Sailing on the costa del sol

Spain is part of the European Union and all EU and American nationals can visit the country for a period of no longer than 90 days solely with a passport. EU national can apply for a residency permit if they wish to extend their stay. Non EU nationals can apply for a further 90 day extension. These regulations do not appear to be enforced as far as the yachtsman living aboard is concerned. It is advisable to clear customs if entering Spain for the first time. The vessel's registration papers and the passports of crew members will be required. A certificate of competence, evidence of the boat's VAT status, a crew list with passport details, the radio license and a certificate of insurance may also be required. A VAT (Value Added Tax) paid or exempt yacht can apply for a "permiso aduanero" . This allows for an indefinite stay in the country and can be helpful when importing yacht spares from other EU countries. Boats registered outside the EU on which VAT has not been paid may be imported into the EU for a period not exceeding six months in any twelve, after that VAT becomes due. This period can often be extended by prior arrangement with the local custom authorities. There is a legal requirement for foreign vessels to fly their own national maritime flag together with the courtesy flag of Spain.

It is worth considering the following equipment when cruising this area. An SSB radio is useful for obtaining weather forecasts. It is very hot in the summer and ventilation is important. It may be worth fitting extra hatches and a wind scoop over the fore hatch will help a lot. An awning or biminy, covering the cockpit, to provide shelter from the sun is a must. A cockpit table is useful as eating outside during the summer months is one of the pleasures of cruising. Mosquitoes can be a problem and many boats screen all openings while others rely on mosquito coils, insecticides and repellents. Sunburn is the other hazard cruisers should be aware of, the sun can be deceptively strong while the boat is underway, plenty of cream and a hat will go along way to avoid the misery of sunstroke.

There is a constant east going current of between 1 and 2 knots flowing through the straight of Gibraltar and between the Costa del Sol and the north African coast. There is some tide to be considered at the western end of the region, Gibraltar sees 1 metre at most. This diminishes the further east traveled. The weather is affected by several systems and is consequently difficult to predict. There is an old saying that in the summer months nine days of light winds will be followed by a full blown gale that is inaccurate. A wind from the northwest is known as the "tramotana". It can be dangerous because it can arrive and reach gale force in as little as 15 minutes. It often lasts for 3 days and can blow in excess of a week. The wind from the east, the "levante" can also blow for several days at gale force. Annual rainfall at Gibraltar is 760mm. The Costa del Sol will experience about 4 days a month of fog. Summer temperatures can exceed 35 degrees C and the winter months see around 15 degrees.

The remainder of this article looks principally at the harbours of the Costa del Sol. There are also numerous anchorages bbut only a few of the notable ones are mentioned here.

Marina Bay is largest of Gibraltar's three marinas with 350 berths. Most berthing is stern/bow to. Larger yachts can lie alongside. Water and electricity on the pontoons. Within the complex you will find a chandlers, launderette and a good selection of restaurants and bars. There is an indoor market less than 5 minutes walk from the marina. Queensway Marina is much quieter than Gibraltar's other two marinas. Security is excellent with all the pontoons being gated. Within the complex you will find several restaurants and bars.

Gibraltar itself was ceded from the Spanish to the British in the early 18th century and for most of it's history since that time Spain has been trying to get it back. There is evidence of this wherever you go on the rock. The rock itself is honeycombed with tunnels constructed at one time or another for the purposes of adding to the defences of Gibraltar. Many of the older tunnels are open to the public and feature exhibitions of how life was for the soldiers of the day. Many of the tunnels are most definitely not open to the public and there is considerable speculation as to what might be seen in these. You can see Rosia Bay where Admiral Lord Nelson's body was bought ashore from HMS Victory following his famous victory over a combined French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson's body was returned to Britain for a hero's funeral but many of the seamen who died alongside him in the battle are buried on the rock at the Trafalgar cemetery. Take a cable car ride to the top of the rock, stunning views of Spain and across the straights to Morocco. Up here you will also find the famous colony of Barbary apes. Rumor has it that only when the apes are no more will the British leave the Rock. A rumor taken seriously by Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War, who on learning of their dwindling population ordered more to be bought to the Rock from Africa.

Puerto de Sotogrande is an attractive marina complex surrounded by apartments, shops, bars and restaurants. The overall design has been inspired by Portofino. There are

sandy beaches to either side of the marina and golf, riding, tennis and squash courts nearby. One of the most expensive marinas on this part of the coast.

One of my favorites is Puerto de la Duquessa. Not too big and not to noisy. The marina is surrounded by apartments, shops, restaurants and bars. The marina offers free medical care to it's users. There are sandy beaches either side of the marina. The village of Sabinillas is 5 minutes walk to the north. Another bus will take you to the village of Casares which clings to the side of a mountain. Marbella, popular with the rich and famous is another bus journey away. Don't expect to see the famous on the bus though, they are the ones in the Ferraris. Hire a car and drive up to the picturesque town of Ronda.

Puerto de Estapona is a medium sized marina with the usual development of restaurants and bars.

Puerto de Jose Banus, the marina of the rich and famous and the prices reflect this. Whitewashed, Andalucian style building surround the marina, hosting boutiques, bars, restaurants and night clubs. There are several Yacht Charter and Yacht Brokerage operations within the marina complex. Marbella is 15 minutes away by car or bus. Good beach to the west of the marina which belongs to the hotel and allows berth holders access. This can be arranged at the control tower. Many golf courses in the area.

The small marina at Puerto de Marbella is surrounded by tourist developments. The marina can be noisy at night during the summer months. Wind from the east, south and southwest can produce a heavy swell within the harbour. Be prepared to double up on lines. Beaches on either side of the marina but these get very crowded during the summer months. The town itself is well worth exploring. Don't miss the famous Orange Square which can be found at the heart of the city centre.

Puerto de Cabopino is a pleasant, small harbour surrounded by Andalucian style houses which makes a nice change from the normal high rise developments. Good shelter within the harbour. Limited space for transient yachts and it is recommended that you call ahead to confirm there is a berth available. Marina charges are on the high side. Cabopino beach, with it's fine sand is reckoned to be one of the best on the Costa del Sol

Good shelter can be found at Puerto de Fuengirola. The nearby town is both noisy and very busy during the summer months. All provisions can be obtained in the town. There are good beaches on either side of the marina but these get very crowded during the summer months.

Puerto de Benalmadena is a huge marina with over 150,000 square metres of water. There is good shelter with the only swell being experienced in a W gale. Whilst the surrounding area is the usual overpowering high rise blacks the marina itself is quite attractive. It was named best marina in the world in both 1995 and 1998. There are over 200 commercial premises including boutiques, night clubs and the usual numerous restaurants and bars. There is also a sea life centre. There are good beaches on either side of the marina. Malaga airport is just 8 km away.

Puerto de Malaga is the major commercial and fishing port of the Costa del Sol. The only facilities for yachts are at the Real Club Mediterraneo de Malaga and there is little room for visitors. Malaga, known as the "City of Flowers" is both interesting and charming. It can be reached on foot from the port.

The small harbour of Puerto del Candado is found 3.5 miles E of Malaga. Suitable for vessels drawing 2m or less. With strong winds from the W - SW considerable swell builds up and the harbour becomes uncomfortable. Harbour charges are low

Puerto de Puerto Caleta de Velez is a quiet fishing harbour 22 miles to east of Malaga. There are beaches on either side of the marina.

The anchorages of Fondeadero de Neja and Cala de Miel are both worth a visit. Cala de Miel has a fresh water spring.

Marina del Este is a purpose built marina set amongst a huge housing development in a beautiful area. Wind from NE - E produces a limited amount of swell within the marina. Harbour charges are high in the summer months. There is a small beach close to the harbour and a pool at the yacht club. There are prehistoric caves to be seen at Nerja. The city of Granada and the famous Alhambra can be seen in a days trip. As can the Alpahurras valley, with it's charming villages, towered over by the magnificent Sierra Nevada.

Once a small fishing port, Puerto de Motril has developed into a commercial port serving the inland city of Granada. Beaches on either side of the harbour.

The harbour of Puerto de Adra was founded by the Phoenicians and has been in use ever since. Today it is both a commercial and fishing port. The continual movement of the fishing boats makes for much disturbance. Facilities are limited. Harbour charges are high. Beaches on either side of the harbour. Adra town is small and has little in the way of development for tourism.

Puerto de Almerimar, a very large marina with the capacity for over 1,000 boats. Excellent shelter from everything but strong SW winds when some swell can build up towards the entrance of the harbour. Prices are low. Astonishingly so compared to some other marinas on the Costa del Sol. Sandy beaches on either side of the marina. This part of the coast is covered with plastic greenhouses, it has to be seen to be appreciated both for the vast number of acres under cover and it's ugliness.

Puerto de Roquetas del Mar is a small fishing harbour. Strong winds from the SE - NE make the harbour uncomfortable.

Good shelter can be found at Puerto de del Aguadulce except with wind from the ESE which can cause some swell making conditions uncomfortable. The marina can cater for some 150 boats. The complex includes a swimming pool and squash court. Sandy beaches to the S with waters clean enough to merit a blue CE flag. Two 18 hole golf courses.

The Puerto de Almeria is a commercial & fishing port. Yachts use the Club de Mar del Almeria. There are several large rusty industrial structures close by a dominating the view and giving the place a rather grim feel. Overall the shelter is good but strong winds from the E produce swell that makes it uncomfortable within the marina. The Alcazaba inAlmeria, a Moorish castle, is well worth a visit.

Getting productive with your home based business

With the advance of technology and the internet, and all of the advantages that these things bring, many people have found satisfaction in a home based business opportunity. The perks of a home based business opportunity are many, from being able to set one’s own schedule to availability for travel, the relaxed dress code and work environment, etc.

Many who have left an office setting for the dream of a home based business opportunity have found that it is all they wished for and more. However, when pursuing a home based business opportunity, one may find that doing work in the home environment presents an entirely new set of challenges.

One challenge that comes with a home based business opportunity is the large number of chores and tasks at home that often need to be done. These can become a distraction for those trying to balance a home based business opportunity with the regular, mundane aspects of managing a home. With a home based business opportunity, many times the amount of income that can be earned is solely dependent on the diligence and hard work of the business owner. Especially if some of the work for your home based business opportunity is something with which one can easily procrastinate, it may be a good idea to explore ways of making sure one is as productive as possible.

One excellent idea for streamlining productivity is creating a home office that is specifically set aside for your home based business opportunity. This enables you to focus all of your attention on your home based business opportunity without interruptions or distractions from well meaning friends and family. Music, television, conversation, and many other relatively harmless activities of everyday family life can actually interrupt or compete with your thoughts as you are working on your home based business opportunity. Setting up an office allows one to be in the home environment while still having a private place to pursue a home based business opportunity. If there is not an extra room available for an office, a home based business opportunity can also be pursued by way of a work space in a quieter area of one’s home.

Another idea that may help you to make the most of your home based business opportunity is setting specific business hours. One of the challenges of a home based business opportunity is the fact that you may not be viewed as “working” since you are at home rather than away in an office setting. It can sometimes be difficult to pull one’s self away from invitations and conversations with friends and family in order to do the necessary work that a home based business opportunity requires. When you set specific hours for your home based business opportunity, all of your friends and family will understand that they are not able to disturb you during this time. This suggestion also tends to help those who have a difficult time staying on task and getting things accomplished, which is an important facet of any home based business opportunity.

Unique and different bridal shower favors handmade

Unique and different bridal shower favors are not always easy to find. After all, if they are in the stores or on websites that sell bridal shower favors, they are available to a wide range of people. They may still be unique to you and your friends, but why not consider making your bridal shower favors?

Unique and different bridal shower favors, that are handmade by you, will be treasured far more than those that are ordered in haste.

Candle Bridal Shower Favors

First you will need the candles. Candles can be purchased in bulk for making your unique and different bridal shower favors. Look online for the Candle Factory of Grand Traverse. There you can order white tea candles in metal cups for as little as 12 cents each. Tea lights will burn up to 4 hours, so this may be as large as you want for bridal shower favors. If you want a longer burning or larger candle, order 9-hour votives for as little as 19 cents.

Next you will need candle holders. Bell-a-Roma is a good place to shop. Their selection includes holders for either tea lights or votive candles. If you need bridal shower favors for a beach-theme, you might like the ceramic dolphin holders. For an autumn or winter bridal shower, you might choose the glass flower holders. Their tall flower candle holders are beautiful pastel tulips on green metal stems with green leaves – a delicate, romantic bridal shower favor for a garden party.

Finally, you will need ribbon and copies of small photos of the bridal couple for your bridal shower favors. You can scan a photo into a computer, and print as many copies as you need. Choose white or pastel ribbon to go with your candles and holders. Satin ribbon is good and will tie easily.

To assemble your homemade bridal shower favors, simply thread thin satin ribbon through a hole in each photo, and then tie the ribbon in a bow around your candle holder. Insert a candle, and your unique bridal shower favor is ready.

Tip: If you realize you won't have time to assemble these, but still want candles, look under Bell-a-Roma's heading "wedding candles" for a unique and different bridal shower favor. The "Just Married Car" is a candle holder with clear glass votive holder filled with scented wax. The favor features bride and groom in a just married car. They have many other bridal shower favors I've seen nowhere else. Unique!

Mini Scrapbook Bridal Shower Favors

Scrapbooking is rapidly growing in popularity. Why not create mini scrapbooks for your bridal shower favors? This will work best with digital scrapbooking.

First, visit Oriental Trading Company online and order their Matchbook Albums – one for each bridal shower favor you need.

Scan photos of the bride and her friends into your computer, and size them to fit the 3" x 3" scrapbook pages. Passport size photos work well. Crop your photos to focus on the most important details.

Create 6 digital scrapbook pages, with different digital paper for each. Open windows for your photos, insert, and frame them. Add a brief note or caption and a small embellishment.

Now print copies of your digital pages for each bridal shower favor. Assemble, and tie with ribbon for unique and different bridal shower favors.

Wooden Letter Bridal Shower Favors

This unique bridal shower favor will be treasured by everyone at your party. Purchase large wooden letters at a craft or home store. Oriental Trading has these letters, painted white, in 6" height. Purchase the letter that will be the bride's new last initial. For example, if her married name will be Jones, purchase a letter "J" for each bridal shower favor.

"Scrap" the wood letters with scrapbooking paper, ribbon, and stickers that have meaning to the bride and her friends. Tie a ribbon on each bridal shower favor when it is done.

Heart Tin Bridal Shower Favors

Heart tins filled with candy need not be boring. They can be bridal shower favors as unique as you are. Purchase small, plain heart tins with lids at a craft store. Embellish the lids with symbols and words that have meaning for you and the bride. Find embellishments at a scrapbooking supply site or craft store. Fill the tins with red cinnamon heart candies for a unique bridal shower favor.

The best of boating accessories

With every hobby comes a host of accompaniments available to make your experience that much better. And when it comes to boating there’s no difference. Boating accessories abound, designed to enhance the boater’s experience and add a level of convenience and luxury to otherwise ordinary endeavors. Boating accessories can supplement the many features of a boat and add to the comfort level onboard; they can also take luxury to a new level.

Of course, there are required boating accessories such as those safety items that remain onboard at all times including life jackets, fire extinguishers, distress signals such as flares, a throwable ring or cushion to reach someone who has fallen overboard, a first aid kit, several flashlights with extra batteries, and working lights on the boat. It is also important to have a compass – or GPS – on board for navigational purposes, as well as a radio for open communication. Some states also require a bilge pump on board that will handle any water the boat has taken on in an emergency. There are other non-required – but highly recommended - safety boating accessories such as a life boat. For longer trips especially it makes the most sense to carry as much as you can in order to be as prepared as possible.

There are also highly entertaining boating accessories that making boating the fun activity that so many people enjoy. The inclusion of sporting equipment – such as water skiing equipment, jet skis, and fishing poles makes boating about more than just the boat itself – but rather the activities that can happen around it.

Onboard living has become the greatest in luxury; more and more boat owners are detailing their boats with the latest boating accessories designed to enhance the onboard experience. Boating accessories such as convenience appliances – microwaves, blenders, etc. - and entertainment equipment – specially designed DVD players, boat specific speaker systems - have made staying on a boat the ultimate in comfort and luxury.

Boating accessories make boating more than just a weekend activity; they make your boat another home where you and your family can be as comfortable – if not more comfortable – than you would be on land.

Online dating advice making the first move

Online Dating is often cited as a great way for shy people to extend their social circle and find love, but lack of confidence can be just as bad on the Internet as it is offline. For many people, making contact online can be quite a daunting task and the fear of rejection can be just as strong. There are a few important things to keep in mind for when you’ve found someone you want to make contact with.

Traditional gender roles

Some people are still labouring under the belief that it’s always the man who should contact the woman. While this may be true for some men, especially in the traditional dating world, the online dating scene is quite different. With so many people using the various dating sites, a woman could be waiting a very long time if she didn’t make a move herself. Luckily, it seems most women are not afraid of contacting men online. Surveys have also revealed that the vast majority of men are not put off by women contacting them and in fact find it quite flattering. If the man is shy himself, this could be the best and maybe only way to make contact.

Cheats and helping hands

Many sites nowadays offer handy features to take the sting out of contacting someone for the first time. Features like “winks”, “kisses” etc. are basically a way to send someone a quick preset message with the click of a button to let them know you are interested. On some sites, you can send quick multi-user messages to anyone who fits your search criteria so you can contact a whole load of people at once.

What to send

This is not an exact science, seeing as dating is a personal thing. A message that leaves one person indifferent could be just the thing to interest another. As a rule though, try to keep things personal. Comment on the other person’s profile to make them know you took the time to read it. Compliment them by telling them why you chose to send a message to them rather than anyone else. Comments like “you have a nice smile” are good, but it’s probably best to avoid any comments about body parts, unless you are on a site that is advertised for people who are predominantly looking for sex.

When writing, include information about yourself but don’t write too long a message, most people wouldn’t bother reading that much and, after all, you are only trying to start a conversation. Asking the other person about him/herself is a good way to ensure they have something to talk about if they want to write back.

Not always a rejection

It’s easy to get discouraged if you’ve sent someone a message and did not receive a reply, but the truth is, there could be a lot of reasons why a person did not respond and most of them have nothing to do with you at all. This is more true online than anywhere else, because there are even more elements to consider. For example, the nature of online dating means people can be selective from the start about what they want in a way that is different from traditional dating. If you are insecure about your looks, it’s easy to assume it’s your picture that put people off, but in reality, it could be something completely unrelated that has made the other person think you are incompatible.

It’s worth making sure your profile is as good as it can be and includes a picture of you before you start contacting people. A lot of people won’t bother replying to people whose profiles do not have a picture and many won’t bother replying to people who’ve written nothing at all about themselves.

Aluminum loading ramps

One of the key responsibilities for any business owner is to ensure that all staff in the workplace enjoy the best protection from accidental injury. By providing the proper safety equipment wherever it is required, the chance of any member of the workforce falling victim to an industrial accident can be minimized.

Depending on the exact nature of your business, the safety equipment required for the optimum protection of staff will differ, and there is no one size fits all solution to creating a secure environment for your workforce. Precautionary measures that prevent people getting too close to machinery, combined with a safety conscious mindset will reduce the incidence of industrial accidents, and as a result reduce unwanted workplace costs to cover compensating employees who get injured.

If you need to provide easy access to trucks in a location where there is no permanent access or dock available, then aluminum loading ramps are the perfect solution. Hardwearing, sturdy, and completely reliable when locked in place, they will enable staff to load and unload the cargo.

Over the past few years, employers have placed increased emphasis on ensuring that all areas of their workplace are as safe and secure as possible to reduce the risk of employee injury. One area where it has traditionally been difficult to protect staff has been the loading bay. Even with a dock in place, it is all too easy for carelessness to lead to accidents where articles are damaged and staff injured needlessly.

By using an aluminum loading ramp for staff to guarantee ease of access to trucks, the risk of falling is significantly reduced. The latest vehicle access ramps are designed with safety and security in mind, and possess a number of innovative features that prevent accidents.

The most obvious safety feature of these ramps is a 1 Ѕ inch curb that runs up either side of the walkway, and prevents pallet trucks and carts from rolling off the side of the ramp when it is in use. It is a simple and elegant solution that significantly reduces risk. Another area where the latest aluminum loading ramps offer major improvements over any alternative is in the fact that they come complete with a set of sturdy chains that hook into place and prevent the ramp from sliding loose when in use.

Unlike competing products, the aluminum loading ramps offered for sale by some companies are easy to move around, and can be put in place by a single person. Rather than having to lug the heavy and unwieldy ramps into place and secure them, these modern ramps come with the option of different carts to get them into the right place quickly.

You can choose an aluminum loading ramp with either a simple lightweight card that locks into place on the bottom of the ramp and allows for the unit to be wheeled into place quickly by hand, or opt for an adjustable wheel system that can be set at the optimum height using a hand crank. Both options make getting the ramp into position a great deal simpler than any alternative method, and increase the safety of the units in use by locking when in place to prevent unwanted movement.

Thanks to the use of only the highest quality materials in the construction of these lightweight but strong loading ramps, they can support heavy weights up to 2,000 pounds depending on the model. With a variety of lengths available from 6 feet up to 16 feet, and a width of either 28 inches or 38 inches, these aluminum ramps come ready for use, and can be safely used in order to provide access to trucks up to 64 inches in height.

How to get low rates on home equity loan

A low rate home equity loan is a good way to get some serious cash in a hurry without risking everything in the process. This method of obtaining a loan is gaining wide spread acceptance because there is very little risk involved. This comes with the fact that the money is coming from the funds that you have already put into your home and therefore is actually your money if you think about it. This is why there is so little risk involved and it is easy to get the loans because you already have a proven track record of paying and they are doing nothing more than cashing out what you have already paid in.

There are a few things that you should do to make sure that you are getting a low rate home equity loan. First and foremost you should be sure to read over the agreement carefully before signing. This is common sense but many would be surprised to know how many people just sign and take the companies word that they are getting the best. Before you know it you could be involved in something that is above all else, bad. This can mean losing the home that you have worked so hard to pay for and that will spell disaster. Of course there is little that anyone does not know about loan companies, they are after their money and that is what really matters. So you should make sure that the low rate home equity loan that you are signing up for is going to stay at the rate that you are signing up for. In some cases the companies reserve the right to raise the rate as they see fit and that can mean a good many bad things.

Of course the low rate home equity loan should also be something that you want to receive. There are several lenders out there that are known as predators. These types of companies will make attractive offers that you did not ask for and in the end they will talk people into cashing out when they really have no reason to do so. In these cases the homeowner is the one that loses. These companies will charge the highest fees in the business and make it very hard to pay back the loan. In the end they will end up owning the home and you will have nothing to show for the years that you paid in.

8 tips for picking the perfect wedding dress

When little girls spend their math classes daydreaming of weddings (instead of winning the World Series -- not to say you can't do both), what do they dream of first? The perfect wedding dress, of course: a gown in white satin with a bustle and sweeping train, the perfect embellishments, and the perfect shoes.

There are few occasions in our modern world where a woman finds herself in a position to wear a no-holds-barred ball gown, much less a crystal tiara, and all too many where she's called on to wear to a neutral suit or uninspiring "biz-caz" combo. No wonder that with so many brides, their wedding plans start with the dress.

Many of these brides are lucky. They may search high and low, braving chilly department stores and pushy bridal shops, but eventually they come face-to-face with The One. They know this is The One because they start crying, or their mother or friends all start crying at once. Suddenly the rest of the planning ... the theme, the tone, the right kind of venues ... it all springs to life.

Other brides aren't as fortunate. They've searched just as hard, working their way through shops across three or four states, but they haven't found The One. Instead, they've found three or four Contenders, all of which are serviceable and nice, but not earth-shattering enough to tell them that now is definitely time to stop the searching and get on with the planning. These brides have it harder.

Even if you're the first kind of bride, buying the dress is such a momentous decision that you run a risk of falling into that wallet-skinning category known as the Two-Dress Bride. Here are some tips for picking the perfect dress and avoiding that awful fate.

1. Bring the entourage, but don't buy. It's fun and useful to bring your mother, friends or sisters on the dress-shopping expedition. It gives you a buffer against an overbearing sales staff, and it's fun to see if your impressions of perfection are shared by your loved ones, not to mention how they'll love being part of such an important decision. But no matter how enthusiastic everyone gets over a certain dress, don't buy in the heat of the moment. Give yourself time to reconsider and buy with a cool head later, alone. The vast majority of dresses are non-returnable, so when you've bought it, you've bought it.

2. Don't buy too early unless you must. Bridal gowns can take four to ten months to come from the manufacturer, but there's no reason to buy over a year ahead of time, unless your chosen style is going to be discontinued. Give yourself some time to sit on your decision. Once you pick a gown, you'll see a hundred others nearly like it. You'll become a walking encyclopedia on that style of gown. All the better if you still have room to choose.

3. If you've bought "The One," stop shopping. Any more window-shopping at this point will only lead you down the road toward the dreary land of Two-Dress Brides. What you need to do instead is remember that blissful feeling of having tried on The One. Go get The One out of the closet, put it on and stand in front of the mirror. You'll remember exactly why it's The One.

4. If you've bought "The One" and can't stop shopping, get a second opinion. Show your first and second choices to other brides. Be honest -- tell them you've already remortgaged your condo for the first dress, but you think this second dress might be It. They'll be truthful, too -- the first one was better. You'll feel reassured.

5. Don't tell yourself "I'll sell the old dress and choose a new one." This old saw of the Two-Dress Bride just won't work. You'll never get more than a fraction of what you paid for your first dress if you bought it new.

6. Don't be afraid to aim high -- no matter what your budget. Some brides knew from the start they wanted a designer label, but life just didn't cooperate by making them heiresses. Yet all is not lost if you're willing to shop courageously. At any given moment, a better-heeled bride is selling her once-used St. Pucchi or Ulla-Maija on eBay. She paid thousands upon thousands, but you, smart shopper, will pay half that or less. To take this road, you must shop earlier than other brides so you'll have a choice of gowns. Always pay with a credit card so you'll have recourse if the dress doesn't arrive in acceptable condition, and again, shop early so you can buy another if necessary. Shop courageously, but not recklessly.

7. Shop online, but never send a check. Bridal gown businesses sometimes have a way of disappearing overnight. No matter what the proprietor tells you, never make a purchase as large as a wedding gown without the chargeback protection of a credit card. If they say they can't take plastic, move on.

8. Don't hold out forever for The One. Some brides never find The One. What they do find is a few dresses they look beautiful in. If you're this bride, try starting your planning from the theme instead of the dress. You'll probably eventually get sick to death of dress shopping. When that happens, "good enough" really will be good enough. Concentrate on other aspects of the wedding that mean a lot to you, like the venue, the food, or the inevitable adoration of your soon-to-be husband.

The most important sports betting article ever written

One of the most common questions that I get is where in God's name (no pun intended) do Wise Guys and sharp players get so much information? Just as the only way to Carnegie Hall is Apractice, practice, practice", the only way to win in sports handicapping is Ainformation, information, information".

All you need to get that information is to merely live, sleep, and breathe sports handicapping. Well maybe forget the sleep part. Siestas are really is not much of an option in sports soothsaying. An endless supply of coffee is indispensable apparatus as well. Also make sure that your insurance company covers marriage counseling.

Are you still with me? If so, you are ready to be a Wise Guy.

Do handicappers and high rollers really have "inside information"? In reality it depends on how loose your definition of "inside information" is. Didn't Bill Clinton utter that same line or something to that effect?

Anyway, Wise Guys and the few legitimate handicappers out there do have the time, resources and knowledge of where and how to find useful information and data that 99 accurate breakdown of how a game ended.

For college, the Sportnetwork. com logs the sequence of scores that they sent, so one can get a decent idea of heartrending endings, especially when cross-referencing with the game recaps.

This also applies but with different criterion in baseballChow much the bullpen was used etc, but that is for a future article. Many sites give pitch-by-pitch breakdowns as provided by Stats Inc.

In the NBA especially and this occurs more often than one thinks, I just get giddy when I read that a few players thought their upcoming opponent ran the score up or was shown up by a gratuitous windmill slam dunk or something to that effect. This is especially true if the team that feels they were shown up was on the road in the referenced game and is playing home in the upcoming game.

Also certain beat writers especially in the NFL and college football can be outstanding giving accurate unit versus unit breakdowns. But Wise Guys have the experience to distinguish as to who the heck knows what they are talking about and who is blowing smoke

I regret that Sportingnews. com for several years was a must-visit for college football as they broke down literally every Division I game. However they have reduced that feature. Sadly I guess the budget limited the quantity down to the marquee games and quite frankly the quality seemed to go with it.

They also were one of the best sites scrutinizing the NCAA Basketball Tournament. I noticed that ESPN Insider picked up the slack during the 2003-04 bowl season. The gambler can only hope they have the updated write-ups for the Big Dance match-ups that Sportingnews. com had.

As mentioned in previous articles, one of the big keys to handicapping games is spotting deceptive final scores in handicapping or how and why teams really lost. That is why any true handicapper must own a satellite dish. I won't leave home without it. Well I guess that's why I don't leave home. It is also invaluable as far as scouting mismatches in personnel match-ups.

Sports gaming posting boards are good vehicles for gamblers to share information.

In a perfect world the best sites would be not be moderated but in places like the sports gambling newsgroup and other sites flaming takes precedence over content and forces valuable contributors to go to the refereed sites.

Much like distinguishing from amongst the good beat writers and the unqualified scribes, one must differentiate between the posting board participants who provide quality and accurate insight and those who cannot.

Utilizing the best databases is essential to triumphant prognostication. There are many out there, both free and pay sites.

Computer Sports World is best for baseball, Covers. com for both the NBA and college hoops. With 10-16 game schedules for college football and the NFL one must as we have stated have the ability to look beyond the mere data. Not ignore it mind you but an aberrational game here and there can dilute the statistical significance of football raw numbers.

Feist's site has some good databases but Covers and others made them obsolete. Chalk Gaming, which like StatFox, is now syndicated at OffshoreInsiders. com has quality information and for those who very much like to ride hot teams, they can rank teams in different categories over the last five or ten games.

There, you now know the trade secrets. All you need to do is invest 35 hours a day, 10 days a week, 60 weeks a year. America's greatest sports service the Dream Team at GodsTips, anchor of OffshoreInsiders. com has done it successfully for years and so can you.

What goes into determining my auto premium

Insurance companies consider many factors before they provide you with an auto insurance quote. Here is some of the basic information that goes into compiling your auto quote:

Age: Insurance companies like older more experienced drivers. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), 16 to 19 years olds are four times more likely than older drivers to be involved in a car crash. Premiums tend to decrease as the young driver ages.

Type of Car: Brand new, expensive, fast cars are more expensive to insure than older, slower cars. Check to see if the car you're interested in insuring is a high risk car, meaning that it is often stolen or vandalized. For instance, in 2004, the 1995 Honda Civic was the most stolen car in the US according to a report released in November 2005 by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Discuss this with your insurance agent before you select a car. The cost of insuring it might determine how much car you can afford.

Driving Record: Clean driving record is important to getting a lower rate. If you do have a violation, attend a driver's education class. This may help to reduce your rate. Some insurance companies will not insure drivers with very poor driving records.

Credit Score: Yes, that's right. Credit score. Your credit score is also used when securing insurance. It is called an insurance score. Studies indicate that the way a person manages their finances is a good predictor of the potential for insurance claims, therefore they charge a premium in accordance with the risk they are assuming. According to statistics, people with lower insurance scores are more likely to file claims.

Deductibles: The higher the deductible, the more you save in premium. Go as high as you can afford.

Underwriting guidelines vary slightly from company to company, so get more than one automobile quote and compare.

Diet for aching joints

Chronic illnesses like arthritis, are often linked to dietary practices. Researches show that certain food can start arthritic pain. But on the positive side, recent studies also show that some food can alleviate pain caused by arthritis. However, it must be clarified that far from being cures, these offer only temporary relief or act as preventive measures.

Teas are known detoxifiers and cleansers. But did you know that they also minimize inflammatory signals that cause arthritic pain? It is actually advised by doctors to persons who suffer from arthritis to drink more tea. Moreover, all teas made from tea leaves have the same effect. This means that it doesn't matter if you prefer black tea over green tea. Another drink which have high anti-inflammatory agents is red wine or other grape-based wine. Snacking on fresh grapes is also advised since these agents are actually found on grape skins.

Vegetables are also known to restrict transmissions of pain signals. Experts even advocate the removal of animal products from your diet to reduce pain and inflammation due to arthritis. Broccoli has glutathione, an efficient detoxifier and antioxidant. Researches show that people with lower glutathione levels are more prone to arthritis than people with higher levels. It's not a problem if you don't like brocolli; cauliflower, tomatoes, asparagus, potatoes, and cabbages also have high levels of glutathione. If you are a fruit person, this agent is found in watermelon, grapefruit, peaches, oranges, and avocados. Speaking of fruits, pineapples also contain anti-inflammatory agents and are known minimize swellings.

Containing large amounts of fatty acids like omega-3, fish had also made its mark as an anti-inflammatory agent. Researchers found that consuming more fish actually reduced risks of developing arthritis in women. Omega-3 in fish limit the inflammatory agent production. Fish diets composed of tuna, mackerel, herring, and other oily fish are recommended. Fish oils supplements are even prescribed for people who suffer from severe arthritis. Another source of good fatty acids is olive oil. Experts recommend cooking vegetables in olive oil. They found out that compared to raw veggies, those cooked in olive oil actually produce more anti-inflammatory agents. Another health food that reduces pain caused by arthritis is soy or soy beans. What's more, it's an excellent substitute for protein.

Maintain a diet abundant in the above-mentioned foods and minimize the discomfort of having arthritis. Don't have arthritis? Start this diet just the same and lower the odds of having it. After all, no one wants to grow old with aching joints.

Small business manager tips

You are the owner and manager of a small business. Not only do you need to know about the inner-workings of the business and the financial issues but you also need to be a good manager. Management skills can be just as important in keeping the business running well as your other areas of expertise. Here are some quick and easy management tips to help you keep the business running smoothly.

Make rules but be fair. In this day and age you need to set some ground rules so that each employee is treated fairly. However, you also need to know when to use common sense to guide you through sticky situations. Write down your expectations, and then translate those into language that your employees will understand. Present this to each new hire and post the rules in the office.

Understand the workings of the data and telephone systems. Use new technology to help your employees work more efficiently. If your company warrants it look into a good corporate long distance plan. Train employees on the office systems in place so that they can take advantage of the timesaving features they provide.

Don’t worry about the small things. If you have a tendency to micro-manage your employees they won’t feel free to be creative and to think outside the box. Allow others to do things in their own way as long as they can accomplish what’s needed. Constantly picking on the work of others will only keep employees from ownership of their work.

Learn to delegate. Most manager/owners have trouble giving up tasks to others. They may feel that the work is best completed by them. However, you need to give employees a chance to be productive. If the only tasks they ever receive are mundane or tedious they will soon tire of the situation. What’s more, you need people who you can count on to help the business thrive. After all, you will need to take time off and get a vacation and need to know that the business will run properly even when you are away.

Teach employees what their job is. Write complete job descriptions for each position. These descriptions should be specific and complete so that current and potential employees understand their job functions. Update the descriptions as needed. Provide plenty of on the job training and remember that not everyone catches on quickly. Have patience and understanding.

Communicate regularly with all employees. Employees need to know what is happening. Rumors can run rampant and can ruin morale in the process. Send a monthly email memo or hand out a newsletter. The communication will do wonders to keep things running smoothly and to keep attitudes up.

Stress good customer service. First and foremost your customers are who keep your business going. Make sure that employees put customer service first and keep it there. Offer courses or webinars that teach employees good customer service skills. Plan some training time each month for each employee. Even an hour or two per month will help keep customer service in the forefront.

G-code and experts

Do I need to be a G-Code Expert?

In a word, no. You will probably need to know how to quickly scan your G-Code if you are having problems during your machining simulation. Other then that G-Code and a CNC program are throwaway programs for the most part. What do I mean by that? Let me explain.

Let’s look at a specific design. Let’s say a 12” by 12” square. You build your model, run it through your CAM Software and create a CNC Program made up of G-Code instructions to your machine. Say tomorrow the job requirements change to a 24” by 24” square. Do you go into your G-Code line by line and change the code? Most people wouldn’t. They would go back into their CAD or CAM program and scale the square up to 24” by 24”. Then post-process the job again to get their new G-Code program.

There are some people that would do this editing line by line because the design is simple. Now think of a complex shape and what scaling it up or down would entail.

This would include massive changes to the G-Code and reviewing it line by line. We are talking thousands of lines here vs. going back and quickly scaling the model and spitting out some new G-Code. And that is why G-Code is throwaway. Use it over and over when you can, but don’t fret over archiving it if something changes. It is much better to make a copy of the design (CAD File) in its original state and save that somewhere. That is much more useful.

Post Processing? - Now you have me worried. With all the variations in G-Codes and M-Codes, how will I ever keep it straight?

Don’t worry about that. The CAM program you choose will have many Post Processors. Post Processors are like translators. They help the CAM Program spit out the right G-Codes for your specific machine. All you have to do is select the right Post Processor before you spit out the G-Code. That is simple.

Most CAM programs have many machine specific post processors already loaded. All you do is go to the list of them and click on your machine to select it.

If you build your own CNC Machine, there are generic post processors loaded for different types of machines. Usually you pick a generic one and modify it a bit with a little testing. You are making sure a move in the X-Axis positive direction really means what you want it to mean.

Back in the good old days of Home CNC, everything was transferred on a disk. Now I have seen people include their Control Computers on their home computer network and transfer the files needed wirelessly. At a very minimum, get a good jump drive and transfer things back and forth that way.

CNC has become a very popular hobby and more and more people are starting to hop on the band wagon of CNC. Its a fun hobby and easy to do from your very own home with just a little elbow grease and creative mind.

Finding the pet food that will optimize your pet s health

It goes without saying that we all love our pets, and we want to ensure that they live long and healthy lives. We take them to the vet for their checkups and vaccinations, we spay and neuter them to help reduce the animal population, and we open our hearts and our homes to them. We also are subjected to a steady stream of pet food commercials, each company trying to convince us that their pet food is superior to the others. The unfortunate truth, though, is that not all pet food companies have your beloved animal's best interests at heart.

In fact, much of the dog/cat food on the market isn't nutrient dense; instead, it relies in large part on fillers and animal byproducts. Look closely at the list of ingredients for the pet food you have on hand. Even so-called premium brand pet foods have ingredients that will take you aback.

The first five ingredients listed usually make up the lion's share of the pet food. Leading cat food and dog food brands will include things like chicken by-product meal, corn grits, corn meal or corn gluten meal, and wheat flour or wheat gluten. An ideal diet for cats is one that's human grade. For example, cat food should contain a concentrated, high-quality protein source like chicken meal, ground brown rice, rice flour, chicken fat, and dried beet pulp. Dog food should contain the same ingredients, with the exception of substituting oat groats for rice flour.

The list of ingredients in your dog/cat food may be surprising, but it's also startling to see that even premium brands don't typically include ingredients that will sustain your pet's health and longevity.

What are some of these ingredients? For dogs and cats, nutritious food should include vegetables and fruits, which contain antioxidants, as well as fiber, vitamins, and phytonutrients. It should also include direct-fed microbials - the kinds of microbials that are found in yogurt that help maintain good health. Similarly, omega-3 fatty acids should be incorporated into a nutritious pet food, both because they support health and because they keep your pet's coat shiny.

When you contrast how we eat with how our pets eat, it becomes clear that the quality of their food is of paramount importance. After all, we eat a wide variety of foods, and can always supplement our diets with vitamins if we skip on the veggies or fruit. Our pets, on the other hand, eat the same food day in and day out for most of their lives, with a few added treats now and then; if there's a vital nutrient missing, they don't have the opportunity to consume it elsewhere.

Life's abundance is meant to be shared. Our pets give us so much unconditional love that the least we can do in return is provide them with human grade, nutritious pet food that will ensure that they enrich our lives for years to come.

Why translating your website in hindi makes better sense

Why Translating Your Website in Hindi Makes Better Sense

Did you know that in 2002, an estimated 32% of Internet users were non-English speakers? With the phenomenal growth of computer usage and the spread of the net fever, especially in the third world countries, the figure would have multiplied manifold in the past 4 years.

In fact, the Internet is fast becoming the basic and fundamental source and dissemination of information, purchases of goods and services worldwide. In addition, those computer and Internet users are increasingly from non-English speaking countries. This figure is constantly rising. In response, businesses have quickly become aware of the benefits of making their websites relevant to the native languages of the target audience.

Marketing is all about speaking the customers’ language

There is no denying that the rest of the world outside of English-speaking countries is coming online faster than never before. What is the state of affairs, and how does that impact businesses worldwide? How serious is the impact of everyone "going global"? And, more importantly, what needs to be done with our Websites to fully take advantage of this wave of non-English-speaking people coming online?

Whether or not a person speaks English has really nothing to do with the responsibility of a Website to communicate in the language of the target markets. Indians read English just fine, and yet they feel comfortable to surf in their own language. They live their life in their own language, not in English. If you want to attract their attention, your site has to go where they are, and speak to them in their own language.

Outside the seven countries where English is native, and India too, there is no form of marketing in any country that happens in English. If someone doesn't believe this, they should visit Europe, Asia or South America. People live their life in their own language, and your marketing better follow, whether the media is newspaper/magazine ads/articles, radio/TV, billboards... or Websites.

Enter Website Translation

Translating a Website is a viable answer because you then make an existing website accessible, usable and culturally suitable to your specific target audience. This requires both programming expertise and linguistic/cultural knowledge.

In the majority of cases it is the lack of linguistic and cultural input that lets a website localization project down. In order to give an insight into the impact culture has on website localization the following examples depict areas in which a solid understanding of the target culture is necessary.

Some very good reasons to translate your website into Hindi

• One of the official languages of India, with a population of over 1 billion. Hindi has 366 million first-language speakers; additional 121 million second-language speakers. Spoken throughout northern India: Delhi; Uttar Pradesh; Rajasthan; Punjab; Madhya Pradesh; northern Bihar; Himachal Pradesh.

• Hindi is also spoken in Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Germany, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, UAE, United Kingdom, USA, Yemen, and Zambia.

• With the growing numbers of Indans buying PC’s and Internet access available from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, English speakers will soon be in the minority when it comes to Internet use.

• Results of research carried out by Nielsen-Net ratings in March 2005 described foreign internet markets as “low hanging fruit,” i. e. if you have the will and foresight there are massive revenues to be found for relatively little effort.

• As Kaizad Gotla, senior analyst at Nielsen-Netratings states, “The easiest opportunities are in countries where Internet usage patterns and user/site relationships are less established. Acquiring users in markets that are currently in their growth stages will lead to a loyal user base that will pay dividends for Internet companies in the future.”

• The ability to communicate to a whole new audience in their own language will undoubtedly yield results not only in a financial sense (cost efficiency) but also in terms of marketing and creating awareness of your brand, service or product.

• For non-English speaking users looking for your product or service, you automatically capture their attention.

• A Hindi website shows you are thinking about the customer. That little extra effort shows you have thought and cared enough about them to offer the website in their language.

• For many cultures, more so in India, there is an issue of trust when it comes to buying over the Internet, especially if they feel it is in a language they are not fully proficient in. Offering them a language alternative allows the customers to feel secure

• Search engines lead people to your site. In countries such as China, Japan and France, Google, Yahoo and MSN are not the default search engines. Homegrown search engines are emerging and they are proving successful because they work in native languages and are focused on the habits and needs of their users. In addition, many of the key search engines, especially Google, are developing the capacity to run searches in Hindi. Having pages of your site available in Hindi ensures maximum potential for your site being picked up in searches.

Making a website in Hindi or translating the existing website does not complete the task. There are a lot of important, cultural, ethnic issues which form an essential part of the contents of the website in Hindi. Some examples, which need to be decided upon, in greater details, are mentioned below:

• Images and pictures – as they carry subtle cultural intonations in them.

• Symbols - as with pictures, symbols can cause problems. Icons using fingers such as an OK sign or V-sign may mean different things to different cultures. Western symbols do not always mean the same abroad.

• Colors – they are also loaded with cultural meanings.

• Ease of navigation - Access to certain pages is also a factor that can be considered as relevant.

Culture affects everything we do, say, read, hear and think and even websites cannot escape the influence of culture.

The impact of culture on the translation of a website is huge. The above few examples are literally the tip of the iceberg.

Overview of ferries

Since antiquity, man has encountered streams and rivers barring his path and has found ways to cross them. Some of the time, with time, manpower, and material available, he was able to build bridges. If it wasn't possible to make them for whatever reason, he found other means of surmounting the obstacle. Sometimes, it meant a long detour to skirt or avoid the water or to find a suitable fording place. Other times it meant using watercraft to take him from one bank to the other. Without the use of ferries, it would've been much harder to get from one place to another - even to the afterlife, as the legend of the Underworld ferryman Charon and the river Styx tells us.

Throughout history, many types of watercraft have been used to ferry people from one place to another. These ranges from the coracle, an ancient circular boat which is still used in some parts of the world, to huge double-hulled catamarans, mechanical marvels which displace more than 70,000 metric tons which are able to take on board thousands of passengers and their vehicles and travel for hundreds of miles in speed, comfort, and safety. With the development of aviation and the rise of fuel prices, the age of the fast transoceanic liners is long gone, but the shorter-range ferry is still a very important mode of transportation throughout the world, whether it be across a river in India or from across a sea, from one country to another. For example, in Sydney, Australia, the inter-harbor ferries carry some 18 million passengers every year.

Ferry Power

The level of available technology has always dictated what sources of motive power were used in ferries. The first ferries used either muscle power in the form of a rower or punter or were pulled across a short distance by a rope or chain. Many of these cable or free ferries are still in use worldwide.

Sail power was also used. When the steam engine was invented, it was also pressed into service, and the first steam ferry began shuttling passengers between New York City and Hoboken in 1811. By the end of the nineteenth century, propeller-powered ships were replacing paddle steamers. Waterscrews were easier to operate and maintain.

Because of the limitations inherent in the reciprocating steam engine, the turbine gradually replaced it. It was during and after World War II that the steam turbine's eventual replacement, the oil-fired engine, was developed to maturity, becoming so successful that by 1960 no more steam-driven ships were being built. Oil-powered engines eliminated the heat losses all steam engines have and are able to burn cheaper, lower-quality fuel. Because of rising fuel costs and environmental concerns, today's ferry designers are looking to alternative power sources to drive tomorrow's ships such as hybrid engines, wind, and solar energy.

Types of Ferries

There are several main types of ferry. Water taxis and buses ply carry passengers over short routes, such as in harbors like Hong Kong, Sydney, Bristol, Osaka; and Roll-On Roll-Off ferries, or ROROs, are so called because they have a car deck and ramps which open and enable vehicles to simply drive onto and off them. Double-ended ferries are a variation on this, with identical bow and stern sections which free the ferry from needing to turn around after docking. Hydrofoils, hovercraft, and catamarans are also used as ferries because of the high speeds they are capable of reaching. Cruiseferries are large ships combining features present on cruise ships and car transporters.

How to save money and get discount life insurance in arizona

Before you can think about saving money on your life insurance, make sure you know what you need. Life insurance is not like bargain shopping. Buying cheap life insurance that does not adequately cover your needs will do your beneficiaries no good. In addition to undergoing grief caused by the loss of a loved one, now they are financially challenged too.

If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative when it comes to life insurance, term life is the way to go. It’s a basic insurance policy purchased for a period of time. The time is usually between 1 and 30 years. The one caveat is that if the policy expires before you do, you don’t get your money back.

On the other hand, permanent life policies, which include but are not limited to whole, universal and variable, may cost more, but it also provides more. These policies, in addition to paying your beneficiaries upon your death, can be used as an investment tool. Most of these policies pay dividends and many policies also allow you to borrow from the accrued cash value.

Universal life policies have a provision under which you may modify the amount of insurance and change the monthly premium as your needs change. They offer more flexibility. The changes, however, must be within the policy’s terms and conditions.

The difference between term and permanent policies can be thought of as the difference between renting verses owning a home. In the short run, renting an apartment may be cheaper, but when your lease is up, you walk away with nothing but rent receipts and cancelled checks. However, owning a home, on the other hand, you not only have your basic shelter, you gain equity and may use the equity in your home for a variety of things.

If you currently have a term budget, purchase term until your financial condition changes. Remember, something is better than nothing.

Riding the popularity cycle

Catching a stock as it becomes more and more popular is similar to catching the right wave when surfing – but it’s equally satisfying. The essence in both cases is identifying well in advance which waves are worth riding on.

How can you pick potential winners from an ocean of mediocre stocks? One helpful tool is to watch for upgrades by investment companies like JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch etc. There’s a reason why these companies are so profitable. These companies don’t just buy equity. They scrutinize stocks, companies and sectors all day long. They know the in’s and out’s of the market and are very aware of investor psychology.

Another way could be looking at recent upgrades awarded by investment newsletters. That's because the editors of these newsletters have proven to also be incredibly sensitive to subtle shifts in investor psychology about particular market sectors and specific stocks.

So it's worth paying attention whenever a stock quickly rises in popularity among investment companies and newsletters.

If you are uncertain, paper trade upgrades for a while to see for yourself. But also be aware of which companies are being upgraded. Most are only suitable for short-term investments because of the volatility of certain companies and sectors.

For example, the automobile sector is extremely sensitive and volatile. Take a look at Ford (ticker symbol F) to name just one of many. This chart look’s like everything else but definitely not stable. This is because automobile companies depend too much on sensitive factors like oil prices, the overall economy etc. etc.

“But so do other companies” you might argue. Yes! Correct! But my point is, when times are bad who do you thing will still profit? Ford or Wall Mart? We all gotta eat, but we don’t necessarily need a new car tomorrow. A lot of us need or even depend on medicine. In good and in bad times. So who do you think will be ahead in the game? Pfizer or Delta Airlines? Now that’s another extremely sensitive and volatile sector. The aviation industry. Not my cup of tea!

So, if you see and catch a potential upgrade, ride the wave for as long as you feel comfortable and as long as the trend is moving in your direction, but always be ready to jump off again protecting your investment and profits!

Yours in Successful Trading

Ricky Schmidt

If these walls could talk

Have you ever noticed that there are some rooms you just love to go into and others that you find unsettling? Without realizing it colors affect our moods and the way we function. Interior decorators have known this for years and use it in their offerings on a daily basis but you don’t have to be a professional to learn how to use colors to your benefit.

How we react to color is usually on an unconscious and almost instinctual level and that reaction is purely our own. You may love the color blue because you find it soothing and calming whereas I may find that same color unsettling and a little disconcerting. There is no right or wrong reaction to any given color but there is scientific backup to show how the use of color affects our moods.

Try this little quiz to see if you can tell which color belongs to which effect:

1. blue ...........................A. energy, vitality, excitement

2. orange........................ B. harmony and balance

3. red.............................C. dramatic, sensual, sophisticated

4. yellow.........................D. truth, serenity and harmony

5. green..........................E. intellect, used for mental stimulation

6. purple.........................F. social and exuberant, warmth

7. black..........................G. purity, innocence and joy

8. white..........................H. suppressive

9. pink............................I. restful and calming

10. grey.......................... J. powerful, aloof, intimidating

You might be hard pressed to try to figure out which is which although some are fairly obvious because again we react to them on a subconscious level. I’ll give you a hint: pink is restful and calming and is the color of equilibrium. That is why delinquent children and even adults placed in pink holding cells had fewer outbursts when it was tried in the state of California. Conversely, couples fought more and babies cried more in a bright yellow room. These are the kinds of things you need to consider when painting and decorating your home. Green is a restful color and will help you sleep so it would be a good choice for bedrooms. This might be ringing some bells for you as you recall color schemes that were wrong for the atmosphere you were trying to create in a given room. Perhaps your yellow and white bedroom looked beautiful in the daylight but was unsettling when you were trying to relax and fall asleep. Keeping this knowledge in mind can help you enormously when you are ready to redecorate.

Start with determining what the room is going to be used for. Do you want to use warm colors that stimulate activity or warm colors that create a more tranquil mood? Check out littlemonkeymurals. com for more information on colors and great ideas for decorating.

Colors not only enhance the atmosphere of a room but they can also visually change the dimensions of a room. The use of warm colors makes things like doors seem to stand out more and cool colors tend to recede or withdraw. You have to be careful though as there is a fine line between a color being aggressive and that same color being cozy. Usually the difference lies in the tones used. Walls, like our waistlines, appear longer and taller with vertical stripes.

Did you know that colors could help with weight management too? Using the color orange in your place settings or tablescape stimulates the appetite whereas the color violet suppresses it. Darker hues are said to slow our eating and brighter colors makes us eat faster. Think McDonald’s. They use the brightest of the primary colors to get you in and out fast. For healthy weight management tips see canadian-cook. com

Colors affect our moods and feelings and can even evoke physical reactions. There is research to show that fertility is increased in a blue room (this can work for you or against you). Even though the temperature is the same, people feeler cooler in a blue room and warmer in a red room. With all the research and studies done on our color personalities and what the predicted effects of color should be on us, we have to remember that color is still a very personal choice. What works for one will not work for another so when redecorating and getting a “professional” opinion it is important for you to be honest with them. It doesn’t matter what combination works on their palette or in the showroom, it has to work for you. Make every room inviting using the colors that evoke that feeling in you. Surround yourself with the colors you like.

Answers:

1-D, 2-F, 3-A, 4-E, 5-B, 6-C, 7-J, 8-G, 9-I, 10-H How did you do?

Credit card debt counseling

It’s not much fun being deeply in debt. Often times you may find it very difficult to see your way out of a problem like this. If you find that you can’t manage your debt on your own there are programs that can help. One of these programs is called Credit Card Debt Consolidation Counseling.

Let me explain exactly what credit card counseling is.

Maybe you have regretted taking on so much credit card debt and wish you had not applied for so many cards. If this is the case then you can get help from the credit card counseling professional.

You and the counsellor will get together to go over the best debt management program for you. These meetings will give you the information and skills you need to manage your debt. This will help you to face your future, be more optimistic and not so deeply in debt. You will also learn money management skills that will help you to identify areas where you need to be careful and help you develop more responsible spending habits.

Now that you know what this program is all about, how do you get started?

First you must realize that you need to get out of debt and learn to control your spending. The only way to do this is to clear all your debt and this should become your top priority. Knowledge is power and you need to learn to control your finances.

Don’t be afraid to ask if there are things about the program that you don’t understand. The only dumb questions are the ones you don’t ask!

Now let’s go over the types of credit card counseling available.

One of the most popular types of credit card counseling is debt consolidation which can include your credit card debt. Choose this option with care as you do not want to take on additional debt without closing those credit card accounts.

One other thing to consider with credit card debt consolidation is that you will probably not be able to use your credit cards any more if you choose this option.

The most important decision is to do something to get rid of your credit card debt. Find a reputable consumer credit counseling company and sign up today!

You deserve more money

You deserve more money. Everyone does. We work too hard to only get paid what we currently get paid. It’s not a scam. It’s simply using the assets you have to leverage a greater investment!

Here are a few ideas to help you increase your income. But if you’re reading this while you’re on a website that highlights secured loans, you’re probably wondering what increasing your income has to do with a secured loan. There are actually many reasons, so you’ll have to read on.

But first, one of the ways you may want to increase your income is by finding a part time job to do in your spare time from the comfort of your own home. For example, you may increase your income by selling things on eBay or by working over the Internet to design websites for people. This way, you can keep your current job but build up some additional income. Who knows? You may eventually end up becoming so busy that you have to quit your day job! This is using your asset of time to make money.

The second thing you can do to increase your income is to invest in the stock market. This is not as scary as you might think and it involves the same principle that you know from owning a home. When you bought a house, how did you think you would make money on it? Simple: Just by hanging onto it for some time, many homes rise in value over time. It’s the same with the stock market. Sure, not all homes (and not all stocks) rise in value. But if you give even half the thought choosing stocks that you gave to choosing a house, you should find one that should generally rise. But the key is to hang onto it. You don’t sell your house every time the market fluctuates! In fact, you probably don’t know or care how much your house is worth until you’re ready to sell it. It should be the same with the stocks you buy… and sell. This is using your assets of shares to make money

The third thing you can do to increase your income is to get a secured home improvement loan. As you already know, your house is an investment and if you can do something to increase its value, you should! Getting a home improvement loan is an easy and affordable way to increase the value of your home so that when it comes time to sell your home, it will be worth more. This is using your assets around you to make money.

The fourth way to increase your income will surprise you. Consolidate your debts! Get a debt consolidation loan to pull all of your outstanding debts together and put them in one secured loan. The interest rate will be less, the monthly payment will be less, and the monthly payment will be fixed. A lower rate and payment will mean more money for you and a fixed payment will mean it will be easier to budget! This is using your assets of current habits to make money

Tips on overcoming separation anxiety

When your toddler was still a baby, you probably felt more anxious about leaving him in the care of others than he did about your absence. Babies feel little need to worry as long as their caregiver can meet their basic needs, regardless whether it is their parents or a sitter. But as they grow old, babies develop a kind of attachment to people and objects that are constant features in their life such as their parents. Often, toddlers as young as a year old develop separation anxiety when their parents are out of sight. Although normal, these can cause undue stress to them and their parents when the latter have to leave. Here are some tips to help you and your child overcome separation anxiety:

1. Brief your child about what to expect in a daycare center.

Being left in an unfamiliar place can worsen the anxiety felt by your child. Prevent this by briefing him about what he can expect in a daycare. Point out that his basic needs – drinking, eating, resting, and bathroom – will be attended to in the daycare. Excite him with the opportunity of meeting new playmates.

2. Explain where will you go and what will you do when you leave him.

Tell your child that you have to go to work. Stress that going to work is not a choice but an obligation. Give him brief details like “At 9 o'clock, Mommy has to attend a meeting with a client.” Most importantly, tell him that you will fetch him every afternoon.

3. Give him a brief tour of the daycare.

Prior to having your child attend regular day school, tour him around and inside the place. Get him to meet his teachers and care providers in the daycare. If possible, schedule playdates with other new kids in the daycare for an hour twice or thrice a week to prepare your child for larger groups during regular day school.

4. Help your child be more confident.

Teach your child how to introduce himself to other people. Practice and role-play with him until he is comfortable about introducing himself or talking to other people, especially his peers and caregivers.

5. Be in the daycare early.

Never rush in the morning – this will only increase your child's worry. Arrive early enough to be able to introduce your child to his caregivers, teachers, and some of the other kids. Be sure to spend a few minutes playing with your child or reading him a story. Just be sure to set a time and stick with it. Tell your child that you'll stay with him for five minutes and when the time is up, kiss him and remind him when you will be back.

Although these tips can help minimize the anxiety felt by your child during your absence, bear in mind that eliminating this anxiety will take a long time. Your child may cry or give in to tantrums during the first few days but with consistent practice, he will gradually get over his anxiety caused by your absence.

Transitioning to homeschooling

If you have made the decision to homeschool and part of that decision will involve transitioning your child(ren) out of the public school system, there are some aspects worth considering.

Once your kids begin their educational life outside of the public school, there will be a transition time for them; as there would be a transition time for anyone undergoing change in their life and their routines. If this is about to become your homeschooling scenario you should understand that the time after the public school, yet before you begin homeschooling is a good time to help your child through this period and prepare for their upcoming new educational experience. It's important to use this time to help your child understand that learning and their education can take place with their home and their family unit.

Even once your homeschooling year begins it's important to understand that your child will probably still need some time to adjust to the new routine and the new freedoms of education at home. Early on, let your child dip their toe into the water of homeschooling before jumping in. Remember, aside from the teachings, the lessons, and the learning, this will indeed be quite a different environment for your child as opposed the the bells, the crowded halls, and all the noise and distractions they have become accustom to in their previous learning environment. So, some decompression time may well be in order for them.

During this time, don't worry about setting expectations too high, or feel as though if you don't get started 'doing' something you will soon fall behind schedule. Remember, flexibility and scheduling is one of the great benefits to homeschooling. Relax. Besides, I truly believe you'll soon find that once you do get into the rhythm of your schedule, you'll find that with the individual attention that your child receives with each subject, they'll soon not only make up for any early lost time, but they'll probably surpass what you even had scheduled initially!

Use the transition or decompression time to talk with your child about what it is that they are really interested in and what they like to learn about and dream about. Talk to them about setting little and longer term goals and how by reaching each little goal one at a time they are on their way to realizing their dream. Let them know that they will be able to learn and study subject matter that they are interested in much greater detail than they have ever been able to before. Get their mind jump started on all the great projects and subject that you will cover with them in your new homeschooling environment. If you do this, you'll find that your kids will make it through the transition from traditional education to homeschool education excited and energized about these wonderful possibilities to learning.

Control pests from breaking into your gardens and spoil your gardening spirit

Unwanted insects in your garden are just that: unwanted. Unwanted insects may eat and destroy your crops, something shared by any farmer or home gardener. Organic gardening is a means of controlling unwanted insects naturally, without the use of dangerous pesticides. There are many ways to control garden unwanted insects naturally that are also cheap, easy and good for the earth.

Protect your organic soil and beneficial insects

While pesticides may eliminate the pest, they most often cause more harm than good. Unfortunately, many home and commercial gardeners are unaware of alternatives to pesticides. That’s because s are a big part of our culture. Reaching for a quick fix—albeit a dangerous fix—is a deep seeded and detrimental habit.

Yet apart from damaging the soil and being a health hazard to people—including our children—pesticides present a major problem. They eradicate species indiscriminately, causing helpful garden co-habitants to disappear along with the harmful ones.

An organic garden with beneficial insects

Indeed, the fact remains that not all insects are unwanted insects. Any kindergartner can tell you that bees help flowers. He or she could also tell you that a ladybug is good luck. But more than just good luck, ladybugs are a highly helpful natural pesticide to have in your garden, feeding on a myriad of insect unwanted insects including aphids if you ever see little alligator like insects around your garden, leave them be! These are the larval stage of ladybugs. Obviously, s are not as intelligent as your average kindergartner—they kill bugs on a wholesale level while upsetting ecosystems and ruining your plants as well as your soil.

Are your garden pests resistant to pesticides?

Commercial farmers today have a strong reliance on pesticides. Large companies sell pesticides to farmers who use them on their crops. Over the years the unwanted insects become resistant to the pesticides and increasingly larger amounts must be used. So it is that the farmer pays more and more money and dumps more and more of them onto his/her crops-our food. The result is a coated crop and a pesticide resistant bug, a crop that is more susceptible to the insect pest.

Are you harming the local bird population?

Recent studies have been conducted concerning pesticides’ effect on local bird populations. Birds eat the insects, which have ingested the pesticides. Because the pesticide is an indiscriminate poison, the bird is targeted as well. Furthermore, if the birds do not immediately disappear, their eggshells become thinner and thinner and often break when parent birds sit on the eggs. This is a huge problem with bald eagles in North America. With no insects and no birds those predators which live off of the birds disappear too, causing a huge disruption in the local ecosystem which is never beneficial to growth of any kind.

Birds eat insects!

Encourage birds to come into your garden by placing a bird bath in the garden and by planting plants that will attract birds such as sunflowers. There are even perennial sunflowers that not only attract birds year round but, can also be planted like a hedge and repel deer and other animals. Helianthus maximillani.

Natural pest control is rooted in a vigorous, balanced ecosystem. Years of pesticide use may be so disruptive to a local ecosystem that the land may become unusable after only a few years. They remain in the soil and become more concentrated with each year of use, eventually rendering the soil unable to produce vigorous plants.

The soil can heal

However, there is hope. Some products like methyl bromide can be amended by simply adding organic matter to the infected soil. The result is addition of the organic portion of this pesticide to the organic matter that you already added and liberation of the bromide ion. At the very least, you can add organic matter to a laden soil to simply dilute the concentration. However, you can also look up the MSDS online for that to learn how to amend it.

Organic alternatives to pesticides

There are many natural, organic alternatives to pesticides that are more long lasting, safe, vigorous and generally effective.

One of the simplest pest control devices is a barrier. By covering a row of crop with a light netting (which allows the sunlight to come through) flying unwanted insects are effectively kept away from the plants. These are generally used for food crops. Cabbage can be protected from flea beetles and green beans from Mexican Bean Beetles.

Another simple method of pest control for a small garden is handpicking. Many slugs and Hornworms can be handpicked off of plants with great success. Drop unwanted insects into a dish of soapy water to kill them. Certain moths and bugs can be knocked out of trees with a stick; allow them to fall onto a large piece of cloth so that they can be gathered and, later, submerged in a soapy solution or incinerated.

Beneficial Insects Will Control the Bad Insects

Some insects like the Ladybug and the Green Lacewing are called beneficial because they are the good guys who are on the hunt for the bad guys that are feeding on your plants. Here is a list of beneficial insects, with links to where they are offered by an Earth friendly distributor.

Green Lacewings Chrysoperla carnea

Green Lacewings are an all purpose beneficial insect that feed on insects such as aphids and other insects that will come and feed on your plants. Green Lacewings are perfect for a backyard garden, larger garden, or a greenhouse.

Easy way to get rid of slugs and aphids!

Certain varieties of plants are more resistant to insects. Some research into the types of plants you grow and the unwanted insects common to your area could prevent a lot of pest problems. Also, some plants themselves are pesticides. For instance, planting tobacco around your vegetable garden is an excellent way to discourage slugs and aphids!

How native plants can revive your garden

Buy local transplants to avoid bringing non-native unwanted insects into your garden. Add mulch and other simple barriers around your crops, check your garden regularly. Healthy plants are naturally more resistant to predators; just like having a strong immune system. All of these methods are natural and easy preventative measures to help you obtain a pest free garden.

If your preventative measures did not work, there are many, natural and organic plant sprays that can control unwanted insects. A mixture of Petroleum oil and water sprayed onto a plant is a natural pesticide that has been used effectively for hundreds of years. Many oils, shells and plant extracts can also be used as safe, effective, natural pesticides.

Natural pest control is a safer and, ultimately, more effective means of keeping a vigorous organic garden. With a little more knowledge it becomes obvious that the use of non-organic pesticides is not only ineffective but dangerous and irresponsible. By understanding your native habitat ecosystem and working in partnership with establishing a balance of beneficial insect predators such as ladybugs, praying mantis, and birds, as well as planting species that naturally prohibit invasion by unwanted insects, you too can have a vigorous garden by working in partnership with your garden.

The secret to club head speed the holy grail in golf - part 3

In this 3 Part Special Golf Report you will learn:

- What creates club head speed?

- How to dramatically increase your club head?

Let us now look at the way a golf club is designed. You remember in high school when we all learned about levers? Levers have a way of multiplying force thus giving you a mechanical advantage when you want to move a large object for example. Most golfers think there are only 2 levers in the golf swing - the arms and the club. The reason for this I believe is teaching pros either do not know this, or they think their students are too dumb to understand this.

There are actually 3 levers in the golf swing. This is such an important concept that it is worth repeating - "THERE ARE 3 LEVERS IN THE GOLF SWING"!!! The first lever is the arms, the second lever is the club...can you guess what the third lever is? Most amateurs do not know the answer to this question. This is why most amateurs cannot create REAL club head speed.

The third lever is the clubface! This 3rd lever rotates around its own axis. The clubface is rotating on an axis or plane that is DIFFERENT from the axis the other 2 levers in the swing are. The hands & wrists control the rotation of the club face. How do we use this 3rd lever to create club head speed?

In other words, how do we cause this third lever (the clubface) to deliver an incredible force through the ball? You use this 3rd lever by pronating or rolling the right hand over the left hand (full release) as you swing through the ball. To pronate means to turn the right palm face down as you are coming through the ball.

Simply stated, consciously rolling the right forearm over the left forearm as you swing through the impact area will ingrain the feeling of a full release. This is how the pros create that power draw that you see at tournaments. Have you ever noticed why the ball sounds different coming off the pros club face...they have mastered this principal.

A lot of the pros have been doing this for so long they don't even know they are doing it. It has become ingrained in their subconscious. This is why I believe they cannot articulate what they are doing because it has become second nature.

HOW TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE YOUR CLUB HEAD SPEED:

Hopefully I have convinced you that it is the hands that contribute most to club head speed. Now that you understand the concept, let's ingrain this concept into your subconscious, or feel if you will. Scientists who study biomechanics have determined that in order to translate a complex skill into habit you must practice it for 30 days!

WARNING: Before you do the following drill, make sure you spend a few minutes stretching to avoid injury.

Drill to Dramatically Increase Your Club Head Speed:

Get yourself two mid irons or a weighted club. There are many weighted clubs on the market... Momentus sells a few different weighted clubs with molded grips that work well.

Swing the weighted club slowly at first and concentrate on the release of the hands through the impact area. As you warm up swing the club faster. The extra weight of the club forces you to swing the club on plane with a full release.

Do this drill for 30 days straight then watch the golf ball explode off your club face!

You cannot skip a day, you must practice this drill CORRECTLY for 30 consecutive days. This is why the golf swing is so difficult to learn...most people do not have the patience to practice the same thing for 30 days. They usually will try something for a few days and if they don't show immediate improvement, they move on to the "tip of the month".

Stay the course with this drill and you will see an amazing increase in your club head speed adding much more distance to your tee shots!

Hit 'em Long & Straight!

John Lynch

Green tea s effect on body fat

Losing weight is a subject on the minds of many. Our eat on the run, tv watching lifestyle has led many of us to have bigger waistlines than we’d like; and bigger waistlines than are healthy for us. In fact, the US Centers for Disease Control estimates that over 60 million Americans, or 30% of the adult population, are obese.

Obesity related illnesses are going to lead the pack as causes of death in our country very soon if we don’t get ourselves back on track. Obesity leads to heart disease, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes and increases your risk for some forms of cancer. As our weight increases, so do our risk levels.

So, how do we go about losing the weight? Well, most of us are aware that we need to eat less and exercise more. Putting more calories into our bodies than we burn off in a day leads to weight gain. Cutting calories and getting exercise can help you get your expenditure and intake in line. There’s certainly no getting around this basic weight loss principle.

But, research is showing that there are some foods that can help you lose weight, and other foods that will pack on the pounds faster than you can say “calorie”. I’m not talking strictly calories here – I’m talking about foods that help you burn fat or stay full longer versus foods that cannot be used by the body as energy, so they automatically turn to fat.

Let’s look at foods that can help you. You might be surprised at some of these – they’re not all low calorie. However, they’re known to help you feel full longer or burn fat.

Nuts – Nuts, especially almonds, have been found to be helpful at losing weight. Now, nuts are not exactly a low calorie food, and they must be eaten in moderation. However, they are very nutritious.

Nuts are high in fat, but it’s HDL fat, which is the kind that promotes good cholesterol in the blood. HDL cholesterol helps rid the body of LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol that clogs arteries and leads to heart attacks and strokes.

Nuts are thought to make us feel full longer. In addition, they contain protein that seems to burn a lot of calories during digestion. Doctors are somewhat unclear as to how nuts work, but they do seem to have an effect on weight loss.

Milk – Research has shown that those who drink 24 ounces of low fat milk every day tend to weigh less than those who do not drink milk. Again, the reasons are not clear, but low fat milk does seem to speed up the metabolism. One study showed that women who ate a reduced calorie diet that included 3-4 servings of low fat dairy products and exercised lost more weight than those who ate a reduced calorie diet with fewer servings of dairy and exercised.

Green Tea – In recent years, green tea has gained a lot of attention for its ability to protect health and prevent disease. Green tea has been shown to prevent heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and even Type II diabetes. But, more and more, we’re finding out that green tea may have lots of potential to help weight loss, too.

First, let’s talk about what’s so special about green tea. The magic is in the anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are important because they fight free radicals in our bodies.

Free radicals are damaging molecules that are created as we convert the food we eat into energy. Free radicals damage cells and DNA, leading to disease, if left unchecked. That’s why it’s so important to get anti-oxidants in our diets each day. Fruits and vegetables are also good sources of anti-oxidants.

But, some of the most potent anti-oxidants around are those found in green tea. Tea anti-oxidants are known as catechins, and they make up about 25% of the weight of a dry tea leaf. Tea contains four main catechin substances: epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant catechin in tea.

Health professionals favor green tea over black tea because it retains more of these catechins in their natural form than black tea. Black tea goes through a fermentation process that changes some of these catechins from their original state into one that is less healthy. It’s these catechins that seem to have the ability to help us lose weight.

One particular study looked at Japanese men. All of the men were fed the same healthy diet for two weeks before the actual study began. Then, a 12 week study period began, in which some of the men drank one bottle of tea that contained 690 mg of tea catechins each day. The rest of the men were fed one bottle of tea that contained just 22 mg of catechins each day. All of the men continued on a healthy diet.

At the end of the study, the men who ingested 690 mg of tea catechins each day had significantly lowered their BMI, body weight, waist circumference and body fat mass, when compared to the men who consumed fewer tea catechins. The study concluded that the catechins in tea can help to reduce body fat when part of a healthy diet.

So, while we know that to lose weight we have to reduce our calories and get regular exercise, it’s nice to know that there are foods out there that can help us meet our goals more easily. So, add some nuts, milk and green tea to your healthy diet, and watch how your body changes!