Secrets to Becoming the Alpha Male

Up until a few months ago, I always looked at "alpha males" in completely negative terms. I saw them as pretentious, obnoxious, cocky and arrogant. The only reason they got women, I thought, was because women are lame, dense, and go for pricks. The alpha males success has nothing to do with them, I said, and everything to do with nice girls, going for bad boys.

But over the last few months, my attitude has changed. Ive actually found that adopting an "alpha attitude" is crucial towards attracting women. In fact, the guys who do best with women arent necessarily jocks; theyre just the ones who are assertive, ambitious, confident and clever: in short, they are decidedly alpha.

What transformed my perception? Well, it was a best friend who taught memans best friend, to be exact. My attitude changed as a result of none other than learning about dog training. Alpha-dog training, to be exact.

Heres what I discovered: As dogs today are still pack animals, with the same instincts as "a pack of wolves," its important for dog owners to behave like the "Alpha", or leader, of the group. In the wild, dogs would follow a structure, and in the absence of a solid "alpha" leader, the "betas" and "omegas" of the pack would rebel. So as a dog owner, if you dont make it clear to the dog that YOU are the leaderby eating first, going through doorways first, etc.its all over from there: these wolf-like creatures are going to do the complete opposite of what you tell them to, and even become aggressive and untame.

Sounds kind of like what happens if you let girls run all over you, doesnt it?

However, if you are firm and consistent in asserting yourself as the Alpha of your dogs "pack" (ie, the family household), he will respect you and do what he or she is told. Youll avoid so many problems, just by taking the time to show a dog that YOU are the boss.

Because, much like women, dogs WANT someone whos in control. They dont want to have take up the role of leader themselves. Theyll actually love you more when you walk around with pride and confidence.

Theres more we can apply to female attraction from alpha dog training. When a low-ranking dog rebels against the "top dog," successful dog trainers do the same things alpha wolves do in the wild: they ignore the dog for a couple days, until it comes back apologetic and willing to do what it is told. If the dog acts well upon return, he is rewarded and given the socialization and attention he needs.

As youll learn below, you can use this same principles towards ladies you meet at a bar or club.

Of course, you cant go overboard. A dog that obeys out of fear does not behave as well as a dog who behaves out of respect. In fact, its been found that being too assertive and physical with a dog will only lead to aggressive and reckless behaviors. So it pays to be firm, but not brutal. Just like with the ladiesyou want to be confident and assertive, but not arrogant and mean.

Here are some more benefits to carrying "alpha attitude" around the ladies:

* By asserting yourself as the leadersomeone to be respected, not fearedyou gain peoples respect. As I said, females dont want to have to adopt male leadership themselves; they just want to be around someone whos not afraid to be a stand-up, assertive kind of man. But let me be clear: women dont want an insecure guy who feels he has to act macho and sexist to get his buddies approval, like so many jocks, but a guy who naturally acts confident, and expects people to show him respect. Thats what youre aiming for, and thats what women who are worth your time want.

* Conversely, by being the "follower" instead of the "followed," people, especially girls, will treat you as what you present: someone whos not a leader, someone whos NOT confident, tough, and full of power; in short, someone whos not full of value. You get what you give, so its up to you to GIVE a lot!

* When a girl, particularly one youve just met at a bar or any social venue, treats you with disrespect, its up to you, as the "alpha male," to ignore her. Shut her out, move on, and shell eventually come back to you the same way a dog would: with her tail between her legs, apologetic, and hungry for your respect. But dont address her until youre sure you have her respect, otherwise youre allowing her to "move up the pack," which, as with dogs, will only create future problems.

This actually goes to show why guys who ignore girls, get more than those who dote on them and act needy. Its all evolutionary.

* Conversely, when a girl treats you well, gives you love, and yes, does as shes told (though Im not suggesting you guys bark out commands!), you must treat HER with respect. This especially applies to girlfriends, but also a girl youve only known or dated shortly: Show your thanks, show your appreciation, the same way an alpha leader would display love and affection upon a well-behaved canine.

* You can even apply the alpha dog training to dates. Since the alpha leader eats first, chooses what to eat, and eats the biggest portions, YOU must decide where to eat on a date (dont let her choose the restaurant!), you mustnt be afraid to eat first (although social conventions do dictate that we must wait for both our plates to be served!), and you should get the best bites. If youre splitting a piece of cheesecake, for example, dont be afraid to dig in and get the best portion! The girl will actually respect you for it, much more so than if you bashfully gave up the best piece to her. Again, retain your position as the "top dog."

* Finally, you have to show that youre an alpha not just one-on-one, but also in groups. An alpha wolf doesnt gain his position by submitting to others in the pack; he asserts himself in front of others and makes it known that hes the leader. That doesnt mean you treat your buddies and strangers like crap; it just means you dont let them push you around. In short, you must be what the guy I think has the whole "alpha attitude" down pat, Carlos Xuma, calls "being a stand-up guy." That means standing up for yourself , AND standing up for your girl, by not taking crap from anyone. You dont have to be a jock to let people know they cant push you around.

Quite the contrary. Xuma knows that in order to be big, youve gotta THINK big, and he does this himself by adopting alpha characteristics. What are some great alpha characteristics? In his Secrets to Becoming the Alpha Man course, Xuma rattles off a number of them, including being:

- Clever/smart/cunning
- Ambitious
- Excited
- Honorable
- Dominant (not aggressive, but demonstrating superior social skills)
- Stable
- Fit (healthy lifestyle)
- Curious
- Balanced
- Natural

Doesnt sound like you? No worries. With Xumas course you can learn how to NATURALLY become the leader. It all starts with attitude. Carlos teaches some fascinating, real-life subjects like:

Qualification: The Essence of Alpha Attitude
REAL Game Philosophy
Three Winning Attitudes to Impress Women
5 Things to Never Talk About with Women
The Keys to Dating Success
Motivating Yourself to Get More Girls
How Even Geeks Can Get 10s with Alpha Attitude
What Bad Boys Have That Nice Guys Dont
I highly recommend trying Xuma out. You can start with his free mini-course and newsletter, and see how you like it. I personally find it fascinating and down-to-earth gritty.

In short, it pays to be alpha. The best part is, You dont have to be a football player to do it. The lasting reward is feeling good about yourself, and getting the girls all the other alpha males get. Whats wrong with that?

James Brito is the author of "How to Be Irresistible to Women." His years of dating experience and international travel have tutored him in the art of meeting and seducing women the world over. His immersion in international dating circles brings forth a gritty, no-nonsense approach to dating and developing relationships necessary for the modern single man. Learn more about how to attract the woman of your dreams at: http://www.000relationships.comFredi Blog82301
Flo Blog39785

Sweet Sixteen Parties? More like Sour Sixteen, if you Watch MTVs Reality Show

Its so great to boss people around.
It was awesome having cameras follow meIm awesome and I deserve it.
This is how it should be every time I enter a room. [teen as she is carried in on a litter]
I had to show people how rich I am.

Do these comments make you want to throw up? Of course, and whats worse, theyre real! These bratty statements are actual quotes from the latest MTV reality stars: girls and boys whose super-rich and apparently super-tactless parents give the little darlings anything they desire for their sweet sixteen parties. Throwing elaborate televised bashes that cost upwards of $200,000 and indulging every whim of their prince or princess, the parents show who rules the household (the kids) and what really matters (getting your fifteen minutes however you can, in this case, by buying it). What a great life lesson: If youve got it, flaunt it, and its okay to trash people in your quest for pseudo-fame. These kids make Paris Hilton and Omarosa look like beacons of etiquette and accomplishment.

Sure, MTVs newest reality show, My Super Sweet Sixteen, which premiered last January, is designed to be over the top and outrageous. Thats the whole point. Its the reality TV equivalent of a bloody train wreck: You are appalled, but you just cant avert your eyes. The kids are so obnoxious and so clueless as to how awful they sound, that you stay glued to your tube just to see what horrifyingly selfish thing theyll say or do next.

Never seen the show? It centers around a spoiled teen or two, trailing them as they plan their sweet sixteen party, make outrageous, selfish demands, shed tears, throw tantrums, and torture their peers with lines like, Youre not important enough to be invited. Oh, and then theres footage of the actual party, where the guest of honor may enter riding on a litter, behind the wheel of a luxury car, pulled by horses, or shuttled in a helicopter. The featured entertainment might be Kanye West, Ciara, Rihanna, or Diddy, the king of nouveau rich tasteless excess himself, to name a few. At the end of the night, the kids are presented with sweet sixteen gifts such as luxury vehicles (some get two!), jewelry and even homes. Their overindulgent, self-satisfied parents, portrayed to be every bit as awful as their kidsthe truth, or the result of careful editing we dont knowgloat in the background. I guess money cant buy happiness, but it sure can by popularity.

Before you get too jealous of these pampered kids, consider how tough they have it, with their every whim catered to, their every foot-stamping demand met. As one teen put it, Being rich is hard work! Indeed.

The materialism and extravagance of MTVs show is a far cry from what the average teen can expect. Thank goodness, or wed have a nation of brats, which couldnt be farther from the truth. (TIME magazines Anne Marie Cox wrote of MTVs teens in a recent article, Their blingy flings are not celebrations of accomplishment; theyre celebrations of self.) Even debutantes, those clichd well-to-do southern belles, hold a coming out ball ostensibly not to show off, but to be formally introduced to polite society. Whats more, these debutante balls are often charity occasions, in which the parents of the young ladies, as well as all attending, must contribute a certain sum of money to the cause at hand, according to Wikipedia.

Maybe MTV could take the hintbut doing good works doesnt make for good TV; spoiled, privileged, selfish brats do. Indeed, Cox says, What used to mark the end of childhood now seems only an excuse to prolong the whiny, self-centered greediness that gives infantile a bad name. Far from joining polite society like the debutants of the past, the kids gleefully rip through social graces, alienating friends and sacrificing tact all in the name of creating a VIP room filled with people too young to drive themselves home. Yuck.

So whats the parent of a teen to do when he or she doesnt have a few extra hundred thou lying around? How about inviting a few close friends and family for an intimate, meaningful sweet sixteen party? Make the day extra special by presenting your teen with some nice traditional sweet sixteen presents that wont break the bank, will be appreciated and wont be tossed aside the moment something better comes along. Here are some timeless sweet sixteen gift ideas to celebrate this important right of passage for a child who actually deserves the recognition:

Pearl Necklace: This timeless classic can carry your teen from high school to college to her first job and even to her wedding. Shell treasure it and pass it on to her daughter some day. Round freshwater strands are affordable and can rival the quality of saltwater akoyas.

Pearl Ring: Another timeless treasure, the pearl ring is sweet and demureand unique. Unlike a diamond ring, which has wedding connotations, or a gold ring, which can be too flashy, a pearl ring gets just the right kind of attention.

Pearl Jewelry Set: Why not get her a complete pearl jewelry set? Shell be ensured of having a matching bracelet, pearl earrings and a pearl necklace that she can mix and match for any occasion.

Diamond Studs: A little pricey, but worth it, as diamond studs are a jewelry staple shell wear forever. If responsibility isnt your teens strongpoint, CZ studs can look just as good, and at $40 or so a pop, it wont matter much if she loses them.

Charm Bracelet: A teen favorite for decades, charm bracelets are special because they can be personalized. Add a slipper charm for your ballerina, a horseshoe for your equestrian, a pearl charm for a June birthday girl keep adding charms on every special occasion and soon shell have an unforgettable keepsake.

Frame: A beautiful frame made of brushed stainless steel, wood or mother-of-pearl makes a great gift. To personalize it, fill it with a photo of you and the teen, a poem that reminds you of her, or her birthday horoscope.

For boys, magazine subscriptions and gift certificates to the teens favorite store, or even sixteen of something (16 CDs or 16 movie passes, for example), can make the day special. Best of all? No Diddy required.

A graduate of the Gemological Institute of Americas Graduate Pearls program, Amy Drescher is a fashion writer and accessories buyer for www.moonriverpearls.com. Check out her daily blog, Amys Style Caf, at http://cafe.moonriverpearls.com/amy. She welcomes your comments and questions. Reach her at adrescher@moonriverpearls.com.Henrie Blog37340
Guinevere Blog87232

How to Make a Photo Collage

Making a digital photo collage is not as difficult as one might think. Its really very simple with most photo editing software. It just takes a little time and patience. Even basic photo editing software that normally come with the purchase of a digital camera or printer. A very good photo editing software is PhotoShop Elements and older versions of it, which are perfectly fine, often come included with a new digital camera, printer or scanner.

Photoshop Elements 2.0 is the software I have used for my step by step guide, How to Make a Photo Collage.

The basic steps in making a collage are simple. The first step would be to open a blank document in your photo editing software. Your blank document should be the size you want your finished photo collage to be, example, 8x10 and of a resolution of 300 for good printing quality.

Next choose your pictures, keep it to about 10 pictures or less to begin with, till you are used to working with a lot of pictures so as not to be overwhelmed. Open them and drag them into your blank document.

Next resize the pictures as necessary. A tip, hold down the shift key as you drag from a corner to resize the picture, holding the shift key will keep the proportions of the picture so as not to distort the image. You can resize back bigger or smaller as needed as you work to decide the layout o the photo collage. Move the pictures around to see what looks letter where, try to create some balance, perhaps choose a focal picture to place in the middle and be larger than the others. But the focus does not have to always be in the middle, see what works best with the pictures you are using.

Now comes the most difficult part, the blending. For this we use the eraser tool. Choose your eraser tool and the size you want based on the size of your pictures. You want a blurred edge eraser for better blending. Erase the hard edge on each picture first then one by one, blend into each other, resizing the pictures where necessary. This is not something that can be taught, you have to just jump in and try it, if you make a mistake you can always delete the layer of that picture and open the picture again and drag it back in and try again. Use the step backward tool as well to undo any mistakes when you can.

Youve made a photo collage, time to look around and make any final touches and adjustments. Save your document as a PSD, the default Photoshop Elements file type and then save it again as a jpeg so you can print and/or share it. Keep the PSD file in order to make any changes to your photo collage as you cannot change or adjust the jpeg file, it is just a copy.

See, was that so hard? For an illustrated step-by-step guide you can print and use to help you along the way please visit my website.

Barbara Ryan operates Cherish Collages, a business dedicated to creating unique personal keepsakes and gifts from digital or scanned photos. Http://www.cherishcollages.com , Blog: http://cherishcollages.blogspot.com Florance Blog82282
Henrieta Blog82796

Off The Beaten Track In Kenya- Africa

We are looking forward to visiting the light house at Lake Victoria Safari Village at Mbita point. Spending a few days in it will be a new experience. The landscape from Kisumu to Luanda Kotieno on the shores of Asembo Bay, off the road to Bondo, is full of ancient features: age-old Cambrian rocks fill the Hills along the tarmac road and Kit Mikaye, the gigantic borders sitting atop each other. At Ndori we turn left onto the dusty murrum road to Luanda Kotieno to catch the 11oclock ferry to Mbita point. It runs like clock work so if you miss it you have to wait for the next three hours for the next trip.

The Lake is calm, with water birds here and there and in a distance a strange dust devil appears. Its a whole cloud of the harmless minute flies that breed in the water and sometimes in the swamp places.

Forty-five minutes later, we clock at Mbita point and soon we are at the gate of Lake Victoria Safari Village. The sign on the entrance promises relation at the beach, bird watching and excursions on the Lake.

The light house stands stark white against the blue sky and the blue waters of Lake Victoria, making a perfect picture for a post card. The Islands of Rusinga, Mfangano and the smaller twins one called Mbasa sit calmly on the Lake. The local fishermen colorful boats sail on the roughening waves, there white sails at full mast. Finally we get to Lake Victoria Safari Village, a creation of odd Bredo, engineer of repute.

We are so excited about the white house that we waste no time climbing up the stairs and into the room with a view. Its Bredo dream house as he tells us about the building of the light house, which could be the only light house on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria with justifiable pride.

I build bridges, says Bredo a Norwegian. He has worked in many countries in Africa and it was during one such project that he landed at Mbita point and met his wife Louise, and set up a new home on the shores of the Lake. That was in 1990 in between building bridges, Bredos busy working at Safari Village with the latest addition, the lighthouse.

The lighthouse is stunning. It reminds of calendar from Greece, with pictures of stark white houses surrounded by blue skies and waters.

We climb up the stairs and onto the patio eagerly waiting for Bredo to open the door to the light house. The white washed bedroom is spacious with windows opening to the Lakes blue waters. Its a beautiful roundavel with a four-poster bed facing the Lake, blue beaded Maasai necklaces on the walls and a small blue table and two chairs by the window. Blue is the traditional color of lighthouse decor. A platform with a collection of stones that once belonged to his mother forms an artistic showpiece of colors and shapes. There is nothing ostentatious or expressive in the room but it is a place you would, nevertheless, want to live in.

The platform conceals part of the staircase leading from the room to the bathroom below. If ever there was a bathtub with a view these has got to be it. Mayas [my niece] audible expressions say it all. If the wall wasnt there, the bath tub would blend in with the Lake. No wonder the lighthouse is the honeymooners dream hideaway.

After our guided trip around the lighthouse, and having unpacked and lounged on the bed overlooking the sea. I mean, Im a water person so I am totally sold-we join Bredo in the garden for a cold beer. The bird life is just awesome. Within a few minutes at the lighthouse, I have seen a tiny malachite kingfisher flit past in resplendent hues of blue and orange, pled kingfishers and the regal African kingfishers out of the horizon from behind the lighthouse and sweep down to grab a fish from the Lake.

The garden is filled with yellow weaver birds busy building nests on the thorn trees and Maya is busy building sand castles on the beach.

The lighthouse is a structure for guiding ships using sharp lights, Bredo explains, but they are going out of fashion because of the GPS [Global Positioning System].In the olden days light houses where marked on maps. In those old days people lived in lighthouses to take care of the lights and operate the fog horn to guide the ships.

Growing up in Norway, Bredo spent many summer holidays in light house which his father rented. It became a boyhood dream to build his own one day.

Now I have the time to build one, says the jovial Scandinavian. With a team of local artisans, he built the lighthouse in a year and opened it in October 2005.

A lighthouse needs a very solid foundation because its surrounded by water and sand and built on a rocky peninsula. The walls are reinforced with columns and slope inwards.

The place is magical. Its sunset and Bredo has a table set on the beach from where he wants to show us a perfect sunset. The sky turns gold, orange and red, with the blue getting faint as it darkens. The sun, a ball of gold, begin to slid in the dark waters bang in the middle of the twin Islands of Mbasa.Its stunning, its surreal.

The sun sets between Mbasa Islands from December 23. It then begins to move true west, he explains, pointing at Mfangano Island and you see the sun setting there on September 23.It keeps moving and sets on the pointed peak[facing us]on Rusinga Island on June 23,after which it shift back to true west by March 23 and back to the twin Island by December 23.

The world is fascinated but it takes special people like the Bredons, the Fleur Ngwenos and the Wangari Maathais to show that surrealism in nature. It comes with an appreciation of it.

FACT FILE

Its a beautiful lodge and very economical. Drive to Kisumu, take the road to Mbondo and turn off at Ndori, drive on the murram road to Luanda Kotieno.Its three hours from Kisumu. Alternatively drive via Kisii.Full direction can be got from landmark safaris.com. These are eight bandas and the lighthouse. Great for families or those who want to get off the beaten truck you can visit Ruma National Park.

Robert Muhoho is a tour consultant in Kenya and has planned business and vacation safaris for over 10,000 tourists in the East African region. He is a tour operation- major and involved in National tourism policy development in Kenya.Hadria Blog40778
Frankie Blog70923

Adsense Alternatives

Many people have started using Google's AdSense program, but there are some who find it a bit too uncertain or simply not suiting their own requirements from an ad program.

But thankfully for such people, there are many alternatives to AdSense which attempt to alleviate some of its shortcomings. Here is a list of the most noteworthy ones from the lot with a description concerning each one.

AllFeeds (http://www.allfeeds.com/?action=publishers)

AllFeeds has a great pool of online advertisers to choose from. It also features many display formats that you can choose from. These include banners, buttons, XML feeds, DHTML pop-ups and so on. It also features real time reporting of your ad status. The site will mail a check every month, provided that you earn more then $25.00, while rolling over earnings for the next month if you don't. Another interesting thing about AllFeeds is that it integrates with Google AdSense, maximizing your earnings with AdSense.

MarketBanker (http://www.marketbanker.com/mb/sell.php)

MarketBanker allows you the unique possiblity to set the pricing for your site. It also allows you to allow or reject any link that appears on your site (although AdSense itself does a very good job of this as well, with URL filters) There's also a statistics section which will allow you to see how well your site is doing. The ads are small just like AdSense's and they're just as easy to set up. Also, registration for MarketBanker is free.

BidClix ( http://www.bidclix.com/PubTop.html)

BidClix is different because it has advertisers compete for clicks on your site, which in turn is meant to generate the highest possible profits for your page. It also has a very large pool of advertisers which ensure there are plenty of people to choose your site. However, it does require more polish on site contents then AdSense. As most sites, real time statistics are available and its very easy to get started with this service, but it's also very flexible.

Chitika (http://www.realcontext.com/index.php?option=RealContext:+Contextual+Targeting+Engine)

RealContext uses Artificial intelligence to retrieve the most relevant ads for your page. And there's an extra feature which makes RealContext unique as well. Keywords are selected based upon which previous selections payed off and which didn't. That means there's a constant feedback process that ensures you gain better revenue from your ads. It also supports blocking certain adds and child-safe filtering and many more options.

AdHearus (http://adhearus.com/webmaster.php)

AdHearus is a very feature-packed contextual ad provider. As with AdSense, advertisements are targeted but it doesn't stop here at all. The ads are very flexible, you can select from text-ads, banners, rectangles, pop-ups, pop-unders or skyscrapers. You can also display your own ads, through rotation, both on your site and on other affiliate sites, which makes AdHearus a hybrid with conventional advertising technologies. There's a very comprehensive on-line real time reporting feature and, as usual with such services, starting out is free and it's a breeze.

AffiliateSensor (http://www.affiliatesensor.com/)

AffiliateSensor has highly customizable ad blocks, which you can make for yourself with an easy to use on-line interface. You also get realtime reporting with clicks-by-domain, page and refferer. There's integration with Google AdSense as well, through the google_alternate_ad_url so AffiliateSensor can be used as a substitute for Google PSA's (Public Service Ads).

Kanoodle Bright Ads (http://www.kanoodle.com/about/brightads.cool)

Kanoodle's offering allows publishers to get ads related to topics or segments, and not the traditional keyword oriented ads. The site also groups publisher sites with advertisers by hand to ensure high-revenue generating ads. And speaking of revenue, the amount of money you receive is a clear 50% share of the amount of money Kanoodle recieves for an advertiser.

TargetPoint (http://publisher.targetpoint.com)

TargetPoint is oriented more towards content publishers. It offers full control over the look the ads, statistics over your site's overall performance and better revenue. It's free to register and you earn a guaranteed 60% of the total revenue. You can get payed with Paypal of Bank checks and (most times) wire transfers as well.

Clicksor (http://www.clicksor.com)

Clicksor will earn you as much as 60% from the amount of money your website produces. What you get is about the same as AdSense, there are targeted text ads, you can view the revenues from your website in real time. You can receive money via PayPal or through a check every two weeks, provided that you have earned more then $50. If you haven't made that much, your earning roll over to the next period

Richard Carter has been doing business online since 1995 As the CEO of Rapid Enterprises he has ran several very successful internet ventures but prefers affiliate marketing and consulting. his passion for music has spurred his latest business of guitar sales at http://www.proguitarists.com and his custom shop, http://www.showmeguitars.com.Honor Blog17850
Hedda Blog86546

Is Your Website Design Professional?

In business world, you need a professional image, a professional sales team. Similarily, as one of your company member, is company website performs in professional fashion? Company website is your online sales team, do you know how professional it is?

#1 You have a beautiful website background?

In personal website, we can always find some beautiful background image or eye-catching background color. In some company websites, they also use some company photo, factory photo or product photo as the website background. Actually, it is not the right way to do. The right way is "Make it simple".

You will never find a background image in Yahoo, Google. People visit your website is looking for information not the beautiful background. Moreover, the background image have disadvantages: loading time will be longer and distract the visitor attention. Think again what information the background image can bring to your customer? If no, take it off.

#2 Full of image

Dont make your webpage in full of image. Use image only if image can present more clear than text. For example, you can use image to present the order process. Size of those images should be small enough, you can take a look on the article about "Image Optimization".

Remember, company website is not a comic.

#3 Page Frame

Many websites use frame to make the navigation easier. However, more and more website designers dont use frame in the design. It is because frame will distort the whole design and also make the visitor confused and difficult to find the information. Also, using CSS or Javascript can provides similar effect but can keep the design consistency.

#4 Visitor Counter

Put a visitor counter on the web site. This can let visitor know how many people visit the website before, get their attention and build up their confidence. This look true, but we suggest you to take it off.

Actually, these counters are not accurate and can be trigger manually, no one will believe these counters. Why don't put a testimonial with a real customer name instead of this counter?

#5 Under construction

Have you see those "Road Construction" image? Or those "Under construction, please come back later"? Dont waste your visitor time. If your webpage has not finish, take it away. I can't remember have I try "come back later".

If you really need to put this "Under Construction", we can give you some suggestion. You can package it to become a re-visit event, for example:

- On which day the web page open, the first 100 visitors complete the registration can get a free gift or discount.

- Raise the visitor curiosity, tell them what surprise they may get once the webpage open.

- Make it like a fiction. Everyday you put some additional information on it, make the visitor re-visit. This can greatly encourage the visitor to visit again.

Remember, no one like those boring "Under Construction". Turn it into a marketing event.

Isaac Chu is Project Director of Evinco Solutions Limited. Evinco provides innovative business software, include emarketing web solutions, email marketing software, e-catalog publishing software, invoicing software, and electronic cheque writer. Visit: http://www.evinco.com.hk.Giralda Blog68525
Giuditta Blog81534

What are Web Standards?

Web standards are technologies, established by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) and other standards bodies, that are used to create and understand web-based content. In order for the Web to reach its full potential, the most fundamental Web technologies must be compatible with one another and allow any hardware and software used to access the Web to work together. Therefore, to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential, protocols and guidelines have been developed that ensure long-term growth for the Web.

How does your business benefit from adopting web standards

-Lower development costs:

This is due to simpler development and maintenance using more semantic and structured HTML. The one site will work with all major browsers.

-Lower hosting costs:

Less HTML results in smaller file sizes and quicker downloads. Smaller file sizes mean lower bandwidth which will lower hosting costs.

-Increase in usability:

Your customers will find your site renders and download faster due to the smaller file size. This will make them response and showing more interest in what you have to offer in your business.

-Increase in accessibility:

Semantic HTML, where structure is separated from presentation, makes it easier for screen readers and alternative browsing devices to decipher the content.

-Increase in search ability:

Semantic HTML, where structure is separated from presentation, makes the content represent a larger part of the total file content. Combined with semantic markup this will improve search engine rankings. As your site search ability increases, so is your potential clients.

-Better brand control:

When presentation is separated by content, you have much better control over the branding of your sites. Your sites that channels content to conventional browsers, on PDA and mobile phones can be controlled by just changing the style sheet(s).

Emma Broe ran her own internet design and advertising agency in the UK until moving to Australia in 2001. Now established in Western Australia, the vast majority of her business comes from 'word of mouth' of which they are incredibly proud. For more information. please visit http://www.emmabroe.com.Hedy Blog97962
Hilliary Blog8763

How to Save Hundreds of Dollars on College Textbooks Using Craigslist

College textbooks are expensive! Prices have risen dramatically - up 186% from 1986 to 2006. To keep your expenses as low as possible, get textbook savvy, and shop online for significant college textbook savings.

Before you go textbook shopping, whether in the physical world or online, you need to look at the total cost of acquiring a textbook. Chasing prices can save you money, but if you drive all over town and spend many hours in the process, you may not save as much as you think. With gas at well over $3.00 per gallon in much of the country, you can quickly use $10-20 worth of gas to drive across town to buy just one book! Make sure you take that into account.

If you decide to shop online, you can find great deals, but you will have to do some research to find the best textbook bargains. One great free website that many people overlook for buying textbooks is Craigslist.org. Craigslist is a great resource to find just about anything. Craigslist is a free website - one of the last commercial free websites on the Internet that has intentionally chosen to stay free to users, and it does not allow commercial advertising. How refreshing!

Once you have the name and publisher information of the textbooks you are looking for, simply go to Craigslist.org, and select your city or region. Then begin your search by typing the word textbook into the search box. When you start searching for textbooks on the site, you will notice that most of the listings are books for sale, but sometimes people will post books that they need to buy. When it comes time for you to sell your book, look for these listings.

The number of textbooks posted for sale, and buyers looking for textbooks, varies greatly, based on the time of year. Naturally, the period between the end of a college semester and the first week or two of the following semester has the most listings. Listings expire quickly, so check back every couple of days.

If you are a textbook seller on Craigslist, and you post in one of the 10 largest cities on Craigslist, your listing will expire after 1 week, so make sure that you repost your listing each week. All other listings will run for 45 days.

Craigslists popularity is growing quickly. If you dont find what you are looking for, you can expand your search to other cities. If you find an out of town seller of a book you need, and theyre selling it at a great price, you can negotiate the shipping costs. If the seller is local, you can make arrangements to pick it up, or better yet, ask if the seller is willing to deliver it to you.

Many of the listings include images of the textbooks, as indicated by a pic or img after the description, so you can see the condition of them prior to buying. When it comes time to resell your books, the condition of your book will affect how much you get for it, so avoid buying a book that is falling apart. If there are no pictures, contact the seller and ask about the condition. Also remember that when its time for you to resell them, take a good quality picture before you post it on Craigslist!

I recommend creating an account on Craigslist, because it speeds up the process and you can repost expired listings.

There are many great resources online for finding college textbooks inexpensively, but Craigslist is unique because it is a free resource that brings buyers and sellers together, quickly and easily, without the trappings and complications of commercial websites. Bargains abound on Craigslist, and armed with these tips, you are sure to find great deals!

Ryan Harris is a co-founder of Rapid Research Papers (http://www.rapidresearchpapers.com), a college student resource for students of all ages who struggle with their term paper and research paper assignments, providing information on how to write a research paper fast! Gwennie Blog70683
Helge Blog87617

The Web and Education--One Mom's Perspective

Parents should get more involved in the education of a child. How many times have you heard this statement? My question is, Where does a parent begin? I understand that as a parent I must be engaged. I truly do get that I have to ensure the homework is done and that I am communicating regularly with my childs teachers. But beyond that, what else can a parent do?

I imagine there are hundreds of things a parent might do, but I would like to share my personal experience with you. Lets begin with a little insight into my background. Several years ago while developing and teaching Air Force training courses for U.S. Space Command, I became fascinated with the use of computers in learning. So when my child was beginning her educational experience, of course, I loaded up on the best educational software in the land. But, I kept hearing this persistent buzz about Internet resources.

Did you know that if you Google educational resources, you get 163,000,000 search results? If you narrow it down to lets say math, you end up with a whopping 269,000,000 results. Some of them are really good, and some of them really stink, and some have so much advertising you cant tell if they are really good, really awful or fair-to-midland. But if you hang in there and really look, there are some real gems out there and most of them are absolutely free.

One exercise I have done with my child over the years involves researching the admissions criteria for different schools. We found sites like CollegeTours.com, a site providing loads of information and virtual tours of different college campuses, to be references for this exercise. We have even gone as far as to look at scholarship requirements using databases such as CollegeNET.com and CollegeIsPossible.org. We also compared the costs of different institutions. We began doing this in her sixth grade year. Because we started early, my child has understood the requirements for college acceptance and financing for sometime now. When I started the process, my hope was that we would not be running around in her junior and senior years trying to get things in order. It is awfully difficult to bring up that grade point average in a couple of semesters, especially if the young person is stressed by time constraints. Getting my child prepared early was my way of ensuring we were prepared when we got down to deadlines. A worksheet for this exercise can be downloaded from my website YouthPlay.org.

My daughter is now in the eleventh grade. She is a member of the National Honor Society, president of her junior class, a starting member of her high school basketball team, an apprentice for a local neurosurgeon and a social butterfly. And, we are already inundated with college recruitment materials from the best colleges in the nation. In other words, were getting thereour strategy has worked thus far.

There were several not-so-accidental elements in my Internet strategy. For instance, practice is an essential part of a successful study routineespecially when dealing with facts and rules. The Internet and various software can be very useful in providing repetition in a not-so-routine manner. Games such as Basket Math at ScienceAcademy.com where your child actually makes a hoop each time he or she gets the correct answer can make rote learning of multiplication tables a tad more interesting than just repeating the multiplication tables over and over.

I remember clearly when I began to dislike matha subject I had loved until, I believe, I ran into the wrong teacher. I remember my worst days in school. I remember my best days. I remember the teachers who were creative and inspiring and know that the best skills I possess today are in the areas they taught. Because of my own experience, I looked very hard for good learning websites to share with my daughter. I didnt want her to be turned off by sites that were really advertising monsters, just enticing you to a point of enjoyment and then launching an advertising scheme where you must make a purchase before you can go any further. Certainly I understand that many websites survive through their ability to sell products, however I believe this can be accomplished without bait and purchase gimmicks.

Goodness, have you ever tried to unlearn something you learned how to do wrong? You really have to make sure that the resources that your child uses are good resources. Every textbook is not a good textbook; every teacher is not a good teacher; and, every website is not a good website. Assuming these tools are good simply because they exist or because the school system uses them can cause your child a world of harm. A parent really has to do more than have these tools available. If you tryout a piece of software or an Internet resource and you cannot follow the instructions, then there is a very good chance your child may not be able to effectively use the resource either. And the same rule applies with other resources as well. Some sites such as Math.com and MathForum.com gave really simple step-by-step instructions to concepts my child was learning in school, yet I had long forgotten. I was able to refresh my memory and to get her on track using these resources.

The vividness of the learning experience can also be very important. If I take my child to the zoo to learn about animals, he or she will learn more than if I just explain the animals. One of my favorite sites for young kids is Switchzoo.com. My younger nieces and nephews are fascinated with the animals they are familiar with, but just spillover with excitement as they manipulate the animals to make new ones. I think that my daughter and I are really supposed to be a little old for the activity, but in all truthfulness we have a great time with it too.

There are so many places out there that I neither have the time nor the money to take my child. The Internet has been especially useful in getting my child to those places. At our fingertips we have the Virtual Smithsonian Institute and the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. At GreatPlaces.org we have in living color enjoyed films and photos of Madagascar, Tibet, the Amazon and several other far away places. Websites such as the Academy of Achievement featuring diverse faces from different walks of life and Get Smarter provide children with the opportunity to interact with young people of different cultures. While certainly not substitutes for eye-to-eye interaction, these types of websites provide additional opportunities for young people to interact with peers from other backgrounds. Through the gateway of MuseumStuff.com, we have viewed museums all over the world including my personal favorite the web only exhibits of our National Museum of Air and Space in Washington DC. And lets not forget the brick and mortar library. Before computers the library is how my parents took me to far away places. It still works and every library that we have visited recently has wonderful computer resources as well. So, if you dont have a computer at home, that is certainly no excuse for not spending some time with your child using this wonderful technology. And I still buy books for presentswonderful, exciting, colorful books.

There are several good resources on the web that make the search for good, educationally sound websites easier for parents. The Education Place and Education World-- The Educator's Best Friend are sites developed by educators. These sites and the many others like them, including my own website www.YouthPlay.org featuring the websites I have used in educating my child, keep us updated on the newest and the best resources in education and help us in making decisions regarding our childrens education. My personal favorite is my very own YouthPlay blog (http://youthplay-org.blogspot.com) where I share my favorite educational websites daily.

I truly believe that the resources of the Internet have helped my daughter to tap into all of her talents and have the potential to help other children to do the same.

A.R. Linder is the editor of the YouthPlay blog found at http://youthplay-org.blogspot.com-- a daily review of her favorite educational resources. A cornerstone of the website is a wonderful area called YouthPlay.org --a collection of many of the websites she has used in educating herself and her child. Ms. Linder is a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. She has more than 15 years of experience in training and workforce development. Idette Blog8332
Hali Blog5945

Distance Learning

Students who are not physically sitting in a class room to get their education are taught using technology based instructional systems designed for remote access. This system is known as distance learning or distance education. Students and teachers communicate with each other through printed materials or electronic media or using a technology that provides real-time communications.

Distance learning uses regular mail for correspondence. Real-time or offline internet resources are also used in this system. Television or radio is used to make educational broadcasts to reach the students of distance learning.

Isaac Pitman used the very first modern distance learning system in 1840 to teach shorthand through correspondence.

Since 1946, correspondence courses in the distance-learning mode were offered by the University of South Africa, which is one of the oldest distance learning universities in the world. In UK, the Open University was founded in 1969.

For-profit institutions, non-profit organizations, public and privates institutions are offering degree programs and courses in distance learning. There is varying level of accreditation for such institutions. Some of the institutions in USA have very little focus from the countries outside and some of them are mere diploma mills, which are mostly fraudulent.

The distance-learning program was greatly benefited in the twentieth century by using Internet, television and radio.

Even though the presence of a student is not compulsory in distance learning, with the advent of technology, physical presence or lack of it has become an option. In distance learning, electronic classrooms can be classified as off campus or on campus. It is known as institutions using a mode of delivery, which is flexible. Find more info at http://www.distance-learning4u.info

In many cases, students do sit in traditional classrooms and they are connected to a teacher in a distant classroom through videoconference. This technology increases the power of teaching and learning.

During its history, distance learning has passed through the experience of four to five different methods of teaching using the technology available at that time. The technology that was used were print, video/audio broadcasts, teleconference using video/audio technology, instruction aided by computers and computer based broadcasting. In developing nations, the radio is used for distance learning and considered to be a very powerful medium. In India the virtual university and distance learning centers use FM broadcasting which is very popular among the students.

Earlier models of distance learning used regular mail to dispatch written materials. Among the developing nations, this method is still used in distance learning.

In distance learning both full time and part time studies are possible but most of the students prefer part time studies. Even though distance learning is offered at various levels, it is the most popular option for university level studies.

Distance learning is also known as correspondence courses since the teacher and the student corresponded through the regular mail. For children living in remote areas secondary and primary education programs are available.

Testing material caused trouble for distance learning right from its inception. The problem occurs when the student has to complete the assignment and undergo testing. In distance learning a student is completely removed from supervision during the evaluation period.

Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. For more info visit http://distance-learning4u.info/ or http://distance-learning4u.info/distance-learning-centers.htm.Haily Blog94125
Ines Blog54779

The Ferrari Enzo Supercar

One of the worlds top sports car manufacturers is Ferrari, whose symbol of a black prancing horse on a yellow shield-shaped background is perhaps one of the most easily recognizable car logos in the world. Based in Maranello, Italy, this Italian sports car manufacturer is responsible for the existence of some of the most powerful and at the same time most elegant sports cars the world has ever seen.

Every single Ferrari ever manufactured, from the 250 GTO to the 206/246 Dino, is a feat of engineering and design. One such Ferrari is the Enzo Ferrari Supercar, which was named one of the top sports cars of the new millennium by Sports Car International magazine in 2004. Named in honor of Enzo Ferrari, who founded the company in 1929, the Enzo Ferrari supercar is indeed super in many respects.

Built in 2003, the Enzo Ferrari supercar was designed using Formula One technology. Its body is made of carbon-fiber, its brake discs are carbon-ceramic, and it has an F1-style sequential shift transmission. It has 6.0-liter, 660-horsepower V-12 engine, the first Ferrari motor to have continuously variable exhaust valve timing. The Enzo engine has four valves per cylinder and a variable-length induction system.

As befitting the supercar tag, the Enzo Ferrari boasts of extremely quick acceleration. The Enzo Ferrari is capable of reaching 62.5 mph in 3.30 seconds and can accelerate to 100 mph in 6.60 seconds. This particular breed of Ferrari can also complete the quarter mile from a stop in approximately 11.1 seconds at 133 mph. Its estimated top speed of 217 mph is further proof of its Formula 1 heritage. So unless youre an active driver in the Formula 1 circuit, theres no way you can hit the top speed on a regular road and get away with it.

So far, the Enzo has proven to be stable when cornering. Its powerful engine, however, sometimes makes the car a bit difficult to control. Fortunately, it has rack-and-pinion power steering, pushrod actuated coil-shock units, a four-wheel independent suspension stabilized by front and rear anti-roll bars, and four Bridgestone Scuderia tires, which have been designed and tuned specifically for the Enzo Ferrari supercar.

So far, Ferrari has only produced 400 of these supercars, and only a select few have managed to acquire one. As a matter of fact, just being able to afford its US$643,330 price tag is not enough to get your hands on one. Propsective owners still have to send applications to Ferrari for the privilege of purchasing one of these supercars.

A number of famous people are or have been proud owners of an Enzo Ferarri supercar, including Nicolas Cage, Eric Clapton, Tommy Hilfiger, Rod Stewart, and of course, Michael Schumacher, the man responsible for bringing virtually countless honor for the company as the most famous Formula 1 driver for Scuderia Ferrari, Ferraris racing division.

Learn more about the Ferrari Enzo by checking out author Bradley George Lindemann at http://blog.ssip.net/. This site contains more information about the Ferrari Enzo and other supercars.Gusta Blog85009
Georgeanne Blog11573

Video Game Systems

The first video game system that I actually owned was an Atari game console that played only pong and pong like games. The console used your television to visually display the game and its action. We were thrilled with the system and many hours were spent staring at the television screen with the eerie beep of the pong hitting the paddles echoing through out the room. The next video game system I owned was also an Atari, but instead of being dedicated to only one game, this actually accepted a variety of cartridges which played wonderful games, including Asteroids, Space Invaders and Pac-man. And we once again embraced them as wonderful advancements in technology and introduced them to our children.

Before I knew it, the kids were asking for a Commodore 64. They now wanted a personal computer and I was saving the money to get one, because the price was right. The C64 did not require a monitor, and could be plugged into a television set, and had graphics that were evolving away from the simple shapes of Atari to realistic drawings. Instead of all action games, some of the games involved solving problems and were much more intellectual. Even better, you could copy the games on a cheap cassette tape and pass them around.

The next video game system that the kids were asking for was the Nintendo Entertainment System. It had high-resolution, full color, tiled backgrounds and the games were longer and contained more detailed graphics. Super Mario Brothers was the big hit game that everyone wanted. When the Sega Mega Drive was introduced, they were still happy with their NES. Then the kids outgrew the video game systems and it wasnt until I discovered the role playing game called Morrowind that I was drawn into PC video games. I was totally blown away! I could not believe the advancements in technology that enabled such realism! And to my grandchildren, who by the way have Nintendo 64 and Play Station 2 and full access to PC games, these are common, everyday toys. How amazing is that!?

Sandra CundyIdette Blog5661
Greta Blog15433

Variable Life Insurance & Annuities: Investment Scandals in Waiting

We humans are as creative on the "Dark Side" of commercial activity as we are in developing beneficial new products and services. In the face of huge financial benefits, however, some corporate executives can't resist taking an extra dessert even before their shareholders have finished dinner. Some scandals have more of an impact on investors than others, and most produce unwarranted layers of government regulation and control that stifle honest creativity.

Plain vanilla fraud and theft are less worrisome to me than situations where the general acceptance of misinformation or "business as usual" practices allows inherently bad product ideas and blatant mismanagement to become accepted by regulatory authorities, financial professionals, and myopically gullible consumers. Here are some candidates for future "Blockbuster Scandal Awards" (B S Awards, if you will): Variable Life Insurance & Annuities, Wrap Fee Managed Investment Accounts, Portfolio Window Dressing, Asset Allocation Mutual Funds, and Obscene Executive Compensation.

1) Variable Insurance and Annuities: Variable products are a relatively new thing in the insurance industry, circa 1980 or so. Before that, the conventional wisdom labeled the Shock Market much too risky for Life Insurance Policy and Annuity Contract guaranteed benefits. In fact, these benefits had been "guaranteed" for so long that it became a generic expectation of anyone in the market for either. So why did the State Insurance departments cave in to the Variable Product lobby? And what is not emphasized as these products are marketed to potential insureds and annuitants?

As if the 8% sales commission on Straight Life Annuities wasn't enough, the addition of Mutual Fund bonuses made the Variable Annuity irresistible... to financial professionals. Similarly, this product is so lucrative for the companies that they manipulate their rates to become more competitive. Since the introduction of variable benefits, there have been more insurance company failures and scandals, and not just a few disappointed recipients of reduced annuity payments. What's in your retirement plan?

2)Wrap Fee Investment Accounts: From the very beginnings of wealth, the very wealthy employed Investment Managers to protect and to grow their portfolios. Most Investment Managers had just a few huge clients that they tended to while the rest of the fledging financial industry focused on property protection and estate creation through life insurance. Most of today's (salaried) Investment Managers are employed by Financial Institutions to supervise thousands of Mutual Funds for millions of investors of all financial shapes and sizes. There are more Equity Mutual Funds than there are individual Equities on the New York Stock Exchange. Most investors today will employ many Investment Managers and never actually speak to any of them.

Enter the personally managed investment portfolio product offered by most major Financial Institutions. For a single fee, you receive the personal services of a professional Investment Manager, and a portfolio specifically designed for you. Except, of course, that you get neither. You get precisely the same portfolio as everybody else, and all at once regardless of price... a Mutual Fund with individual statements. But of course, you can speak to the manager any time you like, change your asset allocation, set aside a reserve for an upcoming expenditure, etc. Yeah, sure you can!

Note that "Flat Fee" managed accounts are quite different and may actually be separately and personally managed.

3)Portfolio Window Dressing: Every quarter, every year, we hear about the adjustments that portfolio managers are making as they attempt to look smart to their largest clients. Now in a discipline (Investing) that they all officially recognize as a long-term commitment to some specific strategy or plan, why do the Masters of the Universe spend so much time manipulating their short-term performance numbers? And why is this considered business as usual instead of common fraud?

4)Asset Allocation Mutual Funds: I look at Asset Allocation a bit differently than most professionals seem to and I regulate and monitor a portfolio's structure using the cost basis of securities rather than their Market Value. But how, logically, can a one-size-fits-all Mutual Fund be the right mix for all investors? Here's a definition found on the Internet: "A mutual fund that rotates among stocks, bonds, and money market securities to maximize return on investment and minimize risk". And a definition of Asset Allocation from a similar source: "The practice of distributing a certain percentage of a portfolio between different types of investment assets, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, cash, real estate, options, etc. By diversifying an individual's asset base, one hopes to create a favorable risk/reward ratio for a portfolio".

In reality, Asset Allocation is a structure-planning tool that determines what percentage of an Investment Portfolio is to be invested for Growth in Equity securities and what percentage is to be invested for income production. The proper allocation is a function of the investor's age, marital status, financial position, employment status, retirement plans, expenditure needs, risk tolerance, family responsibilities, etc. Diversification occurs within the two (just two) asset classes. One size fits all... who's kidding whom?

5) Corporate Executive Compensation: I strongly believe that everyone has the right to become filthy rich, legally of course. I respect anyone who gets there honestly because their success creates jobs, opportunities, wealth, and a higher standard of living for everyone. But, once they sell shares of their successful enterprises to the public, they have a responsibility to share future profits and growth. Obscene executive suite compensation (right down to the chauffeured limousines) is simply stealing from shareholders.

With every new Scandal, a voracious Media and a hypocritical Congress exacerbate the fear of shocked investors and call for more regulation of the very entities whose success, freedom, viability, and competitiveness they should be nurturing. Ironically, politicians are always the most outspoken critics... probably because of their familiarity with cover-ups and improprieties. But no one ever questions the integrity of the Financial Institutions that invent, produce, price, and promote products and services that do far more long-term harm than the few (albeit serious and sensational) incidents of corporate wrong doing.

Four of the five candidates for this year's Blockbuster Scandal (B S) Award were created on Wall Street. The fifth is ignored by it. Which one bothers you most?

Steve SelengutHolly Blog63144
Flss Blog66226

Tips To Finding Articles And Resources About ADHD

One of the best things about the Internet and about serious, scholarly, and devoted professional help sites is being able to find the accurate, timely, and truly informative articles related to your search. You can spot a helpful ADHD article just this way. While we can find amazingly suitable materials in the regular bookstore on ADHD (Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder), such as Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundos lifesaving book, or those equally useful works by Thom Hartmann, Shari Holden, and others, the ADHD article is quicker, more easily accessible by anyone anywhere in the world (online, I mean), and is just as valuable as written by an ADHD specialist, expert, and/or professional.

You can start with the ADHD site or ADHD ezine (online magazine), for example to find almost any ADHD article perceived as relevant to you:

* BTE, http://borntoexplore.org, provides information and a number of helpful, informative ADHD articles for scholarship and personal use.

* ADDitude magazine is online and by subscription, and has so many practical and realistic ADHD articles for the professional, the student, the parent, and the adult that you will definitely want your own copy! I came by the magazine through the college where I worked, and since then has read every magazine issue cover to cover. I then had to subscribe to resist the sinful temptation of keeping the copies I borrowed.

You will also want to have a look at the following ADHD article databases:

* The absolute premier site for ADHD articles is ADD Consults (http://addconsults.com). It will take you a little time to figure out how the system is constructed, but once you decide on a subject area, or sub-topic, you will get ADHD articles on everything from ADD strategies to co-morbidity information to ADHD articles about children and adults with ADD. The articles are upscale and professional, clinical, and/or personal, and are a must read! The site is built by Terry Matlin, MSW, ASCW, and features the astoundingly superbly brilliant support of ADHD article writers who are big names in the fieldEdward Hallowell, John J. Ratey, Sari Solden, Thom Hartmann, and Michelle Novotny, to name just a few!

And once you find the primary source that is most user-friendly and most helpful to you, do not hesitate to sign up for a free newsletter, one which offers an ADHD article or two weekly or monthly (whenever the newsletter is delivered to your inbox):

* Terry Matlin, ACSW, also offers a newsletter which features an ADHD article, book reviews, and blurbs on many ADHD aids/products for the ADHDer, as I call her or him (as I call myself).

* Breath and Shadow, a monthly (or thereabouts) newsletter created by ROSC as the Journal of Literature and Disability Culture, is for writers and artists with any or all disabilities, and issues a monthly newsletter with a predetermined theme, but occasionally you might get an ADHD article.

As you can see, you can find the most scholarly ADHD articles, or the most personal and still accurate and relevant ADHD article written by a non-credentialed individual who is or knows someone who has to put up with the frustrations and challenges as well as special and unique gifts of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a.k.a ADD. Come on, any sites to share with me, anyone?

John Wellington provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, http://www.free-acne-treatment-class.info, and reviews for http://www.healthcare-resource-guide.com, skin care, and other related information.Hetty Blog31388
Ginevra Blog98429

Keep Your Kids Safe On Halloween Night

Halloween is a time when children of all ages can dress up and have a good time. However, it is also a time when taking safety precautions is vital to prevent the fun on Halloween night turning into a tragedy. Halloween safety involves a good deal of practical common sense but in the excitement of the night that common sense can often be forgotten. Planning ahead can help to make safety part of your family's Halloween routine.

Sadly, some people have been known to lace some treats with dangerous items such as razorblades, bleach or drugs. So, it is important for a parent to do their best to make sure their children don't become a victim of such behavior. A good start is to establish a policy with your children that they are not allowed to accept any unwrapped food such as apples or cookies. Also set the rule that they are not allowed to eat any of their candy until it has been brought back home and you have had a chance to check over every item in their bags for any signs of tampering. Some hospitals make their x-ray machines available on Halloween night so even wrapped candy can get a good examination. If your local hospital is one that offers this service make it your last stop on the night. Usually they make the atmosphere fun so your children are likely to think it is just part of the Halloween fun. Of course the temptation to tuck in to such a large amount of candy will be difficult so make sure they eat a large dinner before they set out on Halloween night so they are less tempted to raid their goodie bags.

Of course, they have to collect the candy first and that means going out trick or treating. Children bellow a certain age should always be accompanied by a responsible adult that will be able to make the judgment calls they may not be capable of making. Never let a child enter a house without their chaperone. It is tempting to hang back a little bit to let them knock on the doors by themselves. There isn't anything wrong with that but make sure they are never out of your sight.

Older children that go out on their own should be required to provide their parents of a general plan for their trick or treating. That way you have an idea of what houses they will be visiting and roughly when they will be there. If they having mobile phones arrange a variety of times that they are required to call you and touch base. If they miss a call and aren't answering their phone you should then be able to use the plan they drew up to know where to look for them.

Safety precautions should also be taken into consideration when helping your child select their Halloween costume. If their Halloween costume includes a mask make sure that the eye holes in the mask are large enough that your child can see clearly out of them in all directions. This is particularly important if they are trick or treating on foot and will have to safely cross from one street to another. Making sure the costume isn't too long for them is also important so that they aren't in danger or tripping over the bottom. Falling down can be embarrassing but it an also be very dangerous if they are crossing a road. Also, since there are a lot of candles around on Halloween night it is a good idea to check that the costume is made out of flame-retardant material.

Taking a few simple safety measures can help to make sure you family's memories of Halloween night are joyful and not full of regret.

Sarah Jayne Anderson is a writer that was born and raised in the United States and not lives in the United Kingdom. She also runs a halloween themed website at http://www.halloween-costume-ideas.comGennie Blog73793
Hazel Blog92623

How To Set Up Your Wii

Now that you have fought off the nasty crowds at the electronics store, and secured your Nintendo Wii system, got it home without incident and into your house, this is what you should do. Follow these steps to set up your Wii:

1) Remove the Wii from the box
2) Remove the AV cable and the AC adapter
3) Remove the stand plate, vertical stand, sensor bar and sensor-bar stand
4) Remove the Nunchuk and Wii Remote
5) Choose your location near the TV for your Wii and set it up vertically or horizontally
6) Connect the AV cable and the AC adapter to the Wii
7) Plug the AC adapter into a power outlet. Connect the AV cable to the input on your TV. Connect the yellow cable to the video input and the red and white cables to the audio inputs
8) Get out the remote control and put in the batteries
9) Turn on your Wii
10) The onscreen instructions will appear and you will be required to choose your language, location, time of day, etc.

How to set up your Wii Control

The Wii Remotes do not automatically bond with you Wii console. You will have to tell it to do so. The remote controls and arrives with your console is prebonded, but any additional Wii Remotes you purchase will have to be synchronized with your Wii in order to work smoothly with your console. There are two ways to accomplish this: the Standard Mode and the One Time Mode.

Standard Mode

To use the Standard Mode for connecting additional Wii Remotes to your Wii system permanently follows these steps:

1) Press the power button on your Wii console to turn it on
2) Remove the cover for the batteries on the back of the Wii Remote
3) Press the Sync button inside the cover
4) Open the door located over the SD card slot and on the Wii console
5) Press the Sync button inside that compartment
6) When the LEDs on the remote stop blinking, your synchronization is complete

One Time Mode

The One Time Mode does just that and allows your Wii Remote to work with a Wii other than the current synchronized remote. This is handy when you are at a friend's house. Follow these steps:

1) Press the Home button on the Wii Remote that is already synchronized with the Wii Remote that you intend to use
2) Select the Wii Remote Settings option
3) Select the Reconnect Option
4) Simultaneously press 1 and 2 buttons on the remote that you want to sync to the Wii console
5) When the lights stop blinking and your remote vibrates your remote has temporarily synchronized with that particular Wii console
6) The attachment of the remote should be shown on the screen as well

James KronefieldGaye Blog99053
Ibby Blog62708

African American Hairstyles

African American hairstyles range from short to long haircuts, so you definitely have a lot of options to choose from. Many women opt for short, manageable African American hairstyles that can still look trendy and professional. The great thing about choosing short African American hairstyles is the fact that you can choose different styles at any time.

African American hairstyles should adapt to your face, occasion, personality and texture of hair, so it is a very individual choice. However I can still give you some pieces of advice here. First of all, be creative. Try out several African American hairstyles at home; that can give you inspiration to modify your hair look. African American women are the beat at creating their own styles.

One of the most popular African American hairstyles is the Afro. It can be simply described as any length of hair that is in its natural state. Like many other African American hairstyles it is an easy, low maintenance style since it can be cared for with a pick or simply with your fingers. There is no need for chemicals, so you won't do any harm to your hair. What an exciting way to begin this article about African American hairstyles, now let's take a look at what else we can learn about that!

Cropped cut is another popular African American hairstyle. It is created by the short hair layers all over the head finger-combed. It is fixed with pomade which also gives the effect of moisture. This African American hairstyle allows for diversity as you can make the layers look a bid different each day. This article is meant to be a quick overview of African American hairstyles, for more information, check out our other articles.

Thus, African American women may choose between short, long and medium hairstyles. The main idea is to find your own individual style.

Jerry White writes Hair Styles - http://www.hairstylescut.com, Short Hair Style - http://www.hairstylestalk.com and Beauty Makeup Tips http://www.free-makeup-tips.comGusta Blog85009
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Which Veterinary School Is Right For You?

No matter whether you are only considering or sure that you want to follow a veterinary career, there will be a veterinary school or collage that will suit you. To become a veterinarian you will have to attend a school or collage just as doctors have to attend a medical school.

In the U.S, there are more than 50 veterinary schools and colleges that you could perhaps enroll in; they're located in numerous states, Florida, New York, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Oregon, California, Colorado, Virginia and Wyoming, to name just a few. Veterinary schools and colleges can also be found in Canada and the United Kingdom, in fact, nearly anywhere in the world. Should being a veterinarian be your destiny, then you should research the all the veterinary schools and colleges to discover which one is best suited to you.

What Will I Be Taught At Veterinary School?

If you wish to qualify as a veterinarian, then it will be necessary for you to attend a veterinary school or college in order for you to obtain the many skills that are crucial to this career. In a veterinary school or college, you will get the chance to be taught the many different practices and techniques that will assist you greatly in your knowledge of veterinary science. You will acquire knowledge concerning the basics of animal care. You will also acquire knowledge concerning veterinary laboratory procedures that you will employ as a professional veterinarian. Various other topics that will be covered in a veterinary school or college will include veterinary hematology and veterinary pharmacology. Training will also be received in the many clinical veterinary procedures.

Not all of your time will be spent learning from the lectures and textbooks. Most veterinary schools and collages will require its students to also complete a residency in addition to the classes, this is where students will learn, observe and be involved with hands on activities. Residencies offer some of the best experiences for student veterinarians.

Do You Specialize or Not Specialize?

Like doctors have the opportunity to choose to specialize in the varied areas of medical field, veterinarians also have this opportunity too. For instance, a veterinarian could choose to specialize in veterinary dental care or in veterinary cardiology. The choices are endless - howsoever, often specializing will require a specific program or additional veterinary school or collage course work.

Only you will be able to determine whether or not it is worth the extra investment and time to specialize in a particular area. To specialize in veterinary dental care would mean that you would have to find a specific program that offers that training and to specialize in veterinary cardiology may require a much longer residency.

To find help and advice for all things veterinarian visit Jose Havers veterinary website. Here you will find help about everything from pet care and treatments to veterinary careers advice. Click here: http://www.oshsveterinary.comFlossy Blog90957
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Driving tips in Greece

Hiring a car and venturing into the Greek countryside is one of the best ways to see this country. Many tourists prefer this arrangement for its flexibility alone, aside from the thrill of seemingly driving backwards through the centuries when crossing from the metropolitan city centres into the rolling countryside and ancient ruins. However, it's important to drive cautiously in Greece, as the road surface can be uneven at times and the hairpin turns can easily take you by surprise.

Seatbelts are required by law for all front seat passengers and children less than 10 years old need to be secured in a child safety seat in the front section. Traffic drives on the right side of the street, and talking on a mobile phone while driving isn't allowed. The legal blood alcohol limit for all drivers in Greece is 0.5mg/ml.

Finally, cars need to be equipped with a standard emergency kit which includes a red warning triangle, a first-aid pack and a fire extinguisher. The roadside assistance hotline can be reached by dialling 104, and accidents should be reported to police by calling 100.

Athens is Greeces most congested city, with rush hour traffic nearly unbearable. As a result, theres a system in force that only permits locals to alternate driving every other day according to their license plates (odds on one day and evens on another).

Tourists are exempted from this stipulation, as are hired vehicles and those with foreign plates which are permitted to drive any day of the week. Dont be surprised to find complete city blocks of downtown Athens barricaded off during periods of exceptional congestion.

Parking is clearly marked with signposts that read in both English and Greek. Yellow dotted lines indicate an area where stopping and idling is forbidden; otherwise, most public parking zones are by permit only. Generally, you can buy a permit from a booth nearby.

Once youve had enough of Athens, youll most likely head out into the surrounding countryside. All of the inter-city roads are three-lane toll ways that levy a very light tax for their use.

Heading out of Athens, travel time to Patras is 2 hours (130 miles) and to Salonica 5 hours (300 miles). Filling up the gas tank is no trouble at all. These days, most pumps are equipped with credit card readers that allow for 24-hour service. However, its not a bad idea to carry around a little cash when youre driving in more remote areas, just in case the refuel stations dont accept credit cards.

As long as you arent ashamed to exercise a little caution, your time in Greece should be rewarding. Watch out for livestock on the road when driving across country; and on the other side of the spectrum, expect to spend significant time locked up in traffic at the urban centres. Whenever possible, plan your driving time around morning and evening rush hours. In no time at all, youll see why so many visitors choose to be their own tour guide in this unique place.

Travel writer and columnist Andy Burrows knows Athens and rural Greece very well. He securely arranges car rental in advance with: http://www.comparecarhire.co.uk/ and http://www.comparecarrentals.co.uk/Gerianna Blog4564
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Three Boston Schools To Extend School Day For 2006-2007 School Year

In the fall of 2005, the Boston schools began exploring the education reform strategy of extending the school day for its middle schools. The extended school day gives students more time for learning at a crucial time in their education. The middle school years provide the much-needed preparation for students to enter high school, college and the workforce. Last year, the Boston schools applied for and was awarded a $40,000 planning grant for three schools.

The Boston schools have been awarded grants again this year for another three schools. These three Boston schools were among ten schools across the state that included five school districts. The other four districts are Cambridge, Fall River, Malden, and Worcester, who shared with the Boston schools a total of more than $2.2 million in implementation grants to extend the learning time at the ten schools.

The three Boston schools are:

Clarence R. Edwards Middle School in Charlestown;
Umana/Barnes Middle School in East Boston; and
James P. Timilty Middle School in Roxbury.

Beginning in September 2006, Edwards and Timilty middle schools will begin class at 7:20 a.m., Monday through Friday. They will end school at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and at 11:40 a.m. on Friday. Umana/Barnes will begin classes at 7:35 a.m., Monday through Friday; end school at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and end at 11:40 a.m. on Friday.

As with the schools last year, the Boston schools enlisted the assistance of Boston schools administrators, union representatives, teachers, counselors, principals, parents, and community partners. They worked together to develop the plans and implementation of the extended day at each school. Additionally, the non-profit organization, Massachusetts 2020, gave support to the planning and implementation process. The 2020 group is dedicated to expanding educational and economic opportunities for children and their families within the state of Massachusetts.

The Boston schools interim superintendent, Michael Contompasis, noted that both the students and the teachers benefit from this extra school time. Students receive more classroom instruction time in the core academic subjects that are crucial for their success in high school and college. More time also will be available to students for tutoring, the arts, and recreation. Additionally, teachers are given more time for lesson planning, setting schedules, and for professional development activities.

The Massachusetts Department of Education provides the grants from its Expanded Learning Time to Support Student Success grant program.

The Boston schools have more than 58,000 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students at 145 schools. The hopes of all concerned is to continue to expand this reform strategy of extended school time; so that student achievement will continue to rise, with students being better prepared for high school, college and the workforce.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more information on Boston schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Massachusetts/boston/index.htmlFlorance Blog61506
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Visa Credit Cards Are Number One

Credit cards offer a high level of security and flexibility to customers, and this is why so many people use their credit cards for day to day purchases as well as for special purchases. Visa credit cards are the number one credit card used by people around the world, since Visa credit cards offer exceptional convenience and reliability.

MasterCard and Visa are the names of the global companies who manage credit cards. But, they are payment systems rather than actual credit cards, so they rely on providers to issue credit cards using their system. MasterCard and Visa credit cards are both internationally recognized, but one might be a better choice than the other depending on the country you wish to use it in. Although credit cards only used to be available from a small number of banks, nowadays you can get credit cards just about anywhere. There are literally thousands of companies and financial institutions supplying credit cards, so make sure you shop around to find a deal that suits your needs.

The Visa payment system is owned by 21,000 financial institutions and there are numerous Visa credit cards out there, issued by those same financial institutions. The Visa credit card company offers an online survey that helps prospective cardholders to choose the right card for them. Since visa offers a variety of cards, it is likely you will be able to find the right card for your needs.

Visa credit cards are available online making it easier for families and individuals to apply, since the applications are online, and are signed electronically. Platinum Visa credit cards are the most prestigious Visa cards to apply for, and they usually take a stable financial background to get one. Visa offers card members lots of extras; therefore Visa cardholders enjoy numerous benefits and security features. For instance, Visa platinum credit cards and low interest credit cards offer a great way to reward yourself with travel rewards or cash back. You will want to read each credit card application detail to see if the Visa card provider offers a rewards point system or else a cash back system. Depending on the visa credit cards and specific offers, your credit card may earn you rewards towards free travel in the future. Visa credit cards have gained worldwide acceptance and are therefore great for travel. Rewards Visa card providers may offer a 2% or more cash rewards program on any purchases made on your card with a cash reward limit up to $500 each year the card is used. Also, Visa card holders can obtain a cash advance from over 1 million ATMs displaying the Visa symbol from all member banks around the world and at more than 387,000 Visa member offices. Hassle-free banking can be accomplished at any ATM within the Visa network and for maximum convenience, Visa business check cards are welcome everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. You can also use your Visa card online to take advantage of great discounts available to both business and personal account holders. In addition to these excellent discounts, Visa runs a number of promotions and contests throughout the year, offering customers cash and prizes.

Visa's security program has partnered up with a consumer hotline that provides help with identity theft if you ever need it. Plus, Visa gives cardholders multiple layers of protection from fraud and watches your account for spending that's outside of your usual purchasing pattern in order to catch fraud as soon as it happens and now it's even safer to shop online when you register your card with Verified by Visa. Verified by Visa protects your existing Visa card with a personal password, giving you reassurance that only you can use your Visa card online.

The features, benefits and rewards of Visa cards are numerous and varied. In a short article of this size they are too numerous to mention. The best thing to do if you are in the market for a credit card is to go to a reputable credit card website and compare the many offers set forth by Visa. If you really want a credit card, you are sure to find a Visa card to your liking.

Art Taylor has been a successful internet marketer for 10 years. He publishes articles about credit cards and other internet marketplace products. To gather more information or apply for credit cards visit his websites at: http://www.ecreditcardworld.info or http://www.eshopperworld.com.Hadria Blog50851
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Save Time Cooking

Does the idea that good food has to take a long time to make keep you from spending time cooking? There are many ways to help speed and efficiency in the kitchen. The arrangement of your kitchen, as well as the tools you use, make all the difference. Don't give up on trying to expand your skills and abilities. Try these suggestions to make gourmet cooking well within your time constraints.

You might have heard the old adage, "a place for everything and everything in its place." This is a great time saving practice. Put the same things in the same place in your kitchen and work area. You will not waste time trying to find things and get frustrated. Tools and items that are frequently used should be placed accessible and easy to get. The bowl or platter you only use at Thanksgiving can be placed in the basement or in the back of the cupboard. It is also worth noting that you won't know if something works until you try it and you might make changes as time goes by. Don't be afraid to reorganize or adjust.

The smell of bread baking alone is enough to make the senses ripple with pleasure. Don't deny your home of the enticing aromas of fresh baked goods that relax and invigorate the soul because you think they take too long. If you are among the population that think making homemade bread is a horribly long process that you do not have time for, invest in a mixer, it does all the work! While the ingredients combine you can spend your time checking a recipe, loading the dishwasher, or making a call. When choosing a mixer consider the quart size capacity of the bowl and wattage of the mixer. This is important because a smaller, less powerful machine will not be able to handle some quantity of ingredients. More time will be spent mixing by hand and cleaning up than if you would have done it without the machine to start with. Another important thing to note about a free standing mixer is their ability to do so many different tasks. Whipping, whisking, blending, and kneading, can all be done without you participating at all. Not only does this save time, but it also saves effort, freeing up up energy for other aspects of preparation.

Another time saving product that will help you cook like a pro is a food processor. Different jobs need different sizes and so it is recommended to have a smaller and larger capacity processor. Chopping onions, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, nuts, etc. is quick and easy. Those items you frequently use do not need to take so much time to prepare. Use the tools that speed your work and you will be more apt to do more of it.

One of the most frustrating and time taking occurrences is running out of measuring cups or spoons because they are dirty. More than one set is needed to cook efficiently. If a cup is only used for dry ingredients it is not a problem, or if you can do all the dry ingredients first and then the wet, you solve the problem, but usually they are interchanged as you cook. Two to three sets will allow you to be quick in measuring without having to stop and wash (and then thoroughly dry) measuring tools while you cook. Having a set of odd sized cups and spoons makes cooking and baking faster and easier also. A two cup, one and a half cup, 2 tablespoon, half teaspoon measures are a great time and ease saver.

These products are worth the space they take up. The time saved making delicious dinners, breads and treats will allow you to spend time that you want to working or playing without sacrificing making good food yourself. Cooking gives so much more to a person that food on the table. It allows for relaxation, contemplation, creativity and enjoyment. Free up unnecessary time spent in your kitchen and become the gourmet cook you have always wanted to be, but thought it just took too much time.

Emma Snow is a gourmet and freelance writer. Writing for Gourmet Living http://www.gourmet-living.com and BBQ Shop http://www.bbq-shop.net .Gladys Blog65137
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Selecting the Right Toys for your Child

Every year, hundreds of toys flood the market, providing a wide range of choices for the discerning parent, godparent, grandparent, aunt, uncle and whoever feels like Santa the whole year through.

But are you really discerning in your choice of toys? Child development and play experts warn that there is such a thing as sentimental buying. The toy buyer who gives a toy because he once had one like it, or he aspired for it but never had one, or would like one for himself had he been a child now or had it been available when he was child. Experts agree there is nothing wrong with this, only don't feel disappointed when the child does not warm up to your nostalgic gift.

Psychologists even note that toys bought by adults reveal much more about the buyer than about the child it was bought for. You should not think that it is just a toy. Evidently, a toy should be taken seriously.

Which is just as well, because play, and the accessories used with it, is a serious business, and should, by all means, be treated as such. Play is the highest form of learning for a child. It is the official job, the profession, the business, or however else it is called in the adult world, of childhood. When kids engage in play, they acquire new skills, learn about themselves and the world around them, and find their place with regards to dealing with other kids and the adults in their world and the world in general.

Keep The Child In Mind

this should get you on the right track focus should be in the child who will be playing with the toy. As every person and child is unique, so is his needs and interests.

Know The Child

That is the most important consideration in buying a toy if the giver is not the parent, then he must get to know the child well.

Techno Savvy

Early childhood educators also caution against being lured into buying electronic toys that only provide high-tech entertainment and not much else.

The True Toy

A proper development toy is a true toy, in all senses of the word it can be manipulated by a child, motivate him to think and conceive things, conjuring up a world all his own.

Be Neutral

Don't just amass toys specific to your child's gender. Let your son play with his sister's dolls and let your daughter play with her brother's trucks.

The Classics

Experts advise investing in toys with proven developmental benefits, which are usually the classic ones those that will never go out of style.

Useful Toys For Long Trips

When going on long journeys, whether by plane or on road trips, it is helpful to have an ammunition of toys to appease grumbling kids.

As a final note, psychologists exhort parents and other adults to go right down on the floor and play with your kids. This is one fun privilege of being a parent which encourages interaction and bonding with your child and creates opportunities for further learning.

Jonnalyn Ajeda recommends Ozfree Online Classifieds if you're shopping for your children's toys. She also recommends Solitary Jewel for more tips and advice.Inger Blog64953
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