Capturing Special Moments With A Digital Camera

There are millions of people around the world who share a keen interest in photography. The charm of capturing a moment in a camera is truly amazing. Probably, this is one of the strongest reasons why a growing number of people are joining the cult of professional photographic pursuit. Traditionally, taking photographs, film processing and developing them in the dark room was a painfully long process. But as digital technology evolved, it enabled camera manufacturing companies to come up with high-end digital cameras.

Digital cameras are an ideal gadget for taking pictures without having to worry about running out of snaps of roll which is the case with the traditional film cameras. This apart, there is no need of having to wait till the entire roll of film gets used just to find the blown-up pictures in the dark room. Digital cameras allow you to take any number of photographs and see each one of them right after you take them. Also you can connect your camera to the USB port of you Personal Computer and store your snaps there in a folder. What is more is that you can customize each photograph, thru software, just the way like it. In case, you want to take a hard-copy of the pictures, you can always use the printer to get your favorite photograph printed out.

Buying a digital camera is a matter of serious deliberation. Since different brands of companies are offering cameras with special features, you have be aware of the standard features of the digital cameras in order to be able to make the right purchase. The following are some of the must-know tips that you should be familiar with before you swipe you credit card in a digital camera kiosk of a shopping mall or punch in the CVV number in the box while shopping online for a captivating camera.

Price Range:

The price of digital photographic cameras can usually range anything from US$100 to $1000. If you are buying a digital compact camera for the first time, then don`t go for an expensive one. It is quite easy to get tempted into spending a lot of money to buy a digital SLR camera offering features that are just of no use to you. Get to know your needs and settle for a prudent purchase. Ensure that the digital camera you pick should be light-weighted and easy-to-use. Later on, after you learn the basics of digital camera photograph, you may opt for an high-end edition.

Features:

The standard features of digital cameras of all make are almost similar except for some special features introduced by some renowned brands in the market. Features such as zoom, automatic functions, special effects, black & white images and video recording facilities are usually offered by most brands. However, as a prudent buyer you have be careful of the claims some manufactures might be making. For instance, the feature of digital zoom magnifications may not actually live up to your expectation level if you are hoping to get the optimal clarity especially if you are aiming at say 8x10 or larger size photos. Do not be tempted by the flashy promotional gimmickry of the brands. Consider the features keeping your pre-established price range in mind.

Lens:

All digital cameras provide two types of zoom features: optical and digital. While the optical zoom feature is based on the lens magnification and gives you images with a sharp and crystal-clear clarity, digital zoom relies on the magnification of the digital image which results in less sharp and fuzzy images. Make sure that the digital camera you buy should at least have the optical zoom features. However, as mentioned earlier, you have to be careful of the digital zoom magnification claim. You can look for digital cameras having lens auto focus and image stabilization features.

Image Resolution:

Image Resolution or Pixel Resolution is one of the most striking features of digital cameras. For personal and email purpose digital cameras having 2.0 mega pixels will deliver clear photos. However, many manufactures are now offering digital cameras with 8.0 and above mega pixels. You get better and clearer images with higher mega pixels. High mega pixel resolution plays a key role in image enlargement. So if size matters to you, consider this aspect seriously.

Battery Type and Longevity:

If you are likely to use the digital camera for outdoor activities, it is important to consider how long the built-in batteries will last. Even if you think of using some extra rechargeable batteries, just make sure whether the digital camera you are buying support the same batteries.

LCD Screen:

Every digital camera has the LCD Screen feature. Just make sure that the screen size should be at least 2 inches or above. It will give you better and clear images.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.brKyla Blog47472
Kanya Blog76635

How Phone Verification Fights Identity Theft

Just like anything on Earth modern society has some kind of balance. So on one hand we have a progressive electronic community and on the other hand we have army of internet criminals whose both work and fun consists of so called identity theft.

As the main weapon of a scammer is his anonymity the main purpose of a Site Owner consists in confirmation of Users identity.

There are some methods to verify website user's identity. Confirmation by email is used when it concerns password reminder service; e-merchants use AVS checking to authorize their customers as true cardholders while processing credit cards in e-shops and so on.

But it's not enough. Passwords can be stolen through so called phishing. And Address Verification System is used in US and Canada only and moreover its scheme is rather imperfect.

There should be another solution.

And it does exist.

Telephone verification is a kind of universal method to verify user's identity. It works as follows:

A. A user enters his personal data including phone number at a certain site and presses "submit" button.

B. Phone verification system initiates a call to this number.

C. After greeting a system asks to enter pin-code that a user sees on the screen using a phone keypad.

D. A user enters pin-code and hangs up.

After a call is done system passes a merchant user's country and city by phone number area code, phone number type and matching of pin-code entered and pin-code shown on site. Some companies e.g. Proveout.com provides Geo IP research in addition to telephone verification. This allows to compare IP address data with phone number data (whether country and city identified by IP address matches the ones identified by phone area code).

It is a lot. It is surely enough to define whether a Customer is a person he seems to be - a real website user and a real cardholder.

Optionally system can ask a person to confirm his identity/order by saying something like his name or any other information that is recorded. Afterwards, such recordings can prove that a person had indeed used certain service (ordered certain goods). A Site Owner can download a wav-file with a recorded voice message of a customer at any time as it is saved on server of telephone authorization service provider.

This is telephone verification and how it works.

Where telephone verification is used

1. E-commerce. Identity theft is a serious problem for plenty of merchants. Telephone verification helps to reduce fraudulent transactions. Customer just passes the standard procedure of authorization and proves that he is a true cardholder. Recorded message with Customers voice can afterwards become a proof of ordering a good/service by a certain person.

2. Any website where registration/authorization is required. VoIP telephone verification can be used at the registration stage in order to confirm users' identity (e.g. it's of high importance at different forums, online communities, online financial services etc). Also it can be used in case a user has lost his password. Sending it to a specific email address doesn't guarantee Site Owner cannot be completely sure that password reminder procedure isn't initiated by a scammer with an idea to manage somebody's personal data. Passing telephone verification by user can prove his identity.

3. Sites with free content limiting. Very often different companies carry on advertising campaigns that permit using their online services for free for certain time (trial periods). In order to anticipate multiple signing up (which is a bad experience for a marketing report) each new registration can be verified in order to prove that use hasn't signed up before.

4. Sites offering region limiting services. In some countries it is prohibited to distribute security software to certain countries. Using telephone verification service Site Owner can be sure that his new registered user doesn't live in one of these countries. Phone number area code helps to reveal user's location. This service is even more effective when it is used together with Geo IP research.

VoIP telephone service can be used for automation of webmaster's work by programming scheduled phone calls with a request of certain info or a confirmation of certain info. E.g. you can automatically initiate a call when a new order with shipment requirement is submitted in order to confirm shipment details. In case you're an owner of an internet-catalogue you can initiate a call e.g. once a month to the members of your catalogue in order to confirm that their sites still exist with the same domain names, so to confirm their membership.

You can use VoIP telephone verification as a perfect marketing tool. For example you can supply your Clients with information concerning some changes in their maintenance by phone or automatically play them greeting messages on specific dates.

To sum it up, I'm to say that there is a great variety of variants on how VoIP telephone verification can be used in internet space. You can offer another ways according to your e-business. It gives great opportunities to communicate with your Clients without being bounded by electronic means (email, ICQ).

Alexa Foster is a specialist in web development and internet marketing. Visit - http://www.lommeks.co.ukKrysta Blog4225
Kelila Blog97155

Where Do You Live? in the Magic or the Mundane?

As I stood outside at dusk one evening just before the light faded, I suddenly felt the movement of air on my cheek. And there, swooping in front of me was an owl! He circled round right in front of me and then flew up into the tree.

Strange, an owl, here in town.

Meditating one morning later that week I hear a knock at the front door. I decide to stay put, hoping they'll come back later. But no, the knocking continued. I realize it sounds like a child's knock and peek from the window where I can see the front door. It's no child; there's a crow knocking at my door!

To a local medicine woman these events have great significance in my life. Each one is a message from the natural world that I need to pay attention to. Owl medicine has to do with wisdom and deception. It asks what we are in the dark about. Crow medicine teaches us how to bend the laws of the universe using magic.

Indigenous people, pagans and the ancient teachers have told us since the beginning of time that the world is speaking to us. That we are all connected to each other and to all things. The energy flowing through the pebble is the same energy flowing through the lion and through us. Nothing is separate, all is linked.

Science has finally caught up with what the ancient masters.

Physicists studying the world on the quanta level now say that everything, including ourselves, is composed of energy vibrating at different levels/speeds.

What does this mean for us? That at any given moment we can open ourselves to the energy of the universe and gain information, get a sense of who we are and connect to every living organism within the world.

For me and others, it allows us to live in a world of Mystery, Magic and Miracles. Everyday I get to wake up and decide if today will be a world of the mundane or will it be a world of Magic. Most days I pick the Magic. And when I do, all kinds of fascinating things occur.

The shaman views the world as alive with Spirit---animal, mineral, or vegetable. Each offers a different form of consciousness available for wisdom, power and energy. As everything outside us is the same as everything inside us then the role of the shaman is to bring to consciousness that which we already know.

Whether it's gleaning messages from crow cawing overhead to understanding the power of the ocean, the world is viewed as energy in a constant state of relating.

This intimate relationship with nature can be experienced by a simple exercise in "intention". For one day (or more) ask a question of the universe and set your intention to pay attention to everything the universe offers you. As you go through your day, notice even the smallest event. For instance, do you find yourself seeing butterflies or dragonflies? Does the cawing of the crow get your attention?

How about your awareness being drawn to certain signs or billboards?

Notice what and where your "attention" goes. Then ask yourself what's the overall message begin delivered--how is your question being answered? You can even go so far as to go on the computer and search the meaning of certain animals appearing in your life (search animal totems).

If, as the quantum physicists and the ancient masters say that the world is more a mass of energy than solid structure and everything is connected, why wouldn't our attention being drawn to the appearance of an owl be significant? We might look at it as a way for our unconscious to communicate with us utilizing what's available on the outside and bringing it to consciousness!

And, you just might discover that the world we live in truly is a magical place.

c) 2006 Debra Fentress. All rights reserved

To find out more about creating magic in your life please visit http://www.debrafentress.com. For information about magical journeys check out the Lessons of the Shamanic Masters taking place on the island of Kauai in December at http://www.debrafentress.com/ShamanicMasters.html.

NOTE: You're welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end).

As co-partner and director of The Performance Partnership Limited (U.S. office), Debra is dedicated to assisting people to create lives of love, joy and happiness on a moment-to-moment basis. She has coached CEOs, government agencies, corporations and individuals to improve their lives, both professionally and personally. Kelcey Blog98827
Karen Blog25182

Stock Images- The Indispensable Tool For Designers And Webmasters

When the already obtainable photographs are accredited for definite usage, then they are called Stock photography. These are also known as stock photos, photo archive or image banks in USA. Outside the United States, the term picture library is generally used to refer to these stock photos. Stock photographs generally consist of still images, illustrations and videos. Stock photographs are useful to a large section of people that includes book publishers, business resourceful groups, specialty publishers, interior decoration firms, magazines, graphic designers, advertising agencies, web designers and filmmakers. In the Internet there are outstanding collection of stock photography images from all the leading brand names. Instead of going for on-location shooting, using stock photography will help the customers to save adequate amount of time and money. Suppose, submitting a photo on a certain topic is required immediately and there is no time at all for shooting the photo in a conventional time-consuming process. So, stock photos can come to the rescue now. Researchers can easily come across their well-desired images from the broad assortment of online images. With the advent of digital delivery techniques, people can buy, download or e-mail images easily.

In the stock photography industry, the new micro-stock models of images get filed at the agencies. The photographers are paid a certain amount of percentage. There are various factors on which the cost of the images depends on. These are the audience, the frequency and duration of using these images and the associated countries or regions. The licensed price varies from $1 to $200. You can find any type of image that will fit the budget of your project. For big budget projects, you can afford high-cost images; otherwise just go for the images that come at a cheaper price rate. Some professional stock photographers submit their images to more than one agency. The photographers can sell the same image several times. So, the availability of these images increases. In case of rights managed stock photography, the agencies go for a separate licensing contract for each use whereas in royalty free stock photography, the purchasers can use the image again and again with a single license fee. There is no restriction of time. But there is a limit in the number of usage. In this way, other customers are debarred from using a certain image for a specific time period. From stock photography, both low-resolution and high-resolution images are accessible. You can use the rights managed images in 2 mediums separately. But for each use, you have to pay the agency separately. The size of the audience is important here. The non-payment licensing period for most of the stock agencies is 6 months to 1 year. Other options are on hand too. There are also certain provisions to apply for exclusive rights in rights-managed images. Thus scope of overusing the image by the challenger market lessens. The released images are classified into 2 sections. These are model released and property released stock images. These images are accessible for authorization through stock photography agencies. Usage charge is not required in case of Royalty-Free Images. So, for unrestricted, worldwide usage, royalty free license is the best resort.

H. Armstrong Roberts founded the 1st prominent stock photography agency way back in 1920. The current name of the agency is RobertStock. In the 1980s, the industry of stock photography got a significant facelift. The Image Bank, Masterfile, Index Stock Imagery, FPG, SuperStock and Comstock Images were the leading agencies of this period. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Getty Images, Corbis and JupiterMedia Corporation emerged as some of the major players in this business. All the photographs are distributed only through Internet. Both professional and amateur photographers are employed in this business. In 2004, fotoLibra started the system of open access model by which everybody became capable of uploading and marketing the images. Throughout Europe and North America, there are several stock photography agencies that supply good quality images to various media publishers and advertising agencies. The demand for lifestyle images is on the rise nowadays.

If we search through Goggle, we can come across innumerable stock photo agencies. You can use smaller or larger agencies as per your requirement. The number of images of your preferred topic varies considerably according to the agency strength. There are certain guidelines you can follow while searching for stock photography images. You should always opt for the advanced search techniques. The position of these advanced search buttons vary according to the agencies. Let us suppose that you are going to search for images on chocolates. You should insert that very key phrase chocolate and click the advanced search button. Soon, you will be flooded with desired results. In some agencies, you have to register as per the agencys terms and conditions. Not much information is required to register in Index Stock. But FotoSearch, Getty Images and Corbis want extensive information. Your image buying process will get facilitated if you set up an account at the agencys website. Setting up an account and registering dont have much of a difference in the websites of some companies. Some agencies proffer special services also. You can search for high quality images such as images without any watermark. In some stock photography agencies, you can get the assistance of professional searchers also. These professional searchers have proven to be immensely beneficial for certain customers. For further queries, calling the customer care associates of the agencies will definitely be a wise option. The amicable customer care services of various stock photography image agencies have got global appreciation.

If you are looking forward to the perfect stock photo for your marketing project, you can at once search through the online agencies. Inserting the keywords, image type, image size and color will be helpful. Searching by orientation like portrait, panoramic and layout is available in agencies like Index Stock Imagery. The more you be specific in terms of keywords, the results will be more precise. Let us suppose that you want photographs on children playing on the beach. Here, all the key words children, play and beach must be included in your search. Re-sorting the images from the search results is possible too. Searching by the name of the artist who has generated the image is another popular option. To make your search more refined, you can insert your desired adjectives in the keyword. If you are satisfied with the images you obtain, you can place them in the light box where other people connected to the project can take a look at them. Using the light box is acceptable in Index Stock. Some prefer e-mailing the images to the co-workers. The name of the light box appears as the subject line in the mails of the recipients. In the mail, a clickable URL exists that refers to the light box. All the stock photography agencies have almost identical features. After the selection of the stock images, filling up the online ordering form is mandatory. You have to spell out the actual forms of usage of the images. After the completion of the ordering process, you get necessary information from the agencies on the downloading of images. Next comes the step for saving and using the images. The whole process of purchasing a license for online stock photography is trouble-free, speedy and reasonably priced.

Stock photography, nowadays, is an extensively used application of digital media. Digital audio, digital video and other digital content are the prime categories of digital media. The digital information processing machines play an important role in this regard. The digital media is technologically far more advanced than the analog media. From the conventional stock photography, a branch known as Micro Stock Photography has emerged. These images are obtainable only from the Internet. The agencies of micro stock photography buy images from a broad assortment of photographers that incorporates recreational photographers also. The cost of royalty free images is quite less. The range of the price is between $10 and $20. Here, quantity of the images is the major concern of the photographers. Bruce Livingstone initiated the microstock photography industry. You can download thousands of microstock photographs from agencies like ShutterStock, Dreamstime, BigStockPhoto, Stock Photo and Fotolia. Gradually, the whole Stock Photography industry is going through a steady growth rate and in the coming years, it will surely undergo further revolution.

Albert Mills is a freelance photo researcher based in Barcelona, Spain currently contracting for an international publishing group based in london and leading advertising agencies in Europe. Kristel Blog12613
Karmen Blog21241

Smart Boards In The Classroom

The last couple of years have seen the introduction of (almost) affordable LCD projectors and interactive white boards, namely smart boards, into schools and colleges throughout the United States. While most schools have embraced this technology and the new teaching opportunities it affords, some, especially special schools have had difficulty coming up with ways to use it with their students. This article describes some of the ways we have used our smart board and LCD projector with our SLD and PMLD students.

Smart boards can be used anywhere with video cameras or players and will happily connect to any computer providing the software has been installed. Most smart boards can be fitted to a moveable stand enabling you to push it wherever it is needed in school (and allowing access to kids in wheel chairs!). Tape the cables to the floor using gaffer tape so no one can trip over them and teach the kids how to load the software and calibrate the screen getting them to count the points as they touch them.

Interactive whiteboards add a whole new dimension to the use of art software. Freed from the cognitive load of having to use the mouse, kids creativity runs wild. Children who would struggle to make even the simplest of pictures with a mouse, confidently choose colors and tools and produce quite complex patterns and pictures with hands and fingers.

A smart board and LDC projector provide opportunities for students to access technology in a highly motivating way. It is our experience after using the equipment for over a year that kids learn quicker and retain more of the lesson when they have used the whiteboard. Start your lesson with a turn taking session on the board then let them loose on the computer and see for yourself how much they have remembered!

Hamzah Tariq is Business Analyst at http://www.electronicwhiteboardswarehouse.com specializing in interactive whiteboard technology.Lari Blog96981
Keren Blog64659

Ebiz Internet Marketing Tools

Ebiz Internet marketing tools. You may have a great idea for a website with a superior product or service, grand design, content and functionality but if you do not use the right tactics, your site may not attract the all-relevant highly targeted traffic. Getting a lot of traffic into a site has very little to do with the site itself. But with how the Webmaster or site owner advertise it. With hundreds of competing sites, you must use the most effective Internet marketing tools that will truly deliver results.

There are different internet marketing tools that you can use. All these methods and approaches aim at increasing your website traffic. You must find a road for web surfers to find your site. To do this, you must put yourself in the shoes of your prospective visitors and future clients and see the internet through their eyes. Where do they typically go whenever they are looking up something on the web? The answer is the search engine; in fact, the two most popular websites on the net today are both search engines and portals. Thus, you should focus your internet marketing efforts on the search engine.

People will normally search for something using a search engine and click on the top results that these engines give. Therefore, you must use the right internet marketing tools to get a high search engine ranking. To gain a high ranking in search results, you can use several internet marketing tools. Search engine optimization is a collection of methods that are directed at improving the visibility of your site in search engine results. Since a search engine indexes sites by looking at its keyword density, your site's content must have favorable keyword density that is search engine friendly. Content is one of the most powerful internet marketing tools itself. If you have excellent content that is geared towards achieving a high search engine ranking as well as provide information then you can expect a high search engine ranking. However, this is not as easy as it appears. Countless other sites may be using the same internet marketing tools as you do. Thus, you must continuously find new ways of attracting more traffic.

Aside from the traditional marketing techniques such as print ads, billboards, brochures, testimonials, flyers etc. You must use other more effective internet marketing tools to gain more traffic. One of the most popular internet marketing tools today is the use of Pay per Click advertising. In this approach, you will bid for a particular keyword in a specific search engine. If you have the highest bid then your sites link will be the top result. This internet marketing tool is now being used by thousands of sites. It is also gaining popularity because of its relatively high success rate in attracting high traffic.

Bernie Dozier only writes articles on topics of products that he has use and try http://bd-ebiz.com/.Karina Blog18918
Kore Blog87292

Loving Those Who Are Behave Egotistically Or Are Cold And Unfeeling

Why do we lose our love when others are behaving egotistically? What is the danger for us? We might answer that it is natural not to love an egotistical person. But what is our danger here? Are we losing self-worth, security, freedom, control or pleasure? Perhaps we are offended by our own egotism that reflects in the others' behavior?

If the others were five years old, would we be offended and outraged by their egotistical behavior? Or would we continue to love them, while we explained to them that this behavior is not pleasant and that we would prefer that they not behave in this way? We might even ignore them because they do not know better. Would we feel danger? Then why do we feel danger from an egotistical adult? What danger exists for us from that adult that does not exist from the child?

The answer is probably: No, there is no danger from an egotistical adult. Most probably we lose our love for egotistical persons, because we perceive them as "bad" and because they remind us of our own egotistical aspects.

We could love them even when they are egotistical and cold and uncaring once we realize that this behavior is a result of their fear, pain and inner emptiness. They cannot be happy inside to behaving in this way. They are lonely and not feeling love or unity with those around them.

They need our understanding and love - not our rejection and hate. We need to see them as children in need of love and understanding. We attract from others that which we perceive in them.

We are being asked in this case to connect with the divine consciousness behind the others' alienated and suffering mind and love them regardless of their behavior. We are being asked to be bigger than our own personality and connect with our soul nature in order to perceive their soul nature and love them as they are.

That does not mean that we do not ask them to become more interested in others and make an effort to care for and respond to others needs. We can feel comfortable asking this, when we do not reject them but are sincerely seeking to help them feel better.

Loving those who ignore or do not respond to our needs

23. When they ignore my needs.

Why should others respond to or fulfill our needs? Why is this a prerequisite for us to love them? Why is this a prerequisite for us to feel that they love us? Are we always able to fulfill or respond to their needs? When we are unable to fulfill or respond to others needs, or choose not to, is it because we do not love them, or because we are obstructed by our needs, fears, and various inner obstacles?

Perhaps we can let go of this prerequisite for love and choose to love others even when they cannot or choose not to fulfill our needs. This would be a much higher level of love. Love without their satisfying our needs, such as self-worth, security, freedom, and pleasure - love simply for loves sake.

Loving someone who does not fulfill our needs is a wonderful opportunity to develop selfless love. This is our challenge in this scenario.

We often believe that others do not love us, when they do not respond to our needs. It may be that they do love us but are not able to respond because of their differing needs, values and perceptions or because they are controlled by various attachments and attachments. If we examine ourselves, we will find that we are not able to facilitate all of our loved ones needs, even though we do love them.

Again we have every right to communicate effectively and negotiate for what we need from those persons. But this can be done without the blackmail of withholding love if they do not respond. They are much more likely to respond when they feel that our love is there regardless of what they do.

From the book "Love is The Choice"
by Robert Elias Najemy

Robert Elias Najemy, a life coach with 30 years of experience, is the author of over 20 books, 600 articles and 400 lectures on Human Harmony. Download wonderful ebooks, 100's of free articles, courses, and mp3 audio lectures at http://www.HolisticHarmony.com. Find 8 of his books at http://www.Amazon.com.Karel Blog61950
Kristel Blog12613

Amp'd Mobile Phones: Can Your Phone Do This?

Amp'd Mobile has phone features that are extraordinary and will meet the expections of the younger generation! Something that will being ringing in our ears will be, "Don't you wish your cell phone was hot like this?" Say good bye to live Larry King streaming video!

Amp'd Mobile is springing forward with such powerful features, that other cell phone companies will watch and learn. The most ingenuis marketing move is using viral videos. Amp'd Mobile phones will allow the use of not just listening to music, but also downloading crazy videos. The use of humor in marketing is extremely effective and is the driving force behind the success of many large corporations. When you see a person laughing at their phone, it just might be a funny video!

Amp'd Mobile cell phones will let you surf the web, play games, access sports information, download music at speeds that will make your jaw drop. Amp'd Mobile does claim to have the fastest speeds in North America! If your looking for some flashy style, that will make your friends take notice, then Amp'd Mobile will meet your desires. Be prepared for the ultimate in dazzling entertainment from Amp'd Mobile.

Let's take a quick look at Amp'd Mobiles cutting edge technology: Text and multi-media messaging support, a vivid 256k color display, EV-DO high-speed data access, a built-in camera with flash and video capture, push-to-talk/walkie-talkie functionality, and a built-in speakerphone. This has got to be the hottest high-tech candy for entertainment on earth!

Let's face it, we have become a society that is so strongly dependent on cell phone technology, that we cannot live without a cell phone. Asurion insurance is the company, that covers the Amp'd Mobile cell phones. If your phone is lost, stolen or damaged Asurion is the ultimate insurance provider. Keep in mind you will need to file a police report for lost or stolen phones.

Wireless Network Magazine said, "Amp'd Mobile brings communications to the next level by providing a smorgasbord of entertainment options to the cellular phones of their subscribers."

Imagine your out somewhere and you set your Amp'd Mobile cell phone down on a table, next thing you know it is gone! This is happening to a lot of Amp'd Mobile cell phone users and this will continue to increase. The Amp'd Mobile phones are very expensive and this makes them a desirable target for stealing.

If you have an Amp'd Mobile cell phone, do not set it down anywhere! Do not leave your cell phone in a car or lay it down in a cab seat! I have heard of cell phones being stolen out of a persons house, while entertaining friends! You may being asking yourself, "why would someone steal a cell phone?" People can use the phone and rack up thousands of minutes, so you want to contact your service provider and have it deactivated immediately. It is wise to have a back up for your cell phone contacts, just in case your cell phone is stolen.

If your phone is stolen and has a lot of personal pictures in it, then someone will be enjoying your personal life! Not to mention, your pictures could be uploaded to the internet! Again, you have to implement a strategy for protecting your cell phone. Worthless belt clips will lead to insurance claims and partying in night clubs is an easy way for someone to snatch your cell phone!

DeWayne H. Strickland has been a Film Freak since the time he could walk. Read crazy movie reviews and learn more about Ampd Mobile phones at: http://www.moviedownloadmatrix.com.Lanny Blog93547
Kai Blog33189

The Lonelygirl15 Hoax - Home Schooled Entertainment Or Viral Marketing?

Do you remember where you were when Lonelygirl15 was exposed as a hoax? Perhaps the revelation was not quite worthy of such importance, but it is the case that millions of people were not only wondering, but, more importantly, watching- for months on end. Was this one of the most successful attempts at viral marketing in history, and if so, what was being marketed? First, a little back ground for those who haven't been connected to the Internet or exposed to mass media in the past few weeks.

Social Networking on Digital Video

Online exhibitionism is a social blockbuster. Sites like MySpace (56 million members) and FaceBook(9 million members) have proven to be enormously popular websites where those who engage in the no-fee registration can post personal profiles, daily blogs and photos and develop lists of cyber-friends along with cyber-groups with whom to "chill." YouTube is the video version of this virtual socializing phenomenon. Members can upload home made videos (60,000 a day) and use moving pictures to convey their personas and artistic talents (100 million views a day).

YouTube members develop their own "channels" with strings of video uploads; those that have talent find large numbers of subscribers enlisted to follow their channel postings. YouTube has been a particularly successful vehicle for new bands to develop followings and for established bands to market their performances and recordings. Some record companies use YouTube in much the same way that they sought distribution on MTV a decade ago. Others sue because their artists' videos are being posted without authorization.

But YouTube is still principally a playground for the young and the goofy - which doesn't necessarily tighten the "young" classification much. And like all gathering places for young people, there's going to be a lot of hormonally challenged males in search of eye candy. Young, attractive women who post video logs gather substantial followings in relatively short order.

Enter "Bree"

So it was with "Lonelygirl15," the on screen title for a sixteen year old, self described "home schooled" teenager named "Bree" with a pretty face, big eyes and an every-button-in place female adolescent personality. Over the course of the summer she posted twenty nine videos that built an enormous audience with nothing much more than the charm and innocent wit of the typical teenage girl: hormones with feet. Oh, and, as it turned out, a pair of professional writers.

Most of the videos were filmed in her bedroom, although she did go on an outing or two with a male friend. She made some obscure hints at matters occult and mysterious, heightening the interest for her testosterone-soaked fans.

There was something of a story line built into the string of videos, although nothing that would hold the interest of even an art-house movie crowd. She was invited to a party, she defied her father and went anyway, she was punished for it. But there was enough intrigue and popularity (and suspiciously high quality to the videos) to spark a lot of text posts about just who this girl might be. There were also videos from fans posted regarding her identity, its mystery and caricatures of her persona.

So it came to pass that some computer-savvy detectives lured "Bree" to an email site on MySpace that had some tracking software attached. The reply Bree sent was traced to one of the biggest talent agencies in Los Angeles, Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Busted. The crew that had solicited the email posted a message of their discovery and because of the origin of Bree's reply, concluded that the entire caper was some sort of marketing device related to Hollywood and its principal products. Bree joined a reasonably exclusive fraternity of "celebrities" who were "famous for being famous."

A True Viral Epidemic

The two guys who had been scripting and making the videos were "filmmakers" named Ramesh Flinders and Michael Beckett. Since their outing, they haven't missed a step. The actress who played Bree is a young Los Angeleno named Jessica Rose who has since appeared on national talk shows discussing the months-long scam as an artistic venture. She found the casting call on Craigslist, read for the role, went back for two more tests, and got the job. Some of the scripts were written, but she was given the freedom to ad-lib.

The filmmakers themselves claim that Bree was never meant to portray a real person - a little hard to believe, in the absence of any disclaimers or asterisks in the footage. Nor, they say, was it a promotional device for any sort of Hollywood studio or organization. However, they are currently represented by CAA, they were in that office when responding to emails under her nom-du-Tube and Ms. Rose was paid $30,000 for her portrayal of the Lonely Girl. Somebody invested in this caper for a reason.

All of the exposed parties declare without a hint of remorse that the show will go on. Jessica Rose sees the future as continuing posts that develop a storyline. Presumably, the film makers see this as a ticket to bigger screens. And if Lonelygirl15 remains a current fixture on YouTube, there's going to be an entire school of video art devoted to the on-camera responses, commentary, caricatures and other spins on the original YouTube hoaxette.

All of this begs the question: should we care? If so, how? About what? There are thousands of videos on YouTube that are works of comedic fiction, humorous commentary, amateur entertainment of every stripe. Why not a series? The fact that it was a spoof doesn't seem to have offended anyone; after all, YouTube is a platform for every sort of video expression dispensed in small bites.

What it was meant to accomplish might be a question worth caring about, if there was a way to follow the money. If it was done for self-promotional purposes by the film makers, they succeeded brilliantly in one of the most massive examples of viral marketing in our time. The problem is that they have been recognized for producing footage that no one would buy a ticket to go see. The fact that they manufactured a cultural phenomenon in a matter of weeks is probably closer to the import of this stunt.

The term "viral marketing" has become high on the list of Internet capabilities in the tech advertising and marketing shops. Like most of the things that move with the speed of the 'net, no one has figured out quite how to harness it. What the Lonelygirl15 production proved is that under the right circumstances, it is possible to create instant recognition for a virtual entity among enormous numbers of people. But Howard Dean did that in 2004 - with a purpose. For that matter, MySpace and YouTube branded themselves via word-of-net over the course of two or three years and are now billion dollar properties.

What's interesting is that no one, including Rupert Murdoch, is quite sure WHY they are billion dollar properties. Ad success is measured in terms of exposure to eyeballs, and these sites have eyeballs by the tens of millions. But no one quite knows how to turn that fact into sponsorship cash. It's possible that the Lonelygirl15 caper will give some ad genius an idea on how to cash in on video viral marketing. If so, you can look on Bree as an evolutionary step in the process.

Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for http://www.apollohosting.com. She helps clients understand how a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, & VPS hosting to a wide range of customers.Kee Blog25532
Krysta Blog52764

Whats the Way You MP3?

As varied as the tastes and preferences of the people, is the variety of MP3 players available in the market. Which one you choose depends on a number of factors, such as how you plan to make use of the device, the number of songs you would like to carry in the instrument and of course if the price of the instrument suits you or not. MP3 players are generally based on their memory type. In a Flash Memory MP3 player, which is also the smallest and lightest of the three types of players available, only few songs are stored and since it does not have any moving parts, the flash player is ideal for a patron who is not so particular about the kind of music one hears. It is ideally suited for those who want music as just an accompaniment to their morning jog or golf game. Because the flash memory player is smallest, it offers the advantage of the batteries lasting longer.

In Hard Drive MP3 players there is a considerably larger storage capacity since they are bigger and heavier. Those looking for a player that can store their entire music collection would find the hard drive ideally suited for the purpose. But since the hard drive includes some moving parts, sometimes the music skips a beat or two when the player is being moved around. On the flip side, because of the sheer size of hard drive players, they include more in-built features, though consumes more battery. A charged battery could last for about 8-20 hours.

Although cheaper than flash memory and hard drive memory players, MP3 CD players give users a reason to complaint when music skips due to jostling of CDs. Also, such music players are much larger in size than their digital counterparts. Music patrons who still long for old-fashioned CD players could go for a new breed of CD players which are capable of playing MP3 and other digital files. MP3 CD players are capable of playing MP3 files that have been burned to CD-R/RW discs and even albums from your old collection of CDs. Each CD could hold about 10 hours of music. A CD burner becomes necessary for buyers of an MP3 CD player.

Copyrights protected article written by Andrew Stratton for http://www.surveillancetechnology.com. More articles and information about the spy camera products can be viewed easily altogether at this location http://www.surveillancetechnology.com/entertainment-system.htm. Please be free to explore the website for more information on every surveillance products and their features.Karen Blog25182
Kaylyn Blog99410

Exponential Growth In Number of Data Entry Workers at Home

The number of work at home data entry workers is growing exponentially. Everyday thousands of people are waking up and realizing that they want to get out of the rat race. There are about 4 million people that work at home according to the US Census. A large number of these people working at home are doing data entry.

As the number of data entry people in the work force is declining many companies both large and small have benefited from subcontracting out their data entry work to self-employed workers that do all there business from home. The demand for work at home data entry workers at home will continue to expand over the coming years.

Work at home data entry employees allow for efficient handling of information for companies with a small staff and it is a great benefit for someone looking to get out of the rat race and have the ability to work at home. Not only is this good for the corporations hiring these types of employees but it is also good for the environment as less time is spent running costly vehicles.

The typical tasks involved with doing data entry at home are typing text and entering data into one's home computer and transferring the work via the internet. The only thing needed to setup your own home office and start working from home is a computer, basic software, telephone or cable connections, and a willingness to work.

The great thing about data entry at home is that you can start in your spare time and see how it goes before you up and quit your job. Alternatively if your just looking to supplement the income from you full time job working at home doing data entry is a great way to do it.

Other tasks involved with doing data entry from home include but are not limited to: editing current information, proofreading text for accuracy and content, and updating databases for clients. A wide variety of fields are reaching out to work at home data entry employees in: medical records, court documents, and attorney's legal briefs.

There are various employment websites that can help you find a work at home opportunity. It is excellent for stay at home moms and dad's and also an excellent way to supplement your income. If you want to be a data entry operator or start your own home based business you can do it. You will find a new found freedom if you put the time and effort necessary to become successful in a work at home venture. Once you are established you will be able to work as much or little as you wish, be your own boss, and ultimately find the financial freedom that will allow you to be in total control of your life.

Chris Simmon is the founder and owner of the Top Rated Work At Home Directory on the internet http://www.cashflowathome.info To follow in his footsteps and build your own successful Work At Home empire visit http://www.cashflowathome.info.Kimmy Blog31761
Kassandra Blog24738

iPod Vs. Zune: Music and Video Download Sites

There are many folks that hate both Apple and Microsoft portable media products. Apple makes iPod and Microsoft makes Zune. Fortunately for the consumer, there are other good portable media players out there now but do not have the same visibility as Apple and Microsoft products. Discussion about these other portable media players like SanDisks Sansa series and Creatives Zen series devices are beyond the scope of this article. This article is about basic iPod and Zune similarities and differences. In addition, sources for purchasing music online for iPod and Zune will be briefly discussed.

The iPod is a portable media players designed and marketed by Apple and released to the public in 2001. Currently, as a digital audio player, the iPod is the best-selling music player in history. Zune is Microsoft's digital audio player, released in 2006, directly competing with Apples iPod. Each of these portable media players deliver what it was intended to do which is to play music or audio, display images, and play video. Each has their pros and cons.

There are many Zune and IPod similarities and I will list major ones. They each have the same starting price of around $249, disk storage, picture capacity, screen resolution, and aspect ratio. They play audio, pictures, and video. They have USB connection (to another device, typically a computer), battery, and similar battery life.

Both devices support MP3, MP4, M4A, M4B (for audio), and MOV (for video) file formats. The Zune favors Windows Media Audio (WMA) while iPod has its protected AAC format. When it comes to exchanging files, you will need software tools to convert your iTunes files to MP3 or convert Zune WMA files to MP3. Both systems support JPGs (for still images) and MPGs (for video).

There are advantages that Zune has over iPod. Approximately 60 hours more video can be stored in the 30GB version. Zune has a larger screen size and is capable of portrait mode display. Zune has wallpaper, FM radio, wireless connectivity, and faster battery charge. Zune Plays WMA audio formats and WMV video formats. It has one more standard case color: brown!

There are advantages that iPod has over Zune. iPod plays games, is compatible with the Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV audio formats. It plays H.264, M4V, MP4, MOV, MPEG-4 video formats. It is slightly smaller and lighter than Zune. The iPod software works on PC and Mac. Zune only works with PCs.

The primary websites for music downloads are iTunes Store for iPod and Zune Marketplace for Zune. Both sites offer music downloads of 0.99 cents per song. With Zune Marketplace, you can buy a monthly subscription for $14.99 a month for unlimited downloads as long as you have a subscription.

But there are other online music stores out there so you are not limited to Apple and Microsoft. Do an online search for online music stores and determine what works for you.

The stores that I recommend are offered here and have one time fees:

For iPod music and video downloads, click on http://argee.feedipods.hop.clickbank.net

For Zune music and video downloads, click on http://argee.zreactor.hop.clickbank.net

Have fun with what ever portable media player you choose!

Argee Gallamoza is committed to helping others by providing straight forward information about consumer electronics. Katleen Blog7686
Kali Blog47277

Digital Signage Networks

Anyone contemplating the launch of a digital signage network should be ready to do their homework. There are many solutions on the market and it is sometimes difficult to find your way through the maze of options. Suffice it to say that not all digital signage solutions are equal and spending time with each product will go far in helping you make the right choice.

Here are some of the major features to look for when planning your digital signage network.

The software should

* be easy to use and configure
* manage small to large digital signage networks
* support all current popular multimedia file formats
* support live content via the Internet
* be able to run on an embedded OS
* operate securely even on the Internet
* alert you if something goes wrong with a unit out in the field
* be reliable and able to perform flawlessly 24/7, 365 days a year
* provide detailed content playback reports
* be reasonably priced and well supported by a network of distributors and resellers.

The Navori suite of digital signage products exceeds these requirements. Navori has been publishing digital signage software for the past 10 years. During this time, they have evolved their core product into a complete digital signage suite suitable for small to large network deployments.

The Tycoon family covers everything from single PC installations using Tycoon Controller to networks of thousands of Tycoon Players managed by the Tycoon Main Enterprise Server. Digital signage network operators with smaller deployments may opt for Tycoon Standard Server and manage up to 400 Tycoon Players from a single Windows multimedia capable PC.

Anyone looking for a solid digital signage platform should consider the Tycoon family of products.

For more information, visit http://www.navori.com

Maurice Doran Technical Support Manager, Navori SA visit http://www.navori.comLara Blog43635
Kaylyn Blog99410

Professional Web Design

Professional web design is becoming more important in today's ever-chaging marketplace. Whether you are trying to establish yourself as an online presence or acquire more clientele, professional web design has become crucial. What is it that distinguishes you from your competitor? How often do you find yourself wishing you had an online presence? Are you an entrepreneur? Would your business be better served by professional web design?

So, how do you think your business could be better served by professional web design? Could it be one of the following reasons:

* Flash Environment--Interactive WebPages
* PHP Environment--Dynamic WebPages
* HTML Environment--Static WebPages
* Search Engine Optimization
* E-Commerce Development
* Sales Page
* Video Tutorials
* Product Launch
* Affiliate Program
* Lead Capture--Acquiring New Clientele
* Recreating a Professional Look
* Creating A Link Directory

eYouCanDoIt, Inc. realizes the importance of professional web development and what it means to your business in terms of deadlines. That is why we strive to complete your professional website in two weeks. After gathering the necessary information to complete your website, we give ourselves a deadline of two weeks. This helps us ensure that your professionally-designed website is completed in a timely manner.

Professional web design and focus on your website is important to us. For that reason, we limit ourselves to five projects every two weeks. After your website is completed, your professional web design comes with one full year of support on operating and adjusting your website.

Bradley G. Smith is a freelance Professional Web Designer. He designs web sites for entrepreneurs and small businesses. View his portfolio at the following link: http://www.eyoucandoit.comKym Blog69248
Kelcy Blog36599

Understanding Mp4 Players

Mp3 audio format became available back in 1993. Shortly after it became the standard internet audio format, and it is still very much used world wide. Recently another format has been introduced, the mp4 audio-video format which allows video capability, so that users can watch movies, TV shows, music videos along with mp3 songs.

As the industry of mp4 player devices evolved, more features such as fm tuner, voice recorder, email, internet browser capability and others were added to mp4 devices, making them a desired product among electronic users.

Differences between mp4 and mp3 format, relies basically that mp4 devices holds both audio and video files. As for the mp3 it only holds the audio type file. So, one could think of mp4 as being the next step in this evolution file format that started with mp3.

Due to the capability of delivering audio and video at the same time, mp4 devices can offer a wide range of interesting features, such as web browsing, email, instant messaging, video and music download, bluetooth wireless technology, digital camera and others. Also game capability and multiple language options are features that made mp4 devices so popular. Other features, such as voice recording, enabled mp4 devices to be used for professional purposes, besides entertainment.

Another important mp4 feature is the storage capacity, that can start from 256 mega bites up to 40, 60 and up giga bites. Usually a small hard disk unit is used to hold several giga bites of data. For smaller storages, an internal electronic flash memory may be used.

As a music player device, mp4 may offer a 7-band equalizer which will allow the user to change the sound category according to the music style. These sound categories are Pop, Jazz, Rock, Soft, Classic and DBB. Also mp4 player device will support various format files such as Mp3, AMV, ASF, WAV, WMA, WMV and others. As far as the supporting video formats are concerned this device proves to be able to convert file in the AVI, MPEG, Windows media format into the AMV thru the use of software.

Since mp4 devices is compact, it is safe to say that its small size, light weight and good user interface menu, make this device portable, easy to control and access no matter where one can be.

As mp4 format became more popular, several internet audio-video download sites started to offer services, so that mp4 users can download their favorite music or video at affordable prices. There are sites that offer music file download for only 99 cents each, and one has to only pick his favorite song, not the entire album.

Also available in these internet sites are files called Podcasts, which includes information programs, news broadcasts, comedy and entertainment programs. Podcasting is quickly becoming a buzz word among the techie crowd. So what is podcasting, anyway? Podcasting is online audio and video content that is delivered via an RSS feed. Although Podcasting is new, it should become a mainstream communication medium in the near future.

Being basically a container, mp4 player devices are able to provide multimedia solutions with its audio-video file format. Because of that mp4 players became very popular and as it becomes more sophisticated with new features being added in new models, people become more eager to own these device players. After all most electronic consumers do have a wish to keep up with modern time.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the authors name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.brKora Blog16373
Ketti Blog34420

The Secrets Of Internet And Online Marketing

There are a plethora of things you can do online and of all the things you can do online, there is one that you should definitely know how to do. MARKET YOUR OWN BUSINESS ONLINE!

Now with the incredible power of the Online World to reach millions of people, online marketing is definitely an amazing tool that every business should utilize. The simple fact that advertising is can be very low cost and sometimes even practically free. The ability to get the results of thousands of dollars in free publicity is practically unheard of in the business world today. Only recently have more and more people figured out how to utilize the ever exploding online world to market their business ventures.

There is probably isn't a business in existence that wouldn't benefit from free publicity! The fact that properly utilizing free and low cost advertising raises net profits to unbelievable levels! Using any or all of the major online services can help you market your business efforts.

Let's begin with plain advertising. For example, on AOL, they will let you place classified advertisements for free! They have a variety of classifications and categories to choose from. By placing some of these free ads you can generate some very quality leads that can turn into sales. If you are an excellent marketer you could sell something straight from your free ad.

There are other services that offer free advertising from time to time. When they do charge for classified ads it is usually a very low cost, and they are still a great deal considering how many people may see them. When you place any ads you should always "track" your ads. This means put something in each individual ad that will tell you, if you get any business from it, which ad it came from. This way, you will probably find that some sections are better producers than others, and you will want to concentrate on these sections and not the ones that weren't making any money.

To track an ad you could make them request a certain "report" for more information. You should give each report different tracking links for each ad. Such as: "ask for report #1tv" , this way you would know that this request came from the ad on television, for sale category, and so forth. If they send you an order straight from the ad, make them give you an order #, which would be different for each ad. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ADVERTISING ONLINE ARE NOT USING THESE AD CODES!!! THIS IS A MAJOR MARKETING MISTAKE!!!

If you do not track exactly which ads are making money, then you are wasting your time by continually placing ads in "loser" categories that don't provide any sales. ALWAYS keep track of every ad you place. Make a note of what it said, where and when it was placed. You will be pleasantly surprised when you analyze your "ad data" and see some positive trends developing. Just repeat these trends and it will help you to make more money!

Wouldn't you like to have a name list of several hundred (or even thousand) people who might be interested in the particular product or service you are selling based on their jobs or interests? Wouldn't that be great!? Well, you can! And the Online Services supply this service as a part of your regular membership.

This little unknown tool is called the "Member Directory!" You can do searches in the directory for other users with certain characteristics. For example, if you were selling fishing equipment, you could do a search by "fishing." All of the people that were registered in the directory and had listed fishing as one of their hobbies would show up on that search list. You could now send each one of those people an e-mail message telling them about your product or service, it's just like using a mailing list, but you have no postage! (*Make sure you check with your online service to see if they allow unsolicited email.)

The bottom line is that you "test" and record the results of your Online Marketing efforts. Then just repeat the steps that are making you money and expand on them to reach more people. You should conduct split-testing on your site. A method were you have two different pages, performing the same function but with different copy so you can tell which one is converting better.

You will also find hundreds of articles on the World Wide Web. By searching one of the WWW search engines like Webcrawler you can find all the information you can read. Use search strings such as: "online marketing", "internet advertising", "selling online", and so on.

You can also find many books on the subject at your local bookstore or being advertised online.

Wayne Van Dyck is a former venture capitalist and builder of offline technology companies. He is the founder and developer of Simple Money Machines. Simple Money Machines is all the money making technologies in one, easy-to-use, hosted application enabling non-technical people to set up online businesses in less than 30 minutes. It's made for people with 9-5 jobs, retired folks, stay-at-home moms and college students. To get a FREE copy of "STARTING A HOME BUSINESS MADE SIMPLE", go to: http://tinyurl.com/ykyoqx.Kandy Blog61686
Kore Blog50581

Health Nutrition Diet Fitness - How does what you eat affect them?

When people hear the word "diet", we tend to think of counting calories, eating salad, and being pretty miserable. In fact, the word "diet" is more about eating healthy, nutritious foods on a daily basis. There's no need to starve oursleves just because we're struggling to lose weight!

So what does a nutritious diet consist of? In my opinion, it's all about consuming foods that keep your energy levels running at a constant high level throughout the day, and allows them naturally fall at night. It's really about eating correctly in such a way your body is continually fuelled to the most appropriate levels. This doesn't mean eating salads all day - it simply means thinking about what you eat, and when you eat it.

My recommendations are as follows:

- Eat complex carbohydrates earlier in the day to keep your energy levels up
- Try to get at least 30 minutes of some form of exercise every day
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily
- Try to balance each meal with 50% Carbohydrates, 30% Protein and 20% Fat for ideal nutrition
- Try not to go for more than 3 hours without eating something
- Don't eat anything withing 2 hours of going to bed
- Try to eat protein rich foods within 4-6 hours of going to bed

It's important that you keep these points in mind as you go through your daily life as this wil maximise the value of your diet. If you're able to keep up with this over a period of time, you should find that you have more energy and your sugar cravings lessen. This has definitely been my own experience! Additionaly, the weight will naturally start to drop off without you needing to eat like a rabbit!

If you follow these ideas, then I truly hope you find them as helpful as I have. All things considered, losing weight doesn't have to be punishing! Conversely, eating a healthy diet doesn't have to be about losing weight.

Eat well, eatheathily, eathappily, and dont' make this any tougher than it needs to be.

Happy Dieting!

Steve Johnson is the owner of the website http://www.nutrition-online4u.com/. He has been studying health, diet, nutrition and associated fields for some time and is now ready to share his knowledge. Kaila Blog17584
Katey Blog27802

Cruise Jobs - Five Tips For Getting Hired

How will I find my dream job on a cruise ship? Who will hire me? What do I need to know? Where will I get tips for getting hired? You will find the answers to these and other questions about working on a cruise ship if you read the following excerpts from Mary Fallon Miller's book 'How to Get a Job with a Cruise Line'. You'll get to know how much they will pay you, what you'll be doing and how long you will be doing it.

Imagine what it takes to operate a floating resort - a virtual city. That is what a cruise ship is. It employs experienced workers in over three hundred kinds of jobs to run this kind an enterprise. Here are some good tips for getting hired! Those people that are seasoned in the entertainment industry will be considered first - and then if you are proficient in such occupations as hospitality, tourism, restaurants and bars, teaching, childcare, sales, customer relations, gaming, marketing, fitness, health and beauty, medicine and healthcare, administration, banking, accounting and financial management, your skills will also be in demand.

Cruise lines hire dependable, competent people with outgoing, positive attitudes, students, career-changers, retirees - "people" people, who enjoy working with others. Your number one priority as a cruise line employee is to provide a safe, fun and memorable vacation experience.

To get hired on a cruise ship you need to: Know the players - Royal Caribbean International, Princess and Carnival are known as the 'Big Three', with the largest fleets in the industry. These employers should be at the top of your list. Choose jobs that interest you - Practice public speaking whenever possible, study a foreign language or get your CPR or Lifesaving Certification. Sell yourself - Apply early and often - but don't pester the Personnel Office by phone. Send follow up letters and resume updates. Great tips for getting hired!

The cruise industry hires year-round and seasonally. Most employees work for a period of six to nine months with one to two months off. Many departments add staff for holiday cruises, and peak sailings through winter and spring. Doctors and nurses can find year round employment or assignments as brief as two to three months. Peak hiring times for youth counselors? Holidays and summer - perfect for students or teachers who love to travel. List your specific dates of availability (e.g. from May 15 to Sept. 1) so the Personnel Office knows how to schedule you.

The pay compares to good jobs ashore - plus you save a lot of money because most expenses are left behind. On board ship your room and meals are included. No more rent, grocery, electric, or gas bills! You can bank your salary and tips, or blow it all in ports of call. Sample current pay ranges: Casino Manager: $2,000-3,000 per month (revenue sharing.) Gift Shop Retail Sales: $1,000-1,500 per month (commission included.) Hairstylist / Beautician: $1,000-1,300 per month (tips included.) Shore Excursion Manager: $1,800 - $3,000 per month, plus commission.

If you really are interested in learning how to get a cruise ship job, you'll need to know what you want to work at, find out who's hiring, determine how to get hired, establish whether it is year-round or seasonal employment you'll be involved with and how much they will pay you. Make a plan and stick to it! Try this site for more tips for getting hired for a cruise ship job: http://www.tinyurl.com/neue2

Keith Valentine began his career at 16 in the Royal Air Force and has worked in the materials management and information technology industries for years. Now 52, he writes online articles about his experiences in the work force. For more career stories and tips, visit the Employment Site at: http://101jobs.blogspot.comKamilah Blog73302
Kelci Blog58910

The New Apple iPhone - Blessing or Curse?

In just a single weekend, Apple Inc. managed to sell over 500,000 units of its new Apple iPhone. The anticipation was huge, and while there were a few minor glitches - mostly resolved now - the general consensus is that they were worth waiting for.

The advance of this micro-technology in the form of cell phones, mp3 players, PDA's etc., is creating an amazing dependency on pocket-sized devices, and not just for the techies: stay-at- home-moms, children, even retired grandparents are jumping into the new trend with joyful - and addictive - abandon. We've come a long way, baby!

With all this advancement, however, there is still this minor niggle in the back of my brain that is forced to ask, "but is it really safe?" The verdict is still out on this one, with no one so far able to categorically say that this huge increase in brain and eye cancer is NOT related to cell-phone use; that this little hand-held device and the cell phone towers that power it are NOT causing an increase in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and that these are NOT the issue behind increased infertility, new learning disorders, mysterious illnesses, or even confused bees that can no longer find the hives they've just left.

This new technology behind the Apple iPhone will probably have little or no affect on the retired grandparents as the length of exposure is relatively short. However, young children who are growing up with this micro-technological dependency may well be exposing themselves to some very unpleasant risks. Professor Sir William Stewart, the chairman of the Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency, said: "I don't think we can put our hands on our hearts and say mobile phones are safe. If there are risks - and we think there may be risks - the people who are going to be most affected are children, and the younger the child, the greater the danger."

The cell-phone companies are assuring us that it's all very safe, to the point where they are now gearing their marketing to younger and younger generations of children, yet they are still putting clauses in their contracts absolving them of any responsibility should there really be issues. And there is also the fact that over sixty people in the medical profession world-wide believe the link between cell-phone use (and other forms of electromagnetic smog) and "mysterious illness" is a big enough risk that they have created the "Freiburger Appeal" requesting that certain precautions be put in place to protect ourselves as much as possible from the effects of the "new pollution" of these EMF's.

Personally, I love the convenience of these new gadgets and can't wait for the day when I, too, can afford the latest model of the Apple iPhone to replace my much used and much loved iPod. However, I hope that by that time someone has come along with the courage and funds to get to the bottom of the question of safety so that the only concern I'll have on that day is finding the time to listen to all the great stuff on my new device.

Darlene Hull is a speaker, workshop facilitator, and writer, For more information on electromagnetic smog, go to:Karola Blog85972
Kaile Blog37832

Which Government Websites Have Product Recall Information?

There is no one government agency in charge of issuing recall notices for all products. Instead, different products fall under different jurisdictions, each of which is handled by a completely separate agency. In this article we will explain the jurisdiction of each of the six major government agencies in charge of recalling products and issuing recall alerts.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - http://www.fda.gov:
The FDA is probably most thought of when the word recall comes up. It is obvious that the FDA deals with food and drug issues, but they are also in charge of testing, monitoring and recalling medical devices (pacemakers, contact lenses...), animal feed, cosmetics, and products with the potential to cause health-related side effects, such as cell phones and lasers. Although the FDA is in charge of food, they also share that responsibility with the next federal agency

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - http://www.usda.gov:
The USDA was founded by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, and has been involved in a variety of agricultural initiatives ever since. Not only is the USDA steward to our nation's 192 million acres of national forests, and providing food to children through school breakfast and lunch programs, but the agency is also responsible for the safety of meat, poultry (including egg), milk and fish products. These responsibilities often encompass the study of pesticide use, which overlaps with the next governmental recall arm...

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - http://www.epa.gov:
The EPA, in addition to the many other responsibilities involved in protecting our environment, are charged with the recalling of products that threaten to harm humans, animals, or the environment in which we live. For instance, recently the EPA ordered five national retail chains to recall a brand of spray confetti string which contained banned hydro chlorofluorocarbons blamed for depleting the ozone layer. This very same product could have also been recalled by another government agency, however, for its highly flammable contents, which are often sprayed over people at birthday parties near flaming candles. The agency that would be responsible for this type of recall is...

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) - http://www.cpsc.gov:
The CPSC is in charge of protecting the public from "unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction". They handle recalls for a host of potentially dangerous products, from toys with choking hazards to heaters with propensity to start a fire. Most products with a defect of some kind will find their way into the CPSC database of recalled consumer products. But if that product has wheels and an engine, or is a part of a product that has wheels and an engine, you might be better off researching at the next governmental agency...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov:
The NHTSA was established to reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. They set and enforce safety standards for motor vehicles and vehicle parts, and provide studies and reports on anything related to motor vehicle use, from tires and seatbelts, to SUVs and cell phone use while driving. If you want to know if the used car you just purchased has any defective auto parts, the NHTSA database is a good start. However, if you just purchased a used boat, the following agency is better suited for your needs...

US Coast Guard - http://www.uscg.mil:
You probably dont think of product recalls when someone mentions the Coast Guard. However, in addition to their duties to patrol Americas coast line and assist those in distress, the Coast Guard also tests, reports on, and recalls boats, boating parts, and marine safety devices like flares and life jackets. But good luck finding recall information on the Coast Guards website!

As you can see, the responsibilities of each agency overlap to some degree with other agencies. Furthermore, issuing recall alerts is only a small part of each organizations responsibility. This is why is can be difficult, time-consuming and frustrating to locate the information youre looking for among these six websites. Luckily, this problem has been remedied by an ex-journalist with a passion for social corporate responsibility and citizen journalism

US Recall News http://www.usrecallnews.com:
US Recall News is a non-governmental website that brings together recall alerts from each of the six major government agencies listed above, and separates them into various categories. The alerts are then archived at the end of each month, and remain searchable from the website.

Everett Sizemore is a journalism graduate of Bond University. He is the Editor-in-Chief at http://www.usrecallnews.com and writes the editorial blog about Recalled Products and Corporate Responsibility.Kimmi Blog61951
Kath Blog76733

Internet Marketing: Its All About Passion

Vince Lombardi once said: If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm. To live life without passion is living the life of a zombie forever wandering without purpose or zeal.

Passion is the fuel that fires up the engine of personal development and growth. If this vital ingredient is lacking in your life, then its just a matter of time before you become past tense literally!

Internet marketing, and any other marketing for that matter, is all about being passionate about the products and services you are pushing. The cut-throat competition on the internet will annihilate you within seconds if you are not passionate about the internet business. The blatant in-your-face marketing techniques being used by internet marketers are bound to leave you stuck-in-the-mud, unable to decide whether to go home or hit the home run!

The famous artist, Michelangelo, when confronted with a piece of marble, saw an angel trapped therein. When everyone else saw an ugly piece of marble, Michelangelo saw a masterpiece of one of his best works of art. And so, slowly by slowly, he started chipping away at the rough edges of the rock to reveal the beautiful angel within.

The Internet is like that piece of marble. You are the Michelangelo of the internet. Whereas everyone else says its impossible to make money on the internet, your passion tells you that beneath the dime-a-dozen get-rich-quick scams on the Internet today, there is a real opportunity to make enough money to make you financially FREE! You may not have as yet figured out exactly how to do this, but there is this inner voice telling you there is a gold mine on the internet all you need is to find it!

When I started dabbling in internet marketing, I knew almost nothing about how to do business on the internet. However, something kept telling me that there is a real opportunity to do business and make money on the internet. Being from a third world country, the possibility of doing business and marketing to anyone in the world made the internet look very attractive indeed. I had found my gold mine all I needed was to look for the gold!

Before you engage in any venture, first and foremost establish whether you have the passion for it. You may not have all the facts or all the resources required, but being passionate about it ensures that you hit the ground running. If you dont have the passion for it, dont even start even if you have all the resources!

According to Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary, passion is an enthusiastic interest or direction of the mind. Passion therefore has more to do with ones state of mind towards something. If you are enthused enough to undertake a certain project, then it means that you have the passion to accomplish that project. Do you see now why I say that passion is not about resources or technical ability?

If you believe you can, you can!

There is no greater power in this world than the power of believing! The journey to success is first of all won in the mind the rest is just technical! Walt Disney may not have lived to see the success of his Disney land empire, but, as his wife testified during the opening ceremony, he actually saw it! How? The whole Disney land idea was birthed and constructed in his mind. The rest was implementation.

Attaining success on the internet is not different. You must first of all see yourself as successful before you can become successful. Most people fail because they start off fearing they will fail. So, before you even start an internet venture, honestly establish the mental roadblocks which could be detrimental to your success. Once you establish these roadblocks, start removing them one by one and replace them with positive believe systems.

A paradigm shift: Changing your belief systems

Belief systems are those things that have for years been drummed into your mind consciously or unconsciously such that you now automatically accept them as absolute truths. Any other system of belief that flies contrary to your system of belief is automatically ejected (consciously or unconsciously) by your mind.

Before Christopher Columbus discovered that the earth was round, everyone else hitherto took it for granted that the earth was flat. With his momentous discovery, Columbus was able to effectively shift the people from their earlier system of belief (that the earth was flat), to the new-found belief system. Im sure it was not easy to convince everyone that the earth was round! However, because he was passionate about his discovery, it was not difficult to demonstrate to all and sundry the naysayer included that the earth was indeed round!

If you are already fired up with passion, then you have already made the crucial paradigm shift. Now lay out a plan and get your tools out; and start toiling! Someone said it will work if you work it. Work it! However, if your mind is still etched in the realm of impossibilities and Im-not-sure-I-can-make-it syndrome, then its time to reevaluate your long-held values and start replacing them with the infinite possibilities of success. As you practice this everyday, you will soon realize that what you thought as unattainable is well within your reach.

Innocent Mwangi Gathungu is a motivational and inspirational writer and speaker. For more information and other articles like this one, visit his websites at http://www.ssmk.net and at http://www.realopportunity.org.Kameko Blog72076
Kati Blog49302

Saving Thousands Of Dollars With Header Graphic Templates

We have all been there. Sitting at the computer ready to make a website with no idea how we are going to design the graphics. Especially graphics that will catch our viewers attention and keep them on our page for more then a couple of seconds. It can get really frustrating, believe me. I became so frustrated with hiring freelance designers to create my graphics that I decided to go back to school and study graphic design. I do not advise going that route though. It is very expensive, not to mention time consuming.

Graphic designers demand very high fees for thier services. I was paying from $50 to $200 for one simple header graphic. I would get charged more of course if I wanted a footer, banner, custom logo, etc to go with the header. I finally said enough is enough and went to school before I realized that I could purchase templates for most of the graphics that I needed. I know what you're thinking- who wants to use a template that everyone else is using on thier websites? Well that is a good question and a legitimate one to boot. The answer to that question is CUSTOMIZABLE templates.

After a little more research into the subject I found that you can purchase packages of customizable graphic templates. A customizable template can be changed till you have a very unique graphic with very little work or imagination on your part. All that is required is a graphics editor. Graphics editing software can be acquired for free online if you know where to look or you can get something like Photoshopo Elements at your local super center retail outlet. Of course there are also major professional graphics editors out there that cost a pretty penny. The most popular software for graphics is of course Adobe Photoshop. This software is capable of doing a much wider variety of tasks then its' little brother Photoshop Elements. The major difference of course is the price. Photoshop will cost you a couple hundred dollars while Elements will only cost you about forty bucks. You can get a great program for editing graphics that is almost on an equal level with Photoshop for free. The name of this software is called The Gimp. I know, it has a funny name, but this software is nothing to laugh at. It will save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars when it comes time to start you graphics design.

The main thing that you need to remember is that you will be saving yourself a lot of money by designing your header graphics yourself using header templates. Go out and purchase your header graphic template package for a few dollars then download the editing program of your choice, and you are all set to complete that professional website you've always wanted. Remember to spend a little time getting to know your software and of course don't get frustrated if it takes you a little while to get the hang of it. Have Fun!! http://www.newportwebsites.com/splash

Nathan Hull is a webmaster and professional graphic designer. He has been working on the internet for over 9 years and has been making a living full time on the internet for over 5 years. http://www.newportwebsites.com/splash.Kirby Blog29992
Krysta Blog4225

Can the Power of Now Be Combined With the Power of Intention?

For thousands of years the oriental spiritual masters have taught us to live in the now, accepting and being grateful for whatever comes into our lives because everything is for our own best (when seen in perspective maybe spanning several lives). They have told us to neglect the ego and to perceive ourselves as spiritual beings connected with the universal self. They have claimed that living in this enlightened state of consciousness we would be permanently happy and blissful and during centuries it has proved to be right for a number of people who have achieved this spiritual level.

In the western world people have had another philosophy. For many centuries they had the idea that (to a great extent) earthly life was generally a pain and that they had to suffer in this life to be rewarded a life in eternal bliss in paradise (if they behaved good according to certain laws of morality) or to suffer in eternal pain in hell (if they behaved bad according to these moral laws). On the other hand this earthly life was very different from people to people, from class to class. During the last centuries, however, there has been a growing tendency to think that a person to a great extent can create his own future (either by hard work and talent or by visualizing and dreaming - or maybe by a combination of both).

Especially in the 20th Century the idea that the mind is a big creative power was becoming more and more accepted. The Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) technique is now generally used in the self-help and coaching environment. It is also widely accepted in sports as well as in business.

To me it seems that the oriental and the western world are showing two contrasting paths to happiness: A spiritual path setting aside the ego and trusting the universal spiritual power or (as I understand NLP) a practical path using the ego (at least as a creative partner) to establish and reaching dreams and goals for the future.

Therefore I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out which method is the best (if any), or if it is possible to combine the two. Being born and educated in Denmark (which is probably quite similar to the rest of the western world) it is difficult for me to imagine my life without having any dreams or goals. I do recognize that it is possible (at least for some people) to achieve enlightenment but I am not sure that I am ready yet.

Of course there are certain risks in the western way:

1. If you do not fulfill your dreams or reach your goals you may be unhappy!

2. When you have reached one goal maybe you are only happy for a short time because you are busy trying to reach the next one.

3. We all encounter other types of personal problems that has nothing to do with fulfilling dreams and reaching goals (like a loss of family members or friends). Can we handle those with NLP?

It seems that the oriental way deals with the above risks which indicates that the enlightened state is a desired state to achieve. But are we able (or even willing) to give up our total thought system? If not: Is it possible, then, to combine the oriental and the western method in a balanced way? Can we keep our dreams and goals but still enjoy the moments and be grateful and happy for the goals we already achieved?

Gunnar Jensen has been working for almost 30 years in the IT-industry (mostly in sales). In 2005 (by the age of 51) he quit his job to finish his first book WHAT IF ...? An inspirational book about the existencial questions in life. Karina Blog55962
Kally Blog63147

Developing Powerful Presentation Skills

Powerful presentations are the cornerstone of most sales careers.

In this article, well explore some of the ways you can make more impressive presentations. As a result, youll win more business impress current customers and maybe even get a raise. Here are a few things to work on to develop presentations that stand out.

First of all, lets talk about your appearance. As obvious as it sounds, a good presentation begins with how you present yourself. Although you dont need to wear high-priced designer suits its a good idea to be well groomed. A neat haircut, neatly trimmed beard or clean shave for men and a professional decorum go a long way to making an impressive presentation. Of course, you should dress appropriately for the occasion. The quick Friday afternoon meeting with your team may require a different dress code than a presentation in front of potential clients.

Second, you must know your topic cold. Again, that kind of goes without saying. But it must be said. Because far too many people wing their presentations and wonder why things dont go right. A good idea is to practice your presentation in front of a mirror. Depending on how much hinges on the presentation you may want to take from a few days to a few weeks to polish your pitch, as it were.

Next, your presentation materials should be relevant and top notch. Handouts especially those with graphics should be prepared on a business copier or by a professional printer. Computer presentations are usually best done using Powerpoint. Whatever format you present in make sure it reflects a high level of knowledge on the matter and professional competence from you.

Fourth, you might want to consider allowing a question and answer session. Why? Because most presentations are sort of like lectures. So, at times, they get downright boring. Involving the audience allows for meaningful exchange. In addition, you will find out some things from the questions you get that you didnt consider bringing up. The questions your audience asks evidence what they are interested in learning. So encourage questions and focus on the ones that are of most interest to your audience.

Finally, if you really want to leave a lasting impact, consider following up with your audience after the presentation. A neat idea would be to either audio or video record the presentation and send it to the members of your audience after the presentation.

Just imagine being a potential client who is looking for a vendor like you. They shop around and listen to several different presentations from you and your competitors. But you are the only one to send them the presentation so they can review it. This is critical. Your handouts can not give the same impression as the actual presentation. If you were to capture on audio or video and send it to your prospects where that is practical you will greatly increase your chance of getting their business.

Consider these points when you are preparing your next presentation.

John Anghelache owns and operates http://www.powerful-presentation-skills.com Presentation Skills.Kristina Blog72306
Kitti Blog74860