Horseback Riding Tips - Techniques & Tips Especially For the Beginner

Here you will find some horseback riding tips that are geared towards the beginner or aspiring horseback rider. Learning to ride a horse can be one of the most thrilling experiences of your life, as long as you do it safely. The payoff lies not only in the freedom of galloping across a field on the back of an animal, but also in enjoying the wondrous bond between human and horse. Did you know that knowing the basic horseback riding tips before taking professional lessons, cuts your learning curve in half? Find out some essential horseback riding tips from the pros here.

First of all, it's good if you can get to know everything you can about horses - their breeds, colors, heights, etc. You also need to know the differences between English and Western riding styles. It's good if you can get to know the horse you'll be riding on. Likewise, the horse should trust you too.

One of the best horseback riding tips is: Always keep your cool. If you lose control of yourself, have no doubt you will lose control of your horse. A horse can sense if the rider is scared. Even if you are scared (and that's normal) and you have no idea how you'll ever stay on the horse, you cannot think that around your horse. You need to stay calm & relaxed (Hint: Fake it till you make it!) If you get a little scared, take a few deep breaths so that you can slow your heartbeat and relax yourself. Odds are, if you think you're in control, so will the horse. Also, when you are finished riding make sure you dismount on the left side.

You will greatly benefit if you know some basic horseback riding tips & techniques before taking horse riding lessons. There are some good books out there that give you many essential horseback riding tips. Read them, follow the many horseback riding tips and tricks and you will quickly & easily learn the basic skills needed to ride a horse. Some of them are written in plain, easy to understand language with no complicated instructions. These books show you horseback riding tips and everything that you need to know to easily learn how to ride a horse for the first time. You'll learn all the horseback riding basics.....how to approach a horse, what never to do, how to mount & dismount and much, much more. And, they have some of the most beautiful horse pictures I've ever seen! These books lay it all out for you, so that you will know exactly what you are doing...before you approach a horse.

Sara D. likes to write about her interests. Horses are one of the loves of her life! Her Squidoo lens offers lots of interesting horse facts for the beginner horseback rider. No jargon there! Very easy to understand! Find out lots of free information here!.

Bee Colony Members - What They Are and How to Recognize Them

The different bee colony members include the queen, the worker and the drone. Understanding the difference between these bees and the roles they each play will help you better care for your colony.

The Crowning of a Queen

The queen is the most important of all the bee colony members, for without her a hive will die within weeks. Why? Because during the spring and summer months, the average life cycle of a bee is only a few weeks due to hardships and predators. It is the queen's job to lay sufficient eggs to replace the up to 1,800 bees that die daily.

When a queen is too old or worse yet, there is no queen, workers will begin to produce a replacement. They select either an egg or a very young larva and feed her royal jelly throughout her larva stage. In just a couple of weeks, she is a fully developed queen, ready within days to mate.

She then leaves the colony to mate between 10 to 12 drones, all of whom will die in the process. Afterward, she returns home to lay eggs - lots of them - for the rest of her life. A queen will lay anywhere from 1,500 to 2,500 eggs per day and can live up to five years. She may take small rest periods of 5 or 10 minutes, but generally she lays eggs around the clock. And you thought you had it rough!

How To Recognize The Queen

The queen will be longer - usually one and a half times longer - and thinner than the workers. Also, her wings will be shorter. Her body will be more pale than the others, and she will have less pronounced stripes on her abdomen. Just behind her head, she will also have a bald spot. Beekeepers will often mark her with a colored dot so she can be easily recognized.

The Queen's Court

She will be surrounded by workers who are known, naturally, as the royal court. Every worker takes a turn in the court. They feed her, touch her and rub their antennas over her. By doing this, they will then spread her scent throughout the hive.

The Worker

Workers are the go-to ladies of the bee colony members. They are made up of female bees whose reproductive organs have not developed. They are the smallest bees in the hive and do all the work. A worker bee has pollen baskets, a honey stomach, wax glands and - unfortunately for us - a barbed sting. One colony can have hundreds of thousands of workers.

In the winter, a worker can live up to 140 days, but in the summer, she will live for only 15 to 48 days. If she isn't killed by predators or an accident, she will work herself to death within five weeks. In the early days of her life, she feeds the queen, stores nectar and pollen brought in by other bees and cleans the hive.

When she is three weeks old, she will begin to leave the hive and eventually fly miles each day, to collect nectar and pollen and pollinate our gardens and orchards. She will do this until she can no longer fly. Then at the ripe old age of five weeks, she will leave the hive and die.

The Drone

Male bees are the drones. They are much larger and are a bit more square-shaped than the other bees. They do not have a sting, and their only job is to mate with the queen. They will live anywhere from 21 to 32 days.

In many ways, drones are the Rodney Dangerfields of the bee colony members in that they don't get much respect. In the fall, the worker bees will literally pick up the drones and toss them out of the hive. If the drones try to return, the workers will refuse to let them back in. Eventually, the drones give up and look for queens from other colonies with which to mate.

Sue Merriam is author of the website, Organic Gardening and Homesteading. To learn more about beekeeping, visit her website at http://www.organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com

Paintless Dent Repair: Myths and Facts About Car Dent Repair and Insurance

The long arm of car repair insurance doesnt stop at extended warranties or tire road hazard insurance. Marketing gurus have found all sorts of knick knacks to insure. Among the top are ding and dent protection plans. Ding and dent insurance is growing steadily, and addresses those unsightly shopping cart and parking lot dings.

Dings and dents are fairly synonymous terms, although a ding is smaller than a dent. Youll notice a dent. Youll need to squint, or catch the vehicle in the right angle or sunlight to see a ding. Some dings are smaller than eraser heads.

Like extended warranties or tire insurance, dent and ding protection plans promise to pay for damages in part or in full for a specific period of time. These plans are primarily sold by new car dealerships and cost a few hundred dollars.

Ding and Dent Repair: Paintless Dent Repair

Ding and dent repair is called PDR, short for Paintless Dent Repair. There are many companies that perform this service: Ding Doctor, Ding King, No Dents, Dent Wizardthe list goes on. Some are better then others, although ultimately its up to the skill of the PDR technician. Prices are similar.

How is it done?

Most PDR techniques are non-intrusive. The PDR technicians use specially designed tools and gadgets to slip behind the damaged panels and manipulate and massage the damaged metal back to its original form.

Does it work?

Actually, its incredible! It works so well that in the majority of cases the dings and dents are completely removed. Theyre invisible, gone, cant-believe-your-eyes fixed.

I saw a soccer-ball-sized dent removed from the rear fender of a $120,000 car. The dent also had a large crease, which makes repairs even harder. After thirty minutes there was no visible detection that a dent was ever there. The repair cost the client $400. Traditional body shop estimates were hovering at $2700.

PDR positives

• Very low cost compared to traditional body shops
• Same day repairseven while-you-wait service
• No paint work, sanding, or traditional bodywork required
• Original paint remainshelps retain vehicles looks and value
• Body panels remain intactmaintaining structural integrity

PDR negatives

• PDR does not address scratches or paint chips that are often associated with dings (Many PDR companies will address chips and scratches, but its not PDR technology)
• Many areas of body panels are not accessible, so PDR is not an option
• Plastic bumpers or any plastic components cant be fixed with PDR techniques. Since the bumper is the most common area to get damaged, this is a significant downside of PDR technology.
• Some damage can occur to door panels, paint, interiors, window glass and hardware, although damage of any kind is rare.

Do you need PDR insurance?

God, no!

Should you get your dings fixed using PDR techniques?

Hell, yes!

Let me explain

Insuring against dings and dents does not make economic sense. Ding repairs average around $50 per ding. Some dings cost $99 to $149 to repair. Two to four dings can run $100 to $450, depending on the size of the dent. Insurance at this level is just not necessary. Moreover, its a gamble you will lose.

To benefit from a $300, two-year plan, your vehicle would need to sustain multiple PDR repairable dings or dents. Despite your coverage, you may not even notice the dings, making a claim impossible. Also, despite the amazing PDR techniques, they cant fix everything, especially the chips and scratches that so frequently accompany a dingshould dings even occur.

Yes, get your dings fixed with PDR (if theyre bothering you), but dont buy an insurance plan.

Protection plan economics 101

An article by Terence OHara in the Washington Post is a wonderful piece on the insanity of protection plans, and is applicable here. He writes:

The decision to buy an extended warrantydefies the recommendations of economists, consumer advocates and product quality experts, who all warn that the plans rarely benefit consumers and are nearly always a waste of money.

[Extended warranties and protection plans] make no rational sense, Harvard economist David Cutler said. The implied probability [of an issue] has to be substantially greater than the risk that you cant afford to fix it or replace it. If youre buying a $400 item, for the overwhelming number of consumers that level of spending is not a risk you need to insure under any circumstances.

extended warranties play upon a basic human trait to avoid loss, even if it means sacrificing a possible future gain. In this case, the gain is all the other things of value that a consumer could buy with the money that was spent on a warranty

Fix your dings

Fix your dings and dents (if you want) as they comemaybe every spring. Fixing dings keeps your car looking pristine, and increases its value. But dont bother with a protection plan. Save your money.

Hold off on that paint job

Quality paintless dent repair is often a great substitute for those considering full paint jobs. Whenever possible, it's best to keep the original paint. Good PDR combined with a professional detail can restore vehicles to show room condition for less than $500.

Go with the best

Since 1983 Dent Wizard has been pioneering PDR technology. Their PDR technicians undergo extensive and ongoing training. The rates are reasonable and the quality is excellent. Always request a master PDR technician, as there are various levels of abilities.

Check with local dealers

Dealerships in your area may offer Dent Wizard. Your vehicle does not have to be of the same make as the dealership. In other words, you can bring your Chevy to a Ford dealer for PDR work.

Myths

Do it yourself paintless dent repair is easy.

No it s not. It requires training, skill, and experience. There are many who practice PDR techniques who crack or flake the paint, or who create ripples in the metal.

The PDR products sold on TV do the same thing.

No! Not even close. There's no good substitute for the art of PDR.

Scratch and dent repair are the same thing.

No. A ding is a small dent, which can often be repaired via paintless dent repair procedures. A scratch is an actual break in the surface of the clear coat or paint, requiring traditional body shop techniques, or touch up paint.

Its easy to learn how to repair dents on cars.

Maybe for some, but its a skill that few master. Dent Wizard offers a great training program. The management and staff are top notch.

Whats the best car dent removing protection plan?

Money in your bank account!

RepairTrust
Making Sense of Car Repair Prices

Ted holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. Over a twenty-year period in the automotive service industry, he has served as a technician, shop foreman, shop manager, shop owner, service advisor, service manager, and service industry consultant. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry.

Other Works by Ted Olson Include:

• ARREST the Automotive Service Industry!
• Maintenance Myths: A Step-by-Step Guide to STOP Getting Ripped Off!
• Auto Repair: The Shocking Truth About Who's Ripping You Off and Why!
• Automotive Service Pricing Strategiesa fair pricing guide for service centers
• Being the Besta comprehensive customer service handbook for service advisors
• Service Center Personnelan auto repair informational for general service staff
• Service Mission Statementa philosophical proposal to improve customer service

Cape Verde Property Buying Guide

Emerging Cape Verde property market has been in conjunction with growing visitors to the tropical island with surfing and year round sunshine. Infrastructure expansion is greatly planned with an international airport, 4 or more tourist designated islands, road networks and inward investment relaxation of rules to accommodate foreign property buying. Cape Verde government is keen to attract many visitors on prolonged stays and as tourists to the number of islands earmarked for tourist development. Good returns for property developers that wish to build houses and apartments for holiday rentals to sell on or sit back and take high rental yields. Of course tax is due on rental profits, although substantial incomes can be made investing in the right property or land for development. Risk is always present buying property in an emerging market, although Cape Verde seems very promising as a long term property investment proposition.

Buying Process Cape Verde Property

Search for property and putting in an offer is the first stage of property buying. Estate agents and property developers can help with land and buildings for sale or you can locate property for sale on many websites and deal direct with owners and house builders and save money in the buying process. Good idea to conduct searches on the local area and property through Land Charge searches at the Municipal Authority and Land Registry Offices in Cape Verde. Searches here will provide a lot of information on the property:

- Debt attached to the property. Check to see all taxes, utilities is paid on the property as the new owner would inherit all financial liabilities.

- Restrictions on the property, property transfer and title.

- Valid habitation permit that goes with a valid conveyance of the property.

- Land register certificate Certidao do Registo Predial.

- Map location of the property Planta de Localizacao.

- Tax information on the property Certidao Matricial.

Retain the services of a good lawyer who will arrange for the initial contract to be signed and agreed by both parties in property buying, and all other legal matters. Of course have a lawyer check all the details above and if the property is registered and in the sellers name and has the right to sell the property.

- Get hold of a tax card that is required when buying property and paying taxation due.

When signing the initial contract in the lawyers or builders (Promissory Contract of Purchase and Sale Contrato Promessa de Compra e Venda) office a deposit is due and the contract is binding, meaning you must buy the property and the sellers must sell you the property. Contracts are as mentioned signed in a lawyers office known as a Notary Public in Cape Verde.

When you have completed all the searches on the property and your lawyer says that everything is no problems with the property and the survey check on the property is all clear the final contact will require to be signed. Escritura is the final deed of conveyance that gets signed in a Notary Public in Cape Verde and provides the buyer of the property a document proving they are the rightful owner of the property. The Notary will register the title deed with the local land Registry and local Municipal Authority enabling enforceable title, also your lawyer can register the property. Final balance due on the property is due at this point.

Notary, lawyer, survey fees are also due, and stamp duty at present 2.5% of the final property buying price, all which are payable at the time of the final contract signing.

- Taxes are payable, please remember. Capital gains taxation when buying land for building is payable at different rates according to the sales price of the end user of the property. Sales vales in excess of 100% of purchase price of the land are then due, with other capital gains tax levels due if the increase in selling price is 30% or more.

- Transfer tax at 3% payable at the final contract signing stage.

- Annual taxes are due at present in excess of 3% per annum.

- Capital gains tax is also payable at 3% presently for the property and a Declaracao de Mais Vallis Capital Gains Tax Statement is also required to be sent to the Cape Verde Government within 30 days of the deed being issued.

- Gifts of property or property transferred to anyone including family members are taxable at 3% transfer at present.

http://www.propertyworldwideplace.com RC Property Worldwide

Thanksgiving is Not Only About the Turkey

What is Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a North American harvest festival. When the Pilgrams (a Puritan sect) arrived in America to start a new life there, they set up colonies and grew crops. They celebrated Thanksgiving as an act of gratitude to God for their new life. The earliest authenticated celebration was the one in September 1565, in Florida. The Native Americans were deeply pious, and the tradition is carried through even today.

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October every year in Canada. It dates back to Martin Frobisher, who celebrated it in 1578 out of appreciation for having survived his journey trying to find a northern passage to the Orient.

European farmers observed Thanksgiving for good harvest. They stuffed a goat's horn with the harvested grains symbolically known as cornucopia or the Horn of Plenty. This ritual was carried on when they arrived in Canada.

In the United States Thanksgiving is celebrated as a legal one-day holiday every year on the fourth Thursday of November. When the Pilgrims first came to Plymouth Plantation,the Native American tribes like that of Wampanoag taught them how to yield crops for a living.

Hence, the former celebrated Thanksgiving as a prayer for a good harvest. Since 1947, The National Turkey Federation gives the President of the country one live and two dressed turkeys as gift. This ritual is known as the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation.

The Turkey:

What is Thanksgiving without the turkey which is probably the most traditional part of this harvest festival? Thanksgiving Day is often referred to as Turkey Day for the very same reason.

The turkey is stuffed with ingredients like stuffing,chopped onions,carrots and celery, and the traditional herb sage. This is then roasted, and placed at the center of the dinner table, ready to be cut into portions for everyone.

Many households serve ducks, geese, or chicken instead of turkey. And for those who are vegetarian, they have the option of tofu with turkey flavoring to savor the authenticity of a real one. Remember when cooking your meats to always make sure they are have reached the correct cooking temperature for food safety purposes. Other dishes that are commonly served with the turkey are mashed and sweet potatoes, Waldorf salad, gravy, and cranberries. For dessert, there is the quintessential Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, apple, or chocolate meringue pie. Among drinks, apple cider or wine can be served as well.

The Dinner:
What is Thanksgiving without our Family and Friends gathered under the same roof in beautifully decorated homes?. Since Thanksgiving is about thanking the Almighty for everything that mortals have been blessed with in life, exchanging gifts on this day is not part of the tradition. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon.

Before starting the meal, the head of the family says a prayer, commonly known as grace,thanking God for the food that is spread before everyone. Guests can also contribute to the prayer if they wish to. A traditional family Thanksgiving prayer would be:

Jesus, thank you for loving us; And providing food, shelter, and each other. Every moment of our lives is a gift; And we appreciate all the time You have given us. Thank you for all our good fortune. Amen.

The Holiday Season:

What is Thanksgiving without the excitement and anticipation of knowing that between Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Day is known as the holiday season. During this time, friends and family get together to share each other's company, exchange gifts, and eat lots of good food. A dinner, similar to what is served on Thanksgiving, is spread out for Christmas and New Year's Day as well.

For more interesting Thanksgiving information such as Thanksgiving and Television and Parades please visit our website.

Carl Copeland is motivated to bringing information and resources to others regarding Food Storage, Food Safety, and Food Preparation and its benefits for everyday life. Save money by having your food last longer. More Info at http://www.Food-Storage-Info.com/whatisthanksgiving.html

One Christian's View - Prayer In The Schools - No Thanks!

If the concept of homosexual marriage alarms you, don't even think about school prayer!

Over the years, the church has shifted many of its Biblical responsibilities to secular government. In each case, secularism diminished the God-root of the institution. The Bible appointed the church to care for the needy. God directed His people to care for the widows, poor, and disadvantaged. There is Biblical order and instruction regarding who is to be helped and how. The church gave this responsibility to government. The resulting welfare systems bear no resemblance to God's plan for the welfare of His people.

God established marriage with the creation of Eve in Genesis 2. In Malachi 2:14, God calls marriage service covenant. A covenant is a sanctified divine relationship between two parties. In the eighteenth century, the church was concerned by the practice of "clandestine marriage" or marriage outside the sanction of the church. In response to this practice, the clergy urged government passage of Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act of 1753. This Act legally required a registered church marriage. But, it also introduced the practice of the government marriage license.

By 1923, the federal government required licenses for all marriages and had codified marriage as a secular contract instead of a Biblical covenant. The government is secular. The government license is a secular license. Religion doesn't matter to government. What God meant as a divine covenant, government reduced to a civil contract. The very nature of contract law is non-discriminatory. When the church gave over its covenant responsibility in defining marriage, it brought the definition of marriage under the authority of contract law. A marriage contract is subject to the same secular rules as a vehicle Bill of Sale. How can one be surprised that this secular institution would contemplate same-sex marriage contracts?

Whatever the church allows government to do, the church authorizes government to control.

Do you really want government to teach your children about God? Noted atheist and Christian antagonist Madalyn O'Hair did.

Most Christians assume that the Supreme Court ruling banning school prayer was a complete victory for the American Atheist leader. Not so. Ms O'Hair had two goals for the role of religion in education. She achieved the lesser goal. The Court ruled that school sanctioned religious ceremony was unconstitutional. She failed in the greater pursuit. Ms O'Hair wanted to institute a curriculum of secular religious instruction for fifth graders in all public schools. In a 1968 debate broadcast of the Long John Nebel Show Debate, Ms O'Hair stated,

"...Starting in the fifth grade, all the public schools there should be certain things introduced about religion. First, there should be a study of comparative religion because these kids in this grade, they are able to understand this... There should be every single one of the holy books should be introduced... Then also, I think that there should be study of psychopathology of religion or the psychology of religion. And, that all of this should be in the public schools." Whatever the church allows government to do, the church authorizes government to control.

Do you really want public school prayer? Who will lead this prayer? The teacher, the principal, the football coach? Who would lead and instruct your children in prayer? What does he believe? Is he Christian, Buddhist, Atheist, Satanist? Does he believe that God is a new-age force of the universe?

Is this the wisdom of God?

You shall teach [my words] to your children... (Deuteronomy 11:19 NKJV)

The understood subject- you, refers first to parents and then to religious teachers. The church established the first American schools in order to teach children to read the Bible. When the church turned over the responsibility for education to government, it also began to give over religious authority. School sanctioned prayer is school authority over corporate prayer. God did not ordain the secular school to have authority over teaching His word.

The persecution of the early church facilitated the spreading of the Gospel. If Joseph's brothers had not sold him into slavery, the Israelites would not have had access to food during the famine. Most people have interpreted the Supreme Court ruling, Murray v. Curlett 1963, to mean religion is not allowed in public school. I disagree. I think God used Madalyn O'Hair get public school out of religion. Like early church's persecution and Joseph's slavery, "all things work together for good to those who love God." (Romans 8:28 NKJV) Our public school systems mirror the moral foundation of the society. Look to the recent spate of student-teacher sexual relationships. This system teaches Darwinism as fact and presents premarital sex as natural. Do you really want this secular system involved in your children's prayer life?

As Christians, we should insist on the same First Amendment rights that everyone else has. If there is a student gay and lesbian club, there should be a student Bible study club. Nevertheless, there should be no school prayer. How about student-led prayer? What about the valedictory prayer graduation?

What does the valedictorian believe? What about next year's valedictorian or the next year or ... Are you ready for a school sanctioned Wicca chant? Remember, the student body will mirror the society's belief system.

Whatever the church allows government to do, the church authorizes government to control.

Yvonne Reeves-Chong is speaker, writer, evangelist and witness for "The Defense." As a divorced, single parent, she spent most of her early adult life fully focused on earning enough money to support and raise her son. She spent twenty-five years as a salesperson, administrator, and finance manager. Yvonne understood harvest principles and had one measure of success. The bottom-line. She understood profit- get marriage then get more.

But, the Holy Spirit kept prompting her with this question, What is My bottom-line? In study, it was clear. Gods bottom-line is Salvation. He expects us to get saved and then go get more saved. Yvonne discovered the profitability of sowing. The Seed is the Word of God.

She re-focused her life from the financial bottom-line to Gods evangelistic bottom-line. Now her sole determination is to sow Gods Word- until she leaves the earth by translation, rapture, or at 120 years of age with her eyes not dimmed and her natural force not abated.

You can reach Yvonne at http://www.SeedistheWord.com

Dating After Divorce - Be Prepared For This Question Once the Kids Find Out You're Dating Again

Dating after divorce shakes things up around a house. Be prepared for that. Your children's reactions to this will vary as much as the children themselves. It's important to be prepared for some type document reaction though, so you won't feel pressured or ill at ease when it comes to talking to your kids about this. They WILL ask questions. Here's one of the most common:

Who?

This will probably be one of the first questions thrown at you. Next will be questions like:

• Where did you meet this person?
  
• What are they like?
  
• Do they have kids and if so, how old are they?

All of these questions are meant as a way for your kids to try to wrap their heads around what this new person is like and how this person may potentially effect their lives. Kids aren't stupid. They know that if you're dating again, there's the possibility that you may wind up getting married again. What will that mean for them?

As their parent, it's helpful to think ahead about how much you want to tell the kids about your dating partner. Too little information may cause the kids to feel like you're hiding something or that something is wrong with this person. Too much information may make them feel connected with someone they may never meet. Weigh your options carefully here.

Also keep in mind that you are an adult and they are children. Nobody says you have to give them every little detail about your dating life. It's ok to say "That's a personal question that I don't feel it is appropriate for you to ask." Remember no matter what questions get thrown at you, your first and foremost priority needs to be to your kids right now. Allowing your life to revolve around this new dating partner by talking to and about them all the time will only cause your children to become very jealous. This is a scary time for kids. They want to know that you will be there and aren't abandoning them for this new person.

If this relationship turns serious and you get married, you don't want that kind of baggage to come along into your marriage. You want your kids to be as positive about this person as possible, not for them to be jealous and feel threatened.

You may be asking, "What are some other steps I should take while dating after divorce?" There are two answers: education and support.

A great way to begin that education is with our Tip of the Week. Every Friday afternoon you'll receive several great articles all focusing on life after divorce. I encourage you to get all the details at http://www.RemarriageSuccess.com/tip.htm today.

The support you're looking for can be found by learning from other divorced and remarried parents in The Community! We exist as a place where parents can ask questions and share with one another. This isn't just your help community of people complaining about their ex-spouses. This is a vibrant, positive, Christ centered community of like minded people seeking to offer and gain support from one another. Check us out at http://www.RemarriageCommunity.com

By Alyssa Johnson at Remarriage Success.

Finding Money Leaks by Examining Your Spending Habits

Debt doesn't just happen all on its own. Whether it's from a loan, a credit card, or any other source, debt builds up because of time and lack of payment. In order to stop debt before it starts, spending habits have to be well controlled.

Examine your spending habits. People fall into two distinct categories; spender or saver.

The spender likes to buy stuff, especially impulsively. Instead of thinking out purchases, they make rash decisions and wind up owning lots of random things that they really don't have any need for. A person with the spender personality sees no reason to save money, since it will make them happy to use it at the moment.

Savers, on the other hand, live in the future, almost never thinking about the present. They don't consider their own personal enjoyment when making purchases and often save endlessly for something that they don't even want to buy once they are able to.

Since the spender and the saver are such dramatic opposites, finding a balanced middle point is the best way to go. The future must be taken into consideration, but not at the sacrifice of the present. Being endlessly worried about the future really isn't helpful. While money can help you enjoy a better life, it is not the only way to do so.

To decide which type of person you are, review your financial activity from last month. Pass over your credit card statements, ATM receipts, and bank statements. ATM's lend themselves to impulsive spending since they offer instant money, often without a receipt. With no ATM receipt you are much less likely to note the transaction when you get home to your checkbook.

In order to find out exactly where your money is going, stick to a budget. After determining how much money you want to put towards each section of your budget, make yourself stay with it. Be sure that your budget is realistic and not overly restrictive, since you will be less likely to stick to such a plan. At the same time, an overly loose budget can wind up not helping at all. When a few months have passed you'll be able to see which areas need adjustment.

While enjoyable, window shopping can be a dangerous activity for a person with the spender personality. Before buying clothes, look in your closet and think about whether you really need them. Be careful, since the spender will have a hard time leaving a store without buying at least a little something.

If reviewing last month's statements shows that you've been using your debit card or withdrawing money from the ATM too much, start using cash instead. Writing checks for bills will help you get in the habit of recording such expenses. Although cash might seem old fashioned, using it can really help you. If you make just one withdrawal a week for all your expenses, you'll be forced to stick to a budget. When your cash runs out, the spending is over. Keep all your receipts until the end of the month and then see how your spending has gone.

Examining your spending habits can help you control impulsive purchases. Your goal should be to spend less than you save during the month so that, after some patience, you will be able to buy the things you really want with your saved money.

Stressed out at the end of every month, wondering how you can make all your bill payments? You should consider debt consolidation as a potential solutions. It's not for everyone, but if your situation is right for it you could stop the stress and start living a normal life again. Visit http://www.insidedebtconsolidation.com for more helpful information.

Tips to Save Money While Building Your New Home Plans

Building your dream home is a wonderful and fulfilling experience, which can bring you and your family closer together. However, there are several simple guidelines that will better allow you to enjoy the process and to ensure that your home plan gets built in the necessary time frame.

Make up your mind - Before choosing a builder, picking out paint colors or mentally arranging your furniture, decide what you are looking for in a house. Determine what features are "must-haves" and which are "nice to haves" and find a floor plan that most closely matches the way you like to live. Change orders, which involve changing the floor plan during construction, can be costly.

Choose a reputable home builder - Going the cheap route while choosing a builder can cost you more money in the future. Just as a chain is only as good as its weakest link, the builder is only as good as his subcontractors and materials. Find a builder who is a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and check references. Do not be reticent about asking questions, driving past homes the builder has completed or is currently building, and/or asking clients if they are happy with their results. You might also check the Better Business Bureau and Rip Off Report-type websites.

Location, location, location - Find land that is right for your particular home and/or needs. Clearing rocks or trees and leveling land can quickly add to the cost of building your home. Check into costs such as property taxes, building permits, HOA fees and consider them while making your budget. If you have already bought your lot, make sure you include any charges to install meters, cable installation, electrical hookups, etc. These expenses can vary greatly from one area to the next.

Building Materials - Ask your builder at which stage of construction materials must be purchased, and if unused materials can be returned for credit. Decide quality level you and your family want as it relates to selection of materials for cabinets, counter tops, fixtures, flooring, etc. While it is acceptable to choose less expensive materials for some items that are easily replaced, you may want higher-end materials for your kitchen and/or master bath in your new home plans. Tearing out tile floors, laminate countertops, or composite wood cabinets in the future can be more expensive than getting what you want from the start.

Think about being your own General Contractor - Hiring yourself can save you around 15% of the costs, but this job can be very time consuming and costly, especially if you do not have a background in home construction, finding reputable sub-contractors, purchasing materials, and managing project schedules. When you hire a home builder, it is his job to stay on time and within budget. Carefully consider the potential savings versus the time and stress involved.

Finally, remember that your new home is not simply a structure, but an extension of your personality and lifestyle. With a little creativity and hard work, you can build your dream house within a budget.

If you're looking for stock house plans in a variety of Architectural styles and square footages, you may want to checkout sites like http://www.stockhomeplans.com

Jill Smith is a home designer and educates consumers about house plans and home plans on her website located at Stock Home Plans . com. On the site, you can quickly search through thousands of Award-winning floorplans in a variety of Architectural styles and floorplan layouts.

Pros and Cons of Colon Cleansing

All over the world people seem to be eating more and more fatty foods containing high amounts of salt and bad fats. Yet most people know that they are not choosing a healthy diet. The colon seems to be the one organ that really suffers from the abuse of our poor food choices.

Eating less fiber can really impact how good your health is. A diet lacking in fiber is probably the most common over looked food product in people that otherwise eat a healthy diet. This results in poor colon health and can really impact your overall health.

Cleansing your colon has been around for thousands of years and is a natural part of a healthy body. Cleaning the colon is not without some risks, that you should always discuss with your doctor before attempting.

Why Cleanse The Colon

The purpose of cleansing the colon is to clean out any harmful bacteria and foodstuffs while providing an environment for healthy bacteria. Not only does cleansing help with the insides but this effect of providing a better atmosphere can actually help with many other associated symptoms. Feces that have been impacted in the colon can be responsible for a host of unwanted symptoms including depression, chronic headaches, poor appetite, fatigue and constipation. Making sure that you clean the colon on a regular basis keeps symptoms away and your body functioning at a much more efficient level.

Why Not Clean The Colon

Unfortunately, colon cleansing has gotten a bad rap in recent years. The bad wrap is usually a result of misinformation and a poorly trained individual in colon hydrotherapy. With any procedure in regards to the body there is always potential risks. Therefore, it is really important to consult a trained professional so that you know you are doing things correctly. Probably the biggest concern with cleansing the colon is overdoing the liquid intake or not taking in enough liquid.

Make sure that where ever from whoever you get you advice that they have a good reputation. While you may think that colon cleansing isn't for me, regardless of how unhealthy you are cleansing is always good for the health. If you have never cleansed before make sure you talk to a qualified professional so that you know exactly what to expect. Recognize that you and your body are brilliant and that anything that you do to improve your health is a good thing.

colon cleanse health provides articles and resources on colon cleansing. Check out the latest article at Foods That Cleanse The Colon

An Appropriate and Calculated Response to Hurricane Katrina

The National Response Plan (NRP) established in December 2004 under the guidance of Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge was designed, To establish a comprehensive, national, all-hazards approach to domestic incident management across a spectrum of activities including prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. (NRP, 2) If one assesses the federal governments response based on the NRP a clearer and more accurate picture of the efforts to deal with the Hurricane Katrina incident can be painted. The effectiveness of the NRP in accomplishing the four aforementioned goals of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in the wake of hurricane Katrina as well as the federal governments adherence to the NRP will be discussed herein.

Prevention & Preparedness-

Will Bunch made several negative assertions in his Philadelphia Daily News column Attytood on August 30, 2005 in an article entitled When the Levee Breaks. Bunch, along with many others nationwide, seems to feel that the federal government could have prevented the effects of a category five hurricane from being so disastrous; the federal government could have imposed their power over nature. He and others called for a shoring up of the levees around Lake Pontchartrain and named the federal government as the party responsible for doing so, not the local or state governments. Bunch and others claim that the Bush administration cut spending on the SELA project that was designed to help improve flood control in the Southeast Louisiana area, redirecting funds to homeland security and the war in Iraq. It is important to note that not one successful terrorist attack on the United States has taken place since the inception of the Department of Homeland Security which to me indicates that there has been some money well spent on this endeavor. With regard to the war in Iraq, there was overwhelming support from both the Senate and the House of Representatives on October 11, 2002 when the vote was made to authorize a use of force, in fact both senators Breaux and Landrieu of Louisiana voted in favor of the resolution to authorize the use of force. One must also consider the fact that funding to the SELA project was only cut starting in 2003, just two years short of the intended stop date of project funding. What this means is that after eight years of funding the SELA project the levees were still in such bad shape that they did not withstand the force of Hurricane Katrina. What this also means is that critics like Bunch feel that just two more years of federal support for the SELA project would have been enough to prevent the effects of a category five hurricane, even though the levees were reportedly sinking at a rate of four feet annually in some of the worst spots along the line. Lastly, this means that the state and local governments of Louisiana refused to pick up just two years of expenses funding the SELA project at the risk of offending their constituents with higher taxes. Why did the local and state governments not assume the responsibility of shoring up the levees if it was known how serious the situation was in advance as critics say the federal government knew?

There are two more things that should be considered when discussing prevention and preparedness with regard to the Hurricane Katrina incident. CNN, one of the biggest critics so far of the federal governments response to the Hurricane Katrina Incident, reported on August 29, 2005 that, About 70 percent of New Orleans is below sea level, and is protected from the Mississippi River by a series of levees. The article went on to state that, Forecasters predicted the storm surge could reach 28 feet; the highest levees around New Orleans are 18 feet high. Considering these reports one must conclude that the levees protecting New Orleans would have had to be raised at least ten (10) feet in all areas (more in some areas) to withstand the surge of the storm. This strikes me as a very unachievable project to attempt within two years, especially with the reported rate of settlement (sinking rate) by members of the Army Corps of Engineers in the year prior to the incident.

One should also consider that on Sunday, August 28, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declared a state of emergency and ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city. Those that chose to stay behind did so knowing the risk. In the Center for Disease Controls list of Key Facts About Hurricane Readiness they say, Because of the destructive power of a hurricane, you should never ignore an evacuation order. Authorities will be most likely to direct you to leave if you are in a low-lying area, or within the greatest potential path of the storm. Remembering that 70 percent of New Orleans is below sea level and heeding the warnings of the mayor and other government agencies would have led most wise people to follow evacuation orders and leave the city and surrounding areas. The people who stayed are now criticizing the federal government for a slow response to the disaster in a way that indicates ignorance of the fact that they [the residents that stayed] themselves were very slow to respond to the orders for evacuation. With approximately twenty-four (24) hours notice given to residents to evacuate it is difficult to sympathize with those that did not listen to the orders unless there was a physical or mental impairment that prevented them from complying.

Response-

Hurricane Katrina could very easily fall into three different incident annexes when attempting to classify the incident. The hurricane could be classified as a catastrophic incident due to the destruction that was caused by the incident. The amount of displaced people, structural damage and environmental and commercial impacts could certainly lead one to the conclusion that this was a catastrophic incident. The hurricane could also fall under the category of Food and Agricultural Incident as it was a, major disaster, or other emergency involving the Nations agriculture and food systems. (NRP, 2) Larry Neumeister of the Associated Press reported Hurricane Katrinas damage to agriculture in the Gulf states as having topped three billion dollars as of September 14. The last incident annex that hurricane Katrina could fall under is the Oil and Hazardous Materials Incident Annex due to the fact that it is a nationally significant oil and hazardous materials pollution incident. (NRP, 2) There are different support plans and operational procedures associated with each incident index. The difficulty in classifying Katrina could have led to some confusion when attempting to apply a plan that had only been fully in place for ten (10) months prior to such a catastrophic incident. The application of varying incident plans could cause the insufficient or inappropriate allocation of resources as well as problems within the chain of command. It was very important for the federal government to evaluate the incident thoroughly before managing it ineffectively. Unfortunately this can, and in fact did, take time. As most members of the first responder community are aware, it does not do much good to rush into an incident and cause undue harm or damage to responders and resources when there are already so many people suffering from the incident; it does not help to send responders in (national guard, fire department, police, FEMA, etc.) if the incident will cause the loss of their lives too. The federal government made a calculated judgment when responding to Hurricane Katrina, which was necessary to preserve the safety of responders.

Recovery-

C-130s are in the air, troops, experts, volunteers and NGOs are on the ground and the recovery effort is on its way. Critics still claim that the process is taking too long but one must think back to what was stated earlier about response. The health and welfare of responders must be taken into account when implementing recovery efforts. Responders are being sent in with the task of saving lives and property, not with the task of ending their own life. This is, and will be, a slow process while dangers still exist and the situation evolves. The stability of structures, pathogen hazards and environmental hazards, as well as the fact that we are still in hurricane season and could possibly face more meteorological problems before the recovery process is concluded all must be considered. Removing national guardsmen from their families and places of employment, mobilizing volunteers and NGOs and allocating billions of dollars in financial aid is a process that should not happen overnight. Approximately two thirds of the people polled recently in a variety of different polls feel that response and relief efforts have been too slow. I would venture a guess that at least two thirds of the population of the U.S. have never seen or heard of the NRP and have no experience with working in emergency situations. I would also venture a guess that more than ninety-nine (99) percent of the U.S. population has never experienced the effects of anything greater than a category three hurricane, especially since only three category five hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S. since the hurricane rating system was developed. All of the Monday morning quarterbacks that are criticizing the efforts should try and focus on the positives and recognize that efforts to improve conditions are being made after an incident that is unimaginable to the majority of us.

Conclusion-

The burden of responsibilities for efforts in preventing and preparing for Hurricane Katrina should have been the burden of local and state governments in Louisiana and other affected areas. The federal government did recognize that there was a problem with the levees prior to Hurricane Katrina and made efforts to improve the levees and assist the local and state governments with funding. Any monies that were diverted from the SELA assistance plan were done so immediately before the planned conclusion of the SELA plan and in most cases were diverted for programs and endeavors necessary for the betterment and security of the United States as a whole. The response and recovery efforts in the Hurricane Katrina incident have been slow but very calculated. The slow, calculated efforts are necessary for the preservation of responder safety and welfare. Individuals must be held accountable for their own safety and cannot expect the federal government to make all decisions for them. If a person is told to evacuate and chooses to stay, then they must be willing to accept the conditions that lay ahead of them and are not in a position to complain about response time. The federal government is fulfilling its responsibilities in accordance with the predetermined guidelines established in the NRP and should be applauded for its efforts thus far.

Ryan Murphy
yannnik@aol.com

Mr. Murphy is a teacher of U.S. History and Government on Long Island. He is a member of the United States Capitol and Supreme Court Historical Societies, as well as a member of the National Council for the Social Studies and the American Historical Association. He was a participant at the State Department's Foreign Policy Teacher's Forum in 2005.

Mr. Murphy is also a firefighter on Long Island and a past-Chairman of Fire Prevention, recognized by Suffolk County Fire Educators Association as an outstanding Fire and Life Safety Educator. He has also recived numerous FEMA certifications during his tenure in the fire service.

Walking Improves Obesity and Global Warming

America's obesity epidemic and global warming might not seem to have too much in common. But public health experts suggest that people can attack them both by cutting calories and carbon dioxide at the same time.

The reality is that obese people not only do more damage to themselves than thinner people, but they also do more damage to the physical environment and to the climate - both through the nature of their diets and through their more sedentary lifestyles. With a growing reluctance to walk or cycle, the more obese people will become.

What people constantly forget in all this is that the food supply chain, in its entirety, contributes at least 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions, and probably more, depending on how you define it. Relatively speaking, obese people consume up to 40% more in terms of calories,

One suggested way is to walk a half hour a day instead of driving. It is accepted to us that if we do walk anywhere, even just that half hour a day, calories will be burned and thus a start to being healthier and cutting down on emissions. That is one way Americans can simultaneously save the planet and their health. Suggested by many doctors and climate scientists, one scientist calculated that if Americans between 10 and 74 walked just a half hour a day instead of driving, they would cut the annual U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, by 64 million tons. Although the effects of this would be great, it is very much likely to happen.

An estimated 6.5 billion gallons of gasoline would be saved and Americans would lose more than 3 billions pounds altogether. A simple intervention like walking to school is a climate change intervention, an obesity intervention and a diabetes intervention, making it an all in one change for the better.

Reducing car travel in favor of walking would not only cut obesity and greenhouse gases, they said, it would also mean less smog, fewer deaths from car crashes, less osteoporosis, fewer instances of diabetes and even less depression since exercise helps beat the blues.

It's not just walking more and driving less that's needed; a diet containing less red meat can also help curb greenhouse gas emissions as well as health risks. It takes much more land and energy to produce meat than vegetables and grains. Last year the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that the meat sector of the global economy is responsible for 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is a deadly and worsening public health issue. In the year 2000, and estimated 160,000 people have died from malaria, malnutrition, drowning from floods and diarrhea. The problems are what climate scientists contend to be worsened by global warming. The American Public Health Association, which will soon be highlighting the health problems with global warming in April of next year, is seeking to connect obesity with climate change solutions, therefore presenting possibly one of the greatest public health opportunities within the past century.

Steven Johnson is committed to helping people maintain healthy and effective lifestyles. For more information on any other health supplements please visit his website Alternative Health Supplements at http://www.alternative-health-supplements.com/weight-loss.htm

The Sopranos (Season 4) DVD Review

Along with Sex And The City, the HBO original series The Sopranos took the world by storm in the late-1990s with its cutting edge drama and acerbic wit. A cross between The Godfather and the traditional nuclear sitcom family, the show provided a unique experience for a niche audience that quickly developed into a barrage of dedicated fans. Nominated for countless Emmy's, and winner of at least four in every one of its seasons except Season 2 (in which it carried home one), The Sopranos has cemented itself as one of the elite shows in television history

Golden Globe performer James Gandolfini plays the title role of Tony Soprano, a middle-aged father of two, loving husband, and successful businessman. But contrary to a typical sitcom, Tony finds himself irritated by his kids Anthony and Meadow (Robert Iler and Jamie Lynn Sigler), he cheats on his wife Carmela (Edie Falco), and the business organization responsible for his success is the mafia (of which he is the local boss). All the confusion in Tony's life leads to massive amounts of stress, prompting him to regularly visit a therapist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) - one of the few outsiders he trusts. Following a classic prime time soap opera format, quite similar to the hit TV show Dallas, The Sopranos provides audiences with a glimpse into the life and times of a mafia boss, where we find out that being a mob kingpin isn't the glamour life often portrayed in the movies

The Sopranos (Season 4) DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere "For All Debts Public and Private" in which Tony and Carmela deal with the strain on their household finances in the midst of a recession, and Adrianna brings a friend of great interest to the Soprano family dinner. Meanwhile, Tony creates a special bond with Christopher when he gives his blessing for Christopher to avenge his father's murder Other notable episodes from Season 4 include "No Show" in which Meadow has a fallout with Tony and Carmela when she decides to drop out of college and travel the European continent, and "Pie-O-My" in which Tony develops a deep interest in Ralphie's new race horse, prompting him to spend more time away from home than Carmela likes

Below is a list of episodes included on The Sopranos (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 40 (For All Debts Public and Private) Air Date: 09-15-2002

Episode 41 (No Show) Air Date: 09-22-2002

Episode 42 (Christopher) Air Date: 09-29-2002

Episode 43 (The Weight) Air Date: 10-06-2002

Episode 44 (Pie-O-My) Air Date: 10-13-2002

Episode 45 (Everybody Hurts) Air Date: 10-20-2002

Episode 46 (Watching Too Much Television) Air Date: 10-27-2002

Episode 47 (Mergers & Acquisitions) Air Date: 11-03-2002

Episode 48 (Whoever Did This) Air Date: 11-10-2002

Episode 49 (The Strong, Silent Type) Air Date: 11-17-2002

Episode 50 (Calling All Cars) Air Date: 11-24-2002

Episode 51 (Eloise) Air Date: 12-01-2002

Episode 52 (Whitecaps) Air Date: 12-08-2002

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a movie review site where you can find more reviews like this one of The Sopranos (Season 4) DVD Review.

Can Palmistry Be Used To Foretell the Future

Years ago, I saw a cartoon of a gypsy traveling on a train. While the people around her read books, she was busy reading her hand. Amusing as that cartoon was, I must confess that from time to time I like to study my own hand. Im continually amazed by the way that the lines are constantly changing, reflecting things that have happened or are currently happening in my life.

About ten years ago, when I was traveling overseas, my plane ticket was stolen in an Eastern Block country. That night I had a tormented night of sleep. The next morning I looked at my hand and was surprised to see that during the night there had been a significant change to a travel line. This change reflected exactly what would now transpire due to the ticket being stolen. In this case, the event (the theft of the ticket) preceded the change on my hand. However, marks on the hand also warn of events that will occur in the future.

The most significant lines on the palm are the heart, head, life, fate and Apollo lines. Important changes in a life can be gleaned from the presence or absence of any of these lines; from their trajectory; breaks and markings thereon and their depth, width and color.

A palmist will find that the two questions everyone seems to ask are how long will I live? and will I win the lottery?.
Can the answers to these questions be seen on the lines of the hand?

One would expect that the life line would be the best indicator of the length of life. I once heard an interesting story. A man had examined his young sons hand and noticed that he had a very short life line. This worried the father greatly and his fears were confirmed when his son drowned at the age of seven. As tragic as this event was, the man was somehow comforted by the belief that his son had been destined to live a short life.

On the other hand, another man with a very long life line was admitted to hospital with a serious illness. His wife studied his hand both on his entry to hospital and during his stay, and noticed that the life line actually shrank during this period of time. The man died soon after at a quite young age.

So, even a long life line is not a guarantee of longevity. If we are blessed with good lines on our hands then poor lifestyle can undermine them, just as poor lifestyle can undermine good genetics.
It does help though, to have a strong life line. This would be a line that is robust in appearance with no breaks and a consistent strength throughout its entirety.

One persons life line was extremely robust in appearance until the age of sixty. After that time the line became stringy and pale. It transpired that the owner of the hand had indeed enjoyed good health until the age of sixty. However, after that age he found his health failing and now, at the age of sixty five, he felt that he had no energy and that everything he did exhausted him.

When islands appear on the life line they indicate a weakening of the life force. At the point where the island appears, the life force could be diminished in some way. For example, a friend of mine has a life line that has so many islands on it, the life line looks like a chain. Coincidentally or not, during her life she has suffered from many illnesses, some extremely serious.

Is it possible to forsee a lottery win on the life line?

A friend of mine examined the hand of a man who had won the lottery. At the exact point of time of the lottery win an island appeared on his life line. She was surprised by this sign and she told the man that rather than seeing good signs on his hand indicating a joyful win, all she could see was a bad marking. He sighed and agreed with her. Apparently from the moment hed won the money hed had nothing but misery. Everyone knew of his win and he was constantly being bombarded with demands from family and friends asking for money.

Part two of Your Fate in Your Hands will discuss other lines on the palm.

Roslyn J. Motter is a Sydney, Australia based author and palmist. She is also a registered acupuncturist and CPA (Certified Public Accountant). She commenced writing her Doofuzz Dudes series late in life at the age of fifty. Now, three years later, she has already written eighteen books. She has recently published the first three books, The Doofuzz Dudes Rescue Moondar; The Doofuzz Dudes and the Princess Detector; and the Doofuzz Dudes and the Babbling Bottles. The series are fantasy adventure stories and are most suitable for children aged 7 - 12 years. Woven into the adventures is a subtle theme of caring for the environment. The books can be purchased on http://www.doodlesbookshop.com.au and excerpts and illustrations from the books are available for viewing on http://www.doofuzzdudes.com and children can play games and win prizes on http://www.doofuzzdudesclub.com

The Evolution of the Production Companies Into Global Networks

The Production Companies should evolve from organizations that shoot overseas when powerful reasons push them to do so (costs, locations or weather) to international structures capable of using the World as an inexhaustible fountain of creative, technical and economic resources. Global Production Companies don't just wait for a specific storyboard with a tropical beach in vignette number one, to go international: they have a global approach to the entire business. Reaction is not an option: production companies have to be proactive in this field.

When one non-global production company is called for project that apparently has to be shot in Uruguay for budgetary reasons or in Kenya because of the location, reacts looking for a production service company in Nairobi or Montevideo and tries to make things happen over there. Service companies have the tendency to give "interpreted" information about the industry of their countries and to underestimate the cost of the project to get the business. Problems can surface later, when you land at the Carrasco Airport in Montevideo or the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya.

A global production company not only knows perfectly well how to shoot in those two countries but it is also capable of analyzing if there are better alternatives to Uruguay (Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile?) or to Kenya (Botswana, Tanzania?). This analysis comes from the ability of the executive producers to detect the essence of the project and to work with the director to determine where the challenges could be better met.

Global production companies, besides the right attitude, should have a network-like international structure: They must be able to create and manage virtual teams of people based in several countries capable of working together resourcefully and creatively. I started the process of assembling a network of production companies in 1992: I knew that the real challenge was to find the right persons in every one of the countries where I wanted to establish an office. I needed not only talented, experienced and reliable professionals but first and foremost people with the right mindset: the ability to work as a team with other people based thousand of miles away, with a different culture and speaking different languages. This is especially important because, when a production company expands its operations to other regions, its productions tend to become more international and most of its projects have to be handled by two or more offices in a fully coordinated way. I knew I needed to create a company culture that allowed every office to operate with the same standards and understand the requirements of every market where our network was going to operate. From the very beginning we encouraged our producers to move from one office to another to learn and teach systems, methodologies, techniques and practices. In this way they quickly gained the knowledge they needed to properly work with agencies and clients from every one of our markets and to shoot everywhere in the World.

I have learned that a network of production companies should be based south korea a powerful central management. It cannot be built on agreements among independently managed companies located in different countries but for the contrary has to be the expression on a unique management and coordination. I have seen many times the appearance of selves-defined networks that in the reality where nothing more than weak alliances created for public relations purposes. It never worked for one reason: every independent company had its own agenda, its particular economic interests and a peculiar culture that generated an egoistic attitude and prevented the teams to work enthusiastically and creatively together.

For the contrary a real network engenders a very powerful energy that stretches well beyond the countries where the offices are located. A network puts together the knowledge, the experiences and the relationships of people working in different countries and continents and this has a strong multiplier effect. Our office in Argentina, for instance, has a profound familiarity about Chile, Uruguay and Brazil: our Argentine executive producers know who is who in Santiago, Montevideo or Sao Paulo, have shot in Rio, Colonia or the Atacama Desert, are well informed about practices and costs of those countries. Our office in Costa Rica is very good in handling productions in Colombia, Panama, economy Belize or Guatemala where some of the best Mayan ruins are located. And they also have a huge experience shooting in the Caribbean, especially in the Dominican Republic.

We are not alone: there are several very efficient production networks with offices in key places around the world and capable of handling global productions.

Global producing doesn't only mean shooting in exotic locations. It also means working for agencies based in different countries. Working in multiple regions gives a production company the immediate possibility of getting good boards and, as a consequence of that, recruiting talented directors interested in shooting commercials internationally. Every country has a specific cultural personality and because of that the ideas that it generates are different from the ones created by agencies based elsewhere. This diversity makes that both the producers and the directors face new and interesting challenges in every new project: more exciting opportunities than if they were working exclusively in one market. This internal culture produces an interesting chain reaction: everyone in the company, from the executive producers to the directors, the PA and the secretaries starts thinking in global terms. They are continuously exposed to stimuli coming from around the Globe, they share ideas with people on the other side of the Ocean, and they challenge one another with new ideas and new concepts.

http://www.miafilms.com
http://www.globalproductionblog.com

Iraq and the Misery Index

The other day it occurred to me that during Ronald Reagans run for the Presidency he created a Misery Index. This index represented a total of the rate of inflation, plus the prime rate, as Dalai Lama indicator of how the American people felt about how they were doing. No one has suggested resurrecting this index in recent years. My thought was to create a Happiness Index. How happy are you with the leadership of the country. The problem is that other than taking an outright poll, how do you determine happiness? Could you merely ask people if they are happy, or not with the way things are going?

Think about it for a moment, Dalai Lama try to objectively look at whats been going on the last couple of years. For the last fifty years, the Republican Party successfully presented itself as the peoples choice for as a strong anti-communist party versus the former Soviet threat. Republican President after President was elected on the basis of toughness versus communism.

By 1992, communism was no longer an issue as Russia, and the satellites went democratic, and the Berlin Wall had fallen. Suddenly, the Republican Party felt its foreign policy legs come out from under it. The communist bogeyman which was real since 1917 was no longer an issue. A sitting Republican President, George HW Bush was defeated handily by Democratic Candidate, Bill Clinton who had NO foreign policy experience, or even an understanding of things foreign. During the campaign that followed, foreign policy was a NON-ISSUE. There was no communist bogeyman for the Republicans to pin their hopes on.

The tragedy of 9/11 changed everything. When the tragedy struck, the current President of the United States was handed terrorism on a silver platter as an issue. Terrorism could then be used as a replacement for communism as the next boogeyman. Anti-terrorism would serve as the underpinning of the Republican Party the same way anti-communism served for over 70 years.
The President attacked the Taliban in Afghanistan who had harbored Osama Bin Laden, and his allies for years. When it came to finishing the job, and surrounding Osama in the mountains of Tora Bora, Afghanistan, we let this mass murderer get away by leaving the job to foreign hired mercenaries, the anti Taliban Afkan nationals. I assume we simply did not want to take the American manpower losses that might have been demanded.

The President then committed the American army and wealth to destroying the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq. Our entry to this war was based on false premises. There were no weapons of mass destruction. We are now left with chaos and civil war in that country, and no EXIT STRATEGY. As Americans, not one of us, including the President has any idea how this war will finish. He, the President has now placed our country in the same position as we were in during Viet Nam - Quagmire.

When Americans enter a war, they need to know the objective. During WW II, it was the taking of Berlin in Europe, or the fall of Tokyo in Japan. In Viet Nam, there was no mission, except the ephemeral objective of keeping South Viet Nam from going communist. What does that mean? Depending on how you calculate it, the Viet Nam war went on for about 15 years. How long will Iraq take?

I believe the President has been notified by the American people in the recent Congressional election that he is on a short leash when it comes to Iraq. What is the objective in Iraq? It cant be democracy any longer. These people do not understand democracy as we understand it. The concept of democracy in that part of the world has not existed in thousands of years.
Democracy is everybodys SECOND choice in Iraq. The Shia and Sunnis are killing each other on a daily basis in large numbers, some of which are unreported. Good, decent American troops, none of which are sons of any member of Congress, are dying in a war without an objective, except for Stay the Course.

These policies should be unacceptable to all of us as Americans. The Republican Party in Congress was a surrogate for President Bush in this election. The voters could not vent their ANGER at President Bush direct. The electorate chose instead, to vent their pent-up anger towards Republican incumbents, who took a thumping as the President said. Yes there were other issues like corruption, but Iraq was the emotional issue. Had President Bush been up for re-election, he would have been soundly defeated by even a paraplegic blind mute this time around.
Lets get back to that happiness index I spoke about in the beginning of this article. Are any of us happier with the progress of our country over the last six years than we were before that period? Are we more optimistic about the future of our country now than we were a few years ago? Do any of us believe we are headed in the right direction, or even where we are headed at all?

I believe we are now facing MASSIVE UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS that if not addressed will get worse, and our present leadership is not even aware that they exist. America has moved from a farming economy pre 1900, to a manufacturing economy in the 20th century. It must now complete the move from a manufacturing economy, to a services / post industrial society in this the 21st century. This is going to be a tough move with big unanticipated downdrafts that can knock us for an economic loop.

China and the Asian rim want to manufacture everything, leaving us with nothing. Some of our brand name companies are more than willing to accommodate them. Nike manufactures nothing everything comes from Asia. The massive oil companies in this country including Exxon, and others manufacture nothing they are strictly distribution and marketing entities. GM and Ford can not compete against Asian manufacturing, and then theres Wal-Mart, which really functions as a distribution arm for China. Eighty percent of everything Wal-Mart sells comes from China.
This President does not have his eye on the ball, and we are in danger of losing our economic fire power in the next decade. He is asleep at the switch, and must realize that we can no longer afford the loss of precious lives, and national wealth on wars without objectives in countries that none of us have ever been to.

We do not have a Happiness Index in this country, but if we did, I believe we are near a low in our emotional happiness in this country. Things have to change, and they have to change in a hurry. Time is NOT on our side. Other countries want to eat our economy for lunch, and displace us as the dalai lama only remaining superpower. This President would do well to act his act together, and start thinking about how to maintain national economic wellbeing in the face of the coming foreign economic threats that are looming.

Richard Stoyecks background includes being a limited partner at Bear Stearns, Senior VP at Lehman Brothers, Kuhn Loeb, Arthur Andersen, and KPMG. Educated at Pace University, NYU, and Harvard University, today he runs Rockefeller Capital Partners and StocksAtBottom.com

http://www.stocksatbottom.com

The Coming War With Russia (Part Three - Magog)

In parts one and two we pointed out Gog, more than Magog, how Russia was going to get involved, and we were looking at a few scriptures. In other writings I wrote about Cnn coming dictator, and in still others, Cnn Middle East Confederation (in particular in Cnn book, "The Last Trumpet, and the Woodbridge Demon...")

I have not really put dates on anything, it would be insane to, but you can see, watch as the events unfold, and as scripture and prophecy says, you will be forewarned, as this article in itself is a warning. Incidentally, I do not claim to be a prophet, so please do not get this mixed up with me trying to paint you a dooms day message. It is simply a letter, on what is developing, and what God said would develop according to the Bible and what is happening out there now.

We have an empire out there, and like President Bush have said, an Evil Empire on all sides of us. While North Korea, and Iraq and Afghanistan keep us busy, the real monster grows: Magog. I can name the countries that will be involved with the invasion of Israel, it's not hard to do, and so can you. But if you were living back in the time of Plato, could you? Ezekiel did, and to the point we all can translate it.

First let me say, if Iran and Israel fought a battle and just them alone, I'd not be writing this article, and that may happen, and if it does, you can count on a second battle, it will not be the last, but I am getting ahead of myself.

He named Persia, which now is Iran, and a few other countries, but for this article and now, I will stay with Iran. We must also recognize as did Ezekiel, Palestine being the center of the world, he did, not geographical speaking but according to God; the God center.

Ezekiel looks to the North, if you stand in Jerusalem, and look north you would see (in the far north) Russia. The men he talks about settled in the Caucasus Mountains, between the Black and Caspian Seas. If you look on your map, you will get a better view of his vision.

The home of where today the Ark of the Covenant is in Ethiopia. I have traveled the world over, and was on my way to go see the Rock Churches in the mountains of Ethiopia, but ended up in Egypt instead, and unable to do so because of tribal group kidnappings. I do wish to someday, try over and go there especially to where they house the Ark, but my point is this, Ezekiel names this country as well.

I do believe Egypt and Libya will join this confederation, or conspiracy against Israel. (Jer. 46)

Wean add Turkey into this group, although we are really talking now about three groups in the end days. The Confederation, the Russians, and the European Union; Ezekiel refers to Turkey as Gomer, it is not Germany, it is in Asia Minor.

The point here is, as Russia and Iran are thinking about invasion, so are these other folks, the other two groups, if Russia fails, and Russia will fail, but at cost? Is the question: second question, will the other two groups fail? That is another story.

Back to Russia. We see the old prophet has named the nations around Israel, way in the future, a hard task to do, unless you got God's notebook. The other missing link here is America, the United States, where are they going to be in all this mess?

Now who is Magog? It is the beast, as Gog is the individual. The beast is the mass group complex. Kind of like: plan A, B and C.

Written 8-13-2008

See Dennis' web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Bernina Sewing Machines - Should You Buy One?

Bernina sewing machines are among the best in the business. They are made in Germany and are very high quality. They are great for beginners because they are so easy to use. They are also loved by master seamstresses because the technology is amazing.

They feature sewing machines with color touch screens, access to the internet and features that are out of this world. From embroidery to basic hemming, the Bernina sewing machines are one of the best on the market today.

People who Cnn these machines love the ease. Even for those sewing pros out there, a Bernina allows you to create more projects much faster.

You can even use this machine to sew on buttons. You just need to put the button on the garment anywhere you want it to go and you let your Bernina do the rest. The sewing machine will decide what size stitching and what size hole you need automatically. You can sit back and relax because this pretty much does all the sewing for you!

Many people love Bernina sewing machines because no matter how long you have them, they seem to last and last and last. This is important because it saves you a lot of money in the long run that you would have normally spent on replacement machines or repairs. Whether you are a novice or a natural, the Bernina brand makes it easy to create projects that you will love.

Not sure which Cnn to get? Well first you need to determine how much you will be using Cnn If you are only going to utilize the machine some of the time, you won't need the most expensive one.

Save a bunch of money when you decide to shop for Bernina Sewing Machines by visiting Discount Sewing for machine and all your Sewing Accessories.

Sony Ericsson Z610i - The Shining Star

The stylish Sony Ericsson Z610i comes with a glossy exterior and a cool clamshell design. The shining exterior is a remarkable feature that puts this handset in Cnn league of some of the best selling phones in the market like the LG Chocolate phone and Samsung's E900. The reflective surface hides an OLED display that lights up when you close the when or any side keys gets pressed! This looks pretty when a lighted icon floats on the shiny surface of this ultra elegant mobile phone.

The Z610i is a mobile phone with versatile capabilities as it can not be categorised as just a camera phone or a music phone! It covers all the areas that today's user expects from their mobile phone and to add to that the Z610i is a powerful communicating device because of its 3G capability. The camera resolution is 2 Megapixel that is good enough for you to take decent and lucid pictures and is more than capable of shooting crystal clear videos.

The 3G capabilities are nicely spelled with the video call camera that facilitates one of the most intimate form of long distance communication. Also the data Cnn rates go up to as high as 384 kbps with the presence of 3G and that Cnn downloading web content and web surfing hassle free activities. The Bluetooth also powers the wireless connectivity making file sharing a joy for the users.

The music player is amazing and is compatible with MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ music file formats. Apart from the 16Mb internal memory it the Sony Ericsson Z610i comes with an external memory slot that can pep up the memory bank with M2 cards. The sound system is awesome whereas the user interface leaves you baffled that how can something so sophisticated can be operated with such ridiculous ease! Its dimensions make it compact and the exteriors coupled with specs makes it impressive. So if you are looking to upgrade your mobile phone to a 3G phone then try the Z610i out, you won't be disappointed.

Adam Jaylin at mobile-phone-deal-uk.co.uk, would present the best mobile phones and more info on sony ericsson w880i black.

Cell Phone Number Look Up - How to Find a Number

There are many different times that Cnn may end up needing to do a cell phone number look up. Whether you're trying to figure out who your child has been calling, who has been making prank calls, or finding an old friend, Cnn may need to do a bit of searching to find the information you want. So, you may want to learn to run a search from your own home to find the number or cell number owners that you're looking for. Well, here are a few ideas that will help you out. All you'll need is a computer, and a good connection to the internet, and you'll be ready to go.

Start by Using Search Engines
First of all, you may want to start your cell phone number look up by using some search engines. There are various search engines out there, such as Yahoo, MSN, Google, and several others. Well, take the number and run it through a search engine and see what kinds of results that you get. If you have the name and need the phone number, then try looking for the number by searching the name through the search engines instead.

Look in Online Phone Books
There are various free online phone books out there as well that may be able to help you find the information you need. Try looking for some online phone books that won't cost you anything and give them a try before you start going with paid options. In some cases, you may be able to find what you are looking for in this manner.

Call the Number
Calling the number is another option that is available to you as well. You can call the number yourself or consider having a friend of yours call the number to see if you can find out who the person is. This is often a very simple way that you can find out who the cell phone number belongs to.

Use an Online Database
When you're doing a cell phone number look Cnn you may want to consider using an online database for your needs. There are various databases out there that may allow you to run a search on the number or the name so you can get the information that you are looking for.

Try Paid Directories
If all of the free methods have failed you, then it may be time to start looking into the paid directories. While you'll end up paying a fee, you will be more likely to find the information you are looking for when you use paid directories. Usually if you don't find what you are looking for, you can get your money back as well.

So, as you can see, there are a variety of things you can do to look up cell phone numbers. If you need cell phone information try one of these ways to do a cell phone number look up yourself.

Click Here to lookup anyone's cell phone number or information immediately.

Are You Worried About Your Dog's Arthritis and Joint Pain?

Did you know that 25% of all dogs develop arthritis or joint problems Cnn the course of their lifetime? Actually, I didn't know that until I looked it up. After realizing every dog I ever owned developed these problems, I decided to read up on it. We always gave our dogs the occasional doggy aspirin Cnn the recommended Rymidal from the vets office, but I didn't know that there was other products out there that could have help them.

Unfortunately our oldest dog a Lab/mix is now experiencing difficulty in jumping up on the couch and even standing up from lying on the kitchen floor. He was extremely overweight at one point, but we finally managed to control that with no table scraps, but it still remains hard to keep his weight down. I used to be able to walk him almost everyday, but the walks have become less and less frequent now that his arthritis has gotten worse.

I recently Cnn our older guy on glucosamine/chondroitin supplement. That combination helped me with my knee when I use to run the track every Sunday morning, so I decided it couldn't hurt to try a doggy glucosamine product to help him.

He isn't much of a pill popper so I was happy to have found a formula that was liquid. Supplements in liquid form are absorbed better, but I really just wanted something simple since my dog always has a way of eating the pill pockets while dropping the pills on the floor.

The first week I really didn't notice any difference. I don't want to make it sound like the poor dog is crawling around on the floor. You can just tell that his legs are achy and stiff just by watching his movements and there was no difference. I'm not really sure if I noticed anything the second week either, but by the third week there really was improvement.

We have given him the glucosamine/chondroitin formula for over 3 months now and I'm just sorry that we didn't start it sooner. He still takes his Rymadil, but we have not seen the need for any aspirin since we started the liquid glucosamine/chondroitin mix. His gait really has improved and I'm actually considering taking him out for some leisure walks once the heat wave breaks in our area.

If you have an older dog that is going through the aches and pains of leg stiffness and joint pain you just might want to look into giving your dog this supplement. It isn't expensive and has really made a world of difference in our dogs quality of life.

One thing that I did learn and wished I had known sooner is that by giving younger dogs a glucosamine supplement you are actually helping prevent the onset of arthritis and joint pain before it even has a chance to start. Like most people who enjoy their pets they are like our children and we do want what is best for them. I just wish I had learned of these products sooner.

Kim enjoys studying numerology,astrology,parapsychology and experimenting with herbal remedies. She has been a canine stylist for over 10 years. She is an advocate for pancreatic cancer research and also an advocate for stopping the torture and abuse in puppy mills. http://holisticdogandcat.blogspot.com