Archive for December, 2007

Online University: Options For Everyone

Monday, December 31st, 2007

By Leon Chaddock The online university is one of the best ways for many individuals to get the education that they want and need when they may not have the time to get into a college setting. Whatever reason that you may have for not making it into the university is one thing. But, now that there are so many options in getting into an online university you have little excuse to get your degree. If you are thinking that there are no real benefits to doing this, you are sadly mistaken. Here are some reasons that you should consider an online university for your education: First of all, convenience is at the top of the list. Courses in the online university are designed to allow you the ability to go to school when you have the time. Think this is too hard to manage? Choose the courses that you need, take them when you have time, and stay at home while you are doing it. In fact, you can even learn while you keep up with life. If you have to work, if you have to take care of a family, or perhaps you just do not like that atmosphere of day to day college living, the online university is perfect for you. In fact, it is great for those looking for a promotion if only they had some additional education in the field. Often times the online university will be far less expensive then a standard form simply because you do not have to pay for the vast amounts of time you spend on campus. No room and board here. The online university is best suited for the individual who can work well on their own. It is offered to many people and it offers many various types of programs from elementary education through the masters degree and beyond. The online university is set up so that you succeed! for more information please see http://www.online-university-advice.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leon_Chaddock http://EzineArticles.com/?Online-University:–Options-For-Everyone&id=84859 phentermine on line no prescription pharmacy selling phentermine buy phentermine tablets phenteramine diet pills

Hoodia - Weight Loss Fact or Weight Loss Fiction?

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

By Charles Lewis Hoodia. We have all heard of it. Hoodia comes from a cactus-like plant, the most common variety being the Hoodia gordonii, that grows deep inside the African Kalahari desert. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari, one of the world’s oldest and most primitive tribes, have been eating the Hoodia for thousands of years, to stave off hunger during long hunting trips. That’s the key to Hoodia’s popularity in the west. The San Bushmen have been around for thousands of years, so the Hoodia movement has that unmistakable whiff of plausibility. The reasoning goes that they must know about these plants, so it must be true. The truth is that, yes, it is true. If you go to Africa and cut up a Hoodia plant and eat it, your appetite will be suppressed for up to twenty-four hours. Unfortunately most of us don’t live in the African Kalahari desert, so we can’t hack up a hoodia plant and eat it. The only way we can get hoodia is in refined form, packaged in capsules and sold on the Internet, or in health food stores. And that’s the problem. To date, there is no scientific evidence proving that refined hoodia, in pill form, will suppress your appetite. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the United States, and Health Canada in Canada, have not given the seal of approval to any hoodia based products, other than to require manufacturers to label all pills with their contents. So what’s the conclusion about hoodia? Some people swear by it, saying that it has helped them curb hunger and lose weight. It appears that the people who were successful with hoodia were also able stick to a diet and an exercise plan, so it’s unclear whether it was the hoodia that helped them lose weight, or the diet and exercise that was the biggest contributing factor. It is also clear that there is no scientific evidence, yet, proving that hoodia extracts can suppress hunger, so until more research is completed, it’s buy beware for hoodia products. As a weight loss success story, Charles Lewis writes about how to lose weight permanently without fads or gimmicks. Visit http://www.weight-loss-lose-weight.com for information about hoodia and weight loss secrets Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Lewis http://EzineArticles.com/?Hoodia—Weight-Loss-Fact-or-Weight-Loss-Fiction?&id=295095 can i buy phentermine without a prescription buy phentermine online with mastercard phentermine from union pharmacy phenteramine diet pills

Maturity in Relationships

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

By Emelisa Mudle I remember once reading about being egoic in relationships and it certainly has made a great deal of difference in my life. I sat sobbing realising how I have continued a pattern of defence and protection through communicating on some level with my partners. In this I started to question: ~ How I am ~ How I react ~ How I choose to be In this reality check I started to become more conscious of my defences and interactions. I noticed how I would butt in mid conversation because I felt as though I was being misconstrued. I was so ready to pounce on some level I never gave the other person a chance to say all they needed to say. Now I am able to feel the energy of defence I sit in the feeling knowing when to step back and listen doing it this way feels so much more vulnerable and gentle. Even through my most hormonal challenging time I am able to sit balanced without deeply feeding into where it takes me. I believe we choose how we react so there fore my intent is love it feels softer, vulnerable making conversation simple loving and supportive.Healthy loving relationships take time, patience compassion and a large dose of commitment. It is important to sit and listen when another soul mirrors something about me that is hard for them but feeling strong and vulnerable enough to see if it is something I need to change or something that they need me to change in so they feel safe. Having a healthy conversation when things are confronting and being respectful of my heart knowing I have choices in my actions. Stepping back and not always having to say things straight away which than allows me time to feel and gain a better understanding of what I am really feeling. Knowing in me that the hurt child I carried for so long no longer rules my life and that I am able to reach out and create my own safety be less needy, be a better listener even when being accused of something being stronger in her heart boundaries and self worth. No longer feeding into the flight or fight games. I also dont believe you have to hurt the ones you love that in itself is a choice to I am not saying we wont hurt there is a difference between being honest and lashing towards another soul. Relationships will bring up your mum and dad issues how they reacted to you and how they communicated between themselves. As we grow we build up our own ideas rules and defences and become so rigid and lost in them that when something comes up in a partnerships we tend to think and blame the person in front of us when it is actually stemming back most times from our own childhood. This is a working progress I still feel hurt and get a little panicky at times hitting those powerless places when abandonment and low self worth run rampant. Its an amazing place to say I feel scared or I feel hurt I used to believe that being vulnerable was weak and tears where for cry babies. How mislead was I. Changing a perspective on healthy relating is the best gift we can give others and ourselves. I remember many years ago writing a list of what I wanted in my perfect partnership then being asked to turn the list around seeing if those are the qualities I have as well. At that moment I realised I had a lot of work to do. Being in a healthy relationship is such a beautiful joyful experience to actually love some one enough that your intent is always from an unconditional place. One other lesson I had learned is to not settle in a relationship, hanging on with hope that the person you are with is going to change that maybe by some great miracle theyll come around to the way we see things. It is important to be on the same page in areas of communicating, spirituality, libido, children and other areas, which you greatly value. If your partner values work way more than a relationship and you dont there will be a problem in priorities as you are both seeking energy in different places that can then cause separation and distance. We all deserve a beautiful loving relationship lets not rush into every attraction sometimes in our neediness for love we can confuse attraction with connection. Healing with Art Emelisa is an Australian artist and International creative workshop fascilitator her website offers information on creative healing as well as a variety of art galleries. Emelisa believes creativity and love walk hand in hand, her passion is to assist others to open up in a safe enviroment and to be able to get in touch with there feelings and thoughts and dreams.http://home.iprimus.com.au/emelisa Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emelisa_Mudle http://EzineArticles.com/?Maturity-in-Relationships&id=212419 buy phentermine without a perscription buy phentermine with cod phentermine no prescription phentermine no prior prescription

Over The Counter Drugs: How To Safely Choose The Right Medication

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ian_Mason] Ian Mason What Medication Can Cure Me? 1. Am I expecting a cure? Some medications relieve symptoms that is, they stop the itching, pain, redness, etc but do not actually get to the source of the illness. Some illnesses, like the common cold, cant be treated/cured, so looking for an OTC drug may be a waste of time; getting rest and drinking fluids may be a better way to spend your afternoon! Other things, like yeast infections, can be treated by over the counter medications; if the infection is making you uncomfortable as well as needing treatment, make sure that you pick a product that gives you both symptomatic relief and treatment. Is It Safe For Your Child? 2. Is it for your child? If so make sure that youre getting a drug that can be given to children. Some drugs that help adults can be dangerous for children; others need to be given at a special dosage. Read the fine print on the box before buying for your child. What About Interactions With Other Drugs? 3. What else am I taking? If youre on any other medications, whether over-the-counter or prescription, stop by the pharmacists desk before heading to the check-out counter. She can check to make sure that the drugs you are taking dont change the effect of the drugs you are taking. Wait… Shouldn’t My Illness Be Over Already? 4. Should my illness have ended by now? If you think you have something that has a natural lifecycle - that is, something like a cold that should end on its own - but you dont feel better after that time is up, you may have misdiagnosed your illness. If youre having to take pain-reliever nonstop to keep functioning, your body is trying to tell you something and you should listen. What feels like a cold might be bronchitis; that achy foot may require orthotics, not aspirin. Long Term Medication Use 5. Is it a chronic problem? If youre having to take over-the-counter medications over a long period of time to prevent symptoms, it is time for your health care practitioner to find out what the underlying cause is. Even something as simple as scaly skin may be a warning sign that youre developing diabetes. And some relatively harmless medications can have serious long-term consequences; for example, some over the counter pain medications can cause stomach bleeding if you take them for a long time. If youre taking an OTC medication constantly to reduce long-term discomfort, talk to your health care provider to make sure that a) youre not missing something important and b) that if its a chronic problem, youre taking medication that your body can handle chronically. Compare Ingredients 6. Whats the active ingredient? If the same active ingredient is found in both the name brand and the generic, chances are they will have the same effect. Pregnant Or Breast Feeding? 7. If youre pregnant or nursing, check with your physician before taking ANY medication, including OTC drugs and alternative products (such as herbal remedies). Some drugs can cross the placenta or through the milk glands, giving your fetus or baby a whopping dose of medication. While the medication might be fine for you, it may not be fine for your baby. Watch Out For Alcohol 8. Does the medication contain alcohol? If it does, its probably going to make you sleepy, it will probably make you feel dehydrated, and adding more alcohol on top of it can be dangerous. Double-Doses: Be Careful! 9. Am I doubling up? If youre taking more than one over-the-counter medication, make sure that they dont have the same ingredients; if they do, you might be doubling the recommended dose of that medication and setting yourself up for unpleasant side effects. This is a particular problem when you take something that combats multiple symptoms of an illness (like flu medications that relieve pain, fever, stuffy nose, and sore throat) - often they contain multiple active ingredients, one of which may overlap with another medication (like a pain killer) that youre taking Side Effects And Allergies 10. Check the label for side effects and symptoms of allergic reaction. If side effects include drowsiness and you drive a truck or care for several active toddlers, this medication might not be right for you. Similarly, if you start running a fever or develop a rash, having read the label ahead of time will help you know if you need to stop the medication and call a doctor to avert a full-blown allergic attack. Copyright (C) Shoppe.MD and Ian Mason, 2004-2005 Ian Mason, owner of Shoppe.MD, your source for [http://www.shoppe.md] Online Prescription Medications, drug information and support forums. Ian is a fat-to-fit student of health, weight loss, exercise, and several martial arts; maintaining several websites in an effort to help provide up-to-date and helpful information for other who share his interests in health of body and mind. Article Source: [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ian_Mason ] http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Mason [http://ezinearticles.com/?Over-The-Counter-Drugs:-How-To-Safely-Choose-The-Right-Medication&id=18992 ] http://EzineArticles.com/?Over-The-Counter-Drugs:-How-To-Safely-Choose-The-Right-Medication&id=18992 non prescription phentermine pharmacy phentermine cod discount phentermine no prescription phentermine online doctor consultation

How to Manage Your Graphic Designer to Get Great Design for Your Nonprofit

Friday, December 28th, 2007

By Nancy E. Schwartz Nothing is as compelling as managing the design, of a printed piece or web look for your organization, service or campaign. It’s easy to get swept away envisioning the impact it will have on your target audiences. And the creative adventure of bringing that piece, or web design, to life, is usually a welcome change from strategic and administrative work. However, the excitement often fades when you dive into the process of finding, hiring, and managing a designer or design team. Let’s be honest. It’s challenging to manage a designer’s creativity into a design take that meets your organization’s needs can be challenging. You definitely want to give the designer the opportunity to channel her creative genius into something powerful. On the other hand, you want to ensure that she translates your marketing concept into something that speaks to your audiences and motivates advocacy, donations, registration, inquiries, or whatever call to action you need. I’ve run up against this challenge time and again, first as an in-house marketing director in several publishing houses, and at the Foundation Center, and most recently as the marketing firm point person for nonprofit and foundation clients. Over the years, I’ve devised a few strategies that ensure that the design process goes smoothly. And they really work. I advise you to take these five steps. When you do, you’ll generate the design results that make the greatest impact for your organization: Step One: Take your time to find the RIGHT designer. NOTE: Take this step immediately, not when you’re in desperate need of a designer. I have, over the years, developed a stable of about seven good designers. They are all the RIGHT designer, but not one of them is the right designer for every single design project. The question is how do you find your stable of RIGHT designers? You’re likely to need relationships with three or four designers. The number depends on the volume of design work, the range of looks you’re trying to achieve, and the diversity of materials and online projects to be designed. My situation is unique. Because I work with many clients with diverse needs, I require more of a range of design skills and price points than would any single nonprofit or foundation. Here’s how to find your designers: Step Two: Gather favorite design samples Keep a folder of favorites, printed materials you identify as good design in the same range as your organization’s image or the image you want to establish. Bookmark website designs in the same way. Make sure that some of your picks are produced by nonprofits and foundations. Step Three: Compile your list of prospective designers Contact communications colleagues (make sure you like their design sensibility first, judging by their products) and ask for designer recommendations. Get basic information on pricing, work style, and client base. Contact the communications director at those organizations who produced the print materials or websites you’ve tagged. Start by contacting the folks at organizations closest to yours in focus and/or budget. It’s most likely, but not a definite, that their designers are the best fit. Step Four: Hone your list to the top three or four by interviewing ten to twelve designers Contact the top ten to twelve before you have a design project ready to go. At that point, you won’t want to waste a minute in getting design estimates in. Here are some of the questions I ask prospective designers: How long have you been designing? With this firm/working freelance? Have you worked with nonprofit organizations? If so, who are some of your clients? How did you get into design work for nonprofits? Do you design for print and online media? Could you show me a few samples of what you consider to be your strongest design projects? What is the average size (dollar-wise) of your design projects? Take me through the design process for a brochure? How about an annual report? Do you have references I can call? Will you personally be designing our work, and be my point person? (for non-solo designers) These are the quirks you’ll face in designing for our nonprofit (explain any, from the Executive Director thinking she’s a designer–and putting her stamp on every piece–to a boss who always changes his mind completely on what a piece should feature when he sees a design concept)While reviewing past work is a very important consideration, be sure you also spend some time talking to their clients to find out more about their design process, working styles, and the results of the project. Step Five: Write a creative brief the moment you get a whiff of a pending design job A creative brief is the most effective way to get everyone (your colleagues and the design team) started with a common understanding of what needs to be accomplished. An effective creative brief gives the designer direction and provides your team with benchmarks against which to evaluate design concepts. Spending the time to complete a thorough creative brief will save you a lot of time up front, and ensure that you get the design product you envisioned. In two pages at most, your brief should: Define the project and its objectives List, characterize and prioritize audiences Present Unique Selling Proposition(USP), one sentence about what makes the organization, program or service unique List top features and/or facts about the program, service or organization, and its value to audiences Detail tone or image Specify budget and time frame Outline internal review and approval process These five steps will lead you to strong relationships with the right designers. As a result, I guarantee that your print and online design work will be more effective than ever in engaging and spurring recognition from your target audiences. Start right now by diving into the stacks in your office. It’s likely that, when you do, you’ll find some great design samples that will lead you to more effective (and maybe even less expensive) graphic design for your organization. Nancy E. Schwartz helps nonprofits succeed through effective marketing and communications. Subscribe to her free e-newsletter “Getting Attention,” at http://www.nancyschwartz.com/getting_attention.html and read her blog at http://www.gettingattention.org for more insights, ideas and great tips on attracting the attention your organization deserves. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_E._Schwartz http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Manage-Your-Graphic-Designer-to-Get-Great-Design-for-Your-Nonprofit&id=301249 cheap phentermine online pharmacy buy phentermine in california non prescription phentermine phentermine order by

209A - a Four Letter Word? An Overview of Massachusetts Restraining Orders

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

By Dmitry Lev 209A is in fact a four letter word in Massachusetts, and this is so because of the nasty implications a 209A order has on the person against whom one is issued. For those unaware, 209A is the common name for the Massachusetts species of domestic restraining orders, and it refers to the number of the chapter of the Massachusetts General Laws entitled “Abuse Prevention” that governs issuance and outlines the proceedings and procedures for these orders. The purpose of the law was to prevent the rising incidents of domestic violence and to give victims of domestic violence a much needed tool to protect themselves with the help of the court. Sounds great, in theory. In reality, the much needed tool became an all too easy to use weapon. Judges routinely ignore the narrow definition of abuse, as it is defined in the law: (a) attempting to cause or causing physical harm; (b) placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm; (c) causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat or duress. Moreover, the law provides that these orders can only be granted where there is a blood, marriage, dating, or co-habitation relationship. Ex spouses, ex fiancees, ex boyfriends/girlfriends are included as well. To set the nomenclature straight, and for the sake of this discussion: Plaintiff is the person asking the court for the order, Defendant is the person against whom the order is issued. All too often, a vindictive ex spouse fabricates or greatly exaggerates a seemingly benign incident in an attempt to get a 209A order issued in their favor. A state employed Victim Witness Advocate is then appointed to essentially coach the “victim” on what to say in front of the judge. “Fear” appears to be the magic word, and even if “imminent serious physical harm” (note that those are actually four separate elements) is not obvious or not present at all, the orders are liberally granted nonetheless. The order itself has SIXTEEN sub-parts, some are mandates and others are various prohibitions, and the judge can check the box next to the provisions that apply to a particular order. Discussing all sixteen parts is best left for another day. The most commonly used parts are: Not to abuse the Plaintiff by causing the three instances of abuse listed above. Not to contact the Plaintiff and stay away a certain distance from the Plaintiff. E-mail is contact. Sending flowers is contact. All are violations, and therefore criminal offenses.Leave and stay away from residence of Plaintiff. It does not matter that the Defendant lives there as well or that the Defendant has no other place to stay. It further does not matter if the Defendant owns the property or if the lease is in the Defendant’s name alone.Surrender all guns and licenses. And of course, each order bears in large letters “VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE punishable by imprisonment or fine or both.” In this lawyer’s opinion, judges must be constantly reminded of the requirements of the law, and that things like mere annoyance, excessive phone calls, emails, or unannounced visits are generally not adequate grounds for issuing a 209A order, as unpleasant as those actions may be. The “victim” may have a whole range of other criminal and civil recourse against the alleged offender, but 209A orders sought to patch up someone’s love life or to “calm things down” between ex lovers are nothing short of blatant abuse of the law. The extent to which a 209A order can negatively impact and nearly ruin a person’s life, at least with the way the law is currently handled in Massachusetts, is enough to accept 209A as a true four letter word. Boston Attorney Dmitry Lev handles Criminal Defense and 209A Restraining Order Defense cases in Massachusetts. In addition, Attorney Lev assists individuals who had Restraining Orders issued against them and wish to have these orders removed, as well as those accused of violating these orders. Attorney Lev maintains a blog at www.levlaw.net/blog and a website at www.bostoncriminallaw.net Law Offices of D. Lev, PC77 Franklin St., 3rd FloorBoston, MA 02110(617) 556-9990 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dmitry_Lev http://EzineArticles.com/?209A—a-Four-Letter-Word?–An-Overview-of-Massachusetts-Restraining-Orders&id=301999 buy adipex phentermine buy phentermine free shipping get phentermine without a prescription cheap phentermine on line

History Of Criminal Justice

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By Marcus Peterson Justice while she winks at crimes, Stumbles on innocence sometimes?- Samuel Butler Crime and punishment have had a dangerous liaison with humanity throughout the history of civilization. People have always done and will continue to do things that are crimes in the eyes of society. They will kill, they will loot, they will rape, and they will plunder, and although the crimes are committed by humans themselves, they alone have the right and obligation to decide how these acts are punished. The only detail that makes a difference in the field of criminology is the perception of right and wrong. Many things that are considered okay on this side of the border become capital crimes on the other. Crimes come a dime a dozen and so do the ways criminal systems judge them. To decide whether an act is a crime or to justify it under moral auspices requires a close look at the phenomenon, making it essential to study all precedents available. Making the proper assessment of crime, the accountability of the perpetrator as well as the victim in order to mete out punishment that fits the crime depends up on a detailed study of the history of crime and punishment. The commonest form of punishment since ancient times has been exile. People were sent away from their native lands when they did something wrong with the belief that by sending them out of the kingdom, their crimes are no longer the kingdom’s responsibility. Then came the age of tributes: people who committed crimes were to pay suitable compensation to the victim’s family as well as to the state for wasting its time with crimes. Of course, this arrangement made no sense for the poor, who were then conveniently engaged as bonded labor. Throughout history, criminal justice has been responsible for committing the most heinous crimes. The ‘witches’ burnt at the stake, the peasants convicted of treason and the children buried alive are just some of the victims of skewed perceptions of crime and punishment. Most of the time, the poorer classes had to bear the brunt of criminal justice and were forced to endure public flogging, torture and amputations for crimes like staring at a parson or stealing bread. Criminal Justice provides detailed information on Criminal Justice, Online Criminal Justice Courses, Masters Degree In Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Careers and more. Criminal Justice is affiliated with Criminal Records Online. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson http://EzineArticles.com/?History-Of-Criminal-Justice&id=428558 1 online order ultram tramadol without a prescription next day fedex buy generic ultram where to buy ultram

Add Smile Power to Your Life to Empower Your Relationships

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By John Kinde Several years ago I was in a San Diego restaurant with my mother. While I paid the check, we both noticed an elderly woman waiting to be seated. As we left the restaurant, Mom asked, “Did you notice that woman with the wonderful smile?” I most certainly did. Her smile lit up the room. It was a smile to die for; one that would certainly win instant friends. It was a smile that you don’t often see in a stranger. And maybe Mom and I smiled back, I don’t remember. Mom later commented, “I wish I’d told her what a terrific smile she had.” But neither of us had. We’d both received a gift without saying thank-you. Later, on my long drive home, I stopped at a fast-food restaurant for a quick bite. A 70ish woman waited by the condiment bar while her husband ordered. She glanced my way and smiled brightly. It was one of those smiles that broadcast, “I love life!” I wasn’t going to let THIS opportunity pass. I was going to say SOMETHING. As I approached this woman from 30 feet away, her smile melted into a rather startled look; as if asking, “Did I do something wrong?” I walked over to her and simply said, “You have a wonderful smile!” Wow, did her face light up! And she responded with an enthusiastic, “Thank You”. My comment probably made her day, but it also made MY day. We truly exchanged gifts that afternoon. SMILES: INSTANT FACELIFTS Life’s lessons have taught me this: a smile is the number one feature that makes people attractive. It’s a welcome mat. It’s what makes folks approachable. People with a great smiles radiate a warmth that draws others to them instantly. Some people naturally have a great smile. Others, analytical types like me, must work at it. One way to tell if you’re in my category is to recall picking up your developed photos. As you flipped through the pictures, you didn’t like the way you looked in most of them. But then…you discovered that one great picture of yourself. In it, you look friendly, you’re smiling broadly and your eyes twinkle. Now THAT picture looks like you! I hate to say it, but ALL the pictures look like you, even those you dislike. Unfortunately, those “bad” photos, where your face doesn’t look its best, portray how you often appear. In fact, you might normally look even worse, since you were TRYING to look good for the camera. Usually you’re not even making that effort, and may appear even less inviting than you do in “bad” photos. And if you’re like me, you assume you’re not particularly photogenic and that your smile needs work. When you’ve mastered your smile, you’ll consistently look better in photos. Most important, though, you’ll be more attractive and approachable every day. When you’re having a good time, does your face show it? You might be surprised. Years ago I dropped into a comedy club in Montgomery, Alabama. I was sitting in the front row, where one is typically fair game to be picked on by the comedian. But being the non-expressive, serious Norwegian that I am, I wasn’t giving the comic the jovial feedback he needed. I was enjoying the show, but in a straight-faced manner. About halfway through the show, the comic interrupted his routine to ask me point-blank, “Are you having a good time?” I responded, “I’m having a great time.” His comeback: “Well then, tell your face!” I was enjoying the program, laughing inside, even studying the performer’s humor and technique. BUT…not giving him any outward indication. In everyday life the same concept applies. You might be enjoying your job, but fail to show it. You may want to meet someone, yet not give them a single, friendly clue. You can even be IN LOVE with somebody, and totally hide it. Your face should express what you feel when you wish to connect with others. SMILE AEROBICS FOR EMOTIONAL HEALTH One way to become better at smiling is increasing your awareness. Take notice of those you find warm and inviting. Is it their smile? Make an effort to LOOK for great smiles. Notice the appeal of people who smile with their EYES, not just their mouth. The whole face gets involved. Consider these people your models. Study yourself in the mirror. How do you look in the rest room, when shopping, and while passing a reflective window? Do you look friendly? Approachable? Do you really LIKE the image you’re projecting? In fact, a mirror is ideal for your smile workout. Practice various smiles toward capturing that perfect look for the camera. Work on expressing your smile with your eyes. A tip: cut a paper rectangle that permits you to see only your eyes in the mirror. Practice smiling just with your eyes. Get used to the feel of your cheekbones as they lift to brighten your eyes. When you see how a great smile LOOKS, remember how it FEELS. When you can finally project your best smile, hold it. Turn away from the mirror. How does your face feel? What muscles are you using? Make an effort to develop muscle memory, so you can instantly recreate this smile at will. THE SMILING REMINDER Sometimes it’s life’s little reminders that help us focus on making self-improvements. I set out to find a “smile” lapel pin as a permanent token of my smile’s importance. After a fruitless one-year search, I commissioned the design and production of smile pins. Now when I encounter a total stranger with a million-dollar smile (not an everyday occurrence), I share the compliment, “You have a wonderful smile…thanks for brightening my day! I’d like you to have my golden smile pin.” Then I might add, “And someday, when YOU see a total stranger with a fantastic smile, you can pass on the pin to them.” This little reminder has conditioned me to search out life’s glowing smiles, and not to allow them to pass unnoticed. I always carry “golden smile” pins. And when I spot a show-stopper smile, I always express my appreciation. Other strategic pluses: 1. The pin reminds me never to leave home half-dressed: without my smile. Even while I’m running routine errands, it keeps me focused on smiles as life’s true blessings. 2. By shaping my focus, the pin increases awareness of my public appearance and attitude. For example, when in a grocery line, I don’t want the checker to glance up and think, “Why in heaven’s name is this sourpuss wearing a smile pin?” It forces me to wear a friendly face all day. 3. The pin encourages me to compliment others. When I fail to say a kind word about someone’s beautiful smile, I feel guilty. Now, that’s what I call constructive guilt! We’ve often been conditioned to feel shame because we’ve not lived up to what others expect, but isn’t it more positive to suffer guilt for failing our OWN expectations? You needn’t search for a smile pin to remind you. You can choose another object, like a clown pin, that will program you to focus on smile power. Or consider something that nobody else sees, like whimsical underwear. In fact, you may discover that the sheer strength of just your awareness can create positive life changes. With practice you can focus on life’s smiles; and create your own relaxed, naturally warm smile. And THEN when you get back a roll of photos, you’ll like almost all of them! That’s certainly been my pleasant experience. And when you encounter customers, strangers, or loved ones, you’ll always be ready to pass on your award-winning smile! Copyright 2005 by John Kinde. John Kinde is a humor specialist who has been in the training and speaking business for over 30 years specializing in teambuilding, customer service and stress management. Special reports available: Show Me The Funny — Tips for Adding Humor to Your Presentations and When They Don’t Laugh — What To Do When the Laughter Doesnt Come. Humor Power Tips newsletter and articles are available at http://www.HumorPower.com. 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How To Slay Credit Card Debt For Good

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Joseph Wood The numbers tell the story, and the story is that most Americans are carrying some kind of balances on their credit cards, meaning that they do not pay the balance in full every month. The amount of debt varies, but as of a few years ago (2002) the average debt for an American family with at least one credit card was almost $9,000.00, and that number seems to rise every year. The purpose of this article is to help folks to slay that beast for good. There are some pre-requisites. Please do not skip these. The techniques that follow will not work as well or at all if a few pre-conditions are not met. Here they are: 1. All adult members of the household must be in agreement on the plan. This may require some compromise and tweaking of the plan. Do it if you need to. A tweaked unified plan will be more successful than a perfect un-unified one. 2. Immediately stop using the cards that have balances on them. You may continue to use a card if you pay off the balance on that card every month. Do not transfer what you used to spend on the other cards to the one that you pay off. 3. Most important, you must arrange your finances so that your total expenses are LESS than your income, counting all quarterly, semi annual and annual expenses into the monthly total. You simply cannot reduce debt if you are continuing to increase it! Not sure how to live on less than you earn? SIMPLIFY! You can solve this by increasing your earnings or reducing your expenses or both. Your choice. 4. Identify how much money is extra (after you have completed step three), and divide that monthly amount in half. Take the first half and arrange an automatic deposit to a high yield CD or online account, so that the money builds and grows there. OK please do not proceed until you have completed the pre-requisites. Read ahead if you wish, but you MUST complete all four pre-requisites before you can be successful. That said, here is the plan: 1. Find a way to NOT focus on debts. If you are able to, spend as much time as possible feeling like you are completely debt free. I know it seems like a lie at first, but it is your future, and so it is not a lie. The number one step in freeing yourself from debts is seeing yourself free of debts, and experiencing it. Play a movie in your mind that stars you as the debt free person. In connection, arrange your debt payments so that they consume as little of your time and mental energy as possible. For some this may mean to hire a third party to administer the debt payment program for you. This is really ideal, as you no longer even get the bills in the first place, making it MUCH easier to not focus on debt. One other thing if you have trouble still. Trying going mostly all cash for a couple of months. Really gives you a feel for how much you are spending, and is really good at showing you how much you have left. It is impossible to increase your debt when you are using cash. Use debit cards for things where they make more sense, like the gas pump. 2. Now we get into the technical aspects of how this is done. If a third party is handling your debt payoff, just give them these instructions. First thing is to list all of your debts in increasing balance order. Ignore the interest rates for now. The smallest balance debt will be listed first and the largest balance debt will be last. 3. Make exact minimum payments of all debts except the very top one. If you are doing the payments yourself, send the payment the very moment that you receive the statement. This is the best way to keep it out of your mind (because you will not see it again for a month), and it will make your creditor happy as well. You may also call all of the creditors and see if you can arrange the closing dates so that you get all of the bills within a short time frame. Just something to think about. 4. On the top debt, make the minimum payment plus the other half of the extra money from that month (you put the first half into a high yield account). This will accelerate the payment on that top one, and depending on the size of that balance, hopefully that one can be completely paid off in just a few months. 5. Once that top balance is paid in full, take yourself out to dinner to celebrate. Pay cash for the dinner! It feels really good to do so. 6. Apply the extra half, plus the former amount of the first payment, plus the minimum second payment to the second debt. The second debt will pay much faster now because of this, and yet there is no additional money coming out of your pocket. 7. The program continues in order. As one debt is paid, you simply pay all of the money that was going to it to the current top one, plus the minimum payment. 8. As you get closer to the bottom you find these debts reducing more and more rapidly. 9. The program ends when all the credit cards are paid off. If you have enjoyed this experience, then continue the program by adding any other debt payments, car payments, and finally your house payment(s) to the acceleration. Picture being entirely debt free! This program can do that for you. 10. Good Luck! Get started ASAP! Joseph Wood is the webmaster and chief researcher for JOW Research. Come see us and learn The Secrets of The Secret. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Wood http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Slay-Credit-Card-Debt-For-Good&id=508376 tramadol buy on line ultram pharmacy line buy ultram without a prescription where to buy ultram

Travel Fraud - What to Look For

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Michael Russell Many con artists snare their marks by promising huge discounts that sound plausible, particularly since many travel suppliers today offer booking bargains and last-minute deals to recover sales lost after the September 11 tragedies. The following red flags show that you’ve been targeted by a travel scam artist. - The seller will not give you anything in writing describing the trip until you have paid up front. Always insist on material in the mail before you pay a dime, in deposits, fees, or charges of any kind. Absolutely refuse to pay any money at all to a travel seller before you have this material in hand. Ask them to send complete details on the trip, including total price, service charges, processing fees, surcharges and any other hidden or undisclosed fees or charges, the components of the trip (particularly the specific hotels, airline flights, cruise ships and other services involved) and penalties for canceling or changing the trip plans and “blackout dates” - The seller pressures you to make an immediate decision. Always refuse any high-pressure sales pitches that prevent you from shopping around with other travel retailers. - The seller asks for your credit card number or bank account number over the phone. Never give out this kind of information over the phone unless you called the travel retailer yourself, you know the retailer and you are completely confident in the company. All it takes is your credit card number and expiration date for the most inexperienced scam artist to make fraudulent charges on your credit card and with your bank account number, a scam artist can even transfer funds directly from your account. - The seller tells you that you just won a prize or a trip in a contest that is news to you. If you can’t remember registering for a sweepstake, you probably didn’t. The promised trip is most likely a fraud or at the very least a gimmick with a ton of hidden costs and/or restrictions. - The seller says that you can claim your prize by paying a small administrative fee. A reputable contest or sweepstake will never require you to pay a fee to collect a prize. In fact, many states prohibit this by law. Refuse to pay any amount of money to collect any prize or trip. If you have to pay for it, it’s not much of a prize, is it? - The seller asks you to make a bank transfer, send a certified check or money order, or prepare a check to be picked up by a courier. By using cash equivalents or receiving funds using delivery methods other than the U.S. Postal Service, scam artists are trying to take advantage of perceived loopholes in federal regulations prohibiting fraud via phone and mail. - You cannot book the deal through any other travel retailer. If you are told that you have to purchase the package directly from the seller - that the deal is so good you can’t buy it anywhere else - odds are something isn’t on the level. Though this is not an exhaustive list, these are some of the major Red Flags to look for when offered what seems to be a great deal. Keep your eyes open, because believe me, they are looking for you. Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Fraud. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell http://EzineArticles.com/?Travel-Fraud—What-to-Look-For&id=193163 tramadol online prescription order pain medication suffer question service cod order tramadol buy tramadol onlines buy ultram prescription