Legitimate home based businesses

As a Work at Home web site owners we see many searches daily for legitimate Home Based Businesses, Home Business, on line Business, Internet Business and more.

Today we find millions of people turning to the Internet for income. It is so fantastic to be able to work from home. Many people simply have an office at home, which is an extension of their JOB, while others are looking to replace there yearly income and have a piece of the pie for themselves.

Almost anyone with the right discipline, basic computer skills and work ethic can create a nice income from home. Once a person has made the decision to do so, then the big question becomes how? You can waste a lot of time and money trying to figure it out yourself or with a little research you can follow in someone else’s footsteps that has been and is successful.

I had been a business owner and Vice President of a large company for years. To be honest I simply got tired of working. Tired of the day-to-day rat race of life. I saw my Dad save every dime and finally retire only to die one month after doing so, thus never getting a chance to enjoy life. On top of that I had a lifetime of happiness with a son I lost to leukemia when he was fourteen. I just decide enough was enough. I wanted more time with my family and further more I did not want to let the same thing that happened to my father years earlier happen to me.

After finally making the decision to take control of my financial future, I started looking for an on line business that would give me the following:

· Income level that would take care of my monthly expenses and more

· Residual Income if possible

· Web based Business – It seemed as though it was the easiest way to reach the masses

· An on line business that could still generate cash, while I was traveling

· On line business that would require a minimum of effort once setup so I could have my time back

· A business which would not require anyone other than myself or perhaps my wife to operate a few hours a week

After many hours of research I found a man, his name is Erich Winnecke, who seemed to be very successful and was willing to be helpful with others. I read all of the testimonials, but I did not really expect to find any bad ones. I wanted to believe them all. If I’m honest I didn’t really know, but I had a good feeling about him. I was simply at the point where I had to give myself a shot. I knew from past experience to either use PayPal and / or my credit card to protect myself.

Well the results are in and I have to say I have gotten so much for joining his program. Here a just a few of the many areas that Erich and his team have given me support in.

· Step-by-Step guidance on how to create exactly the type of business I was looking for.

· With in minutes I had my own web page capable of generating multiple income streams.

· Step-by-Step guidance and excellent support on how to modify my own web page thereby adding new companies on a regular basis.

· Step-by-Step guidance on how, when and where to market my web site

· Special savings on getting my web site published on the Internet

· Lifetime support for my web site

· Access to a large group of successful people who are doing the same thing (It’s like having my own board of directors to help me)

· Step-by-Step guidance on how to get people like yourself to visit my website

I cannot list all of the areas I have gotten support and direct guidance from Erich and his team. I have never gotten more support from anything anywhere.

I can tell you that I am writing this article sitting in my bus overlooking the Gulf of Mexico at South Padre Island, Texas. As I sit writing this article I can look out the window and see the waves rolling in. Mexico is about a mile away. It is so beautiful and relaxing here. Wow ! My wife and I will stay here for a few months, then if we do like last year, we may go out west as far as California. We will visit my oldest son whom I'm quite proud to say is fulfilling his dreams to be in the movies. We usually end up back on the east coast visiting the rest of our family and children. It is so beautiful here and unlike my poor dad I'm getting to see how beautiful the United States of America really is. I only wish he could have done so as well.

The best part is if you want to do the same thing as I have, or if you simply want to make some extra income, then the opportunities are there for you. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

I knew absolutely nothing about creating and on line web business or web site for that matter. I could not believe how inexpensive Erich's program was. The roadway to success has been paved for us.

Please feel free to read more of this article by visiting my link in the resource box below. I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles or my site. Your feedback is important to me.

Kids calcium consumption is key concern for parents

Parents play a key role in ensuring their children meet the daily requirements of calcium intake, according to a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The report also states that most children and adolescents are at risk for bone fractures and osteoporosis later in life due to low calcium consumption when they're young. Three servings of low-fat milk, cheese or yogurt, or up to 1,300 milligrams of calcium depending on age, are recommended each day to build strong bones.

"Parents and caregivers often know the importance of calcium, but aren't sure how to incorporate it into their child's diet," said Andrea Garen, a registered dietitian at Dairy Council of California. "Since dairy foods provide 70 percent of calcium in the Western diet, finding ways to include more dairy can make a difference in a child's long-term wellness and bone health."

Garen's suggestions include:

• Find ways to work more dairy into the diet: Offer a child yogurt or cereal with low-fat milk for breakfast, and string cheese and flavored milk as a snack.

• Serve as a child's role model: If good nutrition is important to parents, it will also be important to their children.

• Insist on family meals: Eating together at home will help parents control what their children eat.

Garen added that the Dairy Council of California's meal-planning Web site ( mealsmat ter. org) contains hundreds of free and easy-to-make, calcium-rich recipe ideas, including Chicken Crunchers. Parents can try this and other palate-pleasing recipes to help their children meet their daily calcium requirements.

Chicken Crunchers

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

Salt

Pepper

4 Egg whites

1/2 cup milk

11/2 cups cornflakes

1 cup reduced-fat, shredded cheddar cheese

6 Chicken breast fillets; cut into strips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Set up three bowls with the following: 1) flour mixed with a pinch of salt and pepper; 2) an egg-wash, made by beating the eggs and milk together; 3) cornflakes mixed with cheese. Coat a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Dip chicken pieces in flour, then into the egg-wash, then roll in the cheesy-flakes mixture. Bake for 25 minutes, turning halfway through to ensure even browning. Serve with ketchup, BBQ sauce or plain yogurt for dipping, if desired.

Total Preparation Time: 15 to 30 minutes.

Cost-saving techniques help local charities focus on relief programs

The worst of nature's fury often brings out the best in people's generosity toward those affected by disasters. For example, according to national headquarters of the American Red Cross, the organization received more than $2.12 billion from September to December 2005 to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in the south-central United States, with much of the money contributed through local American Red Cross chapters around the country.

What many people may not realize is that 100 percent of those dedicated donations went straight to the national Red Cross organization, creating some unintended fund-raising challenges for local chapters in their ongoing mission to serve the needs of people closer to home.

"Americans were very generous in giving to major national and international relief campaigns throughout the past year," said Rick Hankins, director of administrative services and information technology for the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross.

"At the same time, events like Hurricane Katrina lead to what we call 'donor fatigue'; people feel like they've already given all they can," he said. "Meanwhile, there are still between one to three house fires in the greater Cleveland area each night, and we still depend heavily on local donations in order to help those families."

When local donations dip below expected levels, charitable organizations such as local chapters of the Red Cross must quickly adjust their budgets and reduce expenses wherever possible. One way Hankins and his fellow managers have succeeded at this is through adopting new financial management technology to help them create more accurate budgets with less administrative overhead.

"We've switched from compiling budget spreadsheets by hand, which used to take days or weeks, to a Web-based budgeting application called Microsoft Forecaster that automates the entire process," he said. "By managing our resources more effectively, we can put a bigger slice of every dollar toward helping people in need."

Other ways the Cleveland-area Red Cross and chapters elsewhere have streamlined their operations include delivering more volunteer training classes online instead of in a classroom, and using the Web and e-mail to reach a larger pool of potential donors at a lower cost compared with regular mail.

"Technology has made a big difference in helping us work smarter," Hankins said, "so our donors can know that their gifts truly have a positive impact in this community."

Como mantener tu salud mental

En los ъltimos aсos la mucha gente se ha dado cuenta de la importancia de una dieta apropiada y acompaсada de ejercicio fнsico. En los pasados 20 aсos sin duda ha habido un cambio en cuanto al estado de salud de muchas sociedades, que ha determinado una mejor calidad de vida. Sin embargo, esto no ha traнdo salud mental que es tan importante como la salud fнsica.

Hoy en dнa, la mayorнa de la gente hace de 4 a 6 horas de ejercicio por dнa, y se asegura de que todo lo que ingiere, no tiene azucares o preservantes, pero no prestan atenciуn a su salud mental. Es decir, mucha gente no toma las vacaciones necesarias, ni siquiera en los fines de semana largos. La gente trabaja 60 horas por semana, llevбndose a las casas los problemas del trabajo y trabajando los fines de semana tambiйn. Todo esto con esperanzas de mejorar la calidad de vida material. Pero, їde que sirve todo el esfuerzo cuando el cerebro esta abundado y sientes explotar en la oficina?

Al final, la salud fнsica puede sufrir no importa que bien comas y hagas ejercicio. Probablemente tengas alta presiуn, estrйs y tensiуn lo cual pondrб en alto riesgo tu salud.

Para ayudarte a evitar llegar a alguna de las anteriores situaciones, aquн te presento algunos consejos para mejorar tu condiciуn mental.

Si disfrutas la adrenalina, te recomiendo que pruebes deportes como kite surfing, bunge jumping, y demбs. Si disfrutas andar en motocicleta es muy bueno andar en contra del viento como terapia para relajarse y disfrutar un buen viaje.

Buscar actividades que te desconecten de la rutina diaria (la cual a veces puede ser estresante) es la clave principal. Por ejemplo, si disfrutas leer, un buen libro de ciencia ficciуn como "Harry Potter", "Lord of the Rings" u otros pueden ser perfectos para ti. Si disfrutas en cambio mirar pelнculas, entonces comienza con hacerte socio de una tienda de DVDs y veras que bien te harб.

Actividades como paseos fuera de la ciudad, visitar viсedos, campos, parques y demбs son esenciales a la hora de relajarse. Si disfrutas las montaсas, todavнa puedes ir a visitar la nieve, esquiar y aflojar tu mente. Las vacaciones, por mбs pequeсas que sean te llenaran el alma con memorias alegres y positivas.

Si disfrutas andar en bicicleta, o en patines esas son actividades que te destaparan y ayudaran a sentirte mejor. Siempre es divertido hacerlo con amigos que estйn dispuestos a un poco de aventura. Organizar un grupo grande de gente que quiera hacerlo es una buena idea, que los puede llevar a conocer lugares que nunca creнas que ibas a encontrar. Rнos abandonados, pasajes que estбn cerrados para la gente, bosques y demбs lugares increнbles para conocer.

En fin, hay un sin fin de actividades para llevar a cabo si buscas caminos diferentes para mejorar tu salud mental y relajarte naturalmente. No olvides que la salud mental es tan importante como la fнsica y que para tener una hay que tener la otra!

Is payment protection worth it

If you have a credit card, then you will have been offered payment protection insurance to go with it. You may or may not have taken the insurance, or it may have been included in your charges without you knowing. Many people have payment protection, but are unsure of its costs and benefits. Payment protection can be useful, but it is also expensive and only worthwhile if you really need it. Here are some hints and tips to help you decide if payment protection is worth the money you pay for it:

What is Payment Protection Insurance?

Payment Protection Insurance, or PPI, is a type of insurance policy for credit cards. The policy covers your payments should you have an accident or illness or lose your jobs. The idea is that if you cannot pay your bill through no fault of your own, then the insurance will cover your payments. However, there are a number of pitfalls with such insurance, apart from the fact that it is usually quite expensive.

Limited pay out period

One problem with PPI is that it only pays out for a certain amount of time. If you have a serious illness and cannot pay for months or years, then this insurance cannot help you. The usual maximum payment period is a year. However, the way the debt is paid off by the insurance should mean you are debt free after this period.

Hidden costs

One of the main problems with PPI is its cost. PPI usually costs 70 or 80p per Ј100 outstanding balance. This means the cost is very high when you owe a lot of money, but you often don’t realise this because the large numbers involved hide the charges. Also, if you pay by Direct Debit each month, by the time you have tried to claim the bill might have already been paid by the debit.

Rarely pays out

Another issue with PPI is that the amount you area actually covered for is very small. You often pay for things that are of no relevance to you. For example, if you are self-employed you cannot claim for most of the unemployment cover, but you still pay for it. If you are going to get PPI, then check to make sure that you have the cover you really want and that the policy is useful for you.

Other options

Due to the problems with PPI, it pays to look at the alternatives. Obviously, one alternative is to not have PPI at all. It costs you money, especially if you have a large balance, and gives you few benefits. However, the best alternative to PPI from credit card companies is to get a policy from an independent company. These PPI policies are usually a flat rate of only a few pounds, and will give you cover in case you need it for much less money.

PPI can be worthwhile if you can afford the payments and you have a low balance. However, if you are self-employed and need to save money, then PPI is something you can usually do without.

Top coffee recipes to impress the loved ones

Have you ever tried preparing fancy coffee adding whiskey or other things? Yes! Coffee can be prepared adding various recipes to it for the taste you want. The tradition of serving coffee with a different relishing flavor has been there since ages. There are as many ways to prepare coffee as there are races in the world.

Discover here the art of preparing a variety of the most experimented beverage in the world. There is no longer any need to step in a restaurant for sipping your favorite cup. You can prepare it with a difference, every day to the wish of your gusto and enjoy a cupful of it being hypnotized in its flavor. The modus operandi is very simple and you simply need the ingredients of the recipe for the kind of the taste you want.

Let's reveal the secrets of some of the ecstatic flavors of coffee beans:

Cafe Borgia

This Italian serving needs hot chocolate, whipped cream and grated orange peels as its main ingredients. Take two cups of strong Italian coffee and mix it with another two cups of hot chocolate. You can make the proportion as per your need but the coffee and the chocolate ratio must be the same. Pour it in the mug and add the cream and the orange peels...And its ready for an amazing sip!

Irish Coffee

A cup of Irish Coffee lights up the mood and fascinates truly in Irish way. A cup of it requires Irish whiskey, cream, and sugar. Prepare a cup of strong coffee, then add one shot of Irish whiskey and the amount of sugar you need. Put the cream over the top. It's ready for the shot!

Caribbean Coffee

This is a sweet coffee for a sweet mood. Feel the taste of coco in a tart flavor. You need baked grated coconut, coconut water, milk, sugar and cream if you are willing for a little change. Make three cups of strong coffee. Mix the grated coco, milk and coco water in a pan and heat it till it is creamy. Put some extra grated coconut in the cup to be served, pour the coffee and the milk mixture prepared along with some sugar. The sip of it will take you to the beaches of Caribbean!

The Mexican Mocha

You require two cups of strong coffee, chocolate syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, whipping cream for the mocha to comfort you in the scorching sun. Mix the chocolate syrup, cream, cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg in a cup. Pour strong coffee prepared into the mug and add little bit of cinnamon in it. Add some chocolate syrup and stir well. Pour the mixture of cream over it. Have it and feel it!

While trying these coffee recipes, you will be a coffee expert. Be innovative in your coffee preparations and give it name you want and surprise your friends and loved ones.

Test your ability to handle crisis

Who has not faced a crisis in his/her life? All of us do? The difference is in our response. Our response defines and decides our ultimate success in a crisis. Let us look at this

Calm - Some of us are very calm during a crisis. They will not easily show their emotions. Their mind might be under turmoil but their actions will not reveal that. This gives great confidence to others around. Calmness has another virtue. With calm mind, we can think coolly and decide about the course of action. That can increase the chance of success manifold.

Surrender - many of us give in as soon as a crisis appears. We are left with no strength to fight it. We don’t believe that we can over come the crisis and surrender. Our mind stos all-creative thinking and accepts the failure.

Disturbed - many of us get greatly perturbed during a crisis. We are so disturbed that we don’t know what to do. Our mind runs hither thither and we are totally confused. This creates real panic and confusion around and leads to failure most of the times.

Crisis has come. By getting disturbed or surrendering, it will not go away. Why not face it calmly. Why not count all the losses and try to recover what is left. Why not plan for future and go ahead accepting the losses cheerfully? These qualities make a winner in life.

Reduce worker leg back pain with anti fatigue mats

Do you know the largest cause of physician visits in the United States?

The flu? The Common cold? No, the largest cause of physician visits is lower back pain, apart from headaches.

Lower back pain can be quite a drag, especially since its usually accompaniend by dreadful foot & leg pain. A major cause of foot, leg, & back pain is harsh and demanding work environments, where a worker can stand on an extremely hard surface for prolonged time frames.

Working on hard surfaces can cause severe fatigue, which is when the muscles are constricted and blood flow is reduced. In this state, the heart works a lot harder to pump blood through the troubled areas, and the body runs out of energy. The negative effects are pain and exhaustion.

One solution to this ever-growing problem is to use anti fatigue mats in the workplace, especially in areas where a lot of standing labor is performed. Apart from cushioning, anti fatigue mats provide a gentle "rebound" which encourages subtle movement of leg and calf muscles, thus promoting an easier flow of blood to and from the heart. Basically, through more efficient muscle activity, the imbalance of constricted blood is virtually eliminated.

So what is the proof that anti fatigue mats actually work?

There are several studies that prove the efficacy of anti fatigue mats, with the most notable one being a format study at the Center of Ergonomics at the University of Michigan. Mark Redfern, an economist, tested the effects of a variety of floor conditions on physical fatigue. Fourteen subjects were required to stand throughout their entire shift at the Ford Chesterfield Trim Plant. Two of the surfaces tested were concrete and a 3/8" rubber anti-fatigue mat. The conclusive result of the study was that hard concrete floors caused the greatest amount of discomfort and fatigue, while anti fatigue mats were able to reduce it by as much as 50%.

Your company can directly benefit from the use of anti fatigue mats through increased worker productivity, reduced worker compensation costs, and lower insurance costs and absenteeism. Since it is a well-established fact that companies are losing billions of dollars each year due to the above mentioned worker related issues, it only makes sense to make a trivial investment on anti fatigue matting to dramatically reduce these losses.

In addition to pain and discomfort, prolonged standing on hard surfaces can also cause long-term problems. Pronation, which is the extensive flattening of the foot, and varicose veins, which are caused by the stagnation of blood in lower areas, are two health problems associated with standing trauma. These problems are very costly in terms of worker compensation and insurance, not to mention the resulting lack of productivity and employee turnover.

Anti fatigue mats are a real solution, as recommended by the National Safety Council in its publication "Ergonomics". Amongst the professionals who recommend anti fatigue mats are ergonomists, occupational nurses, insurance agents, and POM managers.

It is essential that the workplace be safe and pleasant in order to promote the highest levels of productivity, reduce the rate of absenteeism and turnover, increase employee satisfaction, and as a direct result, cut costs and improve profits.

Tips on preparing your car for a resale

As new vehicle models make their way out of the factories and into dealerships, many customers will look to trade in or resell their current cars.

There are numerous factors that determine a vehicle's resale value, such as the make and model of the vehicle as well as its age, mileage and overall condition. Although a large portion of the resale value is predetermined, car owners can increase the value by taking proper care of the vehicle to keep it in its optimum condition.

The service specialists at Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge provide the following tips to help car owners prepare their vehicles for resale or trade-in:

* Have all ownership materials. The documentation that accompanied the vehicle when first purchased is a key component in resale value. Ownership materials include the warranty manual and owner's manual. It also is important to have the spare key and, when applicable, the convertible top boot cover.

* Look under the hood and fill all fluids. These include brake fluid, power steering fluid and wiper fluid, along with oil, coolant and antifreeze.

* Do basic operational checks. First, check the dashboard to see if any warning lights are lit and address any indicated problems. Second, make sure all lights, locks, windows, wipers, turn signals, the trunk release, mirrors, seat belts, defrosters, the horn, air conditioning and heat systems and seat adjusters work. Accessories that were purchased with the vehicle, such as heated seats or a sunroof, should also be in working order.

* Conduct your own road test. Make sure the vehicle easily starts and the gear selector functions properly. Also, check steering performance and make sure that the cruise control, overdrive, gauges and sound system are in tip-top shape. Finally, check to see if the acceleration and brakes are operating effectively.

* Check for leaks. Inspect under the hood for any dramatic decreases in fluid levels.

* Evaluate overall appearance. Externally, check for dents and scratches, ensure all the wheels match and are filled, and remove any decals and stickers. Internally, clean the floors, mats and seats, along with the panels and dashboard. Remove all personal items from the glove compartment and trunk. Finally, have your vehicle professionally washed and detailed prior to having the resale value evaluation.

And lastly, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge specialists recommend regular service and maintenance checkups by certified automotive experts throughout your vehicle's life. Although your dealership should keep a detailed history of your vehicle on file, keep your own record of all checkups and maintenance performed on your vehicle in a logbook to demonstrate that proper care was provided. - NU

Gated communities a safe bet

Many of the new property developments on Coast Rica's beautiful "Gold Coast" are gated communities. These are an ideal choice for investment, especially if you aren't planning on living in your property all year round.

Owning land in absentia can pose some unique issues in Costa Rica, where squatter laws give an individual some rights to land if the legitimate owner has allowed them to reside there for over a year. This doesn't mean that you've given them consent to live on your land – it simply means that you haven't kicked them off. Squatters look for uninhabited land and set up residence, sometimes planting a few crops, and hope to remain undiscovered long enough to make a claim.

There are many ways to avoid this headache – you can have someone local check on your property, employ a caretaker (and keep good records so that they can't claim squatter status), or visit your property every three months. If squatters are discovered within 90 days the police are required to remove them from your property. To have them removed after a year, the legal landowner must go through a lawsuit which is an expense (and headache) that most people would rather avoid, and in some cases they could even lose ownership of their land.

An easy way to avoid this is to buy property in a gated community. This option ensures that your home is watched when you are not in town as well as having additional benefits. Gated communities are generally a more secure option than striking out alone, especially in areas that are big tourist destinations. Costa Rica is a very safe country: violent crime rates are much lower here than in other countries but petty offenses such as theft and property crime are not uncommon, especially in traveler-dense areas. Many condo developments and gated communities offer an entry system and private security included in the residents' fees, and your neighbors offer many sets of eyes to keep watch over your place.

Most of these developments offer infrastructure that is well above the national average, with underground electricity, great roads and community areas, and some even offer their own water systems and shopping areas.

The other advantage of owning in a gated community is that you can easily enter a property management arrangement, turning your empty home into a money making venture that pays for itself when you aren't around. The Guanacaste area has become an increasingly popular resort destination because of its warm weather, amazing beaches and general beauty. There's no doubt that a smart investment in this area will pay dividends and gated communities are a safe bet!

Finding the right payday loan

Also look for a payday loan site that is professionally designed and managed, run by a real company that understands the business and markets it works in.

All payday loan companies that provide cash payday loans must have a state license. Certain states don’t allow payday loans, so they will not issue a license to any company in that state for that purpose. When looking at a particular payday loan lender you should feel free to e-mail them at their contact information and ask for information regarding their state lending license. For example, the lending institution for Personal Cash Advance is located in South Dakota. The company is officially licensed by the State of South Dakota. When they issue a payday loan contract with a client, it is deemed to take place in South Dakota, regardless of where the client or his/her bank resides. Therefore the payday loan contract is bound by the laws of South Dakota.

Security is also a major concern when shopping for the right payday loan. When a client completes the Personal Cash Advance application page, the connection will be “SSL” which stands for Secure Socket Layer. Secure Socket Layers provide the best means of encryption available to commercial websites today. The personal data stored the data on our computers is also encrypted with the highest standards currently available.

Ask any payday loan lender you consider doing business with about their data security. You might be surprised at their responses. If they are evasive or unclear in their answers, go somewhere else!

Finally, make sure someone is available to answer your all your application questions. Many payday loan lenders leave you wondering what’s going on. Although price is important, customer service is even more important.

Practice is what it takes to become a complete baseball player

Baseball is primarily a game of skill and therefore the best athlete doesn't always make the best baseball player. This is especially true if they don’t have the skills needed to be a complete player. Baseball is a game of pitching, catching, base running, throwing, and hitting. If you want to improve in these areas you must practice, practice, practice. It can be particularly helpful to practice very quickly going from one drill to the other. But you must stay focused on getting the most out of every drill session. If you just go through the motions you're surely develop bad habits. You have to focus on quality practice. Therefore practice as much as you can while seeking quality training sessions. Here is some information and tips for you to keep in mind while you practice. These will surely help you improve your game.

Throwing the ball

Grab the ball with your index finger and middle finger along the seams of the baseball while keeping your thumb underneath it. As you prepare to throw square up your shoulders, move towards a target and throw with a ѕ arm action.

Fielding the ball

In order to maintain good balance keep your feet spread and get down. You do not want the ball to go down between your legs. You should have your glove in front of you so you can block the ball and see it go into the glove. Then raise the ball up your midsection to throw.

Catching fly balls

In order to catch a fly ball from the outfield you should be striding toward your target and you want to be behind the wall. First of all, you can see the ball and secondly, you can get into your stride to throw to your target. Finally, be sure to catch the ball above the shoulder with your elbow bent. This will help cushion as you catch.

Batting stance

For the most part, you want to balance your stance with your feet shoulder length apart. In order to keep your balance keep your toes pointed inward slightly. You should be looking at the pitcher with your head level.

Pitching

A good pitcher wants to achieve consistent strikes using proper mechanics in order to reduce the chances of an injury. Vary the speed of your pitches and you'll keep the batter confused and off timing. You should learn to find the ball inside, outside, up and down.

Base running

You should always run in a way to give yourself optimum top speed. For example, if you're running for more than one base you need to keep your steps so you hit the base with your right foot as you get less arc and therefore you keep a more consistent stride and don't lose speed towards next base.

These tips are just the beginning when it comes to learning how to improve your baseball game. Practice, practice, and practice is what it takes to become a complete baseball player.

Play better golf - strengthen your rotator cuff

Many golfers are not aware of the rotator cuff and its function in golf. This group of muscles around the shoulder is crucial to the golf swing. Not surprisingly, the shoulder is one of the areas most often affected by the golf swing. Many golfers fall prey to strain and injury in this area.

Since most golfers don’t realize the importance of the rotator cuff area, they don’t do any conditioning to strengthen and help prevent injury. By using a golf fitness routine that includes strength and flexibility exercises, many problems with the rotator cuff can not only be improved but prevented as well. Increasing flexibility and strengthening these muscles, will help to increase power and control in your swing.

The rotator cuff is the area of the shoulder that is a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint. It is made up of the capsule of the shoulder joint blended with tendons and muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the head of the humerus, the bone of the arm. Golf can result in what is known as a repetitive strain injury to the rotator cuff. Repeated movement of the shoulder causes it. The sheaths that cover the muscle tendons can swell and press on the nerves causing pain. Tendonitis, bursitis, and tears in the rotator cuff are common injuries for golfers.

To improve your power and control of your golf swing as well as prevent injury, it is a good idea to do regular stretches and exercises designed specifically for the rotator cuff.

This conditioning should be done on a regular basis both before play and in between rounds. It is especially important to warm up the rotator cuff area before exercise. This helps to increase blood flow to the deeper muscles and prepares them for activity.

One simple way to warm up is by holding the arms at should level. Do at least 20 circles with both arms. The next step should be stretching exercises to help reduce tension in these muscles. Three areas should be stretched: the back, the front and the under side of the rotator cuff. Once the stretches have been completed, exercises to strengthen these muscles should be performed. After exercise, golf practice or rounds, be sure to cool down these muscles with stretching.

By simply practicing a few stretches and exercises, you’ll not only help to prevent injuries, you’ll see a more powerful and controlled golf swing.

Drop everything to read about this amazing private island in the bahamas

Imagine a Private Luxury Island with 23 friends in the Bahamas. It’s called Musha Cay and many of the few who’ve been lucky enough to stay there claim it to be the best tropical island not just in the Bahamas, but anywhere.

You and I may never get the chance to fulfill our dreams of a private island honeymoon on a place like this, for two very good reasons. The first is that we could never afford it, and the second is that Musha Cay is rented out as an island for fifty weeks of the year. It is only during a two week period that this most luxurious of luxury private islands can be rented on an individual house basis.

However we can all dream, and we should all dream of what a private island getaway like Musha Cay would be like.

Imagine renting an entire 150 acre island just off Great Exhuma in the Bahamas, with a staff of 37 who live there and will pander to your every whim. Make a mental list now of which of your friends you would like to invite to what will be your own luxury island for as long as you can afford it!!

Your friends can choose one of five very private beautifully furnished accommodation units. First at the top of the hill is High Point which you’d probably want for yourself. It is a 10,000 square-foot manor house with a quite amazing living and dining room.

There are two huge bedrooms with a deck all the way round, a sauna, hot tub and beautiful gardens.

A couple seeking to be alone could take the one bedroomed thatched Beach House hidden away on a secluded beach with an open air bathroom and shower.

Everyone else will either be in one of the pair of two bedroomed houses on their own private beach or be in the Palm Terrace a five bedroomed house also on its own private stretch of beach.

Here at Musha Cay you can literally eat, drink, and be merry twenty four hours a day.

You can eat and drink virtually what you want, and where you want to.

Take a picnic anywhere from the beautiful white sand strip and eat lobster and drink champagne. Whatever food you want, even caviar, can be flown in and prepared in any way that you want. The chef will cook want you want and serve it where you want from canapйs to cake on the beach on a boat at midnight at anytime.

Evening meals consist of many courses prepared by a top class chef and served in the waterfront dining room, but if you wanted it could be at the beach bar or even in your villa.

Having seen the eat and drink options what about the be merry on Musha Cay?

Well you could start by exploring this 150 acre island that is Musha Cay, and then there is tennis, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing for blue marlin, and then take your pick from a fleet of speedboats to go waterskiing, or take a windsurfer or a sailboat.. Add to this waverunners and runabout skiffs and you have some idea of the facilities on a top luxury private island where dreams come true.

There is a beachside fitness center, and indoor and outdoor massage rooms to add to all this.

You could always use the island’s own aircraft and fly to Nassau for the day from Musha Cay’s own airstrip. By the way there is also a helipad.

Or you can play billiards in your own billiard room, watch satellite TV, or even if you wanted to connect to the internet from the business office!!

You will soon lose all track of time om Musha Cay. The 30+ servants, all hand picked are there to ensure your stay is totally memorable, as if they all worked just for you and it was your own private luxury island retreat. You will find them utterly unobtrusive and totally discreet and trustworthy, leaving you without a care in the world.

Luxury: Musha Cay takes you back to a time long gone, when the wealthy lived like Kings and Queens, waited on hand and foot. The romance and elegance of these times gone by is encapsulated in your stay on this most private of private luxury islands.

PS The mundane subject of money!!

You can rent Musha Cay by the day or weekly, the daily rate being $43150 for up to 24 people, and that includes everything bar fireworks massage, and scuba diving.

For more information about hidden Hotels in The Caribbean go to worldwidevacationspots. com/categories/Caribbean-Hotel-Hideaways/

Best house color to sell

Love at first sight is a concept that applies to the real estate market. So, what is the best house color to sell your home to a love struck buyer?

Best House Color to Sell

When you go to social events, do you make an effort to snazzy yourself up? Of course you do. The simply fact is attraction is a key factor in forming relationships and the same applies to your house. When you put the house on the market, you need to make it look good for the dates with potential buyers. The color of your house can make all the difference.

First, there is no absolutely correct answer to the best color. Instead, the decision depends on the makeup of your home and the surrounding landscape. Let’s take a look at some issues:

1. Whatever color you choose, make sure it doesn’t clash with the other homes in the neighborhood. An otherwise appropriate color could end up making your house an eye-sore.

2. The Roof. What color is the roof on your home? If it is a red tile roof, off-whites are probably going to be the best choice. Dark green will not. Unless you are going to invest money in a new roof, make sure the paint color doesn’t clash with it.

3. Highlights. If there is a particular part of your house that should be emphasized, used light colored paint around it to draw attention.

4. Hide It! Conversely, if there are parts of the house that are mundane, use darker colors to draw attention away from them.

5. On large flat surfaces, such as the side of a garage, keep in mind the color you choose will have a washed out appearance.

Now we get to the fun part. After considering the above issues, make a preliminary list of colors and buy small cans of each color. In a private area of the house, start applying samples strokes a couple feet long and a foot or so wide. Try to paint examples in both shaded areas and those exposed to the sun.

Do not immediately judge the results of your experiments. Instead, wait a few hours for the paint to dry and then start comparing. Dry paint takes on a very different appearance than wet paint.

Once the paint is dry, take a long look at each sample. You will typically find the colors look much different than you thought they would. You may find one color is perfect or you may find something a little different would be best. Either way, you’ll have come up with the best house color to sell your home.

The best way to make cash online

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These days on the internet there are far too many 'Get rich quick' schemes that are flying around and misleading those people who are just starting out in the business of earning online. The majority of these programs just simply don't work, especially for a beginner.

There is no such thing as getting rich quick on the internet!

It takes time and effort to build your various streams of income. If you work hard you will make a good income from the internet. Just remember success doesn't come to you, you go to it.

But where should you focus your time and effort? What is the best way to start earning money online?

In my personal opinion and what many people believe is that affiliate marketing is one of the best ways that you can make money online. It is a very popular method and to be this popular it must be giving many people success.

The concept of an affiliate program is very simple. You market someone else's website or product and you receive a commission when a person you referred buys something from that website. This commission can either be a percentage of the sale or a set amount for each person referred who purchases from that site.

The amount of money that can be made varies from program to program. Also it depends whether you make an initial payment or if you receive the program for free. For example Your Daily Payday offers it for free but you only receive 50% of the sales. This is still very good considering it's for free. Whereas you can receive 100% of the sales for a small monthly fee.

As affiliate programs are so popular it is very easy to find them. You can start by searching on google or visiting Your guide to the best web affiliate programs. The best thing to do is do some research and find what is best for you. If you are a beginner then you may choose to stick with the free programs first until you have found the best ways to market your program.

Once you have some programs then you need to promote them to start receiving your commissions. The best way for this is to create a link on a website that you own which is related to the affiliate program. But you don't have to own a website to be able to use affiliate programs. You can use other methods such as advertising in blogs, articles or maybe some traffic exchanges. But be careful with that last option as you might be wasting your time. There is a lot of debate about whether traffic exchanges work anymore but if you choose carefully then you may get some good leads.

Now here is a quick summary of the tips that I have provided in this article:

1. Ignore "Get rich quick" systems as these will rarely work.

2. Concentrate on using affiliate programs.

3. Work hard and spend time marketing these programs if you want to see results.

4. Also working consistently will help. Set aside a certain amount of time per week to work on your online business.

5. Choose about 5-6 affiliate programs to market. The reason for this is that more can just overwhelm you and less means you haven't got much of a backup if one falls through.

6. Then market like crazy and watch the money come in.

I hope this has been of help to you and I wish you all the luck with your online business.

How to recognize a gambling problem

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With more and more people gambling these days, there are more reported cases of gambling Addiction then ever before.

Gambling problems can manifest themselves in many different ways. Some problem gamblers will have all of these signs of their gambling problem and some others may only have one. Gambling addiction affects players of all different forms of gambling like Blackjack, Poker and even Bingo

The most important thing to remember is just because their life is not horrible because of their gambling does not mean there is not a problem, many people can have serious gambling addictions and still hold down a job and make it seem as if everything is fine. This just means that this person has not hit a bottom yet, but eventually it will catch up with them.

Most addicts will stop socializing with anyone not into their addiction, so if suddenly someone you know cuts out all their friends from their life and starts to isolate themselves this can be a sign.

A simple thing to look for is if they are overly interested in the sports scores, and if after reading them to they become ecstatic or depressed. No one likes it when their favorite team loses, but a gambler will have major mood swings depending on if they are winning or losing.

A big sign of gambling addiction is someone who is constantly having money problems and asking to borrow money but never pays it back, but sometimes out of nowhere this person will seem to have large sums of cash.

Lying and stealing is another good clue to a gambling addiction, they will make up all sorts of excuses for their odd behavior, and you may notice small, but expensive items missing from your home.

If when visiting this person if you notice that some of their things are missing, or if they tell you they have had to sell some things, then there is a good chance that what they sold either went to pay of gambling debt or to make new bets.

There are many other signs but these are the most common symptoms of gambling addiction according to addiction professionals. If you see 2 or more of these symptoms in someone you know you should immediately try to get this person to accept their problem and seek professional help.

Without help gambling addiction leads to the same place as drug addiction or alcoholism, eventually they will be overcome by their addiction. At this point they will be fully cut off from friends and family.

Most gamblers with bad addictions usually wind up jobless and in many cases homeless if their addiction is allowed to go unchecked for too long, and studies have shows that people with gambling addictions are more prone to illness because thy allow their health to lapse.

For more information on gambling addiction talk to your family doctor or look on the internet for the gamblers anonymous web site, or from one of the many internet web sites dedicated to helping gambling addicts to locate professional help in their area.

Typical mistakes people make concerning their finances and how to avoid them

In our day of easy access to credit cards, loans, and so many things that you must have, it is almost no wonder that so many are getting themselves into financial trouble. Everywhere we turn we face some ad that tells us we cannot live happy unless we have such and such a product. The demands are frequent that tell us we just have to have the latest or the best, but do we really have to have it? Could this be the reason for the financial troubles that so many are experiencing today - and maybe even you? Here are seven things that will help you avoid that trap of financial indebtedness.

1. Live Within Your Means

Grabbing hold of the proverbial tiger by the tail and becoming determined to reign in those out of control finances starts with a little bit of self-control. This means that you need to make a decision to buy those necessary things first, and learn to say "No" to the rest - at least until you can save for it.

2. Trying To Get Too Much Too Fast

Many financial problems seem to start right here. Young people want what their parents had, and they want to enjoy all those comforts – right now. But it seems that they fail to realize that it took their parents many years to get where they are now. They do not seem to understand that great part of having a halfway comfortable lifestyle is to do it without a lot of debt.

3. Develop A Budget

A budget is one of those things that people use who either a). do not have unlimited spending resources, and b). want to stay out of debt. It gives you a means to control effectively one of your greatest personal resources - your money, and allows you to use it most successfully.

4. Forget About Comparison Shopping

Unless you are rich (which I doubt, or you would not be reading this article), you probably have a need to save on money somewhere. Through doing comparison shopping for many of your purchases, it can help you to save money on a regular basis. Sometimes we want some things so bad when we see them, that we feel we must have it right now - even if the store across the street might have it for sale at 10% less.

6. Do Not Control Their Finances

A simple thing that many people fail to do is to seek to set their finances in order in such a way that they know where the money is going. If you regularly are asking, "Where is all my money going," then this is probably true of you. In most cases of this sort, people who start keeping a record of their expenses often end up being surprised at how much they spend on trivial things.

7. Have No Savings For Future Needs And Wants

Every now and then, a little unexpected emergency can come up for which we need some money on hand. Whether it is a medical reason, or just a trip we can take, having some cash set aside can provide for some great opportunities and unforgettable moments. Each month, some money, at least 5% (10% is better) should be set aside for both closer goals, and some long range ones, too.

Sometimes we certainly cannot control the circumstances that could put any one of us into financial trouble, but we do not have to stay there. In most cases, steps can be taken that will help to reverse the situation - even if it takes a long time. Here are three things that will enable you to get started in the right direction.

Three Tips To Help

First, reduce your debt. Once you realize that you are just about in debt over your head and about to drown in it, you need to make up your mind to not stay there. Make a plan to get out of debt. Seek financial counsel if you must. Secondly, seek proper protection for your finances - get some insurance - life and health. Finally, get some long-term investments. Set your sights on some future goals that will help you see immediate goals as being not so important - things are better down the road, when you can save for them - and achieve them.

Wedding flowers helpful tips for doing it yourself

Flowers play an integral part in any wedding ceremonies. They have been a symbolism of new hope and a good future ahead. The bride and the groom would surely feel like heaven with flowers blooming everywhere on their reception. More than a decoration, wedding flowers have now been a tradition. A wedding will be quite incomplete without these fragrant gifts of mother earth.

Hiring a wedding coordinator or a florist so that your bouquet will be professionally done can be considered as an option. But if you are on a strict budget, and have some creativity hidden deep inside you, there is no hurt in making them on your own. They can still look elegant and stunning as long as you know what color and kind of flowers to use. The tips below will help you in customizing your wedding flowers.

Choosing flowers

In picking what flowers to choose, keep in mind the theme and the color premise of the wedding. It should match and blend well with the entourage and the bride’s gown too. Another point to consider is the availability of the flower type. Depending on the season, you can order the freshest, the most available and the cheapest kind of flowers. Flowers like baby’s breath, orchids, gardenia and roses are readily obtainable no matter what time of the year.

Preparing the materials

The bouquet that the bride carries on the aisle is where the flowers play a major part. It is very easy to create your own. First, gather up your materials. You will need about three dozens of your chosen flower, a sharp scissor, florist tape, and ribbons.

Making a bouquet

It is advisable to order your flowers on the day of the event and get the freshest pick possible. Start by choosing three roses that you would use as the centerpiece of your arrangement. Puff air into the center of each flower to give it a fuller look. Put them together, creating a triangle. Stack each flower unevenly; each one should have a slightly different level of height. This technique adds dimension to your arrangement. Just continue adding up two to three flowers at a time until they form a dome. After which, you can tie them up with a florist tape at least 8 inches below the flowers.

Be sure to ask some help taping the stem, you might have a difficulty holding all 36 flowers and tying them together at the same time. Finally finish out with a suitable ribbon that matches the color of the flowers and your wedding dress. You can tie them up in a bow. Be sure to cover all the florist tape with ribbons. Carefully cut the excess stems with a sharp scissor approximately an inch below the ribbon. Place the bouquet on a plastic container or a vase with a quarter inch of water or you can store them inside a fridge covered by a loose plastic bag. Finally, spray the flowers with water avoiding the ribbons.

That’s it! That’s how you can customize your bouquet. Remember to check your arrangement in a mirror with you holding it so you would picture how it would look like to someone else’s view. Wedding flowers can still look stunning without sacrificing your budget. Now you are ready to walk down the aisle with that pretty and personalized bouquet of flowers in your hand.

Width and resolution problems encountered in website design

There are millions of computer users browsing the internet every day and each one is looking at a different size monitor using a different resolution. How each person sees the graphics on your website varies depending on their screen and there is no uniform standards for making your site friendly to everyone.

What is Resolution

Screen resolution refers to how many pixels your computer monitor will display, both vertically and horizontally. If you have ever visited a website that did not fit your screen, making you scroll to the right to see the rest of the page, it was not entirely the designer's fault. The website was just not created with your screen resolution in mind.

Not too long ago, the most common computer monitors featured a resolution of 480 X 640. A number of people still surf the internet using this screen resolution, while today's popular monitors use a 1024 X 768 screen resolution and most websites are optimized to be viewed on these higher resolution screens. Those still using lower resolution displays will see websites quite differently than those the site was designed for.

Today's monitors offer computer users a choice of several different screen resolutions, with the lowest resolution being 400 X 600. With so many choices, it is often confusing for users to decide on the best settings, especially if they are not aware of the differences.

Problems Created By Screen Resolution

Visitors to your site that are using monitors with low screen resolutions will usually not see your entire page on their screen. They will have to scroll horizontally to see the right side of your page. Those using a higher screen resolution than what your site is designed for may see a small, thin strip that can be rather frustrating.

Solutions for Resolution Problems

Some website designers create their website pages based on the smallest screen resolution sizes. This way, individuals using low resolution screens see the page as it should be and anyone using a higher resolution screen will have to adjust their resolution to see the page correctly.

Another option is to design your site pages based on the most commonly used screen resolution, 1024 X 768. By closely monitoring your website visitor statistics, you can see if this is actually the most popular resolution among your visitors. If it is, but you still have a fair amount of visitors with different resolutions you can add a message to your website letting your visitors know the best screen resolution, as well as instructions on changing the setting.

A final solution to resolution problems is an elastic website that looks the same no matter what screen resolution it is displayed on. This type of website design is much more complex, but it is often the best option for those who need a good looking website.

Reasons for buying a car

Besides the obvious reason, transportation, are there any other pressing reasons for buying a car? Perhaps it is a necessity like requiring inexpensive transportation to and from work. Or, maybe you are a “stay at home” Mom or Dad and need a vehicle to haul children around to school and various other activities. Regardless of your reason, make certain that purchasing the car is for a valid purpose and not just because you want to outdo “The Joneses.”

In this guide we will show you some of the pitfalls to avoid as well as information to make your selection much easier. The following are basic reasons you should consider when making that all important car purchase.

Is it a good buy?

The best time period to buy that car you have always dreamed of having is later in the month. Usually, there are numerous rebate programs and bonus offered by month’s end based on a dealer’s monthly sales quotas. The idea is that, sometimes dealers fall short of meeting their sales objectives. If their performance is assessed by the end of the month this can prove to be good news to most car buyers since dealers now have no choice but to sell vehicles at a price that is lower than their norm. They are pressed to make more sales that will count for their monthly sales and that puts you at an advantage as a buyer.

Peace of mind

Sometimes dealers do a song and dance routine just to make that sale. The result is that often car buyers end up with car features they realize later on they do not really need and a price they actually could not afford. You can avoid this potential stress by always remembering to trust your instincts. If ever you feel in doubt, the answer -- don’t -- do not let yourself be pressured to making that purchase now.

This is a common strategy of car dealers wherein they compel the customer to buy that car, now, this moment, today!

Do not forget that you should always sleep on it and then decide. This is a lot better than making your mind up now and forever holding your peace.

First Impression

To quote a common clichй, first impressions usually last. Though not always true, when buying cars, you could get many ideas just by observing how car sales people deal with you. Usually, these non-verbal signals are fairly correct enough enabling you to know what to expect from your car purchase.

If at any time you feel that the person selling you the car is not trustworthy or simply do not like him or her, always remember that you have the option to leave. It is advisable that you do not sell yourself too much. Time is precious, especially yours. So do not waste it. You are always free to politely walk away, anytime, anywhere, and in any way you like it. But if there are not many car dealers in your area, you may want to linger for a few moments more and wait until the negotiations you have with your dealer breaks down and you simply have no option but to run off.

The Invoice Price

Another thing to consider when buying a car is the invoice price. Make sure to ask that you see the invoice. If dealers are working their tails off against it, you have enough reason to believe that the car being offered is an unpleasant deal.

Usually, the price on the invoice is the cost the dealer paid the manufacturer for buying the car. This is before any rebates or incentives were included. Once this is known, only then will you have an idea as to how much the dealer could profit from each vehicle sold. Knowing this information could enable one to be more confident then in negotiating the price.

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

In layman’s term, this is commonly called the sticker price. This is the price one usually sees in the window of the car that is being sold.

Never ever consider paying the amount stated on the sticker price. This amount is just the starting point to your negotiations with the dealer.

Incentives

There are instances when manufacturers provide the dealers with a little something extra, like money, rebates or a bonus because they are able to sell cars that are either overstocked or undersold. Make sure that before actually purchasing a car, you were able to know if that car you are buying has some dealer incentives attached to it. If so, take off that amount from the car’s purchase price and have yourself a very good deal and hopefully, a very good car as well.

Saint vincent and the grenadines casinos

The Caribbean conjures up images of beautiful islands, with perfect white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and the deep blue ocean glittering under an endlessly sunny sky. And Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a former British colony that since 1979 has enjoyed its independence, does not disappoint. Yet when the sun finally sets, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Casinos offer the gambling visitor a way of continuing the party into the small hours of the morning.

There are two Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Casinos, one in the capital Kingstown, which is found on the largest island, Saint Vincent, and the other at Carenage Bay, which is located on a small island called Canouan, which is part of the group of islands known as the Grenadines.

First let's pay a visit to the capital Kingstown, the chief port and largest city, albeit a capital city with just 15,000 inhabitants. Here gamblers will find the country's largest casino, the Emerald Valley Resort and Casino, located in Penniston Valley. The casino offers 50 slot machines and eight table games, including three tables of Blackjack, two tables of Carribean Stud Poker (and if you can't play Carribean Stud Poker in the Carribean, where you can you play it?), three tables of Roulette, and finally the dice-based game, Craps. To spend their winnings (or help forget the losses) visitors will find the resort has an American restaurant, a DJ Bar, and a whole range of sports facilities including a nine hole golf course, swimming, tennis, horse riding facilities and a 24 room hotel.

The second casino on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is in Carenage Bay, on the island of Canouan, and is part of the Raffles Resort hotel. This luxurious establishment enjoys 300 acres of private grounds and its own white sandy beaches, with accommodation consisting of 156 villas for the guests. The casino is located in the Villa Monte Carlo, which in addition offers a gourmet restaurant and a ballroom. US entrepreneur Donald Trump manages the casino, based in the Trump Club Privee, and it offers six tables playing Blackjack, Roulette and Craps, all in European-style gaming experience.

So whether in Kingstown or Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Casinos offer a great choice for those who like to try to beat the odds in luxurious and beautiful surroundings.

Top 6 facts you should know about your new motorcycle

Often experienced motorcycle riders who trade in an old bike for a brand new set of wheels find that they fall prey to an unfortunate set of statistics that occur along with new machines--more motorcycle accidents happen on new equipment than on old faithful rides. Don't assume that 100,000 miles on your old bike means equally capable handling of your new set of wheels. Instead, take the time to learn some facts about your new motorcycle.

Low Speed Handling

If possible, find a deserted level parking lot that has a relatively clean surface. You don't need bumps, slippery stuff, inclines, potholes or other defects or obstacles in order to learn more about your new motorcycle. You need to plan on spending time having fun and getting to know the quirks of the new wheels. Start by doing low speed circles with your eyes on the horizon and practice until you can do a 360 without putting your foot down and with the steering in full lock. This may require some adjustment in the position of the handlebar or the throttle cable in order to smooth the acceleration action. Follow tight circles with tight figure eights, again without touching your feet to the ground until the bike has come to a full stop. Force yourself to be consistent and precise. This will provide even more understanding of the throttle response in your new motorcycle.

Acceleration

Repeat the previous exercise at higher speeds--both the circles and the figure eights. Keep your eyes on the horizon and your feet off the ground so you learn the feel of the equipment as it corners correctly and consistently. Varying the speed of the engine while you practice these maneuvers will allow you to ride comfortably at highway speeds as well as in city traffic.

Cornering

Follow this with learning about the bike's cornering limits. Learn to accept the grinding noise without flinching when a floorboard scrapes the pavement. A reflex jerk to avoid the sound of metal on pavement can cause you to steer right off the curve. If you feel more cornering ability is needed, you may need to change the suspension components.

Calling a halt

Practice stopping at low speed with a hard stop in order to learn the traction on the new tires, the sensitivity of the brakes and how the bike handles with the rear wheel locked. You need to know precisely what to expect in a real life panic situation and the best way to do that is to practice a hard, locked wheel stop especially in a sideways skid. Once you've practiced the rear action, learn about the power of the front brake. Be careful not to overdue front brake activity until you have a clear understanding of how much pressure the crucial front brake will take. Again, you may need to do some adjustments to the brake controls engagement points or positions to better suit your riding and stopping style.

Road Work

Now is the time to move your practice skills to the open road. Try to pick a relatively lightly traveled section or road that has some open corners so that you can practice cornering at highway speeds. Continuing to practice leaning techniques will help you to know the limits of the bike in every situation. Use a straight road with painted dotted lines and practice swerving the bike between the gaps on the road. If you can find safe stretches with raised dots for lane markers, you will be able feel immediately if you miss the swerve. Once again, in a safe mode, practice your hard stops at highway speeds. Be aware of following traffic before hitting the brakes suddenly and be sure to allow plenty of room in case you overrun your target point.

Double Up

Each of the exercises above should be repeated while carrying a passenger. Even if you do not carry anyone else regularly, knowing how your bike responds with a passenger is critical in any emergency situation--even in every day riding. Your motorcycle will respond differently, and you should know what will happen before getting on the open road. It's important that your passenger understand what is going to happen so that they don't panic and throw the motorcycle off balance, thereby causing a serious accident.

Another advantage of going through these exercises in low or moderate speed and varying the load on the engine is that they serve as a good break-in regimen for the engine.

Now that you have your new motorcycle and have practiced the various maneuvers above, you will want to remember that in adverse weather or road conditions, the new motorcycle may not handle the same as did your old set of wheels. Take things really easy the first few times you ride in the rain or in icy situations. If you have the opportunity to practice in different weather experiences, you will have an even better feel for your motorcycle's handling capabilities.

The options to learn spanish for beginners

As most adults who have tried to learn another language other than their own will tell you, tackling the project can be quite difficult. While children seem to effortlessly adopt another language, the stumbling blocks can be enormous in the adult brain. For many people, learning Spanish is a necessary and popular choice. To learn Spanish for beginners, the choices of instruction are extensive.

Initially, the best way to learn Spanish for beginners is to purchase a simple English/Spanish dictionary. This will assist you in translating words from English to Spanish and vice versa. Begin by choosing commonplace objects from around the house and translating them into Spanish. The key here is practice. Practice, practice, practice. Refer to the object using the Spanish word only and keep doing it until you are comfortable. The great thing about these dictionaries is that most of them come in pocket sized versions; making them the perfect portable tool to take along with you should you visit a Spanish speaking country.

Another way to learn Spanish for beginners is to embrace the technology that has flooded the marketplace. There are Spanish instruction CDs that consumers can simply listen to while driving, working, playing, or shopping. These act much like dictionaries but provide the proper pronunciation of words which can be enormously helpful. DVDs offer classroom instruction that consumers can watch over and over again as necessary. And portable electronic devices offer all the assistance of a dictionary but with audio. For instance, if you enter a word in English, such a device will say it back to you in Spanish.

Last but not least to learn Spanish for beginners, enlist the help of someone who speaks Spanish fluently. Find a friend or an acquaintance who will help you learn the basics. Or sign up for any number of classes offered at high schools and colleges at night where you can learn the fundamentals of this language.

In this modern day of advancement, it is often much easier to learn Spanish for beginners. Gone are the days of endless toiling over books in a classroom. The modern world offers a variety of choices for students on the go in learning this beautiful language.

Ireland for todays tourist

Ireland today is being promoted heavily by the hotels and businesses that stand to gain financially from the tourism industry. The main thrust of their campaigns seems to be based on the quality of their accommodation. They do have a lot to offer in the modern hotels with indoor heated swimming pools, fully equipped gyms, a quality dining experience, luxury surroundings and much much more. But, it seems to me that the modern traveller needs more than a high standard of accommodation. He/she needs an attractive and interesting destination to generate a truly memorable holiday. After all few people travel halfway around the world just to stay in the hotel and see nothing of the surrounding country.

Ireland is a destination that can match any in the world. It has an ancient culture full of life and tradition. This culture is growing and changing almost daily. A visitor to Ireland, ‘The Land Of A Thousand Welcomes’ will witness this change from an ancient culture of tradition filled with myths and legends, superstition and religious fanaticism to a modern culture which is still deeply religious and respectful of its traditional heritage but now tempers this with the high standard of education the young people get today.

What is there to see?

Ireland has a great tradition in theatre. We are not short of theatres in Ireland though of course we can always use more. Nor are we short of racetracks, but, I am not going to list all the activities that await the discerning visitor. That would mean that this would just turn into a long long list. I just want to highlight some of what I think are the more interesting ones.

The Arts Festivals and Music Festivals are not to be missed. The Arts Festivals are a coming together of all the best of Irish Arts including but not limited to theatre, spectacle, street art, music, comedy, literature, music and more with many participants visiting from other countries. The Galway Arts Festival (recommended) goes from July 13th to July 30th.

The scenery in Ireland is famous throughout the world and with places like Roundstone in Galway, the Ring of Kerry and the cliffs of Moher in Clare on your itinerary you cannot go wrong. There are old castles and traditional stately homes like Bunratty Castle and Westport House and Ashford Castle and Clonalis House. For those who like that sort of thing there is a long list of them beautifully restored and looking at least as good as they did when they were in use, and many of them even offer accommodation usually to a standard difficult to match anywhere in the world.

No matter what part of Ireland you visit now you will find a shopping experience that will impress. The large multi-national companies seem to have a local branch almost everywhere, alongside the indigenous shops who have a more traditional offering. Small country towns still have the old style shops where you can get almost anything and some of them even still have a pub behind the shop.

There are many show-farms to visit, hurling matches to see and people to talk to.

The traditional Irish thatched cottage is still in use by ordinary people in many parts of Ireland. Though they are seen by many to be old and dated they are admired and appreciated by as many more.

There are many islands around Ireland, but, if you are heading west I recommend that you visit The Aran Islands. You can fly or sail there are now a number of companies running boats several times a day. They will give a view of Ireland and an insight into our culture not found anywhere else in the country.

If you don’t have enough reason to visit Ireland now I don’t know what to say. Good luck, and God bless.

Tell the truth with life and critical illness insurance

Insurers treat the non-disclosure of information on an application form very seriously indeed, and it is the most common cause for the rejection of a life or critical illness insurance claim. This true story explains that the situation isn’t always black and white, and demonstrates the severity of the penalty. We have changed some details to protect the anonymity of the policyholder.

Ms W had to have an operation to eradicate cancerous lymph nodes from her groin, and immediately fell ill after surgery with an infection she picked up in hospital. Critically ill, she had already made a claim on her critical illness insurance, however she received some unexpected bad news. Her claim was rejected and she was not going to receive the Ј200,000 she was insured for. How did this happen? Read on so we can explain.

June 2001 – Ms W went to see her doctor about an area of flaky skin on her back, she assumed it was something like eczema. Her GP wanted a specialist to have a look, and made a referral to a dermatologist. Before the appointment arrived, the patch of flaky skin cleared up, so Ms W cancelled the appointment, thinking no more about it. She did not imagine that it was anything serious, and the GP had not given her the impression that there was anything to worry about.

August 2001 – a sales representative from Ms W’s life insurer, Standard Life, called for a routine sales visit. Ms W’s circumstances had changed and she now had a young family depending on her. The sales rep suggested taking out a critical illness insurance policy, and she readily agreed. Ms W took out Ј200,000 worth of critical illness insurance.

The sales representative talked Ms W through the application form, filling in the answers on her behalf. When they came to the section about any incidences of referral from a GP, Ms W was unsure what the question meant, and asked the sales representative for clarification. According to Ms W, the sales rep told her that she only needed to mention a referral if it related to a serious matter. Ms W didn’t think it was worth mentioning the GP referral for the flaky skin, since she thought it was probably just eczema. She didn’t mention it so it didn’t go on the form. Ms W signed the form after completion and she applied for the Standard Life policy believing that she had provided all the required information.

Ms W soon received notification that she was insured for Ј200,000 in case she developed a critical illness.

Two years later – Ms W learnt that she had skin cancer, and major surgery quickly followed to try and remove the cancer. Ms W naturally made a claim on her critical illness policy, for which she fully expected to receive a Ј200,000 payout.

Soon after, Ms W received the rejection letter from Standard Life – the claim was rejected on the grounds of “reckless non-disclosure”. As far as the insurer was concerned, Ms W had withheld information on the application form, and this had invalidated her claim.

As you no doubt have realised, Ms W should have mentioned the GP referral to a dermatologist – and her failure to mention it resulted in a severe penalty. How could she have made such a mistake?

Two major errors were made:

1. When Ms W was asked to give details of any referrals she asked the sales rep what kind of referrals they meant. She was advised that she only needed to mention referrals relating to serious conditions. This advice was incorrect. The question asked for details of “all occasions her GP had referred her for tests or treatments”. ALL OCCASIONS means ALL – whether they were thought to be serious or not. The insurance company needs to know absolutely everything they ask for on the application form, and Ms W unfortunately did not provide that, thanks to the sales rep’s advice.

2. The GP did not give Ms W any indication that the flaky skin could be something serious, a fact that the GP stood by later. Ms W did not realise that the skin condition could be anything other than eczema, and so when told that she only needed to give details of referrals relating to serious conditions, she truly believed that her dermatologist referral was not worth putting on the form. She made this decision based on advice given by the sales rep, and it was a genuine mistake on her part.

Taking the above story into account, we think that Standard Life should realise that Ms W made an honest mistake, and did not deliberately withhold any information. The sales rep did not give the right advice, and Ms W followed that bad advice in good faith. It wasn’t her fault, and Standard Life should relax the penalty in this particular case.

Make sure it doesn’t happen to you

Filling out a life or critical illness insurance application form has to be taken very seriously indeed. You must read every single question and answer each one providing all the necessary information and detail. Withholding information is not an option, don’t be tempted by the thought of cheaper premiums because on making a claim, you will be found out and the claim will be invalid. Don’t take that risk!

Hopefully, Standard Life will see that Ms W did not deliberately mislead them, and they will give her the payout she deserves.

People that do deliberately mislead the insurers do deserve what they will eventually get – nothing.

NB: Standard Life rejects 5%, Friends Provident rejects 15% and Legal & General rejects 16% of all critical illness claims because of policyholders withholding information (whether deliberately or not). The insurance industry realise that they need to do something to address the situation, and are currently developing new ways to get information from applicants, and to publicise the severe penalties for not providing full and accurate information.

Memories of canada

Back in 2003, I had cause to make several visits to Canada, mainly to the eastern side, including Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec. Since the visits, I have a desire to make the move across the Atlantic and start a new life there.

As a boy, my memories of growing up in the UK are of hot summers and cold winters. Something that seems to have changed beyond all recognition now. Perhaps it is a distorted memory, or at least the memory of a child, but the thought of going back to seasons that you have been brought up with, seems really appealing.

Although the winters I remember as a child seemed cold, they are nothing compared to the winters experienced by the Canadians. The times I spent in Canada were mostly during the winter and it was incredibly cold. Living in the UK, especially England, brings the same old problem each and every year. One cold snap and the whole country grinds to a halt. Although the conditions in Canada seem inhospitable compared to that of the UK, they seem to cope far better than we do. It also is far more appealing than that of the UK, especially with the Christmas Card scenes that are around every corner, thanks to the snow.

In stark contrast to the winter, the summers in Canada seem really hot. Perhaps there is no middle ground. Just winter and summer? That is what appeals to me most about Canada. Well, that, the people and the ability to breathe. I am not talking about breathing in a literal manner, more a manner of space to breathe. The UK is not one of the biggest places on Earth and space is becoming more and more limited. Take London for example. There is less and less space to live and people are crammed into flats and apartments the size of shoe boxes, just for the luxury of living in London. Sure, London is a great city, but the thought of having the room to breathe seems truly appealing.

This year I hope to go back to Canada and experience the openness of the country and of the people there. In all the visits I made there, I found the Canadians to be pleasant and very polite. That is such a nice thing to experience in today's "no time for anyone" society we live in. One thing that sticks in my mind about the Canadians, is the fact they are so proud to be Canadian. In my opinion it is justified and I can't wait to make the hop across the Atlantic and experience some more of that Canadian hospitality.

For any Canadians who visit this site, I would love to publish any thoughts you have about Canada and what is like to live there. Not only for me, but for anyone else who is looking at moving there.

Understanding the tax implications of life settlements

Understanding the tax implications of replacing or selling existing life insurance coverage will help shed some light on the options available to financial advisors and policy holders looking to capitalize on the hidden value in their life insurance plans. Policy holders need to know what the tax implications are for coverage payments in advance of death. They need to know whether viatical agreements will be taxed, and they need options when it comes to replacing expensive or undesirable life insurance policies with more favorable policies. Following are some ideas to help consider taxation of life insurance proceeds both as pre-payment advances for viatical purposes and in the case of life insurance settlements.

Viatical or Advance Payment Coverage

Viatical payments and accelerated payment of coverage in advance of death remain tax-exempt. Congress continues to favor the tax-exempt status of these policies and therefore, will probably remain tax free. To be sure, viatical and advanced payment plans cover medical bills and allow terminally or chronically ill policy holders with a life expectancy of two years or less to use insurance coverage now instead of later. Some states also exempt viatical settlements from taxation.

IRS 1035 Exchange Rule

Under the 1035 Exchange rule, the IRS allows policy holders a way to defer taxes. David Friedman explains in a Street Talk article that the 1035 rule allows “the cash value in an existing life insurance contract [to be transferred] into another life insurance contract without creating a taxable event at the time of the transfer. Any taxable gain in the existing life insurance contract is deferred as the new contract assumes the basis that had been established in the original contract.” While replacing expensive or unneeded life insurance policies with new ones is a financially savvy idea, there is an after-tax alternative that can meet and significantly exceed the advantages of a 1035 Exchange.

An LIS could sell in a tremendously robust secondary marketplace for proceeds as high as 200 or 300 percent of its cash surrender value (CSV). It’s not uncommon for investors to purchase policies from policy owners who are 65 years old, have a life expectancy between three and 12 years, and whose policy is cost-effective to enforce. The concept is simple. Individual policy holders sell their life insurance coverage to the highest bidder. When this happens, the investor is named as the beneficiary and the seller receives a cash payment. The buyer assumes the yearly premium payments and collects the coverage proceeds when the policy is executed upon the demise of the seller.

The life insurance settlement can trigger ordinary taxable income and a capital gains tax. If the cash surrender value equals less than the premium contributions to date, the difference between the premium contributions and the settlement amount is a taxable capital gains. If however, the cash surrender value equals more than the premium contributions to date, two things happen: The difference between the premiums paid to date and the cash surrender value are taxed as ordinary income; and the difference between the cash surrender value and the settlement amount is taxed as capital gains.

Policy holders wishing to replace their existing coverage with less expensive coverage can do so more profitably in many cases than using the tax deferred portion of the IRS 1035 Exchange rule. Of course the after-tax proceeds of a life insurance settlement could be gifted to a charitable non-profit organization or a charitable trust. These basic tax implications regarding life insurance proceeds should prove useful in opening up further dialogue with financial professionals and advisors.

How being smart isn t always the right objective

Over the years much has been written on the subject of goal setting with most conventional wisdom coming down in favour of the SMART objective setting process.

SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timebound) has been around since the 1960's and is used by organisations to create effective objectives for themselves and their staff. In fact the SMART objective setting process is taught on many management training programs as the right way to set objectives in any situation.

There is, however, a slight failing with the whole idea around SMART objectives which is, to be fair, not a problem with the process but the wider context in which goals are set. All too often organisations set objectives for their staff only to find that in the final analysis that very few have been achieved or even attempted.

So, what is the problem with this approach to objectives, and why do they so often fail to capture the imagination of employees? The SMART model is missing two very important elements that will nearly always sabotage the take up of any objectives.

WII-FM

Often when organisations impose objectives on their staff the initial question that will be raised is 'What's In It For Me?' and in fact this is a perfectly valid question. A goal or objective whether at the corporate or personal level must be something that is a personal objective. It needs to be initiated, understood and bought-in to the individual for whom it is a goal.

High level corporate objectives by their very nature are impersonal and as such there is rarely significant buy in from employees. Even objectives that are tied in to personal rewards (such as a bonus) do not have a high buy in factor if they are too impersonal. There needs to be a sense of 'I can make a difference to this' at a personal level for it to really be taken up by staff.

It can be often be difficult with corporate objectives around profitability and growth to make these personal, and rightly so. These are corporate, high level objectives and unless an individual is tied in to them in some way (as a shareholder for example) then any attempt to cascade these down to lower levels will fail.

The WII-FM issue is for the most part the highest motivator for an individual and a truly effective goal setting strategy takes this into account.

Fascinating Captain

The other and equally important theme missing from the SMART objective setting process is that of interest. For a goal to be really effective and attained it needs to be interesting, exciting and something the individual can get passionate about.

Too many goals, especially corporate ones, are lacking in the area of being interesting. For example, an objective on quality will only be pursued by someone who believes that quality is of interest, for those people who believe it to be important (but not interesting) they will try to ensure that the quality doesn't drop but it is unlikely that they will go out of their way to ensure quality improves.

Interest in a subject can be generated through corporate reward, however it is rare that this happens as, like the personal side of objective setting, it is outsise the SMART model.

PRISM - the lighter side of objective setting

The SMART model is good and has served for a long time, however in todays modern society, with vast tranches of the working population becoming dissatisfied with their lot a new approach to coporate oblective setting is required.

The PRISM model covers all 5 points of the old SMART process and adds 2 more. PRISM is an acronym for Personal, Realistic, Interesting, Specific and Measurable.

Does this mean that PRISM objectives are not Achievable and Timebound? Not at all, in the PRISM model for an objective to be truly Realistic by definition it has to be Achievable, if it is not achievable then it isn't and could never really be realistic.

As for the time element of the objective this is covered by measurable. In a science experiment for something to be measurable it needs a start and an end, in life the same applies, if an objective is to be measured it has to be measured against time as well as any other measure, so in the PRISM model Measurable means against all criteria and not splitting out the time elements.

It's all Me, Me, Me

The PRISM model doesn't profess to be the ultimate solution for corporate goal setting woes however the addition of the personal and interest features into the process will add new dimension to the objective setting process and will guarantee that the objective has a considerably higher take up than those set with the SMART model.

Corporate goals do not have to be faceless and force fed onto the workforce, by making any objective Personal to the individual and of Interest (with or without reward) then your chances of actually attaining it will dramatically increase.

So, next time there is a strategy session and the subject of goals appears, just ask yourself 2 questions, 'What does it do for me?' and 'Just how interested am I in this?', if you can't answer those then perhaps, just perhaps, you need to rethink your goals.

Attracting swarms of visitors to an adsense site

A vast number of online marketers have often had the same thought - how to make money with Google Adsense. Many web site owners have turned to Adsense in recent years with the hope of bringing in a new income stream to their company and often come away unfulfilled. Each day, it becomes increasingly difficult to check for Adsense clicks when there are little to none and only a few pennies of income. Inevitably, the web site owner becomes frustrated and closes the site down due to little or no traffic. Having Google Adsense as a part of your online business is a great plan and it can truly work for those who are prepared to make a strong commitment with practical goals. In fact, having a conglomerate or just a few of these income generating web sites can function effectively with the right measure of planning and attention to detail.

Every web site owner is always searching for the Google Adsense tip or tips that will launch their business to lofty levels and propel the income generation to exciting heights. However, it begins with planning and an adherence to reasonable expectations. First, the web site owner should find a niche and perform the appropriate research. Once the niche is determined, a systemic design that is focused on traffic building should be implemented. Obtaining massive amounts of visitors to the site can be achieved through article writing, blogging, press releases, directory submissions, forum creation and planning, site testing, and establishing a substantial number of ever-growing backlinks. Performing these tasks on a regular basis will provide the web site owner with increased traffic flow and a constant flood of income. Now you know how to make money with Google Adsense, but there is more to accomplish.

Once the site is established and generating a handsome income, the online business owner must devote periods of time to testing and, on occasion, create a web site traffic report. Several software programs currently on the market have the ability to analyze traffic flow and help to determine a course of action for producing more visitors. These programs are easily located on the internet with the proper search. Choose the program that best suits your needs.

Bringing internet surfers to a particular site is a task that is nearly impossible when these steps and programs are not utilized. All to often, the web site owner is reduced to guessing about how to make money with Google Adsense. However, taking advantage of these tips can turn a difficult venture into a continuously profitable business.