Misdiagnosing narcissism - asperger s disorder

(The use of gender pronouns in this article reflects the clinical facts: most narcissists and most Asperger's patients are male.)

Asperger's Disorder is often misdiagnosed as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), though evident as early as age 3 (while pathological narcissism cannot be safely diagnosed prior to early adolescence).

In both cases, the patient is self-centered and engrossed in a narrow range of interests and activities. Social and occupational interactions are severely hampered and conversational skills (the give and take of verbal intercourse) are primitive. The Asperger's patient body language - eye to eye gaze, body posture, facial expressions - is constricted and artificial, akin to the narcissist's. Nonverbal cues are virtually absent and their interpretation in others lacking.

Yet, the gulf between Asperger's and pathological narcissism is vast.

The narcissist switches between social agility and social impairment voluntarily. His social dysfunctioning is the outcome of conscious haughtiness and the reluctance to invest scarce mental energy in cultivating relationships with inferior and unworthy others. When confronted with potential Sources of Narcissistic Supply, however, the narcissist easily regains his social skills, his charm, and his gregariousness.

Many narcissists reach the highest rungs of their community, church, firm, or voluntary organization. Most of the time, they function flawlessly - though the inevitable blowups and the grating extortion of Narcissistic Supply usually put an end to the narcissist's career and social liaisons.

The Asperger's patient often wants to be accepted socially, to have friends, to marry, to be sexually active, and to sire offspring. He just doesn't have a clue how to go about it. His affect is limited. His initiative - for instance, to share his experiences with nearest and dearest or to engage in foreplay - is thwarted. His ability to divulge his emotions stilted. He is incapable or reciprocating and is largely unaware of the wishes, needs, and feelings of his interlocutors or counterparties.

Inevitably, Asperger's patients are perceived by others to be cold, eccentric, insensitive, indifferent, repulsive, exploitative or emotionally-absent. To avoid the pain of rejection, they confine themselves to solitary activities - but, unlike the schizoid, not by choice. They limit their world to a single topic, hobby, or person and dive in with the greatest, all-consuming intensity, excluding all other matters and everyone else. It is a form of hurt-control and pain regulation.

Thus, while the narcissist avoids pain by excluding, devaluing, and discarding others - the Asperger's patient achieves the same result by withdrawing and by passionately incorporating in his universe only one or two people and one or two subjects of interest. Both narcissists and Asperger's patients are prone to react with depression to perceived slights and injuries - but Asperger's patients are far more at risk of self-harm and suicide.

The use of language is another differentiating factor.

The narcissist is a skilled communicator. He uses language as an instrument to obtain Narcissistic Supply or as a weapon to obliterate his "enemies" and discarded sources with. Cerebral narcissists derive Narcissistic Supply from the consummate use they make of their innate verbosity.

Not so the Asperger's patient. He is equally verbose at times (and taciturn on other occasions) but his topics are few and, thus, tediously repetitive. He is unlikely to obey conversational rules and etiquette (for instance, to let others speak in turn). Nor is the Asperger's patient able to decipher nonverbal cues and gestures or to monitor his own misbehavior on such occasions. Narcissists are similarly inconsiderate - but only towards those who cannot possibly serve as Sources of Narcissistic Supply.

More about Autism Spectrum Disorders here:

McDowell, Maxson J. (2002) The Image of the Mother's Eye: Autism and Early Narcissistic Injury , Behavioral and Brain Sciences (Submitted)

Benis, Anthony - "Toward Self & Sanity: On the Genetic Origins of the Human Character" - Narcissistic-Perfectionist Personality Type (NP) with special reference to infantile autism

Stringer, Kathi (2003) An Object Relations Approach to Understanding Unusual Behaviors and Disturbances

James Robert Brasic, MD, MPH (2003) Pervasive Developmental Disorder: Asperger Syndrome

Getting some anxiety and stress relief

Everyone is seeking some form of anxiety and stress relief. Hopefully you haven't resorted to self-medication with alcohol. Rather than applying a balm to the sore of stress, why not find a way to stop the stress from getting out of hand in the first place. I'll take preventative medicine over reactive medicine any day.

One effective approach to getting anxiety and stress relief is to address the thinking in your mind that is causing the stress. The whole field of cognitive psychology is devoted to this approach. So, one type of faulty thinking that can lead to stress, anxiety and depression is all-or-nothing thinking.

What is all-or-nothing thinking? It goes like this: Someone who suffers from this mistaken form of thought always looks at things in black and white, good or bad, right or wrong, etc. If you partake in this kind of analysis of your life then you are setting yourself up for a lot of grief. Now, correcting this thinking may not happen overnight. But if you become mindful of your all-or-nothing thinking then you can correct it little by little and get the anxiety and stress relief you are seeking.

Here is an example of this all-or-nothing thinking. Let's say that your stress is the result of you not being able to finish all the tasks on your to-do list. I am often guilty of this. I tend to make myself way too busy because there is so much that I want to do. I know I've pushed myself too far when I start to get that knot in my throat and my anxiety level increases. This happened just recently. In order to get the anxiety and stress relief I needed, I had to modify my thinking.

Instead of either succeeding or failing at my to-do list for any given day, I had to be ok with not completing everything on the list. But, that didn't work so well. I didn't like seeing things left undone. That was the all-or-nothing thinking again. So, then I just made the to-do list smaller and that worked almost immediately. In fact, that night when I decided that I couldn't do everything I wanted to do and had to settle for less, I could feel the knot in my throat shrivel up and disappear into calm. This is a good example of great anxiety and stress relief by challenging faulty thinking. This is just one example of anxiety and stress relief by challenging all-or-nothing thinking. Another example could involve you demanding that you get an A on a test. Getting a B isn't good enough. Again, you are setting yourself up for a lot of grief if you think this way. Bring some flexibility into your life and get the stress and anxiety relief you need.

Vasectomy reversal success stories

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vasectomy reversals success stories are nothing short of miraculous considering the time lapse between the vasectomy and the reversal. The lesser this gap the greater is the chances of success.

Generally speaking, the number of vasectomy reversal success stories has been steadily growing thanks to new advances in microsurgery and the increasing skill of micro surgeons. The shift has been towards more competent clinics and centers for vasectomy reversal with excellent track records.

People have been traveling across the world to meet that perfect micro surgeon who could give them that perfect shot at fatherhood again. The irony remains that people end up paying far more than expected for a mediocre and ill-performed vasectomy reversal The quality of the surgeon and his facilities are essential regardless of location. A truly experienced and fellowship trained surgeon is worth traveling for and waiting for. And when all is said and done, a successful outcome is priceless.

Needless to say, most of the vasectomy reversal success stories have behind them the skill of an excellent micro surgeon, the support of excellent attendant staff, state-of-the-art facilities and tools and last but not the least, the discerning judgment of the patient himself.

And there have been encouraging instances where the individual has conceived in just 4 weeks after a reversal and in some cases even with a gap of 35 years between a vasectomy and a reversal!

Vasectomy Reversal success rate also depends on how far one is from the date of the earlier vasectomy. The farther out one is the less the chances for a successful reversal. But then again, there have been cases of successful vasectomy reversal almost 35 years out from vasectomy.

Then there have been folks who have managed to conceive in just a few weeks after vasectomy reversal surgery! Exceptions do not however make the rule and statistics are always on the conservative side. Fact remains that the vasectomy reversal success rate increases as the time gap between vasectomy and reversal decreases and also if a microsurgeon performs the reversal.

A man who has authored many a success story

Dr. Aaron Spitz, M. D., with a Fellowship in Male Fertility, is highly trained and deeply experienced in male reproductive medicine and surgery.

His approach to problem solving is sensitive and friendly. His charges for performing vasectomy reversals are competitive at the advanced level of service that he provides. He is highly skilled at performing microsurgical vasectomy reversals. He routinely performs both vasovasostomy and epididymov-vasostomy, and he has a commendable track record at salvaging previously unsuccessful vasectomy reversals. He also performs minimally invasive sperm retrieval for those couples choosing in-vitro fertility.

Dr. Spitz is also a board certified urologist, fellowship trained in male fertility. He provides the comprehensive evaluation and care that men in infertile couples deserve and require.

This Article is Originally Published here:
Vasectomy Reversal Success Stories - vasectomyreversalusa. com/vasectomy-reversal-guide/vasectomy-reversal-success-stories. html

The history of texas holdem poker

Texas Holdem is a variety of Poker, a card game which originated in the 19th century. The origins of Poker are still disputed to this day, with a number of conflicting accounts about where it came from, and who first played it; similar games exist back to the Renaissance period. The word ‘Poker’ actually comes from the German word ‘pochen’, which means “to knock”.

However, most accounts generally agree that it was French settlers who first played Poker in New Orleans around 1830. It may have been introduced to them by Persian traders, as it bears strong similarities with the 16th century Persian card game As Nas. The popularity of Poker meant that it quickly spread throughout the USA, along the transport routes of rivers and railroads. It became especially popular when played amongst cowboys in the Old West.

Texas Holdem, or Hold’em as it is also known, is today one of the most popular versions of Poker in the world. Although nobody is really sure where this version was first played, it seems clear that Texas was the state of origin! Some reports say that the first ever game was played in Robstown in the 1900s and it spread to Dallas in 1925. Texas Holdem has enjoyed widespread recognition ever since.

The popularity of Texas Holdem was widely increased in 1970. In this year, the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino was opened in Las Vegas by Benny Binion. Binion decided to take over a small invitational Poker tournament from Riverside Casino’s Tom Morehead. What as the name of the tournament? The World Series of Poker and the game of choice was Texas Holdem.

Binion focused on the gambling element of the game by devising the idea of rapidly increasing antes and blinds, so that a winner could be produced within a relatively short space of time. In 1972, 8 players took part in the World Series of Poker tournament; thirty years later, the 8 had increased to 800! This annual tournament is now recognised as the most important in the world. In the last five years, the increasing popularity of televised tournaments means that Texas Holdem has become a part of mainstream television.

Additionally, through modern innovations in technology, Texas Holdem Poker has branched off in new directions. Games can now be played directly through the internet, or even on a cell phone! The game’s simplicity and huge entertainment value have contributed to its popularity, which shows no sign of decrease. Texas Holdem is clearly the most famous Poker game in the world.

Why you should travel to hong kong for the new year s parade

The New Year's parade in Hong Kong is an event not to be missed! The city is dressed up with bright decorations and colorful lights for its biggest celebration of the year, and thousands pour into Hong Kong to take part in the festivities.

Winding along Hong Kong's picturesque waterfront, the New Year's parade is filled with colorful, lavishly decorated floats. Representatives from Hong Kong and countries all over the world sing, dance and play music. The songs of marching bands fill the air along the parade's route as performers in bright costumes prance along the streets.

The forthcoming year (2006) is the Year of the Dog. No matter which zodiac animal is being celebrated for the coming year, there are always plenty of lions and dragons in the parade. Energetic dancers wearing giant lion heads leap in the air as long dragons held aloft by more than twenty people snake past the enthralled parade watchers.

The New Year's parade is the biggest event of Hong Kong's Lunar New Year celebration. Close to 300,000 people attend the parade and millions more watch it on television. In recent years the parade has taken place in the evening, featuring vivid, dazzling light displays.

The Lunar New Year is one of Hong Kong's most important and well-loved holidays. Each year one of twelve different animals is celebrated, according to the Chinese zodiac. Many of the city's towering skyscrapers are decked out in glittering lights for the holiday. Throughout the three-day celebration, dancers in colorful costumes perform lion and dragon dances in the streets, malls and hotel lobbies. Traditionally, people exchange small, red envelopes filled with money as gifts. Flower markets show up all over the city during the holiday, selling plants and flowers with special significance, and stores and restaurants display flowers meant to bring immortality and good luck.

The New Year celebration usually begins anywhere from January 21 to February 19, depending on the year. While the holiday officially lasts fifteen days, in Hong Kong it is celebrated for three days, with the New Year's parade taking place on the first day. January 29, 2006 is the first day of the forthcoming new year.

The day after the New Year's parade a brilliant display of fireworks lights up

Hong Kong's famous Victoria Harbour. The fireworks can be viewed from the waterfront or from boats cruising the harbour. On the third day of the celebration a large horse race takes place at the Sha Tin racetrack. This lively race is a favorite for gamblers and horseracing enthusiasts.

It's no wonder why so many travel to discover all that Hong Kong has to offer, with the vibrant fusion of ancient customs and modern day fun at one of the world's biggest Chinese New Year celebrations.

Options for good credit cards

Those of you who are looking to get the best options with your credit card, should first look into the terms associated with that card. There are a lot of different features that you can get with credit cards these days, including low APR, rewards, no annual fees, and several other perks designed to keep you using your credit card.

There are several credit cards that you can choose from as well, giving you a slew of different options. There are credit cards with instant approval, credit cards with low interest rates, cash back credit cards, reward credit cards, and even prepaid credit cards. If you have good credit, you won’t have a problem getting any type of credit card you desire.

Most people think of the best options with credit cards being the rewards. Reward credit cards are great to have, as they give you extra incentives for the money you spend. Whether it’s cash back or points to redeem towards hundreds of items, cash back cards make it worth your time and interest to use your credit card. These cards are becoming very popular, as they offer you features that other types of credit cards generally don’t offer.

Another great option for credit cards is low APR rates. Your APR, or annual percentage rate, is the amount of money that you pay at the end of the year for your credit card. If you can get a credit card with low APR and low fees, you should hang on to that card. Credit card companies and banks are always competing for your business, and you can normally find credit cards these days with some truly impressive features. Guaranteed US Government Grant for USA Citizens at trustedreviews. info/money/usm/index. html

To get the best possible options for your credit card, you should always shop around and compare what each company or bank has to offer. Most options found on credit cards will vary from company to company and bank to bank. If you have access to the Internet, you should use it to find yourself the best possible credit card. There are literally hundreds of credit card offers found on the Internet, many of which offer you some truly great options with their credit cards. Get up to $25,000 to upgrade your skills as an Employee. US Government Grants for USA Citizens. Claim your FREE $79 Gov Grant book!

Before deciding on your credit card, you need to determine which options are the best for you. This way, you’ll know exactly what to look for. The better credit cards will include several different options, such as low APR, low fees, and certain rewards as well. These types of credit cards are easily the best investment, as they give you a lot of bang for your buck. If you play your cards right and look for the right credit card - you’ll get the options you desire with a credit card that you’ll be proud to use.

Men say no more violence against women

The statistics are startling. According to a Commonwealth Fund survey, nearly one-third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.

While the mere thought of this is overwhelming, there is good news. By educating yourself and those around you about violence against women, you can make a difference to those currently experiencing it and to the generations to come. This is a community problem and it takes all of us to solve the problem and create change in our communities.

"Many people are reluctant to talk about abuse because they consider it a 'private problem' or a 'women's issue,'" said Sheryl Cates, executive director of the Texas Council on Family Violence, operators of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. "But learning that domestic violence is a pattern of power and control that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners can start to break down some of the common misconceptions about this issue and help bring it out from behind closed doors."

Recently, men have taken up the mantle and come out loud and clear with their message: no more violence against women.

One way men are getting involved is by talking to the young boys in their lives about building healthy relationships.

Despite conventional wisdom, young people want guidance from adults. Research indicates that almost half of boys and girls say that they want to know more about relationship abuse - what it means and how to stop it. In the same survey, 31 percent of teens age 13 to 17 reported they or a friend experienced dating violence.

Adult men play an important and unique role in molding the thoughts and attitudes in a young man's life. Talking to boys early and often is a crucial step in stopping the cycle of violence. By doing so, they can counteract the countless messages boys see and hear equating violence with "being strong," "acting tough" and "being a man."

To that end, Liz Claiborne Inc. has collaborated with experts in the area of family violence and compiled a handbook to help men start what can be difficult conversations with the boys in their lives on this important topic.

The handbook, titled "Tough Talk: What Boys Need to Know About Relationship Abuse," is the latest in a series of booklets created by the company to help men, women, parents and teens address the issue.

Let a specialist find you the cheapest secured homeowner loan

A secured loan is one of the easiest types of loans to get as it requires putting up your home as security against defaulting on the loan repayments. When it comes to finding the best deal on a secured loan then a specialist website will be able to save you money and of course valuable time when it comes down to getting the cheapest secured homeowner loan.

A secured homeowner loan is available for almost any purpose and usually you able to borrow larger sums of money than you would by taking out a personal loan. The value of your home will be taken into account when it comes down to how much you can borrow and you have to repay this amount plus of course the interest it occurs every month in a predefined amount of money. A secured homeowner loan can be taken out over several years usually up to around 25 years.

If you are taking out a large loan over an extended period of time then you will have to take into account the amount of interest that the loan will incur over this time. The APR, which is the annual percentage rate, will vary from lender to lender and if you want to ensure that you have the cheapest secured homeowner loan then getting several quotes is essential. However a specialist will be able to narrow down the cheapest lenders for you on your behalf to ensure that you not only get the cheapest percentage rate, but also good terms and conditions throughout the loan.

Finding the cheapest secured homeowner loan could be the answer to your problems of being denied credit especially if you have a bad credit rating or are self-employed or just starting out in a new job. You should take care though when considering taking out a secured loan because your home is at risk as it is acting as security against defaulting on the loans terms.

H-f-l-team work at home assembly more a money drain

Before you send for information on an opportunity to build things at home that come with a guaranteed customer base, ask yourself why this offer is being made online and not given to people in the same neighborhood as the business. Understand there be a charge to send the pieces and parts to you as well as a charge to send the finished products back to the company hiring you to assemble the products. Why they don’t simply hire people in the neighborhood is because that is not where the money is.

The pitch is usually about assembling products at home, that anyone can do. They will promise to send all the parts along with a list of companies that will be willing to buy the products you build. If you pay for the parts, assemble the products and sell directly to the buyer, you can keep the profits. Sounds too good to be true, because it is. Once you pay for the parts and they arrive at your house, you will likely find that one or more specialty tools may be needed to put the items together. Tools that aren’t usually found in everyone’s toolbox. Surprise surprise!

However, you’re in luck because this same company also sells the tools, typically at a ridiculous price, along with shipping but it just seems like a minor inconvenience and a cost of doing business to get into the assembly business. After all, you’ve told that if companies like your work, there would be plenty more business just waiting for you.

You build the first few items, to the exact specifications in the plans and start to send letters to these waiting buyers who may request a sample of the product you put together. After you send it in, postage at your expense of course, you will probably receive a letter with one of two usual rejections. Either it does not meet their specifications for one reason or another, or they have seen a huge increase in supply or a sudden downturn in demand. Remember, you probably were only one of several thousand who answered the ad.

There is a good chance that most of the companies on the list will have the same answer to your inquiries or maybe one or two will offer to take the inventory off your hands for a fraction of the cost that you have in them. Your choices seem limited by selling them at a loss and consider it a valuable lesson, or you try to sell them on your own. You can congratulate yourself for paying top dollar for low-quality materials and tools so you can build something no one wants. The alternative is to never fall into this trap.

There are companies offering legitimate assembly work and before you buy any parts and new tools, verify the potential buyers are legitimate and talk with them directly concerning their specifications. If the company will not give you names and numbers of these resellers, don’t give them any money.

Unfortunately many people try for a shortcut to obtaining their Hundred-Fold-Life often at the expense of others. All of their short-term gains will be lost as the "Universe" catches up and deals with them.

The different types of online affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing programs has never been as popular before as it is today. Why? There can be a number of reasons. The most probable reason, however, could be the fact that the benefits of affiliate marketing have become clearer to a lot of people now than they were before.

Today, both the merchants and the affiliates can see clearly that affiliate marketing can work for both of them. The merchant sees affiliate marketing today as the chance to advertise their products at a lower cost. The affiliates, on the other hand, sees affiliate marketing as an easy way of earning profits online by doing what they like most, and that is by creating websites.

Just as the popularity of affiliate marketing has shifted into greater heights, so has the people's outlook about it changed. No longer is affiliate marketing considered today as an alternative method for the merchant to advertise his products, or as a source of additional income for the affiliates. For merchants and affiliates alike, affiliate marketing is now considered as a main source of profits and revenues.

So the question now is what type of affiliate marketing will work best for you? Are all affiliate marketing programs the same? Are the benefits the same? Or are there affiliate marketing programs that work better than the others?

There are actually different types or classes of affiliate marketing, and the number of types will depend on how one will classify them. The most basic affiliate marketing programs, however, falls under two categories: pay-per-click (PPC), and pay-per-performance (PPP).

• Pay Per Click (PPC)

PPC is the most popular type of affiliate marketing for affiliates with small websites, and probably the easiest way for them to earn money. In this affiliate marketing type, the merchant pays his affiliate whenever a visitor is referred to his site, that is whenever someone clicks through the merchant's banner or text ads. The affiliate gets paid a certain amount even if the visitor he referred does not purchase anything from the merchant's site. However, typical fees for PPC affiliate programs are small, usually not exceeding a dollar for every click.

• Pay Per Performance (PPP)

PPP affiliate marketing is the most popular among merchant and is also the most lucrative type for the affiliates. In this type of affiliate program, the merchant only pays the affiliate whenever his referral translates into an action—that is whenever the visitor he has referred actually buys something from the merchant's site or when the visitor becomes a lead. This means a lot of savings for the merchant. On the other hand, it becomes the most lucrative type for the dedicated affiliate, for commissions in PPP affiliate marketing usually comes in the range of 15% to 20% of the actual product sales.

Pay-per-performance affiliate marketing can be further classified into two popular types: pay-per-sales (PPS) and pay-per-lead (PPL).

o Pay Per Sale (PPS)

In a pay-per-sale type of affiliate marketing, the merchants pay the affiliate a certain fee whenever the visitor he has referred to the merchant's site actually buys something from the merchant's site. Affiliates are often paid on commission basis, although other merchants would opt to pay a fixed fee. But no matter what the basis of the fee is, it is generally higher than the fee paid to affiliates in a pay-per-click affiliate program.

o Pay Per Lead (PPL)

The pay-per-lead type of affiliate marketing is a slight variation of the PPS type and is often used by insurance and finance companies and other companies who rely on leads for their company to grow. In this type of affiliate marketing, the affiliate is paid whenever the visitor he referred to the merchant's site fills up an application form or any similar form related to the business of the company. Compensation for this type of affiliate marketing is based on a fixed fee whose rates approximate that of the fixed fee in the PPS type.

Aside from these three specific types of affiliate marketing, a lot of other affiliate marketing types exist. If the classification is based on the depth of the affiliate network, it can be classified as single-tier, two-tier, and multi-tier affiliate marketing. There is also another type of affiliate marketing that pays the affiliate each time the customer he has referred purchases something from the merchant's site.

• Single-Tier, Two-Tier, and Multi-Tier Affiliate Marketing

These types of affiliate marketing are based on the different levels or tiers in the affiliate network by which payments are made. In a single-tier affiliate marketing program, the affiliates are only paid based on the direct sales or traffic he has referred to the merchant. All the previously mentioned affiliate marketing types (i. e. PPS< PPL, and PPC) fall under the single-tier classification.

• In two-tier affiliate marketing programs, the affiliate is not only paid for the direct traffic or sales that he refers to the merchant's site, but also on every traffic or sales referred by various other affiliates who joined the affiliate program through his recommendation. Multi-tier affiliate marketing works the same way, although the affiliate gets additional commission for a wider number of affiliates in different tiers in the affiliate network.

• Residual Income Affiliate Marketing

In residual income affiliate marketing, the affiliate gets paid not only once for every customer he has referred to the merchant's site. Rather, the affiliate is also paid whenever the customer he has referred returns to the site and purchase another product. Compensation for such type of affiliate marketing is based on either sales percentage commission or fixed fee basis.

The different affiliate marketing types would virtually work differently for merchants and affiliates alike, and each would generally have their own list of benefits. Which type of affiliate marketing will work best for you? It is not really for me to tell. Rather, it is for you to choose which type of affiliate marketing program will suit your needs and characteristics best.

This citizen eco drive mickey watch is not mousy

Citizen eco drive Mickey Mouse watches are keepsake wristwatches that are as popular as men's and ladies' watches as they are for children. Both Citizen with its eco drive and Mickey Mouse watches have a long history and sterling reputations.

The Citizen Watch Company began in Tokyo in 1918 as the Shokosha Watch Research Institute. Its name was changed to Citizen Watch Company in 1930. Mickey Mouse watches became part of its standard repertoire some time in the 1960's and the eco-drive that Citizens made famous was introduced in April of 1966. Citizen eco-drive wrist watches require no battery and are simply powered by light, and thus ecologically friendly.

Though discontinued, Citizen eco drive Mickey Mouse watches, whether men's or ladies, are keepsakes and collector's items and as such are available online.

At one wristwatch collectors auction site you can, for example, buy a men's Citizen Mickey Mouse watch with brown leather strap for under $80. This men's watch has a stainless steel watch case with gold tone, a polished finish, a white watch dial with Mickey Mouse design, hands and hour markers that are gold toned, the date displayed at three o'clock, a Tang wrist watch clasp, Japanese quartz movement, and of course, the advantageous Citizen eco-drive that keeps your watch running without any battery. This watch is water resistant.

For the ladies this same site offers a gold tone watch for about $100. Its bracelet and case are both gold tones, its finish nicely polished and the watch has Japanese quartz movement. This Citizens eco-drive Mickey Mouse wristwatch has a dial of mother of pearl that features an attractive Mickey Mouse design. The deployment clasp is hidden and the watch is water resistant.

Custom chopper kits

Choosing the parts that your custom chopper will be made of can be very confusing, considering the large numbers of custom chopper bike kits available on the market today. Chopper innovators like Biker’s Choice, Phantom Cycle, Paul Yaffe and many more sell chopper-in-a-box kits available for chopper enthusiasts. Thanks to these kits, custom choppers have become quite affordable and are no longer necessarily toys for millionaires or master mechanics.

Custom chopper kits provide the future chopper owner with all the instructions and just about every component necessary to create a perfect chopper of ones dreams. Jesse James, famous for his Discovery series “Monster Garage”, offers a Big Book catalogue loaded with individual parts and accessories needed to create a fully custom bike with truly unusual frame configurations and groundbreaking metal sheet parts as seen on his TV show. However, the most exquisite details, such as an unusual tortoiseshell finish of the gas tank, can be obtained in your custom chopper only if you have your chopper built from scratch by Jesse himself.

Before you start building your custom chopper you need to ask yourself what kind of chopper are you interested in building. Then you have to set up a budget for parts, labor and inevitable cost overruns. The price of the parts has scared many chopper enthusiasts from building a custom chopper of their own, but if you have exact specifications and the time and skills to invest into the project, then parts can be fairly inexpensive. If you choose the parts for your kit at the lower end spectrum, you will still end up with bike that will look like a Jesse James creation but will still have enough money left to throw a party when your new chopper leaves the garage.

When you select the parts for your custom chopper kit, try to use the most genuine parts available on the market within your price range. Sometimes even if you have a beautiful design in-mind, you can end up with poor-looking chopper, due to a lack of attention to detail by different suppliers

Complete custom chopper kits typically consists of an engine, chassis kit, exhaust pipes, tires, steel tanks and other metal parts, taillights, various controls, a seat, headlamp and many more. The extras supplied with a chopper kit would vary depending on the brand of chopper chosen. To finish your project, you will need paint and sometimes battery acid. Most chopper kits do not provide mirrors, speedometers or other accessories. These you can buy separately according to your taste.

To avoid unpredictable result, experienced chopper builder recommend waiting until you can afford buying all the accessories from one manufacturer. Waiting may not be easy when it comes to building your dream come true. But when you finally complete your custom chopper, you will be really glad you waited.

Exercises for golfers pay huge dividends

Exercises for golfers may seem like an oxymoron, but I’m here to tell they are most definitely not. Golf is physical! Golf causes injury! Golf can very easily break down the body! To hit the ball maximum distance, your body has to have a higher level of golf specific strength and flexibility.

The above statements are fact.

To play your best golf you need to implement exercises for golfers as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the sooner you will see results on the course.

So what’s the difference between going to the gym and plopping down on machines and doing exercises for golfers?

First off…do you sit when you play golf?

Then why would you sit in a “controlled” machine thinking it will improve your golf?

Golf is “on your feet” and in a dynamic position (golf posture).

Because the demands for golf are so unique, you need to approach your golf improvement from a different angle than just going into a gym and thinking it will help your golf game.

Exercises for golfers doesn’t just mean strength exercises. You’ve got to do golf stretching exercises as well.

Whenever I hear a golfer say he/she needs to stretch more…my first thought is “they are missing the boat”. Golf stretching without golf exercise is not permanent flexibility.

Here’s an example for you.

Stretch a rubber band. Now stretch it more and more. What happens to the rubber band? It gets brittle and eventually breaks.

Picture your muscles just like that rubber band.

The winning combination is golf exercise and golf stretching . This will give you the best results.

When putting together your exercises for golfers program, take a look at the body position required to make a mechanically sound swing.

Once you realize this dynamic and very unique position, you can do golf exercises specific to this position.

Things to remember.

• Do the majority of your golf exercises on your feet.

• Do them in your golf posture if at all possible.

• Keep your knees flexed, just like your golf swing.

• Do as many rotational exercises as possible.

• Make sure to do the follow through side of the swing.

• Do a high enough repetition to promote golf muscular endurance.

Exercises for golfers can be fun and keep you motivated to stick with your program. Adherence is the main culprit for lack of results. Like any fitness or weight loss program, if you don’t do it consistently you won’t see the results.

Staying motivated by picturing the “end-result” on the course will be a huge help. Envision you on that first tee a more powerful and fit golfer. Picture blasting your drives by all your playing partners. And lastly, paint a strong visual of you having the lowest score consistently when you play in your normal golf groups.

I hope you now have a better understanding of exercises for golfers.

Keep your basement dry and enjoy the extra living space

All you have to do is finish your basement to enjoy the extra living space it offers. But, moisture attacks your basement from all around and, if you don’t keep it dry, dampness can ruin your finished basement.

It’s not difficult to add a huge amount of living space to your home by finishing your basement. But, if your basement isn’t dry, and doesn’t stay dry, then your finished basement could be the source of ongoing repair headaches.

Even if your basement seems dry, there might still be a moisture problem and it could affect your whole house. The smallest amount of dampness could become a home for mold and mildew, which can aggravate allergies and cause breathing problems, so keeping your basement dry is not just about damage to your drywall.

The problem is that there are a number of sources of moisture and you need to make sure they are all in check if you want o keep your basement dry.

The biggest enemy of a dry basement is water that leaks in through cracks in the basement walls and floors. It is the nature of concrete to crack over time and even your new basement walls and floors will crack eventually.

If you have not yet suffered a water leak from a cracked wall, it doesn’t mean your basement will stay dry. When the warmer air in your home contacts cold basement walls, condensation forms and you have moisture in your basement.

So, what if you manage to seal and insulate walls so you don’t have to worry about leaks or condensation – then would you have a dry basement? Maybe for a while, but, as inevitably as cracks will form in concrete, the plumbing in your home will leak. A plumbing leak anywhere in your house can affect your basement.

Fortunately, while it seems that it might be impossible to keep your basement dry, there is a solution. Waterproofing your basement will stop water from entering your basement and it will drain away any water from condensation and plumbing leaks. Using a combination of sealants, drainage and pumps, waterproofing can keep even the wettest basement dry.

The basement waterproofing experts at Clarke basement Systems know how to keep your basement dry.

4 steps to a dedicated server

1) Reliability

This is not of moment you can fully distinguish by just looking at their website, in consequence you'll have to obtain a works of research. It's always a applicable idea to finish a search about the host to find any reviews from past or current clients. To do this, simply search using Google for keyword phrases using the company name. For example, Rackspace review or EV1Servers review, or you can even take a step further, by reviewing the support forums of the host if they have one. There you can easily find as much information as you need. How does this help with regards to reliability? Simple, it can show how fast they respond to complaints and issues by reviewing what past or current clients have said, and postings in the forums can show how they handle customer feedback.

2) Cost

We are all looking for a value hyped up deal. It's wanted that we influence in style now market price when election a fired server host. Selecting a $29/month server may not be the top option if it's backed with poor support and perhaps your server built with recycled hardware. Take note, this is not saying that cheap dedicated server hosts produce low quality service, but I'm saying that in 8 times out of 10 you do get what you pay for. Do price shopping and take note of each host's price along with their server specs, bandwidth, network, and support guarantees. Review each and then you'll be able to figure, which one is truly the most cost effective. Is it really worth it to have a $29/month server with only 256 MB RAM which may be slow and unresponsive if hit with a spike in traffic? It's going to be up to you to weigh those options.

3) Support

This is toilsome for issues agnate as downtime, ddos attacks and characteristic issues dealing with your server. It is foremost that you express with the help team before purchasing a server. Why? Simply for you yearning to demur their response before investing any funds. If you would rather not send an email or call before making your purchase, if the site you're thinking about has a support forum, you can register and post your technical question there or review the questions asked prior to get a better idea of how solid their support technicians are with regards to answering questions.

4) Longevity

This is usually not listed as a bearing as manifold startup fired server companies are solid, but it's usually a elite risk to lane the twist of cut that a transaction has been in business. You can seal a whois of the host's domain name to see how long a host has been in business. It can be a good indication that they're in for the long haul if they've been around for awhile. This is not to discredit choosing a new company, as many solid server hosts are started regularly who go on to be huge successes. Simply use your best judgment when reviewing if to go with a host that's been around for years instead of one that's now getting started. I should point out here, that in some cases newer hosts will fight harder for your business and give you an overall better support in the beginning in some cases as they really treasure your business. It's really a toss up here, that's where your natural instincts for decision making will have to be the deciding factor.

Choosing a wine gift basket

Wine gift baskets are a wonderful gift for all kinds of people – wine lovers will appreciate them as you have shown consideration of their hobbies, and if you are selecting a gift for someone you do not know well, then it is a safe bet that a wine gift basket will be considered a generous and luxurious gift.

Making a Wine Gift Basket

Wine gift baskets are quite simple to make, but if you give someone a home made one then they will appreciate the time and thought you have put into it. Just select the things you want to put in to the basket, arrange it all in an attractive fashion, and wrap it and tie it nicely with ribbon.

You may need to secure the items before you wrap the basket to make sure they stay in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement.

Buying a Wine Gift Basket

If making a gift basket yourself is too daunting a prospect, then you could purchase a ready made one. There are lots of companies that sell them – some will even let you pick the gifts and make you a basket to – order.

One is Wine County Gift Baskets, which is a company that offers the absolute best selection of value priced, handcrafted gift baskets and gift towers, and this includes corporate gift baskets, gourmet gift food baskets, spa gift baskets, coffee gift baskets and tea gift baskets, just to name a few of the many offered selections.

Wine country gift basket will make personalized wine gift baskets for you, allowing you to pick out items from their catalogue to make the ideal gift basket. They will also hand deliver the basket to the recipient if you wish.

Another great option here is Express Gift Baskets, a company that was established a decade ago, in 1997, and which since then has been shipping thousands of baskets across the world. They specialize in the corporate market and carry a full line of promotional items.

Express Gift Baskets will also make custom baskets for you, and will allow you to add your logo or design to the items if you wish, making them ideal for businesses who wish to send gifts to regular customers or to their employees.

Gemini

Know any Twins. Then imagine they’re one person and you’ll have an idea of what makes up the personality of a person born under the sign of Gemini (May 22 – June 21). Geminis can be contradictory, people with dualities to their nature that can perplex their friends, families and lovers. They love versatility and change, but can be flighty and mutable to create interest in their lives. They don’t like routine. Decisionmaking can be difficult for them and they can often change their minds eziness. info

In the Zodiac Great Year, the Age of Gemini occurred from about 6450-4300 BCE. It was a time when writing and accounting systems were developed and humans were beginning to trade with one another.

Geminis are kind, affectionate and generous, so long as this doesn’t impact their own lives and comfort systems too much. They have a strong intellect and love mental challenges. They catch on to new ideas quickly. They have an analytical side and can see both sides to an issue.

If you’re a Gemini, you have some interesting company in your birth sign. Some of the famous Geminis include President John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, Henry Kissinger, Joe Namath and Paul McCartney. Many members of royal families were born under the sign of Gemini, too. Queen Victoria, King George V and Prince William, all of England, were or are Geminis.

Boredom is a big issue for Geminis and they can get into trouble looking for some excitement. But they’re very creative and active and should have outlets for all this energy like artistic projects or exercise or vigorous sports like racquetball. Because they’re always looking for new and interesting experiences, they can tend to overindulge in food or drink or night life and club-hopping. Geminis need to remember to pace themselves or they could risk burning themselves out too early in life.

Vinyl siding - adding value to your home

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Many homeowners today want to increase the value of their home. When you want to sell your home, the first things that you think of are remodeling the inside and replacing the carpet. However, have you thought about adding vinyl siding to the outside of your home? Vinyl siding seals homes again water damage while making the house look great. Vinyl siding is also easy to clean with a pressure washer. Vinyl siding costs depends on the color and style that you pick. There are many colors to choose from and they will raise the value of your home.

There are blues, creams, browns, and reds. Each color will add to the value of your home, however, choosing light colors that appeal to more will help sell your home. A darker vinyl siding color will make the house look small and unwelcoming, whereas warmer, brighter colors will make your house look larger and more welcoming. No matter how small your house may look, using a bright color will help to make it look bigger. The most popular vinyl siding colors are the light browns and creams. These colors seem to be the ones that are making houses with vinyl siding more popular to buy.

Another thing besides color is the vinyl siding cost. Costs for vinyl siding can vary depending on the brand, style, and color of the siding that is chosen. The most expensive form of vinyl siding these days is the new vertical siding. Vertical vinyl siding, just like horizontal siding, will help keep the home safe from water damage. Vertical siding is also easier to clean. This is what makes it so special and somewhat more expensive. Vinyl siding, in itself, is easy to clean and maintain. A simple spray down with a pressure washer, or a quick wash and rinse with soap and a hose will help to keep the vinyl siding looking clean and new. The nicer the siding looks and the newer it is, the more value your home will have. Remember to compare vinyl siding costs before you choose your color and style, and remember that vinyl siding doesn’t just add value to your home, it will make your home look and feel new again.

Are chat rooms a menace to your children

My answer would be: yes, with qualifications.

I've been running internet chat rooms since 1998, at tigertom. com/chat_rooms. htm. Nothing fancy. The software was freely available. I just had to make some important modifications: adding bad word filters and automated 'kicking' (ejection from the rooms).

You think free speech is a good thing, until you read what anonymous, malevolent young men say to fifteen-year-old girls. It isn't Shakespeare, let me tell you that.

That's another key point: anonymity. A pillar of the free speech argument. Let freedom fighters and the repressed masses have their say! Except it's more likely a twenty-five-year-old sociopath pretending to be sixteen and making young girls cry with his sickening profanity.

Free from all morйs, and safe from physical retribution, we see the contents of the subconscious pour forth unrestrained. And a hellish stream of psychic sewage it is.

This can be combated by bad word filters and having human moderators. The most important shield of all, I think, is education. "Don't take candy from strangers", "You don't need drugs until you're ill", and now: "Don't bandy words with trolls" (people who deliberately upset other internet users with provocative language).

Most chat rooms now have an 'ignore' function. It's a bit like the hooligan in the street: he's *looking* for a reaction; if you ignore him, it's infuriating. To him. You glide on by, figuratively speaking, while he rants on unheard.

Parents should take an interest in what their children are doing online. See if you can find out what service they've joined, and join up yourself; get a taste of it. Teenagers define themselves as adults-to-be by choosing a different path to their parents: if you are conservative, they'll try liberalism, and vice-versa.

Therefore, you shouldn't try to join in with their activities as an equal; just keep informed.

They may gripe, but secretly they're glad you care. A parent who lets their child do whatever they want gives them no standard to measure themselves against.

Another problem with basic chat rooms is that you can develop an intense relationship with someone you can't see and haven't met in the flesh; there's a fantasy element. Your thoughts pour forth freely, you believe you've met a soul mate. You may even meet them, and the illusion continues ...

... until you eventually realise he or she is just a human being after all, and breaks wind like everyone else.

There is hope, however. With the advent of cheap digital video cameras, internet telephony and broadband, people will be less able to hide: "What do you mean, you're shy? You weren't shy a minute ago!". Old-fashioned, sensible prejudices will assert themselves: "Soooo, 'Zorro' from Cambridge is really fat, spotty Darren from Dartford ... next!". eap digital video cameras, internet telephony and broadband, people will be less able to hide: "What do you mean, you're shy? You weren't shy a minute ago!". Old-fashioned, sensible prejudices will assert themselves: "Soooo, 'Zorro' from Cambridge is really fat, spotty Darren from Dartford ... next!".

Bullfight blues

Spain's notorious Bullfight is one of the most famous customs upheld by the Spanish. It draws attention worldwide from people who just love the sport, and also from many others who are agains't this barbaric onslaught.

I hasten to add that this kind of entertainment is not for me, but for many thousands that travel to watch a Bullfight they get to mingle with the dedicated locals who have a tradition to uphold. This is a sure sign that they do not feel the way I do.

Stuffed like sardines into a jam packed arena, avid enthusiasts who in support of this sport continue to excite each other with roars of encouragement for the Bullfight to commence. Cheers of Ole is how excited spectators greet this mighty powerful bull as he makes his grand entance and presence known to all.

Confused and not sure as to why he was the center of attention, the bull decides to take advantage of his new famed popularity by giving a priceless perfomance to the maddening crowd. He would do this by digging his hoof into the ground beneath him sending dust clouds swirling into the air while at the same time from his steaming nostrils an encore of snorts.

Looking more like a riot at football match the cramped stadium and all the commotion makes the beast very nervous.

Why he was summoned here today he did not know - but he was soon to find out.

What on earth is the Bull thinking?

Sheer jubilation among the crowds as the adrenalin began to pump for all who had gathered to this event, as it was only minutes away before the Bullfight.

Picadores armed with lances announce there presence into the arena on horseback to a stadium of screaming fans. All mounts blind folded.

These men (Picadores) Their job is to tantalise and maim the bull before slaughter. This is done by following orders that on departure from the ring that they leave all weapons behind, and they do just that.

Pierced in-between the shoulder blades of a very frightened Bull.

What on earth is that Bull thinking now?

This is just the beginning of the end. Stunned dazed and hurting, the bull now with so many body piercings still manages a few breathless snorts. The reflection of his image is like that of a voodoo doll. Not a pretty sight.

The efforts of the Picadores were never enough at a bullfight, you have the Banderilleros whose mission is to distract the bull, and they would do this by running in circles in and around the animal thus making him tired and dizzy.

How do you distract a dying bull with so much blood loss? not a hard job, the bull's options for escape are zilch.

Stabbed and drained of his almighy strength and unable to raise his head due his injuries. Makes the bull an easy target for any Matador.

In all his finery the murderer oops sorry Matador enters the arena. Black beret, jewelled bolero red cape and breeches buttoned at the knees..This sight alone was enough to scare any bull.

Spurred on by the cheering crowds to cast the fatal blow, the Matador provokes his dying opponent to charge. All attempts made by this sad oh so sad disoriented bull to retaliate to the words TORO were not that of a fully charged up angry irate bull. Amenesty is given to the bull should the Matador miss his target. A slayer is called in to put the beast out of his misery by cutting the spinal cord with a dagger. Has this bull not had enough stabbings for the day? This action can go terribly wrong leaving the bull conscious paralysed and in severe pain.

Remove the lances and spears

Replace the blood loss with a transfusion

Give the bull back his pride

Now throw the Matador back in in to the ring 100% hero of the day THE BULL

Want to know what the bull was thinking (What did I do to deserve this)

To think a couple of hours before the Bullfight this bull was chewing the cud in fields of green.

Zigime - connecting people to the world

Zigime can be an excellent way for friends and family members to stay in touch. Encouraging friends and family members to join zigime with you can help you to stay in better contact with these individuals. Communicating through zigime is a lot of fun and gives users the ability to post pictures, audio, video, jobs, events, mail, classifieds and barter in addition to personal information presented in a blog even on free accounts.

Visiting the ZigiMe websites of your friends, and can also help you to meet more interesting individuals on Zigime. Those who you already consider to be friends likely share some of your interests. Many internet users feel free to express their opinions online than they do in face to face meetings. They are more likely to be interested in attending your meeting if it takes place in a public location because they will feel more comfortable. Friends who have wonderful relationships through zigime may find their relationship falters when they actually meet in person.

ZigiMe can also be used to make business Networking. The search feature can be used to find others who share your business interests, dreams and goals. Zigime help you build your business by generating professional business leads and referral systems. ZigiMe provide barter services, you also create new business contacts and references. ZigiMe barter helps you find what you need and barter services!" News and advice for job seeker. Search your jobs in friend networking site. Search by Category, Experience, Keyword, and location.

My friends My World are a new way to organize showing my friends and overall users. The friends map on zigime. com is a feature offering powerful, user-friendly mapping technology to see where all of your friends are located around the world.

With the My Friends My World, you'll enjoy the following unique features:

Find your friends - By clicking on any country on the map, you'll be taken to their locations on the map. It shows male friends, female friends and both separately in the list box You can also click on any of the user to see which friend is where. Not only friends even all people who have joined in zigime.

* zigime is a worldwide friendship network.

* People can come an meet new friends or find old ones.

* Easy way to share digital photos, videos, jobs, events and music.

* users can create own custom profile.

*Design your own profile page with the background and colors you want using either CSS or the editor provided for you by zigime.

About Author:

Hybrid Nova is a company that specializes in providing social networking, business networking, entertainment, and services in a concerted effort to capitalize on the huge growth in this industry and continues to experience. We provide many excellent affordable and free services that are presented in an exciting environment for young professionals of all ages. On the forefront, it is Hybrid Nova’s dedication to the rapidly growing industry of online business networking that will propel us into a premier position as an industry leader. Whether it’s branding your business, seeking a new job or new employer, bartering services goods, organizing your office with the latest technology available, or simply making new friends and business contacts on the international level. Hybrid Nova has all the tools and user friendly functionally necessary for the needs of almost any business or individual.

Which loan to use

Need to borrow some money then a personal loan maybe for you, most people take a personal loan for home improvements, to purchase a car and holidays. Loans are very simple you borrow a sum of money and pay it back over a period of time say anywhere between 6months to 10 years.

Interest rates on a personal loan are usually at a fixed rate for the lifetime of the loan, this is great, as you know your repayment every month. In the past most people went to their bank for loans, but know the competition is really heating up. The Internet offers some great deals; also have a look in the newspapers and on TV. There has never been a better time to pick up a personal loan, as all the lenders are looking for your business.

There are two different types of loans!

Secured – this loan is usually secured by your home which means if you fail to make the repayments, you could lose your home. On the up side secured loans do offer cheaper interest rates, if you decide to take a secured loan please make doubly sure you can afford your repayments.

Unsecured – this loan means your home is safe if you fail to pay back your loan, you’ll find it hard to get any more credit, as your credit rating would be poor. Interest rates are usually higher with an unsecured loan as the lender is taking a higher risk in getting their money back.

Loans are much like mortgages it’s the interest that you’re paying back at the start, the loan is paid further down the line. One thing to watch out for is if you pay off your loan earlier than agreed you could face penalties. You could be asked to pay back the interest for two or three months, not all companies charge this so best check.

Most loan companies will offer you PPI (payment protection insurance) they will tell you that you need it, and that if you’re off sick, have an accident or become unemployed they will help to pay your repayments. This is not always the case so please check with your lender as you could end up costing yourself a lot of money, and get nothing back if the unthinkable happened.

So secured or unsecured personal loans which one is best! The two of them really as it all depends on your circumstances. Secured – you put your home at risk if you fail to keep up the repayments, but the interest rates are much cheaper. Unsecured – you’ll get a bad credit rating if you fail to keep up the repayments, but the interest rates are much higher.

One other thing to remember with regard to a secured loan is that it is as it says, secured, and if you do not keep up repayments you could lose your home. Your home is normally used as collateral against a secured home.

Effect of prayers on our life

What are prayers? To pray means to convey a request to God. Those who believe that there is no God, can still pray to the higher power in who they have belief. But to say that there is no God, makes us feel very lonely at times. At times of crisis, who will you approach? Your friends might have left you. Your family might have deserted you. Who is left? There is God.

What is the first effect of prayer? The first effect is that we at least begin believing that someone who can help us, is listening to us. That gives a great support. Because you no longer feel very helpless or lonely. You have got a friend who is all powerful and who can help you. With prayer we call for that help. The deeper the prayer, the earlier the help arrives. A prayer made in total faith can do wonders. But it all boils down to faith. And faith is a matter of individual belief. No science can comment about faith.

We send good wishes when some one falls sick or for someone who is facing tough times. How do prayers help in that situation? Here we are not making a selfish prayer, but asking for help for some one else. Collective prayers will surely reach God, and he will surely respond to them in his own way. His way may be different than our way, but respond he will. There is no doubt about that. This again is a matter of personal faith.

Imagine a man dying of cancer and family left with no hope. If every member of the family prays at that time, that member will also not feel very helpless and hope will always remain. Without prayers, all hope is lost. Wishing Good Luck, wishing for earlier recovery and inspiring a friend are all ways to connect with the higher power. Such wishes and prayers never go waste. Call God, and request him to help, the help will arrive if your prayer is made with faith and is heart felt.

Payment protection insurance is it worthwhile

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been looking into the issue of Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) and the way that it is sold to people taking out loans in the UK. The list includes many of the UK's biggest banks and building societies, and it is single-handedly earning lenders over Ј1 billion a year.

The point of PPI is that if a loan borrower becomes unemployed or unable to work though accident or illness, the loan provider will cover their payments until they return to work. The borrower pays a monthly premium for this insurance, something that around 50% agree to when taking out the loan.

However, some interesting information has come to light, as the Department of Trade and Industry has found that only 4% ever make a claim, and only 75% of those claims meet the terms of the insurance. The lenders themselves are in many ways responsible for this, as the FSA found that around 50% of the lenders surveyed failed to explain the details and exclusions to borrowers before persuading them to sign up. The investigation also found that although lenders were not telling the customers that the insurance was compulsory, they were often adding the PPI to the quotation without clearly displaying that the insurance was optional.

The FSA also found that some lenders were not informing borrowers that the cost of the insurance to cover the full loan term was being added as a lump sum at the beginning instead of as a monthly payment spread out over the loan term. The result was that borrowers would not be able to cancel the insurance without paying the loan off in full and taking out a new loan.

The investigations also uncovered more bad practice: price. Simon Burgess, Managing Director of British Insurance Ltd, has pointed out that one of the major high street banks levies a charge of Ј30 per Ј100 of loan insured onto borrowers. Simon added that if borrowers looked onto the Internet, they would find rates of Ј4 - Ј6 per Ј100 of loan insured. Price comparison service uSwitch has supported his findings, which effectively means that banks are charging nearly 500% more than their Internet rivals.

Here's an example for you: in 2005 a high street bank quoted Ј5,150 for PPI, against a loan of Ј16,000. The total value of the loan was therefore Ј21,150, and the borrower would have to pay interest on the whole amount. The monthly repayments amounted to Ј300, and Ј70 of that would be PPI. A few minutes on the Internet and you would easily find equivalent insurance for approximately Ј20 per month (Ј50 a month less) and the insurance could be cancelled at any time, without a problem.

Here's what we advise:

When you get a quote, ask for it with and without PPI – that way you can see the true cost of the insurance and compare it directly.

Check that the PPI is not added to the loan at the outset, to be paid as a lump sum. Don't touch these loans with a bargepole!

Never accept the lender's PPI without checking out the competition first. Just type “Payment Protection Insurance” or “Income Protection Insurance” into an Internet search engine and you'll be able to get a number of quotes quickly and easily.

Read the insurance small print. There will be a long list of exclusions which will stop you from making a claim. For example, if you are a seasonal or temporary worker, you will probably be excluded. Some policies say that you must be in the same job for six months before you can make a claim. Most policies make it very clear that you must be in good health and know of no reason why you could, in future, be unable to work. There are many more exclusions on the lost, and if any of these apply to you then there is no point paying for PPI.

We say: PPI is a waste of money as far as many people are concerned. If it does suit you then find the cheapest deal and make sure you can cancel the insurance at any time without penalty – you may change your mind or your circumstances could change. Also, it's essential that you read the small print because you may just find that you won't be able to make a claim anyway.

Dog bites increase in summer months

They're called the "dog days of summer" for good reason. According to the Emergency Nurses Association, dog bites increase dramatically during the months of March through September.

Every year, 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs and 60 percent of those affected are children, with the most severe injuries occurring in children younger than 10 years old. That adds up to potentially 2.8 million scars on children each year from dog bites alone.

Being bitten by a dog can be a particularly traumatic event for anyone - especially for a child. While most dog-bite injuries are reported on the arms and hands, children seen in the emergency room for dog bites are more likely to have been bitten on the face, neck and head. In fact, children under 10 receive 65 percent of the reported dog bites to the face. Children are also 900 times as likely as letter carriers to be attacked by dogs.

Pediatrician-recommended Mederma for Kids is the first and only scar product created just for children to help reduce the appearance of scars. Mederma for Kids helps soften and smooth old and new scars resulting from cuts and scrapes, stitches, burns, bug bites and surgery.

Mederma for Kids has a unique color-changing feature - the gel goes on purple, and the color disappears as it is massaged into the scar. It also has a kid-friendly scent. Parents, too, can feel good about using Mederma for Kids because it has been proven safe for use in children as young as 2 and is non-toxic.

Half of all franchises are owned by multi-unit franchise operators

Multi-unit franchise operators are on the rise. Some buy multiple units in the same brand. A few buy more than one franchise in different but competing brands. Others buy multiple units in totally different sectors.

Franchisor Benefits

For the franchisor it is highly advantageous to have a successful site operator running more than one unit. Once a franchisee has proven their mettle in one territory chances of success in multiple territories are higher.

Franchisors are taking less risk with somebody that has already proven their ability to manage the business model. No matter how careful the initial evaluation process is, it is not always possible to tell which franchisee has the mettle to run a business successfully when they buy their first unit.

Less training time is required when a franchisee buys their second unit. The franchisee has already done the initial training course and also possesses real live knowledge of operating the business in the field.

Franchisee Advantages

For the franchisee the advantage of owning more than one unit is that they have already operated the first unit profitably. They know the upsides and downsides of the business model. They already have established close relations with the franchisor. They understand in more detail the demographics of the areas the business model is likely to work in.

Operating multiple units can also be more cost effective. All the paperwork, accounting records and manuals can be done at one central location. Incoming calls can be diverted to one location, screened and then dispersed.

Advertising and printing costs can be spread out over a number of sites. It also becomes possible to use higher cost advertising like radio and TV when you can spread the cost over a number of units.

Employees can be utilized more effectively and can be shared across the group. If one store has many staff off ill at the same time they can draw upon the human resources of the other units.

A multi-site operator also benefits from have greater buying power. It is possible to make significant savings by buying in bulk… making each individual unit more profitable.

But multi-unit franchising is not right for everybody. Workloads and pressure rise as more units are opened. The ability to deal with a larger number people is of the utmost importance. The ability to handle and manage larger amounts of data becomes critical. It is no longer possible to use paper based systems!

The worst type of multiple site owner is one that is under-capitalized and trying to grow on a shoestring budget. This can be disastrous for both the franchisee and the franchisor when and if the money runs out.

So what are the characteristics of a multiple site owner? Usually the type of person who operates multiple units is older, has more business experience and larger sums of disposable funds.

For experienced entrepreneurs who do possess people skills, can manage large amounts of data and have deep pockets it makes sense to buy more than one unit. They can expand their business and multiply their profits.

Do-it-yourself facial skin care

In a world of tight schedules, harmful pollution, high anxiety and mounting tension, your skin takes the toil, and it shows! Yet, all is not lost. With a little commitment to smooth, clear and attractive skin, you can maintain the natural beauty of your skin at home! Keep reading to get tips and simple at-home methods to maintain youthful skin and fight the signs of aging.

It is absolutely certain that beautiful skin cannot last without proper care. The adverse affects of the world we live in have the potential of making skin look old and tired even during the prime of youth. Therefore, it is essential to regularly and thoroughly clean your skin so as to keep it glowing with vitality. Besides cleansing and facials, massaging the skin regularly and properly will greatly reduce the appearance of wrinkles and tighten your skin.

Cleaning your Skin

The first step in caring for your skin externally is to clean it properly. Perspiration, grease, dust, stale make-up, dirt and bacteria all collect on your skin and must be removed completely. Use cleansing cream, milk or lotion or just plain cold cream to clean your skin. Apply the cream on your face and neck and gently massage it in. Rub the cream on your face and neck in circular and upward motion for at least five minutes (duration also depends on the instructions provided with the cream you are using). Remove excessive cream with tissue, damp cotton wool or a small damp towel.

Next, tone your skin using skin freshener (mild), skin tonic (medium strength) or an astringent lotion (strong). Toning is important as it removes any remaining greasiness on your skin after the cleansing process is complete. It closes pores, refines the skin, and if you intend to use make up, it leaves a smooth clean texture which will hold foundation and powder much longer.

Nourishing your skin is an essential part of any beauty routine. Dirt, dust, hot and cold weather, cosmetics and even sunlight all tend to dry out the skin, robbing it of moisture and oil. Skin foods attempt to replenish nourishment to give skin its natural healthiness. It is not necessary to use a thick, heavy skin cream every night. If you do not like a greasy face when going to bed, simply choose a light, easy to absorb moisturizer which will disappear in minutes. Many of the newer liquid moisturizers fall into this category.

Facial

A facial is the quickest way of cleaning, reviving and refining faded skin, leaving the skin light, soft and glowing. A facial also does a thorough job of relaxing jangled nerves so that you emerge not only looking younger but also feeling fresher and more relaxed. A facial once every fortnight will ensure youthful and fresh skin for a long time.

The most luxurious way of getting a facial is to go to a beauty salon and sit back while experts do their job. If you do not have the time or cannot afford the luxury of regular salon treatments, you can give yourself a facial at home. Choose a time when you can be undisturbed and quiet. Get everything ready before you start so that you can relax and enjoy it. Follow the routine below for a quick home-facial:

• Tie your hair away from the face and neck and use a headband to pull hair away you’re your forehead.

• Cleanse your face and neck with cleansing milk and wipe off first with a facial tissue and then with a wet towel.

• Apply cream all over the face and blend it thoroughly - then massage your face and neck in an upward direction.

• Prepare a face-pack suited to your skin type and on a thoroughly clean face, spread a fairly thick layer avoiding the area of the mouth and a large circle round the eyes. Then lie on your back and keep the mask on for 15 to 20 minutes or till dry. Do not talk while the mask is on your face.

• When it is dry, wash your face and neck with cold water, keeping your eyes closed. Dry your skin and apply skin tonic.

• If you have an important date, use skin tonic after the facial, then apply moisturizer and make up.

Massaging your Skin

Massaging your face is essential for youthful looking skin especially for the 40 and above. An effective way to counter wrinkles, massaging is a slow process and its results are obvious only if it is continued for a period of time. It is not a magic potion which can bring a change overnight and one has to be patient with it. However, there is no doubt that massage reduces unattractive fleshiness, tightens facial tissues and muscles and increases blood circulation.

Once you have lines and wrinkles, you can only get rid of them by plastic surgery. Massage and facial exercises can help prevent new lines from forming but cannot remove the old ones already on the face. By toning up the muscles and nourishing them, you can prevent new lines and wrinkles from forming. Remember, whether you have a lumpy, flabby, withered or sallow skin, your face can regain the appearance of youth under the action of your own fingers. Lines and wrinkles usually appear on the forehead, temples, eyes, nose, cheeks, chin and mouth.

Massage is effective only if the skin is clear. Do not forget to remove all traces of make-up otherwise skin pores will be blocked by particles of dirt. All blackheads should be removed. If the skin is oily, then remove oiliness by applying cleansing milk. Fresh lemon juice is also very effective in removing excess oiliness. If skin is dry, use a good moisturizer before massaging it. If the skin is oily, it is advisable to use some astringent lotion. Apply Vitamin E cream before a massage, but the quantity of this cream should be enough only to give sufficient greasiness to the skin so that the hands and fingers move smoothly on the face.

After having cleaned the skin, press it with light but firm fingers, putting a little pressure while applying a good cream. Trained fingers can hold the skin firmly and apply even pressure. With the passage of time, visible defects like wrinkles, flabbiness and dead cells are greatly reduced and a fresh and young look is restored. Massage should start from the neck upwards and end at the forehead or temples because all veins and tissues get an increased blood supply by this process. The skin around the eyes is delicate. So it is advisable to apply cream on this part without pressing it. Cream takes 15 to 20 minutes to get absorbed by the skin, so massage should continue that long. Wipe off extra cream with a cotton wool swab soaked in water (preferably rose water). The best time to massage the face is before going to bed.

Art of Massaging

• Slow Massage - This is the most common method of massage. The secret is to massage slowly and patting/vibrating the skin. Using the fleshy part of your finger tips, press the skin lightly but firmly. The process starts at the base of the neck at a slow speed. The speed increases as the fingers move upwards. Stroking gives rest to the nerves and the vibration is useful in subduing pain that might be caused by massaging.

• Fast Massage - The front half of both the palms are used to massage at speed, taking care to make a circular motion upwards.

• Pressure Massage - This is a method when pressure is applied by finger-tips. This is effective for removing pouches beneath eyes.

• Stroking Massage - Chubby cheeks are stroked with the tips of fingers. If the nose is broad, strokes are applied from the nose to the temples on both sides.

• Pinching Massage - the skin is held, as in pincers, between the thumb and fingers. Such a massage is effective for a double chin and wrinkles on the jaw.

• Friction Massage - The movement requires pressure on the skin while it is being moved over the underlying structures. Fingers or palms are employed in this movement. Hard movements are usually employed on the scalp while light movements are used on the face especially on the neck.

• Piano Playing Movements - This exercise develops facial muscles and makes them firm. It should be done on the entire face, especially the cheek area, with your fingers. The movements must be supple yet brisk.

Making your own Skin Products

Home-made Massage Cream

Heat together four tablespoons of sunflower (or safflower oil) mixed with 4 tablespoons of lanolin. Then slowly add heated rose water to it. Now add a tablespoon of camphor oil to make a really invigorating massage cream. To make this cream lighter mix two tablespoons of petroleum jelly.

Home-made Massage Oil

Mix together half cup each of almond oil and castor oil. Add one teaspoon of camphor oil. Shake well and use.

Anti-wrinkle Cream

Melt together 2 tablespoons lanolin, 2 tablespoons almond oil and 1 tablespoon apricot oil. Then add 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Apricots are very rich in vitamin A.

Anti-wrinkle Lotion

Mix the following ingredients and use as an anti-wrinkle lotion:

2 tablespoons cucumber / mint mixture

4 drops peppermint extract

1 pinch alum powder

Get rid of all your loans with debt consolidation

The high society life style that we lead today requires a lot of investments. We all want to stay in big beautiful houses, own luxury cars, study in leading colleges and universities and enjoy a wonderful holiday in the Caribbean islands. And for making all this possible, we usually borrow loans for loan agencies or banks. However, we forget the fact that our incomes are limited and rates of these loans are high. We fail to pay back these debts on time. As a result, most of us end-up with a huge debt.

To get rid of these debts, many banks and loan companies have started providing the facility of debt consolidation. This means that people can borrow a new loan at low rates to pay back all their previous loans. This facility is also useful for people with a bad credit history. However, these people have to satisfy with a higher rate of interest. So, for a low rate of interest, a person should first make sure that he/she has cleared all his/her previous loans.

A debt consolidation loan can be easily taken against a home. Even if the home has already been mortgaged, you can still go on and get a debt consolidation loan. In fact, with this new loan, you can remortgage your home loan to pay back the original loan and get better interest rates while repaying the debt consolidation loan.

There are certain things that need to be considered while getting a debt consolidation loan.

- Make sure that you have a good credit history. For this, pay your bills on time, and repay the loans that are not to be consolidated.

- Conduct a thorough search of all the companies that offer debt consolidation. Short list the ones that will most suit your requirements.

- Get all the information about the companies that you have short listed. They should be reputed and have a good history.

- Get hold of the interest rates that these companies are offering.

- Provide these companies and banks with your requirements, and accordingly ask for quotes.

- Analyze these quotes and select the one that can be easily afforded by you, and meets all you requirements also.

- Make sure that the loans being offered do not involve any hidden costs. These can increase your burden instead of helping you get rid of your loans.

Like every other loan, the person getting a debt consolidation loan is also supposed to fulfill some requirements, and furnish some important information. The person will have to provide the lender with information about his/her credit history. He/she is also supposed to provide some identity proofs like social security number and driving license. The bank account number and cheque number will also be asked for by the lender or bank to counter check the financial status of the person.

These debt consolidation loans have made it easy for people to fulfill their wishes without worrying about the loans that they have taken up. They have also helped in making sure that people do not take up wrong steps in an attempt to get rid of their loan pending loans.

Essential guitar tabs for beginner guitarists

When we wonder what guitar tab we need to get to begin to make up our repertoire, we usually think only about songs we like. We know that our choice in music does not suck in the slightest but if we are going to be playing our guitar and singing for audiences we need to get used to the idea that our taste in music will not match what our listeners want to hear. We may even take a look at popular choices in songs and get the uncomfortable feeling that we might have to play songs that we do not like. One thing guitar players are famous for is standing on their principles and not compromising on what they are going to play. The other thing they are famous for is giving the audience what they want. So a mixture of these two attitudes is probably going to form in your psyche as you peruse your list of guitar tabs on the internet. While we are on the subject of lists of guitar tabs remember to pay a visit to your local music store or online merchant for ready-made collections of easy guitar tabs. You can find titles like "Popular Songs for Acoustic Guitar" or "CMT's 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music".

One fact that has emerged from field tests conducted by buskers, night club performers and covers bands is that you should look for your repertoire in the songs of years gone by. Oldies are goodies. Another thing you should think about is whether or not you are an audience participation kind of performer. If you are still wondering about it one second after the thought enters your head, then you probably aren't. So stay away from songs that require you to yell, "Everybody now!!" or "Just the girls this time!". Likewise if you play solo acoustic guitar and have a voice like Johnny Cash you might want to stay away from Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love". But do not walk away from songs you enjoy just because they might not seem immediately doable. Remember Jose Feliciano's "Light My Fire" and Eric Clapton's unplugged "Layla".

Of course what songs you choose is not going to matter much if you do not pay attention to how you sing and play the guitar. People pay to see performers who are better at something than they are. Which is where playing material that you like comes in. If you are playing a song that you consider to be a crowd pleaser but you personally think is a load of stomach chunks you give attention to the part the audience likes. You already know what that is. That is why you do not bellow, "Hello darkness my old friend" or shirk on the enthusiasm when you sing the line, "Welcome to the Hotel California".

Okay so what we get out of all this is first, there are songs that crowds of people like and second, you can sing and play these songs in a way that highlights your particular talents. Now for a basic list of songs that have been known to please a crowd or two over a period of years:

Wild World by Cat Stevens

Imagine - by John Lennon

Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin

Catch the Wind by Donovan

Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley

Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks

Angie by the Rolling Stones

Everybody Hurts by REM

50 ways to leave your lover by Paul Simon

The 59th Street Bridge Song by Simon And Garfunkel

American Pie by Don Maclean

Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell

California Dreamin' by The Mamas and Papas

Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan

Mrs Robinson by Simon And Garfunkel

You're so vain by Carly Simon

Blowin' In The Wind by Bob Dylan

Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison

I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash

Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton

Gloria by Van Morrison (or Them)

Hotel California by The Eagles

Behind Blue Eyes by The Who

White Room by Cream

Sex And Candy by Marcy Playground

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

What Its Like by Everlast

Alison by Elvis Costello

Life By The Drop by Stevie Ray Vaughn

Melissa by Allman Brothers

Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones

Seagull by Bad Company

Mediterranean Sundance by Al DiMeola and Paco De Lucia

Classical Gas by Mason Williams

This list could be much, much longer, but you probably already see songs here that you would never play in a million years so all I can say now is I hope this guide to essential guitar tab has been helpful.

Jamaican vacations your booking options

Are you interested in traveling to Jamaica? Whether you are looking to book a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a honeymoon, it is advised that make your vacation reservations well in advance. Jamaica is known for its beauty; therefore, many popular vacation resorts quickly fill up with reservations. Making your Jamaican vacation reservations well in advance can help to ensure that you do get your dream vacation.

Since you now know the importance of making your Jamaican vacation reservations well in advance, you may be curious as to how you should go about making those reservations. As you likely already know, you have a number of different options. One of your options involves using the services of a locally operated travel agent. Travel agents are ideal for those who may be pressed for time. Perhaps, the only downside to using the services of a professional travel agent is that you are, essentially, putting your vacation in the hands of a stranger. Many individuals, possibly just like you, just do not feel comfortable doing this.

If you are interested in planning your Jamaican vacation, instead of relying on the assistance of a professional travel agent, it is advised that you turn to the internet for assistance. What is nice about the internet is that it can connect you to a number of online travel websites or online travel companies, like vacation or travel companies that work directly with many popular Jamaican vacation resorts. With the internet, it almost makes it so that you don’t ever need to use the service of a travel agent again.

When making your own Jamaican vacation reservations, you have the option of making each of your reservations individually and independently. For instance, you can first research and examine airlines that take you to Jamaica, as well as their costs. Once you find a Jamaican airline that meets your expectations, you can buy your ticket or tickets online. After this process has been completed, you may move on to booking yourself a car rental reservation, as well as a stay at a poplar Jamaican vacation resort. What is nice about this approach is that you should be able to pay for each of your reservations online with a credit card or a debit card that can be processed as a credit card.

While it is more than possible for you to book each of your next Jamaican vacation reservations individually and independently, you may want to refrain from doing so, especially if you are busy or pressed for time. Unfortunately, making each of your Jamaican vacation reservations individually and independently can be a time consuming process. The good news, however, is that you still have additional Jamaican vacation booking options to choose from. One of those options involves making all of your travel arrangements in the form of a vacation package.

Even if you have never traveled to Jamaica or the Caribbean before, there is a good chance that you have heard of vacation packages before. Vacation packages enable you to make multiple vacation reservations or travel arrangements all at the same time. Standard vacation packages often include airline reservations, overnight stays at popular hotels or resorts, as well as car rentals. The ability to book multiple vacation reservations all at once can save you a considerable amount of time, as well as hassle, when planning your next Jamaican vacation.

What you may find even more amazing about Jamaican vacation packages is that they come in a number of different formats. In the Caribbean, including Jamaica, all-inclusive vacation packages and super-inclusive vacation packages are rapidly increasing in popularity. These types of vacation packages typically include the cost of airfare, overnight resort stays, onsite food and drinks, as well as a wide range of entertainment activities, such as snorkeling or scuba diving lessons and tours. With having the majority of your vacation mapped out for you, super-inclusive Jamaican vacations and all-inclusive Jamaican vacations are the perfect way to simply the process of planning your own vacation.

If you would like to visit Jamaica and if you are sure about handling the booking of your own vacation reservations, you will want to examine Superclubs. com. With a large selection of affordable, yet quality vacation packages to choose from, you are sure to find what you need, plus some, at Superclubs. com.