Things To-Be Remembered On A Cruise

First time cruisers usually have loads of questions creeping in their mind about what to expect. Since it is the first time they are going to take a luxury cruise, we have given vital tips which a novice cruiser is bound to know.

-Check with your cruise line in advance of what features were included in your ticket and what amount is to be given extra. Usually, it depends upon the package which you may purchase before traveling. Generally, the base cost includes your accommodations, activities, meals, entertainment and the use of the facilities available inside the ship.

-Selection of a good cabin should be done based upon the personal choice of the cruiser and its location. The most popular ones are the midship cabins which are less noisy and tend to revert less motion sensations. While booking a cabin just ensure that it is not placed near the kitchen or any noisy area. Most cruisers look out for cabins outside which includes windows and relatively inexpensive upgrade that would help to extend your time in the cabin.

-Usually the things which you need to bring with you depend upon your personal preference. It may vary depending on the cruise line and also the ports you will visit.

In general the important things to be brought are:

a) Documents: Identification Proof of citizenship and tickets.

b) Apparel: Bring your clothing according to the weather conditions of the destination of your travel and also comfortable shipboard clothes to relax.

c) Miscellaneous: Search the Internet for all the vital items to be bought while boarding and also ask your cruise line for a checklist.

d) Medications: Always ensure that when you travel you are having a first aid kit with you in case of any emergency.

When you arrive at the ship you will have to undergo the following check process

a) Luggage: will be given to porters to place it in your cabin.

b) Documents will be verified for entry

c) The ID cards of the shipboard and the cabin keys will be given to the cruisers.

d) Finally, there will be a security screening done.

Once you are inside the ship you will be given a map to follow the directions to your cabin or in some ships there will helpers to lead them to your cabin. Cruise lines will give you and introduction about the scheduled activities and shore excursions. These introductions will have all your doubts cleared.

Cathy Peterson writes about http://www.traveldealsdiscounts.com/ ,http://www.traveldealsdiscounts.com/discount-travel-deals/Site59.com/ and http://www.traveldealsdiscounts.com/discount-travel-deals/Hotels.com/Lanny Blog93547
Kath Blog60055

Network Marketing: The Evil That Men Do

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ON THE SUBJECT OF NETWORK MARKETING:

"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones." - William Shakespeare

I am sure that Mr. Shakespeare, as a struggling young playwright and actor in London, knew well the value of network marketing. In fact, probably most of his parts and opportunities came from his connections with those who could get him a part, back his play, and so on. I am sure he had a strong concept of networking.

It is also equally probable, particularly in light of the quote at the start of this article, that he understood what could happen to his networking efforts if he was found to be unable to backup claims about his product or service.

In the usual marketing scheme of things, advertisers buy the opportunity to place their offerings in front of large quantities of potential customers. In network marketing, the entrepreneur is often limited in budget and tends to contact potential customers or business partners one or two at a time. At best, he or she may put on a presentation for a small group. For most of us however, our broadest and most effective form of advertising comes from satisfied customers or business partners.

When a network marketing company or one of its representatives fails to live up to expectations, three things may happen:

1. The injured party becomes suspicious and distrustful of the representative at least, and perhaps may extend these feelings to the company as well.

2. The injured party becomes distrustful and suspicious of network marketing in general.

3. The injured party becomes a fine network marketer, spreading the word about the evil that was done him or her by this "network marketing" rip-off.

All network marketers depend on good words spoken of them by their customers and business partners. By acting greedily or by ignoring the needs and expectations of customers and business partners, not only are they diminishing their ability to function efficiently, but they are also recruiting new members for a very vocal group who view network marketing and multi-level marketing in a very negative light.

This was brought home to me recently when I attempted to purchase several hundred dollars worth of advertising on a site which reached a group of people who would have been excellent prospects for one of my products.

Let me make the point that this product is perfectly legitimate and can save users hundreds of dollars. The company has been in business for years, and has a very high internal code of ethics. It does, however, make all sales through network marketing using a multi-level marketing model.

The owner of the website refused to accept the advertising simply based on his argument that as it is a network marketing and multi-level marketing company, running ads for the company would tarnish the image his website has for integrity. He was willing to grant that the product seemed to be good and he could find no fault with it. However, because of what he felt would be a negative reaction to his being associated with this type of marketing; he refused to accept the advertising order.

We in network marketing know that much of this negative reaction comes from so-called MLM schemes such as the "Lawyer Brown" letter, or the "$90,000 in 90 Days" scam, as well as a multitude of questionable products and services that have been sold through "network marketing" or "multi-level marketing" business opportunity models.

It is generally stated by those who study customer dissatisfaction that a satisfied customer will tell from 3 to 5 others about his or her positive experience. That is good. That is what we are hoping for in network marketing. That is how we get the most "bang for our buck" whether we have paid out cold hard cash or invested in "sweat equity". However, the same studies indicate that a dissatisfied customer may also tell 4 or more other people about their NEGATIVE experience. What makes this particularly interesting is that according to the Customer Dissatisfaction Study released by the Verde Group and Baker Retailing Initiative at Wharton:

* "...Shoppers experiencing problems are five times more likely to tell a friend about it than contact the company", and...

* "...For every 100 American shoppers, 64 people will be told about a store's poor products or services and no matter what that store does to entice shoppers - sales, promotions, advertising, marketing - those people will not set foot in their store,"

* "...More than 50 per cent of Americans report that a negative shopping experience of a friend or colleague will prevent them from setting foot in a store altogether."

As you can imagine, as those people tell other people, those people will pass on what they have heard about you, your company, and network marketing in general. Ironically, that is also network marketing. You have some control over whether it is good or bad by how you select the companies you associate yourself with and how you treat your customers and business partners.

Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer and network marketing professional. He is a graduate of the University of West Florida, a member of Mensa and is retired from the U. S. Army. Learn how to get your own domain name and create an internet business at http://donsdomains.ws.Kakalina Blog59985
Katleen Blog7686

Marketing By Any Other Name...

What does the word "marketing" mean to you? When you say "we need to do some marketing" or "we need a marketing plan," what is the end result you are picturing?

Of all the functions that contribute to business growth, marketing has got to be the least standardized. Not only do the activities associated with marketing vary from company to company, but the purpose and goals of marketing differ widely. In many cases, marketing is a synonym for sales, which in my opinion is one of the biggest strategic mistakes a company can make.

Marketing is not sales. But marketing better be contributing to revenue generation or you're wasting time and money. And probably lots of both.

Here is a simple way to think of marketing: your marketing activities need to make your sales process easier. How they do that will vary depending on your company and market. Product marketing is very different from service marketing. Business to business marketing is very different from business to consumer marketing. Marketing high cost goods and services requires a different approach from marketing commodities.

Even in the same industry and marketplace, how one company markets will differ from the way its competitors market. Just watch a couple of beer or car commercials on TV and you'll see what I mean. This is because company culture, personality, and brand will impact marketing activities and messages.

So, I ask you: Is your marketing program making your sales process easier? Be careful when answering. There are nuances to marketing that are important to consider. Some activities are more direct than others and so are much easier to gauge. An example is direct response marketing. Another is e-commerce web sites with incorporated shopping carts. In both cases there is a clear link to the sales side. This type of marketing can be very easily quantified and its impact on sales can be accurately measured.

Some activities, though, are more subtle. Things that get your company better known in the marketplace will help the sales process, but not as clearly as direct response or "click here to buy" activities. They are qualitative in impact but no less important.

Effective public relations, for example, will certainly influence your target market by keeping your name top of mind in the people you want to buy from you. This type of activity, of course, is nowhere near as measurable as more direct things. Does this mean you shouldn't do it? Absolutely not!! It does mean, however, that you need to stay awake and find ways to gauge how successful these more subtle activities are in making the sales process easier.

Here's the bottom line. Take time to clearly and accurately define what marketing means specifically for your company, and define how it can make the sales process easier. Don't just accept any published definitions, no matter how exalted their sources.

Trish Lambert (http://www.trishlambert.com), principal of 4-R Marketing LLC, is an experienced marketing consultant and creator of the 4-R Marketing Model for service businesses. Very much a "non-conformist" in the marketing world, Trish produces measurable results with marketing that drives revenues for her customers.Kari Blog57882
Klarika Blog58966

Movie and DVD Reviews

Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Hugh Jackman, John Travolta, George Clooney, Mel Gibson, Renee Zellweger, Kate Winslet, Reese Witherspoon. Lord of The Rings, Spiderman, Castaway, X-Men, Walk the Line, Jerry MacGuire, Top Gun, Minority Report, War of The Worlds, Peter Jackson.

All of the names above are celebrities in some shape or form. Actors, actresses and Directors starred in or was involved with the above movies. Just a few of the great movies are listed above. There are tens of thousands of movies that have been made to this day and more are coming.

Ever been is a discussion about what movies you liked or the actor in a movie? Can't remember the movie but you can remember the actor? Sometimes, you wish you could remember who was in what movie and who with!

Now you can find out and very easily too! A new web site that will have every piece of movie trivia at your fingertips. The site is called My Movie Review. My Movie Review was first designed in July 2006 with a focus on giving internet users free information about movies, actors and directors. Then, not long after, the thought of allowing the users to have interaction with the web site by way fo reviewing the movies and actors and directors, and then giving the movie, actor or director a rating.

This way, each user has an input or their say on what they think which movie, actor or director should be rated higher than the other.

But that's not all! Also, you can purchase any of the movies on DVD! DVD's can be shipped anywhere in the world at a low cost. Also the DVD prices are the lowest prices around.

It does not stop there either! Soon, there will prize giveaways for users that register (coming soon). Prizes like, free DVD's, free T-Shirts, Free Caps, Free MP3 Players etc..

Why not take a peek at My Movie Review to see what the hype is about?

Colin Crawford is a professional freelance writer for My Movie Review. You can read more of his articles at http://www.mymoviereview.info.Lanita Blog58030
Kristan Blog82772

Cleveland Schools Students And Programs Supported By Politicians And Celebrities

Film Star Prepares Cleveland Schools Students for Future Performances

Otis Sallid, a choreographer and director, is offering Cleveland Schools students a chance to gain from classes in dance and acting. The classes are in cooperation with the Ohio Theatre, which is using the classes as a way to recruit for its upcoming productions. The classes will be held at the studios in the Playhouse Square.

Sallid is well qualified to teach these classes. He is a winner of the Bob Fosse L.A. Choreographers Dance Award, whose film credits include Spike Lees School Daze, Do the Right Thing, and Malcolm X, and Disneys Sister Act II. Sallid has also done work for several television sitcoms like, Living Single, For Your Love, and Suddenly Susan. The Cleveland Schools Director of Performing Arts endorses the classes fully.

Cleveland Browns Wide Receiver Joe Jurevicius Gives Cleveland Schools Students a Lesson in Financial Responsibility

At Cleveland Schools South High School, students were able to learn about how to manage money for the future as part of the VISA, NFL and PLAYERS INC., Financial Football Program. This program teaches students about money management. The class will be taught by Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and Jason Alderman, director of Visa USA. The program is centered around the interactive computer game Financial Football, an educational program that teaches about value and use of money. Cleveland Schools is one of seventeen school districts from across the country chosen to host the program.

Politicians Support the Cleveland Schools 3Rs Program

The Cleveland Schools 3Rs Program Rights, Responsibilities and Realities is cooperation between the Cleveland Bar Association and the Cleveland Schools. This program has over 600 local attorneys, judges and law students to help offer support and advice to students about their future. This volunteer program aims to help tenth grade students in the Cleveland Schools increase their success rates on the Ohio Graduation Test by improving their understanding and respect for the rule of law and our Constitution and to provide practical career counseling to focus students on their potential beyond high school.

This is accomplished by teams visiting tenth grade social studies classes in twenty-one Cleveland Schools high schools each month. The Ohio Graduation Test is only one part of the program, the volunteers will also help students make decisions about their future, help them set goals, prepare them for pre-college testing, guide them to resources for financial assistance and coach them in developing a strong resume. The first session of the 3Rs program was held Friday, September 22. Prior to the first session a rally was held to kick off the program. Key speakers at this rally were: Dr. Eugene Sanders, CEO, Cleveland Schools; Hugh McKay, President, Cleveland Bar Association; Lawrence Davis, Chairman, Cleveland Board of Education; Robert Triozzi, Director of Law, City of Cleveland; Louis Stokes, former U.S. Congressman; The Honorable Patricia Hemann, U.S. Magistrate Judge; and Joanne DeMarco, President, Cleveland Teachers Union. Cleveland Schools John Marshall High School marching band and Cleveland School of the Arts choral singers, John F. Kennedy High School cheerleaders cheering on 3Rs and a dramatic presentation of the Constitution by students from various schools was the entertainment for the rally.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Cleveland schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/ohio/cleveland/index.htmlKellia Blog97095
Karlene Blog97911

Calcium, What's The Big Deal?

The big question about Calcium, exactly what is Calcium and why is Calcium so important to you and I?

What is Calcium?

Calcium is one of the most abundant micro-nutrient found in our body. 99% of our bodys total calcium is stores in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1% of calcium is then found throughout our body in blood, muscles, and the fluid in between cells. Calcium is also needed for muscle contraction and the secretion of hormones and enzymes. There are much more usage of Calcium, but to put simply, Calcium is important for Bone repair/formations and the contraction of muscles. Calcium is also the answer to strong and dense bones.

Different Types of Calcium, Which is Best?

Calcium is an element and it comes in various forms. Theres Calcium citrate, Calcium phosphate, Calcium Gluconate, Calcium Carbonate, and e.t.c. The list can go on and on, but which is the most common one that is best absorbed by the body?

There is something called the elemental weight. Calcium phosphate has an elemental weight of 31-38% whilst Calcium carbonate has an elemental weight of 40%. Lets use Calcium Carbonate (Most common form of Calcium found in the market) as an example, if you take 500mg of Calcium carbonate, only 200mg of elemental Calcium is available for absorption. Ill make things simpler by giving you an analogy; lets presume that youre now going down to the fuel station to pump some petrol for your car. There are 2 types of Petrol and both are mixed with water. For every liter of petrol, Petrol X contains 20% petrol whilst Petrol Y contains 40% petrol. We do know that cars require petrol to move and not water. So the obvious choice will be Petrol Y. The same goes to us, our body can only utilize elemental Calcium, and therefore, Calcium Carbonate is one of the better choices of Calcium supplements to take.

http://www.supplementtracker.com/articles/nutrition/bodybuilding-eating-properly

Vitamin D & Calcium Absorption

Taking Calcium alone is not as effective taking calcium with a good dose of Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps improve Calcium absorption. To put things simply, lets imagine things this way. Before calcium is absorbed by our body, it needs go through a door which is locked and requires a key to open it. Vitamin D is the key to opening this door to allow calcium into your body and from there allows the body to utilize the Calcium.

What NOT to Consume Calcium With

We should not be consuming Calcium with Zinc and Iron. This is so as our body prioritizes Calcium over the other two minerals. I advise you to take Zinc and Iron at a time when your body has little Calcium, preferably 30mins-60mins after drinking your milk. When purchasing multivitamins, do also look at the Nutrition fact sheet to see if any of this minerals are stashed together.

http://www.supplementtracker.com/articles/supplements/evaluating-dietary-supplements

How much Calcium is Needed?

If youre just an average adult, I would recommend taking anything from 800mg 1200mg of Calcium a day. However, if youre an athlete or bodybuilder, you should be taking up to 2000mg 2300mg of Calcium a day. Good sources of protein include Milk, yoghurt, cheese. Taking more than 2500mg of Calcium may cause you to get wet stools.

Benefits

Calcium will help you maintain a healthy bone mass, delay the onset of osteoporosis and recent research articles have also shown that Calcium aids weight loss.

Reference

Hartman TJ, Albert PS, Snyder K, et al. The association of calcium and vitamin d with risk of colorectal adenomas. J Nutr. 2005 Feb;135(2):252-9.

Shi H, Dirienzo D, Zemel MB. Effects of dietary calcium on adipocyte lipid metabolism and body weight regulation in energy-restricted aP2-agouti transgenic mice. FASEB J 2001; 15:291-293.

Zemel MB, Thompson W, Milstead A, Morris K, Campbell P. Calcium and dairy acceleration of weight and fat loss during energy restriction in obese adults. Obes Res. 2004 Apr;12(4):582-90.

http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.asp#h7

Darcy is currently studying and researching into Sports and Exercise Sciences. He Co-Owns http://www.Supplementtracker.comKatherina Blog94714
Kaylyn Blog96989

Science Fiction DVDs

Can there anyone who truly doesnt love movies? I am a big fan of silver screen, which is assisted with mystic surround sound and an ambience of something big and worthy. Movie Theater going is a special something experience. As you lax and sit back in a sofa like seat with handful of popcorn and a big bottle of coke, you are putting aside the worries of office time and moving into a special world. If there is a good storyline and nice presentation, all our attention will be focused on the story and we cant take our eyes off the screen. For me that means Science Fiction DVDs.

Gradual changes take place in the way we are used to see movies. For good or bad, we dont have to care about buying a movie ticket and watching the films according to predetermined schedules that are beyond our control. We can enjoy the film we like anytime, without stepping out of the comfort zone of our living room. Yeah, I am talking about watching DVD movies. When it comes to DVD movies, my vote goes to science fiction DVDs. Who wants reality? We have seen enough of real world. Our entertainment needs to touch new levels of fantasy and entertainment.

Which science fiction DVDs do you consider worth the watching? My first preference is The Matrix Trilogy. It has changes the concept of science fiction movies altogether. It appeals to the broadest class of audience. It is so special that the movie encompasses different genre to a single film. Here again, it is the appeal that a movie has maximum number of people irrespective of their genre preferences holds the key in making a movie something special. Though you can put the movies like Star Wars in to the basket of Science Fiction DVDs, I think they have something more to do to reach the levels of a Sci-Fi entertainer. I pick The Thing by John Carpenter as the classic example of sci-fi movies. Though it is a little movie, it encompasses different elements to attract a whole generation of movie buffs.

There are a number of places out there, where you can find the latest science fiction DVDs. You may be moving to your local DVD/movie library, or to places like Wal-Mart. High end DVD stores usually have a rich collection of science fiction DVDs. You may also compare prices to find the DVD you like for the lowest price. Comparing prices is quite easy when I go online. Amazon.com is the first place I go. I also try ebay.com and froogle.com. I was never disappointed while I searched for a science fiction DVD title that would meet my expectations of sci-fi entertainment.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning online arts. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.onlineartsinfo.com/all-about-the-arts/arts/science-fiction-dvds.htmlLane Blog88124
Kassi Blog83757

MP3 is Music to Ears!

Making it that much easier for people to enjoy their favorite tunes MP3 players have revolutionized the music systems. All earlier musical formats, including records, cassette, and CDs could never give the sheer convenience of MP3 players. It enables a listener to create personalized music lists and carry thousands of songs along without having to be burdened by a number of discs in a pack.

The MP3 player, along with the hundreds of songs it can store, is a device tinier than a pack of cards. Compared to a CD player and a case to store the discs, this is more manageable and far more compact.

It is features and advantages such as these that have made MP3 players the toast of music lovers the world over. You could buy MP3 players from a variety of models in different shapes and sizes through which manufacturers try to build a wide and varied customer base. To make the deal even more attractive, players are integrated with some add-ons.

MP3 players makes a disc jockey out of you, letting you pick songs of your choice and arranging them in your preferred sequence the way you would like to hear them. It is the power of having thousands of songs at your fingertips. You can arrange songs in a play list in the order of genre, the singers, or simply mingled randomly. You could start creating a play list by first identifying the songs you want from a sea of sources available on the Net or around.

It is possible also to convert your collection of songs stored in audio CDs into MP3 files using the ripper and encoder software. Quite a few MP3 players available in the market are already equipped with the software required. Aided by a ripper, you could copy a song from the CD onto the hard disk of a computer. With the help of an encoder, the song could be compressed into the MP3 format. Encoded songs can be downloaded on the MP3 player and there you have a treasure of music to enjoy.

Copyrights protected article written by Andrew Stratton for http://www.surveillancetechnology.com. More articles and information about the spy camera products can be viewed easily altogether at this location http://www.surveillancetechnology.com/entertainment-system.htm. Please be free to explore the website for more information on every surveillance products and their features.Kandy Blog36544
Kiele Blog97431

The Biggest Mistake Women Make in Relationships

Jan loved her husband and three children, and had a successful job as a computer programmer. However, her family, her beautiful home, and expensive car were not making her happy. Jan felt guilty for being miserable and complaining to her loyal husband. "After all," she told me at her first counseling session, "I have more than others, and much more than my parents did. Why am I so depressed?"

To assist Jan to find her answers, I guided her through a process I developed called HART, which stands for Holistic and Rapid Transformation. I have a favorite saying, "Close your eyes and see clearly." So I said, "Jan, I believe that your answers are inside of you. So close your eyes and relax so that we can explore your issues." Then I guided Jan to visualize both her mother and herself standing in front of her, and to tell me if she noticed any similarities. Jan replied, "Yes, we look a lot alike and we both seem inhibited." Then I asked Jan, "What do you want to say to either one or both of them?" Jan said, "Mom and Jan lighten up. Do what you love doing. Be happy!"

With those freeing thoughts, Jan automatically took a deep breath of relief. Then I continued, "Jan, do you see any differences between your mother and yourself?" She commented, "Yes. My mother stayed home with my sister and I, and like a dutiful wife took care of her husband and the house. Whereas I have a profession and I earn lots of money."

"However, Jan," I continued, "is computer work what you really want to do?" "Not really," said Jan. "In fact, I hate it. It's boring!" When I asked Jan why she was doing that kind of work, she informed me that when she had married her husband, Bob, she had agreed to bring in a certain amount of money too so that they could have their high standard of living. Jan admitted that her expensive home in her upper class neighborhood felt like a trap. She felt boxed in with no way out. "Growing up in a lower class neighborhood wasn't any fun either. I had thought that working hard and raising my standard of living would make me happy. But it hasn't."

"Was your mother happy, Jan?" I inquired.

"No, not really. When I was a teenager my mother shared with me that she always wanted to be a dancer but had given up her dream for her family. Her husband, my father, had insisted that she be the good wife'. Mom felt that she had to follow her mother's model of stifling her desires to play the role of wife and mother. When I asked my mom if she was sorry that she had made that choice, she told me, with an unemotional voice, that she was grateful for her good, secure life, but felt as though she had given up something.

Mom even admitted to me that she probably took out her resentments on her husband by withholding affection and spending lots of his money. She was feeling guilty for the times her resentments caused her to be impatient with my sister and I."

When I asked Jan what decision she was making from that conversation, she said, "I'm deciding that women have to play their roles as wife and mother. But Helene," she went on to explain, "I thought I had also made the decision that I would be different. I would work outside of the home and have more freedom than my mother did."

"You did," I replied, "But you seem to be doing what you think you should be doing to make money, and to please your husband and your children, and not what you really want to do. Both you and your mother made what I have noticed to be the biggest mistake women make in relationships. Both of you gave up your dream, gave up being who you really are, and that is why you are unhappy. In a way, we can say that you chose to give your power to your husbands and then resented them for it."

Jan related to what I was saying and then admitted to me that her secret dream was to be an actress. "Ever since I was a little girl," Jan shared, "I loved being on the stage. I especially liked to play funny parts and make people laugh. Everyone is so serious, we need to laugh more. Golly, I just realized that ever since I got married, I automatically became one of those serious folks."

When I asked Jan why she didn't pursue her dream, she replied, "I didn't think that I could make enough money being an actress. Bob didn't give me much support in that direction either. He persuaded me to keep my well-paying position."

"Jan," I continued, "Have you been resenting him for not encouraging you to follow your dream?"

"Oh yes!" exclaimed Jan. "I don't get up to make him breakfast and my dinners are pretty bad, if I do say so myself. I also won't keep to the budget and I don't have much sexual desire. Gee, I just realized that I'm doing just what my mother did, including getting angry at my sons. What should I do?"

I suggested to Jan that she bring Bob into the office so that she can share her truth with him, and I can help him hear her and work out some win-win solutions. Jan was hesitant to make an appointment with Bob until after she succeeded in overcoming her other blocks to being an actress. She had discovered in the counseling process that she unconsciously didn't feel good enough or that she didn't deserve to be happy. (Those are very common fears that stop many people from going after their dream.)

When Bob finally did come in, Jan was feeling clearer and more powerful, and she asked Bob for what she wanted. Jan told him all about her dream and admitted to resenting him for not supporting her. By the end of the session, Bob was understanding his wife better and was willing to do what it took in order for her to be happy. I acknowledged Bob for being flexible and for truly loving his wife. I said, "When you have a mature love for someone, you truly want them to be happy."

I was not surprised but I was pleased when I received an invitation in the mail to attend Jan's first performance. She wrote a note that it was not a big part but she knew that it was a good beginning. What a joy it was to see Jan glowing on the stage. Even though I knew that it was scary for her, she looked very excited and as if she belonged up there. At the end of the delightful performance, Bob came over to give me a hug. He also looked a lot happier and was obviously very proud of his wife.

Helene Rothschild, MS, MA, MFT, is a Marriage, Family Therapist, intuitive counselor, author, speaker, and teacher. Her new book, All You Need Is HART! Create Love, Joy, and Abundance-Now!" is a unique guide to Holistic And Rapid Transformation. She offers phone sessions, teleclasses, a self-help on-line program, inspirational books, e-books, MP3 audios, tapes, cards, posters, independent studies, and a free newsletter. http://www.lovetopeace.com , 1-888-639-6390.Kip Blog85491
Kellia Blog97095

Internet Marketing - Some Do's and Don'ts

If you're new to internet marketing, it can be quite confusing and overwhelming. You've decided on an idea, done your research and determined that there is a market for your idea, developed a web site and now you're ready to take the plunge into the world of internet marketing.

Internet marketing isn't as complicated as it might seem -- there's no particular mystery to it. You just have to know where to start and what proper steps to take to help get your site seen on the web and ranked by the search engines. The first step in your internet marketing plan is to write a press release announcing your new site and pointing out the benefits and features of it that makes it useful to the public. It doesn't have to be long -- about 300 words or so -- but it does have to sound newsworthy. One thing you should keep in mind is to be sure you have your relevant keywords in the title, subtitle and liberally sprinkled throughout the text. Also, you'll want to write it from a third person point of view and make sure it doesn't sound like an advertisement. Also, keep it mundane, i.e., something suitable for a general audience.

The next step in advancing your internet marketing goals should be to write an article and submit it for online publishing. Again, it doesn't have to be long (about 500 to 800 words). Again, you'll want to have the right keywords in the title and spread throughout the text. For example, this piece has the term internet marketing in the title and interspersed in the body of the text as this is what it is being optimized for. A good place to submit your articles is SubmitYOURArticle.com. For a monthly subscription, they'll submit your editorials for you to top sites, thereby giving you great exposure. We've used their services ourselves and found it to be superb. Both the press release and writing articles are two important steps on the road to internet marketing success.

The next stop on the internet marketing highway is to generate some free traffic to your site. Two ways to accomplish this are to post on forums that are relevant to your subject matter (with your URL in your signature line) and getting listed in directories in the appropriate categories. The press release and the article(s) should help to generate a lot of free traffic via the backlinks pointing to your site as they are published and distributed, but hey, the more traffic, the better! Beware of internet marketing services claiming to list your site in a ton of directories -- most aren't worth the money. Also beware of internet marketing companies claiming they can get you high placement on the search engines. We tried this and it didn't work. You may come across yet other internet marketing companies saying they can send targeted traffic to your site for a fee, of course. We tried this, too, and it didn't work either! We have yet to come across any internet marketing company promising this or that who can actually deliver what they say they can by way of placement or traffic.

Basically, what it boils down to is that your internet marketing success is mostly dependent on your own efforts and wisely choosing services and software that will genuinely help you achieve your internet marketing goals.

About the Author:

Murray Williams is one of the owners of HelpfulInternetMarketing, a site that is designed to help the new entrepreneur just starting out. After having met many dead ends in his own internet marketing journeys, he decided to develop this site and assist others by offering quality articles and software that have been screened for their usefulness. To view the site and the articles and software, please visit HelpfulInternetMarketing .

Murray Williams is one of the owners of HelpfulInternetmarketing, a site that is designed to help the new entrepreneur just starting out. After having met many dead ends in his own internet marketing journeys, he decided to develop this site and assist others by offering quality articles and software that have been screened for their usefulness. To view the site and the articles and software, please visit HelpfulInternetMarketing at: http://www.helpfulinternetmarketing.com.Korie Blog85759
Karola Blog34137

Engines Of Creation (Book Reviews)

Despite a massive assault by its critics, Engines of Creation is a truly revolutionary work, and Eric Drexler should be commended for launching a worldwide discussion on the topic of molecular manufacturing (MM), or molecular nanotechnology (MNT), as some refer to it. First of all, this is a book that needs to be updated, as the opening chapters deal in-depth with protein design and a later chapter tries to paint a picture of a future network of information known as "the Internet". But the remainder of the book is timeless. (Update: Since this review, Engines of Creation has been updated and replaced by Engines of Creation 2.0)

The true merit of Engines of Creation comes not from the argument of whether or not manipulation of individual molecules is possible. We already know that it is. Our bodies are filled with nature's own molecular machines. But the true worth of this book stems from its assumption that such technology will develop into a worldwide enterprise and will have enormous consequences for the human experience. The importance of the examination and study of those consequences cannot be overstated, and Drexler formed the Foresight Institute in an attempt to grapple with many of these issues. (Although personally, I recommend The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology as the best "think-tank" on molecular manufacturing's benefits and dangers).

The power to thoroughly and inexpensively control the structure of matter will effect every aspect of the human experience, and although it is a worthy endeavor to speculate on the implications for medicine, space exploration, ending poverty, etc., none of these benefits will be realized if we fail to work out a reasonable system of governance once molecular manufacturing becomes reality. The development of this technology will lead to the creation of new weapons of destructive power, possibly give rise to demagogues, and provide the conditions necessary to precipitate a dangerous, and possibly world-threatening, arms race between competing MM-enabled nation states. Although we have faced these concerns since the dawn of the Nuclear Age, it remains unclear as to whether or not the same principles of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) will still apply. Engines of Creation sparks the debate on how we will deal with the new problems that arise from man's ability to manipulate molecules, and in doing so, it provides an invaluable service to the human race.

Those concerned about our future and the world in which we live should read this book, because molecular manufacturing will define our future.

Britt GilletteKora Blog58911
Kip Blog85491

Child Care For the Busy Parent

When you are someone that wants to make sure that your child has everything that they need, you may want to have some kind of child home care. Some times parents work away from home and they do not want to take their child to a day care facility. When this is the case, they will have a home childcare worker come in and take care of the children each day.

A home child care worker is someone that is willing to take care of a child in their home and make sure they have all their needs and wants met. You will find that there are a lot of people that want to do this type of work for a living. Many times a home child care worker will be someone that the parents like and trust as well as the children feel good about too.

Getting child care at home is something that the parents often times have to pay substantial money for. They will have to find the childcare worker (sometimes called or referred to as a nanny) that they want and pay for the total expense of their work. This could include transporation. Finding someone to take care of your children inside your home is not always easy, but there are agencies that will help you locate, screen, and qualify your child caretaker. You will have to do a lot of research so that you are sure the person that you hire is gong to do a great job and be someone that you can trust with your precious package.

Pros and Cons of Home Child Care

If you are thinking about home child care, be aware that there are many pros and cons.

Not all are obvious. We discuss a few of them here.

First the pros: Probably among the top "pros" is the convenience for the parents. In addition, the child may have more normal sleep patterns. Depending upon the care giver, the child (or children) will probably receive better and more personal individual care. The child will be comfortable in a familiar setting. The Parent(s), not the institution, can control the diet and food quality. If there is a child with a contagious illness, the home cared child will not be exposed to it. The advantages seem obvious.

Then there are cons. First and as a direct correlation to the "pro" is the convenience factor.. but in this case, the convenience comes at the risk of having essentially one child care provider. If that person becomes ill, or for some reason becomes unreliable, then the convenience is all gone. The child being at home is not exposed to other children and social skill development in these very early years, particularly before age five. We list "diet" as a pro.. but on the con side, possibly the parent is not as careful in planning a balanced meal program. Then there's the exposure to "germs" and "disease". Maybe that's not all bad as these factors lead to building a child's immunity, and without this exposure, immunity could be slower to develop. Lastly, there's the cost. In all probability, personal child care is at least double, if not more, the costs of a group child care facility.

Getting home childcare is a great advantage because you will not have to take the child out of the home daily. You will find it much easier when the childcare provider comes to your home. You will not have to worry about where the child is and what they are doing.

You will also not have to worry about other children being around your child and causing harm to them. You should feel secure knowing that your child is safe at home with a qualified home childcare provider.

The childcare provider that you have coming into your home is going to offer a list of different services. You will see that they will feed your child as well as play with them when they would like. You can also find some home child care workers that will teach your children basics that they need to have in order to grow productively. There are many great reasons why you should try to have a home care provider for your wonderful children. You should look into the different ways this type of childcare can help you the most.

One of your first steps is to compile a list of what you want and expect from your new "nanny". Then list the various ways you might have for finding this person.Classified ads, references from other parents, agencies and even the internet as nannies advertise there. If you live in a metropolitan area, you may have greater resources. KNOW your budget. Will this person be offered "live in" arrangements? If so, get a contract and state the hours of work and when he or she is free. Lastly, don't forget the tax implications. If you hire them as an employee, you will be obligated to pay employer type taxes. If you are not familiar with this, check with an accountant. Also see if these costs are deductible.

Then finally, don't just interview the prospective child care provider, but get solid references. If you do your homework properly, you'll have great satisfaction in knowing your child or children are getting the best of care.

Ruth Leitch is an Internet publisher and excerpts part of her new book, "Child Care for the Busy Parent" in this article. Her full work on this subject can be found at http://childcare.worldwideinfo.com and IS AVAILABLE IN DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO MP3 format.Kelci Blog12189
Katrina Blog57211

Subliminal Messaging CDs - At The Frontiers Of Technology And Psychoanalysis

Our Thoughts, Our Subconscious, Our Life

In the past few years, subliminal messaging has entrenched itself as an effective technique to address issues pertaining to one's mental makeup. Whether it is our anxiety about our performance in bed, our wilting away at the slightest criticism, our indecisiveness in those life-defining moments, our consistent failures in business, the butterflies that flutter in our stomach when appearing in an interview ... it is now known that the root of our problems lie in the way our subconscious is programmed. It is through subliminal messaging that we can rewire our subconscious, in order to feel in total control during sex, be immune to criticism, be decisive in those life-defining moments, taste success after success in business, hold our own during that interview ... (Readers interested in my articles on the virtues of subliminal messaging may browse through my blog, http://success-nirvana.blogspot.com.

As the concept of subliminal messaging gains both depth and acceptability with people, the demand for deploying the technique in different avatars has grown. For instance, there are softwares that flash positive subliminal messages on the screen while you work on the computer. Then there are subliminal-message-CDs that you can relax with, while sitting on the patio or waiting for your turn at the doctor's clinic. These CDs have subliminal messages embedded in soft, soothing music. The messages are grouped under specific categories: so you can buy a CD that focuses on self-confidence thoughts, there's another on summoning enough courage to face the exams, yet another on quitting smoking, and so on. The earlier versions of these CDs were a stream of nice music, laced with messages spoken by a human voice in low volume, and that was that. But in recent years, researchers have come up with different techniques with which to deliver the same message but more effectively.

Some of the widely respected CDs have the following four components incorporated in their soundtrack.

Binaural Beats

As every high-school student of physics knows, a "beat" is a sound that emerges when two different sounds that have slightly different pitch are produced simultaneously. This beat is produced by the interference of these sound waves vibrating in the air. Human ears are geared to pick up this nuance in the sound waves quite naturally. There is a special; auditory nerve (known in science as the vestibulocochlear nerve - quite a mouthful, isn't it?) that carries encoded sound from each cochlea right through the thalamus to the auditory cortex of the brain. Now there are specific cells in the cortex that vibrate at exactly the frequency that the corresponding ear is hearing. Another part of the cortex integrates the two frequencies. The result? The same interference that happens in the air happens in the brain, too, and the overall listening cognition is that of a beat!

Now how is this binaural beat thingy relevant to subliminal messaging, you might ask. The low frequency of the beat in the auditory cortex stimulates, through an as-yet-unknown process, the basal forebrain to generate theta waveforms. And this is exactly the state the brain acquires when a person meditates. The brain, in this state, is now ready to process incoming signals that the beats are carrying - which are the recording of subliminal messages in a human voice.

Fascinating, isn't it?

The Subliminal Messages, themselves

As mentioned earlier, CDs are available on specific, focused categories. When you buy a CD, it usually has an accompanying MP3 file containing messages spoken in audible human voice, too; so you know exactly what is entering your subconscious when you are playing the CD.

In the main soundtrack, the actual human voice that talks to you does so at so low decibel levels, that try as you might, you are not able to hear them. Yet, the same voice rides on the music waves dancing at two different pitches, and pings on your subconscious precisely when the beats get created on your auditory cortex.

In a sixty-minute recording, the first third of the soundtrack is usually pure subliminal messages, beamed at you sequentially and cyclically.

Reverse Messages

Remember the Beatles' song - "Rain" - that was released in 1966? One of the reasons it hogged the limelight was its last verse, which was sung in reverse; that is, the words made sense when the recording was played backwards. That was the first time interest in backward messaging, or "backmasking" as it came to be known as, developed.

Credit goes to Australian researcher David John Oates for the pioneering work on "Reverse Speech" and to bring this concept to world attention. He observed that when any recorded human speech is played backwards, embedded in the nonsensical audio can be detected very clear and intelligible statements. David suggests that human communication takes place at two levels: the first is the surface-level, audible communication that we trap through our conscious ears; and the second is a deeper communication that is not audible to our conscious ears, but which our subconscious is very much attuned to. When a person is speaking outwardly, the tumult of thoughts and emotions which is taking place in their subconscious is revealed in the second level of their communication, but which can only become known when the voice is recorded and played in reverse. The point relevant to us here is that the subconscious does not require any reverse playing: it is well able to catch the underlying message on its own.

Some subliminal-message-CDs in the market have brilliantly captured this concept in their product. About one third of the CD is recorded with the same set of subliminal messages, but in the reverse direction.

Stereo Confusion

As all music aficionados know, stereo playback gives an illusion of the music band playing right in front of you - one instrument strumming on your left, another soft-thumping on your right... the works. On your headphone, music streams to your two ears riding on different "channels" that are encoded separately.

In Subliminal Messaging CDs, the sound-recordist uses these channels to stream two different messages to you _simultaneously_. This means that at the conscious level, you get to hear noise ("confusion"). But unbeknown to you, your subconscious is still able to sift through the two different messages (remember the different cells in your auditory cortex tap-dancing to the different frequencies?), and make sense of what is being said. Very importantly, since the conscious mind ignores these seemingly gibberish voices, it does not filter them at all, and the messages get a chance to reach the subconscious directly. And that is what we want, don't we? :)

Most respectable CDs worth their salt have the final one-third of their soundtrack filled with this stereo confusion.

Final Word

I have experimented with subliminal messaging ever since they emerged on the world market as a packaged product for self-development. In a very short period of time, this New Age concept has emerged from the recording room of audiophiles and bright psychoacoustics researchers to bloom into a million dollar industry in its own right. Experts in subliminal messaging keep their ear to the ground to tap into any new invention in sound engineering, or any new discovery about human psyche, and build the same into their product. In case you have not given your battered and bruised subconscious a chance to rejuvenate itself already, now is the time to do so. Go for the best subliminal messaging CD in the market, and watch your own transformation. (If you ask me, this is the site where I have found very good quality CDs, http://www.subliminal-audio.com/cds/.)

Sanjay Agrawal is a Business Coach, counsellor and self-development enthusiast. His blog can be surfed here, http://success-nirvana.blogspot.com; click on David John Oates' site, http://www.reversespeech.com/home.htm for further reading on Reverse Speech. Some very good quality CDs that incorporate all the four components above can be bought from this site, http://www.subliminal-audio.com/cds/.Kellia Blog43260
Kelcy Blog93863

Why Flash?

Many possible technologies exist that can power web based games. Php, HTML, CGI and Java amongst them, but the most common plugin used to design browser games by far is Adobe Flash, previously known as Macromedia Flash. One of the biggest reasons for this is that Flash has become a definite web standard.

Many PCs come with the Flash player installed. It is compatible with Linux, Apple Mac, BSD, cellphones, PDAs and a whole host of other devices. Over 520 million unique installations of Flash have been recorded, and it has been around since the days of Windows 98. This statistic accounts for approximately 95% of all Internet users.

Flash Player is also a free download, so if the user does not have it, it's only a few seconds and negligible bandwidth away, no matter the platform. Likewise, Adobe Flash is a comparably cheap product for the developers, and time input required is minimal to create simple games, compared to using other technologies.

A powerful but often overlooked feature of Flash is that it makes small files. For ten megabytes, in Flash, you can get a full featured game. This helps Flash to appeal to dialup or slower broadband users where Java or C couldn't. Flash can also use database connectivity to save scoreboards, progress and account details, which is rare in a format so smooth.

Flash is efficient, applets made in it tend to run on computers that you'd be hard-pressed to find outside of an antique shop. It is the empowering technology of choice on a certain well-known pet site, which almost certainly has users on dialup and on poor computers.

Something to remember is that Browser Games have a completely different TA (target audience) than that of AAA list games. Browser games are made for the casual player, someone who wants to play immediately and at his/her convenience, as such it must load fast, play fast and keep the user's interest. Developing a successful Flash game is very difficult, because generally if a user becomes disinterested, one or two clicks will take him/her to a completely different game.

So, what about monetizing a Flash game? Well, the standard is based on the shareware model. You have a teaser version of a game on a website and then allow users to download a 'Deluxe' build for a set fee. Often the producer will allow lots of sites to list their 'teaser' games; this is a clever form of viral marketing.

Possibly the most solid reason to use Flash is that it would always be fairly easy to find people willing to draw in the Flash SWF vector format. Other technologies would require external animation but with Flash, the motion, the drawing and the script can all be done in a single interface.

Graphical objects within this interface can have specified alpha values, positionings, angles of rotation, explosion effects and many built in motion tweening effects. It is this versatility and built in function that makes it a real joy to work with.

Flash is fast-becoming the only standard for browser based gaming, because it requires no real programming knowledge. The scripting language is very well explained on several websites, and in the included tutorials.

But the main reason? Simple. There are many very dedicated sites out there which will effectively get your product out for free. Even if all the other points in this article didn't exist, it is the only format with true open distribution.

Jonathan White has been involved with free online flash and shockwave games for over 4 years. He owns http://games.simplysearch4it.com & http://games.simplysearch4it.co.ukKellina Blog18052
Kelcie Blog29139

Gadgetized RSS For Corporate Intranet Feeds

Have you heard anything about software gadgets/widgets? These are small visually reach software pieces that are hosted by products like Google Desktop, Microsoft Vista Sidebar, Yahoo! Widgets, Apple Dashboard, and some other always-on-top ribbon-like applications. Looks like all the software giants really intend to use the extra screen space that is available now on our pretty large modern screens

And you have definitely heard about RSS the way Web news are transmitted from site to site or from site to desktop in our days, enabling to aggregate them and get nearly in real time.

What I would like to tell you about is how these two could make a corporate intranet ecosystem effective, easy-to-customize, and more attractive to the users (employees).

Nearly all companies now have their own intranet, an internal site that contains the information the employees need, we all saw it. But is it really friendly and attractive to make an employee visit these web-pages or regular basis while presenting all these boringly resembling each other pages? What if an employee needs/wants to check some information pretty frequently, 5 times a day, each hour, or closely to real time (say, it is a company quote )? Yes, RSS would help, but it still needs to be delivered, it is possible, as always, through a whole lot of existing RSS-reader applications, but this means that an employee still needs to switch to this application all the time.

So what looks to be really useful for such purposes is small elegant visually reach applications that can hang on the screen all the time while not taking a lot of screen room yes gadgets/widgets for a standard gadget platform, like Google Desktop, that would enable a user to build his/her own information environment.

Our development team, Apexoft, has developed some Google Desktop RSS gadgets that can be used as a creeping line, teletype, picture rotator, or even to transform RSS feeds to speech. While mostly providing these to the individuals, we think they can be extremely valuable for corporate environment.

Thanks!
Alexey Polkovnikov,
Apexoft Team
http://www.apexoft.com

Alexey PolkovnikovKalindi Blog91144
Katrina Blog43171

Hitting The Mark In Marketing

If you want to hit the mark of success in your marketing efforts, then you have to be sharply focused on what you're selling and to whom. Like a double-edged sword if you like.

Let's use the business opportunity niche as an example.

Business opportunities are a dime a dozen. What sets yours apart from the crowd? Why would anyone or I want to join?

This is called your unique selling point. The question is, do you have one?

This is what you must promote to get the success you desire.

It could be a product feature, a superior level of support service, a product's versatility, an aspect of your guarantee or something that's original about the opportunity. If you're not sure what your unique selling point is, then brainstorm with your mentors and peers to identify it.

If you don't have one, then go back to the drawing board.

Create one if it's your own product. If it's not, then talk to the owner of the product with a suggestion or two.

This in itself is an opportunity. Alternatively you could market it with additional products or services to make it unique.

The other edge to your marketing sword is your target market.

You must drill down to where the buyers are. If you use email marketing then make sure they are optin for business opportunities and not something else. If you advertise in ezines, then make sure the ezine is focused on business opportunities.

If you use adsense then you can get an income by carefully selected keywords. If you are an affiliate marketer then make sure your landing page is optimized with keywords.

This combination can either promote your product's unique selling point to your targeted niche market or it sends targeted traffic to see your product focusing on its unique selling point, depending on which form of marketing you use.

Experiment with all forms of marketing and track the results to find out where you are getting the best results.

Remember if you are buying traffic "hits", they are not necessarily targeted to your niche. 100 targeted visitors to your site may be of much greater than a million hits from all the extremities of the web. So pay close attention to where they originate.

If they're good quality make sure you capture them with an optin offer to your mailing list, then treat them like gold. Give them quality content in your emails and not just continual pressure to buy your products. Don't send too many emails on a regular basis and never give their address to anyone else. Ask yourself would you want to receive the emails you send or would you opt out?

Ray Burton is an internet marketer providing resources for newbies and experienced marketers. Check out his recommendation for a home based business at: http://www.cyberchoices.info.Katharine Blog19145
Klarika Blog93029

Make More Sales By Making Optimized Web Pages

So you'd like to be an Internet Marketer, marketing products or services on the Internet and live the good life that financial success can bring you. But how do you get to that point? How do you get a successful Internet business started?

Studies prove simple web sites can sale just as effectively as, or even better than, elaborately designed, phenomenal looking websites. Maybe you used your friend to make a web site for you and now you're sitting back waiting on the dollars. Perhaps you purchased FrontPage, Dreamweaver, GoLive, or another web site software product and have been making your own sites. Most people who try to make money on the Internet fail miserably, have you?

Let me share a another secret with you. It's not hard to learn HTML and CSS. It's not hard to make simple web page that can be very effective at selling. One of the problems with full blown software packages like FrontPage or Dreamweaver is that it makes it very easy to keep adding to and tweaking your web site until its way too busy to be an effective sales tool. I create the majority of my web sites by directly editing the HTML, ASP, or PHP code in a text editor. There are times that I will do an initial layout in a package such as FrontPage and do the remainder of the work using a text editor tool. This is especially true for pages that are interactive, like a page that contains a form to collect user data and populate a database such as mySQL, or a page that pull data from a database to create dynamic output.

Let me share one last secret with you. The pages you create to sell something are probably not very effective at selling, unless you're already successful, and experienced, at marketing and copywriting. When I first saw a sales page that had been optimized based on statistical analysis of successful and unsuccessful sales pages I was dismayed. I just knew that it was too simple and too plain to sell anything... I was not only wrong, I was dead wrong. I base my sales pages on this same statistically proven design, it's clean and simple and there's nothing complex or hard to about creating it. The main things are that you constrain the text in an area that's around 800 pixels wide and that you have a white background in this area. You can have a boarder around this body area and the page itself can be black or white. You can see an example at my web site.

I've given you three secrets that can make your web site more successful and more profitable. Don't just sit there, make it happen.

Fred Black has created an easy to follow, hands on, instructional video at http://www.WebSiteTrainingOnline.com, called An Introduction to Creating Web Sites.Karin Blog16241
Kelila Blog97155

eConnect and Microsoft Dexterity: Dynamics GP development tools comparison notes

This article is dedicated to Microsoft Great Plains eCommerce and web software development primarily, plus Microsoft Dynamics GP customization, integration, data conversion and reporting. As software programmer you should know where one customization realm exists and where it has boundaries: new and legacy technologies, such as Microsoft Great Plains Dexterity, eConnect, VBA & GP Integration Manager

eConnect was initially introduced for e-commerce web developers, enabling them to link ecommerce web site with Microsoft Dynamics GP on the back end as accounting or ERP

Dexterity. This technology was introduced in late 1980th and earlier 1990th as EDI and programming language (sanscript) for new Great Plains Software MRP platform Great Plains Dynamics, coming up to replace former ERP Great Plains Accounting (available for DOS and MS Windows in 1990th and earlier). Dexterity was archtectured to provide computer graphical platform independence (remember software platform battles: Microsoft Windows, MAC OS, Solaris, etc.) and SQL and DB platform relative independence and portability. Dexterity was securing Great Plains Dynamics future, regardless on who wins on both: computer operating system and database directions

Programmers pools. Dexterity programmers are not often found on the job and consulting market nowadays, however they were available in late 1990th and earlier 2000th. eConnect in turn uses modern Microsoft technologies, such as .Net, c#, VB, SQL scripting, MS Visual Studio, as well as universal new software development tools, such as XML web services, eConnect gives you as a developer access to the set of Dynamics GP objects: Customer, Vendor, Sales Order, etc. So, it would be probably fair to say, that eConnect programmers are available on the market, and even if universal .Net developer is not familiar with eConnect yet he will read documentation and will be able to program in a very short turning time

eConnect flexibility. Being reflection (so far) of what was initially created on GPS Dexterity platform, econnect, has restrictions on the subset of objects its scope is broad, but limited in comparison to original Dexterity. Another eConnect limitation is posting (and SOP order transfer to invoices and backorders)

Dexterity flexibility. Being legacy platform, dex should be considered with certain level of respect, however with the software development tool life cycle precaution

Recommendations. If you need to cross eConnect limitation boundaries, you should rescue to Dexterity development. Dexterity developers should have access to Dexterity source code (DYNAMICS.DIC with sanscript code) in this scenario your customization possibilities are unlimited.

Please feel free to call us: 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, help@albaspectrum.com skype: albaspectrum

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group ( http://www.albaspectrum.com http://www.enterlogix.com.br ), serving clients in IL, TX, CA, IN, WI, MI, NY, FL, CO, GA, LA, WA, NV, AZ, KA, plus we can help you internationally, where GP is supported: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, Pakistan, Middle East, UK, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela. We are ready with large scale customization and industry solutions: Aerospace & Defense, Oil & Gas, Distribution & Logistics, Manufacturing & Assembling, Consignment & Warehouse Management (incl. Barcode Solutions), Beverages, Suply Chain Management, and others.Kandace Blog66610
Katleen Blog9972

The HD Media Future

The HD Media future

Everyone knows that media format wars have historical significance in the world of technology. Remember the most notorious battle between the Beta max and the VHS? The winner of such battles will make millions even billions. Later we had the upgrade of tape to CD, a revolution in music. In 1980 the Philips/Sony compact disc standard was finalized and nobody has looked back for the last 26 years (until mp3's came along).

Well as ever there is a new media battle but who will win again is yet unknown. This modern forest of technological mass has produced a new insurgency: THE HIGH DEFINITION WAR. Blu-ray vs HD-DVD are two competing formats which are eventually going to replace DVD's. As you look around at your local electric retailers you can see changes happening in the broadcast world, not only are we changing from our conventional CRT screens to Flat screen but also to HD ready TV. The impact this has on our lives is not as large as black and white to colour, but nevertheless a change that will definitely be a benchmark for future media.

Why New formats?

The reason we have introduced these new formats is that your traditional DVD can hold a maximum of 9.4 GB (Dual Layer) of information. This is not enough for HD broadcast as the information required is higher, being a resolution of 1920x1080. Blu-ray discs can hold 50 GB (Dual Layer) and HD-DVD 30 GB (Dual Layer).

These new discs cannot be played on normal DVD players but on new HD media players of which examples are Samsung BDP 1000 (Blu-Ray), Sony Playstation 3 (Blu-Ray), Toshiba HDXA1 (HD-DVD). This means spending more money for better resolution.

Price

This is always important especially when new models of media come out; at first it is always expensive as supply out strips demand. The players are expensive, the cheapest being the Playstation 3 supposedly retailing at 549. Blu-Ray media also being expensive; similar to DVD's when they first came out (taking inflation into consideration), blank media costing from 11.99 to 24.99.

To play a Blu-ray Disc on a PC has brought about a price concern. The fact that you have to purchase a HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) Graphic card, along with a HD monitor, not to mention a Blu-ray Drive and media, controversially may bring about decrease in sales. This is presently being contested with new Laptops and PCs that are Blu-ray compatible, look at the New Vaio VGN-AR21S.

The HD players need to be up to scratch on price. The Toshiba HD-DVD player retailing at almost half the price of the Blu-ray Samsung player creates even more competition between the two media. This could encourage sales of HD-DVD over Blu-ray, even though it's rumoured that Toshiba will be making a loss initially.

Prices of movies doesn't seem to be as high as anticipated; a Blu-ray movie 'House of flying daggers' from amazon.com will set you back $19.95 (10.68). This may encourage sales. Movies in HD-DVD identical in price, yet Blu-ray is a larger size disc.

Upscaling

Another problem HD may face is that the new DVD players have the upscaling technology ie. DVD is played at 480p but upscalers upgrade the image to 720p or 1080i. This produces a picture which is of high quality to the untrained eye, in fact even the trained eye has difficulty distinguishing between the two. The difference is seen on a 50 inch HD projector and looking right up close. So the question is will 1080p be much different to 1080i? Will people fork out the added expense when they know that a cheaper DVD upscaler will create more or less the same effect?

Media Backup

Software and Hardware companies have invested a lot of money in subsidising HD media. Samsung, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, LG, Sony, TDK, JVC and Sharp support Blu-ray and Toshiba and Microsoft back HD-DVD. Hollywood movie studios Disney, Paramount, Warner, Sony, Eagle rock, Fox and MGM and Lions gate support Blu-ray also. None of these large companies would take such a gamble if they didn't know that this is what the consumer wants.

PlayStation 3

Sony love to bring out their own media whether its Sony Duo Sticks or Sony Mini Discs. Their hunger to dominate the consumer market has always been there and this is nothing different. The Playstation 3 will play Blu-Ray discs, still having the ability to play older media like DVDs and CDs. The success of the predecessor's PS1 and PS2 will give much anticipation to the release of this new console and is what Sony are hoping will convert people to use Blu-Ray. A Sony spokesman has predicted that Blu-Ray will dominate the HD market within 12 months.

The encouraging feature with HD-DVD is the name, everyone's ears will ring with the name and automatically assume that this is a high definition movie. Asking someone in the street what 'Blu-ray' is will bring looks of confusion, along with the fact that both will produce similar quality pictures.

Region Coding

Region coding with Blu-Ray may put people off; the fact that you may not be able to watch a new release from the states or Japan on your European locked regional player will raise eyebrows.

REGION 1 South America, North America, East Asia (except China)
REGION 2 Europe and Africa
REGION 3 China, Russia other Countries

Multiregional configurations on DVD players has encouraged sales worldwide especially with worldwide films from Bollywood, Japan (manga) and South America.

So far the HD-DVD camp has not announced region coding just yet, and if they don't then this will be very advantageous for consumers.

Future Proof

Realistically you only need about 15-20 GB for a feature length film in High definition but who would have known that DVD's could not be able to hold enough for high definition. Theoretically they can with MPEG-4 Compression. In any case media like Blu-ray will hopefully be future proof in years to come.

Conclusion

The timescale and price are the two main issues here, how quick we will universally change to HD and whether this is affordable. From a consumer point of view the necessity for HD doesn't seem imperative, after all VHS was around for 20 odd years twice that of DVD (so far). You could argue that technology is changing exponentially and that changes occur quicker.

As for the battle between the two media there may be compromise ahead. A UK firm has announced a solution to the media war. London-based New Medium Enterprises (NME) has developed a low-cost, multilayer DVD disc that can store Blu-ray content on one layer and HD DVD content on another. This would leave the consumer with the choice of buying either type of player to play the one disc.

The key setback I feel with the looming HD change is the cheaper alternative to a Blu-Ray player or HD-DVD player, the DVD upscaler. Do people want to get rid of those hundreds of DVDs they bought to replace them with an expensive alternative, especially when they might not even notice the difference in picture quality?

However I do feel that HD is encouraged with consoles such as the Playstation 3. Blu-ray is its main format and may revolutionise the games industry.

Jay Jeetley is a writer for the website http://www.Blu-raychoice.com, a resource for Blu-ray News, movies, forums and media.Kimmy Blog31761
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Direct Success With A Computer Programming Degree

A computer programming degree is one of the most sought after degrees in the field of information technology. While it is often mistaken as one of the easier areas of IT, the truth of the matter is: those who do not have an aptitude for detail or the ability to think in an abstract manner may not find it as easy as they assume it is. A computer programmer is one who, like other hands on vocations, must work with extreme precision and craftsmanship.

At the same time, many people choose computer programming because it is not a deep or multi faceted subject as that of chemistry, physics or other material sciences. While computer science has its own theories, it is not the center of the world for computer programming. Many enjoy computer programming for its physical, hands on approach.

One of the things that can make earning a computer programming degree much easier is a natural tendency for paying attention to detail. Unknown to many, computers are simple machines that will only do as they are instructed. A programmer whose job is to set forth directives knows that leaving out even the smallest part of information can cause major problems.

Another helpful skill to have is that of a good memory. The number of variables that go into a computer program concerning syntax, functions, bugs, solutions and much more can be quite staggering. However, the more information and data one can remember on their own, the more successful their career will be.

Some would say the most crucial skill for this line of work is being able to keep a number of complex working systems in mind all at once. While this will take some time and skill to master, it is one of the great traits of a computer programmer. This ability to think abstractly can help with programs exhibiting up to 1,000,000 or more lines of code.

Typically, a Bachelor's degree is required for many entry-level positions in this field. Those who graduate with a Bachelor's degree will have training in analytics and the implementation of computer systems as well as maintenance and even design. With this type of computer programming degree one may find themselves with career opportunities in software programming, network programming or website programming.

A master's degree in computer programming allows graduates to implement high-level software programs. Because of the ever-changing world of technology, they often design software for business environments that greatly rely on technology as well. While being trained in a number of different programs, those with Master's degrees also put their leadership skills into use as the head or director of IT departments.

Whether opting for a Bachelor's or Master's, many in this field find they have the benefit of one of the highest earning powers of any industry available. With such a heavy dependence on computers and technology, the demand for such professionals is in just about every area on the map. There is no doubt that this is a strong profession with a solid future.

This type of degree means always getting to be at the forefront of the latest changes. Programmers must also earn certifications in certain programs and update them regularly to keep up with the newest technologies. Many in this field enjoy the opportunity to continue learning and the ongoing training needed in this fast paced world.

A computer programming degree encompasses so much that many in this field find their career constantly evolving right along with technology. There are so many different areas in which to branch out and grow, there is no worry of ever becoming bored or getting stuck in a rut. Programmers have the fulfillment that comes with seeing their work have a positive effect.

Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College offers many accredited courses in Computer Programming. Please visit Virginia College at http://www.vc.edu/site/program.cfm?programID=16 to select the program that is right for you.Kelli Blog91659
Kelcey Blog98827

Screw up your META Tags and get 20 Years in Prison!

Thats right! You read that right! If you misuse your Meta tags you could get up to 20 years in prison for it according to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. With this law it is an offense for any website to use Meta tags in a way that misleads children by tricking them into viewing material constituting obscenity. The penalty doubles to 20 years if you intentionally use the Meta tags to deceive children.

If Fitzpatricks bill entitled, Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA), gets passed it will forbid publicly funded organizations from allowing children access to websites that will lead them to getting unlawful sexual advances. This will put a danger out there to web sites that have social interaction such as chat rooms and forums. Websites that have these social interactions for children should have the proper monitoring precautions in place to protect the children and protect you from inadvertently breaking the law. More details on this bill can be viewed at news.com. (http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6071040.html)

The Childrens Internet Protection Act that was signed in December of 2000 by President Clinton gave the schools and libraries federal funding to block out websites that contain off-color materials and if Fitzpatricks bill gets passed it will force many websites to get blocked at schools and libraries.

What does this mean for your web site?

If you have a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, Googles Orkut.com, or LiveJournal.com you could face the penalties of the Child Protection Legislation and get your website blocked in the United States to most schools and libraries. Also you can risk up to twenty years in prison if you misuse your Meta tags by deliberately deceiving children into questionable sites.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Make sure that your webmaster knows of this news and does not use misleading Meta tags such as the Meta description tag in this example for a web site with adult content.

If you have a forum or chat room on your web site, be prepared for the possibility of getting it banned in schools and libraries.

Until the next article, have a great day!

Michael Rock
The Internet Presence
(Web Site Design Service)
http://www.theinternetpresence.com

Web Ranking Consultants
(Search Engine Optimization Firm)
http://www.webrankingconsultants.com

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

You may reproduce this document on your web site if you leave the article intact and include the author's bylines with links.

You also have permission to link to this article located at http:www.webrankingconsultants.com.

References and Sources:

Click here for Michael Fitzpatricks bill.
(http://dw.com.com/redir?destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politechbot.com%2Fdocs%2Ffitzpatrick.social.networking.051006.pdf&siteId=3&oId=2100-1028-6071040&ontId=1023&lop=nl.ex)

Click here for more details of this at CNET news.com.
(http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6071040.html)

Click here to view the Childrens Internet Protection Act
(http://dw.com.com/redir?destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fcc.gov%2Fcgb%2Fconsumerfacts%2Fcipa.html&siteId=3&oId=2100-1028-6071040-2&ontId=1023&lop=nl.ex)

Michael Rock is the owner of the registered companies, The Internet Presence and Web Ranking Consultants, and has over twenty years experience with DOS, windows business applications, numerous programming languages, artistic development, web design, and search engine optimization. After the persuasion of those praising his work, he decided to go into business for himself and highly suggests everyone else to do the same.Kendre Blog61235
Kora Blog58911

Benefits of Computer Franchise Ownership

Entrepreneurs buying computer franchises can enjoy many benefits and minimize typical start-up risks, which can make ownership of these franchises an ideal situation for those looking to start their own business. Since new owners typically need help with marketing, financing and training services, will find these resources already available to them as part of computer franchise ownership.

Benefits

Buying a computer franchises has several benefits. You are getting an established product as well as operating procedures that are already in place. Training, advertising, advice and other financially draining items are also often already paid for, or available and set up as part of the franchise fee. This means you have the chance to enjoy profit much sooner than with other types of new businesses. All these benefits are part of the reason computer franchises have a greater rate of success than other computer businesses.

A Final Product With A Track Record

One of the best things about computer franchise ownership is that you are buying the rights to a final product or service with a track record. You will be able to use the trademark, name and all advertising tools. Customers will already be expecting good service and quality products your business name implies, which will decrease the time it takes to establish trusting relationships with your customers that will lead to future business.

Operating Procedures In Place

As the owner of a computer franchise, you will have a pre-made operating manual that explains procedures already in place. Because the procedures have already been working, you will not have to suffer through a trial and error process. You will already know what products and supplies people want and how sales and service calls are handled. And if you run into trouble, you will have people to call to clarify.

On-Going Training And Marketing

Owning computer franchises has many special advantages, including support from the company. You will get help with finding a location, management, marketing, hiring and training your employees. Many companies will also provide regular newsletters or workshops with tips to help grow and maintain your business.

Regardless of how many conveniences are waiting for you as a computer franchise owner, buying one still takes time, energy and a great financial commitment. However, buying a computer franchise can help alleviate a great deal of stress.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Small Biz Tech Talk. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Joshua Feinberg can help you grow your computer consulting business, the RIGHT way! Sign-up now for your free audio training program that features field-tested, proven Computer Consultants Business Tools at http://www.SmallBizTechTalk.comKarlee Blog24229
Kaleena Blog32081

Direct Mail Marketing Goes Rogue

I recently received the fabulous news that I had won 5,000.00. You know what they say about things that sound too good to be true they usually are. So I looked for a phone number absent. I then looked at the return address Canada. Canada? I had a closer look at the delivery envelope Royal Mail frank, i.e. it had been posted from the UK. Strange. I did a Google search for company name. At number 2 was a link to an article in the Mirror entitled Rogue Mail. Yep it was a slick scam which was apparently netting the operators millions of pounds because to claim your prize you had to send a payment, in this case 20.00.

Now many would have been outraged at receiving such a letter. Instead, I saw it as a great learning opportunity not, I hasten to add, because Im planning a scam of my own, but because it put into practice (with great results) many of the strategies of doing an effective and legitimate Direct Mail campaign. Here are some of the tactics adopted by this company and a few ways to improve the effectiveness of your Direct Mail campaigns.

1. Delivery Envelope

The envelope displayed the companys name and under the company name were the words Cash Release Documents. Over the window of the envelope were the words Final Notice For: which implied a sense of urgency. To the right of the envelope were the words OPEN AT ONCE i.e. a strong call to action. This company obviously knew the strength of using teaser copy, i.e. copy to whet the appetite of the reader.

2. Reply Envelope

Including an addressed reply envelope generally increases the response rate and a reply envelope was dutifully included in this case. Some Direct Mail marketers use FREEPOST envelopes but the problem with this is that it can increase the response rate of junk mail.

3. Main Letter

The main letter was well-presented and looked official. The letter had been folded in three and the body of the letter was laid out in such a way that the information above the first fold was compelling as well as the information between the folds and at the bottom of the letter.

We tend to scan letters reading the headline, sub-headers and footers first and taking in any other striking information so this was a clever marketing tactic. In fact, the headline is critical to the success of the Direct Mail campaign. Given our short attention span, some attribute 90% of the success of a Direct Mail campaign to using a captivating headline.

In this case, above the fold and in italics, there was a short paragraph preceded by the word Attention and containing the word CONGRATULATIONS notifying me that I had won a prize and it was ready for dispensation. The prize would be held for me until I responded (by post) according to the terms of the letter. Then there was another call to action.

The letter went onto to say that as soon as I responded my cheque would be dispatched to me using a registered courier service. This helped to reinforce the fact that I had to act quickly to take advantage of this offer.

The middle section gave details about the prize and an option to have the money released in one lump sum or to have 4 equal payments. A no-brainer proposition when you think about it but what this copy did was reinforce the fact that there was money at stake here.

The information in the last segment recapped the information previously expressed and reinforced the need to act quickly or lose my prize.

4. Signature

The scanned signature was legible and in blue. Believe it or not this is another important feature of Direct Mail letters. Signatures should be legible and research has shown that the best colours for your signature are process or reflex blue. The rest of the text should be black against, ideally, a white, off-white or pale yellow background.

5. Postscript

All well-constructed sales letters will contain a strong postscript to end such as reminding potential customers of the key benefits of the item being sold or of the steps to take. In this case the reader was reminded that they could spend the money any way they liked encouraging those who had been lured to this point to imagine how they would spend their unexpected windfall.

6. Order Form

Naturally, Direct Mail Marketing campaigns will contain an order form. The order form should stand out from the main letter. One way to achieve this is to print it on paper of a different colour such as blue or pink. Another marketing tactic is to give the order form a different title. Think about it, most people are averse to form-filling. They find it tiresome. In this case the order form was headed Cheque Release Form where the first two words neutralised any negative impact the word form might have had.

These tactics can all contribute towards generating high-income earning legitimate Direct Mail campaigns. The letter I received was slick but there were several errors or irregularities as I have glossed over here. In my next article Ill highlight these irregularities or the things to avoid when sending out a Direct Mail Campaign.

Its sad then that people stoop this low to con people out of their money when they could apply the similar tactics and elicit money honestly. Unfortunately, there will always be vulnerable or easily influenced individuals who will fall for these unscrupulous Direct Mail tactics. I hope this article will help to make people more aware of the scams that are going on and that less people will be duped by them. Oh, by the way, the name of the company Global Escrow Services.

Nickolove Lovemore is a Life & Success Coach and NLP Practitioner. Please visit http://skylinecoaching.blogspot.com/ for more articles and offers.Karina Blog55962
Lana Blog98119

Using Niche Marketing To Find A Niche

Niche markets provide a product or service for a specific group of customers who have very specific needs. One of the biggest mistakes that new online business owners make is ignoring the concept of niche marketing and focusing on big markets that appear to be big moneymakers.

While this can be quite tempting, there is simply too much competition in the big markets. Those who are new to the online business world don't stand a chance of competing against companies who have already cornered the market.

With niche marketing, it is a different story. Entrepreneurs can significantly increase their chances of success by focusing on specific niche markets. You determine a need and develop products and services that will satisfy that need.

Niche marketing also provides you with an opportunity to market to a very specific audience. By targeting your audience, you can easily tailor advertising and promotional campaigns that are almost guaranteed to work.

By now, you're probably wondering how to go about finding niche markets. Fortunately, it's much easier than one would think. The key is to find a group large enough to produce a reasonable volume of business, but small enough to be looked over by your competition.

The following steps will teach you the ins and outs of finding a niche market.

Step One

The first step involves research and may take some time on your part. If you need to, break these research sessions up over a span of a few days. This will ensure that you have ample time to properly research potential niche markets.

To start, open two Internet windows. Set one at www.google.com and set the other at http://inventory.overture.com.

Step Two

To find niche marketing opportunities, start doing a few searches in these search engines. Try basic products that you may be interested in selling, such as digital cameras, computer software, or Siamese cat toys.

y entering products into these two search engines, you can find out the number of searches the products have per month and determine how much competition exists in the market. Google and similar search engines will tell you how many results pages are out there for a specific search term, allowing you to gauge the extent of your competition, and http://inventory.overture.com will help you determine what sort of customer base you have be telling you how many people entered a specific search term in a given month.

Step Three

Analyze your findings. The level of competition that can be found in the market determines the best niche markets to get into. Though some competition is good, too much competition is bad. Niche marketing only works if there is demand and a market for the product or service that is being sold.

Though opinion varies when it comes to the numbers, in general, a word that has between 10,000 and 2,000,000 searches per month is considered an opportunity for niche marketing. Let's see some examples:

Example 1

Digital Camera

The term yielded 1,312,659 searches and 239,000,000 results pages. This is a big market with plenty of competition.

Example 2

Computer Software

The term yielded 101,294 searches and 1,550,000,000 results pages. This is a big market with HUGE levels of competition.

Example 3

Siamese Cat

The term yielded 16,314 searches and 1,800,000 results pages. Niche marketing could work here! This has high search volume relative to competition.

Step Four

Choose your niche. Now that you have some niche markets to choose from, you can find the one that is the best fit for you. Afterwards, all that is left to do is enjoy your niche marketing experience.

Cliff Posey, owner of CRP Marketing, owns and operates http://webbusinesstoolsonline.com. Cliff Posey has also operated several other successful web businesses including Love Song Cards and Radio Career Consultants. The content in this article was developed from his experience in these businesses.Kellia Blog97095
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