How to purchase gemstones on the internet

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So...you've been looking to purchase a quality gemstone on the internet and you need some help determining what characteristics you should be looking for in a quality gem. This article is intended as a resource to help guide you through a successful gemstone purchase by avoiding many of the common pitfalls that some consumers become entangled. These pitfalls can often leave a sour taste in your mouth and make you a little head - shy about purchasing gems of various types online.

I am aware that many people have had bad previous gemstone purchasing experiences, and some, in my opinion, were downright awful. The common themes in their communications include:

*Didn't really "know" the seller as good as I should have before purchasing my gemstone...

*Color in hand was significantly different than the gemstone image shown online...

*Didn't read the "fine print" regarding my gemstone purchase...

*Wanted to return the gemstone and the seller charged a hefty re - stocking fee...

*Didn't understand the importance of clarity, tone, hue and saturation before making my gemstone purchase...

And the list goes on and on... If you have notbeen through an experience like this, either you're a really web-savvy consumer or you have just been plain lucky. Many gemstone consumers have thrown a lot of their hard-earned dollars into gemstones that are of significantly less value than the money they have spent. This is unfortunate for them and quite disappointing to the "good guys" within the gemstone industry.

How many times have you wanted to know that you are making the correct assessment of a potential acquisition? I have been asked this question frequently and I am amazed that a large percentage of consumers simply do not do the necessary homework before making a buying decision. Certainly not due to the lack of credible resources that are available to the consumer, many people simply let the "want" of an immediate purchase get ahead of their good judgment. Proceed with caution is always the best place to begin.

Let's start with a generic list of things to consider in the process of making a gemstone purchase. The "generic list" includes such items as the "5 W's," namely, Who, What, Where, Why, When. If your inquiry covers several or even all of these questions, you have made a good start in obtaining the necessary information you need in making a wise purchasing decision on your next gemstone.

The Gemstone "Who" and "Where"

Who you are considering doing business with and where they are located can tell you much about a gemstone retailer. Is the gemstone retailer headquartered domestically or are they a foreign company with an online presence? This fact is generally known/disclosed at the time you make payment, but not always. The whole foreign vs. domestic issue is worthy of another discussion altogether, but you need to decide in your own mind what you're most comfortable with. Some foreign companies use a domestic mail drop to ship their gemstones. On the surface, they appear to be a domestic company, which would willingly submit to FTC rules and regulations, many of which protect you as the consumer, but some foreign companies couldn't care less about these guidelines. So, it never hurts to ask the question. This will help you to avoid the smoke-and-mirrors game that many foreign sellers implement in their marketing strategy. I know of one company, in particular, marketing gemstones that has many concurrent reincarnations, as I like to call them, on the internet at the same time. They have many websites, all with different looks, and sell essentially from the same inventory. While this type of masked marketing is not in and of itself "bad" nor "dishonest," it sure makes it difficult to get the answer to these first couple of questions and creates confusion for many gemstone buyers. Who am I considering doing business with and where are they located? You might want to cat around on google a bit to find available information and maybe even get some references. Testimonials and referrals represent a major portion of our business and we willingly share our customer references/experiences on our site to make our reputation "real" for would-be clients. Good stuff! So, understanding who you are about to do business with and where they are located provides you with a foundation of knowledge from which to proceed in the process of obtaining your first/next gemstone.

The Gemstone "What"

The What question may be answered by simply taking a look at the overall quality range of gemstones the retailer is offering on their site. Does the gemstone retailer carry low-grade gemstones, high-grade, or a broad range of quality? This should speak volumes to you. There are many retailers that simply carry the lower grades of gemstones for a cheap price and show out the best of these grades as top-quality stones. When you view the pictures of these stones, you may think you are looking at top color, relative to other gemstones listed, when in fact you may still looking at run-of-the-mill, poorly colored stones that may be slotted a bit higher in the color range than the others. And yes, there are a LOT of these types of stones available for around $300/ct by a growing number of vendors. The statements regarding the quality of this material are often exaggerated and the pictures on these stones may not even be close to representing the actual item. Caveat Emptor, which is a Latin phrase meaning: "Buyer Beware!" Good advice for us all. Other considerations related to What include a thorough understanding of the retailer's "fine print."

The Gemstone "Why"

The Why question is really self - explanatory.... because you want to own a quality gemstone. Right? In addition, you probably want to try to understand why the company, whose gemstone you are viewing, is in the gemstone business. What I mean by this is...other than the obvious reason, to sell their product for a profit, do they appear to have a good business interest in the type of gemstone you are considering or does the seller just offer it as another line of gemstones on their site. Your interests would be best served by shopping with a retailer that has a good stake and large general emphasis in the type of material in which you have an interest. This will provide you with your best chance at viewing a nice collection of gems from which to choose and competitive pricing. Additionally, I recommend that you purchase from sellers that are more than happy to work with you on a custom order. If they are hesitant to do this, it may indicate that they are getting their gemstones from other retailers and don't want to bother with an order like yours because they simply can't turn it around quickly. It is then possible for you to find yourself purchasing a stone which is only close to what you really desire. Why settle for something "close" when you are getting ready to drop a chunk of hard-earned change on a fancy gemstone for yourself?

The Gemstone "When"

And finally, the When question deals with such inquiries as: When will my gemstone order ship and by what method (carrier)? Are there any extra fees when shipping gemstones? When do you restock your gemstone inventory? When is the best time of year to purchase a quality gemstone? You get the idea. By asking these types of questions, you get to know your gemstone retailer better and can pave the way for a long-term, successful relationship with your gemstone dealer.

In summary, it is important that you have a good understanding of the company from which you wish to make a gemstone purchase AND their quality and price are in keeping with your overall expectations. In our company's experience, we have found it amazing how much repeat business we have done with our valued clients over the years by simply providing answers to these basic questions.

Hopefully, you will make many wise gemstone purchases in the days, months and years to come. There are many types of gemstones available in the market today and you owe it to yourself to get the facts FIRST before making any additions to your gemstone collection. I encourage you to put this "purchasing model" in place to avoid the common pitfalls and disappointments of making incorrect buying decisions on your next gemstone purchase. Give it a try! You'll be glad you did.
eTanzanite. com

Google basics for ecommerce businesses

Google dominates the search engine world, despite the fact that the conversion-to-buyer rate at MSN is much higher. This forces most ecommerce businesses to try and dance Google’s waltz, without fully comprehending the ins and outs of how Google works.

Navigating Google is difficult. Most SEO optimizing specialists and SEO Internet marketers do not understand what they are doing. In fact, most of them are so far behind the times that their information is useless. Summer 2007 saw the latest change in Google’s algorithm leaving many ecommerce businesses with sharp decreases in traffic.

What is a Google Algorithm

The Google Algorithms are basically the math formulas used to determine which web pages rank high in the searches, and which ones rank low, or are banned. Google changes the rules every 18 - 24 months to help them sweep away websites that are not optimized and MFA (Made For AdSense) static sites.

Google also makes changes to meet the needs of the webmasters. When Google brought in their inbound link ranking system, it gave many webmasters an opportunity to build link farms, gaining an unfair advantage. In response Google now looks for content around a link. If there is no content, then the link has no value.

When Google started to focus on content, webmasters and programmers created Content Management Systems. Unfortunately, until recently, Google could not read database pages. Now, the programmers have created a static page method of page creation, and search engines learned how to read content off databases.

Search Engine Optimization

Many webmasters do not understand what this means. And, many SEO optimizers do not understand what this means. To many, it still means coding a page so that the keywords are highlighted, and under .05% of the content (including link bars). They believe it is a method of web design.

Ecommerce businesses are still scrambling to pay SEO optimizers big bucks to make their pages rank high, when meta tags and SEO tricks have very little importance. Now, the search engines are looking for good content, with heading titles, and a site full of similar content, with articles linked together using the same ‘keyword anchors.’

Google’s new algorithms have made it possible for many small ecommerce businesses to build their page rank, and search engine rank, without ever paying a dime to a SEO specialist.

The Google Sandbox and Supplemental Index

Both of these cause chills to run up most webmasters spines, but only because they are not understood, Google does not have a Sandbox. Yes, it may take a few months to get your website listed and showing up, inbound links may not appear for a long time, and a website may not show up when searched - but that is not a sandbox. It is just a backlog. One way to overcome it is to take part in Google’s PayPerClick program. Even if you only invest $20 a month, being a part of that program immediately links your site, so you do not need to wait.

The supplemental index is as easy to get out of. First, take a look at the meta information - is it too generic? If so, then do not use keywords but use keyword phrases. The keyword ‘ecommerce’, is too generic, so is ‘ecommerce business.’ However, ‘learn how to start an ecommerce business’ will help that page target. Next, make sure the page is linked to a high ranking page. This can be done by putting links inside the page - or by adding it to the website’s navigation system. Within a short time, that page will no longer be in the supplemental index.

Changing registered domain name tips

Sometimes when we register our domain names, we do some transformations on it, maybe on the Domain Name System information or even to the registered domain name hosting. Such case is so common for many people, and in fact, many experts have recommended that we really do some changes on the registered domain names.

Well, for that matter, I will be dealing mainly about how to change the registered Domain Name System information and some facts that go behind such transformations. It is just important to note some things about it since it is a common necessity for the domain name holders to change their registered domain name information.

According to some experts, when you register a domain name, you really need to specify your Domain Name Server or DNS information. However, there are some instances that you need to change such registered DNS information for certain purposes. Speaking of those purposes, one is noted that if you have a new web site or even an email account, your web hosting or the Internet Service Provider will ask you to change your registered Domain Name Server information in order to make your registered domain name to be connected to your web site and so your email account can be setup.

In changing registered Domain Name Server information for your registered domain name, you should note that in the first place the registered Domain Name Server information is provided by your host. Generally, such information is composed of a primary and a secondary name server. It is important to know then that you have both the primary and secondary name servers.

Giving much emphasis on the secondary name server, it is noted that the explanation for a secondary name server is not that it takes its information from the primary name server; instead it is its respective distinct Internet Protocol or IP address that do the process. As such, the primary and the secondary name server function to point the domain name that resolves to the Internet Protocol created by the host server. Therefore in changing registered Domain Name Server information, the domain name will resolve with the average of 50 percent of the period to the primary name server and also 50 percent of the period to the secondary name server.

There are further resources which state that if ever that you have an Internet Protocol address of your hosting server, it is better that in changing your registered domain name, you use the URL-forwarding service which is now offered by most domain name companies. Through the URL-forwarding, the registered domain name information then can be change smoothly for the reason that the URL-forwarding will resolve any hits on the registered domain name to the forwarding servers.

Today, there are so many companies that provide you to the opportunity to change you registered domain name, and some of those even offer the registered domain name change for free. So now that you have a new registered domain name, you have the opportunity to build a web site for whatever purposes, whether it is for corporate or personal use. And aside from that, you have also the chance to do some email forwarding and you can even resell you registered domain name to whomever you like.

Basic information on credit card debt consolidation

Debt consolidation allows you to speed up the time for paying off your debts with lower monthly bills. Should you opt for credit card debt consolidation, you can expect to pay off your current debts in three to six years. However, keep in mind that terms and conditions can change in a debt consolidation plan.

Types of Debt Consolidation Loans

Different types of debt consolidation loans are available to you, depending on your ability to pay. For instance, there are debt consolidation loans that you can pay off in a short amount of time at lower interest rates. There are debt consolidation loans that you can pay off in a longer amount of time but at a higher interest rate.

The interest rates of debt consolidation loans are also variable. For instance, with a variable rate debt consolidation loan, you can make extra repayments anytime without extra cost. However, with a fixed rate debt consolidation loan, you can only pay fixed repayments for the duration of the loan.

Go with the Lowest Available Interest Rate

Many consolidation loan applicants face the problem of not getting the lowest available interest rate. Thus, before signing off with a debt consolidation agency, make sure that the new interest rate on the consolidation loan is indeed lower than the interest rate you are paying to your creditors. Ensure, too, that you can secure your loan with something, such as your house for instance.

To determine if the new interest rate you are being offered on a consolidation loan is indeed better than the current interest rates from your creditors, calculate the interest and fees of your existing accounts. This will give you the total payments you are currently making. Compare this figure with the consolidation loan amount. A good debt consolidation plan will offer you a lower figure.

Tips to Remember When You are Under a Consolidation Loan

As with any type of loan, make timely payments if you are already under a consolidation loan. You should make your credit payments to your consolidation company because they are responsible for dividing the amount and determining how much goes to each of your creditors.

Making payments on time gives your creditors the impression that you are serious about paying off your debts. Avoid delayed payments or worse, skipping them, as this can prompt your creditors to go back to normal collection activities. Even worse, your creditors can put you back on the regular interest rates and fees.

Keep in constant touch with your consolidation representative. Your account may be turned over to a collection agency so it's wise to keep your agent updated regarding any changes on your account. This way your agent can work with you and help you solve any problems that may crop up.

Keep an eye out on the monthly statements sent by your creditors and see if the rates have been reduced. Once you are under a debt consolidation plan, your creditors should stop charging you for late fees. Also make sure that your debt consolidation company is paying your creditors the right amount.

Pourquoi interesser vos enfants aux jeux de cartes

Les jeux de cartes offrent donc а tous une possibilitй de se divertir dans le calme, mais permettent aussi a la famille de se retrouver, de communiquer, de partager et d'йvoluer ensemble tout en dйveloppant ses capacitйs intellectuelles. Mкme dans les moments calmes, un enfant surtout encore assez jeune a besoin et d'attention et surtout d'occupation, alors que vous rechercheriez plutфt un moment de silence et de tranquillitй.

En effet, la majoritй de ces jeux demande un effort de concentration de par la stratйgie requise et l'assimilation des rиgles de bases.

Les jeux de cartes permettent de faire travailler votre concentration, essentielle dans votre rйussite professionnelle, personnelle et familiale. Pour cela, rien de plus simple. Fixez vous dans les premiers temps un temps de jeu rapide pour atteindre un but prйcis. Prenez ensuite une petite pause. Refaites la mкme deיmarche pour les parties suivantes. Pendant le temps fixe, ne vous dйtournez sous aucun prйtexte de cette partie (tйlйphone, cigarette, une pause cafй). Vous constaterez rapidement qu'aprиs quelques efforts surhumains que cela aurait pu vous demander, que cela n'a, au final, rien de compliquer. Pourquoi? Car vous vous y serez habitue.

Au niveau des enfants, le problиme est similaire. Il est assez difficile pour eux, aprиs une journйe d'йcole, de rentrer directement a la maison et d'entamer immйdiatement leurs devoirs.

Pour les convaincre qu'ils ont tout a y gagner, imposer leur un temps court de concentration au travers des jeux de cartes puis une pause et de nouveau une concentration courte sur une mкme partie. Ils constateront alors bien vite qu'ils auront d'avantage a gagner en restant concentre sur un problиme 20 minutes et finir rapidement le devoir que de rester a papillonner 1 heure pour ce mкme travail.

Rйsultats aussi bien pour les adultes que les enfants: en restant concentrer sur des jeux, votre rapiditй au travail sera dйcuplйe grвce a cet entraоnement rйgulier. En consйquence, vos temps de loisirs se rallongeront, et vous йviterez ainsi les mauvaises consciences relatives au travail bвclй et mal fait, tout en donnant d'avantage de temps a vos proches ainsi qu'a vous mкme.

Alors motivez-vous!

Les jeux de cartes suivants permettant ce dйveloppement ne sont qu'a titre d'exemple.

La Bataille est idйale pour se dйfouler mais aussi pour rester concentrй. Demande beaucoup d'astuce et permet de dйvelopper sa rapiditй d'esprit dans une ambiance bonne enfant.

Le Domino:

Le but est de se dйbarrasser de toutes ses cartes, en complйtant des sйries posйes sur la table. L'ordre des cartes est le suivant Roi/Dame/Valet/10/9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/As. Le jeu demande une certaine rigueur d'esprit et beaucoup de patience.

L'Euchre:

Date du XIXe siиcle, est le jeu oщ apparait pour la premiиre fois le Joker. Celui-ci se joue а 4 joueurs, en 2 йquipes de 2, les deux partenaires йtant assis l'un en face de l'autre. Le but est de faire 3 levйes sur 5.L'Euchre permet donc de dйvoiler d'avantage l'esprit d'йquipe ou l'individualisme de vos enfants.

D'autres jeux lus connus sont jouables tel le Tarot, la belote, le Nain Jaune (vivement recommandй), Napolйon, le poker, Pyramide, le Rami, la crapette et bien d'autres encore.

Alors qu'attendez vous?

Modify your car and standout from the crowd

Perhaps you have been searching online for a new car. Well I guess I should say the ‘newest used’ car. Thinking about this and the amount of money it shall cost is daunting particularly if you have a few more payments to make. Looking for the perfect used car can be a hard task, but have you thought of the alternative. Why not re-evaluate your wants and wishes and consider repairing and upgrading what you already have. I logged on to a number of sites and found some wonderful car ‘makeovers’. You might like to have a look at uniquecarsandparts. com. au where you can join the forum, ask questions, and perhaps learn about refurbishing your car.

Checking out what is online will make this decision easy and believe me the products, all of which are guaranteed to impress, will set you apart from the pack. OzFreeOnline. com has a comprehensive used car section, where all you do is register, log in and search. You will find thousands of cars for sale; search by category, find articles and information on Australian and European cars and you can even browse motorcycle classifieds.

Perhaps you have found yourself with a few extra dollars that you can spend on your vehicle. You can add and stamp your own personality to your basic car, by just investing in a few fresh innovative ideas. New products on the automotive accessory and customising market at present are not only functional but also can be a cosmetic improvement. You might even consider

overall vehicle design, total vehicle enhancement, or just do something simple and have grille guards installed or choose window tinting.

The cost of this equipment and trappings ranges from a few dollars to a small fortune, however you can have them installed for much less than the price of a new vehicle. Going online to search for these items is most likely the best way to find exactly what you want. Your car service centre, and large automotive supplier are two good ways to find local sources as well.

The vehicle enhancement options available are vast. Anything goes these days, fog lamps, colour instrument dials, silver or colour stitched leather gear knobs, sports pedals, spoilers, body kits, engine covers, interior upgrades in many styles and materials, even in wood grain and of course, don’t forget the special wheel and tyre packages. Most good shops have a selection of quality tyre brands from which to choose, and can be complimented with any number of attention-grabbing styles of genuine alloy wheels. Think about what your car would look like with a new set of wheels and tyres, and if you are feeling the need to check up on prices and style, log on to autoweb. com. au and search through the archives, read the articles, and browse through some of the new car reviews.

You may opt for part to full restoration or just standard to custom repairs and resprays to all stages. Full or part custom or standard panel and paint service. Maybe you would like clear tail-lights or euro style headlights in chrome or black. You could invest in a Body kit, air bag and lowered springs suspension. But, whatever you do make sure you buy exactly what you want and not what the sales person wants to sell to you. Search through the pages at OzFreeOnline. com before you do anything and go straight to the Cars Forum. You will find that customising your car is a real option and there are many who have registered; logged in and found out all the information they need right at their fingertips.

Here is a list of ideas that might spur you on:

Air dams and spoilers

Anti-theft devices

Bug deflectors

Carrier racks

Custom seats

Instrumentation

Keyless entry systems

Personal breath alcohol testers

RV and towing accessories

Special shock absorbers

Stereo systems

Striping and/or decals

Sunroofs

Vehicle navigation systems

So if you are considering trading-in your present car, do your sums first. You might find you would be just as pleased, and a lot richer, with a few particular improvements and spruce up your present car to make it part of your personality and stand out from the crowd. Have a good time customising your ‘new’ car.

Nutrition needs in the golden years

Many a proverb has been dedicated to how our attitudes and expectations evolve as we pass through life's seasons, but far less has been written about how our nutrition needs change as we enter the golden years.

As we age, we need fewer calories - about 10 percent less per decade from age 50 onward - but not necessarily fewer nutrients. With our bodies' own natural antioxidant systems losing steam, we need to increase our intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like artichokes, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cranberries and dried plums.

Because of this calorie-nutrient paradox, it's more important than ever to choose foods with care, opting for a nutrient-dense diet and avoiding empty-calorie snacks. Fiber, for example, is a macronutrient that too many seniors get too little of. In addition to lowering levels of "bad" cholesterol, fiber helps improve regularity at a time when gastrointestinal distress may become an issue. Top sources of healthy fiber include navy beans, oats, raspberries, oranges and green peas.

Protein is another macronutrient elders need but 60 percent fail to consume in adequate amounts. The body's ability to absorb vitamin B-12 declines with age, and salmon is a great choice as a two-for-one protein and vitamin B-12 source. As a bonus, salmon, sardines, albacore and flounder are good sources of omega-3 "healthy" fats that help boost memory power.

Another nutrient for your noggin is niacin. In a four-year study of 800 seniors, those with the highest intake of niacin - also known as vitamin B-3 - had an 80 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's. Niacin sources include portobello and button mushrooms, red potatoes, and once again, salmon - an all-around "superfood" for seniors.

Here's more "food for thought": Onions and apples are loaded with quercetin - an antioxidant that may be even more powerful than vitamin C when it comes to preserving brain cells. The anthocyanins found in berries, grapes and cherries also maintain mental acumen. Tufts researchers found middle-aged rats fed a berry-rich diet performed tasks as well as much younger subjects.

Of course, what's acuity without agility? Help reduce the risk and alleviate symptoms of joint pain by losing any excess weight; a mere 10-pound weight loss can reduce knee stress by 40 to 80 pounds. Those same fruits and vegetables that can help you manage your calorie budget also can reduce your risk of rheumatoid arthritis, according to Harvard researchers. Specific foods for joint health include cherries and pineapple, both of which contain compounds that may inhibit inflammation.

Diminished sense of taste and smell, also a part of aging, may incline you to coat your food with salt at the precise time when blood pressure concerns should suggest limiting sodium intake. Instead of reaching for the salt shaker, try herbs and spices to add extra flavor. Curcumin, a compound in curry, can serve as another weapon in your anti-Alzheimer's arsenal.

Finally, don't let advancing years become an excuse for sitting on the sidelines. Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco found that for every mile elderly women walk per day, the risk of cognitive decline drops by 13 percent. Such moderate aerobic exercise also improves heart function. Adding strength training can boost your metabolism, build bone density and even lift your libido. All in all, research suggests that those over 65 who exercise at least once a week have a 40 percent lower risk of premature death than their less-active peers.

So get out there, discover new activities, try new foods.

Bacara el preferido del agente 007

El Agente 007 y su audacia con el juego continъan deslumbrando aсo tras aсo a sus sensuales compaсeras en escena y derrotando a sus astutos enemigos.

El Bacara: El Juego preferido del clбsico James Bond: Bacarб y el Agente 007

El Bacarб es el clбsico juego de apuestas originado en Italia en el siglo 15 y es tambiйn caracterнstico del famoso espнa 007. En cada escena lo identifican una elegancia y excelencia, que junto con su impecable Martini en mano y las apuestas en otra James Bond ha mantenido una leyenda desde su origen desde los aсos 50 hasta el presente. Es asн como el espнa ingles domina la versiуn francesa del juego Bacarб llamada Chemin de Fer con gran talento y admiraciуn.

Bacara siempre fue popular entre la alta sociedad, especialmente en el siglo 15, cuando surgiу en Italia. Bacara significa cero en italiano y a lo largo de su expansiуn en diferentes paнses nuevas reglas y variaciones fueron inventadas y adaptadas como en Estados Unidos o en Francia el Chemin de Fer, o el denominado Juego de James Bond.

El juego consiste en el "Jugador" y la "Banca" el nombre que se la a las opciones de apuestas, estos son repartidos dos o tres cartas cada uno con el objetivo simple de llegar a 9 sin pasarse de el. Mientras tanto la banca decide segъn las reglas del juego cuando detener la jugada y los jugadores ya han debido apostar a cual de las dos Jugador o Banca ganara la mano. Los jugadores o el jugador apuesta y el que apuesta a la mano que gano el puntaje mas correcto, gana la mano. En la adaptaciуn americana, el juego funciona en contra a la banca, mientras que en Chemin de Fer, los jugadores compiten el uno con el otro. Uno representa al jugador y el otro a la Banca.

En compaснa del Chemin de Fer los libros de Ian Fleming junto a las adaptaciones en escena de James Bond, han deslumbrado por dйcadas las diferentes aventuras del espнa, con ayuda de su impecable poder del juego y su atractivo estilo. Hasta su ъltimo estreno en el 2006 James Bond sigue disfrutando de la lujuria de las mesas verdes de los casinos junto a su cigarro y el su sensual compaсera en acciуn. En el anio 1964, las novelas y capнtulos de James Bond, fueron escritas por Kingsley Amis, John Pearson, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, y Charlie Higson. Tambien sus actores variaron comenzando con el conocido Sean Connery, siguiendo con Geroge Lazenby, Roger Moore, Tomothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan y Daniel Craig.

Si observas, es muy interesante ver la manera en que el Agente apuesta al juego y a su vez actъa y descubre los secretos que lo rodean con la misma rapidez, seguridad y astucia. Enlas pelнculas de James Bond el juego Chemin de Fer transcurre en elegantes salas llenas de mujeres elegantes y hombres adinerados que detrбs del juego tienen otros intereses por revelar. En la realidad el enlace entre el Bacarб y El Agente 007 es de un acompaсante fiel de aventuras secretas y emocionantes de mas de cinco dйcadas que hicieron de el una leyenda inolvidable que resurge de generaciуn en generaciуn.

What to look for when seeking good sports nutrition

In order to get maximum return from regular exercises, sportsmen nowadays are cautious about what they eat. Many choose to take sports supplements or sports nutrition so as to put the good things into their bodies. However, this can be a tough job without a good knowledge on nutrition.

Some people simply rely on the nutritional facts and benefits given by the manufacturer. Sure, most of the things you buy at the health store have labels, but first of all, you have to learn how to read them. How about those stuff like gummy bears and burgers? They don’t come with labels. The truth is as the pace of our society increase, eating has become a chore to some, rather than a chance to build and heal our bodies. Often, people go for what is convenient instead of what is good to the body. As such, finding the right nutritional fact about what we eat is important to our health.

The first thing you need to learn is to know how to read the labels on the food or supplement you buy from the store. You can ask yourself question like what is important, what do those number mean, how to tell if a company is being sneaky on their label. Learning how to read the content and nutritional value of the food or supplement is important because by knowing what the ingredients are, you will know if the food is for you. This is especially important for those ingredients that show up in the top few lists because most labels lists ingredients in terms of their percentage content in the product. If a food contains 50% sugar, you should decide whether you need that food to fuel your body.

For food that do not have nutritional facts or do not have any label at all, sometimes you can request for one. Most fast food restaurants can give you a copy of the nutritional facts about the food they sell. If not, you can do some research online to find out the nutritional facts of some of the food you commonly eat.

Surprisingly, there are a lot of myths about sport nutrition. A lot of wrong information on nutrition is floating around all over the place, especially the internet. Ensuring you receive the correct nutrition is important. It will encourage your success in any sport or non sport activity that you participate in.

Scientific guidelines for effective weight loss

If you have been dieting and haven't lost weight, stop! Don't even think about trying another diet, because it will produce the same results you have already seen.

Below you will find "Scientific Guidelines" for weight loss that have always been around, but are not followed by the majority of weight loss programs these days.

Now let’s have a look at a few basic principles.

1. Increasing Your Metabolism

In order to produce Sustained, Permanent and Long-Term Weight Loss, it's imperative that you boost your metabolism. And the most effective way to raise your metabolism is to have a greater proportion of functional muscle on your body.

The only way to build this lean muscle so you can raise your metabolism is through "Strength Training". There's no other method that works wonders on the Metabolism like Strength Training.

By performing Strength Training, you'll effectively increase the amount of functional lean muscle on your body so that your metabolism will elevate.

After a Strength Training session your body will undergo a significant increase or "Spike" in Metabolism, which will allow you to burn much more fat then you were able to before.

2. It's All About Lean Muscle

"The amount of fat the body can burn is directly related to the more lean muscle your body can hold."

If your muscle system can sustain more energy and use this energy significantly when performing strength training, then it will be able to burn off the calories you eat and the excess fat on your body.

In other words, if your muscles become stronger and can hold more energy then you should be able to release this energy more efficiently to increase your metabolism, and to burn off excess calories that you have eaten.

Once we can build more lean muscle through our own strength, then our bodies will become more efficient at burning fat.

It's also the amount of lean muscle on your body that makes you LOOK GOOD. Once you burn off the excess fat from your body, the lean muscle underneath your skin will be exposed making you look healthy, energetic, and well toned.

3. Decrease Your Daily Calories

For years now, we have been told to use dieting to rid the excess fat from our bodies.

The trouble with this concept is that the low calorie restricted diet would throw the body into starvation mode, with the body holding onto the fat and using precious muscle tissue for energy.

This would then lower the metabolism causing greater muscle loss and when the diet is broken the unwanted fat would not only return but actually increase because to the lowered metabolism.

The way around this is to cut your daily calorie intake by a small amount of calories only. This will stop any starvation mechanisms from clicking in. You can do this by making up a seven day eating plan and writing down every thing you eat for the week, and then work out the calories you have eaten with a calorie counter. Divide this figure by seven and you have your daily calorie value.

Decrease daily calorie value by a couple of hundred calories per day and no more. This will generate slow weight loss and the majority will be fat loss only. The daily calories should be consumed during the day with small frequent meals.

4. Fast Walking Burns Fat

All you need to do now is incorporate "Fast Walking" into your weight loss program to hasten the burning of excess fat.

Not only is fast walking better much easier on the hips, but it also produces a greater percentage of fat loss as opposed to jogging or running.

Here are some of the benefits of Fast Walking.

 Easy to Perform

 Most Conventional

 All Natural Body Movement

 Doesn't Cause Injuries

 Can Be Done Anywhere

 The Best Minimal Effort Exercise for Fat Loss

"I can't stress enough how Fast Walking is necessary in every weight loss program."

Life insurance policies - solving the mysteries of life insurance

A large number of life insurance companies exist today to offer different life insurance policies to their clients. These life insurance companies try to keep their individuality by bifurcations and making different classifications on the policies.

Life insurance policies are bifurcated into two types.

1.Term life insurance policy - anyone can apply for a term life insurance policy. Basically this policy is meant for young people live with their families. Term life insurance policy is helpful to cover a person’s short-term requirements. For example if the policyholder meets an accident, he can make an insurance claim. Term life insurance is a policy, which covers potential need in the short run.

Term life insurance is a convertible and renewable program. The range of term life insurance policy is 1 to 100 years. If you have chosen a one-year program then the coverage increases after every one year. It is better to buy a whole life insurance policy from any of the whole life insurance companies than a term life insurance for 100 years.

2.Permanent Life Insurance - This life insurance policy is for the entire life of a policyholder. The value increases throughout the life. Par and Non-Par terms are mostly used in the context of life insurance policy. Par offers dividend, while non par on the other hand does not offer any dividend.

Whole life-quick pay premium life insurance policy: in this type of life insurance policy one has to pay for a small period of time till the total amount is fully paid up.

Whole life insurance policy can be categorized in premiums payable for 15, 20 and 65 years of age. Terms and norms remains the same in this case.

Universal life insurance policy is tailored for people having big RRSP, pension contributions, paying tax on income etc. These policies are most difficult of all the insurance contracts.

After going through all life insurance policies you must choose the best one. Online life insurance companies can provide you all needed information.

Stock investing bank of america morgan stanley ubs and bear stearns swept up in latest insider trading scandal

In the biggest Insider Trader scandal in two decades, members of four prominent firms were implicated in the developing scandal. The firms included Bank of America (BAC. N), Morgan Stanley (MS. N), UBS (UBS. N), and Bear Stearns (BSC. N). To begin with, a little history is in order. Insider trading in this country is illegal; this is not the case in certain other countries. In some countries principally England, such trading is legal. Prior to the inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt as President of the United States in 1933, insider trading was legal in this country also.

In order to restore financial confidence in the American economic system after the massive impact of the Depression hit the country in the late 1920’s, the newly elected President Roosevelt mandated the creation of the Securities Exchange Commission, part of the Commission’s duties were now to reign in, and put an end to insider trading. Who did FDR appoint as the first SEC Commissioner – Joseph Kennedy? Old Joe Kennedy was one of the notorious insider traders that took advantage of any and all information that came his way.

In the same league as Jesse Livermore, Jacob Fisk, and Bernard Baruch, Joe Kennedy knew where the bones were buried. He quickly moved to create a series of laws, rules, and regulations that would outlaw the very practices that in past decades had enabled him, Kennedy to become one of the four wealthiest individuals in America. The practice of lawful insider trading had come to an end legally. To show you how effective these policies have been, whenever a real case of such trading comes to public light, it makes nationwide headlines. This is because of the relative rarity of such scandalous behavior being brought to public light.

During the 1980’s, the biggest insider trading scandal which became public knowledge was Ivan Boesky, probably the premiere arbitrage player of his generation when he was accused of insider trading. Boesky was caught via tape recordings taking advantage of such information. His primary source was Dennis Levine, an affable investment banker working for Drexel Burnham Lambert; a now defunct banking firm whose primary asset was Michael Milken’s junk bond capital raising unit.

The Latest Scandal

It looks like this current scandal followed two separate tracks occurring simultaneously. The profits generated amounted to $15 million dollars over a period of five years. Insiders were used at Morgan Stanley and UBS Securities. These individuals including Mitchel Guttenberg, who as an institutional client manager at UBS would be aware of research upgrades and downgrades taking place on a daily basis. He was given hundreds of thousands of dollars for his knowledge of non-public information. The men purchasing the information were David Tavdy, and Erik Franklin. Using the non-public information available to them, they were each able to amass $4 million in trading profits.

In a separate scheme running a parallel track, Randi Collotta a lawyer, was an employee of Morgan Stanley in their compliance department. Her husband Christopher Collotta was an attorney in private practice. Randi would come up with information on mergers and acquisitions that Morgan Stanley was involved with, and pass the tips to her husband Christopher. The husband would then sell the information on Wall Street for money that amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

During the course of the schemes, information was sold to Erick Franklin who was a Bear Stearns Hedge Fund client. People like Franklin are use to doing 50 to 100 different trades per day, each day. Such individuals are able to bury their results in the sheer mass of trading that is done on a daily basis.

Although caught, the conspirators were sophisticated enough to use facilities outside the immediate firms that they each worked for. Meetings were held in the famous Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station. Disposable cell phones were utilized. Secret Codes were invented. Text messages on cell phones were employed. E-mail was OUT. Telephone calls with HOT TIPS were OUT. Nobody exchanged checks. CASH was the rule of the day, every day.

As of today, 13 people have been arrested with 11 of them facing SEC charges. Three Hedge funds have been charged with criminal behavior. Four of the 13 arrested have already pleaded guilty. The hedge funds are tough group to supervise because they don’t have the degree of compliance that is present in a brokerage firm. They are also probably much harder to detect as to insider trading involvement. It will not be a surprise if many more people are arrested and charged, than the group currently mentioned.

The demand for performance among hedge funds where a tenth of a percentage point in performance can mean the difference of millions of dollars of additional compensation is already well known. Depending upon performance, hedge funds live and die by performance. There are 9000 basically unregulated hedge funds in operation today, managing $1.4 trillion dollars, plus 6 to 1 leverage. About a thousand of these same hedge funds go out of business every year, with a 1000 new start-ups coming on stream.

It is not beyond the realm of possibility, to see how a person under water with any kind of questionable character can succumb to the allure of insider trading if in fact; such trading will dramatically alter the performance of the fund he or she is managing. It is becoming apparent that hedge fund trading is unsupervised. This case is not going to be the last case involving insider trading.

Hedge funds are also becoming more heavily involved in the financing of Presidential elections in an attempt to curry favor with Presidential candidates. To what extent will the amount of money floating around among hedge funds lead to a lack of supervisory action by elected officials caught in ethical conflicts.

In this, the latest insider trading scandals, the government was able to pick up irregular profitable trading patterns in the merger and acquisition of two publicly traded companies. They were Adobe Systems, and its acquisition of Macromedia in 2005, and ProLogis, and its acquisition of Catellus Development.

Once the SEC saw the irregular trading, it was only a question of time and effort before the patterns revealed a conspiracy, and the conspiracy revealed insider trading. Now it’s up to the court system to figure out the rest, but first, expect more arrests.

Goodbye and Good Luck

Richard Stoyeck

stocksatbottom. com

Baseball memorabilia must-haves

If you are not familiar with the term memorabilia, then you must know that memorabilia refers to individual items of historical value such as programs, posters, brochures, clippings, buttons, pennants, cards and stickers. So, baseball memorabilia must-haves refer to baseball souvenirs.

And, when it comes to baseball souvenirs, the most common things that people collect are baseball balls and baseball bats, most of the times with original autographs of some players on them. Autographed collectible items have grown into a huge industry.

There are hundreds and hundreds of places where you can buy baseball memorabilia. The easiest way to find baseball memorabilia is by surfing the internet. Just type “baseball memorabilia” on a search engine and you will instantly find hundreds of websites that deal with these items. You can easily find balls, jerseys, cards, photos, helmets, bats, gloves or any other sports related pieces of equipment. All you need is the money to buy them.

Next, there are specialized sports memorabilia stores, where you can find really interesting stuff. There are numerous people that prefer to sell such items for some extra money. Unfortunately, the market is also full of fakes. And still, there are some things that you can do to avoid buying fake baseball memorabilia. The first thing you must do is to make sure you purchase baseball memorabilia from reliable dealers. Try to look for people who carry the big name dealers on the sports market. For example Steiner Sports, Upper Deck, and a few others can really be considered trustworthy. Really valuable autographed sports memorabilia is hard to find so if you see a no-name vendor with every athlete in the book, be wary (especially if he is printing Certificates of Authenticity on his home computer). Another method of ensuring authenticity is by only buying collectible items with a PSA/DNA authentication. PSA/DNA is a leader in the sports authentication marketplace and they issue certificates of authenticity for a fee.

An important aspect to remember is that sports memorabilia, and especially signed sports memorabilia, always come with proper documentation and holograms. So, a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) issued by a well-known, credible and reliable company in the sports memorabilia industry is a must. Just use the internet, and you can easily locate a seller you are considering doing business with and you might get some information that could save you a lot of time and money. Specialized forums are also reliable sources of information. You can discuss with other seasoned collectors about baseball souvenirs and get advice for places and people to buy from. You might even want to consider dealing with a small handful of people whom you trust doing business with to limit any chance of getting cheated.

In general, when you are looking to purchase baseball memorabilia that will increase in value, buy only valuable items. There are several factors that count here: the popularity of the baseball player, the quantity of a certain item available on the market, whether the player is/was inducted into the Hall of Fame, whether they are still alive, etc. Lastly, ensure that the condition of the memorabilia you are collecting is in good condition. Many times, humidity and UV light can damage items displayed in a home or in a store.

Bbq food is the mental cue that summer is here

Winter is over, spring has sprung, and summer is on its way. It’s the perfect time to take the cover off of the barbecue grill and get grilling. BBQ food is the perfect start to a great summer. As the smells of neighborhood grills begin wafting down the streets of towns all across America, there is a theme that permeates the breeze. Summer is here; it’s time for fun in the sun.

There is nothing that takes me back to my childhood quite like BBQ food. The smells, the flavors, and most importantly, the feeling of quality time spent with family and the knowledge that we are building memories for our children to someday share with their children. If you think about it, you can have BBQ food of some sort, almost any night of the week. As long as you are willing to use your grill, which has the benefit of keeping the heat of cooking on the outside of your home.

Here are some great grilling ideas that will enable you to have BBQ food almost anytime you want.

1) Veggies taste better when cooked on a grill. You can also have fun mixing flavors and seasonings. Kraft had a great idea of butter mix-ins for vegetables, I also like to marinate mine in Italian dressing and grill them in foil packets.

2) Almost any meat you can purchase will taste better cooked on a grill. I even enjoy smoked sausage cooked on a grill with BBQ sauce.

3) Make it a great night by allowing family members to make their own shish kabobs.

4) Have theme nights for your BBQ food, you can do Italian BBQ, Mexican BBQ, Caribbean, be creative and have fun.

The real beauty of BBQ food is that it is an excuse we use to build lasting memories of good times with family and friends. There is no reason we can’t make meal times special each and every day, not just during the summer months.

Tips to enjoy a memorable holiday abroad

When you plan an international trip with your family it will be easier to get sick when you are in a new environment. Your body should get adjusted to the new food, water and air. The stress and excitement of travel could make you more likely to get sick. Here are a few healthy tips for you to make your trip more enjoyable.

The first thing you need is to find out what kinds of vaccinations needed in the country you plan to visit and other requirements.

There are three most common health problems one will face during such travel. They are:

• Jet lag

• Altitude sickness

• Diarrhoea

To overcome jet lag, if you are travelling from west to east you must stay out of the sun until the day after your arrival. If you travel from east to west, you go for a brisk walk sooner you arrive at the place of your visit.

Dry air, decrease in oxygen and low barometric pressure due to altitude are the reasons for the altitude sickness. By gradually increasing the altitude this problem can be solved or a drug known as acetazolamide can give a relief from this sickness.

Traveller's diarrhoea - turista occurs when foreign type bacteria enters the digestive tract when contaminated food or water is taken. By taking proper care in the food you eat and the water you drink this can be avoided.

Water supplies in many developing countries are not treated, so it is better you drink only bottled water.

You must carry inhalers, allergy medicines, insulin as well as contact lens cleaners and vitamins. It is always better to carry your medical history with you while on travel with the following information:

• Name, address and phone number of the contact person in case of emergency

• Blood group

• Immunization reports

• Doctor's name, address and telephone number

• Name and address of your health insurance carrier including your policy number

• A list of current medications you are taking, if any

With the above precautions, you will surely have a memorable holiday abroad and share with us on your return.

Hines ward 1998 draft day pick

Hines Ward was born on March 8, 1976 in Seoul, South Korea. But although Ward was born in South Korea, he soon enough made his way to the United States. He has never been the biggest, fastest or strongest player on the football field, but it is safe to say that his will to win is like none other. For this reason Ward has been able to overcome many obstacles on his way to becoming one of the best players in the NFL.

Ward started his football career at Forest Park High School in Georgia. During his high school days he displayed great athleticism from his quarterback position which led him to being named the Offensive Player of the Year in Clay County for both his junior and senior seasons. He also excelled in the classroom where he managed to receive a 3.81 GPA.

After high school Ward decided to take his game to the University of Georgia. Although he played many positions in college, Ward was primarily used as a wide receiver. He finished his career with 1,965 yards on 144 receptions. Being that he also played running back and quarterback he ended up amassing 3,870 total yards of offense.

Despite a solid college career, many NFL teams passed him by in the 1998 Draft. But with the 92nd overall pick the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to choose Ward. This ended up being one of the greatest selections that the Steelers have ever made on draft day.

During his time with the Steelers Ward has been named to four Pro Bowl Teams, and was also named the team’s Most Valuable Player on three occasions. To go along with this he was named Super Bowl MVP in 2005 after he led the Steelers to victory.

Up to this point Hines Ward has had a great NFL career, and it is safe to say that this is going to continue for many years to come.

Want a six pack

Every model you see on TV has it: the 6 perfect ripples on the stomach and all the girls just melt at the sight. Now you’ve decided you want to be that guy that just drives the women wild. You’re going to do whatever it takes to get a six pack!

Conventional knowledge leads us to believe that the way to get a six pack is to sit-ups, and lots of them. The truth, however, is that you may develop very strong upper abs, but they may never show. The abs are muscles that hide behind a layer of fat. In order to see them, you must first work on removing the fat that hides these muscles. The proper way to do this is with cardio exercise like jogging, running, riding a bike or using the stair-stepper!

Try jogging at a constant rate for 15 minutes a day for a week. Increase the time by 5 minutes every week. If you think you can go longer or harder, do it. Be sure to avoid eating fattening foods, drinking soda and consuming too much sugar as it will only mask your hard work.

After you’re in a cardio routine, you can begin with the sit-ups or crunches. Get in a routine of doing sit-ups as soon as you wake up and right before you go to bed. Start with, for example, 50 each morning and night, and increase that number every week as well. If your muscles are sore, that’s great; you’re doing your job. The abs and the calf muscles are the only muscles in the body that can be worked day in and day out without worry of damage and need for rest.

Stick with the routine and you will see results in 1 or 2 months. Coupled with a strict diet, you can build your six-pack just in time for summer! If you wish to build more muscle and have a professional workout plan tailored to your needs, visit your local gym and enlist the services of a personal trainer. A membership to a gym is also a great start to losing weight and gaining muscle.

Using time

“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.” - Benjamin Franklin

One of the primary keys to developing a home-based business is an understanding, appreciation and proper use of time.

Time management is hard to manage even in the pressure of the corporate world. It becomes even more difficult when you are the only one accountable for your time.

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The development of time management techniques often begins with consistent list-making routines. These lists are an important means of helping you stay on task and complete the goals you have for the day.

One of the ways many entrepreneurs manage their list of ‘to do’ items is to place the most difficult and most immediate items first on the list and then tackle each issue in order – one at a time.

The natural inclination is to sort through the list and find the things that are easy to do and tackle a few of those. This would be all right except the end result is simply the completion of less than essential items that typically replace those things that really need to get done.

"Sweet childish days, that were as long, as twenty days are now." - William Wordsworth

One of the things that can pull a home-based business off track is when there is a lull in business activity and the owner lavishes their attention on so many ‘fun’ activities that they find it difficult to move back into work mode when they need to.

The Internet is a playground of fun activities that exist alongside legitimate means of ecommerce. This can provide a detrimental temptation to home-based business owners.

The happiest people spend much time in a state of flow - the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it. - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

One trait of the best home-based business is an effective use of time. It is nothing to be wasted and it can’t be saved it can only be used wisely or irresponsibly.

Can anybody remember when the times were not hard and money not scarce? - Ralph Waldo Emerson

How to overcome the symptoms of gout

Gout is one of the oldest and most painful diseases known to man. In the middle ages a gout patient was described as someone who was rich, corpulent and aristocratic, particularly one with enormous appetite for food, drink and women. And it is almost and always associated with men.

The symptoms of gout are irregular, excruciatingly painful attacks that are felt in the joints although typically each gouty episode affects one joint at a time. The most commonly affected joints are those of the big toe, which becomes red and swollen, hot and painful so that even the weight of a bed sheet seems unbearable. Other joints such as the knees and elbows are also affected, but one at a time.

The attacks usually last for about two weeks and then subside, recurring at some time in the future. The reoccurrence of the attacks varies — sometimes the gout symptoms don’t entirely disappear, causing a patient to feel pain all the time.

With current medical technologies and with the use of advanced microscopic examination the real cause of gout was finally identified. And the culprit was none other than uric acid. The excruciating pain in the joints is due to the pointy crystals of uric acid.

Some patients have too much uric acid in their system, and they tend to develop yellowish chalk-like deposits around the joints or in other parts of their body such as the ear lobes. Most patients of gout have blood levels that show elevated uric acid, a manifestation of gout in their system.

The next step is finding ways to decrease and control the formation of excessive uric acid that usually accompanies a gluttonous lifestyle. Uric acid is actually a by-product of purine; a type of protein found in many commonly consumed foods.

It is therefore rational to conclude that gout is caused by excessive protein in the diet especially those proteins that are rich in purines. With this information to guide doctors, they have placed gout patients in a series of low-protein diets that are low in purines. Likewise, drugs that prevent formation of uric acid are given.

Patients are also advised to choose lean meats, low fat dairy products and limit the intake of fats in their diet. Newer theories on gout suggest that the gout disease is not only the result of a high protein diet (it has been observed patients suffering from different diseases also have high levels of uric acid) it may also be caused by excessive consumption of refined sugar and flour. This might help to explain why most gout patients are obese.

Lastly, gout is truly a disease that results from the inability of the kidney to excrete enough uric acid to keep it from building up inside the body. Nevertheless, a treatment program that includes a decrease in protein intake plus the use of other medication helps to prevent the build up of uric acid and lowering chances of gout attacks.

If you love expresso

Coffee is grown in over seventy countries, from Indonesia to Brazil. Yet the total production of coffee is relatively small because it is such a fussy plant. Even though we call it a coffee bean, this is a misnomer. The little pod that is roasted, ground and brewed is actually the seed of the fruit that grows on the coffee tree. The coffee tree grows to twenty feet as a rule, but can reach heights of 45 feet. Most of these seeds come in pairs. There is one, called the pea berry, that looks like a cranberry with a sweet pulp and covered with a silvery membrane. Coffee grows in a band of about 25 degrees to the north and to the south, near the equator that encirlces the world. The reason for the concentration in this area is because coffee requires temperatures between 60F (15C) and 70F (21C) and a rainfall of six inches per month or more. In addition, coffee needs a specialized soil that is loamy and well drained. High humidity, found in mountain areas is also ideal. Diffused light and light breezes are also part of ideal conditions. Since oxygen is scarce at these altitudes, the trees mature slowly. All of these conditions cause the output of coffee to be low.

There is a coffee bean that can grow in lower altitudes, robusta, or coffea canephora, and it is also disease resistant. For these reasons, it is used for the majority of coffee. But coffee gourmets will insist on high altitude coffee arabica.

A coffee tree will take five years to produce its first crop of coffee, and a single tree only yields about 2,00 beans, about two pounds of coffee.

The beans have to be manually harvested by coffee pickers. This is a highly specialized skill, since pickers need to be able to differentiate between the good beans and the bad beans. They choose each bean individually. No wonder coffee is expensive.

Coffee trees have broad dark leaves and produce a flower that blossoms over a six to eight week period. This long blossoming period, the longest being in the areas closest to the equator, such as Kenya or Colombia, means that beans are ripening at different rates and mature beans can be right next to immature ones. The coffee picker has to be careful.

From first blossom to final harvest can take as long as nine months for coffee. This cycle will repeat over and over for the life of the tree, 20 to 25 years. Even under the best conditions of cultivation, a hectare will yield only between 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) and 8,800 lbs (4,000 kg). Then the beans have to be brought down from these inhospitable growing areas to the processing areas and shipped out at a rate that makes coffee the second largest volume commodity.

You will no longer wonder why that delicious cup of coffee that came out of your expresso machine costs so much when you consider the journey it took.

5 tips to increase your chances of actually achieving your new year s resolutions

Even in January, more and more people forget about the well-meaning resolutions they made on New Year's to improve their lives.

Here are five tips from my new book, Inside Every Woman, Using the 10 Strengths You Didn't Know You Had to Get the Career and Life You Want Now, to turn resolution road kill into a thing of the past.

1. Stop being a commitment queen. Eliminate one or two items from your busy schedule to free up time to pursue your passionate interests. Which will they be?

2. Do something even if it's wrong. Ninety percent of success is showing up. Whether you're selling an idea, trying to land a new client or learning how to paint, the point is, you have to show up. What idea will you pursue this year?

3. Plan for growth. In life, as in business, when you neglect growth, the passion inside you cools. Plan not only for a bigger house or an updated vehicle, but for inner growth. Try to reinvent yourself on a regular basis. You don't want to wake up five years from now and greet the same woman in the mirror. You want to see a new person who has transcended former boundaries.

4. Challenge your obstacles. Let go of the notion that you don't have enough time, energy, money or discipline to do what it takes to succeed. When you challenge that thought you will magically make more things happen.

5. Stick with it and endure. Many women who fail in reaching their goals simply turn back too soon. The path is long and the terrain is tough. When your endurance is tested and you're tempted to give up, remember this: You will miss not only the gold at the end of the rainbow, but also a wealth of other treats along the way.

Here's wishing you a Happy New You. And remember: We are women and we can do anything!

The single most important thing in web hosting

The Web hosting industry is less than a decade old, but already we've seen dramatic changes in the attitudes and priorities of customers. In these few years, the concerns of my clients have switched from, "Who's the best?" to "Who's the cheapest?" to "Who's going to be around for a few years?"

So, in this competitive world of web hosting where there are gigantic web-hosting companies to small-dedicated companies, how do you make your company stand, how do you grab a customer and hold it on for years to come.

The golden key this is Customer Service, Support and Satisfaction.

Most hosting companies are tech savvy enough to provide adequate support to their customers, sure enough. However, the quality and warm service here faces a set back. It is true that answering support requests through a ticket desk or email absorb a generous portion of a host’s daily activity. This may be time consuming and may cause the companies to neglect this area of service.

However, quality customer support can be a newer web host's weapon when competing with the larger web hosts who may own several dedicated servers or perhaps even their own data center. Quality customer support is the trump card you have complete control over to set yourself apart from the competition. As a matter of fact, some larger companies lack in this area simply because their clients' numbers are too large.

How does one accomplish this? It's actually quite simple but requires a stern dedication to satisfying the client.

Fast and complete answers to customer’s queries.

Tickets and support requests should never be one line or one-word answers. Many times this will require your client to resubmit their ticket and cause both frustrations for them and loss of time for you. If the ticket is answered correctly the first time, then the problem is solved that much faster and efficiently...and this is what clients want. They want fast responses and complete answers to their queries. Do not belittle their request with standard one line jargon.

Make the customer feel important.

Always thank the client for submitting a request to support or sales. Open each response to a ticket or sales inquiry with, "thank you for contacting us." And then go on to answer the request...accurately.

Always end your answer with "Thanks for writing in. Please contact us if we can help you further." This makes an unforgettable first impression on the client.

Advance Notice of in case of Downtime.

Never fail to inform your clients of scheduled downtime. They will appreciate it. The irritable feeling one gets when they log on to their site and get that dreaded white page is a very powerful deterrent to NOT use a particular host’s service. When your server is down, be the first to let them know. Have a mailing list of your clients' off server contact emails for a quick email blast informing them of any issues.

Fast Response.

Ability to answer a customer's question is very important. But to answer their queries with professionalism, politeness and resolution is just as important and often overlooked in web hosting industry.

Nub s nob ski vacations

If you will be in Michigan, you should definitely visit Nub's Nob Ski Resort. Nub's Nob has what is considered to be the Midwest's best snow, and the resort has a reputation for being a family friendly mountain. Generations of families have brought their children here for their very first ski run.

The mountain layout is fairly simple with an elevation of 1338 feet and a vertical drop of 427 feet. There are 43 trails serviced by eight chair lifts. Boasting one of the best skiing and snowboarding schools in the country, both private and group lessons are available. If you are brand new to the sport, you can even learn to ski free, and take advantage of Nub's Cubs Childcare Center while you learn.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that intermediate or expert skiers won't find any challenges waiting for them at Nub's Nob! The terrain is varied, and you will find challenges. Night Skiing is also available. The Ski School offers training programs for advanced skiers who are interested in racing, and many racing events are held at the resort. You can signup for race leagues at the resort, and many league events are planned each season.

Equipment rental is available, and there is a General Store right inside the lodge, where you can purchase gloves, hats, and neck warmers among a variety of other items. You should also visit the technology center to have your ski's tuned or repaired.

You won't go hungry either! Nub's Nob Cafeteria is open for breakfast and lunch, and if you brought your own lunch, you can eat in the 'brown bag' room. Nub's Winter Garden serves grilled burgers when the weather allows. Pintail Peak Warming Hut is located at the top of the Black Lift. Here, you can enjoy amazing views while enjoying home made soups and sandwiches.

Nub's Nob is the place to go if you want to have a great family ski vacation - or if you are already an expert skier interested in racing and skill events. There is plenty to do and see. In fact, you may find that you have a problem deciding which activity to participate in first! Don't worry about missing anything, though - if you want to ski now and board later, you can do that. Most events are planned for the weekends, so arrange your schedule so that you are able to attend or participate in the planned events.

Get ready fast for fall leaf viewing trips

Whether its a driving tour, a cruise or a bus, leaf viewing is a great way to spend a fall vacation. It's also big tour business and the are many options. As you dream of that hot apple cider on a crisp afternoon do a quick check list before you leave home so you're ready for any type of weather. If you're prepared then all you need to do is focus on having a fun and relaxing time.

Start preparing by taking out your favorite sweater. Think "chilly." Pack one that you can use outdoors as well as under a rain jacket or sitting inside by a warm fire. It's also time to get back into socks after a summer in sandals. A few pair of them should be on your list. Pack four pair and add a fifth one that is woolen or made for winter.

Layering clothes is paramount for fall trips outdoors. The sudden sunny burst in the afternoon versus breath chilling mornings can surprise anyone. A nice light weight fleece top with a wind proof jacket works well. Pack both.

While we think of blue cloudless skies on an autumn afternoon the chance of rain is pretty high so pack a rain suit. A jacket with a hood and pants are best. When outside all day in the wet and damp its important to keep dry all over for comfort and a complete rainsuit is the answer. Today's styles and fabrics come in all colors and patterns so you can be stylish as well as comfortable.

Make sure to add a small folding umbrella to your bag as well. Raincoats are fine but unless its full length with a zip in liner, rainy weather can start to feel downright uncomfortable by mid afternoon. Its miserable by evening unless you are warm from head to toe. An umbrella can help.

Pack a warm hat and gloves. Comfortable shoes are also a must and if they also happen to be waterproof its a big plus at this time of year.

Your camera gear needs to be in good working order so check it at home before you leave. Take extra batteries and memory cards. Film can be bought along the road if you want to travel light. Double check you camera bag and make sure it's moisture proof. If at all possible avoid taking a brand new camera since anything untried can miss these great photos you'll want to show off once you get back home.

However you are traveling you'll be on the move a lot, always more than you think, since you have to be outdoors to see foilage. Being mobile in your traveling will allow you greater freedom and flexibility. Pack light and put all your items into a single, carryable, soft side bag. Take a day pack for those daily viewing excursions and make sure you put a bottle of drinkng water inside. Take prescriptions in original bottles and always pack more than you will need. Binoculars are not required but can be a great joy if you happen to catch birds migrating or wildlife grazing before the first snowfall.

As long as you have the right gear you can travel anywhere anytime of the year. See you on the road!

Guide to road trips

The most popular medium for traveling in recent times has become traveling through air. Whether the distance between destinations is small of long travel by air seems to be the preferred choice among travelers. Since air travel saves a lot of time and hassles that may be encountered when traveling by road. But the time saved has led to a sacrifice in the excitement of journey. Though traveling by land on open roads does take more time yet it is still the best way to enjoy a journey. It gives one an opportunity to relish the sceneries and the landscape views along the roads. In earlier times apart from reaching destinations the journey itself would also be a cause to cherish. In modern days also many people sometimes choose traveling through road instead by air to experience the joy of moving from one place to another.

Many routes throughout America offer opportunities for long rides on the roads. One can enjoy the beauties and the eateries along with the trip. Knowing the road maps while on a by road trip helps a lot, most of the information about the roads are available at the concerned department offices. They traffic offices give a detailed description the name and the number of the road that would begin from a preferred origin and lead to the desired destination. Halting at the hotels by the roadside for night rest gives one a pleasurable experience to remember. When hunger strikes some of the cafes and sub-shops offer the most famous delicacies.

Traveling by road also gives an opportunity to visit the cities that are in between the origin and destination places. Across U. S. there are many well-known tracks that offer opportunity for long route journeys. Almost all the cities in entire America are joined by road and there are well-developed facilities for roadside travelers. Each of the tracks offer unique experiences and the visiting the cities that come across are an added advantage for travelers. Every U. S. highway has its characteristics like a trip along the Las Vegas-Los Angeles offer some of the most glamorous encounters. Coming across opportunities for gambling is almost definite on this route.

While another part of road travel offers some haunting experiences. The cities that come by are those relating to the stories of ghosts and tales about supernatural elements. Some of the landmarks are known for their ghostly stories of The Octagon House and The Washington D. C. It actually requires a great deal of courage to travel through roads passing through those cities.

There are many travel agents and travel planners who organize open road tours. These tour agents being professionals have an experience of organizing safe and hassle free trips. They also provide custom designed packages including sightseeing and many other lucrative facilities. Depending on travel agencies for sorting out most of the plans is also a practical way of going on a road tour. This is especially advisable when one is out with a family. Opportunists for open road touring does not end only by motor vehicles but also other transport options like cycling through the roads is a much popular adventure.

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When applied topically to the skin Pueraria mirifica will be beneficial to that respective part of the body. Swallowing a capsule and blasting your body with Pueraria Mirifica all at once may be too much for your body to handle. Their benefit to the body is far less than that of Pueraria mirifica. Hence, phytoestrogens from Pueraria mirifica can correct estrogen insufficiency in the body and relieve the post-menopausal symptoms. When applied topically to the skin, Pueraria mirifica will be beneficial to that respective part of the body.

High contents of isoflavones in the Pueraria mirifica prepared in the present invention are very beneficial to the human body. When Pueraria is taken, its phytoestrogens would go around the body through blood circulation and bind estrogen receptors present in various organs. The intake of Pueraria products yield a systemic response throughout the body. 3) Females below the age of menarche or teenagers should allow their body develop and grow to fully maturity before using Pueraria products. Hence unique phytoestrogens from Pueraria Mirifica can correct estrogen insufficient in the body and relieve any resulting symptoms. When applied to the skin Pueraria Mirifica will be beneficial to that respective part of the body.

The Pueraria Mirifica plant root contains very high concentrations of photoestrogens that duplicate a woman's own moisture. The root of another Asian species of kudzu, Pueraria thomsonii, is also used for herbal products. Isoflavones of Pueraria Root show very similar function to estrogen, thus they can be used to treat the syndromes of menopausal women. In tonic herbalism, it is only used on the rare occasions when one is suffering a minor ailment for which Pueraria Root is helpful. It contains concentrated natural essence extract from vegetable tuber root of Pueraria mirifica. Phytoestrogens from pueraria root can bind to estrogen receptors in the Breast tissue and promote healthy breasts, which results in firm breasts. For angina, some herbalists recommend 30-120 milligrams of pueraria root two to three times a day. Some specialty stores also sell tablets of standardized pueraria root and pueraria tinctures. Nine isoflavonoids including a new pterocarpene, puemiricarpene, were isolated from the tuberous root of Pueraria mirifica (Leguminosae).

Pueraplus is a premuim grade Thai traditional herbal formula derived mainly from White Kwao Krua (Pueraria Mirifica) which contains Phytoestrogens (Natural Plant Estrogen). After many years of research from Thailand, the studies indicated that this herb shows estrogenic and rejuvenate effects to the female body especially at the breast, hip, facial skin, body skin, hair and vaginal epithelium. Thus elevate the appearance of the female secondary sexual characteristics and also the skin beauty.

ALL Natural Dietary Supplement

Hight Phytoestrogen (especially isoflavonet):

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Ingredients : Pueraria Mirifica and other herbs (60 capsules per box)

Recommended Dosage : Take 1 capsule after breakfast and dinner, start the first capsule at the 1st day of menstruation till day 15 th. then stop and reconsume at the next menstruation cycle,

Warning : It should not be used in pregnant women, nursing cervix mothers, or women diagnosed with tumors in estrogen-sensitive organs, e. g., ovary, uterus and breast.

Precaution Always consult a physician before beginning any dietary supplement program, particularly if you have a medical condition

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Using therapy lights or sad lights to improve your health

Bringing the sunshine indoors. That is how some people describe the benefits of therapy lights. Scientists believe that simulated bright light has an effect on chemicals in your brain and your skin and can be used to help some conditions. There are many different types of therapy lights so I'm going to described some of them and the disorders they can be used with:

Light boxes (Phototherapy or bright light therapy)

Many therapists have noticed that sitting near a simulated sunlight box can alleviate symptoms for some complaints. The strength of the light should be at least 2,500lux and daily exposure is required. Remember that a medical practitioner must prescribe the strength and type of light used as well as the duration of exposure.

SAD Lights

Otherwise known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or its mildest form 'Winter Blues'. You don't have to be a genius to know that we all feel better during the long sunny days of summer. We seem to have more energy too. You lose some of that enthusiasm in the winter when there are not so many daylight hours. Some people get 'winter blues' which makes them feel lethargic and 'under the weather', with a tendency to overeat. For others this becomes severe enough it to disrupt their lives and cause a lot of upset. It can also affect the way we behave.

The symptoms usually start at the beginning of the winter season and begin to get better when spring arrives in March and April. It may not be necessary to use light SAD therapy daily during the winter months and advice from a trained professional is advised.

Jetlag and Sleep Disorders

Where the circadian rhythms or body clock of the brain have been affected by periods of sleep deprivation or extended night or daytime hours. Flying over time zones can have this effect. The light box can simulate the difference between waking hours and sleep or night time and helps to re-adjust the body and brain into rhythm quickly.

Alzheimer's and Dementia

A regular topic in many research papers on Alzheimer's Disease is the damage that happens to the part of the brain that controls the circadian rhythms. The combination of damaged nerve pathways and poor eyesight as you get older can mean that indoor levels of light are not enough to identify the difference between daytime and night time. Experiments using therapy lights and light boxes have found that they can help maintain Alzheimer sufferers' rest and activity cycles for longer.

UVB/UVA1 light

The same technology that is used for sunbeds in tanning shops can also help to ease stubborn patches of psoriasis, vitiligo, stretch marks and pale scars. The light must be focussed on the affected patch without unwanted exposure to normal skin.

Coloured-light therapy or Intense Pulsed Light

These types of therapy lights use filtered floodlights to bathe the skin in light of different colors. Different color filters have proven better for different disorders:

Blue: is used to destroy the bacteria that cause acne.

Green: is used to treat pigment irregularities e. g. liver spots, age spots

Yellow: for vascular conditions such as thread veins and rosacea.

Combination green and yellow: smoothes away fine lines and wrinkles.

Red: has been found to be effective in the relief of headaches and, when concentrated in one area, for the relief of arthritic pain.

Low-level laser light (Ruby and KTP) therapy

Developed to help reduce patches of discoloured skin, such as birthmarks or moles. Laser light is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the skin causing it to break up in darker areas and help to make it look more normal.

The above two systems of therapy lights can be combined and used to remove areas where the person believes they have too much hair.

Information in this article is for advice only. Anyone wishing to try these treatments should contact their medical practitioner first.

Do you know why bad things happen to good people

This is a question that most people grapple with from time to time and it has largely been on my mind this past week.

You see one of the best people I know -- my Uncle Carl -- had a very bad accident this week. While working on the wood lot with his son, his hand got caught in a log splitter. In the end the damage was so severe that his left hand had to be amputated.

Although no longer a young man, my uncle is very active and enjoys working with his hands. He is right handed but clearly the use of two hands was an important part of his former life and just as clearly that will have to change.

I was devastated when I heard the news and am still shaken by it -- even more so when I think about how much worse the accident could have been. My whole family is upset, especially Uncle Carl's wife and children, most notably my cousin John who was with him at the time.

As I worked through my worry and grief I kept asking myself that question: Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

I know people often say this when tragedy occurs, but this is not simple lip service -- it is fact. My uncle is a good man.

He is a very strong family man who is still married to his high school sweetheart. He loves his four children as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a devoted son when his parents were alive and is loved by his siblings, nieces and nephews. He and his wife opened their home to many children and young people over the years and continue to open their home and hearts whenever family, friends, or community require it.

He has worked hard all his life -- using his hands to service the land and master machinery and using his broad shoulders and strong muscles to complete every task set before him.

He has played an important role in his community serving as a volunteer firefighter as well as a cornerstone of his church congregation.

Yes, he is a good man, but his life has not been easy though and I had to question why one more burden needed to be added to his heavy load.

Many Christians will say that God sends us trials to test us. And there might be some truth in that. Many of us are stronger than we think and it takes difficult challenges to make this clear. But I didn't think this applied to my uncle -- he has had many challenges over the course of his life and I think he has a good handle on his own strengths.

However loss also highlights what we have and perhaps have taken for granted. Yes, my uncle has had a difficult life but he has also had a tremendously rewarding one. I don't think there really is much that my uncle wishes for or envies in others. Yes, his siblings may have more money and professional success, but I am confident that Carl would not trade his wife and family for that money any day of the week. And I secretly suspect that if he did in fact have more money that it would be spent in large part on his loved ones.

And he is greatly loved by a great many people. Not just by his immediate and extended family but by the many people whose lives he has touched. I know there are prayers on his behalf winging from coast to coast. I don't think he'd trade that love and the respect that accompanies it for all the professional success his siblings have enjoyed.

We can grieve with him for the loss of his hand, but we can't pity him when we look at the many gifts that God has given him.

What is more, when you step back and take a look at the man he is then you do not even notice the missing hand. He is so much more than the simple sum of his parts and in the end it is the size of his heart that one notices most.

It is important to note that it was his right hand that was preserved -- the very hand he has extended so many times to others to offer love, friendship, and help.

The power of positive thinking and your business

You may not realize this but your thoughts and thought processes have an impact on how you run your business and its inherent success. The way you think has an effect on your business and thinking positively or negatively may make or break you. How does a person's thought processes affect a business? What is the correlation between the way your mind works and how successful your business is and will be?

The way a person's mind works is so intricate that digging deep into it to figure it out may be a pretty tough call, however, there is evidence that proves how positive thinking often brings positive results. This positive thinking equals positive results phenomenon is brought about by the possible solutions one can come up with when faced with a problem.

Every now and then, when a problem arises within your business organization, how you deal with the problem can either help your company move forward or backward. With the positive results that can be had with positive thinking, you will do well to make your mind run on that path. An example of such positive thinking would be when your business experiences temporary losses due to seasonal fluxes and instead of buckling under the pressure of such losses, you go with the flow and calmly assess the situation to come up with countermeasures to counteract such losses.

Having the proper positive mindset when running a business not only helps you realize your company's potential but helps keep things in the proper perspective. If you keep thinking positive about your business in the proper context and within the boundaries of reality, you save yourself from a lot of headaches that needless negative thinking may generate. Looking at the brighter side of the situation will also help you come up with timely solutions for certain business problems you may not have been able to solve had you faced it negatively.

Positive thinking can be cultivated in a person's psyche through hypnotherapy or self-hypnosis. Making yourself think in a better light about how you can run your business and how to solve the ever emerging problems associated with running a business will not only help your money making ventures but your personal life as well.

Find out how you can benefit from thinking positive and how you can train your mind to think in this light and you will eventually be reaping the positive rewards positive thinking brings.

Choosing a bed mattress - to get a good night s sleep

Choosing a correct bed mattress is an important part in your life. The average person spends one third of his or her life in bed. A bad bed mattress can cause among other problems, back pain or stiffness. While selecting the bed, the key elements that should be kept in mind are comfort, support, size and material.

Air mattresses can be uncomfortable in comparison to a foam mattress. Usages of air mattress are generally temporary, for example camping or house guest. Water mattresses are not the most popular because they are very complicated in design and difficult to deal with. Spring mattresses are made up of different layers the top and bottom layers are made from soft cotton. These are supported by coil springs and insulation pads.

Types of mattresses:

In the market, four types of mattresses are available namely,

1.Foam

2.Spring

3.Air

4.Water

Generally people use spring mattresses. However foam mattresses are now becoming more and more popular. A Foam mattress follows the shape of your body without creating extra pressure at important points. It provides better support for your back. Foam mattresses are made up of different types of layers of foam. The top layer is made up of soft memory foam. Further down layers are stiffer for support.

Size of mattresses:

Bed mattresses are available in five sizes,

King size.

Queen size.

Full (double) size.

Single size.

Crib size

Width and length vary for each type of bed. Double size is an ideal size of bed mattress for couples.

Listed below are some examples of bed and mattress measurements:

King Size Beds

78” wide x 80” long

198 X 203 CM

Californian King Size Beds

72” wide x 84” long

183 X 214 CM

Queen Size Beds

60”wide x 80” long

152 X 203 CM

Full Size or Double Beds

54” wide x 75” long

137 X 191 CM

Twin Size Beds

39” wide x 75” long

99 X 191 CM

Long Twin Size Beds

39” wide x 80” long

99 X 203 CM

While buying a mattress make sure you buy the right size. There are also various designs and types of mattresses available in the market.

Material of mattresses:

Many mattresses are produced from polyvinyl chloride covered with cotton or polyester layers. Organic wool, organic cotton, and pure latex are also used to make natural mattresses. Because of fire, dust and mold resistance organic wool is an excellent choice. Natural latex is a new product in the bedding industry. Latex is resistant to bacteria, dust and mold. Latex covered with wool is also fire resident.