Real Innovation for Growth's Sake

Image : http://www.flickr.com

So you've finally done it - you've established your own business. Over time, you have successfully acquired valuable customers, generated awareness of your products or services and developed a team of top-notch employees. With all of these important pieces in place, growth seems to be happening naturally. You're well on your way to producing significant results.

However, sustaining that growth will be critical to your business' future. Most of us hope that growth will continue along this organic path; but marketplace changes and competitive forces will inevitably shake things up along the way.

Given these factors, then, how can you develop a strategy that keeps your business growing?

One answer might be to cultivate a culture of innovation. From crafting unique ideas to designing processes that ensure these initiatives are well-executed, smart, sustainable small businesses are quickly making innovation a part of their overall business strategy.

Some Tips for Creating an Innovation Culture

To get you started, we've outlined four key strategies for creating an innovative business climate that moves beyond "out of the box" ideas and aims to drive real business growth.

1. Set an example for innovation

Support the idea of "breakthrough" thinking through your words and actions. Breakthroughs not only stimulate rapid growth, they can launch your company into new markets, make you an industry leader, enable rapid growth, and create a high return on investment.

It's helpful to think of breakthrough innovation along the lines of three core components: people, processes and products. Clearly, product innovation is the most common. Process improvements can also improve the bottom line by keeping cash flow healthy. People innovations may include creative employee programs to increase morale and improve retention.

2. Encourage innovative, creative thinking from your employees

Show your employees that you think of innovation as an ongoing process. Some ideas will work and many won't. Keep trying.

One idea is to schedule a monthly "creativity forum" to which employees are encouraged to bring one new idea. Emphasize that no ideas are "dumb" - sometimes it takes a group to brainstorm possible uses and benefits to make ideas come alive.

3. Develop methods to the creativity madness

White boarding is a tried and true technique designed to spur organizational creativity. Try white boarding an idea or issue in a public area of the organization, allowing two weeks for employees to contribute ideas to address the issue. Another technique, which could be used in the monthly creativity forum, involves brainstorming. In this case, the entire group passes around a piece of paper to contribute their ideas and add on to others' ideas.

4. Ask for feedback early and often

Innovation is a collaborative process. First, draw on your own employees-they know the company's problems and goals best. Next, tap your most valuable customers for their ideas. New processes, products or approaches will affect them first and foremost, so their perspective will not only prove invaluable, it will make them feel like partners in your business' success.

Most important, be patient. Creativity can't be hurried. Companies, like any living organism, must become learning organizations that change and adapt to suit their evolving environment.

To read more on this subject try one of these books:

The Ten Faces of Innovation by Thomas Kelley & Jonathan Littman

Innovation: The Five Disciplines for Creating What Customers Want by Curtis R. Carlson and Willim W. Wilmot

Low-Budget Wedding Reception Ideas

Image : http://www.flickr.com

assigned to one of the biggest costs associated with your big day, her marriage, but there are ways to reduce costs, and creating a fun and festive party for your family and friends.

Now that you're inside, you have to do a lot of planning. You have the date and the balance (right?) And now you're finding that the marriage will have a piece of big budget. Shortly after signing your first born and sell his soul to the devil, as you likeCreate a festive atmosphere, live, feed and your guests are in your family? With a little 'creativity and following suggestions can pull off a beautiful wedding ceremony that budget friendly.

Location, Location, Location

As the saying goes, location is everything. In this case, the path can save a bundle. Instead of booking the ballroom of an exclusive hotel or other "must-have" location, try something different and unique. They arehow many sites are free or very cheap to be surprised. Look into gardens, vineyards, museums, churches, warehouses, hotels, banquet and also the home of a friend or family member. They may also be able to find restaurants in your area that specializes in affordable weddings. When comparing prices, you should remember that "free" sites, you have to rent chairs, tables and more, so there are some costs. Sometimes it turns out to be more budget Friendly RentalsEconomic room that provides those things for you.

Define your customer list

It is tempting to invite your 50th cousin twice removed and is easy to leave and calling on family members, people who have said hello back to kindergarten, but for budgetary reasons, do you have with your host company list. Stick to the call for people who are very close, and you will save on the cost of hundreds of foods and beverages at your wedding.

LetEat Cake

Your wedding cake can be $ 5 per serving and slightly less than a big bite from your budget. You might want to consider ordering a cake small screen, and also to order a cake to serve your guests. And 'much cheaper, and your guests probably will not think twice. And do not forget to ask around. Chances are, you or your boyfriend is a friend, the beautiful wedding cakes and withdrawals, almost nothing.

Food

Family members are usually more than happy to help prepare food for your reception. Many foods such as roast beef, ham and lasagna are easy to prepare ahead of time in large quantities. And if you're preparing the food yourself, buying in bulk (wholesale clubs, etc) saves you lots of money. Potlucks are also enjoying a degree of renewed popularity. Ask family members to provide some of the food, and then invite guests to bring a dish in lieu of a gift. Simply slip a note into the invitation altering guests of this option.

To Drink or not to Drink

Alcohol also raises the cost of your wedding reception. Consider having only limited drinks available. Of course, if you have a morning or early afternoon wedding, alcohol isn't usually necessary. And some venues don't allow alcohol at all, so this point wouldn't even be an issue . Be sure to check on this at the locations you're considering.

Decorations

With a little creativity (lights, candles, faux plants and trees), anyplace can be transformed into a beautiful reception location. Remember, your guests are there to celebrate with you, not critique the crystal chandeliers (or lack thereof). And there are scores of table decorations you can make yourself that are quite affordable. Don't be shy about family and friends to pitch in on making the decorations and decorating for the reception. Most times, they're more than happy to help.

Music

Save yourself $1000 or more by foregoing a live band. If you ask around, you probably have a family member, friend, or friend of a friend who does wedding DJ duties (or at least has a killer sound system) and would be willing to take charge of the music - usually for little or no cost. Your guests just want to dance and have fun, and it's not that important to them exactly where the music is coming from

Something Borrowed...

There are so many details to attend to when planning a wedding reception. Where does the punch bowl come from? What about the silverware? And the coffee pot? If the location does not provide these things for you, and you're not using a caterer, there's nothing wrong with renting these items or borrowing them from friends or family members. There's no need to invest in a punch bowl - unless you think you'll get more use out of it. Besides, you can always buy one down the road when you need it, but do it when you budget isn't so tight. All of these little incidentals really add up, so take advantage of other people's willingness to help.

Don't let your wedding reception bury you under a mountain of debt. With a little resourcefulness and creativity, you can create a beautiful - and affordable - wedding reception filled with memories that will last a lifetime.

Boxing Tips from

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Before you get free boxes of tips, one observation must be clear: a boxer with a bad hand is just as ineffective as a runner with a bad left ankle.

Proper hand-tape

Tips to open, I would stress that this is a guy without bandages on his hands should never box or hit a bag.

The boxes are free advice is better than less, as you begin your hand to a better bandage, brace yourself properly and you feel more comfortable box on the rightbeginning. The following is the proper dressing: Place the hand held up, spread the fingers apart and at least half an inch. This is very important to ensure that the bandage should not be too tight, if the fist is closed.

should be a loop in one end of the bandage to be placed on the thumb. Start the wrist bandage and wrap it close enough to minimize bending of the wrist, if the fighter strikes. Wrap the bandage on the backof the bones (metacarpals) between the knuckles and the wrist almost down to the first joint of the fingers. Make at least three loops over the thumb to fully protect the big joint of the thumb. The boxer should open and close his fist three or four times during the wrapping so that the bandages will be neither too tight nor too loose.

While giving you free boxing tips, let me emphasize the importance of taking proper care of the wrists, bones of the hands, and the thumbs. Most important bandage is just the back of his hand, rather than the ankles. Many people mistakenly think the second case, the adequate and sufficient protection.

In preparation for a regular game using surgical gauze bandages. Up to 10 meters is required, depending on the size of the boy's hands. For training, ankle wrap cut to five meters long, elastic bandages, or even carpet binding are satisfactory. A hole in one end of the slip over the thumb, and a division at the other end of wirepurposes will do the trick. The boys should straighten out their bandages after each session and hang them up in their lockers to dry.

The Correct Position of the Hand When Hitting

Proper hand-bandaging minimizes hand injuries, but the coach must still teach his boys how to hit properly to further avoid all possible injuries. Free boxing tips here can help. Once a boxer learns to hit properly, he is rarely troubled by hand injuries. When starting either a left jab or a right cross, point the four knuckles of both hands outward, and the thumb knuckle upward. When the left jab or right cross lands, the finger knuckles should be pointing upward, and the thumb knuckle inward. This is a very important point and cannot be stressed too strongly.

At the start of a left hook, the finger knuckles are point¬ing outward, and the thumb knuckle upward.. When the left hook lands, the knuckles are turned inward to the right, but the thumb knuckle must remain pointing upward. In other words, with both the left jab and right cross there is a sort of corkscrew twist from start to finish...This is not true with the hook. In the execution of a hook, the thumb knuckle starts and finishes pointing upward.

I always insist that boxers I am coaching keep their fists closed from bell to bell. No high school, college, or amateur boxer has enough experience to keep his gloves half open until the moment of contact. A boy trying this will, at some time or other, miss on his timing and a hand injury may result. He should at all times make an "even fist," meaning all knuckles should be even across (no knuckle protruding) when the first is closed.

When the fist lands, see to it that all four knuckles make contact at the same time, both for the sake of safety and for maximum striking power. Another rule, an important one for proper hitting, is: never bend the wrist when hitting. Many boys make this mistake, particularly when throwing a Hook. Make this a rule: keep the rigid arm of the knuckles of a clenched fist to the elbow. If your kids remember this rule, which improve power and not the sprained wrist.

Proper use of the hands will result in a much better boxer.

Writing for writing's sake - relax and have fun while writing

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The academic profession requires on a continuous basis, as we should seek to publish research on a regular basis. Writing for publication can be fun, but requires compliance with specific rules, discipline, correct language and vocational subjects to be covered.

The flow can be little room for the words to leave on paper, and writing is an exercise at a time instead of a company fun and relaxing. Some of us just want to shareexperiences, discuss their findings without requiring the background, structure and justification of academic pieces, and this could be useful to find a way to write a new outlet for fun writing. Ezines, blogging, his website, but also to write a piece of newspaper commenting on specific topics provide that outlet. But what is the benefit for the academic writer? (If you are concerned that this will affect your academic reputation you use a pseudonym)

Well, first,Writing can be a relaxing and therapeutic exercise almost. A writer does not need to write about their personal problems, but faced with a topic of interest away from the stress and the daily work tasks can be very relaxing.

Secondly, a good practice is to write. We still have a structure, the ideas that we present, and we still need the written word, to exercise ourselves, and smart drafting and presentation makes a point of commitmentView.

Finally, for some it is as much fun as it is to read a good book, watch a movie, meet friends or play sports. Seeing that you have produced something in your spare time can be very satisfying, and provide peace of mind we need to continue our academic research. So go ahead and have fun writing.

Practicing Guitar Scales And Guitar Chords - The Inherent Value - A Reminder For All

Image : http://www.flickr.com

When thinking in terms of practicing guitar scales and guitar chords, many guitarists tend to overlook the overwhelming value of such practice. After all, some might argue, practicing a guitar scale just for the sake of practicing a guitar scale, doesn't seem like a very exciting prospect. The same argument, for some, is also applied to learning and playing guitar chords. In other words, why learn a major 9 chord, when a major triad is easier to learn and play? We'll examine the answer in a moment.

Keep in mind that many guitarists are satisfied with their ability to play just a few songs here and there. There are many guitarists who enjoy performing in clubs for larger audiences. Others strive to become accomplished nationally and internationally. The practice habits for all are different, because the goals are different.

For the purpose of this article, I believe it's safe to say that those who enjoy playing a few songs here and there, will, most likely, bypass the rigorous schedule of scale and chord practice.

For the intermediates, advanced, or professional players, scale and chord practice is absolutely essential. In fact, daily practice sessions are in line with these levels of musicianship. Why? The development of strength, endurance, recognition of melodic and harmonic structure, and, of course, more facility on the guitar.

The leap from good to great on the guitar is actually a short distance. Shorter than one might think. It's really all about the level of desire and commitment one has, that will determine the actual distance. However, willingness without action equals fantasy. Good intent means nothing if one is not prepared to act.

None of us believe that, as guitarists, our fingers somehow magically end up on the correct note, the correct string, at the right time, merely by accident. In fact, a great melodic solo and chord work is generally reflective of many years of pure practice. It's almost a guarantee that behind every great guitarist, there are thousands and thousands of hours of scale and chord practice. It's important to remind ourselves of all the benefits as a result of this hard work.

For starters, practicing scales develops finger strength, wrist control, picking techniques, pivot techniques, thumb placement, fret logic, and a multitude of other essential elements needed in order to execute in a professional manner. By practicing scales as scales (not musical statements per se), we learn very good habits and general rules of performance. We also learn that rules are made to be broken. When we, as experienced guitarists, break a rule, we at least know that we are, in fact, breaking a rule. Further, we all know that it's permissible to break certain rules due to the impositions of certain styles of music, among other things.

For the experienced guitarist, I truly believe it's important to remember how we arrived at our proficiency level. This is important because, in reality, we should never stop learning and progressing.

As a progressive guitarist, I enjoy those over-the-top solos that generally send chills up the spine of the listener. However, I also enjoy the hours of personal practice that allows me to execute those solos. Performance is one thing and skill development is another. It's beneficial to enjoy both.

Imagine setting aside approximately eight straight hours of practice time and devoting a good share of that time to practicing one or two scales only. The thought of this routine might surprise some of the more experienced players. Once again, why practice scales when we can solo into infinity? The answer is forth coming.

I can almost guarantee that after a few hours of practicing a scale, the strict succession of the scale tones will disappear and will be replaced with new musical statements. Further, fresh new techniques will also emerge. For example, one might discover a new way to pick a string, cross a string, mute a string, embellish the scale tones, as well as many, many other discoveries. How's that for progression?

A hardcore practice session can easily turn into a fantastic creative session. This is great news for the original guitarist and songwriter. Need a new guitar lick or song? Practice, practice, practice.

Everything discussed thus far, pertaining to guitar scales, also applies to practicing guitar chords. In music, time waits for no man. Chord construction and execution takes practice. Especially, when dealing with extended chords and altered chords (let's not forget inversions). Not all of us will have the opportunity to encounter a major 11 Augmented 13th chord. However, what happens if we do? Answer; play it at the speed of right.

Whatever your level of musicianship, be sure to practice for the sake of practice. Great things will result from your hard work.

©2008 Michael E. Fletcher. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Your Voice Over - sacrificing quality for cost

Image : http://www.flickr.com

There are two types of voice-over clients, quality conscious and price conscious. Even if budget is important, sacrificing quality in favor of fixing the cheapest is always a bad idea. Take a voice artist because they are cheap and can be any kind of problem in the long run, it will probably cost more in the end than initially expected, and not just financially!

Remember: you have a funeral and you need a professional voice-over-Their services. Search online or ask your casting with the voice of many markets. Within hours, you get lots of voice samples of artists with varying degrees of experience, education and talent. The right voice for your project seems to be more expensive than some other offers that you receive, in order to choose the cheapest. This item has a special talent loud with little emotion does not sound very natural andtheir samples display poor editing skills, but they are the cheapest, so they will have to do...right? WRONG!

First, it will probably take considerably longer for an inexperienced voice artist to get your script right, having to do several re-takes, re-record sections that sound flat or are lacking emotion, you may even have to hire someone else to correct their mistakes or to re-record your script altogether. Think of the extra costs involved! Now you've gone over your budget by a considerable amount!

Second, what message are you sending to your potential customers by using this voice? Do you really think that using this voice artist to represent your product or service will bring more customers or enquiries? Chances are that it won't! Using the wrong voice-over can often cost you customers and it can also cost you your reputation!

The most suitable voice for your project may seem a little more expensive at first, having great samples, sounding natural, and of course, seem to have more experience. Even if that voice can rent an artist to take the budget to begin with, it's worth it!

Your reputation is at stake! Do not ruin the interests of your budget!

The Rules of Platonic Relationships

Image : http://www.flickr.com

While accepting a Golden Globe the other night Kate Winslet gushed, "Leo, I'm so happy I can stand here and tell you how much I love you and how much I've loved you for thirteen years." She was of course referencing Leonardo DiCaprio, her Titanic co-star, and apparently her constant love ever since. Her comment would have probably gone unnoticed and been dismissed as the dramatic ramblings of an actress had Ms. Winslet not been married to someone else. Indeed, her husband was in the audience. To be sure, she thanked her husband as well and expressed her love for him. However, her effusive expressions of love for Leonardo DiCaprio got me to thinking about the appropriate rules for platonic relationships.

I have a friend whom I love dearly. Like Kate and Leo, we have been friends for years. Initially, it was a romantic connection. We had the intense chemistry of teenagers. However, our relationship always lacked some of the elements necessary for a love affair. Contrary to what people may think, attraction, admiration, and affection are not always enough. However, they have fueled our friendship.

As a result, my friend and I have remained incredibly close over the years. Our relationship evolved into something strong, something special, something real. Indeed, it transcends what most people define as friendship.

I love him and respect him intensely--in a way that only comes from a long lasting friendship. Indeed it has outlasted every romantic relationship that we've both had. We have shared our hopes, our dreams, and our adventures. I love him as strongly as I have loved any lover.

However, for the truly curious, let me clarify our relationship. I hate the phrase, "just friends" because our friendship is not some sort of consolation prize. We both value it for its own sake. However, for the sake of clarity, we are simply and most sweetly, friends. The only "benefits" of this friendship are the love and support that we share.

The relationship enriches my life. It makes me a better person, but it does not complete me. I remain hopeful that I will find that kind of love too. However, I recognize that only a very secure man would understand if I gushed about my friend while receiving an award. He would have to trust me enough to understand that my friend and I share a different kind of love. And that would make all difference.

Deal With Your Snoring, For Your Sake And The One Beside You

Image : http://www.flickr.com

No matter how much vegetables and fruits you eat or how much you try to stay away from smoking, if you are in perpetual state of sleep depravity, there is a high probability that your health will suffer in the long run. Most of people, if not all, are aware that right amount of sleep is required by the body, especially the brain, for it to function at its peak.

One common sleep problem that plagues a lot of households in the US is snoring. According to recent figures from the American Academy of Otolaryngology, over 45% of adults in the country snore every so often and around 25% snore almost every time they sleep. The problem with snoring is that it does not only affect the sufferer's sleep, but also that of those who can hear the sound of the snores.

An anatomical narrowness of the nasal or throat passageway, which greatly limits airways, is one of the most common causes of snoring. Both men and women can be habitual snorers; however, snoring is more common in men. Experts also believe that people who are overweight are at risk of developing this annoying sleeping problem. Moreover, as you get older, your snoring problems get even louder and more annoying.

Ways To Treat Snoring Naturally

There are many ways in which you can treat your snoring problems. If your snoring leads to apnea, which is a condition where a person momentarily stops breathing during sleep due to narrow nasal or throat passageway, then you probably need to consider surgery or medical treatments.

If you are not comfortable with invasive snoring treatments, then you can always make minor changes to your habits and sleep positions to minimize your snoring.

Lose That Flab

As mentioned earlier, people who are overweight tend to snore. The fat around your neck hinders proper breathing, especially when you are asleep. If you want to get rid of your snoring problems, you ought to start losing weight. You can do this by maintaining a healthy diet coupled with regular exercise.

Sleep On Your Side

If you have restricted respiratory passageways, you will find it more difficult to breathe if you sleep on your back; hence, you tend to snore more loudly in this position. However, just by sleeping on your side, you will greatly reduce snoring incidence. You can put a pillow on your back to ensure that you sleep on your side the whole night.

Elevate Your Head

Have you noticed that when you have colds, it is easier to sleep when your head is higher than the rest of your body? The same is true for snorers. You need to elevate the head of your bed or use two or more pillows so that your head will be higher than the rest of your body; this will ensure the prevention of breathing difficulties caused by collapsed airways.

Do Not Eat Big Meals Right Before You Sleep

If you really need to eat before you hit the bed, then opt for light snacks. Eating gigantic meals at night can impair your breathing because your bulging stomach can push your diaphragm up. Anyway, if you are serious in eliminating your snoring problems, you should not eat big meals at night because it will not help in making you lose weight, which is crucial in your quest for a snore-free night.

Once you have learned that you are snoring and causing other people to lose some sleep because of your nightly serenades, then you have to do something to help your roommate or partner get the good night's rest they deserve. You can probably give them a good pair of earplugs plus some natural sleeping aids to help lull them to sleep while you are still on your quest to snore-free nights. One product that can help them get to sleep better is Sedamine. Visit http://www.Sedamine.com for more information.

The Best Digital SLR Camera Review

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Have you heard about the best new digital SLR camera to hit the streets? How about the worst? As the prices of digital SLR cameras have been plummeting like crazy, it's become more important then ever to be able to distinguish the best from the worst. Don't assume that a low price is indicative of a low quality SLR. It could just be the deal you've been looking for. Let's review a couple of worthy contenders in the ring of digital SLR cameras.

It's pretty hard to review digital SLR's without bringing up the Canon Rebel XTi digital SLR camera. The XTi, and it's predecessor the XT has been a solid value for anyone looking to make the move to SLR technology. A consistently strong seller with a solid base of existing users makes the Canon Rebel a worthy for best general purpose SLR camera ever.

With a current price under $600 including a lens kit, it will continue to be popular for some time. The latest model to share the Rebel crown, is the XSi, which is currently scheduled to be on the shelves mid 2008. It brings more megapixels, a better battery grip, a larger LCD, "live view", and a plethora of other new features to the Rebel lineup.

No digital SLR camera review would be complete, without the inclusion of the Nikon D40 digital SLR camera. An equally robust competitor with the Rebel lineup from Canon. For those making a purchase based purely on the Nikon brand name, there's no reason to look much further. The D40 is a great camera for those looking to make the leap from simple point and shoot cameras to the more sophisticated and versatile SLR world. The D40 still has numerous auto settings, so newbie users won't feel rushed up the learning curve of SLR with it's countless manual tweaking options.

5-on-5 Flag Football Playbook Philosophy - Keep it Simple

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Five-on-five flag football is a growing sport both in the United States and abroad. If you look at television ratings throughout the year, you will see that some of the most watched programs include Monday Night Football, the Superbowl, the college Bowl games, as well as just the normal football college and professional games played on Saturday and Sunday. There's a reason why many non-football fans complain on the weekends of football season: There's nothing on but football!

Flag football prepares interested youngsters for a future career in pads. Developing a 5-on-5 flag football playbook makes youngsters accustomed to learning some of the basic structure of what they will see in the future. The 5-on-5 flag football playbooks are simple to make, and should be kept simple for the sake of the youngster, or the average Joe who wants to engage in the support as a hobby - as a part of an office group or among friends - as they will unlikely have time to study more sophisticated playbooks.

The 5-on-5 playbook should consist of a majority of running plays, and a few simple pass plays. At least two trick plays should be included in the 5-on-5 playbook, as well, to develop the players' mentality of thinking outside the box.

Offensively, the 5-on-5 flag football playbook should show how the opponents defense will appear on an average basis. The 5-on-5 playbook should make runners aware of the holes in this defense, or basically, potential Weaknesses to be activated during a game. It should be easy enough where players can understand what a coach called and also sufficient to allow them to use their creativity and adjustments mid-game open. Every game should have the 5-on-5 flag football playbook a brief summary of why the game is designed so a player understands what he or she needs to get in the game.

Defensive, 5-on-5 flag football playbook should be a defensivesetup that maximizes the potential to top runs up the middle and around the outside of the front line, while leaving a player or two back to cover passes. Again, write down the philosophies of the defensive scheme, so each player understands his or her role. You don't want a safety always rushing up to the line, if their job is to stay back and wait for a pass or cover a breakthrough on a run.

Plays for a 5-on-5 football playback should be left to the discretion of the coach, but again, be made simple enough for the youngest of rookies to pick up on. After a while, the 5-on-5 flag football playbook can be modified off of the simple plays that are already established. Look at the 5-on-5 flag football playback as a lego building, which you can keep adding pieces on as time progresses.

Putting Together a Parts Catalog

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Spare parts are life savers for your customers and the life blood of your business. Here are a few tips for creating a great parts catalog.

Organizing Your Products

There are a lot of ways for you to do this depending on what industry your parts catalog is catering to. In some cases, you might want to use categories such as "big sellers" for items that move out the door on a consistent basis and that don't requite a lot of selling. For these, all you really want to do is to make them easy to find. If there are accessories that go along with these items, you may want to include them (and/or blurbs about them) on the same page to increase the sales of those items. If there are items that you want to feature or introduce, you can give them prominent sections and pages as you see fit. While you are putting together a catalog is also a great time to take a good hard look at what has been selling and what is not and will not for whatever reason and get rid of that dead wood. You can put those items in a special clearance section.

Layout and Art

For the most part, a word processing program is under-equipped for handling the job of layout for a high quality parts catalog, so you will have to use a program such as Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress. You will, of course, want to use as many photos as possible, so do what you can to get high-resolution versions, and leave plenty of space for them in your mockup.

Make sure that you have an order from that includes all the necessary information and that allows for multiple orders, sales tax and shipping calculations, etc. (you'd be surprised how often these things are overlooked).

As far as your cover, if you have a design department, great. If not, you will likely need to find a designer. Take a look around and find some covers that you like and see if your designer can emulate them.

As far as font styles, for consistency's sake, keep it to no more than three, and make sure it is easily readable above all else. Bullets are great, as is the occasional use of bold print.

Copywriting

You will more than likely want to go with a professional here as well. A good copywriter will dig deep into the jargon and vernacular of your target audience and speak to them on a level that they understand, and this can be invaluable especially for a specialized industry. Even if your catalog is not especially technical, your copywriter will know how to write copy that appeals to whatever audience you are aiming at.

Before the copy hits print, you will want to go over it with a fine tooth comb to make sure that there are absolutely no spelling or grammar errors.

Printing and Binding

You will likely want to print your catalog using a four color process, and depending on the volume and expense, send the PDFs to a printer. As far as binding, there are a number of different styles that might work. Plastic comb is common in the auto parts world, but spiral coil might make a good choice as well. If you produce parts catalogs on a regular basis, you will definitely save money even in the short run by having your own binding machine on hand.

Juvenile Diabetes is hereditary?

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The genetics of diabetes are complex, but before you dive into this, you should be aware that the terminology has changed. What will be the first of today, such as juvenile diabetes type 1. Diabetes called maturity is now a type 2, as indicated. The reason for not using the concepts Juvenile and adult diabetes, which occur both Juvenile and adult diabetes throughout the lifespan. So the old terms are misleading.

Type 1 and 2 are completelydifferent conditions, which shares a common clinical outcome of high blood sugar. In fact, type 2 and 1 are really families of disease, but we omit the simple love complication.

Yes, both types of diabetes may run in families and there is a genetic component for diseases that are inherited may or may not. On the other hand, are the majority of diabetics, regardless of type, not a first-degree relative with the disease. GeneticsPredisposition to diabetes is becoming quite easy. In both cases, can contribute to many places and the risk of genetic disease is achieved depends on the subset of sites, the management function of a particular person to own up to the wind. It seems that some genes that protect against disease. The overall picture of the origin of diabetes is that you have a genetic predisposition that is triggered by some environmentalFactor. This is a very general framework of the two types of initiatives become clearer.

The probability that an individual with a type-1-brothers develop type 2 diabetes is the same in the general population, because conditions are independent. Estimates of the risk of type 2 vary a bit 'for some reasons. Type 2 the incidence rises steeply with age and thus cut off all ages in the sample a dramatic effect on cumulative incidence. Prices vary greatly dependingdetails of people you are. Finally, there is a majority of type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, so that the calculated rate depends strongly on their estimate of the population diagnosed. In round numbers, the risk of, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in a life of 70 years 10%. The risk of type-2 is close to double.

Being Physically Fit - Loving Good Health, Loving Your Body

Image : http://www.flickr.com

What goes with being physically fit? You hear the words and you see a lean and trim body, robust and always on the go. Physically fit is basically to look good and having a well-functioning body. Everybody wants to have that- wouldn't you? But what makes a person gain physical fitness? First off, you have to know the distinction between being healthy and looking good. Everybody wants to look good - it can be beneficial in many ways. But many people compromise their health just for the sake of looking good. For instance, you look slim, which you think is good.

But think of the means you resorted to to be able to be thin. Was it by limiting the foods you eat, starving or purging yourself? These means can deliver quick weight loss results, but how do they make you feel? Do you feel energetic and mentally alert? Or perhaps you often feel sluggish and unable to focus your thoughts and concentrate. Do you have physical strength at all? Or do you feel light headed and breathless when exerting even the slightest effort? You look thin and slim, but how do you feel? Do you feel good and are you able to enjoy a good quality of life? There is more to looking good in enjoying a quality life.

More than how you look, you also have to take care of your mental and emotional health. Holistic health is health in its truest sense, not just looking good. The goal then is not to be merely thin and slim, but to be physically fit. To have a body which does not only look good but functions efficiently as well. How is it to gain a physically fit body? Eating healthy and regular physical activity remain to be the basic and effective measures. It is keeping the body fueled with the right sort and being well-tuned and conditioned. A healthy diet best sustains the body.

It is one which is sufficient in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, good fats and healthy beverages. Foods eaten are best when organic. There is a barrage of processed and junk foods, and as much as they are tasty, they can be toxic to the body in the long run. Aiming for health and fitness means limiting the consumption of these unhealthy foods. Rather than eating unhealthily or having unhealthy eating habits, the body is best nourished by eating right. Eating right means eating at the right time with the right food choices. It does not even entail depriving yourself.

Being physically fit means taking good care of yourself, not punishing it or allowing it to suffer needlessly. Just as you would want to discipline a child for it to be better, you do the same to yourself- you discipline with love. The key to have true health and fitness is to love yourself healthily. Every aspect of you- mind, body and spirit- you have to tend to. Only then will you know how it is to be happy and live life to the fullest.

Deal With Your Snoring, For Your Sake And The One Beside You

Image : http://www.flickr.com

No matter how much vegetables and fruits you eat or how much you try to stay away from smoking, if you are in perpetual state of sleep depravity, there is a high probability that your health will suffer in the long run. Most of people, if not all, are aware that right amount of sleep is required by the body, especially the brain, for it to function at its peak.

One common sleep problem that plagues a lot of households in the US is snoring. According to recent figures from the American Academy of Otolaryngology, over 45% of adults in the country snore every so often and around 25% snore almost every time they sleep. The problem with snoring is that it does not only affect the sufferer's sleep, but also that of those who can hear the sound of the snores.

An anatomical narrowness of the nasal or throat passageway, which greatly limits airways, is one of the most common causes of snoring. Both men and women can be habitual snorers; however, snoring is more common in men. Experts also believe that people who are overweight are at risk of developing this annoying sleeping problem. Moreover, as you get older, your snoring problems get even louder and more annoying.

Ways To Treat Snoring Naturally

There are many ways in which you can treat your snoring problems. If your snoring leads to apnea, which is a condition where a person momentarily stops breathing during sleep due to narrow nasal or throat passageway, then you probably need to consider surgery or medical treatments.

If you are not comfortable with invasive snoring treatments, then you can always make minor changes to your habits and sleep positions to minimize your snoring.

Lose That Flab

As mentioned earlier, people who are overweight tend to snore. The fat around your neck hinders proper breathing, especially when you are asleep. If you want to get rid of your snoring problems, you ought to start losing weight. You can do this by maintaining a healthy diet coupled with regular exercise.

Sleep On Your Side

If you have restricted respiratory passageways, you will find it more difficult to breathe if you sleep on your back; hence, you tend to snore more loudly in this position. However, just by sleeping on your side, you will greatly reduce snoring incidence. You can put a pillow on your back to ensure that you sleep on your side the whole night.

Elevate Your Head

Have you noticed that when you have colds, it is easier to sleep when your head is higher than the rest of your body? The same is true for snorers. You need to elevate the head of your bed or use two or more pillows so that your head will be higher than the rest of your body; this will ensure the prevention of breathing difficulties caused by collapsed airways.

Do Not Eat Big Meals Right Before You Sleep

If you really need to eat before you hit the bed, then opt for light snacks. Eating gigantic meals at night can impair your breathing because your bulging stomach can push your diaphragm up. Anyway, if you are serious in eliminating your snoring problems, you should not eat big meals at night because it will not help in making you lose weight, which is crucial in your quest for a snore-free night.

Once you have learned that you are snoring and causing other people to lose some sleep because of your nightly serenades, then you have to do something to help your roommate or partner get the good night's rest they deserve. You can probably give them a good pair of earplugs plus some natural sleeping aids to help lull them to sleep while you are still on your quest to snore-free nights. One product that can help them get to sleep better is Sedamine. Visit http://www.Sedamine.com for more information.

Choosing The Perfect Recurve Bow For You

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The recurve bow is the exclusive bow of the Olympics. The recurve name seems to come from the fact that the bow curves back out back again (or recurves). When the bow is strung, the string touches a section of the bow. The second curve goes against the natural curve of the bow and this gives the recurve bow greater energy. This extra energy due to the curve allows for a recurve bow to give more energy than a simple bow of the same length. This comes in handy for archers who can benefit from traveling with a bow that is not quite so difficult to carry through brush or some other conditions where length could be more of a problem.

The recurve bow can range in length from 48 inches to 70 inches. A typical target bow is around 66 inches long. For the sake of stability it is recommended that your recurve bow not be less than 58 inches. Choosing a bow length depends a lot on your draw length. If your draw length is less than 28 inches, you should choose a bow that is between 62 and 66 inches and if your draw length is more than 28 inches, get a bow that is between 66 inches and 70 inches.

Well that is great to know, you say. But how can I figure out my draw length? The easiest way is to measure the length of your arm span and divide that number by 2.5. Get a friend to help you. Spread out your arms, palms facing forward. Do not reach out by stretching but just hold out your arms and turn your palms so that they are facing forward. Have your friend measure from the tip of one middle finger to the tip of the other middle finger. Now divide by 2.5. The result is your draw length.

There are a couple of hints to help you know that you are right in your measurement. The length of your arm span is about the same as your height. If you are 5 foot 6 inches (or 66 inches) tall than your arm span will be about the same. If this is your arm span, then your draw length is 66 divided by 2.5 or 26.4. When you go to buy a recurve bow, you can double check on whether the size of the recurve bow is right for you. The people in the archery store would have a good idea if you have measured your arm span correctly.

Health Benefits Of Carrot Juice

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Carrot juice has a number of health benefits. The carrot provides what is certainly the most important basic juice. The yellow color is due to carotene. Another name for this form of carotene, the transform, is pro vitamin A. Many authors write that carrots contain a lot of vitamin A. This is not actually true; what the carrot does contain is the pro vitamin. That means a substance that is converted by the body into the vitamin itself.

Carrot juice plays the most important part in an infant's supply of vitamin A. When carrot juice is consumed jointly with milk, the utilization of carotene as vitamin A is considerably increased. A carrot and milk juice is the ideal vitamin A source for infants and can in no case lead 10 the risk of the child having too much A.

Carrots are widely used. Indeed it is estimated that in Germany carrots account for 10% of the total vegetable consumption. From the carrot juice point of view, the varieties to be employed are ideally those with the most carotene. It is fortunate that the pro vitamin is strongly colored for this means that so long as you use good colored carrots they are likely to be the best nutritionally speaking too.

As a general rule, early carrots are pale and low in carotene. Because carotene is not water soluble, but is fat soluble, there is not a very great deterioration in the vitamin content on storage.

Nursing mothers are well advised, for the sake of the quality of their milk, to take carrot juice throughout lactation. When the baby is on its way it is good sense not only to drink the juice but also to nibble a carrot when you feel hungry. For although a good sized one will provide your minimum requirement of vitamin A, 7oz (200g) of carrot contain only 50 calories, which cannot be considered to be a fattening snack.

The carrot is recorded as being used in medicine by the early Greeks and has been cherished ever since. Its juice is one of the most delicious and healthful, and alone or in combinations should be in every daily diet providing, as it does, the essential vitamin A, without the saturated fats with which this vitamin is associated in eggs and butter.

Using Character Sheets in Fiction Writing

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Writing fiction is a bit like baking a cake. You need the right ingredients in the right amounts, or it will turn out awful. For fiction, you need the right combination of plot, action, description and character development to bring your story to life for your reader.

Character development can be one of the most important things about writing fiction. You want to create a realistic group of characters to move your plot along and to do that you need to know them. But how much do you really have to know about them before you start writing?

Well, that depends on the kind of story you are writing. The length of your tale will dictate the amount of character information you will need to make them come to life. For simplicity's sake, I've broken my character sheet down into what I use for each type of writing. Your character sheets may vary.

Flash Fiction

Writing flash fiction is one of the hardest types of writing. You have to create a story with just the minimum of words and it has to make sense. For most flash fiction, you only need the most basic character information.

Name:

Age:

Height:

Weight:

Hair color and style:

Eye color:

Complexion and skin tone:

Character's body build:

These should be enough to create a flash fiction character.

Short Stories

Short stories have a higher word count, so the characters in those should be more developed. You have more leeway with your character's descriptions and can even give background information, which will make them more real for your readers. Use the above information and add the following:

Character back story:

Identifying marks:

Facial features:

Hand features:

Scent:

Mannerisms or gestures:

Novellas and Novels

Novellas and novels require the most detailed characters because they are as much character driven stories as plot driven. Character sheets with more detailed physical description, personality traits, and an extensive background will go a long way to making your story one that pulls a reader in and keeps them reader from beginning to end. Use all of the above plus the following:

Strongest personality traits:

Weakest personality traits:

Needs of the character:

Ambitions:

Father's name:

Age:

Physical appearance:

Mother's name:

Age:

Physical appearance:

Sibling's names and descriptions:

Favorite sayings:

Interests and hobbies:

Favorite foods:

Favorite colors:

Pets:

Education:

Religion:

Financial situation:

Future plans:

Possessions this character values most:

What drives your character:

How does your character handle conflict:

What is standing in your character's way:

What is their favorite room and why:

What vehicle do they drive:

Favorite sport(s):

What are your character's prejudices:

How does your character feel about love:

About crime:

What is their neighborhood like:

What is your character's philosophy on life:

What is your character's family life like:

You also should have a rough background and timeline for this character, from childhood through the start of the story. Break it down into 5 year spans, unless your character is fairly old, then go with 10 year spans. Finally, have a profile summary, taking everything you have for the character and write up a one or two paragraph summary. It is a good way to focus your character's information, and could be used in your story.

Book Series

When writing a series of books about the same characters, it is imperative to keep some kind of record of their traits. Do not rely on your memory when it comes to writing each book. As an avid reader of series books, it is amazing the number of times a character's eyes have been dark blue in one book and dark brown in another then gone back to blue. While most casual readers won't catch that kind of mistake, your dedicated readers will. It costs you nothing to keep a notebook with your character sheets and reference it when writing the next book in your series. It will go a long way to keep the continuity of your books intact.

A note on describing clothing. Unless clothing change is crucial to your story's plot limit your fashion descriptions. You do not need to tell every single piece of clothing your character is wearing. A basic idea of their attire is enough for most readers.

Your characters are as important to your story as your plot. Developing them will help bring your tale to life, but taking the time to plan them out prior to writing is a great way to make them real to you and your reader.

Basic Training, for Your Dog's Sake

Image : http://www.flickr.com

A happy dog is one with at least basic obedience skills. If your dog is doing what you want her to do then you are pleased and that means your dog is pleased. Teaching your dog basic obedience skills is rewarding but it can also be frustrating. Here are some basic training techniques to get you started.

Once you have her attention, the lessons can begin

If your dog is to learn anything the first thing you have to do is to get her to pay attention to you. Start by calling her name and then using a command word like "watch". Use the same word consistently. This way, she will associate the word to a command.

Next you need to keep her attention for a short period. Try some attention exercises. Hold a toy or dog treat near your mouth and then say the attention command word. Each time she takes the time to watch, praise her. The more you practice this exercise, the more time she will pay attention to you. Try getting her to watch for a minute or more. Let her know that she is doing a good job by rewarding her with a treat or exuberant praise.

Basic training for you

When training your dog you need to keep a few simple rules in mind:

- Do not hurt your dog, ever. This will cause her to become shy or aggressive. It will also mean that you are a bad person that does not deserve to have a loyal and trustworthy friend, canine or human.

- If the training doesn't go as quickly as you would like and you start to get frustrated don't let this negative emotion show. Dogs are very good at reading your body language. If you are upset your dog will be as well. It's better to postpone training then to train when you are feeling upset or frustrated.

- Dogs get distracted pretty easily. If possible choose a training area that is free of distractions like other pets, children or loud noises. If your dog becomes distracted during training sessions try changing the tone of your voice. Don't raise your voice, change the tone as in higher or lower pitch.

- Keep training sessions short, around 20 minutes or so, less for a very young dog. It's better to have several sessions each day then to have one or two over-long sessions. If you go too long your dog will be thinking about some other fun thing she really should be doing instead.

- Use hand signals along with command words. You'll find they come in very handy later and it's easy for your dog to learn command words and hand signals at the same time. There are no standard hand signals so use signals that are large and easy for your dog to see, that you are comfortable with and will remember.

- Be consistent. Being consistent is a key factor in all training. Use the same command words and hand signals every time. Make sure everyone who might give your dog commands, husband, kids, use the same command words and signals.

First, it's best to sit

The first and easiest command to start with is the command to sit. Start by gently pushing her backside down while gently pulling up on her collar and saying the word "sit." You'll be surprised at how fast she learns this. Once she sits with the command word, and you have a free hand, start using the hand signal as well.

The usual hand signal for "sit" is to point at the ground with your fingers extended downward. Every time you say the command word "sit", point at the ground simultaneously. Your dog will learn the voice command and the hand signal command at the same time.

If your dog is very young try the treat approach to the sit command. Hold a treat in your hand and then slowly move the treat over your puppy's head. The intention is to get the puppy to smell the treat and follow it with her nose. She has two options. She can either walk backwards or sit down. It's easier to sit down. When she sits say the command word, give her the hand signal, praise her to the moon and stars and give her the treat.

Jumping up and lying down

The "down." command is very important for your dog to learn. Dogs become excited sometimes and jumping up on you and other people is often the result.

When your dog jumps up tell her "down". Don't pet her or act glad to see her she while she is on you. Continue to tell her "down" until she does so. You may have to physically place her on the floor while repeating the word "down".

You can take this command a step further by gently pushing your dog onto her belly on the ground while repeating the command word. With repetition she will eventually learn to lie down on command.

The usual hand signal for this command is to hold your hand out flat and then repeatedly move it downward a few inches like you would if you were trying to shove one more thing into an over-full suitcase.

Teaching the "stay" command

Teaching your dog to stay on command can be a tough one and you will have to be very patient. It's an important command though and could save your dog's life if you encounter a dangerous situation. It's best if your dog is already good with the sit command before you start teaching this one.

Have your dog sit or lie down. Say the word "stay" and hold your hand palm out right in front of your dog's nose. Praise her lavishly. Do this many times.

Now, give your dog the stay command and move backward away from her a short distance, three or four feet. When she starts to get up, and she will, hold your hand out at arms length, palm out and say, "stay", emphatically. Have her sit again and repeat the whole process. Eventually she'll get the idea. She won't stay for long though so when she looks like she is about to stand up give her permission to do so by saying a release command. I use the word "okay" and a thumb up gesture for a hand signal.

Once she stays sitting when you are a few feet away you can start reinforcing the command with treats or toys. Put a treat in your pocket and have your dog sit and stay. Take the treat out of your pocket and put it on the ground in front of you. She will immediately start to get up. Hold out your hand, tell her to "stay", put the treat back in your pocket.

Keep doing this with patience and good humor until she stays even though the treat is on the ground in front of you. Then pick up the treat and carry it to your dog, don't let her come to the treat. Let her have her treat and praise her with lavish enthusiasm. Give her the release command and then go have some fun with her. Do this many times.

If you are patient and consistent with this one you'll be able to train your dog to stay put for a long time even though you are nowhere to be seen.

The "come" command

If everyone would teach their dogs to come on command it would save a lot of shouting, frustration and neighborly angst. The pity is that it's quite an enjoyable command to teach your dog because you get to move around a lot.

Start off simply. While attached to a leash about six feet in length have your dog sit and stay. Walk away the length of the leash being sure not to tug on your dog at all. Turn to face her, say "come", gesture with the come hand signal and gently reel her in with the leash until she is right in front of you. Slather on the praise. The usual "come" hand signal is to stretch your arm out straight in front of you and then move it back to your chest by bending your elbow.

She may be a little confused at first because she thinks she is supposed to stay but be enthusiastic and she'll get the idea that this is a new command. Once she comes to you have her sit and stay again, move away from her and do all again. Every time you have her in front of you lay on the praise.

You will have to repeat this procedure many times. Once you think she has the idea give her the come command and signal but don't pull on the leash. If she comes to you make sure she knows that she is the smartest and best looking dog in the world.

Once she will consistently come to you without any tugging on the leash take the leash off and practice some more, practice a lot more.

The real challenge with this command is to have your dog come to you even when she is a long way off and there are other things she would rather be doing. The solution is a very long leash.

Buy a hundred foot spool of thin lightweight nylon cord and practice the procedure in an open field. Start from about ten feet away and slowly increase the distance. Once she comes to you consistently from a distance you can set up distractions. Have a couple friends a toss a ball back and forth near your dog and then start the whole procedure again.

When you are confident that your dog understands the come command it's time to test her training off leash. There is a good chance she'll ignore your command. Put the leash back on, practice from a short distance, take the leash off and again practice from a short distance. Gradually increase the distance. Be patient and kind.

Never, ever reprimand your dog after she has come to you!

Your dog will associate a reprimand with the last thing you told her to do, not something she did before that. Say you see your dog ripping up your neighbor's flowerbed. You command her to come. She does so and then when she gets there you speak harshly to her for ripping up the flowerbed. She will not understand that you are upset because she was damaging your neighbor's flowers, she'll think your upset because she came to you as commanded and will be very confused. Reprimanding your dog after she has obeyed a command is a great way to make your dog neurotic and to destroy all the training she's had.

Giving your dog basic obedience training is just about the best thing you can do for her and for yourself. Your dog wants to please you. If she is well trained and knows the rules she will be able to please you all the time and that will make her very happy. Training your dog is fun and easy if you remember to liberally apply the three key training components, be kind, be patient, be consistent.

Best Wishes,

How Many Calories Per Day to Lose Weight?

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The confusion sown through the many contradictory claims made by some of the weight loss products advertised in the media these days is causing more and more dieters to take the approach of monitoring and controlling their calories per day to lose weight.

The human body gains weight as a direct result of the balance between calorie intake and calories burnt in the body being distorted and the focus when selecting a weight loss program should always be on correcting this anomaly. To this end, the approach of counting and controlling calories per day to lose weight is considered to be a healthy and sound one.

It is disappointing that so many people are only motivated by the weight they can lose by following a particular diet. Whilst it may be very important for some dieters to lose weight, greater consideration should always be given to what a diet does for your overall health. It is not a smart idea to compromise your health for the sake of losing weight.

Instead of focusing on the amount of weight lost, the focus is rather to be on how much energy is gained, how you feel and whether your diet appears to be healthy and balanced. Being overweight and following a diet meeting these criteria will certainly result in healthy weight loss.

Losing weight this way may not be as fast as you want, but it is certainly the right way and you will gain the full health benefit from every pound lost. Counting and controlling your calories per day to lose weight, i.e. calories in (through diet) as well as calories out (through exercise), offers a balanced system from which anyone will benefit.

The amount of calories to be taken per day to maintain a healthy lifestyle is influenced by a number of factors such as gender, weight, height, level of activity etc. and is not a number that can be pulled out of thin air. Considering these factors, it needs to be carefully calculated for every person individually.

5 Helpful Tips on Communicating With Your Ex For the Sake of Your Children

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Even though the act and the finality of divorce may be traumatic, it is no secret that once you have children, you are pretty much stuck with your ex forever. Now, I don't mean "stuck with" in the traditional marital sense, but you WILL have to be able to communicate with her enough to get along in front of the children at all costs. No matter how hurt, bitter, or angry you feel.

I know it sounds trite, but in this case, you need to do your very best to move past everything that has happened - for the sake of your children. Communicating effectively is imperative, so that both you and your ex-wife/girlfriend can play an active role in your children's lives. Children who have both parents in their lives have a much better chance of success than children with only one active parent. Conversely, if a child sees their parents fighting all the time, it can have some very negative, life-long effects on their emotional health.

1. Keep up with school - One area in particular that often gets overlooked while in the throes of divorce is school. BOTH parents need to be taking the opportunity to attend school functions and speak with teachers regularly about the cognitive and emotional progress of the children. Other than being with you, this is the place where your children spend the most time.

2. Fake friendship, if you have to - It is imperative that you and your ex at least maintain the appearance of getting along, while in the company of your children. Whatever issues you two have, they are not the children's. But if they grow up listening to one parent talk trash about the other it can cause insecurity and resentment towards one or both parents. They may feel the need to choose one parent over the other, which is never fair.

3. They are not little messengers - NEVER use your children to send written or verbal messages back and forth between you and your ex. This happens in far too many cases and is also extremely unfair. It turns the child into a "mini-adult" and places too much burden and responsibility on an already stressed out child. Instead, you should learn to be able to talk with your ex about issues that arise concerning the children.

4. Use the phone - If you cannot talk rationally face to face, consider doing it over the phone. Only speak about situations or issues that have to do with the kids. Be objective (take a step back and look at the situation from all sides) and compromise. Don't try to always get your way, keep the children's needs in mind.

5. Maybe a letter? - Communicating via written notes is easier for some newly estranged parents than speaking face-to-face. Writing letters or notes gives you a chance to think about what you want to say before you say it and take an emotional step back. This is great, but only if you do not use the children as messengers.

Poor communication is one of the main reasons that many couples file for divorce in the first place. Needless to say, it will not always be easy to communicate after you sign the papers. Sometimes it will be downright treacherous. But, the mental and emotional well-being of your children is too important to fail at this, so take the time to figure out what works best for you and your ex.

Seeing their parents be respectful to each other teaches children to be respectful themselves. It also teaches them conflict resolution and gives them a sense of security. No parent would deny their children those things on purpose. Stay vigilant and communicative to help EVERYONE in the family.

Amish Electric Fireplace Review - Magic Heat Or Marketing Magic?

Image : http://www.flickr.com

I love this Country. We don't manufacture as many products as we used to, but we'll always be the masters of the marketing universe. No other country can take something as mundane as a 1,500 watt space heater and repackage it as the Second Coming. A perfect example of this marketing ingenuity is the Amish Heat Surge Electric Fireplace.

It Rolls! It Glows! The Heat Surge miracle heater is a work of genius from the China coast! Real Amish Craftsmanship goes into each mantle! And, to quote the Heat Surge website, "It's not just a fireplace; it's a fine piece of furniture."

But you have to ask yourself: Do I want to spend $587 for a mini electric fireplace on wheels that produces no more heat than any other 1,500 watt space heater costing $500 dollars less?

Just to be fair, this is a valid question for all electric fireplaces, not just the Heat Surge. Believe it or not, you could easily spend more than $2,000 for a combination electric fireplace/entertainment center heated with the same 1,500 watt unit.

No matter how much you pay for an electric fireplace, the cost attributable to the electric heating insert is about $250 (retail). So every dollar you spend over $250 is for the mantel piece. In the case of the Amish Cherry Fireplace, $250 subtracted from the $587 retail price leaves $337 for the cost of the mantel.

Since the Amish heater is a mini electric fireplace, it's difficult to find a similar sized electric fireplace for the sake of comparison. The best I could come up with is the ProCom 24" cherry finish electric fireplace.

Although this fireplace is the smallest ProCom makes, and uses a similar 24" wide heating insert, it's overall dimensions are still 2 1/2 times larger than the Heat Surge.

The last time I checked, the ProCom 24" cherry finish fireplace was available online for $400. After subtracting $250 for the heating insert, the mantel piece for the ProCom costs $150.

So why would you be willing to pay more than twice as much for an Amish mantel less than half the size of a comparable fireplace costing 30% less?

It's the magic of marketing Baby!

If you buy an Amish electric fireplace, it won't be for the boring 1,500 watts of heat offered by every other space heater out there. What's going to get you excited enough to whip out your credit card is an unexplainable attraction to the Amish, the promise of superior Amish craftsmanship and pride of ownership.

I can't explain an unexplainable attraction, but I'll accept the claim of superior Amish craftsmanship. However, "craftsmanship" comes at a price. Over a three year period, the premium you pay for an Amish mantel piece will add an additional $5 a month, or $180 to your actual heating costs when compared to the purchase price of a Pro Com 24" fireplace.

This leads me to the second problem I have with the marketing of this product.

If you go to the Heat Surge website you won't find one picture of the Amish fireplace with the wheels attached. The reason for this, in my opinion, is the wheels make it look "dinky" compared to the "substantial" look it has when pictured without the wheels.

So how much pride can you take in a product the manufacturer is embarrassed to show in its entirety?

This is a shame. The wheels are actually a selling point because they provide the means for zone heating - simply wheel the fireplace from room to room as needed. Zone heating, or heating only the room you occupy, allows you to dial back your home's master thermostat for substantial fuel savings.

On the other hand, attempting to "zone heat" your home for multiple occupants spread out in multiple rooms with just one Amish fireplace is impossible.

I have a few other issues with their marketing claims that I could delve into, such as "It uses about as much energy to run as a coffee maker" and regional energy costs, but they have little bearing on cost effectiveness when you pay $587 for a 1,500 watt space heater.

Too Many Smart Fakes For The ID's Sake

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Much to the alarm of state officials, and the police, fakes are doing the rounds in every corner of the world. With huge technological advancement, today's brains are smarter and more tech-savvy. This explains why they can make excellent fake ID's with an ease as they'd probably write a letter to Santa Claus. Today's fakes are much improved than the earlier crude and obvious ones, thanks to scanners, printers and laminators. The anti-fake authorities are on their toes to stop this threatening business.

Creating and carrying fakes is mostly noticed in today's youngsters, who use it primarily to get a drink at a pub or get a driver's license. Though an intent look would know that the IDs are unreal, apparently these are good enough to befool the nightclub security, bartenders and cops. Teenagers who are under the legal age of drinking and would yet like to booze at clubs and pubs with buddies, often go for these real-looking IDs. And today's smart kids don't find it hard at all to produce a fake.

State officials keep revising their security features and training measures to keep up with the high-end authentic-looking fake IDs and driver's licenses produced profusely. But creating fakes are just too easy--all you need is a template (easily found on the Internet), a photo scan, a color printer and a laminator. If you don't want to do it yourself, there are even web-businesses who offer to create fakes for a fee ranging $10 to $150.

The order of creating fakes has increased so much in recent years that a recent study has revealed about 50% of underage high-school and college have fake IDs. Conducting a raid at bars, nightclubs and highways, police confiscated over 9,500 counterfeit IDs and fake driver's license. In an attempt to find out how easy it is to get duplicate licenses, a group of officials found that it is extremely convenient to get as many drivers' licenses as you want from various state motor vehicles without much interrogation. Most interestingly, those officials also got three licenses in just two days using a single fake name and identity.

With driving licenses coming in handy so easily, no wonder then that even the International driving licenses are also duplicated. An International driving permit is a very useful document allowing any driver to drive around the world without much difficulty. It helps in renting or hiring cars abroad, travel easily to any international location and includes translations of the native language for ease of understanding. But this must be carried along with the original driving license always. A license as useful as this is, therefore, easily replicated by offenders.

Fakes are a growing concern of modernity as it invites troubles and poses great terrorist threats.

Why Women Gain Weight After Marriage?

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The journey from a proud Miss Perfect 10 clad in her wedding dress to a careless Mrs. Fat Aunt is not really long. It takes only twelve months for the whole makeover. It is a proven fact that women gain weight after marriage, and the process is so fast that it becomes obvious to people around you. But trust me! you are not as bothered as you were before marriage. In fact you are really contented with the idea that you don't have to leave your bed early in the morning for an exercise or sacrifice your favourite dessert to cut down calorie intake. Although your size has increased from 10 to 14 then 18, after marriage you just want yourself let go. Nevertheless, you do not really like the idea that someone would call you Mrs. Fat Aunt, do you?

Common! Marriage does not mean that you do not have to look attractive anymore. In fact, to keep the electric attraction ongoing and keep your hubby glued to you, your looks matter a lot. Now, do I have to give reasons for the statement?

Miss Perfect 10 to Mrs. Fat Aunt

So let us find out the factors that change your waist line from 10 to 18 within 6 to 12 months from marriage.

o You think you have found a partner for life, no need to attract him anymore.

o You need to let your hubby know that you are a good cook.

o You cook for the family, giving preference to their choice.

o You eat as much as your partner, talking and munching!

o You eat the left-over, trying not to waste food.

o Your partner encourages you to eat more showing that your extra fat is not going to turn him off.

o You want to be loved unconditionally, not happy with the marriage, feeling disrespected, rejected and unloved.

o Pregnancy occurs

Think about it...

The secured feeling you get out of marriage is playing devil....the reason why you are putting on weight. As you do not have to attract a partner any longer, you stop taking care of yourself. When the marriage ends (God forbid!) and you are out of your dream castle, you see the mirror and scream, "Oh-my-God!! What I have done to myself!! Look at me...I don't know the woman in the mirror". So, you decide to shed your extra pounds, its time for another partner hunt! But why should your broken marriage be the only enthusiasm for being in shape? Be practical and don't spoil what can be your life long asset, your desire for a good figure will give you a good healthy life style as well.

Cook food to make your husband happy, that's really good! But you should not repeat richest meals and the creamiest desserts every day if you do not want to see your waist line increasing. And please let me tell you...you need to eat according to your body requirement. Not as much as your husband is eating, he has a bigger body than yours, so he needs more than you. You, as woman tend to please others and your motherly instinct resulting in putting the needs of others before your own. Do not do it. You can set an example for them, giving a good diet and healthy life style. They will understand and be supportive. Again, you do not like uneaten food left on plates because you were taught to finish your meals. So do not serve food when not needed or you know it can go waste.

The next reason for your increasing waistline may be your hubby is encouraging you to eat more, so that you do not look attractive any more and so he will compete less. Do not give into his insecurity, take him along with your weight loss program, and let him understand that you also want to see him in shape and in good health.

Another reason is unhappy married life, studies show that couples who are happy, stay in shape than those who are not. The reason behind this, you tend to put your concentration more on food and find solace in eating and cooking whatever you feel like, to suppress your depression and frustration. Hey, for heaven's sake, change the idea of eating more!! This will cause you more depression in the long term.

And finally when pregnancy is knocking the door, you overeat during pregnancy and become too inactive, believing that you need to eat a lot more than you actually do and also you slow down and relax more than should. And the sudden hankering for special foods during this time only multiples the problem. Once you deliver the child, you stay at home putting the needs of your child and family before your own. Keep a close look on your weight gain during this period of time. If you gain more fat, you can have complexities during your child birth. Do light exercises as recommended by the doctor and eat healthy but do not overeat.

Stay fit for a successful married life ahead...

Life changes after marriage, you are more loved, more cared and more secured than ever. The first 12 months are the formative months for your marriage. Do not let it go. Staying fit will give you confidence to lay the foundation of your marriage, and at the same time you will remain attractive to your husband. If you put on weight, you only store trouble for the future.

His Love Endures Forever

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The things God do for us is great and merciful. He awakes us everyday, feed us when we are hungry, clothe us, and even when we forget our righteous path, God still blesses our mess. A good example of this is in the third book of Psalm. Look at Psalm 106, and see for yourself that God has been blessing our messes for a long time.

Psalm 106 it says Praise the Lord, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise? Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise. We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave not thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindness, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.

Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up, he led them through the depths as through a desert. He saved them from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them. The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived. Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.

But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them. In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord. The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram. Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked. At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass.

They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. So he said he would destroy them-had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them. Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord.

So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the desert, make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods; they provoked the Lord to anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them. But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked. This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.

By the waters of Meribah they angered the Lord, and trouble came to Moses because of them; for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses lips. They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord had commanded them, but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.

Therefore the Lord was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power. Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.

But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive. Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, Amen! Praise the Lord.

In closing I would like to say that his loves endures forever, from the ancient times until today and forever his love endure. What a Blessing to be bless even in our mess. So lets all keep to the path of righteous, His grace and mercy will rain on us all!!

Always Remember To Read Your Bible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love Always,
Your Sister in Christ
Mella Davis

Foods That Increase Metabolism

Image : http://www.flickr.com

In the never ending battle to loose weight people have tried all sorts of calorie cutting diets, energy boosting pills and the latest "Fat Buster" exercise machine seen on late night TV. During this quest to burn off the fat they come to realize that maybe what they are doing is not working as well as advertised. The reality is that if we give our bodies the nutrition that they need by eating healthy nutrient dense foods we've already won half the battle.

What happens when we eat healthy nutritious food? Our bodies respond by increasing our metabolism, which in turn burns away extra fat. Now while this is rather simplified and loosing weight can require a little more effort as far as exercising and eating right in a nut-shell this is the first best step to loosing excess weight.

One of the first things we must understand is how our body uses and stores energy. Our bodies get their energy from the foods we eat but that energy comes in many different forms. We can get it from protein, carbohydrates and fat and there are different forms of these as well. It's how our bodies use these various forms of energy that affect our metabolism.

In the case of fat our bodies have very little trouble converting them directly into fat stores for future use. Because fats tend to get sent directly to fat storage the body uses very little energy, or calories, accomplishing this. This is also true of simple carbohydrates, usually in the form of refined sugars, found throughout most of our diets. The body not only uses very little energy converting these refined sugars into fat the huge amounts of sugar the average person eats causes the body to release larger amounts of insulin to deal with this sugar overload. These higher insulin levels stimulate our appetites to eat more and increase the rate at which we store excess calories as fat tissue.

Foods that increase metabolism include those foods that are high in complex carbohydrates and proteins. Why? Because complex carbohydrates and proteins require more energy for the body to break down and use. This results in extra calories being burned just for the sake of digestion and cellular metabolism.

Foods that are high in complex carbohydrates also help to increase our metabolism in another way. Because complex carbohydrates take longer to break down by the bodies digestive system the release of the caloric energy is spread out over a longer period of time. This results in less insulin being released into the blood stream and a more balanced energy flow during our waking hours resulting in less snacking on sugary sweets. Sugars and fats on the other hand tend to cause energy spikes followed by a low period during which we are tempted to eat more of these fat producing foods to re-energize ourselves.

Most of the complex carbohydrates we eat come from fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables can help increase our metabolism in one other way. They are high in fiber and our bodies' burn more calories digesting fiber then just about anything else. In fact it is theorized that many fruits and vegetables fall into the "negative calorie" categories of foods. A negative calorie food is one that actually takes more calories to digest then it actually contains. The resulting increase in metabolism from eating negative calorie foods can help burn away excess body fat stores and result in a gradual weight loss. When combined with a moderate exercise program the weight loss and metabolism increase can be even greater.

As you can see the foods that increase metabolism are healthy, nutrient dense foods. Steering clear of processed foods and refined sugars is key to not only increasing metabolism but also living a healthy fat free life.

Clear Signs to Tell You That the Marriage is Over

Image : http://www.flickr.com

All of the things that you hoped for during the few years of your marriage are gone. However, you are still hoping that the sparks will eventually come back again for the sake of your children. If you want to be sure before you hit the divorce arena, here are some signs on how to tell if your marriage is over.

If you feel uncomfortable about sharing your thoughts with your partner, it is a clear sign that everything is getting quite shaky for you. It is only natural for you to share your deepest concerns to your spouse. You have promised to be faithful to each other and get through life's perils together, and not feeling so is one of the signs on how to tell if your marriage is over.

Another sign is when you feel that you are working hard to get the love and attention of your partner. Naturally, you would want to receive some love from the person that you are going to spend your life with. But if this does not work, and you think that your spouse has other interests besides being in a marriage, then let it be.

Although these things about how to tell if your marriage is over are stated here, nothing compares to letting your husband or wife know about your concerns if these problems arise. It is very important to have an open communication with your spouse. Who knows, you may just give your marriage a second try.

5 Years old and PREGNANT

Image : http://www.flickr.com

This government's new controversial plan to educate and tell our babies all about the birds and the bees. And comments from Deidre Sanders has impelled me to write this article.

As young as five years of age, kiddies are to be primed for lessons on sex related issues in hope to help lower the number in teen pregnancies.

For gods sake we are talking about babies here who struggle to count to 10 as it is, without number 10 sticking its oar in. At least let the children hit puberty where their understanding is a slight clearer before this action is made law.
Research has proven that early education on matters as such, has helped teenagers to hold back on their urge to sample a taste of two becoming one.

The plan is expected to omit facts on genital warts etc and just provide details on the context of real life relationships not delving into the nitty gritty human plumbing as it was put, so the good news is, our babies escape listening to all the gory details that can result from unprotected sex.

If and when it comes into force and your child starts to show bodily interest in the opposite sex, then surely he/she has the right to know all the gruesome facts. Awareness should be top priority on the list of importance for fear of our children becoming involved with infected partners. The sad thing is not many carriers know that they have an STD and therefore are unaware to the hazardous health risks that they may generate through sexual contact.

The horrors of unsafe sex STDs genital warts an all is most certainly a deterrent giving kids second thoughts before going back for a seconds. Highlighting the pain and heartache from unsafe sex on a more serious note may help prevention; it is not to be ignored.

Tell me what 5 year old is going to give up their Barbie doll/remote control car for a bit of the other. What next a condom in their lunch box.

No doubt views will differ on this matter, some parents will welcome this decision then there will be the strongly opposed majority.

It seems from the snippet read; apparently parents can not rely on telling their children that underage sex is unacceptable.
Teaching infancy minded innocent children on what their bits are for may cause problems. Give a kid a bike he/she will ride it, give a piece of chocolate they will eat it, give them the ingredients like a penis/vagina/male/female then you have the perfect recipe for an early pregnancy, who knows even at the early age of 5 years old.

Our government already have our children walking round like little Joe Nineties (Boffins) I am totally aware of the importance of education for our families but teaching our kids on how to play mummies/daddies before they can even pronounce the very words, is beyond me.

As a protective parent I would like to think that I still have the right as a mother to teach my kids right from wrong. And what I see right for my child is what nature intended, to grow up and have a have a childhood. Parents will always rely on the advice they give to their children, whether they listen is a different matter.

Hearsay has it to say goodbye to the good old rubber dummy and make way for the new pacifier a rubber sheath.

Jobs For Felons - Instant Work For All Convicted Felons

Image : http://www.flickr.com

If you are a convicted felon looking for a job then what you are about to read is going to make your day, week, month or even your year. Trying to find half decent paying jobs for felons can sometimes be next to impossible. Well read on to find out how you can be employed and earning in as little as ten minutes from now, no joke. This new job will, hire you instantly regardless of where you live and your past convictions, they will pay you a minimum of twenty dollars per hour (actually closer to $120 per hour), and will allow you to work from home without having to travel to and from a job. This honestly could not be easier.

JOBS FOR FELONS - START HERE

What I am talking about is doing online form completion surveys. This is where a large market research company pays you a minimum of $20 per hour (closer to $120) to complete simple online surveys on all sorts of different topics. You do not need any experience at all and you can even take your first survey and start getting well paid in as little as ten minutes from now. Who said there are no good jobs for felons! All you need is a computer and an internet connection to start making real money today, surly that sounds better than taking some dead end job just for the sake of getting employment.

JOBS FOR FELONS - THE RIGHT COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

Making the choice on which companies to do these surveys for is the crucial part as payment for a thirty minute survey from company to company can range anywhere from $1 to $60 and I am shore I know which one you would rather be doing. After 7 years of doing these surveys as a full time job I have tried them all and there are only 4 that pay the big money and on time.