Guadeloupe casinos

The French possession of Guadeloupe conjures up images of endless sunshine beating down on perfect white sandy beaches and deep blue Carribean seas. Stay a little longer and you will enjoy the islands' (there are two, connected by a bridge) fantastic rain forests, waterfalls, and beautiful and cosmopolitan villages. Yet, when the sun goes down, the island offers nightlife no less colorful than its fabulous setting - including two Guadeloupe casinos for those who want the thrill of trying their luck on the gaming tables.

Surprisingly, neither of Guadeloupe's casinos is found in the capital Basse-Terre or in its commercial capital, Pointe-а-Pitre. Instead, they are located in two of the country's premier resorts, Gosier and Saint Francois.

The reason for Gosier's reputation is obvious as soon as you arrive - it has five miles of sandy beaches and some of the best restaurants and nightlife in Guadeloupe. In addition, the laid-back French lifestyle of the area is very appealing to locals and tourists alike. At the center of this scene is the Casino de Gosier, found at 43 Pointe de la Verdure, and open from 12 pm to 3 am on Tuesday to Sunday (it is closed on Mondays). Fancy your luck? There are 115 slot machines, which should be enough for even the most committed gambler, and for those with the nerve to play the gaming tables, there are seven table games, including blackjack and poker. The casino adjoins a 200-room hotel that has an American restaurant, and like most places in this enchanting country, a beach is just a stone's throw away.

The other Guadeloupe casino is the Casino de la Marina in Saint Francois. Saint Francois is another of the major resort towns of Guadeloupe and an important fishing port. It is located on the Grande-Terre Island and has some of the most popular beaches and bays, as well as an international standard 18-hole golf course. The marina is a focal point for tourists; with many charming restaurants and grand luxury hotels surrounding it, and overlooking all of these is the casino. It is open every day of the week from 3 pm to 3 am, and offers 49 slot machines and three table games, playing baccarat, blackjack, Chemin de Fer, craps, and roulette. When you are tired of gambling, there is a restaurant and nightclub as part of the complex to allow you to continue the party, or you can head down the cliff to savor the nightlife buzzing by the harbor side.

Touring through spain on a bike

Touring bikes are a great tool for taking a Spain bike tour. They will hold your supplies so that you will be able to go anywhere that you choose.

If you want to take a Spain bike tour, then you may want to consider investing in a touring bicycle. This type of bicycle is specially made to carry food, clothes, and other supplies that you will need on your Spain bike tour or other bike tour. There are racks that are on the front and rear of the touring bike for toting around all the extra stuff that you need on a trip. They also feature three water bottle holders, a large wheelbase, and mudguard mounts, and a frame that fits the wider tires perfectly.

Three common touring bikes are available today. These include the tandem, recumbent, and road touring bikes. Every touring bike has its specific benefits and they should be chosen after considering your individual needs and desires.

The classic touring bike has a wheel that is 700c, with a diameter that is the same size of a racing bike, but with more ample clearance for the frame and a wider rim. You will notice that most manufacturers modify a mountain bike tire that is 26”, because it is very strong and gives you better resistance while riding.

Have you seen those cool recumbent touring bikes? These bikes are easy to notice, due to the position of the seat. This touring bike offers the rider a reclined seat that keeps their legs in front of the seat, rather than under the seat. The steering is usually slightly below or above the level of the seat for maximum comfort.

A tandem bicycle is a bicycle built for two and is very popular for couples who are going on a trip of a long distance. This bike would be excellent for you and your husband to take that Spain bike tour or other tour across a country. These bikes will not carry extra weight like supplies, so you may want to hook a trailer to your tandem bike to take a long trip.

The more modern touring bikes have the proper equipment for long distance rides complete with saddles that you can ride comfortable for a long distance, road handlebars, and front and rear luggage racks for all of your gear. This bike has sturdy wheels and rims that withstand riding and are stable and durable. You can find trailers to tow some of your gear and this is a wonderful idea if you have quite a bit of supplies, because it gives you a lower center of gravity.

Touring bikes are made to be very durable and sturdy for the up and down roads. The brakes on a touring bike are different than on other bikes as they are lever-pulled or cantilever brakes. You may even find a touring bike that comes complete with disc brakes simply because they offer additional braking.

Touring bikes are not known for their speed, but they are known for functionality in traveling and durability. This bike is excellent to use on your Spain bike tour or any bike tour that you want to take.

Responsible atv driving

It’s heady. It’s fun. It can be addictive. We’re talking about ATV driving. The thrill of driving through rugged, off-the-road terrain is something that most ATV lovers find irresistible. Way out, where there is hardly another human being in sight, away from the madding crowds is where the ATV trails are. True, ATVs are also used as utility vehicles on farms where they are used more as tools in agriculture and farming than for fun. But what a lot of ATV users who are into it for sport probably don’t know is how bad ATVs can be as far as nature goes. What the environmentalists say should be taken seriously.

ATV trails when used excessively can do a lot of ecological harm. How does this happen, especially when you take your sport to the back of beyond areas? It’s the deep threads in the ATV tires that do the damage. While they are great for driving around on rough terrain, they dig deep channels in the unpaved trails, which could drain swampy areas and therefore cause more sedimentation of water bodies. So ATV lovers got together and formed groups to try and sort out this problem. There were special areas which they purchased and reserved only for ATV driving.

They also decided to educate ATV drivers about how be responsible and respect the environment. One of the forerunners in this effort was Tread Lightly!, a non-profit organization which is dedicated to educating people how to treat nature responsibly. It was born in 1985 when a program was launched by the US Forest Service to address the problem of recreation visitors to the forests growing to unmanageable numbers. This became private in 1990 and Tread Lightly! came into being as a non profit organization.

For ATV drivers, Tread Lightly! has a brochure with guidelines under ‘Travel and recreate with minimum impact’. Let’s take a quick look at them. The first one, of course, is to stay within the areas open only for ATV use. There are designated trails today and you can find out where they are and have the time of your life there. Remember that when there are slick ATV trails, use the clutch so you get the maximum traction with the least amount of tailspin and moderate your throttle. Don’t roost around the apex of a turn when on switchbacks. This should be kept in mind when you are brake-sliding while descending or climbing as both actions can gouge ATV trails. Streams should be crossed only where ATV trails cross the streams or at the designated fording points. Try not to drive in marshy areas or in meadows.

Keep your equipment in good shape and when winching, find a secure anchor, find the right winch for the right need and don’t winch with anything less than five wraps of wire rope wound around the drum. If you are using a tree as an anchor, avoid damaging the tree by wrapping a wide tree strap around it. Also try not to make too much of a noise and disrupting the silence of nature around you. Use regular camping sites and make sure you camp at least 200 feet away from water bodies and trails. Dispose of waste properly by burying it six to eight feet deep and use fire only when necessary.

They have some more guidelines and they are listed under the heading ‘Respect the environment and the rights of others’. Here, you are asked to be considerate of everyone else on the trail or the road and to ride only where you are allowed to. You should respect private land and leave the gates as you found them. Respect the right of way when someone passes you or is traveling uphill and give way to hikers, horses and mountain bikers. Don’t kick up a dust – literally – and keep the decibel level down. And pack out whatever you pack in.

There are still more guidelines that come under ‘Educate yourself by planning before you go’. It tells you to get yourself a map before you venture out and determine where the ATV trails are. It is always safe to tell someone about your travel plans and to stick to the plans you make. Make it a point to get in touch with the land manager and ask about closures, area restrictions and permit requirements. Always ask for permission before you cross private land. Keep an eye on the weather and keep a few emergency items with you in case of emergencies. Try not to go solo but get together two or three to travel with. Wear protection – a helmet, eye and other safety gear. In case you do separate, arrange meeting points in advance. Keep a sharp eye on your fuel, your time and your own ability. Don’t drink or do drugs and drive. Be always in control of the vehicle and make sure it is in top condition. Keep tools and supplies in case you need them

ATV Trails can be great fun if you take a few precautions. Respect the trail and the you’ll find you have a blast in return.

What the heck is the goof troupe

Simply put, the Goof Troupe is an organization that teaches people to lose weight and improve their health while still enjoying the “finer” things in life. You know, like pasta, red meat, dessert, frappuccinos, alcohol, etc.

You see, the single biggest problem with most weight loss or health improvement programs is that they are NO FUN! They require you to live by some very strict code of “do this, don’t do that”. If you happen to step outside the boundaries of the program, your progress and your state of mind take a painful hit, and you end up right back at square one. Does that sound familiar?

The miraculous method by which Goof Troupe members are able to still enjoy the “taboo” items like those listed above is due to 4 things:

1) Structure

2) Support

3) A reasonable amount of physical activity.

4) Proper portion control, nutrient intake, and vitamin/mineral intake.

I know, I know – it sounds too easy, right? Well, it is both easy as well as effective, and you can start taking advantage of this program right now!

People who get a reasonable amount of activity, control their portion sizes, and get the appropriate intake of vitamins and minerals are healthy, they don’t carry around a bunch of excess bodyfat, and they can jump “off the wagon” on a regular basis because they do the right thing the rest of the time.

Also, no one wants to be healthy by themselves. Even the most confident and self-motivated people still have the basic human need for positive reinforcement, and a helping hand to keep them on the path to success.

Having structure in a health program is just as important as having support. If you had 100 people who were willing to bend over backwards to support the needs of the other group members, but those 100 people didn’t have a clue what they were doing, then that group would be on the fast track to failure wouldn’t they?

In getting back to the question of ‘What is the Goof Troupe’, we answer with this:

The Goof Troupe is a social group whose members work together to be healthy most of the time, so they can enjoy being UNHEALTHY the rest of the time!

A Goof Troupe can contain any number of people, but a typical social group will include at least 3 or 4 people, and as many as 10 or more. The group meets once each week so that all members can take advantage of the group support, tips, and instruction, and those meetings are typically followed up by going out and having fun!

All Goof Troupe members utilize the same basic concepts of portion control, healthy eating, and physical activity as outlined in the Goof Troupe lifestyle improvement system, the Tahiti Trim Plan 40 program. The TTP40 program ensures that all members are not only eating the proper portion sizes, but eating often enough as well. 9 out of 10 people who are overweight actually do not eat ENOUGH.

The TTP40 program also contains all of the vitamin/mineral supplements that are needed by all people, and it outlines a program of physical activity that ensures that all Goof Troupe members are using more calories than they are taking in. That equates to weight loss, by the way!

In addition to the weekly meetings, most Goof Troupe members will see each other much more often than that. The Goof Troupes are as much social clubs as they are a lifestyle management program, and members are encouraged to engage in support, social, and health-related activities as often as they like.

The Goof Troupe concept is a starting point – a “guideline” for you ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ fans! The Tahiti Trim Plan 40 program and the Goof Troupe weekly meetings provide the structure, support, and information that allow all members to lose weight, be healthy, and most importantly – to have FUN!

In addition, the Goof Troupe founders are able to get all Goof Troupe members and leaders a discounted price on the Tahiti Trim Plan 40 products, which means that the program is less expensive than ANY comparable program on the market. Also, people who start Goof Troupes in their areas can get their own products for free, or even make some Fun Money that they can use to enjoy their new found level of health or weight loss!

Online quiz creation guide

Online quizzes can be great tools in helping students learn and check their comprehension of the information they have been taught. However, a quiz must be worded, ordered, and structured properly to ensure that students understand the appropriate material.

Like written quizzes, online quizzes are usually short in length and specifically test a student’s ability to comprehend information previously presented to him. For example, a student may read a lesson about the history of the automobile and then answer questions about who created the internal combustion engine, who created the Model T, and so forth.

One thing to keep into consideration, however, is that a quiz should test a student’s ability to recall pertinent details and make generalizations about the entire subject on which he is tested. Instructors commonly create questions that test irrelevant details or are too directly related to the material to be of value to the student. One instructor may ask for dates and names of famous battles in English history, and a particular student may do very well on this quiz. However, when he is assessed on his knowledge of English history and asked to write an assessment on the War of the Roses, he could very well come up short. The disparity stems from the low-level, pure comprehension nature of the questions in the quiz as compared to the higher-level thought process required to write an analysis of history.

Teachers also can make the mistake of creating questions that are overly general. One of the common complaints of students is that questions appear too abstract or ambiguous, and this is often true. An instructor may ask a question like: “What was the nature of early English-Native American interaction?” Such a question is perfectly innocuous, but when the answer choices are given as one-word characterizations like “timid,” “overbearing,” and “indifferent,” students are left to guess what a teacher “meant to ask” rather than ponder the material covered in the quiz.

A teacher must strike a balance between questions that are overly specific or overly general. While it is not always easy to tell what a “good” question entails, here are a few guidelines:

* The question should reflect the student’s ability to comprehend and not simply recall information

* The question should aid in a student’s analysis of the information presented

* The question should be worded such that the student cannot determine the answer easily by process of elimination from the answer choices

* Good questions require the judgment of the student so that the student does not just choose the “correct” answer, but the “best” answer

Consider the following two questions as illustrations of the points above. Both questions ask essentially the same thing, but one is a good question while the other is decidedly ineffective as a learning tool.

Is the NFL-AFL merger considered an example of monopoly? Why or why not?

Which features of a monopoly did the NFL-AFL merger exhibit? Which features allowed for an exemption from antitrust law?

While both of the above questions test a on a student’s knowledge of antitrust legislation and the NFL-AFL merger, the above question is ambiguous as to what the question really wants the student to respond with. The question below, while asking basically the same information, requires the student to cite specific examples of features of monopolies and antitrust while guiding the student in an effective analytical response. Clearly, the bottom question is superior.

Of course, it is difficult to judge every question as a “good” or “bad” question, but over time, educators can get a feel for the effectiveness of the quizzes by the responses they receive from their respective students. Effective quizzes will help students use knowledge in analytic responses and on lengthy assessments. Ineffective quizzes will encourage students to “brain dump,” or cram. If used correctly, quizzes are an indispensable tool to the educator and a great learning tool for the student.

How to launch a successful home business as a layman

There are a lot of affiliate programmes around. They all promise great products with even greater returns. How would anybody choose from so many programmes? And can you believe all these promises? In this first article I take you on the earliest steps of this journey that I have taken myself when I not too long ago started my home business. Discover which programmes are good and which ones are bringing the return I hoped for.

First of all, you need to understand the basics. Doing any kind of business, and a home business as an affiliate is just that, has to do with supply and demand. There are many affiliate programmes around and even more people who join them. All these affiliates are fishing in the same pond of the customers' dollars. While the market of ebusiness is increasing, so is the number of affiliates. In order to be succesful you need to be determined and realistic. A lot of people stop after a few months because they did not make thousands of dollars.

Second of all, you will find a lot of very good advice of how to become successful in your home business. Be sure that when you read this advice millions of others read the same thing and act on it. Do I need to say more, except that I do advice to read some material so you understand what you are doing? Dotcomology is such a book that covers all of the topics you need to know about when starting your home business.

Knowing and understanding the first two points you should realise that this is business and it can become big business, one that you need to build up and maintain. You will need to invest time. If you do not have time, make sure you have money to invest as customers don't just pop up and buy into your product.

One thing that has helped me a lot is that I joined a programme that has helped me launch several affiliate programmes and taking me by the hand to build a home business. Find also an affiliate programme that helps you build a business from scratch that takes you by the hand, step by step. You will need to know and deal with so many things that any help is welcome. At first any business you start is mind boggling. Remember, this is a real business, even though affiliate programmes take care of a lot of things. But still, the marketing part which is not as straight forward and easy, you will need to deal with yourself.

Finally, be clear about one thing before you start. Set beforehand a $$ amount that you are willing to invest. As with any, and I mean any, affiliate programme, even though they are in most cases free to join, you will always be offered the choice to join and/or upgrade many other parallel running programmes in order to increase traffic or to accomplish something else. These upgrades can total a pretty high investment. Determine also how much time you would like to spend on your business. If you have no money and time to invest, and want lots of money within a short period, better think again before starting.

A closer look at gun security

The local and national news programs seem to feature stories about shooting accidents on a weekly basis. So often the lack of gun security is the reason these disaster occur. Gun security is not rocket science, it is common sense, yet many homes that have firearms do not follow basic steps to insure for safety. This lack of responsibility leads many people to call for national firearm controls. We have firearm control policies we just need people to practice gun security.

Gun security can be as complicated or as simple as you want to make it. The gun security system that works best for you will depend on what type of firearms you own and the purpose of owning it.

For people that own firearms for hunting, gun security usually involves a gun safe. This is often due to the high cost of these firearms. The gun safes protect the firearms from moisture and theft as well as keeping them out of the reach of curious children.

A safe adds greatly to gun security because they are extremely heavy so they are difficult to walk off with, and the locking system stops casual theft. Most gun safes have a separate area to lock and store ammunition, separate from the firearms. This is one of the key elements in gun security, having ammunition and firearms located in different areas.

Many gun collectors like to display their collections in glass cases. These cases often come with locks however they are not the best method when it comes to gun security because the cases can be easily broken into. Also these cases are usually light weight enough that thieves could carry them away.

When considering gun security for your home there are a number of factors to consider. You want to make sure that your firearm is not used against you in the case of a robbery. The easiest way to avoid this is to make sure that none of your firearms are left loaded, and that both the firearm and ammunition are locked in separate areas of your home. You also want to make sure that children that are living in your home or visiting your home do not have access to firearms.

Children are naturally curious, especially about weapons. Often times the shooting accidents involve children that are playing with a loaded firearm. Children are going to push, pull and press on all areas of a gun, so they can easily take it off safety, without knowing what they are doing. Also when playing with a gun children naturally point and pull a trigger, which leads to disaster if the firearm is loaded. It is important to talk to your children about gun security and to also have them attend gun safety educational courses.

The right to bear arms is one of the basic rights of Americans. As with all of our rights this comes with the need for responsibility. Gun security is using common sense to insure the safety of everyone living in and visiting the home that has firearms. Very simple steps can insure gun safety in your home.

Cheap conference calls are they any good

Conference calls have been an alternative way of gathering people together in a business seminars or meetings. It can save everyone the hassle of traveling from one place to another just to attend a business gathering. Not only that, it can also relatively lower down company expenses because all you really need is a telephone system and you are good to go. Technology has really gone a long way and has helped the business sector in making cost-effective solutions that fits their needs.

You may think that setting up a call conference may be costly. Actually it need not be. There are a number of conference call service providers in the market that are offering affordable call conferencing packages which are available for everyone.

How come some cheap conference call providers can reduce their rates that low?

Firstly, offering cheap rates is their marketing strategy to get more people to commission their service. Second, cheap conference calls are often service providers themselves and have their very own network that they use during conference calls. This way, there are actually no or at least very minimal overhead cost. Without these additional costs, they can easily lower down their rates.

How do cheap conference calls work?

Providers usually would give their costumer a unique toll free number. The participants of the conference call will then dial-in the given number. The host would simply call the toll number and can easily conduct the conference right there and then.

Advantages of cheap conference calls

Reservation-less conferencing

Cheap conference call does not need reservations for a person to join the conference. A client can call a conference anytime he needs one without making prior reservations.

Call management system

Cheap conference calls also provide their own call management system. Just be sure to check with your provider other services and additional features that come with the package you paid for. Call management system would ensure that you have a smooth-flowing conference at all times.

Operator assisted

Cheap conference calls also provide live operators upon request but you would usually be required to pay additional cost for this. Since cheap conference calls are committed to provide the most cost-effective solution possible for their costumers they usually use automated system instead of live operators to cut down the cost of the service you have to pay for.

Easy setup

You might think that you need extra tools to set up conferencing, but this is actually not the case. There are no additional equipments that you need to have to make a conference call. All you need to have is a simple telephone system that you would use during the conference.

Get in touch with hundreds of people

The primary use of a conference call is to get two or more people together. But with a cheap call conference, it gets even better. You can converse and connect to one person or to one hundred people all at the same time.

Who would benefit from cheap call conferences?

Call conferencing is not exclusive for business use. It could also be used for medical consultations and for small organization’s staff meetings.

Start-up companies would greatly benefit from cheap call conferencing. They would give your company the professionalism it needs without you shelling out a big fortune. Cheap call conferencing would perfectly fit your budget.

Small organizations and charity institutions can also use cheap conference calls. This way, they can get in touch with their staff wherever they are in the world. You do not need to pay for high cellphone bills anymore or to travel far just to talk to your staff. Cheap conference makes it easier for you.

Cheap conference calls, are they any good? In conclusion, they are! They offer cost-effective solutions to suits your needs without paying for high fees. They are very economical compared to traveling to different places just to meet with certain people whether it is for your business or for your organization.

Apart from being affordable, cheap conference calls are not short when in comes to technical advantage. They can offer the same service most high-priced providers offer. What you really have to do is to evaluate your provider’s services and ask them about what they can offer you. It would be a good idea to compare providers and choose what you think is best suited for your cause.

Communication is very vital in a thriving company. With cheap conference calls, you can create seamless communication with your people and still save up a little of your budget.

Forever made possible with the best mortgage refinance

You’ve been dating for months and you’re more compatible than Romeo and Juliet. You enjoy each other’s company, like doing the same things together, and are very much in love with each other. You’re always either spending the night at his place or he in yours. Indeed, your relationship is moving forward and it’s time for you to take the next step.

Not Quite Till Death Do You Part

In this day and age, nobody wants to get married. Marriage has become pass้ and often only happens as a formality for couples who have been living together for a long time. Indeed, more and more couples nowadays choose to move in together first before getting married, and understandably so. By moving in together, you get the chance to know your partner better and to adjust to each other’s habits. If it doesn’t work out, going on separate ways is a clean break without the mess that usually comes with divorce. It’s the ideal arrangement, and one that all couples should consider.

Meeting Halfway

Deciding to move in together is easy, but figuring out where to move in to is another story, especially if both of you have your own apartments. Consider the fact that you are now both starting a new chapter in your lives – a new life together. It’s a good idea to start fresh in a new place, one that you can start filling in with your memories.

If both of you have always been renting, you can now consider owning a new home together. Shop around for the best mortgage refinance deals and you’ll be on your way to buying a new house of your own. With your combined income, you are prime candidates for the best mortgage refinance there is. Once you’ve chosen the best mortgage refinance, you can spend quality time by looking at new houses together and planning your decoration scheme. Indeed, the best mortgage refinance doesn’t only let you have the house of your dreams. It can also bring you even closer together.

Of course, a relationship is a give and take process. If you’re both working and earning your way through the world, you’d have to divide expenses and payments for the best mortgage refinance 50-50, or whatever terms you both have settled on. After all, you should be taking care of each other, not taking advantage. As long as you’re meeting halfway, nobody will feel shortchanged. Relationships work best when there’s fairness and equality between both individuals.

On The Road to Happy Ever After

Moving in together is a big step, but one that is often inevitable. After all, nobody wants to be alone forever and who better to share a home and a life with than that one great love? Indeed, when you find yourself waking up in the morning next to the person you love, the best mortgage refinance is worth it. You’ll find that it’s the most natural thing in the world, and you can be sure that you’ll both live happily ever after.

Green tea - a tea from the far east

Green tea is a kind of tea that has been very popular in China and Japan for centuries, and has recently seen a massive explosion in popularity in the West. Its rise is linked in many ways to that of the alternative health movement, which sees green tea as having a range of traditional healing properties and abilities to cure diseases. Although these claims have not been proven, there is documentation for belief in them that goes back over a thousand years.

Some green tea is produced outside China and Japan, but it is mostly considered to be cheap imitations of the ‘real thing’ and not worth paying attention to, with the possible exception of a few Indian teas. Most green tea drinkers still import their tea from the East, considering this to be the best tea, and some green teas have become especially famous, such as Japanese sencha, and the Chinese teas Longjing, Hou Kui, Piluochun, and many more besides. Although most supermarkets still only stock one form of generic ‘green tea’, which is usually of very poor quality, health food and herbal shops will generally have a whole range of high-quality, albeit expensive, green teas to choose from.

In Japan, green tea is used as part of a ‘tea ceremony’, a Buddhist tradition where tea is specially prepared and served to the people present. Participating in the ceremony at all requires intimate knowledge of how it works, meaning that few non-Japanese have ever done so. Tea holds an interesting place in Chinese culture, too, with making tea often being used as a means of non-verbal communication to express sentiments like “I’m sorry” or “thank you”. The mythos surrounding tea in Eastern cultures allows the Western green tea drinker to feel that they are taking part in something ancient, traditional and mysterious simply by drinking green tea, and to a certain extent they are.

Chronic conditions and my life

Living with a condition is undeniably stressful and depressing. You soon find out just how much courage you really do have when you are left to deal with a lengthy illness.

There are 'chronic' illnesses (continuing for a long time), and there are 'acute' conditions (such as the common cold or flu). Some chronic illnesses can be fatal, such as cancer. Some chronic illnesses can be relieved and controlled with medical treatment (such as arthritis and asthma), although the condition itself will remain.

Such an illness can leave you drained emotionally, socially, physically and sometimes financially. For the first while, until you adapt to your new condition, you will worry, feel vulnerable, confused, and wonder just what your future holds for you. These feelings are very normal and are just the beginnings of dealing with, and understanding, your condition. Everyone is different, and each of you coming to terms with your illness will accept it at your own own pace. It is very common to feel stressed out trying to live your life, together with your condition, at the same time.

And sometimes people with a chronic illness will keep their condition to themselves, but they soon see this doesn't work. Medications can make you look puffy or make you gain or lose weight, which will undoubtedly be noticed. You will lose time at work when/if you are home sick, more frequently than is normal for you. You won't be too surprised to find that people will, without a doubt, acknowledge and accept your condition with the greatest concern. They are your friends and co-workers, and will want to help however they can, even if it's just listening.

After you have adapted to your condition, the next thing to do is learn all you can about it. The more you know about and understand your condition, the better you will feel. It will relieve the anxiety you are feeling, and will reduce your fear. It also helps to have someone to talk to (your spouse, a family member, or a close trusted friend), or perhaps to join a support group of people with your condition.

And don't be afraid to ask the Doctor/Nurse questions; if you don't understand the Doctor's response, ask again, or ask him to clarify it.

Some questions for the Doctor might be:

What is the treatment for my condition?

How many treatments will i have?

Will they be painful?

Are there side effects?

What if i forget my medicine?

What if the treatments don't work?

Will i be cured?

Learn all you can about your illness, the medications, and treatments for it, and you'll soon thereafter be able to live a healthy, happy lifestyle.

It's difficult at the best of times, to say the least, living with a chronic condition.

Your body's not functioning orlooking the way it should, and to you it's very annoying and depressing. But who of us, healthy or otherwise, is happy with their body? Not very many for sure. If you look after your body, appreciate what it's capable of doing, and accept what it can't, you body image will improve, and that applies to everyone, with or without a chronic illness.

And above all, don't let it be the main focus of your life. You had a life before it came along, and you still do. It has only recently become a part of your life. Maintain your lifestyle with friends, family, favourite activities, and whatever else you do on a daily basis. Be firm with yourself; it's your life.

Unexpected challenges (illnesses) leave one to find an inner strength they may have never thought they had. They grow to appreciate their strengths, and adapt to their weaknesses.

I hope you are going to be one of these people.

Second mortgages or a further advance

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If you are a homeowner and in need of some extra cash, one possibility you could consider is taking out a second mortgage. If the present value of your house exceeds the amount you paid for it (your mortgage total), then you have equity that can be used to borrow more money. This is basically a loan that is secured on your house – and is sometimes termed a further advance.

Finding Another Lender?

You can approach your existing lender for a second mortgage, or shop around for a lower interest rate. It’s likely your second mortgage will be for a lesser amount of capital, but will nevertheless be subject to higher interest rates and possible charges. This is because it represents more of a risk to the lender – the lender takes a ‘second charge’ over your property, which means that if the debt was recalled and your house repossessed, they would be second in line after your main lender to receive their debt.

For What Purpose?

Secured loans and second mortgages are popular with people who want to raise extra funds – for example if you want to carry out home improvements or set up in business and need capital to get going. Although it can be a good way to find a cash lump sum fast, be aware that you are eating into the investment that your property should be. You should make sure that you have planned for the extra cost of repayments beyond what you initially were bound to. If the mortgage term will last into your retirement, will you be in a position to keep up the repayments?

Understanding The Small Print

While there are any number of lenders offering second mortgages, before you commit yourself to one you should be totally clear about the terms offered. Although there may be a special offer or discounted period of low interest, often these will revert to a higher rate after the set period – once again, you need to take the long term view rather than the short term. Also, your equity can provide a security cushion so that if market prices fall, you will avoid the negative equity ‘gap’ – taking out a second mortgage means you will lose that safety feature. (This is where the phrase ‘mortgaged up to the eyeballs’ is particularly apposite.)

You should also take into account any other costs that you may incur – arrangement fees, a re-valuation survey, additional payment protection etc.

Addiction when gambling becomes a problem

While most people enjoy casino gambling, sports betting, lottery and bingo playing for the fun and excitement it provides, others may experience gambling as an addictive and distractive habit. Statistics show that while 85 percent of the adult population in the US enjoys some type of gambling every year, between 2 and 3 percent of will develop a gambling problem and 1 percent of them are diagnosed as pathological gamblers.

Where can you draw the line between harmless gambling to problem gambling? How can you tell if you or your friend are compulsive gamblers? Here you can find answers to these questions and other questions regarding problem gambling and gambling addiction.

What is the Meaning of Problem Gambling?

Problem gambling or compulsive gambling is defined as an uncontrollable urge to gamble despite the destructive effect of gambling on the gamblers life and despite feelings of guilt and remorse. Problem gambling tends to have a negative effect on the gamblers financial state, relationships and daily life. Severe cases of problem gambling can be defined as pathological gambling.

Am I a Compulsive Gambler?

1) Do you gamble until your last penny runs out?

2) Do you gamble to win back your former losses or debts?

3) Did you ever had to borrow money to continue gamble?

4) Did your gambling habit ever made you lie to your friends or family?

5) Did you ever skip work or other obligation to gamble?

6) Do you tend to gamble to forget about your personal problems or to celebrate happy occasions?

7) Does gambling have a negative affect on your daily life or relationships?

If you have answered yes on at least one of the questions listed above, then you have a problem.

Can Anyone Become a Compulsive Gambler?

Theoretically, yes. Any gambler can develop gambling problem regardless to the type of gambling he is occupied with, the amount of money and time he is spending on gambling. Researches show that slot machines that can be found in bars and convenient stores are the most addictive type of gambling activity, while lottery draws and bingo games are located on the other end of the scale. Gambling addiction is an emotional problem; its symptoms, causes and treatments are similar to any other form of addiction.

How Can I treat Gambling Addiction?

1) Group Therapy:

Gamblers Anonymous offers a 12 step self help program similar to the one offered to alcohol addicts in Alcoholics Anonymous. Group therapy also offers gambling addicts advice and support from professional counselors and other gambling addicts in different phases of their recovery process. Gambler Anonymous centers are available in more than 1,200 locations statewide.

2) Individual Therapy:

Cognitive or behavior therapy can help gambling addicts to identify their unaware thinking and acting patterns, which led them to gamble compulsively, and to replace them with controllable and healthier ways of thinking.

3) Psychiatric Medication:

It has recently been proven that antidepressant medications from the family of SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be affective in treatment of gambling addicts.

Credit card insurance - what do they all do

Most major credit card issuers now offer their members a variety of different free insurance programs. It is highly recommended that you review the insurance terms of your credit card agreement as in certain circumstances the credit card insurance offered by your card issuer may cover situation beyond those you may originally have thought.

The major credit card insurance programs offered include:

Purchase protection

If you purchase a product on your credit card that is later damaged, lost or stolen, you should be able to reclaim all or part of the purchase price cost from the insurance policy. Not only is this a useful protection to have if you purchase expensive or fragile products, but can also be a very good additional insurance to any home contents insurance policy you have.

Fraud protection

Policy covers you should you be the victim of fraudulent use of your card. With the rise of identity theft, and the ever increasing Internet fraud taking place, this policy not only covers the traditional fraud methods but should also cover you for any Internet or telephone fraud.

Stolen card protection

Provided you report your card stolen at the first opportunity you have once you have become aware of your card’s theft, this policy should reimburse you for any transactions processed on your card following your last genuine transaction.

Price protection

Not offered by all card providers, basically this policy will reimburse you the difference between the price you paid for a product and the cheaper price of the same product you later found elsewhere.

Travel insurance

If you purchase your holiday on your credit card there are two useful beneficial insurances you should check to see if you have. The first is a cancellation policy, which covers you in the event that you need to cancel your holiday between the period of purchasing the holiday and the date of travel.

The second is holiday accident insurance, which should cover you in the event that you have an accident – including emergency accident evacuation - or are killed on holiday. Both of these are very useful to have as they can be a considerable extra on your holiday travel expenses if purchased independently.

Obviously all of the above credit card insurance schemes are subject to time and monetary limitations, so make sure you check these out. Additionally, you should also make sure that any purchases or use of your credit cards outside of the country of issue are also covered by the policy – as, in some cases, they are not.

Appreciating the lincoln mark vi

For four whole model years, the Lincoln Mark VI lived fully. It was in production starting from the year 1980. Its time to shine on the roads and on the streets was cut short come 1983. The Lincoln Mark VI has been made available in two body styles that comprise of a coupe and a sedan. The coupe held two doors while on the other hand, the sedan held two doors more. The power source for this vehicle was a choice between two capable engines which were the 5.0 liter V8 engine and the 5.9 liter V8 engine. The Lincoln Mark VI was considered to be a part of the whole Lincoln Mark line of vehicles from the Ford Motor Company’s luxurious Lincoln division. In truth, this vehicle is more or less a carryover or a reskinned Lincoln Mark V.

Upon the introduction of the Lincoln Mark VI, the vehicle contained only very few changes as compared to its predecessor which was the Lincoln Mark V. In fact, most people noticed that the changes were only small and minor revisions in the design and style. Although people also noticed that the Lincoln Mark VI was crafted and manufactured to be slightly smaller than the vehicle which came before it. The most noticeable among all minor changes were the new headlight covers that the Lincoln Mark VI sported around. The vehicle also was a proud owner of a new steering wheel design. The hallmark opera windows that the Lincoln Mark V had were still continued in the Lincoln Mark VI. Along with these windows were the grille that held a Rolls Royce styling and design; and also the rear tire hump.

The changes made the Lincoln Mark VI look kind of awkward provide not much appeal, and thus it held not much appeal. However, this kind of styling and design has made Lincoln think of a project that would bring the vehicle in the limelight. What it did was it asked four designers to individually design and style a Lincoln Mark VI their way. This brought about popularity to the car. And along with that popularity came the reputation of being one of the most sought after vehicles for vehicle and car collectors.

At Lincoln Parts and Car Parts, one can find the store’s offering of a great selection of Lincoln auto parts, accessories, tools, and maintenance supplies like Lincoln Mark VI parts. Interesting parties, Lincoln owners, and aficionados could simply visit Lincoln Parts and Car Parts and they could easily access the huge selection and collection of Lincoln parts and accessories that include a/c condensers, catalytic converters, engine parts, exhaust manifold parts, fuel tanks, mirrors, and radiators among many others. The parts offered at Lincoln Parts and Car Parts are guaranteed to perfectly fit Lincoln vehicles. At Lincoln Parts and Car Parts, the Lincoln products have been manufactured from durable and quality materials.

Finding the way with gps navigation

For any of us who have been lost while driving, the road map has been our guiding light, identifying roadways and landmarks to help us find our way. But gone are the days of tri-folded paper maps that require the use of illumination and attention taken from the road. The modern Global Positioning System – or GPS – has transformed the process by which we find our way. But, contrary to popular belief, GPS navigation is not a new invention designed for strictly consumer use.

The Global Positioning System marked its beginnings in the 1970s but seeds of its existence were sown prior to that. We first saw the possibilities of satellite navigation with the launching of Sputnik in 1957. Russian scientists who were monitoring the progress of Sputnik found that they could track its movement based on radio waves; this set the foundation for GPS. The U. S. Navy used an elementary form of GPS in the 1960s when they used six satellites to help their submarines pinpoint their location. But GPS as we know it was designed and implemented by the U. S. Department of Defense in 1978 when they launched the first operational satellite.

Today, 24 satellites circle the earth and provide an enormous amount of information in terms of plotting location. A derivative of this technology in modern times has been GPS navigation – a system that allows drivers to map their routes. GPS navigation comes in a portable unit that can be removed and transferred from vehicle to vehicle when needed. But because of the growing popularity associated with this system, GPS navigation units are now mounted as standard equipment in newer cars. Of course, GPS navigation is also essential to water navigation as used by boats and ships.

But GPS navigation is not solely for the use of vehicles. Outdoor enthusiasts – with an eye towards safety – will often carry a hand-held GPS navigation device; the modern equivalent of a compass.

GPS navigation has allowed us to explore new terrain as we venture forth with confidence, knowing that, no matter what, we will find our way.

Nice website shame no-one can find it

Have you paid lots of money for a cool website design? Is your site looking all flashy and professional? Has it got cool a cool flash intro with lots of images? Have you spent lots of money developing a new site only to realise that you’re not getting any extra hits or business. It is hardly surprising with the amount of websites on the internet; this number could be in the region of 300 billion. So it is hardly surprising when you do a search on Google for something and you get thousands of results and you spend ages looking through the sites.

So how can I get more visitors by coming up on the first page on Google?

Well for a start this takes time which is why some businesses pay for an SEO to do the work for you but it can be done yourself. There are a few points to remember and you can’t really go wrong. The first thing to remember is that Google searches for the key words in the body of the text, so you you want people to find a ‘baby’s travel cot’ your site better have those words written clearly on the home page a few times and also in the title. Also people tend to like to have flashy button effects but Google doe’s not recognise them so even if you have used the keys words in the flash, Google won’t find them. Links to the other pages in your site needs to be straight forward text written hyperlinks.

As for flash intro’s, big mistake, it may look nice but it does absolutely nothing to help your site, in fact the flash is not recognised by the search engines at all. Search engines like clear hyperlinks using the keywords. Unique relevant text is also the key to scoring high.

Heard of page ranking? What is it? Well basically PageRank is a “vote”, by all the other pages on the Web. So if your site’s address or hyperlink is on another site which has a good authority (lots of important in links from good rated sites) then this gives weight to your site. Adding your site to many different sites is very important to improve PageRank.

Writing articles like this is good, and submitting them to relevant categories in article directories like articlealley. com helps give a lot of weight as long as the article sites are ranked high themselves. Google have a toolbar which shows the ranking of each page, if the rank is high then it would be useful to have a link to your site on there. But any sites that take you link will help.

Once your site comes up on the first page of Google you will be seen by thousands of visitors and can enjoy all the extra possible business. So what are you waiting for, get writing and publishing, and don’t forget to put a link to your site at the bottom of the article or this will be a totally waste of time.

Casino bac-a-rat ou baccarat

Ce jeu est n' au moyen age en Italie. Son nom vient du mot italien de l''poque "z'ro" car les cartes qui sont normalement consid'r'es les plus fortes, soit les cartes habill'es donc les tкtes et le dix, ont une valeur nulle au Baccarat. Puis le jeu a 't' export' en France oщ il a fait зa place au sein de l'aristocratie. Aujourd'hui, il est c'lиbre dans le monde entier et est devenu le jeu favori des joueurs professionnels de casino. Le Baccarat est un jeu de carte trиs excitant. Petite anecdote, il a 't' une composante embl'matique de la s'rie de roman James Bond Casino Royale par Ian Flemming.

Le but du jeu du baccarat est de pr'voir laquelle des deux parties (mains) remportera ou seront a 'galit'. Le tout 'tant de s'approcher le plus possible de 9.

Huit jeux de cartes sont n'cessaires pour jouer au Baccarat, tous plac's dans un sabot.

Le croupier distribue au joueur la premiиre et la troisiиme carte et conserve pour lui-mкme la seconde et la quatriиme.

En fonction du total des deux cartes r'alis' par chacun, une troisiиme carte peut кtre distribu'e.

Ce qui est amusant, c'est de voir au tour des tables les joueurs se pr'cipiter avec leurs fameuses " strat'gies".

Mais le saviez vous? Nulle strategie baccara n'existe. Vous verrez souvent au sein des casinos des joueurs, qui, pour 'tablir une strat'gie au baccarat utiliseront le comptage des cartes. Le comptage des cartes est habituellement associ' au blackjack et peut s'av'rer une m'thode assez efficace si elle est bien utilis'e et dans le bon casino. Mais mкme si le Baccarat utilise un sabot identique, les cartes utilis'es, contrairement au Blackjack, sont remises dans le sabot avant que trop de cartes ne soient distribu'es. Justement pour 'viter le comptage des cartes !

De plus, le baccarat ne vous permet pas d'augmenter votre mise en cours de partie et n'offre aucune occasion de gagner contre le casino.

De par sa simplicit', d'autres joueurs pensent utiliser les systиmes des martingales. Il s'agit simplement de doubler vos mises aprиs chaque 'chec afin d'essayer de r'cup'rer vos pertes. Si vous gagnez, vous finirez par gagner le montant de votre premiиre mise. Ce systиme fonctionne parfaitement pour des jeux comme le baccarat et la roulette. А cause de son efficacit', les casinos ont impos' un plafond pour les mises. Il existe donc des mises maximales (et minimales) ne permettant pas l'utilisaion de ces derniиres.

Si le comptage des cartes, les pseudo spirales de la r'ussite, les cartes de scores et autres m'thodes s'avиrent inutiles pour 'tablir une strat'gie au baccarat, quelle strat'gie adopter ? Au regard des statistiques, mieux miser sur le banquier. Mais en utilisant toujours cette m'thode, votre jeu serait ennuyeux. Les systиmes sont donc cr''s pour rompre avec la monotonie et surtout pour vous faire r'fl'chir a des choses qui ne seront nullement valables, sans oublier la perte de vos mises, alors, a vous de voir…. Pour moi, le bonheur de voir les joueurs se concentrer sur leur technique est l'une des plus belle chose a voir. Toutes ces expressions sur les visages. Incroyables!

Become a recognized expert in your field

How would you like to have prospective clients call YOU? How would you like to stop chasing business and sit back and let the phone ring? Most of us would love that luxury. And after years in a particular business, many of us get to that point. But it’s a struggle and many others never quite get there. The trick is to become a recognized expert in your field, to establish a name for yourself that is associated with expertise in your business. The trick is to become so well known in your field that prospective clients seek you out and never even compare you with your competition.

You already know the recognized experts in your field. You know who they are. And in many cases, their achievements appear out of reach. Their business reality is so different than our own that it seems almost out of reach. Well, that is not case. Although these recognized experts seem to have a certain degree of star power, they are human beings just like you and me and they got to their level of recognition by following a strategy, by doing certain things deliberately to achieve the desired results.

So the question really is: what did they do? What were the steps along the way and exactly what did they do to achieve the exposure they now enjoy. Believe me; it’s not an easy path. Yes, in some cases, people almost stumble into their own success. Those stories exist and we’ve all heard them. But there are many more than take the hard road and literally muscle their way onto the stage. This article will look at the conceptual foundation of that process.

The first thing you’ll need to become a recognized expert in your field is expertise. There’s no way to fake this. And as an author myself, I’m certainly not encouraging any sort of deceptive run into stardom. If you have ambitions to become a recognized expert in your field, you absolutely must become an expert first. And with the internet close at hand, doing so is easier than ever.

There’s no question that the best value for your money in terms of acquiring expertise is in published books. Do a search on Amazon and you’ll quickly find more knowledge than you can handle. And for those of you who don’t like to read, you can often buy the books in audio format. In fact, you can do a search on iTunes and YouTube and probably find dozens of free podcasts or videos on your topic. And of course, a Google search will bring up all the resources you need.

The second thing you need to do is give your expertise away for free. Yes, you read that right. Give it away for free. Make yourself useful. Get out there and demonstrate your expertise. Show the world your knowledge. And the internet plays a major role in that as well. No longer do you need to publish a book to demonstrate your expertise. Now, you can publish articles like this one or start a podcast series. You can contribute to blogs or forums or you can start a blog of your own. All of these tactics will position you as an expert in your field. All of these things will increase your credibility and your exposure.

Now, the idea of publishing a book is another great option. And that’s a lot easier than it once was as well. No longer do you have to submit a proposal to the industry heavies like Penguin and Random House and pray you get accepted when thousands of others get denied. No. Now, you can find a smaller independent publisher or self-publish your own book. And regardless how you get it out there, you will make the transition from a regular runt to an author. And from that day forward, people will treat you differently. They will treat you like an expert.

The last thing you need to do is leverage the early exposure you get to widen your audience. After you’ve contributed to blogs and forums, after you’ve found an audience by podcasting, after you’ve sold 100 copies of your new book, you need to immediately put those victories into your bio and use them to position yourself for larger and larger venues. Done properly, the process can snowball and lead you on a steep climb to success.

The recognized experts in your field aren’t that different than you and I. They’re just a few steps in front of us. And just because their reality looks so different than yours, don’t think the same reality isn’t equally available to you. It is. You just have to map out a strategy and follow through with it. You have to develop expertise and then give it away for free. And then you have to leverage the early exposure to widen the audience. Good luck!

Financial advice for young married couples

Mention unfaithfulness in a marriage and more then likely your thoughts will focus on sexual relationships. Yet over 50% of divorces are not at all related to sexual unfaithfulness but rather financial unfaithfulness. In today's debt ridden society, the face of unfaithfulness is financial and divorces are happening much more repeatedly as a result of uncovered financial secrets. More often then not, women are financially unfaithful compared to men however financial unfaithfulness is wide ranging and will annihilate a marriage as quickly as sexual unfaithfulness.

Young married couples and debt are common however, they also form a cocktail for marital ruin. Often with a young married couple, one of the partners will hide certain financial things to prevent confrontations and getting help. As soon as the unfaithfulness begins, it usually does not stop until it hits the point of no return. At this point, financial debts become too big to hide and either the partner will reluctantly bring it up or the other partner will discover it on their own, which will bring with it feelings of great frustration, bitterness and often is the beginning of the end for the marriage, especially if professional help is not seeked out immediately.

Men seem to be less apt to handle the financial unfaithfulness then women and when it is discovered that their spouse has been financially unfaithful then a battle will often begin. So what is a young married couple to do to avoid this disaster?

Be accountable to one another and help each other prepare and maintain a budget. When only one spouse has their hand in control of the cookie jar, temptation can often cause for the hand to dip in more then its fair share. This can often start out innocently but quickly grows into a problem while the other partner sits by innocently unaware of the financial burden that is starting.

If a young couple is set on only having one person in control of the budget, that is fine however it is wise to site together once every week and review the income and expenses and allow for open questions and answers. This will provide that additional step of accountability that is often more then enough to keep the temptation of financial unfaithfulness at bay.

Marital problems that are caused from a lack of financial maturity do cause many best friends to become bitter enemies and in any marriage, it can certainly be the brutal destruction of the foundation for which it stands. If you are hiding financial problems from your spouse, come clean with them immediately and seek out financial guidance. If you are not sharing the budget responsibly currently, then start.

Striving to be the best running back ever

There are many National Football League players who play the position of running back quite well, but in my opinion, the best running back there is in the NFL is Jim Brown. Jim Brown played for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. He was an extremely powerful runner, and he also had great speed and agility, which enabled him to break away from the pack effortlessly, while being tackled. Due to his great accomplishments in the NFL, in 1971 Jim Brown was inducted into the pro football hall of fame.

Despite the fact that I feel Jim Brown is the best running back so far, there is an emerging running back who may just give him a run for the title of the best of all time. This great new NFL running back is L. T, better known as LaDainian Tomlinson, who currently plays for the San Diego Chargers. He is proving to be a promising young, new player, yet before he actually gets to be named the best of all time, he will have to surpass players like Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith. These two players were two of the best running backs that have ever played in pro football. Walter was a runner who ran with a great deal of finesse, and the speed of a cheetah. When he broke loose from the pack, he was gone, and no other player could ever catch him.

Emmitt Smith was more of a powerful runner, and he had speed as well. L. T. is proving to everyone that he, too, possesses these talents. Ladainian Tomlinson is well on his way, but he still has a long way to go to play like Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith, or even Walter Payton. It takes lots of training and experience to be a running back, much less, the greatest of all time.

Running backs must train on a regular basis to keep their bodies in shape, on and off season. If they lay around, drinking beer and loading up on junk food while football season is over, then there is no way that they would be able to get back into shape in time for the season to begin. These specialized players must be very dedicated and disciplined, taking the time to eat the proper foods, get a sufficient amount of rest, as well as workout at least once a day.

How to make your own wedding favors

Everybody knows that a wedding is a costly event to organize. Gone are the days where the parents of the bride paid for the day in full. Now it is common for those actually getting married to contribute to the costs and many people feel that they do not wish to begin their married lives in debt, courtesy of the wedding itself.

There are simple ways in which you can reduce the costs at a wedding without compromising on tradition, taste and quality. One of the easiest things to do at a lower price is the making of your own wedding favors. These can be expensive if bought for all of your guests and making your own allows you to reduce this cost significantly. It also gives you the opportunity to personalise them to your color themes and the fact that they are handmade makes them more special for your guests to receive.

The first thing to do is to decide what to put in your favors. Most people choose to use pot pourri or confectionery in them. Once you have decided this it is important to gather all of the materials you will need together. The best place to make these is at a table where you have sufficient room to lay everything out but have it close to hand for when you need it.

You will need to decide on a color for your favors. This can be to match the dйcor of the room where they will be displayed or a color found in your bouquet or bridesmaid dresses. Then select an accent color to compliment this. For example, should you decide on yellow as your main color you may choose purple to compliment it.

You will need to purchase pre-cut wedding favor wraps. These can start at as little as $10 for 50. Then you simply place an amount of the filling in the centre, gather the wrap around it and tie the top with a small length of ribbon. The easiest way to do them quickly is to take your time making the first one and add or remove the filling until the amount is perfect. Then try different lengths of ribbon until you have the one you like best. Once you have one favor which is exactly how you want it, dismantle it again. Keep the parts together and use them as a guide for all of the others. Cut multiple pieces of ribbon, using the length of the completed favor to ensure it is the length you require.

Planning a wedding can be stressful and making your own favors may seem like an additional burden. However, it is a great way of lowering costs. Why not get your bridesmaids round, open a bottle of wine (or two!) and between you they will all be made in no time.

Search engine marketing company- take your business to new heights

Search engine marketing isn’t a new technique but with the changing trend it has gained a lot of popularity and importance. If we talk about the potential market, the UK is one country which carries true potential of search engine marketing.

You can find the best and competitive search engine marketing company in UK, which not just guarantees high ranking but also more business. If you perform a search using keywords like search engine marketing company UK and internet marketing company UK, you will be bombarded with staggering results.

The core process of search engine marketing or website marketing is to attract new prospective clients and buy new customers. Initially you might have low sales but once you are constantly on, no one can ever beat you. You will be amazed to know that across the Internet, every month millions of people perform search on various keywords and key-phrases. This means if you are offering that service and you are ranking high, more business will be coming your way. Search engine marketing company in UK’s main aim is not just to rank your website higher but to push your sales too.

Generally there are two approaches when it comes to search engine marketing strategy. If you wish to enjoy higher ranking and that too just in a few months, you have to get black hat SEO techniques. These black hat SEO techniques fetch you high ranking along with increased traffic but in long run you will be at loss. This is because contemporary search engines have become very clever to judge whether that person is applying legal techniques or not. You will be getting whooping results but in the long run either there will be a sharp dip in your business or you will get your website blacklisted. And this is certainly not your aim.

Whereas, the other technique is white hat SEO technique. This process and approach might be a little slow but in the long run you will be at a benefiting end. You will get not just high ranking but your website will never ever see a dip, hence, why to go for something which proves to be dangerous for your business in the long run. Moreover, search engine marketing company in UK even guides you in taking steps that prove to be beneficial for you. During your search engine marketing strategy, try to find each keyword that you identify for search engine marketing initiatives. It’s true that there are numerous keywords which mean the same but only a few are able to deliver the desired result. Search engine marketing company provides a wide range of effective as well as targeted services that drive highly targeted visitors and traffic to your website.

It has been now proved that if you wish to stay on the top in this rank world, you have to hire services of the best search engine marketing company in UK. So what are you waiting for, perform a simple search in search engines and locate the bankable search engine marketing company in UK.

Choosing educational videos for children

Today, videos have become a very popular means of entertainment among children of all ages. It isn't uncommon for children to spend much of their free time watching their favorite movies or television shows. The invention of the portable DVD player has enhanced the already great role video entertainment can play in a child's day, as it allows parents to take DVD videos wherever children go. This however, creates considerable concern about what today's youngsters are watching. Some DVD and television entertainment is valuable to a child's education, as well as entertaining. Others are not. For this reason, parents should choose their children's videos with great care.

The first factor in choosing the right educational videos for children is to choose educational movies and shows that will match their interests. If you fail to keep a child's interests in mind, the child will be less likely to watch the videos you choose, and may easily become bored and restless. However, if your child is interested in the chosen topic, he or she is much more likely to absorb the contents and remember them later. This way, educational videos will have a more positive and lasting effect on your child.

By choosing the right kinds of videos, you will be able to prevent your children from watching programs you, as the parent, deem undesirable or inappropriate. If you choose videos for your children, you will be able to better monitor the content and quality of each video. You will also be more in touch with what your child is learning, and by familiarizing yourself with the content, be able to discuss the videos with your children. This will also let them know that you are taking an interest in what they are watching and learning.

There are many different titles out there from which to choose, and you want to be sure that the ones you purchase are videos that your children will want to watch. You don't want to invest in educational videos, just to have them sit on the shelf. Before choosing titles, start by getting feedback from your children. Show them the videos you are considering, and find out which videos and topics spark their interest.

When choosing educational videos for your children, it's also important to keep their ages in mind. Purchasing highly educational videos for older children, for example, is often not the best use of time or money. Often, it will result in a lack of attention, leading to a library of videos that your children never watch.

Lastly, watch any videos that you purchase with your children. These videos are meant to be a learning tool, designed to help children have fun while they learn. Videos are not, however, designed to be babysitters. The more interest you take in the lives of your children, the more you will be able to monitor what they watch, and improve their education.

Guide to tv vcr and dvd voltage converters

When traveling overseas, voltage differences in various countries should be considered if you want to take along your TV, VCR, or DVD player. Luckily, there are products such as TV, VCR, and DVD voltage converters to make traveling with these items easier.

How Voltage Converters Work

Voltage converters, often called voltage transformers, enable you to use 110v TV, VCR, or DVD player with a 220v outlet or vice versa. Step down converters will lower the voltage from 220v to 110v (or other voltage ranges) while step up converters will raise the voltage from 110v to 220v (or other voltage ranges).

When Do You Need a Voltage Converter?

A voltage converter or transformer is needed when traveling to other countries where the standard voltage differs from the standard used in your own country. If your country has a standard of 110 volts and the country you plan to visit has a standard of 220 volts, then you will need an 110v to 120v converter. If the opposite is true, you'll need a 220v to 110v volts converter. Some countries offer both voltages, in which case you wouldn't need a voltage converter.

TVs and Voltage Converters

If taking your TV along, keep in mind that monitor formats for displaying television shows are often different in other countries. Televisions create a surge when turned on, so choose a TV voltage converter that is more powerful than the wattage indicated on the back of your TV set.

Though a voltage conversion will allow the television to work power wise, it will not make the format compatible. North American format for TV is called NTSC. Other modes such as PAL mode used in Europe are not compatible with a television designed for NTSC mode. So, a voltage converter plus a multi-system TV might be required.

VCR and DVD Players for Traveling

Traveling with a VCR and DVD player can also be a hassle if you own an older model. The older versions may not work with some formats of televisions overseas, and many models (old or new) will likely need a voltage transformer to operate. Check the format of your player to ensure it matches the format of the available television set. Also, find out the voltage of the country you plan to visit.

Once plugged in, the VCR and DVD player can be used to watch videotapes and DVDs from your country, but maybe not those from another country. Just like with TVs, there are various formats being used around the world for videotapes and DVDs such as NTSC and PAL.

Newer models of VCRs and DVDs called multi-system, code free, or region free will enable you to watch films from your country or from the country you are visiting. Also, some newer machines will convert the voltage automatically, so there's no need for a voltage converter with these.

Voltage Regulators

Voltage regulators act as both a voltage converter and a voltage stabilizer. There are two types of regulators - Servo and Relay. A Servo type regulator stabilizes voltage by adjusting the converter or transformer to the desired output voltage. It gives the most precise voltage and is great for areas with unstable voltage currency. The Relay type regulator works electronically and is not as precise as the Servo type.

Before you go, find out what type of format and voltage converter you will need for your TV, VCR, or DVD player. If staying at a hotel, phone or email a hotel clerk to gather the information you need. Then, go online to shop for plug end adapters, voltage converters, or even a new multi-system or code free TV, VCR or DVD player for your enjoyment!

Aromatherapy - more than just hot air

Many people have found aromatherapy very helpful in terms of their general feelings of psychological and physical wellness. Aromatherapy uses volatile plant oils in a natural form in massage, candles and other delivery methods.

Aromatherapy uses "Essential Oils". The vapors from these oils benefit many people when they are absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream, giving physical benefit. The aroma of the inhaled oils stimulates certain receptors in the brain, giving psychological benefits.

The benefits of alternative therapies like aromatherapy are difficult to prove or disprove, but millions of people spend millions of dollars on these products and do so again and again, so they must be feeling better.

Essential oils are different from perfumes and commercial fragrances in that essential oils are 100% natural and contain no man-made chemicals, as so many perfumes do. Many people use a special burner to heat their oils to vaporize them using a tea-light candle underneath.

It is important to take advice only from an experienced and qualified aromatherapist because too high a concentration of some oils can be harmful, especially if applied to the skin. Be sure to get expert advice because some essential oils can cause sensitization or allergic reactions. Sensitization means that you will have little reaction on the first exposure, but subsequent use will cause a massive adverse reaction. Penicillin has this sensitisation effect on some people, a mild reaction the first time, but a second dose can be fatal if you are allergic to the antibiotic.

In aromatherapy massage essential oils, well diluted with "carrier oils" are rubbed into the skin. The diluted essential oils are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. Use of "Carrier Oils" is essential for safe application of "Essential oils" to the skin without very serious adverse reactions.

"Essential Oils" are often blended to give a greater effect than one could expect from the amounts of the separate oils.

Email marketing the timing and the relevance

If you look hard enough you will find research on almost any given topic. For instance, were you aware that there are certain times when sending email marketing is probably a bad idea? There are also times when sending marketing emails makes perfect sense.

Monday and Friday – These two days are not as useful to email marketing as other days of the workweek. The primary reason is Monday is generally a time to get back into the swing of work, while Friday is a time to gear down. Your email is likely to be lost in the shuffle. Since most email marketing can be sent out on command this is something to consider when developing an email marketing campaign.

Saturday and Sunday – The weekend is generally throwaway days for email marketing for much the same reason as Monday and Friday. If someone is in the office on the weekend, the last thing they are interested in is marketing emails. If your email comes in over the weekend chances are pretty good your email marketing campaign will be subject to a readily used email purge without serious consideration.

It should be noted that you might find some receptivity to email marketing campaigns that are sent out to individual consumers late in the workweek or even early in the weekend. This is the primary difference between business-to-business email marketing and business-to-consumer marketing.

Tuesday through Thursday – These are the three days when all email marketing seems to have the greatest impact. Employees and business owners are fully entrenched in their workweek and the result is their minds may be better geared toward business decisions or consumer purchases.

Interestingly if you can send your emails out around either 9 am or 1 pm, response seems to be better than if you wait for either lunch or the end of the workday.

Essentially what we are seeing is if you can approach consumers and business contacts during the ‘trench’ part of the workweek, when their minds aren’t focused on either closing time or lunch you may stand a better chance at affecting a site visit and potential sale. You may even find fewer opt-out requests when you work within this simple time frame for email marketing.

Remember, no one likes junk mail and they don’t like emails that are thought of in terms of spam. Make sure your content is relevant to the topic the individual signed up for, make sure you can provide information or price reductions on products the customer may be interested in or has purchased in the past. Relevancy and timing are keys to acceptability in all email-marketing campaigns.

Amazing vacation homes just for the rich and famous

Do people dream of having their own amazing vacation homes to which they can retreat when the stresses of everyday life just become too burdensome? Apparently they do, because the documentary series “Amazing Vacation Homes” was one of the Travel Channel’s most viewed.

So if you find yourself, in the cold wet dark days of winter, fantasizing about amazing vacation homes in warm, sunny, palm-and bougainvillea graced settings where the balmy breezes carry the whisper of breaking surf through your windows, you’re not alone.

If just hearing the names of Santa Barbara, or Aspen, or Gold Coast or Lake Como floods you mind with pictures of amazing vacation homes to which you can return each evening after a day on the beach or on the slopes or water, and a dinner at a world-class restaurant accompanied by some of the world’s best wine, you’re not alone.

Amazing vacation homes have traditionally been seen as the special domain of the world’s rich and famous, but as the Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age, and have more time to travel, and the money to buy a second home in which to spend their winters, the market for those looking for amazing vacation homes is growing rapidly.

And there are amazing vacation homes to suit any taste; from mountain lodges, to beachfront condos, to apartments in the heart of the world’s great cities with easy access to sporting events and cultural venues. There are country retreats where those with a yen to develop their green thumbs can turn humble farmhouses into amazing vacation homes with gardens paths, waterways, and hidden floral delights.

Build Your Own Amazing Vacation Home

Many amazing vacation homes, in fact, have been constructed from other edifices from barns, railroad depots, schoolhouses, lighthouses, and old country stores. If you think the idea of taking buildings with decades of built-up character and turning them into amazing vacation homes has its appeal, you can start by calling realtors in the area where you’d like to spend your vacation time. Historical societies are also good sources of information on interesting properties and whether or not they the can be used for residences.

Transforming quaint old structures into amazing vacation homes is, above all, a labor of love, and can require significant financial resources and years of time. But if you start when you’re young, and spend part of your vacations creating your amazing vacation home of the future, by the time it’s complete it will be full of family memories and uniquely your own.

If at all possible, look at a house in person before you rent it. At the very least, find out when the pictures of the house were taken, and don’t rent anything without seeing recent pictures of the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and main living area. If the hosue is shown with views of a nearby natural attraction like a beach, find out if a zoom lens was used to minimize the distances involved.

Starting over

How does one start over after the loss of a loved one? It is a monumental task that just feels overwhelming at times. Similar rebuilding occurs after the death, divorce or separation of a loved one.

First comes the shock of the loss and an almost denial that is has happened, particularly if there was no warning. We have hopes and dreams of the future that include our loved one and suddenly he or she is not there. How will we cope? How can we go on?

But go on we must and we will. Often times our first step is to attempt to regain what we have lost. This is impossible if our loved one has died but that doesn’t stop us from trying. A lot of what we go through in our grieving process is our best attempt to keep that person alive and well in our perception. So, we do things like go over the memories, look through picture albums, talk about our loved one to everyone who will listen, think about him or her every minute and even speak to him or her out loud.

If a loved one has not died, but has chosen to walk out of your life, it can be more challenging. In this instance, you not only have to get over the shock of the loss but also cope with the feelings of rejection.

In our best attempt to get our loved one back, we may engage in all the behaviors someone who has lost their partner to death would. But in addition, we may beg them to take us back, follow our loved one around, try to get our friends to intervene on our behalf, and a host of other maladaptive behaviors.

Everyone grieves at his or her own pace. I am in no way suggesting that this process can or should be rushed. What I am saying is that when a person is ready, he or she can turn the grief into a new hope for the future.

There's a quote I've learned that is very helpful during this phase. Unfortunately, I do not know its source. The quote is: " Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened." This is a highly evolved place to get and not everyone gets there.

However, if you find yourself in the process of starting over, adopting this particular attitude can be fairly helpful. You would begin by brainstorming all the possible benefits of no longer being in relationship with the person who's gone. This may seem uncomfortable at first, almost a betrayal of the love you shared, but it is the most healing thing you can do at this point.

You may feel that moving on will, in some way, send the message that you didn't really love enough. In an attempt to show the world how much you loved your partner, you use the depth of your grieving as the message. And if you are someone who wants to continue grieving, then nothing I have to say will get in your way. You don't even have to continue reading.

This article is really for those people who are tired of being depressed, who are ready to us start again and who want to actually believe that things can get better.

In 1999, my husband died of leukemia when he was 37 years old, leaving behind our two sons ages 13 and 15. Initially, there was no positive benefit I could see from that event at all. However when I was ready to look for the positives, they did appear.

One of the first positives I saw is that I actually had the opportunity to say goodbye. My husband's entire family had the opportunity to say the things they wanted to say to bring closure to their relationships with him. Many people do not have that opportunity when loved ones pass.

A second benefit is that when my husband learned he was sick, he stopped working. He didn't stop because he was too sick. He stopped because there was some research link between his type of leukemia and the chemical benzene -- something he worked with at his job.

Prior to his illness, my husband was a workaholic. Once diagnosed, he began to spend lots of quality time with our children. He coached soccer, coached Little League, taught our boys how to work on cars, and spent long hours with them hunting and fishing. This would not have happened had he lived to be a hundred years old with his workaholic behavior.

You too, can find the benefit in the loss of your last relationship. It merely involves putting on the proper lenses that will allow you to see it. Just like in science, there can be no positive without the negative and no negative without the positive. You can't have protons without neutrons -- and you can't have a devastating event in your life without it also bringing some positive benefits. Healing and moving on requires these lenses.

While you continue to mourn the loss of your relationship, you're only staying stuck in the past. Let's return to the quote mentioned above. Instead of mourning the loss of the relationship, focus on how fortunate you were to have that relationship in your life for as long as you did.

There are no guarantees in this life. When a loved one enters our life, there is no surety for how long he or she will stay. They're not possessions to be owned, but rather our gift to be cherished for as long as we have it.

One of the first steps to take in healing our grief is to reach out to others in our life who love us. When someone we love leaves us, it creates a huge void in our life. Some try to fill this void with drugs or alcohol, but that only results in a temporary reprieve from the pain.

If love is what we lost, then the only thing that will help us to feel better is more love. During this time you may confuse sex with love and go looking for meaningless encounters. However, this again will only postpone the inevitability of the pain of the loss of love.

We must replace love with love. Reach out to friends, family and co-workers --- anyone who will fill some of the gap left by your loved one. It's not the same, it's not what you are really craving, but it will help heal the pain.

After that temporary reprieve with those who love us, you must start rebuilding your life and your strength. You can go on. You can laugh again. And yes, you can love again. Love has many forms.

You may develop another relationship in time. You may find a cause that you love and believe in. You may "adopt" a neighborhood child. You may find or create work you love. You may get a pet that you can love unconditionally. You may become involved (but not too involved) in the lives of your extended family. Whatever form love takes, it will fill the void that was left by the relationship you lost.

But none of this will truly do the trick unless you learn to love yourself again. How does one accomplish this task? You must take inventory. Make a list of all that you have to offer the world. What are your strengths? What are your interests? What are your talents and abilities? What do you love?

If you're having difficulty completing your list, ask someone you trust for help. An objective viewpoint can often point out positives of which we are unaware.

And if, after taking this step, you are still unsure of your special talents and skills, then make a list of the person that you want to be. What is it that you would like to be able to offer the world? Describe a person that you admire whom you would strive to become. As long as there's breath in your body, it is never too late to learn to expand and grow to become the person that you truly want to be.

If you feel as if your life is over, you are truly wasting the gift of life that you have been given. There is only one you. You have something unique inside you to offer the rest of us. Please don't keep it hidden, lost in your grief

Do not climb in the grave with your loved one. It is not your time. Do not wither and die behind the door your loved one closed on his or her way out of your life. Find someone less fortunate than you, and do something for them without expecting anything in return. You'll be surprised what that does to elevate your mood.

Free website promotion tactics...why not

Can you ever avail of free website promotion? Is that even feasible?

Of course yes! Nowadays, your baby website can amass huge traffic in no time thanks to free website promotion.

How does this free website promotion go anyway? What are things to be done?

1. Enlist your website.

Look for the hottest Internet directories and enlist your site there. This is the easiest and most effective free website promotion tactic. Start with this step and the rest of the good things will follow.

Just don't forget to prep your website and make it all spruced up for a higher chance to get accepted in your directory of choice.

2. Know your forums.

One reason why forums are created is for free website promotion for everyone. Log in, post actively, let them know about your site in every post and you attract instant visitors right there.

3. Write a press release.

Release your writing prowess and start up a press release that advertises your site! This is a free website promotion tactic that you can do anytime. Type a brief paragraph or two and email it to your friends, colleagues, internet e-zines, newspapers and other media and massive traffic will come to you pronto!

4. Be friendly online.

Free website promotion means you need to be friendly to other webmasters. Why, you ask? So they can link you immediately! Establish contacts and never tire of link requests and exchanges.

5. Write an article.

Say, your website is about your travel agency. Write an article about the perks of traveling or the hottest travel spots in the world. On the concluding paragraph, mention your website in passing. This article works as an advertorial and doubles as a free website promotion approach.

6. Just let the whole world know about your site.

What is free website promotion without the word of mouth? Insert your website, its URL and features in daily conversations and let the good news spread from one mouth to another!

7. Make a banner ad.

Make a banner ad for your site and ask another webmaster to do the same for his site. Then swap!

8. Take up a free website promotion course online.

Yes, there are free website promotion tutorials. But don't you know that you can actually take a free website promotion course that can help you out further? Part of the free website promotion program is signing up for newsletters.

When you make a website, you need not pay anything to promote it. You just read it -- there is such a thing as free website promotion!