The great coffee beverage .. some history and what really goes into it

Have you ever really thought about what goes into a good cup of coffee? If you are anything like me you probably haven’t, for the simply reason you are too engrossed unwinding and enjoying the rich aroma and taste to bother with any of the technical side of the brew. The deepest I have ever gone when I have a cup of the rich umber beverage in my hand is to let my mind drift off with the floating steam.

The information on the wrapper might tell you a bit about the beans you’re drinking but believe me there is so much more to the story of how coffee drinking came to be so popular the world over. The history behind this little roasted and ground bean is fascinating. From the pre-Columbian tribes to the modern drive-thru and Starbuck’s cafes, coffee has grown from a simple discovery to total sophistication.

One of the little know facts about coffee is that is was first discovered by the South American Indians well before the discovery of the New World. Its stimulating properties were soon recognised as it helped the tribe’s people to deal with the high altitudes, and for this alone it became very popular. Then after the Spanish Conquistadores arrived the green seeds (commonly but incorrectly called coffee beans) found their way into western history and the coffee culture was extended across the globe.

When the Spanish came to the New World, they were searching for cities of gold but instead they discovered other abundant resources and new products that they could trade with the whole of Europe. Chocolate and tobacco as well as coffee rapidly became sort after and famous throughout the continent.

History tells us that the first cafeteria was opened in 1475 in Constantinople at a place called Kiva Han. Following its success more coffee houses sprang up, serving hot coffee beverages with a side of gossip or politics. The coffee club was born.

Popularity of the beverage among the common folk didn’t reach any significance until the Americans came along. The reason for this was that most workers were just too busy to sit around sipping their favourite coffee brew while discussing the great discoveries of the “Age of Reason”. However once the general population were introduced to the new hot beverage the custom spread like wild fire. This event saw methods of mass production develop which fortunately made coffee more affordable. Now nearly everyone could afford a daily indulgence.

Instant coffee became popular during the World Wars even though it had been developed much earlier. Initially the unrefined method of boiling the coffee down until the oils solidified out, left it with a burnt and rancid taste which put most people off. It wasn’t unit a new method for extracting the oils was developed that the instant variety of coffee which is fairly similar to what we have now became a popular choice.

This is just a small glimpse of the history of how the coffee beverage has travelled around the world to where you are now.

Cape town in 48 hours

So you’re in Cape Town on a whistle-stop tour and want to try squeeze as much of the Mother City as possible into your 48 hours?

You could spend a year in this beautiful city and still not have seen and experienced all it has to offer, but let’s see what we can do to make sure you don’t miss out on the ‘Must Sees’ - especially for first-timers.

The idea of this itinerary is to whet your appetite so that you return as soon as possible to do Cape Town full justice!

On landing at Cape Town International Airport, let’s for argument’s sake assume your flight lands at 8 a. m., you need to retrieve your luggage, collect your hire car, and head directly to the Table Mountain Cable Way, above Cape Town’s city centre. Leave the bulk of your luggage and simply take a back pack with money, a camera, sunblock and a warm top. Your early arrival should ensure that you don’t need to queue for very long. The ride up in the revolving cable car offers your first real look at the sprawling city and surrounds – with a unique 360 degree perspective. Once you arrive at the top you can enjoy breakfast at the restaurant, taking the time to fill in postcards bragging to your friends that you are having your first meal in the Cape on top of one of the world’s most famous and imposing landmark mountains!

Don’t linger too long over that second cup of coffee – you need to be down by midday to go into the CBD for a spot of shopping and exploring. Depending on your personal tastes you may enjoy browsing and gift-buying at the famous Green Market Square (open daily in the week and on Saturday mornings), or you might prefer to take in an exhibition at one of the local art galleries and museums. The main Cape Town Iziko Museum is set in the heart of the historical Cape Company Gardens which in themselves provide a lovely setting for a stroll.

Next, head to the Victoria & Albert Waterfront for a luscious lunch at one of the many eateries overlooking the harbour. More shops beckon and you could spend all day exercising your credit card, but leave enough time for a late afternoon drive around the Atlantic Seaboard. Enjoy sundowners at trendy Camps Bay or beautiful Clifton – both have exquisite white beaches lapped by aquamarine waters, and numerous pavement cafes overlooking them.

This area is ideal for booking your first night’s accommodation as there are numerous luxury self catering apartments, villas and guest houses – be sure you’ve booked ahead to avoid disappointment. Once you’ve checked in and freshened up, head out for a dinner and some gambling fun at Grand West Casino – a 15 minute drive from the CBD. If you prefer to dance, there are some great little clubs in town, or you could head back to the Waterfront and enjoy a movie or attend the Theatre on the Bay right in Camps Bay which almost always has an excellent production on the go. Once again, plan and book in advance. Local newspapers and Time Out magazine will have details on what’s on entertainment-wise.

No matter how tired you are when you finally fall into bed, set the alarm clock so that you’re on the road early. If you’re really enthusiastic you may even catch the sunrise! In any event, take a leisurely drive, against the daily traffic, to Hout Bay. Here you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and perhaps browse around the harbour-side shops and market. Then get your camera ready for a spectacular drive – over Chapman’s Peak which surely offers the most breath-taking sea and mountain views anywhere. At the end of the pass is Noordhoek. If you’ve planned ahead you can go for an hour’s horse ride along the wide expanse of the beautiful beach. Make sure you’re back behind the wheel in time to take the winding coastal road past Kommetjie, via Scarborough. Here you can enjoy a delectable lunch followed by a walk up to the viewing point of the tip of the African continent.

Later, drive on into Simon’s Town and be fascinated by the Jackass Penguin Colony at Boulders and Seaforth Beaches. The recently built Penguin Centre offers a mine of information on these curious and cute sea birds.

Next, head along the coastal road out of Muizenberg, along Strandfontein to Stellenbosch in the heart of the Cape Wine Route. Book in at Spier Wine Estate and dine at the wildly unusual and exquisite Moya, Spier’s own restaurant. Moya often has live music, dance or theatre productions. Find out in advance and book! We guarantee a good night’s sleep will follow…

Okay, so we’re cheating and are adding a couple more hours, but really, can you blame us? You can’t leave before cramming in a visit to at least two of the local wine estates before driving back to Cape Town International Airport in time to bid the city a sad farewell.

As the plane takes off and you get a final glimpse of Cape Town we know you’ll be promising to be back as soon as you possibly can.

Breakdown recovery services an invaluable service for anyone who drives

Breakdown recovery services are an invaluable service to anyone who drives. You are entitled to use a breakdown recovery service if your vehicle will not start or the vehicle stops working on the road. Most vehicles are repairable on the roadside but on the rare occasion that yours isn’t fixable; your vehicle will be towed either to your home or to the garage.

All breakdown recovery services offer roadside assistance where rescue vehicles are sent to wherever you have broken down, relay which takes the driver and passenger to their destination, and home start to help start your car at home. Higher and more expensive levels of cover may offer a courtesy car or accommodation if you are away from home if you travel regularly abroad it is well worth considering taking out breakdown cover for this.

Some companies offer cover for motorbikes and minibuses as well as cars. For motorcycles this is useful if you suffer from a puncture, have a flat battery or run out of fuel miles away from the service station. Recovery assistance is generally provided by trained mechanics or by a member of the local

garage.

Do check if your cover is for the person or the vehicle. You may not be covered if someone else drives your car. Also it is important to check if there is a maximum amount of callouts allowed or if there are limitations on the cost of parts or mechanical expertise charged. Do you travel long distances regularly?

Some recovery services offer a long distance vehicle recovery service. Does your policy give priority to anyone who may be in a vulnerable position such as lone female drivers? It is important to check the exclusions section of your cover. Some companies may not cover your vehicle if you breakdown within a certain radius of your home or if you lose your keys. Do shop around before committing yourself.

Blackjack learn how to become a champion

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Learn How to Play and Win Blackjack after practicing some basic steps that can be learn easily. Blackjack is one of the more easier card games that you will come across, and its basic concept is simple: get 21 as the sum of your cards or get as close to 21 but higher than the sum of your opponent's cards.

1) Do not try and reach 21.
Yes. Even though blackjack is also commonly called 21, trying to reach 21 with every hand is an amateurish move. You will, most certainly, lose the hand. Statistical research conducted has shown that the odds of reaching 21 is lesser than the odds of getting more than 21.

2) Try and Beat the Dealer.
Since blackjack is a one on one battle: you versus the dealer, focus on beating the dealer. Instead of trying to get 21, try to guess what hand the dealer will receive and accordingly play your hand. Remember that the dealer at a regular casino or even at an online casino has to stop taking more cards if the cards on the table add up to 17. But if their cards add up to 16 or any number less, they will have to take another card.

3) Look at the dealer's card facing up.
The only way to play is to look at the dealer's card facing up. If it is a low card like a two or anything up to a 6 or 7, try and get a high number combination. If it’s a 9 or 10, the odds are high that he has a 10 underneath or at least he will be forced to take another card. So, reach anything up to 20 or 21, but its better to even stop at a 18 or 19 and hope they will over-run the sum of 21.

How Blackjack is Played at a Casino:
1) Place your bet on the table.
Each blackjack table has a set beginning bet and this ranges from a dollar to ten or twenty for the high-rollers crowd. This is the amount of chips you will have to put down, and this signals to the dealer that you are taking part in the next round.

2) You will get a card.
The dealer then deals a card to you and all the other players who have also placed a bet down.

3) The dealer places a face-up card in front.
This is one of the cards of the dealer, and since its facing up, all the players have a chance to judge the outcome of his cards.

4) The dealer deals the second card.
The dealer, then, deals you and all the players an additional card. This is the time to have a look at them and at the dealer's card and decide whether you wish to get another card.

5) The dealer asks.
The dealer now turns to each player and asks them if they wish to receive another card. If you wish it, the dealer will give you a card. Then, the dealer will ask you again. Note that the dealer will be with you until you decide that you do not want to receive any more cards. Then, the dealer moves on to the next player, then, the next, and so on.

6) The dealer starts playing.
Only when all the players have said that they do not want any more cards, does the dealer start playing. He takes cards until he has reached 17 or above. Then, he has to stop.

7) The dealer opens the cards.
When he's done, the dealer first reveals all his cards. Then, he moves from one player to the other opening their cards. After revealing each player's hands, the dealer pays out the bet or takes the bet away according to who has won and who has lost.

Getting the radio signal from a satellite

You have probably been hearing about satellite radio for a while and of course, lately there has been plenty of news about Howard Stern, he is bringing in many listeners to Sirius and the fan base is growing quickly.

One of the big differences between regular radio and satellite radio is that with satellite you get hundreds of channels that are of digital quality, plus on the screen you know who is performing because it gives you that information. There are very few channels on satellite radio that have commercials. With over 100 channels to choose from there is always something good to listen to. No commercials just the music you want to listen to , you don't have to listen to salesmen, fuel companies, food advertisements, you will have no static, you will be able to listen to your music or talk show with no interruptions 24 hours a day. There are so many channels; a few of them are comedy, local weather and traffic, women's issues, sports, old time talk shows from the 20s to the 40s.

Through digital magic, you will not get static or any other types of disturbances you would normally get from an analog radio. The possibilities do not end there though, as it may even be possible for digital stations to broadcast pictures and videos directly to your car or home stereo through the magic of digital broadcasting. When receiving a signal from satellite the signal is completely digital and everyone knows a digital signal sounds cleaner and there is no static, you either get the signal or there is not signal. The signal is encoded and sent to the satellite and then it is sent back down to a receiver which it will be decoded and then the receiver plays the sound. If you find you loose the signal it is because when you travel you move along the earth and since the earth is round you will sometimes loose the signal because the satellites are traditional on the horizons.

Now, people you don't need to switch stations when driving because you cannot get a clear station in, you can listen to the same station or hundreds of other stations ranging from news, music and news in better quality than AM or FM bands. To receive the digital audio streams you will need a antenna to receive the signal.

Its small, portable and it fits in your purse or pocket, don't be fooled because they are small, they give the best sounding quality a radio can offer. The auto manufacturers are installing satellite radios to enhance the new automobiles, and many stores are now carrying the portable models to be used in the homes.

Satellite radio is subscription based, meaning that you pay a monthly fee for the service. The purchase of a satellite radio and a small monthly fee will open a whole world of ad-free radio listening to you. You will need to pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee to enjoy satellite radio. Many of the automobile dealerships and manufacturers offering many different types of incentives, so are giving 3 months free or even up to 6 months of free service to get you hooked, they are also throwing in no activation fee.

Finding secure investments

If you're trying to build a nest egg that won't crack, it's important to establish a safe and dependable investment strategy. Yet last year alone, millions of Americans lost their life savings through investments that looked safe. In some cases, people lost both their jobs and their pensions when companies failed.

So, is there a safe place to put your money? Analysts say yes, but it's important to learn a few facts first.

For instance, real estate has long been known as a secure, tangible investment because it generally appreciates over time. But most would-be investors are not real estate experts, and many of us don't have enough money to fund the purchase of an investment property-let alone to fix up a run-down home. However, there is another strategy. It's called cash flow investing and it allows people to benefit from secure and profitable real estate investments without buying or selling properties.

Put simply, a real estate cash flow note is a private mortgage created between two individuals instead of between a buyer and a bank. What many people don't know is that one in 13 American homes is sold this way. Much like banks, which buy previously created mortgages, private individuals can buy cash flow notes to build returns of 20 percent or more. Here's how it works:

Let's say I sold a house for $100,000 and my buyer had $50,000 to use as a down payment. I can draw up a contract that takes $50,000 down and finances the remaining $50,000 over 30 years. I now have a cash flow note that generates monthly payments of $299.78 each month secured by real estate.

As a note holder, I have two options. I can take advantage of the monthly income and interest, or I can sell the note to another investor for instant cash. This is where you, as an investor, come in to make money. Let's say you're an investor with $35,000 to invest. I might not be willing to wait 30 years for my money, so I'll sell you my $50,000 cash flow note for $35,000. Many investors find they can buy notes at great prices just because the original note holder wants to "cash out." Now you're receiving a steady monthly income of almost $300 and you're in a position to make a 30 percent return on your investment-even before interest.

Best of all, unlike stocks and bonds, your cash flow note investment is secured by real estate-one of the most solid investments in the world.

Anti-spammers need to develop better manners

I sent my e-zine out last week and I received a copy of it back. It had been forwarded to me by a subscriber. In the subject line was a two word sentence; since most publications and websites frown upon vulgarity, obscenity, and profanity, I have spared you the exact wording. Be assured, however, that Miss Manners would definitely not approve.

It is understandable the frustration that people feel when they are inundated with unsolicited commercial e-mail. I myself get more than my fair share.

Despite my Internet Service Provider (ISP) enabling a spam filter and in spite of configuring my own e-mail program filters, I still get spam.

However, the situation with my subscriber is different. He opted in and confirmed his subscription. I use an outside service to handle my mailing lists, in part, to protect myself from false spam complaints.

There are a number of possibilities here. Perhaps my dear subscriber forgot that he subscribed and honestly believed that he received spam.

Another possibility is that he didn't enjoy the content. The correct response when someone offers you something you don't want is "No, thank you" not "Expletive deleted".

If you are offered dessert after dinner by your host and you don't want any, simply say "No, thanks." If you accept one piece of pie and then you're offered another, you may either accept or decline.

My subscriber could simply have unsubscribed. Instead, he retaliated (either because he believes I'm spamming him or he doesn't like the newsletter).

He said "yes" when he subscribed; he can always say "no" by unsubscribing. Again, "No, thank you" not "Expletive deleted".

Related to this rudeness is the ignorance some America Online, Inc. (AOL) subscribers show. By ignorance, I mean that they may not even realize they are doing anything wrong when they report e-mail they don't like as spam.

AOL makes it very easy for their subscribers to report spam. I would say they make it too easy.

Just click the button "Report Spam". Unfortunately, there is no notation near that button that says "If you subscribed, just unsubscribe." No, simply "Report Spam."

And they do. Rather than unsubscribe, some AOL subscribers will report your e-zine as spam. They opted in and subscribed. They confirmed their subscription by e-mail. Their name, e-mail address, IP address, and date and time of subscribing have all been recorded. But, they are reporting you as a spammer.

This, to me, goes beyond rude, as it could affect the reputation and livelihood of the one being reported.

I wish I could say that receiving obscenities or threats by e-mail is rare. Sadly, this is not the first time for me.

Among the many messages I receive are some that say that the e-mail I tried to send (from some strange or nonsensical name at my domain) was undeliverable or blocked and is being returned to me. Of course, I never sent that e-mail in the first place.

Occasionally, I receive rude (sometimes threatening) e-mails from people who thought I sent them some of these spoofed e-mails. This is the equivalent of swearing at and threatening someone who you believe allowed his dog to defecate on your lawn. The only problem is that the man doesn't have a dog.

Again, I sympathize with those who are irritated by spam. I just wish they would direct their indignation at the spammers instead of me. In fact, Miss Manners would have reminded us all that there is never any excuse for rudeness.

The blogging phenomenon explained

When blogging hit the web, it did so with a bang. Blogging is now one of the most popular forms of communication via the web. Before, web surfers would simply browse through sites with preformatted text on them. There was very little chance for a surfer to comment on a site or to offer their opinion on anything. If a surfer wanted to voice their opinion via the web, they had to start their own webpage. Starting a webpage is perfect for some surfers, but it is way too complicated for most. In addition, starting a webpage usually takes a small investment, which is something not many surfers want to offer up just so they can post their views.

People today can find blog sites that offer blog space for much less than a typical webpage. Many sites will offer blog space for free. When you begin a blog, you will notice that they are all laid out basically the same way. Some experts will call their layout the last-in-first style. This is a very tricky name that simply notes that the last thing the person, or blogger, wrote will show up at the top of the blog. Most blogging software allows for this automatically. When you sign up at a blogging site and are given your own blog space, you will likely see that after you finish typing your post and submit it, the blogging software will automatically put your last entry at the top of your blog. This helps your readers stay current without having to scroll through many posts.

When you first get your own blog space, the blogging software will usually provide you with free templates to utilize. The templates will offer you different color and pattern styles for your blog. Some may look more feminine with flowers or pink stripes, while others will look more masculine in style. You simply choose one of the suggest templates and the software will set everything else up for you. If you have programming skills, you can typically alter this to make your own style as well.

After choosing your template, you will be ready to begin posting. The great thing about the blogging phenomenon is that you can post anything you like. If you are feeling a little upset about your significant other or if you want to share some political views, you can write about them and share them with anyone who reads your blog. A blog is typically a lot like a diary. It may not be quite as personal, or it may be even more personal. It all depends on how much you are willing to share. You can choose to make your blog anonymous by not including your name or any contact information. This will probably make you even more comfortable posting. If you wish however, you can make your information known so that anyone who reads the blog will know it is you who is posting.

Blogs are the perfect sounding board because they allow you to post and allows others to comment on your posts. By allowing others to comment, you can truly see how others feel about what you have to say. Sometimes they will offer applause and sometimes they will criticize. No matter what however, by blogging you have successfully used your freedom of speech. You should use this right whenever you can, as it is one that those before us fought strongly for and we still continue to fight for on occasion.

Many blogs today are becoming much more complex however. Some are offering graphic options. Web users are now using this space to display pictures they have. Some people with family far away will use the blog to share day to day things or special moments with their loved ones far away. By posting information and pictures, their family and friends can log in whenever they want to check in on the blogger. Blogs mean different things to different people. They are used as diaries, sounding boards, or family update pages. They are very simple to use and are being seen all over the web. Although there are few rules to blogging at this time, there is one thing that is certain. With its growing popularity, blogging is here to stay!

Why choose a bunk bed for your child

Why should you choose childrens bunk beds for your home? Bunk beds can bring a number of endless possibilities to your living area. Whether you have restricted space, or you want to create more available floor space in a room, bunk beds may be just the answer you are seeking. There are twin bunk beds and combination bunk beds with a twin mattress on top and a full mattress on the bottom, as well as loft bunk beds which can offer considerable storage space. There are numerous bunk bed options available for any room layout you are trying to create.

Bunk beds save space:

Bunk beds come in all shapes and sizes. There are bunk beds that come with enough compartments for practically everything you could possibly need space for, all in one beautiful piece of furniture that doesn't take up much living space at all. Bunk beds offer the added benefit of utilizing vertical space as opposed to horizontal space. This frees up floor space for other needed uses and is an ideal solution for smaller rooms. Bunk beds are also great for compact or studio apartments where you need all the space you can get. Loft apartments are growing in popularity, converting large buildings in highly populated cities into individual living spaces. Bunk beds can help you creatively use your available area in a small loft apartment.

Bunk beds are fun:

Bunk beds offer a different alternative from a standard bed. For children and teens, bunk beds offer a sense of fun. Siblings can stay close to each other, yet have their own space to sleep. Youngsters can pretend they are in a fort, on a pirate ship, or a damsel in distress awaiting rescue from the knight in shining armor who will climb up the ladder to save her; bunk beds tend to let one's imagination soar.

Bunk beds give you more available space for overnight guests:

Birthdays, parties, family reunions - we all love those great get-togethers. Wouldn't it be great to have extra overnight bed space for those special loved ones that you don't get enough time to visit with? Have a fun-filled day of activities, enjoy a leisurely evening with no one in a rush to get home, because they will be home for the evening, and get a fresh start the next morning. Bunk beds can help give you that opportunity.

Bunk beds are great for children/teenagers:

Bunk beds are a must for older children or young teens having to share a room with another sibling. Bunk beds give each child his or her own space. Sleeping on the top bunk bed is generally not recommended for children under 6 years of age, due to the fact they are more likely to fall. Guard rails on both sides of the top bunk bed mattress can help prevent falls from occurring. A secure bunk bed ladder and a night light can also be beneficial.

Some types of bunk beds can be taken apart and used as a regular bed. If a teenager has an opportunity to move into his or her own room at some point, he or she already has a bed to furnish it with, leaving the child sharing the previous room with his or her own bed as well. Bunk beds serve multiple purposes and are a diverse piece of furniture that can work in practically any living space.

Simple positive self talk

Doing positive self talk is not as hard as others would think. Positive self talk can be done by anybody who wants to apply the principle, it will only take just a few minutes in a day then achieve remarkable results after some time.

Positive self talk will not require you to do all those complicated stuffs including uber-science chanting of a mantra, it doesn't even require you to be cheerful or enthusiastic all day. Experts have demonstrated that positive self talk only require a few minutes to seconds of your daily time.

Positive self talk in its exact and simple meaning is the act of affirming positive thoughts and emotions from one's mind which results to inner peace. Some people even claimed that this inner peace manifests in the real world via getting rich or having healthy relationships.

Positive self talk when a person just happens to be at a deep inner peace with himself. It is a natural phenomena transferred to a person's deep subconscious mind and for some reason the subconscious mind on its own intellectual power takes this feeling up and transfer the message to the universal creator and then manifests itself into the material world

A powerful and effective step in positive self talk is meditative relaxation. This simple and often neglected technique can done by simple sitting in a chair or floor and then listening to cool and relaxing music, or by performing any relaxation exercise. The main task of positive self talk is clearing up all negative thoughts in one's mind so by putting someone in a relaxed state of mind all negative thoughts are eliminated from one's mind and such state will put someone in a positive mood. After some time those positive feelings will find their way to manifest in reality

Another technique for positive self talk is what we call Affirmations. This widely accepted technique is done by affirming positive statements to your self. These affirmations when made, are capable of achieving outstanding results especially if they are repeated often as the situation demands and if the affirmation is supported with positive thoughts.

Some examples of affirmations are:

-Everyday is getting better.

-I am a winner

-I am slowly becoming successful

Just as meditative relaxation the positive messages/affirmations in your mind will somehow manifest themselves into reality

The basics of web hosting services

The Internet is full of different web hosting companies these days. There are many different choices to help you get your site on the web. However all of these different web hosting companies offer a variety of different services. How are you ever going to choose which company is right for your web site? The easiest way to choose between the different web hosting companies is to look at the different services they offer and choose which one is the best fit for your web site.

Most web hosting companies offer basically the same types of services, but some companies offer better quality services than others. One of the most important services to look for when choosing a web hosting company is the amount of space they will give you. If you plan on creating a very large web site, then you need to make sure that the web hosting company you choose gives plenty of storage so that your web site has room to grow. Also many web hosting companies offer free email accounts when you host your web site with them. This can be a great feature if you plan on giving out email addresses on your web site, or you need email addresses for employees in your company. However if you do not need many email addresses, then this is not a great service for you.

I believe one of the most important services that can set a web hosting company apart from other companies is the ability to create web sites that can use server-side code. Using server-side code will allow you to communicate with a database on their server, and dynamically make changes on the web site depending on what information is in that database. In this new age of Web 2.0, using server-side code to create a truly dynamic user-driven web site is essential. However if you just want to communicate your message to your audience, and you do not need to have your users interact with your site, this service might not be that important to you. No matter what kind of web site you are creating there is a web hosting company out there with the services that you need.

Saturn aura turning a corner

General Motors’ Saturn division is one of the few bright spots for the troubled U. S. automaker. As of this writing, the parent company is in the midst of plant closings, massive layoffs, and big losses. Bankruptcy may be the ultimate “out” for GM, but even if the company doesn’t choose that route, big changes are coming nevertheless. Fortunately, the Saturn division is one of the few bright spots for the legendary automaker as are Cadillac, GMC, and select models including the Corvette and the company’s big trucks. For Saturn, there is a certain “AURA” about the division both in model name as well as in sensation.

Step back two decades and General Motors is all abuzz over a new car company in the process of being created: Saturn. As a wholly owned subsidiary of GM, Saturn was designed to take on Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda by building compact cars that American drivers really wanted and could rely upon. It worked. For most of the 1990s, the “S Series” was the sole model for Saturn; available in coupe, sedan, and wagon, the S Series achieved cult status and had a loyal following of owners who regularly congregated for meets at Spring Hill, TN where the cars were built. Even when the vehicles’ design aged, the S Series maintained its high status with Saturn aficionados.

By the late 1990s, two new lines of vehicles were added to the Saturn brand. The VUE, became the company’s sport utility vehicle while the “L Series” was the first large Saturn. In reality, the “L” was a midsize car as it was heavily derived from a model sold by GM’s European division, Opel. With the latter model, Saturn hoped to provide the larger vehicle that S Series owners desired. Unfortunately, sales figures barely exceeded half of the quota anticipated by Saturn, so after a few years the model was retired.

Today, Saturn is no longer a separate company. With the demise of Oldsmobile, Saturn is now a full fledged division of General Motors. While some see this move as a bad thing, it has resulted in new products for the brand.

Soon after the L Series was retired, the RELAY was introduced. As the first Saturn model built on a U. S. G. M. platform, the 7 passenger people mover was a far cry from previous models. Still, the vehicle has filled a gaping hole in the Saturn line up.

Just this past Spring the SKY was introduced, an upscale limited production convertible. To say that the car has been received with gladness is an understatement. Quite frankly, the SKY is the “halo” car needed by Saturn, but fortunately the division isn’t stopping there.

Although the L Series was a flop, GM is once again turning to its Opel division to produce a car. Combining Opel styling with a U. S. G. M. platform, the AURA sedan will be rolling into a showroom near you very soon.

So, what is so special about the AURA? Its good looks! Although it is nearly impossible to describe the vehicle without showing you a picture, the AURA is simply one imposing car. Although a sedan, the AURA is sporty looking with a grille that is not too far removed from the new SKY. With a 3.6L V6 engine mated to a six speed automatic transmission, the 250 h. p. AURA will definitely compete with the Camry, Accord, and Maxima for sales as well as for performance leadership. Throw in 19 inch wheels, a sporty interior, and responsive handling and the AURA just begs to be driven.

The best part of the AURA is that it isn’t the L Series, a car criticized for being too bland and uninspiring. One look at the AURA and you can see that Saturn got it right this time.

Prices for the AURA haven’t been announced yet, but you can expect fully loaded models to retail below $25,000 well within the range of its competition.

Will the AURA succeed? Well, it has too! Look for Saturn to do all that it can to make sure that the model is marketed to those who would buy one: the cross section of the North American populace. Yes, Saturn has turned a corner and hopefully the same came be said for the entire company.

Writing contests building writing credentials

One of the ways many writers can successfully add credentials to their portfolio if to participate in a variety of literary contests. This type of contest encourages writers to put their best foot forward in both creativity and attention to detail.

It is true that there are some contests that provide a cash award for their top finishers, but there are also publishing scams that will accept your work regardless of quality. When you receive notice that your work has been accepted for publication it can be a real boost, however, a quick look at many writer’s websites can help you define the contests that are essentially vanity publishers willing to print just about anything if they believe you will purchase copies of the book for friends and family.

Many cash award writing contests cover the cost of prize awards by charging an entry fee. This factor often discourages many writers who may not feel confident enough in their writing to pay a fee to submit. This allows those who do enter a better chance at placing.

There are also writing contests that present the opportunity to have their work published online, in a magazine or in an anthology. As a rule this type of contest does not require a purchase of the publication the work will appear in nor will they assume full rights of your work. The best writing contests only require a one time non-exclusive print right. This is important because it allows you the opportunity to sell or place the work in other venues.

Beware of forfeiting full (exclusive) rights in any writing contest. When this right is given the ownership of the work is no longer yours. You will have no right to use the material in any form without permission from the publisher. It is possible to pay to enter a contest, forfeit the rights to your work and allow a publisher to gain long-term financial benefit from your work.

Quality writing contests have the bonus feature of allowing you to fine tune your skills by reading the work of others. Reading can make a good writer even better. If you pay attention you can learn what works and what doesn’t while using writing contests as a means of gaining valuable insight into unique styles and structure.

On a positive note, there have been numerous incidents in which individuals who entered a submission for a writing contest were able to use that same work for publishing in other book anthologies and magazines. The key is making sure to participate in writing contests that preserve your right to control the reuse of the piece.

Lice cures a home remedy

If your family has ever had to tackle head lice, and you’ve searched endlessly for lice cures that work, you know very well how frustrating the process can be. This can be even more of a nightmare if you have tried several different, over the counter; lice cures that failed to rid your family of lice.

If you use an over the counter lice cure, you could end up spending hundreds of dollars every time someone in the house brings home head lice, and then there is a chance that the treatments won’t even work.

A better alternative may be to try a home remedy. Most of the time, home remedies are much less expensive, safer and more effective for killing lice. There are several, safe, non-toxic home remedies that you may wish to try before sinking hundreds of dollars into over the counter, or prescription lice cures.

Of the many lice cures that are, one home remedy that has been recommended by pediatricians is the use of real mayonnaise. To use mayonnaise as a lice cure you must saturate the hair and scalp in mayonnaise, and then cover the head with a shower cap. The treatments must be kept on for several hours.

When it is time to remove the mayonnaise, you simply wash the hair with dish soap a couple of times, and then use a specially designed comb to remove the dead lice and nits. After treatment, it will be necessary to thoroughly clean all of the surfaces in the home. Vacuum all carpets and furniture; wash bedding, clothes and coats. Anything that cannot be washed should be stored in an airtight plastic bag for at least two weeks.

The process should be repeated every four days for about two weeks to ensure that the head lice infestation is under control.

There are several home remedies that are said to work good as lice cures; they include using olive oil, or tea tree oil as apposed to mayonnaise, and regular use of a shampoo that contains coconut oil is suppose to work wonders for keeping your household free of head lice.

The most important step you can take in preventing head lice infestation in your home is to educate your children on the risks of sharing personal items, such as brushes and hats, with other children. Head lice spreads by the hair having physical contact with a louse found on clothing objects, furniture, combs, etc.

If your child is sent home from school with head lice, don’t panic. With some careful research are sure to find good lice cures that works.

Wall street the road block to your investing success

Worried about your stocks? Blame it on Wall Street.

Investors today face a barrage of conflicting information and exaggerated return claims from what most people consider the "market" -; the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But these indexes only comprise about 12 percent of all U. S. stocks. The reality is that these stocks can't be predicted with any consistency, especially long-term.

In the complicated world of financial services, you're being misled.

Wall Street advisors employ a strategy of "active marketing," which is the continual development of new products designed and marketed as the latest and greatest solution to investors' fears and concerns. There is an addiction factor at work here; active marketing feeds our desire to roll the dice. This rolling of the dice takes the form of stock picking, market timing and return chasing, activities otherwise known as active management.

The alternative is to "super-diversify" your portfolio with a wide array of unrelated investment choices and assets. This strategy allows you to own the market as a whole, rather than just a few of its components, thereby increasing your return and reducing the risk.

Based on Nobel Prize-winning research known as Modern Portfolio Theory, the application of this theory into a properly diversified portfolio - what I call a "Market Return Portfolio" - consists of no-load institutional asset class mutual funds you normally don't see in many portfolios. Choices such as micro-cap, small cap international, emerging markets and value stocks can lead to more consistent long-term returns equal to or somewhat greater than the market at large.

Another important aspect of proper portfolio management is finding the right firm to work with. Look for one that is independent, uses a fee structure whereby the firm is paid directly and only from clients, and uses a market return approach. The right strategy, managed by the right help, can truly bring wealth without worry.

In some sense, worry-free investing isn't really possible. People will always worry about taking care of their families and they'll always worry about their country's economy. Yet true "wealth without worry" means not having to track the daily movement of the market, saving time and energy for more important things in life.

Investors' confidence should be put not in an adviser or their own stock-picking prowess, but rather in the economic miracle we call capitalism. By tracking market movement over the past seven or eight decades, we see that the market goes up more than 80 percent of the time.

The expansion of capital markets is inevitable -; and a windfall for market return investors.

Is your copy trusted by google

by Karon Thackston © 2006, All Rights Reserved

As long as I've been an SEO copywriter, I never knew that Google had its own trust factor with relation to site pages and their copy. Yet, a recent column in the Google Librarian Newsletter did a wonderful job of explaining what Google is looking for in the way of copy. These are practices I've preached with fervor for years. This information can help your copywriting become a trusted source for Google and potentially aid in increasing your rankings.

As I started reading the original issue of this newsletter, Matt Cutts began to explain that Google uses many factors (other than Page Rank) to evaluate and rank pages. Matt continues to describe the use of keywords and their relationships to other page factors.

For instance, let's say one keyphrase you're working with in your copy is "flat monitor." I've preached for years that keyphrases work best when all the words remain in their exact order. That is, when you use the entire phrase "flat monitor" as opposed to only using the single words "flat" and "monitor" individually. Matt confirms this by saying relevance and trust might be increased in Google's eyes when the words "flat" and "monitor" are used next to each other.

Why would it matter? Because "flat" can refer to practically anything. That word by itself could easily be used on a page that has absolutely nothing to do with monitors. While the word "monitor" can refer to a screen used with a computer, there are many different types of monitors. If the search query were specifically for "flat monitors," pages about CRT monitors and other types would have little relevance and therefore wouldn't be deemed trustworthy. "Monitor" can also mean to observe, which would be irrelevant to the search query used in our example. So, using the phrase as it was typed into the search engine is the most relevant application.

What else? Have your keyphrase in the title. While Matt doesn't say this is a vital element, he does suggest that it "gives a hint" that the page would be more relevant, and therefore trustworthy, to the subject matter at hand than a document that does not include the keyphrase in the title.

Toward the end of the article, Matt refers to Google's preference to choose the most trusted sites to include in their database. It's in a subsequent issue of the Google Librarian Newsletter that Matt explains, in part, other ways Google evaluates trust.

The fonts used on the page and the placement of words on the page are included in assessing trust. Also, an examination of the text of other pages of the site is included. Of course, this is not the entire equation. As originally stated, Google uses many factors to determine the relevance and trust of copy. These are just a few.

But what about copy that isn't trustworthy? What practices do you want to avoid? In a thread on Matt's blog (from April 26th), Matt discusses penalties. During the thread, a segment of horrible text is shown as an example of how not to write SEO copy. Matt's comments about the copy include mentions of these offenses: keyword stuffing, deliberate inclusion of misspelled words, gibberish text (the kind normally generated by automated copywriting programs), doorway pages and hidden text on the page. If you are currently practicing any of these techniques, you might want to seriously (and quickly) adjust your copywriting strategy.

The bottom line is that Google wants to include pages that are highly relevant. By writing your copy in such a way to highlight the relevant factors of the content for Google, you also contribute to your visitors’ experiences. It's a win-win-win situation that benefits you, Google and those who come to your site.

Your weight in muscle

You probably have heard that muscle weighs more than fat. Many people notice a small weight gain when they begin lifting weights consistently. As a general rule, if you lift weights 2 to 3 times a week, you can gain 1 pound of muscle per month for about 6 months. After that, the rate of increase slows down as you start to reach your genetic potential. For the same reason, you will make a lot of progress on weight progression at the beginning, but the longer you lift; your progression will lessen because you are reaching your genetic potential.

Don’t be alarmed at the extra pounds of weight from weight training because it is well worth the effort. For every 3 pounds of muscle you build, research shows you increase your resting metabolic rate by about 7 percent. For example, if your body burns 1,200 calories per day (not counting exercise or any other movement), you would burn an extra 84 calories per day with those 3 extra pounds of muscle.

Many women have a difficult time outgrowing 2-3 pound dumbbell weights, because they are afraid that if they increase the weight they will bulk up. If you are happy with the strength and appearance of your muscles, you can do a maintenance program with 5 pound weights. However, if you want more strength, you could progress to 8 or 10 pound weights and still not bulk up. Using heavier weights can increase muscle size, but it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get bulky. Women don’t naturally have enough of the hormone, testosterone, required to build huge muscles, and even if you could bulk up, you’d have to use significantly heavier weights.

Another option to tone muscle is to increase your repetitions instead of increasing weight. A high-repetition/light-weight program will develop muscle tone and increase strength and endurance without significantly increasing muscle size.

I like to tell my clients to not just go through the motion when lifting weights. I use the word “squeeze” a lot to describe the contraction of the muscle you should be focusing on. Think about the muscle you are working and squeeze or contract it as you are lifting. You will get a lot more benefit for your efforts if you squeeze the muscle on the lift rather than just raising and lowering the weight without focusing on the muscle.

For more information and tips on exercise, go to easyexercisetips. com

Home business ventures

You have now made the monumental decision to begin your own home business. The first thing you have to decide on is what type of business will you have? After that, the rest will easily fall into place. There are so many options out there, how do you know which one is the best for you? Should you begin a home business out of what you love the most?

When you want to choose to begin your own home business, there are four roads to take:

1. If you are very passionate about something, then begin your business around that subject. For instance, if you love to write then you can begin your own freelance writing business. There are many places on the Internet where you can find clients to write for. If you are a person that is neat as a pin and you love to organize, then you may want to consider a home business where you organize other people's homes. You could even start your own blog or web site that is dedicated to home organizing. Do you love the hobby of scrapbooking? Then why not turn this into a home business and create scrapbooks for other people.

You have to keep in mind that passion does not always mean that your home business is going to be successful. Many hobbies fall short because they are too limited. You must really decide whether there is money to be made from your hobby or passion.

2. Begin with opportunities that you have.

If you know of someone that is making money on the Internet and he or she is willing to instruct you, then this may be a perfect chance to begin a home business that is Web-based. This person may teach you things like how to get more traffic to your web site and help you identify what the best money making programs are for you. You may be one of those people that has many antique items in your home. You can begin a home business by selling your antiques on eBay.

3. If you see a home business that has good potential, then go for it!

This may be a business in which you know absolutely nothing about. However, if you feel that this home business has great potential, then first learn everything you can about it. You can get a lot of information from books. You don't necessarily have to buy the books. You can become a frequent visitor to the library. Visit web sites to find out more about the subject. If you still see a huge potential there, then dive in!

4. You must build on what you have created.

If you have a penchant for inventing ingenious things, then you can begin a home business deveoping and marketing your inventions. When beanie babies were the craze, I embarked on my own home business of selling different accessories for the babies. It was profitable for a time, but when the craze wore off, so did my business! That's all right. Just wait for the next craze to take the nation by storm and see if you can capitalize on it!

These are just four things to think about when you begin thinking about starting a home business. Remember to gather information, do your research and your home business is sure to be profitable.

Easy games to play for fun

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Get acquainted with a practical guide on the easiest games that you can play online. And once you read this article, you will find that you have at least stopped losing all your money. If you follow the advice well and to the dot, you will also learn how to start winning cash from other players or by beating the casino. Sounds interesting? It is.

Note that the games you must look out for are those where the house edge is very low. If these are hard to find at the casino you have entered, look for those games that depend more on skill than on luck. Some of these include blackjack and poker. The games to avoid because they depend solely on luck are any of the slot machine games such as Caribbean Stud or the regular or progressive slot jackpots. These rely only on luck and the house edge there is against you.

What is a House Edge?
Since the casinos and betting establishments are in it for making money, they have created an artificial method to gain leverage over the players. This is what they have termed house edge. What it means is that over and above what you win, the casinos deduct a certain amount for themselves. It is something like insurance but only for them and not for you. But the casinos do not actually do this. Instead, they have inserted these odds into the game winnings so that you do not notice it. When you win, you are paid according to the newly calculated odds and you are no wiser.

For instance, if you walk over to a casino and place a bet of ten dollars on a roulette table. (For arguments sake, let us also suppose it was an American roulette table.) If you win, you should be given three hundred and seventy dollars because the true odds is thirty-seven to one. Instead, you will only get three hundred and fifty dollars according to the odds of thirty-five to one. This is what I was referring to in the previous paragraph. What has happened is that you have lost twenty dollars to the casino as part of the house edge.

Playing Poker:
Pick and play this exceptional game because, here, you are not competing against the house at all. It is other players like you who you are up against. Do battle against them and defeat them for cash. No house edge comes in the way here, but you do pay a small part of the money you win to the casino as a commission. This winning commission is called rake, and its so minute that you do not feel it pinch your pocket.

In addition, this is one of the best games to play if you are good at it and if you have razor-sharp skills. You will be able to mint money like crazy if you can read other expressions and count the cards well. You can also pick from a variety of game variations such as Red Dog Poker and Texas Holdem.

Playing Blackjack:
This is one of those games that the casino does not like you playing. If it was up to the betting establishments, they would remove these tables altogether. Why? Because the edge for them is only a half percent! Thus, is you play well by remembering that you have to beat the dealer and not reach 21, you stand a big chance of accumulating a large sum. I also suggest you brush up on your mathematical skills.

If you wish, learn how to count cards, but be careful. Because card counting works, casinos have banned it. All you have to do is count the colored cards (the cards that are ten and above). Then, it will be easier to decide which bet to make and which not to make. Practice again and again at home because you not only have to master this skill but you also have to learn to do it silently so that the casinos do not catch on.

Video Poker:
This is a game very much like one of the many regular and progressive slot machines games you will run into at a casino, but it is different. Unlike slots, skill plays a big part in the results, and thus you have a bigger chance of winning than at one of the slot machines.

But, before you begin, glance at the payment structure pasted on the machine. You should make your gaming decisions based on the house odds and payment structures of the machine.

Dragon boat racing a popular corporate team-building event

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It is true that money matters a lot to retain best workers and to generate quality output from them. However, there are some other factors too, which can improve overall productivity of a corporate house. Inspiration and Integration – these two words play important roles to build a team of efficient workforce, and to achieve the goal of an organisation. Corporate events like Dragon boat racing help in this regard.

Dragon boat racing is no more a Chinese water sport – it is now quite popular in the corporate arena as a team building corporate event. Dragon boat racing in Kent can be an exciting weekend corporate event, especially for those who hail from Kent and its surroundings.

We can never ignore the growing importance of corporate events, which really help to improve the official environment as well as increase individual’s efficiency level. It is observed that a pool of proficient workers, if offered adequate leisure and supportive environment to retain their energy level, their productivity increases dramatically. Thinking on this line Chillisause offer a wide array of dragon boat racing events for corporate people in different UK locations. Chillisauce offers this amazing water sport experience amidst the eye catching natural beauty of Kent.

The dragon boat racing

The boats are made of bamboo and suitably designed to carry on the charm of this ancient Chinese custom. Based on the length, each boat can carry 10 or 16 people. Since all the participants need to row together on this corporate event, a team building attitude is built up between all the participants.

Dragon boat racing can help to
· Improve personal achievement level
· Maintain team spirit
· Synchronise with entire team
· Achieve the target with result-oriented teamwork

The dragon boat racing provides necessary safety measurements throughout the racing session. If you are with Chillisauce you and your teammates are under the care of well-trained and professional staff.

This dragon boat racing comes with some optional features like traditional a Lion Dance and eye-dotting ceremony from China. You can also enjoy mouth watering Chinese foods during the session and video editing facility to capture some exciting moments of the event.

A weekend corporate event like dragon boat racing in Kent will give a break from the monotony of growing corporate work pressure. This type of event offers ample relaxation of mind and build corporate people to reshape their attitude to achieve organisational goal – improve their energy level to generate best output.

San diego beaches

San Diego is offered up as a great destination for people looking to take a vacation on the beach. Here are some recommendations on San Diego beaches from a local.

San Diego Beaches

When people think of San Diego, they inevitably imagine year around sun and beautiful beaches. Ironically, the worst time to visit San Diego is from the middle of May through the middle of June. During this time period, the coast is socked with low clouds and the sun breaks through for no more than a couple of hours a day. In fact, we call the annual process by the name of June Gloom.

Assuming you come at a different time, the beaches of San Diego offer up plenty of variety and beauty. There are literally hundreds of beaches you can visit, but a select few are worth a mention.

If you are looking for the beach with college kids and a party scene, Pacific Beach is the place to be. The beach is wide, wild and packed. A sidewalk runs the length of the beach to the south and is a great place to people watch. If you prefer an alcoholic beverage with your people watching, the outdoors deck at Lahainas is the place to be. The suds flow all day, but make sure to get there early as the deck is small.

For a more relaxed experience, the beaches of Del Mar offer a choice spot. The beaches are designated by the numbered streets that intersect them. If you are looking to surf, 9th street is the place to be if you are willing to walk down the cliff. If you just want to loaf, play a little volleyball and so on, anywhere from 19th to 25th street should do the trick. Del Mar is a particularly good place to be during the fourth of July since the racetrack on the back side of the beach puts on a fireworks show. Keep in mind there will be tons of people.

If you prefer to have most of the beach to yourself, you need to look to the beaches backed by cliffs. People are lazy, so they tend not to congregate in these area since you have to hoof it up and down the paths to get to the beach. Stone Steps in Encinitas is a personal favorite. The beach is used sparsely, which makes it a good place to swim and just loaf.

The honest truth is you really cannot go wrong with San Diego beaches as long as you avoid June gloom. If you decide to visit, give me a wave. I’m the tan guy!

Grow your online business with internet marketing

One thing you need to remember when you have an internet-based business is that the customers you are trying to reach are also on the internet and you will need to know a little about internet marketing in order to tap into that market. Yes, off line advertising can induce new visitors to your website, but not nearly as efficiently as internet marketing.

Internet marketing is still growing as people learn how to entice customers to part with not only their money, but also personal and financial information, based on something they read on the internet. Regardless how useful the product or service you are offering may be to them, if you do not communicate that usefulness effectively, they will hit the close icon and be gone.

Internet marketing is more than jus an ad on the internet. It is more than a high ranking on search engines. It is a combination of factors that will bring legitimate traffic to your website on a regular basis. Simply popping up on a search engine does not automatically translate in to traffic and increased sales. You have to have your name on the search engines for relevant searches.

Rarely will internet visitors enter a single word into a search box when looking for something. They will generally use a search phrase or a series of words to find a specific item. Your website should be optimized for search engines based on specific criteria, and that criteria may change with each page of your site. For example, an automotive parts site may have a great deal on tires, but if your page on tires is not optimized, then it probably will not show up based on a search for tires.

While there are many companies willing to sell you the information they say you cannot live without when it comes to internet marketing, be careful of the internet marketing programs you sign up with. Many are simply selling you information that major search engines are willing to share for free, and do not really offer sound advice.

What to look for in a home improvement loan

Home improvement loans are a particular type of loan where the borrowed funds are used to make additions, improvements or repairs to your home or to the property on which the home is built. Using a home improvement loan in order to make modifications and enhancements to you house will result in an increase in the property value and will allow for a higher selling price in the event that you decide to sell your home. A home improvement loan can be either secured or unsecured, but is generally secured by the equity you already have in your home. In other words, the home itself is used as collateral to secure the loan.

Where to Get One

Home improvement loans are available through various sources including banks, credit unions, finance companies and other financial lending institutions. Usually, the first place to make your loan inquiries will be with your current lender. You will often obtain the best interest rate from a lender where you have already established a relationship. If what they have to offer is not appealing, there are many reputable financial lending companies who can provide a home improvement loan via the Internet. A quick search will provide many loan options.

Government Assistance

There are many state and federal government agencies that will provide a home improvement loan. These agencies usually have very strict criteria that must be met but they are definitely worth investigating. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website provides a wealth of information on the subject.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is part of HUD and administers various single family mortgage insurance programs that are operated through FHA-approved lenders. The FHA approved lender will submit an application to have the property appraised and have the buyer's credit approved. These lenders will then provide the loans which are insured by HUD. HUD does not make the loan itself.

The Section 203(k) program is the HUD program for the repair and rehabilitation of single family properties. Many lenders will partner with state and local housing authorities to provided Section 203(k) home improvement loans to assist borrowers. The place to start looking at this option is with a FHA approved lender or with the Homeownership Center in your local area. HUD also publish a helpful brochure called “Own a Home and Home Improvements”

What Can You Use the Funds For

While funds from a home improvement loan are frequently used to conduct major repairs such as installing a new roof or replacing outdated plumbing, many people utilize the funds for remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, landscaping a yard, adding a room or a garage or even adding an entire second floor to a single story home.

Getting the Most From Your Loan

Before committing to the loan and signing the documents ensure that you are receiving the best possible terms and interest rate. In addition, if you take out a $10,000 loan and the renovations or repairs you make to your home increases its value by, say, $15,000, then your home improvement loan can be considered an extremely worthwhile investment.

How to house a successful online business

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It is worth taking the time to make your site more search engine friendly, because it will bring you profit and appropriate exposure. Here are some simple advices on building successful web site for your online business.

How to build search engine friendly website? You can find plenty material when browsing the Internet, but a good foundation cannot sabotage your online initiative. A search engine friendly site is not just beneficial for top ranking in the search engines, but also helps to attract customers, thus getting business for you.

Before designing a site, make sure you have got a good domain name. The Domain name is your URL or Universal Resource Locator as in what a person types into the search engine bar like yoursite. com and others. Hypothetically, if your business is related to something like ruleta then it is good to have the word "ruleta" included into the domain name separated by dashes from other words or numbers. Generic domain names may help in search engine listing. It will be easier to find the sequence of words within a domain name directly related to the main idea of your business.

Make your site content based with at least two hundred words holding clear information of your products, services and business. This will help your potential customer to know about you and get some information on products they require. Apart from verbal description, you might use web design attributes to underline your point. Please do not startle the visitor of your web site with blinking texts, shocking colors and confusing animations on the web pages. The website must have a clean look so that the web visitor will feel relaxed to get all relevant information about your services, otherwise, he will shut it down within a minutes.

Keep the site simple and easy to navigate. Complicated navigation will confuse the visitors. The navigation must be user-friendly and easily understood by the visitors. If you search through search engine results, you will find all the top ranking websites are optimized properly. These optimized websites make their presence felt in the search engines by making their site user friendly with good navigation, content texts, and Meta tags relevant to their websites, and having proper placed images. Why shouldn't you use such simple tool like navigation at your favorite?

News relevant to your site is also a great way to bring in traffic. Many people nowadays get their news online and not just world news. Maybe someone wants to read about the gambling bill that was passed in congress recently to ban money transfers to and from online casinos, a great advantage to having news on your page is that if it is well written piece of writing, other news sources like Yahoo and Google may take your masterpiece and put a link to it from their site. This would give you thousands of hits, and that is the goal.

While designing your website, the most important thing to remember your website is not to trick search engines by adding hidden texts or hidden links, irrelevant keywords or text, or very small text which is hardly visible for human eyes. Google usually punishes these websites by giving them low rank or sometimes removing them forever.

If you incorporate all these tips when building your website I can guarantee it will make your job much easier, no one wants to build a site and then find out they need to star over from scratch, because every day offline is potential money lost.

Use the above suggestions and utilize them into your company website in order to guarantee you stop losing money that you could be making.

Go scuba diving in maui

Do you want to see a side of Maui like never before? Check out the beautiful island of Maui from a different view - underwater! There are many places in Maui where you can go scuba diving even if you have never been before. You can go on a guided tour, learn from an instructor or rent equipment if you don’t have your own. Below is more information about snorkeling and scuba diving in Maui.

Diving Trips

There are many different diving trips for you to choose from if you are staying in Maui. Many places offer small group SCUBA trips to at least two different destinations on each day of the week. Set out with other divers on a fully-equipped dive boat and enjoy comfortable seating and amenities (such as a bathroom) while you travel to your dive location.

There are knowledgeable crew members and diving instructors that can help you no matter what your level of experience and most dives are very affordable. If you are concerned with price, you might also look into package deals to save you money or go with a group.

There are also many specialty diving opportunities such as diving in caves or caverns. There are special excursions you can take with a professional tour guide to show you sights you probably never dreamed of before.

If you are a novice diver or if you are in a party with snorkelers, then you might want to take a different boat trip or tank dive trip. You will have to contact facilities that offer these to find out all the details. There are also many introductory dives and diving courses for you if you are new to the underwater world.

Snorkeling Trips

In addition to scuba diving, you might want to try snorkeling. There are many places that let you view gorgeous coral reefs and much more as well as the many exotic underwater living creatures of the Hawaiian Islands. Set out on a boat with many other snorkelers whether it’s your first time or you’ve been doing it forever. Head out to a nice snorkeling location such as a coral reef and friendly, knowledgeable crew will help you even if you have never done this before. There are “boogie boards” available to help you while moving through the water.

Even if you have been snorkeling before, you have likely never seen it like it is in Maui so it is well worth the time to go for at least one day and check it out. Snorkeling usually costs around $50 a day per person but you will have to call actual facilities since prices are subject to change. There are also group deals and discounts that you may be eligible for as well if you call and check into it.

Diving Courses

If you don’t know how to dive, you might want to look into getting some instructions first before you set out to go on a dive with people that know what they are doing. There are also many places that offer diving courses for those of you that may not have even been diving before. You can take classes on all the details of diving as well as go out on a boat with an instructor that will show you exactly how to do everything properly and safely.

If you are looking to find out exact pricing and diving schedules for different resorts and facilities, you will have to call them to find out all of the details. Equipment rentals can vary in pricing according to exactly what you need and what company you go through so you have to call to find out for sure. There are some places in Maui that offer trips and equipment that have their information available online and this may make it easier for you to plan ahead for your trip and find which location you want to use.

If you are going to be in Maui for vacation, you really need to take at least one day to go scuba diving or snorkeling and see the amazing underwater world in person for yourself. You might even want to take along an underwater camera to remember your adventure.

You can check into pricing, dive days and times as well as what certifications they have and what comes in their deals to help choose the one that suits your needs the best.

5 tips to save money--and the earth

You just can't get that memo right, can you? You print out the first draft and find a misspelling. You print out the second draft and discover you missed some commas. You print out the third draft and later decide on a new title. Now the final draft is ready for printing. Before you throw away those wasted sheets of paper, stop and realize that you could be costing your business as well as the environment.

You probably know that by recycling you can save landfill space. But did you know that recycling also can produce a profit for your company? Follow these recycling tips and your workplace will be ready to save the world.

* Create a recycling program. Almost all types of office papers are recyclable. So is most plastic, aluminum and cardboard. If your office doesn't already have a recycling program, contact your local recycling company to see how to start one.

* Use recycled products. If you recycle but don't buy recycled products, you're defeating the purpose, in a sense, by discouraging manufacturers of recycled products.

* Conserve paper. Find paperless ways to communicate, such as by e-mail. Also, save used paper for scrap, make double-sided copies and only print pages you actually need. By cutting back on paper consumption, your office will save money and natural resources.

* Recycle office equipment. Did you know that computers can be recycled, as well as cell phones, PDAs, pagers, chargers and rechargeable batteries? Many local recycling companies and retailers, including Staples, offer easy ways to recycle your equipment.

* Recycle empty inkjet and toner cartridges. The fewer drafts you print, the more money you'll save on cartridge replacements. But when that inkjet or toner cartridge is empty, recycle it through mail-back programs or local retailers like Staples.

In fact, Staples offers a Recycle for Education program that gives $1 to local education charities for every empty inkjet or toner cartridge you recycle in their stores.

Wyoming real estate - wide open spaces

If you're tired of living in close quarters, Wyoming may be the answer for you. Wyoming real estate is also appreciating at a nice pace.

Wyoming

Wyoming is the least populated state in the United States, but also one of the most beautiful if getting back to nature is your thing. While the cattle industry dominates the state, you also find bears, moose and a variety of large beasts roaming freely in the state. This is particularly true in the two major national parks located in Wyoming, Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

Jackson Hole

Located in the foothills of Grand Teton lies the valley of Jackson Hole and the town of Jackson. The town has a suedo Wild West feel to it, but is heavily populated with the nuevo rich. Historic facades front trendy boutiques, but the area somehow manages to maintain a local feel.

If you're an avid skier, Jackson just may be the place for you. The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is not for the faint of heart. There aren't really any bunny slopes at this place. Instead, you have to have a passion for more or less throwing yourself off a cliff with no parachute!

Laramie

At first, Laramie appears to be a typical cowboy town, but first appearances are deceiving. Home to the University of Wyoming, Laramie has a definite college feel with the stereotypical college lifestyle. The town is located in a prairie setting.

Wyoming Real Estate

Wyoming real estate prices vary wildly depending on the specific location. Homes in Jackson Hole are going to be pricey with average prices in the $600,000 range. In contrast, the average home price in Laramie is roughly $150,000. For the last 12 months, Wyoming real estate has appreciated at a rate of a little over 11 percent.

If elbow room is critical to your lifestyle, Wyoming definitely offers plenty of it.

E-mail marketing

Out of all the most crafty marketers you know, the one that just about everyone hates is the spammer, the good news is that Spam is almost dead. It has been greatly taken over by the use of e-mail marketing. It is said that Spam is on the decline, contrary to popular belief. The rate that it is falling is approximately 13% per year. Why? Because the marketer now sees that e-mail is the marketing choice for the pros. By the year 2010 they say that Spam will in fact be a thing of the past. It is also interesting to note that the market spending in this fashion will grow from $885 million, to $1.1 billion dollars in as little time as well.

It is said that the bulk of the e-mailing for businesses in the year 2010 will be of the transactional, acquisitioned, and retention methods. With the remainder of e-mail leveling out between customers gain and personal e-mails heading up the rest. It is clear to see why the Spam is diminishing at such a rapid rate; the e-mail filtering system is getting stronger almost monthly. The amount of Spam that the average everyday user will receive will be cut in half from 2005 to 2010. This will set the pace for the e-mail marketing to take over. With new technology in place, it is easy for someone to recognize the difference between Spam and an actual e-mail from a company that is doing a follow up for business purposes.

It is clear by consumer reports that individuals will stay clear from e-mail servers that do not offer top of the line Spam filters. This is not to say that there are not still a plethora of servers available to the open market. The reason for the big concern right now is the cost of incorrectly blocked e-mails. This rate is at approximately $107 million dollars right now; it is expected to fall to approximately $88 million by 2010. In turn this will make for a much easier time to reach out to the consumer, by way of e-mail marketing once the Spam is truly eradicated. It is the idea that there will be a very organized arena for e-mail marketing that has business owners in fits of joy. They truly know the potential for this wonderful and inexpensive medium.

The improvement of the practices in list management will be stronger, and the ISP will have a stranglehold on the Spam. With all this technology, and the will to make the marketplace a safer business realm, it is clear that e-mail marketing can easily be allowed into the fold as one of the most productive marketing and business tools for the future. For now we still have to deal with all this junk called Spam.

Lime for health and beauty

Although it has sour taste, lime (citrus aurantifolia) has many benefits, from as being used for flavouring beverage to supporting beauty. This fruit functions as expectorant, astringen, antiseptic and antioksidant. No wonder it becomes one of the most popular fruits in the world.

According to the historical data available, lime came from South East Asia before spreading to Africa, Europe and US. But whenever its origin, one should admit that it has many amazing benefits.

For instance, it works wonder for a smelly body. Having smelly body can reduce one's confidence, right? That's why some people also use it for washing their hands after eating.

For you who have oily skin, lime can solve the problem by causing the pores to contract. That is why this fruit is often used to reduce the oil on an oily face. By rubbing it on your face, particularly on your nose and forehead, you can overcome any problem that is commonly inherent in an oily face such as acne. Well, by opening your kitchen cabinet and with a few minutes of preparation you can find a safer, less expensive, and easy-to-use natural skin care.

The same goes for the skin of your head; lime can be used to vanish annoying dandruff. If you want to use this fruit as dandruff cure, first squezee it and use the water. Rub the water on your head skin and leave it for about half an hour. Then wash your head with water.

Having cold. and flu? Don't worry! This fruit is a good home remedy for cold and flu. Boil three limes in 500 ml of water. Leave it until the amount of water become half of the original amount. Add honey and drink it warm.

If you get cut, smear its water on it. Although it is painful, the astringen substance will stop the cut from bleeding and cover it.

Last, don't forget that this fruit is very juicy. Although not as rich as in other kinds of citrus fruits, Vitamin C contained in lime is much enough. You can make a fresh drink with it. Add sugar and ice to make it taste better. If you are experiencing throat ache, try to drink it. lime juice can also be drunk by dieting people. Vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamin C are very good for maintaining a balance diet.

The benefits of lime are much longer than just these few. But as always, If you are in doubt, you should consult with any knowledgeable health professional before using it. There will be times when you do need modern medicines or supplements.

When tax day comes four times a year

For more than 10 million Americans, tax day comes up to four times a year. Many small business owners, as well as people earning income from investments, rental property or alimony, are often required to pay quarterly estimated taxes every April, June, September and January.

Many filers struggle to determine how much they owe, or worse, forget to make payments altogether-a costly mistake when underpayment typically results in additional penalties and fines.

"Paying estimated taxes is a real hassle," says Matt Hammond, a Tustin, California-based commercial real estate broker. "Having to account for things like safe-harbor computations, percentages and special rules that apply can be complicated. In addition, just remembering to send my payment on time is difficult and then I worry if it got there." Last year, Hammond was one of the taxpayers whose payment to the IRS ended up at the bottom of San Francisco Bay when a truck carrying 30,000 tax documents and payments tipped over.

Fortunately, there are ways to make filing "quarterlies" easier. For instance, a new online service from the makers of TurboTax fully automates estimated tax calculations and payment.

TurboTax Estimated Taxes can help eliminate the headaches and hassle associated with making estimated tax payments. The online service features a calculator to determine how much to pay, quarterly e-mail reminders and online record keeping, so tax-time surprises are a thing of the past.

In addition, the service electronically files payments and provides confirmation from the IRS-meaning filers like Hammond may get some peace of mind.

Depression

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Depression is a very serious matter, which does not discriminate.
Depression doe not care what your age is, what gender you are,
or even what your race or social class is.

Depression can often make a person feel sad, helpless, hopeless,
and irritable. It is normal for people to have these feeling
sometimes, but some people cannot just snap out of it and this is
the difference between what is normal and major depression. It is
the determination and brutality of the emotions that determine the
mental illness of depression from normal mood changes.

We are going to talk about different types of depression and how
it can affect you. Depression is an illness that affects your body,
mind, disposition, thought, sleep, energy, concentration, weight,
and much more. Depression is not a mood, it is not a sign of
personal weakness, and it cannot be simply willed away.

Clinical depression is constant and can interfere significantly with
an individual's ability to function by emotional experiences of
sadness, loss, or passing mood states. Clinical depression can be
devastating to all areas of a person's everyday life, including family
relationships, friendships, and the ability to work or go to school.

Bipolar disorder (manic-depression) is a mood disorder, which
means that the symptoms are abnormalities of mood. Bipolar
disorder involves episodes of both serious mania and depression.
Bipolar disorder can have a devastating impact on sufferer's lives
and can lead to suicide if it is not treated.

Major depression is a more common illness, the symptoms of which
are mainly those of 'low' mood.

Causes

Several things can cause depression; one of the causes can be
attributed to a deficiency of certain neurotransmitters in the brain
that signal from one nerve cell to another. The immune system of
a depressed person is usually very low and therefore ineffectively
responding to diseases, including cancer. The everyday stressors
faced by Americans have simply become too much for many to
bear, and reasonably so. In recent years, taking an anti-anxiety
medication or anti-depressant has become as common as taking a
multi-vitamin.

How to Alleviate

Two amino acids are known to alleviate depression in many
persons. They are tyrosine and L-phenylalanine. The two amino
acids are a natural precursor of certain neurotransmitters.

You can't afford what?

Perhaps the only thing worse than depression is having
depression and not being able to afford treatment. Needy Meds is
a website that offers all the information you need to get your meds
free, just click the name of your drug in the list on the left side of
the page.

The Medicine Program is for people who do not have insurance and
do not qualify for government programs you may qualify to enroll in
a privately sponsored program. They do charge a $5 processing
fee but the medications themselves are free. Volunteers staff this
organization and the processing fee covers their expenses. This
company will contact the drug manufacturer on your behalf, or you
can choose to contact the drug companies themselves.
Free Samples - Often pharmaceutical companies provide physicians
with free samples. Ask your doctor is he/she has any samples on
hand of your medication.

Tips in shopping shower curtains online

When decorating the bathroom, there’s no doubt that special attention gets paid to the sink, toilet, towels, and shower. After all, these are the main staples of the bathroom, and they serve as the main focus (both in function and aesthetics). However, the shower curtain is one accessory that can change the whole look and feel of a bathroom, depending on several factors. Furthermore, the internet has changed the whole experience when looking for a shower curtain by adding limitless options. In this article, we’ll give you some easy tips in shopping shower curtains online that may help to makeover the mundane look of your bathroom.

The first consideration when shopping for a shower curtain should be color and design. The days of solid or clear shower curtains that lack personality are definitely a thing of the past. Today, there are hundreds of shower curtain options available online. These range from basic colors to fun, bold colors dressed up with characters and images. While many of the images featured on shower curtains tend to be water-themed (penguins, fish, boats, rubber ducks, etc.) there are others that know no boundaries. Shower curtains can feature sports teams, animals, or cartoon characters – basically, if you can imagine it, there is a shower curtain for you. However, it is important to choose a shower curtain with the colors of your bathroom in mind. It might be fun to buy a hot pink shower curtain, but it is sure to stick out like a sore thumb if your bathroom is designed in blue and white.

Another factor when shopping for a shower curtain online is choosing the right material for you. You may be thinking that all shower curtains are alike, but that is not the case. Shower curtains come in a variety of materials including vinyl, plastic, cloth, and earth-friendly hemp. It is important to decide which look and feel is right for your family before making a purchase.

It is also important to buy a shower curtain online from only the most reputable web sites. How can you ensure that you are making a safe purchase? For starters, you should only buy from sites that have security measures in place to protect your personal financial information. Encryption services such as VeriSign make it impossible for your information to be hacked into by an outside source. This peace of mind is invaluable when shopping online. It is also best to buy from reputable online merchants that you have either dealt with before, or have knowledge of. Many retail and discount stores offer online shopping that is safe and trusted.

By following these tips in shopping shower curtains online, you are sure to find the perfect shower curtain for the bathroom(s) in your home. A shower curtain can be the first step towards renovating a bathroom look that may be stale, or it can help to enhance an already wonderful environment. Either way, shopping for shower curtains online can be a fun experience that will help bring out the best in your bathroom.

10 simple tips to help you write better headlines and make more sales

Headlines are the most important part of your sales letter. They account for ~ 90% of your success. In other words, if you don’t get your headlines right, your site won’t sell.

What’s the job of your headlines? They have to get your site visitor excited. Their goal is to grab your reader’s attention and to make her continue reading your sales letter. If your headline fails to create excitement, it’s very likely that your visitor will leave your site immediately and probably never return again.

How do you create excitement? You have to intrigue your reader with the fantastic benefits of your product. The headline of your sales letter has to present the most important benefit - the USP (Unique Selling Proposition) -- of your product.

The goal of your headline is to stir emotions and to help your reader to imagine enjoying all the great benefits of your product. People buy for emotional reasons and that’s why it’s so important to describe the benefits of your product and not its features.

Your site visitor is having only one question on her mind: What’s in it for me? -- How can I solve my problem?, How can I make more money?, How can I get that job? ... Focus only on your customer and answer her burning questions immediately -- that’s how to write a great headline.

In your headline, tell your customer that you have a solution for her problem, that you have the answers for her questions, that you will provide what she wants...

The result? Your reader will be excited right from the start, she will be eager to continue reading through your sales letter and chances are really good that you will get the click on the "credit card symbol" at the end of your sales letter.

Learn how to write a great headline and getting the sale will become easy -- outstanding headlines can increase your sales by several 100%.

One headline isn't enough - use also subheadings

* Right at the beginning of your sales letter you have to fire your biggest gun -- your USP, that’s the most compelling benefit of your product. To keep your reader interested and excited, use several subheadings throughout your sales copy.

* Each of these subheadings conveys a benefit. That way you will pull your reader through your sales letter, right to the "Buy Me" button. If you don’t keep your reader interested, you risk loosing her. So, keep on firing benefits. Also, it’s absolutely ok to state one and the same benefit several times in different ways.

* Most web surfers only scan pages, they don’t read every single word, but they will you’re your headlines. Therefore you have to make sure, that a visitor who reads only your headlines understands exactly what he will get out of your product.

* Make your reader’s job easy. Divide your text into small logical blocks and start each block with a headline. A headline is like an ad for the text that follows -- it has to convince your visitor to keep on reading.

10 simple tips to make your headlines more effective:

1. Write down all the benefits of your product. What kind of problems does it solve? How it make people happier, healthier, wealthier?...

2. You might not be aware of all the benefits. Think outside the box and keep on looking for more benefits -- don't let any of them slip away.

3. What is the USP (Unique Selling Proposition) of your product. What makes it stand out of the crowd, what makes it unique? That's your most important benefit, that's the one that will differentiate your product from those of your competitors.

4. Use short, active verbs that rouse emotions and create images.

5. Write your headlines only for your target customer and don’t care about the rest.

6. Powerful words you can use in your headlines: How to, Free, Why, Who wants to know, Finally... or ask an open-ended question: "Why do so many people fail to attract more money?"

7. Don’t hype, what you are saying has to be believable.

8. Brainstorm 10 - 20 headlines.

9. Pretend you are your customer. Which headline would get you excited, which one stirs your emotions? Pick your three favorites and keep on modifying and changing them until you are really happy.

10. Take a break and come back the following day with a fresh mind. Do a final edit if necessary.

Learning how to write a great headline takes time and effort, but its absolutely crucial if you want to succeed. It's very likely that you will spend the same amount of time for your headlines as for the rest of your sales letter -- and that's perfectly ok.