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Painting Still Lifes
Feb 6th
So you want to be known as a painter of still life? Still life painting gives you, the artist an opportunity to render spirituality or poetry to seemingly mundane objects. Though the final creation seemed less intricate than portraits or landscapes, the process of composing a still life involves manifold preparations and specific requirements.
One of the specific requirements is the light source. It should be steady and the artist is allowed to use artificial lights and reflectors. A window that faces north is good rather than one that faces east. The reason for this is quite obvious. The rapid change of the suns position affects the lighting and after awhile, the you will lose the first image that you sought in the first place.
Another thing to prepare is the composition of the subject. You must be sure that it is how you want the objects to be arranged. You may draw several preliminary sketches using different compositions and carefully study each of them. Choose the one that would give the most balanced and harmonious pattern of light and dark.
The next step is to decide what approach you will use. Except when youre aiming for photo-realism, you dont really want to paint the subject as exactly as you see it. Therefore, decide what is your purpose, concept, or even message for making this still life. This step is most crucial because, based on your decision, you would determine how you would proceed.
The oil painting technique utilized by many old masters involves applying repeated layers of paint and glazes. Some examples of works done by this technique are Still Life: Lemons, Oranges and a Rose by Zurbarn and The Silver Goblet by Chardin.
Or you may wish to use the direct painting approach. Should you decide this, a good thing to remember is to decide one center of interest. This center interest ideally is the most lighted of all objects and others are partly concealed by shadows. Of course, the surface on which the center of interest lies should be lighted too. But the line of shadow beneath the objects should ideally be the darkest in the picture.
Another thing to keep in mind are the distinct shapes of your objects and the ground plane. Establish these early on and never lose them in the process.
And finally, after you have applied all the necessary strokes and colors, step back and scrutinize your work. Add finishing touches. For example, if the overall impression is rather dull, consider adding another color, perhaps a complement to one of the colors youve applied.
You may be in love if…
Feb 6th
One of the most common human experiences that two or more (depending on how ambitious you are) people can share is love. But, its not always easy to tell if you are in like, lust or full blown, forever loving. With that in mind, Ive created this list of signs that you may be crazy in love!
1. If youve ever stared deeply into the eyes of your significant other for more than 10 seconds without cracking up hysterically you may be in love.
2. If every person in your life tells you that she/hes no good and youre mailman, pharmacist and local news station agrees, yet you think they are just jealous you may be in love.
3. Guys: if youve taken the pictures of the other women in youre life off the walls, like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition posters, Playmate of the month calendar, Monster Truck Rally 2005 you may be in love.
4. Ladies: men can produce excessive amounts of eye watering, nose burning noxious odor from almost any food or drink, and then arent above sharing it with others, especially at night. Knowing all this, and you STILL want to sleep in the same bed with him you may be in love.
5. If your significant other asks you how they look in their new retro polyester lime green outfit and you say they look hot you may be in love. or you have a really strong self preservation instinct.
6. Guys: if youve ever given up washing and waxing that new car you just bought to watch Sleepless in Seattle with youre girlfriend/wife for the 20th time you may be in love.
7. If you always remember every anniversary and birthday of your partner, and youre not female you may be in love.
8. If you think the underwear and socks you get for your birthday and Christmas every year is a pleasant surprise you may be in love.
9. If you thought the Sears Tool Set and rolling cabinet you got for your birthday was great idea, and youre not male … you may be in love.
10. If you are taken to Burger King for a romantic dinner, and that doesnt bother you you may be in love.
11. If you notice your local florist starts arriving at work in a limo since you became a customer … you may be in love
12. If hearing “Honey, wheres my clean underwear?” brings tears of joy to your eyes … you may be in love
But the easiest way to tell if you are in love is this: If there is no one on this planet that you would rather spend everyday of your life with than the one you are with then you ARE in love!
Easy Money .not.
Feb 6th
Thought today would be just the same as every other morning but when I checked my Inbox I found out that I had won 2 international lotteries that I had no idea that I had ever entered and the family for some dead prince in Nigeria wants me to act as the next of kin and they will let me keep 10% of his net worth. With all this money coming in I am going to be living on easy street and never have to work again.
Anybody with an email address could become a victim in the ever growing outbreak of Identity theft, Nigerian scams, phishing scams, etc…. People fall for the scams because we are always looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. These scammers would make great salespeople because they realize that everything is a numbers game. I get so many emails from all these different banks asking me to click here and update my information. The scammers know that most of the recipients of these emails will never respond but if they send one that looks like its from CitiBank they know that anybody that actually has a CitiBank account will probably respond.
I’ve gotten email that have asked me to update my Ebay account, my Paypal account and my Chase Manhattan account. I know for a fact that I do not have an Ebay or a chase account. You would think that sites like Ebay, who have a 120 million registered users, would send an email to educate their registered users but Ebay says that they want no liability so they just let their users get scammed. Most of these people will only lose money while others will spend time in jail or have their credit damaged beyond repair.
If you check just your local news you should see many stories regarding the scams that are currently out there. If you are selling an item via Ebay or the classifieds and a buyer send you a check for over the payment price then chances are this is part of a scam, especially if they want you to wire the excess funds via Western Union. If you get an email about working from home collecting payments for a company and they say you can keep 10% then chances are you are involved in a processing scam. If you get an email about someone dying with no next of kin and they want you to act as the next of kin well do you remember the old saying “if it looks to be too good to be true then chances are it is”.
Earthlink has came up with a web browser that will help you identify these phishing sites and I am sure that other companies have come up with something also. A lot of sites have cropped up in recent months that will help educate you on what’s going on plus some of them will even offer assistance if you have become a victim. theres one called ScamSafe, another called Fraudaid, and my wife has one called idtheftnightmare . I cannot include the extensions because people then think I am promoting these sites which I am not.
Just keep in mind that there are no shortcuts in life. if you get a questionable email then please ask for the opinion of someone else so that you don’t fall victim to a scam. also remember that most banks and credit card companies will not send your info via an email and if they want you to verify something chances are they will have you call them.
Colon Cleanse: Clean Your Body Of Toxins
Feb 6th
Colon cleanse actually refers to cleaning ones body of the toxins. In order to live a natural and healthy life, colon cleanse is becoming popular with people. It makes one stay healthy for a longer period of time. Many people fret over the day they have to go through colon cleanse. A stomach pain, acidity or gas, are good reasons to talk over with your doctor about colon cleanse. This process assures you riddance from harmful toxins that have already done enough damage to your system.
Do As the Doctor Says
A colon cleanse must be done when the doctor advises one. Doing away with the poisonous toxins present in your body is the best way of taking care of your health. There are a number of things related to colon cleanse that people are unaware of. Most people have one or the other type of colon problem, which they dont know about.
Every person stores waste in their colon that is equivalent to about five to twenty five pounds. If left unattended, over the years this problem of the colon can lead to health related problems. You can choose the best method that suits you. Eliminating the waste from your system assures you of a clean and healthy body.
Living a Healthy Life
Eating the right food and exercising regularly not only makes you healthy but also keeps your colon clean. When waste accumulates in the colon, it starts to affect the body. The poisonous gases that it releases, affects nutrient absorption directly. This in turn makes you feel unwell. Taking a colon cleanse will get rid of all the waste from the body. Eventually, you will start feeling much better and fully refreshed.
A number of herbs and vitamins are available in the market for colon cleanse. These products are not laxatives. These medications have no side effects. You can easily get a colon cleanse treatment and feel fresh and relaxed soon after. A great colon cleanse will assure you of a clean and healthy body for a longer time.
A colon cleanse treatment is the best way to rid your body of harmful chemicals and get a sound and healthy body.
Diesel Engines: Tap the Advantage!
Feb 5th
If you own a diesel powered vehicle, you probably appreciate the inherent qualities of this type of engine. More torque, better fuel economy, easier maintenance are some of the attributes of owning a diesel powered vehicle. Still, some motorists complain about the engines weak power, particularly when accelerating from a full stop. What you may not know is that a diesel engine can be tweaked to produce more power without harming fuel economy. Lets take a look at diesel engines and what you can do to squeeze out more power.
Thanks to the work of one man, Rudolf Diesel, we have a choice when it comes to driving. Besides hybrid or rotary engines, the chief way most vehicles run is via a gasoline powered internal combustion engine. However, with Diesels 1892 patent of the engine that bears his name, diesel power has played a significant role in powering buses and trucks across North America. Some passenger vehicles, particularly pick up trucks, are also diesel powered giving motorists an option to gasoline.
Diesel engines have the following advantages over their gasoline counterparts:
Diesels use air compression to create combustion versus the air/fuel mixture required by gasoline powered cars. This attribute means that diesel engines do not require spark plugs and thus do not have to be tuned up.
Diesel fuel has a higher fuel density than gasoline resulting in fuel economy increases of 20-30% over comparable gasoline powered models.
Diesel engines are cheaper to maintain as they have less parts vs. a gasoline engine. The lifespan of a diesel engine is also significantly longer.
If it is torque you need, particularly for pulling a boat, camper, or equipment, than a diesel engine has the advantage. A diesel engine is definitely slower especially when starting from a dead stop, but when climbing hills or going over bridges, your diesel powered vehicle can definitely handle the challenge.
So, why arent more vehicles built in North America diesel powered? A few reasons including:
Stricter emissions control standards. Diesel engines pollute more, so not many manufacturers have improved upon the technology to produce an engine that is environmentally friendly. However, several upcoming engines from VW and others may change all of that.
Not enough power. Yes, a common complaint, even with turbo diesels, is that the engines are not powerful enough. North American drivers are accustomed to getting on the highway with a minimum amount of effort. With a diesel engine, it can take as much as twice as long to get up to full speed.
Fortunately, several aftermarket product developers are helping motorists squeeze out more power from their diesel engines. Performance programmers, made for specific diesel engines, are helping motorists see a nice spike in horsepower as well as increases in torque. The beauty of some of these aftermarket parts is that they dont harm fuel economy. In fact, some claim to help improve it.
Yes, the number of diesel powered passenger vehicles presently on North American highways is presently very small; however with newer, cleaner and stronger engines on the way, you may soon find yourself opting for a diesel powered vehicle too.
Criminal Record – Stigma For Life
Feb 5th
If you’ve ever been convicted of a crime, no matter how small, you know the stigma that you carry with you because of that conviction. Unfortunately, even something as minor as a shoplifting charge or disorderly conduct conviction can make life difficult in so many areas.
Probably the area where a criminal record has the most impact is in applying for and getting a job. While there are laws against discrimination, and yes, not hiring somebody because of a past criminal offence is considered discrimination, these laws are constantly being broken and are almost impossible to prove.
If you look at any typical job application there is almost always a section that asks if you’ve ever been arrested or convicted of a crime other than a motor vehicle offence. Many ex-convicts are hesitant to fill out this section because they are afraid that it will cost them the job. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter because if the employer checks, the conviction will turn up unless it was while the person was a juvenile, in which case the records are sealed. If ever there is a question of whether or not discrimination occurred the employer will always fall back on the standard answer, “There were other applicants more qualified”. Yes, discrimination against an ex-convict is very hard to prove.
Gaining employment isn’t the only place where an ex-convict has problems. There is the social aspect of his or her life that probably gets the biggest beating. Imagine a guy meeting a nice girl, taking her out for a drink or maybe dinner, they get to talking and the girl asks what he’s been doing with himself. Now if he’s been out of prison for a long period of time this can be fairly easy to get around. But if he’s just been newly released from jail and has been out of society for a while getting around the issue is close to impossible.
In the same situation, hardened criminals who have been serving a long sentence and are just not used to being in society, have a hard time fitting in as it is. Their appearance will be different from most. Their actions will seem strange. They will seem ill at ease with their surroundings. This isn’t opinion. There are studies that show how difficult it is for an ex-convict to get back into normal society. Ultimately, the girl will either find out he was in prison or he will have to tell her. Studies show that the percentage of relationships that actually succeed under these conditions is very small. In most cases the girl will break it off as gently as possible.
There is an old saying that goes, “Once a con always a con”. While this isn’t always true, unfortunately, it is the perception of most people. We have a very hard time trusting somebody who has been convicted of a crime. Why? Simple. If they stole or injured or did something unlawful once, what’s to say they won’t do it again? In our troubled world as it is, it’s hard to know who to trust, even if they don’t have a record. Certainly someone who has already gone down that road can’t be a good risk for getting into a relationship with.
Yes, unfortunately as much as we like to think of ourselves as a forgiving species, having a criminal record is usually a walking death sentence for ever having a normal life again.
Business Franchising Just What Should You Look For In A Franchise?
Feb 5th
What is a Franchise?
An authorization to sell a company’s goods or services in a particular place
A business established or operated under an authorization to sell or distribute a company’s goods or services in a particular area.
How did franchising start?
One of the earliest franchisors was the Singer Sewing Machine Company, which set up dealers shortly after the Civil War to sell and repair its revolutionary machines throughout the country. Shortly after the turn of the century, Coca-Cola licensed others to manufacture and distribute its wonderful elixir. Ford Motor Company later set up dealers to sell and service its products. Of course, McDonald’s is an example of how an entrepreneur (Ray Kroc) could take an idea and quickly spread it coast to coast (and eventually around the world) without starting out with millions of dollars in capital. Many companies turn to franchising as a system for expansion because they recognize that they can grow rapidly with a minimum amount of capital and enlist top-notch partners if the company is willing to share the profits. The company that sells licenses to its system is called the franchisor, while those who open their own units are called franchisees.
Why franchise?
There are many reasons why franchising is the best type of operation for the majority of first-time business owners. Most revolve around the increased probability that the business will succeed and provide profits to the owner in a shorter time frame than an independent business. This allows the owner to address her or his personal goals both financially and personally. Here are a few, more detailed, answers to that question.
Earn what youre worth
Thousands of franchise owners report they were handicapped in their corporate careers by company policies and supervisors that put a cap on their earnings. When you own your own company, your efforts are rewarded and your personal income shows it!
Satisfaction of Achievement
Many business owners report that seeing their actions turned into reality without stagnating for months in committee meetings (as often happens in big companies) is a major reward of owning their business.
Quicker Start-Up than Independents
A proven plan out-paces an independents hit & misses operation almost every time. Looking at just independents that succeed–you’ll find that franchises grow quicker, reach break-even sooner and succeed more regularly than others in the same industry as depicted in the accompanying chart
What do I need to know?
Another question that arises is What do I need to know in building my own franchise? There are four main ingredients found in each business…
The product or service that is delivered to its customers.
The location that the business occupies.
The amount of capital that was invested or borrowed by the venture.
The management team that runs the company -You!
Making a choice
Choosing the right franchise can be a confusing process.
First, you must believe in the product or service that the franchise network delivers. Is the niche stable, expanding, long-term, saturated?
Next, you must verify the industry’s future. What do the trade papers predict?
Check your aptitude for the job. If you don’t enjoy math, an accounting franchise isn’t for you, etc. Often outside sources can help here. A personality and aptitude test (similar to those used by major corporations) will help you discover your hidden talents.
Determine the earnings capability. Most franchisors can’t provide earnings projections, but you must make an effort to determine your future return.
Confirm the potential earnings and the franchisor’s integrity with existing franchisees. Each franchisor will give you a list of its network members.
You should call them to get their confirmation of your projections. If a franchisor (or business opportunity seller) will not give you a list of its franchisees, you should heed the red flashing lights and end discussions.
While this article is just the tip of the iceberg, you can get a good idea why you should start your own franchise, today.
3 Simple Tips For Making Money Online Even If You Dont Have Anything To Sell!
Feb 5th
Have an idea about making money online but dont know where to start?
There are several ways to make money on the Internet even if you dont have a product to sell. Keep in mind that running an online business takes time and effort, just like running any business. However, you can get started without any products, which is one less roadblock for most people wanting to start a business.
You dont need to be a computer expert to run an online business, but you do need to either be able to set up a website, or have the resources to pay someone else to do it for you.
Here are 3 simple ways to make money online even if you dont have your own product:
Affiliate programs
Being an affiliate means you are selling other peoples products, and you get a percentage of the sale, or you make a small fee for each person who requests more information. Most major retailers offer affiliate programs, along with many smaller retailers (with lots of good products and services). Its not a good idea to try to compete with an established retailer like Wal-Mart, Target, or Circuit City. A better way to make money is to find a niche that serves a smaller group of people, that you can easily reach.
For example, rather than selling sporting goods to everyone, you might start a fishing site that sells canoes and fishing products to people who like fresh water fishing. You can also find smaller retailers who may offer more specialized products to those who know a lot about fishing, while selling the basics from Wal-Mart to beginners.
A good place to start is Commission Junction (http://www.CJ.com), and youll get an idea of the products you can offer. Be creative in finding your niche, start with something you know a little about, or enjoy doing, and before long you can be making money online!
Adsense from Google
Adsense is an advertising program from search engine Google.com (there are other advertising programs you can offer, but for now Googles is the biggest and most popular). By placing ads on your site, you earn money for each person who clicks on the ad. Google will automatically determine which ads are best for your site, based on the topic of each web page. All you have to do is place the code on your web page, and Google does the rest.
You can also sell individual ads, and determine your own terms and price. But using a program like Google is simple, and if your set gets a lot of visitors, you can make good money. Again, the best way to succeed is to find a niche, create a website around that topic, and Google will be able to determine the best ads for your visitors.
Write a How-To booklet
If you dont want to sell other peoples products, but dont have a lot of money to create your own, a simple way to get started is to write your own how-to booklet. Pick a topic you know enough to write about, and start writing. Information products are always good sellers the key is to solve a particular problem. How to catch fresh water fish or How to plan a fishing vacation on a tight budget are possibilities for the fishing niche mentioned above.
To learn more, do a search for creating information products or writing e-books, and you will find lots of resources. Once you create your product, Clickbank.com offers a simple service to help you sell your information product, and there are others to help you get started.
Again, be creative, there are lots of problems out there that people need help with. And offering a good solution can make you lots of money!
Making money online takes more than just building a website. You need to pick the right products or services. Then you need to find the right audience to sell those products and services. Then you need to promote your website to enough people so you can make money. For now, you should have enough ideas to get you started even if you dont have a product to sell yet!
Building Credibility – Your Key To Online Business Success
Feb 5th
Credibility is one of the most critical factors that will affect your online business success. Being credible is simply the perception of being trustworthy and believable. Why do people buy brand name goods and services on the Internet and in the off-line world? One of the key reasons is that the brand represents a level of quality that they know and trust.
So how can you build credibility on the Internet for your business? A key factor is being consistent. People are more likely to trust a business or person who acts in a similar manner most of the time. For example, if your publish a newsletter to your customers or potential clients, aim for similar quality in each issue. Also, be consistent in your style of writing. Publish on a regular basis irregular publication schedules cause confusion in the minds of your readers.
Consistency applies to every aspect of your business. Dont change your guarantee terms every couple of weeks. Ensure that all your products or services consistently meet the quality and value standards that your are promoting.
Credibility is something that is earned. Therefore, you need to give of yourself to get trust back in return. There are many ways to do this. Some software businesses offer free trial periods so the customer can try before they buy. Others offer a “shareware” version for people to trial. This process enables the potential customer to check that your product will do the job you say that it will.
Sharing your knowledge is a useful way to build your credibility. This can be done through monitoring discussion lists and boards that your potential customers frequent. Answer questions that they pose. Be a regular contributor to the list so that people come to know and respect your knowledge.
Making outlandish claims in advertisements or on your web site can harm your credibility. Telling the truth is always the best way. Ensure that your products or services provide more value than promised. Take the time to walk in your customers shoes before writing your ad copy or your web site promotional material. This will enable you to clearly state benefits that your potential customers are looking for in a way that they will find believable.
Testimonials can be a powerful way to generate trust in your product or service. A testimonial is a statement from a happy customer saying how your product or service helped them. Set up systems to gain unsolicited testimonials whenever you can. When you gather testimonials to publish on your site, ensure that you have permission to publish them. Also, never make up testimonials to boost your credibility as more often than not you will be caught out and be discredited.
Dont just state what your qualifications are on your web site or in your promotional material. Instead, state how your qualifications can benefit your potential customers. For example, state how your expertise will provide the solution your prospect needs in a way he or she will understand.
Following sound business practices will help your credibility also. This includes ensure that your business address and phone numbers are clearly shown on your web site. Also, ensure that you are contactable via phone and email and respond promptly to each contact. Have you had phone messages or email that were never responded to?? How did that influence your perception of the business?
Prompt delivery of what has been ordered also helps build the right impression of your business. So too does quickly responding to claims on your guarantee. Efficient business procedures that are focused on providing customer satisfaction will always help your business image and credibility.
Strong credibility takes a long time and much effort to build. It can be destroyed quickly and sometimes can never be regained. Have you noticed that once a person or a business gains a bad reputation it can be extremely hard to change? For your business to achieve its full potential, it is important that you set standards and live by them so that you are constantly building your credibility.
Remember that each thing you do in your business will affect the image of your business. Being focused on providing solutions to your customers, providing consistent quality and value for money, and being accessible will all help you achieve the credibility your business needs to succeed.
Repairing A Digital Camera
Feb 4th
It would be ideal if you never had to use a digital camera repair service but the chances are that you will have to find one during the life of your digital camera. If you have bought your camera carefully then it should have a lengthy digital camera repair warranty. Even if your camera is still within the warranty period for digital camera repair then you still have to ensure that you meet the requirements of the warranty.
No digital camera repair warranty covers damage caused by abusing the camera or incorrect use. You also need to check what paperwork you have to send off with your digital camera repair for it to be carried out under warranty, such as the sales receipt and completed warranty card. Your warranty will provide instructions for how to obtain a digital camera repair and the procedures to follow. It is important to use a digital camera repair service authorised by the particular manufacturer of your digital camera to ensure that you do not incur any extra costs. A digital camera repair carried out under warranty will not cost you anything unless the equipment needs to be returned to the factory, in which case there are shipping charges.
One of the most frequent problems that require a camera to be sent to a digital camera repair service is a zoom lens that will not zoom, because the lens is out of alignment. This may have been caused by rough handling or some type of impact which will not be covered by the warranty. If your camera is not able to focus then it will not fire and may print out system error or not turn on properly. It is a relatively simple process for a digital camera repair service to realign the zoom lens or reset the zoom barrel guide pins that may have been pushed out of their slots, and this will then enable the lens to focus and zoom. The cost for this form of digital camera repair will vary from service to service but it should be a relatively quick job, as long as the digital camera repair company has the correct equipment onsite. It is worth checking before you decide which digital camera repair service to use that they have the necessary equipment and expertise to carry out the repair and not have to send it away.
The best digital camera repair services have skilled digital camera repair technicians that specialize in repairing certain types and brands of cameras, hundreds of specialized tools to properly service your camera and some may also have custom test jigs to help complete repairs more effectively and efficiently.
Getting Obesity Help
Feb 4th
Obesity help can come in many shapes and sizes. Family embers and friends can lodge their support by dieting with you or helping you to diet alone. Doctors can help by referring you to a nutritionist and prescribing you some appetite suppressants (also known as diet pills, be wary of them). Nutritionists will help you by coming up with a diet plan which you abide by and then concentrating on an exercise routine when you can manage one.
Another new way to help people suffering from obesity is to perform surgical procedures such as extensive gastric bypass; where portions of the stomach are removed, gastric banding; placing what seems like an elastic band around your stomach, panniculectomy; removing pieces of stomach (also known as a tummy tuck). These are just some of the procedures available and are only for use in drastic times. Many people can loose weight without these operations and therefore do not need to put themselves through a lot of pain which is consistent with each of these operations.
When accepting help for your obesity make sure it is a plan that you will stick to and work for as motivation does decrease very quickly, a lot of weight falls of at the beginning but when the first initial few weeks are past the weight will fall of slowly and you will start to get cravings so that needs to be taken into consideration and whatever you do dont attempt a quick fix fad diet all they will do is mess up your insides. The best way to loose weight is to eat properly and sensibly.
Obesity help is available all around you; there are adverts on the television, books, videos and programmes to help people who have problems loosing weight. Why not join a slimming class? That way you are not alone in our efforts and you meet people in the same position as you. Slimming groups tend to follow healthy eating programmes and have a weight in every couple of weeks so you can keep record o how well you are doing! They then reward people with certificates to keep for loosing weight; these certificates offer a big motivational surge and help you to keep on going.
Dont let others get you down by saying oh youve not lost that much keep your spirits high by telling yourself that at least you have lost something and you have dedicated yourself and put in a lot of effort, by doing so you will continue the chain of weight loss and inevitably make you feel a lot better!
Gastric Bypass – Post-Operative Expectations
Feb 4th
At a time when obesity is growing at an alarming rate, an increasing number of people are turning to gastric bypass surgery to solve their weight problem. But just how successful is gastric bypass surgery in terms of weight loss and can it really make a dramatic change to your life?
Gastric bypass has been around for more than fifty years now and, while there are of course risks as there are with any surgical procedure, in the vast majority of cases patients are more than satisfied with the results and enjoy a dramatically improved standard of living. But there is a price to pay.
Following a gastric bypass patients will need to adjust to a very different lifestyle and this can be hard unless adequate preparation is made in advance of surgery to ease patients gently into a post-operative regime.
Some changes are of course obvious. The basic principle behind gastric bypass surgery is to drastically reduce the size of the stomach and physically restrict the amount of food that the patient can eat and so patients clearly understand that the days of sitting down to a big meal are over. But other consequences of surgery are less obvious.
Even in small quantities the days of eating foods that are high in sugar or fat are also over. The consequences of eating such foods can be extremely unpleasant as the rapid absorption of these foods in the now shortened digestive tract can lead to very unpleasant feelings of faintness.
Patients also find that the dramatic change in their eating pattern also leaves them very short of water and they must adjust to constantly drinking small amounts of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
This fairly dramatic change in lifestyle is all well and good but just what can gastric bypass achieve in terms of weight loss?
There is of course no simple answer to this question as results will vary from person to person. As a guide however we need to start by understanding just how post-operative weight loss is measured.
The starting point is to assess just how much excess weight the patient is carrying. This is done by working out the patient’s ideal weight. Measured in pounds, for a man this will be 106 plus 6 times his height in inches less 60. If that sounds complicated then here’s an example. For a man 5ft 10ins tall his height in inches is 70. Deduct 60 from this and multiply the result of 10 by 6 to give you 60. Finally, add 106 and 60 together and the ideal weight for a man of 5ft 10ins is 166 pounds.
For a woman the principle is the same but this time a women’s ideal weight is 100 plus 5 times her height in inches less 60.
Taking the example of our man above, if before surgery he weighs 366 pounds then his excess weight is 200 pounds. Weight loss is then measured in terms of the percentage of excess weight lost over time. So, if after 6 months he has lost 100 pounds then his weight loss will be 50 percent. In other words, at that point he will have lost 50 percent of his excess weight.
As a general guide the average patient can expect to lose about 50 percent of their excess weight within 6 months of surgery rising to 70 percent one year after surgery and to 80 percent after 2 years. For the majority of patients weight loss will not continue beyond 2 years and indeed some long-term weight gain will appear after 2 years, typically about 10 to 15 percent of the patient’s excess weight.
Again, as a general rule, patients who are excessively overweight will lose a greater percentage of the excess weight (perhaps as much as 90 or 95 percent) while people who are less overweight may lose at little as 60 percent within 2 years of surgery.
It is interesting to note that patients very rarely lose 100 percent of their excess weight and thus do not achieve their ideal weight as a result of surgery. For this reason, it is sometimes said that gastric bypass cannot be said to be a complete success. The overwhelming majority of patients would not however agree with this statement.
While they may not reach their ideal weight and may have to condition themselves to a very different lifestyle following surgery, for most patients the results achieved and the improvement in their quality of life is simply unimaginable.
About Emu Oil
Feb 4th
About Emu Oil – Emu oil is non-greasy and would not clog pores, it makes a good skin moisturizer and softener. Research has shown emu oil can thicken the skin, which reduces the appearance of aging. If you suffer from arthritis or have a nagging skin condition, Emu Oil may be just what you need. Headily stated that after conducting massage treatments using the emu oil on her abdomen, the texture of the skin changed and elasticity was renewed. Topical application of emu oil can deliver these nutrients deep into the skin to support healthy cell growth. Is an excellent emulsifier – it can be blended with products that will not feel oily on the skin. A study looking at factors that stimulate and inhibit skin and hair growth using emu oil and corn oil. While all parts of the emu are used (meat, nails, feathers, skin and oil), it is not cruelty-free. Clinical Studies have shown that two major properties of Emu Oil are its ability to penetrate the skin and its anti-inflammatory properties. Because it penetrates the skin so deeply and quickly, Emu Oil helps to deliver fast respite from leg cramps, muscle aches, pains and pulls. produces and manufactures emu oil products for skin care products and increases skin layer thickness by up to 50 per cent as well as decreasing wrinkles and age spots.
Anti-inflammatory – Research has shown that Emu oil has superior penetrating properties and it is now a registered anti-inflammatory in its own right. There is much anecdotal material available on the anti-inflammatory abilities of emu oil. shown to be an anti-inflammatory agent, a pain reducer, and an active ingredient carrier, Emu Oil also has the potential to lower cholesterol. Properly rendered emu oil is penetrating, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, healing, moisturizing, and non-comedogenic. To determine the acute anti-inflammatory effects of topically applied emu oil. As a medical application, emu oil is pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, burn and wound healing and has even been shown to grow hair. A gentle, low temperature refining process is used resulting in a superior, premium quality, natural emu oil with high anti-inflammatory biological activity. The potency of the anti-inflammatory effect from Emu Oil is similar to ibuprofen without the negative side-affects. On the other hand, a more recent study compared the anti-inflammatory ability of emu oil with several other oils, including olive and flaxseed. For several years specialists have been interested in emu oil%u2019s anti-inflammatory and transdermal properties.
Pain Relief – The results indicated that emu oil may substantially reduce the pain caused by arthritis. The indigenous people of Australia, the Aborigines, use emu oil for its healing and restorative effects, particularly with regard to joint pain. After intensive training sessions, using emu oil on his knees helps alleviate pain and stiffness. – Emu oil contains high levels of linoleic acid, known to relieve arthritic pain. – Emu oil promotes faster healing for burn victims with reduced pain and scarring. Used on burns, sunburns and scrapes, emu oil can reduce pain and blistering and is even thought to reduce scarring. The most promising use of emu oil is in pain management. Linoleic acid (an Omega-6), the second most abundant fatty acid in emu oil, has been shown to ease muscle and joint pain. emu oil hot rub for pain relief – the original and the best For the temporary relief of muscular and arthritic pain. There seems to be a lot of research taking place on the following: Emu oil: wound healing, antibacterial, hair loss, muscle pain. Enjoy natural pain relief with emu oil. A commercial market for meat, hides, feathers, and emu oil is developing. This means that more and more people are using the emu for its meat than just having the emus to use for its oil. On-farm sales: pure emu oil, handmade soap and lip balm made with emu oil, emu meat, ground steaks and roasts. Besides the oil, the EMU also produces a red, low cholesterol and low fat meat as well as a world class leather. Most vegetarians will use emu oil because 97% of the bird is utilized (meat, hide, carcass, organs, feathers, fat). Try and choose an emu oil product that has other ingredients that can help your pain condition as this will give you more relief. There are many companies with product experience that are using emu oil in their product line. In modern times, emu oil enthusiasts have recommended the product for a variety of uses, both externally and internally. So impressed was I with this product that I became fascinated and started researching the extraordinary healing properties of emu oil. Perhaps the bottom line on emu oil is that large clinical trials are lacking in this product. Retail and wholesale emu oil product distributors. With standardisation, emu oil from diverse sources can be prepared with optimal activity, enabling consumer confidence in the product. Retail, wholesale product, bulk and distributor emu oil sales. top arthritis ingredients in one proven product, including glucosamine, chondroitin, capsacin, tea tree oil, emu oil and much more
Research – The earliest research studies in emu oil come from Australia, and Australia continues to export emu oil to this day. Over a decade of clinical research into the effectiveness of emu oil has validated years of anecdotal evidence in support of emu oils efficacy. Such significant successes have prompted more government research to discover and isolate the active components in Emu oil. Veterinary Applications Though much more research needs to be done, the veterinary uses for emu oil appear to extensive.
Massage – When there is something as good as Emu oil or Massage the word should get out and spread like wild fire. The combination of Emu oil used with Massage compliments each other and the good affects of both are increased. “Since I have been doing massage, emu oil has become a major part of my practice. I do both massage and adjustments and the emu oil is used virtually from head to toe. People with chronic shoulder and knee problems get help from the adjusting, but the emu oil really does the final trick during the massage. Significant reduction in sports related muscle strains post-exercise emu oil massage. Gently massage a single drop of emu oil around the opening of the piercing (entrance and exit) with clean finger. When used as a post-exercise oil massage, emu oil brought about significant reduction in sports-related muscle strains.
Use as an acid – When linoleic acid is combined with gammolenic acid (also found in emu oil), it forms prostaglandins, which are found most notably in human breastmilk. First, the fatty acid profile of emu oil is very similar to that of humans. The monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, (an Omega-3) is the major fatty acid in emu oil. The fatty acid esters contained in Emu Oil provide the benefit of increased blood flow, accelerating the healing process. And the ratios of fats in emu oil are critical to the normalization of the healing process. Also, emu oil should not be used on scarification or branding as emu oil hastens the healing process and inhibits scabbing. And the rations of fats in emu oil are critical to the normalization of the healing process. So, the healing process occurs from the dermis and emu oil has an impact on healing at the dermal level. Topical application of Emu Oil enhances the healing process due to its powerful hyper-oxygenating properties. Their natural refining process produces superior, consistent quality emu oil.
Side Effects – There are no known adverse side effects to using emu oil. Known as the “wonder from down under,” the oil of the emu possesses very special properties. Many people are discovering the benefits of natural Emu Oil, known and used by the aborigines for thousands of years. Notably, emu oil has no known side effects.
Type Of Emu Oil – Two of these oils are tea tree oil and emu oil. Essential oils can be combined, and emu oil is an excellent carrier of essential oils, including tea tree oil. It has all the value of neem, tea tree and emu oil combined. Contains emu oil, tea tree oil and peppermint.
Cosmetic – Emu oil is 100% fully refined, pure, all natural, odorless, creamy, edible emu oil that is used by cosmetic, pharmaceutical, alternative medicine companies. Our emu oil is pure and cosmetic grade. This article is about emu oil and it’s medical and cosmetic benefits. Well, it turns out emu oil is probably the best cosmetic ingredient in the world. Craig-Schmidt noted that the properties of the emu oil made it quite suitable to be used by the cosmetic industry.
Structuring Your Website For High Traffic
Feb 4th
If you are in the process of building and developing a website for your business, there are a number of pointers that you need to keep in mind as you go about pulling together your Internet based venue. By keeping these pointers and tips in mind, you will be able to create a truly profitable Internet business website that will serve you well today and well into the future.
First of all, when it comes to naming your website, to picking an actual address for your website, you would be well served including a highly used keyword or keyword phrase within the name and address if your Internet website. For example, lets say that you are in the business of selling widgets on the Internet and World Wide Web. If you could obtain the Internet address of widgets.com for your Internet based business enterprise, you would attract more traffic to your business simply because of the name itself. When a search engine lists results from a search, a typical search engine gives a greater amount of weight to those websites that include important keywords or search terms within the web address itself. In other words, if a person ran a search about widgets with a search engine, chances are well improved that the website called http://widgets.com will be placed towards the top of a list of Internet search engine results.
If you properly use important keyword terms and phrases related to the products or services in proper places within your website, you will also increase your ranking on search engine results. For example, you will want to prominently use important terms related to your business on the front page of your website to increase the ranking of your business following a search engine search. The use of these terms and phrases can work wonders to increasing customer or client traffic to your web based business enterprise.
If you are serious about structuring your email to increase traffic to your website as a result of search engine searches, you might want to seriously consider the hiring of a professional, a professional that is experienced in SEO. Although a professional will cost you some money, more often than not people find the hiring of such a professional to be a solid investment in the future of an Internet business enterprise. In short, the hiring of a SEO professional can be a truly important and meaningful investment in the future of your Internet business enterprise.
Hardware And Software For Day Trading Emini Futures
Feb 4th
What do you need to day trade Emini : Hardware
Having a stable computer system is crucial to your trading success. Imagine what would happen if your computer hangs in the middle of a trade. What happens if you suddenly get disconnected from the internet? Accidents do occur and these scenarios are very possible, I have encountered an internet disconnection while trading. Such scenarios are potentially lethal to your trading especially when the market can move against you in a couple of minutes in the case of day trading.
Besides making sure that our equipment is up-to-date and reliable, care must also be given to the planning of a backup system. For example, I have 2 internet connections just in case one fails and I always have my laptop on standby should my PC hang in the middle of a trade. This section covers the necessary precautions and minimum set up you need to start trading. It is important to remind ourselves that making money through trading is our ultimate aim. It is easy to fall into the trap of delaying setting up your trading system because you want to fine tune your computer system. Have the basic reliable set up and get ready to go!
Although there are no hard and fast rules to your hardware configuration, I recommend the following minimum configuration.
CPU : at least 1GHz
Memory RAM : at least 512MB ( charting software is memory intensive)
Monitors: at least two 17 inch XVGA monitors (resolution of 1280 X 1024)
Graphics Card: Any graphics card capable to support 2 monitors, usually one monitor will be connected via analog cable and the other monitor connected via digital cable. Hence it is important that one of your monitors support digital output.
Internet Connection Cable or ADSL, try not to connect trough wireless since wireless connections are prone to instability.
A minimum of 2 high quality monitors is needed in order to display all the charts and order management screens. If you only have one screen, you might ALT-TAB in windows to switch between the different applications, however, there is not really much reaction time when the market is moving and I strongly recommend have at least 2 monitors to display all the necessary charts and applications.
What do you need to day trade Emini : Software
After the hardware set up all that remains is installing the appropriate softwares and you are ready to go. Although it is not a must, it is advisable to invest in antivirus softwares and firewall softwares such as Norton or Mcafee. The last thing you want to worry about is whether your system is infected or not.
Real time Data Provider
Day trading imposes stringent conditions on data providing services. Although there are a lot of free delayed quotes on the internet, a real time data provider is necessary. Usually the data will come together with software to display the data as candle sticks in real time. Some brokers provide real time data but lack the necessary software to display the data in a meaningful format.
Qcharts off good real time stock data with a state of the art charting software that you can run from your computer.
Novice traders should strart from the Qcharts subscription which costs $95/month. Besides this, you will also be required to subscribe to data from real time exchanges, for example, if you chose AMEX ($2/mth), NYSE ($2/mth),NASDAQ ($2/mth) and CME EMINI ($15/mth). This will constitute a total cost of $116/mth to Qcharts.
Interactive Brokers
There are many brokers out there in the market. Interactive Brokers which offers one of the cheapest commissions from trading Emini. ( $2.40 per trade) also offers good support and I have never failed to get a response from their help desk.
You will also be required to choose which market data to subscribe. For trading Emini, subscribe to US Securities and Commodities Bundle Non-professional – Level I which is free. However a charge of $10 will be imposed if the monthly commissions is below $30.
$2000 is the minimum required to open an account. However, a starting minimum of $5000 would be desirable, since IB restricts you from trading once your equity falls below $2000. IB provides several trading platforms including web based and downloadable software versions. The software version is more stable. One caveat here is that you need to install a Java plugin before you can run the software.
How To Get Hold Of Detroit Pistons Tickets
Feb 3rd
Watching a National Basketball Association (NBA) game is an exhilarating experience, especially if youre watching it live and especially if youre watching one of your favorite teams, like the Detroit Pistons, play. You can witness intense hard court action right in front of you. But how can you get a hold of a ticket to a Detroit Pistons game?
A ticket to a Detroit Pistons game, as for any NBA game, is sold through many ways. There are several options for a Pistons fan. First of all, you need to know the game schedule so that you can then choose which game or games you want to attend. Do you want to go to a game located nearby or are you more concerned about who the Pistons will be playing? Then of course youll want to think about what section, row, and seat you prefer to sit in. You can purchase Premium Seats if you dont mind spending a little extra money and want to get close to the action. Here, you can have your picture taken with your favorite player or even get a signed autograph.
There are also ticket packages. The Season Plan grants you access to every Detroit Pistons game of the season, while the Half Season Plan grants you tickets.to attend less games you can choose to attend 5 or 10 games in this case. There are also ticket packages for Preseason, Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals. Then of course there are special discounted tickets for large groups.
You can purchase single tickets or subscribe to an aforementioned plan through direct sellers or retailers and it is common for people to buy tickets via the Internet. Some websites even offer images of the stadium so a basketball fan can handpick the most ideal seats.
It is easy to purchase tickets online and some websites and dealers even offer memberships on top of normal ticketing services, which allow you to take advantage of special discounts and giveaways, especially during the holiday season. Another benefit of buying tickets through a website, is information regarding events, venues, dates, and times are easy to retrieve as well.
Be cautious though. You might inadvertently buy counterfeit tickets. The teams official website will instruct you on how to determine the difference between authentic and fake tickets.
After youve purchased your tickets, the next step is to enjoy the game!
Three-Year-Olds Most Likely to Claim the Derby
Feb 3rd
All six, which won those races, rank no lower than 16th of the top 20 in graded stakes earnings guaranteed to start in the $2 million race. Do any have a real shot at claiming the 132nd Run for the Roses? You bet!
For instance, Lawyer Ron, with John McKee aboard, has dominated opponents while convincingly winning six in a row. The son of Langfuhr captured a $50,000 optional claimer by 11 lengths last year at Louisiana Downs.
Lawyer Rons pedigree doesnt scream stamina, but hes done everything asked of him. Hes following the same path as Smarty Jones, who smelled the roses in 04.
Steppenwolfer, who chased Lawyer Ron home in all three preps at Oaklawn Park, finished third in a $50,000 optional claimer as a 2-year-old, but won another, both routs at Louisiana Downs.
The son of Aptitude, settled in at Churchill Downs several weeks ago, is among closers that obviously will benefit from a hot pace on Saturday.
Unlike Lawyer Ron, who posted the third highest speed rating of top contenders in their last prep, according to Brisnet.com, Steppenwolfer never earned a triple-digit speed figure.
The highest speed rating belongs to Sinister Minister, who sprinted to victory by eight lengths in a $62,500 maiden claimer earlier this year at Santa Anita. The son of Old Trieste ran away from the eight challengers in the Blue Grass Stakes, more than 12 lengths ahead of runner-up Storm Treasure.
The last winner of Keenelands premier race to repeat at Churchill Downs was the sire of Bob and John — Strike the Gold in 91.
Trainer Bob Baffert decided the ride on Sinister Minister goes to Victor Espinoza, who guided the conditioners War Emblem to a wire-to-wire victory in 02, after posting the second highest speed rating by Derby winners in preps since 90.
In Sinister Ministers case, however, there are at least two horses that will challenge for the lead from the start: Keyed Entry, pacesetter in the Wood Memorial that faded to third, and Sharp Humor, who led into the deep stretch until edged by Barbaro in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream.
The second highest speed figure in his last Derby prep belongs to Sweetnorthernsaint, who thrashed nine others in the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne by more than nine lengths. The son of Sweetsouthernsaint captured a $40,000 maiden claimer as a 2-year-old at Laurel.
His close third in the Gotham Stakes was a game effort after traveling wide on both turns at Aqueduct after breaking from post 10.
Deputy Glitters, who won a $50,000 maiden claimer last year at Saratoga, finished a distant sixth in the Wood Memorial after taking the Tampa Bay Derby.
Garrett Gomez will ride Bob and John, another Baffert trainee that was victorious in the slop over the late-closing Jazil and fading Keyed Entry. The last Wood Memorial winner to repeat in Louisville was Fusaichi Pegasus in 00.
Point Determined, who captured an $80,000 optional claimer at a mile on a wet, fast Golden Gate Fields surface, finished 3 lengths behind Brother Derek in the Santa Anita Derby.
Brother Derek, the early Derby favorite, won four stakes in a row. While the last winner to repeat at Churchill Downs was Sunday Silence in 89, six of the last dozen that hit the board visited the winners circle.
Heres how I see the order of finish in Americas Race:
Sweetnorthernsaint and Brother Derek ran the fastest three furlongs of the six major preps. Sweetnorthernsaint posted 36 3/5, a tick faster than Brother Derek.
In addition, both had reasonably good times for 1 1/8 miles, while Sweetnorthernsaint covered the last furlong fastest of all 12 . Both recorded triple-digit speed figures in every outing this year.
I favor Sweetnorthernsaint because, not only does he sit off the lead, but he exhibits the needed running style to triumph. His acceleration from the final turn into the stretch will mean victory, and two-time Derby winner Kent Desormeaux in the saddle is a big plus.
Brother Derek, with Alex Solis in the irons, will rate because of the likely fast paced scenario. He has defeated several classy contenders from the West Coast: Bob and John, A. P. Warrior, and Point Determined.
For third, I like the forgotten horse, unbeaten Barbaro, winner of the Florida Derby, trying to become the first horse in a half-century since Needles to smell the roses after a five-week layoff. Trainer Michael Matz made sure the time off has been well spent, and Barbaro is training very well.
I believe Lawyer Ron or Sinister Minister will finish fourth, but quite a few others could round out the superfecta.
All in all, luck often plays a role when theres such a large field. Most important is a clean trip around the Churchill Downs oval. Lets hope the best horse does win.
Bet on the Triple Crown @ WagerWeb.com Racebook
Flower Photography – A Mild Obsession #1
Feb 3rd
What does one need to do to get the perfect close-up of a wild flower? Set up a tripod, clip on camera, then snap, snap it’s in the bag, camera, chip.. whatever? Maybe… but consider a few unexpected impediments first. Finding the perfect clump of subjects (mostly the easy part), stopping(screeching to a halt) suddenly (sometimes interesting along a busy highway)…parking and gathering up the necessary gear (easy) – then my least favourite part, lugging everything over hill and dale. Tripod, camera bag with several lenses which never seem to get any lighter and then fun, fun, fun…It seems, seemed a short distance across three fences to where the wild, gorgeous yellow number (nothing exotic – a simple daisy but a beauty!), nods in the gentle breeze..but…
Have you ever tried to climb over a fence with tripod in hand and weighty camera bag over shoulder? “Just pass them through the fence and follow”, you say! In theory perfect but as is often the case when I’m out ready to shoot I have tripod ready, camera clipped in, slung over right shoulder legs extended, spread ready to go (the fact that I look like a giraffe with ungainly neck protrusions goes unnoticed) and my camera bag is old, slightly smelly and large!. So, how do I climb through the first fence, let alone the second or third in pursuit of the perfect daisy without a lot of folding of legs pushing and shoving, and unclipping of my precious digital genius first? Simple answer – I don’t, I try to get through regardless. Result? The air rapidly turns blue around my head and expletives neither original nor inventive start erupting unbidden from my person. And then the final indignity as at least one part of my favourite jumper gets snagged by an ever vigilant barb! My alternative solutions: throw the gear over and hope for the best, find a gate (how many miles to the nearest?), or simply leave it all in the SUV…barring the digital genius and one’s favourite 1:1 lens of course!
My final decision? Leave tripod and bag in the SUV, take the necessary, and hope that the ravages of the previous night haven’t wrought havoc with traditionally rock steady hands. So then leaping like a gazelle over fences one, two and three, I stride toward the perfect clump of yellow. It’s late in the season, so all the white daisies are pretty much done – rich, golden yellow it is.
Selecting the perfect specimen is next. I needs to decide what I’m trying to say in the pic. Perfection with clarity – nature’s form, sublime in its attention to detail or organic soft colour merging into more colour with shadowy bits – a bit of both perhaps. The magic of digital, the freedom of digital – the ability to try everything because one can! I love it. It’s a revelation, a deepening of the creative urge to explore new realms without cost… or end sometimes.
Sure, one can always argue that it leads to lack of direction, lack of planning but one can also argue in return that it extends one’s vision, increases one’s output and ability to see the world from different perspectives. I relish the challenge!
Back to the world of yellow! Perfection… mmmm. Unable to settle on which of the perfect choices is THE perfect choice I decide to shoot anyway, putting pen to paper or rather index finger to shutter button in order to get the creative juices flowing. As always seems to happen, I relax into it and my mind opens up to the possibilities: depth of field, front edge of a petal in focus back edge out and vice versa but mostly my mind is consumed by warm yellow. Kneeling on the ground head down intensely focused – the butt in the air angle would not be an attractive sight for any passing observer but I don’t need to worry about such considerations as this mild obsession most often leads to splendid isolation.
A bit of advice – bracket everything (1 either side in stops or thirds if you have the choice), shoot at the highest resolution you can achieve with whichever model of digital genius you possess and take at least half a dozen shots per chosen angle. Give yourself the best chance of capturing the one you really wanted – the perfect image, beautiful enough to grace your wall, a wall anywhere. One feels such an idiot when one has to declare it didn’t quite happen because of trigger finger meanness! Digital genius is defined by trigger finger generosity or put another way – repetition is the basis of professionalism. Whatever it takes I say. Get the shot! The satisfaction is immense.
More advice – check the first few images carefully on the preview screen just to make sure everything is working as it should. Don’t end up taking twenty splendid black and white shots of a gorgeous yellow daisy – do the greyscale thing in Photoshop! Slow down, check the first few brackets. Check that the ISO is set to 100 not to 1600 from last night’s fun and that all the exposure compensation overrides are back to normal (or leave the settings at 1600 over by two if weird and whacky is what you’re after). Little things but in my twenty years as a photographer these little things become mortifyingly large things if ignored!
So perfection captured, 0 and 1′s secured in the land of Flash wizardry it’s back across the three fences leaping not quite so enthusiastically now, the gazelle’s knees are a little creaky from kneeling on the damp ground – back to the ever patient, ever reliable SUV. Gear stowed, key in the ignition, we’re off …A glow of anticipation washes over me!
But never forget the first things to do on your return? Download and backup! Forget at your peril. DOWNLOAD AND BACKUP just in case you didn’t get it the first time.
Copyright 2005 Patrick Heathcock
Five New Trends In Increasing Website Exposure
Feb 3rd
It is not the same old Internet anymore as far as marketing goes. There are new ways to promote your website that will benefit you by adding extra cash in your pocket. Read about the five new methods of Internet marketing that people are using to drive customers to their website. The basic concept that content is king along with correct keyword usage is the way to go. You will not regret using these new ways of marketing.
The number one Internet marketing plan for drawing customers into your website is the use of a blog. A blog is a continual updated online journal on your personal views or news related subject matters. People that read your blog are constantly aware of your ideas and thoughts, especially those concerning your business and products. The benefit of promoting your company through a blog is the fact that the search engines love blogs. Fresh new content and a few good keywords thrown in will push you higher up on the engine rankings. People will see it and more customers will click to your site.
In your blog, be sure to add valuable customer information such as product information, or business advice. This draws customer interest. In addition, other bloggers may wish to link with to your blog site, and you can draw in customers from their blogs. That will continually feed your ranking and over time; customer loyalty backed by trust will drive your website and feed new customers into your email. However, without RSS feeds, Really Simple Syndication, your blog may be doomed to fail. RSS feeds work by aggregating the information and outlay it to the customer. The customer will need to have a web browser or special software that can read RSS feeds. Most any information is fed into an RSS feed. The good thing about using a web blog with a RSS Feed is that often your information gets to the news media. A well-written blog with timely advice and resources lends you as creditable in your business area. Be prepared, you could have a reporter knocking at your door.
Another area in which you can spice up your website is with the use of PHP coding. One of the drawbacks to using an RSS feed is that because it is a dynamic page the spiders will not catch it quick. For example, if it has to wait too long to index it with the code intact, it will just move on. There are things you can do to work with the PHP language, and it will benefit you to learn how to do it. At least with the PHP, you can make your pages on the site look like HTML files. Do not forget to use the idea of text links too. Links to other great sites is a new advertising trend you can use for more website exposure. With SEO, Search Engine Optimization, companies use text link marketing to get their site into the higher rankings. You can use auctions where you bid only on what you think you need, or through a brokerage, you can buy and sell text links. Just like with banners you can change exchange links too.
Bookmark technology and ways to use them has come a long way. Most agree that getting someone to bookmark your site will lead to future sales. People rarely ask for a customer bookmark their site though. There are software programs that you can use to make book marking a snap. All you have to do is to provide a link and your customers can bookmark easily. Some Java script software will automatically bookmark your site for your customer. There is a small fee involved for you. A simple Please bookmark this site button is often enough to get the customer to bookmark. Certain software will also add a special icon when the customer saves the site. This makes it easy to standout from the other bookmarked sites. Pop-ups help you to get your customer to bookmark too. New ingenuous software will remind your customer to bookmark as they are leaving, and even to bookmark with their permission.
The Internet is a dynamic marketing experience. In addition, the better you are at implementing its new marketing tools the more profits you will make. So learn all you can about these five tips on new marketing trends and go grab some lifetime customers.
2006 Houston Astros Preview
Feb 3rd
2005 Overview:
For the second straight year in a row, the Houston Astros overcame a horrible start and spotty offense to capture the National League wildcard. Houston rolled past the Cardinals en route to becoming National League Champions only to lose in a 4 game sweep to the World Champion Chicago White Sox.
Despite missing the first month of the season, slugger Lance Berkman (.293 24 82 RBI) was able to establish himself as one of the best power hitters in the game while 3rd baseman Morgan Ensberg (.283 36 101) also emerged as a prime time offensive force leading the team in HR (36), RBI (101), and slugging percentage (.557). The ageless wonder Craig Biggio (.264 26 69) joined Jason Lane (.267 26 78) and Mike Lamb (.236 12 53) to help complete the rest of the starting lineup.
On the pitching side, starter Roy Oswalt (20-12, 2.94 ERA) was able to combine strong power numbers with excellent control in 2005 while Andy Pettitte (17-9, 2.39 ERA) bounced back from an injury-ridden 2004 season to pitch over 220 innings. Roger Clemens (13-8 1.87) at the age of 44 still was able to post respectable numbers joining superstar reliever Brad Lidge (4-4 2.29 42 saves) to provide the Astros with a season ending 89-73 record.
Off Season Moves:
The Astros didnt make too many moves in the off season only because they really didnt need to. Their biggest acquisition was signing free agent Preston Wilson (.260, 25 90) who was picked up to help provide more offensive stability and potentially replace Bagwell (who may or may not return in 2006). Reliever Trever Miller (2-2 4.06) was also added to help an already strong bullpen.
2006 Analysis:
Much of the same faces will return in 2006 with Craig Biggio (94 Runs) and Willy Taveras, who led the team in stolen bases with 34 setting the table for the rest of the lineup. The Astros are hoping Tavares will learn to become more patient in his sophomore year and produce more walks. If Bagwell doesn’t come back full-time, Berkman will likely move over to 1B with the newly acquired Preston Wilson expected to play leftfield.
Roy Oswalt is expected to once again return as the ace of the staff after putting together back-to back 20 win seasons. 33-year-old Andy Pettitte has lost significant time to injuries in 2 of the last 4 seasons so the Astros are hoping he can be healthy for an entire 2006 campaign. Clemens is not expected to return and his regular season performance will be missed. He was not offered arbitration in the off season.
Houston is looking to their number 3 starter Brandon Backe (10-8, 4.76 ERA) to find more consistency in 2005. While Wandy Rodriguez (10-10, 5.53 ERA) and Ezequiel Astacio (3-6, 5.67 ERA) will remain the likely candidates as the fourth and fifth starters. With Brad Lidge, Chad Qualls, former Met Dan Wheeler, lefty Mike Gallo and newly signed Trever Miller, the Houston bullpen is deep and perhaps one of the best in all of baseball. Expect the Astros to receive some competition from the Cubs and St. Louis in 2006. If the pitching can hold itself together and the offense at least match the same numbers as last year they should find themselves in the thick of things within the NL Central.