Steps to create a good panning shot

If you are new to photography, have you ever wonder how to achieve a shot where the moving subject is in focus while the background is blurred? Have you ever envy photographers who can create such images? This technique is commonly known as Panning and can be achieved easily with sufficient practices. A SLR camera is preferred for panning shots due to its ability to achieve fast reaction. DSLR is taking up the consumer share quickly with its price being highly competitive too. DSLR being digital in nature, is very welcomed nowadays especially when consumers are getting more IT savvy. Images can be downloaded into computers which make adjustment easier as compared to the past. And not to forget, films which is now replaced by memory cards for DSLR makes photography relatively affordable! Panning shots is commonly used in sports like motorbike racing, treking, cycling and many more. This technique allow the photographs to tell a story to the viewers. Viewers can easily appreciate that the subject of interest is in motion and thus making the photograph more attractive and complete, as compared to a freeze moment due to the result of fast shutter speed. To create a panning shot, you would need a subject of interest, like most photography requirement. This subject preferably should be moving across your camera from left to right or vice versa. Panning shots will be quite impossible if the subject of interest is moving inwards or away fromyour camera. The background is recommended to be colorful so as to make the photograph more enchanting when blurred. The following are the settings for your camera and the procedures for Panning shots: Step 1: Set your camera to Shutter Priority mode, Step 2: Set your shutter speed with its denominator value smaller then your lens focal length. I will suggest to set the shutter speed to 1/15 sec. With this setting, you are deliberately achieving "camera shake" which is your main motive in panning shots, Step 3: Set your camera to "Continuous Shoot" mode. This will allow you to get a few shots at one time so as to achieve higher "probability of hit". Step 4: Set your camera to "AF-C" mode, Step 5: As the main subject is moving across your camera, quickly focus on the subject and shoot. As your camera is set to "Continuous Shoot" mode, hold on to your shutter while moving your camera along with your main subject, making sure that the main subject is always in the middle of your viewfinder. There you go! You have just utilized the technique of panning. Panning needs tremendous practice and you will be considered lucky if you are able to get 5 good shots out of 30 tries. Remember the good old days where SLR cameras are using film? Imagine how much funds you will have to spend on films to get at least 10 great panning shots! Thus we are considered much lucky now as SLR cameras go digital. You can further beautify the photographs by doing some adjustment in Photoshop or other photo editing software. You may choose to perform some cropping of the photographs such that the main subject is position at the golden rule for photography, the "Rule of Thirds". With this, the photographs are able to tell the viewer the whole story and thus making the photographs more enchanting and eye catching! Remember, you need a lot of practice for panning shots and do not be discouraged if you failed for the first few times. With enough practice, I am sure you can achieve what you aim for!

Do you need childcare when you work at home

Many parents decide to work at home because they want more time with their families. They hope to be able to take care of their kids themselves rather than pay for any sort of childcare. But is this really practical? The answer really depends on your situation. There are a lot of factors to consider when taking a realistic look at what is best for you and your children. How old are your kids? The older they are, the less help you will probably need. Babies and toddlers are home a lot more than school age children, and need a lot of care. They also won’t understand if you need quiet in order to work. How strict is your schedule? If you absolutely have to work certain hours, some form of childcare can help you keep your hours. On the other hand, if you can do a little work here, a little work there, and a lot after the kids are in bed, you might be able to get away without childcare. How much do you really NEED quiet in order to work? Even if your kids are older, the more quiet you need in order to work, the more help you may need. Obviously, if you have to close your office door in order to work, there needs to be someone responsible for the children. You can teach your kids when to bother you, but you’ll be interrupted less if there’s someone else they can ask first for whatever they need. How many hours do you need to work? If you need to work more hours than the kids are in school, or your hours aren’t during their school hours, it is quite possible that you will need help. Can your kids help you work? Once your kids are old enough, it’s a good idea to let them help in appropriate ways. Whether you have a work at home job or a home business, involving your children lets them get a glimpse into what it is you really do. Who knows, you might even inspire them later in life! How much help can you expect from your spouse? If you can work when your spouse is home, and they are supportive of what you are doing, there’s your childcare solution right there. On the other hand, if your hours don’t match up to when your spouse is available, or your spouse is simply uncooperative about taking care of the kids, you might just need some extra help. How serious are you about what you do? This doesn’t mean that if you don’t use childcare you aren’t serious about working at home, but it does mean you need to think your priorities through. If you’re going to be completely focused on your work at home job or home business, it’s easy to forget to be a parent, and it’s all too easy to tell the kids you’ll play with them later, read to them later… then it’s bedtime and your kids have seen less of you than if you worked outside the home. There may be other factors as well that you will need to consider when you work at home. Working at home isn’t something that just happens – it requires at least a little planning if you want to succeed. Please note, when I say childcare, I’m not necessarily saying send your kids to a daycare. There are plenty of other options. You can hire an older neighbor child to help or you can trade babysitting with a fellow stay at home parent. Maybe your children’s grandparents are local, retired and willing. If you can keep the kids at home, giving them lunch or playing a quick game is a great way to take a break from work, but sometimes you may need to have someone outside your home take care of them. Your options will depend on your particular situation, but in many times you can do something other than pay for your kids to attend an actual daycare. You may have decided to work at home for the best of reasons – to have more time for your family – but make sure you don’t neglect them in the process. It’s all too easy to let your work at home take over your entire home life. A little bit of extra help with the kids when you absolutely have to work can help you to work more efficiently while still being there for your kids when they need you. Don’t forget to leave time for fun with the kids!

Pratise golf on different courses

Movies about golfing are usually for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken seriously. While golfers and others will enjoy the storyline, characters, and outcomes, they should be careful not to critique the actual golf round being played as they are fictionalized through editing and camera tricks most of the time. While actors may play golf in their spare time, they are usually not able to perform most of the tricks they seem to perform during the movie. But this does not mean that movies about golf are boring or invaluable. In fact, any movie that has a good theme, actors, and storyline should do well even if the stunts are unrealistic. Three movies about golf that were popular with audiences include 'Tin Cup', 'The Legend of Bagger Vance', and 'Happy Gilmore'. While each of these movies centers around golf, they are very different in theme, style, and outcome. There are many other movies that feature golf in the background. When watching golf movies, you can get an idea of some of the courses you would like to play. Most of these courses are real and are open to the public. You can get an idea of the difficulty of the course and if it is one you would like to play. Many people are inspired by movies that feature interesting locations and want to visit to learn more about these places. Even if you just want to pratise golf, you can visit these courses to see what they are like when playing a real game of golf. Another advantage of watching these movies is that you can get a sense of how golf has evolved over time. Stories about golf that depict its beginnings are very interesting and filled with facts you might not have known before. You will see people golfing using golf clubs and other equipment you may not have seen until now. This is a great learning experience for anyone who enjoys golf and the history of golf.

Why 95 of people fail in a home based business

At one time or another, we

List building and the hollywood movie

The head of a movie company sits down with his or her executives and discusses potential movie deals that have optioned. They make a list of the prospects and then reduce the selection to a few they really feel have potential. The executives take that list and begin exploring ideas with creative staff and casting directors. The most promising films go into development with screen tests, costume and production and the film moves forward. The day comes when filming begins and a day when the filming ends. At that point the stars remain available for callbacks while the producer, director and editors begin the tedious work of capturing all the pieces and putting them together with effects and sound. Someone else has been busy with their own list. These marketing experts are locking in premier dates and additional screens for opening night. Other members of the marketing team are making lists for media interviews for the stars of the show. Still other team members are making lists for what media outlets will be used for advertising. I’m sure I missed a few lists somewhere, but the idea is that everyone develops lists. For instance, most stores will have information on file that lets their employees know who they don’t extend credit to or who they can’t accept a check from. All stores have a list of vendors. Service clubs and civic organizations have lists of those who have provided charitable giving and are likely to do so again. Political candidates have lists for contributors and those likely to support them in a public way. In each case these individuals worked organically to devise their list. They research prospects or draw from an already established pool. The success these individuals have with their lists is in direct proportion to their ability to make sure they have the best information for who should be contacted. When it comes to list building the same idea is applicable. You need to have a good handle on your recipients. This may mean you have to pay closer attention to detail. It may also mean that you only work with those who have either purchased your product or have expressed an interest in receiving information about your company. List building is not about the cold call, but rather is an extension of the tentative trust given by those on your list. Those who receive information from you should not express anger at receiving your email. They may not be interested at the moment, but they should recognize you as someone they have willingly done business with in the past and may be more than willing to do so again in the future. If we revisit the movie analogy we can see that there were multiple lists for multiple efforts in reaching one goal – a successful movie. As your business grows you may find that you may need to build more than one list to cover the more specific needs of your consumer base. Take time to manage sound list building strategies. Your efforts will be much more successful if you do.

Find the right broker

Most traders find that it is necessary to utilize a broker when making transactions on the FOREX exchange. A broker is a middleman that handles the actual buying and selling of orders for traders. The broker may be an individual or a company, they will often also offer advise and suggestions for their clients but they only execute orders based on the decision of the trader. Brokers earn their profit either through fees or commissions. In the case of a FOREX broker they must be associated with a large financial institution to have access to the necessary funds for margin trades. When looking for a broker in the U. S. you need to be sure that the broker is registered as a Futures Commission Merchant by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This will allow you to protect yourself from fraud and abusive trade practices. To start trading in the FOREX market you must open an account with a broker. There are a large, even overwhelming, number of brokers available on the internet. To pick the right broker yourself you need to be prepared to spend some time doing some research. This will help you understand the different services available from various brokers as well as their fees and commission structures. As with anything else there is no better way to find out the truth about a broker than to talk to someone who actually uses them. Talk to anyone you know that is involved in the FOREX market and find out which broker they use. Then ask them what they like or dislike about their broker and any problems they may have had in dealing with them. One way to test an online broker is to contact their help desk and see how quickly they respond to your questions and how helpful the answers are. Be sure to keep in mind thought that just as it is with many other things with FOREX brokers you may find that the level of pre-sales help is significantly better than the level of help you receive after you sign up for your account. While customer satisfaction and safety is of paramount importance they are just a couple of factors that you should pay attention to. Just as importantly is how fast the broker can execute a trade and what level of slippage you will experience with them. Any broker that is online should provide automatic execution and be able to describe their slippage policy. They should be able to provide you detailed information on how much slippage you can expect in both normal and fast moving markets. Another vital factor is your costs. What is the brokers spread? Is this spread fixed or can it vary. If you are looking at a mini-account do they use the same spread or do they have a higher spread. Are there any other fees or hidden costs involved? Be sure to keep in mind that the cheapest broker may not be the best, the broker that has slightly higher spreads might provide extra services that more than compensate for higher costs. Everyone needs a margin account to effectively trade in the FOREX exchange, be sure to get the details of the broker's margin accounts and fully understand them before opening an account. What are the margin requirements? What method does the broker use to calculate margins? Does the margin vary depending on the day, the currency involved or event the account type? Many brokers have different margin policies for mini-accounts. To be successful at trading FOREX you need good trading software and you need to be comfortable with using it. Most brokers will offer free practice accounts that function just like a real account and use the same software. Sign up for several of these and thoroughly test the software paying close attention to the reliability and speed especially when the market is moving quickly. Some other things to look into are minimum balance requirements, interest on balances, and what currencies can be traded. You should ask about lot sizes and irregular lots and be sure to see if the client accounts are insured and to what level.

Heres how to avoid the 3 most common affiliate mistakes

Here's How To Avoid The 3 Most Common Affiliate Mistakes Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective and powerful ways of earning some money online. This program gives everybody a chance to make a profit through the Internet. Since these affiliate marketing programs are easy to join, implement and pays a commission on a regular basis, more an more people are now willing in this business. However, like all businesses, there are lots of pitfalls in the affiliate marketing businessmitting some of the most common mistakes will cost the marketers a large portion taken from the profit they are making everyday. That is why it is better to avoid them than be regretful in the end. Mistake number 1: Choosing the wrong affiliate. Many people want to earn from affiliate marketing as fast as possible. In their rush to be part of one, they tend to choose a bandwagon product. This is the kind of products that the program thinks is “hot”. They choose the product that is in demand without actually considering if the product appeals to them. This is not a very wise move obviously. Instead of jumping on the bandwagon, try top choose a product in which you are truly interested in. For any endeavor to succeed, you should take some time to plan and figure out your actions. Pick a product that appeals to you. Then do some research about that product to see if they are in demand. Promoting a product you are more passionate about is easier than promoting one for the sake of the earnings only. Mistake number 2: Joining too many affiliate programs. Since affiliate programs are very easy to join, you might be tempted to join multiples of affiliate programs to try and maximize the earnings you will be getting. Besides you may think that there is nothing wrong and nothing to lose by being part of many affiliate programs. True, that is a great way to have multiple sources of income. However, joining multiple programs and attempting to promote them all at the same time will prevent you from concentrating on each one of them. The result? The maximum potential of your affiliate program is not realized and the income generated will not exactly be as huge as you were thinking initially it would. The best way to get excellent result is by joining just one program that pays a 40% commission at least. Then give it your best effort by promoting your products enthusiastically. As soon as you see that it is already making a reasonable profit, then maybe you can now join another affiliate program. The technique is to do it slowly but surely. There is really no need to rush into things, especially with affiliate marketing. With the way things are going, the future is looking real bright and it seems affiliate marketing will be staying for a long time too. Mistake number 3: Not buying the product or using the service. As an affiliate, you main purpose is to effectively and convincingly promote a product or service and to find customers. For you to achieve this purpose, you must be able to relay to the customers that certain product and service. It is therefore difficult for you to do this when you yourself have not tried these things out. Thus, you will fail to promote and recommend them convincingly. You will also fail to create a desire in your customers to avail any of what you are offering. Try the product or service personally first before you sign up as an affiliate to see if it is really delivering what it promises. If you have done so, then you are one of the credible and living testaments aware of its advantages and disadvantages. Your customers will then feel the sincerity and truthfulness in you and this will trigger them to try them out for themselves. Many affiliate marketers makes these mistakes and are paying dearly for their actions. To not fall into the same situation they have been in, try to do everything to avoid making the same mistakes. Time is the key. Take the time to analyze your marketing strategy and check if youa re in the right track. If done properly, you will be able to maximize your affiliate marketing program and earn higher profits.

Cheap web hosting plans not enough for customers

Web Hosting service providers are constantly virally marketing their company name throughout the net, building up their status in hope to increase their reputation. Having said that, customers look to find a web hosting plan to fit their budget and not only cheap domain names. Furthermore, in order to satisfy customer's needs web hosting companies compete in full confidence to provide as much benefits as they can in their hosting plans. Faraz Dayvandi, President of CRM cashrichmoney stated that in order to give the web hosting world what they want, you have to load as many benefits as you can within hosting plans. Simply having a cheap domain name registration is not enough anymore. Benefits that come in normal web hosting plans are: 100MB Banner-Free Hosting 1GB Monthly Traffic, 10 Email Accounts, Web/POP Email Access, FTP Access, Website Creator and many more. Is this really enough to satisfy customer's wants? It certainly takes many more benefits than the ones mentioned above; however in order to decide on a web hosting plan, you need more than benefits. Trust and hacker safe programs are a crucial factor to look in too. Web Hosting companies want their customers to fully trust them and understand that the web hosting corporation their customers choose is reliable. Having said that, cashrichmoney (CRM) has provided such a site where consumers can compare the top 10 rated web hosting companies with high quality plans and not have to struggle searching for a fitting hosting company on the net. CRM CEO of cashrichmoney Tal Lifschitz was quoted saying "We believe consumers should have the option to check every web hosting plan on one single web page then decide to make a purchase. This eliminates the stress factor of endlessly looking for it on the internet." Using CRM's website as a guide to find the top hosting companies, hosting customers realize the potential of conveniently finding all options on one successful hosting review website.

Sipadan kaplai dive resort in sabah borneo malaysia

Kapalai Island Resort or more correctly Sipadan-Kaplai Dive resort in Sabah Malaysia although it is part of Borneo is only a short distance by boat from the islands of Sipadam and Mabul. Having said all that it is another world altogether. Kapalai Island Resort actually sits on stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the Ligitan Reefs. It is not attached to any land whatsoever although over a mile of powdery white sand appears at low tide for sunbathing. The architects who designed the complex must have been extremely innovative, because the Sipadan-Kapalai resort consists of a chain of chalets that are all linked by almost two miles of walkways, so you will never be short of exercise here, especially if you like jogging. The incredible thing is the plethora of fish just a few inches between your feet as you travel along the boardwalk. Kapalai is totally peaceful and quiet, just a turquoise sea stretching off into the distance, and yet right underneath is the water which is literally teeming with life, so you can snorkel straight off the resort. Kapalai accesses the best diving spots in Sabah Borneo, which makes it the best hotel in Sabah if you want to dive. From here you can dive in Sipadan where you will find big fish and turtles. You can go muck diving at Mabul, or stay close to Kapalai itself. The Sipadan-Kapalai Island Resort, whilst geared towards divers is also a wonderful escape from the pressures of the 21st century. The rooms are a bit like the Maldives were a few years ago, and as an added bonus they are a fraction of the price, and at no time to you feel crowded on this very special hotel in Sabah. The food is good, very varied, and served buffet style, plus there is a lot of it, and is served almost 24 hours every day. You can dive five times a day and never go to the same place twice, but of course Kapalai Island resort is one of the world’s top diving destinations. Everyone at Sipadan is very helpful, and you will get exceptional service from all of the staff from the divemasters to the hotel staff. If you are visiting the region of Sipadan then without doubt the airy sunny resort of Kapalai, totally built on stilts is the place to stay. This is an absolutely tremendous resort ! If you are interested in othr far East Hotels and destinations then go to worldwidevacationspots/categories/Far-East-Hotels/

A simple guide to choosing a domain name

There has been much debate on which factors are the most important when determining what domain to purchase. Choosing a domain name should be deeply tied to the business plan and the vision of the company. A domain can be chosen for its advantages in Search Engine placement, a company’s brand, or as a description of a general term. One must consider a domains size, pronunciation, how memorable it is, and if the name is taken in other similar forms or extensions. For example, if one registers a domain. net, but the domain is taken and developed, creating a brand for domain. net would be very dangerous and might end up being confused for its counterpart. Search Engine Placement Domains The purpose of these domains is to rank high in the search engines, because the actual domain name contains the keywords being searched for. Search Engine domains are very rarely brandable, and are mostly used exclusively as side Internet properties to redirect traffic to the main site. A company who sells red widgets would benefit from acquiring red-widgets and redwidgets , because it is natural that people will remember such address, but most importantly, that domain name has a high probability of ranking at, or very near to, the top of a search for ‘red widgets’. A very popular tool used to find what is being searched for on the net is: Overture Keywords (inventory. overture/d/searchinventory/suggestion/) Brand Domains When coming from the offline business into the online, the obvious choice for brand domains is the offline brand name as and/or. country extension. Country extensions are used in countries were there is more popularity in their country extension than on the. In the case that no previous brand existed before moving online, one most be very creative into the approach of a brandable name. At this point, there are millions of domain names registered and many times, one finds that the desired domain is taken. There is a consensus among most Internet domain experts that the shorter the domain, the better. A domain that is about 5 letters long is highly desirable for a brand. However, the domain must sound right as well. Xyqpt would be undesirable, because it cannot be easily said or remembered to the general public. General Term Domains In the height of the Internet Bubble, general term domains were the most popular choice. Many companies failed, even though they had the generic word for their marketpanies like TheKnot refused to purchase Weddings, because they were conscious that they needed to focus on brand. Although this strategy worked for TheKnot, generic words have a value of their own that cannot be ignored. Like Search Engine Placement Domains, which attract a large number of visitors through search engine referrals, so do generic word domains. For this reason, generic word names are still very much desired and their value continue to rise. What should be learned about the Dot Com Bubble is that generic domains are not everything in a dot com business, rather they are a valuable (yet, not essential) component in an array of variables that make an Internet business a success. The current value of these domains, and other domains in general can be seen at an online publication that covers recent domain name transactions at: Domain Journal Sales ( dnjournal/domainsales. htm)

Plus size fashion skyrockets

America's plus size community is expanding. Studies show that the average dress size in the United States is already size 14. Furthermore, according to a research company, the sales of the plus-size women's clothes increased by 7 percent. These are evidences that the population of the plus sized people are indeed growing. To remove the idea that skinny is the only way to be beautiful, there are have been many fashionable clothes that are made for the plus size person. Plus size clothes no longer hang in the end of the rack but are a whole new category of clothes. Indeed, a perfect 10 is not needed to sport the latest trends in fashion. Clothes for plus size people are differently designed. These target the possible problem areas that a typical plus size people may encounter. Here are some reminders to keep up with the plus size fashion • Keep accessories near the neck and sleeves. Scarves and stoles have worked wonders in the whole outfit. These divert attention from flabby arms and/or broad shoulders. For an illusion of slimness, wrap it around or across your shoulders. • Do not highlight the problem areas (arm, hips and waist) with bold prints, bright colors and accessories. Horizontal stripes are not recommended if they are thick because they will only make you look wider. Thin horizontal stripes are fine because from a far they seem to look like a solid color. NOTE: color and pattern are not as essential as shape and fit. • Embroidery is suggested to be near the skirt hemline. Cover the hips, if it is a problem area, with long tops • Tops should slightly clingy to the waist to provide a slimming look. However, it shouldn't be too clingy or too loose either. Never wear anything that would make you look like that you are wearing a tent. Wide necklines are suggested. * Choose fabrics that fit great and give structure. Fabrics that cling at the problem areas are of course not recommended. Heavier fabrics and heavier weight cotton are the ones suggested for plus size women. These fabric controls the body shape rather than body shape the clothes. * Choosing the right hairstyle is also essential to prevent highlighting puffy cheeks and adding on a slimming illusion to your face Following these reminders may aid the average plus size person in choosing the right clothes and accessories for them. Here are some basic items that would look fabulous on those plus size women. 1. Wide-leg trousers. Be sure that it fitting on the your body's widest part and would just flow straight down. 2. V-neck tops. This kind of tops makes your neck look longer. Thus, making you look taller. 3. A-line skirts. This kind of skirt gives you the hourglass figure. It also goes great with a lot of other clothes. Today, plus size does not mean fat. It has already established its reputation in the fashion scene that it can be both sexy and sophisticated. In fact, more stores have added plus sizes in their racks to cater to more customers. Indeed, the plus size fashion skyrocketed in the market. Fashion has a great impact in ones society. Sometimes, we cannot escape that society would somehow dictate what looks good or not. However, with the right clothes and right attitude, your feeling gorgeous and sexy wouldn't be so hard in any size.

Buying the engagement ring

The most widespread of engagement traditions is the groom presenting his bride to be with a ring. Most frequently, the engagement ring is a diamond ring. Even though diamonds are the most desired by brides to be, diamonds are not the only precious stones used in engagement rings. If your choice of engagement ring is a diamond ring, be prepared to spend. The diamond jewelry retail market is a $30 billion market. Over $5 billion is spent on engagement ring in the U. S. market. To the untrained eye, most diamonds look very similar. Most people differentiate between diamonds based on size, shape, and price. A lower price usually means lower diamond quality, not necessarily a bargain. Judging diamond quality requires skill and experience, and it involves grading a ring based on a combination of characteristics such as cut, clarity, color and carat weight. The above characteristics are called the "4 Cs". A diamond's weight is measured in carats, equivalent to one fifth of a gram. Usually diamonds range from 0.25 up to several carats. Weight is only one way of valuing a diamond, color is another. Colorless diamonds are the most rare and they are the most valuable. Colored diamonds with a hint of yellow are more common and less expensive. Diamond colors are coded from D to Z. A D grade is the most valuable and Z is least valuable. Diamonds graded D-F are considered colorless and they are the most valuable. Many reputable jewelry stores do not sell K thru Z grade diamonds. The most valuable color grades: D: Absolutely colorless. The highest color grade, which is extremely rare. E: Colorless. Only minute traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist. A rare diamond. F: Colorless. Slight color detected by an expert gemologist, but still considered a "colorless" grade. A high-quality diamond. Another essential factor determining the price of a diamond is its cut. Just like color, cut, is equally difficult to judge for the untrained eye. The grading certificate that typically comes with the diamond will give you a good idea. Independent testing laboratories, such the GIA, provide certificates with a diamond's grading from excellent to poor. A certified diamond also means a bigger price tag. The clarity of a diamond simply refers to its purity. Most diamonds have minuscule markings called "inclusions". A flawless (no inclusions) diamond is very rare and valuable, while a diamond riddled with inclusions is less expensive. Clarity is ranked from "flawless" (FL) to "imperfect" (I1 to I2). Most diamonds fall between those with very, very small inclusions (VVS1) to rocks with slightly larger inclusions (S1). If you are willing to compromise on clarity, you can expect to save. To verify a diamond's clarity, examine the laboratory certificate. If you're on a tight budget, try to stay away from the big name jewelry stores. Brand name usually comes with a larger price tag. Buying wholesale may be an option. Normally the wholesaler's core business is selling diamonds to retailers, but they also sell to the public. Because they do not advertise in the traditional methods, nor are they located in shopping malls, you have to seek them out. You will find some wholesalers listed as diamond merchants in the Yellow Pages.

Robert leroy johnson..the king of the delta blues lives on

Probably the most enigmatic Singer and Guitarist of the twentieth Century is now one of the most revered and respected of all Musicians who make up the Genre of the “Blues “. I speak of course about the wonderful Robert Leroy Johnson. Born in 1911 in Hazelhurst Mississippi, in a Deep South plantation, he, in his pitifully short life has become one of the founding Fathers of the Blues. He recorded only 36 sides over a period of a couple of months between November 1936 and June 1937 in San Antonio Texas. These remarkable recordings still bring tears to the eyes of Blues aficionados the world over and shaped the face of the music of today. The post-war Blues of Chicago owe a great debt to Robert Johnson and it is sad to think what might have been had he lived! In just a few short years he matured from a young black guitarist into a superstar of his day. The often repeated legend was perpetuated by his contemporaries that he sold his soul to the Devil in return for his amazing guitar techniques. His story is one of hardship tinged with great success in his own locality of the Delta and women were said to be rendered helpless as he sang his compositions. His death at the hand of a jealous husband at the age of twenty seven robbed the world of one of Americas finest ever Musicians and Blues artists. Years after his death in 1938, a photograph was unearthed, one of only two in existence. It shows not only his inimitable style of dress but quite remarkable slender fingers which helped him to achieve his unique mastery of the bottleneck guitar technique. He is pictured in a chalk–stripe suit which would have been somewhat overstated for a man in his position at that time. When I first saw that photograph the one thing above all else, that stood out were his beautiful long fingers that enveloped the guitar fingerboard and obviously caressed it as though it was a Woman helpless in his arms! What about his subject matter… well nothing much has changed in the passing of time; the age old, painful process of unrequited love; of restless yearnings to move on down the line to pastures new; to unfaithful liaisons; and of course much sexual innuendo . Robert Johnson’s skill as a poet of the time and place is absolutely unsurpassed in my estimation! For sure he borrowed words, phrases, and guitar licks from his peers, but moulded them into something quite unique that not only stands the test of time but has a relevance to today’s Rock music. There cannot be any Blues Band on this Planet that has not been influenced by Johnson and his music and this is a testament to the greatness of the man! The list of recordings of Johnson’s songs by modern artists is endless and forms the backbone of the resurgence of the Blues in the early sixties in Britain and continues to this day! Most of the long lasting Bands of the R, n,B revolution of 62, 63, and on into the seventies have recorded several of Roberts songs. Notable amongst these would be The Rolling Stones, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Elmore James, and many more. Johnson’s songs transcribed particularly well to the new Electric guitar line-ups of the fifties and on into the sixties. Probably one of the most popular of his songs, which I can’t imagine anyone not having heard in a modern format, is of course Crossroad Blues. This song was recorded live at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 1968 by the great Eric Clapton and his two buddies, Jack Bruce on bass and stickman, Ginger Baker. This song also featured in Cream’s farewell concert at the Albert Hall in London in 1969. I doubt whether Johnson envisaged this treatment of his song when he wrote it or that his poetry would one day be the cornerstone of the Blues Revival of the Sixties. It is a poignant end to his story that the great impresario John Hammond, who later went onto sign – up a young Bob Dylan in 1962, was just too late when he searched for Robert to appear in the momentous concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938. Robert Johnson was dead but his spirit and his music will live on for ever in the hearts and minds of the lovers of the music we call THE BLUES . © Robin Piggott 2004 Key to the Highway Publications.

How to choose the right website for you

Choosing what you want your website to be isn't always as obvious as it might seem. There are so many options available to you that it really pays to take time out to think about this question before jumping in. Ask yourself what you are actually aiming for in having an online presence? Do you want a personal website, an online shop, a blog or diary style presence? Or do you want to run a forum related to your product or interest, perhaps an ezine with a back-issue website or if you are an artist, photographer or craftworker, maybe an online gallery would best promote you? To help you decide, try asking yourself these questions. Do you want to sell physical goods? Items that have to be delivered by post, such as books, toys, clothes, electrical goods etc are ideal for an ecommerce website. There are many options open to you whereby you can catalogue your items by entering them into a database. This sounds more complicated than it actually is. Most shop building software has a simple interface whereby you can enter items in obvious categories, add prices, sizes etc and postage costs. The add to basket buttons are generated for you for each item. There's a huge number of companies offering you shop solutions for your website but they don't all have the same facilities. As ever, it pays to research and find one that does everything you want it to. Most companies will offer you a free trial and I recommend that you select a company that does. You can choose to buy shopbuilding software to install on your computer, the benefit being that this is a one-off purchase and no recurring monthly payments, apart from your web hosting. Alternatively you can go for the hosted shop option. There are an enormous number of companies offering this. Advantages are that your hosting and website are integral. Everything is done online so you can even update your shop from any computer wherever you may be. These options are usually very simple to use and have good help menus. Do You want to sell downloadable goods, eg. software, music, ebooks? Downloadable products are very hot selling items on the internet. The reason is obvious and it benefits everyone involved. The buyer receives his/ her purchase immediately payment has cleared and the seller has no stock to buy, keep or deliver. Some product examples are music, images, software, templates and ebooks. Ebooks are one of the most popular downloadable products. They are very easy to produce and most people have the ability to read them from their computer screen or even print them out. "How to" books are the most popular by far as they provide answers, solutions and ideas. The internet is used by many as a research tool and people are actively looking for information and solutions to problems. If you can provide these on a popular enough niche topic, your ebook is likely to be in demand. There are several websites which offer you the facility to sell downloadable products, such as Clickbank and Payloadz. A quick google search will give you more options to explore to find the most suitable for your particular needs. Are you an artist or photographer or craftworker? Firstly, ask yourself what your purpose of having an online presence will be. For example, are you looking to have a classy online portfolio or do you want to set up an ecommerce shop where you promote the sale of your original work and prints? Can you design websites or do you have the financial means to ask someone to build one for you? Do you have sufficient I. T. skills to join one of the many online galleries that allow you to upload your work to your own gallery area on their website? Do you like the idea of being part of a larger online gallery but need someone to do all the techy things for you? There are an enormous number of online galleries now but knowing what you want to achieve will help you narrow your search significantly. Do you have a bricks and mortar shop? If your business is in the real world, think about what it is you require your website to do in order to promote or give added value to your business. Do you wish it to be simply an online information post so that people can find more about what you offer or find their way to your premises? If so, you may if that your local government will offer you a free web page or mini website on their main council site. If you want something more individual, then a simple site built with Frontpage or a webuilder is probably your best option. If money is no object, then you can hire a webdesigner and achieve something more sophisticated. Or perhaps you wish to add something extra to your business such as an online, out of hours, ordering system with home delivery. Again, unless you can pay for your site to be custom built, one of the easy web-shop builders is probably your best option. Here are some excellent ones for you to review. Do you want to sell or promote a service? For example, are you a webdesigner, childminder, photographer, plumber, tutor, dogwalker, typist, financial adviser, mobile hairdresser, decorator, gardener, acupuncturist or beautician? The list is endless. If you offer a service whether online or off you will want to reflect your professionalism in a well designed and easy to navigate website. If you are able to afford to have your website designed for you to your own specifications, then this can be a good choice as it frees up your time to get on with actually providing the service you are involved in. This is in option which many cannot afford. An alternative would be to build the website yourself. The advantages to this can really repay the time you put in. To start with, you can update your site whenever you wish, so keeping the content fresh and relevant. Software to help you do this is easily obtained. Dreamweaver and Frontpage are amongst the most popular. I find that the latter is an excellent choice for someone new to web design as it is so intuitive and easy to learn. Having built your site yourself, the only ongoing costs are the time you decide to spend on it plus your webhosting and there are some excellent deals to be had these days. If you feel uncomfortable with building sites, don't despair. There are some fabulous online website builders on offer these days. with this option, your website and hosting are all inclusive. Typically, you will be given a login area where you can select the template, ie. look and feel of your website and add images and information in a very simple step by step way. There is considerable competition amongst web hosts offering this option and for you, the consumer, this means that more added value is being tagged onto these packages all the time. Do you want to build a community website? Websites reflecting the interests of a community or group membership don't need to be sophisticated but it is an excellent idea to have one that is interactive. Being able to post questions and opinions, vote on a member poll or even post photographs will encourage members to participate more fully and can lead to new ideas and renewed enthusiasm within the group. An ideal solution might be a one page website linked to a forum. Some web hosts will offer free websites and hosting for not-for-profit groups and this is well worth looking into. Another idea is to have a community Blog. Again, these are something that permit group participation in posting plus are easy to set up and manage and many are free. Good luck with your endeavours whatever your aims! The internet is a great place to have your own voice.

Finding the best debt consolidation loan rate and common consumer mistakes

As you go about looking for a debt consolidation loan, you need to be aware of some common mistakes that oftentimes occur when it comes to looking for a debt consolidation loan and the best possible debt consolidation loan rate. In this article, you will be presented with an explanation of common mistakes that are associated with seeking a debt consolidation loan and the best debt consolidation loan rate. At the outset, one common mistake that people make when looking for the best debt consolidation loan rate is that they fail to make certain that their credit reports are in good order. You need to bear in mind the importance of making certain that your credit report does not contain inaccurate or incorrect information. The majority of credit reports today do obtain inaccurate or incorrect information. By making certain that your credit report is in order, you will be ensuring a higher credit score. A higher credit score will give you the chance to get a better debt consolidation loan rate when you do apply for a debt consolidation loan. Another of the common mistakes that people make when looking for a debt consolidation loan is failing to look around for the best debt consolidation loan rate. By shopping around and looking at different debt consolidation loan lenders, you will have the ability to get the best possible debt consolidation loan rate available on the market today. You need to know that there can be significant variations in the debt consolidation loan interest rates charged from one lender to another. By making the common mistake of failing to shop around for the best deal on debt consolidation loan rate, many people fail to connect with a lender that will be able to provide the very best possible deal when it does come to a debt consolidation loan rate. Another of the common mistakes that people make when looking for a debt consolidation loan rate is failing to take into account all of the fees and charges beyond interest that are associated with a particular debt consolidation loan. You need to consider all of costs, fees and charges associated with a debt consolidation loan. You need to read the small or the fine print. You need to make certain that you do fully understand all of your rights and obligations of a particular debt consolidation loan and debt consolidation loan rate.

Luggage warranty woes

You've just purchased new luggage for your vacation. It came with a warranty. What exactly does that mean? Do warranties vary from state to state? Does the place of purchase have any effect on the warranty? Will they do the warranty repairs? It is, of course, important to read the warranty. They differ from manufacturer to manufacturer and have different meanings for different products. Save your receipt and product tags along with your proof of purchase. Many people find it helpful to save the carton also, in case the luggage has to be sent to a repair facility or back to the manufacturer for repair. Most of the warranties do not cover ordinary wear and tear or damage by a common carrier such as the airlines or cruise ships. Many also have disclaimers against abuse or mishandling. Additionally, all external parts are vulnerable to damage on any luggage. Leather, moving parts and wheels for example will show wear with ordinary use and may need to be refurbished or replaced. This will not always be covered by the warranty. Many airlines and cruise lines also have disclaimers against claims for external parts. They may not pay for wheels or handles that need to be repaired or replaced. There are very generous warranties attached to some premium brands of luggage. Mosaic Travel Gear has a "peace of mind warranty." They offer free repair or replacement for the first three years of purchase, no matter what the damage is or who has caused the problem. Thereafter, a limited lifetime warranty will cover all manufacturing defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product. Briggs and Riley luggage is another brand with a generous no-holds-barred warranty. If their luggage is ever damaged they will fix it free of charge. You are not required to make an insurance claim or a claim against the common carrier such as the airline or cruise line. The luggage has to be returned to them for the repair. Tumi luggage has a different warranty on the zipper, fabric and bindings. This is warranted for five years. All other components are warranted for the life of the bag as long as it is with the original owner. They do, however, charge a processing fee which covers costs and return shipping. This fee is waived during the first year of purchase. Some warranty repairs are done at the place of purchase, while others must be sent back to the company. Always ask before making your purchase. Claims to a common carrier such as an airline generally have to be made within 24 hours. It's usually a good idea to look over your luggage when you receive it to be sure there is no damage. Most of the popular brands of luggage are made to withstand the rigors of travel. Just be sure to factor in the written warranty when making your purchase. Now you can start packing!

What is a youth fundraiser

When having a youth fundraiser, you need to keep the word youth in mind. Try to make it fun for them, as they will be doing most of the work. A youth fundraiser can be very profitable if done properly. You can get the funds you are looking for and provide fun for the kids that are doing it. If you can find someone to donate the space, then a carnival would be a wonderful youth fundraiser to have. A fundraising auction would also be a big hit. Both fundraisers would cost very little to get together, although you will need a lot of hands on help from the kids and the parents. You will have to organize carefully for either one of these fundraisers to go off smoothly and successfully. Make sure each person knows what is expected of him/her and what needs to be done. Then you’re on your way to lots of fun and big profits with your fundraiser for youth. A youth fundraiser carnival can be put together without much cost. You could have a fortune teller which would only take a glass ball, a table, and someone sitting there in a long dress and a scarf tied around the head. Have a ring toss table, where people can try to toss a ring around empty bottles and have small prizes for the ones that are successful. The youth will really get involved with this type of fundraiser as they enjoy acting and playing the games. Get large cardboard boxes and tape them together for a house of fun for the little ones or have a dartboard with safety tipped darts. Try a fish tank with magnetic fish in the tank and have a fishing contest, borrow a outdoor play set or a few of them and have this as rides for the kids, sell hot dogs hamburgers and drinks at your youth fundraiser these will surely be a hit with everyone. Fundraising auctions are also a neat way to have a youth fundraiser. Have the kids go through the community and collect items that people don’t need anymore. Get the youth themselves to donate any games or items that they don’t need. When you accumulate enough items you can start your fundraising auction. Set your items up in a large area and have a set time for viewing. Once the prospective buyers have seen all you have to offer, you can start your bidding. At a youth fundraising auction it is best to have a set price to start with and anything that is bought above this price is like icing on the cake. It will make it more than profitable for the amount of donations you need. These are not the only choices you have for a youth fundraiser. Have a brainstorming session and you will be surprised at the ideas the youths will come up with. Youth fundraisers can be a lot of fun.

Something to talk about how to reach brand advocates

Opinions Wanted Word-of-mouth advertising is still one of the most effective tools a marketer can wield — consumers trust other consumers’ opinions when it comes to choosing products. For Internet marketers, the online equivalent of word-of-mouth advertising is social media and brand advocacy. Seventy-six percent of online shoppers rely on feedback from other buyers when making product purchases. For products across the spectrum — from laundry detergents to breakfast cereals — Internet users are leveraging social media to connect with other users, who ultimately affect their buying decisions. Who Brand Advocates Are and Why They Matter A recent study by Yahoo revealed that of these shoppers, a certain set — sometimes labeled “brand advocates” — tends to be very influential in shaping social trends and buying habits. “Brand advocates are a group that has always existed,” explains Edwin Wong, senior manager of market research for SearchMarketing. Yahoo. “But web 2.0 tools are giving them more of a voice and extending their circles of influence.” This small segment of the population feels that good brands are worth talking about, and goes out of their way to recommend them. Even though these brand advocates comprise a small portion of your buyers, they’re an important portion because they carry a disproportionate influence among other consumers, and have an impact on your overall brand. This kind of virtual word-of-mouth advocacy is extremely effective, with brand advocates showing a two-to-one conversion rate. Once this group is convinced of your product’s worth, they have the passion and personality to make them your most effective sales force. Connecting Point: Hot Topics To connect with your niche market’s most vocal and influential buyers, you need to find out what their flash points are, and positioning your brand accordingly. Your goal is to take your traditional product, and make it about something that means more. For instance, if you vend nutrition bars, you might market them around ideals like lifestyle, health, and weight loss, which mean a great deal more to end users than just another snack. By connecting with online groups that focus on health and dieting, you’re reaching out to your target audience. Look at your niche market’s hot topics, and adjust your marketing message to speak to those issues. Connecting Point: Portal Sites Of all Internet shoppers, brand advocates tend to do the most online research and examine the widest range of options before choosing a product or brand. During this research process, you have an excellent opportunity to engage them, by providing the most in-depth, persuasive and illustrative information possible and putting it out on as many portals as possible. Portal sites provide social media outlets for users to share their opinions and passions; they also provide marketers a very neutral ground to tell consumers why their products are superior: • There are tens of thousands of enthusiast groups looking for like-minded people who love their brands, and tens of thousands of reviews available on nearly any product. • Blogs, online groups, product review sites and forums allow advocates to find brands and products they feel passionate about. Advises Wong, “These are very knowledgeable consumers, and you really want to engage them while they’re in their research process. You need to use every available means to connect with them, because these are the people that can move product for you and move the bottom line for your brand.”

How to lower cholesterol through diet

How to lower cholesterol through your diet Although most people believe that the trend towards cutting off cholesterol in diets is brought on by the fact that the young generation is dieting themselves to death; it is not so. Limiting the body's cholesterol levels is not only for appearance's purposes but also for health reasons. Cholesterol levels in the body, when at a certain level, can cause a host of body complications and disease that can even eventually cause death. Problems like hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes come in mind. This is especially true with people who are already old and in their middle ages because of the slowing down of the bodily processes particularly the digestive system and the body's ability to convert fats to energy. This is perhaps why most older people, especially those that have weight issues, are being asked by their doctors to lessen their cholesterol intake. What is cholesterol? People have been talking about cholesterol but do they what it is and how it affects the body. Because of news about rising cases heart problems in the country, cholesterol has become an overnight antagonist. Everybody thinks that cholesterol is bad. Actually, not all cholesterol is bad for the body. In fact, our bodies need cholesterol to make bile salts. It is also a major ingredients in maintaining hormonal balance as well as in the production of Vitamin D. Things become troubled when the levels become too high that the cholesterol already clog the arteries, making it hard for the blood to flow and the heart to pump. There are two kinds of cholesterol, the good and the bad. The LDL, which is the bad kind, adhere to the arterial walls, forming plaques that eventually clog the passageway. Saturated fats and the trans fatty kind are sources of this kind of cholesterol. This is frequently found in pre-packed foods like potato snacks and canned goods. The HDL, on the other hand, can lower the levels of LDL cholesterol. This is because the good HDL helps transport the LDL cholesterol from the arterial walls back to the liver where it is excreted out. These are found in nuts and in seafood particularly fishes. People who want to lower their LDL levels are also advised to eat a lot of fruits because of the fiber that they bring to the body. Oats, cereals, and legumes are also great sources of fibers that can help combat the rise of LDL cholesterol, eventually decreasing the risk of heart disease. Factors that affect cholesterol levels Contrary to popular opinion, it is not just the diet that should be taken into consideration when dealing with high cholesterol levels. There are actually a lot of factors that affect the condition. One of these is the age and the gender. Older people are more affected by increased levels of cholesterol because of their bodies' slowing processes. Another factor is the level of physical activity. Exercise can actually help in lowering down of LDL cholesterol. Also, it can help in strengthening the body and in toning the muscles. Lowering cholesterol levels From what was mentioned above, it seems remarkably simple to lower the body's cholesterol levels… that is if one has the discipline to see it through. Just eat right and exercise regularly, avoid canned and pre-packed foods and you are on your way to lower cholesterol levels.

Internet marketing the consumer is in control

I heard someone say recently that marketing is simply an elaborate scheme to take your money by making you feel incomplete without the product being sold. It is possible that this idea matches the way many people think about marketing. However, when it comes to Internet marketing there has been a shift in focus and the tables have been turned. The focus of marketing has shifted the salesman to consumer advocate. That may sound like a conflict in terms, but the truth is marketing for the sake of improved sales often results in a decreased bottom line and a state of distrust with prospects. The truth is we’re all tired of the quintessential marketing tactics that are high pressure and insist we are incapable of leading whole and productive lives without their product and or services. We have ingrained in our minds toothpaste commercials that seem to insinuate that we will be attractive to the most beautiful people if we just used their products. We’ve seen the car commercials that seem to indicate celebrities will be our friends if we drive a certain car and we all come away feeling as if the whole idea of marketing is simply a whole lot of hype about nothing. The Internet places decision-making back in the hands of the consumer. While there are some that attempt to place a heavy marketing hand in consumer purchases most sites have to simply rely on the usefulness and quality of their product and customer service to facilitate an environment where a purchase can be considered. The dynamics of face-to-face marketing are virtually eliminated in Internet marketing. Here’s the interesting part of the scenario; when you remove the pressure all you have left is the customer and how your product can connect with an actual need they may have. If a customer conducts a search for a product or service you can be assured they already have an interest in what you have to offer. You can accentuate the positive by providing knowledge-based content that helps them understand the scope of your product or service and how it may fit their needs. The more consumer centric your business website the better. In previous marketing endeavors the idea was to disarm the consumer and rush them toward a purchase they may regret later. This is what consumers recognize as marketing. When you honestly seek to put the customer first you will likely discover a better response long-term. You may also find repeat customers and referrals. Today’s consumer expects more and will keep looking until they find it. Frankly, consumers feel empowered when they are allowed to make a knowledgeable decision about a product they have researched and feel comfortable with. Consumers can take all the time in the world with the Internet. They can bookmark your website and return to it several times if they want to in an effort to ensure they are satisfied with what they are considering. These customers will also likely visit other sites as well so make sure to present your content with as much authority, integrity and honesty as possible. This works to assure the consumer that you are not blowing the products capabilities out of proportion. With Internet marketing the consumer is in control. Ignore this truth to your peril.

Lewa wilderness trails laikipia plateau kenya

The reasons you should visit and stay at Lewa Wilderness Trails as part of your Kenya Safari Holiday are many. The situation of Wilderness Trails in the wildlife rich eastern corner of the Lewa Downs Conservancy is one of the most obvious, as wildlife viewing is almost the whole point of being on safari!! Wilderness Trails has been entertaining guests in some luxury for the past thirty years. The Lodge sleeps 16 people in eight beautifully decorated cottages with fireplaces and verandas, and it is the home of Will and Emma Craig, who are wonderful hosts. In addition there is a refreshing saltwater pool, and a clay tennis court with racquets and balls supplied. There is a stable full of horses for guests to ride. Guests can relax by the fire in Will and Emma’s cosy sitting room, and feel totally at home, and then communal eating at a large dining room table, makes meal times more like a banquet. Food and drink is included on this all inclusive ranch, and this means full board, wine and beer, plus all game drives and other activities. The food is a joy with home raised livestock, natural spring water, and a five acre organic garden as the resource for the very skilled chefs to create their masterpieces. When it comes to safari activities at Lewa Wilderness Trails, there is a totally professional guiding team to lead guests out every day, but only after customising the game drive to the needs of the guests. As a result the guests see more, and also learn a great deal about flora, fauna, animal behaviour, and importantly conservation. The history of the Lewa Conservancy is explained in detail because of its importance to threatened species. If you want to as a guest you can even go jogging with a Masai warrior, or take a camel ride, and something everyone should do, is to visit orphaned animals to see the Conservancy work at first hand Guests can also go on Bush walks with a professional tracker, using a Game Blind, visiting lewa’s ancient archaeological site, and also visiting a maasai cultural boma, where you will get an insight into their rich local traditions. There are other excursions which cost extra including an air tour of Lewa Conservancy and Mt. Kenya, including trout fishing on a high altitude lake, and a five day walking tour of Lewa and the nearby Il Ngwesi. Other excursions that can be arranged at an additional charge include: Guided tour by air of the Conservancy and Mt. Kenya with a stop for trout fishing in a high-altitude lake, and 5-Day walking safaris through Lewa and nearby Il Ngwesi Whatever you do, don’t miss Lewa Wilderness Trails on your Kenya Safari Holiday.

Help your child avoid smoking

What would you do if your son or daughter decided to start smoking? Maybe your child already smokes. Perhaps you're a smoker and hope your child won't pick up your unhealthy habit. Maybe there is no history of smoking in your family, but you fear that your child's friends might serve as a bad influence. Every day in the U. S., 1,500 kids become regular smokers, one-third of whom will die prematurely as a result. Many young people are driven to smoking through peer pressure or because they watch their parents and role models smoke. For parents who want to quit smoking to set an example for their children, or for anyone who wants to kick the habit, one company has a unique approach that it says helps smokers quit gradually. Safer Smokes Inc. ( bravosmokes) has created Bravo, a smoking cessation product made with lettuce leaves. It has all the characteristics of a tobacco cigarette with three key differences: no nicotine, no tobacco and none of the dangerous carcinogens derived from the additives found in commercial tobacco cigarettes. With Bravo, smokers still get the experience of smoking a cigarette but without most of the harmful effects of tobacco cigarettes. People who use Bravo are able to eventually cleanse their bodies of nicotine. Tobacco use is the nation's leading preventable cause of death, killing more than 400,000 people and costing more than $180 billion in health care bills and lost productivity each year. Nearly 90 percent of all smokers start the habit by age 18. Clinical studies have evidenced the relative safety of the Bravo product when compared to tobacco cigarettes.

Josh groban a bright career

Born February 27, 1981, Josh Groban was an acting student at Carnegie Mellon University when he was offered a recording contract by Warner Brothers Records. His high school years were a combination of general studies mixed with arts training. Mentored by Grammy-winning, producer and director, David Foster, Groban tasted the music business with turns at the 1999 Grammy’s and the 1999 Governor of California Inauguration. Groban’s first album, produced by Foster, was largely classically influenced. He worked with Sarah Brightman in 2000 on her La Luna Tour and was featured on her La Luna Concert DVD. Groban made some of his first national showings by appearing in many benefit performances. He appeared with such greats as Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley and Robin Williams in the Andre Agassi Grand Slam Event For Children, and in honoring Michael J. Fox at the Muhammad Ali Fight Night Foundation event. He also appeared in the 2001 Family Celebration hosted by President Bill and Hillary Clinton and producer/director David E. Kelley and actress Michelle Pfeiffer. Groban’s 2001 work with David E. Kelley led to a performance on the season finale of Ally McBeal and a role in the 2001/2002 Ally McBeal season. His 2001 self-titled debut album went double platinum within a year of its release. Since his debut, Groban has been busy in the music industry. He performed with Charlotte Church at the 2002 Winter Olympics, with Sissel Kyrkjebo at the Oslo, Norway Nobel Peace Price Concert, and in 2003 at the Vatican for a Christmas performance with music masters Lionel Ritchie and Sting. He has also performed with Celine Dion, Nick Carter, Yolanda Adams, Enrique Iglesias, and Barbara Streisand. Groban released his second album in 2003 entitled Closer and his third, Awake, in 2006. Groban continues to have a strong presence on the Billboard charts and appeals to a wide market.

Fishing in southwest florida 101

I am Captain Sean A Davis with Fish Warrior Charters and I want to give you, the reader some basic information and insight into the spectacular fishing opportunities available here in Southwest Florida. The area that is Southwest Florida begins at its northern most point in Boca Grande runs south through Pine Island Sound, Captiva, Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach to Naples and ends its southern most point in the Ten Thousand Islands. The fishing opportunities discussed in this article are practical for most of this area. Although there are many opportunities for off shore adventures, I am focusing on near shore and backcountry fishing scenes. Catching fish in Southwest Florida begins with catching bait. There are many species of baitfish available including scaled sardines, thread fin herring and pin fish just to name a few. These baits are usually caught with a cast net around area beaches, bridges or grass flats. If you are not proficient with a cast net, shrimp can be purchased from your local bait shop or marina. Shrimp can be great bait at times, but cast netting your own live bait will be much more beneficial. As far as the fishing goes, there are many types of fish available in Southwest Florida. Snook, Redfish. Speckled trout, Tarpon, Mangrove Snapper, Sheephead and Permit are several species that are targeted in the pristine waters of Southwest Florida. The tactics to catch these fish vary depending on the seasons, tidal flow and weather. Trout are a great fish to target for beginner fishermen. With Florida’s vast grass flats and passes, hooking into trout can be a good bet all year long. The grass flats around Sanibel and Captiva can be very productive. Redfish is another species caught regularly most of the year. They are not as subject to water temperatures as some of the other species. To catch Reds, you want to beat up the bushes. Fishing mangrove island shorelines at high tide is a highly effective way to catch these bruisers. Mangroves are found mostly in the Southwest Florida area. Tarpon or “Silver King”, as they are sometimes called, reign supreme in late spring and early summer beginning as early as April through the end of June. These beautiful game fish can be found cruising up the coast of Florida. It is an awesome sight to see schools of a hundred or more fishing rolling on the surface on there way to Boca Grande and points north. For these fish I use heavy spinning or conventional reels without the rods. My preferred bait is live Jumbo Threadfin Herring fished with a 6/0 circle hook. By pitching baits at rolling schools, hookups can come easy at times, but landing these spectacular fish is a whole other issue. The hookup to landing ratio of these Silver Kings in the 80lb or greater range is probably 7 to 1, but the show they put on when hooked will be burned in your memory forever. Tarpon fishing in Southwest Florida should be in everyone's "To Do list" once in their lives. If I had to pick my favorite game fish of flats fishing it would be Snook. There is no other fish that I like to fish for more than these savvy hard pulling line-siders. The best months for Snook fishing are April through nearly November. During the summer months, Snook can found along the Beautiful beaches of Southwest Florida. Live bait is the key to catching these awesome game fish. Small Snook can be easily caught by almost anyone, but it is the giant Snook that haunt my dreams at night. I consider a big Snook at the small end to be 34" or 11 lbs going to 40" and over 20 lbs. These fish will test your patience, tackle and angling skills. As you can see there are many angling opportunities her in the Southwest Florida area. All you need to do is come to Florida and witness it for yourself. Please remember, there are many regulations for keeping fish, so be sure to check local laws concerning seasons, sizes and bag limits. One of the best ways to learn first hand about tactics used to catch fish in Florida is to hire an experienced fishing guide. I have been guiding for years and would love to share some of my knowledge with you. Do not let life pass you by without fishing the flats and near shore coastal waters of Southwest Florida. Book your Fishing adventure today!!!

Dating lying hurts

To impress some one we like, we lie. Because truth may at times make us feel awkward. To make other persons feel comfortable, we lie, otherwise our date may feel embarrassed. Lying, speaking truth and keeping quiet are three positions that we can take while dating. Does lying help? Many of us give some information about ourselves that is wrong. If you are a man, you may mention a higher income figure and women may fudge about their age. Lying hurts in the long term. Let us examine more. Why do we date? Is it only for fun for a day to find out if we can find someone to partner with us for a long time? If we are looking for fun for a day, we should make this clear to our date and let them not expect anything else. Otherwise it can hurt a human being. If we are looking for a long-term relationship, every lie will ultimately get exposed. That will hurt us even more. We might be feeling very uncomfortable during a date. Is it better to say that you are enjoying yourself or to diplomatically say about the real feelings? By lying here, we are giving wrong expectations to the other person. Why does that? One can diplomatically say - I am not feeling very comfortable. Can we cut short today? Some people are liars by habit. They rarely speak the truth and lie as a matter of habit. Such people give wrong ideas to their date and hurt him or her. That is not a good way of doing things. One may not be very truthful, if something embarrassing comes up. But one can surely change the subject or keep quiet. Why lie? Lying hurts not only during dating, but also in every situation in life. A liar always feels threatened that the truth will one day get exposed. Isn't it better to keep quiet or speak truth?

Growing tomato plants from seeds

Tomato plant can be grown anywhere in the world and is thus well known as the plant in every home garden. It has been estimated that almost 90 percent of the vegetable gardeners have this crop in their garden. This is because the tomato plant requires very little attention from the gardener during the time of growth. The important elements needed for perfect growth is enough sunlight, a little patience and adequate water. Tomato is considered to be a summer crop. Select the tomato variety from the wide variety which is easily available. Always check with your neighbors, nursery professionals and other online sources to find the most dependable and disease resistant variety of tomatoes. The soil is to be prepared well before starting off with the tomato growing process. It should be mixed well with compost and well rotten manure if you are using sandy soil. Super phosphates are recognized to be the best nourishment for appropriate growth. Another balanced fertilizer would be 6:3:2 which should be mixed well with the soil before the process. It is considered as the perfect alternative in case of any short supply of manure. It is highly advisable to sow the seeds as early as possible because tomatoes take more than four months to start with the bearing process. In places where winters are cold, make sure to sow the seed in seed boxes which are sheltered during the later winter season. In frost-free place, start out with the sowing process during the late autumn or summer season. Within six weeks, the seedlings attain the height of 15centimeters and can be easily transplanted before the passing of frost. Always be very particular in the transplantation process to choose only the strongest seedlings. They should be planted during the coolest climate in the afternoon. Sprinkler can be used and spraying should be done early in the morning much the sun rises up. It is highly recommended to dust the crops with fungicides so as to prevent the formation of any kind of diseases. Appropriate fertilizers should be used to stimulate the growth of the plants. Day long sun is what the tomato plant requires for healthy growth and perfect yield. For vertical growth, always ensure to plant the crops in cages or stakes. The fruits shall be hand picked when the color changes to red. It can be then ripened by placing on any sunny windowsill so as to prevent them from being eaten by any bird or rotting on the vine. The taste of these fruits are enhanced if they are ripened in the vine, therefore a perfect balance is to be maintained between the taste as well as the ripening process.

Learning to play with free guitar chords

Close your eyes and listen. Is there a sound more soulful and more resonant than a well-played guitar? It’s the sound of life and the sound of the soul. You can make it yours. That is, if you’re up for it. Figuring out how to read your free guitar chords? If you are teaching yourself to play the guitar, you will be reading a lot of manuals filled with diagrams and notations. Learning to read the diagrams and guitar tablature will guarantee your enjoyment of free guitar chords, which you can download anytime from online guitar sites. The daunting task should not dampen your interest because it is actually easy as long as you put your mind into it. Imagine now that you are looking at a blank diagram. The diagram will represent your guitar. The vertical lines are the 6 strings of your guitar. The horizontal lines are the frets. Do not count the last line on top. That is your guitar’s nut and nuts should be ignored, no pun intended. When dots appear on any of the horizontal lines within a fret you are instructed to use the string. The dots will have numbers to indicate which finger to use on a particular string. When the dots appear without a number inside, it appears like this: O – this means you are not going to play the string. You will also learn which finger will be 1, 2, 3, and 4. The thumb is not included in the count, but is designated as T. At first, there will be some difficulty and awkwardness with the fingers when learning your free guitar chords specially prepared for beginners’ lessons. Beginners are advised to concentrate on the chords, the strumming later. As each chord is sounded, listen carefully to the sound and get used to the feel of the chord on your fingertips. Getting the feel of free guitar chords Guitar chords are arranged according to basic chord patterns. The CAGED system represents the major chords: C, A, G, E, and D. This is introduced to prepare beginners for more complex chords. Often, later lessons will bring in the F and B chords and the chords with flats and sharps. When the lessons have finally been learned by heart, the succeeding lessons will be easier. Still, you have to consistently practice with free guitar chords to perfect your craft. When you’re downloading free guitar chords, get video demos to supplement your guitar instructions while you’re at it. By watching how the chords are played, you will be enhancing your playing style. The demonstrator also often explains away the details, and you can view the same video anytime until you have learned the tricks – like switching between chords with speed. As a beginner, you probably place one finger at a time on the strings. This will be cumbersome later when you have to switch chords fast. Make finger exercises a part of your routine to help you touch all the required strings at any given time. This exercise requires placing your fingers on the strings, lifting your fingers, and placing your fingers on the noted strings at the same time. Repetition will help you perfect the skill. Indeed, learning to play the guitar can be a lot of hard work. But then, nobody ever said it would be easy, only that it would be worth it.

The restaurant business how to win

Food is one of the basic necessities of life. You need to eat to survive. For some, it is just that – but for most of us it is more than just survival. Food is a celebration – of being alive, of taste and of our fruits of labor. Although this celebration is most of the time confined in the home kitchen, with the fast-paced world and less time that we have to cook and then to eat – the restaurants serving a wide array of delicious food are increasingly becoming the stop-over for the urbane society. In most parts of the world – the smallest snack cart to the suave seven starred restaurants – food is available for the consumer in ways that were incomprehensible even in the last century. Eat while floating in air – the hanging restaurant – or eat under water amongst the swimming sharks – how about eating aboard a tram or a train or cruise – exclusive restaurants on wheels or on water – celebrate the way that best suits your taste. The business of restaurants hence is a very lucrative option for many entrepreneurs. From small start-ups, family joints to mega food chains – restaurant business is making its mark in the consumer market. Although it seems quite simple to just walk in a restaurant, order the food, eat, pay and leave – running a restaurant and staying on the market when restaurants are mushrooming at almost all the corners of your street – is not quite easy. Starting up a restaurant and keep it running with profit needs meticulous pre-planning and management. The most important points that one should keep in mind while starting a restaurant are: The location of the restaurant - ensure that there is traffic where you are opening up the restaurant. It is not necessary that you have to open one only at the established areas. You need to identify areas that would develop soon as well. Great food, great ambience, great service – the three keys to keep customers loyal to your joint. They should not just visit once, but keep revisiting. There is no great food unless there is a reliable and regular supply chain to support it with. So before you get in to opening a restaurant, remember to invest money and effort in building up the supply chain. Once you have your restaurant all set up, in order to keep it running – remember the following: Don't over promise and under deliver! You may find a number of exotic menus available, but offer only those that your kitchen can deliver. Keep it changing, but don't forget the old! It's good to jazz up your joint once in a while – the dйcor, the menu. But remember, you'll also have loyal customers who come to your place to relish the signature dish or enjoy the old ambience. Ensure that your change does not make the most loyal customers uncomfortable. Most importantly – times change, markets go up and down – but always ensure that your customers get value for their money.

Need a loan for your home business

Very few people can afford to start a business using nothing but the money they’ve got lying around in their bank accounts. For most of us, we’re going to need to get a loan before we’d have anywhere near enough money to invest in starting up. Your Credit History. You might not have realised that your credit history was going to count here, but it does. This is where all those late credit card payments come back to bite you. The better your credit history, the more likely a bank is to lend you money, and the better the rate it offers will be. Bank Loans. Banks usually have someone whose job it is to go through applications for business loans. These people have seen a thousand business plans, and they know what they’re looking for. Take along all your plans and any other supporting material you can put together. Make sure you present yourself at your most professional. Act like the most sensible and level-headed person you’ve ever met. This is, essentially, a job interview: the bank is interviewing you and your business to try and figure out whether it would be a safe place to put their money. Remember that they’re just like every investor, lending you money with the expectation that they will get it back, plus interest. Secured Loans. Of course, you’ll probably have a much easier time persuading a bank to lend you money if you put up something of your own as collateral in case you can’t pay the debt back. Some dodgy banks would really like you to secure your business loan on your house, since they know that the failure rate of start-ups is high and they’d really like to get their hands on it. Be cautious, in case you sign your life away. It is almost never worth starting a business if you can only get secured loans – you’re tying the business’ fortunes too closely to your own. Government Loans. As part of the push to support small businesses, there are now many government bodies that will offer no-interest or low-interest loans to small businesses, a category which includes home businesses. The government lot will obviously be even more picky about your business plan, but it’s still a good option to have available to you. Even better, these loans will often come with free help and advice from the agency that issues them, as well as all sorts of booklets and leaflets telling you the technical details of getting started. Credit Cards and Overdrafts. These forms of debt are a very bad idea. Whatever you do, do not finance your business with personal debt. You’ll have to make a massive profit just to pay back your debts, and it’s unlikely that you’ll manage to both pay them off and have enough money to live. If you can’t get a loan, try to find other investors instead. Friends and Family. Friends and family can be a surprisingly good source of loans to help start businesses, especially if they’re in the same industry themselves – they’ll be more than happy to help you get a foot on the ladder. You might be able to persuade someone to give you the money at a good rate of interest, or even to act as a ‘sleeping partner’, financing half of everything while leaving you to run it all. Be aware, though, that many friendships and families have been ruined by failed businesses. I had a friend who went around raising thousands from everyone he could think of to start a magazine of his own, only for it to crash and burn by the second issue. Be warned. Keep Trying. If you get turned down for a loan, keep trying (preferably at different banks!) You should revise your business plan each time, and try to get as many people as possible to read it – the more people who see it, the more ideas and suggestions you can hear. If your credit rating is fine, then the problem has to be with the business plan: fix it, and you’re set. Good luck.

Crosses and other religious symbols

: Many people use crosses and other religious symbols to demonstrate their beliefs. The use of the cross as a religious symbol predates Christianity by many years. Early religious crosses were found in Scandinavia, where they were symbols of the god Thor. In Babylon, a cross adorned with a crescent moon symbolized a moon god, while a sun god was represented by an Assyrian cross that demonstrated the four directions the sun shines by its corners. Both earthly and celestial states are shown in Hindu crosses. The ankh is a cross topped with a loop that was used in early Egyptian religions. It was associated with Maat, the Egyptian goddess of truth. The ankh can be seen in jewelry today and is still a symbol displayed by many people. Since ancient times in Europe, the representation of a human figure on a cross has been seen. This was originally a pagan symbol related to crop fertility, but was later seen in Christian crucifixes. The first use of a cross in Christianity is believed to be on a mid-5th century Vatican sarcophagus. Today both plain religious crosses and crucifixes are symbols with great meaning to those with Christian beliefs as they represent the manner in which Jesus Christ died. Crosses can be made of many different materials, including precious metals. They are often worn on chains around the neck as jewelry. They can also be displayed in the home in the form of wall plaques or statues. When you meet someone who is wearing or displaying a cross, you will know they treasure their Christianity. Other Christian religious symbols While the cross may be the most popular symbol of Christianity, there are other well-known Christian religious symbols. One that is often seen is the fish. Normally shown as a simple outline, it was originally a pagan symbol representing the Mother Goddess. Other ancient cultures, including the Chinese, the Egyptians, the Romans, the Scandinavians and the Greeks also used the fish to represent gods in their religions. The fish symbol was acknowledged in Christianity by the requirement of eating fish on Friday, a practice that was ended fairly recently. This tradition may have arisen from the early Greek worship of the fish goddess, Aphrodite Salacia. Her followers ate fish on Friday, her sacred day. Another source of the former Christian fish eating practice may have been the Scandinavian goddess Freya. Her name is the source of the present day name for the sixth day of the week, Friday and fish was eaten in her honor. Images of angels and saints are other significant Christian religious symbols. These symbols can be seen in paintings, sculptures and jewelry. Many people believe that angels and saints can have a positive influence on different aspects of their lives and may pray to them for assistance.

Becoming a virtual assistant frequently asked questions

: What is the growth prospect of Virtual Assistant profession worldwide? The virtual assistant industry is growing by leaps and bounds. Initially there were only few Virtual assistants, but, now there are at least one million people situated globally. Virtual assistants both collectively and individually are spreading this concept and many are joining them daily. Many administrative assistants, office managers and experienced professionals have recognized Virtual assisting as an achievable and viable option for them. Why people choose to become Virtual Assistants? The reasons are many. Many people think that it is a lucrative option to earn extra income, while others consider it as an option to have a control over their destiny and some take up because they can spend more time with their family, while some take due to illness and health problems. The internet revolution has enabled people to work from home. Many people become virtual assistants due to their aspiration to earn more, due to their experience and knowledge and also due to the potential of the Virtual Assistant industry. Does any one need a business license to become a virtual assistant? It depends on where he lives. In States like Georgia, every independent contractor or Virtual assistant needs to possess a business license while other States does not require. It is better to check with the local county and state to be sure of all the legal protocols before setting up a Virtual assistant business. Is training necessary to become a Virtual assistant? It all depends on the person. Some would have got all the experience from the previous jobs, while some require to undergo training to gain confidence and knowledge to handle certain issues and tasks. As the virtual assistant industry is growing day by day, the competition and the business require to undergo a training to stay successful. How can the Virtual Assistant business marketed effectively? Virtual assistant business can either be marketed via Internet or offline. When opting the offline method, brochures, flyers, business cards, press releases, postcards, advertisements in yellow page and writing articles are very effective. Through internet, websites and online ads can be used to advertise effectively.

Digital camera rating guide

Many of us use digital cameras to take our pictures for a variety of functions and events. We need a good digital camera to take these fantastic pictures. To help us with choosing a good digital camera we can use digital camera ratings. These ratings will enable us to select the camera that will be suited for our photographic abilities. To see if we have found a reliable way to choose a digital camera we can look at digital camera buyer’s guides, or photography magazines to select the criteria that will help us. These various digital camera ratings will let us see how the different digital cameras perform in value for money, the handling of the camera, the performance of the camera and the various features that can be found. When we look at the digital camera ratings for cameras like Minolta, Nikon and Pentax we need to see the performance of these types of digital cameras in different digital camera ratings. The ratings will briefly cover the aspects of how good the optics in the digital camera of your choice is. The rating should state if you have a digital camera that will provide you with pictures that are clear and sharp. You will also need to know if you are selecting a digital camera that is good for an absolute beginner to digital photography, a semi-serious photographer, an individual who is taking pictures for as a hobby. Additionally the different digital cameras must be useable by the professional photographer. With the digital camera ratings you can also investigate how the camera’s handling is. You will need to what your selected digital cameras, like the Canon Rebel Digital XT, feels like as you take pictures in different situations. This means that you should see if there is any way to hold the camera comfortably. The digital camera ratings will inform you about the control layout. You should be able to read and understand what is on the control layout. With a digital camera rating you can also see what types of features are found on the digital camera. These various features will let you see if there is a menu system that will let you navigate through the different items that you have on your selection of digital cameras. When you look through the different digital camera ratings you should note how the exposure and the metering modes are for the various digital cameras. With this newfound knowledge of the digital camera ratings tucked under your belt, it will become easy enough for you to choose a new digital camera.

Could you send me some literature

...I love this one! The worst part is many sales people actually send it, when often it's nothing more than a polite blow off. I'll give some perspective on this request that will help you get more control of what you spend your time on and help you identify who you should really send literature to. First, let's define what literature really is and then determine the best way to use it. Literature is a marketing tool, not a selling tool! Let me repeat, literature is a marketing tool not a selling tool! What I mean by that is literature should be used to maintain awareness (leave behind after the call) or as a way to make impact quickly on a large group of people to flush out prospects (mass mailing) and create selling opportunities. Literature should not be used as a crutch in a selling situation when a prospect has shown "interest". Pulling out a piece of literature on a sales call will focus the prospects attention on the "piece" rather than on their problems. A request for literature on the telephone will often have the sales person do nothing more than "lengthen the selling cycle" by sending it and forcing an additional follow up call. As I have mentioned a request for literature is sometimes a blow off but it may be a request driven by real interest. Let's create a response that will help to "filter" out real interest from no interest. The key here is to not send literature but get more information. Try responding with: "Thanks, I'd be happy to send/get it to you, was there something specific you were trying to find out." or "There is a lot I can send you were you looking for something specific?" A "real" prospect will have a specific answer identifying what they have interest in. The "impostor" will usually respond with "nothing specific, just send what ever you have". Suddenly, by using a selling tool (question) rather than a marketing tool (literature) we might find out what they are after and have a discussion (face to face) or make an appointment (telephone call). Both of these situations have us moving the sale forward, or making an "advance". If, on the other hand, they have no specific interest at this time you could always send or leave literature as a leave behind awareness piece, aka marketing tool. Next time you get the request "send/leave literature", create a "filter" that will help you determine "prospect or time waster?" Bottom line, you'll stop wasting time and shorten your selling cycle!