and with it are the protective gloves which keep the hands from sores that may possibly arise from holding the steering wheel too tightly.

Usually, new karters tend to hold the steering wheel very tight that is why it is important never to forget putting them on. Lastly, one should have footwear that is sensible enough for the sport.

The karting packages offered by most karting circuits already include the protective helmet and protective overalls that is, except for the footwear. When choosing the perfect footwear, more experienced karters would typically recommend wearing the trainers. However, one should choose those trainers which do not have thick soles.

A pair of thick-soled trainers prevents the karter from feeling how much pressure is already put into the pedals thus resulting to unanticipated accelerations and sudden braking. Some Go karts tend to accelerate really fast with just a slight push so it is important to still feel the pedals properly to avoid the any danger. Thin-soled trainers also help develop one’s driving skills. It helps the karter maneuver the Go kart in such a way that does not impair his/her driving skills.

For The Serious Go Karter

For occasional karters and beginners, the necessary protective gear is usually provided in the karting packages. However, for serious karters, it is a different case. If you decide to pursue on this sport, joining the karting club and karting on a usual basis, then you will have to invest not only a great deal of time and effort but also money. A competing Go karter should have for his/her own, a Go kart and of course, the protective gears with which he/she will compete in.

These safety clothes may be expensive depending on the brand and style that you want to go for. This time, it is important to invest in good quality protective garments to avoid any risk of major injuries while racing. Buying used racing suits and other protective gears is not really a good and safe choice since they are not as good as the new ones.

Getting into this kind of sport is truly a fun and exciting experience. However, for a more thrilling and safe ride, one should wear the right clothes to avoid unfavorable circumstances. One last tip, wear loose clothing; they will definitely make the ride comfortable!

Making your own gold in world of warcraft

Before I begin, let me note something of a disclaimer. By putting the strategies I outline for you here to use in your World of Warcraft gameplay, you will easily make enough gold for the most basic needs for your character, such as enchants, repair and leveling your profession. You won’t make mountains of gold for them, however, so if you like to be tricked out with all the latest things or you don’t mind spending big inside the game, you’ll likely want to take a look at one of the gold making guides available online.

It’s also worth noting too, that even if you want a really grand epic flying mount, you don’t need to be buying gold from gold farmers. You can earn it all yourself without breaking any rules of the game. Now let's move on to the gold making tips.

The biggest money-making professions in World of Warcraft are the mining professions. Getting your mining up and selling the bars you make, will make you a lot of gold, especially in the lower levels. The trick is not to have a profession that will use up the ore, so you don’t want to become a blacksmith. You want to have that ore available to sell to other players.

Another good profession to have is enchanting, so that you can disenchant any greens or blues that you find. That way you'll get enchanting materials out of your useless soulbound rewards and all the useless crud you pick up in dungeons. The green shield you found in Blackfathom Depths won't sell for anything, but the strange dust you disenchant from it will sell easily. The Auction House deposits on enchanting materials are practically nothing, so you can afford to keep putting it them up for auction over and over again. Once you know the prices of things, you can buy them cheap from others and sell them more expensively.

If you're focused on leveling, the best advice you'll have is this: don't spend your money on low-level blues and purples. If you happen to pick one up, go ahead and equip it, or better yet, sell it off to some other sucker. Weekends are the best time to sell your low-level blues and purples, the PVP (player vs. player) twinks will snap them up in a heartbeat. In five more levels that purple staff you paid 800g for will be useless, and you'll replace it with a green and be out a ton of gold. Don't get stars in your eyes till 70. If you want nifty blues, run dungeons and get rewards from there. Then you'll have the benefit of free blues, greens to disenchant, money from mobs, and learning to play your character.

Once you've reached 70, be sure to quest as frequently as possible – every quest you do will earn you much more gold than you‘ll get at prior levels. If you ever reach the mythical 5200 gold required for an epic bird, you can then do quests like the Netherwing reputation line, where you do daily quests, earn reputation, and get paid for it. You can make fistfuls of gold that way, it just takes some time to get there.

You should generally farm your own mats for any enchants you‘re looking to pick up, but remember, time is money. If you only have two hours a day to play, what’s your most financially viable strategy? Should you make 200g from questing, or spend that two hours farming 20g worth of motes of fire? Better to have that extra 180g. Balance your time and money correctly and you should have enough for what you need. To really maximize your gold-making opportunities, a World of Warcraft gold making guide will be a big boost to your efforts and is well worth the initial investment. Using a guide cuts down on the learning curve so you can quickly fill your bags with a lot more loot and it will save you both time and money (both virtual and real) in the long run.

Athalon padded single ski bag at 18 off

The new Athalon Padded Single Ski Bag is now available. And a great deal is on offering with it. This ski-bag is made of reinforced, water-resistant "Athatuff" polyester and matt chrome hardware. And it is ideal for carrying skis of lengths upto 84 inches(190 cms). The bag is parabolic in shape to provide comfortable placing of your skis. It is completely padded from inside to protect the skis from any shocks or bangs. The compression straps help in easy placement of skis and prevent them from falling over. It also has a self-healing zipper and a lock and key arrangement. The top handle of the bag is also padded to facilitate easy carry. Black is the color of the bag with a blue patch in the middle. The dimensions of the bag are 25 X 16 X 13 inches. And it weights a mere 18 pounds. And it is of Chinese origin. The list price of the product is $54.99. But from Dicks Sporting Goods, you can get it for $44.99. That means a discount of $10 or 18%. Shipping price is $10.39. Once booked, your order leaves the warehouse in 3 to 4 business days.

Bring the barbecue to the birthday party

Bring the Barbecue to the Birthday Party

Grown ups deserve to celebrate their birthdays too. Birthdays are after all a celebration of life and one more year on the planet. It makes sense however, that grown ups would like a little something more substantial than the typical cake and ice cream and childish fantasy theme for their celebrations. This doesn't mean that grown ups have forgotten their fantasies however and this leaves a lot of room for interpretation on the theme of barbecues when it comes to a great birthday celebration.

You can go the Cowboy way when it comes to a birthday party barbecue and throw a shindig that would make old "W" proud. Texas sized ribs, hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs, and country music for all. Be sure to wear your cowboy boots and have gingham table clothes for this event that should be a family friendly way to go. Don't forget to bring all the "fixin's" or ask the guests to pitch in their best dishes in true southern tradition. This is a great way to go for those with big families that want nothing more than an excuse to celebrate their lives together.

If the cowboy way doesn't exactly ring all your bells and whistles there is always the notion of a Caribbean barbecue. This is a party that would make Jimmy Buffett proud. Speaking of Buffett it's probably a good idea to bring some of his music along to set the tone and there are plenty of other Caribbean or island inspired musicians to get you through the evening. Caribbean Jerk is a great rub or sauce for the chicken or fish you throw on the grill and you can make do with other traditional Caribbean fare for your dining pleasure and that of your guests.

You could also go the humorous route for your big day and go the redneck barbecue birthday party route. You will want to use cheap paper plates, cheap plastic furniture, a metal tub filled with ice and RC Cola (r), plastic forks and knives (the Sunday best of course), and typical redneck food such as pigs in blanket, gumbo, fried chicken, and potato salad. This can be a really fun party if all the guests get into the festivities and dress and act the part. It is definitely a barbecue that will be remembered, and talked about.

One of the favorite types of barbecues for a birthday bash however, is the Luau. There is something about those Hawaiians that really know how to do a barbecue the right way from the very beginning. Decorations should be island and tropical in nature. Be sure to use coconut cups for drinks and have plenty of Spam on hand (it's a delicacy there)! You will also want to be sure to have plenty of leis for all your guests and grass skirts, hula music, and plenty of loud Hawaiian shirts for the duration. In fact, a Hawaiian shirt contest (for the loudest of course) is almost a pre requisite.

A barbecue is a great way to bring friends and family together to celebrate birthdays. If you are a little lost as to what to do to celebrate your grown up birthday or that of a loved one, try one of the ideas above or choose your own unique spin on the theme of a barbecue.

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Business aimed to success to do list

Yola Eve

Business Trainer

VIP Quality Software

You need to find an ideal way of organizing and supporting your business. You can develop your own style, embrace your inner talents, find “your and only your” way to Success.

Every starting out specialist who is about to organize their own practice wants to be successful right from the start. How to do that? Where to find a perfect way to run private Biz? Does one have to spend years in order to become successful? I would say no to years and multiple business start outs.

Many people want and I say they can run their business perfectly well from the start, while continuing to develop. From my own experience, I went and I have talked to successful people. I learned about their mistakes, I put reminders for myself to achieve more at my starting level. And I did it.

They say that road to Success is hard-work. I would agree on that.

They say that if you are not born as a businessman you have to work hard for years to get the necessary skills. Well, I am not sure about that.

They say, this is my favorite one, that:

“He is just lucky… He has done nothing to obtain what he has already… He has a good karma.” LOL

There is a new tendency that I accepted and followed. I started to develop habits of rich people from the beginning. My business is small and it was only in my own efforts to run it properly. I had no accountants or business advisors in my family. None of my friends had their own ventures. I had nobody to turn to. Nobody could actually give me an idea how to run my business and organize myself successfully. But I have done it anyway. Thanks to the already successful people, psychologist and business trainers who have helped me to bring out the best in me.

I looked at them. I studied them. I worked with them. I did it all in order to fix my internal problems and fear of failure that was passed to me in my childhood. I am sure many people can relate to me. Because, our parents didn’t always know how to teach us in a better way. They were raised by their parents who have given them whatever they could. And sometimes these things are not best to work positively in our lives. Anyway, I worked through my problems, because I really wanted to be successful in my life. I was motivated to create better life for myself, my family and my child.

Everything happened for me the moment I understood that I can be successful and wealthy only if I develop something of my own. Something that works in my life. Something that could help other people to make their lives better.

But how to do that? How to find something of your own? How to develop and implement it in your business?

The search is actually not that long.

You put a goal and ask yourself:

“What is my, and only my, talent?”

The answer will come to you in time. Sometimes it can take a few months, sometimes a few days, sometimes a few minutes for the answer to come to you.

After that, you take another important thing and put it to work. Your faith.

Do you completely believe in yourself? If no, you should work on it. I wouldn’t give any advice here because every person completely differs from another. The answer is within you. The only common suggestion is to visit, once again, a successful and experienced specialist, psychologist, business trainer. Tell them what you need exactly, they will help you out.

Do another thing for yourself. Set a specific time and date for yourself when you want this faith to appear in you and you will be ready to start doing something. Time and date will help you organize yourself better. It will make you move forward faster because you have triggered your subconscious and super conscious mechanism in order to succeed. There is a saying that “If you really want something, the whole Universe will help you to achieve what you want.”

Now, back to our Success Stairs. You have to climb them.

Your fist successful step is to keep track of every work you do throughout a day. Believe with all your heart in everything that you do and list what you were doing in your small achievements To-Do List. That is how you will be able to keep track of what is done and what still needs to be done. That is how you will be able to gain more faith in everything you do.

Learn how to organize yourself. Set deadlines what and when needs to be done, created or finished. Set estimated time for every work that you do. That is a key to successful time management skills.

Make a to-do list of all your services sold to your customers. Create your own client database to keep track of your clients. Communicate with them to get to know their special needs and see if you can fulfill them and implement it in your business.

Put your computer, organizer, to-do list software to work. They will help you organize yourself better, concentrate on what your have to do and in what priority everything needs to be set. Let your organizer be your silent assistant. It will alarm you when you have to do something important step by step.

List your ideas for the future. Remember, you have to write them down. Brilliant ideas come and go. They have a tendency to vanish in our daily routine mind work. That is why your every idea, even crazy one, must be written down on paper or a computer. From my experience, these ideas accumulate and then some of them can bring you “your and only your” true Success.

P. S. Good luck in your Business. Be successful in everything you do.

Don’t forget to download for free your “how to organize your business” to do list.

Jh2 part time job search

Extra Dough

Some teenagers would like to be able to get a job and earn money. Since these individuals are still in school, the next best thing to getting a real job is getting one that is part time.

When applying for a part time job, here are some tips one must remember when going up to a potential employer;

• One must prepare a resume when applying for part time work. Even if the person does not have experience, it will show the employer that a little effort was made on the part of the applicant in producing something on paper. The resume may contain highlights or strengths about the applicant which could make the applicant stand out over other people that have applied for the same position and in the end get that job.

• When meeting an employer, being dressed appropriately is important. It shows the sincerity one has in applying for the job. One must be that finger-nails and hair are well groomed for the interview. The outfit worn could be business casual. A polo and khaki pants will be ideal for men and a polo and skirt for the women will do well for the interview. This would mean that moderate shoes must be used to match the outfit. If one wears a lot of earrings, it is advisable to remove some to present the person better.

• Getting a job is not easy and there will be a lot of times that the employer will say “no.” This is nothing personal but some employers will prefer someone who has some experience. Even if one is rejected, the person must not give up in getting that part time and move on to the next potential employer.

• When one is already in front of the employer, a firm handshake is always a good start. Walking in and showing ones sincerity in getting the job is another. There is only so much one say in interview so it is best to practice in selling to the person the strengths one possesses in order to get that job.

• In the course of going from one employer to another, the employer will not give the answer at once if the person is hired or not. Other applicants will still be interviewed before making that decision. By keeping a list of the places where one went for interview, one will be able to call and follow up the status of the application.

Part time jobs are available in various places. One might find one while walking in the neighborhood, checking the school bulletin board or local paper and even the web for job postings.

The perks of getting a high school internship

The Perks Of Getting A High School Internship

Although most employers consider getting interns from the domain of college students, a lot of high school students still get to land on internship positions as well, which makes their college application forms and future resumes look even more impressive. Yes, it is possible for a high school student to get an internship. So if you are one, then here are some things to consider, why you should get one.

Why The Wait? Be Different!

Conventionally, internships are done during college. However, nowadays, it is possible for a high school student to get one. You don’t have to take the long wait anymore! There are actually companies that cater high school internship programs now. Most high school students would still stick to the traditional college internship, which is why getting one in high school would definitely be an edge for you!

By taking one during high school, you can be different with other students. The good thing is that you can actually use this difference of yours to your advantage. As most colleges consider that any kind of experience related to real-life work, along with volunteer or community work, has great weight in value during admissions.

Scoring an internship in high school would definitely give you a leg up on the competition in applying to your chosen college. Additionally, because you already have some work experience, it can help narrow down your choice of majors.

There are numerous benefits a high school internship can give you, but before that you should know how to get one first. So here are some tips on getting a high school internship.

Priorities Comes First

First, you should prioritize and know exactly which kind of organization or company you would to work for. To do this, you can reflect on your interests. What are they? Get an idea of what kind of major you would want to have in college. Also, think of what you want to do or to be after college. Try to contemplate on these thoughts and for sure you can have a company or two on your mind.

If you’re not entirely sure on what you want to do, it's okay. Nonetheless, if you're particularly interested in specialized programs, such as architecture or an undergraduate business schools, you should try look for internships related to that area.

The Good News

If you are a high school student in search for an internship, then good news for you! Companies across the country are now beginning to open up and provide more internship opportunities for students like you. Companies such as Microsoft usually offer specialized internships. Other local government, engineering, medical and legal organizations too often maintain high schoolers for unpaid internship positions for the summer.

With this good news, it wouldn’t be that hard for you anymore to search for one. Just as soon as you have deliberately chosen which companies you will target, you can already start applying by simply sending your resume along with a cover letter, addressed to a specific person in the company. Most companies have a specific contact person for their internship programs. If not, you can just send your resume to their human resources department or to a manager in the specific area you would like to work in.

That’s it! That’s how simple it is to apply for a high school internship. So, if you still doubt of getting one, just think of all the benefits you can get from it!

Purchase order financing overview

Knowing the ins and outs of purchase order financing is an asset to almost any small or medium sized business owner. In the sections below you will learn just exactly what purchase order financing is, the benefits, drawbacks, who can benefit the most from it, and would be likely to qualify for it.

What is purchase order financing?

purchase order financing is another way to get a loan for the capital you need to finance the supplies, production, and shipping of a product after you have received a purchase order from a buyer. Once you produce the finished goods and are paid, you can then pay off your invoice to the company who provided you with funding.

This is a perfect solution for small start-up businesses who have orders coming in but don't have the finances required to order supplies, pay their workers, and ship the finished goods. This would also be a great opportunity for a small to medium sized businesses who have found themselves with a sudden large customer jump or are graced with a very large order.

Who can benefit from purchase order financing?

- Purchase order financing is great for small to medium sized businesses who usually do not have the funds for large orders that could sky rocket their sales and turn their product into a household name. Image pitching your product to a major retailer, receiving an order from them, and then not being able to produce the goods needed because you are short on funds. purchase order financing could save you from this heart-breaking, and business-breaking, blow.

- A company who has received an order so large that they would need a six-digit loan. A purchase order financing company is not there to finance every single order so that a business does not have to spend any money up-front, it is merely a means for businesses to get the funds they need for an order that would otherwise be out of their reach financially.

- Only those who are reselling an already made product that they have to purchase in order to send to the buyer, such as drop shippers, or are producing a product to sell may be eligible to receive purchase order financing. For example, if you are selling a service, you would not qualify to receive purchase order financing. Although it may take capital you do not have to hire employees to perform the service, it would still not qualify under most company guidelines.

What are the drawbacks of purchase order financing?

There are few drawbacks to receiving purchase order financing, however, there is one major qualification that could potentially stand in your way. When a company grants you funding, they assume they will be paid after your customer receives the finished product and pays you. Because of this, many funding companies will check the credit of your buyer(s) to be sure that you will not get ripped off and be left without the money to pay your invoice. Purchase order financing companies are not only taking a chance on you, they are taking a chance on your customers as well. They are the ones with the real risk if the deal goes sour. Knowing that your customer is credit worthy gives the company the peace of mind to lend to you.

What to look for in a purchase order financing company

You should find a company that is right for you. These guidelines may help you better understand what type of company you should apply with:

- Find out what their minimum and maximum funding guidelines are to ensure that they meet your financial need. If a company only funds loans that are in excess of what you are looking for or has restrictions that are less than what you need then you are best moving on to another company.

- Find out what other eligibility requirements they have to ensure that you do qualify under their guidelines before you waste any time applying for their loan.

- Find out what length of time you have to repay the loan and check to see if it meets with you production and billing schedules to ensure that you will have the funds in time.

- Once you have found a company that works for you, make sure that they have a fee or interest rate that your company can both afford and be comfortable with.

In the world of loans and financing, purchase order financing may be a small business's best ally. They will usually have repayment terms that allow time for production of a product and it is the fastest way to receive financing without losing any investment in your business. Also, since they will check into the credit worthiness of your buyers, they may save you from producing a product for a deadbeat buyer. All in all, purchase order financing is a way to finance a large order that may get your product into the hands of a top notch retailer.

The power of songs

What do a car ride, a wedding ceremony and any great party have in common? Many things probably, but one thing they have in commong for sure is songs. Think about it. So many of our daily activities and our special events include special songs.

Think about the things you love to do during the day. Love to watch television? Pretty much any television show is filled with the songs of different musical artists. Do you prefer to go to the mall and shop? If so, take time to listen in each store you enter because you will find that songs make up the background noise at every shopping mall. If you are anything like me you cannot stand being in the car for more than a few minutes without turning on the radio or putting a tape in your player. Why? Because we love to hear songs. The next time you see someone out for a run on your street look closely and you very well might see a small cd player or another musical device that is pumping songs of inspiration into their ears as they exercise.

Will you agree that songs hold a lot of power? Many songs have the ability to put someone in a good mood or a bad mood pretty quickly. If you have ever been feeling down and then suddenly found yourself singing happily to the tune of one of your favorite songs then you know the power that songs can have. Songs have the ability to help us feel mellow or to make us feel excited. They are able to give us the energy to keep going or to relax us closer to sleep at night.

Songs also help us to celebrate many special events. Can you imagine a high school prom, a dance party, or a wedding reception without songs? Of course not. Because whether or not we realize it, songs have a huge role in most every event we participate in. Many people remember the first song they danced to at their prom or at their wedding. For whatever reason, songs tie us to memories like few other things do.

Many people enjoy hearing songs in live settings. You can enjoy the beauty and power of songs by attending a local concert put on by a choir or orchestra. You can also experience the power of live songs by ordering tickets to see your favorite musical artist or band play live.

Few things make up such a large part of our daily lives like songs. Enjoy the pleasure of listening to or even singing one of your favorite songs today.

Get rid of acne with healing diets

Annemarie Colbin, in her book "Food and Healing", makes the interesting point that diets themselves, even healing diets, are not a cure per se. They do often work, but their route to health is actually a product of supporting the body's own healing processes.

Her view on skin conditions like acne is interesting. She sees acne as a result of the regular organs of elimination, the kidneys and lungs, being unable to eliminate all the toxic waster matter that we ingest into our bodies. She sees certain foods, like those that make up what she calls the Standard American Diet, as placing too great a stress on our body's ability to process them, at least if symptoms of ill health are appearing like acne. She has found from her own observations that a change in diet often clears up even the large, purplish types of acne. She found this with her own experiences with acne. Annemarie says it takes about ten days to three months to work.

Annemarie describes acne as falling into two main causes in her approach. The first is associated with fat, protein and excess sugar. Here she recommends eliminating foods like milk, cheese, ice cream, fatty meats, nuts and peanut butter. The second category is associated with what she calls mineral-water excess, which is s term she uses to describe all substances taken out of their natural context. She mentions iodized salt, or even multi vitamins or supplements like kelp. This is very much a personal relationship as what negatively affects one person may not do so for another.

The link between excess minerals or vitamin supplements relates to Colbin's idea of balance, which is that a living system always seeks to return to balance. Anatomy and physiology textbooks even define the processes of the body that way, and it is certainly a common idea in natural health systems, especially traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Colbin writes that excess minerals and vitamin supplements lead to an increased need for the macro nutrients protein, fat and carbohydrates. Salt is also in this category. The idea is that these vitamins and minerals, taken out of the context of the food itself, will lead to the body craving actual food to create a sense of balance. If we have a multi vitamin at mealtimes, within the RDA, I don't believe this is going to present a problem. Especially given that our foods are often depleted of the range of essential nutrients that they would normally have if they were grown organically and in nutrient dense soils. But it is certainly an argument in favor of approaching nutritional supplements in a balanced way also. Some people mistakenly think more is better. This clearly illustrates it is not.

References: Annemarie Colbin, Food As Healing (Ballantine Books, New York)

Simon Mills, The Essential Book Of Herbal Medicine (Penguin Arkana)

Corporate christmas gift idea 04

Picking out just the right corporate Christmas gift idea can be a pretty difficult task. After all, what you get for your employees says a lot about what kind of boss you are. When I was coming up in the world of business, people tended to get very formal office Christmas gifts. The boss would buy senior members expensive wine, junior executives slightly less expensive wine, and everyone else Christmas ornaments, or other presents that reflected their low status in the company hierarchy.

Nowadays, that approach is not nearly that popular. In the modern workplace, after all, we are supposed to pretend that we are all equals - members of the same team, as it were. Although no one exactly believes this, it makes relationships between management and the workers easier and less strained. As such, the best approach is to have a corporate Christmas gift idea that is appropriate for everyone. You can privately get something nice for some of your senior partners, but it should be done in as inconspicuous a manner as possible. Publicly showing favoritism only invites trouble, particularly when you can already indicate which employees you favor through Christmas bonuses.

One of my personal favorite corporate Christmas gift ideas is to send everyone home with a bottle of Bristol Cream sherry. It is one of the most delightful wines you can have in the winter, and it is relatively inexpensive. If your office is facing hard times, however, you might want to consider going cheapter. If you can have your company print out personalized custom Christmas gifts, you can get away with a very cheap holiday present. Last year, for example, we gave everyone a candy basket. There were peanut butter cups, mints, and little chocolate Santas inside. The Christmas wrapping paper was printed with the company logo, and every single one had a personalized greeting card attached. It cost less than three dollars per basket, and it still seemed to make most of our employees feel appreciated.

Of course, you can always go with one of the old standbys. An ornament is probably the most classic corporate Christmas gift idea there is. It is pretty, inexpensive, and useful year after year. You can get a pewter Christmas tree ornament, a glass bauble, a miniature nutcracker, or whatever else might strike your fancy. Any of these will make a fine corporate Christmas gift idea without breaking the company bank!

Why change management training is essential for your company

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Let’s face it: Your company or organization is likely to go through a major transformation at some point. Whether it is in a division, within a function, or across the entire organization, you as a leader will need the skills to facilitate the change and help your business continue to thrive efficiently.

Sometimes the reason for change is external; perhaps the change is pushing you. Other times, the reasons for change are internally generated; you are driving and moving the transformation. Either way, change is now the norm, and senior leaders need to be able to handle it with focus, commitment and energy.

Whether your company’s leaders have gone through some sort of formal leadership training or not, a change management program might be the way to make the changes happen as painlessly as possible. An executive leadership program can provide your company with leaders who are creative and driven. And as part of the training, or as a separate one, leaders can be trained to handle a cultural transformation.

A good change management program will be interactive, and tailored to suit your company’s needs and goals. Look for an executive coaching company who is willing to take all aspects of the change into consideration. Not only must one consider revenue; but also communication, performance, and accountability. It is likely that almost everyone and everything is going to be effected by the change and leaders need to think on a broad scale.

To learn more about change management training, visit www. maxcomminc. com.

The fashion police

Casually doing a bit of window shopping a few years back in one of Italy’s ‘oh so fashionable’ little lane ways, I noticed that pointy toe stiletto’s were everywhere. Glancing down at my round toe Mary Jane’s I’d just purchased before leaving Australia, I was feeling both repulsed and anxious. Repulsed because I thought pointy toe stiletto’s were ugly, and anxious because I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be forking out the lire to purchase them. Two weeks later, I had succumbed. The trend had gotten the better of me, despite how ridiculous I looked when the heels got caught in the uneven Italian pavement every time I walked down the street (which was about every three steps).

So what was it that changed my mind? I believe the answer lies in the hands of, well, a handful of people called ‘Trend Analysts’ AKA The Fashion Police. Their job: to serve and protect the commercial interests of fashion companies across the globe. How? By dissecting the public's psychology of what will be the next trend will be by way of extensive travel and shopping expeditions (those bastards). These ‘trend analysts’ then report back to analysis companies, who then go on to consolidate their findings in industry magazines and websites for the use of fashion companies.

I’d like to say that fashion companies use analysis companies because they’re lazy, but it’s certainly not the case. They’re just scared to make a mistake (can you imagine manufacturing 1000 pairs of high waisted skinny leg jeans only to find that everyone was going for low rise bootleg? Ebay auctioning them is NOT a solution here). There are also unbelievable time constraints between the seasons. So most designers design their range around what they are fed, and if they’re lucky they get to travel around Europe and Japan to buy garments to ‘take inspiration from’. This is why we get a slight variation of the trend theme every season; all our designers are shopping in the same store in London! If you want to see something really interesting, just observe the women with suitcases in major department stores buying size ten (when they are size 12) at the start of every season. Ask them what they do for a living.

Can you see we are at the hands of a conspiracy!? We need to take action. I urge you to burn your pleather Fendi bags! Let’s make up our own trends! I myself am going to knit and extended version of the merkin (If you don’t know what one is, I advise you Google it because I’m certainly not about to explain). Yep, it’s going to be a toasty winter for me rugged up in my black merkin cardigan…

Which brings me back to my original thought at the beginning of this piece (merkins also have the power to bring people back to what they were originally thinking). What was it that made me buy those pointy toe high heels I now so dearly cherish? I believe it comes down to one word: agreement. Agreement by trend analysts, agreement by industry magazines, agreement by designers, agreement in fashion magazines, agreement throughout the stores, and finally, agreement by you. Agreement creates our fashion reality. Not always bad, but within the safety of agreement comes a lack of innovation. And that’s why we need those quirky fashion revolutionaries; so we can steel their ideas, manufacture them times a million, and sell the homogenized version back to you. Back to square one. We again enter into a state of agreement. Weird world we’re living in ain’t it? Now where did I put my knitting needles and my merkin ‘wool’ supply..?

All you need to know about whiskey

All You Need To Know About Whiskey

In meaning, whiskey translates to “water of life”. Whiskey originated from Scotland during the early 1400's, and is very popular around the world today. Even today, whiskey tastes much like it did when it first began. Manufacturers of whiskey are strong on heritage, and therefore do all they can to capture the flavor that whiskey has always been known for.

For any occasion, whiskey is truly great. Whiskey is commonly used during weddings and ceremonies, and both the bride and groom will drink it to signify a relationship that will stand the test of time. The drink isn’t only served with weddings, as it is also popular in bars and restaurants as well. Those wishing to signify friendship can also serve whisky as a gesture of wanting to be friends.

Whiskey also makes a great gift for friends, employees, and even executives. Around the office, whiskey is very popular. When someone has had a tough day at work, few things bring out the best like whiskey. It can help someone relax, and make them feel at ease. Drink enough of it however - and you will feel as if you are king of the world!

Although it has many uses, one of the best is ice cubes. If you combine whiskey with ice cubes, the combination is truly inspiring. People often refer to it as whiskey on the rocks, as it is very commonly served in bars and restaurants. Whiskey on the rocks is also refreshing, as the ice cubes help to take some of the “bite” away from the otherwise strong and potent drink.

There are several variations of whiskey as well. Scottish whiskey, Jack Daniels, and Wild Turkey are among the most popular. Scottish whiskey is very popular in different parts of the world, while Jack Daniels is the preferred brand of whiskey in the United States. Jack is served at many bars and restaurants, and provides a great mixed drink if you pair it with Coke.

If you’re looking to buy some whiskey for your home, you’ll never have to worry about having trouble finding it. ABC stores are the best source, although if you live in a state such as California you can find it at your local grocery or department store. Whiskey is one of the best selling forms of hard liquor, with thousands of people around the world drinking it quite frequently.

Easy to find and easy to use, whiskey is easily one of the best types of alcohol that you can buy. You can use it at parties or socials, or just keep it for yourself. Whiskey is also great the body, if you drink a shot of it a day. With various ways to be used and a bold crisp flavor - whiskey is something that you can never go wrong with.

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Cost effective ways to cool your home

As the temperature rises, so does the cost of cooling your home. But a new federal law may help keep your home both cool and cost-effective.

In January, the U. S. Department of Energy raised the minimum efficiency standards for air conditioners and heat pumps from 10 to 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). Although homeowners aren't required to replace systems that are less than 13 SEER, doing so could shave 23 percent off energy bills.

Think of SEER ratings like gas mileage: The higher the SEER or miles per gallon, the more energy "mileage" you get. So as SEER levels rise, your cooling and heating products use less energy, giving you more bang for your buck while providing real environmental benefits through decreased energy consumption.

"The new 13 SEER standard not only conserves energy but it also reduces associated carbon dioxide emissions," says Rick Roetken, director of marketing at Indianapolis-based Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems.

Bryant recently introduced a new line of 13 SEER models that provide superb savings, efficiency and comfort. The improved top-of-the-line Evolution System reaches levels of up to 20 SEER while allowing users to control heating, cooling, humidity, indoor air quality, schedules and maintenance reminders from a single, easy-to-navigate source.

To keep your home cooling system at peak efficiency, Roetken recommends having it inspected at least once a year by a trained service technician. Here are some additional tips:

* Install more attic insulation. Upgrading from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10 percent.

* Plant a tree. One well-placed shade tree can reduce your cooling costs by 25 percent. Place leafy shade trees to the south and west and evergreens to the north.

* Use ceiling and box fans to help circulate air throughout the house.

* Set the fan on your central air conditioner to "on" rather than "auto." This will circulate air continuously, keeping the temperature constant throughout the house and aiding in dehumidification.

* If you use a window air conditioning unit, make sure it's the proper size. It's better to get one that's too small rather than too large. A larger unit will start up and turn off more frequently and won't do as good a job dehumidifying the air.

* Invest in a programmable thermostat.

* If you don't have central air conditioning, try a whole-house attic fan. This device pushes hot air out through the attic vents, lowering the temperature throughout your home by about 5 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

Tell me about non profit debt consolidation profgrams

Tell Me About Non Profit Debt Consolidation Programs

Non profit debt consolidation programs are for those of us who find ourselves so deep in debt there is literally no other way out. You will either need to negotiate with your creditors yourself or hire a firm that knows the ins and outs of how credit works.

It is important to know that non profit does not always mean free. Most non profit debt consolidation programs ask a fee for their services. This is not a bad deal as long as you have a clear understanding of how much you will be paying to them over the amount you will need to pay on your debt.

When you first contact the non profit debt consolidation company, you will be speaking to a Certified Credit Counselor. The counselor will ask a few questions about your outstanding debt and your monthly income. Once you have given the information, the counselor will suggest various plans with you for debt consolidation. Both of you will decide on the best plan to suit your individual situation.

A simple agreement will be drawn up and sent to you. If you fell the terms of the agreement are correct, you will sign it and return it to the non profit debt consolidation company. You will then be enrolled in a non profit debt consolidation program. The credit counselor will work with your creditors to negotiate lowering or eliminating your late and overlimit fees. They will also work to reduce the amount of your debt by 50 to 80%.

You will pay one fee to the non profit debt consolidation program and they will disburse payments to your creditors. Your creditors will be paid by the date agreed upon and you will see your debts melt away month by month. You will still receive monthly statements from your creditors, and a monthly statement from the debt consolidation company outlining the payments made that month.

Before you send any money to a non profit debt consolidation program, make sure you are working with a reputable company. Just like every other business out there it is possible to find some bad eggs. You need to be clear on the exact amount they will charge you to perform this service. You also need to be sure they will have your payments in to the creditor in time. You are trying to repair your credit, not make it worse.

Your monthly payment will stay the same throughout the course of your non profit consolidation program. When a debt is paid in full the extra money will go on another debt so that you will realize a much quicker payoff.

Most non profit debt consolidation programs have educational materials to help you learn:

- How to set, plan and achieve your goals.

- How to develop a plan you can live with.

- How to Get more out of every dollar by increasing your spending power.

- How to save more of your hard earned money.

- How to organize your financial records.

They have educational topics like these and many more. For the most part if you find yourself deep in debt and need help it would pay for you to get in touch with a reputable non profit debt consolidation company and get your finances in shape.

Top 5 tips to fixing your credit report

Never underestimate the value of good credit. If your credit history isn’t spick and span, make sure to promptly fix your credit report. This is very important. For example, maybe you are a student and you need a loan to pay for graduate school. Your credit history will affect whether or not you get that loan and consequentially it may even affect whether or not you attend that university.

If applying for a private student loan, your creditor or lending institution will probably request a copy of your credit report and credit score. This will determine whether or not you meet the criteria for a loan. If so, the funds you do end up paying out of pocket will obviously be a great deal less. To ensure you are a successful loan applicant, check for any inaccuracies and fix your credit report if you find errors.

Other forms of credit like mortgages, auto loans, and business loans, will operate in the same way – you must boast good credit history to benefit from any of these things.

It is a good idea to request a free copy of your credit report at least once a year, but request a copy from three national credit and reporting agencies. Then check for errors and quickly correct any that you come across.

Other tips to make fixing your report as easy as possible, is limit the number of credit card counts you have. And maintain the total available credit on these accounts, being carefully aware of how much credit you’ve used.

Furthermore, do not open an unnecessary account – it’ll just be a burden. Even if you have a high income, balancing your credit cards can be very difficult and you risk incurring an unbearable amount of debt.

Also, do not open multiple accounts at the same time, especially if your credit history is shaky. Because if you do, you may appear to be a risk-taker when it comes to debt, as though you are willing to take on a lot of it. Prioritize your needs; put away credit cards you don’t absolutely require. You can add them onto your credit line later if you’ve improved and recovered from other debt. After all, new accounts will reduce the average age of your overall account and they are something that will factor into your credit count.

Don’t close accounts because you think you will thus remove them from record. That will not help your situation – in fact, closing financial records can even hurt your score and pay down your debt. Repairing your credit score is a much more adequate solution.

These are useful tips for fixing your credit. The most significant thing of all though is to make your credit payments in a timely fashion. Don’t miss a closing date and always pay the minimum monthly payments. This alone will fix your credit report.

Crystal earrings 19

We belong to a church community that is having a difficult time raising the money needed to pay for the parish center that had been built several years ago. Parishioners had made pledges on the amount of money that they were willing to donate for the project. The project cost more than projected and some of the parishioners became frustrated with the project and have withdrawn their pledges. This means that a number of different fund raising projects are being organized to help pay for the project. The current project is an adult formal dance.

I was not in favor of this fund raiser due to the expenses that come with putting on the function. My husband feels that we need to support the project so he bought tickets for the dance. I have a dress from a wedding that we went to that I can wear but I decided that I wanted new jewelry to go with it. I went shopping for crystal earrings and necklace. I thought that they would compliment my outfit and also be reasonably priced.

I found that there are many crystal earrings on the market. They range in price from a few dollars to over a hundred dollars. There are many styles to choose from. I thought that the crystal earrings would also be something that I could wear over the holidays. My dress is very plain. When I went to the wedding I had borrowed jewelry from my sister. She had long dangling crystal earrings and a dropped pendant necklace. The jewelry had greatly added to the look of my outfit; however I did not want to borrow the jewelry a second time. She had received the crystal earrings as a gift and had found the necklace at a popular department store. When I went to this department store they were advertising a sale on their jewelry. They had a pair of crystal earrings that I fell in love with as soon as I saw them. They had a circular crystal that had a short chain attached that held two additional crystals suspended from it. The chain was a black metal. There was also a matching necklace as well as bracelet. I was lucky because this set was included in the sale. I received twenty percent off of the crystal earrings, necklace and the bracelet. I also picked out another pair of earrings for free because part of the sale was if you bought three pieces you received a fourth piece free.

The new jewelry looked great with my dress. I hope that the formal dance will generate the revenue needed to pay off the loans. The expenses have bee very high so the organizers are hoping to at least break even.

Comparison shopping when online shopping

Comparison Shopping when Online Shopping

One of the conveniences of online shopping which is enjoyed by many is the ease of comparison shopping. The ability to compare items quickly and accurate is ideal to shoppers who are looking to purchase items which offer the best features as well as to shoppers who are looking to find the best bargain on a particular item. This article will discuss a few of the ways in which comparison shopping takes place during online shopping including manual comparisons by the consumer and using comparison charts. This article will also discuss how items which are not readily available in traditional stores can be compared quickly and accurately when shopping for these items online.

Conducting Your Own Comparisons

Online shoppers often perform comparisons of items online in much the same way they would compare items available in traditional stores. However, the comparison process is greatly simplified when the consumer is doing the comparison online. When comparing two items a consumer may look at a variety of different aspects. Some of these aspects may include available features, durability, aesthetic appearance and even price. However, when comparing these items in traditional stores the process can be rather difficult. Consumers can often compare similar items in one store to determine which model of the item they prefer. However, once this comparison is complete the consumer also typically wishes to compare this chosen item with others available in terms of the cost of the item.

This financial comparison typically involves traveling from one store to another and comparing the price of the item at each store to determine which store is offering the item at the most favorable price. Online shoppers may also be interested in comparing the features and prices associated with a particular item but they have the advantage of being able to conduct these comparisons from the convenience of their home. Consumers can simply sit at their home computer and visit websites for retailers offering items of interest. With this information the consumer can determine which item they wish to purchase and which retailer they wish to patronize. The online shopper can also make this purchase from the convenience of his home rather than having to travel to the selected store to purchase a chosen item.

Using Comparison Charts Available Online

Another great advantage of shopping online is the ability to generate comparison charts of similar items almost instantly. Many online retailers who offer products from a number of different manufacturers also offer the ability to compare these items easily. In fact many online retailers will enable the online shopper to select several items they are interested in learning more about and then generates a chart outlining the essential features of each product as well as the price for which the product is being offered.

Comparing Items Not Readily Available

Another way in which online shopping is very convenient for comparison shopping is it gives the consumer the opportunity to compare items which are not readily available. This may include items which are new and popular as well as items which are older and rarer. Making these comparisons in traditional stores can be quite difficult because the consumer may not be able to find stores which are currently stocking a particular item. However, when shopping online it is far easier to find online retailers who offer products which are otherwise hard to fine. Therefore, it is much easier to compare these items online. This is because the comparison can take place even if the online retailer does not have the product available for sale. The online retailer likely has enough of a product description stored to provide readers with a wealth of information about the products which may not currently be available. Conversely shoppers who rely on traditional stores may spend days, weeks, months or even years waiting for a particular product to become available for comparison purposes.

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Does the google desktop really put your privacy in jeopardy

There has been a lot of talk recently about Google Talk and how there are serious privacy concerns with the new application.

The biggest concern seems to come with the ability to search and share multiple computers with one account. In other words, you could use a single desktop search account to search, index and allow you to share files between your desktop and laptop for example.

But are these concerns grounded in truth? Is there really a privacy issue here?

I downloaded and installed the new Desktop Search beta the other day. It has some interesting new features such as the ability to remove panels from the sidebar and dock them anywhere you like on your desktop.

And there are several more panels available to let you do anything from manage what is indexed, to passing time by playing games.

One of the coolest features is its ability to reach beyond the desktop it is on to do a variety of things. Now, I can play tic tac toe with co-workers, or even friends around the world.

But the biggest, and most troubling update to some is the ability to remotely index files, as well as share them using Google servers to temporarily store the items.

By turning this feature on you give Google the right to store your files for up to 30 days. Therein lies the crux of the issue – there seems to be no way around this 30 day requirement.

All I have to say is 'so what?'

So what if you have to give Google this ability? Google will encrypt the data so that no one else can access it. And even if there is some sort of DOJ subpoena requiring access to these files I don't think it would stand up in court.

This is because Google has set up a network whereby all your Google activities are tied to one Google account. Your personalized home page, gmail, google analytics, adwords and adsense accounts all share the same Google account. Therefore, it would be difficult for anyone to get a subpoena to review information pertaining to only part of that account.

Legalities aside, if you are that concerned about the privacy being surrendered to Google in order to use this system then don't sign up for it.

You can still download and use the new Desktop Search with most of its new features, but you don't have to use the file sharing.

But what if you want to share files between computers?

Well, do what I did – go to your favorite electronics store and buy a flash drive. I just bought a USB flash drive with over 2 gigs of storage for under $100. Now I can easily transfer anything between any computer with no worry of some government agency wanting to know what's on it.

As I said, I do have the new Google Desktop installed, and I did look at the settings for the search and file sharing, but I didn't turn them on. I have no need to be able to search my home computer from work and vice versa, nor do I need to share files between the two computers.

And if I did, I'll simply use the FTP site I have set up on a computer at home or the aforementioned flash drive.

Really, when it comes to all the other ways that Google captures your personal data, from search history to Gmail, should we be all that concerned that some files may end up being stored on a Google server somewhere?

I think we should have other concerns. For example, I think we should be concerned about what Google already knows about us via those services I mentioned earlier.

I think business owners should be concerned that such a service would allow employees to easily steal and transfer data to and from work.

I think if you are that scared of the US government infringing on your privacy then you shouldn't have a Google account, nor Google Desktop Search nor a Gmail account. In fact I don't think you should have any Internet accounts because quite honestly everyone is a target for the DOJ. Further, I can almost guarantee you that your local ISP will fold and hand over the data much easier than Google will.

So before you start complaining about how Google could infringe your privacy, remember that YOU have the ability to stop it from happening. It's just a matter of choosing to do so.

Advertising jobs 23

Advertising Jobs

When looking for a job, it's necessary to buy newspapers, browse the web and register with agencies. All this is time consuming and takes up a lot of energy, especially if you already have a job and are looking for another one. It would help the process if companies thought about making the art of advertising jobs more user friendly. I have seen vacancies that don't give information on payment. When I ring them to ask about this little detail, I am often told that this information cannot be given over the phone and I will be informed at the interview. I stopped going to these interviews because the wage turns out to be a joke. That's why they don't want to tell you in the first place. It's a complete waste of time for the applicant and the interviewer. Why can't they just be up front about it and you can decide if it's worth your while?

The offer of money can be a bit vague. Some vacancies state that that there is no compensation but it may be offered later when the circumstances permit. When is this likely to happen, you wonder? When I am old and gray? Advertising jobs should involve as much specific information as possible, in order to make an informed choice as to whether to apply or not.

At least, some decent legislation has taken force. Of course, it's illegal to ask for a certain gender, race or religion except in special situations, which are exempt. In the UK, a law is about to be passed that outlaws ageism when advertising jobs. This is a good thing in principle and will certainly help people over forty or fifty years old. Too often, they are confined to the scrap heap. Application forms will no longer ask for a date of birth. However, some companies are getting into a panic as to the interpretation of the Bill. No one seems sure if they will still be able to ask for people with experience or qualifications. Levels of experience and qualifications denote a rough estimate of someone's age. I think it would be absurd for the law to be as pedantic as this. After all, you don't want a sixteen year old applying for a job as a brain surgeon just because he can. Some offices have even banned birthday cards with ages on, in case an employee feels intimidated.

There needs to be common sense applied to all these issues. There should be fair conditions surrounding advertising jobs for the bosses and the job seekers. A lot of time is wasted in the process, which is why so many employers hire the services of agencies to do the screening.

Your small business web site

A web site is a crucial ingredient of your marketing strategy because it can widen your target market to include anyone who has access to a computer and the internet. Almost 60% of Canadians had access to the internet at home in 2003, and around 8 million had regular access to the internet from somewhere, either at home, at work or at school.

And that’s just in Canada. Ecommerce sales from Canada were $7.2 billion, and we only captured 4% of the global ecommerce market! So, how can you reach some of those internet surfers, and how can you capture some of that $7.2 billion spent in ecommerce?

First, you build it

The first step is designing your website. If your company already has business cards and letterhead, it’s best to design your website around them. A matching corporate identity and website helps with branding.

I like uncomplicated websites, with a simple layout and easy navigation. A nice, simple layout, with good graphics, balanced look and good color combinations is my #1 goal when designing a small business web site. Remember to use graphics sparingly and to optimize them for your website because internet surfers are impatient. If your page loads too slowly, they’ll leave.

Navigation should be easy to find and to use, and it should be consistent from page to page. I’ve left more than one site frustrated because I couldn’t easily find their navigation.

Small business web sites aren’t static. They evolve. You need to start somewhere, and starting with an introductory web site is probably easiest. All you really need to start is five pages. You can always add pages later. The important thing is to just do it—take the plunge and get it out there.

Your five pages could include an index, or home page, about us, services, contact and a sitemap. The index page is your landing page. Typically its design is a little more detailed than the others, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

I like to use CSS (cascading style sheets) for designing because it’s simply easier to build a web site and to edit its layout with CSS rather than just HTML (hypertext markup language) alone. A change on a CSS sheet changes all the pages on your site at once.

Content is king

Once your site is designed, you’ll want to start thinking about content. Design is very important, but it does little good to have a beautiful site without high-quality content.

Your small business home page introduces you and your company—who you are and what you do. The about us page is usually used to give more detail than the home page about who you are, and your services page gives more detail about what you do. You might wonder why you’d “waste” a page on a sitemap since you only have 5 pages, but sitemaps help search engines find all the pages in your site.

As far as content goes, more is better, up to a point. Your pages should be content rich and informative, but they also need to be relevant to your small business. If your visitor can’t figure out what your web site is about in just a few seconds, they may leave.

The internet was at first strictly informational, and that’s how it remains today. Several times people have tried experiments using copywriting similar to direct mail sales letters, but they’ve all failed. It seems as if people surf the internet more for information than anything else. Knowing this will help you write pages people will want to read.

Attracting visitors

You could follow your instinct and just start writing, but wait. There’s research you must do first, or your web site simply won’t be high enough in searches to be found. Search engine optimization is far too big a subject to cover in this short article, but among other things, search engines find your pages based on keywords.

So, pretend for a moment that you’re on the other side of the desk. If you were a customer of your own business, what words or phrases would you use to search for your product or service? Ask friends and neighbors how they’d search for your product or services.

When you’ve come up with a few, check them out on a keyword suggestions tool. You can also use that tool to suggest similar words and phrases. Then find out how many results there would be if you searched for that term. What you want to do next is narrow down your choices to the words or phrases that are searched for the most, but have the fewest results.

Remember that people generally don’t look beyond the first three pages for any search term, so if you’re not in the top three pages, your business is not likely to be found at all. If there are millions of results for your phrase, you might simply need to make it more specific.

For example, let’s say you have a small business consulting company that specializes in communication for small business. Using “communication” as a search term is nearly pointless because there are almost 2 billion results for that word. But, there are only 974 results for “small business communication”.

Much better, but how often is that searched for? According to WordTracker, it’s searched for 10 times a day. Not bad, but I think we can do better. How about “small business consulting”? That’s searched for 261 times a day, and there are 373,000 results. That could be the best primary phrase for a small business communication consulting company.

What you want to do, is write your content around those words and phrases. You don’t want or need very many—three or four are plenty.

Getting them to come back again and again

Getting visitors to come back to your site again and again is relatively simple. Keep your content fresh and lively, make sure it’s informative, and add to it often.

I hope you decide your small business needs a web site. It’s the best way I know how to reach a wider target audience with a relatively small investment.

Warm up with fresh mushroom soup

Mushrooms add something special to a meal and mushroom soup is a classic example.

But mushrooms give us more than great taste. Did you know that mushrooms help contribute to our daily intake of potassium, selenium and riboflavin? Plus, mushrooms are low in fat and have only 20 calories per serving.

Try "Light 'n Creamy Fresh Mushroom Soup" soon. This soup has only six grams of fat per serving, yet tastes rich and delicious. Prepare your favorite grilled sandwich while the soup simmers-and dinner is served.

Time-saver tip: Cook up a double batch and freeze half for another dinner.

Light 'N Creamy

Fresh Mushroom Soup

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup diced carrots

1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions (scallions)

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano leaves

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

11/2 pounds white mushrooms, sliced (about 9 cups)

1 can (141/2 ounces) ready-to-serve chicken or vegetable broth

1 cup white wine or water

11/2 cups lowfat milk

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add carrots, onions, garlic, salt, thyme and pepper; cook, stirring often, until onions just begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, broth, and wine; bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, remove 1 cup of the vegetables; set aside. In a blender or food processor, place half of remaining soup from the saucepan; puree until smooth; remove to a bowl; repeat with remaining mixture; return entire pureed mixture to saucepan; stir in milk and reserved vegetables. Simmer just until heated through, about 5 minutes. If desired, garnish with thinly sliced green onion.

YIELD: 4 portions (about 6 cups)

Per portion: 153 cal; 6 g fat; 10 g protein; 17 g carbohydrate

Mushroom soup tastes creamy-without the cream.

Unlocking the value of your customers

One of the greatest thrills in business is acquiring a new customer. Many businesses are too caught up in the excitement of acquiring new customers that they do not spend enough time or money on unlocking the value of their existing customer base. It surprises me how often business fail to regard their existing customers as one of their most valued assets.

There may not be the same excitement in getting orders from existing customers, BUT this is where the real profits are made. It is generally accepted amongst most marketing experts that it costs at least five times more to acquire a new customer than it does to get an order from an existing customer. There are many ways that you can unlock the value of your existing customer base and in this article, I will explore some of those ways with you.

The first thing a business needs to do is develop the mindset that their customer base is their most valuable asset. Customers need to be treated like gold because that is what they are to your business. Responding to the needs of your existing customers must take priority over prospecting for new customers.

To unlock the value of your customers requires that you have a range of products that will fulfil their needs. Products should be carefully chosen to ensure they are of the right quality and will meet customer needs. Your customers will often tell you what they need if you listen to them carefully and with respect. This can save you a lot of time and cost in market testing of new products.

Stay in contact with your customers. There are a variety of ways to do this and the Internet provides a cost effective means to do so. A regular newsletter for customers providing them with useful information is the most common way. However, you need to know what your customers want to make this truly effective.

Gather the preferences of your customers and monitor their buying habits. This can provide you with very valuable information. To get valuable ideas, look at some of the things Amazon does. For example, Amazon allows people to subscribe to updates on various different types of books and products. That way, they are able to provide information on a regular basis that the customer is interested in.

Amazon also had an author update service. You tell them who your favourite authors are and, whenever there is anything new by that author, you receive an email notification. They also have a facility that suggests other titles or products you may be interested in. This is based on what you are considering purchasing and what others who purchased the same item also purchased.

Do these features generate more sales from their existing customers? You bet they do! How can you use these concepts to unlock the value of your customers?

Consider ways that you can make it easy for your customers to re-order. Simple things such as not having to fill in all their details again on the order form help. That way, customers only need to advise you of changes to their details and the order process is a lot quicker.

Regularly review your customers' buying habits. This can reveal information on offers that you can make that meet their needs. Providing them with a solution to their problem will lead not only to further sales but also strong goodwill.

Customer service can be one of your strongest weapons in the battle to retain your customers. Make every effort to personalise responses to customer enquiries. Do not send standard form emails if you can avoid it. While this will take more time, the rewards will be far greater.

Be quick to honour guarantees. This will show that you mean what you say and will build strong credibility. Too often, tardiness and slow responses lead to lost credibility and lost future value of a customer. When you are treating your customers as the most important people to your business, they will find the experience rewarding and will return often.

Each business is different and has its own specific ways that can generate greater value from their existing customer base. Through this article, I hope I have helped you to start thinking more about how you can unlock the value of your customers.

Remember, the more you put into looking after your business's major asset, the more profit you will make. A side benefit is that your customers may even refer their friends and associates to your business resulting in a steady flow of new customers with a very small customer acquisition cost.

What you need to know before

What You Need to Know BEFORE You Get Started on eBay.

So you've decided that you want to get started as a seller on eBay. There are a few things that you really need to know before you go and throw yourself in at the deep end.

What to Sell.

First off, you need to know what it is you're going to sell: what's your speciality? You'll do far better on eBay if you become a great source for certain kind of products, as people who are interested in those products will come back to you again and again. You won't get any loyalty or real reputation if you just sell rubbish at random.

When you think about what to sell, there are a few things to consider. The most important of these is to always sell what you know. If you try to sell something that you just don't know anything about then you'll never write a good description and sell it for a good price.

You might think you're not especially interested in anything, but if you think about what kind of things you usually buy and which websites you go to most often, I'm sure you'll discover some kind of interest. If all else fails mention it to your friends and family: they'll almost certainly say "Oh, well why don't you sell…", and you'll slap your forehead.

Out of the things you know enough about, you should then consider which things you could actually get for a good enough price to resell, and how suitable they would be for posting. If you can think of something of that you're knowledgeable about and it's small and light enough for postage to be relatively cheap, then that's great!

Don't worry if you think the thing you're selling is too obscure - it isn't. There's a market for almost everything on eBay, even things that wouldn't sell once in a year if you stocked them in a shop. You'll probably do even better if you fill a niche than if you sell something common.

Tax and Legal Matters.

If you earn enough money, you should be aware that you're going to have to start paying tax - this won't be done for you. If you decide to sell on eBay on a full-time basis, you should probably register as a business.

Prepare Yourself.

There are going to be ups and downs when you sell on eBay. Don't pack it in if something goes a little wrong in your first few sales: the sellers who are successful on eBay are the ones who enjoy it, and stick at it whatever happens.

Anyone can sell on eBay, if they believe in themselves - and if you do decide it's not for you, then the start-up costs are so low that you won't really have lost anything.

If you're ready to start selling, then the next thing you need to know is the different auction types, so you can decide which ones you will use to sell your items. Our next email will give you a guide.

Varieties of gourmet olives

The history of olives and olive oil can be traced back to at the least biblical times. When the waters of the great flood subsided and Noah sent forth a dove it was an olive leaf she returned carrying in her mouth. It is known that as long as 6000 years ago olive oil was used as fuel in lamps. Maybe it was this olive oil that created such a beautiful Genie for Major Anthony Nelson to rescue in the popular television sitcom I Dream of Genie.

Today in modern grocery stores there are dozens of gourmet olives widely available. Gone are the days of canned black olives and green olives with pimentos as the only choices. For those of us who remember the days of opening a can of black olives and placing one on each finger then systematically biting them off here is the new olive.

Nicoises: Is a earthy rich olive commonly used in salad. The curing of this olive in red-wine vinegar gives it a distinctive taste.

Green olives with herbs de Provence: This vibrant citrus flavored olive is a delightful blend of herbs de Provence spices and large green olives. It is an excellent choice to use in surf dishes and with sweet spices.

Mount Athos green with Sicilian herbs: This is a second olive that utilizes herbs to dominate the pallet. Rosemary, garlic, mustard seed, and red pepper flakes give this olive a spicy appeal.

Mount Athos green stuffed with garlic: For a modern twist on the martini this olive is an excellent choice. It is stuffed with rich flavorful garlic and lends itself well to pizza as well as martinis.

Mount Athos green olives with sun-dried tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes give this heavy olive an intense flavor that is sophisticated and ideal for snacking.

Sun-dried olives: The drying of this olive gives it a rich flavor that blends wonderfully in sauces for serving over pasta.

Kalamatas: A tangy black olive cured in red-wine vinegar that can be from Italy or California. The California variety is denoted with a 'c' spelling rather than a 'k'.

Alfonsos: This robust winey tasting olive is soft and similar to the kalamata. It is a popular choice in antipasto salads.

Halkididis: Very similar in flavor to the kalamatas this olive is excellent blended with cream cheese and garlic for a flavorful dip.

Lucques: This meaty buttery olive contains pits but is still a wonderful choice with provolone cheese and bruchetta.

The citi mtv platinum select visa card for college students is good news for college students

The Citibank Students Cards cater to the needs of students and is more than a debit card for the students. One among them is the Citi MTv Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students, which facilitates particularly those college students who pay off their credit card balance on time and manage to keep the balance low.

Benefits Of The Card

The Citi MTv Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students promises to be a rewarding experience for the students with high GPA’s. Higher GPA’s will give you higher points. The Thank You points that you earn can be utilized for MTv merchandise, airline tickets, gift cards and CDs.

The credit card enables you to achieve a solid education and gain smart spending. The card has a reasonable annual percentage rate (APR) convenient for building a good credit. You can also avail the opportunity to use your points towards MTv special events and for other fun purposes.

Absence of any annual fee makes it easier for the student to save money. The card enables students view/check their accounts and pay the bills online. The card also has provisions for theft protection as well as travel insurance. In case, you live away from your home, the Citi MTv Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students gives you the option of visiting your family and avail a discount on the airline tickets.

Other Benefits

The card comes handy if you require quick cash or desire to save a balance on another high interest-rate credit card. Moreover, you can avail of a 0% annual percentage rate (APR) on the balance transfers and a 0% interest rate on the cash advances for the initial six months.

Each and every purchase you make with the card enables you to obtain points. You can conveniently earn 5 points for spending 1 dollar at your favorite haunts, like video rental stores, bookstores, restaurants, record stores and movie theatres. For purchases elsewhere, you can earn one point for spending one dollar with the card.

The Thank You Redemption Network of the Citi MTv Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students further makes it possible for you to earn 2000 Thank You points twice a year for possessing a good GPA. You can, however, earn a maximum of 75000 points each year. The rewards expire in the duration of 5 years.

You can save 10% at the MTV store in New York City and mtvshop. mtv. com. If you are able to make timely full payments each month, you will be receiving 20 free of interest days in each billing cycle.

Bonus Points

The card brings for you other advantages like many Internet account related services, emergency card and cash replacement, lost and stolen card reporting, auto rental insurance and legal as well as medical referral services.

It also gives the cardholder the facilities like free access to credit education tips and tools, lost luggage assistance, fraud and security protection services, discounts on auto rentals, up to $1000000 travel accident insurance and more privileges.

School fundraiser organization tips part 2

Hopefully, you've already read Part One of these tips for organizing your school fundraiser. A smart plan can make your school fundraiser much easier. Here are some other considerations:

Using a consultant

Consider using a fundraising consultant to assist your organization with larger fundraisers, first-time events, or mission critical efforts. Among the benefits of using professional help are the following: increased market penetration, increased sales per client, higher average sales volume per participant, and smoother logistical flow.

Use a fundraising consultant to take the hassle out of organizing your event and put the “fun” back in fundraising again.

Protect your reputation

Offer only high quality products. Remember that no one feels good about overpaying for something or getting shoddy merchandise in return for a contribution. Take the high road and build loyalty within your customer base.

Profit percentage

Place less emphasis on the percentage profit offered by the supplier and focus more on the total net profit generated. Higher unit prices will mean higher total sales revenue and often, higher profits per customer.

That’s not to say that percentage isn’t important, but consider other factors as well. Look at whether sales incentives are included, hidden costs that may arise, sales brochures that cost extra, poor quality merchandise that can hurt future sales, and so on.

Incentives

Rewards will increase participation and that can positively effect the net proceeds from your efforts. The quality of the incentives is an important motivator. If appropriate, consider rewards from among the products you’re offering. Look to local merchants for supplemental prizes.

Insist on best value

People will be more inclined to buy if you’re offering quality goods at the right price. Higher-priced goods will actually generate more net from each sales transaction to your organization than the cheap stuff that offers a higher percentage profit to your group.

Price points

Many times, different organizations conduct similar fundraisers at coincidental times. Make sure that the prices asked are comparable to other fundraisers in your community. Check prices ranges via the Internet and with other nearby organizations. Look at other catalogs, retail merchant pricing for similar goods, and trust your gut instincts.

Beware of perfuming the pig

There’s an old saying about making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. It means that someone is trying to assign a higher value to an item than it is worth. Another phrase often used to reference the deceptive selling of overpriced goods is “perfuming the pig.”

If you overcharge your customers for common items, they’ll resent it, consciously or subconsciously. Compare results with records from past fundraisers to check what price points were offered before on similar items. Be certain to give fair market value for the items your group is offering. You want those customers back the next time, don’t you?

Setup calling trees

Once your fundraiser has begun, don’t forget to utilize your calling tree for immediate feedback. Ask if there are any problems, check on initial reaction from participants and their families, keep the enthusiasm level high, and don’t let your initial positive momentum slip away. Regular polling of team leaders and participants will keep you informed.

Doubling Up

Double check all order forms and check payments to be sure they’re correctly filled out. Double-team all money handling facets of the fundraising process. Have double dates (makeup days) planned in advance in case of inclement weather or other unforeseen delays on delivery day.

Use co-chairs for each mission critical function. Cross train on all tasks. Keep duplicate records of important details in a different location as part of your backup plan. In the world of technology, this is called disaster recovery or disaster prevention. Double count all deliveries coming in and going out.

Record Keeping

Accurate records are a lifesaver and a source of information for future fundraisers. Follow audit guidelines just as if you were a small business. As a non-profit organization, you have to be able to document the source of your funding as well as how those funds were spent.

Setting goals and deadlines

Do this well in advance, mapping out campaign timelines and strategies before the school or fiscal year starts if possible. Your goals should be realistic and based upon solid data from previous results. Take some time to think what extra offerings you could add that would double the net proceeds from each customer.

Always have a hard deadline for the sales period to end, nothing more than 17 days. Seventeen days is two weeks plus an extra weekend, the prime selling time.

Don’t forget to smell the roses

A well-planned and well-executed fundraiser will leave you time to bask in the glory of your success. Remember to have fun and good luck!