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Tuesday, October 18
Asking4SignsWhenManifesting
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 01:19 PM PDT
I remember back when I was first teaching myself to have things in my life the way I wanted them. And I very clearly remember usually being in some fear state of needing something to show up to get me out of some jam I was in. It usually had to do with money or some relationship thing, be it business or pleasure. (It's the same for all of us, is it not? Even me.) I HAD to believe this new level of information I was teaching myself worked. I had to, because I could see no other options. I wanted to know it worked, I needed for it to work, or my life was going to cave in somewhere, again. (So I thought) That's where most of us begin. Our personality has not yet begun a smooth blending with our higher aspects. Our personality wants to hold on to what it has known before, and that's the part we feel in our emotional body which then adds up to fear. So there we sit. There I sat. In my favorite chair. Looking across the room to the wall; talking, praying outloud for some sign that this that I was doing was going to bail me out of this jam I was in. I was calling on Guides/God/Angels/Cherubs, anything that I knew had any spiritual affiliation, I was calling them all in for help. Many of us do that anyway......however, if we are not *clear* and if we are not doing other mechanics to move us on to our answer, then we will be right back in that chair and praying to the wailing wall, over and over again. Even in the fear, I still did *the stuff*. The energy work. I got clear on what I wanted to happen. I knew how to get clear. I was good at that. I needed to know how to ask. I was good at that too. The catch was, I hadn't done it long enough to KNOW for sure that it would work. This is that moment where we ask for signs, for confirmation of something we need is in fact going to show up. But then there are those that tell us......*If you ask for a sign, then it means you are doubting, and if you are in doubt, then it won't come.* HoggyWash! This creating on purpose stuff, using energy dynamics, means we can do what ever we want, as long as it works for us. Asking is Asking. There are different levels to asking. But bottom line, asking is about desire, and desire is sent to us from our higher aspects to get us to expand beyond what we think we know, and who we think we are, and what we think we are capable of. If we are considering seriously......and I do mean seriously teaching ourselves how to work with the invisible magic space that we are walking around in, then as we do, please be understanding of the fear that may show itself. Fear has it's job to do. It too is an entity seeking expansion. That thing we need to happen, can very well happen even tho we are in fear and doubt, as long as we are using the *mechanics* to get that thing we want. What we will find out, is that it can feel better than it does. We don't have to be feeling all of that panic and stress. That's one of the steps that these energy mechanics gets rid of. And doing that over and over again, (practice/applying), brings you to the place of your life being taken care of even before you get to it.! Some of you know exactly what I mean! (Susan James Copyright 2005 http://www.susanjames.org ) ================================================= . Author/Consultant Susan James writes of User Friendly Physics and The Immaculate Physics Applications to our lives. From Millionaires to Weight Loss, Susan writes from personal application of Maverick Momentum methods. For information on award winning books and courses along with free e-media please visit the below websites: QMX2-PinkPortalMoneyTap-5andDimeMillions See Main BLOG: http://www.susanjames.org/news http://www.susanjames.org Both A Division of Vast Five Productions Copyright. ================================================= .
Internet - A Medium or a Message? (Part V )
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 01:19 PM PDT
Internet - A Medium or a Message? (Part V ) By Sam Vaknin Author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited" These essays were published by the Israeli (Hebrew) edition of PC Magazine back in 1996, when the Internet was in its formative epoch. I have left them essentially unchanged, except for a few minor errata I corrected. I find time travel fascinating. It is interesting to recall the mainstream view, ten years ago, about the Internet, its goals, its role, and its future. So, here goes: The Money Where will the capital needed to finance all these developments come from? Again, there are two schools: One says that sites will be financed through advertising - and so will search engines and other applications accessed by users. Certain ASPs (Application Service Providers which rent out access to application software which resides on their servers) are considering this model. The second version is simpler and allows for the existence of non- commercial content. It proposes to collect negligible sums (cents or fractions of cents) from every user for every visit ("micro-payments") or a subscription fee. These accumulated cents or subscription fees will enable the owners of old sites to update and to maintain them and encourage entrepreneurs to develop new ones. Certain content aggregators (especially of digital textbooks) have adopted this model (Questia, Fathom). The adherents of the first school pointed at the 5 million USD invested in advertising during 1995 and to the 60 million or so invested during 1996. Its opponents point exactly at the same numbers: ridiculously small when contrasted with more conventional advertising modes. The potential of advertising on the net is limited to 1.5 billion USD annually in 1998, thundered the pessimists (many thought that even half that would be very nice). The actual figure was double the prediction but still woefully small and inadequate to support the Internet's content development. Compare these figures to the sale of Internet software ($4 billion), Internet hardware ($3 billion), Internet access provision ($4.2 billion) in 1995. Hembrecht and Quist estimated that Internet related industries scooped up 23.2 billion USD annually (A report released in mid-1996). And what follows advertising is hardly more enocuraging. The consumer interacts and the product is delivered to him. This - the delivery phase - is a slow and enervating epilogue to the exciting affair of ordering through the net at the speed of light. Too many consumers still complain that they do not receive what they ordered, or that delivery is late and products defective. The solution may lie in the integration of advertising and content. Pointcast, for instance, integrated advertising into its news broadcasts, continuously streamed to the user's screen, even when inactive (they provided a downloadable active screen saver and ticker in a "push technology"). Downloading of digital music, video and text (e-books) will lead to immediate gratification of the consumer and will increase the efficacy of advertising. Whatever the case may be, a uniform, agreed upon system of rating as a basis for charging advertisers, is sorely needed. There is also the question of what does the advertiser pay for? Many advertisers (Procter and Gamble, for instance) refuse to pay according to the number of hits or impressions (=entries, visits to a site). They agree to pay only according to the number of the times that their advertisement was hit (page views). This different basis for calculation is likely to upset all revenue scenarios. Very few sites of important, respectable newspapers are on a subscription basis. Dow Jones (Wall Street Journal) and The Economist, to mention but two. Will this become the prevailing trend? (continued) ============================================================== AUTHOR BIO (must be included with the article) Sam Vaknin ( http://samvak.tripod.com ) is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He served as a columnist for Global Politician, Central Europe Review, PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101. Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia. Visit Sam's Web site at http://samvak.tripod.com
Internet Entrepreneurs Will Take Control of the Real Estate Industry
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 10:31 AM PDT
Before the Bell
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 10:29 AM PDT
Here they are the most widely-read stories on TheStreet.com now:
Futures Sit Still Ahead of PPI Robert Holmes Stock futures were quiet Tuesday as investors awaited data on wholesale inflation and IBM's mixed earnings provided only limited support. Refco Inc. Cuts Cord After Cutting Deal Matthew Goldstein Refco Inc., the scandal-tarred derivatives brokerage, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after cutting a deal to sell its primary business to a group led by hedge fund J.C. Flowers. The filing, a nightmare scenario for investors who have been unable to trade the stock since Thursday, covers Refco Inc. but not the regulated subsidiaries Refco LLC and Refco Securities. The company agreed to sell Refco LLC to a consortium led by J.C. Flowers for $768 million, although it expects the bankruptcy court to entertain competing offers. Muscle Time for Motorola Scott Moritz Cell-phone bulls will get a chance to see if their expectations have climbed too high this week as Motorola and Nokia deliver earnings reports. If projections are right and the business outlook is bright, Wall Street will be reaching for places to pinch itself after Motorola posts its third-quarter numbers later Tuesday. And, at least according to the script, the wireless growth party is likely to continue when No. 1 handset maker Nokia opens its books Thursday. IBM Gets a Passing Grade Ronna Abramson A deeper look at IBM's third-quarter earnings release put investors in a forgiving mood Tuesday morning. Amid a burst of positive analyst commentary, shares of the hardware and services giant rose in early trading. While noting a spotty revenue performance, Wall Street embraced strong gross margins and hardware sales in bidding up the stock. After the bell Monday, IBM posted third-quarter earnings of $1.52 billion, or 94 cents a share, on sales of $21.53 billion. Intel Talking in the Dark Bill Snyder How far has mighty Intel fallen? Wall Street is so tepid about the giant chipmaker's immediate prospects that most analysts say the company would have to work hard to disappoint when it reports third-quarter results after Tuesday's closing bell. "Anything other than a worst-case scenario should result in stock-price appreciation," says Merrill Lynch analyst Joseph Osha, who has plenty of company. Wall Street figures that Intel is likely to post an in-line quarter, but there's not a lot of chatter about a large surprise to the upside, or to the downside, for that matter. Daily Investing Tip 'Mad Money' Recap: Georgia Gulf Excursion The stock of Georgia Gulf is headed higher and probably by more than a little. There is a shortage of PVC and chlor- alkali, two chemicals produced by Georgia Gulf. The conventional wisdom, though, is that China is building a number of plants to produce PVC and chlor-alkali, and when those plants come online, prices will plummet. But I believe the conventional wisdom is wrong. China is not going to have the capacity to produce nearly as much of these chemicals as people are expecting. -- James Cramer, TheStreet.com Guy Lerner This Market Has Real Potential It's not enough to be bullish. We have to recognize just how much opportunity is here so we're ready to trade. Jeff Cooper S&P Could Be Getting a Leg Down Any further weakness below 1176 would suggest this is only the midpoint of the decline.
2005 Distance Learning Awards Presented
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:45 AM PDT
DDD Launches 3D TV Set Top Conversion Box
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:41 AM PDT
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2005--DDD Group plc
(LSE:DDD), the 3D software and content company, today announces the introduction of the TriDef(R) Vision+ 3D set top box ('Vision+'). Vision+ automatically converts most popular consumer video formats to 3D as they are watched, allowing any broadcast, DVD and videocassette content to be presented in 3D on the latest 3D displays and projection systems. The delivery of the Vision+ set top box represents the final milestone in a GBP 140,000 development agreement with Arisawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ('Arisawa'), announced in late 2004. By combining the real time 3D conversion capabilities of the Vision+ with the large 30" 3D LCD displays developed by Arisawa's optoelectronics division, Arisawa and DDD have delivered an efficient and effective solution for mass-market 3D television. Using Arisawa's innovative 3D optics, the flat screen 3D televisions are capable of displaying conventional 2D pictures as well as 3D. When the viewer decides to watch in 3D, they simply activate the Vision+ set top box using their remote control and put on a pair of 3D glasses. The system then delivers 3D images from any viewing position in the living room with the same clarity and quality as the latest 3D digital cinemas. In addition to the real time conversion feature, the Vision+ also supports the playback of specially made 3D movies. This yields an important in-home distribution channel for the latest generation of Hollywood 3D movies that are in production for the new 3D digital cinemas that are presently being opened around the United States. The Vision+ is compatible with DVD, video and broadcast standards used in the United States, Japan and Europe. Vision+ also supports twin projectors allowing it to be used in trade show and professional/educational venues where big screen 3D is required for large audiences. Both Arisawa and DDD are now actively engaged in presentations and discussions with leading flat screen display manufacturers with the goal of licensing the combined solution for mass-market 3D television. "Vision+ represents another substantial achievement for our company," said Chris Yewdall, Chief Executive of DDD. "DDD's real time 3D conversion solutions have been instrumental in our recent agreements for PC and mobile telephone solutions while Vision+ now allows us to expand the 3D viewing experience into more popular consumer products including 3D flat screen television. We are very pleased with the visual quality that we have achieved in conjunction with Arisawa and we are now jointly focused on securing mass market licensees for our combined solution." "We are excited by the recent reaction to the combined Arisawa/DDD 3D television solution," said Dr. Sanji Arisawa, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arisawa. "We are seeing increasing interest in consumer 3D television and we expect that this easy to use solution will demonstrate that the television market is now within reach for our prospective licensees." Notes to Editors About DDD DDD, also known as Dynamic Digital Depth, is transforming the viewing experience with applications for glasses-free 3D displays. Its patented technologies enable 3D viewing without glasses; simple integration of computer graphics applications with 3D displays; supply of 3D content through 2D to 3D conversion; and 3D transmission over existing networks. DDD is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM:DDD). -- A new category of flat screen LCD and plasma displays are being developed and marketed by major consumer electronics companies that provide stereoscopic 3D images without the need for the viewer to wear glasses. Stereoscopic 3D images appear to have natural in and off-screen depth. 3D displays have already been included with mobile telephones in Japan and in desktop PC displays and notebook computers in North America and Japan. -- In July 2005, DDD announced a two-year license agreement to integrate its DDD Mobile(TM) real time 3D conversion software with a 3D mobile telephone handset for one of the world's top five handset manufacturers. -- In March 2005, DDD announced that it had extended the three-year license agreement with Sharp Corporation to include the TriDef DVD Player real time 3D conversion software with Sharp's latest Actius AL3D 3D notebook PC. -- DDD's solutions provide an important bridge between conventional two dimensional (2D) applications and content and the new 3D displays. Normal 2D pictures, video and computer graphics images are manipulated by DDD's patented software enabling them to be displayed on 3D displays without requiring the content to be created specially for a 3D display. DDD offers automatic and operator guided 3D conversion solutions. -- DDD licenses these software applications, marketed under the TriDef(R) and DDD Mobile (TM) brand names, to manufacturers for inclusion with the 3D display products supplied to end users. DDD also licenses the software directly to end users who already own 3D displays and through an international sales channel. -- In July 2005, DDD announced a partnership with Jamster! International Sarl to convert Jamster's popular mobile phone content library to 3D for distribution to owners of 3D mobile phones. -- DDD is currently expanding the product range to allow its content solutions to be used on future 3D display products including 3D digital cinema. More information is available at www.DDD.com. About Arisawa Arisawa is a materials company with three divisions specializing in electrical insulating materials and industrial structure materials, electronics related materials and products and optoelectronics related material and products. Arisawa's optoelectronics division has been involved in the design and development of 3D optical materials and 3D displays since 1997. Founded in 1909, Arisawa has been listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since 1961. For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2005, turnover and operating income amounted to approximately GBP 288 million and GBP 49 million, respectively. More information can be found at http://www.arisawa.co.jp/en/index.html. TriDef and DDD Mobile are trademarks of DDD Group plc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. ARISAWA is a registered trademark of Arisawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. Contacts DDD Group plc Chris Yewdall, +1 (310) 566-3340 info@ddd.com or Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Nick Lambert, +44 (0) 20 7861-3232
Times Online Launches NewspaperDirect's SmartEdition ePaper Solution
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:40 AM PDT
A Guide To Performance Management
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:20 AM PDT
Nowadays, a great significance is being given to Performance Management, as companies incorporate them in their effective management strategies. However, a lot of people find this process a complicated one, mostly because of the many options that it offers – on the organization, a specific department/branch, a product or service, and on employees, among others. In order to minimize this confusion, the items below will give you a general idea of what Performance Management is all about as well as the activities that are involved in this process. What is Performance Management? Performance management is a process that provides both the manager and the employee (the person being supervised) the chance to determine the shared goals that relates to the overall goals of the company by looking into employee performance. Why is it important? Performance Management establishes an outline for employees and their performance managers to assess and to come to an agreement on certain concerns and aims that are in accordance with the overall structure of the company. This enables both parties to have clear objectives that would help them in their work and in their professional growth. Who conducts Performance Management? Performance Management is carried out by those who oversee the performance of other people – work/team leaders, supervisors, managers, directors, or department chairs. What are the processes involved? Below are the phases of the Performance Management process: 1. Planning This phase of Performance Management process includes establishing job descriptions and identifying the employee's essential functions as well as defining the strategic plan/s of the department or the company as a whole. Job Description A job description is used to advertise a vacant position, which typically specifies the following: - The specific functions, tasks, and responsibilities of the position - The amount of time needed to act upon each function - The qualifications needed (skills, knowledge and abilities) to perform the job - The physical and mental requirements of the position - Salary range for the position - To whom the position reports Job descriptions should be disclosed to the employee as soon as he or she is hired. Note, however, that job descriptions are listed using words that make it difficult to measure the employee's performance. They are in contrast with competencies, which list the skills needed in performing such tasks and are described using terms that can be measured. Strategic Plan In effect, a strategic plan tells you three things: - Where the company is heading in the coming year/s. - How the company is going to get there. - How the company will know if it is already there or not. Included in a strategic plan are the following: Mission statement – the primary reason why your department (or company) exists. Goals – associated with the mission statement, they determine the results that will advance said statement/s. Strategic initiatives – specifies definite steps that must be taken to accomplish each goal. It is a dynamic process, usually examined during periods such as one or two years. 2. Developing This phase of Performance Management process includes developing performance standards, which offers a scale that describes how a specific job should be performed in order to meet (or exceed) expectations. They are explained to newly hired employees and are later used to evaluate work performance. Performance standards are generally outlined with the help of the employees who actually perform the tasks or functions. There are a number of advantages with this approach: - The standards will be suitable to the requirements of the job - The standards will be applicable to actual work conditions - The standards will be easily understood by the employee (and performance manager as well) - The standards will be acknowledged (and received) by the employee and the performance manager Standards of performance are usually in the form of ratings (1 to 5, A to E) that are used by performance managers to rate the employee's actual level of performance. 3. Monitoring This phase of the Performance Management process includes monitoring employee's work performances and giving feedback about them. As the basis of feedback, observations should be verifiable: they should involve noticeable and work-related facts, events, behaviors, actions, statements, and results. Feedback of this type is called behavioral feedback, and they help employees improve and/or sustain good performance by precisely identifying the areas that the employee needs to improve without judging his or her character or motives. 4. Rating This phase includes conducting performance evaluations. This is the critical aspect of the Performance Management process, especially because it is important for performance managers to arrive at an unbiased assessment. A performance appraisal form has the following features: - Employee information - Performance standards - Rating scale - Signatures - Employee performance development recommendations - Employee comments - Employee's Self-appraisal Why conduct performance appraisals? It provides an opportunity to improve performance in the future not only for employees, but for managers as well. Performance appraisals enable managers to acquire information from employees that will help them make employee's jobs more productive. 5. Development Planning This phase of the Performance Management process includes establishing plans for improved employee performance and development goals. This advances the overall goal of the company and at the same time increases the quality of work by employees by: - Encouraging constant learning and professional growth. - Helping employees maintain the level of performance that meets (and exceeds) expectations. - Improving job - or career-related skills and experience. In closing, Performance Management is a process that, when executed fairly and effectively, can improve the quality of the company's workforce, raise standards, increase job satisfaction, and develop professionalism and expertise that would benefit not only the employees but the entire organization as well. About The Author: For more great performance management info and advice check out: http://www.performance-mngt.com
Flowers Are A Great Gift
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:05 AM PDT
Flowers are a great gift, useful in home decoration or in
landscaping. When thinking about what to grow in any certain space, one has a wide array of choices for what kind of flowers would best be planted. Choices many times have to do with when the flowers should bloom and when they will be most appreciated. Wildflowers, of course, are available in abundance. Gathering and pressing wildflowers is a popular pastime, and for those who live near open fields or other natural places, a bouquet of wildflowers is the easiest way. The bright array of blossoms that can be gathered in the wild require no effort other than finding and picking. If you are trying to grow flowers in a specific bed, there are many choices, having mostly to do with when the flowers will bloom. A basic choice is between annual flowers, which last only for one growing season, or the hardier perennials, which can grow for years and years if properly cultivated. Annual flowers can be better for a longer blooming time, for more robust blossoms, and for more micromanaged growing conditions. Perennials in many cases will produce less vivid flowers over a number of years. There are also Biennials, flowers which don't blossom at all the first growing season and die after the second. There are obvious disadvantages to biennials, but for the avid gardener, they remain part of a varied flower bed. Annuals come in different varieties, and some are more fragile than others. More delicate plants, called 'tender' annuals, are probably more for the advanced gardener and in suitable conditions. Stronger annuals will be more likely to outlast rough soil or handling and other potential problems. Some annuals can withstand the vestiges of frost or stand up to the elements in other ways. Perennials, then, need to be studied for their blossoming patterns, and for other particular growing conditions. Perhaps the most popular perennial is the rose, grown in thorny bushes. The rose is among the most familiar flowers, used widely in our social rituals, as a gift between lovers or friends, and enjoyed as the subject of classic poetry and literature. Rose bushes are tenacious and with the right conditions can provide lasting enjoyment in your yard or garden. The gardener will want to look at growing conditions, as also at color schemes, to create a vivid and eye-catching garden. Consider whether the plants will be needed only for a season, or whether they should last into future years, growing along with their tenders. In any case, a lively crop of blooming beauties will enable the gardener to do as the florists suggest: Say it with Flowers. About The Author: Alan Jason Smith is the owner of http://www.agoraflowers.com which is a great place to find flowers links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.agoraflowers.com
Top 7 Ways To Profit From Foreign Trade
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:04 AM PDT
Here are seven excellent ways to earn income from international trade. 1. Importing: Retail store owners can find additional products to sell from foreign manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers. You may even decide to go exclusively into the import business and become a wholesale distributor. 2. Exporting: Manufacturers can find new customers for their products in foreign countries. You could also become an Export Management Agent. Arrange for other domestic companies to sell their products to foreign corporations and earn a commission. 3. Licensing: Consider becoming a licensing agent. Earn royalties by arranging for foreign corporations to manufacture and sell the products of domestic companies. 4. Finder`s Fees: You can earn fees from domestic companies for finding foreign buyers (or for finding suitable imports from foreign suppliers). You can also earn fees from foreign companies for finding domestic corporations that will buy their products (or for finding suitable suppliers and products from domestic corporations). 5. Drop Shipping: Visualize receiving an order from a customer based in a foreign country and not having to be bothered with shipping and handling the product. No customs declarations or brokers are required by you. This is because your drop ship supplier is handling those details. 6. Mail Order: Add a mail order service to your existing business operation. Manufacturers, retail stores, and other businesses can increase their sales by using this additional method of selling that is very conducive to international trade. 7. Internet Marketing: You can also extend your reach to worldwide customers by means of the Internet. Methods of obtaining foreign business include affiliate marketing, online auctions, online stores, and websites. About The Author: Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years. For more information about international trade and other profitable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/impexp.html
De-Stress Yourself With Water, Oxygen And Sunlight!
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:04 AM PDT
Oxygen, water and sunlight are the most basic life giving
elements on this earth. Without them we have no existence here, but our current lifestyles being so hectic, we seem to take it all for granted and not much thought goes into the fact that we need these elements daily to survive properly. Our bodies are 70% water and we extract water from what we eat and drink. No doubt you've heard that you should drink eight glasses of water per day. This is true although some people may need even more than that. Water is what hydrates you. Drinks like coffee, sodas and alcohol will dehydrate you. Not to say that you should never drink them, but if you do, then drink extra water to make up for it. How do you know if you are dehydrated? Here are some tips: 1) If you push your finger down on your skin and it does not pop back up immediately but feels a bit mushy and comes back slower, then you are dehydrated. 2) If your urine is dark yellow and has an odor, then you are dehydrated. Urine should be fairly clear and odor free. Note: there are foods such as asparagus or b-vitamins that will give your urine a dark color but that is natural and nothing to worry about. 3) If you are fatigued, your skin is flushed or your lips or mouth is dry then you may be dehydrated. Sunlight is another element that we need to survive. We get lots of warnings that we need to protect ourselves from the sun and to use sunscreen and stay indoors as much as possible. There is some merit to that, but we get vitamin D directly from the sun and you only need about 15 to 20 minutes to get that. Plus if you are like me, a few days of non-stop rain can be very depressing. As soon as the sun comes up, my spirits rise dramatically. Enjoying the sunshine can give you that boost, lift your spirits and make you feel better. Relaxing in the sun, a great way to de-stress. Oxygen! Getting enough is vital, but alas, we have become shallow breathers and many more of us than you realize don't get enough oxygen. How, you say? Well, just look at the couch potato watching TV all day, or people that have machines that do most of the work for us. How often have you seen lawn maintenance personnel sitting on a lawn mower cutting the grass? We used to get out and push. It was a huff and puff job but you certainly would be breathing hard afterwards. Kids used to walk to school, now they take buses or get driven to school. How many of us sit in an office all day working at our computers. Then we go out for a sit down lunch, work some more and get home and relax in front of the TV for the rest of the night trying to unwind from the mental stress of the day. Sleep and do the same routine the next day and the next day and so on. When Do We Really Move Our Bodies? There are a certain percentage of people that will go to the gym regularly or do cardio workouts and then you have people who dance etc. For those of you already doing that, my hats off to you. We need oxygen for all the cells in our bodies to be healthy. The best way to do that is to move our bodies around and breath deeply. Most exercise classes will get you there. It does not matter if you do weights, yoga, running or walking. Get yourself moving and breathing. You can also do breathing exercises while sitting or lying down. Get yourself comfortable and slowly breath in through your nose and then slowly release from your mouth. Do this several times. Take a break for a few minutes and do it again several more times. I did this while I was on an airplane and was amazed at how much better I felt. I've done this ever since. It works great! In short, drink water, breath deeply and get some sun (in moderation)! You'll feel better! If you can't seem to get yourself motivated to do this then try putting up some motivational posters to get you going. Put them in places where you will see them often to remind you. It works for me! About The Author: Willie Jones is a freelance writer, researcher, and artist. We all need a little push sometimes to get things done which is why Willie in addition to researching and writing promotes Motivational Posters at http://www.artinspires.com. Don't forget to enroll in the motivational poster drawing. All winner receive a free framed
Bob Dylan
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:03 AM PDT
1. Crooning Bob, Hidden Muse 2. Masked & Anonymous 3. Robert Allen Zimmerman 4. Elston Gunn 5. A Star Is Born 6. A Legend Mends A Legend 7. Emergence 8. Bringing It All Back Home 9. Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid 10. Grammy Time 11. Pope On The Red Line 12. In Their Father's Footsteps? 13. Albums Of The Year 14. Hollywood Hit List 15. Jack Fate 16. Award Monger 17. The Missing Beatle? "I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom." - Bob Dylan 1. Crooning Bob, Hidden Muse Recently a Japanese writer named Junichi Saga was astonished and flattered to learn that passages from one of his books apparently found their way into a few of Bob Dylan's lyrics. In Bob Dylan's 2001 song, "Floater", he croons - "My old man, he's like some feudal lord, got more lives than a cat." "I'm not quite as cool or forgiving as I sound" "Sometimes somebody wants you to give something up, and tears or not, it's too much to ask." On page six of Junicihi Saga's book, "Confessions of a Yakuza", he writes - "My old man would sit there like a feudal lord." "I'm not as cool or forgiving as I might have sounded." Then on page 182, writes - "Tears or not, though, that was too much to ask." The practitioner of Chinese medicine resounded that the revelation of Dylan calling upon his own work was surprising. This could be counted as a literary theft of sorts, but the author has stated he has no plans to sue. "Why would I sue? To take something that made people around the world happy and try to exploit it for money - that's poverty.", stated Saga. "This shows that people in other countries can relate to the harsh realities of prewar Japan, which was a poor, struggling nation. I'm just happy somebody read my book and liked it.", said Saga. "My book hasn't even sold that well, and it's out of print in Japan." He further added he has estimated to have only made about $8,475 from the publication. A few weeks ago, Saga bought his first Bob Dylan CD, "The Best of Bob Dylan". 2. Masked & Anonymous Would you reach out a hand to save a drowning man if you thought he might pull you in? This is the tagline for Bob's latest film called, "Masked & Anonymous". In it, Bob plays, Jack Fate, a singer whose career has gone on a downward spiral and is forced to make a comeback to the performance stage for a benefit concert. For this film he was joined by some of Hollywood's hottest and brightest, all of which reportedly signed onto the film at scale rates. The cast includes: John Goodman, Jessica Lange, Luke Wilson, Jeff Bridges, Penelope Cruz, Reggie Lee, Angela Bassett, Steven Bauer, Larry Campbell, Bruce Dern, Alex Desert, Treva Etienne, Dan Frischman, Tony Garnier, Laura Elena Harring, Ed Harris, Shawn Michael Howard, Val Kilmer, Bruce Kirschbaum, Antonio David Lyons, Cheech Marin, Chris Penn, George Receli, Giovanni Ribisi, Mickey Rourke, Sam Sarpong, Charlie Sexton, Jon Sklaroff, Christian Slater and Fred Ward. On top of all of that, T-Shirt King friend, Keri Bruno, pulls 2nd Unit Directing duties on the talent heavy film. The film hits theatres in a limited US release on July 25th. 3. Robert Allen Zimmerman At 5 foot six inches, Robert Allen Zimmerman might be a slight man, but under the name Bob Dylan, he is a legendary giant of a musician. 4. Elston Gunn Robert Allen Zimmerman was born May 24th 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. His father, Abe, was employed by the Standard Oil Company there, but when Robert was six the family moved to Hibbing, Minnesota. The one riddling note about Hibbing is that is very often the coldest place in the United States. Yikes. Growing up there he taught himself piano and guitar and formed several high school rock bands. Around this time he toyed with the stage name, "Elston Gunn". 5. A Star Is Born By 1959, Robert entered the University of Minnesota and began performing under the name Bob Dylan at clubs in Minnesota and St. Paul. 6. A Legend Mends A Legend In 1960 he traveled to New York to perform in various folk clubs throughout Greenwich Village. While in New York he spent time with his idol, Woody Guthrie at his hospital room. 7. Emergence Late in 1961 he landed a contract with Columbia Records and the following year his debut album was released with two original songs. A year after that, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" emerged with an all original album, including a song that became an anthem of the '60's - "Blowin' in the Wind". 8. Bringing It All Back Home In February 1964 Dylan and a small group of friends drove south out of New York City and stopped in unannounced to see poet 'Carl Sandburg' in North Carolina. Disappointingly, Dylan left only 10 minutes after arriving when he realized he couldn't get the venerable man of letters to take him seriously as a fellow poet. He popped folk-rock into the mainstream after touring with Joan Baez with his own flavor of electric/acoustic swagger, culminating with his hit song, "Bringing it all Back Home". Soon after the Byrd's turned his song "Mr. Tambourine Man" into another hit with their cover version of the famous tune. 9. Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid Following a motorcycle accident in 1966 which took him out of the limelight until 1969. Around that time, Sam Peckinpah asked him to compose the score and appear in his film, "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid". This would be the only the beginning of a long and continuing relationship with Hollywood and filmmaking. 10. Grammy Time In 1974, Bob Dylan and The Band hit the road to promote their first number one album, "Planet Waves". The next year they had another chart-topper with the release of, "Blood on the Tracks". He followed that with several Rolling Thunder tours, a film called, "Renaldo and Clara" and then stunned the music world with the release of his fundamentalist Christian album, "Slow Train Coming". A song from this album garnered him his first Grammy. 11. Pope On The Red Line In May 1997, he was stricken with histaplasmosis, a possibly fatal infection of the heart sac, but recovered to take on a tour of Europe. He kicked off the trip by September, starting off in Rome by special request of the Pope. 12. In Their Father's Footsteps? His son Jakob Dylan has made a good time semi-emulating his infamous father with his own band, The Wallflowers. However, his Jesse Dylan has taken a slightly altered route to stardom, opting for the glamour of Tinsletown. His first major directing gig is about to be released, "American Pie 3". Jesse also directed a film called, "How High" and appears with a special thanks credit on "The Matrix Revisited". 13. Albums Of The Year He is truly legendary, his 1997 album, "Time Out of Mind" and his 2001 album "Love and Theft" were both voted Album of the Year by the Village Voice's annual critics' poll. Seems like a no-brainer to us. 14. Hollywood Hit List He has composed and recorded songs or had his recorded songs used in the following films: Gods & Generals Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Vanilla Sky Bandits Blow Remember the Titans High Fidelity Wonder Boys The Hurricane American Beauty Hope Floats Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas The Big Lebowski Jerry Maguire Breaking the Waves With Honors Dogfight Band of the Hand American Pop Renaldo and Clara Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid 15. Jack Fate The small $10 million dollar film, "Masked & Anonymous" was directed by veteran TV comedy director, Larry Charles, who has also helmed shows for, "Mad About You", "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm". He appeared on the TV show, "Dharma & Greg" playing himself. When he met Conan O'Brien at a recent concert, Bob was quoted as saying, "I know you from the TeeVee." 16. Award Monger He has received numerous awards of note, including: The Polar Music Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 2000, The Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from France in 1990, an honorary doctorate from Princeton University in 1970 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Bruce Springteen at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel in 1988. 17. The Missing Beatle? He appears on the sleeve of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club". At the famous "Johnny Cash at San Quentin" concert, Johnny Cash introduced a song he co-wrote with Dylan by describing his as "�the greatest writer of our times." About The Author: To read more articles by Chad, visit the American Pop Culture Encyclopedia at: http://www.americanpopcultureencyclopedia.com. If you would like to read this article, or others like it, on American Pop Culture Encyclopedia, visit: http://www.americanpopcultureencyclopedia.com/bob%20dylan.htm
Gas Rewards Credit Cards Save You Money At The Pumps
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:02 AM PDT
Gas prices breaking your budget? Switch to a cash back credit card rewards plan and save 2% to 5% on all your purchases at your favorite gas station. For credit savvy consumers that can make a difference in real dollars and cents. Branded gas company cards can cost you By using a major credit card offered by Visa, Mastercard or American Express for your gasoline purchases you can save a lot of money over a branded gas company card, such as Shell, Amoco, Citgo or Exxon. Usually these gasoline branded cards have a much higher interest rate, usually about 21% or more. Transfer your balance and you could save even more Another plus - by transferring your credit card to a cash rewards credit card, you can often take advantage of a 0% APR credit card balance transfer, and save even more. As gasoline prices edge ever higher, this can be a welcome breather to a strained household budget. How cash back credit card rewards or rebates work Typically, cash rewards cards offer you rebates on all purchases, including groceries, retail items, movie tickets as well as gas. Cash back credit card rewards are sent to you either as a check or as a credit to your account. These amounts can add up significantly if you travel or put in many miles commuting. Not all cash rewards are alike Some gas companies will "brand" their company specific card with a Visa, or Mastercard logo, for example, and can be used anywhere — but you will only receive a cash reward if you purchase gas from that specific station. These types of cards are limiting as to how and where you can use them, and you won't always get the lowest price on gas. If you really want to save For consumers who pay off their credit card balances every month, this type of cash back credit card can really be beneficial, by providing a cash rewards with only a token finance charge. Look for a credit card offer with no annual fee, or transfer your balance to a 0% APR credit card that also offers cash back rebates. So, if gas prices are breaking you budget, consider switching to a gas rewards credit card offering cash back. Used wisely, cash back credit cards can be a useful tool in balancing your budget. Copyright 2005 Ed Vegliante. About The Author: Ed Vegliante is the owner of http://www.credit-card-surplus.com , a well organized credit card directory enabling the user to compare and apply for a variety of credit credit card offers. Find links to secure online credit card applications.
Tanning Is Great! But Get Some Sun Protective Swimwear.
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:02 AM PDT
Summer is the season of fun at the beach and there is plenty of sunlight making it imperative to put on sun protective swimwear . Whilst the great pastime time during this period is sun bathing, the greatest danger lurking along beaches and swimming pools is ultra violet rays from the sun. Ultra violet rays are emissions from the sun that has the potential of causing damage to unprotected skin surface. Sun protective swimwear are clothing that we put on to fend off the negative effects that these radiations can have on the body. The manufacture of sun protective swimwear is an elaborate process. Although the clothes themselves are made up of ordinary, everyday fabrics, it is the lining and the special treatment of the clothes that turn them into sun protective swimwear. One technology is to use durable, breathable, lightweight, and very comfortable fabric with a 4-way stretch. The inner part of the fabric is lined with the ultra violet light protective coating. If the sun protective swimwear is going to be used for swimming in a pool, then it is made from chlorine resistant swim fabric. For people who are highly sensitive to sunrays or photosensitive skin or skin cancer, the choice is high-SPF clothing. These contain containing colorless compounds, and treated resins that absorb ultra violet light. The essence of sun protective swimwear is to reflect as much as possible, the dangerous ultra violet rays from the sun as much as possible. This means, shiny, silky or reflective clothing are the best. Another technique is to use tightly woven micro fiber containing enhanced titanium dioxide which diffuses ultra violet light and CoolMax mesh to ensure ventilation and moisture management. There are several types of sun protective swimwear available. There are some for babies, some for men and some for women. Between these we have ordinary and high end designer swimwear. Although all of them have the protection against the sun, there are vast differences in quality of fabric, design and appearance. There are some sun protective swimwear that cover the entire body and some that are just top wear, shorts or pants. With the high end fashion, you can have two, three and even sometimes four piece sun protective swimwear with a hat or sunglasses to match. Of increasing popularity are men's sun protective swimwear comprising of a shirt, shorts and matching glasses. These products are both in the regular version and high end fashion. Before we get on to why we need sun protective swimwear , it may be helpful to look at ultra violet rays. Ultraviolet rays (UV) or radiation is the invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. UV radiation can damage the skin, cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer. There are two types of UV rays - there is the UVA which causes ordinary sun burn and the UVB which penetrate deeper into the skin to cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer. Physiologically, overexposure to UV radiation can disturb the body's immune system and the skin's natural defenses. Sun protective swimwear offers you a kind of filtering against these harmful rays. People most susceptible to these rays are those with light clothing and in areas where there is no overhead protection like the beach. Sun protective swimwear is also needed during summer when the sun shines a lot and consequently emits more ultra violet rays. If you are interested in the stats, • 1.3 million New cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. • One in five Americans will contract skin cancer. • Malignant melanoma, the worst form of skin cancer, has increased 1,800% since 1930 It is likely that many patients can save themselves the discomfort of these illnesses by putting on some sun protective swimwear . You need to exercise a lot of discretion in buying protective swimwear. Sun protective swimwear is categorized per UPF rating. UPF is the amount of radiation that can pass through the clothing. For example, a fabric with a UPF rating of 15 will permit one fifteenth of the UVR to pass through it and a UPF 20 fabric, one twentieth of the UVR to pass through it. What this mean is, depending your skin sensitivity, you will go for the clothing that suits your skin type, and of course, how long you will be exposed to the sun. It is also important to consider weave type. Generally, the tighter the weave or knit, the better the protection against the sun. The less the light that can pass through the clothing, the better. To test porosity, you can hold the sun protective swimwear against the sun and see how much light comes through. Darker clothes should also be preferred against lighter clothes. The price of a sun protective swimwear ranges from $49.95 upwards and there are several shops offering regular and high end fashion sun protective swimwear. Sun protective swimwear can be pretty expensive and therefore need a lot of care to prolong their life. Here are a few tips on how to care for them: Avoid oil-based suntan lotions which can stain the fabric and cause it to stretch. Stretching increases porosity and consequently permits more UV light to come through. Soak clothes in vinegar to prevent fading which permits more light to come through the clothes. Chlorine can interact with the sun protective swimwear and damage it. Try to soak your body wet before jumping into the pool to minimize the chemical reaction with the chlorine in the pool. Enjoy the sun, tan as you want but be mindful of the danger of UV - put on your sun protective swimwear and save your beautiful skin. About The Author: For more swimwear information, please visit http://www.beach-gear.info
Giant Squid Finally Captured On Film
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:01 AM PDT
On 27 September 2005, the greatest zoological discovery of the century was announced. For the first time ever, a live giant squid was caught on film. The Animal The giant squid (Architeuthis) has been known to humans since ancient times. Giant squid were regular features in many Norwegian tales (where, many believe, it inspired the creature known as the Kraken). The first substantiated report of a real giant squid, was in 1873. The animal was reported to have been attacking a minister and a young boy, near Bell Island, Newfoundland. Five years later, scientists received their first giant squid specimen, when a carcass washed ashore in Glover's Harbor, Newfoundland. What's in a Name? The scientific name for the genus containing the giant squid is: Architeuthis, which translates to: "The ruling squid." How big? The largest giant squid on record was a female that washed ashore on a New Zealand beach in 1887. From end to end, the creature measured 16.8 meters (55 ft) long. Because of the "springiness" of their tentacles, though, this has been viewed as an exaggerated length. If the animal were still alive, it resting length would have been closer to 9.8 meters (32 ft). Elusive Monster Despite knowledge of the existence of this beast for the past 127 years, scientists have never been able to actually capture the creature alive; either in a net, or on film. This was due to a variety of different factors that were not conducive to human capture. Some of these factors included: Depth – Most large squid prefer depths of several hundred, to one thousand meters. This makes it very hard to place fishing nets and bait. Time – Suggested by their gargantuan eyes, and verified by observations of other species, large squid prefer to hunt in areas of the water column, which remain very dark. They usually only come closer to the surface at night. These scenarios present a problem for anyone wanting to film these animals. Pressure – Water pressure increases by one atmosphere for every 9.8 meters (32ft) in depth. Giant squid appear to favor depths between 600-900 meters (1,968 – 2,952 ft). At 900 meters, water pressure is 92 times greater than at the surface. If a large squid were caught at that depth, and brought up, the rapid change in pressure could possibly kill the large animal long before it ever reached the boat. The only choice would be to bring the creature up slowly; a process that would leave plenty of time for it to escape. Seeking Help One telltale way to find giant squid, is to follow one of their primary predators: the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). These animals are known hunters of giant squid. Many individuals are known to carry large sucker and claw marks believed to be souvenirs from their epic underwater battles. By figuring out where sperm whales like to hunt, one should be able to get a good idea of where the squid live. By following this process, scientists have been able to get a fairly good estimate of the general living depths for giant squid. Minor Success In February of 2001, Dr. Steve O'Shea, along with the Discovery Channel, caught the first ever living giant squid. In fact, he caught of few of them. The only catch was that they were only larvae. The babies had to be maintained in special pressurized tanks, in order to keep them alive. Unfortunately for Dr. O'Shea, the larvae did not survive the trip back to the mainland. Patience is Key Japanese researchers: Tsunemi Kubodera, and Kyoichi Mori, set out to capture film of an adult giant squid, in the wild. From 2002 to 2004, Kubodera, Mori and their crew, set up remote camera systems in Japanese waters, which were known to harbor sperm whales and giant squid. They hooked depth loggers to the cameras, along with bait rigs dangling below them. For the bait, the researchers used a Japanese common squid on one end, and a mesh bag filled with shrimp, to use as an odor allure on the other end. Finally, on 30 September 2004, Kubodera, Mori and their crew struck gold. A large, 8 meter (26ft) adult squid was caught attacking a piece of bait the researchers had dangling 900 meters below the surface. The Battle At 9:15 AM, the squid attacked the bait. The camera captured the attack on film. During the initial attack, a portion of the squid's tentacle became snagged on the bait rig. At 1:28 PM, the squid finally broke free from its snare. It had struggled on the line for a mind blowing 4 hours! Unexpected Souvenir The struggle to break free was so violent, that the animal actually ripped off the tentacle that was stuck to the bait rig. This tentacle remained attached to the rig, as the researchers brought it up. The leftover squid remnant measured 5.5 meters (18 feet) long! The tentacle was observed to still be sucking and attaching itself to anything it could get a hold of. Truth is Stranger than Fiction Prior to these observations, scientists had assumed that giant squid were sluggish creatures that remained neutrally buoyant in the water column; dangling their long tentacles in order to lure fish in. Now we know that these animals are much more active, and aggressive than we had once thought. Not Over with Yet With the announcement of this discovery, a renewed interest in the giant squid has begun. Many documentary film companies are now attempting to capture even better footage of these animals in their natural habitat. There's Always a Bigger…Mollusc? With all of this renewed hubbub over the giant squid, it should be pointed out that it is not completely unique among squid. As with many things named "giant" in zoology, there always seems to be something else that comes along to dwarf the previous "biggest." Enter the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni). Though this animal has been known to science since 1925, it never received the acclaim it's smaller (but longer) relative, Architeuthis, got. While the colossal squid doesn't appear to grow as long as the giant squid (their tentacles are shorter), they are many times larger than them. Furthermore, while giant squid are often viewed as the antagonists in battle scenes with sperm whales, there is good reason to suggest that the colossal squid might be responsible for so many battle scarred whales. As previously mentioned, many large sperm whales are found with deep claw marks on their heads. Giant squid tentacles do not have claws on them. They only contain suckers. Colossal squid tentacles, on the other hand, are laced with numerous hooks. Who knows what else awaits discovery down in the murky depths of the ocean. About The Author: The Iconoclast is a student at the University Of New Mexico and part of the web building team at http://www.Gifteteria.com :Gift Giving With A Smile.
Traveling In Costa Rica
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:01 AM PDT
Costa Rica is full of fascinating things to see and do. When you visit Costa Rica the first thing that you will notice is the friendly environment that permeates every aspect of the society in Costa Rica. And there are not many places on earth that are as beautiful all year round as Costa Rica. In Costa Rica you will be able to sit on the beach and luxuriate under the sun or choose from a variety of adventures that you just cannot find back at home. If you are staying in Costa Rica you will want to check out all of their fabulous museums. There are over 30 different fantastic museums in Costa Rica and each of them will take your breath away with their amazing artifacts. You will find some of the most fantastic finds in Costa Rica at their museums. These museums are a great way to spend the day when you need a little break from the sun and the beach. The sun in Costa Rica is powerful so be sure to bring some good sunscreen and a hat, getting sunstroke in Costa Rica is no way to enjoy your vacation. There are many other gorgeous sites to see in Costa Rica besides the sun and the museums and one of them is the variety of trees. If you love the outdoors then Costa Rica is the place for you. There are many hikes and treks that you can go on in Costa Rica that will thrill your senses. You will get too see a good portion of the wildlife in Costa Rica as they go about their daily business, which is always fun and exciting. Costa Rica is a great place to visit either on your own or with others. About The Author: Carmen Ross is the owner of Costa Rica Travel And Real Estate Site. (http://www.costaricatravelandrealestatesite.com). Her site contains information and resources for people interested in traveling to Costa Rica and living in Costa Rica.
Are You Having Sleepless Nights Because Of Your Finances?
by
Mnet
on Tue 18 Oct 2005 09:00 AM PDT
You've worked hard all day and come home at night, only to discover that you can't get comfortable in your own bed. You toss and you turn for well over three hours. As 3a.m. approaches, you finally go to sleep but the alarm sounds all too quickly at 6 a.m. It's time for you to go to work. Day two comes and you're off again to the usual rat race. You repeat the same pattern once you get home. Later that night you lay in bed, thinking how you're going to pay all of these bills. Despite your best efforts on the job, including overtime, it doesn't seem to be enough. What can you do? Who can you to turn to? Does this sound like you? Are you a Christian having sleepless nights because of your finances? Here are the top five reasons I have found why people get into debt: 1) Try to live beyond their means. Keep up with the Joneses. 2) Lost job and bills pile up 3) Have never been taught money management 4) Divorcing and the other party charged up cards in the process splitting up 5) Impulse Shopping I too was a victim. Not from just one, but two of these debt catalysts. My husband | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
