Ordering contact lens online

Millions of people now prefer wearing contact lenses over spectacles for the numerous benefits they provide. If you are considering shifting from your glasses to a new pair of contact lenses, and want to order your lenses online then you are going about your contact lens purchase intelligently. Online retailers are able to provide the most number of contact lens options and the cheapest rates.

If you are buying contact lenses from the internet then remember the following guidelines on ordering contact lenses online:

1.) Make sure your lens prescription is current

Getting the wrong lenses can cause the same damage to your eyes as not wearing contacts at all. Make sure that you have your current prescription when you place your order online. A legitimate retailer, whether store-based or online, will always check for your prescription. This is done to protect you from buying the wrong type or grade of contact lens. When you order contact lenses with a prescription written for you a few years before, the contact lens you buy may not correct your vision. Make sure to check the expiration of your prescription. Eye doctors indicate when you need to have your prescription changed usually after a full year.

2.) Compare lenses and compare prices from the hundreds of online retailers.

Make sure that when you compare the prices, you are comparing the same type of lenses. There are numerous options available from hard lenses to soft lenses, color lenses to corrective lenses. Make sure you are comparing the exact same brands and the exact same types. You can also check websites for contact lens coupons that you can use to further reduce the price of the lens.

3.) Make sure you input the right information on your order form

This is pretty standard for ordering any kind of item from the internet. Always double check your order before you submit the order form. Make sure all prices are correct and already include all shipping charges, taxes and others. Also, make sure all information regarding your prescription is typed in correctly so that you don’t end up with the wrong lenses. If you have the right prescription but don’t key it in correctly, then you still won’t get the right lenses for your eye condition.

4.) Go for regular eye exams

Even after you have ordered your lenses and feel confident about it, make sure to go for regular eye exams. This is so you can monitor the changes in your eye condition and for the doctor to be able to make the necessary changes in your prescription and also to make sure you are not suffering from any eye infections.

5.) Go only for legitimate online retailers

Legitimate retailers can provide you with great discounts and offers. They also have promos, contact lens coupons and other amazing offers. When you compare lens and compare prices, you shouldn’t always go for the cheapest. You must make sure you get the best value for your money. When an online retailer accepts your order without a prescription then you must look for another distributor that is more professional and who cares not just about your money but also your well-being.

Ordering online is the most convenient choice for getting contact lenses. You can get affordable lenses for your prescription. Just make sure to follow these guidelines and you should enjoy the health benefits of prescription contacts.

Family safari vacation to the home of the gods

Families traveling with kids will find Amboseli national park a safari destination matched to no other, with less tourist traffic, breathtaking open spaces, easy access from Nairobi, the list is endless.

The park described by writers as ' a home for the Gods' covers 150sq mile south of Nairobi and lies just at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain at 5,895m. The park is currently on the cross roads with the government and the local communities both claiming ownership, with Kilimanjaro's snow capped peaks dominating every aspect of this Park and form a stunning backdrop to the wildlife found here - elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, cheetah and a host of plains game and its breathtaking beauty, the tag is well worth the effort!

The area is home to the Masai people, tall, colorful, proud, nomadic warriors famous for their legendary prowess in battle and single handed acts of bravery in fights with wild animals. Perhaps, more than any other people they have learned to live in complete harmony with the wildlife which surrounds them, this knowledge they proudly shared to visitors and well worth the time. Kids will be allowed to get really close and explore the simple but fascinating homesteads, adults will also enjoy the cultural aspect of the lifestyle.

Amboseli's Oltukai lodge is one of the best spots in the world where children can watch elephants and study their fascinating wilderness behavior, This is where you will find the highest concentration of elephants than anywhere else in Africa, they can be seen spread well over the savannah woodland, just remember to ask your driver guide on how this clever mammals mourn and pay last respect to a dead member or how they cross their tiny young on a fast flowing river. .

Quietly tucked away from view, The Kibo family Villa crouches undisturbed, an elegant three-bedroom log cabin built in stone and gum tree, in complete harmony with its surroundings. Own entrance, a lounge, a fully fitted kitchen and a barbecue area. Secluded by a copse of indigenous Acacia Tortilis trees and five acres of garden, Kibo Villa is peace and privacy made perfection. Two or threes small families traveling together love the self-catering option, use the lodges facility is welcome. Detailed attention is taken on security issues and a resident nurse is available on call.

Kids will love the lavish private family buffet breakfast or dinner set out specially as a family package in wonderful secluded detting amongst the tortillas trees only a tone away from the family of the resident elephants also having a feast of their own, breakfast works out best.

Selenkay conservation area lies east of Amboseli is well off the beaten track, never visited by tourist till now, birdlife is prolific especially bird of prey. The 6 tents Porini luxury camp caters for 12 guest at a time, the camp is in the lines of a traditional luxury family camp, comfortable family tent rooms, ensuite bathrooms, flush toilets, solar powered electric lighting and an amazing chef completes a safari family haven!

At Amboseli locally trained masai naturalist or walking guides will get Kids out in the mornings in a small group of say 8 kids for an adventurous nature exploration. This walking trips to the nearby sites in most cases will include lessons on the masai hunting techniques, catching and naming butterflies, treasure hunts, tree planting, hide and seek in animal camouflaged clothing and an interesting Q and A session answering every question they have ever had on wildlife and tribesmen.

The young rangers club is available to 10 - 15 year olds, could be a temporally or annual membership with letters, post cards and birthday cards sent to members all over the world from deep down wild and magical Africa!

Phobia the fear within

A phobia is a clinical term that is used to describe an irrational and persistent fear of certain objects, situations, activities, or persons. These fears are beyond one's control and may interfere with one's daily activities. Phobias belong to a large group of mental problems known as anxiety disorders, other conditions included in this group are obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. There are many forms of phobias, and they can be a fear of something specific such as flying or social fears that may cause certain individuals to feel anxious in social situations. Other examples of this disorder may involve fear of small animals, closed spaces, and snakes. It usually begins at home and persists into adulthood. Some of these conditions if not treated may hamper a person's development.

Health researchers believe that common forms of phobias may include the following:

Arachnophobia—the fear of spiders.

Ophidiophobia—the fear of snakes

Acrophobia—the fear of heights

Agoraphobia—the fear if circumstances in which escape is difficult. It may include crowded areas or open spaces.

Cynophobia—the fear of dogs

Astraphobia—the fear of thunder and lightning

Trypanophobia—the fear of injections

Social phobias—the fear of social situations

Pteromerhanophobia—the fear of flying

Mysophobia—the fear of germs or dirt

The causes of phobias are not yet determined by health experts, but research suggests that the occurrence of this condition can be a complex interaction of the genes and the environment. Some suggest that it is caused by an early traumatic event like a bite of a dog, being trapped in a closed space, or being humiliated in public. Hypersensitive individuals may respond differently to stress because of unique chemical reaction in the brain. These people may also be sensitive to caffeine because this substance triggers certain brain chemical responses.

Symptoms of phobias may include the following:

Fear of specific objects, situations, or activities.

Often feel stressed or have a panic attack when near the object, activity, or situation.

Avoidance of the object, situation, or activity is often done.

Fear and stress often hinders normal activities like studying or working.

Treatment for phobias may differ from one person to another. In fact, this condition is considered as one of the most treatable mental health problems. Most treated patients may continue to live normal lives. Individuals who have a certain phobia that is easy to avoid and does not hamper their daily activities may not require professional help. However when this condition interferes with a person's activities or daily routine, health specialists would normally encourage the phobic person to undergo a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Antidepressants may also reduce fear and panic and are proven to be effective in many cases. Anti-anxiety drugs may also help but patients may develop dependence on these medications.

A supportive relationship with a health professional, family members, and friends is essential in treating phobias. In many types of phobias, some symptoms might be relieved by taking a healthy diet and including physical activities in one's lifestyle. Eliminating caffeine, cutting down on alcohol, having regular exercise, and reducing stress are essential in relieving symptoms of certain phobias.

Low interest payday loans - convenience of no credit check personal loans

When urgent situations arise and money is tight, a payday cash advance loan may provide you with enough funds until your next payday. There are many advantages and disadvantages to applying for quick personal loans. If used responsibly, payday loans can be a lifesaver. As long as an applicant is in a financial position to repay the loan, high fees and additional interest are avoided.

What are Payday and Cash Advance Loans?

Cash advance loans are very different from loans obtained from credit unions, banks, etc. Cash advance companies offer personal loans during a financial crunch. However, the process is much quicker than other lending institutions, the loan term shorter, and the loan requirements are simpler.

Because cash advance companies offer loans to a variety of people with all types of credit, they must establish certain loan requirements. Nonetheless, their primary objective is to offer financial assistance, thus credit scores are never considered.

Payday Loan Company Loan Amounts

Each cash advance company has a different maximum payout. Most companies offer short term loans up to $500. On the other hand, several online cash advance companies approved loans with higher amounts. Be aware that the more money borrowed, the higher the loan fees. Loan companies charge a flat fee per $100 borrowed.

For the most part, you may get a loan up to $1500 with no credit check or collateral. Loan companies that offer funds up to $3000 may request a vehicle title or other form of collateral.

General Requirements for Cash Advance Approval

Payday loan companies do not care about credit scores, income, or occupation. They simply want applicants who are capable of repaying the loan. Thus, those applying for a cash advance loan must have verifiable employment. Typically, employer needs to be the same for 90 days.

All loan companies establish a minimum monthly salary, which ranges from $1000 to $1500. Because most cash advance companies deposit and withdraw funds, an active checking or savings account is necessary to receive funds.

The entire loan process is completed electronically. Therefore, the loan company will automatically deduct the loan, plus fees, on the due date. To avoid paying additional fees, the funds should be available for withdrawal within two weeks.

Atkins diet plan - it s really not easy

You can easily be bored with the limited carb choices but it does get better as you reach the last two stages. Your doctor can explain the possible health risk associated with the Atkins diet. The Atkins diet plan is not easy but if you stay with it the results will amaze you. An internet search for Atkins diet will yield hundreds of results.

The Atkins diet tries to trick your body into burning fat for energy rather than carbohydrates. If the Reactions are really troublesome you should seek treatment. You can find ways to ease these reactions on the internet and in books about low carb diets.

You might get dizzy, have cramps, and other physical effects because of the changes in your diet. It is possible to ease the dizziness and cramps. There are things that can be done to ease the discomfort of leg cramps and other symptoms. Remember minerals like Potassium, are flushed out of your system quickly.

Take a 90 milligram supplement instead of a banana to replace potassium. Relief from symptoms should be felt in about an hour. While on Atkins follow these suggestions for staying healthy. Listed below are some suggestions that might help you get through the time it takes your body to adjust to the diet.

If your weight loss slows or stops before you are close to goal weight, check how many calories you are taking in. Water is also necessary to your kidneys functioning properly. Drinking enough water to equal half your body weight will keep you out of the kitchen and in another room all day. Not drinking enough water can lead to buildup of ketones which can cause serious health problems.

Weighing yourself more than once a week will only frustrate yourself. If you don’t see a drop in inches and pounds, check for hidden carbs and sugars. You will feel your best when you eat the right amount of carbs. Make sure the carbs you do eat are chock full of nutrients. Sugar is off limits on the Atkins diet. Regular exercise improves your general health.

Beware of promises that you will lose huge amounts of weight without exercise. Convert food into energy faster with exercise. Strive for a balance in exercise if you aren’t a little tired after a session, you probably aren’t doing enough and if you are too tired to move you probably did too much.

The doctor can tell if your post exercise aches and pains are normal or not. To gain maximum benefit from your exercise and dieting, slowly build your routine. Don’t take more than the recommended doses of any supplement without your doctor’s consent. If you are tempted to cheat, checking your journal will remind you what happened the last time you did that.

Some people overeat and some eat barely anything when under stress, recording what you eat will explain weight loss or gain. If you go off program, don’t beat yourself up, just get back on track as soon as possible. Anything significant should be entered because good stuff affects you too.

Knowing you have to list everything is important especially for diabetics so they can see how foods affect them whether its negative or positive. Recording your blood sugar levels in the journal is an obvious fact. Doing this will teach you to recognize patterns such as when your levels are highest or lowest.

You and your doctor can use the journal to recognize what you have been doing right and to build on it. Try to choose foods made from whole grain flour. If your weight loss stalls or slows significantly, try eliminating all caffeine. Having short term goals will keep you motivated.

The amount you lose in a week or a month is not as important as a steady weight loss. Losing more weight than that is potentially dangerous. Yo-yo dieting , losing weight and gaining it back to get out of starvations mode, than losing, etc. may be as dangerous as being overweight.

With the Atkins diet, you have the maintenance phase to use for the rest of your life, so you don’t have to return to the old way. Only use diets that suggest a slow to moderate weight loss and possibly some nutrient supplements. So the element of a safe workable diet are balanced meals, exercise and supplements.

Not all supplements can do what they claim, so do your homework before you buy. All natural ingredients have one advantage. Supplements and medications often don’t mix well, it might be a good idea to take them separately a few hours apart. You won’t need supplements if your diet is well balanced.

Franchise exhibitions - the best way to evaluate a franchise business

A franchise opportunity can be an excellent way to start a business for the first time. And the best way to find the right franchise is to attend a franchise exhibition. Some of the major franchise exhibitions showcase hundreds of different opportunities under one roof.

This gives potential franchisees the ability to shop around and question many franchisors all in the same day! It is also possible to negotiate favourable terms as so many franchises are competing to get a franchise agreement signed.

If a franchisee wants to make the most of attending a franchise exhibition then it is important that prior to attending basic research is carried out. By searching on the internet it will be possible to research many of the franchisors that are attending the exhibition.

It is also a good idea to be clued up on how franchises operate so that valuable time is not wasted learning the basics. Be careful though as there are many sharp sales people manning the stands and some of them may be far too ruthless when it comes to getting a franchise agreement signed!

It is always a good idea to question all the franchisors but not to make a decision on the same day. Request details from all the franchises that seem appealing and then evaluate them over the next few days in the comfort of your own home.

A franchise exhibition can also be a great day out for the family and children if planned correctly. For the older children it can be very educational looking at and discussing with you the various opportunities that are on show. It is better to leave younger ones behind with a friend or family as they will find the whole experience rather tiring.

Make sure that all of you are smartly dressed as the franchisors will also be evaluating you! Remember to take lots of business cards or alternatively print out some compliment slips with your full details to distribute to the franchisors.

It is better to leave the house early so that you arrive just after the exhibition has started. This way you can quickly and easily question the exhibitors that are of particular interest before the crowds start to arrive.

As soon as you feel tired stop for a bite of lunch. If you have packed some food then you will find many seating areas to refuel. There are also food stalls in most exhibitions where you can get some lunch prepared for you. If you arrived early then now is the time to have a nice break and freshen up.

A franchise exhibition is also an ideal way to meet some of the larger banks who can provide you with funding. Some of the banks that have a dedicated franchise department usually exhibit at the shows and can often give you a better deal for funding your purchase than your existing bank.

Some of the top franchise lawyers often offer free legal advice at the exhibitions. How often do you hear the word "free" when it comes to legal matters!

Are you looking to buy a franchise? A franchise exhibition is the best way to quickly evaluate and discover new business opportunities.

The quality of hospital food

In this article I write about the quality, or lack of it, in the food that is served in some of the UK hospitals. My nan has recently died in hospital which has been very upsetting for my family. She was hit by one of the famous hospital bugs and became very weak. She was in need of some decent food which would have helped to build up her strength. What she received was basically so poor and tasteless that she found it hard to eat.

Despite many attempts by various members of the family to pursuade her to eat more, she could not stomach it and kept saying that it the food had no taste and that it was disgusting. I have to admit that it was not exactly tempting when I saw what was being dished out.

In the UK we are very lucky in the standard of our hospitals when you compare it to many other countries in the world. Our country is very rich but a lot of this cash is being wasted on certain projects. Surely people in our hospitals deserve a much higher standard of food, food which they can look forward to eat.

I have recently watched a program about how Jamie Oliver is trying to improve the standard of food in schools throughout the UK. This is a very worthwhile project and as a father of two children myself, I am more than aware that the canteen food served in most schools is not up to scratch. At the schools where my own children attend, the parents have the option of paying for these meals or they can make their child a packed lunch. We choose the packed lunch option.

In hospitals there is no such option. I would have loved to have been able to cook some food for my nan, which I could then have taken to her when I visited. I would have also liked to have taken some cleaning products as the place could have done with some tender loving care as well as a lick of paint.

A message to Jamie Oliver, you are doing a sterling job but please could you turn your attention to the hospitals next!

A message to Tony Blair, stop wasting money killing our troops in Iraq and start looking after your own!

I am not trying to say that my nan would have survived if the standard of food had been better in the hospital where she spent her final days. What I am trying to say is that I hope it improves in a big way before I have to spend any time there.

6 common property insurance mistakes - you could lose everything

Getting the right property and casualty insurance coverage may not rank high on your list of financial priorities. Compared with investment decisions and estate planning issues, questions about the language in your homeowners policy, say, may seem hardly worth considering. Yet the more successful you become, the more complicated your asset-protection needs are likely to be—and the more you have to lose. Suppose, for example, that in addition to your primary residence—a historic home—you also own a house at the beach and a condo in the city. The properties are in three different states. The value of your collection of Abstract Expressionist paintings has grown rapidly. And you just volunteered to serve on the board of directors of a charitable organization.

Almost every aspect of this situation could cost you dearly. Insurance laws may vary widely from state to state, different kinds of property require specialized coverage, and collections of art, antique cars, and other unique items may be difficult to protect fully. Meanwhile, serving on a nonprofit's board could subject you to additional personal liability.

Safeguarding yourself and your family may mean buying additional coverage, but more insurance isn’t necessarily the solution. Rather, it’s important to review all of your needs, consider specialized policies or policy options, and coordinate your coverage with other aspects of your financial situation. Here are 6 different shortcomings that could prove costly.

1. Leaving gaps in homeowners coverage. Any homeowner needs to review coverage regularly to keep up with rising replacement costs. But insuring different kinds of homes in different locales poses extra challenges. If you buy insurance from more than one carrier, you may face contrasting rules, limitations, and policy renewal dates. For example, the liability limit on the policy for a second home might fall below the minimum on an excess liability policy designed to complement the insurance on your primary home. You could wind up responsible for the difference.

2. Ignoring properties unique characteristics. One perk of affluence is the means to own exceptional homes; one drawback is that they may be difficult to insure adequately. Standard homeowners coverage won’t pay for the materials and craftsmanship needed to rebuild that 19th century showplace you’ve painstakingly restored. Coastal homes may face hurricane damage, while a place in the California mountains could be subject to earthquakes or wildfires. Meanwhile, city co-ops or condos may need policies tailored to their buildings or associations coverage.

3. Under insuring art and collectibles. Standard homeowners policies limit coverage for the losses of antiques, furs, and other valuables. And while you could schedule additional coverage, insuring the real value of a collection of contemporary art or vintage muscle cars likely will require a specialized policy addressing several critical issues. How is the value of the collection determined? (You’ll need a professional appraisal when the policy is designed, with frequent updates as items appreciate.) Will a damaged or destroyed item be paid for with cash, or will you be required to have it replaced or restored? Will additions to your collection automatically be covered?

4. Forgetting to insure household employees. When someone works for you or your family, as a nanny, landscaper, personal assistant, or in another role, you could be liable for medical expenses and lost wages if the worker is hurt on the job. Several states require household employers to pay into a workers compensation fund, while in other states it’s optional, but providing such insurance may be mandatory for ensuring your financial well being. If an employee drives your car, also make sure he or she is included on your policy.

5. Neglecting your liability as a board member. Excess liability coverage could help protect you if you’re sued as a director of a nonprofit's board. Or for more comprehensive protection, you may want to consider special directors and officers liability insurance.

6. Failing to get frequent policy reviews and updates. Your financial life isn’t static, and neither are your insurance needs. The value of a collection may increase; extensive home renovations could mean a sharp rise in the value of your property; and the re titling of assets as part of your estate plan—or because of divorce, a death in the family, or the birth of a child—could necessitate policy changes. Even lacking major events, you probably need a comprehensive review of all your insurance coverage at least every two years.

Pots and pans ammunition used against british in the battle of north point at baltimore

Commercial ports at various locations on the upper Chesapeake Bay were founded during the 17th century and called “Baltimore.” In 1706, the Maryland colonial General Assembly created the port at Locust Point as a tobacco port of entry. The present city of Baltimore dates from July 30, 1729 and is named after Lord Baltimore. Lord Baltimore was the first Proprietary governor of the Province of Maryland.

Baltimore’s growth seem to be boundless in the mid - to late 18th century as a granary for sugar-producing colonies in the Caribbean. This growth was partly due to the fact that Baltimore was shorter in distance from the Caribbean as compared to other large port cities such as New York City and Boston, which reduced transportation time and minimized the spoilage of flour. The profit gained from Baltimore’s sugar-producing abilities encouraged the cultivation of cane and the importation of food.

Baltimore and other cities joined together in protesting Boston’s punishment by the British and signed agreements to not import from or export to Britain due to the British taxation. Prominent city leaders such as Jonathan Plowman Jr. encouraged the city to join the resistance to British taxation. These agreements enabled Baltimore to play a key part in the events leading to and including the American Revolution.

The British declared Baltimore a “nest of Pirates” during the War of 1812. The British burned Washington, D. C., however, the American forces won by repulsing joint land and naval attacks.

The British landed at Sparrows Point and when the local residents run out of ammunition, they threw pots, pans and anything else they could get hold of at the British. At the Battle of North Point, local residents killed the British commander, General Ross. General Ross thought he would the battle and made the strong statement of: “We will win this battle or I eat dinner in hell tonight.” The British lost this battle. British reinforcements were not possible and their forces just withdrew. This naval engagement inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which became the lyrics to the United States’ national anthem. The battled was memorialized in the Battle Monument on the city seal.

Following the Battle of North Point, Baltimore’s population grew significantly. This growth was attributed mainly to the increased commerce abroad and more importantly with points west in the interior of the United States. Two major transportation accomplishments of the federally funded National Road and the privately funded Baltimore & Ohio Railroad made Baltimore a major shipping and manufacturing center. Fortunes were made and the city’s distinctive local culture started taking shape. Baltimore started to develop a unique skyline peppered with churches and monuments. John Quincy Adams visited the city in 1827 and nicknamed it “Monument City,” a nickname that remained popular for well over a century.

Baltimore was separated from Baltimore County in 1851 and became an independent city at that time.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

© 2007 Connie Limon All rights reserved

Your trusty toothy friend

Whether we like it or not, we all know that an important part of our dental care involves making regular trips to the dentist, but the foundation block of oral hygiene lies at home. Not only is brushing and flossing twice a day of the utmost importance in maintaining a healthy and attractive smile, but the tools we use to perform these daily rituals can also make or break a beautiful set of teeth. So don’t pick up any old toothbrush – find the one that’s right for you.

Our mouths, just like every other inch of us, come in all shapes and makes. We probably wouldn’t think too long about trying to squeeze into a shoe that doesn’t fit, but many of us expect that one size toothbrush should fit all. Baffled by the array of dental products we face in the store, we simply pick the color toothbrush we like best and move along, unwittingly undermining our oral health as we do so.

It is firstly important to find the right size toothbrush for our mouth, so that we can brush with comfort and reach the surface of every tooth. A tooth doesn’t get cleaned by just being in the vicinity of a brush! Be sure to find a toothbrush with the size and shape head that allows you to reach every surface of every single tooth.

Another important toothbrush quality is the type of bristles it utilizes. Bristles that are too hard can actually damage teeth and wear down the enamel that covers them, so be sure to opt for a softer type of brush, especially if you have a gum condition, such as gum disease or receding gums. For a good brushing down, look for a toothbrush with nylon bristles with rounded tips.

It is also of the utmost importance that you use a toothbrush that is up to the job, so be sure to replace your brush regularly. Every two to three months is a good time to replace, or when the bristles start to look bent and worn. Some toothbrushes some complete with a color-fade system that tells you exactly when your brush is ready for the garbage – simply ditch the brush when the colored bristles start to fade.

A healthy set of teeth is an important part of looking and feeling good, and your trusty toothbrush is an important tool to help you maintain your oral health. So treat your teeth well with the right toothbrush, and don’t be afraid to show your smile.

Quel cadeau offrir a vos employes

Les Soirйes Entreprises:

Marre des traditionnels restaurants sur des pйniches, ou dans des cabarets traditionnels pour essayer de contenter tout le monde? Pourquoi ne pas rйaliser alors organiser une journйe casino au sein de l'йtablissement.

Pour cela, rien de plus simple. L’option premiиre consiste а faire appel а des animateurs de soirйe casino qui, en plus d’apporter le matйriel, vous serviront de croupier pour l’ensemble de vos jeux pour prиs de quatre heures de rire et de dйtente. L'avantage, ces jeux resserrent les йquipes et permet de dйcouvrir la face cachйe de chaque employй.

Les cadeaux traditionnels:

1) Les Objets Publicitaires

On y retrouve du plus classique а la perfection du Hi-Tech tels les йquipements portatifs de tйlйphonie, les MP3, les DvX, lecteur CD, radio-rйveil, sans oublier les vкtements ou chapeaux personnalisйs, ou encore les cйlиbres stylos plume ou plus original, un livre sur le thиme professionnel de votre choix comme comment s'йpanouir au travail. Eux aussi on la part belle. On en trouve pour tous les budgets et pour tous les goыts. Ces derniers sont d'excellents supports publicitaires pour afficher la marque de votre entreprise. Bien que la plus part des personnes soit dйjа pourvues de ce genre d'accessoires, ces derniers restent banals.

Ce qui est sur d'atteindre votre but, ce sont tous les cadeaux de maroquinerie. En effet, sur le cuir, vous pouvez inscrire ou encrer votre logo d'entreprise discrиtement et кtre sur que l'employй l'utilisera. Cela va du simple portefeuille en cuir au porte-documents, sans oublier le confйrencier et le kit de voyage.

2) Pour Noel

Traditionnellement, l'entreprise se fixe sur des corbeille d'assortiments gastronomiques composйs de foie gras en boite, avec une mini bouteille de champagne et ou de vin. N'oublions pas non plus les boites de chocolat, re-designer pour l'occasion mais gare а la date d'expiration car combien d'employйs ont dйjа reзu un "chocolat empoisonnй" du fait de la pйremption?

Alors pourquoi ne pas innover? Pourquoi ne pas offrir а vos employйs des places de thйвtre, autre que celles proposйes par votre Comitй d'Entreprise. En prix de groupe, cela vous reviendra moins cher et pourrez profitez de cette йconomie en proposant par exemple un dоner gourmet dans la cantine redйcorйe pour l'occasion.

Ou encore, pensez aux articles de cuisine, l'art de la table, la salle de bain, autant de lieux "visitйs" rйguliиrement par les consommateurs, et oщ il est donc judicieux de vouloir "placer" des objets publicitaires а leur marques et messages. Citons aussi les outils de jardinage, les plantes, les sets de table, les horloges etc.

Autres Idйes Cadeaux:

D'autres idйes cadeaux sont prйsentes pour vos employйs. Tenez, par exemple le secteur de la bagagerie publicitaire, les t-shirts et casquettes personnalisйs qui sont de trиs bons supports pour afficher votre marque de maniиre bien visible.

Pour vous rendre encore plus original, pensez vacances. Quel est l'йlйment qui vous sera utile pendant vos voyages? Des jumelles? Pourquoi pas? Ou alors un rйfrigйrateur rйchauffeur? Un йquipement de volants et raquettes de badminton pour les remettre en forme?

Vous voyez les idйes ne manquent pas.

Minerals - the precious elements of your body

When you think of precious minerals, you probably think of silver and gold. But where your health is concerned, others - like calcium and iron - are far more precious. Each of these dietary minerals is unique and carries out its own life-giving task.

Scientists have divided these nutrients into two groups - major and trace minerals - depending on how much of the mineral is in your body.

7 minerals you can't do without

The major minerals stand out from others simply because there are more of them in your body. If you could remove all your body's minerals and place them on a scale, they would weigh about 5 pounds. Almost 4 pounds of that would be calcium and phosphorus, the two most common major minerals. The five other major minerals would make up most of the remaining pound.

Calcium.

By far the most abundant mineral in your body, calcium makes your bones and teeth strong and hard. Without it, they would be as floppy as your ears. Imagine trying to get around then.

Calcium doesn't just stay trapped in your skeleton, though. Small amounts of it travel into your blood. There, it's essential for steadying your blood pressure and helping your muscles contract. One rather important muscle - your heart - needs calcium to keep pumping.

Calcium is critical during childhood if you want to have strong bones as an adult. But no matter how old you are, it's never too late to get more of this important mineral.

Phosphorus.

The second-most plentiful mineral in your body works hand-in-hand with calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth. Phosphorus is a crucial ingredient in DNA and cell membranes and helps make healthy new cells all over your body. To top it off, phosphorus helps turn your food into energy.

Chloride. Your stomach would be useless without this element. Chloride is a main ingredient in your digestive stomach acids. It also helps to assure that all of your body's cells get their fair share of nutrients - no small job at all.

Magnesium.

This is the least common major mineral in your body, but that doesn't hold magnesium back. First, it helps keep your bones and teeth healthy, then it makes sure calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and proteins do their jobs. When you flex your muscles, you need magnesium to help them relax again.

Recently, experts even found a connection between magnesium and heart health. A deficiency of the mineral could increase your risk of heart attack and high blood pressure.

Potassium.

Keeping your blood pressure steady, maintaining your heartbeat, balancing water in your cells, and assuring your muscles and nerves work properly are a few of potassium's many important jobs. Like magnesium, this mineral might be essential for heart health.

Sodium.

This mineral usually gets a bad rap because it's the main element in salt. But your body needs sodium to maintain its balance of fluids. Nowadays, most people try to limit their salt, or sodium, intake for health reasons. Those who are "salt-sensitive" are especially at risk for heart disease. But it would benefit everyone to lower their daily sodium intake to 2,400 milligrams or less.

Sulfur.

This mineral is a number one supporting actor. It doesn't do much on its own, but it's part of other star nutrients like thiamin and protein. Sulfur is especially important in proteins because it gives them shape and durability. Your body's toughest proteins - in your hair, nails, and skin - have the highest amounts of sulfur.

Trace minerals - small but powerful protectors

By definition, each trace mineral makes up only a tiny percentage of your total body weight - less than one-twentieth of a percent, to be exact. But their small amounts only make them more valuable. They carry out enormous tasks that are as important as the jobs of any of the more common nutrients.

Iodine.

Your thyroid gland uses this nutrient to make its hormones. These compounds control your body temperature, regulating the metabolism of every major organ. A lack of iodine can wreak havoc with your body and cause a condition called goiter.

Iron.

Without a teaspoon of this mineral in your body, you couldn't breathe. Iron makes up hemoglobin and myoglobin, two compounds that carry oxygen throughout your blood and your muscles. No wonder you feel weak and listless when you are iron deficient.

Selenium.

Now famous for preventing cancer, selenium also carries out important daily tasks in your body. It helps your thyroid use iodine, for instance, and it's important for a healthy immune system. A deficiency in selenium can cause heart and thyroid disease.

Zinc.

This mineral has many jobs. Cleaning up free radicals, building new cells, and producing energy from other nutrients are just three. A zinc deficiency can be dangerous, leading to digestion problems and deficiencies in other nutrients.

The mighty five. Chromium, copper, fluoride, manganese, and molybdenum are five trace minerals you'll find in common foods and drinks. They are responsible for everything from strong teeth (fluoride) to your blood-sugar level (chromium). They are so important that nutritionists have set daily requirements for each of them to make sure you get enough.

Experts are also investigating a handful of other minerals to see how essential they are to your body. Boron is one that seems promising as an important ingredient in bone and joint health.

Best bargain hunting objectives

Often people go bargain hunting to buy items that are very low priced. While this is the usual objective for most shopping trips, there are some people who hunt for bargains on a professional level and the objectives for these shopping trips are viewed with a different perspective. These shoppers go bargain hunting to find items that other businesses need and these items might keep businesses in operation.

There are many industrial part vendors that go bargain hunting any place in the world because a client needs a repair part to keep a piece of machinery running. These machinery parts locators have access to a large network of repair parts providers and simply must find the correct part and deliver it to the business. The bargain hunting objective on these trips is to find parts are very low prices.

The savings will normally not be passed on to the client and this is why a bargain hunter remains in business. They are willing to do a lot of hard work to find a repair part and feel that the extra profit is simply a reward for a job well done when they eventually locate the part. Some bargain hunters will visit shipyards and other industrial areas where safety issues can occur at any moment.

The bargain hunting might require the shoppers to climb up scaffolding to gain access to a part. The parts locator will make a considerable profit if they can put their hands on a part that nobody else has been able to find and they are willing to go down into the hulls of ships to find a part that has not been made in forty years or more. Finding rare parts is part of the excitement that bargain hunters experience during a bargain hunting trip.

Some of the best bargain hunting objectives can be found with military contractors. The pricing on parts with the military is often open to suggestion but the military still has many locations for storing and selling parts to outside sources. Some parts locator services will bring shopping lists with them that contain a hundred items or more. The bargain hunters keep an objective tally on the number of parts that will fit on one truck to make sure that profits do not slip silently away.

Professional part vendors maintain an objective view on how they can sell the items in their inventories. They might create a repair parts website and allow other people to go bargain hunting for parts that they need for their tractor, truck or mobile home. The best bargain hunting objectives can work both ways and if shoppers and sellers will agree to great deals, then everybody will come out a winner on a bargain hunting shopping trip.

Avis d un ╨тtudiant

Moi, Benjamin, vingt cinq ans et je suis pour la lйgalisation du casino. Car qu'est ce que c'est зa d'interdire le libre choix ? C'est qui ce con qui veut me prendre ma libertй de choisir ? C'est qui qui essaye de me faire fuir de devant mes responsabilitйs ?

Et pourtant, je crois au joueur compulsif. Et je sais que parfois зa peut кtre dangereux pour certains de se retrouver devant cette machine a sous qui, en quelques minutes (que dis-je? en quelques secondes) le ruine de toutes ces derniиres mais derniиres derniиres economies. C'est triste, c'est dommage mais je suis vraiment dйsole, ce n'est pas de ma faute. Puis je m'en fous fous, ce gars ruine ne prend simplement pas ses responsabilitйs.

Et ne me prenez pas pour un homme cruel, зa m'attriste toute cette histoire et зa se trouve ce gars il va mendier dorйnavant dans la rue. Et, j'avoue, зa se trouve je vais mкme lui donner deux ou trois euros. (Mais la je ne sais pas si c'est une histoire d'avoir la conscience blanche ou de vraiment donner car il en a besoin...car зa se trouve (j en suis pratiquement sure),ce mкme mendiant va jouer ses deux pauvres piиces a sa tendre et vieille et tant aimйe machine a sous qui lui a bousillйe la vie.

Mais, je ne le rйpйterai jamais assez. Ce n'est pas de ma faute. Et ce n'est pas de la faute non plus aux diffйrents lйgislateurs de casinos.

Suffit. C'est tellement facile d'accuser les autres. C'est tellement facile de se prйsenter tel la pauvre proie innocente. Mon pиre est mort d'un cancer de poumons. Il fumait deux paquets de marboro rouges les jours oщ il fumait peu. Sa mort, ce n'est pas la faute aux cigarettes. Sa mort ce n'est pas la faute au vendeur de clopes non plus. Sa mort ce n'est mкme pas la faute a celui qui a invente la cigarette. Et ici sa mort, mme es croyants le diront, ce n'est pas la faute a Dieu. La mort а mon pиre est entiиrement de sa faute. Puis il me l'a toujours dit : ‘fiston, moi je fume et j'en prends les responsabilitйs. Tu veux mourir plutфt que prйvu alors fume. Tu veux tenter ta chance et rester sain ne fume pas. Mais surtout ne viens pas me dire que tu fumes a cause de moi. Car tout est une question de choix. De libres choix. »

A entendre les paroles de padre, j m'йnervais. Aujourd'hui, а sa mort, je sais qu'il avait fonciиrement raison. Arrкtons de nous plaindre, et cessons de tout interdire. Commenзons prendre nos responsabilitйs. (Et pour ceux qui sont curieux je fume au moins deux paquets de Marlboro rouges par jour...et ce n'est pas la faute a mon pиre !)

Bon, bref, j'adore le casino et celui qui me l'interdit, aura affaire a moi...

Mp3 player guide

MP3 player, also well known as digital audio player has become a staple of our gadget life. There are many brands of MP3 players on the market today. So, which MP3 player are the most suitable for you? That's where this MP3 player guide comes in.

Basically, there are 3 types of MP3 player based on capacity: -

1. Hard drive MP3 player

- highest capacity

- largest in size

- heavy

- often labeled as an "Jukebox MP3 player"

- has moving parts

- example: Apple iPod video, Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5

2. Micro hard drive MP3 player

- use smaller hard drives

- lighter than hard drive MP3 player

- lower capacity than hard drive MP3 player but higher capacity than flash memory MP3 player

- example: Apple iPod mini, Creative Labs Zen Micro

3. Flash memory MP3 player

- smallest in size

- lowest capacity

- very light

- has no moving parts

- often labeled as an "portable MP3 player"

- example: mobiBLU Dah 1500i, Apple iPod nano

What should you concern when you want to buy a MP3 player?

1. Use / Purpose

a) MP3 player good for travel

Hard drive MP3 player is good for people traveling or away from computer for an extended period of time, where they can't transfer music files from their computers. Micro hard drive MP3 player is another option for travel since it is slightly smaller and lighter than hard drive MP3 player. Flash memory MP3 player is also popular for travel if you do not mind to listen to the same music.

b) MP3 player good for sport / jogging / gym

Flash memory MP3 player is good for people exercising and jogging since it is very light. No moving parts for Flash memory MP3 player make it ideal for sport.

c) MP3 player good for home use

Hard drive MP3 player is good for listening song in living room. It is suited to be connected to external speakers.

2. Connectivity

There are two main options to transfer files from your computer: USB or FireWire. USB supported by both PCs and Macs whereas FireWire is supported only on Macs. For PC users, they need to ensure that the MP3 player support USB 2.0 which is faster than USB 1.1. Most of the MP3 players on market today are support USB 2.0.

3. Display screen

Majority of MP3 players have LCD screen. Some MP3 players have color screen instead of dull black and white screen. The main things to consider are all the information such as battery level, song name & elapsed time are easy to read.

4. Compatibility

PC or Mac compatibility. Mac users should ensure the MP3 player can support Mac since some MP3 players can only support PC.

5. Battery

MP3 players come with either rechargeable batteries (some can be charged via USB port) or disposable batteries.

6. Music format

Music files can be one of several types of formats, such as MP3, AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), WMA (Windows Media Audio) and Ogg Vorbis. Ogg Vorbis is a completely open, patent-free, professional audio encoding and streaming technology with all the benefits of Open Source.

7. Functionality

Some MP3 players have extra features such as voice recorder, FM radio, FM recorder, image viewer, video player.

8. Memory capacity

Most of the flash MP3 players come with 256MB, 512MB and 1GB. For hard drive MP3 players, they have gigabytes of storage capacity. If you would like to store many songs or CD collections in one, hard drive MP3 player or micro hard drive MP3 player is a better choice for you.

How does affiliate marketing works

With the internet, you can get almost anything at the click of a mouse. There is tons of data and information out there on all subjects or topics. And the Internet continues to affect how we operate on a daily basis. People use it for everything from entertainment to education. So it is not a stretch to the imagination to see that there are great financial possibilities for the entrepreneur.

Its not only for the professional business types, any individual can make money without a traditional company. You don’t need products to sell. How is this possible? Affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing works when a merchant gets an affiliate to promote his service or product. The affiliate shares some of the revenue. This scheme is an efficient way of getting profit for the merchant it also pays for the affiliate and the affiliate network.

The merchant benefits by having someone else spend the time and money advertising and encouraging customers to buy the product. He also benefits though the variety of markets the products can be reached using different affiliates. And his sales may be increased through word of mouth rather than other costly endeavors. The affiliate benefits by getting a commission of each sale he makes. If a consumer clicks on the merchant’s link on the affiliate website and buys the product or service, then the affiliate may get percentage of the sale.

To become a successful affiliate, you must first figure out what you are interested in. What are you passionate about? You will have to build a website around your subject and be informative about the topic. It would also help to make your site unique.

Then look for a merchant that pays well for products or services related to your area of interest. While making these decisions you may want to think about the conversion rate of visitors becoming buyers. Browse through the various affiliate networks to find out which products work for you.

After choosing the area, the products you would like to use and setting up your website, you will have to address the issue of traffic to your site. This is important if you are to make any kind of money. For example, if you are selling expensive items it is possible to make a lot of money very quickly but high ticket products may be harder to sell. To help with promotion and marketing do some research online and purchase books about the subject.

What is e85 ethanol and how is it made

With gasoline prices rising higher and higher, with no relief in sight, consumers are becoming more aware of and more interested in alternative fuel sources. One of those viable fuel sources is E85 ethanol. These days, there is quite a bit of talk about this fuel, and why shouldn’t there be? After all, it costs close to thirty five percent less than gasoline and is quickly becoming a preferred choice for motorists at the pump stations. E85 ethanol is already widely used in Brazil with about 90 percent of Brazil’s vehicles able to use E85 ethanol. Although a much lower percentage of vehicles in the United State’s are flexible fuel vehicles, and therefore able to burn E85 ethanol, it is quickly gainer favor.

What is E 85 Ethanol?

When 15 percent of leaded gasoline is combined with eighty five percent of ethanol, the result is the low-cost E85 ethanol fuel. It is an alcohol-based fuel that can be produced from employing the use of two methods. The first source of production involves the fermenting and distilling of starch-like feedstock. They include corn, barley, and wheat. The next method, which is referred as bio-ethanol, involves extraction from trees and grasses.

Although the price of the Ethanol E85 may be foremost on consumer’s minds, it also gets the nod from earth activists because it is an environmentally friendly product. It burns clean and its key ingredient source is renewable. Ethanol E85 also lessens the need for imported crude oil because it is locally produced, and is also known for increasing the octane rating in fuel while decreasing the harmful emissions caused by gasoline. If you are consciously trying to use less gasoline because you are aware of toxins it releases into our air think about this: if you convert to a flexible fuel vehicle and you burn E85 in that vehicle you will automatically be using 85 percent less gasoline that you previously had because 85 percent of your fuel is now ethanol and only 15 percent is gasoline.

Ethanol E85 will run well in flexible fuel vehicles like those manufactured by Daimler Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Isuzu and Nissan to name a few. But, if you don’t own a vehicle by one of the above-mentioned manufacturers, you need not fear. Some people are not aware that many other cars manufactured today are Ethanol E85 compatible. It is best to find out from your car dealer if you have a flexible fuel vehicle.

How is E85 Ethanol Made?

The method for producing Ethanol E85 is long and complex. The maker has to first extract sugar from biological feedstock in order to begin the process. Corn is the leading ingredient in Ethanol E85 gas in the United States. In Brazil, sugar cane is the leading ingredient in ethanol. The starch in these crops can easily be converted into sugar. Sugar for this fuel can also be extracted from cellulose, which is a sugar based ingredient found in trees and grasses.

Once the feedstock is collected, it goes through a grinding process to extract the sugar. Sugar fed into microbes quickly produces ethanol and carbon dioxide, which is purified to get the ethanol to the right consistency.

There is another method of manufacturing Ethanol E85 oil or grain alcohol, as it is also known, and this is through a wet-milling process. This is also the method that large-scale manufacturers use when producing high-fructose corn sweetener.

Ethanol E85 is an innovative and renewable resource with many positive characteristics, making it one of the leading topics of discussion for those looking to help the earth and looking to keep a few extra bucks in their wallet. Although E85 is currently only available at approximately 600 pumps in the United States, that number is expected to grow significantly in the next few years.

Quick and easy snacks for your toddler

Your growing toddler needs to snack quite a few times a day in addition to eating regular meals with the rest of the family. Here are a few quick and easy snack ideas that you can put together in just a few minutes. You toddler will enjoy these yummy snacks.

Ham and Cheese Crackers

Cut up some pieces of ham and cheese and serve them with some crackers. If you want to make it fun, use a cookie cutter to cut fun shapes out of the cheese.

Fruit Dip

Caution, this can get a little messy!

Cut up some fruit in bite size chunks and serve with a small bowl of yogurt. Encourage your toddler to dip the fruit in the yogurt. This is an easy way to get your toddler to eat a serving of fruit, while also getting some extra calcium and protein in his/her diet from the yogurt.

Low Sugar Cereal

I always keep a box of low sugar cereal like cheerios in my pantry. They make a great snack with a little milk, or even just a bowl of dry cereal. Dry cereal also make a great take-along snack. Just throw a serving in a Ziploc bag and toss it in your purse.

Veggies and Dip

Keep some cut up veggies in the fridge. Small pieces of carrot, peeled cucumber, celery as well as small sections of broccoli and cauliflower all make great finger food for toddlers. Make sure the pieces are very small to prevent choking or steam them to soften them up. Serve with a little ranch dressing if desired.

Peanut Butter Sandwich

A PB&J has been a snack staple for ages. Mix things up by toping the peanut butter with some thin slices of apple or banana instead of the jelly. Or try smearing the peanut butter on a tortilla. Add jelly and roll it up. Cut the rolled up tortilla into strips for a fun new way to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Quick Cheese Quesadilla

Place a soft tortilla on a microwave safe plate. Top one half with cheese and fold the other half over it. Microwave 30-60 seconds or until the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and let it cool a little before serving.

Quick Smoothie

Throw half a banana or some berries in a blender along with some vanilla yogurt and a splash of milk. Add a little ice if desired and blend until smooth. Serve in a sippy cup or with a straw for a quick fruit smoothie. Your toddler will love drinking a milkshake for a snack.

Give these fast, easy and healthy snack ideas for your toddler a try. By the way, these make great snacks for everyone else in the family as well – including mom.

Search engine optimization glossary

Algorithm. A set of rules that a search engine uses to rank the pages contained within its index in response to a particular query. No search engine reveals exactly how its algorithm works, to protect itself both from competitors and from those who wish to spam the search engine.

Back links. These are links to a website from external sources, including other web pages, directories, and advertising.

Banned. When pages are removed from a search engine's index because the search engine has deemed them to be spamming, or violating one of the search engine’s other rules.

Click-through rate. How many people clicked on a link, as a percentage of the total number of people that saw the link.

Cloaking. The act of serving content to search engine spiders that is different to what normal visitors would see. Search engines will ban you if they find you doing this.

Contextual links. Contextual links are displayed on web pages when the content on the page indicates to an ad server that the page is a good match for specific keywords or phrases.

Conversion rate. The percentage of visitors to a website who buy something.

Cost per click (CPC). A system where an advertiser pays an agreed amount for each click someone makes on a link leading to their website.

Cost per mille (CPM). A system where an advertiser pays an agreed amount for the number of times an ad is seen, regardless of how many people actually click through. The ‘mille’ refers to one thousand viewings of the ad.

Crawler. A component of a search engine that gathers listings by automatically ‘crawling’ the web, following links to understand how pages are connected.

De-listing. This is when pages are removed from a search engine’s index, usually because they haven’t been updated for a long time.

Directories. A type of search engine where listings are gathered by humans, rather than by automated web crawlers.

Doorway page. A web page created in the hope of improving another page’s ranking in a search engine’s listings. Doorway pages don’t give much information to the people viewing them.

Graphical inventory. Banners and other ads that appear depending on the keywords a page contains. This includes pop-ups, browser toolbars and rich media.

Index. The collection of information a search engine has that searchers can query.

Landing page. The web page that a visitor reaches after clicking your search engine listing.

Link popularity. A count of how ‘popular’ a page is based on the number of other pages that link to it.

Link. A link is text that you can click on to go to another website, or another page on the same website.

Listings. The information that appears on a search engine's results page in response to a search.

Meta-search engine. A search engine that returns listings from two or more other search engines, instead of using its own index.

Meta tags. Tags placed in a web page’s code that pass information to search engine crawlers, browser software and some other applications.

Meta description tag. This meta tag allows pages to provide descriptions to search engines.

Meta keywords tag. Allows authors to add text to a page to help with the search engine ranking process.

Meta robots tag. Allows page authors to keep some web pages from being indexed by search engines. Similar to a robots. txt file.

Natural listings. The listings that search engines do not sell. Instead, sites appear solely because a search engine believes it is important for them to be included, regardless of payment. Note that paid inclusion listings are still treated as natural listings by many search engines.

Outbound links. Links on one website that lead to other websites.

Paid inclusion. An advertising program where pages are guaranteed to be spidered and included in a search engine's index in exchange for payment.

PPC. Pay-per-click – means the same as cost per click (CPC).

Paid listings. Listings that search engines sell to advertisers, usually through paid placement or paid inclusion programs.

Pay-for-performance. A term popularized by some search engines as a synonym for pay-per-click. It stresses to advertisers that they are only paying for ads that "perform" in terms of delivering traffic, as opposed to CPM-based ads, where ads cost money even if no-one clicks on them.

Paid placement. An advertising program where listings appear in response to particular search terms, with higher rankings typically obtained by paying more than other advertisers.

Rank. The order in which web pages are listed in search engine results.

Reciprocal link. A ‘link exchange’ in which two sites link to each other.

Results page. The page that appears after a user enters their search terms.

Robots. txt. A file used to keep web pages from being indexed by search engines.

Search engine. A service designed to allow users to search the web, or another database of information.

Search engine marketing (SEM). Marketing a website using search engines, whether you’re improving your ranking in natural listings, purchasing paid listings or some combination of the two.

Search engine optimization (SEO). Altering a website so that it ranks higher in the search engines.

Search terms. The words a searcher enters into a search engine's search box.

Shopping search. Shopping search engines allow shoppers to search the web for products and their prices.

Spam. Any search engine marketing method that a search engine decides is detrimental to its efforts to deliver relevant search results.

Spider. See crawler.

Submission. The act of sending a URL to a search engine, for inclusion in its index.

XML feeds. A process in which information about a page is fed to the index without using a crawler, for example using RSS.

The best advice is to follow a good search engine promotion system. Keep track of when you submit your sites and how soon they’re indexed -- checking once a week is sufficient.

Ranking systems can be confusing and there are often complex factors involved, but you do not need to be an expert in the field to achieve top results. Take a chance – after all, you have nothing to lose.

Many thanks to Danny Sullivan, Kevin Lee, Ikonya Nginyo, and all the other volunteers who contributed.

How to get a short term loan

Every now and then money can get a little tight in between paydays. You do work, and the money is coming, its just that payday is a week away. Something has come up and you are in need of some cash - but only till payday. This is where it could be real handy to get a short-term loan. Here is what you need to know about getting one for your needs.

Short-term loans also go by a number of other names, such as payday loans, cash advance, fast cash, and a few more. These loans enable you to get the cash you need in a very short time - sometimes in about an hour, but some places will take up to 24 hours.

All you need in order to get your short-term loan is being employed at the same place more than three months. In addition, you will need to make more than $1,000 each month. They will ask for the name and phone number of your employer, and may call for verification. In some cases, you may need to fax copies of some of your recent pay stubs to them as proof of your income. A bank statement may also be needed, too.

You will also need to be ready to give some pertinent checking account information. This is where you will get your money, which will be directly deposited into it. Also, the money will probably be withdrawn out of it on the day the loan becomes due. An alternative way of paying is that you pay the loan off in person at the loan office. This account will need to have been in existence also for about three months.

Short term loans, or payday loans, are required to be paid back in just a few days - usually your next payday. Your first loan from a payday loan office - or Web site will be small, probably less than $400. You also want to make sure that you pay it off on time, too, as this will help you to get payday loans in the future for more money. Not paying it will quickly get you into trouble and banned from future payday loans.

Be aware that these payday loans can have quite a high interest rate. This can range anywhere from about 15 all the way up to 30%. At this rate, you will want to shop around some so that you can find a good one. One nice thing that you will also want to look around for is that a number of payday loan providers will let you have the first one interest free.

Some payday loan lenders also have some differences in how long you will be given to pay the loan back, too. This is a newer feature, and not many do it yet. Some, though, will allow you to pay it back in three or four payments - instead of all at once. Because of the high amount of competition between the lenders, new features are slowly being added to make their loan product more desirable. By shopping around, you may be able to find even better deals.

Overview of military loans

Military loans for those that are currently or formerly in the Air Force, Navy, Marines, National Guard, or Army are becoming common place. They offer those military personnel the opportunity to get cash in a hurry, for a low interest rate, and without much hassle. How, though, does the repayment of the loans work? There are a actually a few things you need to know about military loans that will help you understand your repayment process.

First, you should understand that the fast military loans do have a maximum. You can generally only borrow up to $3,000 at a time. If you need a larger loan, there are other ways to go. With a little research you will be able to find a military benefit that can help you in such a situation. For the purposes of military loans in general, though, we must look at a maximum of $3,000. Once you have your money, then you should think about how you pay it back.

For most military loans, the member of the Air Force, Marines, or other branch of the military will get one full year, or 12 months, to pay back the money. The payments can be made a number of ways, which are totally up to you in most cases. You can pay monthly, weekly, or through your paycheck. It just depends on how you would like to set it up. Just remember, though, that even though the interest rate is low, you will likely be compounding it daily as your loan sits unpaid.

The most common way to pay back your military loan is through allotments. When the money is taken directly from your military paycheck to pay off your military loan, you are taking late fees out of the equation. In fact, some companies will require that you pay back your loan this way. They know the money is coming, you don’t have to remember to write a check each month, and your entire loan will undoubtedly be paid off in time. It is a great deal.

You should note as well that there are no pre-payment penalties on military loans. No matter how early you pay off the money you borrowed, you will only pay the amount. No fees, no extra interest, and no problems with early payment. That means that you can save on interest if you are able to get the money together earlier. Good news for you and your bank account if you are a military personnel.

Military loans are becoming a benefit that is used often by those in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, or even National Guard. With the information above, you now have a better understanding not only of what a military loan is, but also how the repayment of such a loan is possible. It is a great way to get your emergency cash and the repayment is easy.

Skin care for adult women with acne

Acne affects some 25% of men and 50% of women at some point in their adult lives. The treatment of acne can be difficult for some women who also want to pay attention to moisturizing their skin.

Acne in women can be brought on by many different factors. Some are easy to figure out. The use of heavy cosmetics can bring on acne. This is simply remedied now. There are many new cosmetics on the market today which are non-comedogenic, meaning they won't clog pores. Also foundations are much lighter than they used to be. Some powder foundations are now made with minerals, which are much lighter than heavy liquid foundations.

The use of some hair products can bring on acne. A simple and effective way to avoid acne due to hair products is to pull your hair back off of your face. Pull you bangs back so hair care products do not come into contact with your skin, especially during the hot summer months.

Acne in women can also be brought on my hormonal changes such as those associated with pregnancy. This means that the acne will go away after childbirth. Some medications can bring on acne. Some birth control pills can bring on acne. If you notice an acne flair-up after starting any new medication talk to your doctor.

There are many different types of acne treatments on the market. A spot treatment with a topical product, such as a benzoyl peroxide or glycolic acid may be in order for you and may be effective. If your acne is wide spread a visit to the dermatologist might be in order. He will have more suggestions and may start you on an oral antibiotic.

There are moisturizers and cleansers out now that take into account the needs of maturing skin along with being effective against acne. Remember, the over use of any drying agent on the skin can actually cause the production of more oil, and more acne, a catch 22. Make sure that you follow the skin care regimen suggested by the manufacturer of any product you use. Regular facials can help to reduce acne flair ups. The aesthetician will evaluate your individual skin care needs and come up with a program suited to them. It may take 2-3 weeks of following any over-the-counter regimen before you see a difference in acne.

Pheochromocytoma symptoms diagnosis and treatment

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Pheochromocytoma is an important cause of secondary Hypertension. We have adnenal gland located at upper portion of each kidney. It is divided into adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of Adrenal Medulla. Normal function of adrenal medulla is to produce epinephrine or adrenaline. Which is responsible for controlling blood pressure and to help cope with stressful situations.
So majority of symptoms of pheochromocytoma are due to excess secretion of adrenaline from adrenal medulla. Most patients of pheochromocytoma have recurrent episodes of headache, sweating and a feeling of high anxiety. The following symptoms are listed from the most common to the least common
Headaches (severe)
sweating Episodes (generalized)
heart palpitations (tachycardia and palpitations)
Anxiety
nervousness (feelings of impending death)
tremors
Pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen
Nausea (with or without nausea)
Weight loss
Heat intolerance

These symptoms may come by situations which causes pressure over tumor like physical activity, exercise, defecation, anesthesia, or change in body position.

Who should be examined for Pheochromocytoma
Those who have uncontrolled hypertension
Those who have age between 40 and 60
Those who are already taking 4 antihypertensive drugs but blood pressure is not controllable.
Those who have episodes of above symptoms

Cause of pheochromocytoma is unknown, however some forms of this tumor runs in families like,
a-Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type II (MEN-II). In addition to a pheochromocytoma, people with MEN-II also have thyroid cancer. Other forms of MEN-II include pheochromocytoma with thyroid cancer and hyperparathyroidism (MEN-IIA), and pheochromocytoma with thyroid cancer and tumors of nerves in the eyes lips, mouth and digestive tract (MEN-IIB).
b-Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). Pheochromocytomas can occur in a small percentage of people with NF1, a syndrome that includes multiple tumors in the skin (neurofibromas), pigmented skin spots, tumors of the optic nerve of the eye, and bone diseases.
c-Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. People with this rare multi system disorder are at high risk of pheochromocytoma brain eye and kidney tumors.

Most pheochromocytomas are benign tumors and they don't spread to other parts of body however some forms do show metastasis (spread) to other parts of body like lungs, bones and brains. Usually only one gland is involved however this tumor can be present in both adrenal glands.

Investigations:
Blood and Urine tests: We perform blood and urine tests to diagnose pheochromocytoma. 24 hr urine collection is tested for epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. This test is called VMA. Idea is just to check level of epinephrine and its metabolites in urine. If these are detected in urine in excess quantity, then tumor is diagnosed.

Abdominal scan.
Now you have diagnosed tumor by blood and urine tests, after that to find out location of tumor, do Ultrasound, CT scan of abdomen.

Complications:
If high blood pressure remained uncontrolled it may lead to complications of heart failure, infarction, cerebrovascular accident, vision damage and kidney failure.

Treatment:
First treatment is to control high blood pressure with medication like Alpha Blockers and Beta Blockers. When epinephrine is secreted by this tumor it acts on alpha and beta receptors present on heart and blood vessels, result is vasoconstriction and increase heart rate. Now if if we take drugs like alpha blocker and beta blocker, epinephrine will be blocked by these drugs to act on these receptors so result is vasodilation and slow heart rate. Common Alpha blockers are Prazosin (Minipress), Terazosin (Hytrin) Phenoxybenzamine( Dibenzaline). Common Beta Blockers are Atenolol(Tenormin), Carvedilol(Carveda), Metoprolol(Mepressor), Inderal.

Treatment of choice for this tumor is Surgery. After removal of this gland by surgery, blood pressure becomes normal with a day. There are two types of surgeries. General and Laproscopic surgery. However Surgery is not an option for those tumors which show metastasis to other parts of body. For that we use chemotherapy and radiations.

Whenever you have high blood pressure with any symptom, don't ignore it, you may be the patient of Pheochromocytoma. Always contact your Doctor.

If you want to know more about Pheochromocytoma, visit our site highbloodpressuremed. com

The top five things to consider before you apply for that credit card

Credit cards are now fast becoming the best way to pay. Although some merchants and establishments have yet to install credit card machines in their stores, a good majority of department stores and major outlets take plastic. There are several advantages associated with carrying credit cards. You can make emergency purchases easily, as you do not have to look for a working ATM if you suddenly run out of cash at the last minute. You do not need to carry large amounts of cash in your wallet, which can be dangerous if you are traveling abroad and do not have means to access your bank account.

A credit card, however, will also have its disadvantages. It can encourage rather than discourage spending, as it offers the illusion that no money is being spent at all. Although you are not obligated to pay the full amount that you owe the credit card company, what money you have yet to pay will be slapped with a high interest rate, further increasing your debts in the next billing cycle.

If you want to apply for a credit card and enjoy its advantages, take note of the following tips before you consider any credit card offers.

1. Study your spending habits. If you can, have a copy of your bank account printed out. Do you spend more than you earn? If you appear to be living beyond your means on a cash basis, then you may milk your pockets dry if you have a credit card.

2. Take a good look at your bank account and your total savings. Can you pay your credit card bills when the time comes to pay, and in full, at that? A common practice used by wise spenders is to look at ninety-percent of one’s savings, and then divide that amount by twelve, corresponding to the twelve months in the one year that you will be holding the credit card. They then use the allocated amount each month as the benchmark, or the maximum that they can spend using the credit card.

3. Are you applying for a credit card because you want to spend conveniently, or because you are after incentives associated with the card? Some credit cards offer incentives such as gift certificates, cash back guarantees on about one percent of total purchases, and point awarding systems that can translate into frequent flier miles. You may be forced into spending more using your credit card only to get these rewards. You may save more by saving money instead of using your credit card.

4. For how long do you intend to hold the credit card? Many credit card companies charge high annual fees after the first year of use, and these fees can make a dent on your savings. Be sure that you have enough savings to pay, and that you are earning enough money to replace any losses you may incur due to spending using your credit card.

5. How do you intend to pay for your credit card bills? Some credit card companies can arrange for an automatic debit from your savings account, although this can be inconvenient if you suddenly discover that purchases that you did not make are being credited to your account. The paperwork to return your money to you can be complicated. Moreover, credit card theft of less than five thousand dollars is usually not investigated, so you have to be prepared to take a lot of financial risks.

Although they seem to be fraught with disadvantages, credit cards can actually help you manage your finances better. As long as you know how to spend wisely and not abuse your credit cards, you can enjoy the advantages that they can offer.

Discover the secrets of gourmet chefs and how to make 100 s of chocolate and dessert and recipes with easy to follow videos you can watch at home

If you like me are trying to lose weight but the mesmerizing call of Chocolate and Dessert and Recipes is keeping you awake at night then we may just have the answer for you. What if you could find healthy alternatives to processed desserts that are filled with fat, sugar and calories that stick to your waist like glue!

Imagine being able to cook your favorite chocolate and dessert recipes and those you never even knew existed by simply watching an expert gourmet cook show you step by step how to do it in the comfort of your own home. Sounds like a dream right? You could create amazing mouthwatering desserts that will have your guests queuing up at your doorstep just get a taste.

Maybe you want to learn about complete cookie recipes, cake baking recipes and even truffle recipes all from the comfort of your own kitchen. Who needs expensive cooking lessons and courses when you can just follow a few simple easy instructions and voila! a masterpiece that looks to good to eat. Being able to create the most to-die-for dessert recipes in your kitchen in record breaking time, cost and calories is not as difficult as you may think.

World famous chefs prepare those costly and fantastically beautiful desserts that you would rather frame and put on your wall then eat. The thought of being able to impress your guests with those prestigious dishes for practially no cost has got to be the most appealing proposition.

For those of us that had expert cooks as mothers and grandmas, just the smell of of those chocolate chip cookies being cooked in the oven to a golden crisp finish was enough to keep us home. Imagine being able to make grandmas secret home baked chocolate chip cookies at home without batting an eyelid, sounds great huh? Im sure just like me, you would love to entertain guests without having to go to the supermarket for a ready made frozen dessert.

Is no frills car insurance worth the risk

With the cost of owning and insuring a car rising, more and more UK motorists are looking for ways to save money on their car insurance. Some motor insurers have responded to this by offering no-frills policies that still provide comprehensive cover to insure the basics but exclude many of the extra's that traditional car insurance provides as standard.

The most recent insurers to enter this growing niche of the car insurance market are Tesco with their Value Insurance policy and Norwich Union who have branded their policy Simple Cover.

You might be wondering, though, if these no-frills car insurance plans are simply a marketing gimmick to win new customers or whether they really can save you money without affecting your cover significantly. If you are a careful driver, aren't too bothered about some of the policy extras included on some standard car insurance and you can afford to pay a higher excess should the worst happen, then a simple car insurance policy might save you money.

On the surface, it appears to boil down to be willing to accept more liability in case of an accident. If you can increase your voluntary excess, for example, then you will have to pay more out of your own pocket should you discover a cracked windscreen, or have a minor crunch in a car park. On the other hand, a higher excess should result in a much lower monthly premium which can result in big savings should you not need to make a claim.

So what else might you be missing out on if you choose a "no-frills" policy? No-frills car insurance is about cutting away the little extras and just leaving the most basic cover to keep you on the road. This might mean that things are a little more inconvenient should you have an accident, however. In case of damage to your vehicle, you could have to go to an approved garage for the repairs rather than to your own local garage. You might also have to give up the little extras like a courtesy car should your vehicle be off the road for any reason, again causing the expense to fall to you should you need it. Some no-frills policies do offer these options at an extra cost, but allow you to pay less if you don't require them.

In the end, all insurance is about risk and saving money on no-frills car insurance comes down to whether or not you are willing to take the risk of paying more should you have an accident or need to claim for a cracked windscreen or car park crunch. As with any insurance, ensure you read the small print and be aware of any hidden extras that could actually end up costing you more than a standard motor policy. If you've been lucky enough to avoid a collision so far, it's also important to really consider the hassle and expense that can follow and whether a basic policy will provide sufficient support and protection when you need it most.

Make life a little easier setting a budget and sticking with it

Where does the idea of sitting down a coming up with a personal budget rank on your list of “things I can’t wait to do”? If you’re like most people, it’s probably somewhere between jabbing a fork in your ear and getting a root canal. Can’t say we blame you, devising a budget for yourself is definitely not the most stimulating activity in the world. But for financial well-being, it’s an absolute must. It needn’t be too painful though. With today’s technology, budget-making is pretty much a snap. Just remember, the goal of creating a personal budget is threefold: 1) to list your expenses, 2) to set future goals, and 3) to cut costs to meet your goals.

Where does your money go?

The first part is always the hardest when it comes to starting a budget. You need to find out where your money is going on a monthly basis. You could dig into bank statements, credit card receipts and check ledgers, then hand write every expense you come across on a sheet of paper. That’s one way to go. The other, simpler way is to use the amazingly intuitive personal finance software that’s available today.

Programs like Quicken and Microsoft Money were built to help you track your budget. Simply input your expenditures, divide them into categories (e. g., auto, food, clothing) and subcategories (e. g., fuel, dining out, shoes) and boom—the program will spit out a detailed report of your monthly income and expenditures.

An even easier way to track your budget is through online banking. Most banks offer a service where you can download past account activity and plug it directly into a finance program. It some cases, it’ll even categorize your spending for you. How easy is that?

What are your goals?

Thanks to your software program, you’ve just discovered how much per month you drop on those gourmet coffee drinks you love so much, great. But now what? Now you need to set some goals for yourself.

Don’t be shocked if your report says you’re spending more than you earn. It seems unfathomable, but Labor Department statistics show that many families who make less than $50,000 are spending a bit more than that annually. If you’re one of them, it’s time to slash your spending. Even if you’re not in that boat, there are still probably a few expenditures you can do without.

As a general rule, you should reduce your spending to 90 percent of what you bring in. The rest of that money should go into savings and/or investments.

Slash and Burn

Upon further review of your budget, some cost-cutting measures will become painfully obvious. Eating out and other entertainment costs will probably stick out the most. Expensive clothing might be another. Search for those small, trivial costs that you can do without and eliminate them. You won’t miss them.

While the little things can kill, there are also bigger costs you can probably reduce. Take a deep, long look at your lifestyle. Is your car a little too luxurious for your pay scale? Are you dining at five-star restaurants a little too often? Are weekend getaways becoming routine? If so, cut back. It may not be pleasant, but it’s necessary.

Finally, take a look at things like your bills and taxes. If the mortgage you’re currently paying is two or more percent higher than what’s available, look into refinancing. When it comes to filing your tax return, make sure you’re maximizing reductions.

How to get cheap auto insurance on the internet

If you have a connection to the Internet and a computer you can easily find cheap auto insurance. With more and more businesses turning to the Internet to service their customers and increase sales, it's no wonder you see an insurance man on every virtual corner.

Not only are most of the major companies online today they now provide insurance quotes and the ability to buy your policy right from their websites. This makes your search for cheap auto insurance a lot easier.

Another benefit to buying your insurance online is the pricing. Competition in the insurance industry is fierce and online companies often offer a discount for purchasing online.

The easiest way to zero in on a company who offers cheap auto insurance is to get quotes from more than one company and compare their offers. Esurance. com and Insurance. com are two great places to get quotes from multiple companies.

If you prefer to look for cheap auto insurance from individual insurance companies search for "cheap auto insurance" at Google. com and you'll find over 36 million results to choose from.

Millions of people search in the Internet everyday for cheap auto insurance. The insurance companies know this and every one of them claims to be the one to offer you the cheapest auto insurance. Buyer beware. There can be a huge difference in premium from one insurance company to another.

Things to look for when searching for cheap auto insurance:

Discounts available for a good driving record

Teen Driver Policy - Is it cheaper to have your teen driver on a policy designated to a specific car rather than the family car?

Multiple car discounts

Multiple policy discounts (auto, home, life)

Are senior discounts offered?

Are you covered when you drive someone elses car?

Will you be dropped from your insurance if you are involved in an accident?

Do they pay for a loaner if your vehicle is out of commission as a result of an accident?

What is the cost of 100% comprehensive coverage? - Things that happen to your vehicle other than being involved in an accident. ie. broken windshield.

Searching for cheap auto insurance is not an exact science. Some things will be more important to you than others based on your circumstances. Whatever your circumstances are, ask the questions based on your needs.

Navigating the stock exchange

Nothing can seem quite so intimidating as the stock exchange; a hotbed of wealth and commerce all converging in one place; fortunes won and lost; businesses built; and the economic viability of a nation awaiting the results.

The stock exchange can mean a variety of things for a variety of people. To understand the stock exchange you must understand its role in today’s economy.

To begin with, the stock exchange offers corporations the opportunity to fund their operations and grow their business. The money made from investors who believe in the products and services offered by the business is used to finance growth; profits are passed onto the stock holders in the form of increased stock prices which they can use to realize a profit upon the sale of the stock. This opportunity – to be traded on the public stock market - is only offered to businesses of a certain size. It can mean the difference between viability and failure for a business.

Of course, the bigger picture of all this buying, selling, and growth of corporations is the impact it has on the greater economy. A strong economy is dependent upon a viable and thriving stock exchange and the same can be said for the other way around.

It can be enormously exciting to be involved in a process of this magnitude; to witness first-hand a nation’s financial axis. The stock exchange does not have to be a place of intimidation; rather it should be what it was intended to be – a place of opportunity.

To learn all you need to know about the stock exchange, go online. You’ll find tremendous resources at your disposal that will explain the complexities of the stock exchange while laying the groundwork for your possible participation.

If you decide to become a part of trading on the stock exchange you can either begin with online trading – a safe and minimally risky venture for novices – or see a professional stock broker who can guide you through the stock exchange with ease.

Either way, the stock exchange offers a bevy of opportunities for those looking to do something else with their money than having it sit in a bank account. Explore all your options and you’re sure to find that you’ll be comfortable in no time.

Afghanistan nato s classic self-defeating exercise

If you think that you are aware of what’s going on in Afghanistan today, think again. The very people—politicians, generals and journalists--feeding you information on the Afghan matrix are unsure about both, their facts and their conclusions.

A few days after it was announced that Afghanistan’s opium production may well exceed 53% of national GDP in 2007, an investigative reporter asked an officer inside the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime about the impact (i. e. the futility) of hundreds of millions of dollars spent on poppy eradication and crop substitution schemes since the Taliban were forced out of Kabul in late 2001. “We don’t appear to achieve anything credible,” the officer acknowledged on condition of anonymity. “In fact, we just do our best, year after year.”

An Afghan volunteer supporting NATO’s drug eradication programmes was a bit more precise when confronted with the hard fact that more than 660 tons of opium and morphine, valued at US$4 billion, have been exported from Afghanistan last year. “We keep telling the small farmers to grow poppy substitutes and they keep telling us that they don’t own the land, they don’t have title,” the volunteer revealed in a private conversation. “It is obvious that the warlords and clerics determine who grows what and where, not the farmers we keep talking to daily.” The volunteer appeared to have no idea whether the various groups currently directing crop cultivation—drug kingpins, pro-Taliban Mullahs and religious radicals—were working in conjunction or otherwise.

In 1978, there were hardly any poppy fields in Afghanistan, despite the fact that the trade in drugs was flourishing in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province. In 1978, despite a deep-rooted feudal structure in the countryside, where the majority of Afghans lived, Afghanistan was substantively self-sufficient in food. In 1978, the Afghan government determined that economic and social progress in Afghanistan could only take place if (a) land reform laws were effectively implemented, (b) the huge rural debt due to moneylenders was cancelled without delay and (c) adequate rural credit was made available to small farmers.

After all, as a foreign economist visiting Afghanistan at that time concluded that “without fundamental changes in the agrarian milieu, this country will not achieve any breakthrough whatsoever. This is primarily an agricultural country, and a complex one at that, and there is now an urgent need to sharply increase investments in rural infrastructure, in order to raise productivity, and to improve the quality and packaging of output.”

But that vision of an economically resurgent Afghanistan was in tatters well before the reform agenda threatened to become a viable reality. The anti-Soviet Jihad of the 1980s set Afghanistan on a different path altogether. Land records were destroyed in more than 80% of the provinces. Freshly-armed tribal chiefs forced sharecroppers and landless labourers to grow poppies instead of grains, fruit and vegetables. Militias under the umbrella of self-proclaimed freedom fighters, like Osama Bin Laden and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, opened up new drug smuggling routes to Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. And, in the midst of the complete transformation (i. e. a deterioration) in Afghan agriculture over a 5-6 year period, village Mullahs, many of whom landowners in their right, were telling poor Afghans that “only Allah can give you land, not the communists.”

Today, twenty years later, the issue of land titles is mired in even greater confusion. Some of the refugees returning home from Pakistan and Iran have indeed been allotted land; but, in the absence of access to reasonable credit, refugee families are rapidly falling into the same old cycle of perpetual debt. Land officials in Kabul, attempting to formalize a land title regime to be applied throughout Afghanistan at some point in the future, are confronted by the challenge of possession. “Here possession is 100% of the game, and we all know who has possession of the vast majority of fertile land,” a UN aid worker explained. “By our estimates, 95% of fertile land is in physically in the hands of only 2% of the population, and it is not difficult to see who comprises that 2%.”

Not that Afghanistan’s landholding ratios by themselves are alarming by third-world standards. South Africa, to cite just one example, has failed miserably in delivering land reforms, a good 13 years since the end of Apartheid. What makes Afghanistan unique is that the impact of those ratios is compounded by the absence of a secure land title system, and by the desire of those influencing the use of agricultural land to grow poppies for profit.

But wait. There are a few more depressing statistics which you need to be aware of. The wholesale price of a gram of heroin is a mere US$2.50 in Afghanistan. Just beyond Afghanistan’s borders, in Iran and in Pakistan, a gram changes hands at US$3.50. That figure reaches US$10 by the time the heroin reaches Turkey, Kosovo and Albania. Today’s wholesale price in Europe ranges between US$22 and US$33 per gram. One final note: retail prices can be more than 10 times higher on the street.

Just do the maths, and figure out the phenomenal impact Afghan poppies are having on an entire array of economies. At the same time, the situation inside Afghanistan, and along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, can only be subject to a credible determination once some basic questions are answered.

Are those so-called religious extremists—Al Qaeda and the Taliban—simply glorified drug traders? “They don’t seem to be doing much praying in the mosques around here,” an Afghan border guard told a British journalist at a busy Kandahar border crossing, as donkey-drawn carts moved weapons, whiskey and pirated Bollywood videos in the vicinity.

The second set of questions must be addressed with an elevated degree of seriousness. Who else, besides these militants, is participating in the opium wealth? Are law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border actively or passive players? Finally, what kind of war is NATO actually fighting when more than a few backers of the Karzi government are widely suspected of being direct beneficiaries of the Afghanistan’s opium export boom?

Without comprehensive answers to a series of fundamental and disturbing questions, talk of Afghanistan’s reconstruction is meaningless, without context, without any grasp of the reality on the ground.