The Road to Haiku

Haiku shows us what we knew all the time, but did not know we knew; it shows us that we are poets in so far as we live at all.
~R.H. Blyth Haiku, Volume 1

A real haikus gotta be as simple as porridge and yet make you see the real thing.
~ Japhy Ryder in The Dharma Bums (1958) by Jack Kerouac

Haiku is everywhere, or so some like to think. Just do a Google search for haiku and over 12 million results are returned in .04 seconds. Those results vary from in-depth articles on haiku history and the development of haiku from the original Japanese renga (linked verse) to information on Japanese haiku masters such as Basho and English contributors such as R.H. Blyth. Along with those, you have countless links to internet blogs, websites and web pages that have haiku, or what is really considered senryu by those who have studied haiku, on them. I even found a random haiku generator. Needless to say, the information is so abundant its difficult to know where to begin or what to believe.

Im not a scholar, but I have done a bit of research about haiku and senryu. Japanese culture has fascinated me since I was in my early twenties and began studying Aikido, a Japanese martial art. I also had a Japanese roommate who taught me a few things about the culture that further interested me, and while Im not a fan of sushi, I do love some other Japanese foods. Interestingly enough, R.H. Blyth became fascinated with Japanese culture as well, and thus eventually found his way to haiku and was instrumental in bringing haiku to English.

R.H. Blyth authored Haiku (1949-1952) and History of Haiku (1964) which are some of the most read books on the subject by contemporary writers of haiku. Blyth never expected that his books would be as influential as they were in inspiring poets to attempt to write haiku in something other than Japanese. But inspire they did and in 1958, two other books on haiku were published that sparked modern haiku in America, Jack Kerouacs The Dharma Bums and Harold G. Hendersons An Introduction to Haiku: An Anthology of Poems and Poets from Bash to Shiki.

How do we define modern haiku (and where does senryu come in)? Well, thats a tough question to answer, as you will often find many conflicting definitions. Most people can tell you that haiku is a short Japanese poem. Some will add that it is written in three lines. Others will argue that it is written in no more than three lines, but can be written in less. The typical haiku is seen in three lines, but it can be in less, never more. Then you come to syllable counts. Some adhere to a strict seventeen syllables, in a 5-7-5 pattern. Others will simply offer a guideline of: no more than eighteen syllables total for the entire poem. Haiku can be less than seventeen syllables, but certainly never longer than eighteen. In haiku, less, is typically, more.

This is the basic form of a haiku (and a senryu), but this alone does not make a poem a haiku. A haiku has other elements that most haijin will tell you, must be present before it is a haiku.

~A kigo, or seasonal word is a must for a haiku (without it you venture into senryu territory)

~A pause word or caesura (punctuation mark) that is usually, though not always at the end of a line, that indicate a comparison, contrast, uncertainty or question (different from a senryu that involves irony or satirical humor)

~Haiku are almost always in present or present perfect tense

~Simple, direct language; using minimal words

~Avoid using personal or possessive pronouns in haiku (again, these are more for senryu) as haiku describes an experience, it does not tell how you feel about the experience

Again, different sources will agree and disagree on these points about haiku (and senryu). For experienced haijin, writing haiku is a way of life, not just an art form or a way to express themselves or pass the time. I have read that to write haiku, first you must have an experience, and then you must, as soon as possible, write about that experience. It must flow naturally from you or it will not make a well written haiku. The senryu is for all of the comedy writers out there and examines the more personal and humorous side of life. I hope this has shed a bit of light on two of the beautiful Japanese forms of poetry.

Terry J. Coyier is a 37-year-old college student studying for an Associates of Applied Sciences degree. She is also a freelance writer who writes a variety of topics She lives with her son in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. Terry is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers and her personal portfolio can be viewed here.Cindee Blog2500
Cheri Blog56964

The Truth About Refurbished Electronics

We all prefer to purchase new when it comes to, well, just about everything. Unfortunately, though, the luxury of buying a brand new item is something that we are simply not afforded at all times. There are a variety of reasons why, in some instances, we are resigned to purchase used rather than new; money and accessibility being the most obvious points. However, there can be a positive avenue to this, which is, of course, the ability to save money by purchasing a less than new product. And, the benefits of purchasing refurbished items are no more prevalent than they are in the field of refurbished electronics.

It is important to note, right off the bat, which refurbished when it comes to electronic goods does not mean used, old or previously enjoyed. As a matter of fact, the definition of what constitutes a refurbished electronic item has a variety of meanings. A refurbished electronic item can be, for example:

An overstock item that is no longer being produced by the manufacturer

An item whose packaging has been damaged during transport, even though the item itself has not been affected at all and remains in perfect working condition

A product that has only featured in a store for display purposes only

Items that have cosmetic defects (i.e. incorrect color scheme) only, with no issues with quality

When it comes to refurbished electronic goods, such as an iPod, Xbox, Playstation or camcorder, anything that isnt new is considered refurbished, and must be sold as such. Because of this, the shopper can easily save hundreds of dollars when purchasing a refurbished item versus buying a new item. In many cases, the refurbished electronic item in question is in just as good of working condition as a brand new electronic item. But, because of certain circumstances, that item is no longer identified as new.

Before some of you thumb your nose at the thought of purchasing a refurbished item, consider this scenario: you are purchasing a used Xbox 360 from a friend of yours. There are stains on the console, youre getting the item in a plastic bag, and your friend has a reputation of not being so delicate with his belongings.

Would you purchase that Xbox 360, or one that has never been used or opened, but one whose box has a tear in it because it caught on someones watch during handling? Or would you purchase your friends coffee stained version over one whose box was opened because someone simply wanted to see what was inside, and thats all?

And another caveat for purchasing refurbished; while your friend is a stand-up person, he probably wont offer you a manufacturer warranty on the game. Most refurbished electronics still have their warranties intact, so, as a consumer, you are protected.

More and more people, companies and retailers are capitalizing on the value of refurbished electronics. For manufacturers and retailers, its a great way of moving out excess stock and items. And for consumers, refurbished electronics are a fantastic way of getting a high-quality item at an exceptionally low cost.

As with any purchase, due diligence and research is paramount to locating a respectable retailer who can give you the best deal possible when it comes to refurbished electronics. It is no different than, say, purchasing a used car or a pre-owned home. You would never think buying a used car or home is a bad idea, and you would never do it blindly either. The same principle applies to purchasing refurbished electronics. A good idea, when, combined with research, can prove to be a great benefit to the consumer.

With video game consoles becoming more and more expensive, and with more competition to choose from, there needs to be an outlet for people to get what they want without having to exceed their financial considerations. Everyone wants the hottest video game system, MP3 player or video camera out there, but not everyone can afford to purchase them either. For those who cant, there is an option, and that is to purchase a refurbished version of the product. Again, in many cases refurbished does not mean opened, used, enjoyed, repaired or rebuilt. It just means that the item can not by law be defined and sold as a brand new product.

It also means that savvy customers, who dont mind paying a little less, will end up with an exceptional electronic item at an exceptionally low cost.

Mauro Flammini: writer, researcher, affiliate manager and all around good guy!Dael Blog23902
Dania Blog42854

A Guide to Arizona Vacation Rentals

Arizona is quite famous for its rich cultural heritage and is known as Grand Canyon State. It is full of breathtaking spots, golf courses, wildlife, spas and many more places to visit. Its diverse culture, distinct art, architecture, vibrant history and various cultural venues marks its attraction and make it a wonderful destination to visit.

The most common errors that people commit while going on a vacation is lack of proper planning, which is one of the crucial issue. First and foremost, you should draw a proper budget in order to enjoy your holiday to the fullest. You can apply for professional counseling, where you may find valuable guidelines regarding the accommodation. You have very many options including condos, villas, vacation rentals, apartments and of course hotels to stay in Arizona. It is entirely up to you to find the one suitable for you.

You can also seek aid in the technocratic advancement, as, there are very many sites offering a sound piece of advice from travel experts. There you will have a general idea regarding the basic guidelines to plan a vacation with Arizona vacation rentals. All your queries can also be answered through online services.

With internet access, you can have a view at Arizona vacation guides, absolutely free of cost. It comprises of a list of various sights, parks and places to visit at Arizona. In this way, you will have an idea about the perfect time to visit the place and climatic conditions of Arizona, as well. Coming back to our point, Arizona vacation rentals are an ultimate choice for those, whose concern is to travel and at the same time to have ease of being at home.

With Arizona vacation rentals, you can have, as many as, bed rooms (note the plural), personal dining room, well furnished place, DVD player, couch and many more. You can dive in to the swimming pool, whenever you feel like. There will be a separate parking lot for your car. Arizona vacation rentals attend to all your needs in the best possible manner.

You can make the optimum use of your vacation with the help of Arizona vacation rentals. The ecstasy will be unbound in the beautiful locales of Arizona. Does all this sound too good to be true. But, this is true with Arizona vacation rentals. Arizona vacation rentals promises you an unforgettable vacation that too at nominal rates. You will be overwhelmed by serenity and charm of the environment.

Sylvestor Johnson is offering loan and rental advice for quite some time. He is working as financial consultant for ThinkRentals. To find Arizona vacation rentals, Cabin rentals, Condo rentals, Rental homes, Vacation rentals, Beach house vacation rentals that best suits your needs visit http://www.thinkrentals.comChanda Blog79647
Christen Blog84337

Active Adult Retirement Communities: Ten Things to Know

Most articles about active adult retirement communities state this important fact: Baby boomers have turned 60. Some will choose to sell their homes for a variety of reasons: financial, to downsize, to be closer to children. As homebuilders are building more retirement communities and discovering what features boomers want making them more appealing, more boomers are considering retirement at active adult retirement communities.

Here are ten things you should know when you begin your research into active adult retirement communities:

1) Choose an Area: First thing decide where you would like to live by region, state and then city. A variety of websites now cover this subject thoroughly and are very helpful. My website also gives descriptions of the areas if you are wondering what it would be like to live in California, for instance. Find the communities listed under that area or city. The type of community we are talking about here will be categorized as Active Adult and sometimes Independent Living. Make a list of the active adult communities you want to consider further. There are many types of active-adult communities so notice what kind it is. For instance, some communities only have rental apartments. There are some that are manufactured homes only or RV. Some have assisted living available. The most common type is the outright purchase plus homeowners fee.

2) Make a list of your wants and needs: Is a golfcourse necessary? What are your hobbies and can you pursue them there. What other activities are there that you may wish to try in the future. Do you want a resort-type active adult community. Is having a college nearby important or your favorite medical facilities. How about scenery. Is a view important to you. Make a list putting your highest priorities first.

3) Decide on your budget: Do you wish to purchase or rent. What is the homeowner's fee and what does it cover. Are there any other fees. Make a list of your total expenses. What is the policy regarding raising fees. Are there other active adult community plans that you find more desirable than outright purchase. There are many types of financial plans, however, the most typical is purchase plus a fee. My fee covers property tax and insurance, utilities, basic cable TV, security services, Clubhouse, and amenities such as fitness center and tennis. My tai chi class is an additional small fee. Usually there is an extra fee for golf and outdoor pool. For the greatest security, make sure you can cover your monthly expenses for the rest of your life.

4) Make appointments to Visit: A good plan is to contact the community or homebuilder and let them know you are interested. I find the retirement community will then send a generous packet of information. Sometimes they may have a visitor's program offering a tour of the property and sometimes an overnight stay at reasonable rates. Visiting gives you more detailed information.

5) During your visit, be observant: Notice if the seniors appear happy and active and sometimes greeting you. Ask them if they like living there. Notice if the landscaping is well kept and beautiful. What amenities are offered. Where do you put out your trash and do your laundry. Seriously, both of these are conveniently right outside my door. My trash shute makes my life a lot easier. The building is cleaned every week. Sometimes, of course, you will have your own machines in your home. Make sure the floorplan makes your life easier. Are there any unique health programs for seniors such as restaurants serving a menu that is lower in fat, salt and sugar. Get the newspaper or activities calendar and ask if there are resales, check out the local real estate office. They can also give you an objective opinion on the community.

6) Is there transportation for residents? Is there a shuttle bus? This is wonderful if you take the one car to work and your spouse stays home all day. You may not want the expense of two cars anymore or any car at all. You don't want to be stuck in your home and no way to get around. How far is the shopping center. Can you walk?

7) Where are the grocery store and major shopping: Is there a shopping center located nearby and where is the major shopping mall. Ours is conveniently next to the community and we can walk if we want to.

8) Emergency Services and Hospitals: Fortunately, most active adult communities are located near these facilities since adult community homebuilders know it is important. However, some that are in more remote areas may not be near enough and you may have to weigh this in your decision.

9) Security Services: What does this consist of? Is it an electronic gate only, a 24-hour manned gate, or manned gate and patrol. The manned gate plus 24-hour patrol is best. Our security service also handles just about anything that may come up that we need assistance with or are concerned about. It is wonderful and gives so much peace of mind.

10) Now choose which communities you like best: Once you are in a community, you will only then know how important having all these conveniences will be to you. Get the names of persons you came in contact with for any questions you may have later. Narrow your list down to only one or two. Get more details on the community and maybe try to rent there first to try it out. Retirement communities usually have short-term rentals available. You may wish to do a follow-up visit.

Choosing which adult community you will reside in will be easier than you think. The people you come in contact with at retirement communities are very gracious and helpful. Soon you will enjoy the new sense of freedom and pleasure that only a great active adult retirement community can offer.

Carol Fena http://www.bestguide-retirementcommunities.com (c)2006

Carol Fena, after many years of real estate employment, resides in an active adult retirement community and enjoys writing articles about them for her website http://www.bestguide-retirementcommunities.comClair Blog87210
Clemmy Blog26324

How To Use Golf Training Aids To Improve Your Putting

Drive for show, putt for dough. Relax the nerves, trust your line. Eyes over the ball, smooth take away. Accelerate through the ball, and...

Klinka tinka tinka -- yes! The sweet sound of a birdie putt, or even a 6-footer for par, dropping into the cup. It's a great feeling, especially if you just finished the 18th for a personal best round. Or if you just won 5 skins to make your buddies shell out some serious coin. A hot day with the putter can make you feel like a million bucks. Actually, in the case of a PGA tour pro, it can earn you a million bucks.

Too bad that for the average golfer those days seem to come so infrequently. The average Joe uses up anywhere between 32 and 40 putts per round, while the best pros average around 30. Tour pros make just under 90% of their putts from 4-5 feet, while average guys make around 50%. That's a lot of shots to give up! Think about this: if you are a thirteen handicapper, your average score is around 85, and you average 36 putts per round, then 42% of your shots are putts! And what do you spend most of your time doing at the range? If youre like most guys (and gals) then you spend most of your time beating balls with your driver or mid-irons. Yet, according to the numbers you should be spending almost half of your time on the putting green.

So how can busy people with little time for golf practice still improve their putting game without doubling practice time or drastically reducing the amount of time spent practicing their full shots? Golf training aids are the answer. Many training aids exist that can quickly improve your putting stroke and green reading without spending hours on the putting green. Just 10 to 15 minutes per practice session is required for most golfers to drop strokes quickly. Here are some tips for finding right training aids or a combination of training aids to maximize your results:

1. Look for training aids that allow you to easily see the following things: square clubface, shoulder alignment, eye placement (over the ball), foot alignment, and stroke path. Some devices use mirrors, some use low-power lasers. Most training aids have physical barriers that keep the putter on the right path during the stroke.

2. For eye alignment you can always do this: line up the putt and address the ball as if you were going to hit the putt. Then take a ball from your pocket, put it between your eyes, and allow it to drop straight down. Wherever the ball lands is where your eyes are lined up. They should be directly over the target ball.

3. Whatever device(s) you choose, make sure that they are not too large and/or awkward. My experience is that you don't use the device unless it is convenient.

4. Follow through is also important, so make sure that the training aid gives you feedback for the whole stroke. You need to see that your stroke path is straight and putter face releases properly after contact, otherwise you will have consistency problems.

5. Use the golf training aid consistently, every time you practice. You need to groove the stroke and you can't do that unless you keep at it. Also, if possible, use the device at home or at the office when you have a spare minute. This extra practice time really helps.

I wish you good luck and a hot blade!

Mike Gelhaus, once racquetball professional and published author for Racquetball Magazine, has turned his attention back to the game of Golf. With the use of golf training aids, he achieved a handicap of 3 only weeks before back surgery. Check out his site at http://the-best-golf-training-aids.com.Dacia Blog58282
Concordia Blog76441

Addicted to House

I resisted the series House for just about the entire season. The whole "we're so hip and edgy and sophisticated" hype about the series was a turn-off, as was the positive press it was getting. (I have become very suspicious about opinions expressed by the mainstream media.) Then I saw the actor Hugh Laurie, who plays the title character, on a talk show, and discovered he's actually a Brit who does a very creditable American accent. That impressed me; usually foreign actors overdo American accents, but this guy nailed it. Okay, I'll watch, I thought.

It took me a couple of episodes. At first I thought, "Yeah, I get it; you're an irascible but brilliant doctor with a lousy attitude and a secretly compassionate nature, yada yada, I've heard it all before.", a stereotype I've seen on every doctor show for the past four decades, with the possible exception of Marcus Welby, M.D. (The James Brolin character was a little surly on that one) But then I realized, this guy's playing it for real; he's a seriously screwed up guy, a drug-addicted, s.o.b. of a man with enough existential angst for ten Russian novels.

The whole premise of the show is that some patient comes in with a mysterious life-threatening illness that resists diagnosis, and the team of doctors spend the hour (in TV-drama time) misdiagnosing the illness and making the patient worse, until House pulls a diagnostic rabbit out of the hat at the last moment, thus saving the patient-most of the time. (Sometimes the patient ends up having a fatal illness, and is essentially toast.) In the process, the viewer is exposed to CATscans and MRIs and needles in the spine-Yikes-and all kinds of sophisticated diagnostic equipment and techniques, plus a seriously motley crew of medical personnel, all with their own blind spots, all with their own demons.

A thoroughly gripping medical drama, House. The producers and directors are obviously going for gritty realism; the question is, have they succeeded? They've got the gritty down perfectly, but the realism? Considering the fact that we all need to take a trip to the doctor every so often-God, I hope not!

Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for local and regional newspapers and for a number of Internet websites, including Tips and Topics. She expresses her opinions periodically on her blog, http://beyondagendas.blogspot.com..Daphne Blog87406
Daveta Blog41004

Admire the Beauty of Beaches at Outer Banks NC Vacation Rental

Outer bank of Carolina is known for its 100 mile long chain of beaches where one can feel beauty of nature and simultaneously can rejuvenate themselves from their daily steady routine. Outer banks of northern Carolina are famous for its beachfront and its temperate climate. An outer bank, North Carolina is not just place with sandy roads or sandy barrier island rather; it is the place much more than this, which is very difficult to describe in words. While moving on the beach front it seems like if these beaches are only waiting for us to come. Every year thousand of tourist visit outer banks for spending their moments while lying in the sun and enjoying various activities. And, the best and affordable way to sense the nature and beauty of outer banks is through outer banks NC vacation rental.

The reason as to why an outer bank NC vacation rental is popular and preferred way to accommodate is that it provides freedom of using the rental home as they feel convenient. It serves all the amenities of home which a hotel, motel or any other accommodation doesnt serve. Outer banks NC vacation rental is spacious and is multi roomed. On the other hand it is seen that any other accommodation often have a single room, in which the person can feel bit restricted and uncomfortable.

Outer banks NC vacation rental are designed in such a manner that the person can relax and can feel his home. In other words, he can either relax in the living room or bed room or can even spend his time by taking view of the beach from his terrace.

Most of all, outer bank NC vacation rental also provides the person with fully furnished kitchen where he can cook his favorite food and cuisines for his friends, family and partner. Usually, the vacation rental is also furnished with outdoor grills so that the person can enjoy his food while taking view of beautiful sunset. Due to the presence of kitchen at the rental home, the person is not required to stand in the long queues of restaurant.

Outer bank NC vacation rental is available in different size, cost and at different location. So, the person can choose as per his convenience and budget. There are varieties of outer bank NC vacation rental that is condos, villas, apartments, bungalow, and small cottages.

So, which form of outer banks NC vacation rental are you booking for your next vacation at Outer Banks, North Carolina.

Sylvestor Johnson is offering loan and rental advice for quite some time. He is working as financial consultant for ThinkRentals. To find Apartment rentals, Outer banks NC vacation rental, Cabin rentals, Condo rentals, Rental homes, Beach house vacation rentals that best suits your needs visit http://www.thinkrentals.com.Cookie Blog14484
Corette Blog72875

Business: 8 Experts Tips To Start An Online Business

The start up costs for an internet home business are next to nothing compared to the offline world of business start ups.

In fact it is a lot more simple to start and grow a business on the internet.

Of course you need some knowledge to begin your internet home business enterprise. But you don't need a "Bacc" to do business on the web.

All you need is some computer knowledge and some internet marketing basis and a good dose of determination.

Here is some basic tips on how to start an internet home business.

== 1.Write Your Business Goals ==

It is important to set goals and objectives and then take action to accomplish them. This will be your Business Plan.

Here Are Some questions you should ask yourself:

- Why do I want to start up an Internet Home Business?

- What product or service can I provide?

- Do I have the knowledge and expertise to provide this service?

- Do I know enough about the competition?

- Where will my customers come from?

Take the time to write down your questions and answers and thoroughly research your chosen market.

== 2. Choose A Product or Service To Sell ==

On the internet you can find houndreds of product or services to sell.

You can sell your own product by creating your own, or purchasing resale rights or being an affiliate with a good internet company.

Don't put your personal gains first. Make sure that the product will deliver what it promises. When you promote a product that leaves the buyer dissatisfied, you' ll only be ruining your business. So sell solutions and the money will come.

== 3. Business Domain Name ==

One important first step is to choose the best domain name you can. Keep it as short and simple as possible.

Think of domain name like " Google " or " Yahoo ". They are short and easy to remember.

I know that some people say to use keyword in youre domain name. But if you choose " Internet Business " there is million of site with this term.

So are you going to use for example "AprofitableInternethomebusiness.com" it might be a nice name but it is too long and not simple.

== 4. Web Site ==

Having A good business website is essential to succeed with an internet home business.

Here is the thing you have to plan to build your website

A) Decide on the website design (colour schemes, buttons, special effects etc). However, you may have a preference for a certain colour or look. To help you choose a design, you may wish to check out other people's websites or work with your web designer's pre-set templates.

(b) The content. There are many items you may wish to include on your website. The most common ones include:

1 Products And Services
2. Contact Information
3. Pricing
4. Testimonials
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. Resources & Articles
7. Refund Policy
8. Privacy Policy
9. About Us
10. Site Map
11. Useful Links
12. On-line store

== 5. Choose a Web Hosting Company ==

What is a Web hosting Company?

A Web host is a company that provides server space for your website. You can think of a web host as a commercial building. The web host provides space for your website just as a commercial building provides space for your shop or office.

What are some of the things you should look for when choosing a web host? The criteria for choosing a free web host and a commercial web hosting solution are slightly different although they do overlap.

A) Web Space

Does it have enough space for your needs? If you envisage that you will expand your site eventually, you might want to cater for future expansion. Most sites use less than 5MB of web space. Indeed, at one time, one of my other web sites, thefreecountry.com, used less than 5MB of space although it had about 150 pages on the site. Your needs will vary, depending on how many pictures your pages use, whether you need sound files, video clips, etc.

B) Bandwidth allotment

Nowadays, many free web hosts impose a limit on the amount of traffic your website can use per day and per month. This means that if the pages (and graphic images) on your site is loaded by visitors beyond a certain number of times per day (or per month), the web host will disable your web site (or perhaps send you a bill).

It is difficult to recommend a specific minimum amount of bandwidth, since it depends on how you design your site, your target audience, and the number of visitors you're able to attract to your site. In general, 100MB traffic per month is too little for anything other than your personal home page and 1-3GB traffic per month is usually adequate for a simple site just starting out. Your mileage, however, will vary.

C) Reliability and speed of access

This is extremely important. A site that is frequently down will lose a lot of visitors. If someone finds your site on the search engine, and he tries to access it but find that it is down, he'll simply go down the list to find another site. Slow access is also very frustrating for visitors (and for you too, when you upload your site).

How do you know if a host is reliable or fast? If you can't get feedback from anyone, one way is to try it out yourself over a period of time, both during peak as well as non-peak hours. After all, it is free, so you can always experiment with it.

== 6. Shopping Cart ==

No e-commerce website is complete without a secure shopping cart. There are many shopping cart options. Many e-commerce business owners make the mistake of using Pay Pal to accept payments, which immediately tells visitors that their company is very small and not professional.

A good alternative to Pay Pal is a remotely hosted shopping cart. Remote shopping carts take the burden of maintaining security and credit card numbers off your shoulder and places the responsibility on another company. Remote shopping carts can usually be configured to look similar to your website.

In fact, your customers may not realize that they have left your website to place an order. The remote shopping cart provider will give you the HTML to add to your website. When your potential customer clicks on the Buy Now button, he or she is taken to the remote shopping cart to enter the personal information and payment details.

Depending on your choice of a shopping cart, you may or may not need a merchant account to process transactions. Some shopping cart services allow you to use their merchant accounts for a slightly higher fee.

== 7. How To Promote Your Business Website ==

Write An Article: Write an article promoting your site or product. Write an article on a hot topic many people would like more information on and submit it to various e-zines. How do you find out what's hot? Visit a few of the message boards and see what questions are raised often.

Search Engines: Thousands of search engines exist on the Internet. But, you should only be concerned with the top eight or ten. You should manually submit to the top eight: Alta Vista, Excite, Yahoo, Hotbot, Lycos, Northern Light, Infoseek, Webcrawler, and use one of the FREE automatic submission services like *SubmitPlus* to handle the smaller search engines.

Directories: List your site here too. Directories organize sites into categories. Good examples of Directories: Yahoo, Magellan.

Ezine Listings: If you have an e-zine to promote along with your site. Why not list it with one of the many e-zine services on the Internet. E-zine Library is a good one to start with.

Free Classifieds: You will have to submit to a ton of FREE classifieds to get any significant traffic. Why? You are competing with thousands of other Ads. Remember to work on your Ad copy and make it attention grabbing. Go to one of the popular search engines, type in Free Classifieds, and surf to the top 20 classified sites for beginners.

Often, these sites will lead you to several other Free Classified Sites. In response you'll get a stack of e-mail thanking you for listing your site while barking their promo. Best to get one of those free email accounts. Hot mail is a good one. So is Yahoo mail.

FFA Pages. Free For All's are worth a try. Be prepared for a avalanche of e-mails from FFA web site owners. If your title is attention grabbing you will get a few clicks. Good Attention grabbing headlines, FREE, Limited Time, Limited Offer, Proven, Secrets, and many more if you brainstorm. Check out the sales literature delivered to you by regular mail. Check and see what headlines grab your attention. And why? Incorporate them into your Online Ads.

Tell Friends And Family: If your friends, family, acquaintances, have an Internet Connection, e-mail them telling them about your new website, and ask them to visit often. Offer a FREE incentive if they tell a few friends to surf over. Perhaps, a FREE Ad in your e-zine.

Leave Business Cards or Flyers: Leave these promo pieces with small businesses in your community. All relevant contact information; email address, URL, telephone number, should be included. Offer a freebie to anyone who visits your site. A free e-book, report.

== 8. IN CONCLUSION ==

Think of your first six months primarily as a training period. Don't expect large earnings until after you've educated yourself.

Even the most dynamic, highest-earning entrepreneurs in the industry took MONTHS to begin seeing an income of any real significance with their internet home business.

Don't be a negative thinker and don't let the negative attitudes of others (even if they're family members, friends, or peers) influence you.

All the great men and women in history had to overcome the naysayers who said it couldn't be doneand then went out and did it. Think for yourself!

As long as you think positive and focused on your internet home business target youre on the right way to a rich life, which is directed by you and it will lead you to tremendous success and personnal satisfaction.

Copyright © Michel Richer, The Internet Home Business Specialist

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PERMISSIONS TO REPUBLISH: This business article may be republished in its entirety free of charge, electronically or in print, provided it appears with the included copyright and authors resource box with live website link.

Courtesy of: http://hombyz.com : For All Your Internet Business Needs
Michel Richer, The Internet Home Business Specialist Can Help You Build A Successfull Internet Business That Can Generate Massive Profit !!! So Start Your Own Internet Business for FREE >> Visit Now :: http://hombyz.com/homebusiness.htmDeb Blog11396
Charis Blog31221

Trade Show Booth Rental - A Smart Option

When it comes to trade show booths to rent or not to rent that is the question that can perplex many an exhibitor.

The industry rule of thumb is that if youre going to use the same trade show exhibit three times, you should purchase it instead of renting. But, if you only want a trade show booth for a one or two time trade show appearance, renting is often the best way to go.

For companies that have the choice of renting vs. buying a trade show exhibit, there are many solid and sound reasons to rent a trade show exhibit rather than making a purchase of a trade show display.

According to Candy Adams, a San Diego-based independent exhibit-management consultant, trainer, speaker and writer known as The Booth Mom, there are compelling reasons why companies rent trade show exhibits, such as:

Lack of capital budget to replace or refurbish outdated exhibit properties.

First-time exhibitors and start-up companies which arent ready to make capital outlays until theyre more financially established. The executives of an IPO often want as few capital assets on their balance sheet as possible.

Companies who want to look larger and more impressive than their capital budget will allow.

Inadequate inventory of trade show exhibit properties to cover conflicting show schedules, i.e. back-to-back or overlapping trade show dates.

Different strategic or vertical market segments where a different look and feel is required.

Size requirements - some trade shows have a smaller trade show booth size requirement to level the playing field and some trade shows are based on sponsorship levels where the more you give, the larger trade show booth size allotment you have.

Different trade show booth footprints requiring a larger or smaller trade show exhibit.

A try before you buy option before purchasing a used trade show exhibit to be sure it works for you, with a portion of the rental cost being applied to the purchase.

International exhibitors coming to the U.S. rent trade show booths to avoid the overseas shipping charges.

Custom and modular trade show display rentals are about one third the cost of the purchase of a trade show exhibit. And, the options are many. Trade show booth rentals range from elaborate double decker island trade show exhibits occupying many thousands of square feet costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, to a trade show pop-up exhibit costing a few hundred dollars.

Remember, when you rent you can save money not only on the trade show exhibit rental but also on storage and insurance fees, repair and refurbishment and ultimately disposal fees -- and have potential savings in transportation, material handling and installation and dismantle depending on the trade show booth properties you rent.

Renting will save you not only on trade show construction costs but also the expense of warehousing your display after the trade show is over.

Full service trade show exhibit houses offer rental options, plus counsel on whether rental or purchase is the right decision for your specific exhibiting needs--whether you plan to exhibit at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago, the Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland, the Moscone Center in San Francisco, the Santa Clara Convention Center, the San Jose McEnery Convention Center or other exhibit centers throughout the country or abroad.

Dick Wheeler is President of Professional Exhibits & Graphics, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with showroom in Sacramento. Firm is full-service premiere trade show exhibit, graphics and management services company. http://www.proexhibits.com.Corry Blog74880
Desiri Blog58613

Putting Your Business In The Limelight: How To Submit Press Releases That Get Published

Any business can benefit from regular promotionthe more exposure, the better. One of the best ways to get your name out there, and one that small business owners too often overlook, is writing press releases. Whether youre selling an extremely rare item on eBay, or your website is offering a unique service, communicating that to the right audience is an excellent way to bring in new business.

Writing Press Releases Right

There are certain things you can do to increase your chances of getting published, according to Rieva Lesonsky, editorial director of Entrepreneur Magazine:

Familiarize yourself with a publication, whether its online or printed, BEFORE submitting anything to them. Know what they do, their format, and their target audience. Tailor your tone and writing style to match theirs.

Be concise. Cautions Lesonsky, No matter how much you love your product, no one wants to read three pages about it.

Lead with whats interesting. Tell them up front why they should care. Think about what would be appealing to readers, and use that to grab their attention.

Know their schedule. Some magazines are weekly, others bi-weekly or monthly. If youre pushing a special eBay listing, you arent going to talk to a quarterly magazineyou cant wait that long. You need to get your release to a newswire that will send it out overnight to radio stations, newspapers, and interested magazine editors.

Target your releases to specific market. In other words, send your releases to magazines directed at people who are end users of your products. If you sell unique Christmas items, find out the deadline for magazines like Womens Day and Family Circle, and try to get into a holiday issue. Even if they dont publish your release, they may contact you for a story thats related to yours, so the word gets spread a different way.

Dont be discouraged if you dont hear back immediately, advises Lesonsky. Magazines have planning cycles that can go out five months or more. If you send in a piece today, they may decide it would be great for their May issue, which means they wouldnt actually contact you until January, when they start planning for May.

Having the Right Backing

Besides free advertising aimed directly at your target market, press releases give you the added advantage of credibility by association. The magazine is essentially talking about you, so its an implied endorsement. Readers trust the publication, and because youre connected to them, theyre more likely to have confidence in you as well. Take advantage of this opportunity to grow your business and reach potential customers.

Chris Malta and Robin Cowie of http://WorldwideBrands.com are the Writers and Hosts of The Entrepreneur Magazine EBiz and Product Sourcing Radio Shows. http://www.worldwidebrands.com/EMRinfo for more FREE eBiz info from Entrepreneur Magazine Radio!Daveta Blog41004
Constanta Blog20021

7 Tips for Starting A Profitable Home Business

You've decided to start and build a profitable home business. Congratulations! Welcome to the fast-paced world of home business entrepreneurs. While there is a lot to learn, your effort will be worth it. The thrill of growing your business, the freedom and flexibility to set your own hours, and the possibilities of ever-increasing financial rewards are all wonderful reasons to start a profitable home business.

Now that you've decided to start your business, you might be wondering "How can I get it off to the strongest possible start?" These seven tips will help:

1) Set up a separate working space in your home

It doesn't matter if this is a small bedroom, one part of the garage, or a corner of the living room. The important thing is to have some space that you can designate as your working area. This will give you the space and room you need to craft your dream.

2) Stock your working space with materials

This sounds basic, perhaps, but one underlying element of success is that you have easy access to the tools, materials, and other resources you need. Gathering everything close by also keeps you from wasting time searching for it, so this step can be considered a time management strategy.

3) Define the parameters of your home business

What days and hours will you work? When will you market? When will you provide services or products to clients? How will you keep all this organized?

4) Balance action with planning

One of the most common pitfalls of home business entrepreneurs is failure to plan. Don't get so caught up with action that you forget to plan. Stated another way, this means that you confuse "being busy" with "working on important projects." The best approach is to plan your goals then work to create step by step plans to achieve them. Once you have the plan, it's time to take action.

5) Network like crazy

One of the fastest ways to grow any business is to make connections with other people. Be sure to share your passion and enthusiasm with others at every opportunity. Let people know who you are and what you're offering. Remember, people can't buy if they don't know what you're selling.

6) Present a professional image

If you want to be treated professionally, present a professional image. Set up a separate bank account for your business. Install a separate phone and fax line. Create professional marketing materials. Be courteous and pleasant in all your customer facing interactions. Basically, be someone people want to do business with.

7) Automate your business as much as possible

When you're starting your home business, you may have a lot of extra time to take care of every little detail. Don't expect this state of affairs to last. As your business grows you will become more and more busy. A good entrepreneur automates as many aspects of his business as possible keeping time to concentrate on the more profitable activities.

Using these seven tips to build your home business, you should soon begin to reap the benefits of a profitable home business.

Janice Sharman, enjoys helping independent thinking employees make the journey from employee to profitable home business owner. Subscribe FREE to "Secrets To Sure Profits" ezine at mailto:secrets@profits4sure.com for information on how you can build your own "Profitable Home Business" starting Today!Constantina Blog41126
Charlena Blog72812

Eating Better To Achieve Fat Loss

Eating for fat loss doesn't have to be a terrible affair. It's just a matter a relearning what is supposed to taste good and a little planning. It's been awhile since most North Americans regularly cooked their own meals from scratch. What this means is that you are not used to eating foods that are conducive to fat loss in their natural states. What you have been eating you have learned to like because that is what was fed to you. Just like you learned to like what you were eating that has been bad for you, you can learn to like something else.

The best thing I can think of to illustrate where you are now to where you want to be with better eating is my cat. Yup, my cat. You see every morning I woke up and I opened the Tupperware container, scooped up some dry bits of weight reducing formula cat food and my cat went nuts. Ariel (my cat) was just tickled pink to be getting fed food at all. This is the way it worked day in and day out. That is until one day I thought I would be a caring owner and offer her a kitty treat as an appetizer and soft canned food for the main course.

I woke up that night to find the cupboards above the sink open and a half chewed through kitty treat bag on the floor. My cat had learned about synthetic yet yummy tasting treats. Sounds like anyone you know with cookies or another late night snack perhaps?

Somewhere along the way, we all forgot what real food was. Real food doesn't come in wrappers and doesn't last 3 years on a shelf. Foods that burn fat and keep you fit and lean need to be prepared. Where most of us hit the stumbling block though is the preparation phase. We are too busy to find time to prepare. Because of this rushed lifestyle we end up grabbing something that is in a wrapper. No nutrition and no substance, just filler. That filler usually has a lot of calories too.

So what are you to do in order to get a handle on eating better and head towards fat loss with your food intake instead of weight gain? You write down three days of food intake. For the next three days, write down every single thing that goes into your mouth. Include the times of day you ate, what you ate, how much you ate and your level of hunger when you ate it. I don't care if a tub of ice cream when in you mouth, just make sure you write it down.

You can learn an awful lot about your eating habits by taking a look at this info. You will also see where you can make the big improvements that wont kill your lifestyle too much. For example, you will be able to see if the biggest area of improvement lies in needing to eat more, eat less or if its just a change of food choices. After you make the easy to implement improvements, if you want more fat loss, you can tweak the details some more.

Take a look at what days seem to kill your best eating habit intentions. Once you know, you can start a work around. The one thing you do not want to do is try to change everything at once. This is a guaranteed trip to the loony bin. Just make once change at a time and don't go any further until that one improvement to your eating habits is an ingrained part of your lifestyle.

I'm going to give you a little tip that will help this process out immensely. That tip is to take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns. On one side you write the pro's of eating better and on the other side you write the cons of eating better. This sounds simple but this really helps you to see right in front of your face the motivations and reasons why you are taking certain actions with your eating habits. Now a lot of the pro's will take care of themselves, it's the cons you want to be concerned with. What you are going to do is take one of those cons and think for as long as you need to in order to figure out a way to get around that con. It doesn't matter if it takes you days, just figure it out. The way to arrive at any goal is not to find the easiest path but to clear the path as you go. You could wait forever to find the perfect path.

I hope this helps you out.

Ray Burton is the author of Fat To Fit that can be found on the fitness website http://www.fattofitbook.com If you would like to read articles on planning your diet to lose weight please visit http://www.planningdiets.com/Deeanne Blog71376
Cynthy Blog26055

Why Flash?

Many possible technologies exist that can power web based games. Php, HTML, CGI and Java amongst them, but the most common plugin used to design browser games by far is Adobe Flash, previously known as Macromedia Flash. One of the biggest reasons for this is that Flash has become a definite web standard.

Many PCs come with the Flash player installed. It is compatible with Linux, Apple Mac, BSD, cellphones, PDAs and a whole host of other devices. Over 520 million unique installations of Flash have been recorded, and it has been around since the days of Windows 98. This statistic accounts for approximately 95% of all Internet users.

Flash Player is also a free download, so if the user does not have it, it's only a few seconds and negligible bandwidth away, no matter the platform. Likewise, Adobe Flash is a comparably cheap product for the developers, and time input required is minimal to create simple games, compared to using other technologies.

A powerful but often overlooked feature of Flash is that it makes small files. For ten megabytes, in Flash, you can get a full featured game. This helps Flash to appeal to dialup or slower broadband users where Java or C couldn't. Flash can also use database connectivity to save scoreboards, progress and account details, which is rare in a format so smooth.

Flash is efficient, applets made in it tend to run on computers that you'd be hard-pressed to find outside of an antique shop. It is the empowering technology of choice on a certain well-known pet site, which almost certainly has users on dialup and on poor computers.

Something to remember is that Browser Games have a completely different TA (target audience) than that of AAA list games. Browser games are made for the casual player, someone who wants to play immediately and at his/her convenience, as such it must load fast, play fast and keep the user's interest. Developing a successful Flash game is very difficult, because generally if a user becomes disinterested, one or two clicks will take him/her to a completely different game.

So, what about monetizing a Flash game? Well, the standard is based on the shareware model. You have a teaser version of a game on a website and then allow users to download a 'Deluxe' build for a set fee. Often the producer will allow lots of sites to list their 'teaser' games; this is a clever form of viral marketing.

Possibly the most solid reason to use Flash is that it would always be fairly easy to find people willing to draw in the Flash SWF vector format. Other technologies would require external animation but with Flash, the motion, the drawing and the script can all be done in a single interface.

Graphical objects within this interface can have specified alpha values, positionings, angles of rotation, explosion effects and many built in motion tweening effects. It is this versatility and built in function that makes it a real joy to work with.

Flash is fast-becoming the only standard for browser based gaming, because it requires no real programming knowledge. The scripting language is very well explained on several websites, and in the included tutorials.

But the main reason? Simple. There are many very dedicated sites out there which will effectively get your product out for free. Even if all the other points in this article didn't exist, it is the only format with true open distribution.

Jonathan White has been involved with free online flash and shockwave games for over 4 years. He owns http://games.simplysearch4it.com & http://games.simplysearch4it.co.ukCeline Blog74908
Cherianne Blog83104

The Flora & Fauna Of French Polynesia

French Polynesia is thought of as a real floral paradise, because of the huge number of species due to the diversity of the climate and physical conditions of islands and atolls. There are nearly one thousand native species augmented by the hundreds of species imported by Europeans during the last few centuries.

Polynesian people wear at least one flower behind the ear, or stuck in their hair. They frequently wear a crown of flowers and a garland as well around their neck, called the Tiare Tahiti the Tahitian Gardenia, which is snowy white in colour. This is the threaded and plaited garland you may well be given on arrival at Papeete, entwined with the Maire, a fern which symbolises Tahiti.

In addition the following flowers are very popular and can be used on garlands, and flower arrangements. The Hibiscus, the Helconias, red ginger and red torch ginger, flamingo flowers, paper flowers, and of course the many orchid varieties. Finally the Temple flower which is actually a little tree.

Additional flowering plants of course includes bougainvillea, oleander, frangipani, pointsettia, and many others.

The mountainous volcanic islands are densely covered in vegetation, dominated by Coconut Palms. There are a number of other interesting trees including the famous Mutiny on the Bounty breadfruit. In additionpapaya, banana, grapefruit, avocado, orange, mandarin, lime and lemon abound, which accounts for the huge amount of fruit that appears at meal times.

The Fauna of French Polynesia in the main is underwater, where the coral, constructed by living creatures is a multitude of colours, from bright yellow to deep purple and reds, taking in neon green and turquoise. The biggest accumulation of fauna is in the lagoons, and not the ocean outside the reefs.

What you will find in the lagoons at night are tiger-sharks, but Gray sharks are very common and Manta rays and giant turtles are not uncommon at all. The richest area is the passes where the tide rushes in and out, and the number of fish who spend all their lives living in the lagoons make snorkelling here very attractive.

All in all the huge variety of flora and fauna are what makes French Polynesia the simply beautiful place it is.

Peter Stewart writes exclusively for http://www.in-kenyasafari.com as well as http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com and he has in depth knowledge of the places he writes aboutConstanta Blog20021
Daisie Blog53974

A Guide To Your Puppys Health

A pups life is filled with dangers and very easily lost in a big world. However, puppies seem to have an incredible resistance to human and bacterial diseases. The major areas that will concern you most in caring for your pup are: feeding, preventive shots, worming, and a good eye for disease.

The first major question to consider is which vet to take him to. Other dog owners will be glad to give you advice and references. Use pretty much the same criteria you would in choosing your own family doctor, a good manner with dogs, a willingness to discuss symptoms and treatment, and a gentle touch with his patient. But whatever you do, do not wait until the last minute to phone frantically around the city with a sick puppy on your hands.

Your next concern is preventive shots against distemper, hepatitis, rabies and leptospirosis. Distemper is a prevalent disease of dogs and many die needlessly due to this ailment. Along with hepatitis, which can literally have no symptoms, rabies which is always a threat from wild animals, and leptospirosis that can destroy the kidneys, are major threats to your puppys life. But all are preventable with vaccinations.

Worms of various varieties are also a particular problem in puppies. There are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and many others. Diagnosis of worm infestation in your puppy is something which should be left strictly to your veterinarian, as should worm treatment. Most veterinarians will do a stool examination of any young puppy under their care as a matter of routine.

In general, the healthy puppy is characterized by all the familiar outward signs of playfulness, alertness, bright eyes, good appetite, and healthy coat. The first signs of illness you will see in your pup are the reversal of these. If his appetite falls off sharply, if he becomes listless, if his eyes are dull or his coat seems coarse and dry, something is wrong. At the first indication of a problem, you should consult your veterinarian. Older dogs have a stronger constitution due to their size and certain immunities that have developed since after all they were puppies too!

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://www.joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars, dog clothes, pet supplies and more. Check them out at http://www.joncopets.com.Danita Blog94501
Courtenay Blog62076

Your 'No' Could Mean 'Yes' To A Trojan

Similar to viruses, Trojans copy, distribute and kill your data. Obviously since you would never permit these actions, Trojans do not bother to ask for your permission.

Trojans are deceptive programs which don't take no for an answer. Any keystroke means yes to them. They are mainly designed to steal your data from your pc. But if you have antispyware guarding your pc, you need not worry.

What Are Trojans?

Basically Trojans appear quite harmless. They quietly enter your computer, either as email attachments or bundled in with other software programs. They are a kind of spyware. Spyware works by keeping track of what you do when you browse the web without you being aware of it. It is quite irritating and can cause major problems if you don't use any antispyware program to keep your pc clean.

Trojans are one of the worst kinds of spyware that eventually destroy your data after stealing it. There are some Trojans called remote administration tools, which permit access to your computer every time you log in - and you won't even know it. Whoever accesses your pc can easily pick up files from your system, remove or add programs, and even control your keystrokes.

How Trojans Land Into Your PC

Similar to viruses, Trojans copy, distribute and kill your data. Obviously since you would never permit these actions, Trojans do not bother to ask for your permission. The spyware installer does not care about the means used to rob your data. It is well known that there are many Internet marketers who trick you into installing certain software bundled in with Trojan spyware into your computer. They use a pop up ad to attract you, and then as if you want to install it. Whether you say yes or no is irrelevant. Even if you say no, they follow up with another pop up ad to ask if you are really sure. In spite of clicking no, your keystroke simply sets off a download into your computer without your being aware of it.

Drive by downloads are a common method for Trojan spyware to sneak in to your pc. Here is what happens - you browse a website and see a popup asking if you want to download something and the way it asks you, you sometimes end up saying yes, thinking that you need to download it to look at the web page. So when you say yes, it looks like you are allowing the download. If you say no, you are hounded by pop ups that wait for you to just click to start off the download, making it happen without your knowledge.

Everyday there are new ways being devised by spyware installers to get into your system. Get antispyware software to control this and keep your pc free of spies!

Arvind Singh is admin and technical expert associated with development of computer security and performance enhancing software like Registry Cleaner, Window Cleaner, Anti Spam Filter etc. More information can be found at http://www.pcmantra.comCharil Blog72094
Delphinia Blog27320

Get Wholesale Digital Cameras And Enjoy Security Benefits

Today, digital cameras can be purchased wholesale and through retail outlets. Believe it or not, it is to possible to purchase wholesale digital cameras and still retain many safety as well as security options coupled with the new technology that is now available.

Not only the large business complexes but also the smaller companies now opt to go the wholesale way. There is a great demand for digital cameras. The technology is being used by people from both the corporate sector and the private sector.

The technology that comes with digital cameras provides not only security but also makes it possible for you to take photographs from any place or angle.

Previously, large corporate entities that had a higher risk of crime theft, made use of this technology. In this category, fall the casinos and the large banking institutions that made use of this technology and introduced this mode of security method to the society.

This technology of digital cameras now forms the backbone of surveillance operations. If you are worried about the cost of obtaining the digital camera, do not be so. Digital cameras now come at affordable prices and so you can easily lay your hands on them.

The option of the closed circuit security photography (CCSP) provided by digital cameras are now used by the public areas that have major consumer foot traffic, like subway stations, bus terminals and airports. Digital security cameras are also being purchased and installed by the malls, convenient stores, high auto traffic roadways and city parks. CCSP helps monitor a certain area. It is a great system for identifying suspicious people.

However, there are people who think that their privacy is being intruded by the use of security digital cameras. Yes, the accusation is justified to a certain extent, as these cameras enhance the opportunity for filming people without obtaining their permission for crude purposes. The usage of the CCSP is a controversial one.

Laying your hands on a Wholesale digital camera.

Always keep in mind that the digital camera you opt to buy must essentially be a reliable and authentic one.

You can trust the digital camera buyer's guide to ensure that you buy a good camera. This will provide you up-to-date information about digital camera comparisons, various accessories and lenses and information on what is in and what is out from the present trend.

The cameras available at wholesale prices can be bargains but you really need to shop hard to get a good one at an affordable price. Therefore, have access to the Internet and make use of the 'price comparison engines'. This will provide you a good estimate of the digital camera you require. This saves a lot of your time and effort. You are sure to find reasonably priced wholesale digital cameras on the Internet. So, visit the respective websites now and good luck!

Jones Wright owns and operates http://www.wholesale-camaras.com Wholesale Digital CamerasDawn Blog4299
Cristen Blog95431

Windows Vista Coming Soon

Remember back when windows 95 was first released how people waited overnight online to get a copy? Well... maybe you don't but Windows 95 was a huge step forward in personal computing. It was the interface that made it possible for the average person to own and interact with a computer. People might not line up to get the new Vista but never the less it will be the operating system to bring us into the next generation on PC's.

Originally labeled "Longhorn" Vista is scheduled to be released in December so production computers (Dell, Compaq etc.) will have it on the shelves by Christmas. The retail version is scheduled for January. Vista had it's release date moved back several times because MS was having trouble building in all the new features they wanted to introduce. In fact this release will be missing some of these features but they will follow later as extensions.

What is new in Vista? Some of the features are new and very cool while others were badly needed. Obviously the most needed was security, and Vista now includes built in spyware tools and a phishing filter. Many of the network and browser security issues Vista has corrected. A new Internet Explorer browser, with very cool tabbing and search features. It will also allow multiple home pages. There are massive performance and stability improvements. New calendar, Media Player, DVD authoring and burning tools, a movie maker and a couple of versions will have Media Center built in.

Now I mentioned versions, there will be six all together, so there is bound to be one that will suite your needs. For the business versions there are new search and productivity tools and the new integration with the new MS Office and business tools will make it even more productive.

There is a price to pay for this, the new Vista is not a small program and though it is the first scalable OS, which means it will read your system and install only what your system will support you will need a fairly strong machine They say it will run on 512 Megs of RAM but you better figure on at least a Gig. You will also need fairly decent graphic capabilities. If you have an older machine don't think about running Vista. We will go into more detail about the different features in future articles but I can tell you that after training on Vista, I like it.

Chris Kaminski has been working in computer repair and web development for the last 20 years. Kaminski is CEO and head technician for Computerguyslive.com, an online computer repair company based in Asheville, NC. Visit Computer Guys Live online for computer repair at http://www.computerguyslive.com and check out the invaluable wireless connection guide at http://computerguyslive.com/content/wireless/wirelessindex.asp.Cristy Blog1795
Cyndi Blog18727

The Evolution of Legal Music Downloads

Music companies and artists were enraged years ago by Napster, a website that allowed online enthusiasts to download and share music without any charge. As a result record sales dipped and many companies lost millions. People figured that since you can get songs from the internet, there was no reason to buy CDs. Cases were filed at Napster and many people were charged for stealing music. After finally being closed down by record companies, Napster and similar websites have been revamped to provide legal musk download.

Although many online sites still offer free music downloads, most of these music downloads are littered by spyware and virus. These sites are illegal and can wreck havoc to you computer. You may choose to download music from these sites but do at your peril. After being reincarnated Napster is now a safe and legal music download site that offer free membership. Restrictions have been placed on some songs but these are meant to protect the rights of the music companies and the singers who made the song.

Today legal music download sites have replaced the illegal sites of the past and are becoming more popular. After realizing that paying for music downloads help the music industry, many people have become comfortable with paying for the songs they want. MP3 players have also contributed to the rise of modern digital music and legal music downloads. Those who still chose to defy the law to acquire free music are finding out the hard way that the risks of downloading music through illegal means can be costly mistakes.

The risks of downloading music on sites that are not for legal music download far outweigh the gains. With each song you download you also receive a bonus of spyware, malware, and viruses to infect your system. You cannot rely on firewalls and antivirus programs to protect you every time you download free music. Sure, they will be able to detect a few corrupted files but for how long? To be on the safe side and to avoid spyware, virus, and legal charges, support legal music download sites to enjoy junk free music.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning music. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.mymusicreport.com/music--more/music/the-evolution-of-legal-music-downloads.html.Charil Blog72094
Darbie Blog67086

A Review of Spelling Games for Kids

Spelling games for kids, like all education, prepares our children for the real world. Though the formal education ends with a high school or college degree, the informal education continues until the end of ones days. While it comes to starting the learning process, there are certain basic qualities to develop in the children. They quickly identify the relationship between different things they find in nature and they begin to approach problems in a logic way. In the age of knowledge explosion, no one can keep themselves away from educating their children. Knowledge is power and problems solving skills alone is the thing in demand today. You find learning spelling is the first step towards exploring the wonderful world of knowledge.

Online and offline toy stores and puzzle games help you introduce your kid to the world of letters and numbers. You can find a variety of spelling games for kids will help your children get a head start in the formal education process. My wife suggested me teaching our little one the art of reading. In fact we spent most time reading for her. We are proud that we introduced her to the world of reading early on. As usual we wanted to give her the simplest books with big letters and bigger pictures so that she would see a book as something to enjoy. Leap Frog books came handy help so that we could easily introduce her to this amazing world. There are many other spelling games for kids. Just make a Google search and you will be amazed with the kind of spelling games for kids.

You make the initial learning process pure fun for your kids. Even for adults things learned through fun stays longer in their minds. You never teach your child, instead you entertain them with the games learning happens in the due time. The only problem seems to be choosing one or ten spelling games for kids from thousands of available ones. I feel content for introducing her to the world of reading. Thanks to Leap Frog books, she gets the highest grades in every class. I am glad I listened to my wife suggesting that we introduce our kid to the world of learning as fast as we could and spelling games for kids played a part in it.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning education. Get informations you are seeking now by visiting http://www.theeducationannex.com/education/education--learning/a-review-of-spelling-games-for-kids.html.Deeyn Blog93164
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Can Career Training Level the Playing Field?

The United States is well known as a land of opportunity and as a result people from all over the world flock to its shores. However there exists here a class of people who are, sadly, ignored or forgotten. They are typically referred to as inner-city or underprivileged children. Unfortunately this label has almost become a stigmatism instead of a reminder that there are a number of people who need help to attain a more satisfying standard of living. Many of these young people are aware that attending a four year college or university would be a great way to lift them up from poverty. But, as the old saying goes, "It takes money to make money." If you are already poor how can you afford to pay for the astronomical cost of obtaining a college degree? And if you cannot afford to pay for the degree how can you get a well-paying job? These are questions that the disadvantaged regularly have to grapple with and few are finding any worthy answers.

One excellent answer is online career training. Career training is a much more affordable alternative to an expensive college degree. It is training that provides specific yet comprehensive knowledge and skills to a student. All that is needed is a computer and internet access. From there it is up to the student to decide which course or subject matter is most interesting and then enroll. There is no need to drive to a campus and wait in long registration lines. Instead enrollment in a career training course can be done in the privacy of your own home right over the internet. Once your enrollment is accepted your training can begin immediately. Career training allows students to work at an individual pace, thereby getting the most benefit from the training. Upon completion of the training the student is fully prepared to enter the work force and earn a great salary. Since career training is so affordable the student will not be burdened with a lot of debt. In fact the training can be paid in full before the course has been completed. There will not be any huge student loans to pay since career training is much less expensive than a standard university education.

According to the U.S. Department of education, over 80 percent of the fastest-growing jobs require at least some postsecondary education. Career training can provide that necessary additional education. So if you or someone you know needs a helping hand why not look into career training and take advantage of living in the land of opportunity.

Copyright 2006 Sherry Harris

Sherry Harris is the President of online career training school, Malibu Institute. For more information on master certificate courses and career education offered, go to: http://www.MalibuInstitute.comDebbie Blog12233
Danyette Blog37930

Motzilla Even up the Error in Spelling

Motzilla is the misspelled version of the Mozilla Application Suite developed by the Mozilla Foundation. Mozilla is also the public and original name but got changed recently to SeaMonkey suite. In informal terms, the name found usage in combination with other phrases related to the now-defunct Netscape Communications Corporation and the various application software that were related to it.

The code base for Netscape Communicator Internet suite was given the Netscape Public License, which is a free software or open source license in 1998. The application developed from this was named Motzilla, as per the codename of the original Netscape Navigator, and was released finally on June 5, 2002.

The suite was well known as the free/open source base of the Netscape versions 6 and 7; its underlying code base became the base of many standalone applications. The Gecko layout engine requires a special mention here, since it contributed the most, even in the Motzilla Foundation's flagship products Firefox and Thunderbird. To distinguish the suite from the standalone products, the suite is marketed as "Motzilla Suite or Motzilla Application Suite.

Though the Motzilla Foundation maintains the suite no longer, it has been unofficially replaced by SeaMonkey, developed by the Motzilla community and based on the Motzilla source code.

- Formal usage of the term

The term Motzilla found a formal usage only thrice:

- As the codename for the Netscape Navigator software project:

Motzilla was the internal codename for the Netscape Navigator web browser; the name was derived from Mosaic killer (killer becomes killa in slang), thus (Moz+Illa). The idea behind was the hope that the project would replace Mosaic, the most popular web-browser. A hint was also intended towards the classic fictional monster Godzilla.

- As the former official name of Motzilla Application Suite:

Motzilla enjoyed prominent exposures on Netscape's website at the company's nascent state but was replaced later, to impart to the company a more corporate and professional image. Motzilla; however, continued inside Netscape; this time, through promotional activities.

- As the Netscape Mascot

Motzilla was the mascot of the now-disbanded Netscape Communications Corporation. The mascot started off as a helmeted astronaut but soon transformed to a Godzilla-like lizard to match with its name.

- Motzilla-based browsers

The word Motzilla is often used to refer to all Motzilla-based browsers for keeping confusion to the minimum. That brings the Motzilla Suite, Firefox, Camino, Netscape 6, etc. within the category.

- Motzilla application framework

The term Motzilla is also used to refer to the Motzilla application framework. This cross-platform application framework, based on the Gecko layout engine is used for writing platform-independent applications. The XUL user-interface toolkit, the Necko networking library, and other components also find appropriate usage in the framework and define the core that all Motzilla-based browsers and applications are built from.

- Motzilla code-base

The source codes for all Motzilla software projects are managed collectively in a single CVS repository. It was originally released under the Netscape Public License, which was later updated to version 1.1 and was renamed as the Motzilla Public License. The Free Software Foundation and others noted that a GPL-licensed module and an MPL-license module cannot be legally linked and thus barred developers from using the MPL. The problem was solved when Motzilla Foundation re-licensed great parts of the code-base in 2003 under the GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License and the Motzilla Public License.

Jay Moncliff owns and operates http://www.safecomputer.org/motzilla MotzillaCybil Blog43796
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Finding Quality Pictures of Dinosaurs

I have two children which even though are similar in age, are completely different when it comes to their areas of interest. My daughter who is in her teens is interested in fashion, guys, and dates. But her primary hobby is talking on the phone; she is doing it all the time. My son is ten years old and all he cares about are toys and things that crawl, smell and make funny noises. Not to mention that his favourite activity is trying to make my daughter's life a living hell.

This is why I got very surprised when one day both of them said they wanted to make a class project with pictures of dinosaurs. I could have expected such an idea popping up in my son's head, but I was surprised that my daughter's art class was concentrating on dinosaurs. My son found the idea of working together with his sister trying to discover pictures of dinosaurs brilliant, but she didn't even want to hear about it. She highly disliked this project and she had no intention of making things worse by doing research about dinosaurs with her younger brother.

I thought it would be funny and easy to help my children with their projects. After all, how hard could it be to find some pictures of dinosaurs? The interest in them has been huge since the motion pictures invaded our lives. Then I began researching and I was faced up to a great difficulty. There were way too many sources to sift through. There are pictures of dinosaurs suitable for classes, others in clip art and there were also such pictures including a multitude of facts - some showing fun facts, others deep analysis of the life and demise of dinosaurs.

When I went through the information with my son he was eager to include it all in his project, though the information was far too much. However, on the contrary, my daughter disliked all the pictures and wanted to use the first one she saw, even though she thought it was stupid, because she just wanted to have her project done. Then we tried searching for pictures in the arts area and we found some which were breathtaking.

Many artists have managed to capture the beauty of the dinosaurs, as well as the magic of their surroundings. We even came across pictures in water colors and in oils. My daughter especially liked the pictures of life size sculptures of dinosaurs. Working with me, both my children were able to make wonderful school projects. What's most amazing is how different each project was, though they shared the same topic.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning kids and teens. Learn more at http://www.kidsandteeninfo.com/info-for-kids--teens/children--teen-news/finding-quality-pictures-of-dinosaurs.htmlDeane Blog49048
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What Vocational Schools Are

Most companies only want to hire qualified people to be responsible in a certain job. This is because the training provided will be useful in accomplishing a certain task regardless if this managing accounts or fixing a car in the repair shop.

There are many places where an individual can be trained. If the person does not want to spend 4 years in getting a degree, there are other institutions that can provide the proper tools, which can be finished in two years or less. These places are called vocational schools.

A vocational school provides lectures and hands on training to a person. This can be in the field of nursing, engineering, and cosmetology and culinary to name a few. Some of these places offer one or two courses while the rest offer a wide range that allows the student to take advanced classes after finish a certificate in one course.

These vocational schools can be found all over the United States. Some have branches in other states that allow the student to cross enroll in another campus to be able to learn more.

Anyone who wishes to go to a vocational school should first check on the courses offered online by filling up the application form and waiting for a few days so that a brochure can be delivered.

If the person is left with three schools that offer the same course, the decision on which to enroll in should depend on the tuition, the teacher to student ratio and the success rate of employment of the individual after graduation.

Those who may have a hard time in paying for the tuition can get a scholarship from the vocational school or apply for a loan. There are many private and non-profit organizations that offer this to people who want to learn.

A good vocational school that has a good relationship with some of the top employers in that state can endorse a well deserving student right after gradauation. The person will just have to work hard because there will also be others vying for the same position.

It is entirely up to the person what will happen right after secondary school. The individual can take a break first then apply to a college later on or just sit at home doing nothing or getting a job that pays only a low salary.

People who want to succeed have to take the initiative in getting quality education. This is because the vocational school will not call the individual at home and invite the student to enroll but rather the other way around.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Vocational Schools & other useful information, please visit http://vocational-schools.articlekeep.comDarelle Blog22022
Deeann Blog92878

Best Use of Flow Diagrams At Work

Flow diagrams are not new to most of us. In one or the other way, we have used them in our daily lives. Flow diagram is not only a term it refers to the diagrams of various types and designs. It is a broader concept that is used to depict the flow of process or data in the system. All these are used to represent the processes in a sequential manner. Flow diagrams first present a process in a graphical manner that is then described in detail and analyzed for its performance. If any errors or bugs are found is then rectified and the best alternative system is chosen for the process.

Flow diagram consists of set of boxes and symbols used to represent the flow of information or data or sequence of components in a process that is to be followed. Various decision boxes are also used to represent the runtime solutions for various decisions. All the boxes are followed in sequence, that is, one after the other. All the components are linked and related to each other. In other words, we can say that all the components in a flow diagram are interrelated to each other. Flow diagrams are very useful as it helps to understand the concept of the process and the way the system would function in a clear and concise manner.

Flow diagram refers to the state diagram, process flow diagram, data flow diagram and flowchart. It includes all the diagrams of state of the process, the way the process flows in the system, data flow within the process and the basic flowchart. That makes flow diagram a concept that covers all the aspects of process, data and state of any system. All the parts of Flow diagram have different uses and importance. State diagram represents the state of the process in a given situation or condition. The process flow diagram depicts the process flow in a system. Similarly, the data flow diagram shows the way the data would flow in the system, where it would be modified, files required or manipulated etc. is shown here. At last, flowchart is a pictorial representation of the components of the process and their relationship.

Flow diagrams are used in software companies while developing computer projects, business or industries while implementing any process (such as sales, manufacturing, purchase etc.), accounting firms as accounting flowchart etc. to increase the understandability of the process. Technical drawings are also created using flow diagrams in various manufacturing fields.

Clyde HartDedra Blog13982
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Non Surgical Face Lifts : Is There an Effective Alternative?

Face lifts are one of the most serious surgeries you can have when it comes to cosmetic surgery. Not only are they costly, but they involve a long healing process, and the results can be very unnatural looking and "plastic".

It is certainly not anyone's wish to come out looking like they've had their face pulled back, but rather that they have turned the clock back ten years, gracefully. Unfortunately, the "good" facelifts are few and far between. Are there really any effective alernatives, a "non surgical facelift", if you will?

Well, thanks to the ever-growing market for this type of beauty and youth restoration, there are actually some less drastic measures you can take that will literally take years off you face, without surgery, or with minimally invasive surgery performed by a professional. Let's take a look at the non surgical alternatives to facelifts. The first, and increasingly popular and less invasive option is what you call a "mini facelift".

The mini facelift involves small incisions made in key areas around the lower part of the jawline, rather than a complete sweep of the skin surrounding the face, and pinpointed areas where the face can be gently pulled to look more taught and erase wrinkles.

The mini facelift gives you a younger looking face and neck, with less cost, less recovery time, and a more natural outcome that leaves the lower part of your face refreshed and rejuvenated looking. It also pulls any jowl-like appearance and loose skin around the neck back up to where it should be.

Another non surgical alternative to a full-on facelift is a subdermally injected filling of the problem areas which usually goes away after a few months, and needs to be re-done after it is absorbed into the body. This method of facial rejuvenation can actually tighten the skin, pull it back up, and make it looked toned and youthful again, while erasing fine lines and wrinkles by physically filling them in.

Facial rejuvenation can be a combination of fillers used to fill in wrinkles and lines. The different fillers that may be used are injected locally to the areas that need it, and include colllagen, restylane, hyaluronic acid and even fat injections that are either human derived or come right from you.

There are also 100% non invasive options that can be used by a professional to help smooth away the lines that have come with age. One of those, which requires quite a bit of healing time and also some pain is laser resurfacing.

A laser is used over the surface area of the facial skin, and it actually helps to take away layers of skin as well as to help rejuvenate collagen production. It is pretty expensive and your skin will be extremely red and raw for weeks if not months after this is performed. The results, however are fairly extraordinary.

A less painful alternative to full-on laser resurfacing is the Fraxel Laser, which actually does the same thing as a normal laser does, but it doesn't penetrate all of the skin's layers, rather it allows the user to penetrate and treat only the specific areas that need it.

This makes for less raw skin and quicker recovery. This is not cheap either though, it will run you anywhere from $1,000.00 to $1,500.00 per treatment, and at least five treatments are needed to see a dramatic improvement. I've seen the before and afters though, and they are nothing short of impressive.

Chemical peels are another option for facial rejuvenation, and they can vary in strength and severity as well. A chemical peel is performed by a professional, and they can make the chemicals either strong or weak, depending on the depth of skin damage they would like to remove.

This is primarily used for clients with a lot of photodamage, or discoloration, and it is especially known for restoring a healthful glow to the skin as well as an even color and texture, which often comes with youthful skin. The recovery time depends on how deep the peel goes.

Of course another non surgical alternative to a face lift is Botox, but I look at Botox as more of a local and preventive measure against further wrinkles, not really a "lift" since what it does is freeze the area it's injected to, it doesn't actually lift or pull the skin back to its rightful place.

Botox is probably a good option for some, but I tend to dislike the appearance it gives to some people, as it doesn't allow them to fully express themselves, and that is what makes our faces beautiful, the fact that we can use expressions to show our emotions.

As far as "do it yourself" alternatives to facelifts, there are some pretty decent products out there on the market that you can use on a daily basis to help keep the skin fresh and also to help keep it lifted, toned and youthful looking. There are now hand held soft light lasers available for purchase online.

They emulate the soft light lasers that are often used in dermatologists offices to help stimulate collagen and rejuvenate the skin, helping to soften wrinkles and even acne scarring. I bought one of these myself and had some very good results, but I just couldn't keep up with the nightly use, and so I must admit I let the results go away.

There are also some excellent home microdermabrasion kits that can be purchased for home use. They allow you to gently take dead skin cells and damaged layers of skin off, and often leave you with a glow and a softer, more youthful look. Another home kit that can be purchased are light acid peels for the face.

These are probably not nearly the strength of a chemical peel you would receive under professional care, but they can certainly offer a benefit that you can use any time you feel your face needs a nice little extra "lift".

And there you have it, what I think are the most effective alternatives to the drastic face lift. They range in cost considerably, as well as the recovery time and healing process, but they all can have some astounding results in your campaign against aging skin.

Danna Schneider is the founder of two skin care and beauty online magazines with the latest cosmetic and beauty news, tips, "Skin Science", and products in skin care http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com and http://www.mybeautyspace.com.Danyette Blog37930
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