Las Vegas, DUI... Ruined Vacation Serenade

How To Ruin Your Vacation In Las Vegas - DUI in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the world. Hundreds of thousands of people visit Las Vegas every year with the hope of winning BIG TIME on the turn of a card of the roll of a dice. Unfortunately not all people who visit the town obey the law when it comes to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Almost any establishment in the town is going to serve alcohol to its customers so that they have a great time and spend money. Bars and casinos do not however provide their paying customers with a safe means of returning to their homes or apartments once their night is over and they are in a stupor. As a result; every night in Las Vegas there are many many people who put down their glasses, pick up their car keys and promptly get into their cars and drive home back to their rented condo or hotel room.

For many years the hazards of driving while under the influence of alcohol have been known to drivers, and lessons on the potential dangers of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol are taught from a very early age. Alcohol diminishes an individuals response times resulting in them being more likely to be responsible for a car wreck, which could prove damaging to both themselves and another innocent party.

Las Vegas is a city where automobile traffic can be bumper to bumper which can make people drive like maniacs, which is sometimes a recipe for disaster. Think for a moment on the quickly rising costs of healthcare and auto repair. I don't think anyone would purposefully damage their vehicle with a sledge hammer. So why would they willingly take it onto the streets when there was an increased chance that they would find them self at the bottom of a pile of twisted scrap metal.

Along with the possible financial repercussions and loss of life think for a moment about the possible consequences of a person finding themselves miles from their apartment with no money or vehicle and the prospect of an awaiting jail sentence. These are the repercussions faced by the reckless people who visit Las Vegas spending a night gambling and drinking alcohol and who then decide to drive home.

After being stopped by the law their license is suspended, their car is impounded and then they must make the decision which of their friends they are then going to ask for a lift home or back to their rented condo or apartment. After returning home they must then contact a Las Vegas attorney who will agree to appear with them in court, at which point it will then be determined whether they will spend the next few years of their life eating prison food in jail.

While these consequences are not universal and are dependent solely on an individuals circumstances, almost every case of driving under the influence results in some sort of license suspension fine and jail time.

So, please do not drink and drive when you visit Las Vegas, as you are endangering both your life and that of other innocent people.

Ian Williams is not a lawyer but writes about many legal issues on his websites. He strongly disagrees with people who drink and drive but respects their legal rights. For more information about this issue please visit his sites about: DUI Attorney and Lawyer and Illinois DUI Attorney. http://www.criminal-lawyer-attorney.com.

Internet Library Verse

The Internet And The Library

"In this digital age, the custodians of published works are at the center of a global copyright controversy that casts them as villains simply for doing their job: letting people borrow books for free."
(ZDNet quoted by "Publisher's Lunch on July 13, 2001)

It is amazing that the traditional archivists of human knowledge - the libraries - failed so spectacularly to ride the tiger of the Internet, that epitome and apex of knowledge creation and distribution. At first, libraries, the inertial repositories of printed matter, were overwhelmed by the rapid pace of technology and by the ephemeral and anarchic content it spawned. They were reduced to providing access to dull card catalogues and unimaginative collections of web links. The more daring added online exhibits and digitized collections. A typical library web site is still comprised of static representations of the library's physical assets and a few quasi-interactive services.

This tendency - by both publishers and libraries - to inadequately and inappropriately pour old wine into new vessels is what caused the recent furor over e-books.

The lending of e-books to patrons appears to be a natural extension of the classical role of libraries: physical book lending. Libraries sought also to extend their archival functions to e-books. But librarians failed to grasp the essential and substantive differences between the two formats. E-books can be easily, stealthily, and cheaply copied, for instance. The source of the e-book - scanned printed titles, or converted digital files - is immaterial and irrelevant. The minute a title becomes an e-book, copyright violations are a real and present danger. Moreover, e-books are not a tangible product. "Lending" an e-book - is tantamount to copying an e-book. In other words, e-books are not books at all. They are software products. Libraries have pioneered digital collections (as they have other information technologies throughout history) and are still the main promoters of e-publishing. But now they are at risk of becoming piracy portals.

Solutions are, appropriately, being borrowed from the software industry. NetLibrary has lately granted multiple user licences to a university library system. Such licences allow for unlimited access and are priced according to the number of the library's patrons, or the number of its reading devices and terminals. Another possibility is to implement the shareware model - a trial period followed by a purchase option or an expiration, a-la Rosetta's expiring e-book.

Distributor Baker & Taylor have unveiled at the recent ALA a prototype e-book distribution system jointly developed by ibooks and Digital Owl. It will be sold to libraries by B&T's Informata division and Reciprocal.

The annual subscription for use of the digital library comprises "a catalog of digital content, brandable pages and web based tools for each participating library to customize for their patrons. Patrons of participating libraries will then be able to browse digital content online, or download and check out the content they are most interested in. Content may be checked out for an extended period of time set by each library, including checking out eBooks from home." Still, it seems that B&T's approach is heavily influenced by software licencing ("one copy one use").

But, there is an underlying, fundamental incompatibility between the Internet and the library. They are competitors. One vitiates the other. Free Internet access and e-book reading devices in libraries notwithstanding - the Internet, unless harnessed and integrated by libraries, threatens their very existence by depriving them of patrons. Libraries, in turn, threaten the budding software industry we, misleadingly, call "e-publishing".

There are major operational and philosophical differences between physical and virtual libraries. The former are based on the tried and proven technology of print. The latter on the chaos we know as cyberspace and on user-averse technologies developed by geeks and nerds, rather than by marketers, users, and librarians.

Physical libraries enjoy great advantages, not the least being their habit-forming head start (2,500 years of first mover advantage). Libraries are hubs of social interaction and entertainment (the way cinemas used to be). Libraries have catered to users' reference needs in reference centres for centuries (and, lately, through Selective Dissemination of Information, or SDI). The war is by no means decided. "Progress" may yet consist of the assimilation of hi-tech gadgets by lo-tech libraries. It may turn out to be convergence at its best, as librarians become computer savvy - and computer types create knowledge and disseminate it.

Sam Vaknin is the author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited" and "After the Rain - How the West Lost the East". He is a columnist in "Central Europe Review", United Press International (UPI) and ebookweb.org and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory, Suite101 and searcheurope.com. Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia. His web site:http://samvak.tripod.com.

More Productive Employees Ode

Happy Employees are More Productive Employees

Small workplace-enhancing changes can reap big rewards!

It's not surprising that employees cite compensation as the number one factor that makes them professionally satisfied these days.

What is surprising is that the comfort and aesthetic appearance of their physical workplace virtually ties with benefits for second place.

With an increasing number of people spending more time in their offices, the physical comfort, visual appeal and accessibility of their work environment become increasingly important. So pivotal, in fact, that the American Society of Interior Designers commissioned a 1999 nationwide study, "Recruiting and Retaining Qualified Employees - By Design" that revealed:
- Employees who were pleased with their physical workplaces were 31 percent more likely to say they were satisfied with their jobs,
- The physical workplace would impact 41 percent of employees and job seekers to accept a position, and
- The quality of their physical workplace would influence 51 percent to leave a company.

Even more eye-opening is that an astonishing 73 percent were not satisfied with the physical workplaces at their current jobs.

Certainly these statistics give one pause, particularly given the high costs, headaches and loss of productivity associated with staff member turnover. Wouldn't it make far better sense to keep valuable employees by making small, yet meaningful, cosmetic adjustments to their work environments?

"In this competitive marketplace, it is increasingly more important to focus on the appearance of the workplace," explains Todd Imholte, president of Environmental Graphics, the leading producer of wall murals for home or office in the United States. "Studies have shown that employers who care about their employees and their work environment, have noticed more motivated and productive employees."

Denise Ones, Ph.D., the Heller Vic Professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Minnesota says, "We know that there is a strong relationship between motivation and productivity in the workplace. Employees who are motivated will be more conscientious, dependable and ultimately more productive." Sage Publishing will release a book authored by Dr. Ones entitled, "The Handbook of Industrial, Work and Organizational Psychology" in September of 2001.

The Toyota manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Ky., for example, recently installed 44 of Environmental Graphics' WallMurals throughout their production facility, labs and conference rooms. According to safety manager, Karen Wells, "The murals help bring the outdoors in, making the work environment a more positive and motivating place for the employees. When people look up at the wall, they see pleasant scenery instead of a plain, boring wall. We even let the employees pick them out!"

Murals can have a tremendous impact on morale and productivity and most companies have walls that accommodate murals. Murals are a cost effective way to make a big improvement on the workplace environment. Murals, like the ones from Environmental Graphics, cost around $100.

Recognized by The Olympian newspaper of Seattle, Wash. as a "hot look that just keeps growing," many of Environmental Graphics' eight-panel, 8 feet tall by 13 feet wide murals are nature-inspired and reflect positive energy-generating feng shui elements. Popular designs include Serenity, Oriental Garden, Hawaiian Sunset, Clouds, Morning Forest, Lake in the Woods and Desert in Bloom, as well as the company's newest addition, Lighthouse Cove.

To view the complete line of wall mural designs and to get local dealer information, visit their Web site at www.egproducts.com or call toll-free (888) 205-3441 for a free brochure. To purchase Wall Murals, visit Home Depot, Lowe's, Sherwin Williams or your local paint and wallcovering retailer. Murals can also be purchased on the Internet at www.primoproducts.com.

Courtesy ARA Content, http://www.aracontent.com.

Greener Fuels Poem

Consumers Urged To Use Greener Fuels As Smog Season Approaches

As the first smog alert warnings of the season approach, Canadians are being urged to use ethanol-blended fuel to alleviate the urban smog problems plaguing many parts of the country. Many regions have experienced a significant increase in the number of "smog days" in recent years and the problem is getting worse according the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

Mr. Bliss Baker, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA), suggests motorists fill-up with ethanol-blended gasoline. "All vehicles can use ethanol blends and this is one way of addressing the issue of air pollution," said Mr. Baker.

An ethanol blend of only 10% is a proven smog fighter reducing smog forming carbon monoxide by 30% compared to regular gasoline.

"This is no longer an urban problem," said Mr. Baker. Many rural parts of the country are now experiencing poor air quality particularly in the spring and summer months. The good news is there is something we can do about it," concluded Mr. Baker.

There are currently over 1,100 gas stations in Canada that sell ethanol-blended fuel across the country from Alberta to Quebec. To find a station near you simply visit the Canadian Renewable Fuels website at www.greenfuels.org.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

Ethanol Fights Smog Serenade

Ethanol Fights Smog: CRFA

As the first smog alert warnings of the season approach, Canadians are being urged to use ethanol-blended fuel to alleviate the urban smog problems plaguing many parts of the country. Many regions such Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and most parts of Ontario have experienced a significant increase in the number of "smog days" in recent years and the problem is getting worse according the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

Mr. Bliss Baker, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA), suggests motorists fill-up with ethanol-blended gasoline. "All vehicles can use ethanol blends and this is one way of addressing the issue of air pollution," said Mr. Baker.

An ethanol blend of only 10% produces 30% less smog forming carbon monoxide than standard gasoline and is a proven smog fighter.

"This is no longer an urban problem," said Mr. Baker. Many rural parts of the country are now experiencing poor air quality particularly in the spring and summer months. The good news is there is something we can do about it," concluded Mr. Baker.

There are currently over 1,100 gas stations in Canada that sell ethanol-blended fuel across the country from Alberta to Quebec. To find a station near you simply visit the Canadian Renewable Fuels website at www.greenfuels.org and search retail directory for a station near you.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

Ethanol-Blended Gasoline Opus

Ethanol-Blended Gasoline A Proven Smog Fighter

As Canadians prepare to make their regular treks to cottage country and make plans for summer vacations the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) is urging motorists to use ethanol-blended fuels when filling up their vehicle.

Air quality issues will soon be on the front pages of many newspapers as smog season approaches and ethanol-blended gasoline can help reduce harmful tailpipe emissions according to the CRFA.

"This is no longer an urban problem," said Mr. Baker. Many rural parts of the country are now experiencing poor air quality. The good news is there is something we can do about it," concluded Mr. Baker.

There are currently over 1,100 gas stations in Canada that sell ethanol-blended fuel, across the country from Alberta to Quebec. To find a station near you simply visit the Canadian Renewable Fuels website at www.greenfuels.org and search retail directory for a station near you.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

Newsletter Publisher Packaging Value Content Verse

A Newsletter Publisher's Main Task: Packaging Value Content

The main task of a newsletter publisher is to select and package quality content of direct, practical relevance to its specific readership audience.

This might sound quick and easy, but it is not.

Publishing a quality newsletter is more than just cutting and pasting quality content into your newsletter. A quality newsletter is more than just the sum of its parts. The more the different sections in a newsletter support each other, the more benefits subscribers can get from it.

A quality newsletter makes sense out of the Internet chaos. A good newsletter editor understands the Internet big picture and is able to pick out relevant information which is packaged into one newsletter issue in a way that makes sense for its readers.

A poor quality newsletter is easily produced in less than 15 minutes of cutting and pasting quality content text. One issue of a good quality newsletter takes one day to produce - it might also select from the same content pool as the poor quality newsletter - but it takes more time in selecting the right combination of available free content for each issue.

Extremely high quality content, randomly aggregated into a newsletter makes a poor quality newsletter. Somewhat lower quality content, expertly packaged and organized make a high quality newsletter. Your editorial note (that introduces each newsletter issue), shows how much understanding and effort you put into this critically important step.

Publishing a quality newsletter is a creative process. It does not involve following three easy steps. Good editors will find this article packed with value, others will consider this article as utterly useless.

Quality newsletters gets edited by the most senior, experienced people in an organization, not on a rotational basis by anyone with some free time on their hands.

The following are some concepts that help a good newsletter editor in his or her task:

Integration: combine the value content of several experts in their fields into one newsletter issue. Each of these experts can only contribute expertise on their topics. However, when these standalone expert contributions are combined into one newsletter issue, all their contributions grow in value because it is part of a larger solution. Your newsletter subscribers can possibly get all your newsletter content easily elsewhere, but come to you because of the way you package and present it to them.

Position: by publishing a newsletter, you position yourself as the central point where they go to get quality Internet content, nicely packaged to address their exact needs.

Team: your newsletter will be more valuable if its content is produced by a team of people. This team of people consists of: guest article authors, contributors of tips, subscribers that provide questions and software products authors that ask you to review their software.

Benefits: your newsletter is only about providing benefits to its subscribers. The more value content you have the more benefits your subscribers get from you. Value content like: feature articles, guest articles, questions and answers, link to value resources, product reviews, your editorial comments, tips.

To summarize: you, as newsletter editor and publisher, use your newsletter to combine the content of your team of contributors into a logically-arranged, benefit-rich newsletter for your subscribers.

Your newsletter is benefit-rich when it is packed with useful, practical content that is directly relevant to the needs of your readers.

A newsletter is not benefit-rich only if it contains detailed, step-by-step articles.

A newsletter that helps its readers understand the bigger-picture meanings and implications of the Internet on a more philosophical level also has benefits. Such a newsletter should focus on educating its readership on how to apply their insight practically and on a daily basis to their business.

A newsletter that focus exclusively on step-by-step articles makes its readers work harder.

A newsletter that focus exclusively on philosophical, Internet bigger-picture visions make its readers think harder.

In my opinion, a combination of these approaches is best. Such a combination will make your readers work hard - smarter.

There are two main (opposite) approaches to packaging a quality content newsletter:

Your write all the content yourself ... very time-consuming.

You select and package content created by others ... the more practical and realistic approach.

Most editors choose a middle road where they contribute some original content and get the remainder of their content from other contributors.

If a good newsletter editor's main task is packaging value content, a good newsletter subscriber's task is to read, understand and ACT based on the insight the gain from this content. A good newsletter is your personalized to-do list for the week.

Alwyn Botha, the author of this article, is also the author of a free, 10-day autoresponder course ... Your Beginner's Guide to Maximum Internet Success, available from http://www.leveragedsuccess.com.

Website Polls Ode

Website Polls For You And Your Visitors

Setting up a survey on your site is extremely simple and many times just as beneficial, for two main reasons. One, they let you create a more interactive website for your visitor. Choose interesting topics, poll opinions on recent events related to your site, and people will participate to find out what other people on your site think. Second, if you write your surveys in a way that keeps them interesting and useful to yourself you can gather important information about your visitors in order to build a site better tailored to their interests.

STEP 1: Set Up The Software

You'll need to either sign up for a remotely hosted poll service or to install a CGI script on your own in order to manage your polls.

While a remotely hosted poll is not as customizable as one you host on your own, it's definitely easier to set up. One of the more popular of the many free remotely hosted poll services out there is PollIt. You can have your poll up and running fast after registering and filling out a couple forms: http://www.pollit.com/webpolls

The other option is to find or write a CGI script to run the poll on your site. This gives you the ability to customize the poll to look exactly as you want it and to fit in with your site. It also eliminates the links back to the poll host that many remotely hosted ones have. You can find a good one here: http://www.cgi-world.com/pollit.html

STEP 2: Write Your Question

The goal of your poll is to create a more interactive website for your visitors and to collect information for yourself. Choose topics where responses would interest both the visitor to your site and yourself. Ask a question about the topics your site covers to find out what your visitors want more information about.

You may even ask questions directly related to your website. Ask "what do you want to read more of" and list several topics your site covers or may cover in the future. Ask "how often do you read our daily gardening tips" and find out exactly how popular they are.. or aren't.

STEP 3: Post Your Poll

Placement is key! You won't get a heaping response to your poll unless it's very well written. Place the poll towards the top of the page where it will be visible when the page loads. While some of the remotely hosted services offer polls that pop up when the page loads, these will generally get less response than one integrated into your site well.

With CGI-based polls, you can usually use SSI or Server-Side-Includes to include your poll right in your webpage without doing much editing. Do a search at any major search engine for more information on this.

STEP 4: Use Your Results

Once you've acquired enough votes to get an idea of what your visitors are voting overall, use this information to improve your site. Build your site based on what your visitors really want to see. If they tell you they want to learn about topics over other topics, focus more on the ones they're interested in.

Hopefully this will lead to a more successful site for you in the long run. Your users will benefit from a more interactive site and a responsive website owner who tailors the site to their wants and needs.

Dan Grossman runs http://www.websitegoodies.com where you can find over 250 hand-picked resources, articles, and tools! Dan also publishes the free weekly "WebDevPortal" newsletter for website owners!

Online Dating Sites Opus

How To Get More Responses At Online Dating Sites

So, you’ve decided to join a dating website. You’re hoping someone out there will find something interesting about you and try to get to know you better.

Many members worry about appearing ‘desperate’ or over keen. This can mean putting in less effort into a profile in a bid to ‘play it cool’. Of course, nobody wishes to be seen as desperate. However, keep this in mind: how will others know what you want, if you don’t ask for it? How will they ever appreciate your finer qualities if you remain tightlipped?

Therefore, to be successful in the online dating world, your profile is highly important. Members search through a large number of profiles on these sites. If there is little information about a prospective date, then they are more than likely to skim over an empty profile as quickly as possible. Look at this as a great chance to sell yourself!

The first aspect of your profile to consider should be your photo. No matter how much emphasis people put on the importance of personality, the old expression, ‘it’s nice to put a face to a name’ couldn’t be more apt.

Physical appearance plays a big part in the real world, when first becoming attracted to someone. Also, it helps to ensure that people will remember you. The golden rule when posting photos on dating sites is obvious – BE HONEST. We’ve all heard stories of people who’ve posted a photo that is ten or twenty years old. Or worse still, a photo of someone else entirely! Now, if you never intend to meet someone, then this is not a problem. But let’s be realistic – you wouldn’t be on a dating site if you weren’t hoping to meet someone!

A misleading photo causes all sorts of unnecessary problems on a first date. You will have your date questioning your honesty. You want to turn up for dates relaxed, with your best attitude put forward. Still not convinced? Just think how you would feel, if you were deceived by a photo, and that should be incentive enough for you to be accurate.

So what if you’ve gained a few pounds? Aged a bit? Give yourself some credit, you’re still a beautiful person, and sure to be someone’s ideal ‘type’. So, try to get a recent photo of yourself, looking the best you can. Avoid shots that are so dark or distant that no one can see your face. People will only see either an insecure person, or someone who has something to hide and move on. Just think how frustrated and disinterested you’d be if you came across such a picture.

Let’s talk about location. How much information is right? Obviously, for safety reasons you aren’t going to put your address into your profile. Apart from this, put as much detail as you feel comfortable with. At least, put the state you live in. at most, your suburb. Anything in between (such as the city your suburb is located in) is also fine. We all know this, but it bears repeating, do not put your phone number on any public site.

It will save everyone a great deal of time if you are open and honest about your sexual preference.

Talk about your interests and hobbies. Don’t just leave it blank! And don’t worry if they don’t seem interesting enough. This is who you are. If you are honest and forthcoming with this information, you will be more likely to attract the type of person you are after. For example, if you were the district running champion in high school, but never intend to run again, don’t put it in as a hobby! To put in hobbies you have no interest in, in the hope of appearing more impressive, will only attract people you have nothing in common with in the here and now.

So, if you like quiet nights in, say so! Try to paint a rich and detailed picture of what the real you likes to do.

You also really need to share a part of your personality with your audience. What are your beliefs? What are you looking for in a person? Also, if you feel you have special qualities such as a sense of humour or kind nature, try to write your profile in a way that sincerely reflects that.

You are now ready to make your first attempt at creating a winning profile! Remember, you just need to keep it honest and current. You need to show you’ve made some level of effort to let members know who the real you is. And when in doubt, remind yourself: give the sort of information you yourself would be wanting to know about when looking at other members. Good luck!

Sharon Alger is the owner of the free dating site, http://www.singles-world.info.

Viagra On Love And Relationships Poem

Surprising Impact OF Viagra On Love And Relationships

In 1998, Viagra was first introduced to the world, and it is fair to say that the world has not been the same since. The impact of this medication has been enormous, not just in the narrow area of treating erectile dysfunction (ED) for which it was approved, but also in the way we think of sex and sexuality, and even in the realm of relationships between men and women.

Millions of men in the United States have tried Pfizer's wonder drug, sildenafil, better known as Viagra, and there are thus millions of women who have also seen its effects on their husbands, boyfriends, and lovers. Many other millions of men and women wonder about whether Viagra can offer a solution for their own sexual and emotional problems or for the problems of their partners. We human beings are sexual animals, after all. And unfortunately, our sex lives are not always the way we want them to be. So it's no surprise that when sex goes sour, relationships suffer in other ways as well.

Everyone wants to know about Viagra, and many are interested in trying it, whether or not they think they have an erection problem. There are always a good number of Viagra questions, such as, "What happens when a young, healthy man with normal sexual function takes Viagra?" Or "Can a woman tell during sex that her partner has taken Viagra?" Or "Is it true that Viagra increases a man's sex drive?" Viagra quickly tapped into a set of wishful fantasies that mirrored our culture's hunger for certainty and the quick fix. Supported by stories that described elderly men restored to such sexual vitality by Viagra that they abandoned their wives in favor of younger women, a conventional wisdom arose that Viagra was a fountain of youth, a sure cure, the real deal. Baby boomers could now look forward to fabulous sex well into their nineties. Men shared Viagra stories with each other at cocktail parties or around the office water cooler.

"All we can say is 'Wow!'" says one man, and other men listening in wonder how their lives might be different if they also took the magic blue pill. Women too have been targeted to confirm Viagra's ability to create satisfaction and serenity within a relationship where frustration and friction had once been the rule. One of the most successful early Pfizer ads showed a series of couples happily dancing together after Viagra apparently cured the loss of rhythm in their relationship.

Viagra jokes became a staple of comedy acts on late-night television (Have you heard the one about the man who swallowed Viagra, but it stuck in his throat? He wound up with a very stiff neck!), thus ensuring its place in our cultural lexicon. Viagra tapped into both our fantasies and our embarrassment about sexuality in a way that no other drug had ever done. When, for example, was the last time you heard a joke about a new cholesterol-lowering medication?

Skillful marketing contributed to our perception of Viagra as the pill that put the "man" in "manly." Star professional athletes-vigorous men such as baseball's Most Valuable Player Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers and NASCAR driver Mark Martin-endorse the medication in widely seen advertisements. Other kinds of athletes use Viagra as well. Hugh Hefner, the aging head of the Playboy empire who is known for his bevy of beautiful blondes, gives Viagra credit for maintaining his pleasure quotient. Rumor has it that he provides bowls of Viagra tablets at his famous parties.

Yes, the drug is enormously powerful, and it can be a lifesaver for many men, but it has also turned a bright spotlight on previously hidden areas of sexuality and relationships. In particular, it forces couples to decide what is real in their relationships and what is not. I have come to see Viagra as providing a window into the psyche of men, and perhaps indirectly into the psyche of women as well, since women are not immune from unduly high expectations regarding the benefits of Viagra and its potential to provide sexual healing.

Robert Stalling is a webmaster of an online pharmacy http://www.mynetpharma.com providing generic drugs for sexual health, weight loss, hair loss, cholesterol control, and anti allergy. Visit now for free bonus pills of generic viagra and generic cialis.

Coin Collecting Buy Serenade

Coin Collecting: What And When To Buy

Three basic rules here: buy what you like, buy what you can afford, and buy at a reasonable price. Follow this advice and you'll enjoy your coins more, you won't pay too much for them and you won't go bankrupt. Your collection should be fun to own, not a burden on the family finances. The best way to get good deals, and avoid the bad ones, is to pick up some standard reference catalogues and study the pricing very carefully. As a rule, it's better to own one high quality coin than a bunch of mediocre ones.

As for when to buy, coin collecting represents a wonderful way to commemorate great events in your life; you could buy a coin to celebrate your child's graduation, or a new baby. You can also buy coins to mark historic events such as the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

For more information on coin collecting and what to buy, visit the Royal Canadian Mint website at www.mint.ca.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

Coin Collecting Caring Verse

Coin Collecting: Tips On Caring For Your Coins

Collector coins

Royal Canadian Mint numismatic (collector) coins come encapsulated to protect the coin from damage. It is best not to remove coins from their capsules because outside they are more susceptible to nicks and wear, which reduces grade and value. When handling numismatic coins, do so by their edges and only over a cloth pad so an accidental drop won't mar them. Avoid touching the coin unnecessarily, as dirt and grease from your fingers will tarnish the finish over time. Exposure to air oxidizes metal, changing its colour. Although the aesthetics may change, price does not. The value of your coins stays the same regardless of colour.

Cleaning

Coins can lose their brightness over time, and you'll be tempted to polish them. The best advice is ... DON'T. Chances are you'll do more damage than good. The process of cleaning often leaves tiny scratches that show up under a magnifying glass and lower the value of the coin. Physical dirt can be removed by careful washing with a hand soap and patting dry. Tarnish, called toning to collectors, does not lower the value of the coin. Although dips can remove the tarnish, they also remove any remaining mint lustre. The result is a coin with an unnatural appearance and a lower value. Any cleaning will wear the coin surface, and though it may look brighter for a time, the coin will eventually lose its value to a collector. The natural tarnish of a coin is expected by collectors, and is actually proof of its authenticity.

For more information on caring for your coins, and ideas on what to collect, visit the Royal Canadian Mint website at www.mint.ca.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

Information Superhighway Profiting Ode

How To Create Your Own Information Product: 3 Examples Of Profiting From The Information Superhighway

A number of articles tout the benefits of selling your own products. (You get all the profits!) There's a lot written about how your product should somehow be "information." (This being the Information Superhighway, that's why people are here, and all that. Besides information is cheap to reproduce and can often be delivered immediately.)

Yet there are few attempts to explain just how to come up with your own information product. Some of those point out how you should identify what you are already interested in; I agree with that. And there's (the adaptation of) Thomas Edison's formula: Find a large audience with whom you can have easy, cheap, frequent contact; find out what they are in fact buying; then sell them a better and/or less expensive version of that. That, I think is essential.

However, I have not seen any attempts to explain exactly what steps you can take to develop your own information product. I think maybe part of the reason for that is ... it's impossible! (Stay with me, here.) Everybody's different, with different interests, and every information product came about differently. So it's probably not possible to explain what steps *you* should take to develop your own information product.

But you can learn how other people developed their information products. In fact, I know exactly how I came up with mine. Maybe that's the next best thing. Wouldn't you find it instructive to know how someone else did it? That should serve at least to indicate what steps you can take. Maybe that's all that's possible. (In any case, it's all you're gonna get.)

And for all the details, just send $19.95 before midnight tonight. (Sorry -- I couldn't resist.)

Actually you don't want all the gory details. Just a way to come up with a saleable information product. Right? Maybe a couple examples.

Bookmarking For Dollars

The last three products I developed are somewhat dissimilar in their format, yet their origination followed a similar path. And you'll be glad to hear that you're probably already following that path yourself!

To make sense of it, I have to mention what I was involved in. Now, this may be different than what you're involved in. But you are doing something similar! ... just on different subjects, perhaps. I know because you use the World Wide Web and, as a person, you have interests. (And it is important to realize that no matter how bizarre they may be, there are others who share those interests.)

To start, I was led to believe that a million people had already bought something. Being modest, I thought, "Great, then --unless the market is saturated-- I ought to be able to sell a million of these myself!" (Keeping your ego out of business decisions is the subject of a separate article.)

Now, it turns out that a million units had been sold ... but mostly to suckers, um "Supervisors," like myself, and hardly any had actually been sold to end users. But I didn't know that at the time. (Any similarity to the Lifetime Reminder Service is purely coincidental.)

So I was trying more and more strategies to get more and more people to my website. People would come, but they wouldn't buy. So I'd study more about website design, then change the site. Then I ran out of visitors, so I'd have to find an new way to attract people. Round and round. "I must be doing something wrong," I thought, "after all, a million people have already bought this." So I kept at it, harder and longer than I would have without the "million people" part.

I had been bookmarking helpful sites all along the way. Hundreds. Some good, some bad, some offering good-sounding advice that didn't work, many saying the same thing, most worthless. I kept dividing them up into categories, sorting, resorting.

Wouldn't you pay me money for that list: marketing sites collected for over a year, filtered, sorted, categorized?

You are doing something like that right now!

Aren't you collecting favorite places, bookmarking a lot of sites? Sure, many are unrelated: stock quotes for Amazon Books, The DAM (Mothers Against Dyslexia) Homepage, and alt.erotica.iguanas don't match up. But you have a special interest represented by a lot of links that *are* related. Skateboarding, nudism, accounting, nude accountants skateboarding, ... I don't know what. But *something.*

Whatever it is, other people have that same interest. I promise. There are six billion of us -- that's six thousand million to you Brits. Somebody has the same interests you do. And some of the ones online are actually willing to send you money in order to avoid going through what you went through to accumulate all those bookmarks. I have bought more than one list of webpages, myself. Indeed, I see that as a trend; in many ways, search engines just don't cut it any more.

Also, you probably learned some things about your special interest as a result of reading all those websites ... and had some knowledge even before you started. Write that up into a report. Just start writing; you can edit later.

And don't let that word "write" scare you. It seems that as soon as someone starts to consider writing something, they are overwhelmed by the ghosts of everyone from Shakespeare to this year's Pulitzer Prize winner. True, style is very important in fiction and poetry. But you're not writing fiction or poetry; you're just revealing facts. And all you need be able to do is explain things in such a way that people know what you're talking about. You don't need to come up with "What light through yonder window breaks;" you only need "I done this and it worked gooder for me."

I probably too-often get silly; perhaps you wish to retain your dignity. Just use whatever style comes naturally. But WRITE. (Then sell it!)

You can also combine links and a report. That's what I did. I took my links, added commentary and advice (like what you're reading right now) and software, ending up with a whole website: Internet Marketing Success Arsenal!(sm). $69.95 and I sold hundreds just the first couple months.

Another example from the same time: I was unhappy with my online credit-card processor. I found another one, one which also paid commissions. I promoted it. Eventually, competitors sprang up. As I found them, I bookmarked their sites. When I had half a dozen, I wondered which I should promote. Then it occurred to me, "Why not promote them all?" I came up with a few more resources and this became the free website GetPaidOnline.[tm] As at least one writer suggested, the information could have been packaged instead as a report; $19.95 was suggested.

Finally (actually, this was the first of the three): I had joined a couple hundred email discussion groups that allow free ads from members. I slowly whittled them down to about 100 productive ones. Along with free updates for a year, I sold that list for about $50. Just a list. I set a limit of 40 sales; it sold out in a week or two. (And judging from the results I get from that list, I am now convinced I sold it too cheap!)

My three examples relate to marketing. That's because it's one of my passions; it's what I do, and have been doing most of my life. But it doesn't matter what the subject is. It could have been herbal gardening, cooking recipes, graphics software, or any of the multitude of interests and obsessions that fascinate the human mind.

As long as you explore your passion and bookmark the best sites you come across (Aren't you already doing this?), you can create your own information product. As long as you can find other people who share your passion, YOU WILL MAKE MONEY with that information.

Do it!

Dale Armin Miller - from the Creating Value section of The Internet Marketing Success Arsenal![sm] The author is busy there stockpiling Internet-marketing resources, tactics, and tools for small and home businesses. You don't need a security clearance just to visit -- but no smoking within 500 feet. http://successarsenal.com/wow/reprt3948a.

Internet Focus Groups Poem

10 Ways Focus Groups Can Propel Your Profits

A focus group is a group of employees or current customers that discuss and brainstorm new ways to improve different parts of your business.

1. They can give you new ideas on how to advertise and market your product or service to your targeted audience.

2. They can give you ideas that could help improve your current product or service. For example, you could make it smaller, faster, heavier, etc.

3. They can give you ideas for new products or services to develop and sell. For example, a new gift wrapping service for your products.

4. They can help you solve lingering problems with your business. For example, you could give your employees incentives to solve slow production.

5. They can give you new ideas on how to cut costs and save money. For example, you could recycle damaged or old products instead of trashing them.

6. They can find new ways to improve your current customer service policy. For example, hire extra operators so you don't have to put anyone on hold.

7. They can give you new ideas on how to get the most and best out of your employees in the less amount of time.

8. They can give you news ideas for upsell, back end and add-on products to sell. For example, you could upsell a video when selling your books.

9. They can help you find new ways to stay ahead of your competition. For example, you could give your customers free shipping.

10. They can give ideas for raising your employees morale. For example, you could hold a party, give them a holiday bonus, give them a free day, etc.

Over 40,000 Free eBooks & Web Books when you visit: http://www.ldpublishing.com.

Bachelor Party Planning Serenade

Bachelor Party Planning – The Ultimate Weekend Trip with the Guys

Rounding up the guys to devour some barbecued red meat followed by a drunken jaunt to the local “nudie bar” just doesn’t seem to be cutting it for today’s soon-to-be grooms as they celebrate the end of bachelorhood. Could this new trend just be the competitive nature of men flourishing as they try to upstage their buddy’s previous celebration? Absolutely, guys want the best of everything and most of all, they want to impress. After all, it’s the Bachelor Party and not the wedding that will be most remembered and talked about event amongst a guy’s inner circle. The bachelor party is the ultimate ‘boys night out” and now future grooms are stretching this “night out’ into a whole weekend affair.

So, why all of a sudden are trends showing that bachelor parties no longer just entail one evening of cliché festivities but instead include a full weekend getaway filled with adventure? This could be due to the fact that men are now getting married later in their lives and thus have more disposable income to celebrate their bachelor parties in an out of town setting. According to Bride’s Magazine, the average age of a man getting married in the United States is now 29.

So where are today’s grooms going to celebrate their final days of bachelor freedom and more importantly what are they doing when they get there? These traveling bachelor parties all seem to wind up in destinations that make sense to travel to for a weekend and are places that have a reputation for being full of beautiful women. When the guys get to their chosen destinations they tend to indulge in adrenaline packed activities during the day like go-karting, bungee jumping, and racing experiences. Then when evening strikes, they enjoy taking in some eye-popping entertainment while being pampered like rock stars.

The Las Vegas bachelor party is probably one of the most popular choices for the high-end bachelor party. The cool thing about Vegas is that if you travel in a group you can enjoy the treatment of being pampered like royalty at an affordable price. Believe it or not, but hiring a limo for the night can actually be cheaper than cab fare and you even get to travel the strip from one hotspot to another, sipping champagne. During the day, there’s plenty of exciting activities if you’re not too hung over to participate. Take a leap of faith by bungee jumping off of the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino or get behind the wheel of your very own indy car as you reach speeds of 140 miles per hour at the Mario Andretti Racing experience.

Believe it or not some Canadian cities are carving out their place as traveling bachelor party hot beds as well. Montreal and Toronto are two of these Canadian gems which are gaining popularity with the bachelor party scene. What’s all the hype about? For starters, the two cities are renowned for their beautiful women and have incredible night life options. Toronto has been said to be one of the top cities to recruit Canadian models and the gentleman’s clubs in Montreal are known worldwide. The accessibility of Cuban cigars is another popular feature of these Canadian destinations. For those who know cigars, Cubans are the cream of the crop and their presence during the bachelor party can really score top points with the party contingent.

Other popular trends seen with the traveling bachelor party is taking in a major league sporting event. Even snow boarding adventures and learn-to-surf camps are gaining popularity.

The truth of the matter is that guys like quality time with the boys and as they get older and start focusing on their professional and family lives it begins to be much harder to do. This could explain why the bachelor party has evolved from a regular night out in a local strip club to a testosterone packed out-of-town weekend adventure. For all of you who are planning on tying the knot in the upcoming future, it’s time to get that thinking hat on early so you’re prepared for the big day, that is the bachelor party and not the wedding of course.

Mike Oulahen is a co-founder of http://guysgetaway.comthe web's first and foremost travel planning service for Men, specializing in bachelor party planning, golf trips, sports trips and VIP planning services for men.

International Marriage Agency Opus

Choosing an International Marriage Agency (Mail Order Bride Service)

It is unfortunate that when you venture outside of the United States for love that you need to be extra careful with the women you court and the dating services you use. The prevalence of dishonesty, fraud, and neglectful service from international marriage agencies is very high. These guidelines will help you select a marriage agency (mail order bride service) with integrity and capability.

Are The Women Profiled Real?

Do not use an international marriage agency strictly based on the number of beautiful women profiled on the website. Any agency that has a high percentage of beautiful women should be suspect. Beautiful women are naturally rare and the most sought out women are beautiful. So it would only make sense that the most attractive women would have the highest turnover in a marriage agency. The best looking women will find a man sooner because they have more suitors and in turn they will be more difficult for a marriage agency to replace because there are fewer beautiful women available. To work around this, it is a common practice for foreign marriage agencies to show beautiful women as unattached regardless if they are married or with boyfriend. Two other common practices to inflate the beauty and number of women in an agency is the theft of photos from other marriage and model agencies websites, and illicit arrangements with local photographers for the purchase of personal photos of women without their consent or knowledge.

Beautiful women profiled in a marriage agency are meaningless if they are not available and unfortunately that is often the case. Many international marriage agencies will do whatever it takes to lure beautiful women to join. This is a translated example of an ad placed by a Colombian marriage agency in the local paper: “[Colombian marriage agency] invites all women interested in meeting American and European gentlemen with the opportunity of participating in a visa raffle enroll and participate in social events, free photographic session.” There is no visa raffle in Colombia this marriage agency like others is trying to entice women to join under a false pretense of getting a travel visa. So instead of attracting women looking for love they attract women trying to leave the country. The fact that you may end up with a woman that is hiding her true intent for marrying you is obviously of no concern to such agencies. By using a trusted marriage agency the beauty you see will be real and available.

Do They Have Good Referrals?

A good marriage agency should be able to provide you with many referrals. Talk to there past clients on their experience with the agency and the experience of other Americans they might of met while using the marriage agency services. If the agency provides introduction events ask them how many guys attended the last event. Ask if they were all successful in finding a likely wife. If the answer is yes then ask for the contact information for all these men. If everyone got what they came for then the agency should be eager to provide all the glowing references. If the answer is no all the men were not successful find out why, ask what the agency could have done differently to have helped those men. Be sure everything they tell you is consistent and reasonable. A good marriage agency will be able to provide ample referrals to back up their services. Your best insurance on the quality of the marriage agency is plenty of positive customer experiences.

Do They Have Real Testimonials

Do not rely on website testimonials that can be fabricated unless they can be traced to a source. Find out who said what about whom and then verify the accuracy of the quote. It is unlikely the agency will tell you, most international marriage agencies follow the precept that the bigger the lie the more likely you will believe it. Use a marriage agency that will show you the source and full context of all their quoted material.

Do They Have A Positive Reputation?

A marriage agency should have a good reputation find out by accessing the dating forums that specializes in the region of the world you are interested in. Ask the marriage agency what are the largest active forums in their industry. Go there and search on a particular agency in the forum’s archives. Post a question asking about the good and the bad agencies. An agency with a good reputation should not fear the spotlight of the open forums. An agency with a good reputation would participate in the forums and have a history of dialogue that can be used to evaluate their services. Don’t make your selection a guessing game when the recorded history is out there for a sound judgment on the best marriage agency to use. A marriage agency that claims not to know any international dating forums is lying.

Is The Owner Trustworthy?

Talk to the owner is he a man you can trust. How long has he been in business and can he verify a record of success. Be cautious of any push to get you to sign-up prior to the next upcoming event, you dictate the deadlines not the marriage agency. Ask the owner what distinguishes their agency from the others and why you will be more successful under their care. Are you going to be treated as an individual or as part of the pack? Ask as many questions as possible to scrutinize all aspects of the service you are interested in. Your trip itinerary needs to be clearly defined. Understand the details and specifics that will make your travels to find a wife successful.

Do They Have an Established Office with Experience Support?

When you use an international marriage agency that does not have a staffed office at your arrival destination you must rely on temporary, free lance labor. Such help will rarely have your long-term best interest in mind. In poor, developing countries survival often brings out the worse in people. We have seen many examples of free lance translators taking advantage of Americans through theft, dishonesty and manipulation. In corrupt third world countries a lot of effort is required to find competent individuals with integrity and reliability that can be trusted, particularly in delicate, private, emotional matters. A qualified intermediary takes training and experience. You will get neither of this with most marriage agencies where the only requirement is that they speak your language. The difference between foreign women and American women requires a cultural navigation best guided by trained professional matchmakers that will help you bridge the cultural differences and build a successful relationship. You are best served by an established local office that supports you with full-time, experienced, trained, dedicated, professional matchmakers who can properly assist you.

Are They A Middleman?

Most international marriage agencies on the Internet are resellers and franchises. They are marketing middlemen that associate with foreign local marriage agencies. They fabricate an alternative website and use the database of girls from the independent foreign agency which has its own separate website that actually provides the services. Anytime an extra layer is added you can expect increased delays, miscommunications and problems. Deal with a trusted source and verify they are not just a commissioned agent with a good tongue for promotion and hype.

Are They An Objective Source Of Information?

Many marriage agencies will create phony dating directory websites or dating forums that will try to mislead you into thinking they are an objective, independent source of information and advice on mail order brides. They will then recommend particular marriage agencies that unbeknown to you they own. Their objective is to sucker you and others as a valid resource on mail order brides when they are nothing more then advertisement that funnels you to a deceptive marriage agency. These false dating directories and forums are not easy to detect without a knowledgeable eye. While legitimate dating directories can be a valuable resource it is best to use a variety of the above check methods for validating a quality marriage agency.

Do They Have a Stated Policy to Prevent You from Being Scammed by Scheming Women?

Find out what steps the marriage agency takes to protect you from insincere women. How often do they remove such women from their website? What is considered unacceptable behavior from the female members? How does the agency protect its female members? Do not trust any agency that promises prevention due to their screening process. You can not screen out scammers you can only remove those that are caught in the act.

What Happens When You Use A Bad Marriage Agency?

Obviously you lose time and money but you also perpetuate the continued theft and disservice for those that will follow in your footsteps. By not scrutinizing the marriage agency track record and referrals you allow the non-honest marriage agencies another day to prey on the unsuspecting. Most but not all of the dishonest agencies will have much lower prices than the legitimate marriage agency because their intention is to do very little so it’s easy to flout discounted prices for services and promises that will never materialize. By following the above precautious in the selection of your agent the international path for finding a quality wife will be well worth the effort.

Jamie Morrow is the owner of International Introductions http://international-introductions.coma marriage agency specializing in Latin women. His expertise is in the mail order brides industry.

Email Marketing Verse

Email Marketing - How Best To Manage and Distribute Your Messages

This holiday season 15 percent of consumers in the US plan to buy online, spending an average of $585. That’s 9 percent more revenue for online merchants in comparison to last year’s results.

A recent report estimates that Canadians will spend half a billion dollars online for gifts this holiday season. Even by conservative estimates the total number predicted is double the $282 million predicted for Christmas, 1999.

Whatever way you look at it - doing business over the net is growing at incredible rates and email marketing is becoming a ‘given’ element of many marketing campaigns. It should come as no surprise that tools to help us manage our email lists and distribution are becoming increasingly important.

The challenge in incorporating email marketing into a campaign is determining what type of email service best suits your business needs, today and in the long-term.

There are two main choices when establishing and maintaining email marketing programs: A desktop email marketing application or an email campaign submission service.

Let me describe the two options in greater detail -

Email Marketing Application - Tools such as these allow you to create, manage and distribute your own customized email campaigns. Cost is usually a one-time software purchase. This approach is best suited to those companies with a fairly well defined target market and corresponding email distribution list. This approach can also be used if your target audience is growing and/or change. The software applications available allow the user to build, maintain and change their own email distribution lists, create rich messages and distribute your campaigns.

I would recommend this type of product to those businesses with a pre-identified target audience and an ability to access a distribution list to reach this audience. With a desktop application your original investment provides you with the flexibility to manage and define your own e-mail distribution lists - this is the type of service for you if you’re interested in owning and maintaining your own list and using this list as part of the intellectual property of your business.

Campaign Submission Service - When you use this type of service you are contracting a third-party to provide you with the interface to your customers and/or target audience. The agent will distribute your message to one or several opt-in e-mail lists that have been provided based upon some stated interest on the part of the recipients. These are lists of people who have registered for certain websites, e-zines or newsletters or have asked to receive information via e-mail and have stated their interested in certain subjects.

The agent or submission service will work with you to determine the list that best matches your product, service or announcement - working together you will use pre-existing lists to create a target email audience for your company’s use. The submission service will receive your message and distribute to one or more of the email lists - the quality control element in place is that you are sending relevant information to recipients that have already stated an interest in a related subject matter and most likely the message will not be viewed as SPAM. Cost usually runs on an 8 to 30 cent per email sent charge.

The submission service allows you to work with experts in the field of gathering e-mail distribution lists based on subject(s) interest and the application of this technology in receiving information. Each time you want to distribute a message you rely on these service providers for their advice, lists and expertise in distributing your information. If you’re new to the e-mail marketing forum and your business does not yet have a substantial e-mail distribution list - this service may be able to fill the gap and get you into the game.

A couple of items to keep in mind - the overall cost of your e-mail marketing efforts, campaign tracking reports and the future role of email marketing in your overall direct marketing plans.

There are plenty of choices in the marketplace - educate yourself and make the best decision for your organization.

Karen Fegarty is with MailWorkZ. MailWorkZ has been instrumental in developing new email technology. MailWorkZ's award winning email marketing tool, is key to reaching your customers in a highly efficient, personalized manner. Reach Karen at karen@mailworkz.com.

Internet Marketing FREE Ode

Internet Marketing- The Two Faces of FREE

'FREE' is the reason people are successful, and make a fortune marketing on the internet, yet 'FREE' is also the reason 90% of people fail miserably!

It is all to do with your approach to your business and your careful use of 'FREE' things.

You will never make any money placing your own ads on other people's FREE classified sites and/or FFA links, even if you have submission software.

And you will never make money with just a FREE self replicating website.

This is the point when most people give up. But you must realise that you will never become rich for FREE.

You must invest initially in a professionally designed webpage/site and place links to your programs. You will then be able to promote your own unique website, and people can click on your programs once they visit you, and see everything you are offering.

Mix up the programs you are promoting on your website. Some can be FREE, but others should have cost you something to start up. If you introduce a thousand people for example, and all of you just get a FREE self replicating website, then no one makes any money!

Once you have a good professional looking website set up, and you have a reasonable advertising budget to work with, which you know you can comfortably afford to spend each week, then you are ready to exploit the other side of FREE!

It is your customers, and potential customers, who need to be given FREE things.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that customers are sitting at their computer screens, with their mouse in one hand and their credit cards in the other, surfing the net to spend their hard earned cash on anything or everything they see.

You have to earn your customers respect to get money from them, and the best way to earn respect from a customer is to give them something for FREE.

To get them to sign up for your newsletter or ezine then offer them lots of FREEBIES.

There are now so many ezines around that they need to have a reason to subscribe to yours.

And keep them subscribing! I offer new daily FREE software and FREE E-books to all my own subscribers.

Even more important is to offer FREE things on your website to get your visitors there in the first place.

Placing an ad that reads 'Buy this amazing widget at my site...' will attract just a fraction of the visitors that an ad reading, 'View details of this amazing widget and get FREE entry into our $25,000 weekly drawing, FREE software, FREE ebooks and FREE grocery vouchers worth hundreds of dollars!....'

Yet all of these Freebies, and thousands more can be found quite easily by yourself by surfing all of the FREE sites, and collecting what you think will be suitable for your own visitors.(Just type in the word 'FREE' into any search engine for a huge list of sites.)

Also visit lotto and competition sites for suitable FREE games you can include on your site.

Also offer even more Freebies as an incentive for your customers to buy products from you. For example, 'Buy this widget from me by midnight tonight and I will also give you 10 FREE adverts in our ezine.'

And apart from giving away FREE ads in your ezine, also have a FREE classified ads section on your own website where people can place their ads. Again you will find them flocking to your site to do this.

So there you have the two faces of FREE, one is ugly and one is beautiful!

To ensure success just make sure that you know which face is which!

Paul White is a 42 year old former teacher. He now helps people all around the world to become wealthy online. Whatever you are selling, visit the popular site: http://www.profitmountain.com.

Consumer Rights Opus

Got A Beef: Here's How To Get Satisfaction

Have you recently purchased a product that doesn't do what it's supposed to do? Do you feel like you were deceived? Here's what the Canadian Consumer Handbook and Consumer Connection suggest you do in such a situation:
- First of all, don't be afraid to complain. The majority of businesses will be pleased to set matters right. They realize that customer goodwill is still the best form of advertising.
- Keep a file of important information. Include copies of sales receipts, repair orders, warranties, cancelled cheques, contracts, and any letters to or from the company.
- DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. If a product is defective, it is important that you return it quickly so that you do not lose the right to get your money back, as well as damages in some cases.

Consumer Connection (located at http://consumer.ic.gc.ca) has information not only on complaining effectively but also advice on consumer rights, making informed decisions, and protecting yourself from unscrupulous dealers. The Canadian Consumer Handbook gives vital information on the differences between proper and improper business procedures, on how to approach banks, insurance companies, utility companies, landlords and many others.

Consumer Connection is an award-winning Web site developed by the Office of Consumer Affairs of Industry Canada. It provides rapid access to consumer information, powerful tools to cut research time, and many useful links to consumer and other organizations. Canadians can access Consumer Connection from home, the public library, community access points or from Government of Canada, provincial and territorial service outlets. For a variety of information on everything from bank fees, to privacy rights, to the latest scams or frauds, this is the place to go.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

Florida Incorporating Poem

Florida Isn't Just For Tourists

No matter what your interests, you will find something in Florida to enjoy. Whether you like mouse ears and theme parks, the warm, sunny beaches or the exotic wildlife, Florida attractions are hard to beat. With an increasingly friendly business environment, Florida is also a great place to do business!

When most people think of Florida they think of sunshine, palm trees and fabulous winter vacations. What most people don't realize is that Florida is also a great place to incorporate. If you own your own business or are considering starting one, you owe it to yourself to discover the benefits of a Florida corporation.

For starters, there is no personal income tax in the State of Florida. While regular corporations are subject to a 5.5% tax on federal taxable income over $5,000, if you incorporate your Florida business and elect S status you can have your cake and eat it too! Florida S corporations are NOT taxable entities and are therefore not required to file state income tax returns (except for the first year). The result is this: you can have the benefits of a corporation, and pay no tax! But there's more:

Unlike most states, Florida does not have any minimum capital requirements. So if you are just starting out and don't have a lot of money, you can still take full advantage of incorporating without having to put a lot of cash into your company. Some states require you to fund your corporation with at least $1,000 in capital. Not so in Florida.

Another good thing about incorporating in Florida is that it's easy to do and you don't have to involve a lot of different people. For example, while many states require you to have more than one director and a different person for each corporate officer, in Florida the Director, President, Secretary and Treasurer can all be the SAME person! This makes it easy for smaller businesses that want the benefits of a corporation without all the hassle.

Florida is increasingly becoming a “business friendly” state. It already has some of the lowest annual fees and corporate reporting requirements in the country. But here's some even better news: The shareholders, directors and officers of a Florida corporation can remain anonymous if they so choose!

The Secretary of State of Florida does not require the names or addresses of shareholders, directors or officers to be listed in the articles of incorporation. Since the State does not keep a record of who owns or controls the corporation, you can conduct business in Florida with complete PRIVACY.

One of the first decisions a business owner must make after deciding to incorporate is selecting the proper state of incorporation. While there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer or standard, some states are better to incorporate in than others. Florida happens to be one of the better choices.

However, what's right for some isn't necessarily what's right for everybody. If you are considering incorporating your business, then you owe it to yourself to examine all of the choices. Before making any legal or financial decision, always consult with an experienced and competent professional who knows you and your unique circumstances.

And be sure to mention Florida as one of the possible choices. Remember, Florida isn't only for tourists: It's for corporations too!

Alex Goumakos is a CPA, business advisor and guest consultant of Active Filings LLC, a professional incorporating company that provides services in all US. http://www.activefilings.com.

Struggling With Addictions Serenade

Struggling With Addictions

What kind of bad habits do you struggle with? Most people think that when they come to Christ that their bad habits will magically disappear. And some church people act like if you have any bad habits in your life that you must not truly be saved, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Christians or not, we are all people, and people make mistakes. People have bad habits.

If you are anything like me, you have poured your heart out in counseling sessions with your church leaders, stood in prayer lines, repented and vowed to do better. And still found yourself giving into that temptation the next time it presented itself, leaving you asking, “What’s wrong with me?”

Nothing. There is nothing wrong with you. The very fact that you are concerned about it is a good sign. It’s the people who won’t admit they have a problem that should worry.

Everyone, at one time or another, struggles with some type of bad habit or addiction. Maybe it’s shopping too much, smoking, drinking alcohol, pornography, coffee, sweets, etc. People don’t want others to know about their problems, so they hide them in the closet, hoping that no one will ever find out about their secret. When a problem is hidden in the dark, it will continue to haunt you. But once it is brought into the light, that is when you will be able to overcome it.

A bad habit or addiction is anything that robs you of your time with God, that you feel that you must hide, that hurts your health or the health of others or is against the Word of God.

It is important that we guard what we are feeding the gates of our heart–our eyes, ears and mouth. Looking at pornographic magazines or watching R-rated movies causes those images to enter our eye gates, and once there, our minds store those images for safe keeping. Then at the most awkward moments, it will replay those images. Maybe in your dreams, when you are praising God at church or when you are kissing your girlfriend.

Perhaps you don’t watch anything objectionable. Instead your vice of choice is heavy-metal or rap music that talk about killing cops and degrading women. At first, you may just think the music has a nice beat, but after awhile, even though, you are not consciously listening to the lyrics, those words–the ones about murder, drugs and sex–will seep into your subconscious. You will find yourself getting into trouble because you have a shorter fuse than you used to. You will blur the line between right and wrong. You won’t remember why having sex without a marriage license is sinful, why stealing and lying are immoral. All because you didn’t guard what you let through your eye and ear gates.

How do you overcome the bad habits and addictions in your life?

1. Repent. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If we didn’t struggle with problems in life, there would be no reason to repent. However, we do, so we must ask God to forgive us for our wrongdoings. He is a gracious God who promises to forgive us when we repent. The mistake most of us make is in hiding our sin from God. Somehow we think that we can hide it from the One who sees all and knows all. Run to God when you slip in your recovery. Run to Him when you sin because He is on your side. He is not sitting up in Heaven, waiting to pounce on you anytime you make a mistake. That is not who He is. God is love not hate.

2. Ask God For Help. In II Corinthians 12:9, God tell us “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. Think about that for a moment. In our times of weakness, we can count on God to be strong for us. If we team up with God, we can conquer anything. Romans 8:37 promises that “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Philippians 4:13 states that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Never be afraid to ask God for help because without Him, beating a bad habit is like digging yourself out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It’s an uphill battle.

3. Make A Decision. I will–when said together, those two words can be the strongest words in the English language. Why? Because they denote choice. Even in the Garden of Eden, we find humans making their own choices. Eve could have chose not to talk to the serpent. She could have decided not to eat the fruit. Adam could have refused the fruit when Eve offered it to him.

Every day we make choices. Will I have the soup or the salad? Will I cheat at golf? Will I give back the extra change the cashier gave me? Every day we make up our minds to do the right thing or to do the wrong thing. But when faced with a choice, humans usually choose the wrong thing because it is easier to give into temptations than to say “no.”

So, we must train ourselves to choose the right option. Whenever you have to choose between right and wrong, take a moment and determine which is the wrong option and which is the right. If you don’t know, ask yourself what would happen if you picked a certain option. If it would result in someone being hurt or in something that is contrary to God’s Word, it is the wrong choice.

4. Find Someone To Talk To. James 5:16 advises us to “Confess your faults one to another that ye may be healed...” As I said before, when we leave things in the dark, they continue to have a hold over us. In order to stop this cycle, we must find someone to confess our habits and addictions to. Once it is out in the open, then you will begin to heal in that area of your life. Make sure to find someone you can trust to talk to. You don’t want your sins to be broadcast all over your church, your neighborhood or your school. Instead go to your minister, youth pastor, parents, school counselor or a close friend.

Expose your bad habits and addictions to God’s light, and you will be amazed at how quickly they will crumble under the heat.

Annagail Lynes is editor of VisionHope Magazine. She specializes in writing articles for young adults about dating, school, parents, peer pressure and other youth-related issues. Get your Free Sample Issue of VisionHope, plus free articles and free pen pal ads at http://visionhope.ontheweb.com.

Picking Up Verse

Picking Up The Pieces

"My feelings have changed," my boyfriend of five years told me during one of our nightly seven o'clock phone calls. "I don't think we should see each other anymore." His words hit me, probably worse than if he had just punched me in the stomach. The pain of being physically hit would eventually subside, but the emotional pain that his words had left would be a battle wound I would carry with me from relationship to relationship until it finally healed. I have had four steady boyfriends in my life. Two of which I dumped, and two of which I was dumped by. In my experience, it is much worse being dumped than doing the dumping. When you are dumped, you feel like you are being rejected, that you were somehow not good enough. Wen I was freelance writing, evitably I would be rejected either because the magazine didn't have enough room or because they did a similar article. But I read an article that said, "Every article has a home. And when you receive a rejection letter, it is just saying that your article lives at a different address." The same is true with relationship. God has a person in mind for each of us, so when we are dumped by one person, we can just cross that one of our list. The one God has for us is still out there. All we have to do is find him or her. What's the old saying? You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a prince. After I was dumped, I felt numb. Then the anger set in. My anger was building, and I was afraid if it wasn’t released soon that I would explode like an active volcano, spewing destruction on everyone and everything in my path. Ephesians 4:26 warns us to “Be ye angry, and sin not...,” which indicates that anger in itself is not a sin. It is what we do with that anger, that is.

God gave us the emotion of anger as a built-in system that flashes when evil is triumphing, such as when you see your little sister being beat up by an older student at school or when you see one of your teachers abusing a classmate.

What do we do with that anger?

It is perhaps better to isolate yourself by taking a walk or going into your bedroom. When you are alone, tell God about your problems in detail and from the bottom of your heart. God understands you better than you understand yourself. He knows what you should do and can offer you advice you never thought of. Just talk to Him as if you were talking to a friend.

Then decide what course of action to take. Make sure it is an action where you are able to handle your anger constructively. Punching someone out or telling a someone off is not handling your anger appropriately.

Before trying counseling, find a good friend who will let you use him as a sounding board. Someone you can call day or night, who will listen to you about your problems and feelings. Promise to do the same for that person at some future time.

If you can't find a friend to "vent" to, buy a journal. Some people find writing out their feelings in a private place where no one else will see it helpful. I personally write my journal entries as prayers to God. Or write a letter to the object of your anger. Write everything you want to tell that person. After you are done, either rip it up or put it through a paper shredder. I do not suggest sending it to that person.

When nothing else seems to work, seek counseling. Perhaps your pastor could counsel you or refer you to someone who can. Try to get to a Christian counselor. One who is a mature believer. He will also need to be a good listener. A person who does not necessarily solve your problems for you.

No matter how my ex-boyfriend treated me, no matter what he said, it was still necessary for me to forgive him.

I imagined my ex-boyfriend sitting on my couch and told him why I was mad at him, made a decision to forgive him and to release the bitterness I felt toward him. Then I asked God to forgive me for holding a grudge against him. Afterward, I felt one-hundred percent better.

Matthew 6:15 says “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. “

This shows how important it is to forgive, if we want God to forgive us. Even after you choose to forgive someone and give the matter to God, you may still feel angry toward that person. It is not that you haven’t forgiven him, it is just that your feelings haven’t conformed to your decision yet. In time, your feelings will catch up. Your feelings are not an accurate judge of what is true.

In the meantime, Matthew 5:44 (KJV) gives us this advice, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” It will be hard at first, but stick with it and your feelings of anger will have to flee.

Don’t be anxious to rush into a new relationship because you attract what you are. For example, if you are a hurting person, you attract hurting people. If you are a whole person, you attract whole people.

Instead of jumping into another relationship, spend sometime working with God on you. When you love yourself just the way you are and have developed a relationship with God, then you will be able to attract a godly man who really loves you rather than a loser who will dump you for the next pretty thing that comes along.

Annagail Lynes is editor of VisionHope Magazine. She specializes in writing articles for young adults about dating, school, parents, peer pressure and other youth-related issues. Get your Free Sample Issue of VisionHope, plus free articles and free pen pal ads at http://visionhope.ontheweb.com.

Decorating With Wallpaper Ode

Creating Unique Details With Wallpaper Borders (Decorating With Wallpaper)

True decorating distinction lies in details -- little finishing touches and unusual twists that make a room entirely unique. To put your personal mark of creativity in your home, do what many professional interior designers do: Head for the border.

Wallpaper borders are among the most versatile of decorating tools. Furthermore, they are affordable and easy to install. Nearly any wall takes on a more finished look with the addition of a border. But to achieve real distinction, think beyond merely adding a border along the top of the wall. For new ideas, look up and look down.

Consider, for example, placing a decorative border on the ceiling itself, connecting that often-ignored overhead expanse to the walls. Decorators often refer to the ceiling as "the fifth wall," another palette on which to apply their art. By surrounding a room, at the ceiling, with a continuous, unobstructed border, you create a "tray" effect that visually holds the room together.

Nowhere is this technique more useful than in the kitchen. Kitchens typically contain permanent appliances and cabinets that separate wall space. By installing this elegant leopard print border above the crown molding, the overall space has been unified while also giving the room greater depth and height.

The border also provides a visual transition between the kitchen and the living room beyond it. Both the leopard border and the banana leaf wallpaper are from the Winnetka collection from S. A. Maxwell Co. Like all Maxwell collections, Winnetka is arranged in groups according to color. This assures easy coordination among patterns within the same room and from one room to another. All design groups in collections by S.A. Maxwell contain several borders in different widths.

Double-bordering more than doubles your creativity. By combining two borders from the Winnetka collection, we created a truly custom border in the living room. The four-inch leopard border, placed along the outside perimeter of the ceiling, is the "anchor." Banana leaves on the die-cut border repeat the theme of the wallpaper pattern, while their sculptured, outlined edges reach into the room.

Die-cut borders provide sculptured-edge detailing that was once only achieved by tedious hand-trimming around a pattern. To install a double custom border, combine the two patterns on a table, positioning them exactly the way you want them to overlap and join. Measure their combined width. Beginning at the point where the ceiling meets the wall, make a light pencil mark on the ceiling to show how far your custom double border will extend onto the ceiling. Install the straight border first, then overlap it with the sculptured design. This idea works equally well along the bottom of walls, at chair rail height, or wherever else you want to surprise the eye with something special.

Double borders don't have to be joined together to give a room a lift. In a guest room, we ran two different, sculptured ivy patterns parallel to each other, 20 inches apart. Both are from S.A. Maxwell's Wicker Park collection. The large basket and ivy border runs just beneath the crown molding at the ceiling, and the diminutive die-cut ivy border "underlines" it 20 inches below. Even more layering is possible. You might add a vertical stripe wallpaper between the two borders and even place the coordinating ivy trail wallpaper from the same collection under all these layers.

Now you're on a roll. So why not use your border leftovers to decorate a hat box or a group of shoe boxes and make the inside of your guest room closet as appealing -- and unique -- as the room you've created?

For more border ideas, locate a retailer near you that carries coordinated wallpaper and border collections from S.A. Maxwell Co. by calling (847) 932-3700 or visiting www.samaxwell.com.

Courtesy ARA Content, http://www.aracontent.com.