The clock is ticking retirement planning later in your career

Are you ready for retirement? Sure, you’re mentally prepared to leave the everyday rat race, to throw your alarm clock in the garbage, and to spend your days doing whatever you so please. The question is: are you ready financially? If you’re like most Baby Boomers, the answer is probably “no”. A recent study by the Employee Benefits Research Institute showed that over 50 percent of workers ages 45 to 54 have less than $50,000 saved for retirement. The Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College completed a study that showed nearly 54 percent of low-income Baby Boomers born between 1955 and 1964 are at risk for missing their retirement savings goal. Research by Fidelity Investments shows that most Baby Boomers have enough saved for retirement to replace just 59 percent of their full-time working income. The numbers don’t lie: most Boomers are not ready to retire, regardless of what they think. But all is not lost. It’s never too late to start planning your retirement. However, the closer you get to retirement age, the more aggressively you need to save. It’s also possible that you might have to work a few years longer than you thought you would, or pursue money making ventures outside of your life-long career. Okay, say you’ve hit the big 5-0. Retirement is suddenly not such a far off proposition, but a short-term reality. In no way are you ready financially, so it’s time to buckle down. The first thing you need to do is take a good, long look at that 401(k) of yours. Max it out. That’s right, make yourself a budget and sacrifice if you must, but find every last available dime and pump it into that fund. It deserves your attention. Thankfully, there’s something called a “catch-up provision” that was created for people just like you. It allows people 50 and over to add an additional $5,000 to their 401(k) over the maximum allowed by law in 2006. Not bad. For IRAs, you can contribute up to $1,000 per year as a catch-up in 2006. Do it. It’ll be well worth it. Once you’ve maxed out your retirement funds, take a look at your personal budget. Sit down and find out where all your money is going, and where you can save. Pay off high-interest credit card debt as fast as you can, refinance car or home loans, phase out your more expensive habits or hobbies; do whatever it takes to save a few extra dollars per month towards your nest egg. Also, don’t rule out working a few more years. Many people love their jobs, have friends at work, or enjoy being part of the everyday work force. If you don’t have grand plans of jet-setting around the world during your golden years, then there’s nothing wrong with punching the clock for a little while longer. It’ll give you something to do while definitely sweetening the pot when you do decide to retire. Done with working for the man? Then consider taking something part-time or even launching your own start-up. It could be something you’ve always been interested in, but never had the time or drive to actually do. Who knows, it could be something you make money on and will enjoy well into retirement. Nothing wrong with that. However you choose to build your long-forsaken nest egg, don’t wait a minute longer. When it comes to saving for retirement, time is money.

How to build a fortune in the stock market 5 questions every investor needs to ask of their investment strategy

Every investor’s investment strategy should adequately address the following five questions: (1) What specific stocks will I buy? (2) When should I buy these stocks? (3) How should I buy these stocks? (4) When should I sell these stocks? (5) How should I sell these stocks? In addition, the answers for questions #2, #3, #4, and #5 should vary depending upon the different components of an individual’s stock portfolio. If the answers for questions #2 , #3. #4, and #5 exhibit no variance, then the risk profile for all stocks in the portfolio will be the same, an undesirable trait. There is a very good reason why people that try to mimic the portfolios of very wealthy successful investors never can achieve nearly the same success as the investors they mimic. The reason is that they can only answer one piece of the above 5-part investment puzzle – the question of what to buy. In fact, I could open up my portfolio to investment novices, show them all the stocks I own now, and out of 1,000 novices, all of them would have an extremely difficult time duplicating my future returns. In fact, it’s entirely plausible that investors would lose significant amounts of money on the very same stocks that would produce my largest gains. Why? Again, understanding a complete investment system will determine portfolio returns, not just knowing what to buy. Why Most Investment Firms’ Strategies Fail to Adequately Address the 5 Questions The evolution of job titles for investment professionals from broker to financial consultant to financial advisor is ironic, because the original title, for the great majority of employees in this industry, is by far the most accurate. Most financial consultants are nothing more than brokers that broker the money you give to them. They serve as middlemen between you and the money managers hired by the firm, and are so interchangeable with one another that a retail investor’s portfolio returns are not likely to vary significantly from one consultant to another at the same firm. Back when I worked as a “broker” at a Wall Street firm, I remember hearing a story about a very successful (meaning high-income earner) financial consultant that bought nothing but exchange traded funds (ETFs) for his clients. His rational for doing so was four-fold. (1) Mutual fund expenses were too high (true); (2) Expenses on ETFs were low (true); (3) The overwhelming majority of money managers can’t beat the performance of the major domestic indexes (true); and (4) Therefore, ETFs were the best way to invest for his client (false). Global investment firms never train their brokers how to be superior stock pickers. They train them how to be superior salespeople. So in concluding that allocating entire portfolios solely to ETFs was the absolute best possible strategy for his clients, this particular consultant’s logic was erroneous. The consultant drew this conclusion solely based upon his foundation of investment knowledge, one primarily filled with investment sales strategies. In fact, though I was never able confirm this, I heard many anecdotal stories that this particular financial consultant was able to outperform the vast majority of financial consultants at the firm with his “I will only buy ETFs” strategy. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if this were true, the fact that this particular consultant was able to gather so many clients based on such a faulty strategy was a remarkable statement about the average investor’s knowledge of how to build wealth. To me, as unknowledgeable as financial consultants are about proper wealth building strategies (given their constant diet of investment sales strategies), this proves that the average retail investor, even those with millions of investable assets, are far less knowledgeable. In conclusion, every retail investor should thus utilize the 5 questions of building wealth to determine if his or her investment strategy is faulty or strong. With any strong investment strategy, all 5 questions will be relevant. Own a faulty investment strategy and most likely, one or more of the 5 questions will be irrelevant. And the faultiness of the strategy no doubt will be manifested in weak returns. To illustrate how the 5 questions of building wealth will “out” any poor investment strategy, let’s take a look at a couple of examples. Let’s start with two different portfolios, one primarily built around ETFs; the other primarily built around Mutual Funds. (1)What Specific Stocks Should I Buy? Neither the Mutual Fund or ETF strategy can answer this question, so you don’t even need to ask the final four questions to know that neither of these strategies will help you build wealth. How about a portfolio that consists of all individual Chinese stocks? This portfolio passes question #1, the question of what specific stocks to buy. Next, if we drill down to see how this portfolio was constructed, the portfolio manager’s answers to questions #2 and #3 - “When were these stocks bought and why?” and “How were these stocks bought and why?” – will reveal whether or not the portfolio was indeed constructed solidly. Finally the portfolio manager’s answers to questions #4 and #5 - “How will these stocks be sold and why?” and “When will these stocks be sold and why?” will reveal if strategies are in place to lock in profits or minimize potential losses. However, remember the earlier point I made in this article: “the answers for questions #2, #3, #4, and #5 should vary depending upon the different components of an individual’s stock portfolio.” Most likely for a portfolio built on stocks that trade in a frothy, emerging market, there will be little variance in the answers for questions #2, #3, #4 and #5. This lack of variance again would expose the weakness of this investment strategy. Although just a rough guide, the 5 questions should provide you a quick way to establish the intelligence and strength of your current investment strategy.

National collegiate athletic association college team merchandise

There are so many items that can be enjoyed in the numerous National Collegiate Athletic Association College team merchandise shops that you will find on the Internet, and at all sporting events. People enjoy the opportunity to buy fully licensed merchandise, that is not only a fashion statement, but extremely comfortable too. Some of the National Collegiate Athletic Association College team merchandise will be great to decorate your home with. There are brightly colored emblems on all of the team merchandise and you can spread them out proudly in the home in the form of photograph frames, fireplace screens and ornamental items for your home office or desk that you use at work. All of these National Collegiate Athletic Association College team merchandise items are top quality, and some are fashioned as high-end jewelry items that will allow you to show your team spirit in 10 karat gold charm styles. All of the jewelry accessories are hand-crafted and hand polished to add true value to your college logo wear opportunities. They will definitely thrill the fashion minded sports enthusiasts that go to games regularly and cheer their team on to victory. Other accessories that are offered in the National Collegiate Athletic Association College team merchandise arsenal of values are centered around the sports that people enjoy when they are at home. The recreation room offerings are full of bargains with billiard table covers, and customized billiard ball sets with team logos on every ball. The bar stools are clearly brilliant and offered in many styles, to keep friends quite comfortable when they come over to visit. People really love wearing the ball caps of their favorite collegiate teams, and they can be readily found in the National Collegiate Athletic Association college team merchandise catalogues, or the fashion accessories section of any dealer that has a virtual storefront on the Internet. The stitching and style of these visor enhanced fashion accessories will truly let people enjoy shading their eyes in the marvelous color choices of their favorite team. Use the National Collegiate Athletic Association college team merchandise to decorate your child’s room. There are banners, flags, curtains, and comforters that are creatively designed, with team logos and colors that will delight any child. These bedroom accessories are complete with matching shams, throw blankets, waste baskets, pillow cases and rugs that will create a sports world that might inspire a child to play football when they are older. There are opportunities to decorate your garden in collegiate styling. There are gorgeous wind spinners, and bird feeders that feature full-color logos to dress out porches and get them ready for tailgate parties. They will give your garden the sporty touch that will keep the festivities centered on the latest victory. There are many great buys for collector’s of National Collegiate Athletic Association college team merchandise. From rugged jerseys, to embroidered logo, team oriented sport shirts, a collector can find what they need in any type of team merchandise category found through the various shops that specialize in these very special items.

Ebooks meeting the demand

Do you have a hobby? Have you learned how to master a particular program or video game? Can you put together a step-by-step guide to help others gain similar understanding of the process? If you answered yes to any of the above questions you might have the beginnings of a home-based business. People are consistently looking for ways to make money using a variety of software products or through an understanding of online auction houses. Dozens of ebooks have been developed to attempt to address a variety of topics that have found a connection with online consumers. Perhaps the success of ebooks as a home-based business has to do with the immediacy of information acquisition or possibly the low cost associated with ebook downloads. Maybe the success is linked to the portability of the product through hand-held PC devices or it might simply be the desire for new information. Traditional publishing houses might never consider publishing a book on subjects like online safety specifically at Christmas time or how to breed tropical fish, but these subjects are addressed in ebook form and they have sold very well. A traditional publisher can take up to a year or more to get your book to market while a completed ebook can be ready to go in a matter of minutes in some cases. Today’s online consumer is used to locating information that answers their questions immediately. If they can locate it online at a cost that is less than a bookstore and without the hassle of trying to get to the bookstore in hopes that they actually have what they want, then you become the hero of the day when you provide an ebook on the subject they are looking for. Many ebook authors have utilized a multi-pronged approach to distribution. Some sell product exclusively on their website, but many have also (or in lieu of) used an ebook reseller to push their product onto the larger stage of mass consumption. However, when a home-based business owner determines to make their ebook available the end result is a long-term revenue stream in residual income through payments for downloads of the ebook. The concept is similar to traditional book publishing, but leaves the control of the book in the hands of the owner of the work. You’ll notice I say ‘owner’ because increasingly freelance writers are being used to develop the idea with ownership remanded to the one requesting the material. Ebooks are a growing product of consumer demand. How are you meeting the demand?

Writing is it a skill craft or gift

Whenever you gather writers together they talk about writing. There are many different types of writers. Those who prefer to compose in long-hand or can only write on an old-fashioned manual typewriter. Those who write to music, demand complete silence, or create best surrounded by noise. You have the writers who must plan and outline before they can begin and those who find even talking about a project before it is drafted can stifle their creativity. But one of the most controversial divisions among writers is about whether writing is a skill, craft, or gift. I admit that I like to stir the fire a bit because I can argue all three points and depending on how my own writing is going at the moment I may find that one viewpoint carries more weight for me personally. I know as a teacher of writing that writing is a skill. I have taken people, young and old, who loathed writing and believed they would never be able to write -- and provided them with basic tips and tools to become good basic writers. I have taken good basic writers and given them the support and direction they've needed to become skilled writers. I've watched skilled writers with practice and determination become proficient writers. I have seen this in the classroom, at writing conferences, and in newsrooms. I have witnessed this transformation enough to know that writing is a skill that can be taught and a skill that can be learned. I know as a writer, editor, and reader that writing is a craft. As the definition reads to craft is "to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity". A skilled writer can capture our interest and convey information, but a writer can also craft a story, poem, or essay that touches our emotions as well as our brains. For those who have gone beyond simply skilled to be craftsmen and craftswomen they can rely on their knowledge, experience, and instinct to create writing that does more than simply delivers -- it also sings. I know as a writer and reader that writing is a gift. Some writers simply possess a special quality that allows them to step beyond and above the huddled masses. For some it is a special ability to shape words into images and ideas and for some it is a unique vision of this world (or another) that speaks to our souls in a way others cannot. Are writers born or made? Many people argue that some gifted writers are born, but I am not convinced. Perhaps you could have some predisposition but I believe that writers are made. They are made in the rocking chair when Mother reads "Goodnight, Moon"; they are made under the cover with a flashlight when you simply must finish "The Hobbit" for the first time; they are made when you proudly pocket your first library card; they are made when you fill your first notebook; they are made when you submit your first poem, article or story for publication; they are made when you receive your first rejection; and they are made when you turn the computer on every day to write. I believe some writers are supremely gifted but even so does that mean it was a gift given to them whole or was it a gift developed through years of reading, writing, talking, and thinking about words? So, I believe, writing is all three -- a skill, a craft, and a gift. Some writers find their ability spans all three while others never progress past the level of skill.

Secured credit cards

When deciding upon what credit card is the best for you, don’t rule out secured credit cards. In fact, many people are finding secured credit cards to be the best option. Some people choose a secured credit card when they have had credit problems in the past, and obtaining a traditional credit card would be difficult if not impossible. Secured credit cards are great options for teaching your teenagers and college students about responsible financial spending. Secured credit cards help control your spending, since you must have the money before you can make a purchase, unlike a traditional credit card that you don’t have to have the money to back up your purchases. So, you may be asking why bother with a credit card at all, if you have to have the cash available to fund your secured credit card. In our modern times, it is becoming increasingly difficult to do certain things without having access to a credit card. Have you ever tried renting a car or purchasing an airplane ticket without a credit card? Ever tried booking a hotel room without a credit card? Secured credit cards work in the same manner as a checking account debit card, however, there is no actual checking or savings account associated with the card. You make a deposit to the company that issues the secured credit card, and that becomes your spending limit. When you have made purchases that reach the amount of money you deposited, you have to deposit more money in order to continue using the card. Advantages of using a secured credit card, other than the obvious advantage of not spending more money than you actually have, include the fact that almost anyone is eligible to obtain a secured credit card. Regardless of your personal financial history and credit score, you can make a deposit with a secured card distributor and obtain a credit card. The only actual requirement to be approved for a secured card is you must be of legal age and have money to deposit on the card. Other advantages of a secured credit card versus a traditional credit card are that you are not charged an annual percentage rate on the amount that you deposit, and you can have your paycheck deposited directly onto a secured credit card in many instances. A traditional credit card will smother you with interest rates, late fees and finance charges over time, and you’ll end up paying two to three times what you’ve actually charged to the card! With a secured card, you know exactly how much you’re paying for an item. Secured cards allow you to make purchases online when you would not be able to if you didn’t have a traditional credit card. The main disadvantage to using a secured credit card in place of a traditional credit card is the fact that you have to have the money in advance for any purchase you want to make. While this is an advantage when considering your credit score and the perfect way to avoid getting into debt too deep for you to handle, it is also a disadvantage in the event of an emergency situation. If your car breaks, or your home’s furnace dies and you don’t have the cash available, a traditional credit card would come in handy. Perhaps without ever using traditional credit cards however, you will be able to save enough money to cover emergency instances and not need to rely on credit to bail yourself out of the emergency situation. Secured credit cards may be the best option for your credit card needs. They allow you to travel conveniently, make purchases by phone or the internet, and without the dangers of falling into financial desperation!

America get ready it s time to cook out

Just in time for the cookout season, the country's top grilling cities were revealed, naming the Show Me State's St. Louis as number one. "St. Louis is known for its great barbecue and rubs, and we've got the grills going to prove it," said Earline Walker, owner of one of the city's best barbecue restaurants. "That's because we know nothing can bring family and friends together like a cookout with that great smoky, real barbecue flavor of charcoal-grilled foods." Memphis, Atlanta and Tampa were also named in the top ten list, which was compiled by Kingsford® Charcoal with Sure Fire Grooves™. Easy Does It Use a chimney to light the briquets. Simply place loosely wadded newspaper in the lower chamber, charcoal in the top and light the paper. Once the briquets are ready (they'll turn an ash-gray color), just pour them into the grill. Chimneys can be found at any hardware, home and garden or superstore. Visit kingsford for additional lighting methods. Seasonal Sides Spice up seasonal sides! Sprinkle fresh veggies like summer squash and corn on the cob with Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix instead of butter. 5-Minute Dessert Before grilling desserts, brush the grates to remove any marinades or meat flavors from the meal. Then, drizzle KC Masterpiece® Barbecue Sauce on slices of pineapple, melon and apple, lightly grill to caramelize the topping and serve with ice cream. Think Outside of the Kitchen You can grill almost anything! Try grilling chicken wings instead of deep frying or baking them, as they're traditionally prepared. You can also heat sides, like beans and veggies, in a saucepot on the grates, or grill pizza and quesadillas for a great smoky, real barbecue flavor. Grilled Chicken Wings Recipe created by Earline and Otis Walker, owners of Smoki O's, St. Louis Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 11/2 to 2 hours Serves: 4 4 tablespoons granulated garlic 2 teaspoons red pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 pound chicken wings 11/2 cups Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® dressing 2 cups KC Masterpiece® Original Barbecue Sauce Light grill using Kingsford® Charcoal with Sure Fire Grooves™. Mix garlic, red pepper and salt; rub onto wings. Pour Ranch dressing into Glad® food storage bag; add wings. Shake bag to coat wings. Remove wings from bag; place on aluminum foil, fold into cooking pockets and seal tightly. Place pockets on main grill rack for about an hour and a half. Remove wings from pockets and finish directly on grill over moderate flame. Turn every two minutes until wings develop a crust. Baste wings with KC Masterpiece® Original Barbecue Sauce. Serve warm. • If smoker is available, arrange wings on smoker. Cook for 11/2 to 2 hours. Remove and place on grill over moderate flame and grill as directed above. Of course, you don't have to live in St. Louis to enjoy great grilling. Make your next cookout shine with these tips from Walker.

Personal bankruptcy issues

As the population of the United States grows, more and more people will file for personal bankruptcy. This has become more widespread because of the circumstances of life. It can sometimes be the individual’s responsibility, and other times it can be due to issues beyond anyone’s control. It will change lives for the better in some ways and for the worst in others. Personal bankruptcy can make daily life easier to deal with because the stress of dealing with collectors has passed. It becomes easier to sleep at night knowing that there are no more debts for the person to have to pay. On the other hand, personal bankruptcy ruins a person’s credit rating for up to ten years. It will be difficult to by a new car or a new home. If financing is available, the interest rate will be very high because the person is a credit risk. Credit cards will be hard to get, and the cards that are available will have small credit limits and high interest rates. Just about all credit opportunities will be a challenge for the person to obtain. It can make personal bankruptcy hard for some people to deal with. If this is an issue for you, you may want to think twice before filing. The need must be real in order to survive this station in life. Personal Bankruptcy Attorneys If you are against the wall with no other way out other than personal bankruptcy, you need to look up an attorney that handles personal bankruptcy. Make sure that the attorney that you choose is a reputable attorney that cares about people and will listen to you and your concerns. Some attorneys handle personal bankruptcies as an easy way to make money. This is the type of attorney that you want to avoid. When it comes time to deal with creditors, you want an attorney that you can trust and rely on. The attorney is there to serve you and your needs in your bankruptcy case. Personal bankruptcy can be very stressful, and it’s important to know that someone has your best interest at heart. The ability to sleep easy at night knowing that your case is being well handled is worth the cost of an attorney. Some people want to represent themselves, but this can cause more stress and money if it is not handled correctly. Personal bankruptcy is difficult to deal with even when you do enlist the help of an attorney. It is wise for an individual to seek professional assistance in this matter, and to do so as soon as possible.

Soft furnishings

Soft furnishings provide wonderful and comfortable seating zone at home. These items come in market in great variety and add great charm and comfort to your daily activities. Cushions, towels, soft seating, throws are the items which are included in the list of soft furnishings. These kinds of items are usually designed in a modular way to offer you maximum comfort. Soft Seating items have great functional value as these items are very useful for you for performing your routine activities in an easy manner. These types of items come in market in many attractive shapes to suit your needs of comfort. The soft furnishing article like cushion can make the furniture items at home and office more appealing and comfortable. The impressive and soft towels or throws can add more elegance to atmosphere of your home and office. Soft seating items can also be useful in great way. You can use soft seating for watching television or having nap in comfortable posture. In case you are thinking about buying unique furnishing items like cushions, towels, soft seating or throws for your home or office then you can always look for them online. Styleourhome now facilitate you to create unique look for your home. Hatch Lounger is the Soft Seating presenting by styleourhome to provide comfort. Hatch is the first lounger to be made out of a mix of reinforced polystyrene beads and polyolefin foam. For more details, visit - styleourhome

How wines are rated

Wines, like hotels, tend to get rated. And they get rated with stars. How do you know what a 5 or 6-star wine stands for? Now unlike hotels, wines do not necessarily have to be rated by an expert. They can be rated by anyone. All it takes is for a person to have enough of an exposure as well as an understanding of how wine is made, what goes into the making of wine and how it should be rated. Wine is rated on four parameters – the aroma, the taste, the appearance and the aftertaste. Let’s take a look at how wines get their stars! The ultimate rating is 6 stars. A 6-star wine is said to be absolutely perfect. There’s nothing that is missing from it and nothing that needs to be removed from it. This rating means the wine just cannot be improved in any way. The number of wines that fall into this category globally is less than 1% of the wine produced all over the world. This wine is really a classic and it has all the complex characteristics that a classic wine is expected to have. You won’t find a wine like this online – no way. These are usually tagged as collectors’ items. Wines that are rated as 5-star wines have a balanced color, richness and harmony. They are almost perfect and have a wonderful aroma, taste and feel. Their organoleptic characteristics are quite extraordinary. Then come the 4-star wines which constitute 5% of the wines produced all over the world. These, too have finesse, flavor and great character and you can’t really find fault with them or perceive any noticeable flaws. These are the wines that are commonly produced today and their rating goes up if they are allowed to age. Then come the average wines or the wines that are 3-star rated. These are well made but the ingredients they are made from are ordinary. However, they do have great taste and texture and you cannot really find any noticeable flaws. Except for the fact that the raw materials used are ordinary, you cannot really distinguish them from 4-star wines. Any wine with less than a 3-star rating is below par. You will usually find flaws in them that may even be noticeable and visible to the eye. There could be an unpleasant smell, it could be a watery substance or there could even be floating particles. This could of course be due to the extra acid or tannin present. Sometimes these wines might taste okay but you will find that they do not have any character, depth or complexity. And of course, 1-star wines are made from really poor ingredients. They are generally home-made wines that might not make it to the shop shelves. They are usually not well balanced, very diluted, have a dull taste and are flawed. How is wine tasting and rating done? It is usually done in groups that are large. The wines are not labeled and the group has to rate them without knowing the cost or the brand. These ratings are then collected and compiled. It is a comprehensive analysis of these that are the basis of rating and determining which class a wine should be classified as. These ratings and classification help as far as the buyers are concerned because it helps them to choose a good wine. You know which the best wine available in the market is and you know what the stars stand for. How many people use these as guidelines when choosing a wine? Well many of these cannot be strictly followed and finally, it’s the buyer who has to take a call on which wine he wants.

Can necklaces mean a pain in the neck

The wearing of jewellery has been with us across the ages with both men and women seeking to adorn their persons with these ornamental devices. The word jewellery is anglicised from an old French word “joule” (jewel), but the origin can be further traced back to the Latin word “jocale” which means plaything. Although we typically think of jewellery as being made from precious metals and gemstones, over the centuries it has been made from a variety of materials such as cloth, wood, shells, rocks and stone. In fact man has been very ingenious and artistic in creating jewellery from just about anything and in many different styles from the plain and simple to the highly elaborate. Items of jewellery have also been adopted as potent symbols and even worn to ward off evil spirits or to help overcome enemies in battle. Examples of jewellery being worn other than for adornment, are necklaces such as the cross or crucifixes worn by Christians as potent religious symbols. Other religious types of necklaces are pendants known as amulets, which are figures or symbols of varying shapes and sizes, which are hung on a chain round the neck. Necklaces called lockets, which are usually heart shaped are worn as a symbol of love and open up to reveal a picture or lock of hair from a cherished one. Necklaces and pendants are both worn around the neck but a pendant usually means a hanging object although it can be hanging from a neck chain or an earring. A choker is also a form of necklace but is worn high around the neck and can also have a pendant hanging from it. Perhaps the most bizarre form of necklaces are those worn by the Pa Dong Long Neck people who are part of the Karen tribal group that live along the border between Thailand and Burma. From the age of 6 years old, brass rings are snapped around the necks of young girls, a few every year, up to a limit of 20 rings although there is a woman on record as having 28 around her neck. As they progress from childhood to womanhood, their necks appear to elongate although apparently what really happens is that the weight of the rings crushes the women’s collarbones giving the illusion of a very long neck. It is said that these women only remove the brass rings on their wedding night with a long drawn out process involved, which involves much neck washing. As brass often tends to discolour the skin one can imagine that there may be a rather nasty green mess under those rings. After the wedding night, the rings are replaced and must remain in place for life, as the women’s neck muscles are now no longer strong enough to support the length of the neck and the weight of the head on their own. This wearing of neck rings was also a practice adopted by women in South Africa and in particular those from the Ndebele tribe and these women have often been referred to as giraffe women because of their long necks. The Ndebele women traditionally wore copper and brass rings around their necks arms and legs as a symbol of their status in society and after marriage as a symbol of her bond and faithfulness to her husband. Husbands would provide their wives with these rings and the richer her spouse the more rings she would wear and they would only be removed after his death as they were believed to have strong ritual powers. Thankfully, in both the Pa Dong and the Ndebele tribes, this traditional practice is no longer popular and is now dying out in favour of the more usual types of necklaces.

How to choose a credit counseling agency

: Are you barely making ends meet? Dodging debt collection calls? Unable to meet your monthly expenses much less save money for emergencies or retirement? If this sounds familiar, you may want to consider credit counseling. Credit Counseling can improve many aspects of your life. It can help you get out of debt faster and improve your credit, just to name a few. And there are many agencies out there that would love to quickly enroll you in their Debt Management Program. However, not all agencies are created equal and not all agencies are truly looking out for your best interest. As with most things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This article will outline some guidelines in choosing a credit counseling agency, what questions you should ask and a few warning signs that you may not be dealing with an ethical practice. Choosing a Credit Counseling Agency Reputable credit counseling agencies advise you on how to realistically manage your money and your debts, help you develop a workable budget, and usually offer free educational materials and workshops. Develop your own list on the potential credit counseling agencies and the best way to check the reputability of those short listed credit counseling agencies is to check them with the Better Business Bureau at bbb. org. From they you will know how many complaints have been filed against these credit counseling agencies and for what reasons. Credit counselors should be certified and trained in the areas of consumer credit, money and debt management, and budgeting, and should discuss your entire financial situation with you, and help you develop a personalized plan to solve your money problems without pushing a debt management program. Erase them from your list for those credit counseling agencies that keep pushing you to enroll into their debt management program without understanding first on your financial condition. The Cost Although many credit counseling agencies are nonprofit, there might be some fee involve. Bottom line is whether they request "fees" or "contributions", they should be disclosed and should be reasonable. Anything over $50 for a consultation fee or monthly fee or contribution is NOT reasonable. Make sure that the agency is not keeping the first month's payment as their fee! This is known as a bad practice in the industry and has been the source of state attorney general lawsuits as well as many individual actions against the agencies that do this. What Questions To Ask? What services do you offer? Look for a credit counseling agency that offers a variety of related services. Avoid agencies that push a debt management plan (DMP) as your only option before they spend a significant amount of time analyzing your financial situation. What educational materials/information do you offer? Is it free? Avoid credit counseling agencies that charge for educational materials or other written information. What are your fees? Are there set-up and/or monthly fees, how are they broken down? Get a specific price quote in writing and make sure you understand exactly what fees you'll be charged. What if I can't afford to pay your fees or make contributions? Under the terms of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, non-profit credit counseling agencies must provide services for free if a consumer is unable to pay. What are the qualifications of your counselors? Are they accredited or certified by an outside organization? Use an organization whose counselors are trained by a non-affiliated party and who have a background in debt management, consumer credit and budgeting/finance. Once you satisfied with their answers given by the credit counseling agency and decide to take up their service, remember to get a copy of the contract and review it carefully before you sign it. Make sure the contract includes:

• Disclosure of the amount of your fee or contribution


• Description of the services to be provided


• An estimate of the payoff schedule for the debts


• Disclosure of the termination provisions of the agreement


• Options for resolution of disputes

Warning Signs Finally, you should be aware of a few warning signs on unethical practice. Get alert with these signs when you interviewing an agency:

• Unrealistic Low Monthly Payments


• Money Back Offers


• Loan Programs


• If the promises being made seem like they're too good to be true, they probably are. Beware.

Summary You have made the first step towards reaching financial freedom. Now you must make the next big step and choose the Credit Counseling Agency that is best for you. Remember, you want to work with an agency whose goals are in line with yours, NOT theirs.

The dangers of bleeding ulcer

More and more people are suffering from digestive disorders these days. Due to poor diets, unhealthy lifestyles and the abuse of caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol, most people develop different forms of ulcer. There are multiple types of ulcer and some of them are considered to be life-threatening. Even milder forms of ulcer may endanger a person’s life if the disorder is not appropriately treated. Ulcer involves irritation, sores or lesions at different levels of the gastrointestinal tract. The main cause of ulcer is considered to be the infection with the bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, which can be acquired through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. Another cause of ulcer is the excessive production of hydrochloric acid and pepsin. When in excess, gastric acid may damage the protective walls of the stomach or other particular internal organs, enabling the bacteria to cause greater damage. Although the bacteria Helicobacter pylori and excessive gastric secretions are mainly responsible for the development of ulcer, there are also other factors that may contribute to the process: smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine, etc. When hydrochloric acid and pepsin are also involved in the development of the ulcer, the disorder is referred to as peptic ulcer. If the ulcer occurs at the level of the duodenum, the disorder is called duodenal ulcer. If the ulcer develops in the stomach, the disorder is called stomach or gastric ulcer. Gastric ulcer is considered to be a serious form of digestive disorder, as it may lead to complications and even cancer. The most severe complications of peptic ulcer are bleeding ulcer and perforate ulcer. Bleeding ulcer is very dangerous and in some cases it can cause the death of the affected person. Bleeding ulcer requires immediate medical attention and in most cases it can only be corrected through surgery. Operations performed in order to treat bleeding ulcers are mostly done through the means of a gastroscope. General anesthesia is not always required in performing such operations. Fortunately, not all patients who suffer from bleeding ulcer need surgery. Latest experimental medicines have decreased the mortality rate of patients who develop such complications and maybe in the future oral treatment will become a substitute for today’s surgery. The most common symptoms of bleeding ulcer are: vomiting blood, presence of blood in the feces, black stools, nausea and dehydration. Bleeding ulcer can also lead to anemia; due to excessive blood loss, fewer red blood cells remain within the body, failing to provide sufficient oxygen to internal organs. It is vital to try to prevent bleeding ulcers from appearing, as in some cases they may be fatal. The best thing to do when confronted with the symptoms of ulcer is to immediately inform your physician of your problems, in order to receive an appropriate medical treatment, thus avoiding further complications of the disorder.

Copper canyon

Sierra Tarahumara, popularly known as Copper Canyon is situated in Mexico. The area is a favorite destination among those seeking an adventurous vacation. Copper Canyon is one of the six gorges in the area. Although the name suggests that the gorge might have some relevance to copper mining, this is not the case. The name is derived from the copper and green lichen covering the canyon. Copper Canyon has two climatic zones. The region features an alpine climate at the top and a subtropical climate at the lower levels. Winters are cold with frequent snowstorms at the higher altitudes. Summers are dry and hot. The capital city, Chihuahua, is a high altitude desert where weather ranges from cold winters to hot summers. The region is unique because of the various ecosystems that exist within it. Another unique feature of Copper Canyon is the presence of the Tarahumara Indian culture. These semi-nomadic people live in cave dwellings. Their livelihood chiefly depends on farming and cattle ranching. Apart from the native population, the local wildlife is also a major crowd puller. Several migratory and native birds, mammals and reptiles call Copper Canyon their home. The exquisite fauna in this near-pristine land is also worth checking out. A traveler may choose to explore the area by hiking around the canyon or venturing into it. Detailed planning is required for those who wish to venture into the depths of the canyon. There are a number of travel companies that specialize in organizing tours to the region. Visitors can fly to Copper Canyon using a tourist visa, which is valid for 180 days. Travelers can also drive from anywhere in the United States and acquire a visa at the Mexican customs station at the border. A holiday to the Copper Canyon promises to be an exciting mix of relaxation, culture, history, wildlife and hiking.

Getting the best payday loan

Everyone gets in a pinch now and then when you need cash and don't have it until payday. Payday cash loans are often the quickest way to get the cash you need to take care of your needs. But how do you know what type of payday loan to get? Follow a few simple tips and you can find a payday cash loan that will fit your needs. One type of payday loan is the online loan. An online payday loan is one that you apply for via the company's website. You fill out the applicable information and they deposit the cash directly into your bank account. On the due date they will debit the amount of your loan plus any additional fees from your account. This can be a very convenient way of getting a payday cash loan. It is good for people who work long hours and cannot visit a traditional store. Be aware that this type of loan can cost you more because you generally have to pay a fee for them to wire the money to your account. The other type of payday loan is an in store advance. With this type of loan, a customer goes to the store in person. You will be required to fill out a paper application, unless you have completed it online. You will be asked to write a post dated check for the amount of the loan and the fees combined. On the due date, the company will either clear the check through your bank account or you will bring cash and buy back your check. This can be a more secure method than online, however, there is a greater time and inconvenience factor. When looking for a payday cash loan company, there are a few things to keep in mind. Do your homework. Look into a company before you give them access to all your personal information. Check out their website and be sure it is a secure site. You can determine this by seeing if it is a https instead of http. This is especially important if you are doing an online advance. Contact the Better Business Bureau to see what their history is. Fees can vary widely, so compare the fees of several different payday loan companies to be sure you are getting the best deal. Taking a payday cash loan can be expensive. These are generally available for people who cannot get traditional credit such as a personal loan or a credit card. Since they are usually a person's only option, they charge much higher rates. Many charge up to 650% annually. Getting a payday loan should be a short term solution. Payday cash loans are a way for people to have access to cash in case of an emergency. Although these loans should not be used on a regular basis, they can be a good option for fixing a temporary problem. As long as you are careful and follow a few simple guidelines, you can get a payday cash loan that will fit your situation.

Making money with squidoo 3

Thousands of marketers have realized the incredible profit-generating benefits of Squidoo. The time to capitalize on this relatively new Web 2.0 marketing opportunity is definitely now. As Squidoo's popularity continues to grow, the availability of niche keyword lens titles will diminish. As of this writing, there are still highly profitable niche keywords available to use as niche lens titles. If your desire is to make a profit with your Squidoo lenses, there are several important steps you need to implement to ensure success. 1. Perform serious keyword research for your lens. This must be your first step. The keywords in the title of your Squidoo lens are just as important as the title of any website. Use a good keyword tool such as Overture or even Good Keywords to search for keywords that are searched between 2000 and 50,000 times per month. Although Squidoo is doing quite well in the search engines, I wouldn't be over-zealous and use keywords that are searched for over 50,000 times per month. Squidoo allows you to submit up to 20 tags, so you should use all 20 tags and be sure to use 3-4 keyword phrases to make up each keyword. They seem to work better with Squidoo. 2. Provide useful content on your Squidoo lenses such as articles and product reviews. This will increase your lenses' popularity with consumers and with the search engines. Also, don’t flood your lens with lots of affiliate links as this could be viewed as spamming by the Squidoo staff and may get your lens deleted. One to three affiliate links is plenty. You will also need to use at least three additional modules. I recommend using the Ebay, Amazon and RSS modules. RSS feeds will provide fresh content to your lens which is always appealing to the search engines. Be sure the RSS feed you use is relative and updated often. 3. Find quality incoming links to your Squidoo lens. This is very important to your rankings in the search engines. The sites which link to your Squidoo lens should have a page rank of 4 or higher. Incoming links that work well with Squidoo are social bookmarking sites, classified ad sites like Craigslist and social networking sites like YouTube and MySpace. Be sure to follow these websites' guidelines. It's also a good idea to place a link to your Squidoo site on your blog.

Planning a vacation how about disneyland

After working hard all year long, everyone deserves a vacation to relieve all the stress and to enjoy time with friends and family. This is why it's important to choose a destination that will fulfill all expectations...Disneyland! As many go on holiday with family, it is essential that there is something to enjoy for all members of the family, and this is certainly the case at Disneyland. Surprises are always welcomed, but if you have children and you decide to spend your vacation in a city that has nothing fun to offer them, then the surprise turns into a nightmare. Going away from friends, even if for a week, seems to children something that requires an effort, so try and make then want that vacation by offering them exciting with plenty of things to do, things that can combine education and pleasure. The choice of Disneyland vacation destinations is entirely yours. Depending upon a number of factors you may choose to visit Disneyland in Paris, Florida, California, or Tokyo. This will depend on how far you are willing to travel, your vacation budget, and if there are any other attractions that you may wish to visit whilst there. All offer great features for kids and adults to enjoy, and there is always plenty going on at all times of the day to ensure that no-one gets bored. Maybe Disneyland isn't for you, but of course there are wonderful places to visit all around the world. If budget allows it, you can make a trip around the world to visit the seven world’s wonders, which will be something that you will never forget. The Pyramids for instance are mysterious buildings, dated since the ancient Egyptians, enclosing a technology and architecture that can hardly be matched even in today's world. Go and walk through these world wonders to try and understand the mystery, to see for yourself the simplicity of the people and the splendor of the country. Vacation can simply be spent at home also. We can just relax and catch up on lost sleep if we feel too exhausted to travel. Meeting friends, having barbecues, sitting by the pool and playing with children will make us forget the hard year that passed. However, make sure one of your vacations is spent at Disneyland; it really is a "must-do" vacation that shouldn't be missed!

New advances made in hydrogen fuel cells

The best hope for bringing the hydrogen-fueled automobile to the American roadway may be a technology that is invisible to the naked eye. The technology is in the form of tiny graphite structures that together act as a sponge to absorb and store hydrogen in the fuel system of the automobile. Onboard storage of hydrogen gas is the major obstacle impeding the progress and wide-scale commercial production of the hydrogen-powered vehicle, which many view as the next generation in energy-efficient and environmentally friendly road transportation. The graphite structures are a product of the burgeoning field of nanotechnology. Engineers design the structures at the molecular level, working in scales as small as millimeters and nanometers. The engineers stack the fibrous platelets one atop the other, leaving the optimum gap between the wafers; then they arrange the chemistry so that hydrogen molecules are absorbed in the graphite. The nanostructures are extremely porous, like a sponge, allowing them to absorb large capacities of hydrogen until fully saturated. Experiments demonstrate that the hydrogen storage in graphite nanofibers is safe. Another method of hydrogen storage derived from nanotechnology involves carbon nano-tubes. With carbon nanotubes, engineers arrange carbon platelets in different configurations. Research has shown the carbon nanotubes to display strong hydrogen storage capabilities. The contribution of nanotechnology to hydrogen storage is timely, as automobile companies work to advance fuel cell technology amid growing public sentiments to develop alternative forms of energy. Despite the promise of nanotechnology in automobile fuel cells, additional research is required to refine graphite nanofibers and carbon nanotubes and to develop cost-effective means to manufacture the advanced structures. The Nanotechnology Institute at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) strongly supports research in nanotechnology and is dedicated to narrowing the gap between theoretical science and real-world applications. Among other programs, the institute organizes forums that bring together the technical community and general public to review developments in the field.

The camden county vocational school

Billy loved everything about cars. This person loved the roar of the engine to the little parts that made the vehicle run. Since there were not were not any universities or colleges that specialized in automobiles, the only one that could offer this was the vocational school in Camden County where this individual resided in. Camden County Vocational School has over a thousand students currently enrolled every year. Though majority of those studying are men, it offers courses for women who want to learn and get a better job. Most vocational schools require the student to request for a brochure online. Billy filled up the application form, left the telephone number and address so that a representative from campus can call and a brochure can be sent. A few days later, the brochure arrived. There were two programs being offered that could teach Billy to become a better mechanic. The first was automotive body repair while the second was automotive technician. Billy believed a skilled mechanic should know everything inside and outside of the automobile. Given that this person wasn’t doing anything, this person decided to enroll in both to be able to get certification. Normally, vocational courses may take from one to two years. Billy was a smart guy and didn’t have any problems with getting a full load. Because of this person’s hard work and dedication, the two were finished in less than 18 months making the student graduate ahead of the rest in the class. After graduation, this individual applied for work at the local body shop. Given that this individual did an internship while in school and had two degrees, Billy was able to ask for a salary higher than the minimum wage. The money earned was then invested in buying parts for the roadster that was being assembled by hand in the garage. Camden County Vocational School also has other courses for prospective students. It offers cosmetology, computer maintenance, carpentry, graphic designer, machine assistant and a lot more. The courses offered by this school are accredited by an agency under the Department of Education. This means graduates can be sure the certificate earned can go a long way in moving up the corporate ladder. It is never too late to learn something new. Those who want to go back to school and perhaps make more cash should ask for a brochure and obtain more information.

Loan insurance can give peace of mind

The Loan insurance is taken out mostly to safeguard against the fact that if by chance you were to lose your income then your loan repayments would still be able to be paid each month without worrying about from where you would be able to find the money to pay the loan repayment. When bought with keeping your circumstances in mind it could give you a replacement income each month which was determined at the outset when you got the quote for the cover and this would be determined by the sum of money you payout each month for your loan repayments. Once you had been out of work for a pre-defined period of time which is usually between 31 and 90 days then you would receive a tax free lump sum payout for up to 12 months and with some providers for up to 24 months. You do have to be aware that there are lot of factors involved which can make you ineligible to claim against a policy and you have to make sure that you read the small print and the key facts of a policy before taking it out. Some of the most common facts include if you are self-employed, if you are of a retirement age, if you only work in a part time position or if you have an ongoing illness at the time of taking out the policy. Loan insurance in the past has caused a great deal of controversy when the sector was investigated in 2005 by the Financial Services Authority after the Office of Fair Trading received a super complaint from the Citizens Advice which revealed mis-selling was widespread. Many high street lenders were fined and the sector was then referred to the Competition Commission for a review which is expected to reach conclusion in early 2009. While some changes for the better have already arose the Financial Services Authority have revealed that very little progress has been made when it comes to the selling techniques, many firms are still not giving enough information and making the product easy to understand at the time the policy is taken out. The specialist standalone provider will always offer the consumer the information needed so that they can ensure they have a policy that is suitable for their circumstances by giving them the key facts of the policy along with the exclusions. Loan insurance can give great peace of mind and security of an income but only if you are eligible to claim the loan insurance. One change for the better which will occur in March 2008 is the introduction of comparison tables which will allow the consumer to answer questions which will then lead to them knowing which type of policy is suitable for their needs and how much they will pay along with outlining the exclusions. Until this happens the specialist provider is your best option and will always be able to offer you the cheapest premiums for the monthly premium along with excellent advice on all aspects of a loan insurance policy.

The fault line in paid surveys

We’ve all seen the PPC advertisements or the banner ads – GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS. What’s not to love about the idea of telling someone your opinion and getting paid for it? It’s sort of like talk radio and you get to be the host. Say what you want and be rewarded for it? When was the last time that happened? The truth of most matters falls somewhere between the overblown hype and the worst story you’ve heard. You CAN earn money by taking surveys. After all, the individuals looking for survey participants need warm bodies to fill out the surveys so, if they can handle the process online it saves time and money for their company. Many people will fill out the profile and then wait for an incoming survey that will help them manage a few extra purchases for their family, but the surveys don’t seem to be coming in. The profile is checked and it seems to be in order, so why aren’t the survey offers being dropped like pennies from heaven? The answer may be as simple as not fitting the profile the company is looking for. For example let’s say the survey company is looking for a female in her thirties, middle income, and Latino. On your survey you might be listed as a male in his late forties, middle income and African American. You don’t fit the profile they have put together for their survey needs so the paid survey does not come to you. The truth is in the middle. Yes, there are paid surveys and yes some people are making money, but there are also many who have never been offered the opportunity to fill out a paid survey. What may be most frustrating for many would be paid survey users is the variety of sites that will provide information on paid survey companies for a fee. You do NOT have to (nor should you) pay anyone for information on paid surveys. A company that wants to charge you should be avoided. Virtually every paid survey company has their information online and without fee. Essentially all you get for a membership in a site that provides details on paid surveys is a little extra convenience. These companies may the listing all in one place so it has the benefit of saving some time, but once again these sites are not needed if you choose to look for paid surveys to fill out. Do some research on your own. You will likely find survey sites that may be especially appealing and others that are not. Keep your profile current and then go do something else. I’m serious. Don’t spend your time checking and rechecking to see if you have a survey to fill out. This mentality only robs you of time you could be spending on other personal or professional pursuits. Paid surveys may come your direction, but continue to live life as if they aren’t. That way there can be genuine surprise when something finds its way to your inbox.

The bad credit people have new hope

Discussing about bad credit signature loans. it is of importance to bring forth the true meaning of signature loans But there are also a considerable number of people with bad credit history. The signature loans are provided on the basis of a signed activation letter in contrast to the conventional loans which require collateral for its approval. Signature loans for people with a good credit history are easily availed. The credit needs of people has made the lenders to offer bad credit signature loans and cater to them. Even these loans do not require a co-signer. Character loans are the other name for the signature loans. Borrower who had suffered form some financial problems in the past, many lending institutions offer bad credit personal signature loans with the aim of establishing the credentials. Credit unions and banks are the lending institutions. It might be that a person had managed his finances responsibly but situations had forced his credit score to move in a downward direction. But it is a bad credit personal signature loan that can establish a borrower's reputation in the credit market once more. In order for this to work, the borrower has to stick to the repayment schedule to achieve this. Consider the entire credit history of the borrowers in a detailed way to make sure that the outstanding problems have been solved, lenders offering bad credit personal signature loans. Getting qualified for the bad credit signature loans can help by solving problems of very important criterior. If a problem still exists, the borrower would be asked by the lender to re-apply after solving the problems It is to be noted that a bad credit history remains reflected in a borrower's credit report for a period of 7 to 10 years even after the rectification of the problem. Also, the borrowers of bad credit personal signature loans have to pay at a higher interest rate than the borrowers availing a standard personal loan. Since these loans are provided, the lenders indeed take a risk in borrowing them these loans to the borrowers with negative financial history. But these lenders also enjoy increased return on their investments for taking risks with their borrowers. It is a necessity for a borrower to obtain copies of his credit report from all three nationally recognized credit rating agencies namely Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Low financial score for the borrower often results from inaccuracies in these credit report. Mistakes from these low financial score results around 25 percent of cases. In great detail, a borrower should search for these inaccuracies in the reports. One has to correct these inaccuracies and he would find that his financial reporting score has increased within a small period of 30 days. It is very important to know that while conducting searches on the best deals of a bad credit signature loan in the credit market a person's financial score is a very useful negotiating instrument.

The fascination of the design tattoo

Tattoos are still gaining in popularity. The design tattoos are more radical than ever before and so are the spots they are placed on. The number of people with a tattoo is still growing exponential and they are not the “simple and early” design tattoos like you saw in the 80’s or 90’s. A simple anchor or rose or maybe a bird tattoo which was placed on a lower or upper arm where great in those days. The modern tattoo; the design tattoo is used for people to express themselves. There’s a shift taking place; today’s design tattoo is used as a statement. It has become a symbol of attraction and people with the master pieces steal the show. Tattoos vary from different sizes and shapes; it can be done on any part of your body including toes, ears and even eyes. Today’s design tattoos are used to get attention in the mass. Nowadays people see the tattoo as a beautiful ornament that is permanently drawn on their body. Of course we should face the fact; we want tattoos because at the end of the day, they just look good. There are many people who never got a tattoo in the young age and decided to have one in their 40s and even 50s. Now they have significance and meaning associated with the art. People who want to have tattoos can broadly be categorized into two groups. The first being the group of those people who desire to have a tattoo because it holds some personal meaning to them, and those who want to have one because everyone else has one. Design tattoos mean different things in different cultures. In some cultures tattooing is a way to decorate once body and is it in many countries like India a very common art and is it often a part of a religious tradition. Tattooing is in many cultures still a natural part of men’s life and art. Tattoo designs in the Japanese culture are inspired by paintings and drawings. Japanese symbols are rapidly gaining in popularity. But it’s very essential to know the meaning of the character you desire to have on your body for ever. Some people end up getting a tattoo which implies the total opposite of what they intended. Many young people get fascinated by the beauty of the characters but fail to understand the true meaning of it. Tattooing is an art form and today’s design tattoos mean more than just being “cool”. My inspiration for this article was an article I wrote for the Modern Men Magazine mentioned in the Author field.

20 Ways to convert visitors into subscribers

1. You could offer your visitors a discount on all the products you sell if they subscribe to your free e-zine. 2. You could offer your visitors a free ebook if they subscribe to your free e-zine. 3. You could offer your visitors a free subscription to your private web site if they subscribe to your free e-zine. 4. You could offer your visitors a free advertisement in your free e-zine if they subscribe. 5. You could offer your visitors a free tangible gift if they subscribe to your free e-zine. 6. You could offer a free automatic entry into your contest or sweepstakes if they subscribe to your free e-zine. 7. You could tell your visitors that you offer original content in your free e-zine. 8. You could tell your visitors to read a sample issue of your free e-zine on your web site. 9. You could offer your visitor's free software if they subscribe to your free e-zine. 10. You could offer your visitors a free sign up to your affiliate program if they subscribe to your free e-zine. 11. You could offer your visitors a free web service, like free e-mail, if they subscribe to your free e-zine. 12. You could publish some of your current e-zine subscriber's testimonials on your web site. 13. You could publish any positive reviews you have received about your free e-zine on your web site. 14. You could tell your visitors what's going to be published in your next e-zine issue. 15. You could tell your visitors that they have the right to republish your e-zines content on their own web site if they subscribe to your free e-zine 16. You could publish a list of well-known famous or respected people that have subscribed to your free e-zine. 17. You could tell your visitors what a subscription to your free e-zine is worth in dollars. 18. You could tell your visitors all the major benefits of subscribing to your e-zine. 19. You could tell your visitors how many people have already subscribed to your e-zine. 20. You could tell your visitors that a subscription to your free e-zine is only available for a limited time. For more tips & tricks to convert visitors into subscribers visit our Work From Home Opportunity website today!

Produce powerhouses fruit and vegetables that pack a nutritional punch

Everyone knows that consuming fresh fruit and vegetables can help us lead long and healthy lives. But most people don't know that, when it comes to nutrition, all produce isn't created equal. Indeed, some fruit and vegetables are much more nutritionally dense than others. Given that we tend not to eat all of the fruit and veggies that we should, it's important to make sure that those we choose pack the biggest nutritional bang possible. Here are some that always come out on top: Vitamin A: When it comes to Vitamin A, which plays a critical role in many of the body's functions, including vision, bone growth, and the immune system, carrots always win the race. A half-cup of carrot juice provides 450% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin A; one raw carrot will give you 175% of the RDA. Spinach, kale, cantaloupe, pumpkin, and apricots come in a respectable, though distant, second. There's only one food that beats out carrots: beef liver. Really, which would you rather have? Vitamin B6: To a large extent, Americans get most of their B vitamins from fortified cereals. The Vitamin B group is critical to many cell functions, and is instrumental in, for example, carrying oxygen to tissues. Good sources of Vitamin B6 include potatoes (35% RDA) and bananas (34% RDA). Folate, another B vitamin, can be found in spinach, asparagus, mustard greens, green peas, and broccoli. Vitamin E: Vitamin E is known for its antioxidant properties and protects cells from the effects of free radicals. Spinach and other leafy green vegetables, broccoli, kiwifruit, and mango are all good sources of Vitamin E. Iron: This abundant metal is critical in delivering oxygen to tissues, as well as in cell growth. Legumes (like beans and lentils) are great sources of iron, as is spinach. Popeye needed to keep the blood flowing to his muscles, right? Magnesium: About half of the body's magnesium is in the bones, but the other half helps keeps organs functioning smoothly, the metabolism humming along, and tissues healthy. When it comes to fresh produce and magnesium, the greener the better. That's because the molecules that give green vegetables their color contain magnesium. However, bananas, potatoes, and avocados also contain magnesium. Vitamin C: Vitamin C is crucial for a healthy metabolism and is has wonderful antioxidant properties. Although we often association the vitamin with citrus fruits like oranges, there are many other fresh fruit and vegetables that have higher concentrations of Vitamin C. Guava, red peppers, and blackberries are wonderful sources of Vitamin C, as are broccoli and kiwifruit. It's important to keep in mind that, if you want to get the most vitamins and minerals from your produce, you should eat it raw. Cooking vegetables drastically reduces their nutritional content, so if you must cook them, try stir-frying or steaming. Likewise, because many nutrients sit close to the skins of vegetables, try to avoid peeling them. Instead, give them a quick scrub with a veggie brush and some water, and eat the skins and all.

Great places to play in new york

Great Places to Play in New York New York actually has a great deal to offer young and old kids alike who enjoy very little better than playing a great game, video or otherwise. For those of you who enjoy this particular pastime, there are many unique opportunities in New York City in which you can participate in the games you enjoy so much while spending time with friends and family. Astroland Amusement Park at Coney Island has much to offer the adventurous gamer. From thrills and chills on the midway to the Cyclone Roller Coaster and many wonderful rides in between, this park also offers arcade game rooms along the way where you can play video games of all kinds. This is great for those rainy days when you can't ride the rides or simply when it's just too hot to stand in line. It's also a great bonding experience for father and sun to play the games together and see who has the edge at any given moment. Dave and Busters is a unique dining experience while offering a wide selection of gaming options. This is not your average arcade food by any means. In fact, this isn't your kids arcade or their arcade games. Dave and Busters offers good food and great fun under one roof and if you have the chance I recommend you take the big kid in you to try it out. The ESPN Zone is a great place to spend the day with the family. They offer food, fun, and 200 televisions. Who could ask for more? The food is American grill type food and the entertainment is for the most part sports themed and interactive. If you're looking for a great way to bond with the kids this is definitely better than Chuck E. Cheese, especially for the slightly older kids. The Nintendo World Store is another wonderful attraction that is located at 10 Rockefeller Plaza. This neat store will have your kids thinking you're the coolest parent on the planet just for bringing them. That of course will not stop them from asking for everything they see but it will buy you a few minutes of coolness before they grow tired of hearing the word no. You may want to relent at some point however as there is some merchandise offered that is exclusive to this store and cannot be found elsewhere. Even if you must order it and have it shipped home for a later surprise it is better not to always wait until too late to find out you can't get something (at least not without a costly trip to New York). Perhaps one of the coolest things about this particular store is that your kids can try out games that haven't been released yet so they can go back to school with the inside scoop on the latest Nintendo games and you are once again world's coolest mom. Even for the technologically challenged parents among us it is often a good idea just to enjoy playing games with your kids. Even if they win or maybe, especially if they win, let's hope they are better winners than we were when we were kids. I think we all need to take the time to play with our little ones every chance we get. They grow up so fast and one day they will stop asking us to play with them. 571

It s time to upgrade yourself do it easily through online degree programs

You have been working in a company for quite some times at the middle level of position. One day, your colleague who is at manager position submits his resignation for career advancement in other company. You think this is your good chance to be promoted to his position as you are the most experience employee in the company although you do have the required management degree for it; but the boss should and will consider your working experience as the promotion factor. You are waiting for the day of announcement of your promotion with full of excitement; but, one day, your boss bring in a new face and introduce to the company that he is the new hire for the position replacement left by the previous manager. You welcome him with a smiling face but inside your heart, you are unhappy with it. Don't let this happen to you. Your working experience no doubt is very important and is the key factor for your career advancement. But you need to know that not only you have such a good experience in your field of expertise, many others do have too and they have documents such as degree certificates to prove it. Thus, a degree in hand should be better for you to secure your future as compare solely on your working experience. It's time for you to upgrade yourself; but you may have a concern to on-hold your current career in order for you to go back to school for the degree. Then, do it with online degree programs. The online degree programs are designed for busy people in mind and you can complete you degree courses at your own schedule from anywhere you are. There are many prestigious colleges and universities offer complete online degree programs taught by the same faculty who teach in their classrooms. Subject areas range from business to nursing, degrees from Bachelor to MBAs and Ph. Ds. Today, you can easily upgrade yourself through online degree program. If you are holding an associate degree, it's time for you to think about upgrade it to bachelor degree. If you are currently at executive level and have a bachelor degree in business administration, you may prepare yourself for manager position by earning a MBA. In short, your working experience is important in your career path but a degree in your expertise field will secure you for your future.

Philippines travel exploring sagada on a shoe string budget

Urban dwellers would normally prefer to rove around the metropolis and explore every side-street in search for ideal refuge, more than traveling to remote provinces. However, there are more than 7,000 reasons to explore the parameters of this archipelago, taking into account its profuse land and marine resources and myriad sanctuaries. Among the many interesting regions in the Philippines is the mountainous terrain and savanna in northern Luzon as inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Part of this region is Sagada. With a measly P2,500, a determined explorer can take a fulfilling jaunt to Sagada—a serene mountain community in Mt. Province. The adventurous travelers would customarily take the 10-hour bus ride from Manila to Banaue, Ifugao (via Solano, Nueva Ecija route) that costs not more than P300. In Banaue, travelers have the option to take the day off and trek along the well-engineered Banaur Rice Terraces or take a jeepney ride to Bontoc and from there, one can catch a bus ride to a more tranquil region, Sagada in Mt. Province. Sagada has economical lodging houses and hotels to spend the night over. For as low as P200, a traveler can avail of a bedroom for two and a well-scrubbed common bathroom with sufficient amount of water—for an overnight abode. Even though electricity and water are accessible in these highland regions, one of the guidelines in immersing to remote areas is not to expect for urban amenities. However, the lack of adequate necessities is not an hindrance to any devoted backpacker. Indeed, the remarkable view of the mountains, sight of abundant natural resources, and exposure to mountain community are enough reasons to enjoy the trip. Trekking along the narrow mountain trails of Batad and Bangaan Villages in Banaue is one of the many leisure options where panoramic views of the terraces can be enjoyed. To keep track of the trail, a number of villagers can be hired for hours as tour guides. The trip is truly breathtaking and for an amateur trekker, the long hours of walk should not impede them to reach the other side of the trail. There are a number of brooks along the curvy mountain range that are guaranteed to quench one’s thirst during the hours of hike. Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring endpoint is an antidote to muscle pain. Batad is comparable to realizing the pot of gold at the other end of the rainbow. It boasts of scenic and unspoiled layers of rice fields forming a colossal amphitheater, where native Ifugaos mostly dwell. The terraces is still a functional source of livelihood and personal sustenance for Ifugaos, except for some where irrigation systems have been destroyed through seepage, landslides, prolonged drought, erosion, and other inevitable natural calamities.

An analysis of journal communications jrn

Journal Communications (JRN) is comprised of seven essentially separate businesses: The Milwaukee Sentinel, Community Newspapers, Television Stations, Radio Stations, Telecommunications, Printing Services, and Direct Marketing. The company’s five reportable segments do not exactly match these seven businesses; however, I believe an investor should analyze JRN on the basis of these seven businesses and their constituent properties, rather than as a single going concern with five reportable business segments. Additional reasons for this belief will be outlined below. For now, it is sufficient to say that if Journal Communications were to divide into seven separate public companies, the combined market value of those companies would be substantially greater than JRN’s current enterprise value. Simply put, the sum of the parts would be valued more highly than the whole. Journal Communications has an enterprise value of just under $1 billion. Pre-tax owner’s earnings are probably around $125 million. So, JRN trades at eight times pre-tax owner’s earnings. That’s cheap. Journal’s effective tax rate is 40%. That is an unusually high rate. Journal’s media properties would likely generate more after-tax income under different ownership. The difference would be material; but, for anyone other than a highly leveraged buyer, tax savings would not be a primary consideration. When evaluating Journal as a going concern, it is perfectly appropriate to treat the full 40% tax burden as a reality. These taxes reduce owner’s earnings by $50 million. With after-tax owner’s earnings of $75 million and an enterprise value of $1 billion, Journal’s owner’s earnings yield is 7.5%. Remember, this is the after-tax yield. The pre-tax yield is 12.5%. When evaluating a company, it’s best to use the pre-tax yield for purposes of comparison. Last I checked, the 30 – year Treasury bond was yielding 4.63%. So, looking at JRN’s current earnings alone, the stock appears to offer a large margin of safety. This is especially true if you consider the fact that earnings yields offer more protection against inflation than bond yields. They don’t offer perfect protection. But, with stocks, there is at least the possibility that nominal cash flows will increase along with inflation. The cash flows generated by bonds are fixed in nominal terms, and therefore offer no protection against inflation. When evaluating a long-term investment, such as a stock, I do not use a discount rate of less than 8%. This reduces JRN’s margin of safety considerably. Instead of being the difference between 12.5% and 4.63%, Journal’s margin of safety is the difference between 12.5% and 8%. Is such a margin of safety sufficient? Maybe. When evaluating a prospective investment, I first look at the risk of a catastrophic loss. What is the magnitude? And what is the probability? For my purposes, a catastrophic loss is defined as any permanent loss of principal. The risk that I’ve overvalued a business is always greater than my risk of catastrophic loss, because I insist upon a margin of safety. A catastrophic loss is one that wipes out the entire margin of safety. I can make a bad investment without suffering a catastrophic loss. For instance, most mutual funds are bad investments, because they underperform alternatives. However, mutual funds do not usually carry a high risk of catastrophic loss. In fact, they generally have a low risk of catastrophic loss, because they are highly correlated to the overall market. It’s easiest to understand this concept if you think of valuing companies as being a lot like writing insurance. Even if reality exceeds your expectations in nine out of every ten cases, a terrible misjudgment in the tenth case can cause you great harm. It isn’t just how many mistake you make. It’s also how big they are. Some stocks, like Google (GOOG), trade at prices that allow for catastrophic losses of considerable magnitude. Other stocks, like Journal Communications, trade at prices that only allow for very small losses to principal. However, there is also the matter of probability. How likely is it that a Google shareholder will suffer a catastrophic loss? I don’t know. I’m not even willing to hazard a guess. In the case of Journal Communications, I am willing to stick my neck out. I believe an investment in JRN carries a very low risk to principal – considerably less than, say, an investment in the S&P 500. Why? Because Journal Communications is trading at a very modest owner’s earnings multiple. But, that isn’t the only reason. You shouldn’t look at Journal solely from a going concern perspective. JRN mainly consists of readily saleable properties. The assets backing shares JRN are quite substantial: Publishing The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee’s only major daily and Sunday newspaper. The Sunday edition has the highest penetration rate (72%) of any Sunday newspaper in the top 50 U. S. markets. The daily edition has the third highest penetration rate (49%) of any daily newspaper in the top 50 U. S. markets. The paper has a daily circulation of 240,000 and a Sunday circulation of 425,000. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also operates three websites. JSOnline and OnWisconsin generate advertising revenue. PackerInsider is a subscription – based website. Over the last three years, both daily circulation and Sunday circulation have decreased by about 1% annually. Full run advertising linage has also fallen by a similar amount; however, after accounting for increases in part run advertising and preprint pieces, it appears there has been no real decrease in total advertising. The Journal Sentinel generates approximately $230 million in revenue. Advertising accounts for 80% of the Journal Sentinel’s revenue (the other 20% is circulation revenue). Advertising revenue is somewhat cyclical, and may currently be above “normal” levels. It’s difficult to value the Journal Sentinel, because JRN places the Journal Sentinel and its community newspapers under one reportable segment. Even if the numbers for the Journal Sentinel were broken out, I would have still have some difficulty coming up with an exact figure, because I’m not an expert on newspapers. Having said that, I can’t see how the Journal Sentinel could be worth less than $250 million or more than $500 million. If I had to put a dollar figure on the Journal Sentinel, it would probably be in the 250 – $300 million range. I’d like to think this is a conservative estimate, but I don’t know enough about newspapers to be sure. JRN’s failure to break out the numbers for the Journal Sentinel apart from the community newspapers complicates the issue. However, I am quite confident the Journal Sentinel is worth no less than $250 million. It’s even more difficult to value JRN’s Journal Community Publishing Group. It consists of 43 community newspapers, 41 shoppers, and 9 niche publications (automotive, boating, etc.). The group generates about $100 million in revenue. I can’t value this group apart from the Journal Sentinel, because of the aforementioned lack of disclosure (combining the group with the Journal Sentinel for reporting purposes), my inability to find enough public information on community newspaper businesses, and other such factors. The best I can do is offer an educated guess as to the combined value of JRN’s publishing business. My best guess is that, taken together, the Journal Sentinel and the community newspapers are probably worth somewhere between $300 million and $500 million. Broadcasting Journal Communications owns 38 radio stations. The most important of which are: WTMJ-AM Milwaukee, KMXZ-FM Tucson, KFDI-FM Wichita, and KTTS – FM Springfield (MO). All four of these stations are number one in their market. JRN’s radio stations generate about $80 million in revenue. Journal Communications owns seven television stations. Almost all of these stations are ranked as one of the top three in their market. Three are NBC affiliates, three are ABC affiliates, and one is a Fox affiliate. JRN owns two stations in Milwaukee, two in Idaho, one in California, one in Michigan, and one in Nevada. Journal’s TV stations generate about $90 million in revenue. Again, it’s too hard for me to value JRN’s TV stations and radio stations separately. Taken together, I believe they’re worth somewhere between $250 and $450 million. Telecommunications JRN owns a 3,800 mile network in the Great Lakes region. Norlight Telecommunications generates about $150 million in revenue. I’m very hesitant to make any attempts to value this division, because I don’t understand the telecom business well enough. Having said that, I don’t see how it could be worth much less than $350 million. Miscellaneous I don’t like the printing services and direct marketing business at all. I have no idea how to value them. They do have revenues though; so, they are probably worth something to someone. Revenues from these two businesses exceed $100 million, but they are not very profitable. Real Estate JRN owns a surprising amount of unencumbered real estate. For the most part, such properties are closely tied to one of JRN’s operating businesses. As long as JRN continues as a going concern, much of the real estate could not be sold. Just to give you some idea of the extent of these properties, it appears JRN owns a little less than two million square feet – much of which is in or around Milwaukee. I can not accurately value such real estate. As I said, much of it is closely tied to operating activities. However, buildings in urban areas can sometimes be converted to other uses. It hardly matters though. Journal Communications is likely to remain a going concern for some time, and as long as it does, it is unlikely to dispose of such assets. Valuation So, what is JRN worth? It’s hard to say. The current enterprise value is around $1 billion, which is clearly too low. My most conservative estimates for the publishing, broadcasting, and telecom businesses alone add up to $900 million. I think those are very conservative estimates. Using more reasonable estimates, I can not arrive at a value of less than $1.25 billion for JRN’s constituent parts. This is true whether I perform an intrinsic value analysis on the entire company, or apply some sort of earnings, sales, or EBITDA multiple to each business separately. Journal Communications is probably worth somewhere between $1.25 billion and $2 billion. I’m quite pessimistic about the newspaper business; therefore, I would lean towards the $1.25 billion figure (which assumes slightly declining revenues). Any sort of revenue growth would dramatically change the valuation. If such growth will occur, JRN is extremely undervalued at these levels. However, I’m not sure there will be any growth at all. Journal Communications voting structure will probably discourage the best course of action: breaking up the company. JRN should spin off the community newspapers, the TV stations, the radio stations, and the telecom business. The printing services and direct marketing businesses should also be disposed of in some way. These are really very different businesses. There are few good reasons for keeping them together, and many good reasons for separating them. Newspapers, radio, and TV all face different challenges. They need different managers who have complete control over capital allocation and who are compensated based on the performance of their business, not on the performance of a hodge-podge of various media properties. Breaking JRN up will make it easier to manage and will make it easier for current owners to dispose of their shares at more favorable prices should they wish to. If these businesses traded as five or six different public companies, it is very unlikely their combined market cap would be less than $1 billion. It may not even be necessary for them to be publicly traded. There might be buyers for such properties, if JRN’s properties were separated into common sense collections. But, none of this is likely to happen. Employees control JRN (they maintain control through the ownership of shares with disproportionate voting rights). No one interested in shaking things up will take a stake in this company, because he would be unable to impose his will. I can’t imagine management ever embarking on such a sweeping venture without some prodding from the outside. JRN has almost no downside. Sadly, it doesn’t seem to have a lot of upside either. There is a real danger investors will see their returns wither away as the time it takes to realize the value in Journal Communications proves costly. Time is the enemy of the investor who buys this kind of business at this kind of price. Objectively, I have to admit JRN is undervalued. But, I’m not sure it’s grossly undervalued – and I am sure there are better long term investments.

Private jet charter spotlight on...aspen colorado

Aspen is one of the most popular year-round destinations and the appeal is easy to understand. In winter, this exclusive wonderland is a perfect getaway for beginner to serious skiers, celebrities, memorable family vacations, and those who just want to relax. With some of the best skiing in the world, breathtaking views, and a lively town, visiting Aspen is like walking inside a charmed snow-globe village. In the summer, the natural beauty will refresh and rejuvenate you. For the outdoor-enthusiast, unlimited opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and rafting abound. Year-round, the town is open for entertainment...you can grab a cup of java in town and peruse high-end shops; enjoy one-of-a-kind restaurants, cultural activities, and exciting nightlife; or pamper yourself at a spa. Below is some general info to get you started: Aspen Area Airports Aspen/Pitkin County Airport; Aspen, CO (ASE) Eagle County Airport; Eagle, CO (EGE) Garfield County Regional Airport; Rifle, CO (RIL) Aspen's 4 Ski Resorts: aspensnowmass • Snowmass - Aspen's largest skiing resort with a vast range of terrain to suit all levels. • Aspen (Ajax) Mountain - the original ski area, catering to intermediate and advanced skiers. • Aspen Highlands - a favorite for locals; usually the least crowded of the 4 mountains. • Buttermilk - aimed at snowboarders and beginners, with 42 trails and one of the longest terrain parks in the world. Aspen Chamber Resort Association aspenchamber. org Tel: 888.667.5666 Tourist and visitor center. Naturalist-Guided Ski & Snowboard Tours Explore the high-alpine environment as naturalists lead the 45-minute skiing explorations everyday at Snowmass. First Tracks • Snowmass: call 970-923-0560 for reservations. • Aspen Mountain: call 925-1220 x3543 for reservations. Join the staff for an early morning first run of the day on freshly groomed snow or powder. Big Air Fridays Jaw-dropping jumps and stunts at Snowmass. Storytelling by the Campfire Snowmass Village Sip hot chocolate and toast marshmallows around a roaring campfire while local storytellers spin tales for families at this unique aprиs-ski gathering. Aspen Youth Center (AYC) 970.544.4130 Programs and activities for local and visiting youth ages 7-18, including a full kitchen, arts & crafts area, media and games rooms, teen lounge, study room with computers, and a large multi-purpose room to accommodate dances, parties, and a variety of classes. Wheeler Opera House Tel: 970.920.5770 The newly designed interior hosts various theater and concert performances throughout the year. Silver Queen Gondola A year-round attraction, whisking visitors from the center of Aspen up to the summit of Aspen Mountain.

Turn your employees into customer service dynamos

Businesses have been trying for decades to import good service practices and graft them into their own work settings. They use training programs or other means to try and "regimentalize" key service behaviors-an outside-in approach that seldom makes things any better, and often only makes things worse. Truly customer-focused businesses deliver outstanding service from the inside out. The key is to get employees coming up with their own ideas for delighting customers, and then letting positive feedback from happy customers motivate the workers to continue implementing more of their own innovative service strategies. This is the Flashpoint Effect, where employee motivation and customer satisfaction fuel each other in a chain reaction of contagious enthusiasm. Easier said than done, of course - unless the organization has an actual process in place to keep the chain reaction bubbling. Such a process does not have to be complicated. Follow these three guiding principles to help your employees generate their own ideas for improving the customer experience, and watch how quickly these service enhancements give your business a powerful competitive edge. First Customer Focus Principle: Exceed the customer’s expectations every step of the way. Shoppers at Ireland’s Superquinn supermarkets experience the wow-factor at every turn. When they first arrive, they encounter a supervised play area for young children. In the aisles they encounter a multitude of signs encouraging them to report "goofs" (such as fruit that has over-ripened), in return for which they’re given free lottery cards. They discover bags of free vegetables they can bring home for their pets ("Make Your Hoppy Happy"). At checkout the store provides umbrellas to keep shoppers dry while they watch attendants transfer their grocery bags from cart to car. Set up a brainstorming session in which your employees break a typical customer transaction down into its individual steps, and then challenge the group to focus on each step one at a time, and to uncover ways to add a wow-factor element of delight in each step. They’ll probably come up with more ideas than you can implement, but afterwards let them choose the best ones, and help them implement these ideas successfully. Second Customer Focus Principle: Make the customer feel important. It’s just common sense, right? Maybe - but it’s certainly not common practice. Ever see the sign that says In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash? Or the cartoon of the four little men rolling on the floor with laughter, over the caption You Want It When? Everywhere you look, you see businesses making it painfully obvious that they consider their customers unreasonable intruders, potential criminals, annoying interruptions of the "real work" the business is trying to get done. In your employee brainstorming session, get the group thinking about ways to make customers feel welcome and appreciated in each step of the transaction. The ideas that emerge often cost nothing to implement (like smiling more, or addressing customers by name), and yet these are the little things that can make such a big difference from the customers’ point of view. Third Customer Focus Principle: Tailor the experience to fit the customer. Where one supermarket invests in metal barricades to prevent the theft of shopping carts, its customer-focused competitor chooses instead to invest in carts that are even more appealing. Mothers with infants can use carts outfitted with a baby seat. Shoppers with older children can use a cart designed like a toy car, so the kids can pretend they’re driving while the parent proceeds along the aisles. There are even self-powered sit-down carts for the elderly and the disabled. Flashpoint businesses recognize they deal with different categories of customers, and each category can have unique expectations. These businesses abandon the one-size-fits-all mentality, and look for ways to provide something special for each major customer category. Invite your brainstorming employees to list the major customer categories in your business, and to come up with ways to wow each category individually. These are often the kinds of “personal touch” ideas that deliver the biggest impact. Even customers from different categories will be impressed with the efforts your business is making to improve the overall customer experience. Try applying these three principles in a brainstorming session with your own employees, and discover for yourself how creating a customer service culture from the inside out really can be as easy as one-two-three. Customer-focus consultant Paul Levesque’s latest book is Customer Service From The Inside Out Made Easy (Entrepreneur Press, 2006). Copyright Paul Levesque