Working at home-how do you see it

"The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than with their minds."

Lady Nancy Astor

Fear of the unknown and doubting ones ability to achieve success have stopped many good people from achieving their goals.

If we could see the future, we all would be rich. Our lives would be almost mistake free and we would have very few problems. But, alas, we can't see what will happen down the road. It's this fear of the unknown that has held many people back in many areas of their lives, especially in the area of starting their own business, particularly a work at home business. I realize there are many scams out there but there are also many legitimate ones that you can make money with and the negative mindset has stopped many people from even trying.

Many people see themselves as failing before they even start. They see themselves as not having the time, money, or know-how to make their own business work. They see what they "think" should or will happen. They are also influenced by others who tell them they can't do it. The basis of what they see is a mindset - one that says,"Others can succeed in this but I can't." So you see, people don't start their own work at home businesses not because they don't have the time, money, or know-how. They don't start because they have a negative mindset. They simply believe that it won't work for them. They feel they are cursed to failure, cursed to live week to week, cursed to always work for somebody else, cursed to working 40 or more hours a week, for 40 years, and hope they will have enough money to survive, much less do anything else.

"You can learn anything you need to learn to achieve any goal you can set for yourself; there are no limits."

Brian Tracy

So, how do you change this mindset? Well, it isn't easy. All of our lives, we have been told that, "You can't do that" by friends and family. We have been programmed to think negatively. Reprogram your mind by flushing out the negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. I am not talking about some magical or mystical formula here. Although volumes of books have been written on the subject, here a couple of simple tips. First, try to surround yourself with positive people and avoid, as best as you can, the negative folks. Begin to read books written by motivational speakers such as Napoleon Hill, Jim Rohn, Dale Carnegie, and others that deal with thinking the right way and sit in on seminars and teleconferences that deal with changing the way you think. There are even work at home opportunities whose sole basis is showing people how to be successful by changing the way they think.

It won't happen overnight but eventually you start to see yourself thinking in a different light. The "I can't" will become "I can." You will stop doubting yourself. You will begin to see that you can do it. You will step out and do things you thought you would never do. In closing, let me share a quote with you from Napoleon Hill:

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

Think about it!

Paying for and getting a refund for your airline ticket

* If you plan to pay in person and with your own bank check, take at least two forms of identification with you like a driver's license, major credit card, or employee I. D. card. Particularly when you purchase tickets far from your home town, airlines, travel agencies and other ticket outlets will want to confirm your identity.

If you paid for your ticket with cash and you have a refundable fare, you can often get an immediate refund from the issuing airline or travel agency. If you paid by personal check, the refund will generally have to be mailed to you.

NOTE: In some cases tickets purchased overseas in foreign currency can only be refunded in that same currency and country, due to foreign government monetary restrictions. Keep this in mind if you are considering buying a ticket in a foreign country.

* When you pay by credit card, your charge account is billed-whether you use your tickets or not. You won't receive credit unless the original unused tickets are returned to the airline. You usually can't get cash refund for a credit card purchase.

* If you buy your tickets with a credit card and then change your flights, the ticket agent may want to credit the amount of the old tickets and issue another set with a second charge to your account. You may want to insist that the value of your old tickets be applied to the new ones, with the difference in price charged or credited to your account.

While this creates a little extra work for the airlines, it prevents double-billing to your charge account.

* There are different rules for different types of airfares. You can purchase discount fares or pay full fare. Check with your airline to find out the rules and cost of different types of fares.

Payment by credit card provides certain protections under federal credit laws. When a refund is due, the airline must forward a credit to your card company within seven business days after receiving a complete refund application. If you paid by credit card for a refundable fare and you have trouble getting a refund that you are due, report this in writing to your credit card company. If you write to them within 60 days from the time that they mailed your first monthly statement showing the charge for the airline ticket, the card company should credit your account even if the airline doesn't. This procedure is particularly useful if your airline ceases operations before your flight.

Build-your-self-esteem-a-starter-guide-to-self-improvement

BUILD YOUR SELF ESTEEM, A STARTER GUIDE TO SELF IMPROVEMENT

So how do you stay calm, composed and maintain self esteem in a tough environment? Here are some tips you may to consider as a starter guide to self improvement.

Imagine yourself as a Dart Board. Everything and everyone else around you may become Dart Pins, at one point or another. These dart pins will destroy your self esteem and pull you down in ways you won’t even remember. Don’t let them destroy you, or get the best of you. So which dart pins should you avoid?

Dart Pin #1 : Negative Work Environment

Beware of “dog eat dog” theory where everyone else is fighting just to get ahead. This is where non-appreciative people usually thrive. No one will appreciate your contributions even if you miss lunch and dinner, and stay up late. Most of the time you get to work too much without getting help from people concerned. Stay out of this, it will ruin your self esteem. Competition is at stake anywhere. Be healthy enough to compete, but in a healthy competition that is.

Dart Pin #2: Other People’s Behavior

Bulldozers, brown nosers, gossipmongers, whiners, backstabbers, snipers, people walking wounded, controllers, naggers, complainers, exploders, patronizers, sluffers… all these kinds of people will pose bad vibes for your self esteem, as well as to your self improvement scheme.

Dart Pin #3: Changing Environment

You can’t be a green bug on a brown field. Changes challenge our paradigms. It tests our flexibility, adaptability and alters the way we think. Changes will make life difficult for awhile, it may cause stress but it will help us find ways to improve our selves. Change will be there forever, we must be susceptible to it.

Dart Pin #4: Past Experience

It’s okay to cry and say “ouch!” when we experience pain. But don’t let pain transform itself into fear. It might grab you by the tail and swing you around. Treat each failure and mistake as a lesson.

Dart Pin #5: Negative World View

Look at what you’re looking at. Don’t wrap yourself up with all the negativities of the world. In building self esteem, we must learn how to make the best out of worst situations.

Dart Pin #6: Determination Theory

The way you are and your behavioral traits is said to be a mixed end product of your inherited traits (genetics), your upbringing (psychic), and your environmental surroundings such as your spouse, the company, the economy or your circle of friends. You have your own identity. If your father is a failure, it doesn’t mean you have to be a failure too. Learn from other people’s experience, so you’ll never have to encounter the same mistakes.

Sometimes, you may want to wonder if some people are born leaders or positive thinkers. NO. Being positive, and staying positive is a choice. Building self esteem and drawing lines for self improvement is a choice, not a rule or a talent. God wouldn’t come down from heaven and tell you – “George, you may now have the permission to build self esteem and improve your self.”

In life, its hard to stay tough specially when things and people around you keep pulling you down. When we get to the battle field, we should choose the right luggage to bring and armors to use, and pick those that are bullet proof. Life’s options give us arrays of more options. Along the battle, we will get hit and bruised. And wearing a bullet proof armor ideally means ‘self change’. The kind of change which comes from within. Voluntarily. Armor or Self Change changes 3 things: our attitude, our behavior and our way of thinking.

Building self esteem will eventually lead to self improvement if we start to become responsible for who we are, what we have and what we do. Its like a flame that should gradually spread like a brush fire from inside and out. When we develop self esteem, we take control of our mission, values and discipline. Self esteem brings about self improvement, true assessment, and determination. So how do you start putting up the building blocks of self esteem? Be positive. Be contented and happy. Be appreciative. Never miss an opportunity to compliment. A positive way of living will help you build self esteem, your starter guide to self improvement.

Why consider online printing

Have you experience calling a printing company asking for their services and when you do go to their store to give your files you found out that they don’t carry the printing process that you want? Or you called a print shop, asked for a quote and when you were about to have your file printed the amount of printing service changed? This can be quite frustrating especially if you need the file immediately. When this happens to you, you can always consider online print companies.

Maybe you need something in an instant? Or you want to know every process that your print job goes through? Or you want to see how your print job will look like before it’s printed? If your answer is yes then online printing may be a good idea for you to try. Online printing offers several perks that are not available with traditional printing companies. As printing is time consuming especially if your artwork involves multiple colors, online print shops can deliver the job with ease and speed. Additionally, with print shops available 24/7 in the virtual market, there is no hassle waiting in line until your order gets taken, hence, allowing you to have more time in getting the services your project needs.

With this new technology, it is much easier to upload documents for printing. Clearly, you are not only limited to the printers in your area. Hence, you can make sure that your print job is handled by the best qualified to do the job for you. On top of this, you can have your print job delivered right at your doorstep. There is no hassle in driving down to the shop just to get your printed materials. Print jobs are also done professionally having a crisp and sleek look less the glitches that traditional printers often provide. If ever you need your documents in the future, you can always retrieve it with ease and efficiency when you have printed it with online printers.

Nonetheless, when you look for the printing company to do your print job, make sure to do your homework and choose the right printing service for your print project. As much as possible, send your documents to established printers who have years of experience in the business. This way, you can be sure that you print job is in good hands.

Tax deduction meal per diems

Per Diems deduction can be one of the best flight attendant deductions. This deduction depends on which city you layover in. The IRS states that you can either itemize each city you fly to or you may take a standard rate. If you fly domestic, this standard rate can work to your advantage. We are seeing a nice jump in them minimum about in 2006. Previous the base rate was $31 a day for meals and incidentals; in 2006 the base rate has jumped to $39. However keeping track of every city is important as many cities are substantially higher that the base rate, as high as $61. Alaska and Hawaii can be as high as $91. We have attached both 2005 and 2006 U. S. rates. Also realize that changes in per diem rates are from October to October, thus you need to keep track of locations times. A few seasonal cities even have seasonal per diem rates.

If you fly any international trips, it is well worth itemizing out your layover cities. The standard rate for International is $46 per day where as the daily rate for a common city such as London is $100 per day. Both Alaska and Hawaii are included on international rates. When figuring out your Per Diem, you use Meals and Incidental rates. For instance in Anchorage Alaska you take the Local Meal rate of $71 plus the Incidental rate of $18 for an M&I of $89. International rates do not have the same October to October schedule of change.

If you just flew domestic, the IRS will allow us to use an average rate based on the number of days you flew. Turn arounds are not included in this deduction. Once you calculate the total amount you are allowed, the total non-taxable per diem that you were paid by your airline is subtracted.

Flight attendants get an additional break here. For the average work in America than can only deduct 50% of their meal expense. In 2005 Flight Attendants can deduct 70% of their actual expense or per diems, minus any nontaxable payments your employer paid you. This amount will climb to 80% by 2008

For Businesses, Self Employed

You can deduct 50 percent of ordinary and necessary business expenses for entertaining a client, customer or employee if it is directly related to your business or associated with your business. It is essential to keep excellent records for business entertainment expenses. For example, if you take someone out for a meal, be sure to document the date, the amount, the place the meal took place, the business purpose of the meal, and the business relationship. If you hold a party, you should keep a copy of the guest list, noting your respective business relationships.

IRS rules for business-related meals, entertainment and gifts allow you substantial opportunities to convert personal expenses into deductions.

How would you like to get a discount of 14% to nearly 20% on your meals and entertainment expenses? If your meals and entertainment expenses were deductible, a $100 meal would cost only $86.25 if you were in the 27% tax bracket.

Tax laws allow you to deduct half of your meals and entertainment expenses if they are business-related. Any expenses for food and drink provided under circumstances considered favorable to a business discussion, or when a business discussion is held, can be deducted. If you are self-employed, you can deduct them as part of your adjustments to income.

Entertaining Business Clients

By far, the most commonly used aspect of this deduction relates to entertainment and food, however. The custom of entertaining business clients or potential business clients with food and drink in restaurants and hotels converts into deductible expenses. When you go out with friends or relatives for a meal or drink, do you ever pick up the check? If they are or could be potential clients or customers for your business, and you discussed business with them, then that check would be deductible.

Even if you do not talk business at the meal, it will be deductible if the meal follows or precedes a business discussion. Recognize that no actual business need come from the meeting so long as business was discussed. Be careful, if you meet with some one regularly and exchange picking up the tab, you can face a tremendous penalty. If caught by the Internal Revenue Service, the deduction will be disallowed as a sham and subject you to fraud penalties. However, do not hesitate to deduct legitimate expenses.

Not only can you deduct meals, but you can also deduct business entertainment expenses. Money spent for business entertainment, amusement or recreation can be deducted if you can show the expense:

• Directly preceded or followed a substantial business discussion;

Or;

• Directly related to the active conduct of your trade or business.

• Examples of potentially deductible expenses include entertaining guests at nightclubs, theaters, sports games, or even vacation trips.

Do not waste much energy building up deductible entertainment expenses unless you are prepared to do it right. This area is always a target of audits and is one of the most abused of all expenses. Make sure that each receipt (or notation in your appointment book or business diary) has ALL FIVE of the following components:

• The amount of each expenditure;

• The date of the expenditure;

• The name, address or location, and type of expenditure, such as dinner or theater, if the information is not apparent in the name or designation of the place;

• The reason for the expenditure or the business benefit derived or expected to be gained. While this sounds complicated, it is really easy.

• Information about the person or persons entertained, including the name, title or other designation sufficient to establish the business relationship to you.

You must have a receipt or other documentary evidence for meals or entertainment expenses of $75 or more. Currently, for expenditures of less than $75, you do not need a receipt. In a recent audit, when asked for "all" of my receipts. I brought out only those over $75 and my records for the rest. The auditor had to take what I gave him as proof. Fully acceptable substantiation would include a diary or written planner in which you enter the above descriptive information. I put this information on my business software records. Even in an audit, the entries are complete substantiation under the law.

While most meals or entertainment expenses can only be deducted for half of the cost, certain meal and entertainment expenses remain fully deductible:

• Expenses reimbursed under an "accountable plan;"

• Expenses incurred for recreational or social activities provided by the employer for the benefit of its employees. These might be the annual company picnic or holiday party;

• Expenses for goods, services and facilities made available to the general public, such as promotional tickets or customer samples;

• Expenses related to the ticket package costs for sporting events arranged primarily for the purpose of charitable fund-raising.

The deductions for meals and entertainment allow you substantial opportunities to convert your personal expenditures into business deductions. Do not fail to claim them and do not fail to keep them because of lack of adequate substantiation. In the 30.5% tax bracket, $100 worth of entertainment expenses costs you $84.75. No matter how much money you're making, it would be worth $15.25 in tax savings to spend 30 seconds noting the name of your business clients and the business discussion on the back of your ticket stub or receipt.

How to choose bathroom accessories and wall mirrors

How to Choose Bathroom Accessories and Wall Mirrors

Mirrors can make a bathroom look great. Mirrors are fabulous bathroom accessories that offset a room. When choosing designer mirrors however, you want to keep in mind that technology has advanced, so that now you have a wide array of choices.

How do I choose?

You have the cabin selections, Chвteau, Charlotte, Cosmopolitan, Dйcor, James, Loft, Marina, Meridian, Monterey, Serenity, Studio, Vogue, and Tiara selections to choose from. When choosing the mirrors its best to go online so that you can have a visual of what you are getting.

The cabin collections offer you the choice of choosing a wide array of bathroom accessories. You can choose from towel rings, bars, soap dishes, dispensers, robe hooks, tumbler holders, etc when choosing the cabin collections.

The Cabin collections are designed by the well-known Smedbo, which introduced the modern styles. You can choose a wide selection of bath accessories to offset the mirror.

How do I choose finishes?

You have the option of choosing Brush Nickel, Brush Chrome, or Chrome Polished. Again, going online will help you by giving you a visual of what the mirrors look like.

Cabin collections are manufactured in Sweden, which the brass quality is great. The brass sets a European style, which is suitable for luxury baths, master baths, guest baths, and so on. The brass is made up of forged materials, yet the epoxy resin gives the finishing a look of flawlessness. The advantage of purchasing Smedbo’s designs is that you have a lifetime guarantee.

How do I choose formation?

You have the option again of choosing the Brush Nickel, Chrome Polished, or the Brush Chrome. In addition, if you prefer rectangular, you may want to consider the 19 inch x 28 inch dйcor mirror.

Why should I consider Chateau?

Chateau gives you better options of choosing bathroom accessories. Sure, some of the bathroom accessories are limited, such as dispensers, yet you have a wider selection of bathroom accessories to offset your mirror.

How do I choose designs?

Chateau created the Chrome Polished, Brush Nickel, and Polished Brass also. If you are considering a distinctive pattern for your bathroom, Chateau is your choice. Chateau gives you the option of choosing luxurious mirrors that are complimented by robe hooks, towel bars, holders, and so forth. The designs will give you a regal affect.

The creator of Chateau is also Smedbo. You can choose dйcor designs or European style mirrors.

How large are the mirrors?

The round dйcor mirrors are mounted on pivotal with a diameter of 22 inches. The oval shaped bevel dйcor is also mounted on pivotal and has a diameter of 19 inches by 24 inches.

How do I choose bathroom accessories to compliment the mirror?

If you purchase one of the Chateaus, you will see a list of accessories also, especially if you shop online. Online you have the option of choosing matching soap dish, glass holder, towel bar/rings, including the swing arm. You have choices of brush holder, bathroom tissue holder, glass vanity shelf, and so on.

How do I choose from the James Collections?

Go online to view the images. Online you will find the H713 Model, which is the dйcor Edged Beveled Mirror. You will need to purchase the light fixture separately. James makes up the designs created by Luigi Boni. The mirrors are made of brass, which is not forged like the Cabin and Chateau models. The attachments include wall mounts, dual adjustable holes, etc.

How the James mirror is installed.

You attach the wall mount, screws, expansion bolt(s), etc with a hexagon tool, i. e. wrench.

Want nice cd dvd packaging

You guys always want to keep you favorite CDs & DVDs top notch. You never want your dear CDs & DVDs getting scratched or damaged, and thus you often look for the strong cd – dvd packaging to keep you CDs & DVDs immaculate and intact. Your cd – dvd packaging cases are generally designed to provide strong protection to your CDs & DVDs.

Your cd – dvd packaging cases are often made of rigid or semi-rigid material for keeping your CDs & DVDs safe. Your cd – dvd packaging cases protect your CDs & DVDs from scratches and other types of exposure damages. You can find a myriad of cd – dvd packaging cases and boxes on the market. Your cd – dvd packaging cases may include single disc and multi disc CD – DVD cases, and you can also find standard width and slim profile cd – dvd packaging cases.

CD – DVD packaging sleeves offer nice protection to your DVDs. Your cd – dvd packaging sleeves may include paper sleeves, plastic sleeves and tyvec sleeves. Additionally, you may also find CD – DVD sleeves available with or without windows and flaps.

Jewel cases are the cd – dvd packaging cases, generally measuring 142 mm Ч 125 mm Ч 10 mm. These cd – dvd packaging cases are usually made of injection-molded polystyrene. You can also use jewel cd – dvd packaging cases for the packaging of BDs (Blu Ray Discs), and HD DVDs.

Digipacks are the cd – dvd packaging cases made of cardboards. Actually, digipack cd – dvd packaging cases are the jewel-case-style plastic cd packaging trays glued inside a folding cardboard cases. Your digipacks offer nice protection to your CDs and DVDs, and are nice for keeping your CD movies and DVD movies.

Jakeboxes are patented cd & dvd packaging systems from Sweden. Your CDs & DVDs, in Jakebox cd – dvd packaging, are held in a folded 'claw' that opens up and presents your discs in wonderful fashion. Your cd – dvd packaging Jakeboxes are generally made of paper or carton, with or without pocket for a booklet.

CD – DVD mailers are virtually designed to meet all of your cd – dvd packaging needs. Your CD – DVD mailers may include single disc and multi disc CD – DVD mailers. You can also find paperboard and cardboard CD & DVD mailers.

Plastic cases and clamshells offer nice cd – dvd packaging solutions. You can find rounded c-shells and square plastic cases for your CDs & DVDs. You can also find plastic CD & DVD cases for use in 3 ring binders.

Keep Cases are the most common type of dvd packaging systems. Slightly taller than Jewel cases, DVD Keep Cases are made of much softer, less brittle plastic – polypropylene rather than polystyrene. DVD Keep Cases are durable and do not break easily. DVD Keep Cases come can usually hold one or two discs. DVD slimmer keep cases are called "Slim-paks" or "Thinpaks."

Spindles or, less formally, cake boxes are often used for blank cd – dvd packaging. These cd – dvd packaging cases are round, clear plastic cups that have central posts to hold stacks of discs. These cylindrical cd – dvd packaging boxes are designed for bulk cd – dvd packaging, anywhere from ten up to 100 discs.

Besides, you can also find CD/ DVD Trigger Cases, J-card cases, Clamshell, Mini CD/ DVD cardboard sleeve, CD/ DVD mailer, Digital Booklet for CDs and DVDs, Mini CD Clear Slick, Double and Single Cases, Double Cardboard CD wallet, Multi Case DVDs, Bizcard CD/ DVD cardboard sleeve, Premium Tray Packaging, and several other single & bulk cd – dvd packaging cases & boxes. You can find your cd – dvd packaging cases online.

Taking care of perennials in your garden

For a very long time, perennials have been one of the more popular varieties of flowering plants. One of the biggest advantages of planting perennials in your garden is that they come back every year. Perennials are popular with both beginning gardeners and experienced gardeners because of the rewards reaped for planting them and being able to have beautiful flowers for multiple seasons.

Another benefit of planting perennials is that they are often easy plants to maintain. Usually perennials are quite easy to care for, and don’t require too much extra maintenance, usually just some good quality soil, adequate water and plenty of sunshine. They do have some issues that you should be aware of, one of the most serious being that they are more apt to get plagued by insect and disease than annuals, which only live for one season. Because perennials remain planted in the ground and come back year after year means that they are prime targets for various types of problems, even in fall or winter.

In order to prevent disease or infestation, it is best to buy the healthiest looking plants that you can find. Pay close attention to the plants you buy at the nursery or home center, and do not buy any that show visible signs of disease, fungus, or insect infestation. Healthy plants are stronger plants, and therefore are better able to withstand any bacteria that might be in the soil. A healthy plant will be able to fungi or bacteria that would likely kill off a weaker one.

If you can find them, look for disease-resistant varieties of perennial plants. They have been specially bred for resistance to diseases and insects. Through the process of selective breeding, perennial plant breeders have worked hard choose certain plant varieties that able to survive many common garden problems.

Once you plant your perennials, check them daily for any signs of disease of insect infestation. The ideal time to do this is when you are performing your normal plant maintenance, such as weeding or watering them. Make it part of your general plant maintenance routine. Look for plants with wilted leaves, holes or chew marks on the leaves, dark areas on the leaves or flowers, or chew marks or cut marks on the stems. If you notice any problems, use a gardening manual consult a more experienced gardener to figure out the problem. If you diagnose the problem quickly and accurately, you have a better chance of saving the plant.

The method that you use to water your perennials can affect whether they become diseased. Watering from overhead, such as with sprinklers, promotes the water to pool up on the leaves, which can encourage mold or bacteria to spread among the plants. It is preferred that you water at the root, either through drip irrigation or a garden hose. Not only will this keep water from pooling up on the leaves and flowers, but it the water will reach the roots more quickly, where it really needs to be.

Good care for your perennials is not over at the end of the growing season. It is important to continue to care for your plants even after they have stopped flowering. Make sure you prune your perennial plants according to the specifications for the particular variety. While some varieties of perennials need to be trimmed back drastically, others need very little pruning or none at all. It is vital to heed the needs of each of the types of perennials in your garden.

Lost lives through weight loss

Thousands of patient records had been reviewed and yielded an alarming discovery about a previously unknown risk associated with a popular weight loss operation: Suicide in bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is a complex surgical procedure concerned with causes, prevention and treatment of severe overweight known as obesity. Bariatric operations are major gastrointestinal procedures which alter the capacity and/or the anatomy of the digestive system. In simple terms, the stomach is made smaller so as to speed up weight loss. Some bariatric procedures are performed using general anesthesia via a midline abdominal incision. Another method is to use laparoscopic surgical techniques, involving smaller instruments connected to cameras through which they view the operational site.

There are two types of bariatric surgeries:

1.Restrictive - This type of surgical procedure simply reduces the size of the stomach, using staples and/or a band, resulting in a drastic reduction in the quantity of food it can ingest.

2.Combined Restrictive and Malabsorptive – This type of surgical procedure reduces stomach capacity and bypassing the upper part of the small intestine, causing a reduction in the number of calories and nutrients which the body absorbs.

In bariatric surgery, most studies show that the risk of dying is about 1%, and complications strike up to 40 % of obese patients. Aside from being overweight, these patients usually have health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease, that's why it's no wonder they also have higher death rates from natural causes.

However, nearly 17,000 weight-loss surgeries performed in Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2004 had been reviewed and the findings were startling. Out of the 440 deaths in the group, 16 were due to suicide or drug overdose, according to the University of Pittsburgh researchers who reviewed the data. About three cases of suicides should have occurred in the group based on the suicide rate in the general population, the study authors say. Even more disturbing is the fact that another 14 of the drug overdose cases that were reported are likely to include some suicides, suggesting that the real suicide rate was even higher. “There is a substantial excess of suicide deaths, even excluding those listed only as drug overdose,'’ the researchers noted.

The New England Journal of Medicine reported last August 2007 about a review of nearly 10,000 bariatric surgery patients by Utah researchers, who compared them to a control group of obese people who had applied for a state driver’s license. Although these surgery patients had a 50% lower risk of dying from disease compared to obese people who hadn’t undergone surgery, their risk of dying in an accident or suicide was 11.1 per 10,000 people. That statistics is 58% higher than the 6.4 per 10,000 rate in the obese group. The study revealed that the suicide risk was twice as high for surgery patients than for those who had not had surgery, though the finding wasn’t statistically meaningful.

Experts are clueless as to why bariatric surgery patients seem to be at higher risk for killing themselves. Some research suggests a connection between obesity and depression, that is why the typical surgery patient may already be at higher risk for depression and suicide even before the operation. There is a great possibility that depressive symptoms may worsen in patients who have unrealistic expectations about the results of surgery, or who struggle not to regain weight after the procedure.

The Pennsylvania case review reveals that there is already a 7 percent death rate from suicide and drug overdose signals the need for better mental health follow-up for patients who have undergone weight-loss surgery. Although many weight-loss surgery programs require psychological evaluation prior to the procedure, most doctors seem lenient about making follow-ups after the surgery, as well as patients who prefer to disregard follow-up counseling.

How save and make money

If you save money, the money will save you

The problem with most peoples finances today is that they are not getting enough income to satisfy their needs and wants. People are naturally going to buy things they want even if it means spending more than they have (credit cards), and they know in the back of their minds that they cant afford it, but they will get it anyway. I think people will develop their own budgeting scheme when their income meets their wants then they will be budgeting masters, all by their selves. But till then there will ALWAYS be people in debt no matter how much you preach!

I think a solution to some people money problem is to teach them how to make extra money first, and then teach them how to budget and save it. Americans really don’t want that much; it is the hobbies that get people in trouble, bills, spending too much on golf clubs, car parts, computers, things around the house etc.

I don’t know about you but this is how I feel about life. Right now, I am working a 9 to 5 job making $3200 monthly. I don’t want to be stuck knowing that I will be 'working' for the rest of my life, taking orders from bosses, putting up with BS and other peoples attitude, having to get up in the morning when I want to sleep in and that fear of getting fired. Currently, I am in this situation but will not be soon. There are people right now making well over $20,000/monthly working for their selves and they are everyday people that you see walking their dog, in supermarkets or even that person arguing with the McDonalds cashier. If these people ever do go back to work for someone else they can do it "stress free" even if the job is stressful (think about that).

Before, you can work for yourself you have to decide one thing: If you really want that responsibility. If you said yes, you have gotten over the biggest hurdle and you will not be limited to the income your employer is giving you. I know what I am about to say will be over simplistic but I will save the details for you to research on your own. Here is a breakdown

1st: determine if you really want self-employment

2nd: decide what area of business you want or good at.

3rd: If step 2 requires money, their are program out there that can help you get started in internet business, selling or something else before you start in what you want to do. For example, "I want to own a photography shop but it costs $10,000 to get started. Well, if I sell product A for a year I can do it". You never know, whatever you get into before your dream business may make you $50,000 a month and you may forget all about that photography shop. I can help you here too.

4th Research, research and do more research. Find out what you competition is. Find out how much money they are making. Find out where they are advertising. Find out what it takes to get started. Find out where your customer are etc, etc, etc..research

5th EXECUTE!! I mean once you have confidence go do it.

They say that 90% of home businesses fail for the first time. And you may fail, but all you have to do is try and try again, please don’t give up. Believe me, you will get it right and when you do, you will be very successful. The percentage of people who fail for the second and third time is much lower than the first timers. Well sorry to talk yall half to death, I can go on and on about this stuff.

Increase your websites traffic with articles

To have a successful website on the internet you need to accrue one way links. The search engines such as Google, Yahoo and others can detect link exchanges between sites and even the new triangular link exchanges. Then they devalue those links.

Creating those one way links is the problem. It can be a very time consuming task. A one way link means that, another website chose to link to your site without reciprocation. The common reason would be that your site contains quality or unique content.

The circular problem is, in order for someone to find the content on your site they first had to get there. In order for someone to find and appreciate your content, you need to increase the traffic to your site. More people need to see it. How can we make that happen?

One way for people to get their websites seen is by writing articles. That and directory submissions are great way to bring visitors to your site.

First this is to write an article about a topic that is somehow related to your website. If your website is related to scuba diving, your article should also be about scuba diving. It should be anywhere from 400 to 700 words in length.

When the article is complete write a biography section. In fact, write about ten or twelve biography sections. Each bio should be different than the one before to establish diversity of content within the post.

After your article is complete you will want to submit your article and bio to different article websites. Those websites are allowed to distribute the articles to other website owners looking for fresh content. They can reprint the article intact with your links in the bio section. So every time your article is published, it brings a new one-way link to your website.

If you're looking for links look to directory reviews and article submissions. These are very valuable tools in establishing your online presence.

Why bother with help desk software

The advancements in the information superhighway have made many people dependent on technology for their personal and business activities. People today are becoming highly dependent on technology that they even need computers to check their day to day activities.

Students, doctors, lawyers and even businessmen are becoming more and more reliant to computers for their schedules, activities, business plans and almost all their life strategies. Without computers, the careers, businesses and even the lives of these people would be in chaos.

This growing dependency on all things technical has made people realize the importance of setting up a system that would help them survive any technical emergency. Not all people using computers are experts so they at least need something to give them the basics of technical troubleshooting.

One of the most important products to reach the market is the so-called help desk software. This software is aimed at helping a buyer of any software product who has little or no knowledge about the product he has bought. The help desk software provides a step by step guide on how to use the software and what to do in case the buyer experiences any problem with the software.

A help desk software is becoming a part of the after sales service of most software companies who want to keep their clients happy and content even after buying their products. Most help desks can be accessed through the Internet to allow all users to get as much information about the product through the most efficient method.

A help desk is so important especially when the program or product being used plays a big role in the day to day operations of the business of the user. Corporations that are heavy users of software and other computer products should see to it that they create help desks in the office so that any employee who encounters technical problem can solve the problem by himself.

Creating a help desk will not only maximize production but it will also save time and effort of the technical people who can focus their attention on more pressing matters which only they can perform. Employees who have problems with their computers and other office machines can just turn to the help desk and check the instructions for specific emergencies or problems related to the product they are having trouble with.

Help desks are now playing a big role in the operations of every business no matter if it is just a small or medium sized business or even if it is a large corporation. All businesses can benefit from the support offered by a help desk and they should start creating one for their staff.

The key to increasing your customer base accept credit cards

Here is a tactic you should heed for your online business… accept credit cards. Whether you’re selling digital products or tangible goods through online channels, your business should be able to accept credit cards to ensure the widest customer base possible. The importance of the ability to accept credit cards cannot be denied. Being able to accept credit cards makes your online business more accessible to a greater number of potential clients and customers.

World Of Benefits When Your Online Business Accepts Credit Cards

Credit cards have been tagged as plastic money because they have become accepted as a good alternative to actual cash. A lot of people actually prefer real world establishments who accept credit cards. They would rather shop in stores that accept credit cards rather than those that don’t accept credit cards.

The same principle applies in online transactions. People would look for eCommerce sites that accept credit cards, particularly those that accept credit cards which they own. I you would be able to accommodate these people by designing your online business to accept credit cards, you’d be able to increase the number of potential customers you could gain.

Additionally, by building an online enterprise that could accept credit cards, you will be able to secure payment in a more convenient and safe manner. If your online business would accept credit cards from paying customers, you’d be empowering them to spend for your products.

Overcoming An Important Hump When You Accept Credit Cards Online

Sad to say, however, that there are quite a number of people who are afraid of online transactions, even if your business would accept credit cards. There have been tales of so many scams and fraudulent dealings on the Internet, and legitimate businesses which accept credit cards are the ones that have to suffer such stigma.

To help stem the tide of this fear, businesses that accept credit cards should ensure the following things:

- A business that would accept credit cards should make sure that its payment processing page is embedded with Secure Socket Layers (SSL) of at least 128 bit.

- A business that would accept credit cards should also make sure that such SSL encryption appears on the lower right side of the user’s browser window, in the form of a lock icon.

- A business that would accept credit cards should establish a responsive customer support system that would answer the needs of your clients when it comes to transactions involving the acceptance of credit cards.

Allowing your online business to accept credit cards could only expand your customer base and provide good profits for you for many years to come.

Cruising in hawaii

The islands of Hawaii are a dream destination for many travelers, and a cruise that incorporates all four of the state’s beautiful islands could be just the ticket for your vacation plans. Each island has its own beauty and charm and is not the same as the others. From “Big Island” to Maui, to Oahu, to Kauai, there is something different and special about each local flavor. The best way to get a real taste of Hawaii, is to try the sample platter. Below, here is a little bit of what each individual island has to offer.

Kauai is the smallest and furthest from the “Big Island,” but do not count it out in terms of local culture. Nicknamed the “Garden Island” for its rich wildlife and beautiful scenery, the island of Kauai is home to all kinds of different nature-based activities. You can go kayaking, biking, tubing, whale watching, off road sightseeing, picnicking, snorkeling, on eco tours, dinner cruises, or see a little bit of everything from an airplane tour. The best that Hawaii’s nature ha to offer is on the beautiful island of Kauai, and it is often used in Hollywood films for its representation of the natural wildlife of Hawaii, from garden to beach to Waimea Canyon, which you can traverse on a day long tour while visiting the island.

Working your way back toward “Big Island,” your cruise boat will stop next at Oahu, the next largest island in the Hawaiian quartet. Home to the famous Waikiki beach resort, Oahu is known as the gathering place, and has been the dominant island in the chain since Honolulu was declared the capital some two hundred years ago. You can find most of the comforts of home on this developed island, but you can also go snorkeling or skydiving along the beautiful coast of the island. You can make a stop at Pearl Harbor for a bit of historical learning, and then go across the island to check out the Polynesian Cultural Center and fin out more about the rich cultural history of the island’s natives.

Like the rest of Hawaii’s islands, Maui has a host of outdoor activities, from kayaking, to biking, to ATV tours and more. Learn to parasail or surf off the coast or attend an evening luau. Some of the finest beaches and golf courses in the world are located on this island, and the summit of the Haleakala volcano is truly a sight to behold.

Moving on to our final island, your cruise will pull up to “Big Island,” which is also called Hawaii. It is actually larger than the rest of the three islands combined, and so there is a lot more to see and do. While Hawaii boasts much of the same activities as the other islands, including eco tours, island day trips, and surfing, there are things that you can only do on the island of Hawaii, such as touring the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Whatever you decide to do, there is plenty of natural beauty around and lots of outdoor activities to keep everyone engaged and entertained.

Natural skin care products

As more people are becoming aware of the effect of pesticides and synthetic ingredients on our environment and health, more women are interested in using natural skin care products. With the increasing demand comes more widely available natural skin care products which may be chemical-free, completely organic, or even vegan. It is estimated that, during a typical skin care treatment, a woman’s skin, hair and nails come in contact with over 100 chemicals, many of them harmful to health. In her lifetime, the average woman will ingest around four pounds of lipstick, and lipstick can contain tar, aluminum and many other poisonous or carcinogenic substances. Therefore, natural skin care products are more in demand these days, as awareness of health increases.

Natural skin care products are available in the following forms:

· Cosmetics

· Shampoos and conditioners

· Cleansers

· Skin conditioners

· Skin toners and hydrators

There are also natural perfumes, moisturizers and skin treatments. Natural and organic cosmetics are free of synthetic dyes and the color can be obtained through plants and minerals. They usually have a shorter shelf-life than conventional cosmetics, and should be replaced often. Natural cosmetics are available as foundations, lipsticks, eyeliners and other beautifying products. Many natural cosmetics use animal products such as beeswax and lanolin, and vegans, those who avoid animal products completely, should find cosmetics using vegetable oils such as palm and shea butter.

Many of consumers of natural beauty products enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy along with cleansing and conditioning their skin and hair. Aromatherapy is the art of affecting one’s sense of well-being through the use of essential oils from flowers and herbs. Some blends stimulate while others relax. Many natural skin care products are available in sets which include a shower gel, soap, shampoo and conditioner, a scrub and cologne. Orange, bergamont and cedar have stimulating effects and refresh the skin. Many report a tingling sensation after using natural citrus and cedar products. Jasmine and Ylang-Ylang soothes and prevents stress.

Natural skin care products are usually made of bases and essential oils. Depending on the product, the base may be a wax or a cream made of moisturizing oils and plant butters. Unrefined shea butter from Africa is a common choice and Tamanu from Madagascar is prized for its soothing properties. The best essential oils are expeller pressed, which means that they are extracted without chemical solvents. The bases and oils are combined to produce skin creams, cleansers, perfumes and lipsticks.

Skin masks and treatments are in-depth processes and require several types of natural skin care products for an entire treatment. Mud masks may contain real, vitamin-rich mud or clay from certain regions of the world known for producing nourishing products. A mask, which draws out the impurities from the skin and improves circulation, is usually followed by a hydrating spray. Rosewater is often used for this purpose, because of its nourishing and moisturizing properties. The skin is cleansed using a scrub, made of crushed peach pits or another rough material that sloughs off dead cells. Cleansers are used according to one’s skin type; those with dry skin may use a cleanser with a fruit such as avocado or banana, and those with oily-skin or acne find tea tree oil cleanser to be quite effective. A moisturizer completes the treatment, and is made of oils from plants such as cocoa or palm that gently add moisture without clogging the pores.

One should be careful when purchasing natural skin care products. Many conventional skin care products claim to have natural ingredients, but this might mean that they use a bit of a plant or an herb, and the other 95% of the lotion is made of chemicals. Read the label to ensure that the products you are using are all-natural, if this is important to you, and work with a company that you trust.

Living wills can kill you

Obviously, it is beneficial for anyone, in a vegetative state lor not to have a Living Will. But, people need to know that many of the Living Wills utilized today have major problems associated with them.

Living Wills Have To Be Clear

Much of the problem stems from misinterpretation of typical Living Wills by medical staff. These forms are often one size fits all and often legally driven and therefore do not flow medically. Also, they are often recommended to patients with end stage conditions who have already agreed to only comfort care or hospice interventions. As such, when medical staff see Living Wills they automatically associate it with a reduced level of care. This is what makes a standard Living Will dangerous and it may comprimise your care and safety.

Most people who create Living Wills are unaware of this problem and wish to receive care, unless they are terminal despite reasonable medical interventions, or in a persistent vegetative state.

Living Wills Call For Group Discussion

In most cases at least, Living Wills should be read and interpreted by at least two persons. They can recheck the document and the patient's history and decide whether to intervene.

Attorneys often help create the problem when writing Living Wills for clients. They should not be doing Living Wills unless there is some sort of interaction with the help of an experienced physician.

Promoting your website with articles

In order to generate traffic to your website, you must promote it. Writing articles is a very profitable and inexpensive option. This technique will help any website owner drive lots of FREE traffic to their site.

Most people use the internet to find information. Being the provider of this information brings the traffic to your website. If the person feels they have received value from your articles, you will become a trusted source. In turn, they will be more open to what you are promoting.

When you write these articles, your main focus should be to provide quality content for the reader. If you focus on writing the article for self-promotion you will quickly lose your potential buyer.

The article will contain what is called an article resource box at the end of each article. That resource box will contain information about you and your website. A reader that liked your content will more likely click on your link. If you did not provide quality content, the reader will likely not even read to the end of the article.

The more links you can get out there with your articles, the more free traffic you can get directed back to you.

Please do not be afraid to write the articles yourself. Anyone can write. If you can talk, you can write. In fact, the best articles are the ones written in your own words. They will be unique and have a natural flow to them. You will feel a sense of pride and accomplishment with each article you write. If you are absolutely opposed to writing an article yourself, you can always pay someone to write them for you. You can find article writing services on the internet and they are usually not that expensive.

After you have written your articles, you will need to submit your article to articles directories (websites that accept article submissions). People looking for information will visit. Webmasters looking for content for their website will visit. If they use your article, they must include your article resource box. Even publishers of newsletters looking for articles will visit looking for quality articles to reprint. Do you see how a quality content article could potentially drive lots of visitors to your website?

The main point to remember is to focus on providing quality information to your reader and you will soon be profiting from this very smart traffic building technique.

Why ksc airsoft pistols belong in a tactical vest

Airsoft has become very popular to kids and adults alike. Because it is a simulation of different military situations, the thrill of playing this game can be very addictive. Better yet, getting into this game involves getting a replica of the weapons and equipment used by military and police organizations. Carrying a Steyr and walking through the game area in full gear will definitely give anyone the feel of being in a dangerous mission. The good thing about this is that nobody really gets killed. In such controlled situations, a person can release his aggression and relieve his stress. It is also a game that develops awareness. No wonder it is so addictive.

Complete The Get Up

When playing airsoft, wearing the proper gear is very important. Tactical vests, for example, protect the players from the hit that they receive during the game. Even though plastic pellets are used, these tiny balls can make anyone bleed at 400 feet per second. These tactical belts have a lot of pouches for your mags and other paraphernalia. Most of them even come with holsters that can hold airsoft pistols. It would be a shame not to complete the get up by adding two airsoft pistols for back up.

Getting a new KSC airsoft pistol to fill up one of the pouches is a great idea. KSC airsoft pistols has received a lot of good reviews because of their quality and performance. Another great thing is that KSC airsoft gun are also known for their low prices. A KSC airsoft pistol costs around $150 to $180 online. One of the disadvantages of getting these pistols is the need to maintain your supply of gas which costs $20 a canister. Another disadvantage is the fact that gas pistols don’t work well in cold weathers.

The KSC Glock 18c Gas Blowback has a metal slide and has the capability to fire semi and full automatic rounds at 350 fps. In order to change the mode of fire of the gun, you just need to slide the switch to the corresponding mode. Because of its polymer finish, this gun is very lightweight and easy to carry. The problem with this gun is that the trigger is extremely light and can be quite dangerous if you're not careful. So, remember to keep your trigger finger out if you have no intentions of firing yet. Unlike a real Glock, this gun has a safety. Aside from that detail, this gun looks absolutely realistic and is well-loved by experts.

The Advantages of Getting A Side Arm

Of course, side arms are not purchased just for looking great. These will definitely come in handy when a player loses his AEG rifle during the game. Sometimes, AEG rifles do misfire or get jammed during the game. Having a side arm in hand can definitely save your behind when this happens. A pistol can also be useful in close quarters battles (CQB). In slightly narrow areas, carrying a huge rifle will definitely slow a person down.

Jigsaw-puzzles-33

JIGSAW PUZZLES

Jigsaw puzzles are as popular today as when they first appeared on the market. Millions of people spend countless hours working these puzzles and thrive on the challenges provided by fitting the myriad pieces together to completion. Jigsaw puzzles are made for all ages in varying degrees of complexity, with pieces numbering as few as ten or as many as 2,500. If you've never tackled one of these brain teasers, you may wonder, "What is the appeal of this hobby?" You'll soon see, as we explore the many satisfying facets of working jigsaw puzzles.

Everyone loves a mystery and the jigsaw puzzle is a good one. The end of the story is on the front of the box in all its colorful glory. In order to reach the end, you must solve the mystery of each piece inside the box. Each jigsaw puzzle piece is similarly shaped, with many possible points that must coincide perfectly with its mate.

One popular puzzle theme is the photographic images of landscapes, abundant with fluffy clouds, sunset colors, mountains and meadows. The true jigsaw puzzle enthusiast revels in a picture such as this, with perhaps hundreds of pieces which make up the sky. There's no question that this hobby requires patience and persistence.

People who enjoy jigsaw puzzles often took up their hobby, inadvertently, at an early age. Maybe it was Mom or Grandma who brought that first jigsaw puzzle home for a rainy day activity. Teachers know that simple jigsaw puzzles help children develop spatial perception, color sensitivity and hand-eye coordination, as well as providing lots of fun. The idea of solving this mystery is appealing to kids and when the puzzle is complete, the little detective enjoys the feeling of confidence in having solved the puzzle.

After completing a few simple puzzles, kids are ready to move on to larger jigsaw puzzles with more pieces. If your child enjoys this activity, you'll do well to encourage the hobby. Each new puzzle serves to develop problem solving skills and critical thinking.

Children aren't the only devotees of the hobby. These puzzles make terrific gifts for adults too. People recovering from illness often have a lot of time on their hands and a puzzle can be a welcome way to alleviate many hours of boredom.

Jigsaw puzzles are available in themes to suit almost every personality and taste. Just visit your local toy store or browse the toy shops online. You're sure to find one someone on your gift list will enjoy - perhaps even you!

Donate while you sleep

What if there was a way to donate money to causes you believe in by – sleeping?

What if a portion of your expensive hotel bills could be donated to charities like UNICEF, World Wildlife Foundation, or the Red Cross?

What if you could stay in your favourite hotel and be pampered – and at the same time do something good for other people?

With Charity Hotels, all this is possible. Hotels and motels build a surprisingly large cushion into the price of their rooms, allowing them to cut prices for sales without really cutting out profits. That's why Priceline bids can get rooms so cheaply, and why websites like Expedia can offer such great rates on hotel rooms at upscale hotels in great locations.

A group of internationally recognized charities operating out of the Netherlands recognized this in 2004. They include:

· The Dutch Red Cross

· The Dutch Aids Fund

· Stop Aids Now

· The Dutch Hart Foundation

· The Dutch Cancer Foundation

· The Dutch World Wildlife Fund

· Dutch Amnesty International

· The Dutch Memisa Cordaid

· Dutch Unicef

· Novib in the Netherlands (known more widely as Oxfam)

These ten charities approached hotels about creating a website where vacationers could register for accommodations anywhere in the world. The website would offer accommodations at reduced prices, and also offer a 5% or better donation to a charity of the registrant's choice.

The market in online reservations is crowded right now, with many different companies offering basically the same deal. With Charity Hotels, you can take advantage of specially priced bargains comparable to those at Expedia or Travelocity, and know that not only are you getting a great price, you're also helping charities help others.

What Do I Do?

Suppose you're going on holiday to the South of France. Nice vacation, relaxing for you and the family. You want to get the best prices possible, of course, but like many people, you feel a little guilty about spending that kind of money when others in the world need it so badly.

Instead of feeling guilty, go to the Charity Hotels website. Look at the list of hotels in dozens of locations, including Orlando, New York, and Paris. Once you've determined Charity Hotels has a hotel sponsoring them in the city you want to visit, fill in the simple form provided with your desired dates of stay, city and hotel you want to stay at, and number of rooms and people per room. On the next page, select from a list of hotels, including the one you chose, and book your reservation.

Now every time you lay down in your comfortable bed at the end of a long day, you can not only replay all the fun you had during the day, but also think about how your donation through the Charity Hotels website is helping a child somewhere in the world get food, clean water, and a safe and comfortable place of his or her own to sleep. Or that your donation is going toward helping researchers solve the AIDS problem in Africa. Or that you have spent enough on the hotel room to put a roof on a house somewhere in tsunami-stricken Southeast Asia.

How Can This Work?

The concept is really simple. Just like with Expedia and other online booking systems, the hotels listed by Charity Hotels pay a commission for each booking to Charity Hotels. The difference is that instead of your money going to a corporation, it goes to a charity you believe in, helping people worldwide you don't know but still care about.

Just like with other online agents, you are using a reliable, secure, and simple method to get your hotel registration. And just like all the others, you're guaranteed the best possible internet rates. You should never pay more than you would pay on the other sites, and you won't have a surcharge added to your bill.

Charity Hotels has a database covering more than 25,000 hotels throughout the world. You get regular and last minute booking for hotel rooms, and you'll always get the best price.

With the hundreds of hotel reservation sites online today, it's hard to tell which is the best. They all claim to be, of course. And they're all better than the others at one or another specialized thing – they offer more European hotels, or they offer hostel bookings as well as hotel booking, or they give you more pictures of the hotels you're considering, or you get a slightly cheaper rate, or you have user-created hotel reviews. With Charity Hotels, you don't get the frills and extras that your commissions pay for on the other sites. Instead, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you have done something positive for the world when you book your reservation.

If you're happy with your Charity Hotels reservation, you should tell your friends and family. Charity Hotels gets a better price for hotel rooms for selling more rooms. Better yet, since they are a charitable organisation, they have an easier time negotiating prices than a corporate organisation would have. You can always expect a great price with Charity Hotels, and it will only get better.

What Else Should I Know?

Because the rates offered through Charity Hotels are so cheap, you will need to secure your reservation with up-front credit card payment. If you find a lower rate for the same dates at the same hotel, you should call Charity Hotels within 24 hours of booking your reservation, and Charity Hotels will adjust the rate with the hotel and donate the difference to charity. (note: this only applies to rates marked Special Negotiated Internet Rates.)

You may find some of the hotels on Charity Hotels marked "Preferred Hotel." This could mean one of several things: it may offer better than average value to the customer, the hotel may have offered to donate a larger percentage than usual of the reservations booked through Charity Hotels, or the hotel has another special quality that makes it more attractive than the other hotels listed.

Your credit card information is accepted over a secure server. All major credit cards are accepted through Charity Hotels, but because the booking and credit charge actually goes through the hotel you're going to stay at, there may be some differences in what credit cards are actually accepted. For the same reason, cancellation policies will also vary from hotel to hotel.

Robin hood and the work at home scam

This little scam has been around for a while. It does not feature in the "Top Ten" work at home scams but it might find its way there in the near future because there has been a sudden surge of activity recently from people imitating this particular online scam.

The scam is quite simple and works as follows.

A self styled work at home scam "investigator" sets up a website with an anti-scam type of name: http://DontLetThemScamU. com or ScamNoMore. inf or something along those lines. Some even manage to work the word "authority" or "agency" into the site name to add credibility by implying they are part of a government department.

The website home page will have large headlines warning that the Internet is full of work at home scam programs and promises to reveal the truth about them. The page tells us how the author has been scammed repeatedly by work at home scam programs and has lost boatloads of money online. It goes on to describe how the scammers' prey turned into the hunter and is now able to unmask the frauds and unveil the legitimate work at home programs discovered during his crusade.

The details of the story vary a little and sometimes the "chief investigator" has a female sidekick helping with the undercover investigations. One current version of the investigator's story is that this serial scam victim set out on a one man mission to investigate Internet work at home programs and unmask the scammers for the benefit of humanity. After spending five years contacting every home business program owner he could find on the Internet, he is going to share (at no charge) the benefit of his vast experience with us - like a kind of virtual Robin Hood. Let's call our example investigator Robin from now on.

When you visit his website, Robin invites you to subscribe to his email series so that he can explain in detail what work at home scams are to be encountered on the Internet and how to avoid falling for them. Everyone wants to avoid scams, so it seems sensible to subscribe.

When the emails arrive, Robin explains at length how practically every money making online opportunity is a scam. He lumps together all sorts of different online businesses such as real estate investing, stock market investing, HYIP's, affiliate marketing, paid online surveys and data entry programs, declaring them all to be scams. For good measure, he also throws in all books and courses about building an Internet business and declares the authors of all of them to be frauds. In most instances the accusations remain vague and Robin never offers any evidence to substantiate his allegations.

Fortunately, so Robin tells us, he has managed to find treasure in the midst of all the trash and can recommend just three programs as being honest. These three programs get his seal of approval as being legitimate home business opportunities and offering a real chance to make honest money from a home based business. To help you further, Robin tells you to sign up to his selected programs quickly because they are filling up fast and you might miss the chance to join and start earning the money you've always dreamed of.

The truth is that the real scammer is our virtual Robin Hood, our hero is actually a bad guy in disguise. Robin has not really spent five years selflessly researching Internet work at home programs and losing money to scammers for the benefit of his fellow man. He just painted all those other programs black to make his whitewashed offerings look legitimate by comparison.

All sorts of things about Robin's claims raise questions such as: If he was getting scammed and losing money, what did he live on? Can it be true that out of all the thousands of work at home opportunities available, there are only three legitimate ones? Does this mean companies like Avon and Tupperware have turned into scams? Apart from the niggling questions, you should instinctively distrust anyone who attempts to make his choice of work at home program look better by making derogatory comments about all the other available programs. If a work at home program is legitimate, its members will promote it without needing to tarnish the reputation of its competitors.

The best home owner insurance quote

You may feel that the best home owner insurance quote is going to be the cheapest home owner insurance quote, but that’s not always, if ever, the case. The best home owner insurance quote is going to be the quote offered by the insurance company that thoroughly investigates your home owner insurance needs.

When you begin shopping for a home owner insurance quote, make sure the home owner insurance company you speak with covers the following issues with your.

What do you want to insure? This usually means a home, a townhouse, a condo, a mobile home, or an apartment or home you rent. This gives the home owner insurance agent a jumping off point.

Where is your home located? The location of a home greatly affects the home owner insurance quote, because it gives the home owner insurance agent an idea of what kinds of crime or weather elements they may be up against.

Have you taken inventory of your home? This means, have you made a list and/or video of everything in your home, focusing especially on the most precious and valuable contents in your home. This information may lead your home owner insurance agent to suggest a floater policy to make sure the possessions are covered, or even suggest storing them somewhere safer than a home, such as a bank safety deposit box.

How safe is your home? Tell your home owner insurance agent about any special alarm systems, sturdy locks and windows, and repairs to roofs and steps, as well as electrical and plumbing upgrades you’ve made. These answers will let your home owner insurance agent know just how protected your home and its contents are, as well as any visitors that may drop by.

The answers to these questions will help your home owner insurance agent determine the kind of home owner insurance you need, and provide you with a quote based on those needs.

All about shipping

All about Shipping

Shipping is one of the most aspects of any business whether it is a retail outlet or an online virtual storefront. The cost of shipping can make a deep cut into the profit margin.

Most small business owners try to find the best way to ship at the lowest prices. Small businesses depend on drop shippers with the product in order to save on their bottom line. That is one of the best ways of saving the business expense without to much hassle. The customer may not always buy a product that is dropped shipped instead you might be packaging up the product and hurry off to a good shipper. When you buy in lots normally, the whole unit comes to you personally. When you then put it on eBay or your own web site then you will need to find a way to ship to the consumer.

The number one most accepted shipper is the United States Post Office. The US Post Office is prompt and uses great care in handling packages. Shipping has become such a big business that the post office now provides the supplies you need, pick up and delivery as well as over night delivery. The post office tracking system is simple going on line, put in your receipt number, and find out the exact time and date of delivery. You can also insure your product if it has a value that would be considered a loss. You can also keep a postal machine in your office that you can use to calculate the postage and print the postage necessary. The United States Post Office is one of our better methods of shipping.

Shipping via Ups is also a great way to go especially if you happen to have larger packages or boxes. Ups offers access quantum view, which is a method for you to keep up with your clients. You can maintain a database and track their deliveries etc. Remember for those who sell to retail outlets a product that is repeatedly on a weekly or monthly basis Ups is an excellent way to go. You will get automatic pickup service and you can track delivery as well as shortages etc. Ups will go to the manufacturer pick up the product for you and then deliver to your customer. This is an excellent way for you to buy in quantity and ship. Someone has to pay for the shipping and that is where you really have to watch out the cost. The cost can really eat into your profits. You might be able to charge it to the client or at least split the cost 50/50 in any case this would help your bottom line.

Large products like furniture for instances is best shipped via a semi and one of the best company's with the best rates is Yellow Truck. You can access the company on line and track your shipment the same way as you do with Ups and the United States Post Office. All manner of shipping is important so that you can maintain a profitable business.

Cottage-rentals-24

cottage rentals

Going on vacation is always something that people look forward to, even long before they have made their plans. Most think about flights and hotels, but often forget that there are cottage rentals out there that can make for a very relaxing summer vacation. Hotels are nice, and they are essential for many destinations, but if you aren’t sure where you want to go, and you want something peaceful, a little cottage might be just what you need to relax.

Many times there are great cottage rentals near lakes, and sometimes, on the beach. These are often furnished, and some are nicer than others. However, if you are going for a week of fishing, the rustic look might be just what you want to complete the feel of the vacation. Best of all, these cottage rentals often cost much less than a week in a hotel, and are situated right where you want them to be. Finding the right one is often just a matter of deciding where you want to go.

When I was younger, we would do cottage rentals each year on a lake in Canada. We could get enough of them right in a row for the entire family. There was not much too them, but then again, we didn’t spend a lot of time inside. We were outside swimming, boating, and fishing. The lake was the main draw, and the cottage rentals gave us easy access to a relatively private area where our families could get together. Sadly, we don’t do this anymore, but I will always remember those days fondly. Maybe some day I will get to go there again.

You may find cottage rentals through a travel agent, but you can also find them by looking in your local classifieds. Many who have these for rent will advertise in a very wide area. That means the cottage rentals you find in your local paper might be a few hours away, and in a location that will be far enough away from home to feel like a vacation, but close enough where you don’t have to hop a flight to get there. That saves a lot of time and money in your vacation budget, and gives you an experience a little more unique than checking into a hotel room and seeing the sites in any given city. Those are great vacations, but sometimes, you just need something a little different.

Quit smoking detox what to expect by nguang nguek fluek

Smoking is a persistent habit connected with your body and mind. That is why any cessation process should include a quit smoking detox therapy and behavior therapy.

Smoking is an addiction similar to drugs or alcohol additions. While you have been smoking, your body got used to receiving regular doses of nicotine. Once you stop smoking and stop the nicotine doses your body responds with severe cravings and withdrawal symptoms that come to show you that you need to light up a cigarette. If you manage to overcome these problems, it is pretty guaranteed that you will manage to quit smoking.

For the reasons described above, many quit smoking programs begin with a quit smoking detox procedure.

The first thing is to stop smoking at once. Many smokers believe that it is fair enough just to reduce gradually the number of the cigarettes however, this is completely wrong. If you continue to smoke, you are not benefiting the quit smoking dexot processes of your body. Moreover, it is a slippery edge that usually leads to unsuccessful results – after all, you need just one stressful situation to increase the quantity of smoked cigarettes.

The minute you stop smoking your body will start to revive. In general, round 72 hours are required for the nicotine to go out of your body. For this reason, the cravings are with greater intensity after this period. The good news it that if you manage to survive without a cigarette for the first 3-4 days you will feel a drastic improvement in respect of cravings intensity and withdrawal symptoms. This is due to the active quit smoking detox processes that are going on.

Another signs of quit smoking detox are improved taste in your mouth, better smell, our digestion system will start working properly and you will feel respiratory relieve.

Various products can help the quit smoking detox process. There are medications, herbs and even specific foods that can help. All you need to do is to ask your doctor for the ones mist suitable or you.

Finally remember that the pure quit smoking detox of your body is just part of the smoking problem. The other part is connected with your habits and behavior, mind and perceptions. Although you are helping your body to clean up from the cigarettes’ bad ingredients this is just not enough to give up smoking. You will have to seriously rearrange the way you perceive smoking, find some good reasons to stop and change your lifestyle in a way to leave the cigarettes behind. For the ones with stronger personality this may be the easiest part of the problem but for may it is the most difficult one. That is why you should really believe in your success and get as much support from your family and friends as possible.

Generic cialis and generic viagra dosage information

There are many questions that you need to find the answer to before you start purchasing and using generic ED pills. For example, what is the proper Generic Cialis dosage ? Take too little and you will find that there are no effects, take too much and you might face yourself facing potentially dangerous and harmful side effects and after effects. Just how much is the right amount to take?

There are of course similar questions when it comes to Generic Viagra dosage . Just how much is the right dose? The answers must take into consideration a wide variety of factors. And this is just the tip of the iceberg of important questions that everyone looking into the world of generic ED pills needs to find the answers to.

That is why we have taken it upon ourselves to create this web site. We know the importance of getting the information out to the people when it comes to questions such as generic Cialis dosage . We have talked to the experts, read through the medical journals, performed extensive research to bring you all of the information you need in clear and concise articles. Everything you have ever wanted to know about generic ED pills and more is available right here.

5 common mistakes of website design

Huge Mistake #1: Creating a Website with Flash -- Did you know in a recent study, top internet marketers discovered that having a website created with Flash, actually decreased the response from prospects and customers by as much as 370 percent?

Here's why: Your prospects and customers are most likely visiting your website using all types of different computers, connection speeds and internet configuration settings...

What may look great to one visitor may not even appear for another! You could very easily have shelled out hundreds or even thousands of dollars to have a website created using the Flash technology, only to find out that some of your visitors will never see it! (Not to mention the loading times can cause your visitor to close your site, never to return again.)

Huge Mistake #2: The "Internet Catalog" Approach -- You see this everywhere. Good, honest and hardworking businessmen and women get online to sell their products or services, and have a site created for them that contains a link to just about everything they offer on one page. Their thinking goes along the lines of, "...well, I don't want to leave anyone out. If they come to my site, I want to make sure I have what they're looking for..." -- This way of thinking could not be further from the truth.

Here's why: There's an ancient rule that goes back to the very beginning of direct-marketing on the internet, taught by the richest, most legendary and well-respected internet marketers of all time...

"When you give your prospects too many choices, they become confused and aren't sure what to do next. Confused people never buy anything."

Huge Mistake #3: Optimizing Your Sales Site for the Search Engines -- You'll see this taught in nearly every "internet marketing" course, manual or eBook out there... "You must optimize every page of your website for the search engines!" -- In fact, this false teaching is accepted as 'gospel truth' so often that most web designers will offer to do this for you at no, or little extra cost...

What they don't understand is that certain words and phrases must be either re-worded (to make it "keyword rich") or taken out completely, just to be looked upon highly by the mighty search engines -- and this could kill your sales, literally overnight.

Here's why: When you or a hired web designer optimize your sales page (i. e. any web page designed to sell your products and services) to get a higher listing in the search engines, you're going to have to sacrifice the pulling-power of your sales copy (i. e. written sales material) just to get those higher listings. Sure, this can bring you more traffic -- but what good is all the traffic in the world, if your visitors arrive at your website and aren't compelled enough to read why they should order your product?

For years, it has been taught that you should always try to find a "balance" of SEO (Search-Engine-Optimization) mixed with promotional copy designed to sell your products and services...

Wrong Again! -- The truth is that you should never optimize your sales page for the Search Engines. Instead, you should create tiny "entry pages" for each keyword related to your product or service, (highly optimized for the Search Engines) and have them link to your main sales site! (We can show you exactly how to do this quickly and easily and get *massive* targeted traffic from the Search Engines - without ever *touching* your sales site!)

Huge Mistake #4: Having a "Graphics-Based" Website -- Sure, graphics can certainly help us to visualize a particular situation or circumstance, product or service... But did you know that having a graphically-driven website can actually distract your visitor away from your sales message?

After all, your sales message (or "web copy") is The #-1 most important factor in a website that makes money. If your visitors are paying more attention to your "professional graphics" than your sales message... you've just lost another sale.

Here's why: You've got approximately seven seconds from the time your visitor arrives at your site, to the time they decide whether to buy your product, get more information or leave. If you've got a graphically-intensive website, your website will most likely still be loading past your seven-second time limit.

That's a "customer-killer" in and of itself - however, the real reason lies within the fact that the bigger, brighter and more beautiful your graphics are, the more they will distract your visitor from your sales message. And if your visitor is distracted even for one second, it could mean the difference between getting a sale, and losing a customer.

Huge Mistake #5: Designing a Website with Zero Marketing Experience -- Most web designers have no idea how to make money on the internet, with anything other than their design services. It's not their fault - they simply have no or very little marketing and sales experience. After all, they're just website designers...

However, having your website designed by someone with Zero internet marketing experience is like buying a street-car without an engine... it won't go anywhere, and it'll just waste your time and money!

For help on website design please visit www. onlinewebconsultants. com

What you should know about postcards

Here are some of the salient facts about postcard printing and mailing:

1. Repeat postcard mailing is not throwing cash. One big shot is not enough. It needs continuous boost, continuous mailings. The reason is – one big launch cannot make your business neither can it change it.

2. The best price may not be the best catch. The old maxim – ‘you get what you pay for’ is not always applicable. The cheapest may not be the best choice and the most expensive may not be the most in quality. Ask around and determine which postcard printing and mailing services are the best. After that you will have a good view of what printing company to choose if ever you need quality results.

3. Postcard is better than those enclosed in an envelope. You may be asking why. Well, this is because the customers can readily see your message. Thus, it can work quickly compared to other marketing materials. And even if the customers throw it away after one reading, the truth remains that the message has circulated. Isn’t it a darn fast way to market products and services?

4. Promote singly. There are a lot of companies that overdue the marketing edge of postcards. They tend to sell different products and offer several services in one postcard design. They seem to juggle them all that the customers will eventually lose focus. I you want quality maketing and worthy retention, market one item or service at a time.

5. Effective postcard printing and mailing can be the be-all and end-all marketing tool. Great amount of bucks is spent on marketing and advertising, but mind you, inexpensive postcards which are product of efficient and well-planned strategy can glow a company. And I mean no other marketing media involve.

Wow your potential customers and wow your business as well. The next time you want to earn traffic to your websites or generate more sales, try the enigmatic charm of postcards. you will not regret the moving change…

Outsourcing the building of websites to low wage countries

Understanding Outsourcing

Outsourcing is the delegation of tasks or jobs from internal production to an external entity. At present standards, it has become more related to hiring the services of staff overseas where salaries are markedly low as compared to the local existing standards. It is primarily done by companies to save money, improve quality or free company resources for more important activities.

Low-cost countries such as China, India and Venezuela continue to attract companies to move things offshore and outside their own boundaries. However, outsourcing should not only be seen as a cost-cutting maneuver but also as a way to produce important strategic benefits. One thing that is slowly being recognized is that there are savings to be gained in sourcing knowledge and talent as there are cost savings in sourcing things.

The sourcing of knowledge and technology provides access to better processes or efficiencies as well as more efficient management procedures. Outsourcing opens the way to make use of specific specializations of entities that would otherwise not be available. More and more companies are starting to realize that the probability for attaining excellence is much higher if it concentrates its efforts on its core activities. Other tasks such as building of websites are better left to professionals. The good thing about the present status of building of websites is that the service can also be outsourced to offshore companies. A company can now have the benefit of a much bigger and better site for the same amount of money spent in the US for a regular site.

The forerunners of outsourcing have exhibited much competitiveness in terms of well-developed telecommunication and IT infrastructure, good business services and having a pool of qualified people. This is the very reason for the so-called India advantage. India ranks first among the most favored outsourcing destinations due to its varied inherent strengths. It has a booming IT industry which is recognized all over the world. It has the largest English speaking population after the USA and has excellent training infrastructure. India’s government is also very supportive of outsourcing activities. Not to be forgotten of course is its cost-effective manpower which caught the initial attention of companies seeking ways to reduce costs.

Outsourcing should not be construed as abdicating responsibility but rather as leveraging outside capabilities. When organizations outsource, they do so because they would want to leverage the distinct skills and resources of other organizations to the benefit of their company and their customers. The basic business philosophy underlying outsourcing is the delegation of business activities that isn’t of core competence. It is about accepting the fact that no single company can be particularly good at everything. It is about using this known fact to assess a company’s strengths and weaknesses. Once a company is clear about what it considers essential, then it will be able to focus on broader business issues while having operational details assumed by external experts. Outsourcing has long ceased to be a strategy used during bad times only as in cutting operational costs. It has also become a business strategy used during good times to focus on the company’s growth.

Building of Websites

Outsourcing has introduced teleservices to numerous organizations worldwide. It can be broadly referred to as information-based work performed at a distance from the customers. Its market can be divided into three categories namely tele-processing, software export and interactive teleservices.

The first category covers tele-processing which includes all back-office functions performed in remote information processing factories. Specific tasks such as data conversion services, remote technical staff and content management are performed by an outsourcing company. Content management would in turn include content services for websites, database maintenance and refresh, various design services and even animation. The second category includes website development and related e-business applications development while the last category provides technical support to owners of PCs and peripherals.

Website development requires a special touch that only experts in this field would know. It is not just about producing a website but ensuring proper full scale websites that incorporates web design and placement, Internet marketing and optimization to gain the right listing on search engines. A web services firm specializes in the planning, design and development of web based business-to-business sites.

Optimal website placement is crucial to the success of any website. Web services firms are expected to provide a complete, professional design that is based on a client’s specific business environment. The design and layout of text, logo and graphics is as important as the ease of navigation. Special attention is given to color, white space, type fonts, background elements and other related items as these make up the artistic elements of a website. The aim is to create a website that projects a professional image, while at the same time, pleasing to the eye. The design should also be search-engine friendly and scalable for future add-ons.

The high-quality content of websites is the leading reason for repeat visitors followed by ease of use, quickness in downloading requested information and frequent updating. One area of a corporate work load that is best outsourced is website management and maintenance handled by web professionals. A company stands to reduce costs by eliminating the need to maintain a full time website specialist, web developer, artists, designers and network administrators.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to website development providers. The important thing to consider is how well they would be able to respond to each company’s unique specifications. A company will do well with the services of a provider that guarantees proper maintenance and updating of a website for the least possible costs. Most website development firms offer affordable hourly and retainer agreement based contracts and plans.

A company may wonder what logic lies behind outsourcing the building of websites to low wage countries. Offshore outsourcing firms located in developing countries have a wide range of world-class website development services to offer at affordable prices. Generally, they are always interested in building mutually-beneficial partnerships with overseas companies. India has opened the way as it revealed its most important natural resource which is the abundance of technically skilled manpower. Cost-effective services are provided without compromising the quality. Other developing countries are making their presence felt in the industry. Common sense tells us that any company stands to gain more if it is able to access the same quality of services and products for a considerably reduced cost.