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Marketing online and offline couldn’t be more complex and competitive than it is today. Markets have fragmented and advertising mediums have splintered into hundreds of specialized niches, all requiring specialized expertise in order to achieve respectable results. Marketing channels too, are splintered and controlled by conglomerates. It’s a realm that is often beyond the average marketers view let alone their ability to control it.

Promotional marketing is generally seen as the tail end of the campaign, however if a companies overall marketing activities don’t support its objectives and timing, the results are often poor, and the promotions manager gets to take the blame for the failure.

Choosing a good marketing company to integrate these complicated promotional channels is a task in itself since many will promise exceptional marketing campaign results yet few will deliver what you expect. When they fail, will you know where the problem was or will you have to chalk it up to experience and start all over again?

Why is it that many marketing firm’s promotional programs and implementation fail? Primarily because they don’t understand this fragmentation of media. Integrated marketing isn’t just a buzzword. Multi-channel marketing tactics need to be developed and coordinated by a campaign manager and carried out as a systematic program. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of skilled promotional marketing experts and a limited number of marketing companies that have a national network of marketing channel partners and contacts. Integrated marketing can’t be done well by small marketing companies that arrange deals with other independents. Large marketing companies have the resources, and the network of established channel partners that ensure your products are promoted from distribution to point of sale.

Marketing Promotion

Since marketing and advertising channels have become so fragmented, it is difficult for an advertiser to reach and affect a target consumer. Advertisers can no longer take access to consumers for granted and it takes a concerted effort to reach a consumer a number of different ways. Promotional marketing campaigns have to consider multiple mediums including the Internet to achieve optimal promotional and sales results. When they work together, they can register with the consumer audience, and ensure that your products are distributed to where they need to be at the right time.

We hear a lot about Internet marketing and its incredible reach, and it is excellent for communications and setting up brand awareness and purchase desire. However, for consumer goods companies, few promotional channels surpass retail store promotion. The retail store location is where the sale is made, and when your promotional program is focused to work well here, you’re likely to see things go well. A sale can be lost at the point of sale, much to the consternation of firms with weak connections and retail sales training programs. They’re unable to respond to sales rep issues and the demands of consumers, and when the consumer loses confidence or interest, they won’t commit to buying the product.

Sales transactions are complex and premiums and incentives are a key part of whether your product will make it to the store shelves and receive the right sales support. Once your products leave the warehouse, they’re on their own, unless a professional promotional marketing company is supporting them at the retail level.

Strong Integrated Channels

Marketing channels are complicated too, and if the connections in your network aren’t strong throughout, your sales can come to shuddering halt. Don’t think marketing channel members don’t know about your distribution vulnerabilities too. They know you’re an independent and they have their primary loyalties to bigger manufacturers and distributors. Your products may get secondary status and receive no sales support.

So what happens during fragmented promotional campaigns? Many marketing promotion campaigns are marred by poor point of sale signage, supplier communication blocks, unreliable reporting, warehouse fulfillment problems, poor sales support, poor sales training, along with high costs and outdated technology. A marketing promotion can fail many different ways and you need to understand why. When you’re spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on campaign development and distribution activities, and have committed to a particular marketing company, your company’s future is on the line.

What you need is a reliable marketing company that possesses the warehousing and database systems, fulfillment practices, and sales support network to ease distribution and communication problems.

If you’re still managing your marketing promotion campaigns in-house, you should consider outsourcing to a promotional advertising and marketing firm that offers a complete variety of support service. From campaign planning to post-sales customer support, these companies can take a burden off your hands and actually give you an edge in the retail promotions space.

Big promotional marketing companies have developed capabilities in producing creative and effective POS marketing materials, print advertising pieces, packaging, warehouse automation, and retail distribution. They can help you manage large scale orders on demanding deadlines because their state of the art electronic systems are set up to do this. They provide solutions for billing/invoicing, customized reporting, and warehouse distribution of your marketing collateral. From EDI transactions to Web-based reporting tools, they have a command of the marketing fulfillment process and can give you an excellent awareness of your marketing campaign performance. Just working with these companies once can make you a better marketing manager.

So give yourself a break and bring in the full service promotional consultants and then start seeing your marketing campaigns hit the mark. As part of a complete integrated, promotional marketing campaign, these service companies will save money, time, and reduce communication problems, and thus save your future marketing channel relationships.

The top promotional marketing firm in the US is without a doubt, Archway Marketing Services. This company has been serving marketers across the US for decades. Archway takes control of your complete promotional marketing campaign from start to finish. They provide excellent cost efficiencies in warehouse, inventory management and shipping. Their integrated ERP platform enables real-time supply management, reporting and customer care.

If you could double the ROI on your retail promotional marketing campaign, wouldn’t it make sense to bring in a full service promotional marketing company?

Archway Marketing Services delivers exceptional promotional marketing solutions. This top rated promotional marketing company offers a wide range of promotional marketing services including the execution of your marketing campaign fulfillment. They plan and create powerful, consumer-focused solutions, which include premiums & incentives, sweepstakes, games, contests, merchandising systems, point of sale promotions, and real time performance information on the success of your promotional campaigns.

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Since we have become such a celebrity driven culture, I thought it might be amusing to imagine what it might be like to be a celebrity. Consider this like taking a vacation from your everyday life. This is not to advocate that you become a celebrity or pursue a lifestyle of glamour and fame, when simplifying your life may lead to more satisfying long term benefits in difficult economic times. Rather it is to enjoy thinking about being a celebrity, much as you might add an occasional celebration or fantasy experience into your life.

It is like putting on a costume or mask so you become someone else on Halloween. Well, this is an experience of imagining yourself as any celebrity you want to be. To do so, you create or imagine events and activities to experience the celebrity lifestyle by yourself or with some friends and associates. Here are some tips to get you started, though written in a somewhat tongue in cheek style, which you can take seriously or not. Just have fun with the idea of being a celebrity for a day.

Creating Your Name and Persona

First, create a name or persona for yourself. Imagine you could be anyone – a movie star, a TV star, a rock star. And in reality, today the transformation from everyday citizen to well-known celebrity isn’t so far away. Just think of how Joe the Plumber got known by asking Obama a few pointed questions at a campaign stop. Consider how an ordinary mother – well, not so ordinary – got known as Octomom by having eight babies. Recall how an eccentric scientist got his fame by sending up a silver helium balloon that looked like a UFO and claiming his son was missing and might be on it. It was a big publicity stunt that backfired – but it got him in the news.

So take a moment to think of who you’d like to be – and think big, like the big names in the news do. See yourself as larger than life, and your name is in lights. And don’t try to think or analyze too hard. Just go with whatever first pops into your mind. Then, whoever that person is, imagine yourself on your way to becoming very famous.

On Your Way to the Top

Next, think about what you might do to get to the top. Some celebrities break through because they are part of a famous family, like Kate Hudson, the daughter of Goldie Hawn. Another is Paris Hilton, the daughter of the Hiltons hotel clan. Though she had help from a notorious sex video of herself with her then boyfriend, having the famous name certainly helped. It wasn’t just a sex tape by anyone.

But most celebrities do something that gets themselves in the news, if they aren’t already famous by having a starring part in the movies or on TV. For example, Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger was just another pilot from Danville California, until he landed a US Air plane in the Hudson River in January 2009, after it encountered a flock of geese – and he was hailed as a hero for saving all 155 people aboard.

So now imagine your own story of what you did that made you famous. It could be something you really have done, or it could be something you’d like to do in reality. Or think of some wild, crazy, and outrageous thing to do to make yourself stand out and make the news.

Next, once you do whatever it is to stand out, you need the press to make you famous. So imagine the press descending and asking you questions about what you have done. They’re yelling and screaming, pushing and shoving, because they want to get near to you and talk to you. For you are the center of this excitement. You see mikes being pushed at you, flashing cameras going off, and it’s very exciting that everyone wants to talk to you.

Next imagine what they are asking and what you might say. Just a line or two. That’s all they want. About a 10-15 second sound clip they can use on the evening news. So think of something short and witty to say.

Then, as a celebrity, the next stop is usually the TV talk show circuit. So imagine you are doing that. See yourself being a guest on all the big shows – you’re on Oprah and everyone in the audience is clapping and cheering. Then, you’re on Good Morning America, and the cameramen are adjusting the mikes. Next stop – the View with Barbara Walters, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, and Whoopie Goldberg, and they’re oohing and aahing over all you have done. After that, you’re face to face with Larry King, who smiles as he tugs on his suspenders and asks you to tell him about you.

So go on, tell everyone what you have done, what you like, how you’re surprised by your sudden fame, and how much you’re enjoying the experience. The idea is to be humble, while you strut your stuff and celebrate you.

Who You Need Around You

Next, once you’re a celebrity, the deals start pouring in, so see yourself getting buckets of mail at your door from fans and deal makers. Then your phone starts ringing off the hook, with dozens of offers to be on this show, appear at that celebration, endorse this product, attend that gala opening. What do you do?

Of course, you need a lawyer to help you sort through this all, so imagine you are meeting with a series of lawyers. Each one proclaims all the great things he or she is going to do for you or has done for someone else. So now you have to decide which lawyer to choose for better or worse.

And, naturally, the next thing you need is a manager or agent, or maybe both to help you decide what offers to take and for how much. And maybe your lawyer can help you decide what manager, agent, or both will help your celebrity career the most. So imagine you are making your choice, and then your manager, agent, or both are giving you some ideas on what to do next. For example, he or she can arrange some endorsements. Maybe you might appear in a film or in a walk-on part on TV. You can pick out your favorite show and see yourself making a guest appearance on that.

Then, since you’re getting so many offers but still want more, the next logical person you need on your team is a publicist. So see yourself with a parade of publicists coming to your door, telling you how they are going to publicize you. In fact, they, along with your agent, manager, and lawyer may have some ideas about branding, whereby you create a whole package around your name. Your brand will include a line of CDs, maybe clothing or make-up, a doll with your image, a video workshop, even a Happy Meal for kids featuring your smiling face.

And of course, there will be a book. You don’t even have to write it yourself. Just pick a ghostwriter, give him or her the gist of what you want to say, plus a little information about you, and voila. In a few weeks you’ll have your book with your name on it. And if you have time, you might even read it – or let your agent, manager, or publicist do that, so they can tell you if they like the book, and if it sounds like you. Then, besides promoting whatever you did to get famous, your publicist will promoting your book and the rest of your celebrity product line.

Now, since you’re making so much money from your branding campaign, plus your endorsements and book, you need a financial planner and stock broker to help you properly manage all your money. So you meet with them, and they give you all kinds of advice. Invest in this. Invest in that. Don’t buy bonds; stick to stocks. Try a hedge fund. Or how about a mutual fund? Plus now you qualify for a private banker, who will help to manage your funds at their bank.

Your New Lifestyle

This might be a good time to imagine buying a luxury home, too. After all, you have a celebrity image to maintain, so go look with a real estate broker who handles high-priced properties – because now it’s only the best for you. So you go looking for big mansions on a hill or behind gated walls with dozens of acres around them. Your new home will have a huge living room, big patio deck, and an expansive kitchen for all your entertaining. Maybe you’ll even have your own screening room for your private film showings.

And what’s a new luxury house without your first party? So you might imagine that all your celebrity friends are arriving for a big shindig at your house. And since you’re now famous and rich, you’ll see lots of A-list celebrities there – Brad Pitt, Angela Jolie, Donald Trump, Jay Leno, David Letterman – no scratch David Letterman. You can’t have anyone with a touch of scandal, since that could rub off on you. But the best and the brightest names are there. So just enjoy your own celebrity party – and now you have the budget, so you can afford it.

Then the invitations to go to celebrity parties start pouring in, too. You have your pick of the best of the best to attend, or maybe the gala where you’ll make the biggest splash. So go ahead and choose a party to attend for a big film opening or a charity bash, because as a celebrity, it’s good to choose a cause to show you’re not all about money, fame, and glamour, but you have a heart of gold to help others, too.

But wait! Before you go, you have to get the finest fashions. You have to look the part of a celebrity, too. So you head off to Nordstrom’s or an expensive fashionable boutique with a designer name, like Versace, Armani, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, or Calvin Klein. After all, you need to dress to impress now, and the cost no longer means anything to you. So you can easily spend a few thousand wherever you go, whatever it takes to look like the celebrity that you are.

Now you see yourself going to one of these openings or charity galas, and you’re dressed in your finest finery – an expensive tux if you’re a guy, a beautiful gown if you’re a woman. Then, as you walk down the red carpet, the photographers are snapping pictures, the cameramen are rolling film, and the fans are reaching out with their pictures for you to sign. So, of course, you graciously stop, smile, and sign, as the cameras snap and roll away.

Afterwards, you go to a trendy restaurant, where you can order whatever you want. First, a waiter comes by with the finest wines, and you have a quick taste before you decide to order the one you like best. Then, you enjoy all your favorite dishes, brought to you in elegant silver bowls and platters. And across from you is your partner or family members, since they now feel like celebrities, too, because once you’re a celebrity, whomever you see or know well will become newsworthy, too, just by being with or related to you.

Now savor the experience of being a celebrity. Enjoy it. Imagine that you could really have this celebrity lifestyle if you wanted it. Or do you? Would you really like that celebrity life? Or would you rather be back to being who you are now?

Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D. is the author of over 50 books and a seminar and workshop leader, specializing in work relationships and professional and personal development. Her latest books include PLAYING THE LYING GAME, WANT IT, SEE IT, GET IT!, ENJOY! 101 LITTLE WAYS TO ADD FUN TO YOUR WORK EVERYDAY, and 17 TOP SECRETS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR JOB OR FIND NEW WORK TODAY. She is also a screenplay writer and indy film producer, with several projects under development and in post production. She writes books and script for clients, too.

For more information, her Website for books is at http://www.ginigrahamscott.com, for films at http://www.changemakersproductions.com.

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Car crime is falling and statistics show that car criminals are slowly being outwitted by vehicle owners and the police. Car crime fell by 9 percent between 2002/3 and 2003/4 according to police recorded crime statistics, proving that if owners continue to make small changes in their behaviour they will generate a dramatic decline in the number of car insurance claims being made for stolen cars.

Having your car broken into or stolen is a distressing business that leads to emotional upset and financial implications. If your car is stolen you will have the hassle of making a claim on your car insurance policy and you will be seriously inconvenienced until it is replaced. If you have had belongings taken from your car then the chances are you will feel violated, having lost something valuable or irreplaceable. This is a natural response to having someone enter your property or take something that’s yours.

It’s fairly easy to break into a car, windows can be smashed and locks forced. Fortunately however measures can be taken to stop the thieves in their tracks. If every driver follows the thirteen point plan below then insurance premiums might fall and the honest motorist can keep their property to themselves. Keep your no claims bonus and even reduce your car insurance premiums by doing the following:

1. Never leave anything on display in your car. If you leave your bag, stereo, CD’s, wallet or mobile phone lying around in your car, then it is going to become a target for thieves

2. Park your car under a street lamp or in well lit open space if possible. Thieves do not want to work under a spotlight and are more likely to go for a car that is parked in a shady spot

3. Better still put your car in the garage every night if you have one and lock it. It is unlikely that car criminals will try and break into your garage to get to your vehicle

4. It sounds obvious but always remember to lock your car. Often car thieves are given an easy ride by people who leave their cars open

5. Try to park your car in a secure attended car park if you are leaving it anywhere public

6. Have a car alarm fitted by a professional. This will deter a thief like nothing else

7. Invest in a steering lock and use it every time you leave your car

8. Have an immobiliser fitted which prevents the car from starting. This will make sure that even if the thief gains access to your car he/she won’t be able to drive it away

9. Have a tracker fitted so that your car can be traced if it is taken

10. Have your car registration or vehicle identification number etched onto the windows, both windscreens and the headlights. This would deter a thief planning to disguise the identity of your car by changing its appearance

11. Put security markings on your car equipment. It is recommended that you put your vehicle registration on items such as your stereo

12. Never leave vehicle documents in your car as they could help a thief to sell it on

13. Put the aerial down so as not to give vandals temptation

Car crime is falling and people are taking preventative measures like those listed above, but statistics show that a vehicle is stolen every two minutes in the UK, so chances are you could become a victim of car crime at any time. If you have been unlucky enough to have your car broken into or stolen these are the next steps you should take:

o Firstly, let the police know. You don’t need to call 999, just contact your local police station or the non emergency number. The police will want to know as much detail as possible, such as the make, model and registration of the car, so make sure you know this.

o Notify your car insurance company to discuss your claim if you are making one. Letting your insurers know is very important as the thieves may be involved in a car accident and you could be implicated.

o If the car is found your insurers should pay for any repairs. If it is not found and you are going to claim, you should present your purchase documents, registration form and any service records.

Everyone is at risk from car crime. Even if you have protected yourself thieves can find a way to steal your car and belongings. Make sure you have adequate car insurance so that you can make a claim when you need it most.

To get cheap online car insurance visit http://www.hootcarinsurance.co.uk or call 0808 195 9954.

Editorial notes: Hoot Car Insurance is an online car insurance provider which offers savings on existing premiums and gives the customer the ease of buying online.

By Sophie Evans – http://www.hootcarinsurance.co.uk

Online car insurance provider exclusively for young people.

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Televisions have come a long way since their invention by Philo Taylor Farnsworth in 1928. Today, Liquid Crystal Display sets, known as LCD televisions, are one of the most up to date types of televisions you can purchase. They are competing with other types of televisions, including Projection TV, Light Emitting Diode (LED) televisions, Plasma TV, HDTV, and new Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) television sets.

LCD televisions today are full color televisions sets. They produce images using liquid crystal display technology, which also allows them to be quite a bit thinner and also lighter than the old cathode ray tube sets. The screen displays can be much larger than those allowed by CRT technology. With falling costs of production, the LCD televisions seemed destined to overtake the industry. Other large television formats, such as rear projection television and plasma television are losing market share to the new LCD televisions. There is, however, new competition against LCD televisions by Organic Light Emitting Display televisions and others on the horizon.

LCD televisions work with white light, and filtering that light to display a colored image on the screen. This requires backlighting by cold cathode fluorescent lamps on most sets. Some use LED lighting instead for the white backlighting. LCD technology is inefficient in that most of the light, about 90% of light produced never reaches the viewer as it is used or distracted prior to reaching the viewing screen. They take a lot of power, which adds to the inefficiency and they are similar in power use to the CRT televisions.

This television uses a system of LCD shutters in a grid, which allow different amounts of light to pass by opening and closing the shutters. There is a colored filter with each shutter that removes unnecessary colors, all by the red, green and blues, from the white light passing through the shutter system. These work to form a tiny pixel, and the shade of each color is adjusted by changing the light intensity. There are millions of shutters in a display. Voltage controls turning shutters on or off. The liquid crystals form thin layers that make up thin plates. These plates allow polarization of the light and control of light passing through the shutters. Improvements in technology have addressed some problems with blurring and response times, and the first commercial LCD televisions hit the market in 1988. By 2004, the first 42″ sets were being purchased quickly, and in later years prices dropped. LCD televisions were competitive against plasma sets because they have higher resolutions, and therefore better pictures. By 2007, screen display panel sizes were offered up to 108″ in size.

There was some concern with environment effects of the nitrogen trifluoride used in production of LCD screens, as it is a potent greenhouse gas, but critics point out that actual amounts released to the atmosphere are far less than the perfluorocarbon gas that it replaced. LCD televisions remain popular and comprise a large segment of the commercial television set market.

Matthew Kerridge is an expert within the television industry. If you are looking for cheap lcd televisions please visit http://www.ebuyer.com/

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As one of the oldest children in a family of nine, I know that cooking for a crowd can almost be a full-time job. Once-a-month-cooking has been a lifesaver for our family. In the beginning though, when we first heard of cooking 30 meals in one day, it sounded rather impossible. It was not until we had tried it, though, that we found it is not only possible, but it can even be quite simple and fun!

Blessings

If you are skeptical about taking on what might seem like an overwhelming task to you, let me first share some of the blessings which have resulted for our family from once-a-month-cooking.

o It has saved us many hours of trying to figure out what to have for dinner and answered the infamous question, “What’s for dinner?”

o We have been more readily able to show hospitality to other families when the main dish is already made and in the freezer. (We usually plan ahead for this by doubling or tripling seven to ten of the recipes on cooking day to use as “company meals.”) In like manner, it is much easier to being meals to needy families when you have casseroles in the freezer ready to be pulled out and heated at the drop of a hat. (We also plan for this by preparing many of the dishes in disposable pans.)

o It saves time (You only have to do mountains of dishes one day a month, not every day! You also don’t have to start dinner at 4:30 p.m. or earlier everyday… just pull dinner out to thaw in the morning.) and money (You can usually save quite a bit by buying in bulk).

o We are brought closer together as we spend a special day as a family cooking these meals.

o This is an excellent lesson in Home Economics for your children. Mom always has the oldest girls plan the menu, grocery list, and strategy for the cooking day. She often has us do the grocery shopping, as well.

Planning

Proper planning is essential for a successful cooking day. I usually start planning at least a week in advance. First, pick which day will be your cooking day. Clear your schedule that day. You will want to focus your energies entirely on cooking.

Menu Planning: After you have chosen your cooking day, begin menu planning. Go through your cookbooks and find recipes suitable for freezing. Strive for variety. My list usually includes: one-dish dinners, meatloaf, meatballs, layered casseroles, soups, chili, hamburgers, meatless dishes, and so on. Make sure that you include a number of family favorites, in addition to any new recipes you may be trying out. You do not want to fill your freezer with meals your family won’t find appetizing! When you write down your menu, make sure and write down the cookbook and page number the recipe came from. In addition, mark whether you are planning to double or triple the recipe.

Make Your Grocery List: Using your menu list, write down the quantities of ingredients needed for each recipe. I like to categorize like ingredients on five to seven different lists (meats, vegetables, cheese, pasta, spices, etc.). Take these lists and combine all like ingredients onto a final list. For example, if there are fifteen recipes calling for one pound of ground beef, you will write “15 pounds ground beef” on your final grocery list.

After you have made your final grocery list, make sure and check your cupboards to see what you might already have on hand. You probably have most of the seasonings. But be sure that if you need four teaspoons of garlic powder, you actually have that much in the jar. I have not checked thoroughly before, and it has been real headache.

I have found it most helpful to keep a separate “food preparation list” along with my grocery list which states what is to be done with the items which I need large quantities (Such as, if one the items on your list is “20 pounds of chicken breasts,” note beside that item how many cups need to be cooked and diced, how many chicken breasts need to be cooked and left whole, how many need to be left frozen, etc.).

You will also want to make sure you have plenty of freezer bags and foil on hand. These will be essential on your cooking day.

Cooking Day Strategy: It is wise to develop a basic cooking day strategy of what you will do when. This does not need to be an exhaustive list, but it will save you time and effort if you have planned the basic order of what you will be cooking when. If you are going to be working together as a family on cooking, plan who is responsible for what tasks. Although everyone will need to be flexible, it will definitely save hassle to have most of the schedule worked out ahead of time.

Shopping: The day before you begin cooking, do your grocery shopping. Make sure you do not rush through this. Read your list thoroughly and check to get the best deal.

Cooking

The sooner you can start in the morning, the better. Begin by cooking the meats, grating the cheese, chopping the onions, or whatever bulk preparations your “food preparation list” says you need to do. If you have planned to make soups, you should start these early on, as they usually need to cook for longer.

Cooking the meat is one of the most time-consuming projects and you will probably find you end up browning ground beef and boiling chicken most of the day! As much as is possible, use all of the burners on your stove at the same time.

Keep soapy water in the sink at all times and take turns being on “dish duty.” As soon as a dish is used, wash it. This will save you from having an enormous mess at the end of the day. You might also find it helpful to take a five-minute kitchen cleaning break every hour or so to wipe down the counters and put things away which you are no longer using.

Freezing

What do you do with the completed dishes? Here are some guidelines for freezing:

o We always designate the kitchen table as our “finished recipe” zone. We often have someone who is specifically just working on labeling things and taking them to the freezer from the kitchen table.

o Proper labeling is a key factor in making sure you know what you have in freezer. Make sure you label the containers with the recipe, the cookbook it came from, the page number, how many it serves, and any additional instructions for the dish. Also write out a list with all of the recipes you make and freeze and how many they serve on the outside of your freezer.

o Transfer soup to a big bowl and cool for about an hour. You can either place the soup in plastic freezer bags or plastic containers with lids (32 oz. cottage cheese and yogurt containers work well for this).

o Most other recipes can be transferred to plastic freezer bags. Do not fill the bags very full, as foods expand when frozen. Do not put anything which is still hot into bags. You will likely split the bag at the seams and have a gigantic mess to deal with!

o Use smaller labeled bags for cheese or anything else to be sprinkled on top once the dish is cooked. Make sure you keep these in a very accessible place in the freezer.

o If the recipe is something like lasagna which cannot be frozen in a plastic bag, freeze it in the size of pan the recipe calls for, cover with foil, and label.

I wholeheartedly encourage you to give once-a-month-cooking a try. If you are like us, you will soon wonder how you ever lived without cooking this way! You could also simplify this plan and just cook for two weeks at a time to start.

For further information, ideas, and recipes, I highly recommend you read Once-A-Month-Cooking by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg and Dinner’s in the Freezer by Jill Bond.

Happy Cooking!

Crystal Paine is a 23-year-old homeschool graduate and the owner of Covenant Wedding Source, LLC (an online retail bridal business). She writes articles on a variety of topics and recently authored her first booklet for young women, The Merchant Maiden: Earning an Income Without Compromising Convictions. She lives with her husband in Topeka, KS. They are expecting their fist child in January. For more information on her business and booklet, visit her website: http://www.covenantweddingsource.com.

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Pick up any gaming publication at your local bookstore and you’ll quickly realize that simulation games for sports such as football, golf and hockey are of massive appeal. But there is one genre of sports that has never managed to break into the mainstream, and that is the traditional and beloved game of bowling.

If you search the exhaustive archival database of published games for titles that have the word ‘NFL’ or ‘PGA’, hundreds, if not thousands of game titles are returned. Even some of the most obscure or under-the-radar league associations have game titles. Did you know there is a World Series of Beer Pong association? Even beer pong had a game release for the Wii in 2008, but that game was quickly modified after parents were upset with the references to alcohol.

So what about bowling? The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is the largest bowling organization in the world, but yet only a handful of PBA Bowling games exist. Compare that to the massive successes of NFL games such as Madden, or NHL Hockey by EA Sports and bowling’s market share is diminutive in relation. Put simply, people don’t want to play bowling simulations.

The most notable bowling game success thus far would have to be Wii Bowling, which allows the gamers to physically motion the movements associated with proper bowling ball throwing technique, including ball spin and follow-through. This physical interaction with the game is why it’s a success. Real-life bowling is extremely fun for even the most disinterested athletes, and Wii Bowling is the closest to bringing the true nature of bowling into the home.

Unfortunately for most game manufacturers, however, they do not have access to develop games specifically for the Wii. They must focus their development efforts for larger console audiences, most namely the computer and PlayStation market.

If you’re an avid gamer that is looking for some new games to play that may have flown outside of your radar, hopefully this article will give you the opportunity to try something new and different. Below you will learn what bowling game titles are available to play instantly and why they are the most interesting free bowling games on the market. They are all either freeware or shareware (meaning some have free-trial demos).

Polar Bowler by WildTangent is a fun and graphic-rich free bowling game where you steer a polar bear on ice to crash into pins. Not exactly a true bowling simulation, but this one gets first mention because of its terrific gameplay and intuitive controls. Too many bowling games these days are overly-difficult to pick up in less than 10-minutes. Polar Bowler is simple, straight-forward and we think it is a great download for older adults who feel their a bit less coordinated.

Brunswick Bowling by THQ is a true bowling simulation that looks and feels like real-life bowling. The graphics are very traditional for a bowling game, but the real highlight with this game is the internal bowling physics engine. This game has been developed to produce realistic results based on a number of true-life factors such as lane slickness (lanes are often oiled or are synthetic, not wood), ball weight/size, and ball spin. This is not a bowling arcade game like the aforementioned Wii Bowling, but rather a sophisticated simulation.

Gutterball 3D by TryMedia is another popular and free bowling game to play. This game is a mix between bowling and racing as the purpose is to control a bowling ball in the 3D environment crash into pins at high speed. If you’re looking to bring your local alley experience home, this may not be for you, but don’t overlook it entirely because it’s gotten rave reviews for its addictive gameplay.

PBA Bowling by Bethesda Softworks is a free bowling game that emphasis real-world bowling physics and league play. Much like Brunswick Bowling, PBA Bowling is a true bowling simulation game and offers tournament competition modes and bracket play. Something many bowling game titles fail to incorporate.

These free bowling games can be downloaded at many of the popular gaming websites or direct from the publishers. They give you ample opportunity to test the game and make a decision whether you like it before buying.

Multiplayer online bowling games have been all the rage in the past couple years, as gamers are begging for more human opponents. Before purchasing an online bowling game that offers multiplayer functionality, be sure to read some reviews to learn about any limitations a particular game may have for playing online. Some games require you to turn on/off certain functionality in your router or Windows settings, which can open your system up to exploits. While game publishers have worked out many of these kinks in the past year or two, many games are still plagued with these problems.

Deke R. Kelby is an experienced game developer within the PC game industry. He also shares his passion for bowling and gaming with his wife Kelly at their Bowling Games Squidoo Lens.

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One of the very best things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. And what a pleasure it must be to be able to touch peoples lives and please them with our cooking.

Now gourmet cooking does not really mean complicated dishes presented with extravagant grandeur. The beauty of gourmet recipes is in their simplicity, their freshness and of course presentation. It incorporates creating a subtle balance of flavours and taking your guests on a culinary experience that they will never forget.

I know you may feel that that gourmet meals are beyond your reach, what with all the skill involved in preparing the food and the fast paced lifestyle that we are now resigned to follow. Where will you find the time to learn the art that is gourmet cooking and then to prepare meals that require such careful preparation and precision in the jam packed schedule that you have?

So here’s something that will make you feel a lot better. ITS NOT ALL THAT DIFFICULT!

Daunting as it may seem, gourmet cooking is essentially making use of the best possible ingredients, creating a dish that pleases your senses (even if it is as simple as mashed potatoes) and presenting it with flair. There is a history behind every dish waiting to be explored. Every corner of this world, every culture, every country has something new to contribute to your food adventure. And knowing and exploring this uniqueness of each cuisine, understanding the key ingredients of every dish and just experimenting and trying new recipes is what makes you a gourmet cook. It doesn’t have to be about complicated techniques, expensive ingredients and pretentious plating. Regional specialties cooked slowly with care and attention are gourmet cooking. When most food is fast food, slow food is gourmet food.

You can join a course to learn the basic skills, or refer cook-books that will offer a wide variety of content on techniques, skills and recipes, but in the end just like any other art form, gourmet cooking is instinctive. You just need to widen your horizon in term of your food experience and begin your culinary adventure that will last a lifetime. In the end cooking is about the heart. It’s about love and pleasing people. It’s about your passion for food. And eventually its all about YOU.

For more of Mishi’s recipe picks, cooking tips and food thoughts visit her blog at http://cooking-gourmet.com/

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Knowing only a few basic fly fishing knots can help you limit the number of stories you have about “the one that got away…”. Sometimes a fisherman who is rushing to get their line in the water will tie a knot that is simply not strong enough to hold a larger than expected fish. On the other hand, many take the time to tie their best knot but simply do not know enough to tie it properly. Whether the knot is meant to hold the line to the rod or to attach the fly the strength of the fly fishing knot can make all the difference in how your next fishing tale begins.

The arbor knot is one fo the most commonly used fly fishing knots. It is used to secure the fly line to the arbor of the reel. To tie a strong arbor knot you need to wrap the line around the spool and tie an overhand knot around the line. Then tie a second overhand knot a few inches past the first knot.

Lightly wet the line and pull the second knot tight. Hold the spool in one hand and pull the line with tight with the other. The first knot will prevent the line from skipping through the second knot. The end can be trimmed and the reel can be loaded with line. The wet line will provide lubrication and help form tighter fly fishing knots.

Knots for Flies With Bent Eyes

One of the other fly fishing knots used most often is the turle knot, used to attach flies to the line. Pass the lead end of the line through the eye of the fly and then make at least two wraps around the standing line, passing the leading end through the now formed loop, which forms an overhand knot. Once you pull this snug, you can pass the fly through the large remaining loop, tighten it down and trim the extra line. This type of fly fishing knots allows the fly to move more realistically on the water.

One of the keys to tying successful fly fishing knots is to moisten the line with saliva or lake water before tying the knot. This will lubricate the line making it easier to pull taught. When the line dries it will be stronger than a line that was tied dry.

Be careful when tying a thin line. If you pull the knots too tight the line will break. Before casting any line onto water make sure to check the strength of your fly fishing knots by pulling on the line with at least as much pressure as you expect the line to hold.

Tips For The Fly Fishing Beginner

Some useful tips can help you get started as a fly fishing beginner. Fly fishing is an ancient sport dating back to Rome that has risen in popularity in recent years.

Fly Fishing: The Basics

Fly fishing is the sport of catching fish with hand tied lures, known as flies. These flies are often bits of feathers and fake fur, that are wound with brightly colored line to make them look more like real bugs. For the fly fishing beginner, there are numerous kits available that will walk you step by step through the fly tying process, so that you can create your own little works of art. The second thing that the fly fishing beginner needs to have is the right pole. Remember that a true fly rod is longer and heavier than a regular fishing pole. This is due largely to the fact that the fish you will be catching with your fly rod are much larger than the fish caught with regular fishing poles.

If you are a fly fishing beginner, it is probably a good idea to take a few casting classes prior to heading out on your very first fishing expedition. These casting classes will help you to learn the proper technique for allowing the wind to do most of the work for you when you cast your line. Although stronger than normal fishing line, the line used for fly fishing is much lighter. This allows the wind to carry the line further into the body of water where you are fishing, so that you can have an easier time of catching the skittish sport fish.

A guide can be very helpful if you are fly fishing for the very first time. They are trained specially to find the very best places for beginners to fish. They also help beginners develop a fishing technique, which will guide you for the rest of your fishing life. It may seem a bit extravagant to pay someone to teach you to fish, but it is an invaluable investment in a hobby which can serve you well your entire life.

You are starting out on a fabulous journey as a fly fisher. Most important of all, enjoy the experience and make sure your next catch doesn’t turn into “the one that got away!”

Rich Evans – The Fly Fishing Expert

Learn What EXPERT Fly Fishermen Know About Fly Fishing

[http://www.flyfishing-knots.com]

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In today’s fast paced world, business owners don’t often have the time to thoroughly check out the companies they rely on to provide goods and services. In many cases, a determination of product/service quality can be made at the time goods are delivered or services are rendered. If goods or services do not meet expectations, there is often an immediate remedy available. For example, poor quality goods can be shipped back to the supplier and/or payment for services can be withheld until services are satisfactorily rendered.

Unfortunately, business owners do not always purchase items that are tangible items, in the sense that they can immediately determine the quality of the goods and/or services at the time of purchase. One example of such a purchase is health insurance. Since health insurance is not usually used immediately after purchase, the quality of care or the legitimacy of the policy may not even come into play until the business owner, or a family member, actually needs to have medical treatment. This is one of the primary reasons that many companies, often appearing legitimate, can get away with selling bogus health insurance coverage to unsuspecting business owners.

In most cases, fraudulent health insurance policies are sold to business owners by telemarketers or “agents” through bogus Associations and Unions. In that, the buyer must join a professional and/or trade association or become a union member to qualify for health insurance. In fact, in a study published by the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) in 2004, the GAO found that association schemes ranked at the top of the marketing methods followed by bogus health insurers. According to the report, “Employers and Individuals Are Vulnerable to Unauthorized or Bogus Entities Selling Coverage, between 2000 and 2002, the U.S. Department of Labor and state insurance regulators identified 144 unauthorized entities selling health insurance unlawfully. These entities defrauded 15,000 employers and more than 200,000 policyholders out of $252 million.”

However, it is important to mention that many individual and group health insurance products are endorsed by reputable Associations, such as the ARRP and the American Bar Association and, many reputable Unions, such as the AFLCIO and the Teamsters. These organizations have long been recognized for bringing a common class of professionals or citizens together for other purposes that have very little to do with health insurance. Membership commonly includes a wide range of other benefits in addition to discounted health insurance. Typically, the organizations have a governing organization, a constitution and bylaws, a set of officers, voting rights, regular membership meetings and a professional code of conduct.

Unfortunately, most individuals do not find out that they were making hefty monthly payments or premiums to fraudulent Associations or Unions until they have a severe condition that requires medical treatment. Usually, it isn’t until after they receive treatment that they receive notice from their medical provider that the claim that was submitted to the insurance company was denied and that all the medical charges that were incurred are now their responsibility.

Often, the scheme starts when business owners are contacted by telephone or approached by someone who claims to represent a certain, official sounding, Association or Union. The business owner is then informed that if s/he becomes a member of the Association or joins the Union, s/he could qualify for a low cost group or individual health insurance plan. Typically the Association or Union is promoted to represent self-employed individuals and small business owners. The low cost health insurance is usually presented as one of the many “perks” that the business owner can qualify for, in addition to many other “member” benefits, like discounts on other services, such as dental, eyeglasses, office supplies, hotels, rental cars, etc.

In many instances, these bogus companies involve licensed health insurance agents to sell their fraudulent health insurance products. Sometimes the “agents” know the products are fraudulent, other times, the “agent” also falls prey to the scheme. Often, the schemes prey upon consumers who have been previously declined insurance coverage or suffer from a pre-existing condition. Since these consumers have very limited options to purchase private health insurance coverage, the benefits of an Association or Union membership that offers health insurance coverage for a “membership fee” or “union due” is enticing. To the unsuspecting consumer that has a pre-existing medical condition or is paying high premiums for coverage, the “membership fee” or “union due” is a small price to pay for what they believe will be a quality health plan that provides “guaranteed” coverage with no “pre-existing condition exclusions” and no “waiting periods.”

In many circumstances, the print materials that are left with the consumer are very well designed, however, the majority of the time, the language in the “health plan brochure,” if there is one, is very unclear. The literature may name the entity that is authorized to act as the health plan administrator of the plan, but neglect to name the actual insurance company that is providing the health insurance coverage. Unfortunately, it is often difficult for the consumer to separate the illegitimate companies selling official sounding health plans from the legitimate ones. Typically fraudulent health plans have many commonalities.

Here are 10 “Red Flags” that may indicate health insurance fraud:

1. The “agent” is not a licensed insurance agent but an “enrollment” or “membership” coordinator.

2. The term “discount plan” is written in the product literature, but the term health plan, health insurance or policy is frequently used by the plan promoter. Discount plans often provide nothing more than a discount for medical services, such as prescription medications, eyeglasses, dental, etc. These plans are not designed to offer major medical health insurance coverage.

3. The official sounding “Association or Union” is one that you have never heard of before.

4. The plan is referred to as an ERISA plan. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that allows employers to set up employee benefit plans for employees and their dependents. ERISA plans are not subject to state regulation and are not regulated by the state insurance commissioner. ERISA plans are normally not sold as health insurance, but are instead, established by employers, unions or groups acting on behalf of employers. Therefore, unsuspecting buyers believe these plans actually offer health insurance coverage, when if fact, they do not.

5. The buyer is told that the “membership fee or union dues” includes the health insurance premium, but there is no mention of the word “premium” in any of the plan literature.

6. The plan offers “guaranteed” insurance coverage with no exclusions for “pre-existing conditions” and no “waiting periods.”

7. The plan is significantly cheaper in price than other health insurance plans.

8. The term “reinsured” is used in regards to the plan. Reinsurance is something insurance companies buy to protect themselves against their own risks. It is insurance for insurance companies. Licensed insurers rarely have their agents mention any of their reinsurance arrangements during a sales presentation.

9. If the Association or Union is comprised of members from all walks of life and/or requires its members to state that they belong to a certain trade, class or group of professionals that they have no affiliation with, for example, the Association or Union is said to be comprised of “Food and Beverage” workers, but “Florists” and “Machinists” are allowed to enroll as members.

10. If the Association or Union is said to have a special arrangement with a health insurance company, a plan administrator or another third party that has designed the plan using a legal “loophole” that allows members to purchase health insurance at a discounted rate or to purchase a individual or group health insurance policy.

So how can you protect yourself from falling victim to a fraudulent insurance scam? Make sure you contact your state’s department of Insurance to determine if the health insurance company and the third-party administrator are licensed to do business in your state and make sure that the “agent” selling the plan is a “licensed health insurance agent.” Additionally, make sure that the health insurance company has been approved to sell the particular policy that is being offered. Since it may be difficult to tell if fraud is involved, always put off buying your insurance policy until you have had the opportunity to perform your own due diligence.

©2007 Small Business Insurance Services, Inc. http://www.smallbusinessinsuranceservices.com

C. Steven Tucker, is the President of Small Business Insurance Services, Inc. and has been a Licensed Mult-State Insurance Broker serving the small business and self-employed market for over a decade. Mr. Tucker believes an informed insurance consumer makes the best health insurance purchasing decisions. Mr. Tucker has written several articles that focus on small business health insurance, which can be read on a number of web sites. Mr. Tucker’s blog can be read at http://www.smallbusinessinsuranceservices.vox.com. If you have general questions regarding health insurance, or you are in the market to purchase a health insurance plan, you can contact Mr. Tucker through his web site at http://www.smallbusinessinsuranceservices.com, via Email at smallbusinssvcs@aol.com or by plone, toll-free at 1-866-SBIS123 (724-7123)

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Decide Use of Garden Tractors Or Lawn Tractors

When you have a small garden the question of using the garden tractor seems like a waste of money. When a smaller lawn tractor will do your work equally well, why spend more money in buying the garden tractor? Well, there are some points in favor of both the ideas and we will take look at both sides of the coin.

Garden Tractor Vs Lawn Tractors

Lawn tractors: Smaller gardens with an area of less than 2 to 3 acres can make do with smaller tractors better known as lawn tractors. Essentially these are used for lawn mowing and no other work. If your garden is small and has only the lawn, you may continue to use the lawn tractor. Small lawn tractors have a capacity of about 4 to 6 HP.

However, if you do some gardening and have some agricultural produce, it makes sense to buy a garden tractor. The agricultural work involves loading and unloading of the agricultural inputs and outputs and it is difficult for lawn tractors to handle such loads. The attachments that can be attached to a lawn tractor are limited and it cannot definitely take the front end loader attachment that can be required for leveling the ground or flattening it.

The garden tractors are also useful to you in saving time for the other work. With lawn tractor, the time required for the same work will be much higher than the time required for equivalent work for a garden tractor. Since agricultural work is not the main business of a small landholder, it makes sense to have a tractor that can do the work quickly and get on with other jobs that you have in hand.

With a garden tractor, you can do many things that are impossible for the lawn mower to do with or without attachments. For example, you cannot use your lawn tractor for aerating the field, leveling the driveway, or hauling the firewood from far corners of your garden.

With a larger machine like a garden tractor, you can do many things that are unthinkable with small lawn tractors. The removal of stones in your garden or shifting of the stones for beautification of the garden are impossible to be done with small lawn tractor but it can be easily done with a small garden tractor and you can save lot of money in doing this.

Granted that the lawn tractor costs less money for purchase, but think of other jobs that you will be outsourcing in developing your garden and if you buy the garden tractor right at the start of your work, it will be economical to you in the longer run. If later you find it not being used completely, remember that it has saved you enough money to pay for itself and is still saving your time. Remember the wise old saying that ‘time is money’ and now you can save time and utilize it in higher yield business that you are in now.

The idle investment garden tractor can also make money for you if you rent it. If you are not the kind of person, who likes to rent his/her equipments, just remember that the garden tractor has done its work for you during the development stage of your garden and allow the garden tractor the well earned rest in your garden

So in the final analysis you will agree that using the tractor in a garden is a wise decision.

The writer Andrew Caxton publishes quite often new articles to [http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com], an online magazine specialized in lawn tractors and lawnmowers. Andrew helps people to find the best solutions for different types of gardens. Reach further information on garden tractors [http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com/garden-tractors.html]

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For most cat owners, training their cat to use the litter is a relatively painless process. It is among a cat’s natural instincts to eliminate in an area that they can cover their feces in. This behavior may be a way of your cat accepting what they perceive to be as the natural order of dominance. In the wild feral cats will bury their feces if they are not at the top of their social hierarchy, if a feral cat does not bury his or her feces it is likely that the cat exhibiting that behavior is the dominant feline. So when your housecat buries his or her waste he or she may be recognizing your role as the dominant animal in their social community. It is also possible, however, that your cat may be displaying his or her inherited instinct to bury his or her feces in order to hide their trail from would be predators.

Generally kittens will learn the behavior of burying their feces and using the litter

through their mother once they are weaned assuming the mother is litter trained.

So if you bring home a young kitten of about 12 weeks, you may only need to

place kitty in the litter box and gently scratch the clean litter with your fingers

shortly after she eats to indicate to her what she is to do.

KITTY DIDN’T TAKE TO THE LITTER RIGHT AWAY

If your new cat doesn’t take to litter training after your first few attempts you may

want to consider teaching her using another common method. Confine your new

addition to a small but comfortable room, preferably one with a hard floor if you

have one. Place both the litter box and the food dish in the room but don’t place

them close to one another. Your cat will naturally not want to defecate near its food

source so she will look for another area. Eliminate any pillows, blankets,

newspapers, towels or other soft items where your cat may decide to eliminate from

the room before you close her in. If you have confined your cat to a room with hard

floors she is likely to avoid eliminating on the floor since urinating is likely to splash

back and get on her fur. The only remaining choice to the cat at this point is

(hopefully) the litter box.

MY CAT STOPPED USING THE LITTER

If your cat was housebroken and all the sudden she seems to have

forgotten that instinct there are a few possibilities you might want to consider

before giving up.

1. Does Kitty Have A Dirty Litter Box? The most common cause of a

housetrained cat to stop using the litter is your cat

disagreeing with the level of cleanliness regarding her litter box. Your cat is more

likely to

stop using the litter if she feels that it is too dirty. It is best to clean your cat’s litter

every day or at the very least every second or third day. The dirtier a litter box gets

the less likely it is that your cat is going to continue to use it. Your cat wants to

eliminate in a clean environment and if she notices that every time she eliminates on

the carpet you immediately run and clean it up she perceives that as a more

desirable place to eliminate because it is so quickly cleaned. Keeping your cat’s

litter as clean as possible is the best way to avoid this problem, and remember, what

you consider clean, your cat may not.

In addition to emptying the litter, you obviously need to change it from time to time

as well in order to ensure good cat health and cleanliness. Weekly changing is best,

this ensures that odors and wetness won’t have too much time to build up to

unacceptable levels and it also reduces the likelihood of sickness due to high levels

of bacteria.

2. Stress. A cat eliminating outside of the litter box may also be a sign for

stress.

The introduction of a new person or animal into the household may be putting a lot

of stress on your cat. Cats generally like to feel like they know what is going on and

what they can expect. If you upset that balance by introducing a new creature (even

a two legged one) into the household they may get stressed which can cause them

to eliminate outside the box.

If you leave your cat alone for long periods of time (for example while you take

vacations or go on business trips) and you come back you may

notice that your cat will sometimes seem aloof and standoffish. This is another

instance in which your cat may react with eliminating outside the litter box as a sort

of protest to what she perceives as being abandoned.

A new piece of furniture, or conversely, a newly missing piece of furniture may also

put stress on your cat. Order and comfort are important if you are a cat. If you

decide to get rid of that old fabric sofa because of it’s ugly pea green color and

because it’s falling apart at the seams and then you replace it with a brand new,

slick, top of the line, leather sofa with a refrigerator built into the side, and a

massage and heating function, your cat is unlikely to see this as a stylish upgrade

the way you would. What your cat will probably see is that one of her favorite nap

spots has disappeared only to be replaced by something she is unfamiliar with and

intimidated by.

3. Changing Litter Brands. Cats are creatures of habit and can also be

quite finicky (remember Morris, the 9 Lives cat?). If you’ve recently switched the

brand of litter you usually buy this may be cause for your cat to find another place

to go. Some litters are perfumed (for humans rather than cats) and your cat may

not react well to these smells, or perhaps your cat was used to a less dusty type

of litter, a particular litter’s texture, or who knows what. Changing brands or types

of litter may upset what your cat is comfortable with and the result may be a messy

carpet. If you suspect this to be the cause, you can either switch back, or

gradually introduce the new litter. Try mixing in a little bit of the new litter with the

older brand at first and gradually step up the percentage of the new litter each time

you change the box, eventually you will be able to replace the older brand

altogether. This will help your cat ease into the new litter brand rather than upset

her sense of the order of things.

4. Multiple Cats. As mentioned above a second animal may cause a cat to

begin to

eliminate outside of the litter box, but this may not necessarily be the result of

stress. A second cat in your household should probably have his own litter box

unless your cats have proven they don’t mind sharing. Again, remember cats are

clean creatures and they can be territorial as well. Some cats may not mind using

the same box, but others may refuse, which means again, the carpet becomes litter

box number two.

5. Litter Box Size Or Placement. If the litter box does not provide enough

room for

your cat she may not use it at all. Your cat will likely want to scratch around and be

able to feel comfortable in the litter box. Make sure it is roomy enough, easy

for your cat to get in and out of (the sides of the box should be lower for kittens

than for adult cats), and not in a high traffic area as cats seem to like some

degree of privacy when eliminating. Lastly, make sure your cat has access to the

litter at all times. Putting your litter box in a room that is closed on occasion is a

recipe for disaster. If your cat has to go and she can’t get to the room that you’ve

put the litter in then she really will have no other alternative than to find another

suitable area to eliminate.

6. Medical Issues. Your cat may be experiencing kitty incontinence. Like

humans,

incontinence can strike animals and this may be an indication of other medical

issues with your cat. As a cat ages, she becomes more likely to lose control of her

bodily functions just like a human does. If you suspect age or medical reasons may

be the cause for your kitty’s litter box problems then you should take her to the vet

for an examination, advice and possible treatment to resolve the problem.

WHEN YOUR CAT MAKES A MESS

If your cat does make a mess outside of the litter box it is generally not good

practice to scold her or punish her. Putting her nose in the mess and then tossing

her in the litter is not going to solve your problem. Being upset with your cat is

natural after such an incident, but to display this behavior and then to put her in the

litter box is only making your cat associate the litter box with a bad experience.

Your cat may also begin to learn to be afraid of you, which is obviously not what you

want. Your best solution is to clean up the mess quickly. Put your cat in the litter

box and be friendly and speak in a calming voice with the cat. Scrape the clean

litter with your fingers and make sure your cat sees this behavior, hopefully it will

sink in. To avoid having your cat defecate in the same place outside the litter box a

second (or third) time, cover the area with a plastic sheet or something hard that

will result in your cat splashing herself with her own urine if she should chose that

place to defecate again. Clean the smell as best you can (white vinegar may help,

but make sure your furniture or carpet can handle it). You can also move her food

dish on top of or near the area that she used to defecate, a cat will not want to

defecate near her food source. If your cat uses the litter again, even just once,

reward her, play with her, pet her, give her a treat, make her associate the litter box

with a good experience rather than a bad one.

A cat that eliminates outside of the box is not a lost cat. Don’t give up on her until

you’ve explored the possible reasons for the problem. Once you find it, you can

most likely correct it and kitty and human can live a happy co-existence once again.

Andy Markison is an illustrator, graphic designer, animal lover and pet owner living in Germany. His website, ZapGraphix.com, sells fun and humorous pet related grapchics and gift merchandise.

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Online Automotive Training Schools offer instruction on the basic concepts and functions of automotive engines through instruction modules. Online Automotive Training begins with instruction on the fundamentals of electrical circuitry, fuels, batteries, motor functions, etc., presented in written, diagram, and sometimes animated forms.

Automotive Training curriculums must continually be updated to keep apace of rapidly changing technology in the automotive industry. Today electronic systems and complex computers run automobiles while measuring performance on the road. Automotive technicians have become high-tech diagnosticians, using electronic diagnostic equipment and computer-based reference materials. The ability to diagnose the source of a problem quickly and accurately can be the most challenging and most rewarding skill for a good Automotive Training student.

Students can expect to learn the essentials of maintenance and auto repair procedures from tires and suspension to computerized functions through Online Automotive Training modules. Courses will emphasize the development of a solid understanding of functions that will be necessary to effectively diagnose and analyze automotive problems.

Course studies in Online Automotive Training may include good communication skills and techniques in relation to customer service. Other skills that will serve an Automotive Technician are sound reasoning capabilities and a thorough knowledge of the complex components and interactions of auto bodies and motors.

Fulfillment of examinations for the basics of automobile functions can be completed online. Passing the Online Automotive Training examinations will allow students to enter the laboratory phase of their automotive education with hands-on experience in a shop.

Online Automotive Training programs may take up to a year. Completing an Automotive Technician Associate Degree, which includes laboratory studies, can take up to two years. Certified Automotive Technicians can expect to be subjected to regular review and recertification requisites.

Find an Online Automotive Training program at http://www.schoolsgalore.com and begin your training for a career in automotive maintenance and repair.

Copyright 2006 – All Rights Reserved

Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

M. Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Automotive Training Online at SchoolsGalore.com; meeting your needs as your educational resource to locate schools

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Televisions have come a long way since their invention by Philo Taylor Farnsworth in 1928. Today, Liquid Crystal Display sets, known as LCD televisions, are one of the most up to date types of televisions you can purchase. They are competing with other types of televisions, including Projection TV, Light Emitting Diode (LED) televisions, Plasma TV, HDTV, and new Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) television sets.

LCD televisions today are full color televisions sets. They produce images using liquid crystal display technology, which also allows them to be quite a bit thinner and also lighter than the old cathode ray tube sets. The screen displays can be much larger than those allowed by CRT technology. With falling costs of production, the LCD televisions seemed destined to overtake the industry. Other large television formats, such as rear projection television and plasma television are losing market share to the new LCD televisions. There is, however, new competition against LCD televisions by Organic Light Emitting Display televisions and others on the horizon.

LCD televisions work with white light, and filtering that light to display a colored image on the screen. This requires backlighting by cold cathode fluorescent lamps on most sets. Some use LED lighting instead for the white backlighting. LCD technology is inefficient in that most of the light, about 90% of light produced never reaches the viewer as it is used or distracted prior to reaching the viewing screen. They take a lot of power, which adds to the inefficiency and they are similar in power use to the CRT televisions.

This television uses a system of LCD shutters in a grid, which allow different amounts of light to pass by opening and closing the shutters. There is a colored filter with each shutter that removes unnecessary colors, all by the red, green and blues, from the white light passing through the shutter system. These work to form a tiny pixel, and the shade of each color is adjusted by changing the light intensity. There are millions of shutters in a display. Voltage controls turning shutters on or off. The liquid crystals form thin layers that make up thin plates. These plates allow polarization of the light and control of light passing through the shutters. Improvements in technology have addressed some problems with blurring and response times, and the first commercial LCD televisions hit the market in 1988. By 2004, the first 42″ sets were being purchased quickly, and in later years prices dropped. LCD televisions were competitive against plasma sets because they have higher resolutions, and therefore better pictures. By 2007, screen display panel sizes were offered up to 108″ in size.

There was some concern with environment effects of the nitrogen trifluoride used in production of LCD screens, as it is a potent greenhouse gas, but critics point out that actual amounts released to the atmosphere are far less than the perfluorocarbon gas that it replaced. LCD televisions remain popular and comprise a large segment of the commercial television set market.

Matthew Kerridge is an expert within the television industry. If you are looking for cheap lcd televisions please visit http://www.ebuyer.com/

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What? A “Pet trust”? Pets as our “children”? We are supposed to consider including our pet animals – dogs, cats, birds, etc – as “family members” and “loved ones” who should be covered in our testamentary trust or will and our estate planning? Aren’t these just mere “animals”?

Well, not quite so any more these days!

Americans own a huge number of pets, including about 68 million dogs and 73 million cats, according to a 2000 estimate by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. What is even particularly fundamental, however, from the sociological standpoint and the transformation of the American society, is this: That for a great many Americans, and a growing number of them, their home pets are now considered a bona fide “member of the family,” and not just “animals” any more.

An October 1999 survey by the USA Today newspaper, for example, found that more than 66% of American pet owners said they consider their pets “a member of the family.” In a more recent survey by the American Animal Hospital Association, a whopping 84% of American pet owners were reported to think of their animal companions as being their kids.

In deed, a more telling indices of the dramatic evolution of the pet from mere ‘animals’ towards the highly exulted status of a ‘family member’ in the American society, is the general attitude of the pet owners towards their pets and simply the way they treat, regard and relate with their pets. For example, according to surveys, some 79% of pet owners allow their pets to sleep in their beds with them, while 3% of them even count pets in the number of IRS withholdings they claim for tax purposes. The evidence is simply astounding: 50% of American pet owners talk “baby talk” to their pets; 37% of them carry a picture of their pets in their wallets; 27% of them include their pets in their testamentary trusts or wills; while 8% buy health insurance for their pets. There’s more. Nowadays, the “custody fights” over pets among divorcing couples who own pets, are among the most hotly contested issues in divorce proceedings; pet owners now throw lavish wedding and birthday parties for dogs, cats, and other pet animals, more adults today have pets than children, and so on and on.

Summed up simply, just about all those kinds of special rights, privileges and actions that have traditionally been reserved for and directed towards protecting and caring for human children, are, today, now used to protect and care for pets, as well. In other words, gradually but surely, there is now in the American society a new and increasingly significant kind of “family members” and “children.” It’s called the NON-human or pet animal family members and children!

And that brings us to this major question: how has the American law evolved in response to this developing new sociological reality in the American society? In terms of providing our new-found pet animal “infant children” the essential legal rights, care and protections as would be fitting for our human “infant children”? Suffice it simply to say, that a new specialized area of law has developed in the American jurisprudence pertaining to this issue. One significant aspect of it is what is known as the “pet trust” law. In point of fact, the American pet owners have for centuries expressed concerns and interest in establishing an estate plan for their animals in the same manner as people plan for their spouses and children, but that general impulse had for so long been resisted by the State legislatures and the Courts based on one legal rationale or the other. However, beginning in the 1990s, under the guidelines established by the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws, State legislatures (at least 40 of them as of 2006) and the courts have adopted laws which address precisely those concerns and now permit the creation of trusts specifically for the custody and care of designated pets and their offspring in times of the incapacity or death of their owner.

Basically, with a legally valid ‘pet trust,’ you (the pet owner) can make specific provisions as to the care of your pets in the event of your disability or death, and provide for a reliable caretaker and funding arrangement for the pet all of which will be legally enforceable by the courts. Thus, with the “pet trust,” a relatively recent estate planning tool applicable for pet animals, you can assure that in the event of any such emergency, your pets will not likely wind up in the shelter or pound somewhere awaiting euthanasia, but will be taken into a safe home and will be properly cared for by a responsible, caring caretaker.

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Bringing a second dog home requires a lot of thought. It means a complete change in your “normal” family routine. It matters not whether the new dog is a puppy or an adult.

There are many things to consider before you bring the new pet home.

It is not just a matter of bringing the new dog home and you all will live happily ever after (though that can be a remote possibility.)

You need to take time to think this new undertaking through and mull over these questions:

Read these questions a few times and answer them truthfully. Being truthful will help eliminate you making a mistake.

Some dogs really don’t want a “companion,” they are as happy as a clam being the “only dog.”

The real question here is “is it you that wants a new dog?”

Once you have made up your mind and truly feel that another dog will be an added benefit to your household. There are a few more things to consider such as: puppy, young adult or an older dog. That will depend on your resident dog.

Puppies are probably easier to introduce to your current dog, as a puppy doesn’t appear as an intruder, only as a pest.

If you decide on a puppy, please keep this in mind. Puppies do not realize they are supposed to behave in a certain way until they are about 4 months old.

Until they are old enough to know all this “dog stuff,” it will be up to you to protect the puppy from the older dog and protect the older dog from the puppy.

The puppy will drive the older dog crazy at times. Puppies want to play; older dogs will play for a little while then want to stop.

It is up to you to give your older pet, free time away from “fluff and stuff.”

Do not under any circumstances leave the puppy and older dog alone without supervision.

Always put the puppy in its crate or put your resident dog in a safe room if you are leaving the house or cannot supervise.

The older dog could unintentionally injure the puppy, if the puppy pesters the older dog too much.

Adding a young adult dog or an older dog to your household requires a lot more tact along with patience and planning. You are going to need help with this one.

Step number one; the dogs will have to meet on neutral ground. To do this you will need help of a friend or a relative (not a member of your household.)

The dogs need to meet in a place your dog has never been, that will be the neutral territory. It can be a park, a neighbor’s yard, or if all else fails a parking lot.

Both dogs need to be on a leash and introduced casually. Allow them to do all the “doggy things,” such as smelling each other, their stance may be rigid, but for the first meeting that is okay. However, if you hear growling or see lip curling, calmly move them apart.

Remain calm and do not be nervous, talk to the dogs in a “happy voice.”

After a few minutes try to introduce them again, but do not let them get too close together.

If the growling and lip curling happens again it is a good bet that these two will not ever be friends.

Whatever you do, do not try to force a friendship. You will only be looking for a great deal of trouble when you get them home.

Dogs will fight and if they do not like each other, it can be disastrous for you and the dogs.

In looking for a new dog (not a puppy) try to find a dog whose personality matches that of your dog. If your dog is outgoing and friendly, find one that is equally so. If your dog is quiet and gentle, do not bring home a dog that is very active and playful, the match more than likely will not work.

Female dogs that have been the only dog in the house seem to have a harder time adjusting to a new “friend.”

Dogs that have been socialized and get along well with other dogs have an easier time relating to a new dog in the household.

One of the first rules in raising a puppy is “socialize, socialize and socialize” some more. If you have followed that rule, adding a new dog should be easier.

Once the introductions have been made and it is time to bring the two dogs home a good suggestion is “do not bring them home together” in the same car. Let the person who helped you with the introduction bring the new dog home.

It is a suggested procedure that when you have both dogs at home you keep their leashes on them. It will be easier for you to keep control if you need to by having a leash to grab on to.

If the new dog is close in age to your resident dog there is bound to be a bit of aggression going on.

You now have a “pack,” it will be necessary for the two dogs to decide which one is going to be second in charge (you are the real leader) and this decision may take some haggling.

Acceptable aggressive behavior should last for a few seconds (10 –20 seconds) and may consist of some growling, lip curling, snarling, snapping and possibly pinning one of the dogs down by the neck.

Unacceptable aggressive behavior would be biting to draw blood or any of the above behaviors that last more than a few seconds.

One of the dogs may exhibit submissive behavior and this is to be expected also. Barking like a puppy, rolling over on its back, tail between its legs, running away from the other dog are all acceptable submissive behaviors.

It may take the dogs a week or two to settle on who is the leader and while that is going on DO NOT let them alone together unsupervised.

Put the dogs in separate areas or in their crates, do not let them be together until you are certain they have settled their ranking and will get along.

The hardest thing for you will be following their decision especially if your first dog is no longer the “number one.”

The important thing here is that you abide by their decision no matter how hard it will be for you.

The number one dog gets the first treats, is first out the door, is first to be fed and so on.

Speaking of feeding, give each dog their own bowls and their own eating spot, do not let one steal food from the other.

Expect your first dog to go through some stress and probably some misbehavior patterns as this new addition will be upsetting to it and the dog will need to adjust.

It is up to you to expect these problems and act accordingly. Remember your dog did not ask for a new friend. It was your idea. As the old saying goes “you made your bed now lie in it.”

It may take a month or more for a routine to establish and peace to rein supreme once again in your household. If you keep the dogs apart when you are not home to supervise and you make the time they spend together “fun” they will soon become friends, maybe not “best friends,” but close enough to enjoy being together.

Do not forget that you are the LEADER, the boss supreme, and you run the show, and both dogs need to follow your orders first.

Do not beat, hit or otherwise use force to make a point, be patient, stern if necessary and most of all CONSISTENT in what you are asking of the dogs.

One last point: exercise is the secret to keeping your dogs too tired to argue with each other. Exercise relieves their stress (and maybe yours. too) and tired dogs behave better.

Good luck and remember to have FUN.

I am a mother of 6, grandmother of 9 and great grandmother of 4. Animals and their care has been a part of my life from early childhood. I have hand raised many kittens, puppies, squirrels and baby birds with great success. I am committed to educating people to understand that having a pet is a commitment and not just a “fly-by-night” endeavor. Having a pet means caring and loving it for its lifetime and not just for a time that suits your wim. For more information on the care and nurturing of cats and dogs please see my website at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com

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If you are planning a skiing vacation or maybe you are already at the resort and are preparing for a day of skiing then there is a lot to think about. This is especially so if you are new to winter sports. You need to get your skis, boots and poles. You need to organize your lift pass and then you need to hook up with your ski class. Without these things your day would be unsuccessful, however there are a few other things that people often overlook that can also impact on your day. Here is a checklist of 7 things you may need on the ski slopes.

First thing to take is a trail map. No doubt you have looked at the trail maps that are dotted throughout the resort or even at your pocket version but it is essential that you take it with you when you are skiing. Despite your studies you will need to refer to it at least a few times on the first day. Maybe less as the week goes by but it is always handy to have especially if you take a turn that you are not used to.

Lip balm and sunscreen. The lips are very sensitive to the sun and wind. They are one of the few parts of your body that will be exposed to the elements. Make sure they are protected as chapped lips can spoil your vacation. Take a small tube of sunscreen and top up every few hours or so. This is mainly around the face and ears but this depends on the weather and what you are wearing. If it a pleasant day you may decide to ski in a shirt and will need to protect the shoulders and arms.

Something to clean your goggles or sunglasses. Sunglasses often come with a bag that doubles as a cleaner so this is fairly easy to cater for unless you have lost the bag a long time ago like me. If you don’t have the bag then any cloth, like a chamois, will do the trick. Obviously you need to be able to see where you are skiing so clear vision is essential. I’d suggest goggles or glasses are essential too as the glare from the snow is too much even on an overcast day. Goggles are best but sunglasses are more comfortable in my opinion (depending on the type of skiing you are doing).

Carry some water and a snack. There are many cafes and rest stops dotted around the slopes and you won’t have to look far to get a drink at the bottom of the slope but a bottle of water is handy if you need a break during a run. It also means you don’t have to stop skiing for too long. As for a snack, I like a chocolate bar and skiing is my excuse to indulge my chocoholic tendencies. Other people may take an energy bar or even a sandwich.

A cell phone is a good device to have on you if you have an accident or need to keep in touch with friends. You need to find out where to meet up for lunch at the very least ! Take your wallet with some form of id and a credit card or small amount of money. You don’t want a heavy wallet weighing you down.

For more skiing and snowboarding tips and reviews of equipment then visit [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com] The site gives advice on things to carry when skiing [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com/skiing/things-to-carry-when-skiing-21/] and types of snow skiing [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com/skiing/types-of-snow-skiing-10/] Adrian Whittle writes on skiing and snowboarding.

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Going out to eat can be fun and enjoyable for everyone. Today’s restaurants range from the neighborhood diner to one that has five star reviews. Sometimes, the most popular restaurant for dining out is the neighborhood diner. What keeps people coming back are the food and the atmosphere. It’s usually where you go to meet friends after work or after a local sporting event. It has a sense of community and it’s a well-loved part of the town. It’s a restaurant that usually offers bottomless coffee, home cooking, specials that you can’t get anywhere else and service with a smile. Almost every neighborhood has one.

Ethnic restaurants are also a great place for dining out. They offer food that’s specific to one country or area. The restaurants are usually found in ethnic parts of a city. The best way to get to know the food, if you’re not familiar with it, is to go with someone who is. If you do go alone, ask the cook, waiter or waitress to help you with your selection. Some dishes can be very spicy or have ingredients that are not to your liking. Some restaurants have a sampler plate on their menus so you can try small amounts of different food. Trying new foods is a good way of broadening your tastes.

Family oriented restaurants make dining out with your family easy. These restaurants are usually kid-friendly and offer a menu that caters to the adult and the smallest member at the table. They also have crayons and puzzles on hand to keep the kids busy until their meals arrive. Some family oriented restaurants are all about kids. They have age appropriate amusements that keep kids and adults entertained for hours. They’re a great place to have a child’s birthday party.

Sports restaurants are where many people go to get good food and watch a game or two. Many sports restaurants have several (or more) big screen TVs placed around the room. Each TV is tuned to a game (sometimes different games) so you’ll never have to miss a goal, touchdown or home run. Dining out with a group of friends is usually fun at a sports restaurant. The menus range from appetizers to burgers and steaks. Sometimes a restaurant will offer specials for each touchdown or score that the home team makes. Depending on the team, this can be a real inexpensive day out.

For dining out guide, visit JP Pepperdine now.

Feel free to publish this article on your website, or send it to your friends, as long as you keep the resource box and the content of the article intact.

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In my youth, I observed that, in England at least, most people wanted to get out of their jobs. Their “career”, whatever it was, only existed to get a regular income. The millions of people who did the football pools, and later the lottery, were a testimony to the “let me out of here” dreams of the majority. “Win the pools, and retire.”

Times may have changed in general, but the fact that most people are not content with their jobs has remained unchanged. Career, employer or job change, or early retirement, are in the minds of tens of millions of people across the world. Only a small minority will ever actually go full out for a career change; it is far too easy just to plod along doing the same old things in the same old place.

However, some people are more serious. These are the people with “get up and go” who actually do get up and go. These are the people who really do change their working lives, sometimes drastically.

Why Do Some People Want to Change Careers?

There are many possible reasons for wanting a career change. The following are just a few of the more common ones.

1. To some people, being in the same job, or even the same type of job, for too long is just unthinkable. I certainly fall into this category, and personally think total career changes can be a vital contributor to a satisfying life. I always want to learn something new, and do something new, once I have mastered what I was doing before. New challenges are an essential part of every day life.

2. Midlife career changes might be the result of a sort of career midlife crisis. This can particularly be so for someone who has always done the same job, and suddenly realise their years are slipping away and they have really done very little with their working years.

3. Dissatisfaction with a current employer, either in terms of recognition, prospects or pay.

4. Boredom is a common cause of wanting a career change.

5. Lack of fulfilment in the current career or employment.

The above are some of the broad reasons people may seek a career change, but each individual is likely to have a different mix of reasons to consider changing their career.

Tips For Preparing for a Career Change

There are many sources of career change advice, both online and offline. Sometimes this can be given on an individual basis, or just in the form of written material which you can consume at your leisure. As a career is a personal matter, and all individuals are different, then pesonal consultation is better by far. However, advisors are individuals too, and the advice may vary from from career counselor to career counselor.

The quality and quantity of career change advice available to you offline will vary greatly between countries and localities, and you may find that some of the online advice is, at least in part, to one country, particularly the US. However, the following career change tips can apply to anyone, anywhere, and are based on my own experience; they may not appear anywhere else, might be considered unconventional, but are designed to get you thinking and planning well in advance for one or a series of career changes:

1. Travel as widely as possible. I do not mean go on vacation with a million other holidaymakers on a well trodden path, but broaden your mind, experience and understanding through travelling in other countries of various cultures. It is best to travel alone for maximum experience. With hindsight, I am sure that my travels as a 20 year old and younger helped to give me the flexibility and adaptability to make a sudden move from one life direction to another. When travelling freely, you can always go just where you want to go, and the same can be true of your working life, or careers, if you have that flexible attitude from the beginning.

2. Most people have interests and talents that are quite separate from their primary career ambition. Always try to develop those skills and talents in parallel to your existing or imminent career. The more skills you have, the more knowledge you have, the more likely it is that, when the time comes to make a career change, it will be that much easier.

3. When in a chosen career, always add new skills and keep up to date with developments in that career. The opportunity may come along for you to specialize within that career, or diversify from it.

4. Plan your life in 5 year blocks. It is amazing how much can be achieved and changed in 5 years. My own life and working life bear little resemblance to even 7 years ago, and has changed drastically in the last 4 years. Formulating a 5 year plan for yourself at 20, 25, 30 and so on can be a great help in getting your prepared for all sorts of changes and developments. When formulating that plan, consider your career options during that coming period, and what you can do over that 5 years to prepare yourself for a career change beyond that 5 year period.

5. Have a program of self improvement to increase your confidence and prevent or overcome fear. Many people stay in the same job far too long, because of fear of change. Using meditation and relaxation techniques can help in this area of your life.

6. Keep control of your finances, and develop a financial success system . Always budget effectively, and never spend beyond your means. Always think in terms of building your assets. Saving from your monthly and income, and learning to invest wisely, can help you build wealth while most of those around you are borrowing, overspending, and digging a financial grave.

Why is a financial success system important when it comes to career change planning? Poor finances can be an inhibiting factor in making a career change. If your finances are in good shape, and you have adequate reserves, you have more time to switch successfully to a new career, even a new way of life. Financial fear can be a big drawback to making a career change.

By adopting some or all of the above tips, you should find yourself better prepared in the future to make a career change. Hopefully, that career change will be one that has evolved from your own desires, your own plans. However, sometimes career changes are forced by redundancy, technical developments in your chosen career, companies being taken over or going bust, outsourcing or other change in your working environment. Be prepared.

This career development article article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website.

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The act of offering. Christmas gifts is always enhanced if you take some trouble in matching the gift with the recipient.

Sometimes, though, it is not as easy as it may seem, especially if the gift is for someone you have not seen very often throughout the year; or someone whose tastes you do not know that well.

If that person is a cat lover, though, it is something you are probably aware of however often you may see them. There is every chance that choosing a cat related gift of some sort will be well received.

Cat gifts fall into two categories. The first is something the cat itself (or themselves) can use; the second is something for the cat owner which is adorned by something feline.

Cat Lover Gifts For The Cat Itself

The range of possible cat lover gifts that a cat can actually make use of is quite small, but nevertheless offer an opportunity to buy something both the cat and the owner appreciate. The cat, of course, would probably be happiest with a brown paper bag; at least, I have had cats in the past who would spend much of an evening hiding in such a cheap and cheerful toy.

Assuming brown paper bags are out, what other cat lover gifts can you consider? It will most likely be something the cat can utilise in the home, as when they are off on their travels they like, and need, to be unfettered. An exception, though, is a cat collar. If you know the cat does not have a collar already, then that is an option, but bear in mind that some cats just hate collars and find them uncomfortable. Also, if they are not a good fit, they can become a hazard.

It is probably better to opt for a gift that belongs and stays in the home. For example:

Cat Blanket

There are some very warm, comfortable and attractive cat blankets around, and they make nice cat gifts. We all know how cats love to curl up in front of a fire in the winter; with a warm fleecy blanket to lie on, they will be in heaven. You can add a personal touch to this gift by having the blanket personalized with the cat’s name. The cat won’t care about that, but it’s a nice touch for the owner’s pleasure.

Cat Basket

Something a little bit more elaborate as a cat lover gift is a cat basket. I am referring here to a basket to sleep in, not something that is simply for carrying a cat to the vet. Remember, though, that cat’s can be very choosy. It would not be surprising if the cat turned it’s nose up at a new basket, at least initially. If you spend a lot of money on the basket, then that can be a disappointment, even if the cat owner is very appreciative.

Cats, though, have moods. One day it may take to the basket, especially if you tell it not to get inside!

There are, of course, other things you can buy for the cat itself. Small toys, food treats (fresh salmon may go down quite well), but what is it in the home that cats enjoy most? Sleeping. That means that a cat blanket or type of bed could be a popular gift. We all know, however, that the cat will be the one to decide if they want to use it or not. Never mind, the cat lover recipient will appreciate your gift.

Gifts For The Cat Owner

The choice of gifts that are cat related, and may be suitable for the cat owner, is much greater than for the cat itself. If you think about it, just about anything in the home could have a cat theme to it. Many of these gift items have cat pictures on, or are cat shaped.

Some examples of what you can buy include plates, place mats, coasters, clocks, fridge magnets, ironing board covers, doorstops and a whole lot more. Many of these types of items will be appreciated by a cat lover as a gift.

One good idea is to find a gift that you can personalise, with a picture of the owner’s cat. If you have a digital camera, it should not be difficult to get a picture of the cat while visiting before Christmas, without arousing too much suspicion of what you are up to. Once you have the picture, then you can probable find somewhere to add that picture to mugs, place mats and other household items, and end up with the perfect Christmas gift for the cat owner.

Really, the choice of cat lover gifts is wide. That is not surprising, given the huge popularity of cats. So, enjoy looking, and try to find something just that little bit different for your cat lover friends and relatives.

This cat lover gift article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Gifts For Xmas website.

Relax, get in the Christmas spirit, and read Roy’s new Christmas Story, for adults or children, about Santa Claus and a little girl living on the edge of a tropical rainforest.

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Similar to other human endeavors, the success of dog training and dog behavior modification efforts involving both a dog trainer and a dog owner is dependent upon acceptance of responsibility and good communication. Here are some dog training tips and rules of the road for such situations.

To start, Dog Trainer, you must always remember to ask as many thoughtful and pointed questions of the owner as possible. This is an absolute necessity if the dog trainer is to have a good understanding of the animal before beginning the first dog training session, to start on the right foot. You never have a second chance to make a first impression in the dog world.

Dog Owner, you have a responsibility to be detailed on both the good and the bad in your pet. Only then can the dog trainer – dog behaviorist diagnose the problem fully and take the best remedial steps. You must also speak out your full expectations so they can be accomplished.

Some areas you should cover and amplify include:

1- Historical information about your dog — Age, how old he was when adopted, where you got him, etc.

2- The dog behavior problem — Full description, how it manifests, under what circumstances, and how often.

3- What happened the first time? — What did the dog do first, how did you handle it at that moment and right afterward, how did the dog respond, how old was the dog, other factors, and how much has the behavior increased since then?

4- What have you done about it since then? — Also, what have other family members done about it, what are you doing now, how has the dog reacted each time, etc.?

5- Information about your dog’s environment and exposures – e.g., your home, yard, doggie door and yard freedom or always out on a leash, neighborhood, parks, other pets, other family members and ages, kennel trained, etc.

6- You dog’s daily exercise — e.g., how often, when, how far, is it “free time” or focused and disciplined (mental challenge), etc.?

7- Any other things you do not like about your dog?

Expose everything pertinent to the pet and circumstances that you can think of. Don’t forget allergies and health issues that might have an effect.

Dog Trainer, point out issues right away, explaining dog behavior problems to the Owner. For example, if the dog displays dog dominance behavior such as claiming something, the Owner needs to be made aware of what is really going on. This is not just some cute little annoyance, but the seed of a major dog behavior problem!

Dog Trainer, do not in any way intimidate the Dog Owner or make him feel foolish. Be understanding. Recognize that he called on you because he realizes and acknowledges the need for your experience. Commend him, for that takes courage.

Dog Owner, never lie to a dog trainer if your dog has certain tendencies. Especially if your dog is aggressive or fearful, the trainer needs to know the tendency of his reactions. Otherwise, there may be a nasty dog bite, and the results you seek may be impeded.

Dog Owner, listen to the dog trainer. Do not become surly or sarcastic with one who is trying to help. Do not waste the trainer’s time if you are not going to follow her directions and be consistent. Do not try to blame the trainer if you are not consistent.

Dog Trainer, do not tell the Dog Owner: “People need training, not dogs.” It is called DOG TRAINING for a reason!

Dog Trainer, realize that people need to be instructed in how to read dog body language, to become the leader of the pack, and how to follow through with your instructions … How to train a dog! People need encouragement, not criticism. Sometimes, the problem is the DOG!

Dog Trainer, hear the Dog Owner out and listen to all he says about the dog. Eat every word, and draw out every piece of information you may need. Remember, you need to feed the Dog Owner if he is stuck. You need to be a skilled interviewer, to draw out all you need to know about the dog and the circumstances.

Keeping these thoughts in mind makes it easier for both the Dog Trainer and the Dog Owner. It is no more fun for a Dog Trainer than a Dog Owner to deal with someone who is full of himself … That is counterproductive. Keep you eye on your goal — dog behavior modification and dog training.

GET HELP from Rena Murray at the Dog Obedience Training website. Proven Dog Behavior Modification Expert-Dog Obedience Trainer-Platinum Expert Author, Rena debunks Dog Training Myths in hands-on Articles, free “Best Ezines” newsletter – PAW PERSUASION POINTERS, and blatant Blog to help you better understand, communicate with, control and enjoy your dogs. Rena boldly addresses all your Dog Training and Dog Rehabilitation needs – whether puppy house training, destructive dog behavior, obsessive dog behavior, dog instinctive behavior, or cool dog tricks. Get your FREE Newsletter Subscription at http://www.PawPersuasion.com/ where you also find Dog Products, Dog Houses and Crates, Dog Lover Gifts, and all things dog-related. Need more help? Contact Rena for Coaching .

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