tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13937420883266275362024-03-04T22:10:00.049-08:00Choice - At your FingertipsBienvenue! Its all about sharing with you exciting news and useful articles on hot topics from around the world that will enrich our daily lives, both materially and spiritually. Comments welcomed.benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-82792833517940496602008-05-08T05:22:00.000-07:002008-05-08T05:27:41.565-07:00A good night sleep makes you happier and healthier<strong>Why Sleeping is (Almost) More Important Than Breathing </strong><br /><br />I used to pull all-nighters back in college, forcing myself to stay awake to cram for an exam or finish a paper on art history, my major. I did it because I thought it would help me get ahead, but in the end it always set me back—I wound up tired, cranky and unproductive the next day.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Even though I've grown up (and wisened up) since then, I still have trouble convincing myself to crawl into bed at night: I keep a running tally of all the things I haven't crossed off my to-do list—reading manuscripts, prepping for a TV appearance, even laundry! And I'm always tempted to stay up just a bit longer to get everything done before morning.<br /><br />So what stops me from burning the midnight oil? Not only has personal experience proved that I'll be more stressed (not to mention less chipper) when I'm sleep-deprived, but studies suggest that not getting adequate zzz's can increase your risk for heart disease and depression, and even cause weight gain (ever found yourself heading to the fridge or the vending machine when you're tired? I have!).<br /><br />Try these tips to help relax before you hit the sack:<br /><br /><strong>Unplug</strong><br />Avoid having long conversations on your cell phone before bed: Researchers at Wayne State University in Detroit found that people who were exposed to the slight radiation that emanates from cell phones took longer to fall asleep and spent less time in the deep stages of slumber.<br /><br /><strong>Make Your Bedroom a Haven</strong><br />Draw the blinds and turn on a fan or a soothing CD of nature noises to block out distracting sounds. Swapping ordinary bedroom bulbs for yellow ones (GE makes a 25-watt version sold at drugstores) can help you feel more tranquil as you're getting ready to nod off. Consider treating yourself to a cozy new comforter or putting flowers on your nightstand so that being in your bedroom—and sleeping!—becomes something you look forward to.<br /><br /><strong>Say Thanks</strong><br />Once you're under the covers, take two minutes to reflect on the things you're grateful for. Studies show that practicing grateful thinking makes people more optimistic. And going to sleep with happy thoughts will help you sleep more soundly.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Lucy Danziger (www.self.com)</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com116tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-19317377329506625662008-05-04T08:57:00.000-07:002008-05-04T09:00:03.372-07:00Finding happiness through Chinese astrology<strong>Chinese Astrology - Is Happiness Measured On A Weighing Scale?</strong><br /><br />Our purpose in life is to seek happiness. This is the ultimate aim of all people. No matter what our goals, dreams or visions, they all lead to the same destination – happiness! We may seek more money, better career, good health, pleasurable time, meaningful relationship and other finer things in life. All these aspirations come with a price.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />In Chinese astrology or Ba Zi, the price can come in the form of destruction, clash, harm or punishment between the metaphysical elements in our natal chart. The question is "Are we prepared to pay the price and sacrifice a part of ourselves in order to attain happiness?" Some of us are lucky to be born with a sliver spoon and live a gilded life but most of us have to make ends meet by sheer hard work. Whether we were born rich or started life at a disadvantaged, happiness is not delivered to us on a silver platter. We need to look for it. Finding happiness and keeping it is a real challenge as our journey through life is full of twist and turns. The road ahead can be rocky, long and winding. There are times when we meet with obstacles, stumble and fall, hurt ourselves and lost our directions along the way. The journey of life can inflict extreme physical, mental and psychological pain on us and it can be so unbearable that we begin to question whether the end justifies itself. In Chinese astrology or Ba Zi, the pain that we endured is reflected by the 7 Killings star which bring extreme stress and pressure.<br /><br />Not everybody is created equal. At least it is not in the physical, mental and psychological dimensions. Different people have different threshold of pain or comfort zone. Some are weak and some are strong. Some are risk takers and some are risk averse. Most of us are in between. We just need to look for a comfortable level where pain and pleasure is at an optimum balance. Imagine a weighing scale with two pans and a balance where pleasure and pain weigh equally. Any excess on either side will tip the balance. The trick is to maintain a comfortable balance with neither too much pleasure nor pain. This is what we should do to maintain a comfortable balance in our lives. Our lives are like a weighing scale on which happiness is weighed between pleasure and pain. Our goal in life is therefore to seek an optimum balance within our own comfort zone. This is happiness created out of keeping a comfortable balance in our lives.<br /><br />"So are we able to pay for the price of happiness?"<br /><br />We only pay for what we can afford because the price of happiness is relative. It defers from people to people. Some may pay a little to enjoy its value whereas some may pay more for the same return. A poor man can be as happy as a rich man within one’s own comfort zone. In other words, happiness is status blind! It is using what we are born with, living within our means and hopefully, happiness will "see" us.<br /><br />In Chinese Astrology, a person is born with innate characteristics and abilities that are elemental in nature. The elements are metaphysically represented by wood, fire, earth, metal and water. These elements are believed to be cosmic energies that radiate from the stars in the constellations and that they give birth to all living things on earth. We are infused with the energies of the five elements based on the configuration of the stars at the precise hour of our birth. Whether we are destined to live a life full of pleasure or pain depends on the elemental equilibrium in our natal chart. The secret to happiness is keeping a comfortable balance of the elements within us. This is the essence of Chinese astrology!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Alvin Yap (ArticleBiz.com)<br />http://www.proactive-qi.com<br /></span><br /><br /></span><span id="fullpost"></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-43798149768972665322008-05-04T08:11:00.000-07:002008-05-04T08:18:27.523-07:00Here's the top 10 habits of home business<strong>Top Ten Home Business Habits</strong><br /><br />Home based businesses are fantastic. There are numerous advantages to having a home business: Time flexibility, no commuting to the daily 9 to 5 job, unlimited income potential and tax advantages just to name a few. However, there are many bad habits that you will need to avoid when you are working for yourself. They are listed as follows:<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />The Top Ten Bad Home Based Business Habits:<br /><br />1. No Focus-You must prioritize your work. Do not let yourself get caught up in unnecessary tasks that will get in the way of the most important tasks.<br /><br />2. Discipline-Staying on a regular schedule and getting some sleep as well.<br /><br />3. Eat Healthy-It's very easy to consume a lot of junk food when snacking.<br /><br />4. Drinking-Consume plenty of water and don't drink too much alcohol.<br /><br />5. Dress For The Part-Get dressed for work even if you are working from the home office. Dress for success.<br /><br />6. The Media-Too much negative news can have an impact on your well being-especially Television.<br /><br />7. Surfing the Internet-This is relative to focus and can waste a lot of hours looking for unnecessary stuff or information.<br /><br />8. Unproductive Phone Use-Limit your use of the phone for training, contacting, follow up or presenting.<br /><br />9. All Work And No Play-It is crucial to keep a healthy balance between family and work.<br /><br />10. Never Stop Learning-Too often we fall into the lazy trap. Never settle and try each and everyday to make what you are doing better. In other words, growth!<br /><br />Your home business should not be left up to a game of chance. You must have a strong focus on your goals in addition to keeping a great balance between your family and the amount of scheduled time for your work. One must consider these factors if you are serious about a home business. For those who work at home, they have a strong, healthy balance and have much more success than those that are 100% all work all the time. In the words of Mr. Miagi, "Must Maintain Balance". You will find yourself being a much more pleasant person when you have that balance between work and time with the family. I know I am. Balance equals happiness.<br /><br />All the Best!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Sean Hagon (ArticleBiz.com)<br />http://ownyourlifeonline.com/</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-27396298966712949902008-05-04T08:02:00.000-07:002008-05-04T08:10:26.871-07:00A dog behaves based on what it eats?<strong>Dog's Behavior Is Related To Dog Nutrition</strong><br /><br />Good nutrition is the most essential foundation for your dog's wellbeing. Basically everything related to your dog's behavior boils down to what you feed him. If you'd like to have an obedient, well-behaved friend to keep you company for the next several years, it would be best to pay close attention to what he takes in.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Nutrition affects your dog's health and longevity. It is essential that you give him an appropriate balance of proteins, fats, complex carbohydrates and the proper trace amounts of nutrients and minerals. These are necessary for their proper growth, repair, and the maintenance of a sound immune system.<br /><br />Nutrition is an intricate and crucial aspect of your dog's capacity to think clearly, cope with stress readily, and keep a cooler disposition. If your dog is unnaturally irritable or lethargic, it might be due to an unbalanced diet.<br /><br />Thinking consumes a lot of energy. Dogs that are involved in training programs exert tremendous amounts of mental energy. This is needed so that they can focus on the tasks presented to them. If your dog is not given proper nutrition, they can become sluggish, tense, or hyperactive when asked to do the simplest of tasks.<br /><br />Dogs with improper nutrition cannot focus very well. They tend to lose concentration quickly and they have the tendency to get confused quite easily. Improperly nourished dogs find it hard to understand simple tasks, even though it is something that you ask him to do constantly. This confusion can easily be covered up by aggression.<br /><br />When teaching dogs, the first thing I check is the dog's nutrition. I work from the inside out. Training becomes useless if the essential source of bad conduct is not adjusted.<br /><br />Overexcited, distracted and unrestrained dogs are frequently fed foods that are rich in high levels of cereal compounds such as: corn, wheat and corn meal.<br /><br />Aggressive dogs are usually fed foods that contain higher levels of incomplete protein which normally generate too much energy. These types of proteins are often incomplete chains and they do not give the proper building and repair needed for a healthy dog's body. They are also notoriously hard to digest.<br /><br />Timid or stressed out dogs are not able to digest their foods very well. Most dogs with this behavior suffer from intestinal complications like diarrhea. Their coats are often dry, brittle and they often shed heavily.<br /><br />A good way to test the foods that you give to your dog is by soaking it in water for about half an hour. If the food puffs up in size and becomes spongy then it is most likely made out of cereal.<br /><br />If you observe your dog's stool is soft and loose and if you can categorize him to be gassy then it is most likely the result of improper digestion.<br /><br />Giving your dog a balanced and healthy diet will do a lot in keeping him happy. It will not only contribute to their health and longevity but it will also make him a good member of our society.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Finley Zhang (ArticleBiz.com)<br />http://www.YummyHealthyDogFood.com</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-53148345182876760392008-04-29T12:35:00.000-07:002008-04-29T12:40:51.724-07:00Tips on keeping your marriage hot<strong>Marriage Tips That Will Keep Your Relationship Rockin’</strong><br /><br />My husband and I are high school sweethearts. We have been together for fifteen years, now. He and I got married when we were only twenty and twenty-one years old. I am now thirty-one and he’s thirty-two. We’re working on eleven blissful years of marriage.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />It has been an amazing experience to love the same person for nearly half of my life! We started dating when I was fifteen, and he was sixteen. When I tell that story, other women think that I’m lucky. They’re intrigued that when I speak about my husband that I do so with a twinkle in my eye.<br /><br />And everyone always wonders how we’ve managed to stay so deeply and wonderfully in love with one another. The answer is simple: we still do the things we did when we first started dating one another!<br /><br />My husband still calls me on the phone while I am at work just to see how my day is going. Even though he works from home, he still gets up each morning and drives me thirty miles, just so I can ride in the H.O.V. (high occupancy vehicle) lane and not have to deal with traffic. That means he has to take the same route coming to get me in the evenings.<br /><br />When he drops me off in the mornings, when I get to my desk, my message waiting light is usually flashing alerting me that someone has left a message. As you can imagine, at least one of them is from my husband saying that he loves me and hopes I have a great day! He calls the night before when I’m not in the same room with him, or as I’m coming up the elevator to get to my office.<br /><br />So, it should come as no surprise to people why I love my husband so much. It’s because he also loves me!<br /><br />Marriage is full of compromises and making things fun. It takes an effort from both parties to make it successful.<br /><br />Here are a few things that will keep your marriage relationship as hot as it was in the beginning.<br /><br />Make time for one another. Have at least one day a week set aside for you and your spouse, and don’t let anything take that time away from the two of you.<br /><br />Communicate with your wife or husband. Talking has opened up so many new doors of opportunity in our relationship. A "Good morning." goes a long way. Good communication is key to making any relationship last, so talk…and then talk some more!<br /><br />Compromise is also another key to a successful marriage. There is a lot of give and take. Just make sure the giving and taking is equally distributed, and you are sure to have a happy bond with your mate.<br /><br />Lastly, have fun! Run around the house and act wild and crazy, especially if you have children. Laughing really is good medicine! Stop taking yourselves and your spouses so seriously! Your marriage will keep the fire it had in those earlier years, if you do!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Nicole Calhoun (ArticleBiz.com)<br />http://www.fulltimefamily.com</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-86338823493981541182008-04-29T12:21:00.000-07:002008-04-29T12:29:23.166-07:00Which zodiac sign is most compatible with you?<strong>Zodiac Signs and Horoscopes: Who am I compatible with?</strong><br /><br />Love and compatibility with another is something that we all strive for. It is something that is talked about in every social circle and in every walk of life. This notion of love and compatibility is always a hot topic when discussing your “sign” with someone. One of the main reasons for a person to read their horoscope is to find out about their past, present and future love life. So it’s only natural for us to wonder which zodiac signs are compatible with one another. So who are you compatible with?<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Aries – is most compatible with Leo & Sagittarius, compatible with Aquarius & Gemini and opposite from Libra.<br /><br />Taurus – is most compatible with Capricorn & Virgo, compatible with Cancer & Pisces and opposite from Scorpio.<br /><br />Gemini – is most compatible with Aquarius & Libra, compatible with Aries & Leo and opposite from Sagittarius<br /><br />Cancer – is most compatible with Pisces & Scorpio, compatible with Taurus & Virgo and opposite from Capricorn<br /><br />Leo – is most compatible with Aries & Sagittarius, compatible with Gemini & Libra and opposite from Aquarius<br /><br />Virgo – is most compatible with Capricorn & Taurus, compatible with Cancer & Scorpio and opposite from Pisces<br /><br />Libra – is most compatible with Aquarius and Gemini, compatible with Leo & Sagittarius and opposite from Aries<br /><br />Scorpio – is most compatible with Cancer & Pisces, compatible with Capricorn & Virgo and opposite from Taurus<br /><br />Sagittarius – is most compatible with Aries & Leo, compatible with Aquarius & Libra and opposite from Gemini<br /><br />Capricorn – is most compatible with Taurus & Virgo, compatible with Pisces & Scorpio and opposite from Cancer<br /><br />Aquarius – is most compatible with Gemini & Libra, compatible with Aries & Sagittarius and opposite from Leo<br /><br />Pisces – is most compatible with Cancer & Scorpio, compatible with Capricorn & Taurus and opposite from Virgo<br /><br />(please note that this is only a suggestion as to the traditional compatibility traits of certain ‘signs’. This should not be followed as a make or break rule to follow in your love life as there are many factors that come into play when in a true relationship. These suggestions should be taken as such, as mere suggestions.)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: John Kim (ArticleBiz.com)<br />http://www.horoscopehaven.com</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-68869957355565589232008-04-29T12:15:00.000-07:002008-04-29T12:27:33.392-07:00Things to check before submitting website URL<strong>What To Know Before You Submit Your Website URL</strong><br /><br />Submitting your website to the major search engines should be done very carefully. Never allow a URL submission service to submit your site to thousands of search engines, simply because thousands of search engines do not exist. There are only about 500 search engines, and only around 200 are credible and actually receive traffic. URL submission services that offer this type of submission are to be avoided. The most efficient method to use when submitting your website for inclusion is to do it yourself or to hire an expert to do it manually.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Before you begin to submit your website ensure that your web pages are thoroughly and properly designed using quality keywords, and most importantly your site must contain original, relevant content. Do not submit websites that are incomplete. Be sure to provide updated information about your website, keywords, etc. A simple submission to each search engine does not guarantee that your site would be immediately listed or that the ranking will be high. One important factor to remember is to include a site map which makes the crawling simple for the web robots.<br /><br />An established website, already indexed by the major search engines, should not need to be submitted again. This can sometimes be conceived by the search engines as spamming. New websites with no established backlinks should be submitted only to the major search engines, and given some time to allow for indexing, should not be re-submitted unless your site is not indexed. If for some reason your site is not listed within a reasonable amount of time, a focus as to why your site is not indexed should be implemented.<br /><br />If your website is not indexed within a few weeks after making the submission, there is usually a reason for this. It could be as simple as a "no follow" robots tag within the source code of your web page or not enough content on the web page. To ensure the search engines will index your website create web pages that contain relevant, quality content with 400 or more words on each page. This should be content which contains the main theme of your website. There other many other factors which could cause a website not to be indexed, such as broken links, duplicate content or repeditive submissions.<br /><br />FFA pages, safelists and classified sites should not be submitted to and should be avioded at all costs. Never type in your URL anywhere offering a submission to a list of ad sites or any type of so called safelist. There are reasons search engines consider these types of pages unimportant, and usually penalizes sites listed on this type of a webpage. Services offering to submit monthly should also be avioded. Do not let your URL fall into the wrong hands, your website could end up not being indexed or even blacklisted if submitted to the incorrect or corrupt areas of the web.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: James Day (ArticleBiz.com)<br />http://www.submit-site.org</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-27027004860403595402007-06-11T01:15:00.000-07:002007-06-11T01:24:37.347-07:00Things you ought to know about trading<strong>What Nobody Told You About Trading</strong><br /><br />What nobody told you about trading is that there is a very subtle mental and emotional trap that lures people into trading and then into doing things that they wouldn't do anywhere else in their lives. Along with the trap, there are several critical aspects of successful trading that simply aren't shared with new traders - you're left to figure them out on your own, and lose your money in the process. This combination is very powerful and makes very smart and astute people susceptible to a variety of mistakes that create losses, confusion, frustration and heartache.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />The # 1 mistake you're led to make is under-estimating what it truly takes to be successful in trading. Not intentionally, mind you.<br /><br />It's not as easy as you were initially led to believe and there was no one at the door giving you the whole scoop. No one handing out complete guides, no required reading. No one holding your hand and letting you know all of the pitfalls and traps, all of the many (40 at my last count) ways there are to lose money in trading. No one showing you all the truly "must-know" things to be successful.<br /><br />Once you get in and start placing trades, it takes no time at all and you're getting hammered with all the emotions that are part of the game.<br /><br />There's a lot to learn and trying to learn all by yourself while you're caught up in the emotional storm makes for circumstances where the odds of you making costly mistakes is high and your chances of success are pretty slim.<br /><br />Long term trading is about protecting yourself and your capital, and having a blueprint to follow to build a profitable long term trading business of your own.<br /><br />You need a guide to show you step-by-step how to keep your emotions in check, avoid the pitfalls and losses, how to go about your trading in a comfortable and smart manner, plus how to structure your trading business so that you can look forward to actually being here a year from now and making money at it, consistently and by plan.<br /><br />Trying to sift through all the books, articles and advertisements regarding trading, to locate the missing pieces to the puzzle usually takes traders quite a while, sometimes years. Often it takes longer than they have money for – meaning that they have blown out their account before they find them all.<br /><br />Again, placing trades is easy. Making money trading, on a consistent basis over time however, presents a formidable challenge that most are not properly prepared for. The result is frustration with the inability to reproduce the success already established in other endeavors, self-doubt and regret. This is truly regretable because it doesn't have to be that way.<br /><br />Understand that you probably entered trading very unaware of all that you were in for. If you'll protect yourself and focus on survival, that's step one. It is also extremely worth your while to invest the time in self development and putting together a long term plan to insure that you'll make it through the learning curve.<br /><br />Getting help and seeking out good resources to shorten the time frame is strongly suggested, as the learn-as-you-go and self-taught routes are extremely costly. Find a guide to show you the pitfalls and the steps to take to protect yourself so that you can realize the personal and financial benefits you sought when you first entered trading.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Brian McAboy (ArticleBiz.com)<br />http://www.insideouttrading.com/more.html</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-47717320747897289972007-06-11T00:54:00.000-07:002007-06-11T01:09:13.812-07:00The relationship between gardening and being happy<strong>What Gardening Can Teach Us About Happiness</strong><br /><br />It is said Gardening is one of the best ways to be happy, what can gardening teach us about the art of being happy?<br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><strong>Be Patient</strong><br /><br />For a seed to germinate, sprout and flower can take several months. As gardener's we do not expect instant success. In modern life we often expect and desire things as soon as possible, and when they feel to materialise, we feel miserable. We often lack the patience for things to arrive at the due time. However, if like a gardener, we can cultivate patience we will be able remain cheerful at all times.<br /><br />Happiness in life I need.<br />But alas, without patience,<br />My happiness remains always<br />A far cry.<br /><br />- Sri Chinmoy<br /><br /><strong>Value the Journey not just the Goal</strong>.<br /><br />A gardener enjoys the whole process of gardening, from planting seeds to watching the plant grow and flower. If a gardener only got joy when plants flowered, he would miss out on a whole aspect of gardening. In life we should not just aim for results or achievements; we can get happiness from our participation and preparation. Happiness comes not through being dependent on outer success and receiving things; happiness is dependent on our attitude to whatever we are doing.<br /><br /><strong>Everything has its season</strong>.<br /><br />Sometimes we want to capture a moment of happiness. We think that happiness is something to be treasured and held onto.When our happiness is dependent upon this kind of attachment, we are doomed to experience frustration and disappointment. Nothing in the world is permanent, everything comes and goes. However, this does not mean we cannot remain happy. In autumn a gardener does not become despondent because plants die back. He knows that this is what is expected; he also knows that next year will bring new life and new growth, possibly better than the previous year. The great spiritual teachings teach us to retain an attitude of detachment at fluctuations of the world.<br /><br />For everything there is a season,<br />and a time for every matter under heaven:<br /><br />a time to be born,<br />and a time to die;<br />a time to plant,<br />and a time to pluck up what is planted;<br /><br />Ecclesiastes 3:1-18; NRS<br /><br /><strong>From Winter Comes Spring</strong><br /><br />At times life may feel like a barren desert, but no matter how bad life may seem it will not remain like this forever. Sometimes dark periods come and it is hard to see a way through; however, all periods of darkness are temporary. To get through these periods of unhappiness, we can let go of negative thoughts and concentrate only on positive thoughts. We should not contemplate on the present fallow period but look forward to the brighter future.<br /><br /><strong>Tolerance</strong><br /><br />The qualities of trees and plants are self giving, patience and beauty. No matter how people treat a tree, it continues to offer its shade. When offering its qualities of shade and patience a tree doesn't judge.<br /><br />How to achieve happiness?<br />Not by giving, not by talking,<br />But by being.<br /><br />- Sri Chinmoy<br /><br />Similarly, if we avoid judging others we will benefit from much greater happiness. When we judge others we bring in the critical mind, it is hard to cultivate happiness when the critical mind dominates.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Tejvan Pettinger (EzineArticles.com)<br /><br />Tejvan became interested in meditation and eastern mysticism whilst studying at University. After studying various spiritual traditions he became a meditation student of Sri Chinmoy. Tejvan now offers meditation classes on behalf of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Oxford. Other articles on self improvement at: Sri Chinmoy Inspiration</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-23674418095321927802007-05-16T00:33:00.000-07:002007-05-16T00:37:51.392-07:00Things to make sure in preparing your resume/C.V.<strong>How to Present Your Resume</strong><br /><br />One of the most important things you must consider when writing your resume or curriculum vitae is the design and layout.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Typeface<br /><br />The first thing to consider is your choice of typeface. You want your resume to stand out, not compete with wedding or funeral announcements. Our advice is that you stick to a simple, clean typeface like Arial, Times Roman, or Helvetica. They are our choice because of their simplicity of design and clarity. Another trap to avoid is combining different typeface styles (like Times Roman and Helvetica). Each of these typefaces offers a variety of light, italic, and bold that can be used to produce an attractive visual effect.<br /><br />Length<br /><br />Debate among the "experts" continues as to whether resumes must be limited to a single page. Our take on this reverts to common sense:<br /><br />- If your work experience is limited, i.e., you are a recent graduate or have only held one or two jobs, there is probably no reason for your resume to exceed a single page.<br /><br />- If you can reasonably limit your resume to one page, do so.<br /><br />- If you have held a number of positions and cannot describe your accomplishments and responsibilities on one page, then two pages are certainly acceptable. However, you do not need to provide detailed descriptions of jobs that date back more than eight or ten years, unless they add something significant to your experience and qualifications. Be sure to emphasize your most recent experience.<br /><br />- Attachments, such as additional pages of publications (for writers, researchers, and academics), are appropriate.<br /><br />- Exception: Consulting resumes are expected to include all relevant experience, even if they extend to multiple pages.<br /><br />Layout<br /><br />When you design your resume, bear in mind that open spaces make it easier to read. Avoid cramming your page(s) with heavy masses of print.<br /><br />Paper<br /><br />Standard office stationery is the safe choice of paper on which to print your resume and cover letter, although a quality paper stock may improve the overall effect. Slightly off-white papers is acceptable, but beware of using pastels or darker colors, which look unprofessional.<br /><br />Print as many originals of your resume as you need on attractive, letter-quality paper. Never send photocopies of your resume to a potential employer. They're okay for friends or employment agencies, but not the employer with whom you want to win an interview.<br /><br />Another point is that the resume you mail may be photocopied by a personnel department, and subsequently passed along to other members of their firm. Copies made from copies can lose readability. In an emergency, some professionally maintained office photocopiers may do a good job, but we think it's better to avoid such emergencies by always having "perfect" copies of your resume on hand.<br /><br />Accuracy<br /><br />A final word: Proofread your resume at every step in the process. Get a knowledgeable friend or colleague to help. Mistakes on resumes are embarrassing, unacceptable, and potentially disastrous. No matter how much you may pay to have your resume created, you're the one who loses if it isn't right. So be meticulous and don't settle for less than the very best.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: J.E. Burke (EzineArticles.com)<br />Dr. J.E. Burke is an educator, writer and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises via Burke Publications. Please visit http://burkepublications.com and http://writer.burkepublications.com</span><br /><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-46861641759756435472007-05-16T00:22:00.000-07:002007-05-16T00:31:19.232-07:00Great tips on helping you to choose the right puppy<strong>Buy the perfect puppy, how to choose the right breed</strong><br /><br />The Perfect Puppy For You<br /><br />Ready for that addition to your family? Trying to determine what kind of puppy to get is almost as important as deciding whether to get a puppy in the first place. There are over 150 different breeds of dogs and each breed has its own unique temperament, appearance, activity level as well as set of needs. <span id="fullpost">A lot of research should be conducted before determining which breed of dog is right for you and your family. Below are some guidelines one should use before getting that seemingly perfect puppy.<br /><br />Temperament Remember that this dog will be with you for its entire lifetime, so make sure the puppy you choose has the personality you can live with. Do you have an active lifestyle or a docile one? You need to choose a dog that fits your lifestyle. Are you very patient? Can you handle a strong willed dog? Do you want a dog that is friendly to everyone he meets, or one that is allegiant to family but reserved towards strangers? Does the dog need a lot of constant attention to prevent it from becoming bored and destructive, or do you want a dog that is content to be left alone for periods of time during the day when you are not home?<br /><br />Size Every little puppy is adorable, but people forget that they grow quickly and some of them grow a lot. You need to find out how large and heavy that cute little puppy will become before you decide to bring him home. Oftentimes people forget this and soon they have this very large animal living with them in their constricted domicile. Don’t forget that large dogs require a lot more food and space then your yard or living room can handle. Bear in mind also that little dogs still need a lot of room to run around in and burn off all that energy.<br /><br />Coat/Grooming Needs For a healthy and clean dog, constant grooming is a must. Remember most dogs will shed so you will constantly be cleaning up after it. Some dogs shed for a few weeks, some shed year round. Very few shed only a little bit. Long coated dogs are definitely very nice to look at, but require a lot of maintenance to stay that way. Short coated dogs are much easier to care for, and may still shed, but will require protection from cold wet weather. Dogs with fancy trims will need professional grooming. You have to decide how much hair you can put up with and how much time and energy you can afford to decide the right breed of dog for you.<br /><br />Puppy or Adult The obvious advantage of getting a dog as a puppy, other then for it is so irresistibly cute, is that you can raise and train it personally from the beginning. You can help train and mold the dog’s socialization every step of the way as it grows. Of course the major disadvantage is that training the puppy requires a great deal of time and patience. If you have a busy lifestyle, bear in mind that puppies cannot be left alone more then a few hours at a time. They require constant attention, plenty of trips outdoors, frequent meals, and lot of interaction with people. Adult dogs are ideal for people who want a dog with fewer needs. Also mature dogs tend to be calmer and are already house trained and know basic obedience.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.puppyforsaleonline.info/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Puppies for sale, dog breeders resources and information</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />Article Source: George Chen (articlebiz.com)</span><br /><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-88996760712224055082007-05-16T00:13:00.000-07:002007-05-16T00:22:37.418-07:00Stretching tips for building flexibility<strong>Stretch to Prevent Back Problems, Falls or Pulled Muscles</strong><br /><br />Three-time Olympian and coach Pat Connolly gave me these tips for building flexibility to help you prevent falls, pulled muscles and back problems. Head-to-toe strength and flexibility help you achieve and maintain good balance.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />A muscle should be strong through its whole range of motion. Learning to relax that muscle helps it stretch and increase its range. When ever you stretch one muscle its opposing muscle contracts. For example, when you make a fist and curl your hand up to your shoulder, your bicep ( in front of your upper arm) is contracting and your tricep (in the back of your upper arm) is stretching. So when you stretch a muscle, be sure to loosen or shake it gently after each stretch. Start with these stretches.<br /><br />Head and Neck<br /><br />1. Sit tall in the chair, hands rest relaxed on your lap. Take a deep breath and slowly exhale letting your shoulders drop and completely relax. Repeat 3 times.<br />2. While holding your head up straight, place the palm of either hand on your forehead, then as you curl your chin down to your chest give gentle resistance with your hand against your forehead so the front muscles in your neck have to work a little harder to get your chin down. Repeat 10 times.<br />3.Place your hand on the back of your head while your head is hanging forward, chin close to your chest. Then resist your head with gentle pressure from your hand as you roll your head back as far as it will comfortably go. Repeat 10 times.<br />4. Shrug your shoulders, then relax. Hold your arms out on each side at shoulder level and then make slow backward circles squeezing your shoulder blades together each time your shoulders go back. Repeat 10 times. These exercises can be done anytime you feel tense or have a headache. You'll be surprised at the relief after just a few minutes.<br /><br />Arms<br /><br />1. Let your arms dangle by your side while standing with your feet about a foot apart. Shake your hands for 5-10 seconds, then swing your arms up over your head and down keeping them relaxed, not stiff. Repeat 10 times on each arm.<br />2. Lift your right arm with your elbow pointing up and your hand hanging behind your head. With your left hand grab your elbow and gently push back, stretching the back of your upper arm. Hold for about 10 seconds, then reverse arms.<br /><br />Torso<br /><br />1. Sitting in the chair, spread your legs apart, fold your arms in front, bend over as far as you can between your legs and gently bounce to the left, middle and right. Repeat 5 times.<br />2. Place your left foot on your right knee. With your right hand gently press your left knee toward the floor until you feel the stretch in your hip and buttocks. Repeat 5 times, then reverse legs.<br />3. Lie on your back on the floor. Bend both knees and sit up or curl up as far as you can, and hold for a few seconds. Repeat as many times as you can up to 20. After you do this, lie flat with your knees slightly bent and gently shake your stomach muscles with your hands.<br /><br />Buttocks and Legs<br /><br />1. Stand up and shake each leg gently, slightly in front, and let each foot dangle for about 5-10 seconds. This helps to get the blood flowing. Test the flexibility of the backs of your legs: Bend over while keeping your knees straight (locked) and see how close to the floor you can reach with your hands. Make a mental note or use a ruler or marker. Then, after shaking each leg to get it relaxed, squat down, as if sitting on a low chair. Place both hands on your legs just above your knees, palm down with your fingers on the inside of your thighs. Now push your hands down on your legs as hard as you can and count to ten, slowly. Then stand up, shake your legs, and then re-test to see if you can get closer to the floor. You should see an improvement.<br /><br />2. Leg swings: Hold on to the back of the chair with both hands and gently swing your left leg back and forth across the front of you 10 times, then repeat with your right leg. Keep your swinging leg relaxed and your support leg straight. Then hold on with just your right hand, swing your left leg front and back 10 times. Repeat with opposite leg.<br /><br />3. Calf stretches: Hold the back of the chair with both hands. Put your right foot forward and slightly bend your right knee while your left leg is straight back, then try to stretch your heel down to the floor. Hold the stretch for a count of 15 and then, most importantly, gently tap your left toes back on the floor so that you loosen the calf muscle you just stretched. Repeat with the other leg.<br /><br />4. Butt firmers: With both hands on the chair back, point your right leg back keeping your knee straight and raise your right foot about 6 inches off the floor by squeezing your right butt. Repeat 10 times, then do your left side.<br /><br />Feet<br /><br />1. Using chair for balance, stand on one foot and come up on your toes and down 20 times. Repeat with other foot. Shake out after each set.<br />2. Sit on the chair and make big circles with your left foot, first pointing and then flexing. Repeat with the other foot.<br />3. Hold your legs out straight in front of you, point your toes as hard as you can and count to 5, then pull them back as far as you can and count to 5. Repeat 10 times.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Gabe Mirkin M.D. (bn23.com)<br /></span></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-39650556328215349322007-03-17T23:35:00.000-07:002007-03-17T23:42:34.968-07:00Advice on how to rear a puppy<strong>Raising A Puppy</strong><br /><br />Raising a puppy can be a very rewarding experience but it can also be a lot of hard work. This is something that a lot of people don't take into consideration when getting a new dog. Puppies much like human infants, need almost constant care and attention especially in the earlier stages. Puppies love to use their mouths to explore objects around them. Smelling and tasting are the primary ways a puppy will learn about new things. If that 'new thing' is an electric cable or something small that could lodge in its throat your puppy could be in trouble. It's very easy for a puppy to get into trouble if it is not constantly supervised.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Another problem that can occur when raising and training a puppy is what could be termed as the 'cuteness factor'. Puppies by their very nature can be adorable. This seems all well and good on the surface but can cause problems when it comes to teaching your new puppy the dos and don'ts. If your puppy has done something that you consider could form into a bad habit and should be discouraged, it can be very difficult reprimanding the puppy even if that may only involve raising your voice. Many people find it difficult when two big round eyes are looking up at you from a sad puppy face. Sometimes it's a lot easier to forgive the puppy without taking it to task. The only problem here is, that if you do this too many times, your puppy will be forming bad habits at a very young age. These will become much worse and harder to handle when your dog reaches maturity. They are best nipped in the bud early, no matter how difficult it is.<br /><br />It is essential that your puppy has room to roam. This does not mean that they have a free run of your home. You should allocate an area that the puppy will have plenty of space to stretch its legs and investigate things whilst still under your supervision. Also try and keep the puppy in areas where other members of the family spend a lot of time. This will help with the bonding process and also keep familiar family smells around your puppy all the time. Doorways and of course the tops of stair ways, should be closed off using baby gates or if you do not have any try a piece of wood made to fit or any other improvised method. The idea is to contain the puppy within a particular area, reducing its chances of straying into trouble. Keep some of the puppies' favorite toys in the same area, as well as a bowl of water for refreshment. In addition, an opened out newspaper on the floor will provide somewhere for the puppy to relieve itself in an emergency without ruining your carpet.<br /><br />Dogs are naturally hierarchical pack animals. What this means is that their importance within the pack is ordered by a set hierarchy. The dominant member is at the top of the pack and subsequent submissive members below. The first thing that you can teach your puppy, is that your are the 'top dog' or primary dominant member. If you do not assert this dominance early on, the puppy may try to adopt this role through instinctive behavior. This is obviously undesirable if your dog tries to rule your home.<br /><br />The easiest way to assert your dominance is not through being aggressive or overtly loud but through being consistently firm with bad behavior and giving praise (and the odd treat) for good behavior. If your dog is particularly badly behaved then a firm verbal reprimand should do the trick, seldom should physical violence be used. When your puppy exhibits good behavior such as sitting when asked or ceasing to bark when asked, then a lot of praise will reinforce this behavior.<br /><br />Making yourself the dominant member will mean that your puppy will look to you for approval and guidance, making rearing your puppy that much easier. Your puppy will soon be looking up to you as 'top dog'.<br /><br />Rearing a puppy can be a great experience. There will be no better satisfaction than when your dog grows to maturity as a well rounded member of the family whom you can feel proud of when people comment on what a lovely dog you have.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article By Andrew Strachan. Find lots more information about different dog breeds and types of dogs at http://www.types-of-dogs.com. Lots of help and advice too.<br /><br />Article Source: Andrew Strachan (ArticleBiz.com)</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-7302709783325371242007-03-17T23:29:00.000-07:002007-03-17T23:35:21.274-07:00Stress balls to relieve tension and stress<strong>Reduce Your Stress With Stress Balls</strong><br /><br />Of all the methods of stress elimination used, the most popular methods is through good old stress balls. The simple act of squeezing something in your hand can help you ease a few of your concerns, release some built-up tension, and make you feel like you are at least doing something rather than brooding upon everything that has you down. Fortunately, stress balls are easy to find and they can be very effective for some quick relief.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />The most common stress balls are the beanbag type that can be picked up at job fairs and industry gatherings. They are very effective, they provide enough resistance to make you feel good and they give off a relieving noise that tells you that something is happening. Sure it is just some sort of filler grating against itself, but darn it, it's something! And when you are stressed, the simple feeling of doing something, anything is its own reward. Plus, you are getting a little bit of a workout for your hands and even this form of exercise can give you some benefits.<br /><br />As well, there are some liquid filled stress balls that can be very good for relieving your worries. They usually do not give as much resistance as the beanbag type, but they do still provide you with something that will give your hands a workout. This can be a good thing if you tend to squeeze the stress ball a lot, simply because your hands will not get tired as quickly. As well, they tend to squeeze out much more than the beanbag type, so they give you a bit more of a feeling of doing something. However, they also tend to make a serious mess if you happen to break them, since the contents cannot be vacuumed up. But, if you are going to be spending a lot of time squeezing the stress ball, this might just suit your fancy.<br /><br />However, not all stress balls are the squeezable kind. There are also Chinese stress balls that are made out of very hard materials that are not meant for squeezing. Rather, they come in pairs so that you can roll them around in your hand in order to relieve stress. Also, these stress balls sometimes come with some sort of noisemaker inside that provides a soothing sound other than the noise of the balls banging and rubbing against each other. However, this form of stress ball is usually not very good to use at work, since they do tend to make some noise. But, if you are sitting at home and you want to relieve a little tension, they can be very soothing.<br /><br />When using stress balls, it is best to treat them as a form of meditation. That is, you concentrate on the stress balls so that you are not worrying about anything else. Feel them in your hand and notice the weight. When you are either squeezing them or rolling them around in your hand, notice how they feel in your palm and in your fingers. Concentrate on putting your concerns into your hand, then putting them into the stress balls, as though they are absorbing all that stress and taking it away. By placing all your thoughts into your stress balls, you can push away all those concerns and worries and put them into an inanimate object that does not notice the stress. Then, once you are done, you should feel as though a burden has been lifted and your mind is cleared.<br /><br />However, you should also be careful with stress balls, as the squeezable kind can break. Yes, it takes a lot of effort, time and strength to break them, but it can be done. Thus, if you notice any leaks in your stress ball, or you notice that weak spots are starting to appear, you should throw it out and get a new one. After all, the stress of cleaning up some sort of fluid or vaccuuming up a large quantity of small, grainy material can stress you out too. Thus, do not squeeze a stress ball over a computer keyboard. If it does break, you will have a lot of problems that you would much rather avoid -- such as the need to run out and buy and new keyboard.<br /><br />Used properly, stress balls can have a very beneficial effect on your mind and body. Though the only workout you are getting from them is in your hands, it is at least something. And those people who have to type constantly could also get a nice break from pecking at a keyboard and, by exercising their hands in a different way, will be able to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. So see what is out there, see what you like, and let some stress balls take away those petty concerns for you.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LowerYourStress.com: for everything to do with stress. Get a free ebook to help with your stress levels: http://www.loweryourstress.com/stress-book.html<br /><br />Article Source: Trevor Dumbleton (ArticleBiz.com)<br /></span></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-46412918921563360932007-03-17T23:23:00.000-07:002007-03-17T23:29:08.317-07:00Earn money from photography<strong>Money From Your Camera</strong><br /><br />People pay money for pictures. Why shouldn’t it be your pictures? There are many ways to earn money from a camera, some requiring more skill than others, but with all of them the golden rule is “give the customer what he or she wants”. In other words, take the pictures people want to buy, not just what takes your fancy.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />When choosing which markets to go for you need to take two things into account, your own level of expertise and the camera equipment you own. A small digital camera will do for some jobs but there are situations where only film or large digital files of 12Mb plus will do.<br /><br /><strong>Wedding Photography.</strong><br />This is the first thing many people think of but don’t even consider wedding photography unless you are a really competent photographer and have at least two good cameras so that you have a back-up to hand. I carry two film-based SLR cameras plus an 8Mp digital camera. Consider buying medium format if you are likely to do many weddings so that you can provide larger prints if required.<br /><br />There are three approaches to wedding photography – formal, informal and “arty”. Most couples want a set of formal portraits as the core of their wedding pictures. Agree the groups required beforehand with your customers. Explain that you will need plenty of time. Shepherding people is time-consuming. There’s always someone who goes missing when you need them. If possible, visit the venue beforehand to find the best locations. Work out where the sun will be and how you are going to fit in large groups. Look for banks or steps to arrange them on. If you have them looking up at you make sure they are not squinting into the sun.<br /><br />Ask what other shots are required. Remember the cake, and perhaps the rings. Arty shots are up to you and your creativity. Get the main group portraiture out of the way first so that you have time to be creative. Most commercial photographers leave the informal shots to the guests but it’s worth grabbing any extra shots you can. One favourite of mine was a shot of the bridesmaids climbing on a gazebo!<br /><br /><strong>Magazines and other publications.</strong><br />Publishers vary considerably in their requirements. You won’t get a look-in unless you provide the right kind of pictures in the right way. Being based in the UK I joined the Bureau of Freelance Photographers to keep abreast of what editor’s are looking for. Pictures must be sharp and well-composed. Include both landscape (horizontal) and portrait (upright) shots in any submission unless told otherwise. Cover shots may need some uncluttered space for the title and other text and generally require high quality originals. Study your chosen publications first to see what they use and how they use it.<br /><br />You can get more sales if you can write good copy as well. A ready-made illustrated feature which fits the magazine’s requirements is a boon to any busy editor. Some editors will not accept unsolicited submissions so you may need to contact them first with your idea.<br /><br /><strong>Greetings cards and postcards.</strong><br />For a while the greetings card market turned away from photography and towards graphic or artistic design, but in recent years the photograph has made a comeback. Quite a lot of monochrome is used and also natural subjects. Florals, people, animals and landscapes are all popular again now.<br /><br />Postcards are not the most lucrative market but there is the advantage that you can easily get your own produced and take them to local shops and tourist spots.<br /><br /><strong>Stock libraries and agencies.</strong><br />Most stock libraries now work with digital files online but there are some areas where film is still preferred. A quick search should on the Web will throw up dozens of online photo agencies. Take a look at something like Alamy.com to get an idea of what’s involved. Submissions have to be exactly as specified by the agency. Make sure you understand what rights you are selling. Don’t sell your copyright to a picture unless you are getting a very high sum for it. Rights are normally sold for single use or for licensed use which should be specified. Royalty-free images can be used by the purchaser again and again.<br /><br /><strong>“Citizen” Photography.</strong><br />The news media have caught on to the value of asking members of the public to send them shots taken on their phones or digital cameras. Quality is less important than newsworthiness. A citizen photographer is no substitute for an experienced journalist but it’s just a matter of someone being in the right place at the right time. If you find something newsworthy unfolding in front of you get the shots then decide where to send them afterwards, but never ever put yourself or others at risk and never hamper the work of the police or emergency services.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">For more on earning money from your camera visit http://www.good-ideas.biz/release/photolanding.htm<br /><br />Linda Cooke worked in education for many years but has always sidelined as a freelance writer and photographer. In recent years she ventured onto the internet with Good Ideas Publishing. Main websites are http://www.good-ideas.biz http://www.internet-income-ideas.com http://www.learn-the-easy-way.com<br /><br />Article Source: Linda Cooke (EzineArticles.com)</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-82054646594162886722007-03-17T23:16:00.000-07:002007-03-17T23:22:42.813-07:00Laughter as a medicine for stress<strong>How To Use Humor And Laughter As A Coping Mechanism For Stress!</strong><br /><br />Humor and Laughter should be used as coping mechanisms for stress, though it seems to only be used as an outlet for the emotion produced by humor or happiness. Do we laugh because we are happy, or are we happy because we laugh? Many times a humorous speaker can help us to see the light in the darkness situations. Both of these are probably true, but we only exercise the former. Laughter is a fascinating phenomenon that works like a medicine. Although most drugs affect everyone differently, laughter is always the same. It exercises your entire body causing you to feel relaxed and pain free. <span id="fullpost">And this is where a professional humorous speaker can help you improve your next meeting or event. The fact that laughter and humorous speaking is good for one's health should be quite evident. So why not laugh? When one laughs, it is like taking a drug, yet there is no such thing as an overdose or, "laughter toxicity," as humorous speaker, Dr. Madan Kataria says. Maybe we can now say "A laugh a day keeps the doctor away." Dr. Kataria is a world authority on laughter and humorous speaking<br /><br />There's no doubt that laughter feels good, and that a humorous speaker can help, but is there real neurophysiology behind it and what can you do about it? In a paper being presented in an American Physiological Society session at Experimental Biology 2006, humorous speaker, Lee S. Berk of Loma Linda University, reports that not only is there real science and psychophysiology, but just the anticipation of the "mirthful laughter" provided by humorous speakers involved in watching your favorite funny movie has some very surprising and significant neuroendocrine/hormone effects.<br /><br />According to Humorous Speaker Berk: "The blood drawn from experimental subjects just before they watched the video had 27% more beta-endorphins and 87% more human growth hormone, compared to blood from the control group, which didn't anticipate the watching of a humorous video. Between blood pulls, the control group stayed in a waiting room and could choose from a wide variety of magazines," he explained. *Paper presentation: "Beta-Endorphin and HGH increase are associated with both the anticipation and experience of mirthful laughter, through humorous speakers" 12:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday April 2, APS Behavioral neuroscience & drug abuse Section abstract 233.18/board #C706. Research was by humorous speaker, Lee S. Berk, Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Public Health and Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University; humorous speaker, Stanley A. Tan, Oakcrest Health Research Institute, Yucaipa; and humorous speaker, James Westengard, Dept. of Pathology, School of Medicine; Berk is associated with all three institutions and humorous speakers. HGH, endorphin difference is long-lasting; setting the baseline and environment is key Berk said that the strong difference between the two groups in terms of human growth hormone (HGH) and beta-endorphin blood levels was maintained from just prior to the beginning of video watching, throughout the hour of viewing and afterwards, also.<br /><br />Most laughter has nothing to do with jokes, concludes researcher and humorous speaker, Prof. Robert Provine. For years he has studied laughter, humorous speaking and humorous speakers and what provokes it. Some of Provine's conclusions: * Less than 20% of laughter was in response to anything resembling a joke * People and humorous speakers are 30 times more likely to laugh in groups than alone (hence, TV's laugh tracks) * Female humorous speakers laugh more than male humorous speakers, except when they are listening to a woman * The talker chuckles nearly 50% more than his/her listener does. If you follow these tried and true steps to laugh more, you will see that you are managing your stress better through the use of humor and humorous speakers. http://www.dougdvorak.com<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article source: Doug Dvorak (GoArticles.com)<br /><br />About the Author<br />Doug Dvorak is the CEO of DMG Inc., a worldwide organization that assists clients with productivity training, corporate humor and workshops, as well as other aspects of sales and marketing management. Mr. Dvorak's clients are characterized as Fortune 1000 companies, small to medium businesses, civic organizations and service businesses. http://www.dougdvorak.com </span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-85674631559854771232007-03-10T07:11:00.000-08:002007-03-10T07:20:09.065-08:00Understanding the true value of building links<strong>The Real Value Of Link Building</strong><br /><br />The biggest misconception of link building is that it is solely intended to increase your rank within the search engines. The majority of us who use this train of thought would then proceed to get as many links for their site from any sources available, without understanding the real value behind carrying out this time consuming project. Not only do you obtain a large number of irrelevant links that will not benefit you, but you have wasted precious time and missed out on a lot of targeted traffic.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />So what is the true value of link building? First and foremost, it should be intended to generate quality traffic for your business. If you keep this thought in mind when carrying out your assignment, then you are most certainly going to obtain relevant links along the way that will help to boost your exposure within the search engines, making it a win / win situation.<br /><br />A good example would be this article. Once it is submitted to several article directories, people who are searching for information on link building will most likely read this information posted. At the bottom is a link to my site which is based on offering search engine marketing services and link building campaigns. If a reader was interested in finding out more, there is a high chance that they will follow through on my link and read up about my services. In this case, not only have I generated a quality lead, but I have also attained a relevant link from the article directory. If twenty people read my article each day and ten people where to click through to my website, then you can obviously see that the link building has done its job in attracting targeted visitors. However, if I was to write up an article on the latest mobile phones and provided a link to my website, then there is a very high chance that a reader will not follow through on the link. A search engine works in the same respect. Just like a human visitor, why should it read up on marketing services if it's currently reading an article on mobile phones? From this a search engine can see that the link was placed for the sole purpose of link building and has no genuine relationship. As a result, no targeted traffic will come through to my site and the link will not benefit me in any way. At the end of the day it all boils down to the quality of the link. Another good example is: if you were to have two restaurants to choose from and two different people recommending which one to eat at, you are most likely to take the advice of the person who has more authority on the subject of restaurants. In a similar manner, a search engine will follow and count the relevance of a link based on where the link to you is coming from and if there is a common factor between the sites.<br /><br />The key to developing good linking strategies that will help your site's performance in the search engines is to ask yourself the following: will my link entice someone to click on it, which in turn generates quality traffic? Answering "yes" and using this methodology when carrying out your task will attract visitors interested in what you have to offer as well as collect you valuable links.<br /><br />Every now again there are new methods on how to develop a successful link building campaign. At the same time, new loop holes are being found on how to exploit these methods. Eventually it will come to a point where these loop holes cease to exist. So to avoid getting caught up in the confusion, working toward a campaign that is totally focused on generating quality traffic is the best way to ensure that you are not wasting your time and hard earned dollars with attaining pointless links.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article source: GoArticles.com<br /><br />About the Author<br />David Touri works for SEO Sydney providing search engine marketing services. His current projects include CargoWise, the world's largest Logistics Software provider.<br /></span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-8938965907132996582007-03-10T07:01:00.000-08:002007-03-10T07:09:32.884-08:00Traditional diets won't help<strong>Diets Don't Work</strong><br /><br />Whilst the diet industry would like you to believe that you can shed weight purchasing their products it is unlikely that you will achieve any long-term benefits from the majority of diets and weight loss products on the market. Sustainable weight loss is best achieved by creating a negative energy balance – that is burn more calories than you consume.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />The problem with traditional diets is that they often advocate eating fewer calories than those needed by the body to sustain its basic functions. If you consume fewer calories than this Basal Metabolic Rate the body will enter starvation mode and cling on to fat stores in an attempt to preserve life. If blood sugar levels drop as a result if inadequate nutrition, particularly for those on low carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins diet, the body will create its own glucose for energy by scavenging amino acids from lean muscle tissue. This self-cannibalisation results in less lean muscle which consequently reduces the metabolic rate. In effect this means fat gain will happen even easier in the future.<br /><br />A reasonable approach to sustainable fat loss has a number of elements. Energy out has to be greater than energy in. Rather than reducing your calories to amounts lower than Basal Metabolic Rate, additional calories should be burnt through exercise (incidental exercise such as walking to work and taking the stairs, or using the cardiovascular equipment in a gym).<br /><br />Metabolic rate can be raised by increasing lean muscle tissue through resistance training (each additional pound of lean muscle burns approximately fifty calories per day at rest). Weight training also burns between 240 and 400 calories for a typical session.<br /><br />Nutritionally, a balanced diet comprised of approximately 55-60% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 10% protein is recommended for health. There will be some variations depending on desired outcomes and exercise programmes. Carbohydrates should be from wholegrain, wholemeal sources and of low-medium GI (glycaemic index). Avoid simple sugars as these will spike blood sugar levels causing insulin production which will store the sugars as fat.<br /><br />A useful aid to ensuring you eat enough to lose weight is the keeping of a food diary in which you record times, amounts and types of food eaten. For optimal results a programme of exercise involving both cardiovascular and resistance training is recommended. The anatomical adaptations that take place through a progressive exercise programme increase the ability of the body to metabolise fat as fuel whilst raising the metabolic rate and burning additional calories.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article source: BN23.com</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-54190901835977167122007-03-04T00:34:00.000-08:002007-03-04T00:40:35.633-08:00Happiness lies in how we balance our lives<strong>Keeping Your Life In Balance</strong><br /><br />We all want to be happy in life, to be calm, confident and relaxed. We all want to be in complete control of every aspect of your life. Just as a car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster when the wheels are in perfect alignment, every individual performs better when his or her thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals and values are in alignment.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Nature demands balance in all things. You see balance all around you, from the most distant stars in the universe down to the individual cells of your body. Each of your billions of cells contain hundreds of chemicals, each of which is carefully regulated and kept in balance by your autonomic nervous system to ensure health and longevity.<br /><br />Balance is the norm your life. Your body has natural bias toward health and energy. It’s built to last for a hundred years and to perform smoothly and efficiently for most of that time. It’s only improper maintenance and incorrect operation that, in most cases, cause your body to get out of balance and lead to disease and pain, rather than relaxation and pleasure.<br /><br />Emotionally, you also have a natural tendency toward happiness and enjoyment. In fact you have an inner voice that automatically tells you when you’re doing the things that are just right for your unique personality and temperament. This inner voice or intuition is manifested in your level of peace of mind.<br /><br />Whenever you feel at peace with yourself and the world around you, it means that you’re doing the very things that you’re meant to do and that your inner and outer worlds are properly balanced and in alignment with each other.<br /><br />The normal, natural and healthy state of being in life is that of happiness, experiencing joy in laughter in most of what you do. How often you laugh at what is going on around you is a good measure how in balance your life actually is. The degree to which you have a positive mental attitude toward yourself and the normal ups and downs of life is also a good measure of your mental health.<br /><br />People who are pessimistic and negative, and who only see the dark side of things that happen to them, are often found to be suffering from some form of mental illness. If a person is negative too long, that negativity becomes a habit pattern of thought and action, and he or she tends to see the whole world through lenses tinged with negativity and unhappiness.<br /><br />There are two major areas of balance that you need to be concerned with on a daily basis. They are the physical and the emotional.<br /><br />You need to adjust your behaviors in such a way that you can enjoy high levels of physical health and energy most of the time. I’m sure you’ve heard this saying many times before, “You can have all the money in the world, but it means nothing if you don’t have your health.”<br /><br />You need to guard your health like a sacred object. From the time you get up in the morning to the time you go to be at night, you need to think about the things you can do to assure that you live a long and healthy life, free from the diseases and debilitating illnesses that are causing health-care outlays in the United States to be the highest in the world.<br /><br />Medical studies almost uniformly identify seven ways to help ensure good physical and mental health throughout your life.<br /><br />1. Eat regularly but lightly. Cut down on your intake of fat, sugar and salt, while adding more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein to your diet.<br /><br />2. Don’t snack between meals because the introduction of new food interrupts the ongoing digestive process and leads to drowsiness and improper food digestion.<br /><br />3. Don’t smoke because it has been found to cause more illnesses alone than all the other environmental or hereditary factors put together.<br /><br />4. Consume alcohol moderately or not at all. Studies show that if you do drink alcohol it is best not to have more than one or two drinks per day.<br /><br />5. Get seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Not getting the proper rest at night causes your immune system to break down and makes you susceptible to a variety of illnesses, including colds, flu, and even pneumonia.<br /><br />6. Exercise on a regular basis. Even moderate daily exercise daily can help you to feel better, digest better, sleep better and be a happier and more positive person.<br /><br />7. Practice deep breathing every day. This helps to improve your digestion, increase the amount of oxygen going through your brain, and enable you to relax into a constant state of being alert and ready.<br /><br />Deep breathing causes you to relax and makes you feel more confident and more in control of yourself and the situation. It brings your inner world into better alignment with what is going on around you.<br /><br />Whenever you face a stressful situation in your external world, you can better prepare yourself to deal with it by taking a few moments to breathe deeply before you say or do anything. When you prepare yourself in this way, your words and actions will be far better considered and more effective than they would if you had just reacted when the situation came up. You will feel more in balance.<br /><br />You can achieve a greater sense of balance by, first of all, determining your values in each area regarding your health, your relationships, and your work. Next, you examine your behaviors and identify the things that you’re doing and saying that are not consistent with bringing your behaviors into alignment with your innermost convictions and eliminate them. Once you do this, you’ll start to feel happier and healthier.<br /><br />Just as a car with perfectly aligned and balanced wheels runs more smoothly down the highway, you also will run more smoothly down the highway of life when you take the time and make the effort to bring everything that you do and say into balance and alignment.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Copyright©2007 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.<br />Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and success coaching programs. He is the founder and CEO of JLM & Associates, a consulting and training organization, specializing in career coach training. Through his seminars and lectures, Joe Love addresses thousands of men and women each year, including the executives and staffs of many businesses around the world, on the subjects of leadership, achievement, goals, strategic business planning, and marketing. Joe is the author of three books, Starting Your Own Business, Finding Your Purpose In Life, and The Guerrilla Marketing Workbook.<br /><br />Article Source: Joe Love (EzineArticles.com)<br /></span></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-89898698796760866282007-03-04T00:29:00.000-08:002007-03-04T00:34:24.773-08:00Between having a home business and getting rich quickly<strong>Do You Really Want A Home Business, Or Do You Simply Want To Get Rich Quickly?</strong><br /><br />This is a question that must be answered by anyone interested in making extra money or having their own business, whether that business be run out of their home or elsewhere. In my experience many people are actually interested in making money quickly with some sort of "opportunity" rather than having their own business. They are two entirely different things, and in actuality one of them isn't even real. I suppose you can guess which one isn't even real, but just in case you can't it's the idea of getting rich quickly doesn't exist. As a matter of fact it's a complete fallacy!<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />That's right, getting rich quickly isn't a reality (without engaging in something illegal that is). The funny thing about this little fact is that all of the weasels out there selling the next big "opportunity" claim exactly the opposite. These hype masters make their living convincing you that you can make money by doing almost nothing, and some will even claim that they will do most of the work for you. Honestly, when you really think about this, does it even sound like something that would be possible? They will do the work and you will make the money? Rubbish, getting rich or making money does not happen by you doing nothing.<br /><br />If you are interested in getting rich quickly, I hope I've dissuaded you. If you're actually interested in having a home business, there are opportunities out there, just don't get into anything for the promise of getting rich quickly. The one piece of advise I have as someone who tried much of the crap floating around the home bases business toilet bowl, is the fact that your home based business must be based around something that you feel passionate about. If you're doing anything simply for the money you will eventually fail. You must have passion for your business.<br /><br />The bottom line is that you need to answer the question posed by this article and proceed from there, because if you're chasing after something that doesn't exist you might as well not waste your time. If you're looking for a business of any kind to make you rich quickly you would be much better off looking for the pot of gold at the end of the next rainbow that you see.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Trevor Kugler - Co-founder of JRWfishing.com Trevor has more than 15 years of business experience and 25 years of fishing experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country - Montana.<br />Start Catching more fish Today!!!! - http://www.jrwfishing.com/starterkit.asp<br />http://www.jrwfishing.com/signup.html - Sign Up For The Best FREE Fishing Ezine on the web and get $10 for your trouble.<br />http://www.lulu.com/tkugler - Fishing Tips & Techniques For Pennies!!!!!!<br />Article Source: Trevor Kugler (EzineArticles.com)<br /></span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-59627941777828439802007-02-24T08:07:00.000-08:002007-02-24T08:19:28.180-08:00Ways to impart financial skills to your kids<strong>5 Strategies to Teach Your Children About Saving Money</strong><br /><br />Teaching your children financial skills is critical for their future. 80% of parents believe that their children are being taught personal money matters in school, yet 90% of high school students and 87% of college students say that whatever they know about money they learn from their parents. Among parents with children 5 and older, only 26% feel well enough prepared to teach their kids about personal finances. Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy measured 12th graders' knowledge of personal finance basics and found that only 10% of high school graduates could satisfactorily answer questions about personal finance.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Not sure where to start in talking to you kids about money? You're not alone. But, much like teaching your kids to look both ways before crossing the street, managing money, is a parental responsibility that safeguards kids' future. Good habits start early in life and the savings habit brings lifelong benefits. Kids are interested in money and they can learn by example and by doing. Sharing how and why your family is saving emphasizes the importance of this positive, lifelong habit.<br /><br />Engage your children using some of these simple, fun suggestions and help them learn the value of money:<br /><br />1. Explain to your kids what money is all about. You can start doing this once you see that your kids are already able to learn how to count. The earlier you can teach a child or teenager about money, including earning money, saving money, and spending money responsibility, the better prepared they will be to manage their own money.<br /><br />2. Talk to your child about the family budget. Allow them to ask questions about household finances and how you manage the household budget. Reinforce the learning process by budgeting for a family outing or a purchase.<br /><br />3. Encourage children to start saving by opening a savings account for them. If they are younger, you can still make savings “real” to them by having them build their savings in a piggy bank or clear jar. You can motivate them to allot a portion of their allowance to their savings. If you have multiple children, one way to keep them motivated is by giving a prize to whoever earned the highest amount in their savings.<br /><br />4. Explaining the value of spending money can also be done at home. You can assign some household chores and pay a small amount once they were able to do it. This will help them realize that money is not earned easily and should be spent wisely.<br /><br />5. Show your children how an ATM machine works. While many children know that money doesn't grow on trees, they may think it comes out of a wall. Help your kids understand that you must put money in the bank before you can take it out.<br /><br />When you discuss money with kids, you help them develop a sense of limits. You're teaching kids that the family has to make choices about how it can spend money. There's only so much money to go around — if you spend it on some things, you won't have it to spend on others. Teaching your children about saving money doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Remember to be patient and consistent, and your children will be able to learn this critical skill in an easy and fun way.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Barbara House (EzineArticles.com)<br /><br />Barbara House is the founder of </span><a href="http://www.reallybusypeople.com/" target="_new"><span style="font-size:78%;">Really Busy People</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> - a website dedicated to providing current news, informative articles, time-saving products & services to simplify your hectic, busy lifestyle. Please visit Really Busy People for more articles on </span><a href="http://www.reallybusypeople.com/_articles.htm" target="_new"><span style="font-size:78%;">parenting and finances</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">.<br /></span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com328tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-19245796956633206362007-02-24T07:58:00.000-08:002007-02-24T08:06:39.168-08:00Key elements in effective human relationship<strong>How To Improve Your Interpersonal Relationships</strong><br /><br />Very few of us never have contact with the outside world or other people, and as a result, there is a relationship that is created whenever we interact with someone else. As time goes on, that relationship can remain stagnant, or as in the case of a love or dating relationship, that relationship can grow and flourish. But the real key to any meaningful relationship is effective communication between two people. That statement is every bit as true for interpersonal relationships as it is for business relationships, and also for the marital relationship between a husband and wife.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Effective communications cannot be stressed enough, especially in a marriage relationship. In today’s world where both husband and wife are holding down at least full time if not part time jobs, things happen during the course of a normal day. But it is only at the end of the day when two people are relaxing that effective communications can take place. It doesn’t matter how mundane, since even in mundane conversation you can learn a lot about another person, understanding what is important to them, what irritates them, and things they find enjoyable.<br /><br />Suppose your partner is depressed about something, whether financial stress, job pressures, or anything else. How much time do you give to your partner to improve the mood? If your answer is “none or not much”, you are running the risk of your relationship starting to deteriorate. The breakdown of a relationship does not happen overnight, but it is all these “missed opportunities” to show care, understanding, and support that all add up over time.<br /><br />Respect is a key ingredient of any relationship. If you do not feel you can trust someone, your communications with them will be brief or nonexistent. There is no real relationship there. That type of relationship may be fine for the checkout clerk at the grocery store, but how many people have that kind of relationship with their spouse? The real answer to that question will probably scare you, but you have control over that and the fate of that relationship, even your marital relationship, rests squarely in your hands.<br /><br />Trust is another key element of any relationship, which goes hand in hand with respect. You need to feel you can trust the person you are communicating with. If you don’t have a level of trust with that person, even your spouse, then your communications will reflect that lack of trust. You won’t elaborate on things you say, you won’t go into details, and you will subconsciously leave out information that may leave you vulnerable to a future rebuttal or even attack from the other person.<br /><br />Many times, especially in a marriage relationship, the three key elements of a relationship (communication, trust and respect) slowly start to erode over time. It is typically not a conscious thing, but it can happen if both spouses are not aware that they need to keep all levels of these elements at peak values consistently. So what happens as these components start to degrade? That relationship can develop into an abusive relationship. This is particularly difficult in a marriage relationship – when the checkout clerk at the grocery store abuses you, you can report them to their management or you can just decide to shop somewhere else. But in a marriage relationship, it is not nearly as clear-cut at that, nor nearly as simple. The marriage equivalent of “shopping somewhere else” is divorce, which although being a very drastic step, is sometimes the best solution for both parties when the respect, the trust, and the communications have degraded to the point where both parties are unwilling to put in enough time and effort that will be required to rebuild those elements.<br /><br />Take care of your relationships and understand how you can improve them on a regular basis, and those relationships can grow and flourish over time, where you can gain comfort during the dark times and share your joys in the good times.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Jon Arnold (ArticleBiz.com)<br /><br />Jon is a computer engineer who maintains web sites on a variety of topics based on his knowledge and experience. You can read more about Relationship Advice at his web site at </span><a href="http://www.relationship-types.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Relationship Advice</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-29121849791442304872007-02-21T18:01:00.000-08:002007-02-21T18:13:33.894-08:00Commercial advertising and the opposite sex<strong>The Media Has Lied To You About What The Opposite Sex Is Attracted To</strong><br /><br />Every day it's a constant barrage of noise. All of us, apparently, have to make some big changes-and now---or else you'll never get a date again. All for 3 easy payments of $49.95.<br /><br />Oh, come on. Are we really this gullible?<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Lately I've been paying attention to media, especially advertising, and realizing more than ever how we are getting played. Think about it. Virtually everything communicated to us in the commercial media is designed to sell a product, further a cause, etc. Extraordinarily often, this plays upon our feelings of worthiness to attract "hotties". Right?<br /><br />One of my favorite recent commercials is the one where the guy and girl make eye contact while on stopped streetcars headed in opposite directions. Quickly the guy springs up to get off his ride and hopefully catch the other one so he can meet the woman. Unsuccessful...he is dejected when both streetcars leave, only to find that the woman had done the same thing (!) There they are standing across from each other, and it's presumably ‘on'. What a great commercial, and what a picture perfect example of a "romantic moment". Except for one curious thing...it's for a pair of guys pants. How in the world did the pants help him in the all-important quest to attract the girl? He was looking out a streetcar window!<br /><br />Where this conversation gets more personal is when it involves things we are perceived to have to change in order to get someone to be attracted to us at all. For guys, the easy target has historically been baldness, although nowadays penis size seems to be gaining momentum (that doesn't sound quite right…but you know what I mean). The latter is another whole topic, so let's talk about what it's like for bald guys. Bald guys have been generally trained by media to be horrified of going bald. Bald guys are remembered as ridiculed in sitcoms and in movies. Bald guys are told no women are interested in a guy without hair, and that they should spend all the money it takes to change it.<br /><br />Now, I happen to have plenty of hair on my head, so I'm an unbiased opinion here. Judging from informal conversations with numerous women, and from what I've seen on online profiles, I think far fewer women are turned off by a receding hairline-or even flat-out baldness-than these commercials would like for us to believe. You can even go to www.hotornot.com and see the kind of objective ratings guys get for yourself. The numbers don't lie. The website is not called www.hotorbald.com (check the link-nope).<br /><br />The ladies are fed even more crazy stuff. I saw a mascara ad several years ago where the waiter made a Freudian slip and asked the lady if she wanted something or other to go with her "lashes". What a wakeup call that was to watch. Do you think us guys are really going around paying that much attention to your lashes? We may indirectly notice how long lashes positively affect a woman's attractiveness, but really--I assure you--we aren't obsessing over her eyelashes.<br /><br />Better example: fashion. Most of us guys, again not a general statement but far more than you are led to believe, really think a woman looks as great in a sweatshirt, sweatpants and ankle sox as she did in that Carolina Herrera gown last night. Really. Believe it. In fact, the "girl next door" thing in general rules with many, many guys.<br /><br />Don't we all appreciate someone real? This goes for plastic surgery, also. Informal surveys of my male friends show that we really don't all go for a large breast size. It's true. Believe that also. I can count on both hands the number of guys I know who appreciate women with surgically altered bust lines. How many times have you seen someone who has had a facelift, and immediately thought he or she would have been better off leaving it alone?<br /><br />And the clincher? News flash: Despite everything you've heard, seen, and have had played before your eyes...(are you sitting down for this?)...A LOT of guys don't prefer skinny women. In fact, some of us out here don't even have a direct preference when it comes to the subject matter of this paragraph or the preceding one. Now, extremism is one thing, and if someone is affected as such s/he should get that handled for health and lifestyle reasons. But for the most part, who a woman is-overall-is going to affect the level of attraction for a guy.<br /><br />And this thought process appears to apply to both men and women. I've heard lots of women talk about a guy with some "meat on his bones" instead of washboard abs (can't have both). And guess what? Likewise, plenty of guys like curvier women. More guys may think this way than actually will admit publicly, also-likely because of what the media has taught us is attractive. Do we all have "bad taste"? That's subjective-as it should be.<br /><br />Further, an interesting story was done that showed that men will predictably be attracted to a 7/10 ratio between waist and hips, which also happens to be a good scientific quotient for indicating female fertility, it seems. OK, so why don't all women know this? Because you can't do anything about it. You can't "spot reduce". There are no products to sell, so the media has no interest in telling you this sort of thing.<br /><br />But you have the ability to lose weight generally-if you want to. And you can put on make up, and hair "products" and different clothes. Darn skippy. And you hear about that all the time. Why? Because there's money in making people feel insecure. And once the ball is rolling, it's a financial bonanza. It's this way in part because of the basic message, and in larger part, I've come to believe, because one can never do enough. In all actuality it doesn't necessarily get attraction to happen. In fact, the cumulative effect can actually backfire, causing less attraction because of the perceived plasticism or, worse, the insecurity.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Scot McKay (ArticleBiz.com)<br /></span></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-23927833105193663462007-02-21T17:57:00.000-08:002007-02-24T07:55:03.676-08:00Internet marketing through social bookmarking<strong>Social Bookmarking and the Online Home Based Business Opportunity</strong><br /><br />Those of us who have been in Internet Marketing for awhile know the value of link popularity for an online home based business opportunity webpage. It is the webpage with the most relevant links that usually does the best and gets the coveted #1 spot in the search engines. There are many ways to develop the number of links necessary to beat your competition. Many of these are yet to be discovered. There is one very powerful idea that has come to the forefront that may be just as important as the stalwart blog and ping. It is called Social Bookmarking.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />The mechanism of social bookmarking for any online home based business opportunity is a simple one. It involves submission of multiple blog posts, articles, webpages, and even links to forum posts if that is what is desired. It is much like submitting an artile to an article directory. It is much, much simpler. The accumulation of outgoing links from a Social Bookmark account profile is where the PR (Priority Ranking) is developed over time. Of course the posts are relevant to the web pages they point to. They act just like a link page, accept you never have to go out and look for the link partners, and you do not need to reciprocate. They are just like articles, one way links.<br /><br />Popular Social Bookmarking Sites include:<br /><br />30daytags BlinkBits BlogHop BlogLot BlogMarks BlogMemes BlogPulse BmAccess browsr Fark CiteULike clipclip clipmarks Complore Connectedy Connotea de.lirio.us del.icio.us digg diigo fantacular Feedmarker Feed Me Links Furl Gibeo GoKoDo Google Notebook IceRocket Kaboodle linkaGoGo linkfilter.net linkroll Listible Lookmarks ma.gnolia Netvouz Newsvine openBM RawSugar reddit Rojo Rollyo Scuttle Shadows Simpy Sitetagger Smarking Spurl StumbleUpon taghop TailRank Ticklr unalog Yahoo My Web 2.0 yoonoo<br /><br />As multiple groups of pages accumulate for your account as a result of your consistant contributions, more of these accumulated pages are created that link directly to your web pages.<br />Then they get discovered by others. This is the social aspect of Social Bookmarking. Take digg.com for example. You perform the initial post, put in some comments, and, not in the case of Digg but in the case of other sites, put in some keyword tags. What you have is a very large collection of news items and articles all rolled into one large site. It is kind of like having a thousand or more article directories in one.<br /><br />In comes the surfer, like me, looking for content, and he/she finds it. He/She wants to include it in there own personal collection because of relevance, and add it to their bookmark collection. It does not take PR away from your webpages, it feeds PR to your webpages, and lots of it.<br /><br />So now, not only do I have the post in my own profile page, it now occurs in someone elses, and it points from their profile list of social bookmark posts directly to my webpage. This can occur thousands of times in a Social Bookmarking Site. When it does, there is a great deal of power generated back to your webpages. The number of links increase as a result of the effort of others, PR increases, and so does SE placement. Can it get any simpler to promote any online home based business opportunity?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Article Source: Leonard Bartholomew (ArticleBiz.com)<br /><br />Leonard Bartholomew, B.S. Computer Science. Find all of the elements of the </span><a href="http://www.moxie-drive.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">best home based business</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> on the internet.</span><br /></span>benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393742088326627536.post-6287842988520600462007-02-17T18:38:00.000-08:002007-02-17T18:46:34.377-08:00Cool office love kiss flash game - try itTwo weeks back, I posted some flash games from <a href="http://ushigen.blogspot.com/2007/02/games-from-milwaukees-best-light.html">Milwaukee's best light</a>. Here's one interesting flash game from a Japanese site. Its called <a href="http://tamasake.jp/offichulove/">Office Love Kiss</a>. <br /><br />Its all in Japanese but the game is simple. Click on the link above and when the page loads, find the Start button on the bottom right. The aim is to continue kissing without being caught by the boss. Click once on the girl's face and the couple will kiss while the boss is on the phone. When the kiss hits 35 times, the kisses speeds up. Don't let the boss catch you! Have fun :)benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02380009830313189264noreply@blogger.com1