How to Make Predictions using Dominoes

Dominoes are a simple method for telling fortunes, although they are associated with childrens games they are a lesser-known form of Sortilege system known as Cleromancy. The practice of using dominoes as a way of casting the future dates back to twelve-century China. The game appears to have reached western civilisation when it first became popular in the courts of Mediterranean Europe trading nations in the 1700s. By the end of the eighteenth century they were in popular use as a game in England, France and Italy and it is most likely that they reached the USA via Chinese immigrant labourers. The word Dominoe originated from the French word referring to a black and white hood called a Domino which was worn by catholic priests in cold weather,

Dominoes are still widely used in provinces of China, Korea and India for both gambling and fortune telling. In a similar way to runes, dice and tarot dominoes are a way of enhancing ones psychic power and are still used by some psychics in the west. It has also been claimed that gypsies used to tell fortunes using dominoes printed on cards in a similar way to tarot or playing cards. Psychics say that you should not use dominoes for divinational purposes more than once a week or the results may lose there effect.

Modern dominoes are usually made of wood, plastic or metal but in earlier sets ivory was commonly used. Standard sets in the West consist of twenty-eight rectangular tiles called bones, cards, tiles, stones or spinners. .Each tile has two halves the sides that are not blank bear dots or pips numbering one to six. The dots represent all the possible number combinations, from double blank to double six.

There are various ways of laying down the dominoes; one such method is similar to that used in tarot card spreads. And a domino is selected for past, present and future. To answer a question or respond to a persons need for guidance or direction, the dominoes are placed face down upon a flat surface and shuffled well. The question should be asked by the person requiring guidance and meditated upon for a period of time. Three dominoes are usually turned over and are interpreted as follows :

Six/six - Prosperity and unexpected good fortune.
Six/five - An act of kindness will bring good luck, be patient.
Six/four - Unfavourable aspect, possibly legal related.
Six/three - Unexpected enjoyable travel or gift related to travel.
Six/two - Improved finance and good health.
Six/one - Wedding or positive joint venture.
Six/blank - Careful of false friendships.
Five/five - Good financial changes.
Five/two - Birth or new creative ideas.
Five/one - New love but possible unhappy ending.
Five/blank - A friend may need comforting.
Four/four - Happiness and celebration on its way.
Four/three - Success but problems in relationships or domestic scene.
Four/two - Unhappy change of events or relationship going off course.
Four/one - Financial obstacles to overcome.
Four/blank - Temporary setback in relationships but room for reconciliation.
Three/three - Work or love related obstacles, but outcome positive.
Three/two - Happy changes , career, money, home.
Three/one - The answer is No.
Three/blank - A challenging invitation.
Two/two - Celebrations in career and relationships.
Two/one - Career, friendhip, love change due to loss of something of value.
Two/blank -Stressful time, check false advice, good for friendships/business..
One/one - Harmony in all aspects. Caution needed if making fast decision.
One/blank - Be especially careful all is not as it seems.
Blank/blank - Short term Obstacles may effect predictions of other dominoes.

Paula Haworth is a gifted psychic and the owner of http://www.email-a-psychic.co.uk and http://www.psychic-trudy.co.uk where your personal questions will be answered professionally and compassionately by Email.Revkah Blog92636
Rahel Blog10702

I Love Her, but She Just Wants to be Friends - any Advice?

Dear Becca:

I have been friends with this girl for about three years. We have become very close over that time. We hang out a lot, we have gotten physical in the past (no sex), but always kept it loose. We even 'sleep together' on occasion.

Here is my problem. I have fallen in love with her. She knows about it, and is not completely opposed to the idea of us dating. However, she doesn't want to lose me as a friend if we were to break up. She has in the past been in situations like ours and has lost good friends because of it. I really want to see what could happen with this relationship. I just have no idea what I should do, because in my heart I know I can't go back. Any ideas?

Sincerely, 'Confused'

********************

Dear Confused:

I have been trying to determine how old you are. You appear to have a good command of grammar. Given the clues in your letter, I am guessing that you are not a young teenager. My advice for someone who is thirteen years of age is different than it would be for an adult.

As human beings, we are very adaptable and can fall in love with more than one personality type. However, puppy love crushes aside, we usually know deep down when we are absolutely devoted to another person.

So, I have to ask you: are you really and truly, body and soul, in love with this girl? She appears to have some kind of affection for you at this point. That could change; but after three years, if love were to flower, there should be at least a blossom sprouting at this point.

Have you lavished gifts on her? Is she stringing you along because she doesn't want the gravy train to stop? Be honest.

How many good friends has she lost in the past? A couple of similar situations may be isolated instances. However, three or more unsuccessful affairs may be evidence of a trend. This girl may be shallow and incapable of a loving relationship right now. Or she may really have been hurt by someone in the past.

You need to sit down with her and discuss her past relationships in depth. Don't let love blind you. Before your discussion, write down or type out some questions. Try to anticipate what she might say and think of more questions - sort of like a computer flowchart. Spend some time with what you have written and try to commit it to memory (not word for word - just the general gist of everything).

The very act of flowcharting may give you some direction and open your mind to possibilities you hadn't previously considered.

If you and the girl cannot come to a meeting of the minds after your heart-to-heart discussion, it might be wise to seek out professional help.

The rest of your life may be at stake here. Use your head - and not the little one - in a mature way.

All the best!

Becca

All advice given by Becca is for entertainment purposes only. Please seek professional help for serious problems.

Becca Bee writes regularly for Advice 4 Daters: http://www.Advice4Daters.com/ - and is one of the people behind the scenes at 1st Rate Articles: http://1stRateArticles.com/ - new to the net as of November, 2006.Oralla Blog81310
Phedra Blog13829

Marriott Hotels Varied History And An Overview Of Properties

Marriott International was established in 1993 when the Marriot Corporation split into two different companies, with the other company being named Host Marriott Corporation. In 1995 Marriott International purchased a 49 percent interest in the Ritz Carlton Corporation. Then in 1998 they purchased an additional 50 percent, which gave Marriot International 99 percent ownership.

In 2002 Marriott International started a huge reorganization by creating Senior Living Services Communities. It then began focusing more on hotel management and ownership as these changes were completed in 2003.

At one time Marriott also owned Ramada International Hotels and Resorts. This branch of Marriott was sold to Cendant on September 15, 2004. In a bold move in 2006 Marriott announced that all their hotels in Canada and the United States were now non-smoking buildings scheduled to be enforced in September 2006. The hotel chain says that the new no smoking policy includes all places within the hotel, rooms, lounges, restaurants and employee lounges.

The histories of the various branches of Marriott International is a varied and colorful past filled with mergers and acquisitions too many to detail here.

Marriott is dedicated to service. It is said that the "spirit to serve" was the founding principle since day one, and is still strong today. The goal is to anticipate your needs and make you as comfortable as possible while you are traveling.

They are dedicated to the business travel as well as the vacation traveler. Many of their properties are beautiful resorts. Naturally, all rooms are equipped with high-speed internet and modern phones with voice mail and data ports. Each room has a work space with a light weight desk that rolls so you can move it to where ever you wish to work.

All the lamps bases have electrical outlets for easy use and they all have a no glare feature so computer monitors can be easily read. In the lobbies they have a professional business center with all of the services, fax, print, make copies or ship packages. The rooms are similarly well equipped with hair dryers, personal care products, irons and ironing boards so you will always look your best.

The rooms are spacious so you can spread out. All the bedding is premium, down comforters, high end cotton linens and marvelous fluffy pillows. Of course, the TV is remote controlled and there are in-room movies, or HBO and ESPN. There is a complimentary fitness kit you can use ion your room or use the pool, spa and gym.

The dining is gourmet and varied. They have and new breakfast program called re:Start and an a nighttime program called re:Plenish (both programs are trademarked). There is in-room coffee that you can drink while reading your complimentary USA today. The Concierge and Executive levels have complimentary breakfasts and afternoon snacks and are equipped with an honor bar.

If you are hosting a business conference or a wedding Marriott's have meeting rooms and ballrooms for your use. They have employed "meeting service" professionals to help you plan all the details of your event.

To make reservations, locate a Marriott hotel or find out about amenities and services of specific hotels, visit the official Marriott website at http://Marriott.com. You can also find out more about the hotels history as well as plans for future development. Take a look at their corporate information page for investment information.

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Travel. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruiseGold.com You can read more of her articles at http://www.ArticleBazaar.net.Pet Blog8135
Rene Blog2399

Health Tips During Plane Travel

It is a known fact that long traveling is usually stressful and tedious. Having a stressful trip should not be a part of your travel planning. When you travel in an economy or coach section in a plane for a longer period, it can be stressful and can cause harm to your health. You definitely tend to feel fatigue and experience all kinds of symptoms like vomiting, headache, body pain, desperation for water and uneasiness. So here are few tips to make yourself comfortable during your travel.

1. Drink lots of water and don't let yourself get dehydrated. You can also consume alcohol moderately.

2. You can wear ear plugs and also eye shades to prevent yourself from hearing any noise and also coming in contact with bright luminous lights.

3. Have a light meal and avoid junk foods. Take fruits, cheese and crackers in between your meals to have a filled feeling.

4. Ensure that you refill your water bottle frequently to consume enough water to fulfill your thirst.

5. Take extra care for your neck and back. Sitting in the plane for too long can cause neck and back pain. Ensure you have an additional pillow or cushion apart from the one given to you in the plane.

6. Moisturize your lips with a lip balm.

7. Prevent your skin from drying up by applying enough moisturizer to your hands and face.

8. Don't be sitting in the plane. Just have a small walk occasionally to have a good blood circulation.

9. Dress warm because the temperature of the cabin is usually set to 22 to 24 degrees Celsius.

10. Don't remove your makeup before taking rest since it will prevent your skin from losing moisture in the flight.

11. Yawn frequently or chew your gum or swallow your saliva to depressurize your ears.

12. Don't drink coffee before and during your flight.

13. Ensure that you have plenty of greens and carbohydrates before boarding the flight and see to it that you take a deep breath before boarding it.

14. Wear comfortable shoes and loose clothes. Make sure for every time zone you cross, you take rest which in turn will reset your body's condition and allow it to adjust to the new environment.

15. Have a small medicine kit with your medical records and insurance in case of any emergency a balanced diet and have a routine to keep healthy at all times.

Cathy Peterson writes about http://www.traveldealsdiscounts.com/discount-travel-deals/4vacations.com/ and http://www.traveldealsdiscounts.com/discount-travel-deals/AlohaAirlines.com.Rhodie Blog49571
Randy Blog81558

Go for Higher Education on Bad Credit Unsecured Student Loan

Students have no source of own income and hence need to borrow for each of their expenses such as tuition fee, hostel fee, food, books, travel etc. Bad credit unsecured student loan is mostly required for college education expenses. It is easier to avail bad credit unsecured student loan than it is thought to be.

It must be noted that one can go for a bad credit student loan only when the student has completed his education and has started earning. Now to qualify for the bad credit student loan a student is required to earn a minimum of 10000 to 15000. But the earning does not make the loan taking easy as lenders still think that students are not in regular employment and plus there is this bad credit of the student which is a deterrent.

Despite some hurdles posed by the lenders, they offer bad credit unsecured student loan to the students. These students do not offer any security of the borrowed amount to the lender, hence, to cover the risks involved the lender charge higher interest on the loan. The loan amount will depend on how much the student is earning which indicates the repayment capability of the student. Students do not have to worry about repayment duration of the loan much as normally lenders give ample time which is when the student actually starts earning through regular employment

Parents of student can be of great help. If parents possess better credit than the student he can opt for a PLUS loan which is given to parents and the amount can be utilized by the student.

One disadvantage of bad credit unsecured student loan is that it comes with higher interest rate. The lender has to cover for the high risk involved in the loan offer which prompts him to charge higher interest rate. The higher interest rate should not worry students because many of these loans defer payment till they finish college and start on a regular job.

You can source the loan from credit card companies and banks but both of them will charge very high interest rate and there are in-built dangers also. One option is that you search for the lender on internet and see if terms-conditions suit you and apply to the lender.

Bad credit student loan enables you in taking finance for higher studies even when you are not regularly employed. The loan besides meeting educational expenses goes a long way in improving credit score also.

Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at Bad-credit-unsecured-loan with an acumen for finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independant financial advice through his informative articles. His articles are widely read because of the lucid manner of wriiting and thoroughly researched datas. To find bad credit unsecured student loan, bad credit unsecured tenant loans, unsecured bad credit tenant loans UK that best suits your need visit http://www.bad-credit-unsecured-loan.netPacifica Blog45679
Phyllis Blog42019

Don't Forget Your Ladder

A ladder is a very handy item to have around the house. Most people will usually own several different types of ladders. Each type of ladder has a specific use and should only be used specifically for that reason. Using the wrong type of ladder can lead to very serious injury.

The most common ladder is a stepladder. Two stiles are hinged in the middle by an inverted V hinge to allow the ladder be fixed into place. Most modern ladders are made out of aluminum but a few are still made with wood. A stepladder is going to be the ladder of choice for any home projects that take place inside the home.

Painting and wallpapering can be difficult even impossible jobs without a stepladder. If your home has rather high ceilings, it is important to consider how high your ladders is and what step you can safely step onto. Most stepladders specifically state that you cannot stand above a certain step and this should be followed to avoid injury. The higher you are on a ladder the easier it is going to be for you to fall.

Another type of common ladder that is useful in most homes is an extension ladder. An extension ladder is a fixed latter that is divided by lengths that can either be slid together for convenient storage, or they slid apart to it's maximum length. An extension ladder is best used for projects that are very high off of the ground.

Cleaning the gutters of your roof is a perfect example. It is always best for safety reasons to have someone at the bottom of the ladder stabilizing it if you are going to be climbing higher then the mid length of the ladder. Above that point a ladder can become unstable if not anchored properly. Having an extra pair of hands isn't always as option so some ladders come equipped with extra wide supports.

Regardless of the type of project you are doing, always be safe and use the right ladder for the job.

Milton Felton writes for http://www.ladderhut.com, a website packed with information on Concertina Attic Ladders and Ladder Rack TrailersPammi Blog87805
Olva Blog76343

How To Find Cheap Travel

This article will uncover the market of cheap travel, suggest ways of finding cheap travel and pay attention to the problem issues that may arise in budget travel.

Student travel has come a long way in the past few decades. It is no longer considered a rarity. Gap years, student electives abroad and cheap summer holidays in distant places, have become part of the generally life-enriching experience that is now considered synonymous with the student status. (Frost F et al., 1999)

The current financial climate, with many students having to rely on student loans, parental support, holiday jobs or personal savings for their financial fluidity, largely dictates and limits just what can be achieved in this regard and there are a number of ploys and strategies that are commonly used to make the money go further or, to look at it another way, to allow the same money let the student go further! (Reisinger Y et al., 2004)

We can start by taking an overview of the situation and dividing up the travel costs into those that are necessary to arrive at a destination and those that are necessarily incurred to move around once the student has arrived. Generally speaking, the preferred way to travel is by flying. It is often the quickest way to travel long distances and in these days of competitive pricing strategies, many of the no-frills and budget airlines are offering very cheap flights across mainland Europe. The unwary student should note that the eye-catching prices quoted are invariably exclusive of taxes and fuel surcharges which can add between 30-200 onto the quoted cost (depending on destination and distance).

As a general rule, the cheaper the flight, the greater the sacrifice of both flexibility and conditions. A flight that arrives or leaves in the early hours of the morning, does not supply food, has minimal in-flight entertainment and a strict baggage allowance, is clearly going to cost less than one that has additional amenities. A word of caution also for these flights as there are generally strict terms and conditions, limited changeability and minimal prospect of refund if there's a problem.

Cheap flights are at the other end of the spectrum from cheap holidays. With holidays the greatest savings are made by those who are willing to book at the last minute. With flights, the converse is true. As flights get booked up, the prices tend to rise. (Bernstein J et al., 1999)

Two of the most commonly used mechanisms for obtaining cheap flights are flight-brokers and screen scrapers. The flight brokers make their money by selling you a flight that gives them a commission. There is therefore a balance between the amount of commission that an airline pays them to fill their seats and the requirements of the student. The screen scrapers are web-based tools such as TravelSupermarket, TravelJungle, and SkyScanner. You effectively enter your requirements and these sites send the details to dozens of airlines (and some brokers) and display their findings with the cheapest first. (Sheth A et al., 2002)

There are variations on this process with sites like Expedia and Travelocity specialising in long-haul flights and Expedia and Opodo allowing flights to one airport then leaving from another. Flights Direct will specifically examine the charter market for occasional bargains.

If you intend to fly on certain dates a few months in the future, it is well worth signing up to the e-mail lists of the appropriate airlines. They will send out details of short-term sales so that you can snap them up at the right moment if they come up. British Airways, Opodo, American Airlines and KLM are particularly good for this type of approach.

Once at the destination, the student has to consider the best way of travelling around. Rather like the airlines, one pays for convenience, accessibility and comfort the cheapest forms of travel generally being the slowest and least luxurious. It is clearly impossible to generalise throughout the world, but hitch-hiking, which might have once been considered the cheapest way to travel, has a distinct risk element of personal safety and clearly is inappropriate for the lone female traveller. Many of the commercially available insurance policies specifically forbid such practices. (Cullinane S, 2002)

Public transport is often the most reliable of the cheaper options. Either the local busses, the long-haul coaches or the train services being generally safe and reliable. Many of the more developed countries offer student travel cards (or a variant) to reduce the costs of repeated journeys and some bus companies (Australia travel being a notable example) will sell an open ticket between two specified destinations which can be used with different segments of the journey being undertaken over a period of several weeks.

There are other considerations relating to travel such as how best to deal with money. The time-honoured way of carrying travellers cheques may no longer be popular, with many students electing for the convenience of "plastic" money and credit cards. One should note that Mastercard will generally convert foreign exchange transactions at about the best commercially available rate, but will then add about 2.75%. This does vary between cards and therefore should be individually checked. Overseas cash withdrawals are also usually subject to a 2% additional fee (minimum charge 2) on both credit and debit cards. In addition to all of this, some credit card companies will also add a transaction fee on foreign transactions. (Halifax is currently the worst, levying 1.75 on each transaction.) For the student, the Post Office or Nationwide credit cards appear to be the best option. They have no levy on overseas purchases but they do charge interest on all cash withdrawals.

As with all travel, insurance is not essential, but only the most foolhardy student would travel without it. The annual multi-trip insurance is seldom competitive except for the USA where it may work out cheaper than individual trip cover (mainly because of the medical expense element applicable to the USA). Most will require you to be staying at pre-booked venues which may not be appropriate for the student traveller.

Decide what cover you need, what excess you need (the first part of each claim that you have to pay yourself) and then shop around. The classic insurance selling line is "why not upgrade to our platinum policy, with 30 million worth of medical cover etc." In real terms, the chances of you ever needing more than 2 million of medical cover or repatriation to the UK is virtually negligible and therefore perhaps best avoided. A good plan is to include a personal liability cover of 1 million and also cover for "cancellations and curtailments" together with cover for lost or delayed baggage and cash.

You should note that Europe-only cover is cheaper than further afield and therefore only select wider cover if it is appropriate. Lastly, ensure that the company you are dealing with is covered by FSA regulated underwriters.

Bear in mind also that the new EHIC card (free from www.dh.gov.uk/travellers) will provide free or discounted health care costs in the EU, but does not cover any repatriation costs.

Useful sites for comparisons and costs are Travel-Insurance-Web for Europe-only travel and Insure For for world-wide travel.

References

Judith Bernstein, Susan C. Awe (1999) "Wired travellers : travel and tourism", Reference Services Review ISSN: 0090-7324 Dec 1999 Vol 27 (4) 364 - 375

Cullinane S (2002) "The relationship between car ownership and public transport provision: a case study of Hong Kong" Transport policy Vol 9, (1), January 2002, pp. 29-39(11)

Frost F, T Shanka (1999) "Asian Australian student travel preferences: An empirical study", Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 1999

REISINGER Y, F MAVONDO (2004) "Determinants of youth travel market's perceptions of tourism destinations" Page 1. Tourism Analysis, Vol. 7 pp. 5566 1083-5423/02 2004

Sheth, A. Bertram, C. Avant, D. Hammond, B. Kochut, K. Warke, Y. (2002) "Managing semantic content for the Web", Internet Computing IEEE Jul/Aug 2002 Vol: 6, (4) 80- 87

This article was written by Verena Veneeva professional writer working for http://www.coursework4you.co.uk.Petunia Blog79205
Perle Blog57932

Making the Most of Holiday Leftovers

Holiday time means turkey, and turkey usually means leftovers. Now you can jazz up roast turkey and watch it disappear.

The Reuben Tortilla offers another opportunity to savor the holiday leftovers. Its easy to make, and thanks to sauerkraut, its healthy.

Sauerkraut traditionally a staple of German cuisine contains chemical compounds thought to prevent several cancers such as colon, lung, and breast cancer. A Michigan State University womens health study observed that Polish women accustomed to a lifelong sauerkraut-heavy diet were 74 percent less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than their American counterparts. The study was presented during the November 2005 American Association for Cancer Researchs Annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting.

Once the leftover turkey and Reuben Tortillas are gone, take advantage of sauerkrauts versatility and use it during your next holiday party as an ingredient in contemporary hors doeuvres such as Sauerkraut-Stuffed Mushroom Caps. Also, sauerkraut juice can be used to mix dirty martinis and Bloody Marys.

For more tasty and nutritious sauerkraut recipes visit http://www.sauerkrautnews.com.

REUBEN TORTILLA

4 8-inch whole wheat tortillas, softened

cup fat-free Thousand Island dressing

4 oz. cooked turkey (and/or pastrami or corned beef)

4 slices ( oz. each) Swiss cheese

1 cup well-drained Silver Floss/Krrrrisp Kraut or Silver Floss Sauerkraut

Spread each tortilla with 2 Tbsp. dressing. Top with 1 oz. turkey, 1 slice cheese, and cup sauerkraut. Fold opposite edges of tortilla over to cover filling. Roll up from one unfolded edge to the other, forming wrap sandwich. Microwave each 20 seconds to 30 seconds or serve at room temperature.

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cook's Tip: Wrap these sandwiches in cooking parchment, foil, or plastic wrap for lunch on the go.

Femi Cole is a public relations specialist for Infusion Inc. in Green Bay, Wis. He can be reached at (920) 435-9800, Ext. 231, or by e-mailing fcole@beinfused.com.Rachel Blog15037
Patricia Blog90047

How To Minimize Stress During World Travel and Tours

With world travel the very first thing you can do to reduce your stress levels is to have a travel agent you can trust. This is because you have no idea of all the rules and regulations that are going to come up during your world tours. Having an agent that you trust is a great source of stress reduction. This is because you do not have to worry about all the little details and the infinite amount of paperwork and changes that come up. A good travel agent can advise of things like your passports, visas, shots and immunizations, as well as providing tips on local customs and culture so that you can fit in more easily when you arrive.

There are a number of travel sites out there and the most popular ones deal with getting you the cheapest flights and hotels. This is great and wonderful for what they do and they are good at it. They however will not make sure that all the little details are taken care of or provide the personal touch that other sites and agencies can. I have found that world-travel-tour.com is one of those sites that does a good job of keeping their eye on all the small details.

World travel these days can be a very scary thing filled with all kinds of stress because of the events in the news. A good agent is aware of all those things and will do everything to make sure that you are safe. Your world tour will be enjoyable and relaxing when you have the assistance of a knowledgeable agent. Here are some other things to consider while on your world tour.

Make sure you have your schedule set and that you did allow yourself some "me time" in all the hustle and bustle of the trip that is something that can be easily forgotten. Keep your schedule realistic, these tour spots have been there for thousands of years and they will be there when you get to come back. Make sure you have a list of your medications and doctors so that if something should happen you can get proper treatment.

Bring a good book to read since the flights are long and you will have plenty of time to read and sleep. Make sure you get a good night's sleep before you head out on your flight. Even if your world travel is for business, schedule yourself some time for yourself to enjoy the new location you are in, instead of just trying to cram in back to back meetings and appointments. You will be able to enjoy being in the place you're at for the meeting and be well rested and be able to work better in the end.

Relax and enjoy your world tour and find all the secrets the world has to offer. If you go to world-travel-tour.com it will be a good start to finding what the secrets are. The secret after all is that this world travel stuff really does not have to be filled with stress and doubt. If you want that, then go to work, world travel is about stress free time for you.

Jon Arnold is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about the stress of world travel and tours at his web site at http://www.world-travel-tour.com/ Priscilla Blog20554
Pepi Blog62967

Eleven "Must-Have" SEO Tools (That The Professionals Suggest)

SEO Tools have sprouted up from engineers, hackers, wanna-be SEO's and legimate Search Engine Optimization companies. Many are free, and very good.

But, the fact is - you don't have to be an engineer to run them. Our compiled list below is used daily by professionals and newer users alike.

Start putting these tools to use and see how they impact your own online business.

#1 - Ranking Analysis

This tool can unveil extremely valuable information on how you can break into the top 10 search engine positions. Check it out at this url http://www.webuildpages.com/cool-seo-tool/

#2 - Sitemaps

xml-sitemaps.com, they have created a sitemap generator that enables you to create a xml sitemap for Google and a text-based sitemap for Yahoo. In addition, the generator can also create an optional HTML sitemap for human visitors. Go to http://www.xml-sitemaps.com for step-by-step instructions on how to get started.

http://www.highwebsiterankings.com/site-map/ is an extension to the tool above.

We also like www.sitemapdoc.com - a little buggy though. Make sure to create an account in Google and Yahoo, and get the Sitemap into those administration control systems.

#3 - Keywords Analysis

For a keyword tool that has it all, go to http://tools.seobook.com/general/keyword/

#4 - Keyword Rankings

This tool allows you to track numerous keyword rankings like # backlinks, #pagerank and #daily, weekly and monthly changes in your rankings. Take control of your search engine rankings at http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/keywords/

#5 - Link Harvesting

Link Harvester is open source, so web masters are free to share it and developers are free to improve upon it. Do your own link analysis at http://www.linkhounds.com/link-harvester/

#6 - PPC, Reports, Link Partners & More

* perform keyword mining * use Web site analysis to improve your rankings
* create link popularity reports * quickly and easily find potential link partners
* use automated, semi automated, and guided submission to search engines and directories * manage your PPC campaigns * analyze your search engine rankings.

This is the grand-daddy of all tools: webceo.com. Free SEO Tool download, desktop edition.

#7 - Page Strength

Relative importance of pagestrength http://www.seomoz.org/tools/page-strength.php

#8 - Link Popularity

We like www.urltrends.com for beginners.

#9 - Alexa Rank

http://www.seochat.com/seo-tools/alexa-rank-comparison/ and make sure you download the alexa toolbar.

#10 - Keywords Density Analysis

http://www.webconfs.com/keyword-density-checker.php

#11 (bonus) - SEO tool or not?

Not. But, it is very useful in determining the geographic location of an IP address using a bit of AJAX and Google Maps. http://www.seomoz.org/ip2loc/ip2loc.php

Jon Rognerud is a recognized authority on the subject of SEO and Internet Marketing, and has spent over 10 years developing websites and marketing solutions for companies like Overture and Yahoo. His site, http://www.microsaw.com, provides a wealth of informative search marketing articles and more..Ranee Blog22600
Patrice Blog29984

Detroit Schools Partner for Engineering Success

The Detroit Schools has partnered with local universities to get students thinking about careers in science and engineering. Students at different levels of the Detroit Public Schools are being targeted in a statewide effort to get more women and minorities enrolled in engineering programs. One program that makes this its mission is the Detroit Area Pre College Engineering Program (DAPCEP).

The Detroit Area Pre College Engineering Program

DAPCEP works with area students in three main ways. It partners with local public school teachers to design a curriculum that encourages creative thinking in the sciences. To fulfill this goal, DAPCEP sponsors science fairs, field trips, and university seminars for students and teachers.

DAPCEP also runs a Saturday program in conjunction with local universities and corporations to provide enrichments activities for students in grades 4 12. These activities focus on different aspects of math, computer science, engineering, physics, chemistry, and communication skills.

In addition to its programs during the school year, DAPCEP brings local public school students into universities for summer programs. Some of the summer programs are residential, with students living on campus for a few weeks and getting a real taste for the college life. Other programs provide transportation to and from campus.

University Partnerships
DAPCEPs list of university partners is certainly impressive.
University of Detroit Mercy
Michigan State University
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Wayne State University
Lawrence Technical University
Oakland University
University of Michigan Dearborn
Michigan Technological University

The Little Engineer Program

In addition to their very successful middle school and high school programs, DAPCEP also has something for smaller learners. Its Little Engineer Program is for students in grades K 3. These Saturday classes for both children and their parents focus on teaching and learning math, science, pre-engineering, and reading.

How to Join DAPCEP

The selection process for DAPCEP can be daunting for parents anxious to give this opportunity to their children. DAPCEP holds an open house each fall for prospective students and parents. Students must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average in all their school subjects. Other factors, such as attendance, and taking certain academic subjects in the regular school curriculum, such as physics, chemistry, and higher level math, also play a role in student selection. For many programs, students also need letters of recommendation from their math and science teachers.

Summer Course Offerings

DAPCEPs university partnerships are providing a range of summer courses of Detroit area students. Here are some highlights:

Watershed Investigators (University of Detroit Mercy)
Students will investigate local water quality in a series of real world experiments.

How Math Rocks Our World (Tabernacle)
Students will see how their math and science skills compare with other students around the world, in particular China and India.

Wireless Integrated Microsystems (Michigan State University)
Hands on activities and presentations from nine different engineering majors offered at the university.

Engineering Intensive Workshop ( Michigan Technological University)
Students choose two areas of study, ranging from Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Aided Engineering, Computer Programming, Material Engineering, Chemical Engineering and others.

All of the DAPCEP programs emphasize the Detroit Area Public School Districts commitment to ensuring that students have the opportunity to explore many challenging areas and gain further insights into the college experience.

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.Olivia Blog455
Phyllis Blog50549

Dont Let a Piece of Paper Spoil Your Vacation

A vacation is one of the most eagerly awaited event on many a calendar. Some save for years to travel to a destination of their dreams. The anticipation is almost as exciting as the vacation itself. But as in all things, if you fail to plan, your vacation may just give you a headache so big before you even step foot on a foreign land.

If you are planning to go on a vacation to a destination off the beaten track, the first and most important thing to find out is whether you need a travel visa for your target country. It may come in the form a piece of paper, a card or just a stamp on your passport. Given the state of heightened security at most airports, it is crucial that you have all travel visa documents in order before you travel.

A travel visa is a document issued by a foreign government giving you permission to enter their country and stay for a designated length of time. There is no international right to travel. Therefore, when you request for a travel visa, you are asking for a privilege and not claiming a right. Each country has the right to determine who they allow into their country, the length of stay and what requirements must be met prior to entry. Determining these requirements is the first step in obtaining a visa. Then prepare your passport as you will need to include your passport for the visa application. You should have a least two blank pages in your passport for each country you intend to visit.

Here are some tips to help you start your vacation on the right track:

Firstly ask your friends who have visited the country recently.

Check a current guide book for the country you want to visit. While this is a good starting point, visa requirements can change. Always check with the countrys consulate or representative office for the latest requirements.

Ask your travel agent. A good travel agent that specializes in international travel should have the latest visa requirement.

If you are visiting several countries, you may need multiple visas for each country.

Whenever possible, obtain all your visas before you travel, even if it is possible to get one upon arrival. This will allow you to deal with embassy personnel in your own language and reduce the chance of having to pay "additional fees" to local immigration officials.

Even if a visa is not required for entry you may still need one, or other special permissions, to go to the specific area you wish to visit. Make sure you check before you go.

Most visa applications ask your profession. Some answers, such as missionary, journalist, or unemployed may create problems.
When asked your reason for entry, always tick holiday or tourism when you are on vacation.
Its important whenever possible, book your hotel well ahead and provide the address of where you will stay during your visit.
When asked your religion be as broad as possible. Christian is a better answer than Evangelical, Lutheran, Baptist, etc.
Specify the length of your visit. Its a good idea to add a day or two to your intended departure date in case you have a last minute change of plans to stay longer.
And last but not least, from my own experience, if your kids are traveling with you, its always prudent for them to have their own individual passports and visas.

Some countries may have other entry requirements in addition to a visa. Common requirements include

Kennth Lee is the resident tour and vacation planning consultant with VisaTravels.com, a website dedicated to providing comprehensive and up to date information on travel tips and vacation planning. Phedra Blog22309
Priscella Blog24479

Top7 Car Buying Tips

While we all like to think we wont be conned when buying a used car, thousands of people are every single year. The majority of these people have bought their used car from one of the popular free ads papers and have known very little - if anything - about what to look for in a quality car. If you fall into this category, then simply follow the top seven car buying tips outlined below.

First of all, look out for signs that the car may have been involved in a serious accident. Points to watch out for include slight gaps between the body panels and car doors that drop or that fit badly on their hinges.

Always give the gearbox and clutch a through test. To do this, make sure that you have the engine running then press down on the clutch. If there is any change in the sound of the engine then this could indicate the bearings are worn.

The gearstick should move smoothly without any crunching sound.

Make sure the brakes are in top order by breaking as firmly as you can without the car skidding.

When you start up the car make sure the exhaust fumes are white - any other colour could indicate problems.

Check the panels to make sure there are no lose screws. If there are this could indicate that the odometer has been tampered with and the car has done more mileage than it states.

Finally, always go over the cars paperwork thoroughly to make sure the history is correct. Generally the more history a car has then the better. Or invest in a vehicle data check, a service which can instantly check your proposed new cars history, including whether it has ever been stolen or involved in an accident or whether it has any outstanding finance on it etc.

The service does not cost a lot and could save you a fortune - as well as any headaches in the future.

Louis Rix is Director of http://Netcars.co.uk (http://www.netcars.co.uk) one of the UK's leading motoring websites. Established in 2000, its mission is to become the UK's number one site for used car searches and motoring information. Netcars also provide car finance, loans and insurance.Quintana Blog61267
Oneida Blog8743

How To Get The Right Travel Insurance And Save Money

You are ready for your dream holiday, but there is that one practicality left - insurance.

While there is no doubt that travel insurance is necessary, and not something with which you should do without, finding a policy which is not only cheap, but also offers the correct levels of protection for the activities on your vacation can be both daunting and boring.

With countless pages of policy small print and get-out clauses for the insurer, it can seem almost impossible to find what you want for a good price.

The majority of insurance policies do have reasonably comprehensive cover, and can often be purchased including dangerous sports such as skiing. However, the complications arise when it comes to deductibles and health situations, such as pre-existing problems.

For example, what happens if you do need to go to hospital in a foriegn country? Will the insurance company pick up the bill, or will you have to claim and pay at the time. This will not be suitable for a lot of travellers on a lower budget, but is the way that most policies work. There are many gaps and get-outs in travel insurance policies, and you will need to spot them in advance, should a problem arise.

Most policies cover trip cancellation, robbery, lost baggage, medical, dental and accidental death coverage, but you may also find emergency evacuation, insurance against delays, lost documentation and 24 hour travel assistance.

The key to finding the best deal is to shop around yourself - Don't simply buy your travel insurance from your travel agent. Here are a few reasons why:

- The coverage will not be as good.
- The policy will be less flexible.
- It may duplicate areas that you are already insured for.

It may seem like a better deal at the time to buy your insurance from your travel agent, but remember that they are not specialised in this area, and will only be offering an out-of-the-box policy from some partner insurance company, which they will make money off.

As with most things, you are better off doing your research, and arranging it yourself.

When buying your policy from an insurance company:

- Get quotes from as many companies as you can.
- Read the small print. Does it cover your intended activities?
- Can you waive the pre existing condition exclusion.
- Find out what types of cancellation the insurer will not pay out for. Again, it comes to carefully reading the policy details (I know it's boring, but it is necessary)
- Finally, if there is anything you need to know - Ask! There is no point in having the policy if you end up unable to claim.

Wishing you a fantastic trip, and an unused travel insurance policy!

Go to http://www.destroy-your-debt.com/insurance for more information.

Andrew Moore is the webmaster of http://www.destroy-your-debt.com, A site dedicated to providing free impartial advice concerning financial matters, as well as insurance. Visit our Insurance pages at: http://www.destroy-your-debt.com/insurancePetronilla Blog20426
Pennie Blog46855

What You Need To Know About SEO: Basic Facts

Exposure could mean a lot for different firms, organizations or groups seeking a wider venue to make their views heard, accepted, and patronized. The main term used for this web-positioning method is the seo, or the Search Engine Optimization.

----

What exactly is Search Engine Optimization?

The Internet age has spawned a phenomenon of new terms, new jobs, and new career paths. The growth of the Worldwide Web is creating a new realm, where new types of internet-savvy folks engage in careers that require the skills of an intrepid explorer, searching for new worlds to discover. Among these new tasks are those that require the faster, more strategic placement or positioning of company adverts, documents, products or issues, in order for these entities to have the most maximum level of exposure in the web.

Exposure could mean a lot for different firms, organizations or groups seeking a wider venue to make their views heard, accepted, and patronized. The main term used for this web-positioning method is the seo, or the Search Engine Optimization.

Search Engine Optimization is the terminology used to define, or describe the action of gaining a better position within a search engine or internet directory system based upon a selected key word or a group of key words. With well over 4 billion documents already on the internet, the prominent search engines are all flaunting that they can locate most of them and show you a link from within their systems, and each of the search engines or directory providers have different guidelines by which a listing within their system is accomplished.

* Achieving Maximum exposure

As web-updated consumers, we are constantly on the lookout for sites that address our specific interests, goals, or products at a specified time and day. Most of us do not always know the URL (Universal Resource Locator) for all the types of businesses that can fulfill that interest, so we use a search engine or directory service to find them for us.

For example, I plan to go out and take my girlfriend with me to a bar, but I havent got an idea of which place to go to that I havent already been to yet. The next most probable step for me would be to go to a search engine and type in something like: bars and restaurants pasadena ca"; I put in the quotation marks to make the search more specific, to get me closer to what I am looking for. The phrase I wrote, "bars and restaurants pasadena ca" will be used represent my main key word phrase.

Once I write those key words, I am, hopefully, going to get back a list of the restaurants within the greater Pasadena area, and I indeed got well over 500 or so choices too. What makes it more helpful is that I could find those assorted choices in the local phonebook listings. However, if I wish to make my list of choices much shorter, I would type in, or enter a new search maybe like: "jazz bar pasadena ca.

Once the search engine has done its job, then I probably will get a shorter list with these new, more precise characteristics. However, the list created will be made in an order that is determined by the search engine. The first one may or may not be starting with the letter A or a number like the one on the phone directory.

From the bar and restaurant viewpoint, if they could be in the top 10 or 20 and get a lot of hits or visits by web users, they will have a chance of being seen by the searcher. This is what Search Engine Optimization is all about: gaining a position as close to #1 as possible and then staying there on top, and to achieve maximum exposure.

* Its all about location

For those who own businesses, then the primary name of the game is profits. Revenue of course, comes from people who spend their incomes with you. The more people spend their money with you, the richer and more successful you become.

In todays business environment, it is all about LOCATION, and the next important word that comes is ADVERTISE.

The way the worldwide web works is the same as in the world of advertising or the directories: Its about location in the search engines and directory systems, and advertising. If your listing is something less than the top 100, you stand an excellent chance of never being seen, or viewed. Most people are notoriously impatient, and they do not wish to wade through tons of listings. This simply means that you really need to be near, or on the top of the lists for the key words that you feel your prospective customers are, or will be using to find you.

* How Search Engine Optimizers Do This

Improving your position on the web could be done through a wide variety of methods. An easy way for this is to hire a professional Search Engine Optimization firm that can do the job for you. You could check their fees and price ranges on the web or the phone book. The process is definitely a labor-intensive one, and definitely doesnt come cheap.

But anyway, you too can do it yourself. All you need to do is to get the rules for listing within each of the engines and directory systems where you wish to be listed, the register with them. If they allow you to point to secondary pages that also discuss specific topics, then be sure to do that by pointing to the pages within your site that cover that topic. You may also need to check on your position every month within each of the engines and directories to see how you are stacking up, and sometimes you may need to modify your site to improve your position, as well as your exposure.

Vanessa Arellano DoctorParwane Blog26176
Penelope Blog40025

Do-It-Yourself Internet Marketing Or Professional Internet Marketing Companies

There are so many ways to market your home or online business and sometimes it isn't easy to choose which way is best for you. Should you try to market your business or site by online yourself or would it be better to use a professional internet marketing company?

If you choose to market your business or internet site yourself, there are a few things to consider. First, you can use free web page sites which allow a person to create a space in order to literally market themselves. In this case, it would be easy to publicize anything; including your own business. It is also a great way to make sure you get what you want across to the internet public. This permits you to personalize your marketing and sometimes making it sound less professional may draw more attention to your site. There are also sites that allow you to create blogs - basically an online diary - which can also be beneficial to your business or site. Both of these services are, for the most part, free and accessible in any language. One more way to do things yourself is to create mass e mail marketing. This simple yet effective process allows you to alert current customers of any specials, new arrivals or changes to your online business.

Perhaps you lack the time it takes to do things on your own, or maybe you lack the finesse needed to make your business sound as great as you wish it to. Whichever is the case, possibly you need to recruit the aid of a professional internet marketing company. Instead of spending tedious hours trying to maximize your web count, you can spend a great, or small, amount of money to have someone else do it for you. Professional internet marketing companies take publicity beyond e mails and blogs. They can offer search engine optimization, which includes you paying for keywords that are linked to your site. Each time someone uses one of these keywords, it can create a hit to your online business. They can also create web banners, which work just the same as a banner on the fence at a high school football game; just on the World Wide Web. The banners can be animated, can include blinkies, flashing text and in some cases, sound. The can be very effective in grabbing one's attention. Another option that professional internet marketing companies offer is pay per click. This is basically an operation that allows you to 'rent' a small space on another site and you pay that site for each click your banner, logo, etc. generates.

Whichever way you choose, just be sure that it is right for you. Your budget just may restrict which marketing choice you pick.

Ashton Dixon: Internet Made Millionare Visit http://www.makedinero.com for Home Business Ideas and OpportunitiesPenelope Blog40025
Perl Blog30553

Looking to Donate a Car? Car Donation Programs versus Doing It Yourself

Have you thought about doing something that is meaningful and full of good will? Many Americans wish to, but many never end up getting around to doing so. Do not be one of those individuals. You do not have to be rich to donate. Car donations are a great way to help out a good cause, especially if you do not have the financial recourses needed to make a large cash donation. In fact, you will find that you dont even need to have a new car. Many donated cars are in less than perfect shape, but they are still appreciated.

If you have made the decision to donate your car, you have a number of different options. Those options often involve using the services of a car donation program or finding a charity, which will accept your donated car, all on your own. Choosing one of those methods isnt as easy as it may sound. Perhaps, the best way to decide which donate car method is the best for you is to compare the two. The one that has the most advantages or benefits should be the car donation method that best fits your needs.

When it comes to finding a car donation company or a local charity, you will find that a car donation company is often easier to find. You can find the contact information for multiple programs online. This can easily be done with an internet search. For the best results, you will want to perform a search using the words donate car. Within a few seconds and with the click of a mouse, you should be able to find a local car donation program.

You can also familiarize yourself with local charities, especially ones that may want a donated car; however, it isnt as easy as finding a car donation program. With car donation programs, you know exactly what they want. Unfortunately, not all local charities want or need a donated car. This means that after spending hours researching and contacting local charities, you could still be stuck with your car.

As previously mentioned, you do not have to have a perfect car to donate. Car donations are accepted in just about any condition, in most cases. Car donation programs are more willing to accept a non-working vehicle than one of your local charities. This is because most car donation programs partner with mechanics and other car experts. These professional could turn to your non-working car into one that works great. However, to do this time and money is needed. Unfortunately, you will find that most of your local charities do not have either. Therefore, if you have a car that is in less than perfect working condition, you may want to obtain the services of a donation program.

While it may seem like a car donation program has most benefits, you may still prefer to do your own leg work. If this is the case, go ahead. All that matters is that you made the decision to donate. Car donations are wanted by all different types of charitable organizations. It doesnt necessarily matter how you get your vehicle to them, as long as you do.

Mariah Cruz is a writer for http://CarAngel.com where you will see abundant amounts of information on things such as a Car donation and other related information.Peggie Blog84672
Philomena Blog8656

Exercise Tips For Skateboardist

Many skateboarders feel that it is unnecessary to engage in exercise for this type of sport. Can Ollies and kick-flips count as exercise? Notice that in every sport, a sportsman or sportswoman must engage in some form of exercising before competing. Just like a boxer in the ring throwing punches can not pass as excising, a skateboarder doing twists, turns and flips can not take place as exercise.

It is recommended that a skateboarder exercise at least 3 to 5 times per week. A skateboarder should also engage in stretching before practicing or competing. Those who exercise have more energy and are more likely to succeed in this sport. In order to be a skateboarder, one has to be alert. You cant be alert while feeling fatigue and sloppy. Notice those skateboarders who are the moodiest while practicing or competing. Moodiness stems from not taking care of ones body. Yes, not exercising can actually affects a persons confidence. Those who exercise regularly are the most successful at this sport.

Skateboarding is a lot like dancing, especially when there is music in the background. But a dancer doesnt just settle for dancing or call it exercise. During a dancers time off, they engage in a clean and healthy lifestyle which includes exercising.

Exercising Tips for Skateboarders

Tip one: Think about an exercise thats easy and that you can do everyday, at least 3 to 5 times per day. This can be jogging around the park or your neighborhood, push ups, sit ups, weight lifting or joining your local gym.

Tip two: Make sure that you stretch or do a mini exercise routine before skateboarding. Stretching reduces injuries. This includes stretching before a competition or a big skateboarding event.

Tip three: Before beginning any exercise routine, no matter how old or young or what shape you are in, make sure that you consult your physician. He or she may be able to recommend an exercise technique that is compatible with your body type.

Please abide by these tips and remember that skateboarding is supposed to be adventurous. Also, you don't have to burn yourself out when exercising. Learn a few exercise techniques and stick with them. To be a great skate boarder, have fun, and remember that results from exercising are not always instant. You have to be consistent and disciplined when exercising. Exercising is not always for a person to loose weight. Exercise helps to receive energy and the ability to maintain their weight.

Dana Bradley writes about http://www.buyskateboardgear.com, http://www.buyskateboardgear.com/Coupons/DicksSportingGoods.com.html and http://www.SportsTeamFanHeaven.comPetronia Blog2408
Randene Blog26250

US Elections: Why Are The Democrats Courting Evangelicals?

Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, Chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition wrote in his statement concerning Tuesday's election results, in which some Evangelicals apparently voted for pro-life Democrats: The most surprising bit of data to come out of last night's election coverage was an exit poll by one of the networks which said that one in three voters who self-identified as 'Evangelical Christians' voted for Democrats. I know that some Evangelicals voted for Bob Casey, Jr. in Pennsylvania because they, wrongly I believe, felt it would even the score for the banishment of his pro-life father from the Democrat party. Some also voted for conservative Democrat Brad Ellsworth who is pro-life, pro-marriage and fairly conservative on a bunch of other issues.

It was interesting to see CNN/MSNBC describing some Democratic candidates as Evangelicals. For majority of the Evangelicals two can not coexist. Based on DNC history, party was voting against Christian values and one can hardly believe that Evangelicals went Democratic. In fact the Democrats picked some moderate candidates with some relation to Evangelicals. Of coarse it looks like Democrats gain Christian conservative votes, but it is just appearance. Hardly any current Democratic incumbent was voting in favor of pro-life, pro-family.

Brad Ellsworth and Bob Casey will be perfect examples, but than in the mix with Democratic leftwing veterans like Nancy Pelosi it would be hardly anything. Would new moderate Democrats vote in line with Nancy or as whole party will take strong swing to the right. In past few years Democratic Party took swing to the left and some moderate Democrats were disappointed by party leadership. Some even, pointed out that the time for moderate Democrats is gone.

Are we witnessing DNC transformation or just dress up to get more seats where the San-Francisco liberals are ruling, using moderates as bait for Evangelicals.

Vladimir Dubchak
http://www.efamilyfinance.com

http://www.efamilyfinance.com/?p=news&news=25

Vladimir Dubchak - author and publisher eFamilyFinance.com.Oralia Blog42299
Phedra Blog13829

Can You Answer This Riddle?

Why riddles? Your brainpower, like your muscles, gets stronger with exercise. Here is your workout...

There are actually two riddles here. The first is the tough one, although once you find the solution (or read it) you will think "that's simple." Difficult, yet with a simple solution - that's the definition of an elegant riddle. The second one is a one of those riddles that "tricks" you.

Determine The CD Weights

You are a manufacturer of blank CDs for small recording studios. You arrive at the post office with ten boxes of them ready to close up and ship out, but you have a problem. Not all ten boxes contain the same CDs. Nine of them contain CDs for music recording, and one is full of Cds that are meant for voice recording, destined for a books-on CD company. The problem is that they look identical, and you forgot to label them.

However, there is one difference. You recall that the "music" Cds weigh 13 grams, and because different CD "blanks" were used, the "voice" Cds weigh 15 grams. You try lifting them to see if you can tell the difference by feel, but you can't.

There is a scale in the post office, but it costs one dollar each time you weigh something. You are trying to keep your costs down, so you want to make as few weighings as possible.That is the riddle. Exactly how do you use the scale as few times as possible to determine which box has the "voice" CDs?

Weighing The Silver

In this riddle, you have 15 small silver bars and a balance scale. One bar is slightly lighter than the others, and you can't tell the difference by feel. The question is this: What's the least number of times you could use the balance scale to determine which silver bar is the light one?

Arriving At Solutions To The Riddles

Believe it or not, in the first riddle, you can determine which box has the "voice" CDs in it by using the scale just once. Think about it for a while, and you'll probably figure this one out.

The second riddle is a trick of sorts. If you randomly put one silver bar on each side of the scale, you could get lucky, and one of them will be lighter. The least number of times you could use the scale to find the light one, then, is one time (watch that wording). The second part of the riddle, then, is to find the least number of times you can use the scale that will guarantee you'll identify the light silver bar.

Why not exercise that brainpower right now? These are not the most difficult riddles.

Copyright Steve Gillman. For the solutions to these riddles, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/hard-logic-riddles.htmlPatsy Blog5848
Pat Blog81618

Ten Things YOU MUST Know Before Taking Holidays In Dubai

Dubai has become a very popular tourist destination. There are few things you must know before taking holidays in Dubai. These tips will help you to get the best from your Dubai vacation.

1. Best time to visit Dubai has extreme weather conditions. Few months of the year are extremely hot. The best time to visit Dubai is from November to March. This is the winter period in Dubai. The temperature is mild (average 20C).

2. Avoid Ramadan Ramadan is the fasting month of Muslims. Ramadan usually falls in September-October period. There is a daily fasting time, which approximately starts around 5:00am and ends around 5:00pm. NO ONE (including tourists) can eat, drink or even smoke in public places during this time.

3. Visa requirements You may have to apply for a visit visa before visiting Dubai. Citizens of few countries (first world countries such as USA, UK, Australia etc) can get visa on arrival. Check with your travel agent to confirm the visa requirement for your country.

4. Liquor Visitors cannot buy liquor from liquor shops in Dubai. Only residence who are holding a liquor license can buy them. Visitors have to go to a bar in a hotel or to a nightclub to get liquor.

Tip: Buy liquor from the Dubai duty free on arrival.

5. Car rentals Taxi fare is expensive in Dubai. Rent a car is the best option. Do it in advance.

6. Driving Dubai is a left hand driven state.

7. Accommodation options Dubai has a range of accommodation options. So do not spend unnecessarily on accommodation. There are cheap but quality 2 start hotels. If you are travelling with a big group then renting an apartment is the cheapest option. Do not let your travel agent to limit your options.

8. Shopping Dubai is a paradise for shoppers. Shopping malls, gold and cheap electronics will tempt you to buy even unwanted stuff. Have a shopping budget and stick to it. Discount is a common word in Dubai. You must always ask for a discount, because sellers are always keeping a margin for discount.

9. Language Arabic is the main language in Dubai. Most of them can understand and speak English. But make sure that you speak slowly for them to understand properly.

10. Law Dubai has become one of the safest places on earth because of tough laws. Respect the law and Dubai culture.

Visit http://www.thatsdubai.com for more useful tips.

Uthkusa Gamanayake lived in Dubai for 5 years. You can read a unique review of holidays in Dubai and valuable tips for your Dubai vacation in his web site http://www.thatsdubai.comReba Blog3890
Rhonda Blog28451

Rediscovering Wallpaper

Throughout the 1990s painting was the trend for all rooms in a home. However, since the turn of the century, wallpaper has been making quite a comeback in popularity. Once again you are seeing it grace the walls of powder rooms, full bathrooms, dining rooms and kitchens. It is a nice trend to see. Rooms that accent the house with wallpaper add new dimension, interest and texture to an otherwise predictably painted environment. If you are in the design phase of home building project, you should give wallpaper some serious consideration. As with many home improvement products, more designs are available to the general public now than ever before.

Powder Room:

One terrific place to use wallpaper as an accent in your home is the powder room. This usually small space is perfect for making an impression on your guests. It is also a very limited way to reintroduce wallpaper into your life, but still be able to enjoy an interior design statement which makes your home unique. Dont be afraid to select dark or textured wallpapers for the powder room. Even though it is small, drama is what you are after here, or you would just be painting it the color of the rest of the house. Darkness and textures deliver drama.

Master Bath:

Wallpaper is also making a comeback in the master as well as other bathrooms of the home. Remember the days when each room of a house might have a different colored carpet? One great thing about wallpaper in a bathroom is that it allows each member of the family to express their own tastes while allowing the other elements, like carpet and trim color, maintain the homes continuity.

Dining Room:

Wallpaper in the dining room is an excellent way to make it known that you have excellent tastes in interior design. How many houses have you been into today that have a living room right across the entrance from the dining room? It is usually the large table and chairs that gives away which one the dining rooms is, but if it werent for that, who would know? Wallpaper is a great solution for rooms that lack personality. However, if you are tempted to buy the fabric that matches the wallpaper, then you have gone too far. There are too many beautiful fabrics just waiting on the bolt for you to coordinate with your new wallpaper to create an intensely interesting room. Considering wallpaper in your dining room is a wonderful idea, and you will make a room so unique in your home that your relatives will remember in which room they spent the holidays.

Kitchen:

Kitchens are another great place to accent with wallpaper. Like the powder room, the kitchen is an excellent place to experiment and reintroduce wallpaper back into your life. In this room, the cabinets and tile backsplash take up so much of the wall that you are left with a minimum amount of space for any finish material. Wallpaper is also a fairly easy surface to clean in the kitchen, which has become the hearth of the home in todays designs.

Care with Selection:

Tasteful selection is the key here. In this writers opinion, you should stay away from anything at which you could look and think, How dated will this look in five years, in ten years? If you are wondering what would fit into this category, think about extremely oversized floral prints, overly bright colors and old style metallic papers. If you even have the slightest feeling that a paper would become outdated, then do not select it. Instead, for example, look for natural fibers, like silk and woven papers such as the newer grass cloths. Spend some time looking at top of the line wallpapers and then depending on your budget, locate something that is most similar to the more expensive papers. Since wallpaper can be used as an accent, paying a bit more for luxurious wallpaper is a very controlled way to do something special in your home.

Installation:

Finally, if you live in a home that was constructed with all textured and painted walls, it requires a bit of an effort to retro-fit any room with wallpaper. Of all of the do it yourself jobs, that would be an excellent time to leave it to a professional. Call a drywall company and inquire about the process it takes to prepare textured sheetrock for papering. The good news is that there are some very heavy gauge papers on the market that can be applied over a very lightly textured wall. If you are designing a home or have bought one early on in the construction phase, let the architect and builder know that you have plans for wallpaper in certain rooms. That way they can have their drywall people prepare the walls accordingly.

Enjoy the process of rediscovering wallpaper. It can be a beautiful addition to any dcor and give a home, which lacks personality, an interior designer look.

Copyright © 2006 Heather Larson.Philis Blog31903
Olympie Blog27420

Road Map to Riches

Road Map To Riches Reps report making $999 on each Sale, Paid Daily!

Road Map To Riches has proven to be the ideal system designed for anyone; the savvy internet marketer or the computer illiterate, the go-getter or the passive sit back and watch type, stay at home moms, and anyone who understands the concept of working smart instead of hard.

Road Map To Riches does 98% of The Work and Closes Sales automatically around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The other 2% is left to marketing/advertising and simply "human touch".

Marketing and advertising can be one of the hugest challenges for the newbie getting started in this industry. Thats where once again Road Map To Riches covers all the bases with a National Ad co-op which

includes advertising in Home Business "niche" magazines a card-decks. You simply plug-in and receive target traffic to your Road Map To Riches website.

The Rest is Left up to the state-of-the-art web tour and movie which sorts, sifts and closes all of your sales earning you $999 a sale!

This has proven a dream come true for many who were not making all the money they wanted on-line. Road Map To Riches is the way to go. Earn money for minimal work 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Many people have asked themselves this question below...

Is it really smart for me to continue to join one new thing after another...that guarantees to bring me financial Independence...while I slowly go broke making other people rich...instead of me making money?

More and more people are finally beginning to understand that instead of jumping from program to program they need to follow a proven to work system coupled with one-on-one training from a mentor that has been through the trenches and can show them the Road Map To Riches.

For more information visit: http://www.roadmaptoriches.com/Chopper/lcp1.html

Contact Info:

Rick LaFata
twolf67@wildblue.net
1-573-216-0930
http://www.roadmaptoriches.com/Chopper/lcp1.html

Hi my name is Rick LaFata, I'm a real person, with a family, I have a great opportunity that I would like to share with everyone, but I would also like to share with you my story and how I came to a decsion to join this business opportunity, please take a look at it, if it's not for you that's ok, if you need some answers to your questions, don't call me I don't know......I'm just joking, I will try and answer any question you may have if I don't have the answer I will find out from someone who does, but take a look I think you'll like what you see.Pet Blog73759
Penny Blog68097

Clothing for Change

Imagine browsing the stores looking for fun new fashions, checking the fit, feeling the softness, checking the tag to find Made with 100% cotton, grown with 1/3 pound of pesticides, colored with reactive dyes fixed with heavy metals and produced by children in unsanitary, low-wage sweatshop conditions. Labeling standards dont yet require that information, and nobody is offering it up voluntarily, but the reality is that the latest trendy top you are looking at just might fit the bill.

For health and social reasons, many consumers today have made the switch to cotton from petroleum-based synthetic fibers such as polyester, but the fabric of our lives is not necessarily a choice without consequences. Globally, 25% of insecticide use is attributable to cotton production. In addition, conventional growing of cotton makes heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers. These insecticides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers then seep into our soil and waterways. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deemed seven of the top 15 pesticides used on U.S. cotton crops to be potential or known human carcinogens.

Much of the apparel in the US is made in sweatshops where workers labor in unsafe, unsanitary conditions, are paid wages so low they must struggle to provide for their families, and children are exploited.

Fortunately, there are alternatives. Todays fashion market has a wealth of environmentally and socially responsible options, such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, soy, and organic wool.

Certified organic cotton is grown with consideration for the natural biodiversity, without the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers. The advantages go beyond the health and environmental benefits though. Organic cotton fibers tend to be longer-staple, producing stronger softer yarns, and, thus longer-lasting softer garments.

Let's not stop with organic cotton. Hemp is another natural fiber beginning to blossom in the eco-fashion industry. Hemp is most often grown without herbicides, fungicides or pesticides. With fibers longer, stronger and more absorbent than cotton, hemp produces strong yarns and garments that last. Naturally resistant to bacteria and UV light, hemp is a great choice for socks, shoes, and apparel.

And how will it look in your closet? The days of loose hemp anti-styles are no longer. Todays hemp wear has its place in cutting edge design, knits that hug the body, linen-quality dresses that flatter the figure, and sturdy canvas shoes.

So don't be discouraged that 100% cotton isn't such a 100% natural choice. Today we have many options in eco-friendly and socially responsible apparel without compromising fashion. Fashion is about finding your own style. Shouldnt your style be in line with your values?

Audra Hensel is the owner of NatureWear Organics, a small New England based retailer of sweatshop free, organic and eco-friendly fashion. NatureWear Organics can be visited on the world-wide web at: http://www.naturewearorganics.comRebecka Blog95860
Raye Blog83216

Scootie Jr: The Scooter For Mobility And The Small Budget

The Scootie Jr is an electric scooter, giving the handicapped and the disabled the ability to have more mobility without relying on anyone. If you are able to walk, but find it difficult to walk long distances the Scootie Jr may be just what you are looking for. The Scootie Jr is durable, lightweight and will give those on a budget, an option of finding added mobility in their life, and you can too.

What are the benefits of a Scootie Jr?

The design of the Scootie Jr is one you will like. It is small, but big enough to carry someone who is up to 250 pounds. The seat of the Scootie Jr is padded, for your added comfort while you are riding around the mall for hours, or while you are taking in the sites at the local museum. The Scootie Jr is a scooter, which can be taken apart, and stored for transporting in the trunk of a car or in a van without having to be taken apart.

If you are going to get out of the house more often, you will find the ease in putting the Scootie together, without tools is a welcoming thought. If you do have to depend on someone to get your Scootie Jr out of the car, you will be at ease, knowing the chair is not heavy when it is in pieces, and it can be put together without tools. If you are on a paved trail in the state park, visiting a school or if you are shopping, you will feel at ease with the use of a Scootie Jr.

What to expect when driving the Scootie Jr

If you are driving the Scootie Jr you will be pleasantly pleased at your ability to get to the stores, to get out of the house to get to church and to do so much more. If you want a compact scooter, the Scootie Jr is going to be your choice. A wheel chair can be big and awkward, but you can use a Scootie Jr in all the same instances, and feel much more comfortable. The Scootie Jr helps you get around corners without hitting the walls, and the wheels give you that added stability so you never get that feeling as if you were going to tip over.

Jason Uvios writes this article on the topic of Mobility Scooters for small budget to Visit:http://www.scooteralways.info, http://www.crispscooter.info and http://www.scooter-now.info.Renie Blog58862
Phaidra Blog6282

Your personal dating tour to Kherson, Ukraine

Everybody understand how difficult it may be: organizing a meeting with a person from another country and traveling to an unknown part of the world. You would love to meet this wonderful woman but you are unsure how to do it the right way and how to ensure success of your meeting. You are not alone! Dating agency Roksolana will help you! Those are the usual questions that men ask when planning a personal meeting:

How can you trust that she will be there to meet you?

How can you help her with her travel expenses without exposing yourself to a possibility of being scammed?

How can you ensure your own safety when traveling?

How can you increase the odds of your personal meeting with lady being a success?

And many other things - tickets, timetables, knowledge of the language, airport transfers, etc, etc.

pick up and drop off

We will meet you at the airport and bring you to your hotel. Your lady can go with us to see you the first minute after landing. If you would like our driver to meet you at the Odessa or Kyiv international airport and drive you to Kherson we can organize it. Trip from Odessa airport to Kherson takes approximately 3-4 hours and costs $120 US (one-way transfer). And trip from Kyiv airport to Kherson takes approximately 6-7 hours and costs $250 US (one-way transfer). This service is also available on your way back home so you will never miss your flight if ordered it. (airport customs info)

apartments rental

You have the choice of being booked into good hotel Ninel and hotel Versal or your own apartment, both with full, modern facilities, in the historic downtown of our charming cities. At our office, you will be able to meet the ladies you have been corresponding with.

interpreter

If the lady you're going to meet doesn't speak English or you want to handle some question and need help of the professional interpretor, we will be happy to provide you with this service. Our translators have finished the University of Foreign languages so we're confidend that you'll enjoy our cooperation. Conversation will be made spontaneous and easy by your professional translator and our staff (remember that we are also professional matchmakers, with experience in "breaking the ice" and encouraging the development of relationships).

entertainment

Welcome to Kherson - beautiful riverside sity!

Kherson was founded in 1778 and has since become the cradle of the Black Sea fleet of Russia.There are 64 national reserves in Kherson region in general. It was founded on a place of a fortress which had served to protect Russian lands against Turkish invaders. Ruins of this fortress remained until nowadays.

The region is rich with good harvests of fields, gardens, vineyards, and watermelon plantations. And this land is very hospitable. The sights to see in Kherson are St.Saviour Cathedral which is considered the most beautiful in the south of Ukraine, two museums - those are of the Local Lore and the Arts Museum, numerous architectural monuments, a part of Great Britain - John Howard's tomb Nowadays, Kherson is the big town with nearly 400 thousand residents. Besides, it is a city of brides - there are so many beautiful women in Kherson, Ukraine.

This famous Ukrainian location is a great place for rest and relaxation, as well as a business and active center of the Kherson region. Roksolana Dating Agency will help you to combine your cultural and entertainment program in Kherson with meeting the finest and prettiest of local ladies. You can rely on us for making you feel at home and welcome in this beautiful riverside city.

Romantic dinner

Ah, romance!... Candlelit dinners, red roses, elegant chocolates... When was the last time you had a romantic dinner with your ladylove? Make a decision to do so! Candlelit dinner, scent of flowers, light music... everything a couple needs to enjoy a quiet evening We will gladly help you with choosing a nice local restaurant for a date.

Sail cruise

Of course, the brightest feature of our town is a wonderful unique wild nature with its huge amount of water around. Kherson is stretched in the mouth of the Dnieper River (the cleanest river of Europe!) and is famous with hunting grounds and quiet back-waters. All this cannot leave you indifferent especially if your ladylove is by your side and air is full of love and tenderness and romance and there is nobody in the whole world except you both

A sail trip is the best way to bring romance into your life and get a dose of adrenaline while sailing and have relaxing anchorage in the quiet bay to make barbecue or just listen to the sounds of wild life and breath full of delightful odors air, or watch sunset together

Whether you sail a couple of hours or decide to make a several-days-long trip a sailing boat we offer has all accommodations to live aboard and safety gears. The captain has got the Offshore Skipper Certificate and 30 years sea experience. You can order a sail cruise to Crimea or Odessa City and see the South of Ukraine from the Black Sea. And if you are lucky you can take part in the sailing race even! Youll never forget it!

Fishing

Do you not like fishing? May be you haven't try it ever! There, where is much water, shoud be many fish! You can try to confirm this saying. Look at our picture and believe you can do it as well. We offer this kind of activity for you. Aboard a sail yacht or inflatable rubber dinghy we have a necessary fishing equipment and cooking ability. Don't worry, we won't leave you without a fish and fish soup!

Barbecue

It is not matter what is better: a dinner in the restaurant or BBQ. Warm, sunny weather,tepid water of the Dnieper River and barbecues camp at the bank of the river where you enjoy a tasty meal, swimming, light music, just to be on the nature-what can compete with it? There are some places near river for BBQ where to we can get by yacht. In this case you have additional sail cruise and can see Kherson city and wild nature from the river. Have a nice rest!

visa arrangement

If you are traveling to Ukraine you need to obtain an appropriate visitors visa.

Getting a Ukraine visa is a two step process. First, you will need to get an official letter of invitation from a company authorized by the Ukraine Ministries of Foreign and Internal Affairs called Visa Support Document or Invitation. Then you will need to take this invitation along with the application form and two passport size photos and an original of your passport to the Ukraine Consulate in order to have your visa processed

Requirements For Foreign Citizens ToEnter Ukraine

1. Passport must be valid 3 months beyond intended stay

2. Tickets and Documents for return or onward travel

3. Visa is Required

4. Vaccination - None Required

Requirements For Foreign Citizens To Obtain Visa To Ukraine

1. Passport must have at least six months remaining validity

2. Application form fully completed and signed

3. Passport-type photograph

4. FOR TOURIST: Copy of hotel confirmation or letter of confirmation from tour operator with signature and company stamp

FOR BUSINESS: Letter of invitation from Company or Organization in Ukraine

FOR PRIVATE VISIT: Your friend or relative in Ukraine must obtain an official invitation from the local OVIR (Office of Visas and Registration), and this certificate must be included with your visa application.

Please note: some nationals are not required to have an official letter of invitation to obtain an entry visa to Ukraine, for details please contact the nearest Consulate or Embassy of Ukraine.

Important: Ukraine has set visa free regime for citizens of US, Canada, Japan, European Union countries, Norway, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Iceland, Swiss Confederation and Liechtenstein. Visa free regime is established for the period of up to 90 days staying in the country.

Ukraine Sets Visa Free Regime for Revisiting U.S. Citizens

Please, be informed that the President of Ukraine signed the Decree No. 1008/2005 On the Establishment of Visa-Free Regime for Citizens of the United States of America on June 30, 2005. According to the mentioned Decree, starting July 1, 2005 visas are not required for the US citizens who reenter Ukraine within six months after their previous trip to Ukraine or transit through its territory for a period of up to 90 days with a valid American travel passport. For the US citizens who enter Ukraine with the purpose of employment, permanent residency, study and work at the diplomatic missions of the USA in Ukraine or with any other purpose if they are going to stay in Ukraine for more than 90 days, visas are required.

Good luck in your dating personal tour to Kherson, Ukraine!

Roksolana
http://www.roksolana-dating.com

Anna Pirozhok is owner of Roksolana dating agency http://www.roksolana-dating.com Rici Blog84826
Rennie Blog90685

Why Do We Publish?

A major "character" in Mark Salzman's first autobiography is his father. Sometimes his father paints. But his father hates painting. He likes it when his painting is done. He likes having painted. But the act of painting itself is, in his opinion, a big pain in the backside.

Nobody reading this approaches writing like that, do they? I know I don't. Of all my experiences as an author, whacking those words down onto the paper is the best of the best. Always has been, always will be. Even though I cut most of them. I like creating.

I've quoted Hemingway before. Long periods of thinking, short periods of writing. These days, my thinking takes longer and my periods of writing are getting less frequent, but both still happen, and I still love creating something from nothing.

If it weren't for me, you would never read the words you're reading right now. Nobody else would ever write them. And they contain my thoughts. Through time and space, better than telepathy, you hear what I'm saying.

So, there's one reason to write, isn't it? The biggie, if you ask me. I write what I do because I can't NOT write it. I may be clarifying my thoughts in my own head. But, most certainly, I'm just so moved by those thoughts that I must put them on paper. They're in me and they have to get out, kinda like those critters in the ALIEN movies.

Is this the only reason to write? Because I want to zap my thoughts into your heads? I don't know. But let me change the question. Is this a reason to publish? Why not write your books and stick them in a filing cabinet like Sean Connery did in the film FINDING FORRESTER? Write it, express it, file it away. Why publish it?

(It's okay if you haven't seen this obscure little gem. I will explain all.)

In fact, there are writers who do exactly that. Some fear rejection or criticism. We hear about them whenever we pop into a writing workshop. But I don't think there are very many of them. I have trouble picturing someone who can spend months (years?) doing something as essentially egotistical as writing a novel, but who is fundamentally lacking in any sort of self-confidence. Naw, they're thinking posterity but lack the stones to admit it.

At times I've got an inferiority complex I wouldn't dream of whacking onto your shoulders, but it was absent when I wrote my books. During the act of writing itself, you think, "My words are better than your words." You do. You feel that you must record your thoughts because they're that much better than most. That's what writing is. So, I would say that by definition the author isn't ALWAYS plagued by self-doubt.

In FINDING FORRESTER, the Sean Connery character won the Pulitzer with his first book, saw that every reviewer misunderstood him, and decided they could all get stuffed. This is a movie, a work of fiction, but I understand the attitude. I once wrote a true story, where the main character was Michael LaRocca, only to have a critic slam the main character as "unbelievable." Apparently I don't act like real people.

I could never shove all my writing in a filing cabinet, unpub- lished, and tell the establishment to get stuffed. But yep, there are stupid people in the world, and some of them review books.

So, we've identified two groups who won't be seeking publication. Hopelessly insecure and hopelessly arrogant. But, like Aristotle, I prefer moderation. You still may be wondering why I seek publi- cation. So do I. Let my exploration of this question continue.

I've hit best-seller status for two different e-publishers with three different books. Minor thrills at the time, but there's no way I could call them enough of a reward for what I put into writing.

You're an author. You know what I'm talking about. We all but kill ourselves to make our books. And let's be blunt here. Unless you're going to throw Rowling/King/Clancy/Grisham money at me -- and you're NOT -- money isn't sufficient reason to publish.

Publishing isn't just a case of sending it to a publisher, signing a contract, and being done.

Next up is editing, which is a blast. Not at the time, perhaps. Any editor worth a damn will beat you over the head with every bad word choice you ever made. And you made hundreds! But at the end of that gauntlet, you know you are da bomb.

Seeing my cover art is almost always awesome. Yes, I did say "almost." One bad experience among eight. It happens. But if you've worked with a publisher, you know what I mean. You log onto the Internet one morning, not fully conscious, amazed that you poured that first cup of coffee without burning off your naughty bits. You pop open an email and see cover art that almost makes your head explode. You get this big rush, thinking, "Someone understands my writing!" What you don't realize, naive little author, is that some artists don't even read the books they do the art for. But still. The art rocks your world. Feel that. I always enjoy clicking those email attachments and seeing MY book covers.

Then comes marketing. Biggest pain in the... Well, let's just say it makes me want to not publish sometimes. So why publish?

I've entered the EPPIES three times, and been a finalist three times. The second time one of my books was an EPPIE finalist, I made some wisecrack in an author's egroup about how "finalist" is a synonym for "loser" and was raked over the coals.

Oops!

(Maybe I annoyed entrants who weren't finalists. I'd always wondered if they existed...)

So let's say I'm not publishing for money or awards. They sing a siren song to new authors which this jaded old bastard quit hearing long ago. I got all that out of my system in the previous millenium. So why do I still publish? What are my rewards? Let me mention a few.

A psychologist turned English teacher formed a women's reading group at the university where we once worked together in China. Her concept was women readers, women writers. But the first book the group ever discussed was my very own RISING FROM THE ASHES, which is about Mom. My only foray into "women's literature." I couldn't attend the reading group, since I'm a guy, but my wife was there. What I learned about my book is priceless, as is knowing what those young students discussed because of my writing. Issues of such depth that I'd be proud to inspire any student, in any country, in any language, to tackle them.

I used to work on North Carolina hog farms. I enjoyed the company of some damn fine people at every one of them. Hog farming is hard work. This isn't the backyard family farm, folks, this is 13 people with 98 boars, 3500 sows, and all the babies they can make. One of my toughest coworkers was a lesbian who could break Xena in half, and my one foray into writing horror gave her nightmares.

I don't consider myself a poet, and I believe most of the reading world agrees with me. But I have published 6 poems. There is one that a hog farm coworker insists will be read at his funeral. Don't ask me why he was planning his funeral during our lunch break because I have no idea. But, well, I guess I'm invited, in a manner of speaking.

Master Pizza, 30th Street, Tampa, Florida. A bunch of drunken Italian relatives reading one of my less-than-serious poems ALOUD between pitchers of beer. It was like a Joe Dolce moment.

I was working as a security guard in a particularly unpleasant place. This was 20 years ago, I think. A fellow guard read one of my short stories. It is, by far, the most allegorical thing I've ever written. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about throwing it out. But then, I remember Bob's words. "This is me. This is my life." Me too, old pal, and I don't care if you and I are the only two readers to have any idea what I'm talking about. {Scapegoat Bob!}

I've written some pretty heady volumes, but I've also written quite a few short works. I've heard from numerous students here in China that, "This is the first book in English I've ever finished reading." When I write, I certainly never set out to help anyone learn English. (Some of my editors may claim I never learned the language.) And, students will LIE to teachers. But I've decided that at least one was telling the truth.

When I left the US, I embarked on several journeys. Learning to live in China. Learning to love again. Taking another shot at the writer dream. And, eventually, teaching. After all that, I tried my hand at writing humor for the first time. Every time I hear my wife laugh at something I've written, I file it away as a reason to keep writing.

I've written one play in my life. I was young, and quite hooked on the album (pre-CD days) JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. So, you guessed it, I tackled JC. I wrote something that nobody can read without having a powerful reaction. Readers love it or they hate it. I'm proud of that. And hey, it's only one act long. I have a short attention span.

I loaned Clint "Two Dawgs" Hill my very first book. My cousin. He took it to Durham (North Carolina) and loaned it to a bunch of hippie buddies. He asked for another, because the first one fell apart from overuse. That's why we publish. People all but fighting for the chance to read my words. And heck, the book wasn't even good yet. It's 20 years older now.

I mention all this for the jaded old bastards who have a few novels and bit of minor success under their belts. Nobody else is reading this anymore, are they?

So, maybe this is why we don't just stop when the book is written, stick it in a drawer, and uncork the champagne. Although I do hope you uncorked the champagne. This planet contains far too many people who "want to be authors" but who haven't written a book. Never have, never will. Meanwhile, you and I are sitting here knowing we had no choice. We had to write.

Why publish? Heck, why not?

Michael LaRoccaPhil Blog41334
Rheba Blog40901