The automatic champion

“Babe” Didrickson Zaharias was a phenomenal athlete. This Texan ran, jumped, rode horses, and played basketball and baseball—with tremendous flair.

In the Olympic tryouts in 1932, she won five first places in track and field events. In the games of that year in Los Angeles, she won a gold medal in the women’s 80 meter hurdles, a gold medal in the javelin throw, and a silver medal in the high jump.

After the Olympics, Zaharias turned to golf. Although she started from scratch, she won the National Women’s Amateur and the British Women’s Amateur.

The press hailed her as a “natural athlete.” They often referred to as an “automatic champion.”

But the real story behind Zaharias fairy-tale success was her painstaking diligence. Her success came from studied repetition. In every sport she undertook, she was methodical, deliberate, and persistent. She was neither “natural” nor “automatic.”

When, for example, she played golf for the first time, she did not automatically master the game. Instead she studied the game carefully, covering all its complex skill sets, under the tutelage of the finest golf teacher she could find. She looked at all the elements of the golf swing, broke it down into parts, then put it all together in a fluid movement.

Besides using an analytical approach to understand the game, Zaharias also locked the information into her motor nervous system through exhaustive practice. She would spend as many as 12 hours a day on the golf course, hitting as many as a thousand balls. Her hands would often becomes so sore that she could hardly grip her club. She stopped only long enough to tape up her hands before picking up the club again.

Zaharias learned to play golf the right way. She started out by hiring an exceptional teacher. She analyzed each part of the golf swing then put them all together in a fluid motion. She practiced for about 12 hours a day. She exercised self-discipline and self-sacrifice. And she didn’t doubt herself. Her previous successes had created an enduring self-confidence. She believed that if she applied herself she would be a golf champion. She proved this belief true.

Zaharias took a risk. She risked her reputation as an athlete by trying something new. She also risked the time and money it cost her to perfect her new sport.

Above all, she was methodical in the way she went about inventing herself as a champion golfer. She chose a gifted teacher, studied all aspects of the game, and put her new knowledge into practice, converting theory into motor learning, coordination, and stamina.

Did you know that omega 3 oils are essential nutrients

The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage--at least it seems that way. If you've been thinking you need to know more about it, here's your opportunity.

Researchers in Denmark in the 1970's found that the Inuit people in Greenland, showed a much lower rate of cardiovascular problems than the people of Denmark. The answers that were found in this research showed that even though the Intuit people had a high consumption of fats, they were actually fats from fish, Seals, Whales and other sea foods, in fact they were Omega 3 fatty acids.

After that discovery, many studies were set up all over the world and they have shown that the original research was correct, in that Omega 3 oils did help to prevent Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes, together with the fact that they did help tremendously in improving overall health.

The following is a few of the diseases that can be helped or prevented with Omega 3 oils.

Heart Disease and Strokes, Auto immune Diseases, Breast, Colon and Prostate cancer, High Blood Pressure and Arthritis, (especially Rheumatoid).

Research in the past has also shown that a high intake of fish can help in the prevention of age related memory loss, consequently lowering the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease, in fact it has shown that a large number of people have enjoyed an improvement in the quality of their lives, through taking Omega 3 Oils.

Those of you not familiar with the latest on Omega 3 Oils now have at least a basic understanding. But there's more to come.

It has been found that children who eat the oily types of fish on a regular basis, have a lower risk of developing Asthma, whilst children that do not have an intake of Omega 3 oils, are more likely to have behavioural problems and learning disorders. This could be a lead to problems like dyslexia, depression, eczema, violence, allergies, and arthritis.

The old story that "Fish is Brain food" is very true as the human brain is mainly made up of fat and that fat is the type that requires omega 3 as nutrition, it is especially needed for pregnant mothers and for the development of the baby and its brain. Fish oil has been shown to lower Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels, which of course is beneficial to all.

Omega 3 oils can do a lot for your skin, it will improve the texture and help prevent age wrinkling and that is by consuming the oil, you don't have to rub it in to your skin, it really works from within your body. Omega 3 oils are very close to being a miracle as far as the human body is concerned, they are natural, and like Glyconutrients, the sugars that heal, they are essential for good health.

Everyone needs Omega 3 oils, normal adults need them to maintain health and prevent disease, older people need it even more to help their immune system fight off disease, and the important part that the oils play in helping to prevent the age related problems and diseases that develop as you get older, it might even improve longevity, but if it doesn't, it will definitely improve the quality.

Is there really any information about Omega 3 Oils that is nonessential? We all see things from different angles, so something relatively insignificant to one may be crucial to another.

Hello from sicily my last day in catania

My three week language learning adventure in Sicily had officially come to an end: my last full day on this island had arrived. My explorations in the Milazzo area were over and early in the morning I started packing my suitcase and organizing myself. Around 10 am I went straight downstairs to the offices of Laboratorio Linguistico, the language school where I had spent the last 10 days, which included a once-in-a-lifetime experience of sailing around the Eolian Islands off the coast of Sicily. I thanked and said goodbye to Francesca, Sonia and Franco, a few of the team members who had made my stay here so pleasant.

Then I was already late for my bus to Messina from where I would need to catch another bus or a train to Catania, the second largest city in Sicily. The bus ride was comfortable and let me catch another glimpse of the verdant north coast of the island. We drove down the hills towards the downtown of Messina, the third largest urban area of Sicily and one of the island’s main port cities. Ferries run from here across the Straight of Messina to Villa San Giovanni and Reggio di Calabria on the Italian mainland. At the narrowest point the Straight of Messina is only 3 km wide.

Like most places in Sicily, Messina looks back on thousands of years of history. It was founded by Greek colonists as a city called Messene in the 8th century B. C. Many civilizations followed suit: the Mamertines, Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spanish and the French. Messina is said to have been the port of entry of the Black Death when a Genoese ship arrived on a journey from Palestine in 1347.

Messina’s biggest chapter in history arrived on December 28, 1908 when an earthquake leveled the city almost completely. About 60,000 people were killed and most of the ancient architecture was destroyed. During World War II Messina experienced massive bombardments by the American Air Force. Today the city’s main economic driving force is the port and surrounding areas feature extensive cultivations of citrus fruits, vegetables and wine.

I unfortunately did not have time to explore Messina. Upon arrival I decided that I would take a train instead of a bus to Catania and walked a few hundred meters to the train station. I generally prefer trains over buses since you have a lot more space and can get up and walk around. A few minutes later I had my ticket (which had cost just a few Euros) and was ready for my two-hour train trip to Catania. I settled in comfortably and rolled past some of the places I had gotten to know so well: Mazzaro, Taormina, Isola Bella and Giardini Naxos came into view. Mount Etna made an appearance and provided a solid cone-shaped anchor in a fertile spring landscape.

Around mid-afternoon I arrived at Catania and found directions to my abode for the last day: Holland International is a very simple hotel located about 10 minutes from the train station, an affordable budget accommodation which was going to be good enough for the night. From the Train Station at Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII I pulled my suitcase to Via Vittorio Emanuele where I found an imposing baroque building with an interior courtyard. Holland International is located at the back of the courtyard up the stairs. I briefly talked to the owner, who is originally from Holland, and he gave me the keys to my simple 35 Euro room. Basically furnished with a shared bathroom down the hallway, this room would do the trick for tonight. He also provided me with instructions of how to get to the bus stop for the airport bus tomorrow morning.

Located at the foot of Mount Etna, Catania has been buried seven times throughout history and the remains of the Ancient Greek and Roman Cities can still be found in layers underneath today’s city. Many of the buildings are baroque and Catania has many imposing churches and palaces.

I dumped my luggage and started on my exploration of Catania. I started walking the along the major thoroughfare and cut into some side streets where I found the famous Teatro Massimo Bellini. The composer Vincenzo Bellini was born in this city, and this theatre, inaugurated in 1890 and highly renowned, was named after him.

My stroll continued and I had a peek into some of the hidden courtyards. The streets were fairly narrow and people were congregating in the streets to chat and do various chores. On this rather hot day I was looking to cool off and desperately wanted to find some green space to sit down and relax in. The houses in Catania are built very closely together and there are hardly any trees or small parks to be found. I was fortunate though and located Giardino Bellini, the city’s largest park. Its elevated terraces feature beautiful city views and a central Art Nouveau band stand anchors a public place that features refreshment booths and benches along the edge. Looking north I caught a great glimpse at the imposing silhouette of Mount Etna.

After a brief rest I walked down some stairs, past the Teatro Metropolitano, to Via Etnea, Catania’s largest shopping street. On this rather expansive thoroughfare, designer store after designer store are located next to one another and the locals are busy shopping. On the Piazza Stesicoro, an extensive public space with many vending booths, I walked eastwards past a row of modern buildings back to the train station. There I decided to just hop into a local bus and see where it might take me.

I love to use public transport in any foreign city because you get a real flavour of the people and you cover more ground than walking. It’s a great and affordable sightseeing tool. Seniors were returning from shopping, office workers were on their way home and teenagers were enjoying their freedom and playing rambunctious games on the bus. The ride took me through downtown, on Via Etnea into the residential areas in the foothills of Mount Etna, where there was a bit more space between the houses. Trees and shrubs were starting to make an appearance and it felt that there was more breathing room compared to the narrow grid of streets downtown. About an hour and a half later I hopped off the bus and found a nice little table in a cafй right opposite the Teatro Bellini. I had a light snack and enjoyed watching the passers-by from my little perch in front of this historic theatre.

Rather exhausted from my many days of adventures I decided to retreat back to my hotel room and get organized for my 6:20 am departure tomorrow morning. I downloaded my pictures and went through the photos that I had shot over the last three weeks and thought that Sicily is a true feast for the senses. This extended Italian language study trip was definitely worth it: from my first 8 days in beautiful Taormina and my excursions to Siracusa and my drive around Mount Etna to my 7 days on a sailboat, cruising through the Eolian Islands, to my local discoveries around Milazzo, Cefalu and the Nebrodi Mountains, I concluded that Sicily is definitely one of the most diverse and beautiful places I have ever visited. I’ll be back for sure…

Delight your senses with these crab salad recipes

Unrivaled in sweetness by any other of its lot, the crab is has shown its versatility as an ingredient. It ads an interesting twist to any dish served with a shred or two of this amazing seafood.

As a part of salad, the Crab gives an interesting texture. It does not matter whether it be imitation or authentic crab meat, the ways on how to prepare this dish is just infinite. Below are some salad recipes that are guaranteed to bring your dishes to life.

FRESH CRAB SALAD RECIPE

1 lb Fresh crabmeat; flaked

1/2 c Minced celery

1 ts Grated onion

1 tb Minced pimento

1/4 ts Salt

2 tb Lemon juice

Mayonnaise to taste

Lettuce

2 tb Minced parsley

1/2 Cucumber; peeled and thinly sliced

Combine crab, celery, onion, and pimento in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and lemon juice; toss to mix. Add just enough mayonnaise to moisten; mix well. Spoon onto bed of lettuce; sprinkle with parsley. Garnish with thin slices of cucumber.

ANTIPASTO CRAB SALAD RECIPE

Ingredients:

8 ounces frozen Alaskan King crab

1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 small cucumber, thinly sliced

1 (6 oz.) jar marinated artichoke hearts

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon crushed black pepper

1 tomato, cut into wedges

1/4 pound Swiss cheese, sliced and cut into triangles

Lettuce

Directions:

Thaw, drain and slice crab.

Combine mushrooms and cucumber slices. Drain artichoke hearts, reserving liquid. Combine liquid with lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour over mushrooms and cucumbers and toss lightly. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Drain vegetable mixture. Arrange crab, mushrooms, cucumber, artichoke hearts, tomato wedges and cheese triangles on 4 lettuce-lined salad plates.

THAI-STYLE CRAB SALD IN AVOCADO RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 ripe California avocado

3 tablespoons lime juice

6 ounces cooked lump crabmeat, or canned crabmeat

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 scallion, thinly sliced

1/4 teaspoon pepper, or to taste

Salt, if desired

Directions:

Split the avocado in half, remove the seed; sprinkle the cut surfaces with 1 tablespoon of the lime juice to prevent browning.

Combine the crabmeat, remaining lime juice, lemon juice, mayonnaise, cilantro, scallion, pepper and salt in a mixing bowl; mix well. Divide this mixture between each avocado half, piling it high. Garnish with extra cilantro, if desired.

CRAB SALAD WITH GUAVA NECTAR RECIPE

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Guava Nectar

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

8 cups mixed salad greens

2 cups cooked fresh or chopped imitation crabmeat

1 can (11-oz. size) Mandarin oranges, drained

4 red onion slices, (optional)

Directions:

Combine nectar, mayonnaise and vinegar in small bowl; whisk until smooth.

Combine 1/2 cup dressing with crabmeat in small bowl. Toss remaining dressing with salad greens in large bowl. Divide salad greens among serving plates; top with crab mixture, oranges and onion. Season with ground black pepper.

Decorate the outdoors

You don’t have to limit yourself to decorating the inside of your home. Your patio and yard are extensions of your home, and have unique opportunities to allow you to express yourself and your sense of style.

Of course, they present unique challenges as well. Much of your outside decor will be seasonal. The furniture may have to be stored indoors in winter in some climates, and plants may die back.

Start out by thinking of what you would like to do in your patio and yard. Perhaps you enjoy barbequing, or maybe you have pool parties with friends. Maybe you just want a quiet sanctuary.

Start out by figuring out what will require the most space. If you love to have friends over, you may need a great deal of seating. Or, if you prefer to barbeque, maybe that dream grill will be the focal point. Perhaps you would like to install a fountain. In any case, whatever the focus will be you will likely want to place first, to ensure that other elements do not get in the way.

There are great options these days in outdoor furniture. Many are pretty much weatherproof, so you may not need to be quite so concerned with bringing it indoors in poor weather. Style is important too, and if you haven’t shopped for outdoor furnishings recently, the selection available, in terms of comfort and quality, may pleasantly surprise you.

Outdoor lighting has become easier to install and quite functional. It used to be that in order to light up your yard you would have to install wiring, a tedious process, or hire an electrician. Now, however, solar lighting has become quite functional and affordable. All you have to do is put the light where you want it, and let the sun charge it up for use. Not all solar powered outdoor lights will last all night; it depends on the brightness, time of year and so forth, but they are sufficient for many needs.

One of the most difficult parts of planning your outdoor decor is figuring out what to plant. A basic green lawn works with just about anything, of course, but it doesn’t express your style very well... unless basic is your style. You will want to learn how to pick appropriate plants for your yard and garden.

You can plant both in the ground and in containers. Most often you will grow flowers in decorative planters, or perhaps a decorative shrub. The containers themselves can be a part of your decor.

As you plan the natural parts of your yard, consider whether you would like to have any seating out there. A stone bench makes a lovely and durable addition, for example. Statuary might also fit your style.

Fountains are very popular right now, and very relaxing to listen to. As with lighting, solar powered fountains are available and quite practical. They can be as simple as an urn spilling water into a container below to a series of small waterfalls. The sound of water splashing is a great way to mask noise from the outside world and most people find it very relaxing.

Whatever you do, don’t skip decorating your yard as you decorate your home. It’s a great place for entertaining or relaxing in good weather, or it can be a quiet sanctuary.

Rocks at the poker table

This article will focus on how to spot and defeat any rock at the poker table. First, I will define a “rock” as a poker player who plays very few starting hands, yet plays aggressive when he/she decides to play a pot. I was recently playing in a NL 5 – 10 poker game at a local club. After about an hour, I had a pretty decent read on everybody at the table. There was one player who really stood out to me. It was a young guy and he hardly played a hand. He sat there and as this article was created in my mind that night, so was an ultimate strategy against rock players. He was not only going to be my victim that night he was also going to be my guinea pig, my study guide for how the mind of a “rock” poker player works.

I noticed many things about this guy that were sure signs for anyone who was paying attention, that this guy was a TIGHT PLAYER. The first thing you obviously notice is that they do not play a lot of starting hands. They usually fold, in fact almost always fold unless they are in the blinds or have a strong hand. The second thing I noticed is that this guy kept counting and rearranging his chips every 2 seconds like he was losing them or something. Like seriously man, you haven’t played a pot in half an hour why in the world are you still counting your chips – they haven’t moved! A third thing I found while studying this guy was that he slouched every hand… except for when he had a strong hand! In fact this guy was such a rock that I would call him a robot because he perked up everytime he found 10 10 or up. Now I have to admit, this was a pretty strong NL table and there were also a couple of drunks donating. With that being said, I had to laugh when even the drunk guys folded every time this rock tried to come in with a raise. That leads me into the next section of this article, how to easily handle any rock poker player once you have identified them.

Now that you know what to look for in a rock we can proceed on how to handle them. Like I just mentioned, I could barely help myself from laughing at this guy every time he entered a pot. I knew he had something strong it was written all over his face. The fact is – when these rocks enter the pot, they have the goods. If you see high cards on the flop, you can be pretty sure they have got a piece of it or already have a high pocket pair. Just fold pre-flop. Yes I said it and since it is the drop dead only way to play against rocks I’ll say it again – Just fold pre-flop. Unless you have AA, AK-AQs, KK, or QQ you are most definitely beat. So just fold. The funniest thing about this particular guy was, that everyone knew it and folded pre-flop when ever he entered with a raise. It was truly amusing as this guy got peeved and started playing crap hands. But this is where I noticed a new tell of our friend the guinea pig, he would still erect his posture when holding strong hands but when he tried to limp in with crap to throw us off he remained hunched over the table and his drink. At this point you just play off of the rock’s tells. You’ve got to remember that tight poker players are usually tight because they don’t like losing money and they like poker to be a mechanical grind slowly increasing their bankroll. Throw them off one or two hands and a rock turns into something their not – a loose or just frustrated poker player – one that you can take advantage of the rest of the session.

To sum up this strategy guide against rock poker players, firstly you have to identify the tight rocks at your table. This can be done by their appearance, the number of hands they play, how they play them, and even how they stack their chips or hold themselves. Once you have identified them and what kind of strong hands they play, you get out of their way unless you have a premium hand yourself. Proceed to play them like a puppet until they get off their game and take advantage of them the rest of the night.

The nhl playoffs are here does anyone care

Last night marked the end of the first NHL season since the strike/lockout of 2004-2005. The Stanley Cup playoffs -- arguably the most exciting tournament in sports -- begin Friday night, but will anybody be watching, other than Don Cherry and Barry Melrose?

While attendance was up in 75% of NHL arenas this season, the sport continues to struggle to attract new fans. The league has slipped to No. 5 in popularity for many, behind the NFL, NBA, MLB and NASCAR.

The Good Old Days

Back in the days when the NHL was on national TV two or three nights a week, it was easy to get into the game. There were always great players and great teams to keep us interested. The rivalry between the Bruins and Canadiens in the ’70s was as intense as the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry is now. Wayne Gretzky and the great Edmonton teams of the ’80s were amazing to watch, and Mario Lemieux’s dominance and Mark Messier’s resurrection of the New York Rangers kept us going through the ’90s.

There are a host of young players today who should be garnering our accolades, but because of a lack of exposure and poor marketing by the league, these would-be household names are after-thoughts in the sports world. We all know Jaromir Jagr, Joe Sakic and Teemu Selanne, but how many of us know Eric Staal (100 points), Ilya Kovalchuk (52 goals) and Brian Gionta (46 goals)?

Some amazing accomplishments were achieved this season, including the Detroit Red Wings’ astounding 124 points (fifth-best total in league history), rookies Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin of the Capitals both topping the 100-point mark, and Jonathan Cheechoo becoming the first Native American (called First Nations people in his native Canada) to win the goal-scoring title with 56.

Always Interested

There’s one group of fans that is interested in just about every game in every sport -- the gamblers. Hockey traditionally has been a great sport to bet on, especially early in the season. The oddsmakers often have a hard time handicapping the sport that they are not that familiar with, leaving gamblers plenty of opportunity for easy money. With that in mind, here is how the first round of the NHL playoffs shapes up in this gambler’s mind:

Detroit and Dallas are in familiar positions atop the Western Conference standings. The Red Wings, who became the first team in 10 years to go through an entire season without being shutout, should score early and often as they dismantle the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Detroit wins in a sweep.

Colorado is always a tough out, but the Avalanche dropped 3 straight and 4 of their last 5 to end the season. The Stars’ stingy defense will be the difference in a low-scoring series. Dallas wins 4 games to 1.

Calgary with probable Vezina Trophy winner Miikka Kiprusoff in net should have no problem eliminating Anaheim in 6 games.

The other first-round Western Conference matchup may be the best of all. Nashville finished the season winning 6 straight, including the season finale vs. Detroit, and posted the league’s best home record at 32-8-1. San Jose features Hart Trophy candidate and the league’s leading scorer Joe Thornton, along with the aforementioned Cheechoo. Look for a high-scoring, entertaining series with the Sharks winning a seventh game in Nashville.

Champs Still Alive

Over in the Eastern Conference, the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning staved off late charges from Toronto and Atlanta to grab the eighth spot. The champs face multiple-time first-round loser Ottawa to begin their defense of the title, and the Senators are ripe for an upset again. Ottawa limped into the playoffs, finishing 2-4-2 in its last 8 games. The loss of Dominik Hasek hasn’t helped, either. Tampa wins 4 games to 2.

Carolina, despite being shutout in its last game and dropping to the No. 2 seed, should be tough to beat. Montreal’s rookie goalie Cristobal Huet came out of nowhere to post an impressive 2.14 GAA and a league-leading .930 save percentage. He will have a tough task in trying to slow down the Hurricanes’ high-scoring offense. Carolina advances in 7.

The Rangers-Devils should be a fun one for the New York fans. New Jersey is the hottest team in the league. The Devils scored 3 goals in the third period to complete a 4-3 comeback last night against the Canadiens for their 11th straight victory. The win clinched the Atlantic Division for New Jersey, which trailed Philadelphia by 19 points on Jan. 6. With momentum and experience on their side, the Devils will hold down Jagr and eliminate New York in 5 games.

The last first-round series features the upstart Buffalo Sabres vs. the Philadelphia Flyers, who have to be disappointed that they did not hold on to win the division. The key to this series will be the health of Flyers star center Peter Forsberg. If he can make it through the entire series, Philly has a chance, but Buffalo’s hard-hitting defense won’t make it easy for him. Buffalo wins in 7.

Whatever the outcome, I’m looking forward to watching some great playoff hockey. Nothing matches the intensity of sudden death overtime or the elation and pain of a seventh game.

What are dream really made of

Have you ever considered what the heck dreams are really made of?

Many people believe dreams are simply a bunch of garbled thoughts strung together that don’t mean anything in particular. If you taking the time to read this article, then chances are you probably believe that dreams are much more important than that…and they certainly are!

Your dreams are a true reflection of yourself at that particular point in your life. They encompass all of your thoughts, your emotions, your beliefs, and all of your desires. Think of your dreams as snapshots of what you are in the process of attracting or creating in your life at that time.

That last sentence is what dreams are really all about. They are signposts literally telling you the nature of things to come.

This isn’t about prophetic dreams here, but the general direction your thoughts and emotions are taking you in. So in that light, giving your dreams some attention is to your great advantage!

Here’s how it works –

Suppose that most of your waking thoughts are of worry, fear, frustration or beating yourself up over something you said or did, and so on. This is negative emotion that will naturally be reflected in your dreams.

However, your subconscious (or you higher self, or whatever you want to call it) is a lot smarter than your conscious self and will offer you nuggets of wisdom to make you more aware of the bigger picture. Awareness breeds the changes necessary to turn those negative thoughts and emotions around.

If you choose to do nothing about your negative state, then guess what…you’ll get more of the same. If you choose to be more aware of your emotion and move toward the positive, then you will create more positive results in your life. That’s the Law of Attraction at work and believe me, your dreams can really help you with this!

The message here is to become more interactive with your subconscious through your dreams and make use of them. You can start by asking yourself a question before you fall asleep at night and expect an answer.

Sweet Dreams!

New deck railings ideas

Ideas For Deck Railing – Only Limitation Is imagination

The article gives imaginative solutions for decking in your house and surroundings. The only limitation in the design is the imagination and the spending power of the owner.

Your decking is a place for your social functions, BBQ parties, a place where you can enjoy nature, and an open space for you where you can be romantic. Depending on the space you have for decking, you can have flowing lines without any acute angles. The general ideas that you will have to remember in such cases are,

Ensure that the space is as open as possible, and without the gaps. A large continuous space is more inviting than two separate spaces even though they total the same area in square feet.

The deck should have a number of accesses points nearly every 20 to 25 feet. An open space with access at limited spaces feels like a congested place even if the area is large.

The deck railing of modern houses have to be flowing and without sharp corners and acute angles. An acute angle is acts like a break in the flowing lines. Decking railing meting at an acute angle is just not acceptable unless space requirement demands it.

Modern Materials Of Construction For Deck Railing

Any material that has shine and luster, and requires minimum maintenance (like painting or polishing) is the material for modern decking. That leaves the wood in its raw form as the modern material for deck railing. The wood being prone to deterioration to forces of nature is not an ideal material for decking railing. Wood also is not a material that takes flowing form without requiring large human input. Stainless steel, Powder coated steel, anodizes aluminum, or steel coated with PVC fill this requirement perfectly. Depending the money at the disposal of owner, the choices can be exercised.

Care For Handicapped – Install Special Railings

While installing the deck railing, it is always necessary to care for the handicapped, irrespective of the extent of the handicap. This would mean that the approaches to all the platforms shall be gradual and the side deck railings should be such that the persons with special needs can come to the deck and exit the deck without help from others and they can do it safely. That means that the deck railing in the area of approach and exit should be designed for persons with special needs.

Undercoating your own car

Undercoating stops and prevents rust and keeps your car looking great. It’s recommended for those planning on keeping their vehicle more than a couple of years It is a thrifty job in two ways.

You save the cost of having it done, and leave the body from rusting away.

Undercoating is an extra dollar that an auto dealership often tries to load onto you when you buy a new car. But you need not dig into your pocket for this extra. You can do the job yourself at a total cost that is a portion of what an auto repair shop will charge you.

Undercoating has two advantages. First and foremost, it will protect a card by preventing the rust that eats through a fender and through a car body. Secondly, sprayed or brushed into metal to metal cracks and crevices the black asphalt material will forestall many a squeak and rattle.

Most people think of undercoating in connection with strictly a new car. However it is usually a job that pays dividends on a vehicle of any age. In fact it offers a means of curbing automobile metal rust that may have gained considerable headway on any used car or vehicle.

If you decide to undercoat your car, do so before washing and polishing since some spillage may occur.

First: Remove the Rust. Whether the car is new or old, all rust must be removed and the metal cleaned off before the undercoating goes in. Rust left under the coating would go right ahead with its damaging work. Work on the metal until it shines.

Cleaning comes first. Getting the grime off can be the most difficult part of the procedure.

Steam cleaning is probably the best way to prepare the car. If you can have this done. It will save you much effort and heartache. If not TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate) can be used to loosen up the grease. A wire brush can be utilized. TSP is an inexpensive crystalline salt available at most hardware stores such as Home Depot or Rona. Mix the TSP degreaser with hot water and daub it on grease areas with a sponge or cloth.

In doing this job it is important to know what to coat and what not to coat. Keep the material off moving parts, oil pan, brake lines, muffler, tail pipe, drive shaft etc etc. Apply it liberally, however under the fender and sills of the frame and under the floor. Under the fenders work it right out to the edge.

To get under the fenders you will have to remove the wheels. Unless the support is very stable, remove only one wheel at a time. It never hurts to play it safe.

Some undercoaters are inflammable, while wet. So work with good ventilation - and avoid smoking and open flames of course.

Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or many tons of salt in this case.

Secret success strategy

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

-Mark Twain

FOCUS + FEELING + ACTION = ATTRACTION

While I don’t believe in pat formulas for success, I’d like to share some ingredients for attracting more of what we want in life. It goes like this: whatever we FOCUS on, FEEL, and ACT on, we ATTRACT. Call it ‘a recipe for success’ if you will. (Not "THE" recipe, but "A" recipe). If any of these ingredients are missing, there’s less chance of manifesting what you want.

If you have the mental focus (i. e. you write down your goals/objectives, put them in a visible place, say your daily mantras/affirmations) but lack the feeling of what it would actually be like to accomplish your goal, you can say your affirmations till your blue in the face and nothing would happen.

Likewise if you have powerful feelings and are doing lots of activity but are lacking focus and direction, you will burn out fast without accomplishing much. In fact, if you’re focus is misplaced, you could end up courting disaster. Take a look at professional race car driving. Some of the deadliest accidents occur right when drivers are rounding the curve. Some of the inexperienced drivers, as they are rounding the curve, will stay visually focused on the curve they are trying to clear. And guess what happens? You got it…they end up smashing right into the curve! More experienced professionals will immediately shift their focus in the opposite direction of the curve and thus get past it. Are you focusing on your problems or solutions?

If you have the focus and feeling down pat (your doing your mantras, writing your goals, developed your plan, are experiencing passionate feelings of reaching your desired objective) but are not taking daily and consistent action towards your goal, again you will always be coming just short of your desired outcome.

There are some extras that I’d like to add. If after you’ve done everything humanly possible, you place your FAITH and trust in the natural process that creates all things, and stop worrying and fretting, you will attract more of what you want in abundance. Think about it, would you plant a flower seed in the soil, and after a week of waiting, watering, and giving it lots of love and sunshine, dig it up and yell, "WHY AREN’T YOU GROWING! YOU’RE USELESS!"? Well, isn’t that what we do with our own dreams sometimes?

Finally, if you add the HERO ingredient of SERVING others, of reaching your dreams by also helping others and creating value for other people, you will live a much more fulfilling life. We can certainly attract the stuff we want in life, but without giving back to the community or helping others along the way, we can often be left with a shallow, empty feeling inside.

Seven personal characteristics of a good leader

How often have you heard the comment, “He or she is a born leader?” There are certain characteristics found in some people that seem to naturally put them in a position where they’re looked up to as a leader.

Whether in fact a person is born a leader or develops skills and abilities to become a leader is open for debate. There are some clear characteristics that are found in good leaders. These qualities can be developed or may be naturally part of their personality. Let us explore them further.

Seven Personal Qualities Found In A Good Leader

1. A good leader has an exemplary character. It is of utmost importance that a leader is trustworthy to lead others. A leader needs to be trusted and be known to live their life with honestly and integrity. A good leader “walks the talk” and in doing so earns the right to have responsibility for others. True authority is born from respect for the good character and trustworthiness of the person who leads.

2. A good leader is enthusiastic about their work or cause and also about their role as leader. People will respond more openly to a person of passion and dedication. Leaders need to be able to be a source of inspiration, and be a motivator towards the required action or cause. Although the responsibilities and roles of a leader may be different, the leader needs to be seen to be part of the team working towards the goal. This kind of leader will not be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.

3. A good leader is confident. In order to lead and set direction a leader needs to appear confident as a person and in the leadership role. Such a person inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of the team to complete the task well. A leader who conveys confidence towards the proposed objective inspires the best effort from team members.

4. A leader also needs to function in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty. People look to the leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanor.

5. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose. Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head.

6. A good leader as well as keeping the main goal in focus is able to think analytically. Not only does a good leader view a situation as a whole, but is able to break it down into sub parts for closer inspection. Not only is the goal in view but a good leader can break it down into manageable steps and make progress towards it.

7. A good leader is committed to excellence. Second best does not lead to success. The good leader not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas.

These seven personal characteristics are foundational to good leadership. Some characteristics may be more naturally present in the personality of a leader. However, each of these characteristics can also be developed and strengthened. A good leader whether they naturally possess these qualities or not, will be diligent to consistently develop and strengthen them in their leadership role.

The christian sabbath

The Bible tells us that God sanctified the seventh day Sabbath as a day in remembrance that He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. It says, Exodus 20:8-11 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work…”.

So if God ordained Sunset Friday to Sunset Saturday, the seventh day as the Sabbath, why do most Christians go to Church on Sunday?

Who changed the day to Sunday, and when? Did Jesus? Is it spoken of in the scriptures? Was there a new commandment written to amend the fourth commandment after Jesus died? Do we keep Sunday in honor of his resurrection?

It has been firmly established by numerous historians and theologians that the books of Matthew and Luke were written between 60 and 80 AD. This means that if the Sabbath had changed to Sunday after Jesus death, then it should have been recorded by these Bible writers. Instead though we see that rather than inform us of any change to the day, Luke instead he states in Luke 23:56, “…And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.”

Jesus Himself in His prophecy about the destruction of the temple, which occurred in about 70 AD, when He was talking to His Disciples said Matthew 24:20, “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.” This shows conclusively that Jesus knew that the Sabbath would still be in existence many years after the cross.

Historians also confirm that the seventh day Sabbath was kept by both Jews and Gentiles, until around 120 AD. At this time the persecution of the Jews became so great that many Christians in some areas decided to start keeping Sunday, so as to try to differentiate themselves from the Jews, who were still faithfully keeping the Sabbath of the Lord. Some Christians began to use the excuse that it was in honor of the resurrection, as there was no scriptural basis for this change. At that time Christians in areas outside the Roman empire continued to keep the true seventh day Sabbath of God.

In 321 A. D. Constantine, who was a pagan, became Caesar in Rome. As he began to see the balance of power shift from paganism to the Church he passed the first law enforcing Sunday worship in 321 AD. Sunday of course was the day that the pagans kept holy in their worship of the Sun god. Two years after passing this law Constantine joined the Roman Catholic Church and began mingling paganism with Christianity. The pagans were very involved with idolatry, so he took many of the statues of their gods and gave them Christian names, like St Peter and Mary. It was well after 400 AD before Sunday eventually took on the name of the Lord’s Day.

In many documents, papers and books written by the Roman Catholic Church, they openly take credit for moving the sanctity of the Seventh day Sabbath to Sunday, by their own authority, which they believe is above that of the scriptures. Here are some examples.

"Protestants...accept Sunday rather than Saturday as the day for public worship after the Catholic Church made the change...But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize that...In observing the Sunday, they are accepting the authority of the spokesman for the church, the Pope." Our Sunday Visitor , February 15, 1950.

"From this we may understand how great is the authority of the church in interpreting or explaining to us the commandments of God - an authority which is acknowledged by the universal practice of the whole Christian world, even of those sects which profess to take the holy Scriptures as their sole rule of faith, since they observe as the day of rest not the seventh day of the week demanded by the Bible, but the first day. Which we know is to be kept holy, only from the tradition and teaching of the Catholic church." Henry Gibson, Catechism Made Easy, # 2, 9th edition, vol. 1, p. 341-342.

"It was the Catholic church which...has transferred this rest to Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. Therefore the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) church." Monsignor Louis Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, p. 213.

"Sunday is our mark or authority...the church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact." Catholic Record of London , Ontario, September 1, 1923.

“The authority of the church could therefore not be bound to the authority of the Scriptures, because the Church had changed...the Sabbath into Sunday, not by command of Christ, but by its own authority.” Canon and Tradition, p. 263.

So it seems that if Christians keep the Sabbath on the seventh day, we are following the commandment of God, but if we keep Sunday, we are following the traditions of man. Does that really matter?

The Bible says in Mark 7:6-9 “Jesus answered them, “How right Isaiah was when he prophesied about you! You are hypocrites, just as he wrote: ‘These people, says God, honor me with their words, but their heart is really far away from me. It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!’ “You put aside God's command and obey human teachings.” And Jesus continued, “You have a clever way of rejecting God's law in order to uphold your own teaching.”

It seems clear that Jesus wanted us to stand firm on the teachings of the scriptures, and not on any religious traditions instituted by man.

All Bible references are from the King James Version.

Bowling ball benefits features

Bowling balls can be made of rubber, plastic or urethane. Serious bowler can order a custom made ball instead of always borrowing or renting one from the bowling alley.

Since balls are made of different materials, the performance of each varies depending on the floor surface. Bowling balls can be ordered in different weights. They range from 12 to 16 pounds and will work for any bowler, regardless of gender or age.

The Brunswick 'Scorchin Inferno' bowling ball is a good example. This high performance model is an upgrade from the 'Ultimate Inferno' and has proven to be one of the best sellers in the company's inventory. It's cover stock is the 'Activator Max' and performs best when used in a lane that requires heavy oil.

Another good ball is the 'Columbia Action Packed Bowling Ball'. This high performance ball does well and works best under medium lane conditions. Its cover stock is the 'M80^2' and is guaranteed to do well for the player who likes to make strikes.

The elite 'R43' bowling ball is one that can work in light or heavy oil conditions. Manufactures claim that the weight block, which is the energy transfer core of this ball, will increase the chances of putting more pins down than any other ball because it delays the transfer of energy until the point of impact.

Proper care must be taken to ensure the bowling ball is in tip top condition at all times. This means it should not be dropped which could cause damage to the ball and injure the people around.

The ball should be kept at room temperature and stored in a bag when it is not being used to prevent stress. The owner should polish it from time to time or take it to the pro shop to be refinished.

The customized bowling ball should only be used by the owner. This is because the holes were measured only to fit the fingers of the user and not anyone else. Letting someone else use it may injure the borrower. There are many bowling balls to choose from and the price of them range from $100 to $300. They come in many colors and designs which will stand out in the bowling alley. By looking at the conditions of the bowling alley, the bowler will find the right ball to get the job done.

Birth control pills and acne clear mind or clear skin

Before you read this article, I am duty-bound to tell you that this article is for women only (though I am sure men will be curious to read it)!

To take or not to take birth control pills for controlling acne is a very sensitive topic, if not controversial! Is taking birth control pills to control acne is right for you? How does birth control pill work on acne? Can hormones in the birth control pill stop acne from forming? At least thousands of such mad trains must be rushing the mind of a woman, who is consuming the pills with the twin important purposes! Every pill creates fresh doubts, fears and complications in her thought process. Because research on this subject is still a kindergarten stuff and the fear of side-effects hang prominently in her mind.

Moral aspect of taking birth control pills is in itself a never ending debating topic. If it is intended to control acne, why it should be related to birth control pills? The alliance looks unholy. Is it considered as a cost-saving device? And if the birth control pills were to fail from the original purpose for which they are intended and acne appears on the face, who will protect the psychological balance of that women? One such bad case, is sufficient to pour cold water on the result of thousand good cases!

The skin of many acne prone women have responded positively and have indeed showed marked improvement, thanks to the intake of birth control pills. For the glow of the skin, women are likely to consider that no sacrifice, no experiment is great. What checks can be applied if such individuals start consuming birth control pills, to whom they are not intended at all! Apart from the humor element involved in these observations, over the years this problem is going to assume serious dimensions and certain tangible steps will have to be well thought out to check this.

When you take mild dose of contraceptives orally, estrogen-related side effects - headache, nausea and breast tenderness - may show their weak presence. The weight gain is also low.

So do you take birth control pills with the cure of acne in your mind? Make your decision very carefully taking into account the risk factors. Just for the greed of curing acne, why to risk your body to heart attack, cancer of the breast or blood clots? If you are a smoker, the condition will still be worse. Your present state of depression may be due to this pill-taking! Many more side effects are waiting in the wings to take over-fluid retention, dark skin patches, bleeding in the vagina, to quote a few.

So, do you want a clear mind or a clear skin? The bargain may prove too hard, that it may give rise to psychological problems. Therefore, take each pill and put each step forward, with utmost caution, firstly by preparing your mind very well.

For, this is a mind over matter topic. Therefore, CAUTION!

This time, you need to consult not only the dermatologist, but your dear gynecologist first!

All-inclusive family resort

As all parents know, the best family vacation is one where there a no hassles, no bored kids and no added expenses. Too good to be true? Not if you book your next family getaway at one an all-inclusive family resort.

Pleasing every member of the family takes the right combination of luxury, adventure, ultimate fun and pay-one-price convenience. There are a select few family resorts that deliver all this and more. Best of all, these resorts are easily accessible online, so you can skip the travel agent and plan your entire vacation on the Internet.

If you want to find the best all-inclusive family resort, consider the wonders of these premiere destinations:

Franklin D. Resort in Jamaica

What could make your perfect all-inclusive family resort vacation even better? How about a "vacation nanny" to accompany your children during your stay? At the Franklin D. Resort, that's just what you'll get. By offering this worry-free service, critics and guests alike rate the Franklin D. Resort as one of world's finest all-inclusive family destinations. There is also biking, scuba diving, water slides and an incredible walk up a waterfall to satisfy the thrill-seekers in your family. Kids can choose from their own menus at the resort restaurant, and the huge suites and guest rooms are perfect for big families.

Beaches Negril in Jamaica

Another fantastic all-inclusive family resort is Beaches Negril. Located on Jamaica's famous seven-mile Negril beach, this resort is actually a part of the Sandals group. Your family will enjoy the finest services, accommodations and amenities. While you relax on the beach, your kids will be kept happy and busy with a full slate of specialized programs from infant care to teen activities, as well as the Xbox Game Oasis, ice cream bar and the Pirates Island waterpark. Parents get pampered at Beaches Negril as well, with European spa treatments, a beach bistro, swim-up bars and a choice of restaurants and nightclubs. There are sports and activities for the whole family to enjoy together, including snorkeling boat trips to a coral reef, mini-golf, hydro bikes, beach volleyball and so much more.

Breezes, Curacao

One of the newer all-inclusive family resorts, Breezes Curacao is the first of its kind on this fascinating Caribbean island. Breezes Curacao provides families with daily scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing and other water-related sports. Your all-inclusive family vacation includes dining at Japanese, Italian and other fine restaurants. Children receive star treatment with club activities, theme dinners, rock climbing and super-fun trapezes.

All fun, all relaxation, all the time. That's what your family will experience with an all-inclusive family resort vacation.

Take advantage of the search option on a used car website to find your used vauxhall

If you are looking to buy a used Vauxhall then you should take advantage of the search feature that a specialist used car website will offer along with many other helpful tools when making a search for a used car. And of course they should also offer plenty of free advice, hints and tips on how to get the best out of the search and also when it comes to going and looking the car over and taking it for a test drive.

The search feature offered by a specialist used car website is different from the standard search engine that you would normally use online. This search engine should allow you to scour what is on offer based on a huge range of criteria to find the match for the used Vauxhall you are interested in. Because there are many different models of Vauxhall starting with the exact model is a great starting point. After this you are able to narrow down the search even more by how much you want to pay for the car, the radius in which you want to travel, engine size or even colour. By honing your search this way you are not going to be wasting time looking through several web pages of cars that you have no interest in whatsoever.

While a used car website can greatly cut down the time you spend looking for a used Vauxhall there is the disadvantage of not actually being able to see the car and walk around it to get the feel of it, however while you cannot actually be there the majority of specialist websites will encourage the seller to take several good clear photographs of the car including the front, sides and back of the car. While this is not the same it can give you a very good idea of what the car looks like and the state the bodywork is in, you should be very wary of any photographs that have been taken in poor lighting conditions as this could mean that the seller is trying to hide something.

Along with the photographs the seller should have included a detailed listing alongside the photo; the more descriptive the better as this is how you are going to be able to narrow down from the choices of used Vauxhall that the search engine provided. If the seller has taken the trouble not only the essential information will be listed but also any additional features which make the car stand out from above the rest. Of course there will also be contact information included with the listing which allows you to ask any questions you have regarding the used Vauxhall which haven’t been answered in the listing.

Without a doubt taking advantage of the search engine that a specialist used car website offers is the quickest way of finding a used Vauxhall and along with this you can also benefit from the information and hints and tips which a website such as this offers to not only help you get the most out of the search but also when it comes to looking the car over and taking it for a test drive.

5 things you should know about acne treatment product

1 Know What You Buy

When it comes to acne treatment product most people just simply buying based on advertising they watch. Each people is different as well as skin, so before you buy acne treatment product make sure you know anything about your skin.

2. Acne Demand Great Deal of Patience

“You want to get rid from acne right away? Then buy this ABC product.” Saw something familiar? How many times you’d been enticed by those kind of ads, and I can guarantee 100% only disappointment you’ve get so far.

3. Never Pop Pimples!

When you get acne and see your face in front of mirror, did you hear those little sound screaming to you “Pop The Pimples!” Don’t hear that no matter how tempting it might be.

By doing so you just put yourself in long-term adversities. It will leave you scar and remove scar leaving by your “pop the pimples” act could literally consume a lot of time and money.

4. Be Careful with The Side Effect of Acne Treatment Product

Be informed about your skin type and acne treatment product you use. Easiest way to do so is just visiting your doctor and ask him/her about possibility of acne treatment product you use could occur some side effect.

A few side effects that may occur are:

- allergic reaction

- respiratory tract irritation

- flaking of the skin

- redness

- inflammation of the skin

To avoid this you could natural acne treatment product that use herb as their main material. One ingredient you will consistently find in natural

acne treatment products is tea tree oil, because tea tree oil kills bacteria.

the point here is before you use anything do some research first

5. Want to Remove Your Acne Scar and Do it Quickly and Efficiently?

Then you should consider trying acne laser scar treatment. I’m not a doctor, so don’t ask me the procedure, you can just phone the free line number of close medical center and ask for more information.

What you should consider to use this option is because it is fast, no side effect (ask your physician for confirmation) and not much pain involved.

Cheap holidays to andorra for a ski vacation

There are two areas in Andorra to take the family for a ski vacation. Grandvalira and Vallnord are excellent areas to enjoy a day on the slopes. There are some great skiing resorts in Andorra and they make your stay very comfortable and enjoyable. Whether you stay at a hotel or a resort, you are going to have fun. The skiing season starts in December and goes until April. Where else could you spend a cheap holiday and ski every day, any day. The two skiing resort areas are equipped with chair lifts, gondolas and cable cars.

As you can imagine, the time is always right to ski the slopes of Andorra. Between the two resorts, you will find over twelve hundred slopes to ski downhill. They have slopes for beginners, intermediates, advanced and expert skiers. Located in the Pyrenees, the resorts have colder temperatures with many sunny days to enjoy. Your cheap holidays to Andorra might include transportation, accommodations, airfare and sometimes tickets or passes to many other events in the area. With over two hundred inches of snow a year, you will find plenty to do on the slopes and the nights can be for enjoying a fire or some local entertainment.

Cheap holidays to Andorra are not only for skiing, there are the spas and the shopping malls for some excitement. The nights are nice for relaxing. The restaurants and the dance clubs are always a nice way to relax and unwind from the thrill of the slopes and rush it provided. You will find that most of the people that go to the ski resorts are out for the night to enjoy new friends and share stories about the day on the slopes. You will find dancing, live entertainment and nice quite little pubs for a beer and a shot.

The shopping in Andorra is especially nice, since the area is duty free. You can plan a shopping trip instead of a day skiing and fine some great buys. The stores are easy to access and are nestled in the low plains of the mountains. Even if the rest of the family wants to ski, you might enjoy some snowboarding or taking a short hike around the area. You can do so much more than just ski on your cheap holidays to Andorra. A fascinating way to relax for a day is to sit and glaze at the snow covered mountaintops.

One can only appreciate the Pyrenees Mountains by being surrounded by them. The hotels and resorts offer many exciting ways to entertain yourself if you need a break from the slopes. The swimming pools, spa, Jacuzzis and fitness centers are just as nice and relaxing. You are going to find the restaurants are unique and the nightlife is amazing. You will have an enjoyable time in Andorra for a ski vacation. You will have the time of your life while relaxing and meeting new people who share the same interests as you do such as dining, skiing or just relaxing around the hotel.

Stop dodging your creditors and seek their help

Even on graduation, I was literally reeling under the huge loan that I had taken. I knew that with my college degree, I would be able to get stable employment as well as a hefty salary. Then my first credit card arrived on the scene. I did not even bother to check how much it would cost.

Within two years of working as an executive assistant, I was already drowning in credit card debt and have not been able to pay off my mortgage and insurance premiums. I even coined a nickname for myself, debt delinquent.

Avoiding one's creditors is something that many people resort to. If they can't reach you or find you, you're safe, right? WRONG! But I have found that it is much better to sit down and have a chat with the lender to see what options are open to you.

If only I had taken the time to talk to any one of my creditors, I would have been given a chance to pay them off instead of filing for bankruptcy. Some of us do learn the hard way.

The point is that you will have to repay the loan eventually. Your bank will want some of the money that you spent on your holiday sprees. The lender that you are dealing with might just introduce some options to make it easier for you to make repayments. They are not as evil as you think they are. In fact, lending institutions can save you from falling into poverty -- or bankruptcy at least.

Your credit card issuer will mostly likely give you amnesty, if you promise to pay them back with a span of time. If you try hard enough, you would be able to eliminate the late payment fees. By talking to them, you will have a lot more options on how to settle your balance than by hiding out in the mountains until you think they have surely forgotten about you.

But during this time, your credit card accounts might be closed as they do not want you accumulating more debt while trying to pay off your balance.

If you have unpaid loans from various institutions, they will almost certainly advice you to join a debt management program or refer you to a debt counselor. It would be a good idea to consolidate all your debts if you are currently making payments on a number of different loans.

With consolidation, all of your debt will fall under one loan. You will no longer have to wonder whether you missed out on any loan installment as there will only be one every month. Do not worry so much about your credit score at this time, focus on paying off your debts. That poor credit score can wait till you are debt-free. You can start fixing it then. Just one point to remember is that student loan consolidation works differently and it does not affect your score.

Reaching out to creditors gives them the impression that you want to pay them back and you're willing to do it on terms that are beneficial to both parties. In a way, this will please your creditors as they will realize that you are a borrower who makes an effort to settle his debts.

What exactly is human growth hormone and what can it do for me

Is there a way to extend life, reverse aging, and live forever? Since old age is simply a state of hormonal deficiency, a state in which you lack the previously bountiful hormones of youth. These symptoms of old age are actually symptoms that should be able to be reversed. HGH or Human Growth Hormone has been shown to slow down, reduce or stop the typical signs of aging safely and powerfully.

HGH or Human Growth hormone is produced in the pituitary gland of the brain. HGH is primarily released during the early phases of sleep. It is quickly converted by the liver into the growth-promoting metabolite somatomedin C and is then circulated throughout the body. Once released, HGH induces the liver to make insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and this hormone then triggers the growth of bones, muscles and other body tissues. It promotes cell regeneration in your bones, vital organs and muscles and reduces the amount of fat circulating in the body. Human growth hormone is responsible for many effects on growth, development, immunity and metabolism throughout your body.

HGH levels decline with age and by the age of 60 most people will have approximately 80% less growth hormone in their system than when they were 20. Signs of reduced HGH include increased body fat, increased anxiety, social isolation, poor general health, and lack of positive well being. Growth hormones are essential to youthful characteristics. Studies of its amazing effects in the elderly population, supports its primary role in improved longevity and the betterment of the quality of life. Scientists have now discovered a relationship between this decline of HGH in the body and aging.

In fact, the decline of HGH levels is found to be directly responsible for many of the most common signs of growing old, such as wrinkling of the skin, gray hair, decreased energy, and diminished sexual function.

What does HGH do?

• One of the most dramatic effects of HGH is on the connective tissue, muscle, and healing potential of the skeletal system.

• HGH replacement in adults may have a beneficial effect on lipids and cardiovascular health.

• Growth hormone therapy results in profound changes in body composition. Fat mass is reduced while lean body mass increases.

• HGH offers improved skin elasticity.

• HGH can normalize blood pressure.

• HGH increases immune function.

• HGH will give you a sharper memory and concentration.

• The growth hormone keeps the cells in as healthy a state as possible.

• HGH will enable you to regain your zest for life.

• The growth hormone can enhance sexual performance.

• HGH replacement therapy gives the mind a profound sense of well-being.

• It is able to regenerate heart, liver, kidneys, and lung cells.

• HGH is known to improve your cholesterol.

• HGH offers a deeper, more restful, sleep.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is the perfect solution for anyone looking to get back into shape, increase their energy levels and start enjoying a healthy life. HGH is often called the "fountain of youth" because elevated HGH levels are what makes you feel young again and can reverse the effects of aging.

Choosing perfect bike

As people grow up they start having wonderful fantasies and these are developed as a result of others showing them. Most of the younger generation would love to own bikes which could be sped with. But while choosing your favorite, there should various things that have to be considered and taken into account.

While shopping for the first bike the most important thing to consider is the price range and your budget. There are wonderful motorcycles which cost a lot for you and look really handsome and stylish. There are premium varieties of bikes such as Ducati and even Harley-Davidsons which could be over expensive. But these are the motorcycles chosen by most of the teenagers due to its fame and popularity. These are those bikes which could be just dreamt by the ordinary people. If you are going to ride it for the first time then these models are not for you. As for experimenting bike riding, it is always advised to start off with the modest models. These are recommended for experts as they have wonderful experience in bike riding.

For those entire debuting bike riders, the best choice would be to choose used bikes which are available easily at affordable prices. This is because it is the best way to become expert and own fascinating models sooner. The used bikes will be having the same power as the new ones and due to this reason it becomes easier and safer to learn in these bikes for the beginners. It is also not much good for the experienced riders to humiliate the new riders on fancy bikes. It is always cooler to ride faster on a slow bike rather than to ride slowly on fast bike.

The most dangerous bike for all those new comers is the sports bikes which could really put the debuts in real trouble even risking their lives. This is because the sports bikes are light weight and even have horsepower and this helps in faster pace even top speeds. Many of the youngsters prefer to own a 1000 cc super bike but it is not recommended for the starters and is highly advised due to its great risks.

The hospitals and cemeteries had got various clients who had tried out the 160 horsepower liter bike. It is highly recommended to undergo a training class before trying any kinds of bike. The perfect choice would be to join classes offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Apart from providing training they also let you to use small motorcycles as part of it.

Whatever be your choice of bike ranging from a fancy bike to touring bike to sport bike to a cruiser to a standard style bike, all that is to be taken care is to get the bike that you feel very comfortable. After taken the right decision the next step is to go out for shopping. While shopping, sit on the bike with the kick start stand down and check whether feet touches the ground and if not then it would be better to choose a lower seat bike. Hence, following these steps in bike shopping would let you choose the perfect one for you.

The benefits of using a real estate website design service

There are a large number of real estate agencies or individual agents throughout the world. With the proper training it is possible for just about anyone with the ambition to make a profit selling real estate.

If you have or are interested in obtaining a real estate license there are a number of ways to help maximize your potential profits. The majority of successful real estate agencies have a company website. A real estate website will help you get your business name out into the public. There are also a number of individuals who use real estate websites to search for a home that is in another state. Websites are extremely helpful to these people because it allows them to search for and purchase a home without having to make multiple long-distance trips.

To have a real estate website you do not have to be experienced in web design. There are a number of other professionals who can do it for you. Acquiring the services of a real estate website design company will cost money; however, it is money that will be well spent. Even if you can develop a standard website you may still wish to use the services of a real estate website design company. Individuals or companies who operate a real estate website design service are often fully trained and experienced in producing quality work. Depending on who you use to build your website, a website developed by a professional will generally turn out a lot better than one developed by an everyday individual.

Once you make the decision to acquire outside help from a real estate website design company you will need to find one. There are a large number of web designers that are looking for work; however, you should carefully examine each individual or business before officially obtaining their services.

Each designer will likely charge a different rate for their services. You should compare the fees of a wide variety of different real estate website design companies before selecting one. When pricing comparing you should also keep in mind that each individual or company will have different levels of experiences. To find a quality website design company you should also examine the quality of their work. A reputable and experienced real estate website design company will be more than willing to show you examples of their past work. Viewing completed projects is a great way to determine if you will be getting your moneys worth when selecting a person to do business with.

The best way to learn about the different real estate website design companies is by doing an internet search. Almost all website designers will advertise their business online; therefore, this may be your best way to develop a list of multiple website designers. When you visit the website of a design company you should fully examine their own website. This will give you a good idea on the quality of work that they will be likely to produce.

There are a large number of website designers; however, there are limited number who have experience designing real estate websites. If you are interested in producing a quality real estate website you should hire the services of an individual or company that acts as a real estate website designer or at least has some experience in real estate design.

Maui vacation packages how they can save you money

Are you interested in purchasing a Maui vacation package? If so, you are definitely not alone. Each year, a fairly large number of individuals, couples, and families think about purchasing a Maui vacation package. Although a large number of vacationers are interested in purchasing a Maui vacation package, not everyone gets around to doing so. While there are a number of different reasons for this, there is one reason that is quite common; miss belief. There are some individuals who believe that vacation packages, including Maui vacation packages, are just too good to be true. If you believe this somewhat common misconception, you could be missing out on the greatest deal of a lifetime.

Before you can start examining how a Maui vacation package can save you money, it is important to first understand exactly what they are. Maui vacation packages are travel arrangements and overnight accommodations that are grouped together, in a package. Vacation packages allow vacationers to pay one large sum for their vacation instead of having to make multiple payments. For instance, if you purchase a Maui vacation package that includes airline reservations, hotel accommodations, and a car rental, you will only need to make one large payment, most likely to an online travel website. In addition to saving money, you will also find that vacation packages save you time. They do this by eliminating the need to make multiple, but separate reservations and travel arrangements.

Now that you know exactly what Maui vacation packages are, you may be wondering about the saving money part. Vacation packages, including Maui vacation packages come in a number of different formats, all for different prices, and they are offered by different companies, including online travel websites and travel agents. Due to the fact that there are an unlimited number of Maui vacation packages, you will find that you save money for different reasons. One of the most common reasons for the savings is because many travel agents and travel websites are given discounts by popular Maui airlines, car rental companies, and hotels, resorts, and vacation home owners. These discounts are offered in hopes of getting clients to use their services. These discounts, in turn, allow a travel agent or online travel website to offer you travel arrangements and accommodations at an affordable, discounted price.

Concerning Maui vacation packages and discounted prices, many wonder why these discounts are, in turn, offered to travelers, just like you. These discounts are being offered by online travel websites and travel agents as an incentive. Online travel websites and travels agents are in the business to make money, just like any other business. Unfortunately, the travel industry can be hard at times. Since you would easily make your own Maui vacation reservations directly, many travel websites and agents offer you discounts in hopes of obtaining you as a client. It may seem a little bit ironic, but you are, essentially, being rewarded for wanting to save money on your next Maui vacation.

Since is it almost always guaranteed that you will save money through the purchase of a vacation package, you may want to purchase one right now. As previously mentioned, Maui vacation packages are sold through travel websites and travel agents. If you do not mind being in constant contact with a travel agent, you could easily obtain the services of a local travel agent. However, if you would like to explore Maui vacation packages, to find exactly what you are looking for, you may want to make your own Maui vacation reservations. You can easily do this through an online travel website. Regardless of where you choose to buy your Maui vacation package from, there is a good chance that you could save yourself a fairly large amount of money.

The first step in saving money on your next Maui vacation is to realize that Maui vacation packages are real and that they do exist. Once you start to believe, you can start to save money on your next Hawaii trip, particularly your trip to Maui.

What to expect when you check in for your international flight

Prior to going to the airport.

Double check that you have everything packed especially your ticket and other travel documents. Call your airline to reconfirm your flight the day before you go. Check the weather at departing and arriving airports to see if there are any problems.

Arrange your transportation to the airport to get you there three hours before departure. Make sure that you have planned something to do to kill time. This could be having a meal or surfing the Internet on your laptop.

At the airport.

Find your airline and head for the check-in counter. If you have a first class ticket or a business class ticket, get in the shorter line.

Make sure that you have your ticket and your passport readily available. You will be required to have these to get your boarding pass.

Depending on the airport, they may screen your checked luggage before you get to check-in. Some airports do this after you get your boarding pass.

If you have not already made your seat selection, this is the time to do it. Check and see if an exit row seat is available especially if you have a long flight. You can also try to arrange for your seat on any additional legs of your flight. You may have to wait until you get to your connecting airport to do this.

If you have a frequent flier card, this is a good time to make sure that you will be credited for the flight. Have the check-in agent verify that your card is recorded.

Before you leave the area, make sure you have all of your belongings and your boarding pass or passes for any ongoing legs. Reconfirm your take-off time and your departure gate number.

Depending on how long it took you to check in, you should have some time to kill. You will still have to get through security which can take a few minutes or up to a Ѕ hour.

You can spend time at the airport shops, do some duty free shopping, or get a bite to eat. Most airports have wireless access so you can surf the net and check email before you go.

If you don’t have anything to read on your long flight, you may want to pick up a magazine or paperback. I also recommend having some sort of snack to bring on the plane just in case the airline meal isn’t up to par.

Checking in for your international flight doesn’t have to be painful if your prepare properly.

Solar power versus generator the choice

As I write this in early 2007, the controversy over global warming has heated up (pun intended), and people are taking another look at solar power versus generator. For those living outside the power grid, the second look may save not only the green in the rain forest, but also the green in the bank.

Many who live "off the grid" in isolated locations have traditionally relied on generators for electrical power. Others have installed generators for back-up, emergency electrical power. Neither thought there was a choice, but now there is a choice: solar power versus generator.

In this article, we look at the choice. Which is more economical; more convenient; more environmentally friendly? Should you make the change?

Solar Power versus Generator - Cost

The cost of solar power versus generator is much less over the long term.

The initial cost of a solar power system will be greater than that of a generator system. This is often the reason people install a generator rather than choose solar power. One must look beyond the initial cost, however, to get the full comparison of solar power versus generator.

* Solar power, once installed, has little maintenance or further expense. There is no fuel to purchase, since the sun's energy fuels the system.

* Generators are not so. After installation, a generator will require regular servicing by a professional every 6 months. Generators require fuel – a cost that is constantly increasing. Moving generator parts must be replaced from time to time due to wear and tear.

Solar Power versus Generator – Convenience

Convenience is another factor to consider when looking at solar power versus generator power. Solar power is much more convenient than generator power.

* Solar power may be less convenient to purchase and install, since it is not as widely available as generators. This is due to the currently small market for solar power. As the market increases, however, this will be less of a problem. Solar power systems have no moving parts to wear out or need lubrication. Once installed, solar power requires little attention. The user can almost forget it.

* Generators are widely available, so convenient to purchase and install. Convenience decreases after installation, though. A generator must be monitored frequently to be sure sufficient fuel is available. It must be refilled often when used as a regular source of power. Fuel must be ordered and delivery taken – or fuel must be hauled by the owner. The system must be serviced twice a year. This servicing will include filter changes, an oil change, a tune up, and complete inspection of the entire unit. Worn parts must be replaced.

Solar Power versus Generator – Efficiency

The solar power versus generator battle includes the matter of efficiency, too. Which is more cost-effective? The facts seem to point to solar power.

* Solar power is received in through the panels, free of cost, and stored in batteries. It is ready for use when needed, but in times of reduced usage, the power remains in storage.

* Generators run constantly, regardless of the amount of power being used at a given time. As they run, they consume costly fuel. When power usage is reduced in bright daylight, generators must continue to run.

Solar Power versus Generator – Dependability

Some argue that, in comparing solar power versus generator, we must compare the dependability factor. In this area, they claim, generators win.

* Solar power is very dependable in locations that have bright sunlight 300+ days of the year. In areas with less sunlight, or during periods of cloudiness and storm, solar power is less dependable. The system will continue to provide power from charged batteries, but will eventually go dead. Having said that, it must be noted that Germany, which has far fewer sunny days than most of North America, is said to have much higher usage of solar power. The problem of dependability seems not that big.

* Generator systems do not depend on sunlight. They do, however, depend on fuel. If storms or some other disaster hinders one from replenishing the fuel supply, generators also become useless.

Solar Power versus Generator – Eco-friendliness

Finally, eco-friendliness must be considered in any discussion of solar power versus generator. That is, which is kinder to the environment: solar power or generator? The obvious answer again is solar power.

* Solar power has no emissions when working. There is no pollution involved in fuel production – no greenhouse gases. It is totally clean. Solar power uses a renewable energy source.

* A big drawback to generator use is still the matter of emissions and the environment. Generators are usually run on diesel fuel, and diesel fuel is produced from a fossil fuel. There are emissions in the production of the fuel, and also in its use. Diesel generators are a major source of air pollution and high sulfur levels in North America. Exposure to diesel generator exhaust can lead to health hazards.

Solar Power versus Generator – the Solution

For most people, the resolution of the solar power versus generator debate is to install a hybrid system. Using solar power as the main energy source will save money. The fuel is free. Solar power is convenient, efficient, and eco-friendly. What it lacks in dependability can be made up by having a small back-up generator for prolonged cloudy periods.

My Choice

When I compare solar power versus generator, I definitely have to choose solar power. It is clean, free, quiet, and peaceful.

Selection in musical instruments shopping

There is a wide selection of musical instruments shopping enthusiasts find when they start researching all of the instruments their child is interested in. One selection in musical instruments shopping might be for a tuba, and other selections could include violins, drums, flutes, and clarinets.

It will depend on what the band master says as to what selection in musical instruments shopping they will need to do. He might say that your child is better suited to clarinets and flutes, and might provide you with many stores in the local area where you can make a selection in musical instruments shopping that the whole family will be happy with.

After you identify the one instrument that your child will play in their band class, then he will also be able to tell you what music needs to be purchased for your child to attend their first year of band. The final selection in musical instruments shopping might take some time, because there are so many instruments to choose from.

If the child is interested in playing the saxophone, then they will have to decide whether it will be a tenor saxophone, or a bass alto saxophone. If the clarinet peaks your child’s interest, then the size of the instrument will not matter. For beginners, there is only one size that the school prefers and parents will not have to make any other selection in musical instruments shopping.

The selection in musical instruments shopping can be better identified through the use of Internet search engines. Parents simply have to enter the type of musical instruments that their child is interested in, and browse through the many selections to fine tune their choices down to one or two.

All of the selections in musical instruments shopping parents know will be good quality, because any damaged instrument will not play correctly. Some instruments require other accessories in order to play. The clarinet requires cleaning cloths, and cork wax to be applied regularly during ownership. The clarinet will also require a various assortment of reeds to be purchased and inserted before the clarinet will function properly.

Parents take all of the considerations very seriously when making a selection in musical instruments shopping sites might not even talk about. If the site does not care enough to have a question and answers page, then they clearly do not want you to know all about the musical instrument you are interested in purchasing from them.

There are all kinds of scenario’s to be considered in your selection in musical instruments shopping efforts. Know which instruments are most widely used in the yearly band programs, because choosing one of those will give you a better chance to trade them in at the end of the year.

In the next year’s band class, your child may choose an entirely different band instrument. Parents discourage this because their children will be a year behind, and they will have to start again in their selection in musical instruments that they only find through lengthy shopping endeavors.

H-f-l team how to write up a yearly business plan

It's important to have a business plan for your business each year so that you can see what your needs are for the coming year and to show yourself and the bank how far you have progressed since your original business plan was written. A new business writes a business plan in order to show their intentions to operate and to provide information to financial institutions in support of start up capital and funding for other operations. In most cases, the banks want to see three to five year projections showing your intention for the funding. Depending on the scope of the business, they may only finance the first year, and will want additional proof that the business is progressing along the terms of the original business plan before they will advance any more funds.

Since you are not able to really show much in the way of financial records, having a business plan also shows potential creditors what you anticipate for the future of your business. They can then compare this to your original plan to verify if you are moving along as planned. They do not want to be stuck with an uncollectible loan by advancing funds to a business that has no potential of becoming successful. Even if you are a little behind your original projections, they are able to see if the potential is there for improvement, and may even make suggestions for helping you reach your original goals. On the other hand, if your progress is way behind original projections, that can be a sign that your business is failing, so it's likely that you will not receive any more funding until you can prove the business is on its way to profitability.

It's normal for any business to take three to five years to turn a profit, but if you aren't showing improvement, that is an area for concern. As you enter into your second year, you should be showing less of a loss and more of a profit even if you don't yet show a net gain in income. Even if you aren't looking for additional funding, you should look at this as a warning sign and start making some changes so that you can your business what you originally intended. It may mean your prices are too low, or your expenses are excessive for the amount of business you have and need to be cut. For instance, if you are selling products from a website, investigate what others are charging for the same type of items to see if you are in line with the industry standard in pricing. If you sell services, find out what others are charging for the same service and maybe your prices are too high, and thus people are going elsewhere for the same service. In reality, these should have been checked first, but some people in their haste to begin a business forget the most important step of price comparison.

Search engine optimization seo the myth

Search Engine Optimization. Big words. Sounds Important. What is it? If you do a search in google for the web definition of search engine optimization, you get a lot of different results.

Some simply say that search engine optimization is the generic term for making sure your site is optimized to appear as one of the top ranking web sites on a search.

Others get more detailed with their definition and say search engine optimization is the term used to describe the marketing technique of preparing a web site to enhance its chances of being ranked in the top results of a search engine once a relevant search is undertaken.

A number of factors are important when optimizing a web site, including the content and structure of the web site's copy and page layout, the HTML meta-tags and the submission process.

Is it important? That also depends on which definition you believe and who you ask that question to. If you ask someone who runs a business and charges for search engine optimization, they will tell you it is the most important thing you will ever do for your website.

At each SEO website, they will tell you they are the number 1 SEO company on the web, even though each of them has a completely different method of optimizing your website.

If you ask many self-appointed webmaster gurus in some of the webmaster forums, they will tell you the same thing, then each one will tell you a different way to do it and they will all disagree on the most important aspects of search engine optimization.

So the confusion continues for the average user and the SEO companies love it that way. If the consumer doesn’t understand what you are doing, you don’t really have to do very much and just say you are doing a lot. Most of them would never work on your website on a contingency payment plan, one based on actual results and performance. Some say money back guaranteed, but read the fine print.

A lot of these businesses are based on the fact that people who are new to the web and even some of those who have been online for awhile do not know what search engine optimization is. They know that with more and more people coming onto the web for the first time, their business is secure. They can continue to tell people that without their service the website will fail.

I’m not saying all search engine optimization companies are rip-offs. Some of them really do their best to get good rankings for their clients and know what they are doing. A lot of them still really believe that search engine optimization is the key to success on the web.

It isn’t. How’s that for a statement? I know a lot of web designers will disagree. I know a lot of SEO companies will disagree. But simply put, search engine optimization of your WebPages is not the most important thing you need to do to succeed on the web.

Let’s break down some of the things that are included in the phrase search engine optimization.

Metatags are one of the things these gurus tell you is important. Metatags are all but dead. Search engines, especially google, ignore metatags for the most part.

Having them in does not hurt you, but go do a search on any topic besides web design or search engine optimization, etc. and you’ll find that IF the websites at the top of the search results have metatags at all, they usually only have the description and keywords metatags.

Well they also have the title tag, which is sometimes referred to as a metatag, but it is actually the only metatag you need to have.

Keyword Optimization is something the gurus will tell you is very important. Some will tell you they know the exact percentage of text that should be your keywords. Yes, keywords are very important. Do they know what percentage the search engines will want to read for the best results? No.

When writing copy for your website, you must be conscious of the keywords you wish to promote. Don’t pick too many keywords and try to optimize each page of your website for twenty different things. If you do, it will not be relevant for any of them. That isn’t guru talk, that’s just plain old fashioned common sense.

Remember that search engines crawl web pages, not web sites. If you choose just one or two keywords per webpage that you wish that page to be optimized for, then you can optimize the page easily and write text the user will want to actually read.

Write your sales text the way you would with only the user in mind and with making sales in mind. Then go back and reread the page.

Find places where you can add in your keyword without destroying the flow you created when you wrote the text in the first place.

Now, do you need to hire an SEO company to do that? Do you know your product? Do you know how to sell your product? Then you need to write the text. If you do not wish to write the text, then hire a writer. You still don’t need a search engine optimization guru.

Some search engine optimization experts will tell you they can increase your link popularity. They use a variety of methods. They create websites where they put all of their clients website links so you will have links to your website. The search engines call these link farms and discount any value they may have had in the past.

Those methods, along with many others, are simply tricks that temporarily work. Alot of search engine optimization companies all keep up with the latest tricks and shortcuts. They may even get you some good results in the short-term. But what happens when the search engines catch onto the trick?

I’m glad you asked. They stop letting that trick or shortcut work. They may even penalize the websites that used it. They penalize you, the customer, not the search engine optimization guru who used the trick and charged you for it.

Whenever one of these companies tells you it has “inside information”, “ex-search engine company employees”, “guaranteed search engine placement”, guaranteed top 10 placement”, or “secret methods”, a red flag should go up in your mind right away.

If you start a business offline, like a restaurant or a store, you know that besides the money you will have to put up, you will also have to work to make it a success. It is no different when you start a business online. You have to work at it, if you want to be successful.

If search engine optimization is not the most important thing you can do to become successful, what is? Again, I’m glad you asked.

Promotion. Do not depend solely on being found by the search engines. Search engines are fickle creatures and what is today’s #1 can be tomorrow’s #100 just because they decided to change the way they give relevance to websites. Continually chasing this dream is a total waste of time.

There are other sources of traffic out there. Would you rather have 1000 hits from a search engine for one of your minor keywords or have 100 hits from someone who read an article you wrote and came to your website because they liked what you had

to say?

If you chose the thousand hits, you don’t get it yet. Out of that 1000 hits you might convert 2 of them into sales. Out of the 100, you may get as many as 20-25 people who want to buy from you. Conversion rate is more important than how many hits you get to your website.

Write articles about your website, about your products, about relevant topics to your products or services you wish to sell. Distribute or submit those articles to article submission websites that provide free content to webmasters.

You may write one article like the one I am writing now and have 100 webmasters want to use it as content for their website. That would mean there is suddenly 100 other websites on topics related to your product that now contain a link to your website. (see the footer below contains links to my website and is to be included when this article is reprinted.)

That increases your link popularity without the need for a company to optimize you. Just by submitting your article to several article submission websites, you increase your link popularity, but when those webmasters start to republish your articles, you will see a huge increase in your page rank and the quality of your traffic.

Some people write one article per month and others write one or more per day. It depends on you. How fast do you want your website to grow?

How much time do you have to invest? If you are not good at writing articles or do not have the time, hire a writer to ghost-write them for you with your byline and your links in

the footer.

So that we are clear. Search engine optimization is necessary, but by no means the most important thing you can do for your website to make it successful. I would not pay a lot of money for this service. Promoting your website IS the most important thing you can do. Articles are just one of the methods you can use to promote your website.

Advertising, buying links on relevant websites, posting in forums and blogs with related topics, putting your link in your signature line, are some of the other ways you can promote your website.

My Checklist:

1. Be conscious of the keywords you wish to target with each webpage you build. Write your text for the reader, then go back and add your keywords without destroying the flow of your text.

2. Make sure the website is easy to navigate and user-friendly. Don’t assume the customer knows the web site as well as you do. Make it simple. Make it easy to find the buy button!

3. Once the website is built, quit worrying about the newest search engine trick or optimization technique as some like to call it.

4. Search for blogs and forums with related topics and sign up for them and participate in discussions with your link in your signature line.

5. Write articles about related topics and submit them everywhere or buy a service like isnare. com that will do the submissions for you. If you cannot write the articles, hire someone to do it for you.

6. Don’t do link trades with websites that have less traffic than you do. Buy links on websites that have more traffic than you and are on a topic related to your products or services.

This article in no way claims to have listed all the ways you can use to promote your website. What I have done here is tried to explain to you what is or is not important to creating and maintaining a successful website. I hope this helps you.