วันเสาร์ที่ 29 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Why Teak Furniture is the Better Choice

Author : Jennifer Akre
For centuries, it has been known that teak has qualities unlike any other wood. With an average lifespan of 75 years, teak wood has long been commended as the ideal choice for outdoor furniture.This luxuriant hardwood has abilities to withstand the rigors of adverse climates. Teak is resistant to water, weather and warping, allowing it to withstand season after season of use. Because of its rich quality and ability to weather attractively, teak furniture is not only a sound investment; it is a symbol of luxury and affluence.There are several leading teak manufacturers known for exceptional craftsmanship of teak furniture. One of the largest and most renowned is Kingsley-Bate. Kingsley-Bate was the first American company to use Javanese teak in the manufacture of its furniture. They, like many of their industry counterparts, use precise mortise and tenon joinery in the construction of their teak furniture. The quality material and sheer craftsmanship, provides customers with teak furniture of exceptional style and durability.Teak furniture is offered in a wide variety of classic pieces as well as custom designs by skilled wood carvers. You can enjoy a teak bench with a carved hummingbird motif or a teak bench that has a simple but elegant design. Whatever you are looking for, a teak Adirondack chair, teak bench, teak chair or teak table, you will not be disappointed.Over time, teak will age to a soft gray patina color. The original color of your teak furniture may be maintained with a seasonal application of a teak oil or teak protector.
Small cracks may appear on the surface of the wood over time. This is a natural part of the aging process and in no way harms the integrity of your teak furniture. Outside of cleaning with soap and water as needed, teak is virtually low maintenance.Because of its longevity, aesthetic appeal, durability and low maintenance, teak has remained the best choice for outdoor furniture.Jennifer Akre is successful business owner of many outdoor furniture websites including http://www.MoreThanTeak.com.

Her websites offer product and information on teak furniture, Kingsley-Bate, Adirondack chairs and other outdoor furniture.
Category : Marriage

วันศุกร์ที่ 28 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Life Insurance No Medical Exam - Is It Really Possible?

Author : Peter Crump
Quite often you feel that an ad for life insurance no medical exam is trying to rip you off. However, it is possible to get life insurance no medical exam when you shop online for your life insurance needs. It is only a click away on a computer, but you really do need to check to see if life insurance without having to visit a medical doctor applies to you.You will have to complete the online application for life insurance answering a series of questions regarding your age, gender and the state of your health. Once the online agents assess the answers to the questions, they will determine whether or not you qualify for no exam medical life insurance. One thing is for certain and that is to get life insurance and no medical exam, you do need to be young and in prefect health.When you find the perfect life insurance online where you do not need to have a medical exam, the process is quite simple. Once you receive a reply that your application has been accepted for life insurance, you can pay for it online using your credit card and print off your no medical exam life insurance policy. If you do not tell the truth regarding the state of your health, this will result in cancellation of your life insurance no medical exam.When you shop for life insurance, you need to be an educated consumer. Even though you may be eligible for life insurance no medical exam, life insurance policies are either standard (permanent) or term (temporary). Basically, standard coverage remains in affect for the life of the insured. Term coverage expires after a set term of 5, 10, or 20 years (except for term to 100 insurance). Term life insurance is generally less expensive because death is not certain during the policy term. Generally no medical exam life insurance is term insurance. While there is no guarantee you will be accepted for life insurance without a medical exam, it is worth a try.Not everyone qualifies for life insurance no medical exam.For a website totally devoted to Life Insurance visit Peter's Website Life Insurance Answers and find out about Life Insurance as well as Life Insurance Companies and more, including Online Life Insurance, Term Life Insurance and Life Insurance Agents.
Category : VOIP

Advice - How to Quit Smoking - Part 1

Author : Tyler D Falls
Nicotine is an addictive drug found in tobacco.The first part of this article is my personal opinion, please do not become offended.We all know the harmful long term and short term side effects of tobacco. Tobacco companies themselves warn us on the packages that their product is the leading cause of death in North America. Yet they continue to market it and the government makes too much money off the sales of tobacco to ever de-legalize it. The sad truth is the government cares more about money then they will ever care about our health.Smokers, who started in the past 10 years when it was publicly known how harmful smoking was, created their own pain. Everyone in this world has the ability to make decisions, and the decision not to smoke should be an easy one to make. Now not everyone was smart enough to make the decision in the first place, but many come to realize the mistake years down the road. Those people often say things like "I WISH I could quit" or "I WISH I never started smoking" These types of statements are weak minded statements, and it’s obvious that these were the same people who made the stupid mistake in the first place.I know all the medical information about addictions. I realize how they work, and how powerful they can be. I know nicotine, like other addictive drugs, creates a chemical dependency, so that the body develops a "need" for certain levels of nicotine at all times. If this level is not maintained the body will go thru withdrawal. Withdrawal from nicotine can be as serious as withdrawal from cocaine but what people need to realize is that withdrawal from nicotine never killed anyone. So withdrawal is probably better for you then smoking in the first place. Your body obviously doesn’t "need" the smoke it just wants it so it doesn’t have to go thru withdrawals.People who say they "need" a smoke should probably just go ahead and have it anyways. Most of us know what the necessities for life are, and smoking is defiantly not one of them. This just goes to show what state of mind some smokers have. People should be saying "I want a smoke", this is the first step to quitting believe it or not. Realizing that you do not "need" a smoke is the key; from here you can make the next changes to your attitude.The next step is to know that EVERYONE can quit! I don’t care if you’ve been addicted to heroin, speed and crack for 30 years, you can still quit! People don’t realize a positive attitude is the key to achieving anything. If you don’t think in your mind that you can quit, you never will, and you might as well stop reading, and have a smoke. Those who are ready to believe that they have it in them to quit, let’s continue.After realizing you don’t "need" a smoke and that it IS possible for you to quit, the third step is to practice quitting something less addictive. This works on self control, and confidence. So pick a bad habit or useless activity such as staring mindlessly at the TV for hours every night, and stop! Give it up for 4 weeks. Some other examples are, biting nails, cracking your knuckles, swearing, eating junk food, eating fast food, drinking, spending money on useless stuff, and masturbating excessively. Just about any compulsive action that you might do that is potentially harmful to your health that you don’t "need" to survive is acceptable. Choose one that you think you can give up for month. Now remember, this is used to quit smoking, so this excersise WILL NOT work if you smoke as a substitute. You must continue your regular smoking habits or even try slowing them down to prepare for the quitting faze.If you picked a bad habit to break and did it for a solid month, you should no longer feel a "need" for it. You may still think about it, you may still even want it, but you are strong enough to say NO! If you did this correctly, you should feel good about yourself, you should feel confident, and you are now ready for the next step.Here comes the hard part, but you know you are ready, you can do anything! Stay Positive! Go to your doctor, tell him you are about to quit smoking, tell him the steps you have done already and that you are ready to make the commitment. He should be able to give you some advice and help you get started. Don’t use the patch or gum yet! Before you go ahead and do anything, try following these steps.Advice - How to Quit Smoking - Part 2Drug Addict RehabsTyler D Falls - Addiction Treatment
Category : Leadership

Get To Know Your Camera - More Than Just Megapixels!

Author : Lopa Bhattacharya
Today, while you go shopping for 'feature-rich' digital cameras physically or on the Internet, often you will find manufacturers running out of their ways, telling "this camera takes great pictures." And which snap taker of our times will fail to equate 'great pictures' with great resolutions? Well, with today's 3, 4 or 5 megapixel digital cameras offering the flexibility of digital zooms, storing high-resolution images on their memory cards and an LCD panel that shows 100% of the subject, you will get digital images of superb quality; whether you want to print posters or put your images online.With manufacturers recognizing a market for simple, sleek and sophisticated cameras in all pixel categories, today you can find basic point-and-shoot digicams, with resolutions typically ranging from one-megapixel at the low end to six-megapixels in professional-grade equipment. And here, the bottomline is, the more pixels a camera has, the sharper the images it produces.With today's manufacturers realizing that the buyers actually intend to match their purchases with the specific needs of the camera at a price that best suits them, they have also come up with many midrange models that feature lots of adjustable focus, exposure settings and several flash/picture modes (like portrait, landscape, nightmode, etc). Clearly, more sophisticated models require more time with the manual, and prospective buyers should know that there's a learning curve involved with such cameras. As a whole, while you go for buying one for yourself, you'll learn:• How to use camera functions to the best of their capabilities• How to select and use accessories to enhance your shooting experience• How to use the digital cameras to create great images• How to spark up your images (using the most popular image editing software: Adobe Photoshop7). Very recently, however, Webshots.com, the premiere online photo community website has introduced free online courses to teach buyers the technicalities of digital image touch-ups/reworking, creating stunning web pages and rich media websites with their digital images.However, in order to choose the right camera--one with the right picture resolution at the right price--you'll need to figure out what you'll be doing with it. For example, if you are a casual snapshooter, interested in taking photos that you can e-mail to friends and family, post on the Web, or print in sizes smaller than 8x10 inches; a 2-3 megapixel will suffice.There are lot of these models introduced by Kodak Eastman company (Kodak EasyShare CX6200, Kodak EasyShare CX6230), Canon (Canon Powershot A75), POLAROID (Polaroid PDC2050 2.1 MP Digital Camera), stressing on the fact that these are easy enough for the whole family to use and small enough to take anywhere.On the other hand, to shoot onsite or in the office, photographs for product-ads and publicity in print and on the Web with professional-looking results without hiring a pro, a business user will find 3 megapixel cameras great.Again, someone with the frenzy to buy the newest, shiniest toys to impress friends and business associates with the latest technologies and coolest features will find 5 megapixel cameras really 'cool'. Among the latest feature-rich cameras in this category, you'll find Sony's stylish, pocket-size Cybershot DSCP100 digital camera offering an amazing 5-megapixel resolution and a wealth of photographic features normally found on full-sized, high-end cameras. On the other hand, Panasonic has today revealed the new Panasonic DMC-FZ20 with five megapixels, an improved body design and an improved processor (the "Venus Engine II"), promising better performance, improved image stabilization and image quality. Canon Powershot G5 5 Megapixel is also a smash hit with the resolution-junkies.Expert photographers and reviewers have time and again said that as much as they would like to give a one-word answer to one asking how many megapixels would be fine for him/her, this one happens to be of the trickiest questions in digital photography.A final answer by experts: For any images you plan to print or retouch, 3-megapixel resolution and higher should be okay; web and e-mail-only photos should be fine at resolutions below that. For prints 8x10 or larger, one should look for digicams with 4-megapixel resolution or higher. And last but not the least, for displaying or printing pictures at smaller-than-actual-pixel size, resolution doesn't matter much. Instead, in that case, one should opt for the camera with the best color.However, in spite of the experts' verdict, the fact remains that the craze for high resolution digicams soars higher every day. With the enthusiasm of camera nuts willing to pay huge amounts for their photographic toys, 8-megapixel cameras launched by Canon (Canon EOS 20D) are having a good market in the western countries. Lori Grunin, a photo-columnist of Webshots.com, however, says that these cameras appeal to relatively specialized groups within the entire photographic market.Before buying one, identify whether you are one of them.Lopa Bhattacharya is a content writer/developer working for various overseas corporate website projects, CD-Rom presentations, brochures, flyers and other communication materials). Has worked on numerous SEO copywriting projects on varied themes ranging from travel, hotel industry, photography, web design and software development to US-based clubs and network communities. Was previously an editorial associate for the news, culture and entertainment portal based on the life and times of Kolkata.
Category : Arts-and-Entertainment:Photography

How Marriage and Personal Growth Go Together

Author : vitaeb@surfbest.net

Respect?respect?respect. This is major to a long and successful marriage. All too often, in my practice as a spiritual counselor, Ifind couples have derailed their mutual respect in manysubtle and not-so-subtle ways through their style ofintimacy.They mistakenly believe being married gives them license toget into each other's head. Too many married couples, soonafter tying the knot-or even before-begin to treat eachother the way each one treats him/herself. This is what manyof my clients think intimacy is about.With this style of intimacy, we project on to our spouse allthe demoralizing, self-inflicting wounds we give toourselves. Whatever baggage we carry, we thrust upon ourpartner. Hidden anger, self-doubt, and fear-to identify ourmost common failings-get tossed back and forth between thepartners. In other words, we treat our spouse as badly as wetreat ourselves.It is my impression, we are more kind to strangers. We oughtto treat our spouses as kindly as we treat a stranger.Politeness is not the same as coldness or aloofness.Civility is the beginning of positive intimacy. And thatsort of intimacy is worth internalizing. From treating ourspouse in a kindly fashion, we can learn from our ownbehavior and begin to treat ourselves more kindly. By that,I don't mean pandering ourselves with over-indulgence of ourappetites or by avoiding challenges. I don't mean taking theeasy way out.By exercising kindness to ourselves, we discontinueharboring negative ideas about ourselves. We stop self-judgmental habits; we stop trying to prove we are okay beresorting to perfectionism; we stop nursing past hurts; westop anticipating future insults. And by clearing our mentalhouse of negative self-intimacy, we are then more able andwilling to be kindly disposed to our beloved other. Treating our spouse as politely as we treat a stranger makesfor an easier process when it comes to dealing with issuesand differences. Having grown to be more kind towardourselves, we have learned how to be an observer of ourinner as well as outer behaviors. We become a witness to ouractions and thoughts. We learn to understand ourselvesbetter. And thinking more kindly about ourselves, we haveenabled ourselves to move through our negotiations with ourspouse from a higher perspective. It is as if we werestanding at the top of a mountain looking down and seeingwith more clarity all that is happening below.We have learned to see our emotions from some amount ofdistance, enough to be open to hearing more clearly what theother needs to say. We listen to each other withoutdefending ourselves, without seeking to change the other.Just listening, just hearing without heavy emotionalinvolvement, makes all the difference in the world. This isthe way of polite negotiation. This is the way marriages aresustained, are nurtured, and ripen.Generally, people are attracted to an opposite type. We seein the other characteristics and behaviors we secretly wishwere ours. At first, being with our opposite is a positivedelight. Until it happens-and it generally happens-that eachpartner, to some extent or another, attempts to change theothers habits, behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs. Those veryattributes we were attracted to in the first place begin tothreaten.The honeymoon is over when one partner starts working on theother attempting to get the other to become more like him orher. Because the partner harbors unconscious doubts abouther/himself, because of the negative intimacy the personinflicts on her/himself, the need to change the other-totake on his/her characteristics and attitudes-is a way toalleviate some of that doubt. If she is more like me, then Imust be okay. This is the path to a hostile environment. In such amarriage, delight in each other dries up, the warmth andlove desired evaporates. The partners have a sense of toomany differences separating them from each other. If theypersist in remaining connected, their life becomes one ofquiet desperation. If the two are still civil with eachother, the civility is brittle. There is no kindness, noloving, and caring feeling between them. Many marriagespersist in this manner for various reasons, financial beingthe most prominent.But if each partner practices self-kindness and a detachedwitnessing of self, then each can allow the other the spaceneeded in which to grow. Gradually, the gap betweendifferences narrows; each has shifted somewhat in attitudeand behavior; each has miraculously become more like theother. And then it becomes a joy for the two to be together.Each has realized the pleasure of having become more likethat person they were attracted to in the beginning. Such a ripening can be the consequence of a lengthy andsuccessful marriage. We become more whole. This is why wedo it.__________________________________________________________ Vitae Bergman is an author as well as a teacher in personal development and a spiritual counselor.He can be reached athttp://joyfulnumerology.com


Category : General Marriage

Tips on How to Get Free Domain Name Registration on the Internet

Author : Stu Pearson
With one of the fastest growing business costs being the internet, knowing how to get free domain name registration on the internet can actually go a long way in making things run a little more smoothly. Whether you have an online business or simply a website for your real-world business, your web presence is important. At the same time, you do not want to have to worry about the cost of domain registration in addition to your monthly hosting fees, web design fees, and possibly even email hosting as well. So what is the answer? Here are a few tips that can help you learn how to get free domain name registration on the internet.Learning how to get free domain name registration on the internet is not difficult. There are really a couple of strategies you can use to avoid those extra nagging fees for your web presence. You can work through either an online registration and hosting company or a local company that will serve the same functions for you, but will do so from close by so that you have more human contact.When working with an online domain name registration and hosting company, you can really afford to shop around and get the best deal. The best deal, in every case, should include free domain name registration. Any hosting company worth their salt on the internet will at least toss in the domain name registration for you. If they do not, you have to ask yourself what they are really doing for you. Using a company for your web hosting, email, and domain registration is how to get free domain name registration on the internet with little or no effort.Another recommendation for how to get free domain name registration on the internet is through a local hosting company. You will be able to get the benefit of face to face work, while still using a company whose primary function for you will take place on the internet. Like the companies online, if you are going to use the company for internet hosting and email, you should ask them about getting free domain name registration on the internet. It is a saved fee for you, and compared to what they are getting, it is a small cost for the hosting company to eat. If they do not seem eager to offer to throw in the domain registration for you, then it may be time to take your business or personal internet needs elsewhere.Though domain name registration is not a huge cost, it is a recurring annual cost. In addition, if you have a larger company or want a major web presence, you may want to register multiple domain names. Either way, knowing how to get free domain name registration on the internet can save you money. How much money you save will depend on a lot of factors, but no matter the amount, it is still money in your pocket. So insist on free domain name registration from your internet hosting company and put more money in your pocket.Stu Pearson has an interest in Technology related topics. To access more information on domain name registration service or on domain hosting name registration web, please click on the links.
Category : Business:Domain-Names

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 27 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Advanced Balance Training Tools

Author : Tony Mendoza Jr

Hello, today I would like to talk to you about one of my favorite tools for enhancing my balance for Martial Arts. Its called the Bosu Ball. I have been using one in my training now for a long time and I credit my drastically improved over-all balance to using this wonderful tool.The Bosu Ball work directly on the Stabilizer Muscles and can help strengthen and coordinate the entire musculature including the muscles of your body that you don't see. Everyone has heard the expression that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The human body is no different. Muscular imbalance or inadequacy of even the smallest muscle can cause the entire system to fail. This is why I think the Bosu Ball is so important to Martial Artists.For you San Soo Fighters out there I have uploaded a couple of video clips to show you how the Bosu Ball works when doing some of our simple warm-up exercises.To see the video clips go to:http://balance.kungfutrainingsecrets.com/down-bosu.htmlandhttp://balance.kungfutrainingsecrets.com/up-bosu.htmlYou can see that the body wants to sway and move when doing these warm-ups on the ball. The goal of course is to be able to do the warm-ups with power while minimizing your body sway. In the future, I will be creating a downloadable eBook called Extreme Balance Training using the Bosu Ball to help Martial Artists improve their balance. ABOUT THE AUTHORTony Mendoza Jr. is a Kung Fu San Soo Black Belt Instructor as well as a Certified Fitness Trainer with 27 years of experience helping people become better Martial Artists through fitness. Visit his site at http://www.kungfutrainingsecrets.com



Category : General Sports: Martial Arts

Trucklinks.com Now Features News

Author :

Fast becoming the preferred search directory trucking industry wide, Trucklinks.com now provides links to news, press releases, editorial as well as event announcements from sources throughout trucking.The news page is human edited and stories are updated at least daily. Arranged by topic interest, users of the directory have the opportunity to see the news items most appealing to them and then go directly to that source. "Trucklinks.com is committed to providing users an information edge in performing the day-to-day operations of the trucking industry," said Trucklinks President Mike Thayer. "The addition of news to our industry exclusive search listings adds another element to the vast range of information already available on the site."Delivering defined, industry unique answers to search inquiries in a fast and easy to use format, users have made Trucklinks.com their preferred choice when it comes to trucking. Questions, concerns and comments about Trucklinks.com can be directed to Mike Thayer, at e-mail protected from spam bots.

Category : General Psychology

วันพุธที่ 26 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551

There's a snake in the yard! -- What to do (and not do) when

Author : Chad Minter
There's a snake in the yard!!!What to do (and not do) when you see a snakeby Chad MinterFirst, don't kill nonvenomous snakes. Any given area can only support a fixed number of snakes. If you kill the nonvenomous snakes that leaves a food supply that could support a population of venomous snakes.Remember to stay a safe distance from the snake. Snakes usually strike about 1/2 their body length, but they can strike farther. You also don't want to trip and fall on the snake.80% of bites occur when someone tries to catch or kill a snake. The safest thing you can do if you see a snake is to leave it alone. (It's probably protected by law anyway.)85% of bites in the United States occur on the hand and forearm. 50% involve a victim under the age of 20. 70% of bites in the United States involve alcohol consumption.If you have a snake in your yard, either call someone trained in their removal or stand at a safe distance and spray it with a garden hose. Snakes hate that and will leave quickly.Step on logs rather than over them. Snakes coil beside logs in the "Reinert Posture" and might mistake your leg for a predator or prey. Watch where you put your hands and feet. Do not reach under boards with your fingers.Snakes can be handled safely with proper tools and training, but do NOT risk trying to handle venomous snakes if you have not been professionally trained. There are things that no website can teach you about how to handle venomous snakes safely.You can minimize the appeal of your yard to a snake by 1. cutting the grass, 2. picking up debris, and 3. Controlling rodents. If there is no food or shelter the snake will soon leave for better hunting grounds.The safest thing to do if you see a snake is to LEAVE IT ALONE. Most bites occur when someone is attempting to capture or kill a snake.If you are bitten by a snake, seek immediate medical care from a licensed and experienced physician. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the first aid for snakebite consists of:"Do remain calm - Remember that there is an excellent chance for survival, and in most cases there is plenty of time. Do suck and squeeze - as much venom as possible directly from the wound. Venom is protein and can be taken orally with no ill effects. Do remove jewelry - Swelling can progress rapidly, so rings, watches and bracelets can be a real problem. Do mark the time - The progress of symptoms (swelling) is the most obvious indicator of the amount of envenomation. Do keep the stricken limb below the heart. Do get to a hospital as quickly as possible - Anti-venom serum is the only sure cure for envenomation, and because some people are allergic to horse serum it should only be given in a fully equipped medical facility. In case of a Coral bite, do pull the snake off immediately - Corals' fangs are relatively small, and they have to work at getting venom into the wound. Therefore, the faster the snake is removed the less venom is injected. Do attempt to identify the offending snake - Positive identification in the form of a dead snake is helpful, if convenient, but no time or safety should be wasted since the symptoms will give medical personnel an accurate diagnosis. Do get a tetanus shot. Don't cut the wound - This almost always causes more damage than it's worth. Don't use a tourniquet - This isolates the venom in a small area and causes the digestive enzymes in the venom to concentrate the damage. Don't use alcohol orally - it speeds the heart and blood flow and reduces the body's counter-acting ability. Don't use ice - Freezing the stricken limb has been found to be a major factor leading to amputation."Remember, snakes have their place in the ecosystem and were around long before we arrived. We are the visitors in their garden. Snakes are quite capable of defending themselves, but are reluctant to do so. If you follow a few common sense rules you can minimize an already very small risk of snakebite during your outdoor adventure. About the Author
Chad Minter is the author of Venomous Snakes of the Southeast. He is actively involved in public education about snakes and snakebite. More information and articles can be found at Chad's website http://www.envenomated.com - The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Page.
Category : Movies

Hi-Tech Poster Reigns!

Author : Maricon Williams

Modern world equates to greater involvement. But we cannot involve our body with lots of socialization, functions and other activities all at the same time. To maximize involvement we extend our personality and facility. We do this with the help of advertising and marketing materials like posters, flyers, billboards, business cards and the likes.Nowadays, poster printing is very in demand. Posters are made especially for movies, music, photography, marketing and fine arts. Their objective is to inform and to advertise. To achieve this objective they need to be catchy and captivating. Nice posters creates good and lasting image. It can capture not only the eyes but the heart of the one staring. Recent advancement in connection to poster printing brought about an extended selection of posters with very harmonizing tone of colors. Posters now come in a realistic view of pictures to accentuate the idea and the message that they want to transmit. Hi-tech posters have also invaded London. Interactive posters are scattered all over the city to advertise the festive season. The poster includes a contact number of a person by whom the driver can ask the safest route home. Just ahead of the posters are infrared posts to beam information directly to the handset. These posters are said to be for the London?s safe travel at night campaign. Said campaign is intended to help local folks keep away from trouble on their way home. Said posters will automatically give out information to any mobile phone equipped with an IR port affixed red icon glowing on the poster. There is also an ongoing study about poster that will use short-range Bluetooth radio technology to swap data. Before the campaign was instated the proponents are doubtful if it will turn out successful. Nevertheless, when they started it they were amazed to know that riders did come making their campaign overwhelmingly successful. Poster printing services are now adding up new and exciting features to serve businesses and companies better. These services are adherent to improvise and innovative way of printing. Printing services are made up of the accumulation of perfectly suited colors, paper type and the recent technology. With this combination your poster can definitely chase with the fast paced modern worlds as well as our modern needs!Life need not be complicated it just needs to cope up and go with the flow in order to survive and compete with the rest! About The AuthorMaricon WilliamsI love reading. Give me a book and I'll finish it in one sitting. Reading is the chance to be transported to a different world and so is writing. I'm more enthusiastic about writing however, since you can relay your ideas to someone else. I can only imagine that feeling when I hear a complete stranger talking about my ideas which read on an article somewhere. To relay my message to as many people is the same as touching people with music. Only mine's less harmonic. I try to make up for it with the color I bring with words. And most of the time, it?s more than enough.For additional information and comments about the article you may log on to http://www.wholesaleprintingteam.commaricon@wholesaleprintingteam.com

Category : Web Development

Call in the SWOT Team: Produce More Opportunities to Expand Your Business

Author : Sara Pedersen
Have you ever done a SWOT analysis? No, it's not some dangerous military
maneuver. It's actually a fun and incredibly helpful business development exercise that will give your company focused direction and great marketing ideas -- whether your business is brand new or has been around for years. This SWOT exercise will show you where your business is flourishing and where it needs to grow to gain clients and produce more sales. I recommend getting someone else (such as a friend, family member, or trusted business advisor) to brainstorm with you. You'll be determining your strengths and weaknesses, which are *internal* influences on your company. These factors are under your control. Opportunities and threats are *external* influences, things you cannot control, but you can respond to. After you read a short description of each of the four categories, take time to list as many of yours as possible.Strengths: Toot your own horn and list all the strengths that make your business
soar. They might include experience, business abilities, personality, support system,
communication skills, or education just to name just a few. Go crazy! This is not the
time to be modest -- each strength can become a money-maker for you.Weaknesses: What are your weak areas? Think outside the box. Limited hours
available for work? Computer literacy not up to par? Current marketing strategies
lacking? Perfectionism? Procrastination? Write down as many as you can so you're
aware of what might hold you back from reaching your full potential.Opportunities: Are there untapped client bases out there? Other services that you
could provide? What kinds of problems do your clients experience that you could
help with? Are there any areas of service that your competition has overlooked?
Could you exploit the weakness of a competitor (service offered, location covered,
hours available to work, genre served)? Could you develop your brand better? Could
you take classes to increase your expertise or credibility? Could you utilize your
family and friends for networking opportunities? Write down everything that pops
into your brain, even if it's a long shot. And try to be as specific with your ideas as
possible.Threats: It may take you a while to come up with these if you're not currently aware
of them. Threats might come from competition, financial risk, a declining economy,
or a unique profession. List some of your threats, no matter how big or small they
seem.Now, take some time to really analyze these four categories. Look at what you can
*directly* control -- your strengths and weaknesses. Review your list of strengths
and try to turn them into "opportunities." In addition to being a great ego booster, it
will give you dozens of ideas for new ways to increase sales. For example, if you list
"great support system" as a strength, perhaps you could make a goal (an
opportunity) to send a mailing to everyone in your wide network of friends and
family to solicit new clients or get the word out about what you do. If your
presentation skills are top-notch, consider offering workshops or seminars. If you
have years of experience, make that a selling point in your marketing materials.Next, how can you turn your weaknesses around? For example, if you're not a good
written communicator or lack computer or mathematical skills, consider taking a
class at a local college to boost your skills. Or consider finding someone to
outsource your undesirable work. If you don't have enough effective marketing
strategies, turn that weakness around by creating a marketing timeline or plan.Now, on to what you can *respond* to -- your opportunities and threats. Review
your list of opportunities. (This list should be long!) Pick your top five or ten to
tackle in the upcoming year. Do you want to teach a class or write a book? How
about improving your marketing strategies by sending some direct mail? If you want
to network more, investigate professional networking groups in your community.Your threat list, on the other hand, may not be very long, but it's important to be
aware of what can hold you back and keep you from reaching your full potential. For
example, you cannot control your competition, but you can be aware of what they're
doing. You can't control the economy, but you can market your services as a great
"value" or find ways to offer deals or incentives.OK, now it's your turn -- put your SWOT analysis into action, and see what happens.
I'd love hear how SWOT worked for you!© 2005 Time to Organize. All rights reserved.Sara Pedersen, author of the FREE e-zine "The Marketing Fairy's Guide to Simple Self
Promotion," is a professional organizer and marketing specialist. She helps small
business owners make their marketing dreams come true. Sign up today at
http://www.time2organize.net to receive your FREE monthly subscription.
Category : Business:Strategic-Planning

Don’t Distract Readers from What They are Doing

Author : Nick Usborne
I’m working on a report for a company that puts out a newsletter on a monthly basis.Their open rate and clickthrough rate are somewhat above industry averages. But I still wonder if they could do better.Here’s what’s happening. Their newsletters have a purpose. Each issue promotes various services and provides links to more information on their site. And the writing is excellent. The tone is both personal and informative. The text is engaging, respectful and does a great job of building interest and then providing a clear, descriptive link forward.So what’s the problem?The problem is that I think a great deal of their clickthrough is derived not from these links to the services they are selling. I think much of the clickthrough comes from other links on the page.Let me explain. All this great copy is surrounded by dozens of other links and clickable images to other parts of the site, few of which are directly related to the services being promoted.The layout of the newsletter is a little like a web page. At the top and to the left of the first screen of the newsletter, about ten different links shout out for your attention.In other words, the central content of the newsletter is great, but the surrounding elements are hugely distracting.If the purpose of the newsletter is simply to generate as many clickthroughs to the site as possible, regardless of the landing page, then there’s no problem. But I don’t think this is the case. I think the purpose is to maximize the number of people who click through the links that are within the central content of the newsletter.If I’m right, then they need to do a little redesigning and remove most of the elements that might distract people from the content they want to read.And this is not found only within newsletters. The same problem can be found on many web site pages. You’ll be on a second or third-level page, well on your way towards achieving the task you have in mind, and suddenly you’ll find your attention being distracted by links, ads and offers unrelated to that task.In short, be clear about your purpose and about what you want your visitors to do at any one point on your site.And ask yourself, if people are just one click away from completing their task, do you really want to distract them by surrounding the central content with other, unrelated links?And if you are publishing a newsletter, do you just want clickthroughs? Or do you want people to click through on the products or services you are highlighting in that particular issue?Be clear about your purpose, and don’t allow unrelated elements to create distractions.Nick Usborne is a copywriter, author, speaker and advocat of good writing. You can access all his archived newsletter articles on copywriting and writing for the web at his Excess Voice site. You'll find more articles and resources on how to make money as a freelance writer at his Freelance Writing Success site.
Category : History

When Online Videos Attack

Author : Tim Priebe
With recent services like YouTube.com and Google Videos, having videos on your website is all the rage. People can put videos on their website without having the videos actually take up room on their own server. And YouTube.com and Google Videos make it fairly simple, if you know any HTML at all, to copy and paste a little bit of code onto your site.But the power to easily put such videos of your site does not mean it's always appropriate to do so. Let's look at a case where it is appropriate, then a case where it isn't appropriate.Scott Ginsberg wears a nametag 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. He is the world's foremost expert on approachability. He is also an international public speaker. Now on any website, you want to show off your product. As one of Scott's biggest areas of his business is his public speaking, it only makes sense that he has a couple of videos on his site. He has one that is accessible from his main menu on every page, and another that is a bit more buried in his site.For Scott's type of work, having a couple of videos on his site makes sense. Note that he does not go overboard on the videos. The quality of the videos is professional, and does not detract from his site. Also, he is the subject of the videos. Seeing Scott makes his seem more approachable. Before you even meet him, you can hear him talk and interact with other people.Let's talk about a web designer's site. I'm not going to bash any of my fellow designers by talking about a specific site, rather I will generically discuss a sample case.There is really no reason for any videos to be on a web designer's site. Their site is there to provide information about that web designer, including portfolio, client feedback and services offered. The only thing in there that could really even potentially be done with a video is client feedback. But doing so is unnecessary and would be tacky.Why would it be tacky? Good taste on a web designer's website is more important than it is on other sites. Video testimonials, while possibly appropriate imbedded within a longer video, are overkill on a web design site. Simple written testimonials will work much better in our case here, and would be much more tasteful.So how do you determine if videos will work for your specific site? First off, look at other sites in your industry/niche. If many or most of them do have videos, chances are that a few will be fine. Don't go overboard, and look at the kind of videos that are provided on those other sites.Of course, just because no one in your industry has put a video on their site does not mean it is a bad idea. You may be the trend setter. If so, make sure you have some sort of method for tracking how many times the video is watched versus how many people visit your website. If hardly anyone ends up watching it, you may need to go ahead and take it down.But if the ratio is much better, than you may have just started a trend. It may be a great idea to have videos on your site.One final note. Videos in blogs tend to be more acceptable and appropriate than other places. Just make sure that the videos are appropriate for your intended audience. There's no need to put a video of a kid falling off a skateboard on your business site (I'm sure it's happened). Instead, put videos that instruct and will benefit your blog's readers. If your blog is of a somewhat humorous tone, an occasional funny video won't hurt.Tim is the owner and senior web designer at T&S Web Design. His company has developed and maintained website for dozens of small businesses and organizations. Tim also maintains a blog with free website advice for small business owners, GetASiteOnline.com
Category : Business:Video-Streaming

Know How Many Calories To Cut For Permanent Weight Loss

Author : Kris Bierek
It is not recommended to lose more than 1 pound per week for healthily weight loss. The reason for this has do to with the issues which quick and drastic weight loss can have on your body's metabolism and muscle mass. When you lose a lot of weight quickly, you really need to strictly monitor where this weight is coming from. Is it water weight, body fat or muscle mass? The majority of the time, it unfortunately comes from lean muscle mass and this is exactly what will cause serious issues with your metabolism. Muscle is your body's most potent and active tissue for burning calories and body fat. Its basically your body's "furnace" which you want to always keep burning hot. When someone loses a lot of weight, which usually comes from crash dieting or some other unhealthy way of dropping the weight, the body's lean muscle mass is cannibalized and you lose some of your biggest "power" tissue for keeping a lean body.The worst thing is when the person finally decides to get off the diet and start eating again. Their calories go back up, but since their BMR (basal metabolic rate) is lowered and they have lost muscle mass, the end result is they pack on the body fat very quickly! Ever heard of the term "yo-yo" dieting. This is the reason why tons of people have issues and hard times with their weight loss plans.Try and focus on creating a max 500 calorie deficit per day which equates out to an overall 3,500 calories per week (1 pound of body fat). Create this overall 500 calorie deficit through a 250 calorie drop in your diet and another 250 burned with an exercise routine. This is the healthiest way to lose body fat while keeping your muscle mass and having your body run at an optimal level. It will also provide you with a much better plan to permanently keep the weight off forever!Our FREE Weight Loss Analysis will assist anyone looking to safely lose body fat while maintaining lean muscle mass:http://www.shapefit.com/weight-loss-analysis.htmlKris Bierek is a fitness specialist for the health and fitness site http://www.ShapeFit.com where you can find FREE fitness tools like fitness newsletters, dieting tips, weight loss help, exercise questions and a free fitness analysis to help you get into the best shape of your life!
Category : Happiness

วันอังคารที่ 25 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551

The last day of work!

Author : mike

How To Build A Waterfall

Author : Dan Eskelson

The number one, most asked question that I receive about water features is &quot;How do I build a waterfall?&quot;The first advice I give is to visit natural waterfalls or at least look at photos. Don't try to memorize just how they look...just get a general idea how the water flows around and over the rocks.The design of your falls will depend on topography, pump and pipe size, length of water flow from pump to falls, pond size and possibly other site-specific factors. If your pond is just 4' x 6', you certainly don't want a large, three foot wide falls - keep the elements of your water feature in scale.One of the most common mistakes results from the desire for a tall waterfall at a level building site...large amounts of soil are imported to build the falls up to a three or four foot height. Yes, you will achieve a dramatic waterfall, but the total effect will look more like an out of place volcano. A falls of just two feet will produce a very satisfactory effect both visually and audibly.On a level site, with an &quot;average&quot; size pond of 11' x 16', the amount of soil needed to surround the biological filter and create the berm is just about equal to the amount of soil excavated from the pond...it works out quite well. To further enhance or enlarge the berm, you may want to import a little more soil, large boulders or other features. If you are working on a slope, you have the option of placing the biological filter (waterfall source) uphill from the pond and creating a series of cascading waterfalls. This is how I built my falls, described in the photo essay here: &lt;a href=&quot;http://clearwaterlandscapes.com/pondphotos.htm&quot; target=new&gt;http://clearwaterlandscapes.com/pondphotos.htm&lt;/a&gt;It was definitely an exercise in visualization to determine exactly how the water would flow down the falls. I made a slight underestimation of the total flow and could have widened the falls somewhat, but the effect is very acceptable.Even on a level site, it's a good design strategy to place the falls six to eight feet from the pond. This will create a short stream to the pond.Be sure to use a wide EPDM rubber liner under the falls and/or stream...this will allow for twists and turns in the course of the water and also contain splashing. A ten foot wide stream liner is recommended. Underlayment under the falls and stream liners is usually not required.When your excavation is complete for the falls, and liner is in place, add your stone. Don't be in a hurry - try several (or many) combinations and visualize how the water will flow.When satisfied with your arrangement, use black waterfall foam to direct the water over the stone instead of under it. That is, stone that is directly in contact with the liner should sit on a bed of foam so the water goes around or over the stone instead of underneath it. Caution - the foam expands greatly...don't use too much!Though it requires some creativity and patience, building a waterfall is extremely satisfying. Though you should give some time to preliminary research, you'll learn most by actually building your water feature - just do it! You'll find that your water garden is the most relaxing and enjoyable part of your yard. Visit Our Site for Interactive Landscaping Solutions.Plan and Visualize Your New Landscape Online.You're an Essential Part of the Design Team!&lt;a href=&quot;http://clearwaterlandscapes.com" target=new&gt;http://clearwaterlandscapes.com</a><a href=&quot;mailto:support@clearwaterlandscapes.com">support@clearwaterlandscapes.com</a>

Category : Search Engine Optimization

Nicola Introduces New Tray Packed Olives

Author :

Nicola International recently introduced their new tray packed, gas flushed olives targeted toward the foodservice and retail trade. The olives which are packed using the newest technology available, gives the product a shelf life of between 90 and 120 days. The longer shelf life means less spoilage and costs savings for the operator. The olives are packed in convenient foodservice and retail sizes under Nicola Internationals Aiello label which is known throughout the foodservice and retail markets for its premium products. The new line of olives includes many unique marinated European style varieties such as whole Sicilian, Facon Grece, French Connection and Bella di Cerignola olives. Complementing the new line are hand stuffed jalapeno, garlic and fresh blue cheese olives available in the new vacuum packed trays. Scott Goldberg, National Marketing Director says, We are proud to be able to offer this value added product. This is another example of how we strategically focus on providing time savings solutions to the marketplace.Nicola International sources olives and other specialty items from the Mediterranean region. Goldberg added, &quot; we are unique as we pit and process our imported olives domestically, so we are able to offer a fresher, firmer olive to our customers. We also are producing other prepackaged foods such as hummus,baba ganuj,stuffed grape leaves and assorted spreads to appeal to today's exotic consumer tastes&quot;. Nicola International has been in business for more than twenty years servicing both the foodservice and retail markets. They are processing and packing the new line at their HACCP approved manufacturing plant located in Los Angeles, California. For additional information, please visit our web site at &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.nicolainternational.com" title=&quot;test&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;www.nicolainternational.com</a>

Category : Cook Books

Sales Letter Marketing: Building a Mousetrap

Author : Jan Verhoeff
Cheese - anybody? How about some peanut butter?These may not sound good to you, but to our four legged unwanted home intruders, they appear quite succulent and delicious, at least when placed on the 'got-ya stick' of a mouse trap. Now I don't know about your mice, but mine are quite well educated. They know how to get to the cheese or peanut butter, lick off every crumb of it, and get away before the trap flips. (I suspect my boys are teaching them how to do it, but I have no proof.)So - in order to capture the beady-eyed little critters, I had to come up with a better plan. The problem definitely didn't have to do with a lack of mice. I live in a rural area where mice seem to multiply like rabbits (and so do rabbits).It's all in the marketing.When you present a piece of cheese or peanut butter in the middle of a board with a wire operated by a spring set to remove their tail, and other various body parts. I firmly belief mice are onto us. They know you've got the trap set and their tail is at risk. Now, they don't want a chopped off tail... So, they aren't buying.What happens if you put that same bit of cheese or peanut butter in a different trap? Something less decidedly - well, entrapping?Marketing is all about bringing your prospect to the bait.Sales letters look like, smell like, and feel like a trap. Your clients hate them. So, how do you distinguish your business intro letters to get attention without setting off the proverbial 'Trap – Warning'? I personally, get twenty or thirty sales letters a day - enough to raise a Sequoia in California once a year. They are exaggerated and mutilating attempts to sell me something I'd never buy in the first place, so... Why?What can you do differently?Ambiguous, over stated headlines that exaggerate the product look and feel like a trap.A simple straight forward presentation of your product might work better. Honest wording without the folderall that makes your product appear to look and smell like a tail removal machine would probably help sell your merchandise. What if you presented your product in a manner that shows your enthusiasm for the cheese and peanut butter and leaves the choice open to your reader?Perhaps a change in your call to action. Tell the reader the truth, show them the value, offer them a discount and a guarantee in case they don't like the product then put your "Buy Now" Button on the page so they can make an educated choice to purchase your valuable merchandise.Now you're talking! Let's sit down and have dinner, discuss this between two logical adults, and decide how short we want the tail.Then we'll talk sales. Come on over, I've got the crackers out...This Dynamic Marketing Guru learned early the value of life balance, accountability, and confidence in the work place. Let the Marketing Guru take you where you want to go with Marketing Choices that Rock your Business World with Success Strategies. Visit Jan Verhoeff, The Marketing Guru, at http://janverhoeff.com
Category : Writing-and-Speaking:Copywriting

วันจันทร์ที่ 24 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Comparing Nevada And Delaware Corporations

Author : Kristy Annely

Delaware and Nevada are two states that are tax havens and are very business-friendly. Naturally, businesses weigh the option of incorporating either in Nevada or in Delaware.Delaware has long been the base for many American industries. The chemical company DuPont is an example of this. Delaware has a long tradition of administering and applying corporate law. The experience of the courts in this regard attracts many businesses. The continuous updating of corporate law in Delaware is another aspect of the business regulatory culture of the state that corporations value. For financial companies and banks, Delaware offers total freedom in fixing interest rates. The presence of a large number of credit card companies in Delaware can be traced to this. Overall, the Delaware state machinery that interacts with corporations presents less of a bureaucratic attitude compared to their counterparts in other states.Nevada has certain benefits to offer corporations that register in that state. There is no Nevada corporate or personal income tax. There is no franchise tax or tax on corporate shares. The annual fees of incorporation are negligible, and Nevada has no requirement to share information with the IRS. Very important for businesses is the fact that the state of Nevada has regulations in place that protect directors and officials of a corporation incorporated in Nevada from personal liability for illegal or unlawful acts committed by the corporation. The state has very lenient rules when it comes to corporate reporting and disclosure. Also, there is no proviso that directors should hold shares of that corporation. The state corporate rules also allow non-US citizens to be shareholders, directors or high officials of a corporation.On a one-to-one comparison, it seems that incorporating in Nevada has more tax advantages since Delaware has corporate, personal income, and franchise taxes, which are absent in Nevada. Also, unlike Delaware and other states, Nevada does not share tax information with IRS. But this can also be problem for corporations registered in Nevada, since IRS audits Nevada corporations more frequently than it does corporations registered in other sates, including Delaware. There is also the aspect of relatively more corporate credibility attached to corporations registered in Delaware, compared to Nevada corporations. Delaware Corporations provides detailed information on Delaware Corporations, Comparing Nevada And Delaware Corporations, Delaware Division Of Corporations, Delaware Corporations Code and more. Delaware Corporations is affliated with California Corporation Commissions.

Category : General Business

Understanding Economic Indicators

Author : Mika Hamilton
"A collapse in U.S. stock prices certainly would cause a lot of white knuckles on Wall Street. But what effect would it have on the broader U.S. economy? If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily." -Ben BernankeFinancial advisors and skilled investors will often look at economic indicators to predict whether the stock market will be up or down. Sometimes these economic indicators are right and sometimes they are wrong. Regardless, it is important to understand that the economy is not the stock market and vice versa. While they may be different things they do effect each other. Smart investors know what these economic indicators are and monitor them closely. The two most important economic indicators are the gross domestic product and unemployment.Gross Domestic Product – This term refers to the value of all goods and services produced by a country in a year. It takes into account all production, both private and public, investments, exports, and imports. The following is the formula used to determine the gross domestic product : GDP = C + G + I + NX. It is not as complicated at it seems. The "c" is the consumer spending, the "g" is the government spending, the "i" is country's spending capital, and "nx" is exports minus imports. The gross domestic product is a common tool to monitor the economy in America and standard of living increases or raises are usually determined by it. Many financial experts believe that the gross domestic product should be used to measure the productivity of a nation and not the state of its economy. Information about the gross domestic product is released four times a year.Unemployment - Unemployment is another important economic indicator. The information about unemployment is release each month. The term refers to the amount of people that are actively looking for work. Most financial experts believe that unemployment rates can not predict the motion of the stock market but can be used to confirm a trend in progress. In general, when the stock market is up unemployment will be down. When the stock market is down unemployment will be up.While both of these economic indicators seem like common sense, many new investors fail to use them as tools to help them invest. Many online financial websites and online brokerage firms offer free data and charts on a number of economic indicators. It's important to remember that the stock market and the economy are different things and are influenced in different ways. Simply because the economy is up does not mean it is a great time to invest. The opposite is also true. Just because the economy is low does not mean it is a bad time to invest. There are relationships between the economic indicators and the stock market however the assumed relationship is not always the correct one.Visit the Global Investment Institute and signup for our free Investing For Beginners E-Course at http://www.Global-Investment-Institute.comInvestment webmasters or publishers, please feel free to use this article provided this reference is included and all links remain active.
Category : News-and-Society:Economics

The Christ, Ratu Adil & Satria Piningit--Revealed?! Part 3

Author : Leonard Lee

Then came the announcement made by Benjamin Creme in the late seventies and early eighties that Lord Maitreya was already here on earth and living somewhere in London, England, among the Asian community. According to Creme, Maitreya, the Christ descended from his retreat in the Himalayas in July 1977 and took residence in the British Isle, and that he has already met privately with journalists and influential leaders from all fields of human endeavor. In June 11, 1988, Maitreya was said to have appeared miraculously to thousands of people in Nairobi, Kenya, who recognized him as the Christ. Some say that this was a secret institution's first successful experimentation on teleportation and that the whole purpose of presenting this Maitreya is to control the masses. Nevertheless, Creme states that Maitreya comes with a divine mission. We quote from the periodical Emergence the purpose of Maitreya, the World Teacher:"Concerned primarily about the economic, political and social imbalances in the world today, He (Maitreya) will first launch a call to action to save the millions of people who starve to death every year in a world of plenty. He will then show humanity the way to regenerate itself and to anchor brotherhood and peace in the world by creating a civilization based on sharing, justice and cooperation. His presence is our guarantee that there will be no third World War. Nevertheless, it is humanity itself which must make the required changes and fashion the saner and more just world the Christ will inspire us to create."Creme also says that Maitreya will reveal himself to the whole world at the earliest possible moment, and this is designated as the "Day of Declaration":"On the Day of Declaration, the international radio and television networks will be linked together, and Maitreya will be invited to speak to the world. We will see His face on television, but each of us will hear His words telepathically in our own language as Maitreya simultaneously overshadows all humanity. Even those who are not watching Him on television or listening to the radio will have this experience. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of spontaneous healings will take place throughout the world. In this way we will know that this man, and only this man, is truly the Christ."Whether Creme's announcement be true or not it is to be noted that his declaration of Maitreya's emergence is not well received by certain spiritual leaders. For instance, Elizabeth Prophet, one of the foremost spiritual teachers living in the States, and an active "channel" for the Masters and the Hierarchy denounces the claims made by Creme. According to her, Maitreya will not appear in person, but he will indeed overshadow groups and humanity as a whole. Elizabeth Prophet may be right in her assertions, but then, many esotericists of rival schools or even ex-members of her very own claim that she and the organization run by her are not truly sponsored by the Hierarchy and the Spiritual Masters--thus, the information she receives regarding Maitreya may not reflect the truth.One claimant to the name and title of "Maitreya, the World-Savior" is a man by the name of Mohammad bin Abdulkarim. Born in 1944, and for years up to adulthood was unexposed to spiritual teachings, even unaware and unknowledgeble of the name "Maitreya." It was only later when he was involved with a spiritual organization and its practices was he given the name by his Initiator and discovered its significance. His greatest spiritual achievement is his written work, the book "THOTH," or "The Holiest of The Holies," which presents the key to the unity of religions and humanity's evolution. We can well recommend his teachings as they are of a high spiritual level--certainly a new revelation for humanity but something that esotericists have sensed all along. In essence, "Maitreya" states that there is no one religion greater than the other, but all provides a key to spiritual development. They are like pieces of a picture-puzzle that presents the whole single, major Revelation of God to humanity. Unless one embraces the essence of all religions as well as practicing their own minor, unique revelations in one's daily life, it would be impossible to establish peace on earth and to evolve. We have often heard of spiritual teachers claiming that all religions are essentially the same--they all lead to God. In his teachings, Maitreya asserts that all religions have something unique that requires incorporation within the path of spirituality.His life circumstances also seem to fulfill the Tibetan prophecies and those to be found in all scriptures. Whether truly the Maitreya, the Imam Mahdi, the Christ, or the Kalki Avatar, only time will tell--or one's spiritual heart at this very moment. Those interested in studying his teachings may visit his website: http://www.maitreya.org/.So what do we make of all that has been revealed thus far? What do they all mean or portend? Whatever their signification, one thing is certain: we should maintain an open mind and resort to our Inner-Self for answers. The Orders of ChivalryBefore we discuss "Satria Piningit" (the Hidden Knight), or knights in general, it is essential that we know and comprehend certain things regarding knighthood and chivalry. We will therefore deal briefly on this subject.Chivalry was an established feudal military institution of the nobility of Europe. It defined the code of behavior of the Knight while in society, during times of war, while in combat, while in the presence of royalty, etc. The ideals that were once associated with chivalry are now deemed as the proper behavior of gentlemen in our contemporary times. For instance, courage, gallantry, generosity, and honor were all chivalric ideals that characterized a knight.Chivalry originated through the influences of military customs, religious ideals, and the "love" concept as popularized by the wandering Troubadours. The knight, though a warrior, had to unfold the finer side of his character so as to earn his "nobility."It seems that knighthood was first established in France but was later followed by the other European countries. Knights became the elite of the military forces. Under the rules of knighthood, the aspirant passed through two stages before becoming a perfect knight which was conferred upon him in festive occasions should he be entitled to it; this entitlement to knighthood occurred usually after the aspirant had done some heroic deed. The two stages preceding the status of knighthood are the ranks of the Page, and the Ecuyer or Squire. Esoterically speaking, these stages together with the status of knighthood represent certain major planetary initiations that each human soul undergoes as it evolves. At each stage the aspirant had to learn certain things regarding knighthood and chivalry, such as the ideals that he should embody. The knight had to inspire all those around him the many noble qualities of the soul. In essence, he had to be an exemplar.There have been many Orders of knighthood established in the past and the present, however not all of them were fully militant Orders. Some were semi-monastic, or fraternal Orders. Among the famous Orders of Knighthood were the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, the Knights of Malta, the Order of the Teutonic Knights, Knights of Pythias and the most controversial of them all--the Order of the Knights of the Temple, or the Knights Templar, for short.It is not our intention to deal at length here concerning chivalry. The above is sufficient for our purpose. The reason why we had to discuss briefly regarding chivalry is that the entity known as Satria Piningit was the founder, inspirer, sponsor and even director of many Orders of Knighthood, Esoteric Fraternities, and Mystical Orders in both the Occident and in the Orient--not solely in his latest incarnation but in his past lives as well. For instance, in the "Age of Chivalry," the time of King Arthur, Satria Piningit was then embodied as Merlin, the Druid sage and magician. He was the guardian and also the preceptor of young Arthur, and taught the lad many subjects in Druidism and Celtic lore. The sword Excaliber is a well-known sacred object associated with the Authurian legend.When Arthur became king, Merlin inspired him to found the Order of the Knights of the Round Table. The purpose of the Order is not clearly given in literature; however, it may have something to do with the quest for the Holy Grail. This Grail is supposed to be the cup that Jesus drank from during the Last Supper. From one aspect, students of esotericism know the Holy Grail to be none other than the Christ-Mind. The Order of the Knights of the Round Table, therefore, was a mystical school teaching the secrets of Christian mysticism.In recent times it is believed that Satria Piningit established the Keepers of the Flame Fraternity, through the agency of Mark and Elizabeth Prophet. This fraternity teaches the student-member how to become a knight in the truest sense of the word. The disciples of this mystical school are often brought to the spiritual retreats of the Masters of the Spiritual Hierarchy in the etheric planes during the night. This is done through soul-projection. Students visit the retreats of their Masters for study, instruction, initiation and empowerment. Satria Piningit holds the title of "Knight Commander" in this august fraternity. He is a commander not seen with the physical sight of the student-member; in this sense, he is hidden (Piningit).Local psychics claim that Satria Piningit will prove his identity by revealing certain sacred objects in his possessions, called by Javanese, "pusakas" such as kerises, whips, spear heads, etc. This should not be taken too literally, however. These objects are symbolic of divine virtues or powers. This should be evident to those who have made an in-depth study of the esotericism of the keris and other sacred metallic objects (tosan aji). In its fabrication, such pusakas are often consecrated with a certain power by the empu (blacksmith-mystic); this might be a positive or a negative quality. What we would like to stress here is that in Western esotericism, the armour-parts and weapons of a knight are likewise symbolic of the qualities that lies inherent within a true knight of the spirit and is considered sacred. For instance, the helmet, breastplate, shield, lance, sword, gauntlet, spurs, brassard, paulire, etc, all signifies noble, chilvaric qualities, such as courage, gentleness, vigilance, purity, faith, etc. As we can see from this, Satria Piningit possesses many divine qualities in active expression. Here we should mention that the spiritual status of the Knight-exemplar, Satria Piningit, far exceeds that of a Saint, a Master, or a perfect human being. He is now a "god" living in the Kingdom of God. The Knight-Commander is an ascended being, a "Chohan," or a Lord--the significance of which will be explained presently.We anticipate criticisms by our Indonesian readers who might say that what we are presenting in this paper is sectarian in nature, that it is based on western concepts, and has naught to do with the situation in Indonesia and notions regarding Satria Piningit. Sectarian it is not, though the concepts may well be alien to the traditional-mind of the Javanese. In our view, "western" ideas or knowledge may offer the solution to the problem of the existence of Satria Piningit, and other matters that the eastern-mind has not yet solved. The same principle applies to the Occident as well. East and West are both complementary. They both have something to offer each other. There is much "western" metaphysical and occult knowledge that are not known to Indonesians, and vice versa. We Indonesians take pride in our occult knowledge, our "gudang ilmu," or "storehouse of occult wisdom," and yet, if we do not conduct any research into western mysticism, metaphysics and occultism how shall we know the extent of western occult wisdom as compared to ours? Therefore we appeal to our Indonesian readers to investigate and study before judging, and also to maintain humility.If we were starving we would not care who gives us food, it could come from the hand of a Westerner or an Easterner, it makes no difference to us; we would be grateful all the same. Food is food; likewise, knowledge is knowledge. Therefore, do not put any limitations upon the mind.The Knight Commander maintains universal perspectives. He is not bound or limited to any creed, sect, religion, order, or mystical school, and certainly not to any country or nation. This applies likewise to the Christ, and Ratu Adil. The Knight Commander's metaphysical influence is worldwide, his activities surround the globe. At present, he has an intense interest in Australasia. Wherever and whenever freedom and justice are called for on a national scale, there will his presence and influence be felt. He inspires, motivates, and strengthens those individuals who are his instruments to carry-out their tasks on behalf of God, humanity, the Hierarchy, and all sentient beings. Needless to say that Indonesians waiting for the emergence of Satria Piningit shall not be disappointed; for he is already here--though not in the way expected. The same goes for Ratu Adil. Their influence may be seen in the many events that have occurred and are occurring in Indonesia and also globally--such as the demands and movement for political reformation, justice, peace, and freedom.Nevertheless, we recognize that what some people seem to desire is a flesh-and-blood character to be Satria Piningit to sit and rule the people as President. This is not in accord with Cosmic law or karmic decree. The leaders of the Spiritual Hierarchy are somewhat restrained: they are not allowed to be directly involved in world affairs in a personal and direct way except through special dispensations given by the Karmic Board. They may only work through their willing instruments. Their assistance is also dependent upon the prayers, invocations and calls given by humanity. The more prayers we offer to God, the more karmic boundaries are removed from them that they may have more leeway to aid us. The people of any country acquire the sort of national leadership that corresponds to the state of their collective consciousness. If the majority is pure in mind, body and soul, their leaders will likewise be pure. If their consciousness are filled with impurities, so will their leaders. Like begets like. An apple tree does not bear pineapples, it bears apples.From another point of view, one must realize that we are all evolving, as individuals, and as groups. Sometimes we have to experience hardship under tyranny in order to evolve; perhaps it is because we will not learn in any other way. For instance, we may tell children that fire burns and results in pain. Some children may believe and stay away from fire and respect its nature; others, not believing will learn the hard way through personal experience. This principle applies to our society. We may have not respected goodness, justice, and freedom in the past, and so they were taken away from us. If we had respected those principles we would have fought for them and defended them no matter what. Many of us were afraid and did not desire to get involved. Now we have learnt the effects in politics of our negligence and ignorance such as the widespread practice of corruption, collusion, and nepotism. However, we did all cry-out for help in our hearts, and our call was heard by God and the spiritual government of the world, the Spiritual Hierarchy--and they have responded. The initial stage of the reformation-process in our (Indonesian) government is proof of that, however, there is still much to be done. It appears that we are now indeed ready for the kind of leadership that will assist us to be lifted onto a higher plane of consciousness. Our spiritual realization will give birth to the kind of leadership that befits us.No matter who assumes the post of presidency or leadership in any nation, in our opinion that individual will receive influences and inspirations from Satria Piningit and Ratu Adil--however, how the chosen leader will respond to that influence remains to be seen. Let us hope that leaders of all nations cooperate with the Spiritual Hierarchy, otherwise Nature will rebel and succeed where human reformers and freedom-fighters have failed. But in the meantime, we have to realize that our own personal efforts are required to make the spiritual reformations in our governments a reality and a total success without requiring the help and radical action of Nature in the form of cataclysms.Though the Knight-Commander may not appear in the flesh or in person, he has many representatives, and not all of them work in the field of politics. Some are economists, reporters, writers, artists, social leaders, etc. They all possess many qualities of the Knight Commander to a lesser degree, and they all work, whether consciously or unconsciously, under the direction of Satria Piningit and Ratu Adil--the latter being the goddess or principle of Justice.In one of his incarnations as Francis Bacon, Satria Piningit was the Imperator, or President-Director of the Rosicrucian Order. This mystical brotherhood teaches mysticism, and occultism. According to its tradition, it had its inception in ancient Egypt. Many scientists, philosophers, and famous personalities in history were members of the Rosicrucian Order. This fraternity is associated with a chivalric Order called Militia Crucifera Evangelica.Francis Bacon was the illegitimate child of Queen Elizabeth I, and also the real author of the Shakespearean plays. There are many secret codes and cryptograms to be found in the Shakespearean works revealing the identity of the true author.Students of esotericism also know the Knight Commander, or Satria Piningit to be the spiritual, and invisible leader of Esoteric Freemasonry--the outer organization of which some have called "evil" and related to the "Illuminati." Certainly there are corrupted members and leaders in every organization and religion--Freemasonry is no different.The Knight Commander, or Satria Piningit, is also presently active giving messages to humanity at this time through the many channels (mediums) attuned to his mind.Like the West, in Indonesia there are many mystical Orders and martial-arts group. It is no coincidence that some of these brotherhoods of Ilmu Hikmah/Tenaga Dalam and Pencak Silat are Orders of knighthood as their ideals or name suggest; for instance, Satria Kemuliaan, Satria Nusantara, etc. We detect here the handiwork of the Knight Commander.[Note: This paper contains images which may be seen as originally published at our website]Copyright 2006 Luxamore Leonard Lee aka LuxamoreMetaphysical teacher, counseler, healer and merchant of occult/magickal items of Indonesia.Arabian Nights Magick: talismans, mustika pearls, kerises, etc.Animal Totem Pearls: Magickal Bezoar Mustika Pearls from Indonesia.

Category : General Metaphysical

Malaysia Arts and Crafts - Wau, a Malay Traditions

Author : Khairuddin Ms
Have you ever wonder what is that symbol emblazoned on the tail of all Malaysian airplanes flown by Malaysia Airlines System (MAS)? Although for most people, it is nothing more than just an emblem, it has a huge significance for each and every Malaysian that makes them proud. Known as 'wau', it is one of the oldest traditional games in the Malay culture. Dancing in the azure sky, a wau or kite is accompanied by a hummer, which produces various buzzing and purring sounds when soaring upon the wind. There are something mystical about the way this kite defies gravity by swaying and climbing slowly up the sky.Kites are flown after the rice harvesting season is over. People are happy and free to pursue pastimes. A Malay kite combines the best of skilled workmanship, dazzling colours and decoration. It exhibits the creativity of the Malays and their talented craftsmanship in fashioning a unique art form that has the highest possible level of aesthetics. A Malay kite is not a schoolboy's toy as it normally measures 1.5 metres by 1.7 metres. It is called wau because the shape of its wing is similar to an Arabic letter that is pronounced as "wow". It has also been postulated that the word "wau" originated from the Dutch word "wauw" that refers to a large predator bird found in South-east Asia. When Melaka fell to the Dutch in 1641, the word was introduced to the local populace.Wau can appear in all kind of shapes but the three main one are the famous Wau Bulan or moon kite, named for its crescent like tail shape, the Wau Jala Budi or women kite, which takes on the curves of a women, and the Wau Burung Puyuh, the barred busted quail kite. Despite their different names, these kites all share the same basic, bird-like shape, with slight variations in their wings and tail.The history and legends associated with the Malay kite are as colourful as its designs. In ancient times, coastal inhabitants of the Malay peninsula used kites fitted with lines and hooks to fish. Kites were also flown to act as flying scarecrows while the farmers were busy in the paddy fields. In an episode of the Makyong dance, a love story culminates in a happy ending when two lovers are re-united by an unusual mean of transport. By clinging to a giant kite rendered sky-borne by monsoon winds, a Malay prince flew to his lover and landed on her enchanted castle amidst the clouds. The wau has had an even more dramatic role in battle against a foreign army. Legend has it that a Malay army was surrounded and about to surrender due to lack of food and water. One blustery night, the head warrior ordered his troops to fly a large number of kites fitted with bows. The loud droning that was created frightened the enemy forces away, which did not want to fight against what they perceived as demonic forces from the sky!It takes about 2 days to 2 weeks of skill and patience to make a wau. The frame is made from bamboo stems, which are split into thin strips. The best species of bamboo for making kites is the thorn bamboo, which is strong yet flexible. Each frame of a kite must have a 'head', a 'spine', a 'waist', a 'wing' and a 'tail'. After the frame is constructed, designs are traced on a tinted and shiny glazed paper and then carefully cut out and pasted on paper which is glued to the bamboo frame. The humming bow is attached to the head of the kite, which is finally decorated with tassels at the tail to produce the 'song' of the kite.Each wau is designed according to its own set of elaborate motifs, adhering to the traditional style of artwork expected of each design. All designs must have a central flower called the ibu from which vines, leaves and flowers sprout. The vine symbolises the path of a man's life and the flowers, the women. The more meandering the vines, the more twists and turns in a man's life mean the more interesting is the person's life. In older kites, flowers were depicted from the side and back, analogous to the shy and reserved nature of women in those days, who never looked at you directly in the face. Nowadays, flowers are depicted from the front. The middle sections on the left and right sides of the wings are left devoid of patterns to provide balance with the decorated areas. This empty area is called "golden deer", and prevents the kite from being overwhelmed by a surfeit of patterns.Apart from the patterns, choice of colours is also important in determining quality. Colours that clash or show strong contrast are frowned upon. Complementing or harmonious colours reflect on the emotional state of the kite-maker. Soft colours such as shades of blues and purples indicate that the kite-maker has a serene nature.For other related articles, please visit (http://www.mycraftoutlet.com/articles.htm)
Category : Arts-and-Entertainment

Estate Planning for Santa Claus

Author : Dan Stuenzi
What if Santa and Mrs. Claus decided to do an estate plan? Although they would doubtless be great clients, the actual plan could be a challenge.What is the size of the Claus estate? It is extremely hard to calculate, even for Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Their accountant merely shrugs when asked. For the next few years at least, estate tax will be a killer. Santa’s toymaking business is prospering. He has enough inventory to supply every child on earth with at least one toy each year. There are now over 6 billion people on earth, and if just half of those are children, and if Santa spends just $20 on each child, he is spending 60 billion dollars per year on Christmas gifts alone. Apparently this formal gifting program is not reducing the size of his estate nor his tax liabilities sufficiently since he’s continued to do this since the 4th century.Another consideration for Santa’s estate plan will be caring for the hundreds of elves that work in his shops and are apparently totally dependent on his largess for survival. There are no known relatives to serve as guardians in the event of Santa and Mrs. Claus’s joint demise. And even if relatives can be tracked down, it is doubtful that they will have the wherewithal to care for so many dependents. We might want to consider starting a charitable organization that establishes homes, jobs, and caretakers for these magical little people.Santa has also invested a lot of time, money, and love in his wild animal preserve. Besides the normal elk, caribou, and polar bears, Santa has successfully bred a unique species of flying reindeer and at least one with a light-emitting snout. It’s likely that several world zoos will be clamoring to add these animals to their collection, but it would be advisable for Santa and Mrs. Claus to make some of these decisions ahead of time.Obviously, death isn’t the only concern for the Clauses. If Santa were to be disabled by a collision with an aircraft, a fall from his sleigh on a fast take-off, or a gun shot wound from someone who mistakes him as a burglar, the business could be in trouble. Mrs. Claus has had her hands full taking care of the elves, and hasn’t had a lot of direct involvement with the toymaking. It might be wise to pick some key elf employees from executive management who can be trained to take over. Perhaps an ESOP is appropriate, or a prenegotiated buy-sell agreement. Due to his advanced age (approximately 1600), and the fact that he is overweight and smokes, life insurance is also unlikely â€" but should not be ruled out because of his overall good health and vitality.One other issue to be considered is citizenship. Although we think of Santa as an American icon, he was actually born as Nicholas of Myra in Anatolia â€" which is now southwestern Turkey. Rumor has it that he met Mrs. Claus while watching the annual tree lighting at Rockefeller Center in New York. If Mrs. Claus is a U.S. Citizen, proper tax planning will require her to at least prepare a Qualified Domestic Trust.Obviously, planning for Santa and Mrs. Claus will be a daunting task requiring the planner's best efforts. Like Santa, we wish you a “Merry Christmas to All”, Happy Holidays, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.©2005, Daniel P. Stuenzi, All Rights ReservedDan Stuenzi is an attorney and freelance marketing copywriter from Omaha, Nebraska. For a free monthly Business & Marketing E-newsletter, visit his website at http://www.wordsmithusa.com

Category : Satellite Radio

How to Easily Learn Spanish

Author : Steve Dolan

What is the Quickest Way to learn Spanish?To be honest the quickest way to learn spanish is to use the method(s) that resonate most ideally with you. Everyone has a different way of learning so choose the way that suits you best. You'll probably need to do some research beforehand to determine which is the easiest and quickest way for you yo learn spanish.So How Do You Find The Right Way To learn Spanish? The best way to learn Spanish for you will depend on what makes you comfortable. Here are five advantageous alternatives that people have used successfully to understand Spanish:1. Check the newspaper for advertisements - there would be any amount of language institutes, which teach Spanish, in your vicinity. Check your newspaper to find when and what their terms for enrollment are. Keep in mind that the place should be as close as possible to your residence so as to cut travel time and costs to the minimum.2. Check out books for learning Spanish - There are a number of books, which can help you learn Spanish in easy steps at home. Look out for books which have pictures, are bi-lingual and have a good teaching structure. Check with the sales people about which books they would recommend for whatever level you need. Also, ensure that you have a very good dictionary Spanish-English and (your native language)-Spanish. 3. Check the Internet - Internet is the greatest boon to humankind in these modern days. You can find anything you want with the help of the Net. There are any amount of online courses, which you can enroll in and understand Spanish at your own pace from the comfort and convenience of your home. You can compare prices; you can compare how long the courses are; you can also find the level of the language you want to gain knowledge in (basic, medium, advanced) and so on.4. Read a lot - I cannot emphasize this matter enough. This is definitely one of the best ways to understand Spanish (or any other language) because this is the only way you can increase your vocabulary and learn how to use the words in the right context. You will find that the more you read, the more you will be able to think in Spanish and hence, your conversation will become fluent.5. Check out a tutor - you can always have a regular tutor. However, here I am suggesting you to get an online tutor - a friend (you can check out MySpace since there are so many people out there who would love to handhold you during this process) who can guide you. This will make learning Spanish very interesting as well.Now Take Action!Probably the most ideal way to learn Spanish is by using one of the above or a combination of several different methods. Try some or all of them out and see what works for you and what doesn't. You'll find that the best way to learn Spanish is the method or combination that makes the learning easy, quick and thay you find the most fun. Of course you may have to tailor the methods to suit your lifestyle and available time too, but in the end you'll find your ideal method to understanding Spanish! Steve Dolan is a European who has travelled extensively across Europe and understands the value of languages. Find out how to learn Spanish quickly and easily at Learn Spanish and for other languages try Foreign Languages

Category : General Lifestyle: Travel & Tourism

SIP - Systematic Investment Plan

Author : Lorna Darius

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The Benefits of Portable Batting Cages

Author : Jason Gluckman

Many advanced baseball and softball teams use portable batting cages to ensure adequate training while on the road. Just like standard batting cages, portable models act as a virtual catcher, helping to control the movement of baseballs and softballs. With batting cages, teams can focus less on chasing down errant balls, and more time fine-tuning their batting skills. Portable batting cages hold many advantages over other types, including standard indoor and outdoor models. Portable batting cages can be used for baseball or softball teams traveling from field to field, as well as for families who pursue outdoor activities and who like the flexibility that portable batting cages offer. Portable batting cages are functional and convenient because of their capacity to be dismantled and stored when not in use. In addition, portable batting cages can be purchased at a variety of prices, which correspond to various sizes and styles. Portable batting cages vary in price. The difference in price is usually determined by the size of the overall batting cage (by frame length, width, and height) and the type and quality of the netting. For schools or teams planning to use their batting cages frequently, it would be beneficial to purchase the most durable quality available. For a family who might not use their batting cage on a regular basis, but who likes to have it from time to time, it would be less important to have an expensive, high-quality cage.Portable batting cages can provide many years of use with minimal maintenance. Seldom do cages require major overhauling. Batting cage equipment can be purchased conveniently at a hardware or sporting goods store, as well as online. With very little upkeep, portable batting cages can provide years of use and enjoyment. Batting Cages Info provides detailed information about batting cage equipment and indoor, outdoor, portable, and tunnel batting cages for sale. Batting Cages Info is the sister site of Trampolines Web.

Category : Baseball

Palm Oil & Deforestation: Truth or Fiction?

Author : Palm Oil Truth Foundation

ate">March 26th, 2007: Truth or Fiction?

How to Optimize the Awesome Power of Thoughts and Imagination

Author : Michael Lee
Have you encountered a time when you were in a traffic jam and
was running late for an important meeting? Did you stay calm
and focused? Or did your mind wander into the dark side of
the impending consequences that may occur?If you're always picturing people getting mad at you and
thinking of negative outcomes, then your body suffers as well.
You may experience chest pains, anxiety disorders, indigestion,
and other health problems. Why worry when you can't do anything
about the situation? Moreover, you don't even know yet what
will happen. Both good and bad things happen unexpectedly.
Why bother to worry? It's just not worth it.Your mind directly influences your body's capabilities and
reactions; so if you always project negative thoughts and
images in your mind, your body suffers as well. But if you
always think of positive and enthusiastic stuffs, your body
will react positively too.The mind is an absolute powerhouse, a dream granter, and
goal achiever, all rolled into one. But do you know how to
optimize it for best performance?Many times we've heard people say that "If you think you can
or you can't, you're right."That is so true. But do you know exactly how to use your
thoughts in reaching what you desire to achieve?They say affirmations work. Yes, they do. But the results
might be minimal and might not turn out according to your
expectations.Do you want to know a method that is much more powerful? What
I'm going to tell you is a technique that is so effective in
itself; that if you combine it with affirmations, then you
possess one of the deadliest combos of self-improvement.Want to know the secret? Here it is.Visualize images. It's as simple as that. Our mind
communicates with our body using images. You know that the
thought of people getting angry with you can negatively
affect your health. Otherwise, picturing yourself relaxing
at your favorite vacation spot can ease some of your stress.Take this exercise.Imagine the juiciest whole piece of fried chicken right in
front of you. You can smell its tempting aroma. You sliced
it into pieces and heard the crispy crunching sound. Picture
yourself taking a large bite and enjoying the gastronomic
experience. Did that made your mouth water? Did that made
you hungry?Images are very powerful and can be used to improve your
health, attain your goals, and achieve anything that you
put your mind into.For instance, you're a burn victim. You have a wound that
is quite agonizing. Don't just say, "Hey, burn wound. Get
out of my skin." Picture it in your mind getting smaller and
smaller. Visualize it melting and vanishing into thin air.You may imagine the wound itself healing miraculously, or you
may designate any object of your choice to represent that
wound. For example, you visualize a black stone as a symbol
of your illness. Imagine that object shrinking and
disintegrating slowly. As you're thinking of this, feel
your wound and all negative forces simultaneously going
along with the action of the black stone. Let them become
smaller and smaller until they have ceased to exist.So which technique is better - imagining the real thing or
assigning a representational object to it? It all depends
on you. Pick and apply the method that you are more
comfortable with, the one that you are more inclined to
think and visualize upon.But it's not as easy as you think. Practice makes perfect.
One way you can optimize the power of imagination is by
becoming more observant and meticulous. If you're going
to use a certain flower in your visualization, go to the
park and become a keen observer of that flower. Touch it.
Smell it. Feel its texture. The more senses involved, the
more powerful your visualization will become.Visualization can be a very powerful tool in getting what
you want in life. Practice and apply it often. You'll be
amazed at the results.Michael Lee is the author of "How To Be A Red Hot Persuasion
Wizard," an ebook that reveals how to easily seduce others to
like you, fully improve your relationships, multiply your
profits, win negotiations, and attain freedom and power.
Visit http://www.20daypersuasion.com and grab a sample chapter.
Category : Self-Improvement:Coaching