Hot Yoga - Bikrams Twenty Six

Even though the world population has shifted from mainly rural to mainly urban in the last decade, there are still lots of folks like me who live in the sticks. Doing things like taking a yoga class becomes a different thing in our case from driving to the neighborhood gym. Since I live 40 miles from the nearest town large enough for yoga studios, when I decided to take a class, I was more interested in the schedule than I was the type of yoga. I couldn't afford to be picky if I preferred not to wait around for a couple hours after getting off work. So I looked in the phone book, and didn't pay attention to anything but the schedule. There it was: M-W-F at 4:00. Perfect. I don't know what rock I'd been living under, but the word "Bikram" writ large across the ad in the yellow pages didn't trigger the term 'hot yoga' in my mind, and that left me in for a big surprise.

I showed up with a comfy pair of sweatpants and a long- sleeved t-shirt. As the woman at the desk was giving me a little orientation information - explaining that the room was heated to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit - I realized that my concept of yoga clothes weren't going to work here. Apparently, I wasn't the first to make this error. Susie told me they had loaners. Now, it's been a while since the last time I wore hot-pants, so when she handed me the little scrap of shorts, I thought, "No way." She said, "Trust me, you'll fit right in."

Susie continued, giving a few more orientation tips, which started to seem like a set of warnings. "Our first-time students are encouraged to rest whenever you feel you should - kind of take it gradually. The instructors just ask that you do your best to stay in the room for the entire time." What? Were we still talking yoga here? I'd seen pictures. Sure, I might not be able to balance on one leg while holding the other one over my head at my first try, but come on. How hard could it be to stretch as far as I could go and stop there? Why would I get desperate to leave the room?

Her next suggestion: "OK, I see you brought a bottle of water. That's good, but you'll be tempted to drink a lot, and I recommend you just drink sips - not too much at a time." Hmm. What was I getting into here? It sounded like I was facing some kind of ordeal - not what I had in mind at all since I was thinking of yoga as a peaceful, low- impact way just to stretch and keep my aging body flexible and strong.

Once I was dressed in the little bit of shorts, I opened the door to the yoga studio and was met with a rush of hot, stultifying air. Oh goody. I walked to an open space, spread my mat, lay on my back, and understood exactly what she meant by asking me to at least stay in the room. I was already dripping sweat, and we hadn't even begun the class.

Ninety minutes and twice through the 26 poses later, I was indeed still in the room. In the non-competitive, supportive atmosphere I had been completely guided to go to my edge, but not so far that I would be turned off by struggle. In fact, I was exhilarated. I lay on my back at the end, eyes closed in the peaceful, very hot room, and knew I'd be back for more.

Carina Snowden is a contributing author to Apex Yoga News the leading resource for yoga information. Visit Carina's archive of articles at http://www.apexyoga.com/

A Road Trip in Cyprus -- Blessed by the Gods

Aphrodite's Hot Spot

European Road Trip Adventures

Cyprus. Yes, it is a hee-uge (note: very large) holiday destination. Ask any slightly pale English teen, and they'll wax lyrical about the bars, clubs and beaches.

And bars, clubs and beaches there are. Much the same as you'll find in Ibiza, Thailand, and Cancun. And that's fine, if all you're after is bubbly happiness in a cocktail glass and nice tan (and the beginnings of a sexy and malignant melanoma).

But this tends to mean you'll be overlooking the fact that the island itself has one of the most fascinating histories around. Almost every empire on the face of this earth invaded here. The Ottomans, the Lusignans, the Byzantines, the Venetians. Even the Arabs conducted a few casual raids, possibly just to keep up appearances. All left their mark on the culture and history of this remarkable island. Add to this potent mix a healthy foundation of Ancient Greek and Roman influences in an island washed by inky blue waves and warmed by a Mediterranean sun, and you've got a holiday worth a thousand brandy sours and ouzos.

Paphos, more than just a nightclub

One of the cities of Cyprus, which provides an excellent base to immerse you in the history and culture, is Paphos, situated on the West Coast.If you just want to have a roam around Paphos itself, you've got loads of history to wander about in.

But the whole countryside nearby is one precious find after another. If you're not keen on donkey-power, perhaps a cheap car rental might be the way to go. Internet sites like http://www.vroomvroomvroom.co.uk/locations/cyprus-car-rental.aspx (car hire Cyprus) can sort you out a deal on car rental Paphos ? where you can compare rates from different companies to make sure you get the cheapest.

Paphos has loads of ancient sites which are protected as UNESCO world heritage sites, and according to Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, was born here, arising from the sea foam. Places to visit include the Paphos and Saranta Kolones castles in Kato Paphos ? the lower part of town. Also on this side of town you should meander over to the Panayia Chrysopolitissa church built on the ruins of a Byzantine Basilica. Have a look for St Paul's Pillar, where apparently the unfortunate saint was flogged by authorities (the Romans) before they were convinced to turn Christian. Paphos's medieval fort in the harbour is also worth a visit.

Grapes, Gods and that loving feeling

Once you get outside of Paphos, you can go in any direction and hit cultural gold. Head on up into the Western Troodos Mountains to peek at little villages quietly going about business as usual, circa the 15th century (alright, a complete exaggeration, but it's easy to be carried away by the romance around here). To the north is a little village by the name of Kathikas ? it's a great destination if you like to indulge amongst the vineyards. To the east of Kathikas is an even tinier wine-growing village ? Arodes ? with a population numbering in the tens. Nearby gorges provide dramatic scenery should you wish for inspiration or a Kodak moment.

Close by Arodes is the Akamas Peninsula, where you'll find the most romantic sounding spot in the entire universe ? the Baths of Aphrodite. And worthy of such a name it is, being bloody beautiful. And if, after your own holy soak, you make your little legs walk a couple of kilometres, you'll find yourself at the Fontana Amorosa or "the Fountains of Luuurve". Tis a sexy spot indeed.

Closer to home, or Paphos, you've got the brilliant Ayios Neophytos Monastery ? carved out of the mountain by a hermit. Bless those hermits, they really do have a lot of spare time. The monastery houses some of the best Byzantine frescoes around.

And just because Aphrodite was a popular girl around here, you've got the ruins of the famous Temple of Aphrodite about 14 kilometres east of Paphos. It once was a popular pilgrimage for believers, back when people were still convinced the Gods could very well turn up any second in the form of a bull, or a heavy old person.

This is really only the start, and whether you've got a few days, or a few weeks, Paphos and the surrounding areas will keep you knee-deep in Gods, mosaics, tavernas, ruins, vineyards, beaches, mountains and donkeys. Keep an ear out for Pan's pipes.

Alyssa Betts
http://www.vroomvroomvroom.co.uk/

Clear Mind, Empty Head: A Leak In Mind Like Water

There's a lot of talk in meditation circles about emptying the mind.

This is a roadblock for many people. Why? Because it's counterintuitive. After all, we spend most of our waking hours filling up our minds.

We go to school, we get trained, we read, we learn, we absorb information from all around us. Then someone comes along and tells us that the best thing we can do is EMPTY our mind? Why would we want to do that?

Empty isn't a good thing in most cases. Empty wallet? Empty gas tank? Empty bank account? Empty restaurant? These aren't conditions we find satisfying. Mention your feelings of "emptiness" to your doctor and you may end up with a prescription for Prozac.

Would you take it as a compliment if someone referred to you as "empty-headed"? Not likely.

We seek fullness in our bellies, our hearts and our lives. Going for empty goes against the grain.

We've already got plenty of reasons to avoid meditation. It seems difficult, uncomfortable, or just plain boring to a lot of newcomers. We don't need any semantic obstacles. Hearing that little voice saying, "Your mind is not empty--you're lousy at this!" only adds to the clutter that muddies our spirit, fogs our intention, and paralyzes our progress.

We must relinquish this expectation that we are supposed to attain this state of emptiness--complete non-thinking--in order to have a good meditation session. Staying attached to this ideal is likely to provide just one more nudge in the never-mind direction.

David Allen is a productivity trainer and consultant who is the author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. He offers valuable tips for dealing with the clutter that crowds our minds so that we can free up space for greater creativity.

Like Jim Ballard in his book called Mind Like Water: Keeping Your Balance In A Chaotic World, Allen uses the martial arts term to describe the process of preparing our mind for appropriate responses to demands.

Having a "mind like water" refers to one's ability to react and reflect in a balanced way. If you drop a stone in a still pond, the ripples will appear in a direct, appropriate response to the force and mass of that stone. Nothing more, nothing less. As the ripples dissipate, the pond returns to stillness.

That's a great way to look at how our minds respond when we feel relaxed and stress-free. We don't snap at our kids or get cranky with our co-workers. We get our tasks completed in a way that is efficient and without unnecessary action, emotion, or distraction. We have a point to which we return continually as we go through our day. There is no overreaction or failure to respond.

Still. Ripple. Still.

The only leak in this "mind like water" discussion is that Allen sticks with the tried-and-true "empty mind" terminology. That's too bad. It would have been a perfect opportunity to switch to clear!

When the "empty mind" concept becomes a barrier, slip into "clear mind" instead. After all, a pond is not empty. It is clear. Plenty of water. Rocks and mud at the bottom. Fish swimming here and there. If the water is clear, you can see it all and the finest details become magnified as they pop into view. The important aspect is our ability to see whatever we need to see.

What happens when you toss a stone into an empty pond? Not much. It makes a thud on the muddy bottom. Sure, you can see it. But what's the point?

Your mind will continue to have thoughts. Don't expect to avoid them. Drop the idea that you can remain "thoughtless" and embrace the value of seeing those thoughts clearly.

You've spent years filling your head. Mindfulness gives you the clarity to see what's going on in there without having to dump the contents first. By releasing the notion of emptiness, you can step into the power of clarity.

Empty mind? Clear mind? Choose the image that works for you.

I'll cast my vote for clear.

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com

Before You Sell Do The Math

This is an important and potentially profitable piece of advice. It goes like this - before you ever attempt to sell any products and services - do the math.

Doing the math means you have to know certain numbers. These numbers include:

? The sell price.
? The cost of the product.
? Shipping and transportation costs.
? The available margin percent.
? The available margin dollars.
? The formula for calculating standard gross profit.

Avoid discounts like 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% etc. You should avoid discounting at all - but that's another topic. If you must put a price concession on the table - do it with dollars. For example, if you're selling a product that has a list price of $795:

Most salespeople would say - "If you order today I'll give you a 15% discount."

Another option is to say - "If you order today you'll save $103."

To the average person (not the person with the spreadsheet mentality) $103 sounds better than 15%. Don't assume everyone will rush to get his calculator to do the math.

Not only does $103 sound better to your customer, it's also better for you. You end up offering a 12.9% discount instead of giving away an even 15%.

If you, your product, and your company are good - you don't have to have the BEST PRICE to win every order. This strategy will keep you close to the competition and also make every transaction more profitable for you and your company.

"Profitability is the applause of a happy customer."

Never leave home without a calculator - never!

Jim Meisenheimer is the creator of No-Brainer Sales Training. His sales techniques and selling skills focus on practical ideas that get immediate results. You can discover all his secrets by contacting him at (800) 266-1268 or by visiting his website: http://www.meisenheimer.com

Same Old, Same Old PR Still Tops

Like human nature over time, the power of good public relations remains the same.

Whether you are a manager working for a business, a non-profit or an association, at some point, you will want, or need to create outside stakeholder behavior change ? the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives.

Fortunately, you can get that job done by doing something positive about the behaviors of those external audiences that MOST affect your organization. And do so by persuading those important outside folks to your way of thinking, and moving them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed.

Fact is, your public relations push must involve more than special events, brochures and news releases if you really want to get your money's worth.

The fundamental premise of public relations says as much when it highlights the reality that people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished.

That premise, that blueprint, really promises results. >From new proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; rebounds in showroom visits, membership applications on the rise; community service and sponsorship opportunities, to capital givers or specifying sources looking your way; enhanced activist group relations, and expanded feedback channels; not to mention new thoughtleader and special event contacts.

Even, conceivably, results like stronger relationships with the educational, labor, financial and healthcare communities; prospects starting to work with you; customers making repeat purchases, and improved relations with government agencies and legislative bodies.

That's a lot of results from even a high-impact blueprint.

It almost goes without saying that your PR crew ? agency or staff ? must be committed to you as the senior project manager, to the PR blueprint and its implementation, starting with target audience perception monitoring.

Be wary of PR people who describe themselves as "totally on board the program." That doesn't mean they've bought into the whole effort. Convince yourself that your team members honestly believe why it's SO important to know how your most important outside audiences perceive your operations, products or services. Assure yourself that they buy the reality that perceptions almost always lead to behaviors that can help or hurt your unit.

Then, take time to go over the PR blueprint in detail with your PR team, especially the plan for monitoring and gathering perceptions by questioning members of your most important outside audiences. Questions like these: how much do you know about our organization? How much do you know about our services or products and employees? Have you had prior contact with us and were you pleased with the interchange? Have you experienced problems with our people or procedures?

It would be ideal, of course, to use professional survey counsel to handle the perception monitoring phases of your program, if the budget is available. But keep in mind that your PR people are also in the perception and behavior business and can pursue the same objective: identify untruths, false assumptions, unfounded rumors, inaccuracies, misconceptions and any other negative perception that might translate into hurtful behaviors.

At this juncture, you require a public relations goal to aim for as you address the bumps that showed up during your key audience perception monitoring. And that goal could be to straighten out that dangerous misconception, or correct that gross inaccuracy, or stop that potentially fatal rumor cold.

But don't try it without a strategy to show you how to get there. There are only three strategic options available to you when it comes to handling a perception or opinion challenge. Change existing perception, create perception where there may be none, or reinforce it. The wrong strategy pick will taste like hollandaise sauce on your cornflakes, so be certain the new strategy fits well with your new public relations goal. You certainly don't want to select "change" when the facts dictate a "reinforce" strategy.

The truth is that persuading an audience to your way of thinking is plain, hard work. Which is why your PR team must create just the right, corrective language. Words that are not only compelling, persuasive and believable, but clear and factual. Only in this way will you be able to correct a perception by shifting opinion towards your point of view, leading to the behaviors you are want.

Get the input of your communications specialists as they review your message for impact and persuasiveness. Then, sharpen it one more time, and select the communications tactics most likely to carry your words to the attention of your target audience. You can pick from dozens that are available. From speeches, facility tours, emails and brochures to consumer briefings, media interviews, newsletters, personal meetings and many others. But be sure that the tactics you pick are known to reach folks just like your audience members.

Remember the old saw about the credibility of a message depending on its delivery method. You might consider unveiling it in presentations before smaller gatherings rather than using higher-profile tactics such as news releases. When the moment for doing a progress report arrives, it will sound the alert for you and your PR team to get back out in the field and start work on a second perception monitoring session with members of your external audience. You'll want to use many of the same questions used in the first benchmark session. Only this time, you'll be watching very carefully for signs that the bad news perception is being altered in your direction.

And for those among us who are just plain impatient, you can always move things along at a faster clip with more communications tactics and increased frequencies.

The reason the same old, same old PR is still tops is that it continues to focus sharply on those key external audiences that most affect your organization, and you as a manager. And it does something positive about them by persuading those key folks to your way of thinking, and moving them to take actions that help you achieve your managerial objectives.

end

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net. Word count is 1155 including guidelines and resource box.

Robert A. Kelly ? 2004.

About The Author

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks to business, non-profit and association managers about using the fundamental premise of public relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communi- cations, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Columbia University, major in public relations.

mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net

Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

8 Tips To Save On Child Care Costs

Child care costs are are one of the most expensive costs associated with going back to work. Finding ways to cut down on child care costs without sacrificing quality child care is a top priority for all working parents. Here are a few ideas that can help trim your child care costs without sacrificing child care quality:

See if your employer has a child care flexible spending account. This is a special account that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw87.html - created that allows you to set aside money for child care expenses with pre-tax dollars. You ask your employer to take out a certain amount of money each month from your paycheck and you can use this money tax free for child care related expenses.

Inquire if your company has partnerships or offers discounts for certain child care provider services. some larger companies will sometimes negotiate discount plans with local child care providers to help offset child care costs.

See if your public school district offers a half day pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds. These programs are usually free and by signing-up your child, it will reduce your child care needs to a half day from a full day.

Check to see if your employer would be open to flex hours, job sharing or telecommuting. If so, you may be able to use these to juggle your schedule and cut your child care costs.

If both you and your spouse work, see if it's possible to arrange your work schedules so they overlap as little as possible. This will allow you to reduce the number of hours your child has to spend at child care.

See if there is a relative or good friend that can help with child care.

Consider hiring a nanny and sharing the cost of child care with a few good friends. This will allow you to pay less individually for child care costs and the nanny will make more money overall.

For a list of child care resource and referral agencies, you can visit the Child Care Aware website - http://www.childcareaware.org - which is a nonprofit organization that helps parents find quality child care in their communities.

Copyright Jeffrey Strain. He is owner of http://www.savingadvice.com - a website dedicated to saving you money.

Meditation Is A Dinner Party

Try Not To Force Things Too Much

Often, when meditating, we try too hard to force a certain state of mind that we think we should have. We try hard to suppress thoughts, for example. This is just another thought, of course, and another obstacle to the peaceful state we are hoping for.

So how do you make things happen that can't be forced? The question itself shows the need for another perspective. Some things can't be forced to happen, and all struggles to do so only take you farther away. There are times when all you can do is prepare and wait.

The Dinner Invitation

Imagine a wonderful evening with new friends. You prepared dinner, bought a good bottle of wine, and cleaned the house. Now the guests are here, the conversation is great, and you are happy. Can you make this happen? Yes and no.

You can prepare in every way to make it a pleasant event, but in the end, the guests can decline your invitation, or not arrive, or show up late, right? You can't force them to come, or if you try, you'll ruin the atmosphere or even the friendship.

That is how meditation is, too. You do what is necessary to prepare for a good experience, but in the end, you can't force it. Work and discipline help, just like cleaning up and chilling the wine are necessary to prepare for a good dinner party, but there is no forcing the result. When the experience is a good one, enjoy it, but if it doesn't happen, just prepare again.

So when you want to invite inspiration into your meditation, or into your life, don't try to push the guest through the door. When you are tempted to do so, turn back to your preparations, and concentrate on that. Just send out the invitations, prepare yourself, and relax.

Steve Gillman has meditated and studied meditation for over twenty years. You can visit his website, and subscribe to The Meditation Newsletter at: http://www.TheMeditationSite.com/newsletter.html

Why Choose a Secured Loan?

Are you wondering why choose a secured loan? A secured loan is a loan which is provided to you from a bank or building society. Secured loans require you to be able to put an asset up to secure the loan, this is typically your home.

Because a secured loan is secured on property, most lenders will approve your loan even if you have a history of adverse credit such as county court judgements, defaults and arrears. This make secured loans very attractive to people who would otherwise not qualify for a loan from their local bank.

You can borrow any amount from ?5,000 to ?100,000 and repay it over any period from 5 to 25 years. You simply select a monthly payment that fits in your current circumstances. Generally, secured loans tend to be cheaper than unsecured loans and other forms of borrowing.

Secured loans have several advantages. A secured loan is a quick and convenient way to plug a short term financial need, for example, to go on holiday or extend or improve your home. In essence, a secured loan enables homeowners to unlock some extra cash by using their greatest asset - their home.

Secured loans are quick to arrange as property is always a good bet for the lender. Consequently, the terms are normally superior, with larger loan amounts, longer repayment periods and better interest rates than those you would obtain for an unsecured loan.

For people with little or poor credit history, a secured loan is probably one of the easiest ways to access credit.

A secured loan is a loan where you pledge your home against the amount of money borrowed. In the event that you default on the loan, the lender can sell your home to recoup the loss. The danger with a secured loan is if you are unable to keep up the repayments on your loan your home could be in danger.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Today is Yesterdays Tomorrow

The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it finally arrives, it is called today. Today is yesterday's tomorrow. The question is what did we do with its opportunity? All too often we will waste tomorrow as we wasted yesterday, and as we are wasting today. All that could have been accomplished can easily elude us, despite our intentions, until we inevitably discover that the things that might have been have slipped from our embrace a single, unused day at a time.

Each of us must pause frequently to remind ourselves that the clock is ticking. The same clock that began to tick from the moment we drew our first breath will also someday cease.

Time is the great equalizer of all mankind. It has taken away the best and the worst of us without regard for either. Time offers opportunity but demands a sense of urgency.

When the game of life is finally over, there is no second chance to correct our errors. The clock that is ticking away the moments of our lives does not care about winners and losers. It does not care about who succeeds or who fails. It does not care about excuses, fairness or equality. The only essential issue is how we played the game.

Regardless of a person's current age, there is a sense of urgency that should drive them into action now - this very moment. We should be constantly aware of the value of each and every moment of our lives - moments that seem so insignificant that their loss often goes unnoticed.

We still have all the time we need. We still have lots of chances - lots of opportunities - lots of years to show what we can do. For most of us, there will be a tomorrow, a next week, a next month, and a next year. But unless we develop a sense of urgency, those brief windows of time will be sadly wasted, as were the weeks and months and years before them. There isn't an endless supply!

So as you think of your dreams and goals of your future tomorrow, begin today to take those very important first steps to making them all come to life.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine. Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine, go to http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com

Your Fashion Style is Important!

Fashion style is important. You clothes make your fashion statement, and how you're perceived. Stand straight and carry yourself with grace. You will radiate self confidence.

Here are some fashion tips and advice to look and feel good. Don't forget your jewelry accessories are like the icing on the cake. They are the finishing touch. Dress to Impress and Make Your Fashion Statement!

Fashion Tips

Make sure your wardrobe has plenty of neutrals on hand - they are perfect for mixing and matching. They can be dressed up or down with the right jewelry additions.

Not a one of us woman has the perfect figure. We all have flaws. Accept your flaws and work with them

Know your body and what looks good. You are logically attracted to clothes, styles and colors that flatter your figure. Experiment a bit, and try something a bit off your normal habits

Tailored outfits are flattering to most all figures

Buy styles that flatter your figure and don't forget that finishing touch with your jewelry

To make a short neck look longer wear a sccop neck or open collar shirt, complete the look with a long necklace

Large breasted women and women with wide hips can optain balance by using shoulder pads

Make sure your panty hose fits properly

Don't bare all - leave something for the imagination. Entice with your a glittery necklace or choker, and don't forget the earrings

Leather stretches so if your buying a leather skirt or pants make sure they are snug when you purchase them. There are also some fabulous faux leather products on the market that can give you great wear for a season or two without having to worry if they'll still fit next year

Dress up your look with glittery jewelry, accent a line with a necklace. Don't forget your earrings and bracelets. They add the finishing touch to your look. You can completely change your look just by changing your jewelry. Dress it up or down!

If you find an outfit in a magazine but its too pricey for your budget don't fret. There are terrific department stores and online sites that sell very similar for much less. Your jewelry is the same. That fabulous designer parure that costs way more than you can afford - your certain to find a similar in an online store for much less. Clip the picture and keep it with you so you can match

Set your budget and stick to it. Purchase plenty of mix and match pieces to get the most for your money. And don't forget to complete your look with jewelry. Mix and match your jewelry pieces also.

Make your fashion statement! You are a unique individual with your own look. Portray your self confidence and turn those heads!

? Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

About the author: Sher has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

Our World Of Credit Cards! Which One Is Right For You

There are not many of us who do not have a credit card these days. But, not all of us are as wise in the area of understanding how they work and how they make money. There are many types available to the young and old. Student credit cards even begin to get teenagers into the world of credit cards. Secured credit cards, cards that usually can't be written off, are even misleading in their name. So, what does that discover credit card in your wallet actually do for you?

Even young adults are being lured into the world of credit cards. Student credit cards are widely available. Some link the parent to the card, others are geared towards college students who most of the time don't even have jobs to pay for them. They seem like a great way to pay for college expenses, but the fees can be outrageous.

A big trap is secured credit cards. While there are always options out there that are legit, there are many others that are not. Often times, people with little or no credit or even bad credit can get a secured credit card. These are credit cards that are linked to savings accounts which require a minimum balance to be kept. While this seems easy enough, if you default on it, they can claim their money through that savings account. Another aspect of these types of credit cards are the fees associated with them. They often require set up fees, sometimes in the hundreds of dollars. They may have monthly and yearly fees as well. They may seem like a great way to establish or reestablish credit, but you will need to read the fine print for the secured credit card.

The goal of any credit card company is to make money. They do this by charging you an interest rate. The rate varies greatly from one company to the next depending on your credit status and credit history. But, your goal is to find the low interest credit cards. Many times, if you are in good standing with a credit card company, you can call them and request that they consider you for an interest rate cut.

Next to paying off your entire credit card bill each month, finding the lowest rates is often very important in order to save money. With the Internet as a tool, you can search for different types of credit cards and learn which companies offer the lowest rates. Many companies are equipped to take and accept credit card applications online within minutes. But, be wise and read the fine print to avoid falling into traps and outrageous fees.

About The Author

Mike Yeager, Publisher

http://www.a1-loans-4u.com/

mjy610@hotmail.com

Naming Names... How to Name your Business

Sometimes the best inspiration comes from hearing about the deconstruction of other company's names. For you, I am happy to share how I came up with "Slice A Day :: your slice on marketing"...

First the purpose and vision of my site was to have people volunteer some marketing stories...true case studies of business owners and how they promote business.

Then gathered the supplies for brainstorming. I had a sheet of paper, pencil and a dictionary/thesaurus.

Let the brainstorming begin!

I love really clever, catchy and visual names. It comes from having a web design and creative background. The AIGA.org hosts a local networking event called "Brew" with the tagline "where ideas perculate". I loved it! And to mimic it's genius, here is where that spark of inspiration took me.

::: Start List :::

? "grill - where ideas sizzle"

? "water cooler"
...sidenote: i thought that's where people really talk openly

? "feedbag - serving up ideas"

? "your market draw"
...sidenote: i don't know how i got here

? "evoke"
...sidenote: now i'm just writing words, synonyms

? "persuade"
...sidenote: this is where the dictionary & thesaurus come in

? "convince"

? "share"

... a few minutes pass by
... a few more minutes pass by

? "Slice-A-Day.com"
...sidenote: visual images of pie and cake
...sidenote: slice is a portion of a bigger piece...hmm

? "Share Your Slice On Marketing"
...sidenote: tagline that explains and supports vision

::: End Brainstorming List :::

I like "slice" because you just get quick and small chunks to read... just enough to evoke a thought, to make you think, or to leave you wanting more.

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Maya Sunpongco
Slice-A-Day.com
your slice on marketing

Online vs. Offline Advertising

Let's face it. Email marketing and publishing have became very popular tool for promoting your business, especially in the USA. Many people use email in everyday communication. Email is fast and cheap. What would you like more? Many people subscribe to ezines about Internet, Jokes, Tips, Recipes, Horoscopes... Majority of these emails are free and very quality.

Advertising and marketing online and offline has at least one thing in common - you have to know your target audience. Market segmentation is very important because you don't want to loose your money sending your ads to someone who has no interest in it. Email advertising and online advertising in general is more effective because there are many state-of-the-art techniques which enable that you track every advertising.

Some good services for tracking are:

Web Site Tracking

Stat Counter http://www.statcounter.com
Web Trends http://www.webtrends.com

Email Tracking

Group Metrics http://www.group-metrics.com

In online advertising you can get information where your visitors are coming from, what do they read on your web site, how much is your email newsletter open-ratio, how much is click/thru ratio for every link in your newsletter, also you can get demographic reports about your visitors/subscribers and many other things. Because of that, in online presence you have great options for 1-1 marketing. You can adjust your web site design and content according to your visitor needs.

If you advertise on TV or magazines you can't know exactly how many people actually saw your ad. There are some predictions but not that precise, of course.

One of the main advantages of offline advertising over online is that people still believe more in what they see on TV than on the Internet.

Online promotion has one very big advantage over offline promotion and that is interactivity. In online promotion you can have interactive ads that behave differently based on visitor's behavior. Popular thing in online advertising is making ads like mini home pages. Yahoo! use that technique for advertising their services.

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Dejan Bizinger is a Contributing Editor for Infacta. Infacta is email messaging services company providing powerful, yet easy-to-use award-winning Group Mail, software for sending highly-personalized email messages and Group Metrics, software for email tracking. For more information visit: http://www.infacta.com

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