7 things to consider before purchasing model ship kits

Whenever you make any purchase it is important to take into account what you are buying. Whether buying for yourself or for someone else as a gift, you should examine your options and think through what you would like to buy. Purchasing model ship kits is no different. Additionally, because model ship kits can be rather expensive, it is sometimes even more important for you to carefully consider your options before committing to one kit or another. Here are some things to consider before you spend your money on a model ship kit.

Budget. This is always the first consideration whenever you buy anything, including model ship kits. Because there are kits that cost tens of thousands of dollars as well as those that cost less than $100, it is important to know how much you are willing to spend.

Skill Level. Different model ship kits are for people of different skill levels. Make sure you know whether you need a beginner, intermediate, or advanced kit before you buy. It is not so bad to give one that is below level, but the results can be devastating when the skill level is too advanced.

Motorized or Not. Some model ship kits come with motors so that they can self-propel through the water. These can be expensive to fuel and maintain, so make sure you understand what is involved before purchasing a motorized ship.

Time Period. There are ships from many different time periods. Model ship kits offer a wide range of time periods in the history of sea travel. If you or someone you are buying for has a preference, you should make sure that the kit you purchase meets that preference.

Specific Ship. Not only is it possible to buy model ship kits that fit a time period, but it is also possible to build replicas of ships that actually existed (or still do). So find out whether you or your friend needs a certain ship for a collection, and then buy that ship.

Quality. If you are concerned about quality, make sure that you purchase your model ship kits from a reputable company. There are plenty of hobby shops and online kit purveyors that can help you find a good quality ship, often at good prices.

Support. The best hobby shops and other sellers of model ship kits offer support and advice. Some even offer warrantees on their products. If you are looking for good service, make sure you purchase your kit from a company that provides support and help from professionals.

Direct flight to beijing from us capital

Following the recent United States federal approval United Airlines has launched the Beijing to Washington DC direct flight service. The first flight to Beijing from Washington DC flew in late March 2007.

Seven airlines now provide direct flights to the Chinese mainland from US cities. Four American airlines and three Chinese airlines service the US-China routes.

When the new slot opened up Northwest airlines tried to break into the lucrative US-China market however the option it put forward which would have seen flights to Beijing from Detroit was rejected. United airlines put forward a case that highlighted the benefits of linking the two capitals.

It was with great excitement that the first direct flight to Beijing from the United States Capital was launched. Many seasoned travelers said this flight was long overdue. For Chinese families living in the Washington area and for many government officials and business people the flight servicing Beijing direct from Washington was welcome news.

The first-ever non-stop flight from Washington DC arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport at 1:55 pm on March 29, 2007

Previously, many east coast travelers would fly to China through Chicago, which could present problems when bad weather caused delays. Some travelers would even miss connecting flights due to the bad weather that is common place in Chicago. The Chicago to Beijing direct flight has been operating since April 2001. United Airlines also operates this route.

As more and more Chinese benefit from the booming economy in that country Chinese nationals are taking the opportunity to travel to the United States. This has resulted in a well patronized US-China air routes attracting strong interest from the airlines.

When the new slot between the US and Beijing was opened up last year, airports and airlines waged a tough battle to secure the prized new route.

Ma Kezheng, a former diplomat who has previously lived in Washington, said it was the right decision and will bring the two capitals closer together culturally. He was surprised it took this long to open the route.

"I found it difficult to travel home to Beijing from Washington without the option of the direct flight," said Kezheng.

United Airlines are using a 347-seat Boeing 747-400 to service the route. The flight time to Beijing from the US capital is around 13 1/2-hours. In the past east coast travelers would normally have to fly via Chicago in order to get to and from the Chinese capital.

Special ceremonies were held at the airport in Washington prior to the departure of the inaugural flight to Beijing. One of the guests, Zheng Zeguang, a Chinese embassy minister, said the Beijing-Washington route increases the number of weekly flights servicing the two countries from 105 to 119.

Travelers are hopeful that even more flights will be added in the future as there is high demand for seats on a Beijing flight. The Chinese government is holding back further expansion of services to China as it tries to protect the domestic airlines from competition that would come if it allowed the market to open up further.

The Washington-Beijing route will make a strong market even stronger as more travelers will take to the skies.

History of credit cards

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Credit Cards have become an absolute necessity so much so that we take them for granted. A number of money experts have already slated the paper currency as a dying dinosaur. But have you ever wondered where did this plastic money of credit card come from? What is the history of credit cards? Whose genius was it anyways?

Though the idea of "have now, pay later" existed since the 1700s but it was only in the early 20th century that the banks started taking credit protection in form of overdrafts. In 1914 Western Union gave its customers a metal card allowing them interest free deferral payments. This gave their clients a freedom to spend beyond their means. However, the idea of actual credit card did not strike 'father of Credit Cards', Frank McNamara until he forgot his wallet back home while going out for a dinner with friends.

This embarrassing moment was just too much for McNamara. Thus, he created the "Diner's club card". It was initially a businessmen's card for dinners and retails purchases while traveling but by the end of 1950 it had become a phenomenon. A national frenzy that began with just 200 customers who could use it in 27 restaurants, it swelled to such massive size that it spread over the whole USA with 20000 customers and more varied kinds of retailers subscribed to it as credit providers. The Diners card charged seven percent for each individual transaction with card subscribers paying a three-dollar annual fee. Stores and service companies readily extended this facility. They could benefit from it since the customers spent more than they would if they had to pay the cash up frontally.

The General Petroleum Corporation was one of the first companies to offer an actual credit card that allowed for fuel and automotive repair purchases to its employees. They could use their card and make payments towards these things with portions of their paychecks.

The monopoly of Diner's club was short lived. McNamara withdrew his share of money from the company in 1952. Very soon American Express launched its similar yet more generalized credit card and Bank of America came out with BankAmericard (now called VISA) in 1958. Master card came up in 1966. These new market players overpowered the old titan.

While McNamara created credit cards, John Biggins is acknowledged as the inventor of the bank credit card. He worked at the Flatbush National Bank of Brooklyn in New York. In 1946, Mr. Biggins developed the "Charge-It" program in which local merchants who accepted the card would deposit sales slips into the bank and the bank billed the customer.

Bad credit car loans an unbelievable opportunity

Every one is aloud to dream. Everyone’s dreams are different to other people. Dream for most people is a car. Now days everyone can get what they dream of even people with bad credit history. This has been made possible by bad credit car loans.

Bad credit car loans are designed for people who have had bad credit history. It includes people who have defaulted in their repayments when they have taken loans earlier from their creditors.

People who are labeled as people with having bad credit history include people like:

· People who have defaulted with their payments

· People who are in arrears

· CCJ’s (county court judgements)

· People who have filled for bankruptcy

· Late payments or

· IVA’s

Bad credit is earned on the basis of how the borrower has repaid his previous creditors and that is how we arrive at a credit score, which is a rating to judge your financial credit worthiness.

A score, which is considered poor, is one, which is below 600. This is a general credit score. There are also other credit scores such as one offered by FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) the range of which is from 300 to 850. The three FICO score is calculated keeping the following things in perspective.

Payment history (35%)

Amounts owed (30%)

Lengths of credit history (15%)

New credit (10%)

Types of credits used (10%)

You can get your FICO score calculated by any of three different credit bureaus namely Trans union, Experian or Equifax. Your fico scores will affect how much and what loans terms the lenders will offer you. Therefore, the higher the credit score the better loan deals you will get for your bad credit car loans.

An example for that would be if you want a loan of Ј150000 for a period of 30 years and you have a credit score of 760 that will save you around Ј2600 a year in comparison to a person who wants these similar loan terms and has a credit score of 620.

Bad credit car loans come in both secured and unsecured forms. In secured bad credit car loans the borrower would be required to provide the lender with a security in order to take a loan. Whereas, in unsecured bad credit car loans the borrower is not under any obligation to provide any security to the lender. Hence justifiably unsecured bad credit car loans carry a little higher rate of interest to cover up for the risk factor of the lender.

All you need to do for applying for applying for bad credit car loans is to first estimate your requirement in terms of what you want i. e. either you want a new car or a used car and how do you plan to get it i. e. Either through secured bad credit car loans or an unsecured bad credit car loans.

Bad credit car loans can be acquired by any borrower all he requires to do is get all his details sorted out i. e. both financial and personal and then submit your details to the lender. You can do that online, as this would lead to a loan decision faster than otherwise.

Some of the features of bad credit car loans are:

· Both secured and unsecured car loans are available

· You can have loans for both used and new cars

· You can get the loans tailor made to your budget

· While online you can use various features provided by the lenders such as loan calculator, different quotes and if you are unsure you can get expert advice by the counselors.

Lending organizations now days understand how important a car is for an individual or any one. This problem gets even more difficult for people with bad credit history that is why we now have bad credit car loans serving people who have bad credit history. These loans are now available with many benefits to the borrowers as with so many lenders and tough competition between them. The customer enjoys all the benefits.

Ways to deomonstrate good manners while on the ship

Being mannerly and pleasant when on your vacation will allow you to have a better time. Even if you are travelling alone, you are never truly alone on a cruise ship. Cruise ships carry about 1,500 to 3,000 people at a time depending on the length and destination, so everyone should be friendly and respectful of equipment, people, and the cruise staff. This includes being quiet during movies or when walking through the hallways to your cabin, not splashing others when in the pool, not cutting in line, and observing the dress code aboard the ship if they have one. Many people forget that they have to share the boat with other passengers and think they can do whatever they want. This couldn't be farther from the truth.

Another way to show respect for others is by tipping the wait staff and maid staff. Many people think they don't have to do this because they paid in advance for the cabin and the food, but in reality, cruise should be treated the same way as hotel rooms or restaurants. Most employees aboard these ships work very hard so you can have the best trip possible. This includes keeping everything clean, preparing and serving excellent food, and being as friendly as possible when you have a question or comment. Treating other people with respect does not end once you board a cruise ship. If you are polite to people, they will be polite to you as well.

Cleaning up after yourself when you are relaxing on the deck or at the pool is a sign of good manners. Even though the cleaning staff helps to keep the sip clean, you should do your part by throwing away trash, returning glasses, and picking up all personal items before leaving an area. This is not only considerate to the staff, but also to the other guests on the cruise.

Having manners and respect for others while on a cruise should also extend to port cities when you are visiting. This includes being friendly, putting all trash in garbage cans, and not being too loud when in a crowd of other people. Many people do not like tourists because they are rude. Show them that there are nice people on cruise ships by being respectful of their city at all times.

Many cruise lines have a formal dress code for certain restaurants or days of the week. Find out about this dress code before your trip so you will be able to bring the correct clothing. If you don't want to participate in this type of dinning situation, find a cruise that does not have formal dress codes or stay in your room and order food in. Being disrespectful by wearing casual clothing to a formal dinner is not considered good manners. While you may not want to dress up, there are those who will. Showing good manner during these times will make the cruise more pleasant for everyone.

911 faqs and more questions

The number 911 has been in the news quite frequently in the last couple of years.

911 is the emergency number dialed by people when they need fire, police or ambulance assistance in a hurry. In the year 911 the Lower Seine area was ceded to the Norse invaders under Hrolf Ranger as the Duchy of Normandy (treaty of St Claire sur Epte).

Anastasius III became Pope from 911-913.

The Danes started the towv of Drogheda in Ireland.

9 11 also stands for the horrendous attack by terrorists on New York City and the Pentagon in which thousands of people were murdered.

Here are some pertinent questions that to this day still have not been answered:

Why did the FBI stop their investigation in Mid 1996 of two of Osama bin Laden's relatives in Washington and a Muslim organisation, the World Assembly of Muslim Youth?

Was it because they had orders from higher up to stop any investigations related to the Bin Laden Family?

Why did George W. Bush give the order to stop inquiries into the terrorist connections of the Bin Laden family based in the US and abroad in early 2001?

Why did the US Government allow all the Bin Laden Family members to fly out of the US while all other air-Traffic was grounded? Was it because the Bin Laden family has been funding the Bush family politically for a long time?

Why did none of the 19 hijackers appear on the passenger lists involved in the 4 hijjacked planes? Can you explain, why none of the indestructible Black Boxes have been found at any of the crash centers? When was the last time George H. W. Bush travelled to the Middle East on behalf of the privately owned Carlyle Group, one of the largest defense contractors in the U. S. and what was the purpose of that meeting? If we knew that there was a terrorist attack going on, which we did, and we suddenly have two trade towers in New York being obviously hit by terrorist activity, and we also knew of commercial airliners changing course from Boston to Los Angeles, then where was the response of the defense establishment once we saw the diversion of the aircraft headed west from Dulles turning around 180 degrees and, likewise, in the aircraft taking off from Newark and, in flight, turning 180 degrees?

Answer:

Commenting from CNN on the timeline, 9:03 is the correct time that the United Airlines flight crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center; 9:43 is the time that American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. And 10:10 a. m. is the time that United Airlines flight 93 crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

Discrepancies between Joint Chiefs of Staff investigations and findings of the 9/11 commission:

There was a highly classified United States Special Operations Command program under the command of the U. S. Special Operations Command. It was created as a result of a directive from the Joint Chiefs' of Staff in early October 1999 by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hugh Shelton, to develop an Information Operations Campaign Plan against transnational terrorism, "specifically al-Qaida." According to statements by Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer and confirmed by four others, Able Danger had identified the September 11, 2001 attack leader Mohamed Atta , and three of the 9/11 plot's 19 hijackers, as possible members of an al Qaeda cell linked to the '93 World Trade Center Attacks.

The group used all information legally collected under the rule of law. Primarily consisting of classified information, all publicly obtained information was approved after a legal review of SOCOM lawyers. The early identification of the four hijackers by Able Danger appears to contradict the official conclusion of the 9/11 Commission, that American intelligence agencies had not identified Atta as a terrorist prior to the attack. This has resulted in a political controversy that has begun to damage the credibility of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission.

The steps needed to accept credit card payments online

Whether you are a huge company, or just a fledgling start-up, accepting credit card payments is very important. Many people will not make any purchases on your web site if you do not accept credit card payments. Some people do not think that your business is reputable enough if you do not accept credit cards. Other people want to make an impulse buy, but if they can not buy it right now, then they might leave your web site and never return. Accepting credit card payments is not very hard to setup, but there are some distinct steps that need to be taken to allow you to do so.

First you will need to contact your bank or a third party company to setup a merchant account. A merchant account allows you to accept and hold credit card payments. The next step you will need to take is to create a form on your web site where the credit card information can be obtained. There is a variety of different scripts that can be used to accomplish this task. The code needed is not very complex and it can be written by almost any programmer. If you do not want to write code from scratch, then many are available to accept credit card payments, so you could also just purchase one of those.

After that you will need to purchase a service that will process credit card payments. Many services are available online, and some of these services will also allow you to setup a merchant account with them, so you can accomplish many steps working with 1 company.

Now that you have the steps needed to accept, process and store credit card payments, you need to make sure that your web site is secure, so that people’s credit card information can not be stolen. To do this you need to setup your web site on SSL or Secure Sockets Layer. Your ISP can set this up for you, and then you can get an SSL certificate to let the world know that your site is secure. These are the basic steps needed to accept credit card payments on your web site. Use this information to help build your business today.

Popcorn diet successful or unsuccessful

There is a lot of confusion concerning diets around North America. One minute we are told that low carb, high fat, high protein diets are best, while the next we hear that high carbohydrate, low fat diets are the ticket to weight loss. However, there is no real secret diet that will work for everyone, and it is important to pick a diet that works well with your likes and lifestyle. In this article we will review a fad diet that was presented to consumers a couple of years back; the popcorn diet.

By now, everyone should know that fad diets fail to work because they are short term, unrealistic, and usually starvation diets that encourage our bodies to pack on the fat after we go off of them. There are some good aspects of the popcorn diet though, which includes snacking all day on air-popped popping corn. Popcorn is very high in dietary fiber which is key for losing weight because of it’s ability to make out stomachs feel fuller for longer without the added calories. Fiber is also essential in maintaining regular bowel health, preventing heart disease and certain cancers. Popcorn is also extremely low in calories which makes it a great food to snack on if you get the munchies.

On the down side however, most people don’t really like the taste of plain popcorn because it is really dry and bland. So instead of having a healthy low calorie snack, they load it up with butter and salt which makes it extremely high in sodium and in many cases, higher in fat than potato chips. Eating an excessive amount of corn can block the absorption of vitamin B, which can result in anemia, low energy levels, skin rashes, depression and short term memory loss.

Don’t let this turn you off from popcorn though! Popcorn can be a great contribution to your diet, and a little salt and butter once in a while won’t kill you either. Just remember, humans can’t live on popcorn alone, and this is why the “popcorn diet” is yet another failed fad. It is also important to note that popcorn belongs in the top five foods that children choke on under the age of five, so refrain from giving your little one popcorn until he/she is older, and make sure you don’t leave any popcorn laying around.

What s affiliate marketing - forming marketing partnerships

Affiliate marketing is advertising for someone else in exchange for a cut of the sales you generate. You’re sharing your traffic for a price. It’s a great way to capitalize on the traffic your website’s already producing.

Being an Affiliate

If you run a small, home-based eBiz, you can join an affiliate program and get paid to share your traffic with another merchant. You’ll want to look for sites that tie in with yours—things your customer base will be interested in. Choose sites whose products are complementary to yours without overlapping.

Before you join any affiliate program, look closely at the merchant you’ll be promoting. Find out if they have an affiliate earnings history—can they prove their site converts at a specific rate? Do they have an affiliate manager you can talk to about your marketing efforts and any problems you have? Is their program well-established? You want to make sure they’re honest and will pay you for the conversions you bring them.

Your goal is to make customers want to buy their product, and then pass the customers along so the merchant can complete the sale. Don’t just paste a link to a merchant’s webpage and expect it to magically produce sales—tell your customers what makes their product better than other similar products. According to Jonathan Miller, of Team-Affiliate. com, “The sites that do better are the ones that select one or two offers, tell people why they recommend these particular offers, and then provide them with a link.”

Using Affiliates

You can increase your own traffic by paying a commission to other merchants to bring you leads. As a merchant, you should scrutinize the affiliates who advertise for you. You’re attaching your brand to their website, so look at their reputation—are they someone you want to be associated with? Also look at their relevance to your target market—are they someone that will drive the right kind of traffic?

There are software programs that track visitors when they leave an affiliate’s website and click through to the merchant’s site. If they convert to a sale, the affiliate that referred them gets paid a commission. You can track your visitors in two different ways, and each has its own advantages:

• You can purchase stand alone tracking software, like My Affiliate Program, and integrate it into your site. You decide what you can afford to pay marketers to promote you and make offers based on your budget.

• You can join an affiliate network, such as LinkShare or Kolimbo. This is a more costly route because the network determines the commission percentage you pay, but they also bring you offers from the inside and give you access to their pool of affiliates.

Says Miller, “An affiliate program can be very lucrative for both an affiliate marketer and a merchant… But it takes time and effort to deliver consistent results.”

Consumers legislators and internet service and hosting providers wage war on spam

Nobody likes it. It’s a wonder anybody still does it. It’s what makes some people so leery of ever embracing email and it’s what has lead to so many others opening up secondary, “junk” email accounts. As such, it’s also the bane of ISPs and hosting providers everywhere. As of the writing of this article, spam has constituted almost 50% of the content of people’s email inboxes and internet users, ISPs, and hosting providers have just about had enough.

By 2007 it is expected that, if no further action is taken against spammers, it will make up closer to 70% of the content of our inboxes. With arrests made, fines paid, and (in some cases) jail time pending, you’d think incidents of spam would finally be on the decline, but we have no such luck.

The first piece of spam was distributed in 1978 (back when the internet was called the ARPAnet and long before the days of competing consumer hosting providers). The first piece of anti-spam legislation was passed in 1997, in Nevada. Other states, like Arizona, have since followed suit. Most anti-spam laws today dictate that:

1. Any unsolicited email must indicate with the letters “ADV” in the Subject line that it is an advertisement.

2. The sender and recipient not in any way be obfuscated. In other words, it must be perfectly clear who sent the email and to whom.

3. A working “Unsubscribe” link must exist somewhere in the body of the email.

California, however, seems to be taking the war on spam a step further, designing a bill that permits consumers, internet service and hosting providers and the state to sue spammers for $500 per piece of spam.

Virginia currently boasts the harshest anti-spam law, banning automated spam tools and forged headers/footers entirely, and punishing offenders who either send 10,000 messages in a 24 span of time or earn $1,000 from unsolicited ads with up to 5 years in prison.

Internet service and hosting providers aren’t waiting for laws to curb the insidious threat to their livelihoods, taking charge of the spam pandemic in their own ways. Consider Earthlink, who matches all incoming emails against the email addresses in the recipients’ address books. If a message is sent from an email address not included, the recipient is notified of the attempted delivery and given several options for how they’d like the message to be dealt with, both in the moment and in the future.

By this method, Earthlink and other internet service providers and hosting providers with similar “challenge-response” systems in place obtain that very approval from their clients for delivering each email message that spammers, by definition, lack. Though some consumers may be irritated by having to actively participate in the unending process of eliminating spam from their inboxes, the method itself is extremely successful in reducing incidents of spam, in some cases, to almost zero.

Other hosting providers are taking the issue to court. In response to 8 million customer complaints, America Online (AOL) - which reported that in a single 24-hour period in March of last year its email filters had rid users’ inboxes of 1 billion pieces of spam - has filed at least 5 separate lawsuits against spammers.

Hopefully spammers are less invulnerable than the cockroaches you might say they emulate. In the meantime, it’ll be up to legislators, email clients, internet service and web hosting providers, and consumers like us to stand vigilant against them. While waiting for the courts and the government to do what they can to take care of the problem, you should take it upon yourself, at the very least, to make sure that both your internet service provider and, if you run one or more websites, your hosting providers include free spam prevention technology for their customers.

Chitika for website marketing

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Although Chitika has been around since 1993, not many pople were aware of them in the website marketing business, in fact, I myself didn’t realize of there existence until I saw people start bragging about how much money they were making of off them, even over Adsense.

So, what’s the big deal? You may ask. Well that’s pretty simple actually, Chitika has invented a revolutionary ad-type called eMiniMaills. These eMiniMalls are banner sized shopping cart displaying items that you choose by keywords, and you get paid for every click on the ads.

Chitika introduced eMiniMalls in June of ’05, but people really started to utilize them quite recently, and started to realize the true power that they held over the common consumer. From most, if not all, reports that I’ve seen, most people’s Chitika earnings have surpassed there Adsense earnings by a large amount, and this is no small feat.

Now that I’ve made you all aware of how it all works, and true power of eMiniMalls, let’s get into the nitty gritty. You’ll obviously want to start out with a website, or a blog, in fact, any median will do, and is needed. You’ll then want to sign up for an account here. (https://chitika. com)

Now that you have an account, you’ll want to create the adds that you’ll be displaying on your site, this is almost like your creating your adsense ads and the same rules apply, we’ll discuss this more a little later. Unlike adsense you can’t save color schemes so you may want to write the colors down so you can use them in the future for any other ads.

When deciding colors for your adds, you’ll want to try your best to blend them in to your existing website, color wise. It has been proven that those people that have successfully blended there ads into their site via good colors, have has a higher click-through-rate, and thus higher earnings. Try your hand at this and see how it works out. If you’d like an example of how I did the colors compared to my site, you can visit Super Justin. com. ( superjustin. com).

Another important factor to take into consideration is ad placement, I find that the better ad placement, the better click-through-rate. It’s hard to determine which would best suite every site, because every site is different, so you’ll want to test this out as much as you can through trial and error. Some key things to consider is that you’ll want to have your ads in high traffic areas, such as menus as well as site articles.

In closing, don’t forget to use chitika’s great referral program after you sign up, and give your friends and relatives, so you can earn money from them as well. Click here to sign up. (https://chitika. com)

New resource for information on genetic or rare diseases

An unexpected diagnosis of a serious illness often comes as a shock to people receiving the news, as well as their families and friends. When the disease is rare or genetic, information is hard to find and even harder to understand. Patients and their loved ones may waste hours sorting through outdated, unreliable information before finding anything useful.

To help in these situations, the National Institutes of Health has established the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD). Funded by the NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute and the Office of Rare Diseases, the Center is staffed by information specialists, many of whom have experience in genetic counseling. They've provided up-to-date and accurate, personalized information about almost 4,000 genetic and rare diseases.

Since February 2002, GARD staff members have responded to more than 12,000 inquiries on rare and genetic diseases. These inquiries come from patients, their families and friends, health care professionals, teachers, researchers and others in either English or Spanish.

GARD's impact can be measured by more than statistics. Many of those who have taken advantage of this free service have responded enthusiastically. For example, "...thank you very much for the time, energy and expertise that went into gathering these resources for me...," a middle school counselor recently commented. "I have read through the material and have found it to be very helpful."

Patients and their families often contact GARD seeking referrals to health care professionals or asking for recommendations for treatment or medical management. GARD, as an arm of the federal government, cannot provide this type of information. Instead, GARD information specialists direct inquirers to resources that give treatment information; e. g., journal articles or clinical trials. GARD also does not provide genetic counseling or diagnostic testing, but will point inquirers to information about such services.

Wheelchair education 101 which one is right for you

Whether you plan on being in a wheelchair for just a short time or for the duration of your life, it is very important to pick the right one for you.

With so many wheelchairs on the market today, it can be a tough task to undertake; but you can easily purchase the right wheelchair for you by becoming knowledgeable about your choices. Before you buy your new mode of transportation, it is best to have an understanding of the different types of wheelchairs.

Manual wheelchairs are wheelchairs that need to be controlled by the person in the wheelchair, or by somebody pushing the wheelchair. There are a few different types of manual wheelchairs – lightweight or sports chairs that roll easily for those with upper body strength and are designed for every day use; standard manual wheelchairs that have the traditional cross brace frame and added support, child or youth wheelchairs that grow with a child and come in a variety of colors and styles; specialty chairs that are specifically designed for a variety of wheelchair lifestyles and needs and institutional wheelchairs that are the most affordable, but designed only for minimal wheelchair use – commonly used for transporting people in hospitals and nursing homes. They are most suitable for short-term use, for those who don’t use a wheelchair too often or for those who have upper body strength. Those who have limited movement or a weak upper body may need someone to push them, or may want to consider the electric wheelchair.

Electric wheelchairs are wheelchairs powered by a motor. They were created especially for those individuals with limited or no body mobility, or for those who use wheelchairs as their primary source of getting around. They are pricier than manual wheelchairs, but the cost is definitely a wash when considering if your wheelchair needs are substantial.

Electric wheelchairs come in a few styles – the traditional style electric wheelchair resembles a manual wheelchair with the exception of the motor, battery and controls; and the platform electric wheelchair look more like a seat placed on top of the motor encasement.

The motor is often placed below the electric wheelchair in order to minimize any noise. The electric wheelchair controls are usually to the right or left of the arm rests, and can even be repositioned based on your wheelchair needs. People who enjoy outdoor activities regularly may need to be careful in an electric wheelchair – most models are designed for indoor use and can crack or become faulty over time. But, there are some indoor/outdoor models marketed today, and may be the outdoor enthusiast’s best electric wheelchair bet.

Sports wheelchairs differ from the traditional manual wheelchair – they are very lightweight and designed to withstand the normal wear and tear that goes along with a number of sporting activities. Sports wheelchairs use lightweight metals that can withstand a beating like titanium, chrome, aluminum and steel tubing.

The base of a sports wheelchair is wider than other traditional wheelchairs in order to support different sporting activities, and the center of gravity can be adjusted for the individual using the sports wheelchair. The sports wheelchair is generally affordable, but the more custom features it contains, the more expensive it will be.

Russian bride fenomenon

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Eveything is quite simple: process of emancipation in the west has caused reassessment social and spiritual values, the woman has ceased to be simple saver a home and the housewife, today for her on the first place - career, children and the husband are on the second place. Foreign girl will not worry concerning her appearance, they put on so that, first of all, it was convenient for them. They are self-assured and perceive men as equal in rights partners both in family, and in business. In turn, Russian girls are much less exacting, and very much frequently a limit of dream for many of them is the teetotal husband and fed children. They have time to work, successfully to conduct facilities and and they always look good. And, at last, the most important and a weighty argument for the benefit of Russian girls - good formation and high intelligence facilitating adaptation in the unfamiliar country and quite often causing pride at foreign men. Such unique combination of qualities appeared to be so appreciable, that has caused huge interest on the part of lonely men of USA and the Western Europe. Such marriages for a long time were considered to be something outstanding and finally the reasons to search the beloved ones were found for Russian women. One of the reasons - a demographic situation in the CIS: the quatity of women is much higher than men. One more reason - Russain girls aspire to provide to themselves and children comfortable conditions of life to get access to "clever" medicine, to live bright and high-grade life, freely to travel and to not reflect on household problems - and in it there is nothing immoral and unnatural. And, at last, worthy men are everywhere - and in the CIS, and abroad. In conditions of the world integration the modern woman can and should choose not to an attribute "ours - not ours", and to much more essential attributes. Usually it is purposefulness and magnanimity, attention, fidelity and diligence, ability and desire the sense of humour and natural charm, the quivering attitude to the woman, children and the house is good to look at any age, to take care of relatives - these qualities Russian women search for ability and find in the foreign elects.

Writing a cover letter yourself

Are you planning on writing a cover letter yourself but you don’t know where to start? Do you feel a little overwhelmed by all that you might have already researched about cover letters? Try not to stress too much; writing a cover letter is really a piece of cake as long as you keep a few things in mind.

As you are more than aware, your cover letter is more or less a sales letter. You are the product that you are selling. In a nut shell your cover letter needs to show the employer why they would be crazy not to hire you. You letter will need to demonstrate your specific qualifications that make you better than any other candidate for that position. Your letter allows you to personalize your resume.

Another thing to keep in mind when writing your own cover letter is to keep it short and too the point. Remember you are not the only person applying for the position. Chances are the employer or hiring manager has a stack of resumes and cover letters sitting on their desk. It is unlikely that they are going to sit and read a long cover letter that goes on and on. They will more than likely get through a sentence or 2 and lose interest and toss your resume with your cover letter aside. Therefore your cover letter should never be more than a few paragraphs long and it should never, under any circumstances be longer than a page. Anything longer than a page is almost guaranteed to make a trip into the black hole of cover letters that never get a second glance.

Start your first paragraph off with your introduction. Address the letter to a specific person whether it’s the hiring manager or HR Rep. It’s important to remember to have this name spelled correctly and their correct title. This is where you introduce yourself and your reason for contacting them. It’s here that you tell them exactly why you want to work for their company. It’s a good idea to have done some prior research of the company and include that in this paragraph.

In your second paragraph you should incorporate some highlights from your resume that demonstrate how qualified you are for the position. It’s key here to keep in mind that you don’t need to write your resume word for word. Only highlight those parts that pertain to the job. This is where you really sell yourself. This is the paragraph where you should dress it up to impress. Put yourself in the employer shoes, and ask yourself if you meet the company’s needs and how you meet them. Chances are this will be your longest paragraph but don’t get too carried away. There is no need for the employer to know that you volunteer at your local community center every weekend teaching young kids how to play ball. Remember, these employers are looking for that one person who best fits their needs. Use this paragraph to show them that you are exactly what they are looking for.

Your final paragraph or your closing paragraph is where you make yourself readily available for that interview. After all the whole purpose of the cover letter is the land the interview. A good idea is to tell the employer to expect a call from you in a specific time to discuss the opportunity further. End your letter thanking them for their time and that you look forward to meeting them.

You might be tempted to use one of the free samples of cover letters that you can find anywhere online. I don’t recommend this. Writing the cover letter yourself is much more personable than a generic sample letter. A cover letter written by you is customized by you for that specific company and position. If you were to send a basic letter, chances are it will just be tossed aside. One last thing to remember is to keep the page itself simple. Make sure your spelling and grammar are all correct. There is no need to go crazy with funky fonts and strange margins. It’s key to keep the cover letter neat, basic and easy on the eye.

Writing your own cover letter is nowhere near as hard or as intimating as it seems. Keep in mind these simple tips and your cover letter will be opening doors for countless opportunities.

Credit cards add that bit of security in your life

Credit cards do add a bit of extra punch to your life. Nowadays you can apply for zero interest credit cards and pay all your bills and expenses with the card and then pay back within the stipulated time frame and pay no interest too. There are many that offer you low interest credit cards but they come along with a host of extra benefits and surprising offers. Your credit card could actually save a lot of money for you. Sounds amazing well, apply for a credit card and then reap the benefits and see how your credit card also saves money for you too.

You can get to your nearest bank or any of the financial institutions that offer credit cards. Give in your credit card application, read carefully what the credit card has to offer. Different credit cards offer you different kinds of benefits and offers. You need to choose the right one for yourself. Most credit cards charge you a nominal annual fee but generally the offers and discounts they offer hugely overweigh the annual fees that you have to pay to keep the credit card active. There are many low interest credit cards and they are very popular in all parts of the world.

There are a host of services that are offered by the credit cards. From exclusive lounges to airports and free car wash at the gas station while you fill your car up, credit card holders do really enjoy a host of free services just by making a credit card transaction. Imagine if you had to pay for the services, how much money it would have cost you. Well, is that not a saving for you? Zero interest credit cards really ease up your expenses for you. Buy something during Christmas and you can easily pay back the next month and no interest is charged, it is truly like borrowing money from a friend.

Before you fill up your credit card application, do take time to find out about all the services and billing dates that the credit card has to offer. Some of the credit cards also offer low interest credit and easy installments pay back. There are many that do not charge any fees and also offer you zero installment credit. It is for you to decide which kind of credit card would be ideally beneficial for you. You can take the help of the customer service personnel of the credit card offering bank or financial institute to access your needs and suggest you the best credit card that would allow you a comfortable credit and at the same time extra benefits for you.

Fill in your credit card application today and feel the comfort of having a zero interest credit card or a low interest credit card. Whatever suits your need a credit card would really add a pinch of security into your life. Start using credit cards right away and experience the fun of not having to carry cash and enjoy the free benefits and offers that come along with all credit cards.

Why do you need a cheerleading fundraiser

If your cheerleading team needs funds to go on that special trip or maybe they need new uniforms then why not have a cheerleading fundraiser? This could prove to be very profitable and could get your team what they need. A cheerleading fundraiser can be fun for your team and it will give them the feeling that they are truly helping the cause.

There are many cheerleader fundraiser ideas you can choose from for your cheerleader fundraiser. You can put together a cookbook by gathering recipes from all the students, parents or the teachers and if you want a good place to sell them then try at the games that your cheerleaders attend. Get your cheerleaders to hold a cheerleading school for a day and charge for the lessons. Even the older ones can get in on this fun and your up front cost will be next to none if you can hold this at your school’s gym.

Another neat cheerleading fundraiser idea is to hold a raffle, which pays out 50/50. With this type of cheerleading fundraiser you sell tickets and the prize is 50% of all that is collected. You will still end up with a tidy profit. You could even ask for the PTA fundraising on this one. They would enjoy helping out.

Another way to have a cheerleading fundraiser is to set up an actual game between your cheerleaders and one of the teams. This can be fun for everyone and thoroughly enjoyed by the crowds. Everybody loves sports of any kind and this would go over very well without any up front cost. Another cheerleading fundraising ides is to have a rummage sale. Collect from your community anything that they don’t need. You’ll be surprised at what people will donate for a good cause.

Make sure you advertise your cheerleading fundraiser well. For another cheerleading fundraiser idea could be to ask the business of your city if your cheerleaders could work for a day at their establishments for a share of the profits. Fast food services are good at this .

Whenever your collecting for cheerleading fundraiser keep in mind to tell those that are collecting to always mention what the money will be used for and who is collecting it. Tell them to be polite when they collect. It would be a very good idea for them to wear their uniforms, keep good records of what is collected and from whom they collect as this will help with the thank you later. With this in mind your cheerleading or PTA fundraising should be a hit.

There’s a whole bunch of ideas for a cheerleading fundraiser.

Great idea...lousy name

Obviously, nobody asked the marketing guys before coming up with this one. Who in the world thought up the name "non-qualified deferred compensation?" Oh, it's descriptive alright. But who wants anything "non-qualified?" Do you want a "non-qualified" doctor, lawyer, or accountant? What's worse is deferring compensation. How many people want to work today and get paid in five years? The problem is, non-qualified deferred compensation is a great idea; it just has a lousy name.

Non-qualified deferred compensation (NQDC) is a powerful retirement planning tool, particularly for owners of closely held corporations (for purposes of this article, I'm only going to deal with "C" corporations). NQDC plans are not qualified for two things; some of the income tax benefits afforded qualified retirement plans and the employee protection provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). What NQDC plans do offer is flexibility. Great gobs of flexibility. Flexibility is something qualified plans, after decades of Congressional tinkering, lack. The loss of some tax benefits and ERISA provisions may seem a very small price to pay when you consider the many benefits of NQDC plans.

A NQDC plan is a written contract between the corporate employer and the employee. The contract covers employment and compensation that will be provided in the future. The NQDC agreement gives to the employee the employer's unsecured promise to pay some future benefit in exchange for services today. The promised future benefit may be in one of three general forms. Some NQDC plans resemble defined benefit plans in that they promise to pay the employee a fixed dollar amount or fixed percentage of salary for a period of time after retirement. Another type of NQDC resembles a defined contribution plan. A fixed amount goes into the employee's "account" each year, sometimes through voluntary salary deferrals, and the employee is entitled to the balance of the account at retirement. The final type of NQDC plan provides a death benefit to the employee's designated beneficiary.

The key benefit with NQDC is flexibility. With NQDC plans, the employer can discriminate freely. The employer can pick and choose from among employees, including him/herself, and benefit only a select few. The employer can treat those chosen differently. The benefit promised need not follow any of the rules associated with qualified plans (e. g. the $44,000 for 2006) annual limit on contributions to defined contribution plans). The vesting schedule can be whatever the employer would like it to be. By using life insurance products, the tax deferral feature of qualified plans can be simulated. Properly drafted, NQDC plans do not result in taxable income to the employee until payments are made.

To obtain this flexibility both the employer and employee must give something up. The employer loses the up-front tax deduction for the contribution to the plan. However, the employer will get a deduction when benefits are paid. The employee loses the security provided under ERISA. However, frequently the employee involved is the business owner which mitigates this concern. Also there are techniques available to provide the non-owner employee with a measure of security. By the way, the marketing guys have gotten hold of NQDC plans, so you'll see them called Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans or Excess Benefit Plans among other names.

Cambodia - phnom penh angkor wat sihanoukville

Cambodia is a land on the mend. From 1977 through 1980, the Khmer Rouge ruled the country, fanatics bent on genocide. Millions were killed and the period was put to film in the movie, “The Killing Fields.” Fortunately, those days are over and the country is becoming a tourist destination.

Cambodia is a land of incredible contrast. Thick forest, mountains and pristine rivers compliment amazing white beaches. When you get down to it, however, travelers know Cambodia for two things, Angkor Wat and the nastiest roads around. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. The city is a combination of old French beauty and modern condominiums. The city is full of amazing Wats [Buddist monasteries], including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and Wat Moha Montrei. Modern buildings surround these monasteries and it’s difficult to avoid a feeling that the old ways are being lost.

Still, the vibrancy of the city is impressive considering the fact that it was completely abandoned for three years in the last 70s. During this period, the Khmer Rouge tried to return the Cambodian people to their agricultural heritage and evacuated all cities. The only exception, of course, is Tuol Sleng, a high school used to torture and kill “enemies of the state.” Just beyond the city, one will also find the infamous killing fields where thousands upon thousands were put to death.

Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is a small, sleepy village on the Southwest edge of Cambodia. Fairly undeveloped, the area is an oasis similar to the beaches of Thailand. The difference, however, is the lack of tourists. Depending on the time of year, the beaches can be more or less empty and privacy assured. Rooms run between $5 and $15 a night and come with private bathrooms. If you are looking to lounge professionally, Sihanoukville is a very good place to do it.

Angkor Wat

Stunning. There is no other word for the temples of Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a temple surrounded by hundreds of others. Each is unique and worth a look. The most famous are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Phrom. Angkor Wat is in the best shape as well as the most known. The Bayon is impressive, but the constant mob of tourist makes it a pain to visit. Ta Phrom is amazing because it has been left to the jungle, which is to say trees and the structure have become one in many areas. If you have seen Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie, you have seen Ta Phrom. Personally, I prefer Angkor Wat to the Pyramids in Egypt.

Roads From Hell

Cambodian roads are evil. There is simply no other way to put it. The country is hit by monsoons every year and is still recovering from the Khmer Rouge. This combination has resulted in roads with huge potholes, missing bridges and pretty much the worst elements of Dante’s Hell. Avoid them if at all possible!

Don t shoot yourself in the foot get a gun safe

In today's world a lot of people want to have a gun, not for hunting, but for the protection of their family and their houses/offices.

Though once you have bought a gun, you have to be aware of the responsibility that comes with it. Sometimes the lack of a gun safe can cost you dearly, if you have curious kids. Or if it is stolen you will not only lose the money paid for it, but you can also be morally responsible for a potential attack or even a murder. According to the FBI, more then 30% of the guns used in illicit actions were initially obtained through a theft from homes or businesses.

You have to take the time and the money to assure yourself that your gun is safe!

Some of the guns are provided with a lock. For example, Winchester guns are sold together with a cable-type lock or a trigger lock, depending on the gun. The Winchester company offers a wide range of safes. These are not only very practical, with a high protection rate, but also have a very nice classic design, that can sit well in your home or office. When buying a Winchester safe you will also buy the assurance that it comes with one of the best gun industry warranties. The safes are standardly provided with 3-point handles, spy-proof, combination locks and interiors which are user-convertible.

Next to Cannon Safes, Browning Safes, Winchester Safes and Fort Knox Gun Safes, Liberty is one other well respected name in the gun safes business. Certified locksmiths (members of ALOA - The Associated Locksmiths of America Inc.) consider that the Liberty safe is the best sold safe in the USA. Liberty also manufactures the National Security brand of gun safes in the States. One of its assets is its certification by Omega Point Laboratories, a fire testing lab recognized by the U. S. Government. This certification guaranties that the Liberty safe protects its interior for a longer time compared to other safes.

Although a safe gun is a good and wise investment, it will cost you extra money. That's why it is not unreasonable to think of a discount gun safe!

The price of the safe depends on its size, on its options if it is fireproof (usually the fireproof safes cost more, but if you have an expensive gun collection it's worth choosing the safe to be fire proof). But you can get a good discount if you buy the safe at the same time as the gun or if you buy it from specialized dealers (because they usually have good discounts from the producers).

If the safe has a bigger size (for 10 to 25 guns), you can increase its security by fixing it on the floor or on the wall. If it is in a small size, it would be advisable to hide it away (even if a burglar didn't come with the intention of stealing your gun, he will not resist the impulse to take it with him and try to open it later).

And remember that a good safe will keep the children or any other unauthorized persons away from the gun! It will protect your gun not only from thefts and fire but also from dust and humidity.

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The importance of advertising your home based internet business

No need to panic, it is not difficult to find ways to advertise your home based Internet business.

As a matter of fact, more and more savvy methods of advertising are cropping up that help entrepreneurs to not only get the word out about their home base internet business, but to provide useful services to the community while doing so. Sure, in the early days of internet marketing it was customary to design banner ads that were full of neon colors and moving characters. This was not a very well received method of advertising and it wasn't long before it came to an end.

Of course now business owners were faced with the problem of how they were going to advertise their businesses. While banner ads are still around, they have undergone a great change. They are now tastefully designed with an eye to wittiness rather than shock value. Additionally, generous affiliate programs ensure that many webmasters are once again working hard to spread the word of any home based internet business that is willing to share a bit of the profit.

You can find other ways of advertising your home based internet business within your own community. Here is an idea for someone who owns a business that sells dog biscuits: Make fliers that advertise your product and pass them out all over town. Additionally, you will be able to attend pet shows and spread the word there. Print ads in major dog fancier magazines will target an audience most likely to purchase your product. You might also get involved with local events – such as toy drives during the holidays – this will not only benefit your community but also your business! If you have a family that is very supportive of your efforts, you may even get the kids involved – a little dress up fun in a nice costume is a definite perk – handing out samples of your doggie biscuits.

Why aren t you wearing cufflinks to add more style to your shirt

Cufflinks are men's trinkets that lock the cuff of a long-sleeved shirt in style.

Some cufflinks are two buttons (knobs) linked by a single shackle - these buttons go through the cuff's holes. One more type of cufflink has a button close to a strip, whose end rotates to form a T-shape that goes through the shirt hole.

For decades, cuff links have been the stylish way in which a smartly dressed man kept his shirt cuffs together. Along with watches and rings, cuff links are one of the few pieces of jewellery worn by men, and one of the few ways a man could express himself. A pretty recent modernism in male outfits, they have replaced the traditional knot which formerly held men's shirt sheath clogged at the wrist, and they were replaced by knobbing cuffs.

Craze for cufflinks:

Cufflinks are still a craze for formal wear, and require that the shirt be made with fine cuffs. These are covering ends that are longer than the armrest to the joint at the base of the hand - wrist, so if it is not cuffed, they will fall to the knuckles. The sleeve is folded back once, and then attached together with the cufflinks through the 'buttonholes,'

Mechanism of a cufflink:

While the sleeves that are buttoned are made to overlie in a twirl, cuffed sleeves are designed to be closed with the two sides together so that the sheath end comes to a stylist point. Cufflinks can have designs on either side or only one side, with the plain side being the operation that is the mechanism -- usually an ingot rotates flatly to avert the cufflink from sliding back through the knob holes. If you wear cufflinks with only one designed side, such as a precious stone or with any initials, remember the adorned elevation goes on the exterior. That is, with your hands at your sides, the designed side of the cufflink should be perceptible and the mechanism side concealed.

How your cufflinks should be?

It is significant that the dress sleeve be customized or tailored with good suitable cuffs, if you are willing to dress in a ceremonial shirt with cufflinks. The sheath (cover) of the jacket must be spacious enough that the cuffed sleeve isn't condensed.

Cufflink materials and styles:

Cufflinks can be acquired in a range of materials, fashions and costs. While sparklers on cufflinks may seem indispensable, some times very hefty diamonds may show an organized-faulty look to the collection. Monograms are constantly acceptable. Far-fetched cufflinks with symbols of a deal are always trendy t-squares for designers, for example. Institutes or organizations will habitually supply their associates with cufflinks signifying their membership.

Choose your cufflinks wise:

Cufflinks speak a lot concerning you, so it is imperative that you pick them sensibly. A universal rule of thumb is for the nature of the cufflinks to contrast your wristwatch band. For e. g., silver cufflinks go well with a silver wristwatch. If you wear a wooden watch band, gold, or leather is a suitable option. So choose your cufflinks, so that it matches your dress exactly.

Buy cufflinks online:

Remember that an appropriate outfit is usually not as stiff as a uniform, and there are many occasions for special appearances. Remember, looking fine, exclusive and stylish…. means you will always be perfectly dressed with cufflinks. You may find a wide range of designs online. To carry your clothes every where to select a suitable cufflink would be unrealistic, so surf through the net to discover a wide range of designs. Order NOW! Just click; and they'll deliver to your doorstep.

Whitewater rafting - family rafting vacations to thrill-seeker adventure

Whitewater rafting is a perfect way to combine a love for the outdoors and the rushing thrill of taking on nature’s elements. There is nothing quite like driving through a rushing whorl of water, having it spray up in your face, bouncing up and down in your seat feeling as though you are only moments away from disaster. Best of all, whitewater rafting is one of the safest adventure sports there is, with national safety standards followed by every major outfitter in North America.

Every state and province in North America offers several whitewater rafting experiences on various river routes. Beginners can try out smaller rapids, in the Class I-III range, while thrill seekers can try out rapids classified IV and V. If you are an ultra adventure seeker, however, you might be out of luck. North America does have a few of the most dangerous Class VI rapids, but they are seldom used by even the most hardy rafting enthusiasts and no outfitters offer tours on them. If you are truly looking to defy death, there are several other locations in the world that do offer incredibly hazardous raft rides. Africa, for example, offers several tours of Class VI rivers, where the adrenaline junky must not only contend with deadly rapids but also wildlife hazards such as crocodiles and hippopotamuses even in the “safer” areas.

For those who wish to enjoy a safe, domestic rafting experience, there are many options for duration of rafting trips and costs. The well established and used whitewater rafting outfitters all employ highly trained guides and high quality equipment, both personal safety equipment and rafting equipment. The guides know their routes and rapids like they know their houses, and can be counted on to guide you along your tour safely and are reliable in an emergency, should one come up.

There are standard items that the person who decides to try a whitewater rafting experience must remember, however. Proper shoes must be worn to the site. These shoes must fit well and be able to get wet and dry quickly. Whitewater rafters should also keep in mind the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, and bring along sun glasses and sunscreen. More often than not, these items will be available at the outfitter’s store should you forget, but they will be quite a bit more pricy than if you had remembered them yourself.

Whitewater rafting is a perfect way to satisfy your inner thrill seeker and get you in touch with areas of nature that might otherwise be inaccessible. If you are on a family vacation, however, remember to call ahead to the outfitter and find out the recommended age limits for their tours. Whitewater rafting is usually not recommended for children under eight years of age.

Ipod shuffle as the proud possession of music enthusiasts

It is said that creation follows recreation and vice versa. Entertainment is really an indispensable means of relaxing and refreshing yourself especially after a hectic schedule. There are numerous ways of unwinding yourself. However, music has always been and will always remain the prime source of entertainment for most of the people in the world.

With the advancement in technologies around the world, new kind of gadgets are being manufactured to cater to the needs of the millions of music-lovers thereby, tapping the potentiality of this growing music industry. This process has brought a revolution in the electronic-gadget industry as we have been witnessing a phenomenal rise in the sales of different music-related gadgets across the globe.

Among all types of music-related electronic gizmos, iPod Shuffles have become a roaring success ever since they were invented. iPod Shuffles are regarded as the most easy, convenient and comfortable means of listening to your favorite music on the move all the time. iPod Shuffles are actually an advanced and improved versions of MP3 players and they offer a number of additional features that enhance the quality of sound providing a whole new meaning to the concept of music-listening. It is no wonder then why iPod stands as the best selling MP3/MP4 players in the world market today. Its success can be largely attributed to its sleek design, unique user-interface, elegant look, and superlative sound quality.

The concept of iPod came into being in October 23, 2001 when Apple Corporation first released its iPod Shuffle. At present, we are on the 5th generation of iPod. This high-end MP4 player boasts of 60 to 80 GB memory storage, video capability and a host of other attractive features that can potentially entice millions of music enthusiasts, gizmo geeks and techno junkies around the world. So, if you are one of those die-hard music lovers and have been pondering over buying yourself an iPod Shuffle, be aware of its pro and cons. The following are a few very useful facts that you should know about iPods before you settle for one. Take a peek:

Internal Memory:

Internal Memory of an iPod can vary from 512MB to 80 GB depending upon the size as well as price factor. The latest edition of iPod Shuffle from Apple comes in two different versions, one with 512MB that offers storage of about 120 songs and, the other with 1GB allowing the users to store up to 240 songs. iPods having higher storage facility will cost you more. So, choose the one according to your need.

Battery Life:

It is extremely important to check the battery life of the iPods while buying one. Usually, most iPods come with a built-in rechargeable battery. However, you should ensure that the iPod Shuffle you are buying has an AC/DV adaptor for quick battery charge. The current edition from Apple includes a 12-hour rechargeable battery.

Size:

iPods can be found in a wide-range of sizes. When it comes to the size of an iPod, more often than not, it depends on the features of a particular player. For instance, iPods featuring large screen, video capability, and hard drive facility can be big in size. As a result, they cost more. Be specific about your need; know what you want from an MP3 player, and then pick the one that suits you the best.

USB:

Universal Serial Bus or USB is a standard feature of all iPods. This helps you plug and connect the player to your PC enabling you to drag and drop music files from your PC into your iPod. The latest model of iPod supports USB 2.0 transfer.

Audio Format:

Make it a point to check whether the iPod you are buying supports some specific audio formats. Typically, all iPods, MP3 and MP4 players invariably support MP3 format. However, some players do not support all audio formats. For Instance, you may not be able to listen to a downloaded track just because your player does not support that particular music file which is in WMA format. Check the player`s specifications before buying it and make sure that your iPod supports most standard audio formats.

Additional Features:

Most MP3 players, MP4 players and iPod Shuffles are now available with a host of additional features like FM tuner and audio recording facility. Some players might cost you more just because they include these additional features. There is no point in paying more if these features are not of much interest to you. So, just look before you leap!!!

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

Domain registration why you need private whois service

Privacy is the control of one’s own personal information, control over what others know about one, and control over how others may use or exploit the personal information. Policies and practices for protecting privacy aim towards minimizing the collection of personally identifiable information. Therefore, the basis of privacy is anonymity, where no personally identifiable information is collected. Making compulsory, the disclosure of personally identifiable information, as under current WhoIs policies for domain registration, cause privacy to be undermined

For free speech, privacy is critical. For instance, if people are forced to disclose their identity, they are reluctant to fully express their ideas on account of fear of persecution.

The protection of anonymity further enhances the one-to-many characteristics of the Internet through which an individual's speech can reach a global audience.

Privacy and data protection laws may apply to domain registrars' WhoIs services and registrars' participation in thick registry WhoIs services in various countries, particularly in the European Union's member states.

Current ICANN regulations require that the Private contact information (WhoIs Info) of each domain registration be included in a publicly accessible Database.

The WhoIs database is the collection of information gathered by a domain name registrar from domain name registrants.

The purpose for which the WhoIs system is accessed includes:

1. To find out whether a specific domain name is unregistered and currently available

2. To identify the person or organization responsible for a domain registration or website on the Internet

3. To support technical operations of Internet Service Providers or network administrators, including assistance in tracing sources of Spam or denial of service attacks

4. To collect names and contact information for the purpose of marketing

5. To aid government law enforcement, other than intellectual property

When a WhoIs search is conducted, the information that is currently available about the domain name registrant leads to the name and address of the domain name owner.

However, when a domain name is registered, the personal contact information such as name, address, email address, and even phone number might be made freely available.

The domain registrant would not know who collected his/her WhoIs data, the reason for which the information was collected, and how the collector is likely to use the information

This implies that the private information is displayed and made available to whoever wants to see it, at any point of time.

Now it is possible to protect one’s private WhoIs information by switching the "public" domain registration to a "private" unlisted registration through a private whois service.

A private whois service protects the private information and shields against its misuse. Hence, one is protected against:

- Spam,

- Identity Theft,

- Data Mining,

- Name Hijackers,

- Etc.

It works in a similar way to having one’s phone umber "unlisted" and it prevents people from gaining access to one’s address, phone number and other such private information.

A private whois service works by:

- Protecting the private information

- Relaying important communication

- Providing greater control

Protecting the Private Information

This implies that the private contact information is not exposed and is held confidentially, and protected by the Domain Privacy Protection Service. Instead of the individual’s contact information, their contact information is displayed to provide with the highest level of protection against spammers and identity theft.

Relaying Important Communication

Without a private whois service, those involved in spamming can obtain email addresses through harvesting and then use these for sending spam mails and redistribution to marketing firms. The email addresses can stay on record with various spammers and marketing firms for several years. With a private whois service, the visible email address is constantly changing, so it will change within a specific period of time and the previous address will not work for the spammer. The Domain Privacy Protection Service secures and maintains the real email address on record so that important information regarding the domain is received.

Providing Greater Control

The individual or organization subscribing to the private whois service retains full legal ownership and control over the domain registration. It is possible to sell, renew, transfer and change settings to the domain name just the same as otherwise. The domain control panel provides real-time access to easily manage the domain name.

Stress in the call center industry

The customers are the lifeblood of any company. The company is dependent on their customers and not the other way around. So a customer is treated like a king or a queen and, as the saying goes, “The customer is always right.” And for this reason alone, many companies see the value of having a customer service department that can address the needs and complaints of every customer on a full-time basis. A call center agent plays a very important role. The agent serves as a link and that agent can be doing on-line reservations, do technical support, facilitate an ordered product, or provide directory assistance.

Depending on how many phone calls are received some companies need a lot of employees to handle the large volume of these calls. Their main task is to take calls and do problem-solving for the customers then move on the next customer that is waiting in line. Sometimes, a call center agent couldn't even catch his or her own breath especially during the “peak” hours. On a very busy day, a customer service agent would take more than 100 phone calls depending also the length of each call on their given work.

Depending on the kind of work they do for their respective companies, its not just taking a call from a customer but a Customer Service agent (CSR) will be doing multi-tasking work of inputing data on the specialize software in their computers. But despite computer automation, it is putting so much strain and later on stressed for the agent as they keep this routine everyday. It is not easy taking calls from angry and demanding customers and be a problem solver at the same time.

A sign that a customer service agent is already stressed out from his/her work are the following:

l Social withdrawal

l Decline in Quality Assurance for an extended periods

l Frequent absences and/or lates

l Negative comments regarding the account and nature of the work

l Frequent and inconsistent complaints about management

Call center agents might not have the best work life, this may vary from company to company, there are tracking software and metrics to analyze all calls like how long does it take to resolve a particular problem and how long the customer should wait. That job can be really taxing and indeed its been a fact among call center industries that it is stressful environment and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible as training a call center agent can be costly and all must focused on retaining a workforce.

Stress Management Strategies

There are still some ways to make your call center agents stay on top of the stressful situations that come everyday. Some tips to do this include the following:

l Find out what motivates them and how to boost their morale

l Ways to recognize and reward employees

l Improving agent job satisfaction

l Create Employee Development Programs

l Create opportunities for advancement

l Making their workstations more pleasant to used and look at

Ever if there are sophisticated automated systems available, there is still no substitute for human interaction when it comes to customer service. Superior service is not just directed to your customers but also to call center agents who serve as front liners of the company. Therefore, having an open-door policy and free-flowing communications between the agent and the management are necessary to find solutions on how to combat stress in the call center arena.

Understanding your dog a guide every pet owner should read

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Problems between dogs and their care givers arise from a multitude of reasons, most of which could be easily avoided. Inconsistent training, expecting too much too soon, harsh or inexperienced handling, and negligence are responsible for the majority of ongoing canine behavior problems. Understanding your dog will help.

Pet owners who take the time to become knowledgeable about their pet’s needs, and who build a solid foundation of love and trust with their pet, rarely experience serious behavior problems once training is complete.

Pet owners who fail in these areas, however, are likely to instill fear, confusion, lack of confidence, and even depression in their pet. Reading this Savvy Dog Lover article will go a long way in helping persons to understand the unique needs of their canine companions.

A Dog’s Unique Personality

Dogs are a lot like most people. They may goof now and then, but they invariably try and do their best. They truly want to please their care givers. A sensitive dog owner will realize this.

Sensitive dog owners will also realize that, like people, some dogs catch on more quickly than others; others are slower to learn. Some dogs are also more easily distracted. Some are naturally more aggressive, others more timid – requiring extra patience and encouragement during training.

Understanding your dog is vital, for both you and your dog. This is especially true when it comes to training.

Guidelines for Successful Training

There are ten important factors to remember if you desire training success:

1.) Patience is critical. Forcing a puppy or young dog to do more than he is capable of doing, losing control and yelling or striking out at the dog, or ending a training session on a sour note all sabotage training success and build confusion and mistrust in the dog.

2.) Keep training upbeat and fun for your dog. Sessions should begin and end with success. Start the session out by “reviewing” a feat or accomplishment your dog already does well. End the session in the same way, with plenty of praise.

3.) Structure is important, so be consistent. Training sessions should be performed regularly. Sessions should be timed to end while your dog is still enthusiastic and attentive. They should last about 15 minutes for puppies, 30 – 40 minutes for adult dogs. Sessions should also be conducted in as distraction-free a location as possible. That means no audience of onlookers for the sake of showing off your “skills” as a trainer.

4.) Be lavish with praise. Reward each success with plenty of verbal and physical praise. Not only will this build confidence in your dog, and create a stronger bond between the two of you, but it will make him even more anxious to please you when learning other new feats.

5.) Never call your dog to you for disciplinary purposes. This will only make your dog apprehensive and reluctant to approach the next time you call. Instead, order him to “sit,” and “stay,” then approach him.

6.) Never over-discipline. Once a dog understands a command but refuses to obey, reasonable physical discipline may be appropriate. Discipline should never be violent or executed in anger; it should always be imparted in a calm, controlled manner.

7.) Don’t lock your dog into shame cycles. When a dog refuses to comply, verbal and physical discipline should be controlled, and reasonable. Ongoing verbal reprisals and scolding when a dog bungles an assignment is ineffective and will only serve to strip confidence. It will discourage your dog and make him dislike training sessions altogether.

8.) Understand that learned behavior takes time. Just because a dog learns the “sit” command on Monday while in his own backyard, that does not mean he will be able to carry the lesson over to Friday’s day at the beach. Dogs do not instinctively apply knowledge learned in one setting to another quite different setting. He must be taught how to do that; it takes repetition over a period of time, and patience.

9.) Teach commands in steps. For instance, before a dog can effectively learn the “lay down,” command – which is, in actuality, a three-step command – he must first learn the commands “sit” and “down” (or lay down). Break multi-tasked commands into simple steps.

10.) Factor #1 bears repeating. Patience is critical!

By working with your dog following these guidelines you will soon discover the essence of each. Patience combined with consistency, love, and praise for accomplishments well done are the most important factors of all when it comes to building trust in your dog, and assuring training success.

Other training tips, aids, and products for pets can be found online at savvy-dog-lovers. com.

© 2006 Lori S. Anton
Savvy Pet Editor

Getting to know more about the newest insect control innovation making your tailgate party insect-free

Football equals Party, no other sport is so related to a party. Superbowl weekend attracts no American like any other sport event can. So its no wonder that many people don’t care if they don’t even get inside the stadium, having a tailgate party would be enough. A TV showing the action could spark the emotions in people just like watching the game itself.

When you say tailgate party the first thing that comes to mind is football and beer. But anyone could do that. To make a party that everyone remembers is to make a party that’s a cut above the rest. The first thing to consider is having a party that’s extremely comfortable. That includes having a party that’s insect free.

Insects can be a nuisance when your having fun, its not enough that they're irritating, they have to get into the food.

There’s no other party spoiler as devastating as the invasion of insects. They get into the food and ruin everything else

This is a party buster that can ruin a heck of a good time.

There are certain measures that a good tailgate host can do to make a party error and pest free.

One of the most reliable insect control innovations is having the electronic insect zapper. They emit a sound and light that’s attuned to the insects and diverts its attention to the device and away from the party.

Usually, this is battery powered and emits a light that’s virtually extremely attractive to insects. Once they get near, they get zapped with a small electrical discharge that eliminates the insects and pests.

There are also some innovative scientific insect control gadgets that rely on sound waves that deflect the incoming wave of ants. Ants can be the bane of any outdoor party. Just leave a dish uncovered and you could find a swarm of ants covering it.

Fight fire with fire. Innovative small spurting canisters emit controlled fire to eliminate pests and insects. Take out your mini tank and extinguish the insects and pests that can eventually ruin your party. Just do this before your guests arrive.

But most importantly, keep your food properly enclosed. Closing it eliminates the escape of scent, which attracts the insects and pests. If they don’t know there’s a treat for them, they wont bother you. Prevention is still the best control over pests and insects.

The next time you plan a party or picnic, make use of odor-free, no leakage food containers. Also keep that insect at a distance and away from the food. Don’t let your parties ruined by a bunch of insects.

The internet is still your best source for the newest insect control innovation.

Guggenheim museum bilboa

The Guggenheim Museum Bilboa, in Spain, was built in 1997 by Frank Gehry, a Pritzker Prize winning Canadian/American Architect. Mr. Gehry is well known for his modern architecture, much of which seems to defy logic with its curves and bends. Unlike many architects, he completed construction of the museum on time and within the original budget.

The curvatures of the museum were created using a combination of titanium, limestone and glass. The artwork protected from heat damage by the glass curtain walls that were built throughout the structure. The entire museum took three years to complete; it was started in October of 1994, and was first open to the public on October 19, 1997. Built beside the Nevion River, water reflects beautifully off the glass walls of the building that looks more like the sculptures it houses, rather than a functional museum. Even the entrance makes one commend the architect’s vision in making the building an extension of the modern art inside.

Design of the Guggenheim was created using computers due to the mathematical complexity of each curve. The resemblance of the museum to a ship was deliberate, due to the port status the town holds. If you look closely at the glass walls, you will note that they look like scales of a fish, and this fish design, which can be found in much of Gehry's work, is carried throughout the structure.

Though the magnificence of the museum itself will leave you spellbound, do not forget the brilliance of the artwork within and on the grounds of the building. Many of the exhibits change periodically, giving visitors incentive to come often, though there are permanent exhibits as well. The museum is easy to navigate, which many be surprising considering the complexity of the exterior. Gehry's creativity can be seen inside the structure, as visitors enter the atrium. Gazing up, your eyes will be drawn to the skylight, which resembles a metal flower, allowing natural light to bathe the room. A canopy covered terrace, glass elevators, a sculptural tower, curving walkways, and stair turrets are also featured in the interior design. The hours spent exploring this modern museum will be well worth the visit.

Not far from this impressive structure, still along the banks of the river, lies the Sheraton Bilbao Hotel. The hotel offers a variety of ways to relax, with an outdoor heated pool, sauna and fitness centre for your pleasure. The Cafй Chillida and Aizian Restaurant both serve Basque cuisine, designed to delight even the most discerning palette. Each room is equipped with modern conveniences, allowing you to enjoy your experience to the fullest. The Sheraton Bilbao Hotel is within easy access to Dona Casilda Park, where the Museum of Fine Arts resides, as well as the Euskalduna Conference and Concert Hall, making this the perfect choice to stay during your visit to Bilbao, Spain.

The coffee making machine

In this ever-changing world where we can hardly keep pace with technology, it’s no wonder that many of us take the strides made in simple home appliances for granted. Those things we use every day – our stove, refrigerator, toaster, not to mention the existence of our dishwater and microwave – are rarely given a second thought. And for those coffee addicts among us who trudge into the kitchen every morning and hit the switch to start the brew (if it hasn’t already done it for us) hardly think about the advancement of the coffee making machine over the years.

It is said that the very first coffee making machine originated in Paris, France in the early 1800s. This particular model was the first in a long line of percolators – and replaced the method of boiling water separately. In the 1960s the coffee maker industry began marketing their new automatic drip model similar to what we use today.

Today’s coffee making machine comes in varieties that its predecessors would never have believed. Our preference for a particular coffee making machine is as unique as our preference for a particular coffee. As with anything else, we stick with what we like and we’ll often go to great lengths to find it.

Luckily we don’t have far to go. Between the large retail chains that make their homes in our neighborhoods, and the small home specialty stores, we’re likely to find our favorite coffee making machine around every turn. For those wanting to experiment or explore the newest models with all the bells and whistles, the Internet can be a great place to start the search.

Online resources give us access to comprehensive consumer reports that rate all manner of home appliances, the coffee making machine among them. You will find detailed reports on most all brands – from their popularity and price to their performance. This can be a tester ground of sorts when you’re looking to try out a new model.

When seeking the perfect coffee making machine for you, keep size considerations in mind. There are some models that – while including all the extras – come in a size not made for every kitchen counter. Take the time to examine each model before settling on just one.

The true coffee lover can not go a day without coffee. The home coffee making machine is as important to us as anything else in our homes. Explore all that’s out there in the world of coffee making and you’re sure to find just the coffee making machine to fit your needs.

Educational toy ideas for your preschooler

If you are searching for the right educational toys for your preschooler, you may be overwhelmed with all the options available. Toy manufacturers are now busier than ever, working hard to keep up with the latest trends and styles, and competing to make their toys the best and most popular among small children. Though the decision of what to buy your child can be difficult, here are several suggestions that may help you.

When choosing an educational toy, you want to be sure it will serve its educational purpose. You want your child to learn something while playing with a particular toy, and for that to remain a popular one with your preschooler for a reasonable amount of time. This is why you should choose carefully.

When selecting educational toys, it is also important to keep your child's interests in mind. Remember, it isn't the educational factor that will interest your child, rather the fun the toy will bring. Encourage your child to play with different toys and learn new things, but always try to give preference to the more educational preschool-level toys, whether they teach basic math or reading skills, color recognition, or just stimulate different parts of a child's developing brain. After all, these simple, educational games can often be the most entertaining.

Chalkboards are among the most popular toys for preschoolers. They are also among the oldest. And since many modern chalkboards are double-sided-- with a chalkboard on one side and a magnetic board for plastic letters on the other, this toy can also serve a dual purpose. By playing with it, your child will be able to learn the letters of the alphabet with the magnetic letters, and then be able to practice those letters on the chalkboard once this is accomplished. It also allows for free-hand drawing and hours of creative fun.

Toy pianos are also among the most popular and most beneficial toys. As shown in recent studies, children who learn music, even on the most basic level, tend to perform better in math and science-oriented subjects, and also tend to score higher on scholastic exams. Aside from that, this kind of toy is a great way for your child to be creative while making his or her very own music.

Blocks have long been among the most basic, yet most fun toys a child can own. There are many types from which to choose, from blocks that interlock, to those that simply balance on one another. Your child will have hours of fun building towers, houses, or just simply learning to stack and count.

No matter which educational toys you choose, be sure they are age-appropriate for your child. Check to be sure they don't have loose parts that could be harmful to your child, and that they aren't too complicated for his or her age and education level. You do not want your child to become discouraged by playing with a toy he or she does not understand. Also, play with your children. If you show an interest in the toys you buy, they are more likely to do the same.