Ephedra Diet Pill Product Information and News

Ephedra Diet Pill Product Information and News

 by: Joe Rodriguez

EphedraTalk.com strives to provide consumers with the information they need to have a thorough understanding of Ephedra, Ephedrine, and Mahuang. We will help to answer questions about the ancient uses, popular weight loss beliefs, safety issues, and legal concerns associated with ephedra.

EphedraTalk.com explores the more common questions such as what an ECA stack is, the use of ephedra as an appetite suppressant, as well as the possible dangers associated with taking ephedra. We also provide periodic reviews of the best Ephedra Diet Pill Product to buy online.

Taking any kind of ephedra supplement is a personal decision that should be made in consultation with a primary care physician. EphedraTalk.com attempts to provide objective information regarding ephedra supplements to give consumers the knowledge they need to make an informed decision.

Some other popular search names for ephedra are:

Ephedra diet pill product, ephedrine, mahuang, buy ephedra online, diet pills, weight loss, stacker, metabolife, hydroxycut, fat burners, xenadrine, herbal ephedra.

About The Author Joe Rodriguez owns and operates www.ephedratalk.com where products similar to the old ephedra diet pill products have been made available. ephedratalk@gmail.com

A Real Rich Jerk

A Real Rich Jerk

 by: Corry Mansfield

This guy is real piece or work. I stumbled across his site a few months ago while searching for related topic. After checking his website (and I'm sure he has many) anyone including myself has to conclude that his site's title is defiantly not misleading...He is a real jerk, although I couldn't dismiss him completely since he did manage to pull some rabbit out of his hat and get his site on the top 3 Google search engine. Shortly after, I saw some discussion about him at a couple of financial forums I'm a member of and finally the last straw was when I discovered his website program is the #1 in the Money and Employment category of Clickbank.

Reluctantly I coughed up $49 big ones and bought his ebook. He may be a jerk but he knows his stuff.

His ebook targets people looking for ideas to start a home business or improving already existing business. A wide variety of topics are presented: Making money on eBay, Google Adsense, Affiliate programs, hosting strategies, building web pages, search engine optimization techniques, etc.

The reader can pick up on one or more of these tips or use the information as a recipe (how to) book. He writes in a way were you don't get inundated with information or bogged down in details, just the bare bones of the matter. However, be warned the book is written with a holier than thou air about it and makes no apology for it. When the first version of his book came out describing his journey and the steps he took from unemployment to 6 figure income the already existing home businesses jumped for joy after applying some of his methods. I admit I was one of them. However, the ones just starting out where not as thrilled. Apparently the book jumped right into the meat and potatoes with an assumption that you have some prior knowledge of the inner workings of the Internet. Consequently Version II came out with additional pages just for beginners.

In my case I already have a set path for my part time Internet business so upon reading his ebook I skipped through the stuff I wasn't interested in and got to "my" section...how to get more traffic through my site. Some methods I didn't know and some I should have but never occurred to me (big dummy). In 3 weeks I increased my site's traffic by 37%. Not enough to quit my day job but enough to say that I didn't waste 49 bucks.

Now I don't know if he's a real jerk in real life or just using it as a niche in a competitive market. I doubt he talks the way he writes unless he walks around with 12 body guards. Anyway, rough around the edges he may be but he's got financial wisdom. In a thank you gesture for the increased traffic through my website I decided to put his banner at the Bottom of my web page since it's too offensive to go anywhere else (a guy giving the reader the finger)...real nice...Jerk.

If you like to learn more go to: http://435sqn.richjerk.hop.clickbank.net/ get top notch financial wisdom and possibly get offended all at the same time.

About The Author Corry Mansfield is a full time Charter Pilot and part time Internet business entrepreneur who's website www.homebiscams.com deals with the challenge of distinguishing between Legitimate Home Businesses and Scams.

Five Proven Methods for Internet Marketing Success

Five Proven Methods for Internet Marketing Success

 by: Maria Chandler

There are hundreds of ways that you can promote your online business or website, some more effective than others. These five proven methods will help you to generate traffic to your site and also to generate income into your wallet.

1. One thing that appeals to everyone is “free.” If it is free people will take it. Think of the samples of cheese given away at grocery stores. Do you really want a small piece of cheese? Of course not! But you take it simply because it is free and someone is nice enough to offer it to you. The same principle applies with information or services offered from your website. You can send out free newsletters or offer a free trail period. One popular thing that is being given away now are free credit reports or free PC scans. These freebies are what we in the marketing field like to call teasers. After running the free credit report or PC scan we alert the customer if there is something found on their credit record or PC and then offer to show them what it is or repair the problem for a price. This can be an effective way to get information to your potential customers, create sales or to generate traffic to your site.

2. Your website contains information about a service or product that you are very knowledgeable about. You can use this knowledge to generate traffic to your site by writing articles in your area of expertise and having them published in an ezine or an article information site. The most effective way to use these articles is to write them for free and ask in return that the publisher allow you to include a byline. A byline is a very short summary of the author, their credentials and their website. Your byline is a way that readers will come to know you as an expert on the topic and will in turn come to trust your site as a source of credible information.

3. Some search engines will allow a website to purchase their ranking. This is an excellent Internet marketing technique in that it is effective and inexpensive. In the pay-per-click programs, website are only billed for those who actually visit the page, unlike banner ads which may be seen by millions but only used by a few. When using the pay-per-click program you are asked to choose keywords and when those are entered your site will appear and if the surfer chooses to view your site, you are billed for that click. Many pay-per-click programs will offer other benefits as well, such as updated lists of commonly used keywords.

4. You should remember that others are in the same boat as you. You can choose to network with those who have similar marketing ideas. When networking you will be able to share links and refer customers to each other. You should always be very cautious when choosing a networking partner as everything that you recommend is a reflection of yourself or your product and therefore, you should be certain that your networking partner is a reputable source of information.

5. Simply because your website is online, doesn’t mean that all your advertising should be. Advertise in newspapers, TV, the radio or you can even send out a press release to get your information to thousands of people all over the country.

Copyright 2005 Maria Chandler

About The Author Maria Chandler can help YOU start your own profitable business on the Internet within the next 24 hours... To learn more, visit: http://www.MariaChandler.ws/pips.html

Is There A Difference Between Manual Traffic Exchange, and Auto Surf Traffic Exchange?

Is There A Difference Between Manual Traffic Exchange, and Auto Surf Traffic Exchange?

 by: Keisha Seaton

For those of you that do not know what a traffic exchange it, is it a site that you join, and agree to view other members websites to have them view yours. This can be a great form of advertising because a real person is at the other end of the computer viewing your website, where you will be promoting your product, or service. This sounds like a great, but how do you get traffic exchanges to work for you?

There are many websites that tells you to join hundreds of traffic exchanges, to get the joining bonus. Yes it sounds great, but big mistake! If you just joined to get the joining bonus that the traffic exchange offers you probably will never get it. Why? Many of the traffic exchanges require you to have surfed a required amount to get that bonus. So if you thought you were going to get away there. Your Wrong! The worse part is that if you joined to get the joining bonus, the traffic exchanges usually will not put your website into rotation until you have activated your account. So do not go out, and do that you will only be wasting your valuable time. Later on in the article I will tell you how you will be able to benefit from multiple traffic exchanges, and the proper way to do it.

There are two types of traffic exchanges that you can join. Manual Surf, and Auto Surf traffic exchanges.

Auto Surf is exactly what is says automatic. I know you might be thinking that this is a good thing. Wrong again. When you set up an automatic surf, you will be setting it, and going about your business. Think about it, if you wanted traffic to your website, and the other person on the other end of the computer is suppose to be viewing your website, how much people do you think will see your website using this method? Not many. Personally I stay away from automatic traffic exchanges, because they do me no good.

I am not giving them a bad label; it just does not benefit me. However, there are auto surfs out there that you can join, and they will pay you to use their service. It is not much but over a period of time, it will add up. Will they pay you? Now that is another article all by itself. What I recommend that you do if you are interested in using auto surfs is to do your research, and know what you are getting into.

Now we will talk about Manual Traffic Exchanges. A manual traffic exchange is when there are other people sitting behind the other end of the computer, clicking on a certain image to view the next website. There is a live person, to see your site, and not a couch potato, hanging out on the couch hoping that he will get rich off of auto surf traffic exchanges. If your site or offer is interesting enough to the viewer they will stop, and look at what you have to offer. That part is up to you.

If you are interested in promoting an affiliate program the traffic exchanges it is recommended that you do not just promote your affiliate page as it is. You probably will be able to get signups, but not that many. What is recommended is that you create splash pages or landing pages. A splash page is a one-page site that teases your viewers about your product or service. The best way to get more visitors to your site with splash pages is to list the benefits that your program or product has to offer, when doing this be careful that you are not listing the features. A benefit tells the customer how the product will be able to make their life easier. Everyone wants to make things easier.

With over 2,500 traffic exchange online, and new ones coming on everyday, it would be impossible to surf that many exchanges. That is why I recommend using Cyberwheelers Manual Traffic Exchange downline builder. It consist of over 40 manual surf traffic exchanges, that are put into sets that you can surf using Mozilla Firefox tabbed browser.

All of this is explained at Cyberwheelers.com.

In my first three months of using manual traffic exchanges I was able to generate over 120,000 page views to my site, and over 72 signups. Not bad, for sitting if front of the computer for an hour each day, and clicking away.

May The Traffic Force Be With You!

About The Author Keisha Seaton is the owner of http://krazyexchange.com. To Join Cyberwheelers please visit http://cyberwheelers.freetrafficinfo.net May God Bless

Ways to Make Money

Ways to Make Money

 by: Debra Lea Thorsen

What are the best ways to make money?

If you answered, “a job”, then you have been brainwashed like most

Americans into believe that working for a company is the best way to

make money. It is absolutely NOT one of the best ways to make money. Why

not?

Most jobs have the following problems:

1. The time trap. You are trading your time for money. Even if you

are a salaried employee, you are accepting a salary for a set number of

hours that you will work each week. If you don’t work, you don’t get

paid. Most companies want you to work the most amount of time for the

least money and you want to work the least amount of time for the most

money. The job game is a lose-lose game.

2. No passive income. If you stop working for any period of time, you

stop receiving paychecks. Your money does not work for you.

3. No intellectual capital. If you are an employee, your company owns

your intellectual capital. It’s like your company owns your brain. You

cannot sell or share your ideas and earn money.

4. No control. You have no control over your work life and therefore

your life. You cannot choose where you work, when you work, or who you

work with. Most companies require a lot of “face time”. Even if you

could get your work done in 4 hours each day, you usually need to spend

8-10 hours onsite to prove that you are a “loyal employee”. You have no

control over most of the decisions that are being made at your company.

Bad decisions made by others could put your company out of business and

then you get “downsized” or “rightsized” or simply laid-off.

5. No leverage. Entertainers and professional athletes make lots and

lots of money because they have leverage. Millions of people watch them.

They can make one movie or play one game a week and make buckets of

money because they are reaching a huge audience with a few hours of

their time. In a job, your efforts reach a limited audience. You cannot

give a speech to your department and record it and then turn it into a

teleclass that you sell over and over again on your website. You have no

leverage.

So, what are some better ways to make money without going to a job?

1. Start a business. Yes, lots of businesses fail. But small

businesses are the engine of growth in this country. It took Bill Gates

10 years to become a billionaire with Microsoft. It took Michael Dell 5

years to become a billionaire with Dell. What you need is a solid plan

and then the courage to execute the plan and the discipline to market

your products or services consistently. There has never been a better

time to get rich by starting a company. What are your goals? When do you

want to achieve those goals?

If you want to start a business quickly and don’t have the necessary

business fundamentals or want a pre-designed, proven system, then look

into joining a network marketing company. If you can find a product you

love, a company with a proven marketing system and a management with

integrity, you can develop a great passive income stream.

Do your own research and see if it makes sense for you to start your

company from ground zero or join a network marketing company. There are

lots of good network marketing companies to choose from. (There are also

lots that aren’t such good bets.)

2. Real Estate. Isn’t this risky? There are no risky real estate

investments, only risky investors. You can minimize risk through

education and experience.

Don’t you need money to get into real estate investing? For most

commercial real estate deals, yes. But you can succeed with no-money

down investing in the residential arena. In fact, it may be better to

start out investing with no money of your own because you will only do

great deals. You will not waste any of your money chasing marginal deals.

Land is in limited supply, especially near the oceans. Land will

almost always increase in value. There may be some small “corrections”

in the short term, but if you invest in the right areas, chances are

they will appreciate. Plus, you can learn to make money in up and down

markets.

3. Investing in other companies. Many people put their money in a

mutual fund or index fun and are happy with 5-10% appreciation each

year. But, there are other ways to invest. Investigate individual

stocks. What products and services do you love so much that you tell

other people about them? Remember, you make a profit when you buy not

when you sell. It is impossible to know what the future holds. Do your

homework. Find stocks that are bargains today.

4. Selling your intellectual capital. Another good way to make money

is to develop products and services around your ideas. These could

include books, tapes and CDs, workshops, videos, etc. This is a great

way to create passive income streams.

My purpose here is not to give you a roadmap for becoming a CEO or a

successful investor but to open your mind to the possibilities. There

are so many great opportunities. If you are staying in a job that you

hate because you think it is the best way to make money, then, think again.

About The Author Find out how to break free from the corporate world. Debra Thorsen helps individuals create real wealth and happiness without 9 to 5 jobs. Visit fearlessguides.com for free tips on career change, wealth building, and living without fear.

Baby Food: Healthy Choices You Make That Matter To Baby

Baby Food: Healthy Choices You Make That Matter To Baby

 by: Janice Wee

Once your baby is past 6 months old, milk alone is just not enough. Your baby needs solid food. In fact, between the ages of 4 to 6 months, babies should start getting used to eating solid foods.

Start with a taste of baby food. Just 1 teaspoon in the beginning. Some babies might love these new tastes while other babies may hate it.

Don't fret if your baby refuses these new foods. You could coax baby by adding a little milk to the baby food, so that baby is assured by the familiar taste. For a breastfed baby, add a little breast milk. For a formula fed baby, add a little formula milk to the baby food.

What you feed baby at this tender age makes a difference to his or her future tastes. Give baby greens at this young age so he or she would grow to love veggies.

Sounds far fetched?

With my kids, that is exactly what happened.

Years ago, I was on a health food craze and bought plenty of brocolli baby food for them when they were babies. I practically weaned them onto broccoli.

Fast forward to today. Both kids aged 6 and 7 years old, insist that every meal we have at home must include a plate of broccoli. They love broccoli and would fight over that plate of broccoli.

Here, we have 2 kids at the age where kids are notorious for not touching their veggies, grabbing the broccoli, eyeing what is left on the plate and once we are off guard, one of them would grab the entire plate of broccoli and dump everything on his plate and finish it off. That usually means there wouldn't be any broccoli left for us grown ups.

This is the time to get baby to eat and to appreciate carrots, spinach as well as the usual meats that your family might eat. Tofu would be a great food to introduce to baby as it is soft and very healthy. As baby gets older, a healthy porridge full of veggies and proteins would be really good.

You can find a wide variety of baby food as well as other baby products at http://www.cheapestsale.com/health/baby.html. For convenience sake, I would buy bottled baby food for my baby. I would use a clean spoon to take out baby's portion for 1 meal and refrigerate the rest. A microwave oven would heat up that meal nicely. Anything not consumed in 3 days would be thrown away. Don't have a microwave oven? With that baby in tow, you will need one. You can get it at http://www.allkitchen.info/microwave-oven.htm .

I would also have a ready supply of dry cereal baby food. Those are really convenient as all you have to do is to add warm milk or water and baby's meal is ready to be served.

You can also make your own baby food. For that, you need a baby food maker. Food mills you can get from http://www.babymusthaves.com/Food-Mills.htm are ideal. Just boil the veggies, then use the food mill to transform into a smooth paste. You can soften it or make it more liquid by adding breast milk or formula milk or water, whichever baby prefers.

If you need some baby food recipes, or are new to this, get the baby food kits from http://www.babymusthaves.com/baby-food-kits.htm. These are handy.

One thing though, baby's immunity isn't as strong as ours, so you have to be very careful about hygiene when you prepare the food. I would sterilize everything I can that comes into contact with baby's food, to keep everything as sterile as possible.

Whether you get ready made baby food or make your own, this is the time to steer your baby towards healthy food. The tastes developed now can make a major difference in the future.

About The Author Janice Wee is the webmaster of http://www.babymusthaves.com which covers what you need when you have a baby.

Creating Rubber Stamps: Not All Methods Created Equal (Part 1 of 3)

Creating Rubber Stamps: Not All Methods Created Equal (Part 1 of 3)

 by: Gwendolyn Lee

Whether you’re a rubber stamp rookie, dabbler, or seasoned veteran, you’ve undoubtedly wondered how to make your own rubber stamp. When creating a custom rubber stamp, there are many methods that can be used; in this three-part series, you’ll learn the pros and cons of several different stamp-producing methods.

No matter the method, if you are looking to become a rubber stamp vendor, good luck. It would be easier to find Osama bin Laden’s cave than to find a wholesale vendor for stamp mounts and cases. Besides their clandestine status, wholesale vendors may also have a minimum purchase requirement or different price breaks for quantity. When starting out as a small business, it may be best to buy cases and mounts from a local arts and crafts store.

If you’re serious about creating high quality rubber stamps, the best technology to use is a laser engraver. Though they may cost thousands of dollars, many high-end engravers can create a stamp as precise as 1000 dpi. Laser engravers are optimal for high productivity and quality rubber stamps, and items like graphics or small text are easily achieved. Laser engravers are less messy than other rubber stamp-making methods, and advanced alignment technology creates little waste.

Laser engravers are not labor intensive; hundreds of stamps can be programmed to engrave at once. The speed of engraving for one square inch of rubber stamp is approximately 60 seconds. While this may seem slow, a laser engraver will make deeply engraved “cut lines” while it is etching. A cut line engraves so deeply that no actual cutting or special scissors are necessary for the rubber; simply push on the etched item when the engraving is complete. These cut lines will save a large amount of time that would be otherwise allocated to tedious cutting and hand customization.

Once the rubber stamps are finished etching, simply remove them from the laser engraver and soak them in water for 5-10 minutes. This allows the rubber dust and resin to be easily cleaned off with an item such as a toothbrush. The washing of the rubber is imperative; without cleaning the rubber, residual dust from the engraving process may impede the quality of the impression. After the rubber is clean, wipe it dry with a paper towel or hand towel. At this point, you may leave it unmounted or adhere it to a wood block, pre-inked, or self-inking device.

Now that you have learned one of the many stamp-making methods, stay tuned! Exciting information about making stamps at home is yet to come!

About The Author Gwendolyn Lee is a statistician and analyst of Internet-related metrics for http://www.rubberstamps.net. She has researched and implemented business models to maximize profitability, efficiency and advertising tracking.

A Brief Biography Of Donald Ervin Knuth (1938 - present)

A Brief Biography Of Donald Ervin Knuth (1938 - present)

 by: Lee Armstrong

Author of "The Art of Computer Programming"; creator of TEX and METAFONT; and inventor of the strangest software versioning systems ever. Well known for many reasons, famous for a few; Donald Ervin Knuth is most certainly a legend in his own lifetime.

His series of books, The Art of Computer Programming [‘TAOCP’], was first introduced to the public in 1968. It is still in production. Volumes 1 to 3 are available at all good bookshops, with volume 5 currently scheduled for release in 2010. Advance order your copies now. Once he completes volume five, Donald thinks that the time will be about right for a revision of volumes 1-3. Don’t expect this any time soon.

Knuth offers $2.56 to each person that alerts him to an error in one of his published works. Why $2.56? Well, because that’s the number of pennies in a hexadecimal dollar, of course.

In between writing what is arguably the most famous and respected computer science text ever produced, performing the duties of a retired professor, being an accomplished organist, and winning a plethora of awards, Knuth produced the TEX software and METAFONT language.

The versioning systems used for his creations are unique and somewhat quirky. New versions of TEX are numbered with versions approaching pi; METAFONT’s versioning system similarly approaches e. Once Knuth passes from this realm, the development of the software and language will stop, with any remaining bugs remaining as “features”. This appears to be the inspiration behind much of the development of the Windows Operating System which contains an ever increasing array of interesting “features”.

A quote from the man himself: “Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it”.

About The Author This article may be freely distributed provided the following text is included with the distribution: Lee Armstrong is heavily involved with Perfect Coding (http://www.perfectcoding.com), a UK based IT consultancy specialising in software and web development and services. In addition to their professional services, Perfect Coding offer relevant, interesting and FREE articles in their soon to be released "FYI..." series. Check back regularly for updates!

How to Triple Your Productivity in 28 Days - Part II

How to Triple Your Productivity in 28 Days - Part II

 by: M. Anthony

If you've been diligent in doing the past 2 concentration builders you will notice you have a considerable increase in your productivity and your power to stay focused. In fact, you have probably also noticed that you are more organized, and feel more at ease. These are natural side-effects of building your concentration. Congratulations!

* Concentration Builder Week 3

This week's concentration-builder is a more potent form of week 2. This time instead of actually counting your steps, you also include focusing on your breathe while walking. So it goes like this.

Whenever you are walking, simply coordinate your breathing with your steps.Again, you want to pick a number that's comfortable for you. Between 3 and 6 is what works for most people. So if you choose the number 4, you want to breathe in over 4 steps. Then breathe out over 4 steps. Inhale for 4 steps. Exhale for 4 steps.

I particularly like this one. I've been doing it for years and it's almost second nature for me. You'll also find yourself quickly making this concentration-builder a habit once you do it a few times. And once you make it a habit, your concentration, focus, and productivity will continue to improve.

* Concentration Builder Week 4

This last concentration-builder is simple yet powerful. Note: I said simple...but it may not be easy. But if you are intent on developing an iron-clad concentration, focus and improved productivity, then spend 5 minutes each day on this one and watch your life change by this time next week.

You'll probably need to turn off the t.v...(no groaning) ... and send the kids and spouse out of the room to get the full benefit of this concentration-builder, but it also can be done anytime.

First, focus on your breathing. Now starting from 100 and counting down to 0, you'll count each inhale and exhale to yourself. IE... inhale...exhale...100, inhale...exhale...99, inhale...exhale...98, etc. That's it!

The first few days you may find your mind wandering all over the place, losing count, thinking of events of the day. If so, you have to start all over at 100 and begin again.

By day 4 or 5, you should be able to get close to doing the whole countdown with some effort. By day 7, you'll find your concentration extremely focused and a new sense of effectiveness and organization as your increased productivity allows you to get more done in less time.

Remember, developing your concentration is the easiest way to develop your laser-like focus, consistency, perseverance and productivity.

About The Author M. Anthony teaches the Secret of Abundance - How to Achieve the Inner Peace, Abundant Wealth, Fulfilling Relationships and Radiant Health You have Always Imagined! at http://abundance.imaginewealth.info Read Part I of How to Triple Your Productivity in 28 days imaginewealth@sendfree.com

Actions Speak Louder Than Word

Actions Speak Louder Than Word

 by: Amy Dunn Williams

The written word and verbal communication each have their own unique styles. Moreover, each has its own time and place. When we write, we stay within strict guidelines of grammar and syntax. A written correspondence often conveys a serious or urgent message, or is reserved for special occasions such as wedding invitations and thank-you notes. When we speak, we are more informal and imprecise. Grammatical rules are not always obeyed and tone, mood and urgency are relayed in the inflections of our voice or in our body language.

Let’s look at the following for an example of this difference.

The written word: “Kindly remit the requested amount forthwith.”

Oral style: “Please pay your bill right away.”

These not-so-subtle differences are the reason why it is better to prepare your speech from outlines rather than attempt to deliver carefully worded, fully written out speeches. A written speech will often sound stilted and too rehearsed while a speech given from an outline will be far more conversational in tone. This will help you to build a rapport with your audience and to infuse your speech with humor, anecdotes and other details that require the timing and intimacy of real conversation. An outline will help you to stay on course, to cover all of the important points you wish to make, and to keep track of statistics and other vital details. Your speech will still be accurate, but by using an outline instead of a prepared manuscript you will entertain your audience, not bore them.

Typically, oral sentences are shorter than written sentences; we use fewer words when we speak than when we write. In fact, more than half of our speaking vocabulary is made up of only 50 simple words. The oral style is also more personal. People are referred to more often, and words such as “I,” “me,” and “you” are used frequently. When we write, we have a tendency to take ourselves out of the message being relayed. Even if the purpose is to persuade or argue, it is at times considered more impartial, and therefore more credible, to speak from the point of view of the third person. This is not the case when we speak. In public speaking we want to appear as though we are having a one-on-one exchange with our audience members, even when we are speaking to a room full of people. It is more acceptable to come from a personal, more passionate perspective when we speak. We make it personal because that is what our audience will understand; we need it to become personal to them as well.

Public speaking is the art of perfecting the oral style, using the subtle nuances of conversation and pairing them with research and persuasive details. Being a strong writer is vital to career success in nearly every field and is an important talent to nurture. But being able to recognize when the written word is needed and when a less formal, conversational oral style is needed will make you an outstanding presenter as well as a powerful writer.

About The Author Amy Dunn Williams is a freelance writer and public relations professional. She holds a M.S. in communications from Ithaca College as well as a B.A. in English from Le Moyne College. Amy resides in Ithaca, New York with her husband. This article was produced for http://www.toastmasters-public-speaking.com Copyright 2005.

Manifesting Home Runs

Manifesting Home Runs

 by: Debbie O'Meara

Recently I was in Cleveland, Ohio, about two thousand miles from my home in southern California, visiting my brother and his family. My sister-in-law and I took my eight-year-old niece to her first baseball game, where we saw the Cleveland Indians host the Minnesota Twins. We had excellent seats behind home plate, and little Caitlin loved the music, the “wave,” and everything about her first ballpark experience. Of course, it was even better when she saw her home team defeat the visitors 2-1.

I’m no baseball expert but I can say that this game wasn’t what you’d call an outstanding display of hitting. Few times did either team manage to get more than four batters up per inning. Both teams scored a run in the third inning, and it was the bottom of the eighth inning before we saw another score. Cleveland had loaded the bases with two out. Designated hitter Travis Hafner took one ball, one strike…and got hit by a pitch. Which meant he automatically went to first base, all the runners advanced, and Ronnie Belliard trotted home for the winning run. No heroics, no big hit, no dramatic, crash-into-a-wall missed catch. But an errant pitch that wasn’t enough to hurt the batter, but was enough to allow him to win the game for his team.

By the way, for those of you who don’t speak baseball, bear with me just a moment…

Did Hafner dream about getting hit by a pitch? Not likely. He’s a designated hitter—his purpose on the team is to step in and hit the ball, not have the ball hit him! But if you think about it, is his purpose really to hit the ball? Or is it to win the game? If you put it in that perspective, then he did exactly what he was supposed to do. He won the game for his team. It may not have been his preferred means, but he accomplished his end. A win is a win in the final tally.

When we’re working on manifesting a goal, what are we focusing on? Are we thinking about the means, or the end? It’s one thing to think, “I need money,” knowing you need it to buy a new car, and another to focus on “I need a new car.” Is it really the money we want to manifest, or is it the car? Maybe we win the car in a lottery. Maybe we inherit it from a long-lost uncle. But we have the new car, and it wasn’t the money we were after anyway.

It’s not up to us to determine the “how”; the universe is smarter than we are, and will do that for us. We need to look clearly for the “what,” and trust that the universe, the Divine, can handle the “how.”

About The Author Debbie O'Meara is the owner of Lightrae Publishing, your source for abundance and prosperity resources around the Web. Visit http://www.lightrae.com for Charles Fillmore's book Prosperity, as well as Lightrae's free newsletter and free ebook. Please reprint and distribute this article in its entirety, including the byline and link to Lightrae Publishing.

Knoxville Mortgage Companies

Knoxville Mortgage Companies

 by: Mark Lambie

Eastern Tennessee is the home of the University of Tennessee in the city of Knoxville. This large state university is a main draw for local residents and has brought numerous people to the area who are interested in buying homes and settling down. Did you know that Knoxville has scores of lenders who would be more than willing to help you get a mortgage? We list 44 important Knoxville Mortgage Companies here for you:

1. Action Mortgage

2. Allied Mortgage

3. Ameriquest

4. Atlantic Mortgage Loans

5. Bailey Mortgage Company

6. Beneficial Finance

7. Cendant Mortgage

8. Cherokee Capital

9. Curtis Mortgage

10. East Tennessee Mortgage

11. First Century Mortgage

12. First Horizon Home Loans

13. First Knoxville Mortgage

14. First Tennessee Mortgage Company

15. Global Mortgage

16. GMAC Mortgage

17. Greene County Bank

18. Gulf Pacific Mortgage

19. Heartland Mortgage Company

20. Hodges Mortgage

21. Infinity Mortgage Group

22. Long Beach Mortgage

23. Mac Clair Mortgages

24. Mortgage Consultants of TN

25. Mortgage Masters

26. Mortgage Options

27. National Liberty Mortgage

28. New Century Mortgage

29. Ocean West Funding

30. Patton Mortgage

31. Peoples Mortgage

32. Phoenix Mortgage

33. Prestige Mortgage

34. Principle Mortgage

35. Regional Finance Mortgage

36. Renaissance Financial

37. Southeast Home Mortgage

38. Sunset Mortgage

39. Tennessee Equity Mortgage

40. Tennessee Mortgage Source Inc

41. Universal Mortgage

42. Vintage Mortgage

43. Washington Mutual Finanace

44. Well Fargo Mortgage

This list is not comprehensive meaning that there are additional Knoxville Mortgage Companies worth finding out about.

What makes for a good local lender? Community investing, local employees, active and interested management, a variety of funding options, funding of local organizations, etc. Just because your mortgage company is based in Knoxville it doesn't necessarily make them the best choice for you. Shop around, compare, speak to people who have already used their services, contact your local government or Better Business Bureau for any reports [good or bad] on the lender, and visit them in person to see if you want to give them your business.

Most Knoxville Mortgage Companies should give you the service you want. The only way to make sure is by contacting one today!

About The Author Mark Lambie is the founder of http://www.the-loan-house.com a website that allows consumers to quickly and easily get mortgage information.

Caring For Baby’s Clothes

Caring For Baby’s Clothes

 by: Kirsten Hawkins

New parents are full of concerns about what regular household activities may pose a threat or present problems for their newest family member. At some point the question about the best ways to wash baby clothing will arise. Parents typically ask whether there is a certain type off detergent that they should use, whether it is safe to wash baby clothes with the rest of the family’s clothing and what special steps should be taken with cloth diapers if they are being used.

Detergent

This is a valid concern. It is not atypical for certain detergents to irritate the skin of adults and older children, so it is certainly feasible that a baby’s tender and sensitive skin can be easily irritated by harsh detergents. There are several detergents on the market that are supposedly intended for baby’s clothing, but there is not much difference between them and other mild detergents. The best choice for parents to make in this area is to purchase mild detergent that is free from added colors and fragrances and wash the clothing in that. If the baby does develop a rash or seems to be experiencing skin discomfort of any kind, the first thing to do is consult the family pediatrician. The doctor may simply recommend that a different detergent be used, but will also be able to determine if there is a more serious problem.

Washing Baby Clothes with Family Clothes

Some parents feel that the baby’s clothing needs to be washed separately from that of the rest of the family. The rationale for this is that the other family members’ clothing could somehow taint or contaminate the baby’s. There is no reason to worry about this and it is perfectly safe to wash baby’s clothes and bedding along with everyone else’s. The exception to this rule is cloth diapers. If parents are using cloth diapers and washing them at home rather than using a diaper service, they must be washed apart from everything else.

Cloth Diapers

Cloth diapers are fading into memory, replaced by the more convenient disposable brands that are on the market. For families that choose to use these, however, there are some special considerations. The most sanitary way to utilize reusable cloth diapers is to contract a diaper service. This will take away the hassle of washing the diapers at home and ensure that the replacement diapers are sterile. For families that choose to wash at home, the previous paragraph details that they should be kept separate from all other laundry. Storing the diapers until wash time must be done as sanitarily as possible. This means rinsing the cloth diaper in the toilet to remove solid wastes, then storing it in a pail until it is time to be washed. The pail should be covered to prevent odor and lined with a disposable or washable liner. The pail, lid, and liner should be cleaned whenever the diapers are and the soiled diapers should be washed at least twice weekly.

About The Author Kirsten Hawkins is a baby and parenting expert specializing new mothers and single parent issues. Visit http://www.babyhelp411.com/ for more information on how to raising healthy, happy children.

Viral Mutations Of Email List Building: Creating New Strands! Part 1

Viral Mutations Of Email List Building: Creating New Strands! Part 1

 by: Melvin Perry

The virus known as influenza has been around for thousands of years. Yet, no one on the face of the earth has ever been able to beat or destroy this damaging virus. This virus has become unstoppable, and has stood the test of time. Now what does this have to do with building your email list?

Well building your email list should have the same characteristics and dynamics of the influenza virus. What makes the flu virus so unstoppable is its ability to produce an unlimited number of new strands every year. This virus constantly mutates and forms new strands, making it hard for researchers to counteract its destruction.

Your list building efforts should also have this constantly changing aspect to it . In the same way the flu virus constantly makes new strands, you also want to consistently make new viral implementations to your list building efforts that will gradually increase the growth and momentum of your list overtime. These little small viral implementations will make the growth of your email list unstoppable.

The viral list building implementations should include any method, strategy, or technique that has the power to exponentially grow your email list just from others passing your information or link around. Making new viral implementations will actually build an automatic list building machine, making your list appear as if it has a life of its own! Your list will actually become a living, breathing, cyber organism that has the goal of conquering as much of its niche as it can! It will function as an actual flu virus.

Now listed below are a couple of ways you can make viral implementations to your list building efforts. Consider each of these new implementations as viral strands, where if one strand is conquered, the others are still actively and virally working for you. You want to create as many of these viral strands of marketing as you can. Make sure you implement each of these methods below into your list building campaign.

Method #1: Offer A Free Product Download

Offering a free product download is a powerful way to get your marketing message out. You can easily create a free report within your niche that others can easily pass around . Within the report are links to your newsletter or ezine opt in landing page.

You can also create free software to give away. This actually works a little better than giving away a free ebook or report.

Method #2: Have JV Partners And Affiliates Market The Free Product

Next, you should supercharge method #1 by having jv partners and affiliates pass around your free product. One way you can do this is by branding the free product with a link that will make your affiliates, and your jv partners commissions. This is known as an affiliate program, and it is one of the most powerful forms of viral marketing right now!

If you are looking for sure online marketing success, I highly recommend that you start an affiliate program in your particular niche within the next 7 days. If you do not have a product yet, hire ghostwriters from Elance to create a product for you. Set up your affiliate program, and use your affiliates to virally pass around a free product or report that will advertise your product, ezine or newsletter.

This one method can literally skyrocket the size of your list in days!

Method #3: Give Master Resell Rights

Master resell rights is when an individual has the rights to sell your product and earn 100% of all the income generated. You can also give the person who bought your resell rights, the opportunity to establish his or her own affiliate program. Therefore, using this method will create a means for his affiliates to market your products or newsletter list. Imagine having thousands of affiliates actively marketing your newsletter or ezine list! Can you just imagine the results!

So are you beginning to see the viral power of all this?

If so, be on the lookout for Part 2 of this article on more advanced ways and methods to virally build an unstoppable list building machine.

Or, just visit our resourceful website that gives away hundreds of minutes of free online marketing videos on how you can go about building a gigantic email list in 90 days.

http://www.list-building-videos.com

About The Author Melvin Perry wants to show you how to build a 50,000 member double opt in list in 90 days via a free report and over 200 minutes of free online videos! Grab your free copy of the report and videos today at: http://www.list-building-videos.com.

Rewriting your Screenplay: The Road to your Audience

Rewriting your Screenplay: The Road to your Audience

 by: Gordy Hoffman

The promise of the rewrite is very sweet. I have collected evidence that the more authentic the labor put into rewriting your screenplay, the greater the reward, and the reward is high, for whatever lovely, wonderful moments you might have discovered in the frightening process of plowing through the first draft, those moments, those seeds, are only seeds, and they only fulfill their destiny as giant, involving scenes in the movie that screens before people. So if I shortcut my revision, I will miss the prize, pure and simple.

The process of rewriting is recreating. I need to make a contract with myself to make room in every moment of my writing for the imaginative magic of inspiration, that flash of brilliance which some call talent, the muse, God, or desperation, to deliver something that did not exist just a second before, but now lives forever, like a huge white rabbit suddenly from a hat. This usually happens when my fingers are on the keyboard and there's white below from where I'm typing, and I have no idea where I'm going. Or if I have some idea, I don't have the answer, but I trust and that's it.

Rewriting is technically every change you make to your draft. There, I said it, so now you can't come back and argue with me about what you think a rewrite is. But now I will tell you what rewriting really is, or what it really is not. Rewriting is not cutting and pasting. It's not reading through your draft on your computer screen and changing words. It's not pushing your cursor down the page, highlighting text and deleting it. I think this is called editing or deleting or garbage time or easy on the damn brain, but it's not called rewriting over in the bust your ass capital of screenplay planet.

Rewriting is almost starting completely over. It's almost accepting that you have nothing after celebrating like you won your tenth super bowl simply by typing the end and poking two brass fasteners through a pile of paper. Rewriting is taking that pile of paper, plopping it beside you where you can see it without a lot of movement of the head, and copying it over with an industrious attitude.

Okay, basically if you open a new file and name it second draft, or seventh, or whatever, lie all you want, but if you simply copy it over and the only thing that gets changed is the things that make you physically jerk in your chair, then you are not rewriting with an industrious attitude. An industrious attitude can mean a lot of things, I will probably call it something else next week, but it simply means you are open to work, and with a rewrite, the premise to work is the belief your script needs work. If you can't see much wrong, how can it need a lot of work, and how is the rewrite going to work? It won't. So make sure you have an open bent, and start typing it over.

What happens? Well, if you've never done it, I'm not gonna tell you. A lot of screenwriters won't even admit it they've never done it, because it breaks your neck. If you have done it, it's almost time we did it again. Either way, go.

Now, how do I find out what's broken? It's not all on one page, and it's hard to see the big picture of the awful thing. Well, this isn't a book, this is just a short essay, so here's a short list of tools to get yourself into and ready for your rewrite.

First, you got ask yourself, what's the story, or more specifically, what are the stories? I usually make up a list of sentences that start with "The story of..." and fill in the blanks. What are the stories that are emerging from your current draft? What does your spirit want to tell versus what your poor brain thought you were going to do back in the coffee shop? You might find the list is long, and that's a problem, too. There's usually a main one, maybe one close behind, then a few tiny sweet ones. There is your family of stories. There they are. Now. How are you treating them?

This is where you can make some kind of a chart. Like a spreadsheet or something. Or the back of a dry cleaning receipt will do. Divide up your script into the beginning, act one, act two, act three, and the finish. By the way, I know there's all sorts of act divisions. Modify my directions at your will. It's fine. So within this chart you will pencil in the beats that exist within the current layout of your script. When you're done charting the arcs of your family of stories, you will undoubtedly find HOLES. Wow. Nothing's there. Didn't see that before. Okay, you better put something in there.

Let's say you got your chart pretty full, in fact, it looks like the stories of your movie have something resembling a beginning, middle and end. Now what you need is to make every scene as good as your best scene. Yeah, terrible news. How do you determine this? Grade your scenes. Some scenes might get an A. Others maybe a B. Give your work an F or two. Once you do this, you will know what scenes are functioning as placeholders and what are moneymakers. In the end, rewriting is making everything the most special ever. Anything short, and you have more rewriting to do. Unless you can live with an uneven ride. But this is a rewriting article, not a give up article.

Finally, a reminder. Screenwriting becomes artful when compression arrives. Shorten your everything. All dialogue and description is representative of this life traveled through a living soul. Uh, that's you. A screenplay is just another poem, it's just another small bit resembling something we recognize as human beings. Seven Samurai is a very short movie compared to what happens in a life, even shorter stacked against forever. But it lives beyond forever, doesn't it?

Article URL: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com/About/rewriting_your_screenplay.php

Copyright © 2006 BlueCat Screenplay Competition

About The Author Gordy Hoffman Winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival for LOVE LIZA , Gordy Hoffman has written and directed three digital shorts for Fox Searchlight. He made his feature directorial debut with his script, A COAT OF SNOW, which world premiered at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival. He is also the founder of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition. Dedicated to develop and celebrate the undiscovered screenwriter, BlueCat provides written screenplay analysis on every script entered. In addition, Gordy acts as a script consultant for screenwriters, offering personalized feedback on their scripts through his consultation service, www.screenplaynotes.com. For more articles by Gordy on screenwriting, visit www.bluecatscreenplay.com. bluecatscreenplay@mac.com

On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation

On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation

 by: Andrew Muigai

Tanzania's natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is unrivalled. Wild animals roam in vast areas as God intended on that sixth day of the creation. These areas are designated as national parks and game reserves and have a high reputation for being uncrowded and unspoilt. The magnificent collection of game sanctuaries to the north of the country, near the border with Kenya, is referred to as The Northern Circuit. This is the most popular and accessible wildlife safari route in Tanzania. I can positively say that this is one of the finest game viewing areas anywhere in the world. The game aside, the spectacularly diverse cluster of eco-systems and habitats is a dazzling experience for many a visitor.

The stars of the Northern Circuit are the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, very dear to the hearts of nature lovers. But no less sparkling and indeed complementing the two are the other members of the circuit: Arusha, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. In terms of wildlife, the abundance and diversity of the wildlife here is difficult to imagine. On top of the heap are the highly regarded "big five": elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and lion. And then a wild array of plain animals: wildebeest, zebra, eland, hartebeest, oryx, reedbuck, giraffe, Thompson gazelle, and many more of the same genre. But do not forget the merciless predators: cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures. The Northern Circuit is an ornithologist's paradise too, and over 500 species of birds are on record. On safari, you will be a witness of the shocking and fascinating dance of life and death on daily play by this combination of animals.

The starting point for northern safaris is usually Arusha town. The town sits near the base of Mount Meru and is in sight of mighty Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. From Arusha, the nearest protected area to see wildlife is Arusha National Park, just 32 km away. In this park of 137 sq km area, you will see baboon, colobus and vervet monkeys, duikers, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, leopard, hyena, zebra and a wide range of antelopes. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded, including Eurasian migrants, who visit between October and April. One of the unique attractions of the park is that walking safaris are allowed and you can get off your vehicle for a nature walk. Due to its proximity to Arusha, the park is very popular for day trips.

Wildlife aside, Arusha National Park is a treasure with a rich tapestry of habitats including grassland, montane forest, heath and alpine desert and soda and fresh water lakes. Three spectacular features stand out: the Momela Lakes, Mount Meru, and Ngurdoto Crater. Mount Meru stands at 4,575 m and is Africa's fourth highest mountain. It is however overshadowed by nearby Kilimanjaro, which rises above it by over 1300 m. It is regrettable that the snobbish instinct of many climbers makes them to overlook Mt Meru. The mountain can be scaled in three to four days with overnight accommodation in alpine huts.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve, is located in the Great Rift Valley, a monumental fracture of the earths crust. The area is filled with volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes and forests. Covering 8288 sq km, its main features are the Ngorongoro Crater, the Empakai crater, the Oldonyo Lengai Mountain and the archeological site of Olduvai Gorge. Olduvai Gorge is the prehistoric site where Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains of Homo habilis ("Handy man") regarded by scientists as mankind's first step on the path of human evolution. Be sure to have a look at the remains of our worthy predecessor, whose valiant industry spurred by necessity, got him making simple stone tools.

Unlike in the national parks, the colorful Maasai people, their livestock and wildlife coexist within the conservation area. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest Caldera in the world that has its walls intact. The crater floor is a drop of 600 m and covers an area of 260 sq km with a diameter of 19 km. This magnificent natural amphitheatre is a stunning attraction in its own right and is one of the wonders of the natural world. The crater supports a year round resident population of a variety of wildlife. You will have no trouble spotting lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and many species of plain animals- wildebeest, zebra, reedbuck, Thompson gazelle and many more. The crater floor is dotted with watering holes and holds almost 30,000 wild animals. Ngorongoro is four hours by road from Arusha or one hour by air. And from either Lake Manyara or Tarangire you will be on the road for two hours.

Lake Manyara National Park spreads between the cliff of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara, a shallow soda lake. The park covers 330 sq. km, 70% of which is occupied by the lake. The varied ecosystem consists of ground water forests, acacia woodland and open grassland along the lakeshore and sustains a wealth of wildlife, including the Big Five -lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo. Other animals to be seen in the park include baboons, impala, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich and hippo.

Lake Manyara is famous for the elusive tree-climbing lions, which can occasionally be seen along the branches of the acacia trees. It is also an ornithologists' paradise and is host to over 400 species of birds. The water birds hovering around the lake include pelicans, spoonbills, Egyptian geese and hammerkops. In addition, migratory flamingoes arrive in hundreds of thousands creating a spectacular sight over the soda lake. You will arrive at Lake Manyara after driving from Arusha for two hours or flying for just half an hour.

Tarangire National Park is a one and half hour drive from Arusha making it very popular for day trips. Tarangire is a park of giant baobab trees, rolling savannah and acacia parkland. It is famous for its dense wildlife population, which is most spectacular in the dry season between June and September. It is during this period that thousands of animals- wildebeest, zebra, eland, hartebeest, waterbuck, giraffe, impala, gerenuk, buffalo and oryx migrate from the dry Maasai steppe to the Tarangire River in search of water. The predators -lion, leopard and others- as is the custom in the savanna follow closely by. If lucky, you will spot the peculiar tree-climbing python, kudu and roan antelope, a rare experience in the northern safari circuit. Birds are also abundant here and over 550 species have been recorded.

Serengeti National Park is Africa's most famous wildlife sanctuary and Tanzania's largest national park. The park is located 6 hours by road from Arusha or one hour by air. It lies in a high plateau between the Ngorongoro highlands and the Kenya/Tanzania border and almost touches Lake Victoria in the west. Appropriately named "endless plains" by the Maasai people, it features short and long grass plains, acacia savanna and woodland in parts of the north and east.

Within its 15,000 sq km area, Serengeti hosts 3 million large mammals. More than 35 species of plain animals- zebra, wildebeest, eland, giraffe, and others are found here. And so for the big five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino. The park is the staging-zone for one the most spectacular events in the natural world- the annual migration of wildebeest. This commences around June when over 1 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle head for the Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of pasture. Following on their heels are the predators of the savanna- lion, cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures.

If you can spare the money, viewing the migration afloat a balloon is an unforgettable experience. The best time to view game is from December to May when the grass is short. Avoid late June-October, when most of the animals will have evacuated with the migration and are best seen in the adjacent Maasai Mara in Kenya. The keen ornithologist will have a good time trying to sight the 500 species of birds on record.

Camping sites can be found in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and all the national parks of the northern circuit. Facilities are pretty basic and this is where budget travelers prefer to spend their safari nights. If you can afford it, overnight at the luxury safari lodges and tented camps. In this class of accommodation expect to find all the creature comforts associated with rated accommodation. See our Tanzania Hotels & Lodges page for info and book accommodation for your safari.

It is generally recommended to take an escorted tour package that includes transport, guide, park fees and accommodation. Tour guides have valuable useful local knowledge about the animals, where to find them and how to get where you are going. Check out our very good value escorted Tanzania Safari offers of various durations and budgets. But if you know the country well and have good knowledge of animals, then hiring a self-vehicle is an option. See our Tanzania Car Rental page to do your reservation for a self-drive or chauffer driven vehicle.

The relatively high elevation in northern Tanzania means that it never gets too hot. Indeed the nights and early mornings can be quite chilly. You are well advised to take along a heavy sweater and a windbreaker or jacket. Expect temperatures to average from 15°C in May to August and 22°C over December to March. The weather is best between June and September, but do not bet on seeing any animals in the Serengeti. For a safari covering all the parks of northern Tanzania, September to March is a good time. But remember that some of the other parks in the region offer nearly year round game viewing opportunities. April and May can be a challenging period for dong a safari for as this is when the weather is at its rainiest.

On safari, bright coloured clothing may get you in trouble with wild animals. If you are wise you will pack brown, beige and khaki clothing. Short sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men are adequate. For ladies, short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts are ideal. Though the northern region is well outside the predominantly Muslim coast areas and ladies do not have to dress too conservatively, modest attire is still a good idea. Remember to bring along a pair of sunglasses to shield you from the sometimes harsh tropical glare. Binoculars will come in very handy for spotting animals.

About The Author Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of AfricaPoint.com- the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Tanzania safari and tours at the website. http://www.africapoint.com/tours1/tanztour.htm

Volkswagons in the Shallows!

Volkswagons in the Shallows!

 by: Captain Trey Rhyne

A Guide to Giant Bluefin Fishing - Morehead City, NC

December, Cape Lookout Shoal: You break the inlet at 4:00am, hoping to get an early start and scout the area in the dark. The air is chilled and exhilarating this time of year in Morehead City. Anticipation is high, as these are no ordinary tuna you are hunting. The first baits are deployed in total darkness, as the captain carefully monitors his bottom scope for signs of bait and fish. As the sun cracks and the horizon becomes just barely visible, the right long snaps hard and the 80wide starts screaming. As you stare mesmerized while line is being pulled effortlessly at 45 pounds of drag, the left long snaps and starts screaming equally as fast. The Captain’s yelling “TWO ON, CLEAR THE PIT”….as you continue to stare in amazement.

DESTINATION MOREHEAD CITY, NC

Morehead City has become a destination of choice for anglers seeking to tangle with the largest tuna in the ocean, the Giant Bluefin. These migratory fish take up winter residence at Cape Lookout Shoal off of Morehead City, NC. Cape Lookout Shoal holds large schools of menhaden at this time of year, which is what the Bluefin are feeding on. The shoal runs out approximately 12 Miles from the inlet. Often times, you’ll find yourself fishing less than 6 miles out. At other times, you may have to run up to 20 miles to find the fish. Water depths range from as little as 30 feet to up to 125 feet depending on where you locate the fish.

WHEN & WHERE

Prime season for Giant Bluefin is late November through early February. Generally speaking, earlier in the season you can count on better weather and less chance of getting blown out. The other advantage of fishing earlier, is that the fish seem to congregate on the west side of the shoal, whereas later in the season, the fish move to the east side, which is a good bit further offshore. In November and December, you want to start to look for the fish at the #8 “Trawler Buoy”, which is only 6 miles offshore. In January, you will be more likely to find the fish east of the shoal holding on wrecks like the “Atlas Tanker” and “D Wreck”, which are both about a 20 mile run. Large temperature breaks are common this time of year, sometimes as much as 10 degrees. Working these breaks, typically on the warm side, will often produce bites as well.

COMMERCIAL vs. RECREATIONAL FISHING

One thing to understand is that there is a large commercial fishery for Bluefin Tuna. Most are shipped to Japan and bring high dollars at the dock. The average Bluefin caught in Morehead City will sell for about $2500, when they are in season. Exactly when this season occurs, is an entirely separate matter. Best thing to do, is call National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) and speak directly to them. Why is this important to the recreational fisherman? When the season is open, expect increased boat traffic and competition on the fishing grounds. If at all possible, schedule your trip at another time. In 2005, NMFS has initiated a commercial closure on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, to allow recreational anglers to target these fish for catch and release. Recreational fishing is primarily a catch and release fishery, so don’t count on taking your fish home.

THE FISH

The average fish caught out of Morehead is 80 to 88 inches, which will weigh in from 300 to 450 pounds. Large fish over 96 inches, while not common, do get caught. A typical 96 inch fish will weigh in at about 600 pounds. In 2004, there were also a fairly large number of “undersized” fish caught. These fish, less than 73 inches can often be boated, based on the NMFS limits in place at the time. A 73 inch fish will weigh approximately 200 pounds, depending on how it carries its girth. On a typical day, expect about 3 bites. On a real good day, you can get as many as 6 or 8 bites. Of course, it’s still fishing and there are days when you will troll without a bite despite all your best efforts.

This fish, pictured at Seawater Marina and boated by Capt. Bob Balut, measured 87 inches and weighed in at 347 pounds.

TACKLE - BAITS - RIGGING UP

This is not light tackle fishing. Expect to use primarily 80’s and 130’s and fight your fish from a chair. For the experienced and seriously motivated, stand up fishing with 50’s and 70’s can also be done. A great harness is a must, as you might be on your fish for anywhere from 30 minutes to up to 3 hours! On the OVER UNDER we are fishing Penn 70’s, 80’s and 130’s spooled with 150 pound power-pro, top shotted with 130 yards of 130 pound monofilament. To the mainline, we attach a 200 pound wind-on leader, crimped to 18 feet of 280 pound fluorocarbon, and last but not least, a 10/0 Mustad 7691DT hook. We use all wind-on swivels, with no snaps to reduce the chances of tackle failure. The most common bait is a simple horse ballyhoo, pulled behind an Islander. Colors that seem to work well are Crystal, Pink, Blue & Pink, as well as Black & Crystal.

TROLLING SPREAD

A typical spread consists of two flat lines fished on large planers down deep, with two additional baits pulled from the long rigger position. The planers are rigged on about 60’ of 400 pound mono and tied to the stern cleats. The main line is attached to the planner with a #64 rubber band. With a little practice the planers can be easily tripped when the lines need to be cleared in a hurry. Z-Wings also work well, although somewhat more difficult to trip. The two long riggers are pulled way back, almost to the point where we are into the backing and past our 130 yard mono top shot. Typical trolling speeds are about 7 ½ knots, depending on current and sea conditions.

THE BATTLE

These fish are POWERFUL. Drag setting of 45 pounds and more are the norm. Do not be surprised if you see “the knot” a couple times at the bottom of the spool, during the course of the fight. Smaller boats using stand up tackle, can turn and chase the fish, while larger sportfish, fighting from chairs, are typically backing down after them. The battle can last from 30 minutes to up to as much as 3 hours or more. Boat-side, if the fish is to be released, photos can be snapped and typically the leader will be cut, leaving the hook in place to quickly rust out. If the fish is to be boated, flying gaffs or more preferably darts are typically used to secure the fish to the boat, before being bled, and eventually hoisted through the transom door. If you don’t have a door, and even if you do, you need to think about how to get these fish in the boat. A block and tackle, as well as a come-along will come in handy!

WHAT TO BRING – HOW TO GET THERE – WHERE TO STAY

The weather at this time of year is somewhat unpredictable. Best to be prepared. Foul weather gear is strongly recommended, along with rubber boots, gloves, a hat, and warm loose fitting clothing. When it’s your turn in the chair, you are going to want to shed some layers! Hotels are plentiful on Atlantic Beach and rates are quite reasonable, since this is the off season. Try the Sheraton on Atlantic Beach (800) 624-8875, or Amerisuites (252) 247-5118 for starters. US Airways has commercial service into New Bern, NC, which is about a 40 minute drive to Morehead City. If you happen to have your own plane, or would like to charter a flight, there is also a small municipal airport, Michael J. Smith Field (MRH), right in Beaufort, NC, just a couple minutes drive away from the docks.

About The Author Captain Trey Rhyne holds a OUPV US Coast Guard License, as well as a Commercial Single and Multi-Engine, Instrument, Airplane License. http://www.overundercharters.com/. overundercharters@gmail.com

Unlocking Organizational Value Through Leadership

Unlocking Organizational Value Through Leadership

 by: Brent Filson

Summary: The author asserts that most organizations have a great deal of value locked away and thus unused. Through misguided leadership, they neglect to tap the deep reservoirs of their members' motivation, talents and skills. Here is a surprisingly simple and powerful way to make unlock that value both on an organizational level and personal level.

For more than two decades, in many ways, in many forums, with thousands of leaders, I've taught that organizational results are limitless.

Those leaders who don't understand this don't understand the soul of leadership. When I say "soul", I don't mean it in a religious sense, but in a human sense, and not as a static entity but as a fundamental process that manifests the value inherent in all organizations. The soul of leadership is that which triggers and guides the best organizational activities to achieve the best results.

However, there is another soul at work here. It is the leadership soul of the individual leader. Again, I am not using the word in a religious sense but in a human sense, and as a fundamental process that manifests the human value inherent in each individual leader.

The leadership soul of the leader is that inner strength and commitment an individual draws on in order to carry out the activities of the soul of leadership.

Mind you, I am not counting angels on the head of a pin. The difference between the soul of leadership and the leadership soul of the individual leader is not a philosophical fine distinction. The difference may not be readily apparent, but it is manifest, and it is decisive. It's a difference most leaders and their organizations are not aware of -- to their detriment.

The soul of leadership looks outward, the leadership soul of the individual looks inward. Working in tandem, both outer and inner directed activities can notably increase the effectiveness of your leadership. When both the soul of leadership and the leadership soul unite, great things can happen.

That's where limitless results come in. Most organizations have far more value locked up than their leaders realize. Those organizations consistently fail to tap the deep reservoirs of their members motivation, talent and skills. After all, most members of most organizations want to do well. In fact, in each organization, the members, naturally and collectively, represent an on-rushing current of ardent commitment to succeed. However, through misguided leadership, leadership that is tyrannical and micro-managing, leadership that coerces rather than motivates, that current can be blocked, impeding results.

The blockage occurs when leaders focus exclusively on ordering the establishment of surface drivers such as sales and marketing activities, logistical dynamics, organizational strategies and tactics, financial strategies and tactics, human resource undertakings, and the like -- what business schools teach.

Clearly, the surface drivers are necessary in realizing the value an organization possesses, but they're not sufficient. In focusing exclusively on the above drivers, leaders often neglect the deepest and most important realm of all, the realm which largely determines the success or failure of the organization, the realm of human relationships -- what business schools don't teach.

For example, I'm sure you've heard of the classic case of the railroads of the mid-20th century neglecting to understand they were in the transportation business and losing out to airlines in the passenger market. Railroad leaders did a fair to middling job of dealing with sales, logistics, administration, etc. But their hierarchical, top-down management structures and culture that viewed their employees much like rail cars to be pushed and pulled here and there, probably prevented them tapping into the immense collective value of those employees. If the employees had been empowered, motivated and unleashed, they would have brought a richer vision of market dynamics to railroads that could have forestalled their decline.

On the other hand, I know of a company that has consistently tapped into the strengths of its employees. In the 1930s, they were in the tea bag business. However, they didn't see themselves in the tea bag business but in the materials' business. As markets kept changing, their offerings kept changing and today, their tea bag paper products have morphed into hi-tech thermoplastics. They couldn't have done it without tapping into the value of their employees.

There are many ways to unlock value in an organization. Those are not the purview of this article. The main point I'm making is about the leadership soul of the leader and unlocking its value.

Just as the results-potential of organizations are limitless, so the interior of each leader is a limitless world of value.

To unlock the value within an organization, leaders must unlock the leadership value within themselves.

What is this leadership value? It is the value you have simply being a human being. All human beings have a powerful capacity for transformation because they possess an innate capacity to direct a strong sense of determination and action in whatever direction they choose.

Furthermore, humans also have an powerful capacity to form and manifest deep, transforming relationships. And it is in the on-going transforming of relationships that you find and unlock the leadership value within yourself.

How do you unlock the value inherent in your organization and in yourself? Fortunately, there is a simple, powerful tool to do that. I call it the Leadership Imperative: "I will lead people in such a way that we not only get results but grow as leaders and human beings."

Make this principle live in your daily actions, and you'll be unlocking and unleashing great organizational value -- as well as great value in your career and your life.

2006 © The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: mail to: brent@actionleadership.com

About The Author The author of 23 books, Brent Filson's recent books are, THE LEADERSHIP TALK: THE GREATEST LEADERSHIP TOOL and 101 WAYS TO GIVE GREAT LEADERSHIP TALKS. He is founder and president of The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. – and for more than 21 years has been helping leaders of top companies worldwide get audacious results. Sign up for his free leadership e-zine and get a free white paper: "49 Ways To Turn Action Into Results," at http://www.actionleadership.com. brent@actionleadership.com

Sedona Arizona Real Estate is Red Hot

Sedona Arizona Real Estate is Red Hot

 by: John R. Barker

The Sedona, Arizona real estate market is a small market but full of beautiful, luxury houses

Being a first time visitor in Sedona, Arizona is quite a glorious experience as the beautiful sites and mild weather of Sedona can easily make a strong impression on everyone who has never visited Sedona before. In time, many of these visitors will want to settle their primary residence here or maybe they will think to buy a beautiful second home for their families here in Sedona.

Houses are available here for every need and even for the most luxurious tastes. Sedona real estate market is an excellent market for investments; no matter if you invest in a single family home, in a rental or retirement property, or in a commercial area, you will be making a good investment.

If you think of buying a luxury house here in Sedona, Arizona all you have to do is search for a Sedona real estate broker that will show you all he has available on his listing at a certain moment.

If you like a particular house don’t bargain too much as you might loose it as the number of houses available for sale is small. Also, you should know that not the looks of the house will set its price but the land it is sitting on; if a house sits on a beautiful lot with a breathtaking view the price of the house will automatically be higher even if the house is average.

So, before deciding what you want to buy in Sedona, check out any listing on your broker’s portfolio in order to be sure you’re not missing a perfect lot of Sedona land. Even though Sedona real estate market is small it can sometimes hide few beautiful surprises for the investors.

About The Author John R. Barker Turn to Real-Estate-in-Sedona.com for the latest information regarding Sedona, Arizona Real Estate.

How to Make This Year Your Best Year Ever

How to Make This Year Your Best Year Ever

 by: Yanik Silver

Every year I've been in business for myself online has been better than the previous one. Recently, I decided to create an "Apprentice" program (Yes, even before Trump) and I was extremely pleased that we had nearly 100% of my Apprentices get an online venture up and running.

I've gone back and thought about their projects and how they developed and I came to a striking conclusion that will be worth a lot of money to you this year if you heed it. There was one key aspect that got them off their butts and making money and it came down to one thing...

...A Deadline!

As simple as that sounds, once a firm deadline was established that's when the rubber met the road and all obstacles melted away like snow flakes in a frying pan. I'll give you a perfect example for one Apprentice we were going back and forth a bit tidying up some finishing touches on the project and trying to get it out the door. Many times people can try to make everything too perfect and it never gets out making money so we said we are launching this project at the LIVE Apprentice Summit. That was it and that was final.

The date of the Summit was getting closer and closer and I could see this Apprentice start to sweat a bit. But I made him make the commitment to this deadline publicly during our group call and he couldn't back out now.

Fast forward to the day of his launch he had multiple obstacles that would normally have put the project on hold get swept away but not now. With the firm deadline in place and the opportunity for him to be embarrassed our fine Apprentice finished his project. We hit the 'send' button and he made a tidy sum from a tiny list over the weekend. And this was just the start because his project has made well into the five figures already. And why did it get finished?

The deadline once again.

What's your deadline for your first project or your next project?

Is it something that's in your head? Not a good idea. It's pretty easy to keep moving that forward or letting other things take precedence.

Who knows about your deadline and who's going to hold you to it? In some cases it's not a good idea to share your deadline or goal with another person, especially if they're the kind of negative energy vampire a lot of well-meaning friends and family are. But if you've got a group of colleagues all with the same thinking use them. This works especially well if you don't want to look like an "idiot" in front of them and they are people you really respect.

I'll tell you what works for me and maybe it'll work for you too.

For me, I work best when I absolutely "have to" perform.

For instance my first product on Internet marketing might never have been made (or at least it would have taken much longer) if I didn't sell it before it was done. In 2000 when I first started marketing online a lot of people wanted to know exactly what I did and how I started making money so fast.

Well, I got my first opportunity to share my story in Atlanta at an Internet seminar. I was extremely nervous and my heart was beating out of my chest to go talk in front of 100 strangers. I gave my presentation and then I sold this product (yet to be created).

I told people it would be delivered in a few weeks so they knew it was a prepublication offer. I walked away with 10 orders at $200 bucks. All well and good except I couldn't charge anyone until the manual was done. Even though it was only $2,000 (less what I had to pay the promoter)

I knew that at least people wanted this information and I could keep selling it once I finished it. I probably had a week or two of 3 o'clock in the morning work sessions but I completed it and charged the cards. I was under pressure to get the manual done because these people paid me (though I didn't charge them) and I owed them the material.

Since then I've updated my course material and it's been worth well into the six figures just because "I had to do it".

How can you set something like this up for yourself? If you can stand the pressure - you can decide to put on a tele- seminar. This is one of my favorite ways of creating product by a deadline. You can do either a one-time tele- seminar or series of tele-seminars and you get paid to produce the product. How great is that? It doesn't matter if you have 1 person or 1000 people on the call because this is forcing you to create product and perform.

Once you've set your deadline for anything you'll "magically" see certain resources fall into place. Trust me, it's a bit eerie but when it occurs every time you set a firm deadline you know there's something to it. Just the act of making the decision sets these events into motion for you. It's also because what you focus on becomes your reality. Your perception has changed. Your internal "radar" is now attuned to resources, allies, etc that can help you get your project completed.

Now I leave you with one more secret...Set "mini deadlines".

When you're looking at the whole task of setting up an Internet business (or anything really) it's easy to get overwhelmed. But if you break everything up into small tasks with their own deadlines you'll be at your destination before you know it. I promise it'll work for you. In fact, that's one of the reasons I really like Franklin planner systems (now Franklin Covey). I've been using them since 1998 and that's when I first started making some significant changes in my life.

Actually the founder of Franklin, Hyrum Smith has a great book called "The 10 Essential Laws of Time and Life Management" - this should be required reading for you!

Even though I hate ad slogans (since they don't work) this one should become your mantra for the year - "Just Do It".

As cliché and overused as it is - that's all it comes down to. Whether you're willing to roll the dice and put yourself out there a little. I promise whatever the worst case scenario you're thinking, it is far from the reality.

And if you need someone to send your deadline list to - go ahead and email it to me. I'll keep it confidential and we'll celebrate together when you reach your destination.

Copyright 2006 SurefireMarketing.com

About The Author Yanik Silver is recognized as the leading expert on creating automatic, moneymaking websites...and he still doesn't know how to put up a website. He is the author, co-author or creator of several best- selling online marketing books and tools. His newest resource for making this year your best yet are found here- http://www.SurefireMarketing.com.

Consolidate

Consolidate

 by: Joanne Poll

Consolidate your loans

If you have federal student loans it is more than likely you

are receiving letters and email that are warning you it is

time to consolidate your loans in order to pay less interest

over the life of your loan and have smaller monthly

payments. However, people are still wondering if they should

consolidate or not. Here are some of the reasons why.

If you are currently enrolled in school and have federal

student loans then you should act now and have them

consolidated regardless of the fact that you may need to

take out loans in the future. This is the first time in

history that current students are able to consolidate their

loans, so if you have federal loans do not wait. Your

current loans will be consolidated and the low interest

rates will be locked in for the life of those loans. Your

future loans will not have this opportunity, so lock in the

discount on the ones you have while you can.

Also, if you are a recent graduate or have been paying high

monthly payments for a while and are looking for some

relief, then go ahead and consolidate your loans in order to

have a lower monthly payment and less interest to pay. In

reality, by consolidating your loans you lock in a low

interest payment and save yourself thousands of dollars over

the life of the loan due to interest increases and

fluctuations. While interest rates are sure to increase, it

is not a good bet that they will decrease again to the

current rate.

Most people simply want to know whether they should or

should not consolidate their student loans. There is not a

clear cut answer, but if you are interested in saving

yourself a significant amount of money then you will

consolidate your loans immediately. This is really the best

option and it will help make repaying your loans less of a

financial burden.

Also, when you apply for consolidation a credit check will

not be conducted so you do not need to worry about being

denied because you have less than perfect credit.

Consolidation is available to anyone with federal student

loans regardless of credit status.

However, do not wait. Go ahead and get online today in order

to consolidate your loans and save yourself thousands and

thousands of dollars.

About The Author Joanne Poll is the CEO and Operater of Y Consolidate Inc An excellent place for article and links on consolidate. For more consolidate resource visit http://www.yconsolidate.com/.

INCREASE YOUR CASUAL WEAR FLAIR

INCREASE YOUR CASUAL WEAR FLAIR

 by: Bridget Allen

Let’s put a way the flip-flops, pack up our summer shorts and bring out this fall’s newest line of casual wear. In today’s fast paced and changing lifestyle, we women love to dress casual. We want to feel good about ourselves and our femininity and still be able to do everything our lifestyle dictates while looking great.

Casual wear is not just a fad. Women demand chic, sexy styles with that built-in comfort factor with the right flair.

We love being able to just “throw something on” and wear it all day. But before we do that we need to build a core wardrobe of basic items with enough variety to keep from being boring.

To start with there are several color combinations that go well together – khaki, denim, tan and black, khaki, white. Choose cohesive pieces and build around the basic styles.

Casual shoes are also important. Please ladies, no white running shoes. I repeat, NO WHITE RUNNING SHOES! Stick with a pair of boots or sandals.

Match casual wear with casual accessories and handbags. Try to stay away from mixing styles.

Keep your casual clothes pressed and clean. Don’t be lazy and wear wrinkled clothes. That’s not a good look on anyone.

Jeans are the perfect casual pant. Designs and styles may change with the times but the basic jean has been around for awhile. Jeans are fashionable, sexy, and can be dressed up or down for the perfect day or evening!

For those of you who simply must hit the gym, the track suit is the perfect cover up for work-out clothes are just lounging around the house. Many come in luscious fabrics such as velour and velvet. Yum!

This fall, black is the newest trend. If you are looking for a piece that you can wear with everything, choose a little black jacket. They are the perfect accompaniment that comes in luscious fabrics such as velvet, brocade and silk. Some sparkle, like our personalities, and some are come adorned with sexy ribbons and lace. The little black jacket can be worn with jeans, pants or a slim skirt. Perfect for just about any occasion!

Choosing fashions for your personal style and comfort is easy. Fashion is about confidence. If you feel great in an outfit, others will feel your vibes. And if you don’t feel confident, fake it!

About The Author Bridget Allen has worked for many years in the fashion industry, at a senior level, and she has written an amazing totally free fashionista minicourse that will thrill, entertain, and most importantly educate you about what you absolutely need to know about fashion. Get the free course " Fashionista Essentials" now at http://www.i-stylish.com.