Made In America

Author : Scott Bianchi

In a time where very few of the products we buy in this country are made in this country there is a TV show on the air that makes everything own their own. That show is the Discover Channel?s highest rated show, ?American Chopper?. There is a tremendous following for this show and I think it is easy to see why. This show is not just about motorcycles, it is the ultimate in reality TV.Even people who are not into motorcycles enjoy this show and I think it is because they can relate to the show in one way or another. Either they are fascinated by the workmanship displayed by Paul Jr. and Vinny, on the theme bikes they build. Or they have been a part of a dysfunctional family at some point in their life. Or, maybe they even work for a boss that thinks he/she knows what he/she is talking about all the time, even when he/she really does not.I started watching this show because I was always amazed at how the bikes turned out. Paul Jr. comes up with some amazing ideas for his bikes. The paint jobs on the bikes are unbelievable as well. It is simply amazing what they are able to do with some metal and tools. After a few episodes I found myself laughing at the people and enjoying that part just as much as I enjoyed the end result of the bikes. If you examine the family, they are a real life family. They fight like some families, if not worse. Paul Sr. has been divorced, he has used drugs in the past, he has one son that helps run the business and build bikes while the other one shows up to work late, has no motivation to succeed or get ahead. I understand we only get to see what the editors want us to see but if you have seen them in an interview they basically say that what you see is what you get. They are a typical real-life family. (except now they are famous and get to give their mother/grandmother the opportunity to meet the Yankees which has been a dream of hers.)Paul Sr. as a boss? I think most people can see things in him that they see in their boss. He always thinks he knows it all. He likes to remind people that it is his way or the highway and that he is the boss. And, he really does not appear to do any work himself, while always professing he is so busy. Once again, I realize we only see what the editors want us to see. In order for him to make his business as successful as it has become he must be doing something right. But, we are watching the show and the dynamics involved on the show and this is what the audience gets to see. We see Paul Sr. yelling, swearing, hitting things, and then he goes into his office and sits back in his chair and puts his feet up on the desk.All the things mentioned above are factors in why the show is so popular, in my opinion. There is one other reason I feel it is so popular and that is because it shows that it is possible to become a success in this country if you work at it and make good decisions. It gives hope. You do not need to graduate from Harvard to become rich. You can be a steel worker, a painter, an electrician, or an accountant. Opportunity is endless in this country. American Chopper?s success was ?Made In America? and yours can be too. This shows supports the motto I live by which is; ?To be a success you do not always have to work the hardest, you need to work the smartest.? About The AuthorScott Bianchi operates www.bestinternetbargains.com. He writes on a variety of topics. He is willing to discuss/debate any of his articles via the forum on his site.scottbianchi@hotmail.com

Category : Family

Alcohol Rehab: When Does Too Much Drinking Become Alcoholism?

Author : Jonathan Huttner
For most people, the consumption of alcohol is nothing more than pleasant activity that takes place at some type of social activity. Generally speaking, two drinks per day for men and one for women does not produce any harmful effects. Regardless, a large number of Americans suffer serious consequences due to their drinking. Current statistics state that nearly 13 million Americans abuse alcohol or are alcoholic.The consequences we speak of are quite serious and can be life threatening. Alcohol slows down and can alter brain activity, as well as, the central nervous system. Alcoholic drinking can increase the risk for cancer, cause cirrhosis of the liver, problems within the immune system, damage the fetus of a pregnant woman or create medical complications within the stomach or heart.It should be clear that alcohol in itself is a drug that can produce serious medical consequences, but when mixed with other drugs or prescription medications it becomes even more lethal. It is highly recommended that a person consult with their physician or pharmacist if they drink alcohol and consume prescription or over the counter medications.Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence" has been termed a disease by the American Medical Association and this disease includes four distinct symptoms:
Craving or the compulsion to drink alcohol,
The development of a physical dependence with symptoms of withdrawal present,
Loss of control or the inability to control ones alcohol consumption,
Tolerance or the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get drunk.
Many people wonder why some people can consume alcohol without any consequences, while others drink without limits. One reason has been linked directly to genetics. Another factor has to do with the environment and peer pressure, while a person's brain chemistry can play an integral part in how a person drinks alcohol. In most cases, it is a combination of the above.Lastly it is important to note that not everyone that drinks regularly is alcoholic or even has a drinking problem. Everyone is different. The best thing to do if you think you or someone you know might have a problem with alcohol is to consult a professional who specializes in the treatment of alcoholism. You can also take the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test online right now. If a person does have a problem with alcohol the one thing we are sure of is that without intervention, alcoholism treatment or an effective alcohol rehabilitation program, the amount and frequency of drinking will become progressively worse. So, if you know someone who is struggling with alcohol, find an alcohol rehab program and get them help today.Jonathan Huttner is one of the the principals at Lakeview Health Systems, an addiction treatment, alcohol and drug rehab facility. Addiction treatment information and free live help 24/7 is being provided online at RecoveryConnection.org
Category : Self-Improvement:Addictions

Night Vision Explained.

Author : Bill MacArthur

Spy movies are often the first thing that comes to mind when people think about or discuss night vision technology. Do they actually work, or are they another form of moviemaking magic? In case you were wondering, the technology is very real and very effective. The standard set of night vision goggles will allow you to see a person standing 200 yards away on a cloudy, moonless night. Impressive, isnt it?

There are two different types of night vision technology. The first works on the principle of image enhancement. It works by collecting the minute amount of light contained in darkness, and amplifying it to the point where objects can be viewed. It even collects light from the lower end of the infrared light spectrum, which is generally imperceptible to the human eye.

The other way that night vision technology works is through a process known as thermal imaging. This process works by capturing the upper end of the infrared light spectrum. This part of the light spectrum is emitted in the form of heat, as opposed to light as we might recognize it. The warmer an object is the higher amount of this light is emitted.

There are some similar components in both night vision systems. Each of these systems is comprised of optics, some form of signal processing, and a viewing monitor. Image enhancement seems to be the prevailing technology contained in modern night vision systems. Both systems were developed, originally, for military use. In the United States, there are two classifications for night vision devices. The first is called MILSPEC, which refers to military specifications. The other is COMSPEC, which refers to commercial specifications.

This technology has been incorporated into a number of popular products, and put to use is many different ways. They are generally contained in three distinct categories; scopes, goggles, and cameras. Scopes are generally handheld or mounted on weapons, and are monocular. These are good for short-term viewing from a stationary position. Goggles are worn by the user and are binocular. As they are worn by the user, they are ideal for use over a longer period and during movement. Cameras are ideal for surveillance, as the images captured can be saved to a recording device or viewed on a remote monitor. This category also includes video imaging.

Night vision systems have come a long way since their early days of development. They are now used by law enforcement agencies and private investigators on a daily basis. They are also used by civilians for wildlife observation, security, surveillance, and personal entertainment. Night vision devices have become an integral part of the modern arsenal. Remember, not everything you see in the movies is make-believe.

About the author:

Bill MacArthur is ex-military special operations and is currently working as a consultant for a private security firm in the United States. He loves the great outdoors, and spends his free time at his cottage retreat. Every so often, he writes an article for thebinocularsite.com an excellent online resource with information about Binoculars - http://www.thebinocularsite.com/,Bushnell Binoculars - http://www.thebinocularsite.com/bushnell-binoculars.aspx,Canon Optics - http://www.thebinocularsite.com/canon-binoculars.aspxand more.

Category : Product Reviews

Alternative Medicine Why the rage and what is it?

Author : Michelle Ludick

Alternative medicine seems to have become the NEW BLACK in the world of medicine. More and more people are heading towards different forms of keeping healthy than the conventional run of the mill way of doing things. There is no clear definition of Alternative medicine but the general consensus seems to be that it is non conventional.Nearly everyone is thinking about or doing either reflexology or aromatherapy, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, western herbal medicine, Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine), dietary therapy, spiritual healers, homeopathy or a little of them all. And so we see the different ways and means of non conventional medical treatment that goes on. Why is it the rage? Alternative medication tends to focus more on the patient than the disease. I hear you asking why that is a good thing. Well we are all unique individuals and what works for the one may not always work for the next. In fact in some cases the medication prescribed is nothing but a complete waste of time. There are sometimes other underlying issues at play that conventional medicine does not always see. It has been said that conventional medicine may be quit effective in dealing with traumatic injury and crises yet it tends to fall short in understanding and effectively treating chronic diseases and degeneration.. Conventional medicine focuses on the symptoms while alternative medicine generally takes the more holistic approach. People are also getting tired of the general adverse effects, the battling of addictions and the increased costs of the more conventional side of medicine. Health care around the world tends to cover less and less and people have had enough. Prescription drugs tend to be habit forming and they may have serious adverse side effects that will only be discovered after the fact. Many prescription and over the counter drugs originated from herbs or have herbs as part of the content. Some experts have gone so far as to state the chemical medication that we get prescribed are not defined properly and tend to be rather misleading in what the health risks may be.Herbs have been used for time and memorial in treating diseases and ailments and it has come back into popularity with a bang. Probably because there uses are so vast. They not only act as a cure in ailments but they are also great as a preventative. Adaptogenic herbs are herbs that increase resistance and resilience in the bodies immune system and then you have tonics for increased energy. Herbs can be used internally or made into salves or balms for external usage. Herbal teas are great as a relaxant.Chinese Herbal medicine is an ancient form of healing that originated approximately 4000 years ago and until the time of the renaissance it was far ahead in treating illnesses than Western Medicine. Chinese Herbal medicine incorporates the Yin and Yang, the flow of Qi (pronounced Chee) and the theory of the 5 elements. Health is when the flow of Qi (energy) is balanced because of a constant dynamic process between the yin and the yang. Chinese medicine is extremely effective, safe and gentle.Ayurveda comes from the words ayus meaning life and veda meaning knowledge. Its beginnings is purported to come from ancient Hindu Sanskrit written on palm leaves. Herbal medicine is given in conjunction to massages, change of diet and yoga exercises.I am not suggesting that herbs are without dangers because there are very real ones (arsenic is natural and we are all aware of the dangers of ephedra) so herbs are only to be used as directed by an Herbalist. Always tell you Doctor if and what herbs you are already taking as some herbs clash horribly and the side effects can be quite dangerous when taken in conjunction with Chemical drugs.Article By: Michelle Ludick http://www.bhealthy247.com Michelle Ludick lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband and her two small chidren. Her interset in health and what is best for her family led her to her website http://www.bhealthy247.com

Category : General Medical: Alternative Medicine

Choose A Good Username For Dating

Author : Barry Hughes

Picking a username can be more important than you know. Members that are doing a search are also seeing your username. A username like ILikeSex or SexXXX could deter potential mates that are seeking a true relationship and not just a one night stand.Usernames like LonelyBoy or LonelyGirl might indicate that you are desperate (Whether or not this is the case). You do not want potential partners to think that you are desperate and dateless. Also a username like JohnJones or MaryDoe gives visitors too much information out to the public. A resourceful person could get your name and see what City you are from and something bad could happen as a result.Choose a unique username that fits your personality. Do not include your name in your username. Avoid using descriptive words that indicate a high sex drive, being lonely, desperate or divulge personal information such as your phone number or email address.A username is a direct part of who you are. Make it exciting, anonymous and peak the interest of other members not one that may deter them. This is just one factor in your online dating success but it is an important one. Barry Hughes is the webmaster for Personals Finder a free online personals dating service site for singles.

Category : General Advice

Guide To The Most Popular Dog breeds

Author : Rebecca Prescott

Are you shopping for a new dog? If so, you will be able to choose from over one hundred different breeds. Each breed of dog is unique in their own way. Before you make a purchase you should look into what each breed has to offer, as well as what other people think about them. For many people, choosing from the most popular dog breeds is a good start. After all, if so many people are interested in these dogs they have to be doing some right. Here are a few of the most popular dog breeds:1. The Labrador retriever is a beautiful and popular dog breed. They weigh between 50 and 80 pounds, and stand from 21 to 24 and a half inches. They love the water, and are very intelligent. My sister's black labrador would chew the hose if the didn't get his daily play with it! Labradors love swimming, and have webbed feet which helps him swim well. They have a lovely, gentle nature, and adore humans. They don't make great guard dogs, as they accept strangers easily. But they are excellent with children. They do have a lot of energy, so will need exercise and somewhere to run around. But their coat is quite low maintenance, and they are easy to train. 2. As far as the most popular dog breeds for families, the Golden retriever is always near the top of the list. This breed is very similar to the Labrador retriever except it has a longer coat. They weigh between 55 and 80 pounds, and stand 22 to 24 and a half inches high. Golden retrievers are very intelligent, and have a great love of humans. They are very playful and eager to please, and even love all the attention that children give a pet! They are good around strangers, so they don't make good guard dogs, but this can be good for a family with children bringing friends over. Golden retrievers do need obedience training, as their need for attention, and desire to play all the time could be irritating to owners wanting some time of their own. They also need at least an hour of exercise a day.3. If you are shopping for a smaller dog, look into buying a Chihuahua. This is one of the most popular dog breeds year in and year out, and is nice for people who do not want a big dog running through their home at all times. Chihuahua's weight from 2 to 6 pounds, and are very loyal, intelligent and perceptive. Despite their size, they don't think of themselves as small dogs! They are very protective of the house, and make great miniature guard dogs.4. The German shepherd is a popular large dog breed for people looking for a watch or guard dog, or a very loyal companion. They weight between 60 and 110 pounds, and are 22 to 26 inches high. They do need daily brushing, however. German shephards are extremely protective of their house and territory, and this extends to his human family, with which he becomes strongly bonded to. They are quite sensitive dogs in that they are very aware of their owner's moods, and are very intelligent. The only potential problems are that they can be suspicious of strangers - and this includes your child's friends. As a result, they need training and socialization, from puppyhood.5. Beagles are great hunting dogs and are always popular among dog lovers for their gentle nature and even temperament. They were originally used as hunting dogs, and so have an amazing sense of smell - which, in the domestic environment can translate into a penchant for sniffing out underwear in the laundry! Beagles are extremely loyal and friendly, but they need training, though they can be difficult to train due to their curiosity. They are quite strong willed, especially when they catch a scent they are curious about. But they are very playful dogs, and make great family pets. They are fine with toddlers, and as long as they have been socialized the right way, will get along in multi-dog households.The most popular dog breeds are not necessarily the best, they are just the ones that are bought the most by the general public. If you are shopping for a new dog, looking at the most popular breeds is probably a great place to start, but be sure to take into account your needs. Do you want a dog that will fit into an apartment? Or be good around children - especially small children? How much time do you have to exercise your dog? These questions will help determine whether a breed is appropriate for your lifestyle and situation. For more beagle information, click here. Rebecca runs this site on dog breeds and care.

Category : General Pets

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Beating the Market with Forex Charts

Author : Joseph Plazo
As you read forex charts, remember that the two fundamental approaches for online forex trading: fundamental analysis and technical analysis.Fundamental analysis doesn't rely on forex charts. It scrutinizes political and economic indicators to determine trades. Charts here are deployed as used as a secondary reference.Technical analysis on the other hand, attempts to predict price swings by analysis of historical price activity. Those who use technical analysis study the relationship between price and time.The most actively traded pair of currencies is the Euro and the US dollar, so we will use them in our example. The dollar is on the right hand side of the chart and the Euro is on the left hand side. The currencies are expressed in relationship to each other in pairing. Forex charges will always display how much of the currency on the right hand side is necessary to buy a unit of the currency on the left side. Looking at the typical EU-USD, chart you will notice the last price displayed per given date. This number is always emphasized. The time is tabbed horizontally across the bottom of a chart and the price scale is displayed vertically along the right hand edge of the chart. The time and the price are set in all caps to help the trader remember that technical analysis rests upon the relationship between time and price.The trader observes the price and time movement on a chart. These include bars, lines, point and figure, and Japanese candle sticks-- the most favored method. With the candlestick method there is a large, red section that is the body of the candlestick. Lines protrude from the top and bottom and they are the upper and lower wicks. When you look at all the candles on a chart it is apparent that bodies come by difference sizes. Sometimes no body exists at all.The same is true with wicks. Candle wicks come by many difference sizes; there may be no wick at all. The length of the body and the length of the wick are determined by the price range for the candle. Longer candles will have had more price movement during the time that they were open. The top of a candle wick is the highest price for that currency while the wick's bottom is the lowest price. A currency is bullish when the close of the candle is higher than the open. In simple terms this means that there were more buyers than there were sales during the opening time period. Sometimes the candles will not have wicks. The price opened and it dropped off until it closed.Forex charts don't offer bullet proof trading hints, but they can help a trader. Past trends do have their place in forex trading as most traders will admit, and using the charts to track historical trends can assist a trader in making a snap decision.The online investor typically joins a service that provides realtime charts that updates on currency activity. Charts can be checked on a minute to minute basis. For those who primarily do their trading based on historical accuracy this can ease the burden of prediction.Most forex traders however use a combination of fundamental and technical analysis. They may chart historical trends, but they will also pay close attention to political, cultural and economic indicators within a region. They might use charts and other techniques to check correlation between political climate and currency fluctuations. But even the most sophisticated technical analysis software or tool has its limitations. A trader must be prepared to take risks… and invest money that is not needed for the immediate future.A master of manifestation to his associates, Joseph R. Plazo offers intense executive coaching so people can find jobs and build careers. Joseph achieved financial independence at 22, authored five NLP books, mentored hundreds and indulges in his passion for radionics. Always to take the initiative, his battle cry is "Ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt."
Category : Finance:Currency-Trading

Wedding Etiquette for the Best Man, Groomsmen, and Ushers

Author : Jean Bachcroft

Undoubtedly, the groom will want to choose a few good menâ€"often
his brothers, college buddies, and best friendsâ€"to carry out all
of the responsibilities traditionally assigned to the guys. Once
your fiancé has picked his team, he’ll have to give them a few
pointers on just what their roles and responsibilities are, so
here’s the lowdown.

A Friend in Deed

Let’s start with the best man (the head groomsman) since his
role is so crucial. The best man is an all-purpose kind of
guyâ€"friend, organizer, coach, confidantâ€"with a lot of
responsibilities.

In general, he must make sure that the wedding goes off without
a hitch. When the groom feels stressed, he is ready with
encouragement and a good sense of humor.

Traditionally, it is the best man who is in charge of organizing
the bachelor party and making all travel arrangements for the
bride and groom. He makes sure the groom and other groomsmen get
fitted for and pick up their formalwear. He is also expected to
supervise the other groomsmen and ushers, serve as an official
witness to the vows, safeguards the ring and marriage license
just before the wedding, and pay the clergyman’s fee (which the
groom quietly slips to him before the ceremony).

After the ceremony, he makes sure the wedding party lines up
properly for the "wedding parade" through town, if one is
planned. At the reception, he serves as the master of
ceremonies, proposes the first toast, and remains on hand to
ensure that all subsequent speeches are both short and sweet.
His final duty is to return all the rented tuxes.

INCIDENTALâ€"In case it should happen that several notable people
would like to offer a toast, here is the order of the speakers:
best man, groom’s dad, bride’s dad, groom, bride, maid of honor,
groom’s mom, bride’s mom, other friends and relatives.

And a Few Good Men

Of course, the other groomsmen or ushers are also important
members of the wedding party. The are, in effect, the couples
hospitality committee. Although groomsmen often do
double-dutyâ€"serving as ushers before and after the ceremonyâ€"in
may cases, at large weddings, for example, there are two sets of
men: groomsmen and ushers. (The general rule is one usher for
every 50 guests.) In these instances, it is the ushers who seat
the guests, and it is they who make the first impression on
guests as they arrive.

Ushers greet the guests and escort them on the proper side of
the church. As tradition would have it, when a female guest
arrives (whether she is alone or not), one of the ushers should
step forward, extend his right arm, and escort her to her seat,
followed by her spouse or date. (I am in favor of the more
modern sentiment which suggests that this approach is
incompatible with the whole concept of marriage and that the
husband should not be relegated to trailing behind this
temporary pair.)

Before walking toward the pews, the usher should ask which side
of the church she would like to be seated on, the bride’s or
groom’s. Generally, the right side of the church is reserved for
the guests of the groom. Her relatives and friends are usually
escorted to the right.

In a Jewish ceremony, this seating arrangement is reversed. And
if one side appears to be filling up and the other side has
noticeably few occupants, then this rule should be abandoned for
the sake of appearances.

Incidentally, in keeping with the spirit of the occasion, ushers
should not escort guests to their seats in total silence, as if
this were a solemn affair. This is a time for a few casual and
friendly, yet dignified and quiet remarks.

Pews are filled from front to back, leaving the first several
reserved for family members and close friends of the bride and
groom. Just minutes before the ceremony is scheduled to begin,
two of the ushers should escort the groom’s mother and then the
bride’s mother to their seats. After the ceremony, they escort
these ladies down the aisle.

It is the groomsmen who should be available to assist the
bride’s mother with any last minute details. Just before the
bride makes her entrance, they should unroll the aisle runner.
Another important duty of these men of chivalry is to arrange
for transportation of the bridesmaids to the wedding site.

After the ceremony, as everyone heads off to the reception, it
is their responsibility to ensure that no one is left behind.
And, because they are largely responsible for making sure that a
good time is had by all, they are expected to introduce guests
to each other.

Modern day armor

What the groomsmen wear is largely determined by the formality
or informality of the ceremony, and to a lesser extent by
considerations such as location and time of day.

These days, most grooms, groomsmen and ushers rent their
formalwear. The groom and his men should order their tuxes at
least three months before the wedding. If possible, they should
select a local shop, just in case last minute alterations are
needed.

The groom and his men usually wear the same attire. To set
himself apart, the groom may select a different colored tie,
vest, pocket square, or boutonniere.

Sometimes the groom will present a memorable gift, such as
cufflinks, studs or, if he can afford to splurge, monogrammed
shirts, to be worn by these men of honor at the wedding. Given
all that they are expected to do, the groom should indeed go out
of his way to show his appreciation, even in advance, for a job
well done.

© Copyright 2005 Bachcroft.com. Permission to reprint this
article, as is, is granted as long as the proper attribution
(author's biography) is given and all active hyperlinks remain
intact.

Category : Internet Marketing

Mobile Car Wash Sample Contracts

Author : Lance Winslow
Many mobile car wash owners believe that when they get started they need lots of contracts with companies, buildings and property managers to get exclusivity to wash cars. And it would be smart to have several such contracts drawn up when they are asked for. More importantly you will need a copy of your Liability Insurance Policy. Here is a re-occurring question I keep getting from those who wish to start their own mobile car wash business; "Do you have a sample agreement or contract with office buildings to provide your car washing service there?"The answer to this question is yes all large mobile car wash companies have many different types of agreements but not necessarily with office buildings. If you are looking to service large parking structures, often you will be making the deal is with the parking garage service, not the building although you must keep the building maintenance and security folks happy too.Generally a parking service company has the right to run the parking garage and is in charge and you would be put under their control. Thus in a large office building you will find this more often than not. In the case of large office complexes you most likely will be dealing with the property management company and need their permission and thus you will need to have a meeting with them, show them you insurance and perhaps do a couple sample washes. Do not be surprised if someone is already servicing the building weekly, as mobile car washing is a highly competitive business. If you stay in touch you may eventually get the account if the current mobile washers mess up, go off to college or have employee problems as they expand because they bit off more than they could chew. Think on this.Lance Winslow
Category : Business:Sales-Management

Sourcing coffee products directly from auctions might perhaps give you some fine bargains

Author : David Dwight

You need to know that auctions whether they are on the web or locally held are perfect locations to come across coffee products or connected goods, the same as with a good number of coffee products bought from auction their is going to be a certain amount of risk just because of the fact that there will surely be no product warranty of any type when you bid on a coffee linked item.Now such places because of their very nature are likely to deal in bundles or fixed lots, it could be that you go to an auction in order to find a special item such as a glass coffee pot or stainless steel coffee blender but leave a sale with a whole lot more than you thought you would. As a coffee merchant I go to quite few, you should not though assume that I acquire a ton of old broken coffee components or merchandise that no one with an ounce of intelligence would purchase, much of this coffee stuff is in brand new condition.Quite often I see coffee products and other very similar things are finding their way into the auction houses simply because of liquidation, repossession or the fact that the items were placed in a lost property vault or storage facility, why only last month I departed from a liquidation sale with a bulk package that included in it a 10 cup coffee maker, cappuccino mug and a Green Coffee Bean product, now the interesting thing was the products were as new and in prime condition and cost me a mere 8% of what they are really worth in the world of used coffee goods.Coming across an item like new Kona Coffee product or a Brazilian Santos pack truly is achievable via these auctions, a large quantity of the coffee products that make their way into these auctions come from retailers that have had some sort of financial issues or are unwanted goods that people simply did not want to keep, if you acquired a Brazilian Santos sachet however did not want to keep it what better place to offload it than an auction sale.As I am a coffee supplier I find these sales are a pivotal element of my day to day business and also my clients benefit a great deal from my auction purchases, the only major downside in purchasing from such sales is, imagine for a moment you acquired an item like a Old Brown Java pack or a green blend coffee pack, you will not be guaranteed the number of these auction sourced coffee products that you would hope for.Furthermore If then you get yourself coffee products that may be of a higher value, one smart thing you can do to safeguard your purchase is to buy some variety of product connected insurance protection, try to remember that getting a german coffee grinder for 14% of the retail cost price will leave a sizeable amount in your wallet for this type of insurance or related benefits.The primary things with acquiring coffee products from auctions are patience, some basic product information and being very aware that you are taking a minimal risk when you obtain that deal of the week. Valerie Shapero the coffee writer contributes for the high profile coffee website Fuzzy Coffee. An outstanding source for facts about beverages and drinks. visit: http://fuzzycoffee.com

Category : General Food and Drink

Protecting your HTML and PHP Source Code

Author : Vince Edwards

There are many reasons now as a web designer, software
programmer or website owner that you may want to start
considering the safety of your HTML or PHP source code. Some
related reasons are:

1. Email Address theft â€" Have you ever wondered how you get SPAM
mail even though you’ve been super cautious NOT to subscribe to
anything, yet it still comes your way? One of the reasons could
be that you have your EMAIL link on a website. With email
harvesting software available (even for free trials) anyone can
harvest your email address right off your website automatically.
2. Picture Theft â€" Most average users are aware that you can
right-click pictures on a website and download them to their own
computer. It is common knowledge for most internet users and
webmasters. 3. Return URLs â€" For some credit card processing
companies (such as PAYPAL and EGOLD) it is possible to view the
source of web pages and look at the return (thanks for
purchasing) page, where you can directly go to the URL, click on
the link to download the software without paying for it 4.
Website Layout - If a Webmaster likes your site, they can save
out the page (and structure) and edit it in their own HTML
editor software and claim the design layout for themselves 5.
PHP Scripts - If you have a clever script (i.e. written in PHP)
and you need to send it to someone, they could easily have a
look at your PHP script to see how you did it. They can then
copy the code or re-write it slightly and call it their own Or
use it for their own PHP software and scripts.

These are just some of the reasons why you need to consider
encrypting your web pages or source code. Encryption of web
pages and source code is becoming more and more popular and in
the future will become an absolute necessity. We can now see a
huge market (on the web) of HTML encryption software that
enables you to protect your source code from prying eyes.
Although HTML encryption is not 100% foolproof, it is effective
enough to keep out MOST users and acts as a good deterrent,
since not everyone has the time to decipher encrypted HTML
source just for the fun of it.

Fortunately, the technology for PHP Encryption is foolproof
since it works on the server side and cannot be tampered with.
In the market, there are now various PHP encryptors available
(at varying prices) that enable you to encrypt all of your
source code (as well as your HTML generated output ) so that it
is virtually unreadable to humans, but still functional to
computers.

If you are a PHP developer and create your own scripts, then it
is absolutely vital that you make the decision to encrypt your
scripts before distribution. If you don’t, you run the risk of
your code being stolen, modified, emulated or copied. All it
takes is one hacker or experienced programmer to “Learn” from
your code, make a few of their own modifications and bring out
their own “Version” of the software under a different name. This
can cause serious problems as well as the problem of ruining
your own market because you have contributed towards creating a
competitor.

If your script is exclusive or unique then you must encrypt your
code to protect your intellectual property. It’s like creating a
secret recipe on how to cook your favorite food dish, then
posting your recipe on the local supermarket’s notice board for
everyone to see (sound silly doesn’t it?). If you value your
work at all, then you need to seriously consider protecting and
encrypting it!

Category : Meditation

Got Golf Information Overload?

Author : Craig Sigl

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Live the Life of a Civil War Soldier When you Drink your Mornin' Coffee

Author : Paula And Coach McCoach
Civil War soldiers, Confederate and Union, used to make their coffee in pots. But on the march, they just usedtheir boilers. Remember: don't boil coffee. Confederatesand Union soldiers had a little bit of coffee, chewin tabaccie, and that was it. Moreover, Confederates usually had tobacco, and Union troops had the coffee. When the troops would cross paths during the war, they would tradecoffee for tobacco and vice versa. Soldiers would take their hardtack biscuits and soak it in coffee and get somefat and put it in a frying pan and fry a crust on the hardtack like chicken…real nutritious diet.
Civil War soldiers drank from large tin cups. Hot liquidfilled all the way up in a tin cup will burn yer lips. Soldiers needed at least an inch or two at the top. So theywould only fill it two-thirds full and let it cool a littleso they could tolerate it. Don't drink from old tin cupsthat you might find in an antique store. They have leadsolder. Buy a reproduction of one at a Civil War reenactment or from a Sutler who advertises in some of themilitary history magazines. Coffee boilers are large tincups with a handle on them. Some of them even have lids onthem. They hold 22-24 ozs. of liquid. They look like a cup that is a coffee pot.
For more information on coffee drinkin' and the Civil Warsoldier, email lifecwsoldier@coachscoffee.net
Drinkin' from an antique cup definitely enhances the coffeedrinkin' experience. The vibes of all the people who havegone before have left their energy and spirit in the fiberof the cup. Antique tin and enamel cups can be found inantique stores Enamel cups are not as hot as a tin cup,but it has that "nostaaaalgic" cup quality. I like drinkin'from antique cups because I like that "antiqueness" of it.
Enamel cups can be found in antique stores. They range inprice from five dollars to thirty dollars. Rare ones arethose that are a unique color like brown or gray. Mostenamel cups are white with a blue, green or red trim or just plain white. Blue is a common color also. Enamel cupsare not as old as tin cups, but they have been being madefor about fifty to sixty years. Enamel cups have been around since World War I and are still being reproducedtoday in a variety of colors. A reproduction of an enamelcup can be acquired for about five dollars.
Everyone needs to have his or her own identity when drinking coffee. Cat people have cat cups, etc. you need just the right cup for drinkin' coffee. A decent coffee cupsize should be in the 12 - 16 oz. region because a small cup does not quite get it. It needs to be bigger.
How you drink it is up to you. Be sure you have good quality Arabica beans and that the water is at just the right temperature. Coffee should never touch boilin' water.

For specifics directions on the exact temperature of thewater, the feel of the fine grind, what to look for beforeyou stir, what type of strainer to use, and how to serve,and for more information, email openpotbrewing@coachscoffee.net
2003 permission granted to reprint this article in print oron your website so long as the paragraph above is includedand the contact information is included to coach@civilwaruniforms.net
Coach and Paula McCoach have been serving coffee in the field to America's reenactors since 1997. Cups of coffeemade with their special coffee makin' technique, Open-PotBrewin' have been enjoyed by thousands Coach's Coffee isthe creator of many blends and coffee enjoyin' techniques.
Category : RSS

A Personal Injury lawyer New York City can help injured victims

Author : Hadiya Robins

Other then being physically injured, an injury can leave behind severe emotional scars. In fact the whole process can turn out to be a traumatic experience for the victim and his friends and family as well. It is an unfortunate incident that can happen to anyone but certain things can be done to lessen the after effects a little. Accidents mostly happen due to the fault of some other individual or organization. So one of the questions that a person needs to decide is which personal injury lawyer in New York City will represent my case legally? This thing can be taken care of very easily as many personal injury lawyer New York City are high qualified and efficient to deal with the legal nuances of this. One just needs to find a good lawyer that can deal with this case easily. A personal injury lawyer helps an injury victim and his families claim a certain amount as damage for the injury that is caused by the other party. The amount of money which is claimed depends on the type of injury and certain other factors also. Some of the factors which determine this are the extent or severity of the injury suffered and also the loss that has taken place as a result of the injury. The duration through which the person has been injured and also the amount of work missed by the victim as a result is also taken to consideration by the lawyers. As a consumer it is the duty of the victim and his family to ensure that they seek the legal services from the lawyer that is the best in his field of expertise. The web and the local yellow pages are excellent sources to find this out. It will be helpful for those seeking the services of a personal injury lawyer to find out about different aspects of hiring the services of the lawyer. Well no one would like to just hire the first lawyer that they come across and then regret their decision at a later stage. So it is best to make all the arrangements beforehand. Ask the lawyer if the consultation is provided free of cost or you will have to pay for this as well. Once you come to know about this, you can decide from the beginning if you want to hire this lawyer or not. The client must talk to his lawyer about all the things which are associated with the case and make sure that the lawyer is not kept in the dark about even the minutest details related to the incident. It is understandable that the client will have lots of questions to ask the lawyer. The best thing for the client to do will be to get rid of all these queries. The lawyer is the best person who can answer all the queries. Find out the ability of the lawyer and see how efficient has been in handling different cases. One must ensure that they are really good in dealing with clients and also the lawyer must have a good success rate. Hadiya Robins is a legal expert.She works for Pulversthompson and gives advice to clients who are looking for personal injury lawyer New York city,personal injury lawyer New York city,Attorney Immigration New York.For legal advice and to get services of a Lawyer in New York visit www.pulversthompson.com

Category : General Law

Business Website Copyright Violations: Cause for Alarm?

Author : Joel Walsh

True, web content theft has the potential to destroy the web completely if taken to extremes. What would be the point of creating anything if it were immediately stolen?But by the same token, shoplifting has the potential to destroy retail if taken to its logical conclusion. Yet that hasn't stopped chain stores from reaping a fortune. As in the shopping mall, so on the web: the system still works because the vast majority of users don't steal.One of the biggest hidden risks of web content theft is in fact that webmasters will overreact to the perceived threat. Could copyright theft fears create an atmosphere of mistrust among publishers, just as phishing and fraud have created an atmosphere of distrust among web users? While we are nowhere near that point yet, it's still worth giving the hysteria a reality check before it gets out of control.Dangers of Obsessing over Web Content Theft and Internet Copyright Violations1. Unnecessary Web Content Copyright RegistrationSome paranoid webmasters have actually gone to the trouble and expense of registering the copyright of their work with the government--often at the urging of paid services that charge a hefty fee. Yet copyright registration provides no protection against theft. It only provides statutory damages if somehow you ever take the thief to court, AND he or she shows up AND can pay (unlikely). Copyright registration not only costs money. It also takes time. If everyone were to register copyright, the flow of information on the web would be impeded.2. Chilling Effect of Web Content Copyright Violation ParanoiaSome extremely paranoid website owners have stopped publishing new content--a guaranteed Pyrrhic victory if there ever was one.3. Wasted Energy and ResourcesIn short, paranoia over web content theft distracts crucial energy from the creative process of building a website. Every moment you spend wringing your hands over web content theft is a moment you aren't spending building your site.4. Mostly Fueled by Ignorance of the Real Internet Copyright SituationMuch of the anxiety around internet copyright violations is caused by three groundless myths about the dire consequences for your website if you are a victim:internet copyright violations are hard to pursue (thanks to search engines, copyright violations are easier to identify and punish than in print);your site will suffer a duplicate content penalty in search engines;content theft will completely destroy the unique value of your website.To realize how groundless the last two fears are, you only have to look at a newspaper website, stuffed with syndicated content from Reuters or the Associated Press.In short, though website content theft and other internet copyright violations corrode the ties that bind the web together, it isn't something you should obsess over. Keep publishing new content to give the world. If you don't, the web content thieves have won. About the authorJoel Walsh is a web site content writer: http://UpMarketContent.com

Category : General Web Development

Best SEO firm will take you towards greater business success

Author : Steve Waganer

Anyone who is involved in doing online business has heard about the term SEO. SEO is nothing but search engine optimization. In another words, search engine optimization are different publicity methods that can be used for the publicity of a site on the web. Any thing needs publicity to be recognized and an online site is no exception to this rule. It is very much evident that business owners will find it really difficult to carry out the optimization methods, as they will be busy maintaining other aspects of their business. So this calls for the work of a professional.If at all you have to hire the services of a professional, then make sure that you hire services of the best SEO firm operating in your city. You will be spending money for this, and you must get the best worth for your money. There will be many SEO firms in operation and you will not find much difficulty in finding out the best SEO firm to do the work for you. Optimization if done in the correct manner can take your online business to unbelievable heights. To find the best SEO firm, you will have to check out various aspects of the firm. First of all, check out the success rate of the firm. SEO has the capacity of promoting a site on the web to great lengths. What purpose will an online site serve, if visitors do not know about it and have no access to it? So you must find out the web hosting capacity of the firm. See the speed of their server and find out whether visitors are actually able to access the site anytime or not. Online business runs 24 hours a day and for 7 days a week. There are several methods that can be used for optimizing a site on the web. So make sure that the SEO firm that you hire to do the work for you knows what actually to do for your site. Each website is different and unique like an individual, and thus different methods are needed for optimizing a site on the web. So the best SEO firm must be able to carefully examine a site and prescribe exactly what methods must be used for successfully optimizing the site on the World Wide Web. The design of an online site is another aspect that must be taken special care of. Search engine spiders have certain criteria for crawling on an online site. Design and coding of the site must be done in such a way that search engine spiders can very easily access the site. Best SEO firm must make sure that the site is designed according to major search engine norms. Attaining a high rank in all major search engines is the priority of all online business sites, and the best SEO firm must help you in doing exactly this. Make sure to periodically check out the quality and quantity of work done on your online business site. This will keep you updated on the work that is being done on your online business site. You just have to make sure that you hire the services of the best SEO firm. Steve Waganer has specialization in Web Marketing. He is expert in Search engine optimizaion,internet Marketing,Search engine marketing tips.To get services of best seo firm for your website to get high rank and top position in major search engines visit http://www.cometsearchenginemarketing.com

Category : General Technology: Internet

Media Training 101: Mastering the Television Interview

Author : Thomas Murrell
As I travel around the world I always enjoy sampling the media in different countries.Even if I don't speak Thai, Bahasa or Mandarin, watching local news services always provides a unique insight into local culture.I was recently watching a story on a new biotech company on Channel News Asia in Singapore. The story had interviews with both the China-based CEO and biotech venture capitalists in Singapore.One of the visual images that struck me was how professional, persuasive and powerful the Chinese CEO looked compared to the Singapore interviewees.The simple difference was the Chinese CEO was wearing a dark suit jacket whereas the Singpore-based talent simply had on a tie and white shirt.Attention to detail like this can make or break your image and ability to persuade others.Here are the Top 10 Tips for TV Interviews:1. Avoid the phrase "I think"This phrase weakens the impact of your message and sound bite. It adds no value and should be avoided.2. Always wear a dark jacket for business interviewsAlways have on hand a dark jacket to wear for TV interviews. This will give your body shape conveying confidence, credibility and charisma.3. Avoid white shirts without jacketsA white shirt without a jacket is going to make your head look like a pale, washed out balloon floating around the screen. Avoid this unless you have a great tan or dark complexion.4. Lean slightly forward towards the cameraThat great Western Australian-born TV communicator, artist and inventor of the wobbleboard, Rolf Harris was a master at creating intimacy with viewers by subtle changes to the angle of his head in relation to the TV camera.Leaning forward slightly will give you more presence and intimacy, as well as making you look thinner.5. Avoid looking directly at the cameraHaving been a TV weather presenter, looking directly at a TV camera to deliver messages is a really challenging skill.Avoid looking directly at the camera unless you're a seasoned pro.6. Look at the interviewerLook directly at the journalist to avoid 'wandering eyes' syndrome. Looking around furtively will make you appear shifty and untrustworthy.7. Always control the background visualsControl the background of your TV interview with the message you want to convey. Your logo flashed up behind you for 7 seconds can be worth upwards of $50,000 in free branding.8. Work on your "quotable quote"Your media message must be succinct, memorable and to the point.9. Avoid milk, caffeine and alcoholMilk will clog up your mouth and caffeine and alcohol will dull your senses and make you want to go to the toilet.Stick to water and make sure you are fully hydrated.10. PracticeNothing is known to improve your skills more than rehearsing, practising and then reviewing your performance.Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.
Category : Shoes

Three Ways to Get More Referrals

Author : Jay Conners
When you are in the business of sales, among the many key ingredients to your success is receiving referrals from as many sources as possible.Wouldn't it be nice if every morning you walked into your office and had a referral sitting there waiting for you on your desk?Unfortunately it doesn't work that way, but here are few suggestions that should help steer some referrals your way.1. Referral GroupsThere are many referral groups out there for you to choose from. The premise of a referral group is first and foremost to receive and give referrals.It works something like this;Once a week your referral group meets at a designated spot for breakfast or lunch, and the meeting typically lasts for an hour to an hour and a half.These groups normally don't allow for any kind of conflict between industries, so you will most likely be the only one representing your industry. For instance there is only one banker, one printer, one loan officer, etc., etc.In the beginning you spend some time catching up and exchanging business cards. As you are eating, each person is given a minute or two to take the floor and talk about themselves and the company that they work for, and give the group an idea of what a good referral would be for them.Personally, I have been involved with these groups in the past and find them to work extremely well. One of the more popular ones is Business Networking International (BNI). You can find a local chapter on the web.Look at it from this point of view, if your group has twenty-five people in it, than consider it a sales force working for you. Don't forget, you are required to give referrals also.2. Chambers of CommerceEvery city, town, or county has a Chamber of Commerce. They are not hard to find, and they are fairly simple to join. You can easily find your local chapter on the web or in the yellow pages. They also advertise in local business directories and news papers.The chamber is a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. They meet once a week usually with a luncheon at a local restaurant. The first half hour is a network and business card exchange, followed by lunch with announcements about upcoming events, and a guest speaker.Before hand, tables are provided to display your literature and props, and be on hand to discuss your business.Chambers also hold annual events that you can participate in. Their events are normally held in the form of business expositions where you can rent a booth to display and sell your products.Chambers normally have a lot of members depending upon the location, so you will probably find yourself competing for business with other people in your industry.I continue to be involved with my local chamber, and have found it to be very beneficial to my career. I have found these organizations great for meeting people as well.Keep in mind, these organizations come with very reasonable annual fees', so make sure it fits your budget.3.Giving ReferralsPerhaps one of the best ways to get referrals is to give referrals. If you give someone a referral and it works out for them, they will love you and remember you forever. And in turn, send referrals back your way.I have to say, throughout my career, I found this to be one very effective way to get referrals. You might want to consider teaming up with someone with a similar job in your industry. For instance, if you are a loan officer, team up with a realtor, or if you are a home inspector, you might team up with an appraiser.These are three very effective ways to keep those referrals coming your way. They have worked for me, and I have found them to be a nice way to break up my week, and build relationships with other business people in my community. Give it a shot. You won't be disappointed. Good luck!Jay Conners has more than fifteen years of experience in the banking and Mortgage Industry, He is the owner of http://www.jconners.com, a mortgage resource site, he is also the owner of http://www.callprospect.com, a mortgage lead company.
Category : Business:Sales

Safety and Security Tips for Apartment Dwellers

Author : Jack Nelson

7

Foods For Sexual Enhancement

Author : Kevin Stith
Lovemaking is never possible without consuming proper food. With the aid of researchers and scientists, various health food and food supplement companies have come up with food products for enhancing the sexual lives of millions. Made out of therapeutic herbs, foods for sexual enhancement are rich in vitamins and special proteins to give the ultimate vigor one needs to fulfill his or her sexual needs.In this hectic world of running to-and-fro to make a living and meet all your responsibilities, your activities and work pressure squeeze out every last bit of strength you have. In the unpleasant urban environment, a normal diet is not enough to maintain one's sexual strength and give the best to one's partner. And mostly, we consume junk foods that offer little nutrition and lead to an unhealthy heart. That is the reason it has become necessary to consume foods that are rich enough to give one the sexual strength and make it up for what we lose on the streets every day and every minute.Rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and all the valuable vitamins and minerals, foods for sexual enhancement are almost like ambrosia when it comes to the question of sex and giving your partner the best you have to offer on your part. Apart from other sexual advantages and increased sexual energy, these food supplements expand blood vessels, causing increased blood flow to specific areas of the body to help with penis enlargement, deliver better sex, avoid premature ejaculation, make erections last, and increase penis size.Sexual Enhancement provides detailed information on Sexual Enhancement, Sexual Enhancement Creams, Sexual Enhancement Pills, Sexual Enhancement Drugs and more. Sexual Enhancement is affiliated with Natural Breast Enhancement Products.
Category : News-and-Society:Sexuality

How To Rent A Limousine Or Luxury Sedan

Author : Jordan Knapp

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Rx for Sales Effectiveness ----- The Purple Pill

Author : Rick Johnson
The “Purple Pill”If you could give your sales force a “Purple Pill” that would boost their effectiveness by 25% or more, would you do it? No prizes for guessing how a typical sales manager would answer this question! Sales professionals are high-energy, fast-thinking, opportunistic people. If they are good, they often shoot from the hip and take calculated risks. They can be called mavericks and that’s a good thing. It takes a little “maverick” in the blood to be effective in the world of professional sales. Most are willing to try anything that offers the potential for a fast boost, a quick sale, increased value, or the strengthening of their relationship with their customer. Too often, however, this quick fix mentality reduces the long-term focus and discipline of the sales force.
“This month we’re trying to promote a specific product line, last month we launched our sales force automation software, next month we’re bringing in that motivational speaker and the month after that we’ll be introducing a new SPIF (special performance incentive formula) to move our dead and obsolete inventory.”
Unfortunately, there is no “Purple Pill” that you can buy to drug your sales team. There is no “Purple Pill” that will improve their effectiveness. There is no “Purple Pill” that will increase profit, revenue, or market share. However, there is a proven process that sustains continuous improvement and will help you achieve every one of these objectives. It’s actually a very simple methodology. It’s called a Sales Effectiveness Process (SEP). A SEP is simply a structure for continuously improving sales force performance through focus, discipline and a process built on a platform of accountability.But we already have a system.A SEP is not a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. CRM concentrates on the effectiveness of interactions with customers, not the effectiveness of the sales force. It is not a Sales Force Automation (SFA) system. SFA deals with improving the efficiency of the sales force: performing administrative duties more efficiently. A SEP improves the effectiveness of the sales force; doing the right things rather than just doing things right.Similarly, a SEP is not a canned sales skills training course. Training is really only effective when the students are eager to learn and the material is immediately relevant. Offering an instruction or motivation course without having a structure that continuously encourages proper behavior is a waste of time. Training should therefore be considered a supplement to other initiatives rather than a sales management program. A SEP does not replace sales training.A Sales Effectiveness Process provides critical structure and motivation for using tools such as CRM, SFA and skills training. It also provides a measurement system to manage the activities that are required to meet specific objectives. Without a focused sales management process, automation and training are wasted because their power is undirected. However, the SEP can provide tremendous value on its own merits even without the independent use of the other supporting tools. Used in conjunction with the SEP, these tools are much more powerful.Why is this any different?OK, so what is this thing called SEP? It is a set of best sales practices with a small amount of automation thrown in. SEP is built on the concept of “Managing activities and measuring results.” Focus, process, discipline and accountability become the engine that drives the process.It all starts with planning.The key to planning is making sure that it deals with reality rather than wishful thinking. A quota from the boss may be called “the plan,” but it has no relation to how the salesperson will achieve it. “I can set myself a goal of becoming 4 inches taller this year but it’s probably not going to happen. If, in contrast, I decide to lose 10 pounds and I can plan out the exact exercise regimen, a specific diet and the activities necessary to get there, I have a real plan and my chance of success is much greater.”In a SEP, each field salesperson identifies a small set of target accounts in his territory to receive intensive sales focus. The number is limited because true targeting must be backed up by action planning, and that requires a lot of effort. (For more information about targeting strategies, see “TLS â€" Tier Level Selling” by Rick Johnson, available by e-mailing rick@ceostrategist.com or by visiting www.ceostrategist.com)The salesperson sets numeric objectives for sales and gross margin dollars on each target customer, along with detailed action plans to achieve them. The goals could be for the next year or the next quarter, and will be periodically adjusted to ensure that they are always realistic. This does not mean that a salesperson gets to change his quota. He is still expected to reach the same final numbers. The SEP provides a realistic platform that allows him to adjust how he will get there by tweaking his individual targets and goals, making course corrections as necessary during the year to make sure he will meet his objectives. The SEP helps him identify and utilize any resources inside and outside the company that he needs to attain his goals.ExecutionThe SEP circumvents the most common mistake made in distribution today: trying to manage results. Instead, you must manage activities because it’s the activities that produce results. Execution involves the day-to-day activities of the salesperson. For most industries, this entails both planned, proactive tasks and opportunistic, reactive events that the salesperson uncovers by doing the right things in the right place at the right time. It’s critical that the progress of the tasks in target action plans is carefully monitored to avoid surprises. This is the equivalent of monitoring your daily exercise before the effects start to show up on the scale. Once the results are in, the horse is out of the barn and everything you do from that point on is reactive. If you proactively manage the activities, the expected results will follow.FeedbackThe feedback process is where the real magic of the SEP comes in. A universal scorecard is essential for creating competitive energy within your sales force and motivating them to focus on strategic objectives. The scorecard should include a small number of well-designed metrics that are regularly updated. This information is extremely valuable for:• Identifying the best opportunities for performance improvement• Creating a level playing field• Driving continuous improvement• Providing performance feedback• Encouraging and measuring cross functional selling• Offering key information for the review processMonthly territory review: the cornerstone of the SEP.The monthly review process is a critical component of the SEP that enables the sales manager and his sales representative to discuss, plan and measure success. This is how a good manager enables his salesmen to capitalize on their natural talents and abilities. The review process should include the following:1. Review of all target accounts2. Review of all cross functional selling opportunities, or lack of them3. Review of specific territory objectives, including sales to plan and gross profit to plan, and assigned account objectives4. Knowledge of products, customers and customer organizations5. Ability to apply this market knowledge6. Development of a favorable attitude as it pertains to that knowledge and those applied skills7. Required course correctionsThis is not a session for reprimand or criticism. The review should be designed to achieve maximum participation by the sales representative. Industry best practice has proven that such representative participation is one of the most effective methods of developing both an attitude for learning and a drive for successful accomplishment of goals and objectives.Next, enthusiasm must be created. Enthusiasm is one of the most important traits for a sales manager because it is contagious. Remember, sales representatives will learn very little if they are mentally falling asleep.Finally, the sales representative must have confidence in the program. He or she must trust the content of the program and truly believe that it will provide personal benefits.
The review process is extremely critical to the success of the SEP. It must be taken seriously and performed at a standard of excellence that supports the intent and objectives of the overall program. It requires 100% compliance throughout the company.The SEP gives more than it receivesThe last thing you want to do is to burden your sales force with administrative tasks of limited value. Throw away the call reports. They aren’t necessary in the SEP. Besides, they are the closest a salesman will ever come to winning the Pulitzer Prize in journalism. How many times can a sales person report: “I called on Joe, everything is great and we will get to bid on his next requirement?” A well thought out action plan has more than 100 times the value of any call report.The focus of the SEP, especially the monthly review, is on improvement through coaching and counseling. It is not a human resources hammer for “slap & point” management. It is simple but powerful for the salesperson using it (by comparison, most companies have way too many reports, measurements and programs that diffuse focus, dilute effort and may indicate that upper management is really not clear about the company’s strategic direction).
Sales is a profession that requires professional salespeopleCompanies are in constant need of aggressive, creative and resourceful salespeople to have their products specified, accepted and used by customers. Without informed and capable field salespeople, no distributorship could hope to compete in the marketplace today.But how often do companies consider the fact that good salespeople, the kind who can help a company really grow, don’t just happen to come along by chance or fate? There is no such thing as a “born salesperson,” because selling ability is much more than a personality trait.Granted, selling does require certain attributes in a person that some people are born with and some are not. Also, the person must be intelligent, able to grasp ideas and details easily, retain them and recall them for use whenever necessary in selling situations. These factors, and many others relating to personal and emotional characteristics, are contributing elements in the makeup of the professional salesperson. However, these attributes alone do not make a salesperson nor do they guarantee success. It takes more.A salesperson must have adequate tools, resources and leadership to maximize his effectiveness. That is why the Sales Effectiveness Process is so vital. It is the program that provides the support and the resources to give each and every salesperson the opportunity to maximize his personal effectiveness.The Sales Effectiveness Process will not replace good sales management, but it can make it much more effective. Remember, it’s not the sales manager’s job to call on accounts and sell product. His job is to make his sales force as effective as he possibly can so that they can achieve the goals and objectives of the organization.The SEP is the one thing that can light up the sales process like Edison lit up a dark room with his light bulb invention. Let SEP become your light in the darkness of the competitive world of distribution. (Download a free sales person review checklist www.ceostrategist.com)Dr. Eric “Rick” Johnson (rick@ceostrategist.com) is the founder of CEO Strategist LLC. an experienced based firm specializing in Distribution. CEO Strategist LLC. works in an advisory capacity with distributor executives in board representation, executive coaching, team coaching and education and training to make the changes necessary to create or maintain competitive advantage. You can contact them by calling 352-750-0868, or visit http://www.ceostrategist.com for more information.Rick received an MBA from Keller Graduate School in Chicago, Illinois and a Bachelor's degree in Operations Management from Capital University, Columbus Ohio. Rick recently completed his dissertation on Strategic Leadership and received his Ph.D. He’s also a published book author with four titles to his credit: “The Toolkit for Improved Business Performance in Wholesale Distribution,” the NWFA & NAFCD “Roadmap”, Lone Wolf-Lead Wolfâ€"The Evolution of Sales” and a fiction novel about teenagers called “Shattered Innocence.”
Category : Insurance

Women Voting Rights: Brief History

Author : Betty Jo Sheley

The beauty of our great nation lies not only in its "majestic purple mountains that shadow fruited plains from Sea to shining Sea," but also in the promises of our forefathers who provided all things possible to those who uphold and defend its Doctrines.The noble intentions upon signing the 1789 USA Constitution was that far sighted Men of Property, who numbered approximately 10% of the adult population, would fulfill the obligation to care for those less fortunate as only they had the wherewithal to do and therefore be the only ones involved in the national voting process.In 1848 the Suffragettes held their first Women's Rights Convention. And, in 1868 the 14th Amendment ("The Equal Protection Clause") passed which guaranteed equal treatment of all citizens. Individual States still controlled the decision of who voted in national elections, other than as outlined in 1870 by the 15th Amendment, and women were limited to voting in local election with only Utah and Wyoming granting them the right to vote in national elections.In 1920 the 19th Amendment was ratified prohibiting both the federal government and all United States from using a person's sex as a qualification to vote. However, due to this Amendment being passed in August, some States did not have enough time to properly prepare for the increased number of voters and women were therefore refused voting privileges in those States. The Civil Rights Act, of 1964, also referred to as the Voting Rights Act, resolved lingering right to vote issues. Betty Jo Sheley, http://www.showlinehomesecurity.com Buy here Security Products for Home and Personal Protection. Author participated in Mayoral Conflict Resolution Institute, Community Think Tank Studies. You may reprint this article if you include my name with my link.

Category : General Government

Open Source Scripts

Author : Sanjib Ahmad

Commercial web application systems used to be expensive at one
time. With the advent of open source solutions such applications
are not only available for free but in many cases they are
superior to commercial systems.

Now anyone can have access to advanced systems and scripts such
as content management systems, forums, auction scripts,
ecommerce systems, shopping carts, photgallery applications and
more. Some example scripts are provided below.

Content Management Systems * Drupal * Mambo Open Source *
PHPNuke * PostNuke * XOOPS

E-Commerce Systems * OsCommerce

Image Gallery Scripts * Image Gallery

Message Forums * phpBB2

Blogs * Wordpress

You can install the scripts yourself on your webserver. You will
need to download the script from the original source site. Unzip
the source files and follow the installation steps. The
installation steps are usually easy as long as the basic
requirements are working currectly in your system. Basic
requirements can include database (for example: MySQL), web
server (for example: Apache) and programming language parser
(for example: PHP).

If you find the installation difficult or too time consuming,
you can hire a professional script installation service provider
such as Script Jockeys. They can installs scripts such as the
ones listed above.

Their services include: * Script installation and customization
* Script debugging / troubleshooting * CGI, Perl and PHP scripts
* Scripts utilizing MySQL databases

Though I haven't tried their services, you can find more about
them at
http://computer-internet.marc8.com/ebook-info.php/name/script_joc
keys/toc_id/6-0-8-15/

Category : Diabetes

The Ever Anticipated Feat Of Walking

Author : Sarah Veda -
We make such a big deal out of when a baby takes his first steps. In fact, the age at which your child took his first steps will be ingrained in your Mommy memory forever, just like your childÂ’s birth weight and time. Personally, I think walking is a bit overrated, since you canÂ’t manage to keep them out of trouble ever again once they start, but here are some things you might want to know, anyway.

For some reason, everyone seems to think that a baby should be walking by his first birthday, but the fact is that most babies donÂ’t walk until after this time. There are a few who walk as early as nine months of age, but a great many who donÂ’t take their first steps until fifteen months. And, if your child is a late walker, it has absolutely no bearing on his intelligence.

The age at which a baby walks is often genetic. Walking very early or very late often runs in the family. My husband walked at nine months, and I walked at ten months, so we were unlucky enough to have a daughter who also walked at ten months. She was very petite, so she looked like the world’s tiniest walking human. She also scaled the kitchen counters before she was a year old, so you can see what I mean by “unlucky”.

When your baby walks is also often related to his size. Babies with short legs usually walk sooner than those with long legs (a balance issue) and thinner babies usually walk sooner than their more plump counterparts.

Pushing your baby to walk is not a good idea, but providing him the opportunity to learn is critical. If you force your child to endure daily practice sessions, he may just rebel and refuse to walk for quite a while. On the other hand, if you keep him in swing or playpen all day, heÂ’ll never have the opportunity to try out his skills. Give him some supervised time on the floor, and heÂ’ll figure the rest out with or without your help.

If, by chance, your child is not walking by the age of eighteen months, it is best to have him checked out by a doctor. There is not necessarily anything wrong, but most babies are walking by this age, so have him examined as a precaution. But, don’t be too eager, because once he starts walking, all the rules change. Someone, though I don’t remember who, once said, - “We spend the first two years of our children’s lives teaching them to walk and talk, and then the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.” It’s so true.

A World Without Microsoft

Author : Adam Knife
Exactly how would the computing world feel without Microsoft?What if Microsoft just closed their doors? Gates and Ballmer just got up and left with nothing more than a "This is boring," how would the computing world be effected.I mean, they just shutdown Microsoft: they didn't release any of their products open source, because, they really don't care, rather, they just got up and left.Gates is quoted saying, quite often, that he'll run Microsoft until he gets sick of it, so, what if that day came? Does that mean he enjoys being picked on by the entire geek crowd, and hated by half the country?The possibility actually exists for Microsoft to just pay out all the stock holders their share of the company and just cease to exist, and, to be honest, there's little reason for Gates and Ballmer to continue running the company at the current state. They're the most prominent target for geeks to attack, they're both unbelievably rich and could live the rest of their lives spending as much money as they want and still have plenty left over, and the company is growing to a stand-still.Seriously, what has Microsoft done in the last, say 3 years. Nothing substantial. There's been some marketing jazz here and there, and the odd silly product like OneNote updated/released, but, has there been any substantial improvements to the products everyone uses? Not really. There's been some Internet Explorer/Windows XP patches, some bug fixes, some new releases of MS Office that add little but the lack of backwards compatibility, but, I see no innovation.Isn't that what makes a technology company "fun"? Innovation? Does Gates see technology's fun different than the rest of us?What about the users? Would they just continue to use Windows XP for a few years until Mac OS/Linux threw it self in to a position where it had marketing money behind it? Would someone quickly pick up a Linux distribution and commercialize it ala Linspire? Would Apple Computers see a huge stock value increase?Adam X. Knife is author for a range of technology oriented sites including the popular cellular review site, wirelesstalk.info. He's known for his contributions to exeLibrary, including mdm.exe, alg.exe and svchost.exe.
Category : Computers-and-Technology:Software

Let's Have a Barbeque Party

Author : Valerie Giles

"A wonderful way to entertain family and friends in an outdoor setting is with a backyard barbeque party. With proper planning and the right environment people will be talking about your party all summer. Important factors to think about when entertaining are things like the barbeque grill, seating, lighting, and of course the menu planning."Today?s barbecue choices have never been greater. The designs and options are wonderful, there really is a barbecue that fits your individual barbecuing needs. Barbecues come in both natural gas and propane grills. Barbecues are available in portable fire pit models excellent for a patio or backyard, giving the feeling of being around an actual fire pit. Other barbecue designs include charcoal-wood grills, portable grills and outdoor stoves. Weber makes some of the most durable and reliable quality grills, using stainless steel burners to provide long- wearing even heat and burners with spider and insect screens to keep the burners pest free. The stainless steel hoods and bodies are long lasting and great looking. Several of the designs also include built in thermometers.Another great addition to your backyard cooking options might be a bbq smoker. These bbq smokers are perfect for seafood delicacies and traditional barbecue meals like beef brisket, ribs or pork. They are also excellent for chicken, seafood or anything needing direct high temperatures. Briquettes are available that burn for up to eight hours giving a wonderful smoked flavor.A beautiful patio leaves you with the feeling that your at a cottage or a wonderful outdoor retreat, the nice thing is it?s a much more affordable alternative to owning a cottage. With the great selection of patio furniture and accessories on the market you can design your patio to be your own personal vacation in your backyard. The patio is not only a convenient getaway, but also a natural extension of your home?s design and d?cor. Black is a popular color for furniture as is antiqued greens with a distressed look. Wooden furniture is again popular, teak being a favorite as it ages so beautifully. Patio furniture is available with armrests, high back chairs and swivel rockers with matching ottomans, all for ultimate comfort. Most of the outdoor furniture sold today is made with all weather fabrics; it?s also wise to select furniture that will be durable and low maintenance.When throwing and planning a barbecue patio party you?ll want to be prepared and know approximately how many people will be coming. You want to be sure there is enough available seating so everyone is comfortable. You?ll also want to be prepared for unexpected weather. Awnings are an excellent option, allowing you to take control of the weather on your deck or patio in a moment; there are also outdoor tents that you can set up with a table inside to shelter yourself from the rain. It?s important to have at least one outdoor umbrella to provide protection and shade for your guests from the hot sun, not to mention they also look nice. There is no shortage of excellent patio furniture and comfortable outdoor sitting options. Patio heaters are also welcome for cooler evenings after the sun goes down.It?s important to have a proper serving or buffet surface for your party, a place where you can have all the food, beverages, plates and utensils. Portable carts or side tables can also work well. You may even have a built-in countertop.The lighting for your outdoor party will only matter if the barbecue carries on into the evening; regardless the lighting is something that is nice to think about as it adds so many ambiences to your backyard setting. There are outdoor solar-powered lights available and other lighting options in several designs. Luminaries, candles, miniature white lights strung between trees or along your patio, or some lovely white paper lanterns hanging from your trees can make your patio extraordinary.Bug control is a must at your outdoor party. Burn citronella candles to help keep a variety of bugs away. If yellow jackets are a nuisance in your yard, traps are available from your garden center or nursery. Remember to cover food, especially the meat and sweet drinks on the table to protect from bugs.A few other nice additions to your party might be; gift bags for any children attending the party, you can fill the bags with fun ideas found at the dollar store like glow sticks, crayons and little notepads etc., it?s a nice idea to keep the children occupied; patio heaters are excellent if it starts to cool down in the evening, or for unexpected cooler days; flowers in planters or hanging baskets will further add to the appeal of your yard; lastly a nice variety of music sets the mood and adds a nice overall feeling to your party.Planning the meal is probably the biggest challenge to your party. You?ll want to know in advance if any of your guests have any special eating preferences, allergies, dislikes. You can always go with the standard burgers, veggie burgers (f there will be any vegetarians attending), steaks and salads knowing that everyone will be satisfied and full. On the other hand, you might want to surprise your guests with a wonderful honey barbeque broiled steak; a simple marinade can be made with garlic, marjoram, salt, pepper, dry mustard, honey, and balsamic vinegar. The selected steak or chicken can then be kept in the marinade for a couple of hours in the fridge, next step is onto the barbecue. Excellent side dishes might be some potato salad, a green salad and corn on the cob.In the summertime cold drinks are a must. You might make some cold lemonade, and have some carbonated beverages on hand. A nice addition to any buffet table is a lovely punch (alcohol or non alcohol) with some lemon slices and fresh fruit additions. Always have lots of ice available to keep the drinks cold. For dessert some cut fruit such as strawberries, melon and watermelon slices prove refreshing or a fruit salad can be nice, and of course a nice cake or some cookies is always sinful but popular. Later on, a bowl of corn tortilla chips served with salsa is well liked.Of course your budget will determine how much you can and can?t do as far as decorating at your party. But don?t let that discourage you, it takes time to get your patio looking exactly the way you want it, in the meantime keep your eyes open and look for ideas. A simple picnic table and some plastic outdoor chairs work well too; a barbecue really is all about the food and atmosphere created.With some planning and the right atmosphere your outdoor barbeque party will be a success. Whether your party is big or small, a barbeque is a wonderful way to get together with your closest friends and family members to enjoy the summertime and some great food. Valerie Giles owns and operates Best BBQ Online, a resource web site featuring bbq grills, bbq smokers, weber gas grills, grill accessories, bbq recipes and marinades. Everything you need for the barbequing season.

http://www.best-bbq-online.com Try some of our free Mouth Watering Rotisseries Recipes. The accompanying article is copyrighted. It may bereproduced only if the hyperlinks here are left intact.

Category : Night Club Life

Home Inspection ? Going On Top

Author : Robert Hanania

Everyone who buys or sells a house, apartment or condo is going to use a home inspector at one time or another and even though you pretty much know what they do, many of you might have more appreciation for them once you learn more details of there chosen profession. Home inspectors have been around for a long time and they will be here for a lot longer, preparing reports, giving advice and recommendations and to some, a peace of mind. Because this is a big subject and there is a lot to say, right know I will focus on roof inspection and also give a little class on roof construction. First the basics ? Pitched Roofs The basic structure of a typical pitched roof is: the framework, a deck and a weather resistant covering. The purpose of the deck is to serve as a base for supporting the roof covering, which is what protects the roof. (Pretty simple so far, right?) A pitched roof has a series of parallel beams (joists) joined at the top at angles, like tepees with a supporting overlay (the deck), usually plywood or similar material that serves as a base for supporting the roof covering (shingles), which has the purpose of shedding the water away from the roof either into gutters or just falling off the roofline. The deck is not waterproof so the shingles must be intact and able to withstand all types of weather, (except tornadoes and meteoroids) be it snow, hail, or rain. I can?t speak for all home inspectors because they have there own techniques and working procedures. Like most people I had a couple of them look over my house, so from my experience they generally do a outside visual of roofs that entails walking around the house, sometimes with the aid of binoculars for close-up viewing or use a ladder for ranch type houses, if practical. They generally don?t want to walk up there for liability issues (fear of there foot going through the roof), but I feel that is the best way to check for roof structural integrity and they need to do it anyway for flat roofs. Needless to say they would be responsible for any damages they do in the course inspection! A typical roof inspection will include checking for:Uneven shingles ? poor installation of a second layer over an old one. This might be ok but will be prone to water damage. When making an attic inspection the deck should be checked for damage and signs of leakage.Sagging roof ? probably deck damage, but may be a structural problem like a damaged ridge beam (A beam placed on end at the top of the roof and fastened to the rafters) or a roof deck that may not have adequate bracing or spacing of wood-frame support members. This is better left for a structural engineer for evaluation.Roof ventilation ? in a way roofs have to breathe too, that?s why there are roof vents on the roof and in the soffit (a horizontal board nailed to a roof overhang). Warm air must have an escape in attic space or there will be moisture buildup and the wood will rot. This can also cause streaks on interior walls and peeling paint. An inspection should be made of vent placement and count to evaluate if there is adequate ventilation. Shingles- If the roof is pitched it will most likely have overlapping shingles to shed water away and down the roof. The south and southwest sides of the roof gets most of the sun that makes brittle and age faster, thereby causing deterioration. If there is any cracking, pealing or breakage of these ?tiles? they will need repair or replacement because it will not protect the roof. Flat RoofsEven if a roof has a slight pitch it is considered a flat roof. As with the pitched roof this is the first thing inspected. Sometimes an interior wall that has signs of water damage could be traced back to the roof. Since this type of roof can?t be seen from the ground inspection must be made at top of the house. On a two story or more building access to the roof has to be made from inside, a stairwell, ladder, or an access hole in the ceiling of a room, probably a bedroom closet or pantry. As with any type of roof ventilation is key so checking for air vents is a must. A ventilation opening can be a pipe coming from the roof top or an open space on the side of the roofline right below the roof. A flat roof differs from a pitched one in that it is water tight, not just shedding water like a pitched one. At one time standing water was considered a good thing because it would cool the roof a bit during the summer months. There should be no ponds of standing water because this could be a breeding ground for insects and more importantly plants, where the roots can break through the asphalt covering. Special attention should me made when inspecting flat roofs because even small cracks between the roofs drain and the roof covering could become serious. There are many types of flat roofs like single-ply membrane, roll roofing, metal roofs, hot tar covered or built-up roofs an inspecting them is similar in every case. The inspector will look for any visible cracking, blisters, weak spots or any kind of corrosion that will compromise the structural integrity of the roof. The cause of a leak on an interior wall or ceiling may be hard to find because it may have started on the roof, then zig-zagged its way down, but several feet away from the area you saw it. These are some of the things home inspectors look for and report on when checking roofs. They not only go in 120?F attics but also crawl under houses, and look in chimney stacks, but do so with a great deal of courtesy and professionalism! Robert is the owner and operator of this website: http://www.houseimprovementonline.net

and a true fanatic of learning and sharing 'how to' material and info. If you love anything 'do it yourself' you should visit this website and http://www.fileanddatarecovery.com

Category : General Home Repair