Zyban is a smoking cessation aid used to help you stop smoking

Common uses

This medicine is a smoking cessation aid used to help you stop smoking.

Before using

Warning: this medicine may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents who have severe depression or certain other mental or mood disorders. Children and adolescents who take this medicine should be monitored daily for any worsening of their condition, thoughts of hurting themselves, or any other sudden or unusual changes in mood or behavior, especially during the first few months after starting this medicine and after any change in the dose of this medicine. If any of these serious side effects occur, contact the doctor immediately.

Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. Inform your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. Do not use this medicine if you are already taking bupropion to treat depression, taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), or thioridazine. Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking antidepressants or psychiatric medicines, certain high blood pressure medicines (e. g., "beta-blockers"), certain heart medicines (e. g., propafenone, flecainide), warfarin, decongestants, diabetes medicine, diet pills, levodopa, HIV protease inhibitors (e. g., ritonavir), quinolone antibiotics (e. g., ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin), seizure medicines, tranquilizers, tramadol, narcotic pain relievers (e. g., acetaminophen with codeine), other products containing nicotine (e. g., patches or gum).

Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with bupropion such as phenothiazines (e. g., thioridazine), tricyclic antidepressants (e. g., amitriptyline), isoniazid (INH), or theophylline among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including any mental or mood disorders (such as bipolar disorder), kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, head injury, tumors (e. g., brain or spinal cord), history of drug or alcohol addiction, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding.

Do not use this medicine if you have a history of eating disorders (e. g., anorexia, bulimia). Use of this medicine is not recommended if you have a history of seizures, or muscle or nerve conditions. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine.

Directions

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. This medicine comes with a medication guide and a patient information leaflet. Read them carefully. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine. Swallow whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing. If you are taking more than 1 dose each day, allow at least 8 hours between doses.

Store this medicine at room temperature, away from heat and light. If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Factors to consider when buying hearing aids

There are a number of factors to consider when buying hearing aids. Below is a list of seven factors to consider:

Severity of hearing loss

This is one of the most important factors to consider is the nature and severity of your hearing loss. Your hearing professional can help you understand your unique loss characteristics, and explain the models that would best suit your needs. This may involve undertaking a number of hearing test to determine the extent of the hearing loss and most suitable product.

Lifestyle

It is important to think about you lifestyle and when the hearing aid is to be worn. What are the things you do that are most affected by hearing loss? Does you hearing prevent you from undertaking certain tasks or activities? Does you loss of hearing effect your job? Discuss your needs with the hearing expert who can recommend products which suit your lifestyle

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Technology

The quality of the sound is perhaps the most important consideration. With advancements of digital hearing aids the quality of the sound can often be fined tuned to suit your needs. Again the hearing expert will be able to help you assess the level of sophistication you need based on a range of issues.

Size

Hearing aids are now often very small and discreet. However, if your eyesight or dexterity is less than what they used to be, size may indeed matter. As a vey small hearing aid may be to fiddly to control. Alternatively, some new instruments adjust automatically or via remote control.

Appearance

Hearing aids now come in a variety of sizes, from tiny, completely-in-the-canal models to those that sit behind the ear. Many people are overly concerned about appearance, and it’s wise to remember that others will be far less aware of your aid than you. Most hearing aids are quite discreet. Consider the functionality and improvement in hearing, rather than just appearance.

The ear

The size and shape of your outer ear and ear canal may also influence your selection of a hearing aid. For example, if your canal is extremely narrow, in-the-canal aids may not work for you. Your hearing professional will help determine which hearing aid options are appropriate for you.

One ear or two ears?

Two ears are better than one, since binaural, or two-ear hearing, is what helps us determine where sounds are coming from, and to distinguish between competing sounds more easily. If you have a hearing loss in only one ear, you may be fine with one hearing aid. Age - and noise-related hearing loss tend to affect both ears, but your hearing profile for each ear is probably different. If there is a loss in both ears, then you will benefit more with a binaural approach. In addition, some of the benefits of digital technology require two hearing aids.

Today, about two-thirds of new purchasers opt for dual hearing aids, and as a group, they report a higher level of satisfaction than purchasers of a single aid. Discuss the pros and cons with your hearing professional.

How to compose powerful scholarship essay and obtain scholarship you are aiming at

Scholarship essays are ones of the most important types of the essays. Effective and well written scholarship essay can help to you to resolve your financial problems and might change your destiny.

Many students write this type of the essay and most of them in my experience commit one important mistake - they treat scholarship essay as though it was another academic project, whereas it is not. The most important element of this type of the essay looks more like an advertisement of your best features and possibilities. Some students don’t underestimate the importance of this type of essay and prefer to buy essay, entrusting this assignment to professional writing services. We will attempt to do it ourselves, following these guidelines. First, you should make the list of your major achievements. Try to list as many achievements as possible regardless whether you have received some award or other recognition for them or you still have not been rewarded for them. If you think that this is an achievement in itself, that required much time, energy, aptitude, skills and tenacity than make sure it is mentioned in your list. When writing your scholarship essay try to make some self analysis, which is usually based on several important factors such as what events, individuals or some books, movies have influenced your life. If you have a favorite play or movie, try to answer why you like them.

It might not be so easy to answer this question as it may look. Sometimes you can like some movie, though not always understand why you like it. Try to analyze what features of this movie make it so appealing. In order to impress scholarship board one should state clearly what do you intend to do in the future and why you would like to do it. Some of the scholarship boards try to understand how the knowledge you are going to acquire will be used. Apart from pure academic achievements have achieved something in sport or music? If you have any hobby you should mentioned it as well. Try to describe why you evince the interest in these activities. Once you have decided on the topic you intend to write about you can start amplify your essay. The final advice - your essay, despite the fact that it should enumerate as many advantages as possible - should be succinct and must not be too long.

A bowling alley can be a great bonding place for families

When it comes to a sport that provides lots of family fun, few can match a quick trip to a local bowling alley. Although it might take years to reach "pro" status, almost anyone of any age can play this game. The game can be altered for young children and it is one even teens tend to enjoy, as well.

There are plenty of reasons why a family trip to a bowling alley can be a great idea. They include:

* Bonding. If the idea is to find an activity everyone can enjoy and do together, this beats the television hands down. A quick game at a local bowling alley provides plenty of opportunity for family time that happens to equal fun time, too. Unlike watching television or movies, this particular activity provides lots of opportunity for talking, bonding and respect building.

* Affordable. Bowling is one of those sports that can be very cost effective. Those on a budget can take advantage of lower-priced day trips and rentals of balls and shoes. Families that really get into the action can splurge and buy their own equipment. This can really be a shoestring operation if a family wants or needs it to be.

* Weather isn't a concern. Some other family sports might require ideal weather conditions to enjoy. Rainy days, snowy days and even really, really hot days have no impact on this family activity.

* Self-esteem building. Bowling can actually be a pretty big self-esteem builder. As children and families get better at the game, the improvements will be evident. As long as parents don't put too much pressure on the score and work to make a trip to the bowling alley fun, the confidence booster can be fantastic. It also provides parents an opportunity to teach youngsters to be good sports.

Going to the bowling alley with young children might take a little patience, but there are some things parents can do to help ensure the venture is a great one. These include:

* Exercise patience. Whether it's teenagers or younger children going to the bowling alley, it is very important to remember the game is just that. Children will likely need some good instruction and they might not be all that great starting out. Remember, you are all there to have fun, not bowl a perfect 300.

* Make it a personal competition. Rather than make it a game against each other, try bowling to beat your own personal scores. This can help give kids the leeway they need to learn and take the pressure off.

* Pick the right equipment. Make sure the shoes fit right and the balls aren't too heavy or too light. If these things are in place, the game is a whole lot more fun. Consider using gutter bumpers for really small bowlers. Don't forget to forego them as soon as they are ready. This in itself can be a great confidence builder.

A trip to a bowling alley can provide all the right ingredients for a great family outing. Generally quite affordable and typically very enjoyable, this particular sport is one that can be enjoyed by almost anyone.

Is an interest-only mortgage for you

Many people get confused when it comes to interest only mortgages. It’s no wonder. There is actually no such thing as a mortgage which you only pay the interest on. With an interest only mortgage, you still have to pay down the principal on the loan. What you actually get is an interest only payment method which lasts for a set period and then you revert to a more traditional type of mortgage.

As you probably know, your mortgage payment mostly goes to pay off the interest; typically 95% of your payment goes toward the loan interest. So for a standard $100,000 mortgage at 6% interest, your monthly payment would be $600. Of that $600, $100 goes to pay down your principal and $500 goes to pay the interest charges.

Interest only mortgages involve jumbo loans and the difference in the monthly loan payment gets larger as the loan amount increases. So while there is a difference of $100 for a $100,000 loan, the difference on a $1,000,000 loan would be $1000. Savvy investors can use that $1000 per month to leverage their income and build assets much faster.

Interest only mortgages have traditionally been used by investors or wealthy individuals who are able to make a profit on the principal part of their mortgage payment. However, today virtually anyone can obtain an interest only mortgage.

The payment period of the interest only mortgage is based upon the adjustable rate mortgage. However, sometimes, it can be offered with a fixed rate as well. However, the payment period usually does not run for the entire loan term, even with a fixed rate mortgage. Interest only mortgages are only temporary; InterstFirst loans only allow interest only mortgage payments to be made for half of the total loan term. When the interest only mortgage payments come to an end, the amount of your loan payment will then rise to include both the interest and principal.

Interest only mortgages have advantages for certain types of borrowers. For one thing, the payments at the onset are lower so this frees up additional cash to be used elsewhere It can be invested or it can be used for needed cash flow. The spare cash can be used in any manner such as additional income, college expenses, or to build savings. The catch is that after a certain time, your interest only payments will expire and then your loan payment will be higher each month thereafter.

You are the only one who knows your situation and can determine if an interest rate mortgage is right for you. Consult with a banker or mortgage broker for advice and specific financial information such as projected monthly payments, then weigh your other mortgage options before you decide.

Wood counter tops a consistent choice for modern kitchens

The solid wood, as a material of choice for counter tops, exhibits incontestable advantages such as:

Aesthetics

Imparting a warm, relaxing feeling, the wooden top is the natural complement of any solid wood or veneered cabinetry. The wooden tops will wonderfully go together with hardwood floorings, moldings, cornices and mantels, conferring a genuine sense of balance to your kitchen space.

Functionality

A hardwood top is very easy to cut to templates and even easier to install. Unlike the solid surface or laminate, wood tops have a minimum of chemical components, which make them extremely safe in contact with foods. Unlike the other countertop materials, any occurring scratch can be easily removed by sanding the area; the wood tops actually constitute the only known surface that can be renewed without employing special tools or requiring special skills. Hardwood surfaces can be used as kitchen island tops, inserted sink covers, sections of countertop, or as butcher block hidden under the countertop that can be pulled as drawer or cart. Your imagination will surely find plenty of other interesting, visually attractive applications.

Durability

If properly sealed and installed, a wooden top can literally last a lifetime. Unlike marble, granite or tile, the wooden tops have a great shock absorbing capacity that further assures considerable life span.

Hygiene

For a quite few decades, the plastic and laminate surfaces, due to their non-porous structure were considered much safer than wood for applications such as chopping meat or slicing vegetables. The wood, because of its porosity was thought an ideal surface for harmful bacteria like Salmonella, Staphylococus or Escherichia coli to thrive. However, a study undertaken in 1993 by the microbiologists of Wisconsin Food Research Institute and another one carried out in 1998 at university of Florida discovered the strong antibacterial properties that wood surfaces exhibit, properties that no other cutting surface appears to possess.

According to these studies and to others that followed them, on wood surfaces, bacterial populations disappear quite fast, without external intervention, while on plastic surfaces they persist and actually multiply. Although these properties vary among wood species, the wooden cutting surfaces are increasingly accepted as the first choice of health-conscious individuals.

Price

Hardwood is usually priced higher than laminate but are far less expensive than stone, granite, solid surface, tile or steel.

The butcher block counter tops supplied by Lafor Wood Products ( hardwoodcountertops. com) come in beech wood, cherry, walnut, oak, whitebeam (hickory look), acacia (black locust) or hard maple with a large variety of dimensions and grades. Mineral oil is supplied for free along to the purchase and helps to finish and preserve the butcher blocks. Availability is immediate and they offer samples of butcher blocks free of charge. Details at lafor. ca

Mixed martial arts-learn the terms

With the rules and sanctioning of certain mma events there has been an explosion of new followers of mma (mixed martial arts) The purpose of this article is to help familiarize the new fans of this sport with some of the terms that are used. If you have a basic understanding with some of the terminology you will find viewing the sport more enjoyable. Keep in mind that this description is not inclusive of every aspect, but more of a guide for the beginner.

Submissions: submissions are techniques that cause the receiver to give up due to pain being applied to a joint or strangulation from a choke. Here are some of the basics.

Kimura: A shoulder lock that applies pressure to the shoulder joint.

Rear Naked Choke: A choke that apples strangulation to both sides of the neck (both arteries) it also impedes breathing.

Guillotine Choke: This is where the defender reaches underneath the attacer's neck and applies upward pressure, with the attackers head under the defender’s armpit. It is usually applied when an attacker attempts a takedown and the defender is able to capture the neck.

Triangle Choke: The attacker is between the defender’s legs on the ground. The defender gets an attackers arm between his own neck and the defender’s leg. The defender then places his ankle behind his knee of his other leg and secures the choke.

Arm Triangle: Similar to the Triangle Choke except arms are used instead of legs. Usually executed from a top or back position.

Arm Bar: When an opponent is able to secure an arm and straighten it out with pressure underneath the elbow.

Knee Bar: Same as an arm bar but causes pain to the joint of the knee.

Ankle Lock: A submission that causes pain to the joint of the ankle or Achilles tendon.

There are way too many techniques to list in this article but these are a lot of the main ones you will hear mentioned. There are also several “control” positions. Here are a few;

Full Mount: This is when an attacker is on top of his opponent with both of his legs on either side of the defender. A bad spot to be in because the attacker can rise up and deliver strikes.

Half Mount: The attacker has only one leg on the outside and the defender is holding the attacker’s other leg between his legs to stop the attacker from achieving a full mount.

Side Mount: The attacker is perpendicular to the defender across the defender’s chest. A transfer to full mount or submission can be accomplished.

North/South: An opponent is on top of the other facing opposite directions.

The sport of mma is an elite sport with various strategies and techniques. Here are a few more terms you might hear.

Ground And Pound: A fighter takes down an opponent, mounts him, and delivers strikes until knock out, referee stoppage, or the defending fighter gives up (taps)

Take Down: A fighter attempts to bring his opponent down to the mat for a submission or to deliver strikes from the mount.

Tap Out: When a fighter taps on the other fighter or the mat to concede the fight. Mostly done when a submission is applied. (kind of like saying uncle.)

This article is not a “catch all” for every term you might here during an mma fight. It will give you a better understanding of the sport and make it a lot more fun to watch.

Autoresponders the power of instance access

In most traditional businesses you will likely find a receptionist who can either answer business specific questions or can route customers to the appropriate department for assistance. In more automated offices a voice mail system can alleviate much of the guesswork in locating the right department (although the process can seem a bit impersonal).

Some of the larger email companies also have manned phone lines, but for many ecommerce business owners the cost of hiring a staff to man the telephones may make a business startup next to impossible.

It is for this situation that autoresponders are particularly useful. Many businesses already use autoresponders to provide a key element in customer service – an acknowledgement that there is an issue to be resolved. This is followed up by a more personalized email or phone call to address the issue.

Auto responders are also useful for the delivery of newsletters or an ecourse.

One area that may not be as prominent, yet can be a very effective means of utilizing an autoresponder, is in information supply.

How does this differ from an ecourse?

An ecourse is a pre-developed series of information pieces that help the customer learn more about the product or service you provide. An information supply in the form of an autoresponder can allow customers to click on specific questions related to site use or other informational needs related to your site and receive the information they need within minutes.

It’s true that you could put a link to this information on your website, but an autoresponder for some of this information may result in an increased organic list for email marketing. However, The primary reason for using extended autoresponders has to do with the ability for this process to result in improved customer service efforts.

If you can find ways to assist your customers instantly you will see customers view your online business in a more positive light.

I don’t know about you, but when I send a company an email seeking answers I can’t find online and I hear back from them a few days later I have already forgotten what I wanted and I’ve probably ventured on to other sites to purchase something I probably could have purchased on the original site if only I had received the information I needed in a timely manner.

Autoresponders can be used for a variety of purposes and it is likely your customers will enjoy the benefits of instant information access.

What food is in the cupboard part 2 of 5

What I keep in my cupboard will be different to what is in yours. But there are certain items that most of us will keep. Come and discover new ingredients to store.

This article brushes on the basics of two ingredients that interest me the most - Oils and Vinegars.

OILS

Using a good quality oil is essential in the kitchen. Oil can be used as an ingredient in cakes, muffins, marinades and salad dressings as well as being important for frying, brushing foods before grilling, and simply drizzling over food to flavour and garnish it.

Oils kept in a cool, dark place will keep for 10-12 months. Buy specialist oils in small quantities as once open they will deteriorate more quickly..

Olive oil

If you like salads, it is worth buying olive oil because dressings made with it are far superior due to the wonderful flavour. You can also cook with olive.

Extra-virgin olive oil

This is the most used oil in our household. It varies in colour from pale yellow to a rich green, often depending on its country of origin. Use it for salad dressings and pasta, and for drizzling over grilled vegetables.

Sunflower oil

This ia an all-purpose oil, which can be used for all cooking methods. It is a light oil with very little flavour so it can also be used to make dressings.

Corn oil

A cheaper oil with quite a strong flavour, which some people find unpleasant. It is suitable for deep-fat frying, so if you often cook fried foods this is a good buy.

Soya oil

This oil is cheap and has a high smoke point (smokes at a very high temperature), so it is suitable for deep-frying. However, it has quite a strong flavour, which some people do not like.

Groundnut oil

A light oil, which is suitable for all types of cooking. It has a very mild flavour and is good for mayonnaise and dressings.

Sesame oil

Go very easy on this one – only use a very small amount. This is a dark, nutty oil that is often used in Chinese and Thai cooking. It has a strong flavour and aroma, sweet and very pungent. It will burn easily. It makes a delicious dressing for oriental salads - just mix it with a little lemon juice and soy sauce.

Nut oils

Walnut oil, hazelnut oil, macadamia nut oil – they all have delightful flavours for dressings. They work well drizzled over vegetables and pasta and are particularly good when served with a salad containing a few similar nuts.

VINEGARS

There are many different types of vinegars and there are many uses for them. Keep vinegars in a dark, cool place for up to 6-12 months. Buy small bottles so that you can use them up at their best.

Balsamic vinegar

Originating in Modena, Italy, this vinegar has become very popular of late. It is the richest of all the vinegars, with a deep brown colour and a fruity sweet flavour. It is worth spoiling yourself and buying a little bottle of balsamic vinegar that has been aged in oak barrels for 25 years. Be warned it can be expensive but is worth the cost. Use it in salad dressings and sprinkle it over simple fish dishes, pasta and roast vegetables.

Cider vinegar

A light vinegar with a slightly fruity flavour. Often used in recipes with apples. Also called for in pickling fruit and making salad dressings.

Malt vinegar

This comes in a colorless variety and is used for pickling onions. The other is a brown color and good for fish and chips. Don’t use malt vinegar for anything else, it’s strictly for pickling or fish and chips.

Sherry vinegar

I must admit this is not one I have used. It has a smooth flavour and is often used in Spanish recipes and salad dressings.

Red wine vinegar

A good, all-round vinegar with a robust flavor. Often used in salad dressings.

White wine vinegar

A good, all-round vinegar with a mild flavor. Often used in salad dressings.

Flavoured vinegars

There are many flavored vinegars available - raspberry vinegar - walnut vinegar. However, it has been my experience that these are bought on a whim and then left in the cupboard.

Happy Cooking

Francis Chang

Cheap used car inexpensive automobile

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Struggling hard to save your money? Cheap used car usually mean to inexpensive per-owned automobile although most of inexpensive used car can be cheap. With cheap used car you can save lots of your money on buying.

Good deals come and go incredibly fast. You may find out fast where you can get the cheapest deal on a used car only to realize that it is no longer available by the time you to get to the dealership.

But inexpensive can mean something different to different people. You will find different rates for every car as it’s according to there model and use you have to select the car which will satisfy your need in your budget, it means getting a reasonably good dependable car for as little money as possible.

There is also risks in cheap used cars unfortunately, the older the used car and the less it costs, the higher the possibility that the buyer will encounter problems and expenses that were not anticipated.

To reduce your tension after you have purchased your used car, it’s even more important to follow the suggestions in our Used Car Buying Guide. It means the older the car, the more effort you should take to make sure the car is in good condition and will be reliable for the time you intend to own it.

Before you decide to purchase a used car it important to get that car inspect by the technical person who has good knowledge about the automobile parts and its performance. While you wouldn't need to check a relatively new car's engine compression, this should be on the "must" list for an older car. Otherwise, you could be replacing the engine in a short time.

Anna Josephs is a freelance journalist having experience of many years writing articles and news releases on various topics such as pet health, automobile and social issues. She also has great interest in poetry and paintings, hence she likes to write on these subjects as well. Currently writing for this website Best Cheap Used Car . For more details please contact at annajosephs@gmail. com

Survey reveals smokers obstacles and opportunities when it comes to kicking the habit

Quitting smoking is hard. Quitting smoking on your own without the support of family, friends and co-workers is even harder.

According to a recent survey of more than 400 cigarette smokers, smokers feel significant pressure from family or friends to quit smoking (72 percent). Nearly half (49 percent) have felt judged for failing to quit smoking.

Unfortunately, the pressure to quit and fear of failure might impact a smoker's quit attempt. The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive®, revealed that more than two in five smokers (44 percent) wouldn't want to share their desire/attempt to quit with others in case they failed, and a similar proportion (46 percent) has in fact secretly tried to quit without telling anyone.

Still, for the millions of smokers who want to quit, there are ways to increase chances of success.

"Nicotine replacement therapies, such as nicotine gums, are clinically proven to help smokers quit," says Matthew Carpenter, Ph. D., a smoking cessation expert and research psychologist at the Medical University of South Carolina. "For years, however, smokers have complained that the taste of the gum was a barrier to complying with the dosing regimen."

The Harris poll also showed that a better-tasting gum could be just the ticket to finally kicking the habit, by helping to address the compliance issue by making the chewing experience more enjoyable. To help improve compliance, Nicorette® stop smoking gum launched Fresh Mint in 2005 and recently introduced another great-tasting flavor, Fruit Chill. Similar in texture to confectionary gums, Nicorette Fruit Chill has a crispy coating that releases a burst of fruit flavor with a cool mint finish, providing a surprisingly refreshing chewing experience. The sugar-free gum also contains fast, flexible craving-fighting medicine that reduces nicotine withdrawal symptoms, including cravings that make attempts to quit smoking so difficult.

"There are two elements to smoking addiction--the craving for nicotine and the habit-and both must be addressed to increase the chances of successfully quitting," Dr. Carpenter explains. "Nicotine replacement therapy, like the gum, can help satisfy the body's physical need for nicotine, so smokers can focus on breaking their smoking habit."

While the only reason to quit that matters to smokers (and their family and friends) is the one that makes them actually stop smoking, the survey also showed that nearly one in two smokers would be persuaded to quit if their doctor told them their health was in danger (48 percent), and a majority also indicated that quitting would be easier if they had the support of others.

Fortunately, for the millions of smokers who are thinking of quitting and their loved ones, there is new hope and help. The Nicorette Fruit Chill Million, the largest quit-smoking challenge ever from the gum, strives to encourage 1 million smokers to make the commitment to quitting. It offers smokers and loved ones quit tools, resources and support to help make their quit attempts successful, and as an added incentive, offers participants the chance to win $1 million.

Gain control and lose weight with lap band surgery

Many people want and need to lose weight but can't seem to make any progress. Having surgery to lose weight is good for seriously overweight patients who have tried and failed other treatments. Studies have shown that weight-loss surgery such as lap band surgery has helped patients to sustain their weight loss longer than non-surgical therapies. By having this surgery, you will be on the road to better health and improving your quality of life.

What is Lap Band Surgery?

The safest and least invasive weight-loss surgery is the lap band surgery. There is no stomach cutting, stapling, or gastrointestinal re-routing involved in the lap band surgery. This reduces post-operative pain and hastens recovery. The name "lap-band' comes from the surgical technique, laparoscopic, and the name of the implanted device.

During the procedure, the lap band surgeon usually uses the laparoscopic technique. Instead of making a large incision, they make tiny incisions and use instruments to insert the lap band. There is less of a chance of side effects and nutritional deficiencies that are often associated with gastric surgeries.

Lap band surgery involves placing an adjustable gastric band around the upper stomach to create a smaller stomach pocket. This limits the amount of food a person can consume at one time. With a smaller stomach, you feel full faster, and the food moves more slowly between your upper and lower stomach. This helps you to eat less and lose weight.

Once the band is placed around the stomach, it is connected to an access port in the skin of your abdomen. The surgeon can then inject the inside of the stomach with saline solution. This adjusts the size of the stomach outlet to restrict the amount of food that can be moved through it. This process helps determine the rate of weight loss. It can be adjusted to individual needs as you lose weight or help speed up weight loss. It can be adjusted or removed without surgery.

Learning to Eat After Surgery

After surgery there are some dietary limitations that are advantageous for the patient. For the first three to four days following surgery, patients must have a clear liquid diet. This gives the patient time to adjust to the new stomach and avoid complications. For the first three months after surgery, no caffeine drinks such as coffee, tea, or soda are allowed. Carbonated drinks are not recommended because they can cause gas and bloating. They could also cause the stomach size to increase because of the carbonation.

The next phase is a modified liquid diet that helps you adjust to eating small meals. You will be given instructions on how much protein and vegetables to eat. The lap band diet does not include most bread, potatoes or starchy foods. You will be encouraged to eat a lot of protein to avoid a deficiency and side effects.

Lose Weight and Keep It Off

After lap band surgery, you will learn to eat small bites and eat slowly. There will be some foods that will be ruled out to avoid causing digestive problems. As you begin to lose weight these adjustments in diet will become a new way of life.

To save money, you can check on having the surgery in Mexico. There are websites that give information on doctors and clinics in both the U. S. and Mexico. There are new options available for people who cannot lose weight and keep it off. Find out if lapband surgery would work for you.

What is the truth about advance-fee loan scams

Advance-fee loan sharks are preying on unwary consumers, taking their money for the promise of a loan or credit, and leaving them in hot water. The scam artists often impersonate legitimate lenders to entice consumers into falling for their bogus offer.

According to law enforcement agencies in the U. S. and Canada, ads and promotions for advance-fee loans suggest — or even “guarantee” — that there’s a high likelihood that a loan will be approved, regardless of the applicant’s credit history. But to take advantage of the offer, the consumer has to pay a fee. What is the catch? The scam artist takes off with your fee, and the loan never materializes.

Many advance-fee loans are promoted in the classified sections of daily and weekly newspapers and magazines. Often, the ads feature toll-free 800, 866, or 877 numbers, or area codes from Canada, such as 416, 647, 905, or 705. The loans also are promoted through direct mail, radio, and cable TV spots. The fact that an ad is in a legitimate media outlet — like the local newspaper or radio station — doesn’t guarantee that the company placing it is trustworthy.

Legitimate offers of credit do not require an up-front payment. Although legitimate lenders may charge application, appraisal, or credit report fees, the fees generally are taken from the amount borrowed. And the fees usually are paid to the lender or broker after the loan is approved. Legitimate lenders may guarantee firm offers of credit to “credit-worthy” consumers, but first, they evaluate the consumer’s creditworthiness and confirm the information in the application. Canadian law enforcers caution that it is highly unlikely that legitimate Canadian lenders would take a risk on U. S. citizens whose credit problems preclude them from getting a loan in the U. S.

Often, advance-fee loan sharks claim that their fees will go to a third party for credit insurance or a related service. Sometimes, they even fax materials using stolen or forged logos and letterheads from legitimate companies. The materials are fakes, according to enforcement officials, and the contracts the scam artists ask consumers to sign are worthless. Adding insult to injury, some scammers have used the information they collect from consumers to commit identity theft.

Often, advance-fee loan scammers direct applicants to send the fees via Western Union money transfers payable to an individual, rather than a business. They ask applicants to use a “password code” with their Western Union payment, which allows the scammers to hide their identity.

U. S. and Canadian law enforcers say consumers can avoid being taken by advance-fee loan sharks. Here’s how:

Don’t pay for the promise of a loan. It’s illegal for companies doing business by phone in the U. S. to promise you a loan and ask you to pay for it before they deliver. Requiring advance fees for loans also is illegal in Canada.

Ignore any ad — or hang up on any caller — that guarantees a loan in exchange for a fee in advance.

Remember that legitimate lenders never guarantee or say that you will receive a loan before you apply or before they have checked out your credit status or contacted your references, especially if you have bad credit or no credit record.

Don’t give your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number on the telephone, by fax, or via the Internet unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.

Don’t make a payment to an individual for a loan; no legitimate lending organization would make such a request.

Don’t wire money or send money orders for a loan through Western Union or similar companies. You have little recourse if there’s a problem with a wire transaction.

Legitimate lenders don’t pressure you to wire funds.

If you are not absolutely sure who you are dealing with, get the company’s number in the phone book or from directory assistance, and call it to make sure you’re dealing with the company you think you are. Some scam artists have pretended to be the Better Business Bureau or another legitimate organization.

Massive potential to profit from real estate investment in romania

According to a recent report released in the UK about which European property markets have the greatest potential for growth and profit over the coming decade, Romania topped the lot.

Romania, located in southeastern Europe, is a nation poised on the brink of full European Union membership and one benefiting from substantial foreign direct investment and economic advancement as a result. According to the report these facts mean that over the coming decade the housing market in Romania will likely go from strength to strength and anyone who invests before EU membership is cemented could net up to 400% profit on their investment in the next ten years.

The report was based on an economic assessment and overview of each country in Europe and included analysis of the room for growth within each country’s real estate sector. Because property prices in Romania start from as little as twenty thousand US dollars, the room for property price expansion is clear. The low starting prices for real estate in Romania also mean that its property sector is already attracting substantial international real estate investor interest.

Investors from all backgrounds are attracted to Romania – those with a small sum of money to invest are looking to make immediate gains from buying apartments in Bucharest pre-construction which can be purchased by stage payment and profited from upon completion when investors are flipping the real estate right back into the market. Those with more substantial sums of money to invest are generally drawn to either the commercial property sector in Bucharest or Romania’s burgeoning tourism market.

Opportunities in Romania’s tourism market exist along the country’s stunning and as yet undeveloped 225km of Black Sea coastline and also in Romania’s quality but as yet little known winter sport resorts. Accommodation in these locations is required to let out to tourists and a growing number of British, Russian and eastern European citizens are also seeking second homes in these areas of Romania as well, with most preferring to purchase established but well renovated properties.

Other opportunities exist in the form of fairytale properties for sale in Transylvania with castles, medieval houses and entire farms available for sale to overseas investors looking to diversify their property portfolios and buy real estate in one of the most stunningly beautiful, romantic and ancient European countries.

If the real estate and economic expert analysis of Romania’s property market potential is correct, those who buy in Romania today could be looking at the realization of 400% profit within the next ten years – this means that someone who invests as little as twenty thousand dollars today could potentially reap sixty thousand dollars profit within ten years…now that’s what I call potential!

Pyramid schemes-what are they really

Most people (who aren’t even involved in an online business and therefore have no idea what they are talking about) seem to think that leveraged income is a bad thing.

“Isn’t that just a pyramid scheme?” That’s what they’ll say. I’ve heard it over and over.

The general (but incorrect) concept of a pyramid scheme is that you sign up, you pay a certain amount of money whether it be a monthly payment or a one time payment, and then you refer other people to this program which makes you money. And then the people that you signed up sign other people up, which also makes you money. Etc etc. This begins to grow quickly into a network of people. Believe me, these programs work and are perfectly legit so long as there is always one simple thing present: a legitimate product.

There absolutely HAS to be something you are getting from the payment(s) you make, whether it’s access to videos or articles, a website, training courses. Something. If there is no product being sold then this is simply money being exchanged between multiple people and is a complete SCAM. A true pyramid scheme is both a scam, and totally illegal.

Now that we know what a pyramid scheme really is, let’s get back on the topic of leveraged income. If there is one thing I have learned as an internet marketer, it is this: If you want to harness the full potential power of internet income, you must create multiple streams of residual income, and embrace the power of leveraged income.

This means that if you have a website, you need to offer more than one program. Sure, focus on one main thing, but offer a product on the side that will:

• Earn you money

• Help your prospects become more successful or help them in some way.

Don’t just join any free affiliate program and advertise it. It could be complete CRAP, and this would cause your prospects to no longer trust you because you made this total rip-off sound absolutely fantastic.

I strongly recommend to anyone looking for another income stream to unleash the earning potential of Google Adsense. It’s easy, and best of all it’s FREE.

Leveraged income on the other hand, is where you make money from OTHER people’s efforts. The absolute best way on the entire planet to do this is to come up with your own product, and start your own affiliate program. Although you will get SWARMS of people coming to your site ready to earn your generous commissions, starting an affiliate program from scratch is notoriously difficult.

So for now, I recommend you START by joining someone else’s affiliate program. This is a great way to get experience with internet marketing, and many people make MILLIONES from joining other people’s affiliate programs.

The amount of money you make on the internet will be a result of:

• How much you know about your niche

• How hard you work at it

• How badly you want to make money online full-time

• How much you ENJOY internet marketing

Don’t get stuck doing something you hate, be PASSIONATE about marketing your business, and be PROUD of it, otherwise it probably won’t work out for you.

Your Business is what YOU make it.

© Brandon Waite

What is in a weight loss diet pill and can it help

With all the strenuous activities and sweat-generating regimens that most weight loss programs have, more and more people are enticed to opt for a better alternative, without the trouble of exerting too much effort.

With the advent of diet pills that promote weight loss, people go mad over the appealing advertisements of most manufacturers claiming that their product can easily “melt away” those fats and cellulites.

With these pills dominating the market today, who needs to tone those abs and biceps and do some dieting if there is an easier way to lose weight?

With an estimated 60% of the American population that are now considered as obese, these “wonder” drugs are definitely reaping millions of dollars in the United States alone.

Now, the questions are: is there any truth regarding the manufacturers’ claims that these diet pills can ultimately promote weight loss? Are they really effective in helping people lose weight? And if that is the case, do these pills also help those people maintain their ideal weight and curb any fat accumulation in the body?

In reality, there are diet pills that can really make a person shed off those extra pounds. These diet pills contain certain substances that were already clinically and scientifically proven to be very effective.

These diet pills are effective in increasing the metabolism of the body, thereby, initiating weight loss. Plus, these diet pills contain certain substances that suppress one’s appetite.

However, with so many diet pills saturating the market today, trying to find the best and most effective diet pill can be very tedious. Chances are, you may end up choosing the wrong diet pill when your energy to find diet pills wanes down.

Actually, there are only five factors to consider when choosing diet pills that are effective at the same time safe to use. Here is a list of the factors that you need to consider in order to come up with a diet pill that is right and appropriate.

1. The metabolism-boosting ability

In choosing diet pills that will effectively promote weight loss, it is best to look for pills that have the ingredients that will enhance your body’s metabolism, or the ability of the body to burn excess fats.

Choose those diet pills that contain alpha lipoic acid, green tea extracts, and “L-Canitine” because these ingredients had been clinically proven to be effective in promoting weight loss through increased metabolic rate.

2. The appetite suppressants

Find diet pills that effectively suppress your appetite. It does not necessarily mean that you will skip meals but you will not just feel hungry every now and then. This is because obesity usually happens to people who are fond of in-between meals, which actually initiates excessive calorie intake.

3. The calorie stopper

Because obesity is usually due to excess intake of calories in the body, which is more than the recommended amount, it is best to choose diet pills that have the special ingredients that will curb the entry of calories into the body.

These substances are known as “phaseolus vulgaris.” This is known to create an enzyme that will efficiently control any excess calories in the body. The enzyme responsible for this wonderful job is known as “alpha-amylase.”

4. The metabolic enhancers

It is best to choose diet pills that have the so-called “lipotropic elements” that are effective in eliminating fats from the body. It functions like a sweeper that effectively sweeps excess fats outside the body.

These lipotropic elements are found in vitamin C, chitosan, alpha lipoic acid, and green tea extracts.

5. The water-retention breaker

Effective diet pills are those that contain diuretics. These are elements that avert the retention of water in the body during the weight loss regimen.

All of these factors are, indeed, clinically proven and effective in losing weight. Though, it must be kept in mind that diet pills alone are not sufficient to provide optimum weight loss. Hence, it is still important to do some exercises.

Therefore, with exercise and the right diet pills, you are definitely on your way to a healthier, slimmer you.

How to learn about gambling

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Many people use casino gambling as a rite of passage from boyhood to manhood. It is very common for males to go to the casinos on their 18th birthday for some fun, and usually they come back with no money left in the bank.

But it does not matter why you decide to gamble if you are going to do risk your hard earned cash you should at least be ready for what is going to happen in the casinos.

Everyone knows how to play the most Popular Casino Games like; Roulette and Blackjack, but they do not know anything more then the basics. By learning the game more in depth you will not only increase the chances for you to take home some of the casinos money, but you will have more fun while playing the games.

There is not much to learn about playing the slot machines. The only thing to learn about them is that the longer you stay on one machine the more your odds of winning increase. The best thing to do with the slots is try to find a slot machine that someone has been playing for a while without winning and then when they leave you get that machine. Most people will play 10 or 20 dollars in a machine then leave if it does not pay off, this is a big mistake.

Games like Craps, Blackjack, Poker and Roulette have many different variables to them, making it important to educate yourself about a casino game before playing it for high stakes.

One way to learn is to spend time in the casinos playing the game and building experience. In my opinion this is the best way to learn. You are literally paying your dues for your education.

If you can not afford to spend your money in the casino or if you are not old enough to enter a casino and you want to know how to learn to gamble you can go online and many sites offer casino games that can be played against a computer or against other players just for fun. These fun games are not played for money so there is no minimum age to play these casino games.

Another way you can learn to gamble is to go to a school that teaches you to deal some of the most Popular Casino Games played today. These casino dealer schools can be found all over the country and especially near Atlantic City and Las Vegas. You will not only get to learn to play but you will learn the secrets of the dealers. This can give you a very nice advantage in the casino. It may seem like an expensive way to learn to gamble, but in the end you will probably spend less on the school then what you would lose if you just learned at the table in a casino or an online casino.

The lest recommendation I have is to go out and get a book or two on the casino game you are interested in learning about and reading about it. The books will offer advanced strategies and help you memorize the odds of each bet in each situation so you know which bet is the best and when to make it. This does not mean you will win every hand, but it increases your chance of winning some of the casinos money.

By reading this article and taking the advice you will win more money and enjoy your time in the casinos more.

Swimming pool equipment starters kit

Summer is here, which means it is time to consider how you will keep cool during the heat of the season. If you are like many homeowners, you will likely purchase a swimming pool. Owning a swimming pool requires a lot of attention and care in order to keep it safe and clean for swimmers. This is true rather you own an in ground pool or an above ground pool, large or small. Maintenance is an important key to having a swimming pool and this article is going to explain to you exactly what every new pool owner must know about maintaining a pool cleaning routine.

When you purchase a swimming pool, the dealer will likely tell you what you need to get started. There are several things you absolutely must have when you own a swimming pool, these things will help you keep your pool safe and clean for your swimmers, which of course is top priority. Here is a handy list of some essential equipment you need to maintain a regular cleaning routine:

• Filtration System – ensure that you have a filtration system with your swimming pool that is large enough to handle the capacity of your pool. This system will aid in removing bacteria and small partials from the water.

• Vacuum – By purchasing and using a vacuum specific for swimming pools you will be able to clear the pool of many different items that do not belong in there. This is especially useful for debris that has settled on the bottom of the pool.

• Strainer or Skimmer Basket – This can be in conjunction with the filtration system and vacuum. The basket will catch large debris and particles such as leaves or bugs that enter the water of your swimming pool.

• Pool Cover – This handy cover protects your swimming pool in a variety of ways, as well as your loved ones and neighbors. A swimming pool cover works to keep debris out of your pool. A solar pool cover will help in heating the pool water with the suns heat. Additionally, a pool cover will prevent any unwanted visitors (of the animal or human sort) from entering your pool and protect them from any dangers. Lastly, a pool cover works to protect your swimming pool from climatic differences such as the winter months.

• Maintenance Chart – This will allow you to keep track of the maintenance you perform on your pool and the levels of chemicals you put in each time, as well as the chemical readings from test performed.

Chemicals

Chemicals play a large part in balancing your pool water to obtain and maintain a healthy and safe environment for all swimmers. Some things that need to be balanced include the pH level and water hardness. Here is a list of all chemical equipment you will need to keep up with regular maintenance of your swimming pool:

Chlorine – This is available in Tablet (for larger pools) and granules (for smaller pools) and is used to kill bacteria and other harmful things that can occur within a swimming pool.

pH Minus – This is used when the pH levels have gotten to high within the swimming pool.

pH plus – To add pH to your pool as needed.

TA plus and Minus – To add or remove acids found needed to keep pool healthy.

Hardness Plus – To increase the amount of Calcium Choloride.

Algaecides – To prevent growth of harmful bacteria

Clarifier – This comes in concentrate, granular, and tablet forms.

Shock – To maintain the clarity of your pool and prevent cloudy water.

Testing Kits – These come in Strip or bottle form and are essential to understanding the levels of the different chemicals that are contained within the swimming pool water. These are essential to the proper cleaning routine of any swimming pool and the water must be tested regularly.

Business gift-giving tips for the holiday season

Be the First to Say 'Happy Holidays'

While it may be fashionable to show up late to the holiday office party, it is not fashionable to send your holiday gifts late. Send your holiday gifts early to make an impact. Consider sending a gift basket the week after Thanksgiving. You could also consider sending a gift to celebrate the New Year around the 28th of December. Sending holiday gifts at a different time than other companies will make your gifts stand out!

Be Creative, but Considerate

People say, "It is the thought that counts" when they receive a gift. If the gift you send, however, has nothing to do with your clients' interests, they will think, "Wow. They did not even put thought into this gift."

Make sure you know what your clients and employees like before selecting their gifts this year. If they are avid golfers, consider giving your clients or employees Nike Golf Bags or a gift basket filled with golfing essentials like golf balls, divot tools, and golf markers. When giving a food item, take into consideration any dietary restrictions due to religious or medical reasons. Make sure your gifts fit your clients' and employees' likes to make a positive, lasting impact this holiday season.

Quality Gifts Deserve Classy Wrapping

No one enjoys seeing a gift wrapped in newspaper or a paper sack. To avoid running into any last minute wrapping problems, think about the proper wrapping utensils you need to make your gift's wrapping as spectacular as the gift it's concealing.

-Cards

A card is not necessarily a part of the gift wrapping process, but many times, cards do come attached to gifts. Let people know how much you appreciate them by attaching a card with a thoughtful message inside. And, be sure to double-check the spelling of your client's name because the smallest error can ruin your gift.

-Gift Wrap

Invest in nice gift wrap. You do not need to buy the most expensive wrapping paper, but you should invest in something so the recipient knows you did not just haphazardly pick up the gift the day you gave it to them.

-Ribbons and Bows and Frills

There is no need to go overboard with these gift wrapping accessories. A nice bow, however, can be the perfect finishing touch on a present.

Give the stomach a rest when facing life s challenges

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In our lives, days are not always the same. On some days we feel great, other times we have worries. Sometimes we are relaxed, other times we are tensed with worries on our mind.

In these conditions, friends, even the best foods will not be digested-at least properly that is. In addition, considering the many abominable food combinations most of our meals are prepared under and the general use of junk and unnatural substances for consumption, eating when dealing with a problem will quite simply lead to fermentation and poisoning of the body as these items will never be digested.

Strong emotions that characterize depression such as worry, fear, sadness and anger stop the rhythmic conditions of the stomach walls and dry out the stomach as well. As a matter of fact, too much joy and happiness will do likewise.

If you observe angry and frightened animals and even babies, they have a tendency to refrain from eating, until after a passage of considerable time, these emotional states have passed off.

Moreover, it is true that under stressful circumstances many civilized people refrain from eating and find in truth that they lack the desire for food, but it is also too often that most of us will eat large meals under these circumstances, which will be mostly disease forming foods to start with, that as a consequence, complicates or altogether halts an already retarded ongoing digestion.

From all the indications above, a depressed person simply needs a fast (abstinence from eating) not a feast. The body and the mind need all their physical, mental and spiritual energy to meet challenging circumstances and since much energy is actually required to digest, process and assimilate food, one actually could be adding fuel to a fire from eating (especially too much) when under stress.

Perhaps this is why in the Bible and as documented in other religious faiths, when most people in the olden days such as David, Esther and Paul, were facing trying times, they simply retreated to a place of solitude and abstained from eating.

Renowned hygienist, Albert Mosseri, explains it best when he says: “Life’s difficulties are not as overwhelming when the stomach is empty. Calm comes back and discouragement fades away. Enthusiasm is reborn and hope comes back. All the miseries will then seem less important then they first seemed.”

It may not be what would solve the problem at hand but it will help the mind to focus on fixing what the problem is, so friends as a tool for dealing with life’s challenges abstain from eating till the problem is solved. When you succeed at that, then it may be time to have a feast.

E-centives internet coupon strategy

E-Centives is an Internet coupon company that specializes in offering a proprietary Internet coupon system. It capitalizes on the appeal that coupons have for consumers and the real shopper savings that are to be enjoyed by the discriminating coupon user. E-Centives Internet Coupon system directly appeals to Internet retailers to take advantage of coupons as an advertising and marketing tool to bring customers in for the first time and to keep them returning, but safely.

E-Centives Internet Coupon may represent the wave of the future in Internet coupons. Not only does this concern recognise the potential harm associated with coupon fraud, it has designed ways to combat it. Online retailers are offered coupons that once issued by E-Centives Internet Coupon system can be tracked and monitored for alteration. However this is not the most important aspect of this feature. With the coupon associated tracking ability the coupon becomes a powerful marketing tool since it allows statistics to be gathered on the coupon user. Items like how was the coupon used, which retailer was it redeemed, how much was the amount of the purchase, the type of item purchased and more demographics can be obtained through the tracking offered by E-Centives. E-Centives and companies like them assure potential clients that their distribution methods are targeted and selective and aimed at a desirable type of consumer. Bulk mailings and general online website distribution are not allowed.

Of course the ultimate objective for E-Centives Internet Coupon system is to create a base of loyal customers that represent return sales for the online retailer. The coupons are viewed as promotional offers that promote growth of the business. The coupons that are ordered by the retailed and specific to his business therefore can be designed to attract customers specifically to that area of items. For instance and high end company that offers items for babies has just added a line of car seats to its inventory. The internet coupons this retailer offers will allow a percentage off purchase of only the car seats, However, the customer will probably also browse at least a portion of the catalo while searching for this item. The tracking demographics collected will allow the merchant to see which items are popular and which items require an incentive to sell. He can then order coupons to these items. The ability to track the in store online purchases, allows the retailer to better know his clientele and to better create an inventory that reflects their tastes and requirements. The merchant can also spot trends and try to place orders soon enough to satisfy these shopping needs. Most of all, the online retailer can use E-Centives Internet Coupon system to identify and reward return customers by issuing special coupons to them, such as a percent off coupon on his regular order.

E-Centives Internet Coupon System is one of several new internet companies that take into account both the potential abuse that coupon use represents and also the enormous popularity of coupons for consumers. It melds these factors together with state of the art systems that provide security and demographics gathering. They truly represent the pulse of the Internet shopping public.

Tlc for tired toes

Feet: They take us anywhere and everywhere we want to go, but they also take lots of abuse. A typical day of walking exerts a force equal to several hundred tons on your feet.

One of the best ways to revive your tired toes is a pedicure - either at home or at the spa. Because when your feet feel good, your whole body feels refreshed and energized.

According to a recent American Podiatric Medical Association survey, 25 percent of women perform at-home pedicures, while 34 percent have indulged in salon or spa pedicures. Whichever way you pamper your feet, do it safely. Here are some tips from APMA member podiatrist Dr. Marlene Reid:

1. Soothe your soles. Smoothing away calluses on the heels, balls and sides of your feet will make them feel better. Use a pumice stone, foot file or foot scrub. You can make your own scrub by combining olive oil and sea salt. Avoid using a foot razor, which can remove too much skin and cause infection and permanent damage if used incorrectly.

2. Dry up. After soaking feet, make sure to thoroughly rinse off the scrub or other products and pat feet dry. Pay close attention to moisture between the toes, which can can lead to athlete's foot or other fungal infections.

3. Snip the tips. Toenails should be trimmed to just above the top of each toe. Use a straightedged toenail clipper to ensure nails do not become curved or rounded in the corners.

4. Make a clean sweep. Run a wooden or rubber manicure stick under nails to remove any dirt trapped underneath. Be very gentle and never use a sharp tool to clean under your nail or you may puncture the skin, leaving it vulnerable to infection.

5. Shape them up. Smooth nail edges by filing toenails with an emery board. File lightly in one direction to smooth the edge of the nail without drastically rounding the corners of the nail; don't saw back and forth.

6. Care for cuticles. Moisturize cuticles with a cuticle cream or hand cream, then gently push them back with a rubber cuticle pusher or manicure stick. Cuticles serve as a protective barrier against bacteria entering the body and should never be cut.

7. Polish up. Nail polish locks out moisture and doesn't allow the nail or the nail bed to "breathe." Paint toes only if you have healthy nails and remove polish regularly with a non-acetone nail polish.

How to get started with internet banking

The specific ins and outs of how your Internet banking will work vary depending on which bank you’re with. However, there are many things that banks do the same or very similarly, so it is worth taking a second to learn about how Internet banking works in general as well as reading the information your bank sends you.

To begin with, you have to register for Internet banking, if you didn’t do it when you set up your account. This is generally a matter of simply walking into your bank or phoning them and saying “I’d like to sign up for Internet banking”. They will then send you a series of letters with various PIN numbers and passwords (occasionally including a physical security device with a numeric keypad), along with instructions on how to use them to access your Internet banking.

Once you’re in, you should be presented with a list of your accounts (if you have more than one) or a list of your recent transactions. This allows you to quickly see the status of all your accounts and what has happened to them recently. From here, you can access pages where you can make various kinds of one-off payments, and set up or cancel regular payments.

To make a one-off payment, such as a bill payment or sending money to someone else’s account, you will need the person or company’s bank account number – some banks will have a list of utility bills already built in to the website. Simply type in this information on the payment screen, together with the amount, and click ‘pay’. The money should reach the other account within 2-3 working days.

Setting up regular payments is a little more complicated. Again, you need the numbers and amounts, but you also need to know the start date, end date, and how often you want the payment to be made. Be careful of exactly when you set your payments to leave your account, as the bank will often charge you a large fee if there is no money in the account when the payment is scheduled to be made.

Online poker rooms using affiliate program to boost business

Affiliate marketing is just one of a host of advertising opportunities for online industries. Whilst traditional off-line advertising such as sponsorship of events and individuals, magazines, newspapers, billboards and television or radio, produce results they are often very expensive. Whilst some industries or companies may choose to utilise some of these off-line options, most back this up with extensive online advertising, most notably that of affiliate marketing.

The affiliate-marketing program is a cleverly conceived advertising system, which utilises all of the capabilities made available by the Internet. Unlike traditional advertising where companies pay a subsidiary company money to advertise their brand in a bulk up front payment, affiliates work on a sort of reward or commission based level. Because of the way the industry is run there is no need for either the affiliate or the advertising site to pay money up front, which in turn benefits both parties. The fact that no money changes hands until a new client is generated, the onus is on the affiliate to provide results, which in turn benefits the site that has commissioned the advertising.

Many industries have utilised the affiliate style of advertising, but few have been as successful as that of online poker. By distributing advertisements throughout a plethora of sites, all at little or no cost the poker industry has been able to infiltrate a number of websites and therefore develop an increased awareness. Unlike many other online industries, the poker industry doesn't really have a recognised off-line equivalent. The game of poker is largely played by professionals behind closed doors or in large casinos or between a group of friends around a table. Therefore it was far more necessary to promote not only the sites but also the notion of online poker as a powerful and exciting gambling medium.

Affiliates are rewarded by the poker sites with large percentages, sometimes up to around 35% of the money generated by players that join through the links on their sites. So with each player they can hope to earn a regular, if slightly small income. In order to increase this income the affiliate must promote not only the site, but also themselves in order to increase their site traffic. Because in the affiliate program nobody is guaranteed to go to an affiliate site, click the link and become a fully signed up member. In fact the percentages don't really favour the affiliate. It is for this reason that so many affiliates have has to advertise their own whereabouts in order to gain visibility and hits, and then hopefully in turn earn some money. With affiliates becoming marketing machines looking to earn more money, the poker sites that they represent have been reaping the benefits by generating huge numbers of new clients. So with the affiliate industry earning more and the poker sites generating billions each year, it shows just how successful the system is at not only advertising but increasing the revenue of everybody associated with either industry.

Reading poker shorthand

Message boards and websites are filled with quality poker information, but sometimes the authors use "poker shorthand" to describe the game situations. If you're not familiar with the terms, you can't take full advantage of the knowledge being shared. Reading through the Poker Shorthand Primer will help you understand what people are actually saying when they say, "YMTC, playing Kxs in LP"..

Poker comes with it's own language, slang included. While anyone who has seen an episode of the World Poker Tour knows that pocket Queens can be called the "lovely ladies" or the "hilton sisters", there is more to poker lingo than hand nicknames.

A lot of websites and message boards offer poker strategy and advice, and knowing the basic terms and how to read poker shorthand can unlock this world of information. First, let's look at the shorthand that poker players use to describe the cards during a hand.

The ranks of the cards are given, followed by a letter indicating their suit. So the King of Clubs is written, Kc. The two of Hearts is written as 2h. Tens are written as the letter T. You may see a flop described as Ac 4d Th. The Ace of Clubs, Four of Diamonds, and Ten of Hearts.

When talking about starting hands, the letter s stands for suited. For instance, a starting hand with the Jack of Clubs and the Ten of Clubs is described as JTs. The opposite of suited, offsuit, is indicated with an o. Jack/Ten offsuit is written as JTo.

And the last of the card shorthand, x is used to describe a random small card in a starting hand. If a player likes to play an Ace and any other suited card, that starting hand is described as playing Axs. Ace/anything suited.

There may be times when playing Axs is a profitable play, or times when calling raises with KQo is not recommended. Either way, the shorthand used in describing texas holdem helps cut down on the time it takes to describe the cards in play.

There is more to poker conversation than just the cards though. You will find the following shorthand on message boards as well. When talking about position at the table, or pre-flop action the blinds are often referred to as sb and bb for small and big blinds.

I mention this because when talking about the amount of money players make BB is used to mean big bets. Someone who makes 4 BB an hour at a $3/$6 table is having $24 an hour sessions. Just as in English, the words in poker lingo depend on the context.

Other shorthands you will see include YMTC instead of You Make the Call, HH in place of Hand History, and MTT for Multi-table tournament.

Of course youll find other, creative abbreviations out there, but having read through the basics, it will be easier to understand poker situations as they are described online.

Seo vs. sem the roi myth busted

Search engine optimization and search engine marketing both are intrinsic part of Internet marketing efforts. But there is some confusion as to which one is better strategy in return on investment (ROI) terms. This article helps clear some of the doubts.

SEO vs. SEM – The ROI Myth Busted

Return on investment (ROI) is one of the deciding factors for any course of action involving investment of resources. For quite sometime now, a debate has been raging on whether search engine optimization (SEO) has better ROI than professional search engine marketing (SEM).

In fact it has become a bit of a myth that it is easier to get good ROI through SEO than it is to get the same ROI through SEM. Two facts have helped evolve this myth – SEM involves click costs while SEO works through free traffic. Let’s see whether this myth holds any water.

Well, a closer look tells us that this myth doesn’t have any truth in it and there are several reasons for that. In this article though, we will deal with just one reason: the ‘landing page difference’.

In SEM, you decide the landing page your visitors will see. In SEO, a search engine spider decides on the landing page visitors will see. There's a difference in control, and that difference makes all the difference. That’s why serious search engine marketing services providers opt for full blown SEM rather than just SEO.

Searchers, after all, are people with itchy back-button fingers. If they come to a site and don't think it's the best site for them, they'll return to the search engine results page - and click on your competitors' links - in a matter of seconds.

But if your landing page is optimized for the keywords the searchers choose, and the ad copy the searchers see, then you're able to tell a new visitor, right away, that he/she's come to the right place.

And no matter how amazing your site is, that's a message that visitors need to hear. Because people don't just want to see a good landing page, they want to see a relevant landing page.

But only a good search engine marketing firm can optimize your landing page. A search spider won't.

In both SEO and SEM, you only hit ROI if your searchers convert. A search engine marketing services provider might require a higher initial investment than an SEO firm does (because SEM requires the management cost, plus the PPC cost; while SEO only costs the price of management alone) - but you're also likely to get better conversions through SEM, because you're likely to get better landing pages through SEM. And it's only conversions that will get you ROI.

Are we saying that getting the best SEO possible isn't worthwhile?

Absolutely not!

The more real estate you take up in the search engine results page, the better. It will plant your brand in the psyche of the browsers making your website easier to recall when they would require services/products you offer.

So good SEO is absolutely vital to strong internet marketing! But saying that SEO will get better ROI than SEM - because organic traffic is free - ignores the most important element of SEM: control. And its control that makes all the difference between getting traffic, and getting traffic that converts.

And that makes a huge difference when it comes to ROI.

A self-catering berlin holiday

In a city as rich in history and culture as Berlin, how do you make the most out of your stay? Why, by staying at a self-catering apartment, of course! A self-catering apartment in Berlin gives tourists the most value for their money.

Self-catering apartments in Berlin are usually found right in the heart of the city. Stay in one and you will find that the moment you step out of your door, you are immediately thrust into the pulsing rhythm of Berlin's culture-soaked atmosphere.

If you cherish your privacy and somewhat resent the overly attentive nature of a regular hotel staff, a self-catering apartment in Berlin is the perfect alternative for you. Most self-catered apartments provide individual access to sleeping quarters, thereby ensuring that you get the privacy you crave for.

Another plus to staying in a self-catering apartment in Berlin is that you never have to torture yourself with unfamiliar cooking while on vacation. You can cook your own meals in the well-equipped kitchens of most self-catering apartments. Finally, when you stay in a self-catering apartment in Berlin, you are never far from access to public transport. Therefore, it is very easy to stroll out the door and onto a waiting tram or bus.

A self-catering apartment in Berlin is available for nightly to monthly rentals. Rates can range from 30 euros per day per person in an apartment that could sleep six, to seven hundred euros per week for the same number of people. Of course, it would be a good idea to holiday with friends to help defray accommodation costs. Also, a vacation is more fun when spent in the company of friends and family.

With more and more vacationers opting to stay in a self-catering apartment in Berlin, it is always a good idea to make reservations ahead of time. Most self-catering apartments in Berlin have online reservations, and they accept major credit cards.

Having secured your accommodations for your Berlin vacation, you can then focus on sightseeing. Visit the places in Berlin that have cultural significance, such as museums, opera houses, theaters, and art galleries. Also, take part in the festivals held throughout the entire year in the city. For 2007, Berlin's calendar of events include the Carnival of Culture, the open-air concert in Gendarmenmarkt held in July as a herald to summer, and the Berlin Marathon slated for the month of September, wherein at least 50,000 runners and skaters stream into the city to take part in one of the world's largest marathons.

In visiting a city as cosmopolitan as Berlin, be practical. Forget expensive hotels. Stay in a self-catering apartment in Berlin, and be right where the action is.

How to wake up eager to start

When you jump out of bed every morning, all fired up with enthusiasm, motivation and eagerness to... Huh?

What's that? You don't do much jumping in the mornings?

Well, okay, when you ease out of bed every morning, all eager and enthusiastic to... Huh?

What's that? You don't do that either?

Well, okay, when you're lying there in bed every morning wondering why the heck you should bother to get up...

Does your mind flash on all the things you'll get to do today, or is it filled with all the things you've GOT to do today?

What's the difference, you ask? Aw c'mon, any ten-year-old kid can answer that one. It's the difference between waking up thinking "It's Christmas Day" or thinking "I've got Final Exams today."

And face it, most of us live as though we're facing final exams every single day. Each sunrise brings more battles, more struggles, more dogged trudging, more frustrated attempts to deal with our chronic burdens.

Meanwhile, a few happy folks really do wake up eager. They're rarin' to go as soon as the light hits their eyeballs. But how do they do that? What's their secret?

Would you believe they don't have any secret? They just find it in their heart to love what's happening to them. Even the so-called "bad" stuff is treated with respect and dealt with as a potential learning experience -- something to profit from -- maybe even fun (with slight adjustments in attitude).

But they don't make any secret of it. What they do is right out there for the rest of the world to see. The only trouble is, the rest of the world is terribly busy not seeing. Not seeing the sunshine around them that so completely fills the lives of the eager-awakeners.

Those living in the darkside are tuned in to the dim, gloomy, depressing aspects of every event. Every day brings them the exact same occurrences that their bright-side neighbors receive, but since they're stuck in the dark-side, they must experience it all in shadows.

You have a radio, right? And when you turn the knob, the station changes. All those programs, every one of them, is in the air around you. But when you dial the radio, you're selecting just one from among all those thousands of signals.

And when you wake up in the morning, your dial can be set wherever you want it. Happy; sad; eager; dreading; energetic.

So is your mental dial stuck on station K-R-A-P or K-O-O-L? On W-O-R-M or W-A-R-M?

If you're not quite satisfied with the daily programming you're receiving, it's not that hard to change it.

No kidding... it's not. But you do have to do it yourself. Nobody -- I mean nobody -- is going to come in and reset your dial for you.

Now, you've read enough pos-think books and listened to enough tapes, you have a pretty good idea how this works. Let's stop kidding ourselves. You do know WHAT to do. But you haven't had much success with it. But there's one thing in all those techniques you're NOT doing.

When you do your spiritual exercies, whatever form you select, you get up afterwards and go about your day looking for signs that it's working.

And when you don't immediately see those signs, you start wondering why it's not working.

BBZZZZZZT! Wrong move.

Instead, you're supposed to be thinking how thankful you are that it IS WORKING, even though you don't see anything yet. You fill your mind with strong thoughts about what you want.

Now isn't that simple?

But it'll sure make a difference in the way you wake up every morning.

Finding a natural remedy isn t hard

Stephen Thomas

Finding a natural remedy to sickness or an ailment isn’t hard. A quick visit to a health food store to speak with a clerk who is well versed in what herbs are natural remedies for what ailment can provide a wealth of knowledge. Also a quick surfing tour of the internet using natural remedy as a keyword for the search can provide a great deal of knowledge.

When looking for a natural remedy use common sense and add a grain of salt to what you may be told. Some people take it to an extreme and think there is a natural remedy for everything. Not true, but if you use common sense you’ll probably find a natural remedy for most ailments. After all, for many hundreds of years there was no such thing as a pharmaceutical industry, and using a natural remedy to cure an illness was the only way an illness could be cured.

The world of the natural remedy is varied and multi faceted. A few examples however are very common and should be known by everyone. For instance, zinc is a great natural remedy for colds. Cranberries are a natural remedy for urinary track infections, especially common for women. Aloe Vera juice applied to cuts and abrasions is a natural remedy that does wonders for healing. Garlic is a natural remedy for heart disease and an immune system strengthening agent. Seeds from the common pumpkin are a natural remedy to rid the body of parasites. Apple cider vinegar is a multifunctional natural remedy for many diseases, and an overall cleanser of the system. St. John’s Wort is a natural remedy for depression symptoms. Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits are full of vitamins and a great natural remedy for the common cold, as is chicken soup. White vinegar is a natural remedy for toe fungus when the feet are soaked in it. Cinnamon is a natural remedy for high blood pressure and much safer than pharmacological solutions. Grape seed is an ancient natural remedy for prostate problems, common in middle aged and older men. Finding a natural remedy is tea is easy. Green tea boosts the immune system, ginger tea aids digestion, and most teas in general help keep the system flushed out and pure. With this entire in mind, it is easy to see that a natural remedy is usually an option for almost any minor health problem.

Pressure washer concrete cleaning equipment

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Pressure Washer Concrete Cleaning Equipment
By Lance Winslow

Cleaning concrete is tough and there is an easy way and a hard way. There is one thing you need to understand when you are pressure washer cleaning concrete; the concrete cannot always be made to look brand new again after it has been stained. You can always get stains lighter or bleached but completely removing it is very difficult, sometimes you get lucky, but if you are looking for perfection, chances are you will be underwhelmed. So when talking to customers let them know up front and explain this to them otherwise they will be asking for a job that just can't be done unless the entire concrete slab is ripped up and re-poured.

Let’s talk about equipment that is needed for this type of work. Remember safety is always important when working with a pressure washer. Some times there are chemicals involved in cleaning some stains. Thus, you should always use some type of eye protection. Also, when you are using chemicals you need to wear jeans to protect your legs. Chemicals made for concrete are very strong and should not be toyed with. Would a person rather work with dry feet or wet? It is recommended that you get rubber waders or some type of rubber boot. They will keep your feet from getting wet and keep them from getting burned by the 250 degree water.

Orange cones are also important to have for this job. These help make people visually aware that you are there if you are in a high traffic area or where there are a lot of contract workers at say a newly constructed house that needs the concrete cleaned. This makes everyone around you safe and you are helping prevent accidents. Of course you are going to need a Hydro-Twister for this job. You can technically do the job with a wand but it will take a lot more time and water, not to mention you can cause streaking if you are not using even strokes across the slab of concrete. Most of the new hot water pressure washers have an option of a hydro twister type unit but if you don't have one and or you need a second unit we recommend that you go to buy one. When buying a hydro twister buy the larger of the two. There my be only a 5 inch difference in surface coverage but it is well worth it when you are trying to save time without cutting corners. Especially if you are cleaning concrete at a construction site or a large retail type box store, there is a lot of concrete and the faster you clean it the more money you will make. Think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank. net/wttbbs

Article Source: EzineArticles. com/

Which product should you sell on internet

If you sell or intend to sell on the web, with your website or on ebay, you must sell digital info products, like ebooks, software...

Do you now what the best product to sell on the Internet today?

You may have your own home business, with or without success, but now, you do not have time to spend with your family, friends, because you can' t move from your computer, waiting for customers queries, taking care about shipping, orders...

This is what I have just discovered in a unique video tutorial program ( you will not find this anywhere). You must sell an INFO PRODUCT.

Well, you may ask what the heck is INFO PRODUCT.

INFO PRODUCT is THE product to sell on the Internet

Why INFO PRODUCTS?

Because it is what Internet surfers want: Informations, informations and informations! You will have more benefits with INFO PRODUCT than any other product! Those are YOUR benefits with an INFO PRODUCT:

Low cost to create. It is fast and easy to create. You have an unlimited inventory. You do not need to manufacture. It is delivered automatically because it is a digital product.

You just create it, then upload it, and you have now your product ready to deliver and be transformed in a money machine.

This is what we will call your ASSET.

Now the customer benefits:

The product he ordered is delivered immediately on his desktop

and ready to use. He doesn't need to go out from home. Most of the prospects on the Internet are impulsive buyers, they want it know and tomorrow will be too late. There are many others benefits...

Where can you find info products?

The best of all is that those info products, you can find them in yourself, for instance, you have a passion, something that you learned. You can transform that knowledge into an Ebook. Let' see now some type of info product:

You could sell an e book, or an audio product, or a video product.

Do not forget, that step is crucial:

You must have an USP to succeed.

Well, you want to know... It is your Unique Selling Proposition. I mean that it will be your product, your unique proposition to the prospects. That will really make the difference.

I hope that you enjoyed the first lesson, and that all those

benefits will make your Internet marketer life better.

How to start your own in-home preschool

Starting an in-home preschool – or an in-home day care center with a structured, preschool portion of the day – can be a deeply rewarding undertaking. And, if you’re a parent of young children, it’s also a flexible way for you to contribute financially and still spend your days at home.

From a business perspective, there’s never been a better time to embark on the in-home preschool path. Today’s educated, professional parents want their preschoolers stimulated with literature, hands-on projects and opportunities for creative play. The heavy demand for quality day care options is undisputed.

But starting your own in-home preschool can be daunting. Where do you begin? How do you proceed? Do you have the stamina to provide interesting new topics, crafts and lessons, day after day?

Fortunately, these nagging doubts can be easily allayed with a little planning. Start by taking a quiet afternoon and sit down with a paper and pencil. Ask yourself the following questions and jot down your all your ideas:

*What are my core beliefs? How will this shape my program?

*What is my teaching philosophy? What is the purpose of

education?

*What do I hope to achieve through my preschool?

*Which of these common subjects – language, literature, math,

science, social studies, motor activities, physical

education, social development – do I want my preschool to

include?

*How will I design and create a stimulating learning environment?

*What kind of materials will I need?

*How will I advertise my new preschool and generate interest

among parents?

Answering these questions honestly will help you to define your business – shaping a program that’s true to your heart and making you better prepared to “sell” your preschool to prospective families.

Once you have your plan in place, it’s time to move on to the most important aspect of your new preschool: developing a curriculum. The curriculum lays the foundation for your program, making sure lessons progress in a meaningful way and keep the children interested. A good curriculum builds on past knowledge while promising future insight and adventures.

There are many companies out there today that provide an ongoing “mail order” curriculum for in-home preschools – many you can find on the Web. These companies compile and send monthly preschool kits that include everything you need: lesson plans, activities, art supplies, classroom decorations, children’s literature, parent newsletters and more.

Subscribing to one of these plans can be an easy, affordable way to offer a quality education without doing all the shopping, research and work yourself. With so many online preschool programs out there, chances are you’ll find one in line with your beliefs and teaching philosophy.

But before you subscribe to an online preschool curriculum, make sure you also consider the standards that parents expect when choosing a program. Yours should:

*Have a well-developed, detailed philosophy

*Follow a regular schedule of activities covering all the

domains of child development: physical, mental, social,

emotional

*Help your learning environment become stimulating and

child-proofed

*Encourage you and your staff to frequently read to and talk

to the children

Using these points as guidelines, you’re sure to find an online preschool program that’s comprehensive, timesaving and cost-effective.

So, there you have it. A sprinkle of introspection, a pinch of planning, a healthy dose of research – and before you know it, you’re running a full-fledged preschool out of your own home.

Good luck and happy educating!