Evaluating Your Business Product or Idea

As you begin to develop your business idea, you need to determine its strength and viability. Below is a checklist of criteria to help in evaluating ideas that seem to match what youre looking for. Ask yourself the following questions when evaluating an idea for a business or product:

1. Does it satisfy or create a market need? Introducing a new product without first testing the market is like jumping off a cliff blindfolded. In fact, many businesses fail because there is no adequate market for their products or services. Before you risk your resources on a new venture, it is necessary to get an objective picture of your prospective market. Although accurately determining the customer reaction to a new product is difficult, a new business owner must try to get hold of as much information on the market as he or she can either through a formal market research or through secondary research. The rule is: find a need and fill it. To the extent possible, do not offer a product or service so new or unusual that people cannot understand why they should buy it - unless you want to spend most of your time and resources educating the public. Big companies, with their deep pockets, can afford to launch a massive educational campaign for breakthrough products. Home businesses, given their size and nature, often do not have the resources (capital, personnel, technology) to mobilize such campaigns. Also, do not offer a product you love to make but whose market potential is weak at best.

2. Will the product maintain market appeal? Beware of fads and fleeting trends as these markets change quickly that your business cannot achieve a sufficient volume or a sufficient share of the market. If your product, however, is a fad, make sure that you can move fast enough to capitalize on it before it dies. Also determine if your product or service can be used nationally, or is it simply limited to your geographical area. With the increasing globalization of business, you may need to look at the international market and see if there is significant foreign competition.

3. How unique is your product? The goal is to be able to differentiate your product from your competitor. You need to show why your products and services are unique, distinct, or of considerably superior than your competitors. Every product in the world can be sold or presented in a new way. If you seriously intend to capture a significant market share, your potential customers must find more value from your product.

4. How useful is your product? Many new ideas and products are successful because their creators identified an unmet need in the market. Identify at the onset how your product or service will be used, and determine the frequency of product use. Some business ideas fill a real need, but in some cases the need have to be created through promotional advertising and promotions. This information can help build your marketing strategy.

5. How much competition exists? Remember, there is never a "no competition" situation. You product will always have its competition. Determine the kind of competition you will have - locally, regionally, and nationally. Look for heavy or moderate competition - the fact that competition exists in that market proves a demand, or at least a need for what you offer. However, test for market saturation. Unless you are offering a groundbreaking product, stay away from market with extremely few competitors. Lack of competition could mean that your business idea is not profitable to begin with, or that your idea is so new and unique that no one has thought of it yet. Few players in the market could also imply that the market may be controlled by a monopoly or a cartel, the barriers to entry are too high for a small firm, or that the demand is too limited to sustain another entrant in the market.

6. Have you priced your product competitively? The right price for a product or service is one of the essential elements in a solid business model. Don't do yourself injustice; the wrong price tag is like a ticket to disaster. Economic survival is the primary consideration underlying all pricing decisions. Ideally, a price should meet three requirements: it should match the competition; it should be attractive to your potential customers; and it should earn a profit for you. Set your prices, not by competition, but based on the needs of your business. Depending on your products, consider pricing yourself on the higher side: the higher you price yourself, the higher you position yourself.

7. What is the level of difficulty in the creation or implementation of the product? You need to consider the economic factors in the execution of the product, such as time, capital investment required, and marketing costs, personnel needed, among others. Also determine if you have the engineering, production, sales, and distribution facilities adequate for the product's implementation. You may have an excellent business idea, but if you do not have the economies of scale to produce it, then you might be better off to consider other products (or at least a scaled down version).

8. What are the growth possibilities? Your business model stands to succeed if the demand for your products or services can be expected to grow with a change in the economy. Check if your product can survive a major technological surge or obsolescence.

9. Can I get backend sales? Back-end sales are all the products or services you sell and resell to customers or clients after they have made their initial purchasing transaction with you. Determine if your product or service will warrant repeat sales. There is real business value in building a pool of repeat customers. The bulk of the sales, cash flow and current profit comes from utilizing and then better utilizing a back end.

10. Is the product safe? The safety of a product use is an important consideration for many consumers, particularly for manufactured products. If you are in the service business, you need to make sure that your personnel are properly trained with the goal of satisfying your customers foremost in their minds. Educate your consumers on how best to use the product and include clear instructions to avoid costly legal entanglements. Make sure that your business is insured against various forms of liabilities that may arise.

11. Can my product be promoted with strong advertising copy? Emotion sells. People are often motivated to buy a product or service because of some emotion, whether it is greed, fear or want. Response to advertisements often increases whenever you inject these elements into your ad. Sit down before you write the ad and ask yourself what you want to feel. Then translate these feelings to written words for your advertising copy. Stress what people can gain from ordering your product or service (financial reward, becoming the envy of others, knowledge to get ahead in life) or tell them what they lose if they do not order (loss of time and convenience, discounts for ordering before a deadline).

12. Will you be left with an inventory? Avoid inventory risk; make sure that even you will buy the product. If you have inventory, consider getting homeowner's or renter's insurance policy to protect your business against all possible disasters, be it fire, tornado, hurricane or earthquake.

Trina Newby is President and Founder of Women About Biz, a powerful and effective membership-based network for Businesswomen. Let us show you how to grow your business at Women About Biz.Daveen Blog17243
Dannie Blog44677

Benefits Of A SEO Sitemap Generator

Sitemap generator programs can be downloaded from various sources on the Internet. Sitemap generator programs have two fundamental purposes. Sitemap generator programs help surfers navigate a site effectively. At the same time, a sitemap generator program encourages search engine spiders. Google offers one of the most popular sitemap generator programs ever to hit the Internet.

The sitemap generator of google makes it possible for a website to get listed and get updated by the google search engine. Setting up the sitemap generator helps speed up the addition of the web pages of a site to the google listing. The sitemap generator also makes it easier for a site to get noticed by online surfers. In addition, any changes made to a website that has a sitemap generator is immediately picked up by google. The sitemap generator also helps keep online information fresh and up-to-date for users.

Visibility is key to sitemap generator

Visibility is a major concern when using a sitemap generator. A website that is completely indexed has better chances of getting top search engine placement in page results. Many of the popular browsers used by searchers and that support java recognize sitemap generator programs. These include firefox and Internet explorer.

An online consumer that searches for a specific content on the web can immediately be directed to any one of the web pages of a particular site. The sitemap generator makes it easier for a search engine to provide accurate results from web pages they are familiar with.

Who can benefit from a sitemap generator?

A sitemap generator is highly recommended for websites that often do repeated modification of their web pages. A sitemap generator can be used for websites of any size, regardless of the number of web pages a site may contain.

Although using a sitemap generator is not a guarantee of increased site rankings, it does however provide a website a better opportunity of getting listed on a search engine.

Working with a sitemap generator

Most of the available sitemap generator programs available on the web make use of extensible markup language or XML. Similar to hypertext markup language or HTML, XML is used widely in blogs and syndicated feeds on the Internet. Each line of a XML code for a sitemap generator has a specific purpose.

The location or identifies the name of the web page of a website. The line indicates when the web page was last modified. The format for can either be dd.mm.yyyy, dd.mm.yyyy hh:mm, dd/mm/yyyy or dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm. Shortcuts can also be used to simply the assignment of dates to the cell.

advises the search engine of a specific time frame when the web page is regularly updated. This can either be done on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. For web pages that are not updated, the value 'never' is used. indicates the level of priority that a search engine should give a particular web page of a website. These levels range from 0.0 for least priority to 1.0 for high priority.

Creating a dynamic sitemap generator

Creating a dynamic sitemap generator is useful for websites containing various web pages. The google search engine makes it easy for users to adapt their google sitemap with the help of a python script.

The python script generates a sitemap using sitemap protocol. This creates a sitemap from either access logs, URL lists or from web server directories.

Tips for using a sitemap generator from google

As one of more popular search engines offering a sitemap generator for websites on the Internet, google offers a few tips for its loyal users. Using the google sitemap url encoder/decoder is helpful for submitting sitemaps to google. For websites that have numerous web pages, creating a sitemap can be a tremendous task. For this situation it is best to click on the column title in order to make it easier for a URL list to get sorted.

The google sitemap generator allows users to save their settings after creating a sitemap. Users can use these saved settings as a guideline for succeeding sitemap generator updates. The sitemap generator also recognizes the use of robots.txt files.

Using a sitemap generator is a positive move in getting top ranking on the Internet's top search engines as well as high visibility among online users.

Mr. Christian Kameir is the CEO of http://www.colizer.com His web site can be found at http://www.kameir.com.Dacia Blog58282
Denise Blog21443

Could You Use A Personal Injury Attorney?

Have you got a case? Do you know when you need a personal injury attorney?

Most people assume you only need a personal injury attorney for a auto accident. Clearly, when you have an auto accident that results in an injury to yourself caused by others then hiring a personal injury attorney would be prudent, but there are many instances when a personal injury attorney may be of use to you for all sorts of accidents caused by others.

The key question when assessing whether you need to hire an attorney regarding a claim is has there been negligence caused by another? If there has been no negligence, intentional or otherwise, then there can be no claim. For instance, as you walk down the sidewalk your toe catches on a loose paving slab. You fall and break your wrist. In this instance the persons or authority charged with maintaining the sidewalk is negligent for letting the sidewalk fall into dangerous disrepair. If, however on your walk about town, you trip on a sidewalk for no reason other than your own clumsiness and break your wrist only you are responsible. The side walk is in good working order only you are negligent for not taking more care.

There are many instances when a personal injury claim may be made, not only car accidents and slips on sidewalks. Workplace accidents, construction accidents, fires, floods, poisoning, drug overdoses, animal bites, being robbed or mugged, medical malpractice, airplane/bus/train accidents and even legal malpractice may entitle you to a personal injury claim.

Even accidents you may have had in the past may be worth assessing with a personal injury attorney. Often when you consider who was at fault for your accident you may point the finger of suspicion in one direction, but a well chosen personal injury attorney may be able to highlight several parties at fault for the incident.

So how do you choose a personal injury attorney to represent you? Well, first off select a few from your local area to interview over the telephone. Ask each how many personal injury cases they have tried in front of a jury, the type of experts they have had to hire for clients, whether they have handled cases similar to yours and what results did they achieve, whether they willing to advance the expense of the litigation and what percentage of their income is derived from personal injury cases. Answers to these questions should help you to make a good choice of attorney from your selection.

Ian Walker writes for http://www.sflorida-personalinjuryattorney.com.Clary Blog76532
Christin Blog92051

6 Critical Benefits of Preparing Your Own Personal Budget

The task of preparing your own budget is a liberating experience. You can finally see the true state of your personal finances. The benefits listed below may help encourage you in making your decision to start today. Ready to begin? Let's go.

Benefit #1. The budget focuses your thinking.

Without a budget you are not able to clearly see the extent of your spending compared to your income. This is the most important role of your budget. It will show you whether you are living within your means or whether you are living on borrowed funds. It is also the tool that can show you where all your money is being spent. This allows you to answer important questions, such as "Am I wasting money on things I don't really need?", "Is my credit card debt to blame for my predicament?" and "How much better off would I be if I could manage to be debt free?".

Benefit #2. Helps you save money and set goals.

Once you have correctly prepared your budget, it will show you how much you need to save from your income to meet your expenses and set aside some funds for emergencies. It allows you to set goals, both for the amount and the timing. For example, you may set a goal of paying $3,000 (the amount) off your credit cards, within 1 year (the timing). Once you make a commitment to yourself to make this work the budget becomes a tool that will help you stay on track.

Benefit #3. Keeps your goals in your mind.

It is easy to slip back into your old spending ways if you do not commit to making the budget work. The budget will help you keep the goals you set in your mind when you are tempted to give in. When you are out, it can help you say no to frivolous expenditure, say no to that daily coffee-shop coffee, think twice before you hand over your hard-earned money on things you don't really need and wait until that item you really want goes on sale.

Benefit #4. Helps you live within your means.

Every time you make a spending decision, it has a positive or negative impact on your financial position. The budget can show you clearly how your spending habits affect your finances in advance. Your budget can help you understand that if you spend money on this item you can't use the same money to spend on something else. You only have a finite income. If you spend more than you earn you are living on borrowed money and the cost of that money is interest. The interest on borrowed funds is most probably the cause of your financial worries.

Benefit #5. Puts you in control of your finances.

If you've prepared your budget correctly, you will see how much you have available to spend, after taking into account your debt repayments and savings requirements for your future needs. This information can take away the guilt you may have felt when purchasing some item(s) you knew you couldn't really afford. With a budget you know what you can afford and what is beyond your means. When you know you can afford an item you really want, the purchasing experience will be much more enjoyable and rewarding.

Benefit #6. - Tracks your progress toward your goals.

Once you prepare you budget it should not put into a drawer and forgotten. It should be a live document that you refer to weekly, or at least monthly. This is your guide to financial freedom. You need to check your progress towards your goals, thus giving you the incentive to keep going and achieve your financial objectives. If you make the effort and follow your plan, you'll be surprised how easy it really is to reach financial freedom.

Bruce Hokin has designed a simple budget tool called "5 Steps to Freedom" Personal Budget. It based on his extensive background as a qualified, experienced accountant, manager, consultant and financial adviser. You can be on your way to financial freedom within the hour. It is available at his website http://www.freedom-personal-budgets.comCrin Blog56277
Clarette Blog78216

Make Big Money In Real Estate

Real Estate is one of the oldest forms of investing known to man.

Real Estate investing is easy and fortunes are made in a simple manner. For example, and investor decides that a desert area will eventually become an industrial development. He purchases a number of acres at a very low price. If his guess turns out to be correct, ten years later he sells the land hundred times more than what he paid for it.This can happen in any part of the country and is not an exceptional case.

As the population keeps growing in the U.S., land prices continue to raise and it means that Real Estate will continue to offer one of the best investment opportunities in the country.

Compared to most forms of investment, Real Estate offers greater profit potential. Of course, not every piece of land will turn out to be a winner, and despite the great potential rewards in some cases risks are involved, so the necessity of careful study before invest.

One of the problem of Real Estate is his lack of liquidity.

Liquid assists are those easily converted into cash like stocks or bons. Most Real Estate investments take years before you can make some money, so it is not wise to tie up all your assets in this type of investment. Your financial situation will determine how much you can wisely invest in properties.

There is a difference between a land speculator and an investor.

A speculator buys land with the intention to make a quick sale and fast profits and will not hold land for a long period of time. An investor, on the other hand, looks for a long time gain, and usually buys only what he can afford to keep for an indefinite period of time.

If you are new at this field, it is wise to refrain from any a speculation until you become more informed, and you will have to devote considerable time to study and research. It is wise also to consult specialists before you act.

Without realizing it, you already made a very successful investment in Real Estate if you bought your own home.

Before you look for areas to invest, consider the condition of your own house. If you have any plan for selling it, good landscaping has been known to considerably increase the value of a home.

Large profits can be attained by purchasing run-down homes and restoring them for eventual selling, but some factors have to be considered:

* You must know something about architecture and remodeling and get and idea of how much it will cost to get the house back into shape. Consider what you will be able to do yourself and what it will cost you if you have to have it done.

* The location of the house is the most important factor to consider. Study the neighborhood, shopping, and transportation facilities.

It can also be profitable to lease land for commercial use. Land which borders highway is extremely valuable for purpose such as warehouse, gas station, etc.

Land development companies frequently run advertisements offering country retreats. Be wary of these offers as they themselves make a large profit at the time they sell you the land, so it is much more profitable for you to buy your own.

When you buy property, buy at a price that involves a minimum financial risk. Invest only a modest amount of your own capital, when you sell, determine if a cash or installment sale is the best, based on your over-all income tax status. Learn by looking back on the mistakes made in the past and by reviewing the opportunities you have missed.

Prepare a list of all properties available in your area and think up the best future use of the properties. Learn to purchase land before there is a demand. To buy land well in advance is the only economical way at today's prices. Then hold the property until you can resale for large profits. Don't sell all your desirable properties and keep just lemons.

If you are willing to leave the cities, you should not have any trouble finding inexpensive land for sale. If you discover a tract of land appealing to you but not listed for sale, contact the Country Register's Office and he will tell you who is the owner. Get in touch with him and he could be willing to sell.

As a rule purchasing tracts of land within thirty miles from a growing city is often a sound investment. Deal only with qualified realtors. Be careful of individuals who offer quick profits.

Before taking any action, study what has been written about the subject. Know why you should and should not buy. Stay conventional and don't buy white elephants. Look for hidden defects and make the property attractive before offering it for resale. Study local conditions and be sure it is practical.

Constantly look for bargains and quality properties with exceptional features that will make the sale easier. Follow up on For Sale signs, make inquiries.

When discouraging elements occur, minimize your losses by whatever means available. Don't throw away money on repairs for poorly located property or in an area of surplus rental units.

Before you attempt to sell, find out how the prospect can use the property profitably. Ask yourself if you would purchase it if you were in the prospect's shoes. Ask yourself if the future use will fit any of the many types of specific businesses. Can a hospital, a bank, an apartment complex, condominium or professional building be located on the property.

Learn to analyze the pros and cons of a real estate problem.

Break it down into its various elements. Know if the answers you come up with are satisfactory and practical. Try different approaches to the problem.

You are necessary looking for the "top" or "bottom" of the market, or the current economic situation. You are looking for a variety of properties which have a higher value dependent on the use that can be established for them.

There are always opportunities in Real Estate during good times and bad, but it is up to you to pick and choose only those very best deals, especially during times when it appears that Real Estate values and demand have reached their peak or in times when it is practically impossible for most anyone to get bank loans due to the tight money market or impossible interest rates.

You can make big money in realestate.

Gregory WadelDeanna Blog58427
Dacey Blog62025

An Introduction To Tuscany Italy

Tuscany, Italy is the place that movies are filmed and fantasies run wild. Perhaps it is the cities of Florence, Pisa, or Livorno that invoke feelings of culture, art, or arouse the senses to the smells and taste of the Chianti region. The fact is that Tuscany is home to some of the most famous tourist destinations in Italy. It is here that budding artists come to learn from the masters. It is here that the world of fashion takes it cues. And it is in Tuscany that romantics rekindle the flame and celebrate their love.

The Cities of Tuscany

Florence is perhaps one of the most famous cities in the area known as Tuscany. The Uffizi museum after all is home to such masterpieces as The Birth of Venus. Originally built to house the Tuscan administrative offices, the top floor now houses masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. Each visitor to Florence must also stop in and gaze at Michelangelos David, on display at the oldest art academy, the Galleria dellAccademia. The Ponte Vecchio is a landmark that literally translated means old bridge. It was built in the 1300s and has withstood floods and wars in order to continue to hawk some of the worlds most wonderful 18 and 24k gold products and leather goods.

Chianti is known for its wines which are famous around the world. Tourists to Tuscany can enjoy the worlds finest wines while enjoying the picturesque countryside.

Siena, also located in the Chianti region houses a gothic cathedral and paintings by medieval masters, Duccio and Simone Martini. The Renaissance and Etruscan history are evident in each landmark of the region.

Piza is best known for the Leaning Tower whose construction began in the 12th century, but starting sinking into the ground after only 3 stories were completed. It stood this way for 90 years and was finally completed by the son of Andreo Pisano, Tommano Simone and Giovanni de Simone almost 200 years after it was started.

Hillsides and Waysides

Part of the beauty and mystique of Tuscany is its countryside. The rolling hills that slope down to the coast are dotted with vineyards and villas. There are working farms and vacation villas suitable for the most adventurous tourists or those who demand first class accommodations. Tuscany car rentals allow tourists to explore each tiny village at their own pace and on their own schedule.

The Heart of Commerce

Emerging as a real business centre, Tuscany is home to thriving businesses in the furniture, leather, fashion, and manufacturing industries. These businesses keep the region in the 21st century while the people and culture keep one foot in the past.

If romance, tradition and culture are your idea of an ideal vacation, then Tuscany is for you. On the other hand if shopping and the face pace of a thriving city are your style then you will also find it in the Tuscany region of Italy.

Robert Carlton very often produces publications on news associated to tuscany tours and Tuscany car rental. You can come across his publications over at http://www.tuscany-italy-guide.com and other sources for Tuscany italy news.Daisy Blog3503
Cris Blog57452

Live Testimonials

Today we are going to talk about using your blackberry to create a transcript of live testimonies from event speakers, such as a marketing seminar. Recording live testimonies has never been easier.

Let me start with a case study. In this day and age of information overload, I'm guilty of trying to get as much of it as I can, and I hope you'll join me. There was a seminar called "The Mega Speaking Empire" a few months back. At the end of the conference, they asked me to explain to the entire audience that we were hoping to get live testimonials to put on a web site, which was being launched to sell a recorded version of the conference. I politely asked that everyone pull out their blackberry, and jot down Mark Victor Hansen's AudioGenerator testimonials telephone number. Then, right after, dozens of people would go outside and record a 60 second to 3 minute testimonial.

So how do you apply this plan of attack to your business? Let's say, for a second, you find yourself at a conference, addressing people at a teleconference, or meeting someone for brunch, you have material for live testimonials waiting for you. Just ask them to pull out their blackberry, and dial the number to your AudioGenerator line. This is going to provide them with a toll-free number. You also need to put that number in your PDA, or your blackberry. When you want, it will digitally encode the voice messages and put them online to your web site. At your next opportunity, log into AudioGenerator, review the recording, and distribute it to your list. And surf's up! Audio testimonials are a wonderful way to maximize your web site conversion by 200%-300%!

If you're not using AudioGenerator, I suggest that you use it. Check out this postcard I generated using it.

Don't wait! Prepare for your next conference by getting ready to grab those live testimonials.

Good luck!

Segovia Smith gives you is your source for information on anything from Affiliate Marketing, to Web Traffic Conversion and anything related. Go to: http://www.howimademyfirstdollar.com, and get your free MyFirstDollar Membership!Christiane Blog41912
Corine Blog27885

Tips On The City Of Malaga In Spain

This Malaga city overview will help you plan your vacation. There is a lot to do in this city. Malaga is home to several museums allowing you to enjoy the history, art and culture of the area. The market area and the surrounding area is a great place for shopping, eating and enjoying the night life in the city. Become familiar with the attractions to help you create an itinerary for your vacation.

Malaga is the second largest city in Andalucia. It is located on the Costa del Sol. Malaga city is the capital of the Malaga province. The region is well known for wine production, fresh seafood and beautiful weather. The Malaga airport is convenient to the city and offers discount flights from several airlines.

Malaga City Overview: Museums

The Picasso Museum honors this citys most famous resident. Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga. The museum is dedicated to the life and works of the artist. The home where Picasso was born is located not far from the museum. The home has been preserved and is now the headquarters of the Picasso Foundation.

There are two museums located on the site of the Alcazaba Castle. The Archaeological Museum contains a variety of Greek and Gothic artifacts. Also on the site is the Museo de la Ceramica. This museum is dedicated to pottery and has a variety of pottery from many historical periods. A first century Roman theater is also located on the grounds.

The castle is built on the remains of an ancient Roman fortress. The castle was expanded in the fourteenth century. This is one of the oldest castles in Spain. You will get to experience the history of this city when you tour the castle.

Malaga is home to a few other museums as well. The city museum is located in the old part of town. The Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions is an interesting place to visit. This museum contains art from local artists of different periods including modern art.

Malaga City Overview: Attractions

The Cathedral is one of the best known buildings in the city. The area where the cathedral stands was originally the site of a mosque. Construction on the cathedral started in 1528. Construction continued off and on over the next few centuries. It was stopped in 1783, when the money ran out. The south tower is still not finished. You will observe many different styles of architecture in this building.

The market area is located just west of the Cathedral. Both are located in the old part of the town. You will know the market hall by the elaborate marble entrance. Here you will find the best the city has to offer for sale. There are fresh fish, seafood, fresh flowers and vegetables for sale.

In the area surrounding the market, there are a variety of restaurants. Fresh seafood is always on the menu. This area is also home to several bars. If you are looking to enjoy some night life during your visit, this is where you will find it.

The harbor area is another popular spot in Malaga. There is a great view of the water when walking along this area. There is also a nice park near the harbor area to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather in this area. A bullfighting arena is located in this part of the city and is another popular tourist attraction.

Jack Blacksmith published first and foremost for http://www.alicante-spain.com , a website on Spain and Costa del Sol. Through his reports such as http://www.alicante-spain.com/costa-del-sol/malaga.html ,he proofed his experience on ideas dealing with Malaga.Davina Blog74422
Dael Blog94354

Make Extra Spending Money in time For Holiday Shopping

With the holidays just a few short months away, now is the time to try to get extra cash to spend on your friends, family and maybe even youself. You'll hear all over the news to try and NOT use your credit cards, as interest rates will kill you later. It can be so hard to decide how much to spend on people, and what you can afford without going broke doing it. So what can you do, in order to make that extra money you may need for the holidays? Follow our tips below to help you find that "hidden" cash that you can use now to make your holidays merry and bright.

1. Clean out your house - Look around your house/garage. Do you have anything you don't use anymore, doesn't fit, given as a gift but you didn't want it to begin with? Sell it on eBay. Take your item, do a search on eBay and see what similiar items are going for now. You can do a short 3 day sale, or a 7 day sale, depending on how quickly you need the cash. Take good quality digital photos of your item, and make sure your description covers everything. If your items are quite large, and too expensive to ship, offer a "pick up only" option, to lure those in your area to bid on your item. Be realistic about the price as well. If you start the bid too high, you may end up getting no bids at all. Many times a lower starting bid will start a bidding war in the end between people who have gotten the "auction itch" and now want your item regardless of the price. When I sell on eBay, I prefer buyers who either send me a money order, or PayPal only. It gives you better options in the end.

2. Organize a neighborhood yard sale - Get you and your neighbors together to have a commuinty yard sale. Advertise in the paper for either free, or cheaply, and then more people are likley to come if they see that there are multiple families participating as compared to just one. Make it worth their while. Have coffee and donuts available for the early birds. If they want to talk you down, bargain with them. Remember - you are trying to make extra cash so every little bit counts.

3. Cut out buying coffee/lunch for a month - If you like to have that $4.00 cafe latte every morning, and lunch at the local spot, try bringing it from home for a month, and see how much you can save. Put the money you would've spent that week in a jar. By the end of the month you could have anywhere between $80 - 200 dollars at the end of the month, depending on how much you were spending.

4. Offer your services - If you bake well, or are crafty, tell your friends that you'll make those school cookies, or teacher's gifts for a nominal fee. Some parents may even like it if you delivered those items as well, which you could add to your cost.

5. Look in the paper for temp jobs - if you have the time, perhaps only on the weekend, see if local stores are offering seasonal jobs that would give you extra spending money. Even better would be an employee discount, where you could use your extra cash for gitf buying.

There are many other ways for you to come up with extra spending money for the holidays. Don't let the credit card companies lure you into thinking that you can spend up to your limit. You can easily and creatively have a great holiday season without breaking the bank. Good luck to you all!

S.W. Chadwick has been working in online businesses from home since 2000. She has written dozens of articles regarding entrepreneurial pursuits and online businesses. To learn more about working from home, please visit http://www.dowhatyouloveandmakemoney.com. Copyright 2006, S.W. Chadwick, All Rights ReservedCherilynn Blog77562
Christen Blog84337

Selling More of Your Product Online in 2006

One of the most important things to consider when selling your product is, who are you selling your product to?

There are many opportunities online to sell your product online. You can spend money on advertising using products offered by companies such as Google, you can submit your business to several directories, or you can develop relationships with others with content driven information relating to offering consumers information that is beneficial to their future.

An example of selling products by targeting your market would be to use Google services that can market your product to a selected territory. Perhaps through research you have identified possible locations by city or country that would benefit from your product or service. You have uncovered market information that this could be a possible successful area for sales generation. For more information on Google software and sales for promotion of your business see: http://www.google.ca/services/

Targeting your clients is also important in understanding the future of your business. There are certain reasons why consumers may choose your product over others. What makes your product stand out, is it past success in solving a problem or does it provide something new for innovation. A good way to create such a plan is to design a benefits analysis. For more information on Web Marketing plans online see: http://www.sheridanc.on.ca/~nowell/webplans/

Cross marketing situations can be beneficial for businesses in related industries. One such example could be the financial industry. People need bank accounts, loans, insurance, mortgages and a wide variety of financial services. If you are a provider in this industry and you have an online service or software solutions then perhaps linking with others that target may be beneficial to your business. For more information on the benefits of linking and SEO see: http://www.seoexpert.ws/

A final opportunity area would be direct advertising with sites. You can check into various sites you can put your ad on whether they are major search sites or content driven sites that provide information.

Various examples are the tried and true http://www.msn.com, http://www.yahoo.com and http://www.google.com.

Examples for Directories that are beneficial are: http://www.business.com, http://www.yellow.com and http://www.uscity.net

A final option would be liinking with other content driven providers, you will have to take the time to search and choose who you would like to deal with in search of future business relationships.

In summary, this is a realistic way you can get started in developing your online business for success in 2006. All the best.

Daryl Des Marais is a Business Development Consultant that has helped several entrepreneurs in service businesses expand and develop their businesses revenues and/or locations. He is a private partner in http://www.businessgrowth.ca.Constanta Blog20021
Crissy Blog43491

An Apple Martini A Day...

The Apple Martini

As always insight always comes to me in the latest hour of the evening. This evening was shadowed with the feelings of melancholy and sadness. Sometimes you just want to hide from the world and the only one you can handle talking to is your best girlfriend. On this evening we went to our favorite martini bar to bitch about life, we knew that we could hide out on our favorite corner couch, eat chocolate and drink a good martini. We also knew that we would hopefully not be bothered by anyone we knew. It is always great when your girlfriend is in the same pissy mood that you are. I knew we both felt like crap when I realized that neither of us had done our hair. The ponytail was a fashion statement that evening. Martinis are usually the inspiration for laughter and giggles however on that evening I could tell that they were going to be the catalyst of tears.

We decided on the Apple martini because we needed something sweet to cheer us up. Our favorite bartender must have sensed that we were not having the best life because when the martinis arrived he had put a special twist on them just for us. I had to admire this martini because it was a work of art. The Apple martini is a blend of Vodka and Sour Apple Schnapps with a splash of sour mix. However this evening the martini was all about the accessories. The glass was rimmed with white rock sugar and the edge of the glass was garnished with a wedge of sharp cheddar cheese. It was truly divine.

We raised our martini glasses and toasted to our Fathers. As I took my first sip I let out a big sigh, it was the perfect combination of the sour green apple mixed with the sweetness of the sugared rim. It was a great martini, both our Daddys would have loved it. As we looked at each other we both burst into tears and then we realized that we were crying in our martini bar and started to giggle. We were both pissy and sad. Why? Because it was the night before Fathers Day and we were both paying tribute to our beloved Dads, both of which had passed on. There is something about Fathers and Daughters, there is an unspoken connection, and when it is gone life truly is never the same. We started talking about our Dads; even though they never knew each other they were very similar. Our Fathers both loved the high life, a great dinner, fantastic martinis and they were both jokers.

Not all Fathers and daughters have this apple of their fathers eye relationship. But we both felt blessed that we had been those apples. I do not remember when it started but there was always a sparkle in my dads eye when he saw me. The feeling of being swept up in his embrace, the big warm hug from Dad was the ultimate affection. We both remembered how he was always there for us, no matter what we did. Right or wrong he backed us up and bailed us out, and in my case I was usually getting bailed out. Secretly I think my Dad loved that I stirred the shit because sometimes I would catch him laughing as he told my mom what I had done. My mother was always horrified but I think my father was proud of my shanagins. We agreed that our fathers were not perfect, they were far from it. They both made huge mistakes but we realized that they only did the best that they could. But part of being the apple of their eye is that we did not care that they made mistakes, we loved them unconditionally as they did us.

In life we always search for the unconditional love but in relationships it never really happens. With your partner there are always boundaries and expectations but with a father and daughter there is always acceptance. Is that why I have heard that a woman always looks for a man who is just like her father! Is this unconditional love the reason why daughters always want their fathers to be proud of them? Why we strive to prove to our dads that we can do it? Why is it always our Dad that we call when we need advice, support and the strength to just get through it. However, Dads feel the same way, nothing makes them more blissful then the excitement of their daughters success. When she is wronged by someone, nothing can stop him from protecting her. God help the man that breaks her heart, a father will never forgive him. No one can answer why this relationship is so special but only that it just is.

Read the conclusion to the Apple Martini and pick up the Apple Martini Recipe at http://www.MartinisAtMidnight.com

Marjie Martini is the celebrated author of Martinis At Midnight, the definitive guide to life, love and Martinis. Try the Apple Martini Recipe and sign up for my newsletter for more weekly recipes today!Cornelia Blog20999
Christiana Blog66728

Do You Make This Mistake Recruiting Women?

Women tell me that the biggest reason they contemplate quitting is because they don't think they can say and do what they're being taught to - even when their upline is a woman. Here's a stark example of something like that.

It's been a tradition in our industry to lead with recruiting, and then to emphasize the "big money, free time," the "big check" or the flashy cars, and "mansion on the hill."

Although not even ONE percent actually attains anything resembling a "big check" (say $10,000/mo or more), to say nothing of the mansions and flashy cars, it is the way the men have always led and presented the business, and they've taught women to lead the same way.

Of course, those who actually HAVE the big checks and new cars are often used do 3-ways with other distributors, so that the big check story can be told. It's standard fare.

It so happens that one big kahuna woman earner, who was in the last Nylon Woman class, fessed up that for the last few years, she too, told any new woman prospects her big money story. After all, that was the practice in her company too. Often, though, she told me the woman prospect would decline, much to the surprise of my successful friend.

So why would leading with the big money or mansion story NOT work with most women prospects?

Three reasons right off.

1) Most women in our business, and those looking, are PART TIME. They have perhaps 5-10 hours a week. Do we take them for such nitwits that they cannot figure out that there is no way with 5-10 hours a week, that they will get the big money or mansion on the hill anytime soon, especially when it's likely that her husband, who is working 60 hours a week, is not doing either of those things yet?

2) Did anyone ask HER what SHE is looking for? Before they start bragging and strutting their stuff?

3) Most women, research has shown, do not respond well to bragging and big hype. Unlike men, who apparently do it and respond to it better.

Martha Barletta, researcher on women's buying habits, tells men marketers:

"No need to strut your stuff. One way men earn each other's trust is to communicate their track records. A guy will talk about how good he is as a way of proving he can do a great job: 'Half of my clients are worth over a million dollars,' he'll say. Or 'I doubled his return in six months.' They talk about achievements, drop names, and let you know where they stand in the company hierarchy." She continues,

"I call these credibility displays, because they remind me of a peacock who's very proud of his tail feathers. Don't get me wrong - this is the right thing to do in male gender culture...But women don't brag. They'll tolerate it quietly, but they won't be impressed. As a matter of fact, rather than buidling respect, credibility displays are much more likely to ruin rapport."
-"Marketing to Women",
Martha Barletta, 2003

What say you? Shall we stop doing the credibility displays (your own or that of a top earner) on that "first date" with a woman? So as to stop "ruining rapport" with them by mistake? And on the first date, no less?

And remember, one of those part time women, the Nylon Woman, might go full time later, as you can see in the "Nylon Woman story".

What say you?

Kim Klaver is Harvard & Stanford educated. Her 20 years experience in network marketing have resulted in a popular blog, KimKlaverBlogs.com, a podcast, YourGreatThing.com and a giant resource site, BananaMarketing.com which features hundreds of stories, tips, books and CD programs for those who want to learn the art of network marketing.

Kim Klaver is Harvard & Stanford educated. Her 20 years experience in network marketing have resulted in a popular blog, http://KimKlaverBlogs.com, a podcast, http://YourGreatThing.com and a giant resource site, http://BananaMarketing.com.Cristen Blog95431
Dahlia Blog66084

Strain - Counter Strain

What is Strain - Counter Strain

Strain - Counter Strain is a manual massage technique for relieving musculoskeletal spasms and pain. It is also known as Positional Release. This technique was developed by Dr. Lawrence Jones, an osteopathic doctor in 1981. It is a gentle and safe technique that relieves spinal or other joint pain by passively shortening the affected muscle areas.

How does Strain - Counter Strain work

Our bodies are not designed to function optimally in the concrete jungles that we live in these days. Years of living in these conditions puts a lot of strain on our body parts due to unnatural movements and incorrect postures. This strain on our joints leads to the development of painful tender spots. Strain / Counter Strain identifies these tender points and helps to alleviate the pain that they cause.

During a session of therapy, the practitioner uses palpation to identify the tender points on the patients body. Once the practitioner has identified these tender points he or she corrects the dysfunction by using the appropriate strain/counter strain technique. The practitioner achieves this by gently holding the affected muscle in a passively shortened position for about ninety seconds. When the muscle is held in this position, it is gradually returned to its original resting position and length. In this condition, the muscle is stronger and less tender. The proprioceptor nerves register this change in the position of the muscle and enable it to remain at this neutral position even when the force applied by the practitioner has been removed. This system of strain / counter strain is continued until the affected area is in harmony with the rest of the body and the pain associated with this imbalance is gone.

Benefits of Strain - Counter Strain

Strain / Counter Strain techniques help to alleviate pain and discomfort in muscles and joints and help to restore full range of movement to these affected areas. They have been effectively used to treat post-injury pain and speed up the recovery process for professional sportspersons. Strain / Counter strain is also very useful for treating people with whiplash injuries. Due to its gentle and safe nature strain / counter strain has also been used to treat children and the elderly. It has proved to be very successful when used in conjunction with more traditional forms of medicine to speed up the long-drawn process of post-physical trauma rehabilitation and recovery. It is also widely used to treat conditions such as chronic back pain, neck pain, musculoskeletal pain, and fibromyalgia.

Sharon Hopkins features articles in http://www.massagehealththerapy.com, your online massage guide to rejuvenate and revitalize your mind and body. She also writes for other sites on Yoga, Hair-n-Skin-Care, Massage Therapy among others.Cristie Blog44510
Dale Blog27537

Paintings From Photographs: Great Gift Idea or Menace?!?

The portrait of the Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the world's most beautiful and recognizable artistic paintings. Leonardo didn't paint this classic work of art from a photograph but he could have if he'd been born about 350 years later.

What could make a better gift idea than a loved one's treasured memory transferred to a handmade, oil paint on canvas, painting made from your photographs and according to your instructions? Imagine, any figure or number of figures; human, pet or animal can be included. Any background you have a picture of can also be used. The painting would be according to your instructions and done to your satisfaction. Imagine the look on your loved one's face when he or she unwraps such a present. Hand made oil paintings from photos make great anniversary and wedding gifts, and birthday and Christmas presents too.

There are other lesser ways of making a painting from photographs such as a special computer printer into which the photo is scanned in one end and an imitation oil-like painting is spit out the other end. There are also some artists, which will apply some oil paint directly onto your photo in an attempt to make it look like an oil painting. But accept no lesser imitations, nothing satisfies the soul like true human created art. Oil on canvas applied by human hands is the only true way to create a treasure worth keeping forever. So remember to turn your favorite photos to paintings when your favorite loved one's birthday, anniversary, wedding or any other gift-giving occasion comes around.

Now that I've convinced you that paintings from photos is truly a great gift idea (and not a menace) you probably want to know where the best place to get such a gift for the lowest price? Well, the answer to this question is Ye Old Art Shoppe. At Ye Old Art Shoppe they offer paintings from photographs using only high quality materials and experienced artists at prices starting at only $100 for a 5"x7" portrait of a single figure. Ye Old Art Shoppe also offers photos to paintings in larger sizes and with additional figures.

Ye Old Art Shoppe (http://www.yeoldartshoppe.com) also offers a fine selection of art, unique decorations, and one of a kind gift ideas from around the world.

Neal Morton is a career computer professional and an avid supporter of the arts.Clair Blog49197
Daloris Blog50270

The Truth About Toric Contact Lenses

Regular contact lenses and Toric contact lenses are made from the same materials. The most significant difference is that Toric lenses are designed for people with astigmatism, one of the most commonly treated eye conditions. What's remarkable is that modern toric contact lenses offer astigmatism sufferers a selection and freedom that was unavailable in the past.

Toric contact lenses are created with two focal powers in them, as opposed to regular contacts, which only have one. Torics are designed to include different angled curves: one of them is for the astigmatism, and the other is for the nearsightedness or farsightedness of the user.

Because the astigmatism curves must be aligned with the eye in a specific orientation, toric contact lenses also come with a mechanism that helps the contact lens stay relatively stable on the eye. This allows the wearer blink or move their eyes without concern for the lenses shifting around, guaranteeing the torics will provide the clearest and most comfortable vision correction possible. If this measure was not taken and the lenses could move around when the wearer blinked or moved their eyes, the lenses would rotate and prevent the wearer from seeing as crisply as possible.

With this added clarity and comfort comes increased complexity, causing toric contact lenses to cost a bit more than their standard spherical lens counterparts. The main cause for the bigger price tag is the time intensive prescription process. In order to properly fit a toric lens, an eye doctor must invest more time. The requisite added curves require more expertise from both the eye doctor (to get the fitting correct) and the manufacturer (to produce the lens properly). This means that not only will the exam and fitting fees run slightly higher, but that the lenses themselves will sport a steeper price as well.

Fortunately for people with mild astigmatism, such as between zero and 1.00 diopter (either +1.00 or -1.00), it is usually recommended to simply wear a regular spherical RGP or even a spherical soft lens rather than the more complex toric contact lenses. The standard spherical lenses are rigid enough that the wearer's cornea will actually conform to them more than they conform to it, effectively hiding the effect of the mild irregularity of the cornea (astigmatism). When using regular soft contact lenses, optometrists will often compensate for mild astigmatism by prescribing a slightly stronger prescription. Of course this may not work for everyone, so the doctor may need to use trial and error to find the right prescription and fitting for a specific patient.

Patricia Brown contributes to several web sites, including http://productstips.com and http://great-product.comDannie Blog19723
Cristionna Blog50360

Black Hat!

A black hat (also called a cracker or Darkside hacker) is a malicious or criminal hacker. This term is seldom used outside of the security industry and by some modern programmers. The general public uses the term hacker to refer to the same thing. In computer jargon the meaning of "hacker" can be much broader. The name comes from the opposite of White Hat hackers.

Usually a Black Hat is a person who uses their knowledge of vulnerabilities and exploits for private gain, rather than revealing them either to the general public or the manufacturer for correction. Many Black Hats promote individual freedom and accessibility over privacy and security[citation needed]. Black Hats may seek to expand holes in systems; any attempts made to patch software are generally done to prevent others from also compromising a system they have already obtained secure control over. A Black Hat hacker may have access to 0-day exploits (private software that exploits security vulnerabilities; 0-day exploits have not been distributed to the public). In the most extreme cases, Black Hats may work to cause damage maliciously, and/or make threats to do so as blackmail.

Black-hat hacking is the act of compromising the security of a system without permission from an authorized party, usually with the intent of accessing computers connected to the network (the somewhat similar activity of defeating copy prevention devices in software - which may or may not be legal depending on the laws of the given country - is actually software cracking). The term cracker was coined by Richard Stallman to provide an alternative to using the existing word hacker for this meaning. Use of the term "cracker" is mostly limited (as is "black hat") to some areas of the computer and security field and even there is considered controversial. A definition of a group that calls themselves hackers refers to "a group that consists of skilled computer enthusiasts". The other, and more common usage, refers to those who attempt to gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Many members of the first group attempt to convince people that intruders should be called crackers rather than hackers, but the common usage remains ingrained.

Techniques for breaking into systems can involve advanced programming skills and social engineering, but more commonly will simply be the use of semi-automatic software, developed by others - often without understanding how the software itself works. Crackers who rely on the latter technique are often referred to as script kiddies. Common software weaknesses exploited include buffer overflow, integer overflow, memory corruption, format string attacks, race conditions, cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery, code injection and SQL injection bugs.

The reference to colored hats comes from Hollywoods use of hats in old black-and-white Western movies to help an audience differentiate between the good guys (white hats) and the bad guys (black hats). The 'hat' terms do not fall under common use. Even inside the computing field they are very controversial.

A grey hat commonly refers to a hacker who releases information about any exploits or security holes they find openly to the public. They do so without concern for how the information is used in the end (whether for patching or exploiting).

Ankit Talwar - Web Designer

Ankit Talwar is the owner of http://www.Dead-Yahoo.com. He is a Web Designer.Conni Blog40087
Chelsey Blog45162

A Luxury Home Apartment?

Many people feel that in order to have a luxury home you have to have a house, condominium or a penthouse. That is not the case being that a luxury home can include a bungalow, a log cabin or even a two-bedroom apartment. There are many decorating and remodeling ideas an individual can attempt, while living in an apartment home. The first thing to do is to describe what type of living space is included in an apartment home. An apartment home is normally constructed into mini-garden flats or suites. Many apartment homes contain the following: wall to wall carpeting, a nice spacious kitchen, a garden room, living room with an eat-in dining area, 1-2 bedrooms usually with 1-2 bathrooms and walk-in closet space.

The kitchen area may contain a breakfast nook with marble flooring. The spacious garden room or sunroom has a room filled with windows decorated in mini blinds or curtains. This room may also contain marble flooring, with a ceiling fan. This can be converted into a dining room or a person can turn it into an indoor botanical garden room.

The living room will have a spacious black-colored fireplace against white walls. This gives it a sophisticated feel. On each side of the fireplace contains window columns. The dining room contains a beautiful chandelier.

The master bedroom is large and contains a large window overlooking the yard of the apartment home complex. Some apartment homes contain large master bedroom suites that have sliding glass doors that lead to a balcony where breakfast is served.

The guest room and the master bedroom will both have walk in closet space. The guest room can be converted into a caf. Yes, a person can have a caf within their home (off the kitchen, of course). This caf can contain a coffee maker or a cappuccino machine along with a rack filled with your favorite magazine issues and your favorite books. A caf will not be complete without your computer with wireless internet access. Make sure that everything is spill-proof. Place a large mat around the coffee area and serve family and guests with spill-proof coffee mugs.

The master bathroom suite normally contains a tub/shower, toilet with marble flooring and a Jacuzzi-style bathtub. This master bathroom has a vanity on the outside of the bathroom with a mother and daughter sink, which is generally a luxury in an apartment home. The second bathroom is larger than the master bathroom, but it is also fit for a queen to use.

So, gone are the days when an individual would have to purchase a luxury home in the Hampton Bays, New York or Beverly Hills, California. A person can have a luxury home within a garden apartment. Its true when one says, Home is where the heart is. In home decorating or remodeling, home is where the luxury is as well.

Jena Luthowski writes about http://www.LuxuryHomeRemodel.com, http://www.luxuryhomeremodel.com/Coupons/iFLOOR.com.html and http://www.luxuryhomeremodel.com/Coupons/MoreHome.com.html.Charis Blog31221
Charisse Blog20400

Top Players In Digital Camera Market

Selecting a digital camera is definitely not an easy task with hundreds of brands available in the market. Before you decide to buy, you should take a look at the many features like optical quality, zoom, storage media and etc. These are only a few features among the many digital camera models to be compared. In terms of image quality, the amount of mega pixel resolution and the quality of the lens are the main factors that determine the sharpness of the pictures. And one of the best ways to know the quality and crispness of pictures is to see a printed picture.

As for image storage, there are many different kinds of storage media or flash memory cards available for digital cameras, which are rewritable chips that do not require power in order to retain the content. This makes it possible to take many photos without the fear of losing them before they are stored in CD-ROM or hard disk of the computer.

Surely, choosing a digital camera is not an easy task with so many models and range of mega pixels, features and different prices. Some of major brands available in the market are Argus, BenQ, Canon, Casio, Disney, Epson, Fujifilm, HP, JVC America, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Polaroid, Ricoh, Samsung, Sanyo, Sony and Toshiba. However the most popular among them are Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, and Kodak.

Sony`s digital cameras are among the most innovative and popular in the industry. The cameras range from tiny 2 mega pixel point & shoots to bulky 8+ mega pixel units. Some of Sony digital cameras that are selling fast are Cybershot N2, Cybershot S700, and Cybershot T20.

Canon is also ruling the market with its amazing array of models. They receive high ratings from consumers because of their impressive construction and top quality images. Canon produces a wide variety of cameras, ranging from small point and shoot ELPH series to the professional range of SLRs. The most popular ones are Canon PowerShot A460, PowerShot A710 IS and PowerShot A640.

Nikon is not far behind in the consumer digital market where it is one of the major players.The Coolpix line of cameras with its impressive D-series SLRs has made a splash in the camera scene. Take a look at the fast selling ones: Nikon D40, Coolpix S50 and Coolpix L12.

Kodak digital cameras are known for their simplicity and quality. The easiest to operate when compared to its competitors. The one-touch image downloading, emailing, and printing features have made this brand even more popular in the market. Take a look at few of the models in the market: Kodak EasyShare V1003, EasyShare V803 and Easyshare C653.

Among the other major brands is the Olympus that offers innovative features like the 10x optical zoom on the Ultra Zoom models and the weather-proof body of the Stylus series. Some of the popular ones are Olympus Stylus 550UZ, Stylus 760 and Stylus 770 SW.

Before you start shopping for a digital camera, it will be helpful to know the lingo. Understand what the salespeople are talking about when they drop these digital camera terms - Borderless, CCD, Compact Flash, Digital Zoom, DPI, Firmware, F-stop, Image Format, Grayscale, LCD Screen, Mega pixel, Memory Card, Memory Stick, Optical Zoom, Secure Digital, SLR and xD Picture Card. So, to be on the safer side, it is better to have the knowledge of these terms so that you don`t get cheated.

There is so much that goes into buying a digital camera. Wrestle all the details under control with the various brochures provided by the manufacturers before deciding to buy one for yourself.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.brCindee Blog2500
Debbie Blog113

The Ideal Wine Cellar: Everything You Need To Get Started

So you've decided to take a large step, and move from wine lover to wine connoisseur. You are going to buy a wine cellar. This guide will give you all the information you need to make this purchase.

Wine Bottle Storage

The ideal location for storing wine is a dark, draftless area that stays at a constant 50-60 degrees, with 60-70 percent humidity. The bottles should be kept on their sides to keep the corks moist, and should be exposed to limited vibrations. This will ensure that you will be able to keep bottles at their best for years to come.

One thing to consider if you decide to purchase a large wine cellar: make sure the unit will fit! This sounds obvious, but many times stand-alone wine cellars are much wider than a standard door. Another thing to think about is weight. Consider not only the weight of the storage unit, but be sure to calculate 3 pounds each for a standard bottle of wine. You might not want to store your wine upstairs. This is another reason that wine is typically stored in a cellar.

Types of Wine Cellars

If you are lucky enough to live in a house, maybe you can use the existing cellar or a spare room, or have one built. Just be sure not to skimp on building materials - it would be silly to have 400 bottles of wine crashing to the floor because you wanted to save a few bucks on thinner wood. Also, be sure the condensation will be able to evaporate; otherwise, the humidity will increase beyond ideal levels. Consider the cellar as an investment.

If you don't have a large amount of space, you can buy a freestanding wine cellar. While not actually a cellar in the traditional sense, these are large units that can be stored in a house or apartment. They are available commercially for a wide variety of prices. Always consider where you are going to be storing the wine. If it will be kept in your home, you will not need to have as much insulation or as strong of a cooling unit, but a unit kept in the garage will have to be much higher quality.

Building Your Own Wine Cellar

The best location for the cellar is below the level of the house. If your basement has outside walls, keep in mind that north-facing walls will get the least amount of light. Some smaller crawl spaces may not work very well if they experience extreme changes in temperature. The same goes for a garage. The first floor of the house can also be used, and as long as the house stays at a fairly constant room temperature, the cooling unit will not have to work too hard.

Framing

The first step in building a wine cellar is the framing. The outer walls of the basement or room should be framed with 2" by 6" wood studs. If the floors are cold, use 2" by 4" studs.

Insulation

The next step in the creation of a wine cellar is insulation. The room needs to be kept at the most constant temperature possible. The best type to use is sprayed 2 pound polyurethane, although less expensive methods can used, especially if the cellar is on the first floor of the house. Once again, consider the cellar to be an investment.

Doors

Don't forget about the door! It needs to have weather stripping and also be insulated. Otherwise all the work done to insulate the walls will be wasted.

Drywall

To finish the walls, use a drywall that is resistant to moisture. Other wall material can be used, but make sure that it will not soak up moisture and that it will not impart an odor on the wine.

Racks

Don't leave the design of the racks until the end. Start first with this design to make sure that you have enough space for the number of bottles you'd like to store. A good place to start would be to look at the smaller racks available at your local wine store. These will give you ideas on the design you would like. Once again, make sure the construction is sturdy enough for the weight of the wine.

Temperature and Humidity and Wine

As mentioned before, the ideal temperature for wine is between 50 and 60 degrees. If the temperature is too high, it will spoil quickly. If it is too low, it will not age properly. If the temperature changes often, the cork will expand and contract. This may lead to air getting into the wine. Keeping this in mind, never buy wine chilled at a store, as you have no idea how long it has been that way. Also, don't keep wine in your own refrigerator for more than 1 or 2 days.

Humidity can also damage wine. If the humidity is too low, the cork can dry out. While a tipped bottle will keep one side moist, the rest of the cork can become cracked and brittle.

Also, ensure the wine will be kept in a dark place, away from vibrations. Colored bottles help keep the light out to some extent, but don't rely on the bottle to keep the light out. Movement may cause the bottles to shift. Wine needs to stay in contact with the cork so it will not dry out and crack, so limit the movement the bottles are exposed to.

Wine Cellar Cooling Units

After you cellar is complete, you can purchase a commercial wine cooling unit. Many of these work similarly to a window AC unit. They vent through a wall rather than being installed in the ceiling. However, if you are below ground or for some other reason cannot use a window unit, there are commercial units that can be installed. These are slightly more costly, but work well in those situations.

Every wine has an ideal aging time. If your wine cellar is built properly, it will keep your wine for years to come.

Jason Connors is a successful writer and wine connoisseur providing valuable tips and advice on wine cellar design, wine making, and wine basics. http://www.about-wine.net.Corella Blog20548
Cyndi Blog91571

To Tour Or Not To TourThat Is The Question!

Its every musicians fantasy. The tour bus rolls up to the arena (full of groupies, beer and pizza). Fans are crowded out front hoping to catch a glimpse of Americas hottest band. The group is escorted to their dressing room (full of more groupies, beer and pizza). They enjoy the various pleasures of stardom while roadies set up the stage. Its show time. The artists take the stage. The crowd is screaming. The lights are glaring. The amps are humming. The drummer clicks off the first song and

You wake up in the back of your PT Cruiser. Your bass players elbow is in your ear and the drummers asleep on your foot. Youve eaten nothing for the last week but corn dogs and frozen burritos. This is not the tour you imagined. This is not your Lilith Faire. This is not your Lollapalooza. This is not your Warped Tour. This...sucks.

Every musician dreams of touring. Getting out of their same boring town. Trying their tunes out on new crowds, in new areas, for fresh faces. Bonding on road, writing new tunes in the motel room, free food, free drinks, getting paid, getting laidliving the life.

But the music biz is full of touring horror stories. Bands stuck on the road with no money to come home. Musicians not eating for days. Clubs canceling gigs the night of with no warning. Negative reactions from bar patrons and local bands. The list goes on.

So, how do you make sure that your touring experience is a positive one? What can you, as musicians do, to eliminate potentially negative experiences and create positive ones.

The following are a few tips that add success to your touring experience:

1.) Dont Plan A Tour Because Youre Unhappy At Home---Just as an affair will not fix the problems in a marriage, a tour is not the cure for: problems within the band, problems in the band members lives, or a general malaise for your local scene. A tour is strain and stress and loads of work. You should be excited, and enthusiastic and positive when planning.

2.) Over Prepare Before You Leave---You can never plan too much or take too many precautions. At home is the time to rethink ever scenario and arrange accordingly. Get the van tuned up. Pack extra emergency money. Bring a list of additional clubs in the area in case your gigs fall through. Pack extra strings and sticks. Bring a backup guitar. Pack extra merchandise. Bring emergency food/water. Pack extra batteries and power cords. Bring cell phones.

3.) Be Humble And Thankful---Youre in a strange town and a new club, act like a guest. Nothing ticks off a club owner/promoter whos taken a chance on an unknown band more than out-of-towners swaggering into a club like Paris Hilton in an episode of The Simple Life. No matter how cool you are in your own town, this is unproven ground and your first impression is important. Ask, dont demand. Set up quickly. Play at an appropriate volume. Clean up after yourselves. Be friendly and courteous. Say please and thank you. Unless youre booking in Jerkville USA, this positive attitude could set you well on your way to a repeat booking with better perks and more local support.

4.) Seize Every Opportunity---If youre going to take the time away from work, family, and the buzz youve built in your own music community to head out into the great beyond and conquer unknown landsyou might as well come back with something other than lovely memories and an out-of-state parking ticket. Youre in a new place and the possibilities are endless. Sell CDs. Sell T-shirts. Get new names on your mailing list. Solicit local reviews, interviews, and radio. Introduce yourself to other club owners for future bookings. Find out who books local festivals. Play an impromptu house party after your gig. Make new friends that can street team for you next time. Think of something I havent even written here and do it!

Dont Expect To Conquer The World In One Tour---Rome wasnt built in a day and neither will your touring empire be. Have fun. Enjoy each trip and using it as a building block to make each tour to that particular place better and more elaborate. Play your cards right, and after a few trips you may be making terrific money, have secured lodging (either new friends let you crash or a club pays for a motel), get food and drinks comped, and guaranteed press and radio coverage.

In short, touring can be the best thing that ever happened to your band if you work hard, play it smart, and follow through correctly. But no matter how much you love to tour, always remember to keep your foot in the door locally. Its the great work that you do at home that makes other clubs excited about you bringing your show to their town.

Sheena Metal is a radio host, producer, promoter, music supervisor, consultant, columnist, journalist and musician. Her syndicated radio program, Music Highway Radio, airs on over 700 affiliates to more than 126 million listeners. Her musicians assistance program, Music Highway, boasts over 10,000 members. She currently promotes numerous live shows weekly in the Los Angeles Area, where she resides. For more info: http://www.sheena-metal.com..Cicely Blog13722
Delcina Blog74711

Power or Fatigue for More Muscle Mass?

One major concept that everyone seems to be confusing now-a-days is muscle fatigue versus muscle power, in search for techniques that will allow you to build and gain muscle weight.

When your main goal is to gain as much muscle weight as possible, you have to know exactly which of the two "factors" you are training for, either to "fatigue" the muscle, closely related to "pumping" and "burning" it, or to use "power", meaning lifting as much weight as possible, regardless of getting a pump or not.

There is a major difference between taking a set to failure (which you should be doing on your "real sets") because of fatigue, or reaching failure because of having no more strength, or power, in the muscle to continue to lift the weight.

I'm sure you have experienced doing a high-rep set and quitting because the pain and burning ("fatigue") just got too much to support.

However, deep down inside you knew that you still had enough strength to actually complete another 2 or 3 reps.

On the other hand, I'm sure you've also done sets that no matter how much effort you put into it, no matter if every vein in your body was popping out because of the strain, you just could not complete one more rep because you simply had no more strength left.

If it's fatigue that causes you to stop a set, all you are going to be building is muscle endurance.

That's fine and dandy if you're training to climb mountains or chop logs for 8 hours straight.

All fatiguing a muscle does is fill it with stale blood, without any oxygen, and forms lactic acid and other waste products.all of which do nothing for building muscle mass and gaining weight!

But if you want to build and gain muscle mass, what should stop you from continuing a set is that you have no more stength / power in the muscle.

That will build strength, and as a result, forces more fibers to come into play, to work, and is what will cause overload in the muscle............all factors that lead to bigger and stronger muscles.

Period.

You can go on ahead and get all the pump and burn you want, but if it's big muscles you're after, you need to train for stronger muscles.

To illustrate: you can do 100 push ups and get a real good pump and burn, fatiguing the muscle in the chest.

But what do you think is going to give you a bigger chest......100 push ups, or lifting 315 pounds for 13 reps??

Remember, if you want to gain muscle weight, train for power, not fatigue.

Copyright 2006 Jonathan Perez

How did a Cleveland Firefighter discover how to gain over 40 pounds of muscle weight WITHOUT using any supplements, no special diet, eating very low protein, and working out only 2 hours a week? Jonathan Perez has created the *ultimate* guide - "From Skinny To Muscular!.....How To Gain Muscle Eating Any Foods You Want, Using No Supplements Whatsoever, and Performing Only 2 Special Sets Per Week Per Muscle"Cynthie Blog96562
Cristen Blog455

Parenting: Prescribing the Symptom

Rebecca was struggling with 3 year old Kevin's screaming. Whenever someone didn't do what he wanted, he screamed and screamed, hoping to get his way. Rebecca had tried many different things to get Kevin to stop screaming, such as time outs, telling him to use his words, walking away and ignoring him, taking away toys and taking away events, such as a birthday party. A couple of times she had lost it and screamed back at him. Nothing was working to get Kevin to stop screaming. Even though screaming didn't work for him to get his way, he kept doing it.

As Rebecca and I discussed it in a phone session, it became apparent to me that Kevin and Rebecca were stuck in a power struggle, with Rebecca trying to get Kevin to stop screaming and Kevin doing everything he could to resist being controlled. We needed another tactic.

"Rebecca, the next time Kevin screams, do what I call 'prescribing the symptom.' This means that you say to Kevin something like, "Kevin, maybe you are not screaming loud enough. Maybe if you scream louder, you will get what you want." You need to say it in a light tone of voice, with no anger. Almost matter-of-factly."

The next time Kevin screamed, Rebecca did exactly that.

"Kevin looked at me like 'are you kidding me?' and screamed louder. So I told him that it must not be loud enough, so he screamed louder. When I told him it still wasn't loud enough, he looked at me like I was nuts and stopped screaming. He hasn't screamed like that since!"

So what happened here? What happened is that Kevin was screaming to not be controlled by Rebecca, as well as hoping to get his way. When she actually told him to scream, the only way he could not be controlled by her was to stop screaming! Her prescribing the symptom also pointed out to him the absurdity of screaming to get his way.

Prescribing the symptom can work for many behaviors:

"Maybe if you whine even more, you will get what you want."

"I don't think your temper tantrum is quite doing it. Maybe if you kick harder and cry louder, you will get what you want. I'm sure you can do better than this."

"You know, that's a pretty good pout. But it's not quite good enough. Maybe if you pout even more you can get what you want."

"You are putting up a pretty good argument. Maybe if you argue longer and louder, you will get what you want."

You need to be sure that you do this right away, before you feel angry or frustrated. You need to be able to keep it light. It is important for your child to see you calm rather than flustered. Sometimes kids act out just to feel the sense of control over their parents' behavior when their parents get angry and flustered. It can give children a sense of power to upset people so much bigger than them.

Fortunately or unfortunately, prescribing the symptom can work with adults too - adults who are acting like kids and going into resistance. Many people automatically resist as soon as they think someone is trying to control them and prescribing the symptom can work wonders with these resistant people.

It might even work with your self. If you find yourself reaching for the box of cookies when you have vowed to lose weight, telling yourself that maybe eating the whole box will make you feel better and solve whatever problem or feelings you are trying to avoid with the cookies might just stop you in your tracks, as it did with Kevin!

Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" and Healing Your Aloneness. She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or email her at mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com. Phone Sessions Available.Cherianne Blog20890
Coralyn Blog54900

Bad Credit Unsecured Loans UK counter credit woes in taking fresh loan

In the UK, it is now a lot easier for bad credit people who have a blemished credit history to avail a new loan, thanks mainly to ever increasing competition amongst the lenders. In order to survive, there have now mushroomed numbers of lenders who have bad credit unsecured loans for such borrowers in the UK. So despite bad credit, you have fresh opportunity in getting the loan for home improvements, buying a new car, debt consolidation, wedding or enjoying holidays.

Many people in the UK are having arrears or late payments in their names or they have defaulted on payments and have county court judgments. Bad credit unsecured loans are meant for such borrowers. These loans are risky for any lenders. So in order to cut risks, lenders want to see that the borrower has good repaying capacity. Your annual income, bank balance is therefore crucial for a lender. So ensure that you have a fair amount in your bank always while applying for bad credit unsecured loans. The faith the lender has in you, determines the approval of the loan. Make all efforts to convince the lender that the loan amount will be repaid in time.

Bad credit unsecured loans UK is approved without taking collateral from the borrower, which makes it a risk free loan for the applicant. Lenders, however, charge interest at higher rate on bad credit unsecured loans. To counter high rate you can take rate quotes and compare lenders. You get only smaller amount ranging up to ₤25000 for shorter duration that ranges 5 to 15 years.

If you search internet you come across numbers of bad credit unsecured loans providers in the UK. Do not go by their claims of a suitable deal for you. First take rate quotes of lenders. Compare individual interest rates of lenders. For your circumstances there is surely a suitable loan offer. You should ensure that you pay back the loan installments regularly so that your credit score improves and loan in future is easier to get.

Anton Gabriel is the author of this article. He aims to inform common people of the several issues involved in Adverse Credit Unsecured Loans through his articles. To find Bad credit unsecured loans UK, bad credit history unsecured loans, Adverse credit unsecured loans, Unsecured personal loans visit http://www.adversecreditunsecuredloans.co.ukClair Blog47031
Correna Blog37591

A Burp Free Omega 3 Product? What Does This Say?

Most of the time Im pleased that our choices in alternative supplements rest with just us, and not the FDA or some other government agency until I read an ad for a burpless Omega 3.

If the majority of Americans are expecting a burp to be part and parcel of taking fish oil, my heart plummets for what does this say? Weve come to expect it? If you are suffering indigestion from fish oil, toss it out! Its not your digestive tract nor does it happen with good oil. Its the oil! The source of the burp is one of several things the oils purity is in question, or it sat in 50 gallon drums in hot warehouses waiting sometimes as long as six months before it is placed into consumable form, i.e., a capsule, or the quality was harmed either in oxidation or lack thereof.

Ive been reading information today from purveyors of fish oil in large quantities, how the cost is on the rise from the demand, fish being farmed to meet the supply (that wont have EPA or DHA), and knowing the statistics of consumption, this is not true. But, as with gasoline, prices rise when we want something in a big way. Maybe the demand is coming from other countries but certainly not America. Even though we all know we need fish oil, only 8% of Americans take a fish oil supplement. And of those 8%, about 99% are purchasing a product that is food grade quality because they dont know theres a difference between food grade and pharmaceutical grade. Or the label clearly says pharmaceutical grade but when the capsule is pricked, the odor reveals the source of their burping.

Over the past few weeks, Ive emailed 8 of the most popular sellers of fish oil popular only because they do the most advertising. They are not manufacturers of their oil yet they claim to be. I asked but two questions, what is the source of your fish, do you own your lab and where is your lab located. Im still waiting for a reply.

Omega 3 EPA DHA is one of the most important supplements you can add today yet 99% of the 8% who do buy it are purchasing supplements unaware of the importance of the source of fish it must be fatty to have the levels of EPA and DHA that promote healing. Its essential for pregnant women, children, men, women, adults, and aging seniors. Why? Because we were designed to eat fish and weve systematically removed it from our diet consuming instead soybean oil, flax seed oil, polyunsaturated oil, hydrogenated oils, in huge quantities. Never mind the calories for now although that is important, too, but its more than that. We are filled with chronic inflammation from an overabundance of all these seed oils.

If we only consumed a bit here and there of the various oils, wed be fine as long as we added just as much oil from fish but we dont and Americans are paying the price in their health. The statistics are overwhelmingly true 3 out of 4 Americans have either chronic pain, depression or a diet related disease. If two years ago, the statistics were 2 out of 3, and now its 3 out of 4, we have an enormous problem.

Find a good source of fish oil. If it makes you burp, toss it out. Make sure its pure liquid, not capsuled, gelled, or any other covering that hides taste, texture and color. It is extremely difficult to manufacture a good source of fish oil in liquid form and a very delicate process that requires skill and molecular distillation. Because of the complexity of the process, and the fatty fish themselves, its going to cost more than a $15.00 bottle for a two months supply of capsules. If it comes in a glass bottle, youre on the right track. If its a pure fatty fish, youre doing good. Cod is a lean fish and while it is beneficial in many ways, studies show the EPA and DHA in lean fish do not have the healing benefits of fatty fish. And blended fish is just that, a hodgepodge.

If you should email or call the seller of your fish oil and receive a response, ask the right questions. Your health depends upon it.

Lois Smithers spent years researching Omega 3's and sea-based health solutions, and credits Omega 3 with ending years of painful chronic inflammation. She and Deb Morgan own Sea-Based Health, LLC, focusing on the latest Omega 3 news. Get health tips, recommended products- http://seabasedhealth.com.Deborah Blog25787
Cicely Blog7668

Astronomy And Kids

During the clear night sky and as long as the city lights are not close or bright enough to interfere with your naked eye vision, it is always a good idea to grab a blanket and some candles and head to your house's roof or the nearest hill. Admiring the stars is not an exclusive activity kids are only allowed to perform, but it can be something you can share with them while introducing them to the unknown world of the universe.

If your child has already looked up gazing the moon and the stars and has asked you all sort of questions regarding their characteristics, their special stories and the interpretation of their slow movements, you should invest some time during a Saturday night to take your kids to the countryside and show them the stars while they awe and wonder on how these "pins" are stuck on the dark sky and why they are not visible during the day. Introducing your child to the marvels above their heads can be a tremendously educative experience your kids will love to repeat as soon as possible. Even your back yard is an ideal place to begin the learning journey that can last a lifetime. But parents support that most of the times getting started is the hardest part of this process.

If your young child has not yet learned the basics, then it is probably wisely to throw on your yard's lawn some blankets and invite your children to join you under the stars. Asking first questions, before trying to explain how things are, can assist you to figure out what they should learn first and begin teaching them the first astronomy lesson in their lives. After locating the sky's landmarks try asking questions that will excite your children and will motivate them to want to find out more. You can begin by locating the most easily recognizable element of the sky, the Moon before attempt to begin explaining why although the moon does not spin around itself, we actually see a portion of it every day until we are able to admire it as a whole. Furthermore you can look for other landmarks in the sky, like stars, in order to begin explaining the astronomical constellations. Your children will be thrilled to be able to admire such interesting scenery simply by looking at the moon's surface and create imaginative stories for the stars.

While children are still in elementary and middle school, they are more already exposed to stars and constellations. But the number of constellations and stars we are able to see each year is actually a very small number out of the plethora of stars in the sky. But if your last present to your teenager kid was a pair of binoculars, then things become even simpler. Bring a book about astronomy (suitable for your kids age) and begin reading and explaining to your children what you are reading really means.

Remember that outdoor learning activities can be as simple as noting the time and location of sunset and moon rise, and as complicated as finding the names of the brightest stars in the sky during a clear night. Of course, you can repeat it as often as you like if the weather permits such outdoor activities for a family to get together. But even if the weather conditions do not allow you to go out and admire the night sky, next to a good pair of eyes, the Internet is the backyard stargazer's best friend. Today, you will be able to find here are almost as many great websites devoted to astronomy as there are stars in the sky.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://livingtheoutdoorslife.com/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://letstalkaboutfood.com/ and http://erecreationstation.com/Dawn Blog4299
Celine Blog74908