The one that got away on the green river

Fly fishing can be a surreal experience mending the soul of any person. That is, until you have to deal with the one that got away!

The One That Got Away

I’ve battled the crowds, seen the masses of fish in the crystal clear water, and been skunked by the some of the most educated trout around on the Green River below the Flaming Gorge Dam. On a float trip last fall, I experienced the true meaning of …The One That Got Away.

This fight and escape was like no other that I have experienced in my 10 years of fly fishing. This fish was not just big, but the most aggressive and determined trout I have ever seen!! It was a picture perfect moment; I spot a large rising fish on the left side of the river about 50 down. We row into position. I make the perfect cast and my drift is right on target. Suddenly, the fish comes almost completely out of the water.

Now you are probably thinking, big deal, what makes this the ultimate one that got away story? It’s not the size of the fish or even the amount of time the fish was on, it’s all about the angler.

Moments before my fly drifted over this fantastic fish, a dive-bombing Osprey snagged him out from under me nose, or more accurately, the nose of my fly! Maybe their eyesight is not quite as good as I thought, because this bird chewed off way more than he should have!

It was a perfect snag, both talons sunk into the back of the fish. The bird was able to pull the fish almost completely out of the water with a few extremely labored flaps before he went down. Yep, the Osprey was completely dragged under by the heavy, powerful and extremely determined fish.

Amazingly, the Osprey surfaced still clutching the fish and made another attempt to conquer the beast. Dragging the fish half submerged across 10 feet of river, the bird was once again almost completely submerged. Again the Osprey surfaces, well, almost surfaces. Only one wing comes out of the water and flaps frantically. One had to wonder who was having who lunch!

Unbelievably, it started to look like the fish was going to roll the Osprey under it. Sure enough, the fish came over the top and was partially in the air while the Osprey was completely submerged under it! The trout made a vicious twisting movement and the Osprey apparently thought oxygen was a better meal. It let go of the trout. The soaking wet bird laboriously returned to a nearby perch for a well-deserved rest.

We all stared at each other in complete shock. Now that is one hell of a One That Got Away story!!

Getting the best mortgage rates in florida with a poor credit history

Florida is a lovely place to have a house in; unfortunately the real estate prices are rather forbidding for most. And for someone with a bad credit past, it gets tougher. However, if Florida real estate has is in your dreams, you can still get a mortgage loan, even with a bad credit if you know how to look for it.

Before we get into shopping for the best mortgage rates, let us understand how the credit score of a borrower determines the scope of his search. Most lenders will willingly lend to a person with ‘A’ credit score but someone with a ‘C’ or a ‘D’ grade won’t get so lucky.

Fortunately, recent entries into the Florida lending industry have led the industry into being more liberal when approving loans. For instance, if there are more than 4 late mortgage payments in a period of 12 months, it calls for a B score, however if these delays have a plausible explanation the lender may excuse the default and consider a score of A.

There are companies who specialize in giving loans to high-risk borrowers and they are known as Sub-Prime lenders. Even though loans from the Sub-Prime source continue to dominate the high-risk borrowers segment, the government-sponsored agency, Fannie Mae too is beginning to acknowledge the potential in this category. With the availability of more options, a borrower with bad credit can afford to get choosy and not jump at the first approval he gets for the fear of not getting another chance.

The Internet is a good place to look for multiple mortgage options and even for specifically Florida Mortgage Loans, without the borrower having to reveal his credit status. One may even go to a mortgage broker in order to locate the best quotes, but they can be expensive. Ask for reference from friends and colleagues for a good mortgage lender, since a recommendation is always assuring.

Once you narrow down your choice, here is a checklist that you must go through.

1. First analyze your financial status, if you find you have come out of your past credit blues and can commit more you can consider an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). An ARM allows for a lower rate of interest in the initial years with an option to refinance at a lower, fixed rate after the first couple of years. However, if you find yourself financially burdened, a fixed rate payment would be more appropriate. Search, negotiate and settle for a rate of interest and for terms and conditions that suit your financial status.

2. Find out how much penalties are imposed for pre-payment. Heavy penalties will take away the advantage of any timely payments that you may be able to make and that may get you a refinance on better terms in the next few months.

3. Most Sub-Prime lenders exploit the vulnerability of high-risk borrowers and slap on high closing costs at the end of the loan. There are more lenders out there willing to do business than one would have you believe and a little negotiation can always add to some cost shaving.

4. Avoid paying any upfront or processing fees; the only fee acceptable should the one you pay for your credit application.

5. Ensure that everything goes on paper in writing, from the rate of interest, to the closing costs to the pre-payment penalties and that nothing comes as a surprise after you have signed the contract.

The benefits of custom software development vs. generic applications

In the world of computers being used for business, it is essential to have quality software regardless of the type of business you offer or the size of it. While technology is a great thing, it can be complicated especially when it comes to the issue of software. You don’t want to purchase general applications that are difficult to use and maneuver. You also don’t want to have additional features that you will never use. This is why custom software development is often a much better choice.

Custom software development starts with identifying your goals and the needs of your business. In many cases custom software development is less expensive than a general application because it is designed to meet your business needs. You also don’t have additional programs and features that you will never use. You will also get the software to do exactly what you need it to do, saving time for yourself and the other employees who may use the software.

It is important to choose a software programmer or developer who has taken the time to understand the type of business you conduct and what you want the software to do for your business. Check their references and that they are credible. You will want to find out about training, customer support, and a refund in the event you are not happy with your software. There are many reputable software programmers you can find in the newspaper, the yellow pages, and on the internet. It is a good idea to get an estimate for the work, what the software functions will be, and the completion date. You also should discuss what guarantee they offer. Some companies will make changes until you are satisfied, or in some cases, there may be a third party to enforce the contract terms. All of this information as well as the training time and customer support should be in writing before you pay any money for services.

Golf club shafts and grips the basics

If you are new to the game of golf, or if you simply don't know too much about the game in general, there are several areas that you should understand before you decide to step out onto the green. Some of the important things you need to understand include golf club shafts and grips.

These two parts of your golf club can either make or break your golf game. After all, how can one possibly play a good game of golf without having a properly and well-made shaft and grip? So, let's take a closer look at these elements of a golf club.

The Golf Club Shaft:

Think about it: all cars and trucks have engines. So, in the same way, a golf club also has an engine. This engine is called the shaft. The golf club shaft is basically a tube that is made of materials such as metal, steel, or graphite. The shaft is the main part of your golf club that you hold on to when you are playing.

And then there is the flex. The flex in your golf shaft describes the ability that your shaft has to bend when you swing it. There are several kinds of shafts that you golf club can have, depending on your preferences when you bought it. A golf club shaft can be extra stiff (X), stiff (S), regular (R), senior (A), and ladies (L).

No matter what type of flex your shaft has, it will automatically impact your trajectory, distance, and accuracy. To get the most of what you can get from you shaft, you must hit the ball square, with the face of the club. This needs to be done while focusing your aim in a completely straight line. This way, you will be able to make contact with the ball, and make it in the best way possible.

The Golf Club Grip:

You can find the golf club grip at the opposite end as the golf club head. The golf club grip is typically covered with rubber, leather, or synthetic leather covering for you to hold on to. Most modern clubs have extravagantly comfortable grips for layers to hold one to. When it comes to the golf cub grip, it is all about comfort.

The Grip:

The end of the shaft opposite the head is covered either with a rubber, synthetic leather, or colloquially, a leather grip for the player to hold. The modern grip has also undergone a number of changes and the vast variety of models makes it far easier for a discriminating golfer to find a model that is comfortable to him or her.

With a great golf shaft as well as a super golf grip, you will certainly be set to play your best golf ever. Remember to stay on top of your game by replacing or keeping up on your shaft and grips. You will be glad you did when you step out onto the green!

Taking solar into account when designing your home improvements

Using the sun to heat up a home is growing by leaps and bounds in popularity these days. To really save money with solar, the best way is to design your home or improvements with solar in mind.

Taking Solar Into Account When Designing Your Home Improvements

In this case, we are not talking about using active solar panels to heat your home. We are merely talking about orienting your home in a particular way as well as emphasizing certain features. While this may sound odd at first, it is an extremely popular and cost effective energy production method used throughout the world.

To pursue this strategy, you must pay careful attention to how you design your house or improvements. One of the biggest errors made by people is the failure to take in all aspects of home heating and cooling. This can lead to a situation where you are producing far too much solar heat and the house becomes an oven. Get it wrong in the other direction and you don’t have nearly enough heat. Here are the key issues to consider.

The first issue, the site location, is almost always overlooked. Ideally, you want unobstructed sunlight to hit the south side of the home for at least six hours in the middle of the day. Contrary to popular opinion, it doesn’t matter what part of the United States you live in. There is sufficient sun exposure everywhere, although areas heavy with fog and cloud cover may be problematic. Regardless, the home must receive the aforementioned amount of sunlight. If it doesn’t, you are not going to be happy with the results.

The second issue many people miss out on is commonly known as the axis orientation. In the Northern Hemisphere, the south wall of structures will receive the most sun exposure. To efficiently use this energy, your home must be oriented to expose the longest wall of the structure to the south. The more surface area you have facing the sun, the more heat and light you will be able to generate in the home. On the other hand, if you orient a short side to the sun, it is going to produce less heat and be harder to circulate it through the length of the home.

The third issue ties in into axis orientation. To produce heat, you must have a vast majority of the windows on the south side of the home. Unless you are using a solar capture wall, it makes little sense to orient your home correctly without letting the sunlight in. Conversely, you need minimize windows on the north side of the home or at least use super energy efficient windows to keep heat from escaping. You don’t want to create a wind tunnel from the south to north side of the structure as air temperatures try to balance out!

You may have some doubts about how much heat a properly planned structure will produce. Hyperbole aside, your home will cook. The sun is incredibly powerful. Imagine sitting in your car on a sunny day with the windows rolled up and no air conditioning. The same thing will happen with your home.

To combat excessive heat, you should include some mechanism for reducing the amount of sun coming into the home. The easiest answer is to put curtains or some such thing on the interior, but it doesn’t always work for large bay windows. To resolve this problem, you should put some type of a retractable overhang on the exterior of the home. You can install the roller under the lip of the roof. They don’t look nearly as cheesy as they used to and you’ll be happy you did so when summer rolls around.

Taking advantage of the sun for heating is not particularly complicated. If you keep the above issues in mind, you’ll be able to smile when your neighbors complain about their utility bills.

Searching for the bride

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So, if you're the one who thinks that the Russian bride is an ideal image of wife, you'll find this article very useful. Especially, if you decided to leave your homeland to find the lady of your dreams.

Well, first of all I must say something about the whole traveling thing. Today it's easier for you, guys, to come to Russian or Ukraine to meet your future wife than to get a visa to US for a single lady.

So, if you've made a decision to come to Russia for a «bride search», the best way will be to use some matchmaking service to help you. All these dating agencies usually have an option like a tour for the clients AND they usually take care of an appartment for you and they can arrange you a meeting with the girls from their dating site, and they usually help with translation. Of course, you can use some travel agency to help you with the traveling, but the dating agency will know your specific needs concerning your stay in the country, so this is preferable.

Also, if you decided to do everything by yourself, you should in account the financial possibilities of the Russian bride you're going to meet. You can send her money for travel expenses or you can send a ticket that you have purchased, so that you may get the refund yourself once the plan fails. Make sure that everything is planned right and it'll be done correctly. Your potential bride should already have a passport for foreign travel or else it will take about 2-3 months for her to get it.

I must also warn you about the scams. In spite of the fact that there are a lot of beautiful and kind girls in Russia and other FSU countries, you can meet some women who will try to take advantage of you as you're a foreigner. They usually take money only, but sometimes it goes futher and the girl can pretend that she loves you and then after the two years of your marriage she can get a divorce and take much money from you.

So, back to Russia :). There are lots of different events to attend in the Russian cities, and you won't be bored. You should discuss with the girl, you're going to meet, what she would like to see and do and how she would like to spend time with you in getting to know you better. A mix of social activities combined with dining alone will help you get to know each other in the different situations.

In case you decide to marry, I'm sure you'll want your future wife to move to your hometown. If you are the US citizen the best way for you and you beloved one is to get a fiancee visa. But here are many things that you must do for it.

In your visa business you can go several ways. The first and the best one is to hire a good attorney to do that for you. Of course, it will cost much but you'll bring your bride to US very fast, and the attorney's success has the 99% guarantee. If you don't want to pay muh for that you can do it by yourself. You'll have to fill in some papers and forms, but be careful if something is not done perfect it will cause delays.

And most important advice for you - there is a lot of information about Russian dating, so you just have to look around and ask questions. Information is power, so use it to your best advantage.

Casino en ligne en toute securite

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La sйcuritй reste donc l'йlйment essentiel а prendre en compte par le joueur avant d'effectuer quelque pari que ce soit.

Comment donc pouvoir jouer en toute tranquillitй? Les casinos virtuels ont donc mis en place des logiciels de cryptage afin de prйserver la confidentialitй de vos donnйes bancaires personnelles. Les numйros de cartes de crйdit

Les casinos en ligne sйcurisйs prennent des mesures pour protйger leurs joueurs. Certains sites Web utilisent des logiciels de cryptage pour protйger vos informations financiиres et ont pour йthique de prйserver vos donnйes personnelles.
Assurez vous donc de la fiabilitй du site!
Pour cela, vйrifiez que le site dispose d'une charte de prйsentation, gйnйralement connue sous la dйnomination " Qui sommes nous?" et contrфlez son йvaluation par des sites professionnels.

Prenez le temps de lire chaque page du site concernant les moyens de paiement mis en place, les logiciels utilisйs mais aussi la disponibilitй de leur service client, que vous pouvez йgalement testez au prйalable en les contactant pour un problиme fictif et dйterminer ainsi leur temps de rйaction sur le casino dans lequel vous voulez vous inscrire.

Les casinos en ligne les plus sйcurisйs sont les sites les mieux йtablis et reconnus par une instance officielle. Consultez la frйquentation d'un site donnй et vйrifiez les affiliations du site. Les sites rйputйs sont plus populaires et plus sыrs.

Aprиs ce premier contrфle, vйrifiez que le site dispose de services non proposйs par des casinos en ligne de mauvaise rйputation. Assurez-vous que le casino propose une assistance client par chat, email ou tйlйphone non facturй. Dans le cas contraire, rendez vous sur un autre site.

Vйrifiez aussi que ce casino dispose d'un contrфle et d'une politique а l'encontre de joueurs frauduleux. Certains sites dispose d'un systиme йvaluant le nombre de fois oщ deux joueurs jouent au mкme jeu. En cas de suspicion de tricherie, le site interdit la prйsence de ces derniers а vie. Si vous suspectez une tricherie, contactez le site web immйdiatement.

Dans le cas oщ un site ne vous indique pas clairement quel logiciel est utilisй pour prйserver vos informations personnelles ou n'offre pas d'assistance, sortez immйdiatement. Inutile de prendre des risques inutiles. En cas de problиmes de dйconnexion rйpйtйes ou vous semblant suspectes, renseignez vous d'avantage. Inutile de se presser, beaucoup d'informations sont а votre disposition mais prenez surtout le temps de les lire toutes. Pour cela, commencer en simultanй de votre lecture а jouer en parties gratuites, le temps pour vous d'effectuer tous les contrфles nйcessaires et de vous familiariser avec le site en question.

Your swimming pool could get you sued

Installing a backyard swimming pool can make those hot summers a lot more fun and relaxing, but could it get you into a lot of financial trouble too? The short answer is: yes.

If you're not properly insured, and someone gets hurt in your pool, you are inviting law suits. I know what you're thinking: my friends and family are the only ones who use my pool... they're not going to sue me if anything happens.

Guess again.

It's not necessarily that people love to sue or even want to. They may have to. With the high costs of medical expenses today, a family that suffers a serious injury (or--god forbid--a death) probably can't afford not to sue. And if a person was injured at your pool in your backyard, guess who's technically at fault?

If someone gets hurt, don't be surprised by a lawsuit: expect it. And don't think you can watch the pool every moment to make sure nothing happens. Accidents will occur no matter how relentless you are in trying to prevent them. Risks of accidents are statistically proven to be very high around backyard pools and hot tubs.

This isn't to say you should pour dirt into your pool, plant a nice safe flower bed, and post "keep out of yard" signs all over your backyard. You just need to make sure you are adequately covered when it comes to insurance.

Okay, you're sold. Now how do you make sure you're covered?

If you own a swimming pool or hot tub, you should carry very high liability insurance, i. e. in the range of a million dollars or more.

This can be tricky since many homeowner's insurance policies limit the maximum exposure of the insurer to $100,000. Sometimes you can get this raised to $300,000, but getting covered beyond that, from your homeowner's plan alone, will likely prove difficult.

This is why you want to look into an umbrella plan. This is a separate liability policy in addition to your homeowner's coverage. It generally picks up where your homeowner's insurance leaves off, and you can get coverage of several million dollars.

The cost for this additional coverage is usually minimal, in the neighborhood of $500 per year. This may seem pricey, but considering the millions of dollars of coverage it affords you, it's worth the money, especially if you entertain and have a hot tub or pool.

One last thing to note is that you may have to buy all your insurance from the same place, which would include home and auto. If you have a pool or spa, it's probably worth changing insurers to find one who offers an umbrella plan.

Yoga for weight loss what you need know to succeed part 2

Welcome back folks.

Okay, let’s cut right to the chase for how Yoga for weight loss works.

We’ve gone over the sun salutations and if you are anything like me, you probably tried them out and are sold on Yoga ‘the stretching’ exercise actually burning calories.

Now let’s target the trouble spots.

Poses for Trouble Spots when Using Yoga for Weight Loss:

1. Abdominal Region: The Forward Bending Pose, the Bow Pose, the Peacock Pose, the spinal twist and the Triangle Pose.

2. The Arms: Definitely the Peacock Pose! the Wheel Pose, the Crow Pose, the Side plank Pose and the 4-limb Staff Pose.

3. The Thighs: The Bow Pose, The Shoulder-Stand, the Hero Pose, the triangle and wheel poses.

4. Love Handles: The spinal twist, the triangle pose, (with practice) the Side Crow Poses, (for ease) The Side plank pose.

I realize the spots above are the ones most of us seem to target when trying to lose weight, so I have made sure to go over them first.

I’m under the impression that if you had searched in google or done some research on Yoga for weight loss, you must have gotten some degree of information on the poses above, or signed up for a class, bought a Yoga DVD, something to learn some more about it, which is why I did not go over each pose in detail. But trust me, they are indeed very easy. I will emphasize though, performing the Sun Salutations (upwards of 24 rounds) should be your main focus in using Yoga for a weight loss regimen, even before the other poses.

This too will help: One pose that some Yogis and Yoginis state to be a versatile enough pose for the whole body will be the Shoulder-Stand. It is best practiced with its counter poses, in fact, since these poses have effects on the meta-physical and spiritual aspects of our lives, it will be safe to say never execute a yoga pose without counter posing it. You may throw some things out of normalcy.

Here’s a brief overview on the Shoulder-stand as a yoga pose for weight loss:

Spread a thick blanket on the floor and place your yoga mat on it. Lie on the back. Slowly raise the legs. Lift the trunk, hips and legs to a vertical position. Rest the elbows firmly on the floor and support the back with both hands. (See the Illustration for Proper Execution). Raise the legs till they become vertical. Press the chin against the chest. This is the chin lock. While performing this pose, the back of the neck, the posterior part of the head and the shoulders should touch the floor. Breathe in counts of 5-5-5 (inhalation, retention and exhalation). Don’t allow the body to shake. Its counter poses are the bridge and fish poses which will target your forearms/thighs and chest/neck respectively.

As I promised; here is the Breath of Fire breathing exercise that you can add to your yoga practice to speed up the burning of calories. (Doesn’t the name alone tell you something…?)

Breath of Fire Exercise (aka Kapalabathi or Bellows Breath)

-Take a few breaths and see that the diaphragm is moving properly. Now with the eyes closed (as they should be when performing all breathing exercises) make a sudden contraction of the abdomen with a backward push. This leads to a sudden yet firm expulsion of stagnant air from the lungs.

-Now follow this with a sudden relaxation (which naturally makes the new air rush in) now perform the exercise in this manner: passive inhalation and active expulsions at a rate of sudden abdominal push per second one after the other. A round should have 15-20 expulsions. Do not exceed 3 rounds

-You may gradually increase to 120 expulsions per round and then perform only 2 rounds. (As soon as you are doing 50 expulsions per round, do not exceed 2 rounds!) Between each round take a pause for about 30 seconds of normal breathing.

Now, there you have it, the information needed to get you started on the use of Yoga for weight loss: The poses for the trouble spots, the bellows breath, the shoulder-stand and the almighty Sun Salutations.

Remember, for the same reasons Hippocrates-the father of Medicine stated: “Let your foods be your medicine and your medicine your foods”, you’ve got to include a proper diet when seeking to lose weight with yoga. Keep in mind this is an all too important limb of this exercise so, there’s no way around it friends. (But I’m sure you know that already)

So strike a pose, and see for yourself how Yoga for weight loss can be an effective and safe choice.

Unsecured debt consolidation loans

In today’s day and age, its common for people to manage their expenses using a number of loans and a seemingly never-ending line of credit. To satisfy all their needs, people exceed the cash in their pockets; take out a loan and then leave the repayment plan to God. With the spread of this lifestyle, people seem to be swimming in a pool of debt dragging them towards the core of bankruptcy. Instead of paying off their loans and returning to just spending the money they have, the high interest rates and late fees mean that its becoming harder and harder to return the money. Often the loans that have been taken are of the secure type, which means that people offer their houses and other valued possessions as collateral, meaning that if they can’t repay the money, they may literally be thrown out on the road as companies seize their property.

Before the loan game takes over your entire life, there is a better solution at hand. Instead of letting your debts rise in secured, high-interest loans, debt consolidation is your one-way ticket to freedom.

Debt consolidation loans operate on the basis of taking out one large, often unsecured loan, with lower rates and a better repayment plan – so as to return all the other loans that are piling up and threatening to move you out of house and home. These loans are a good option because they save the amount of money you are losing on late payments and high interest rates, and allow you to return the money and take care of these loans forever.

Unsecured debt consolidations are a little harder to come by if you have an extremely bad credit history, but are a good option for those people either without homes or who don’t want to give any collateral. These loans’ terms may be a little harsher than secured debt consolidation loans, but still turn out to be more feasible as compared to the rising costs of the other loans. On the other hand, if you have a good credit history, unsecured debt consolidation loans are the perfect way to go. Once you have paid back other secured loans, there is no danger of losing your home in and unsecured debt consolidation plan, since no collateral is offered. Not only do debt consolidation loans save your money, but they also cut down the aggravation of making a number of payments to different lenders every month, so that a borrower, once he has returned other outstanding debts, just has to deal with one creditor every month. Another advantage of these loans is that they improve your credit score, which makes it easier to get unsecured loans in the future.

Debt consolidation loans, all in all, are a great option, but a lot of thought must be given to management. These are very large loans, and it’s important that you are sure of your ability to repay the creditor over time. Remember, it’s not feasible to take out more loans to pay off old loans, because if you can’t return the new loans, your “leaning tower of debt” is sure to bury you under the poverty line.

Can you really make money with an online business

Making money is what controls most people’s lives. Everyone wants to have money. More so than that, you simply need a lot of money to get along in the world today. When it comes right down to it, it is harder and harder to live on minimum wage. With the kind of lifestyle that minimum wage can bring, most people aren’t content. Making money is usually the reason a person has to struggle to get by. It is always important to make money.

What we do in order to make money can also be an issue. A great idea is to run your own online business. Just imagine logging in online and taking care of what needs to be done. You could get rid of your office clothes and your commute. You could simply go to work each day at home. You could be there when your kids get home from school and you could be there to get the mail. Many people dream of having their own online business. They could live their lives and they could work from home. But is it possible for them to make money?

An online business is simply a business. You have to understand that before you can answer yes or no. Some online businesses do well and some don't. You need to realize that fact if you are wondering whether you can make money from an online business. There is no magical answer. It all depends on the business. You have to be willing to run the business and you have to be willing to work hard. A business is a business, whether it is online or not.

There are online businesses that fail and there are online businesses that do very well. Both of these exist, exactly the same way that businesses exist in the non online-sector. So is there a trick? No, there is no real trick to making sure that your business online is one that is going to do well. The factors that are important in the online world are going to be just the same as those of a regular business. You have to be offering something that other people are going to want to purchase from you. And you have to have a solid business plan. First, you have to work your hardest to get your business off the ground. Then you have to continue to work hard in order to keep it that way.

Winning gambling strategy

A Winning gambling strategy is based on statistical analysis of the occurrences of each event in the game and an analysis of the odds the casino applies to that event. Casino operators use the occurrence of these events to calculate the odds for the various occurrences within the game. You must identify those events which are good bets for you and those which are good bets for the casino and avoid those that are overly favorable to the casino. Understanding these odds allows us to formulate a winning gambling strategy for each game that we choose to play.

Every experienced gambler should know that each time the cards are dealt, the wheel is spun or the dice are rolled, we will loose more times than what we will win. This is a statistical fact of gambling. By only placing bets that are favorable to the player or bets in which the house has only a very small advantage, we can increase our chances of becoming a winner.

Using a simple basic strategy, a good blackjack player can change the game odds from slightly favoring the casino to slightly favoring the player. On average, out of every 100 hands dealt, you will loose 45 and should win 55. This does not mean that if you record the results of a hundred hands, you can expect to achieve that result. If you take a sample of a million hands, played by a good player, the results should be very close to the results stated.

Over a short period, you can have a dream run and win 60 odd percent of your hands. You could just as easily have a disastrous run and loose 70% of your hands. This is why a sound money management strategy should be an integral part of your winning gambling strategy.

You can find many free gambling strategies on the web for almost all gambling games. Many of these are sound and feature material that will take you from being a novice to a respected player in a short time frame. Take off your rose colored glasses when you read these gambling strategies because some are sound and are really good advice and some are well… very esoteric. Technical playing skills alone will not make you a successful gambler in the long run. Aspects of psychology, your nerve, personal courage and determination are also required and will be discussed in another article.

I have used my favorite game to highlight the importance of a sound gambling Strategy. I could have used the game of craps which has many bets that are highly favorable to the house and the free odds bet where the house has no mathematical advantage.

All online casinos offer cash bonuses to attract new players. These cash bonuses can dramatically increase your chances of winning and should be seriously considered when formulating your gambling strategy. Likewise many casinos offer loyalty programs and reward players on the basis of the amount of money wagered each month. Try keeping a record of your wagers during a gaming session. Whilst you may have only started out with say $100, you win a bit, you loose a bit during the course of the session but your total wagers may amount to several thousand dollars and this is the number used to calculate your loyalty bonus. Regular players should take advantage of these programs.

Once you reach the stage of being a respectable player at your chosen games, you will then be in a position to evaluate the myriad of advanced gambling strategies for sale on the net for most gambling games. Some are cutting edge and some are recycled variations of old failed strategies.

Adherence to a sound gambling strategy can substantially reduce your reliance on Lady Luck.

Learning the skills of parenting

Parents unite! Complex as it is, it is possible to rear children into responsible, happy and well-adjusted adults. From our end as parents, it will take patience and commitment. However, it will also take wisdom and experience. This is where our support system and access to those who know will play a big role.

No doubt parenting has its priceless rewards. No treasure could equal having our own flesh and blood continue the family line and seeing facets of ourselves in sons and daughters. We all look forward to seeing our grandchildren around us during visits and warm family gatherings. Grandchildren (well supported and taken cared of by their parents of course) are the rewards of old age.

It is a fact though, that being a parent is stressful and demanding. We are faced with situations that would require Solomon’s wisdom. Unfortunately, as most of us know, we are no Solomon. We face a thousand and one issues everyday.

For most of us who have been in this parenting business for more than 10 years, we found out that just when we knew all the answers, they changed all the questions! The issues differ from pregnancy to babies, from babies to toddlers, from toddlers to pre-schoolers. These go on and on until our precious children reach adulthood and have families of their own.

This might sound scary to first timers. However, we must remember that for every stressful situation, they are magical moments and lots of them. We just have to learn to appreciate them when they come and not be bogged down with the challenges of the day. Children, trying as they are most of the time, are a great source of joy.

When these situations and issues come though, don’t we just wish that there is someone who could give us advice? We seek out that special parent who has gone through the same ordeal we are now in yet came out triumphant. How we wish we had a support group to discuss certain “case studies” so much like our own and find a list of solutions and alternatives. Then we could go back to our parenting with renewed confidence and hope instead of feeling hopeless and distraught.

Being parents, being good parents is challenging. No, it’s not just challenging. It’s tough! It is more than just providing for the material needs of our children. We’d like to be there for them, raise them to be winners or at least equip them with what they need to make a go at life.

On top of being parents, we are also faced with the challenges of our own careers, our relationships and our dreams. We have inner conflicts that we have to deal with. We have seemingly mundane tasks that are a necessary part of life. Don’t we just wish we could find out how other parents cope? Just maybe, they have strategies to share with us or us with them. We all have our unique experiences that when shared could enrich each other.

It’s really all about sharing what we know, what we have gone through, what works and what may not work. It’s all about us and our children. It’s all about being parents and what we could do to make each other better parents. Parenting is actually one long roller coaster ride for a lot of us. We could either be alone and agonize all through out the ride or with the help of others, enjoy it to the fullest.

Dog training part v the command voice

When giving commands to a dog, a calm, firm, authoritative voice is most effective. Dogs do not respond well to hesitant, pleading voices, nor to yelling, which might sound to the dog like threatening barking or scolding. It is also important that the word used for the command and the pitch of the voice be consistent each time the command is delivered so that the dog can more easily learn what the owner means (siiiiiiiiiiiit does not sound the same as sit, for example).

Using the puppy's name before a command ensures that the dog knows that a command is coming, that it is for him (rather than for other dogs, children, or people), and that he should pay attention. This is important because dogs hear a lot of human speech that has no relevance for them at all, and it is easy for them to disregard commands amongst the babble.

To reinforce the command, the dog always gets some kind of reward or reinforcement (praise and usually a treat or toy) when it performs the action correctly. This helps the dog to understand that he has done a good thing.

Note that not all dogs are trained to voice command. Many working breeds of dog are not trained to a voice command at all; they are taught to obey a combination of whistles and hand signals. Deaf dogs are perfectly capable of learning to obey visual signals alone. Many obedience classes teach hand signals for common commands in addition to voice signals; these signals can be useful in quiet situations, at a distance, and in advanced obedience competitions.

The specific command words are not important, although common words in English include sit, down, come, and stay. Short, clear words that are easily understood by other humans are generally recommended; that way, people will understand what a handler is telling his dog to do and other handlers have a good chance of controlling someone else's dog if necessary. In fact, dogs can learn commands in any language or other communications medium, including whistles, mouth sounds, hand gestures, and so forth.

Stress and anxiety 101 what is anxiety

It is normal for every person to experience anxiety attacks, especially during stressful situations and traumatic events in life. As health experts say, anxiety is a typical response of person's body that signals possible dangers ahead. However, when anxiety becomes extreme to the point that it prevents a person from living the normal life that he intends to have, that person may possibly be suffering from anxiety disorder.

Defining what is anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorder is generally a term that covers different types of extreme pathological phobia, fear, and anxiety. A person suffering from an anxiety disorder may experience abnormal feelings of anxiety even without knowing the cause or he may also have intense and sudden panic attacks. The attacks may be in the form of unwanted obsessions or compulsions and uncommon social inhibitions.

Even though anxiety disorders have different forms, they are all the same in one thing – extreme and persistent worrying or fear. This condition becomes alarming as the intensity and frequency of the said responses can disrupt or undermine an individual’s everyday routine and productivity.

Below are the three characteristics of anxiety disorders:

1. Consistent, all-consuming, and continuous.

2. Interferes social interactions and activities.

3. Causes emotional withdrawal and isolation.

Enumerating the factors leading to anxiety disorders

There are a number of factors that can lead to the development of anxiety disorders. These factors are categorized according to personality, environmental, hereditary, and brain chemistry.

1. Personality

According to medical studies, differences in personality can significantly affect the development of anxiety disorder in an individual. It is common in individuals with extreme anxiety condition to view the people and environment around them as threatening. People suffering from anxiety disorders also have inferiority complex, thinking and believing that they are powerless towards other people or situations.

2. Environmental

The environment is also a very strong contributing factor in the development of anxiety disorders in individuals. Traumatic situations such as separation of parents; death; weak support system; as well as conflicts with family members and friends can definitely lead to abnormal anxiety condition.

3. Hereditary

Studies proved that anxiety disorders are also hereditary. This means that these psychological conditions run in the family. Those who are found to be suffering from anxiety disorders have family members who are also experiencing extreme anxiety conditions or mood disorders. Recent studies also claimed that there are certain generic factors (such as vulnerability to stress) that contribute to a person’s susceptibility to anxiety disorders.

4. Brain chemistry

The occurrence of imbalances on a human brain’s neurotransmitters can also lead to the further development of anxiety disorders. As such, the medications commonly given by doctor or health practitioners are meant to readjust the chemical imbalance in the brain.

Apart from the four main factors enumerated above, chief life stressors such as marital problems and financial difficulties can also trigger the development of an anxiety disorder. However, it is important to remember that anxiety disorders cannot be triggered by only one cause or factor. The life stressors and the four main contributors to anxiety disorders are oftentimes interrelated.

Rent-to-own at three times the price

If you had the opportunity to buy a television or a sofa at a price that was three times the suggested retail price, would you do it? That scenario may seem ridiculous, but thousands of people do just that every day when they sign an agreement at a rent-to-own store. Rent-to-own, or RTO for short, is a system that allows consumers with little or no credit to acquire furniture, electronics or appliances by renting them by the week or by the month. At the end of the rental agreement, the renter gets to keep the merchandise. The renter may also agree simply to rent the merchandise for an agreed-upon period of time.

While furniture or appliance rental may be suitable for someone who needs them for only a month or so, it represents an expensive way to buy for someone who intends to keep them. A television may seem inexpensive at only $10 per week, but if the agreement requires eighteen months of rental before the customer owns it, the total amount paid will be $780. That would be fine if the television were valued at anywhere near that amount, but in most cases, that $780 will provide a television that sells for only $250 or so at electronics stores. The additional $530 goes to the rental company in the form of profit. Expressed as an annual interest rate, some rental fees can exceed 400% annually.

In addition to the rental charges, the customer will also likely have to pay sales tax, delivery charges and possibly return charges if he or she elects not to keep the merchandise. Late payments may also incur a late fee, provided that the rental company doesn't elect to terminate the agreement and take the merchandise back altogether. In that case, the customer has nothing to show for the money invested.

Rental companies point out that for those who have no credit cards, the RTO concept provides an opportunity to "have it now." That is true, but consumers who have little money would be better off either saving that $10 per week and buying the television in six months' time. Alternatively, the consumer could put the television on layaway at a retailer and pay it off over time. Either way, the consumer would save hundreds of dollars in rental fees.

A consumer who needs furniture or appliances for a short time, such as someone on a temporary assignment to another city, might find an RTO agreement useful in order to avoid living in an empty apartment. But anyone who wants to buy furniture, electronics, or appliances might be better served by simply saving their money until they have enough to buy the merchandise outright.

Understanding smtp error codes and smtp relay servers

How many times have you been confronted with a cryptic error code when trying to do something simple on your computer like send an email? Has it ever been anything less than frustrating? A typical error message for me might be:

“Your email could not be delivered – error 552”.

Who knows what this means! SMTP error codes were designed way back in 1982, mainly for other computers to be able to read and understand them. As it is perfectly understandable that human beings are less inclined to think and communicate in numbers, this guide was written to help you to decode SMTP error codes (and other reply codes) and work out exactly what is going on when you are trying to send emails.

When emails are sent from your computer a protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used. Typically, SMTP works well, providing a means for people to communicate via email but sometimes, as with most things, problems do arise. Depending on the issue, you might receive an error message or error code identifying the problem. In this article, we wanted to address some of the SMTP error codes you might experience, and exactly what they mean.

First of all it should be noted that every SMTP code is comprised of three digits, for example 451, 500 etc. While some of these codes may indicate an error, not all of them do. Each of the three numbers in an SMTP code has a unique meaning. For instance, the first number tells you if your command was accepted and processed correctly. The values associated with the first digit include:

1: Server accepted the command but no action has been taken yet. A confirmation message is required. Currently, this is not used.

2: Server has completed the task successfully.

3: Server understood the request, but for it to be processed additional information is required.

4: Server was met with a temporary problem. If the command is attempted again without change, it may go through. This is hardly ever used.

5: Server encountered a fatal error, meaning the command/request cannot be processed at all.

The second digit in SMTP error codes provides more information:

0: A syntax error has occurred.

1: Indicates an informational reply, for example in response to a HELP request.

2: Refers to the connection status.

3 and 4 are unspecified.

5: Refers to the status of the mail system as a whole and in particular the mail server.

The third and final digit allows for more precise errors to be given.

The list below shows the reply codes that exist, in numerical order, and can be used as a reference.

- 211 – System status, or system help reply.

- 214 – Help message, only valuable to a human reader.

- 220 – Service ready.

- 221 – Service is closing the transmission channel.

- 250 – Requested mail action okay, completed. (This is what we want to see).

- 251 – User not found locally, message will be forwarded.

- 354 – Start email input and end with .. This is normally sent by the SMTP server after the DATA command has been sent by the client.

- 421 – Service not available so transmission channel is being closed (this may be a reply to any command if the service knows it must shut down).

- 450 – Requested mail action not taken, which could mean the mailbox is unavailable or busy.

- 451 – Requested action has been aborted: local error in processing.

- 452 – Requested action not taken due to insufficient storage on the system.

- 500 – Syntax error whereby the command given is not recognized.

- 501 – Syntax error in parameters or arguments.

- 502 – Command has not been implemented.

- 503 – Bad sequence of commands.

- 504 – Command parameter has not been implemented.

- 550 – Requested action not taken due to unavailable mailbox

(mailbox not found, no access, etc).

- 551 – User is not local. The server then gives a forward address to try.

- 552 – Requested email action has been aborted due to storage allocation being exceeded.

- 553 – Requested action not taken because the mailbox name is not allowed.

- 554 – Transaction failed.

A very common error message encountered when sending emails is “550 relaying mail to user@xyz. com is not allowed” or “550 Mail Relay not allowed". This normally means that your current SMTP server has disallowed you access because you are not currently connected to the Internet through your normal ISP (you might be traveling for example). ISPs do this in order to prevent spammers from hijacking their SMTP servers. A quick and easy solution (and in most cases the only solution) is to use an SMTP server that works from anywhere in the world, such as SMTP2Go at smtp2go. com, which has been designed to work from any location.

Not only olympic games

The 2008 Olympics are for sure a world-wide event attracting thousands and thousands of visitors. Let’s see how the Government will adjust together the 15 millions citizens with the foreign human flood in hot and humid August

For sure is not the best time to go. And somehow we perceive a kind of contradiction between the sport ethic of fair play.. and the human right deception China is constantly trying to mask. Luckily impossible in its 100%.

Further reasons why this metropolis is worth a visit are to be discovered in its past rather then in its present. From Chinese mythic bicycles, to Tai-Chi practice, tea houses and old hutongs or special foot massages you will have a glance of what the Chinese Republic is and was.

To escape from the mass touristy attractions, entertainment, anonymous luxury accommodations and expensive clichй, or simply to hide away from the city smog and confusion there are a few things that someone can do to discover some Beijing traditional pearls.

Fragrant Hills, in the north-western corner of Beijing, is a good place for weekend outings and picnics. Formerly a Qing imperial garden, today Fragrant Hills makes an easy short climb in the suburbs of Beijing. It's also home to the Fragrant Hills Hotel, designed by I. M. Pei (Louvre Museaum Pyramid). Take buses 331, 726 to the last stop. Ґ10, students Ґ5. From here, if you like green, have a visit to the Botanical Garden, next door.

Steps away from the east gate of Fragrant Hill, Beijing Botanical Gardens offer acres of greenery and flowers where Sir Johnston, teacher of the last emperor Puyi, had a villa in Cherry Glen, a silent and beautiful retreat in the Gardens. In the spring, the gardens hosts special exhibits of tulips, peach, plum blossoms and peonies. Buses 331, 726. Ґ10, students Ґ5.

A smart cool place to visit, not so common among tourists, is the 798 Art Zone, a part of the Chaoyang District. A thriving artist community set among 50-year old decommissioned military factory buildings of unique architectural style. It is often compared with New York's Greenwich Village or SoHo, but faces impending destruction from the forces driving Beijing's urban sprawl.

The Hutong Villages of Beijing most represent the traditional housing of Chinese locals. Some of the streets in the Qianmen Hutong have a history of about 500 years, with unchanged street layouts. The Hutongs are the perfect place to get a glimpse of Chinese daily life. Unfortunately, the majority of Hutongs have been demolished to make space for modern buildings. However some of them are still well preserved and converted in lodgings for tourists. They offer the warmest atmosphere you can imagine while keeping the traditional architecture, decoration and style. Hutongs are considered very valuable and are popular to some kind of tourists. If you can transform an attraction into a place where you can rest, and live for a while as you were in XIX century, well, maybe this is the best way to experience Beijijng.

Many of the hutongs have been transformed in youth hostels often run by former European travellers that decided to stop their run, save this enchanted peaceful places and establish a business. They offer all the comforts you can expect on private rooms decorated with taste and making use of traditional colours and red-wax piece of furniture. All rooms, as in traditional hutongs, face an inner secret garden well kept and decorated with marble statues and plants.

And finally, how would you move around these typical Hutong Villages? Rickshaws that can weave in and out of their narrow streets are the answer. But for a more personalized and traditional approach to this Country of bicycles, (the so called Bike kingdom) we recommend you rent a bike a healthy, environmentally friendly, convenient, economical, safe and fun means of travel transportation and recreation! China truly is producing and using more bicycles than any other nation in the world. Cycling in China is a kind of life style for the Chinese people. Don’t forget that in the traffic and in the narrow alleys of the Hutongs bikes are the best means to explore the city and is a super-individual way of transport by your own pace! There are some companies like The Bicycle Kingdom. com to rent your own bike.

So what are you waiting for? See the Olympics in the freshness of your home with a beer and some friends and let other melt in the smoggy sun. Experience Beijing in Springtime.

How soon should you begin dating after getting dumped

This is a very common problem for many of us. Getting dumped hurts a lot. But one wants to go back to good life as early as possible, if for nothing than to forget the earlier pain. But since the pain remains and the thought of being hit again is overwhelming, it becomes difficult to decide.

When should one go back to dating scene after getting dumped? The answer for this question will vary from individual to individual. If your earlier partnership lasted for few months, you can recover sooner, but if the earlier partnership lasted for some years, it takes a lot more time to get prepared mentally to go back to the dating scene. The old wounds take a lot more time to heal, and sometimes they may never heal. If at this point of time, you manage to get a dating partner who understands and helps you come out of the memories, you are very lucky.

When you seriously date someone, you get involved. You plan for the future and you are recognized as a regular date of that person amongst your friends. You also give your trust to that person. You care for him/her and make many sacrifices to keep the relationship going. You dream of a bright future ahead and even make every move with consultation. This makes you both very involved with each other. If at this point, you are dumped, you will take lot of healing to come over the bitterness. You might have lost your faith in the opposite sex. So what is to be done?

Involve yourself with your work. Take up a new hobby. Make new friends. Join a club. Go around and enjoy the nature. And whenever you feel the pain of earlier love, feel it intensely. It does not help to push those feelings behind. They will remain there to resurface again. So feel every pain and cry over the loss if necessary. Express the anger and the bitterness. Cleanse yourself as much as possible of the memories.

After you are sure that you have regained your emotional stability, go back to the dating scene. If you find some one interesting with understanding, tell all after few meetings and ask for help and love in return of love. God willing, you will get it.

The varieties of wisdom

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PERSONAL WISDOM

At every moment in our lives we face some real-life situation, some fact-based reality. But what do those facts MEAN? And what's the best thing to DO about them? Wisdom answers the first question by looking at the situation from a variety of helpful perspectives. It answers the second by bringing wise values into the decision-making process. There are many of these "wise ways of seeing," and many "wise values." In wise people these basic building blocks of wisdom combine in various ways to create an array of "wise attitudes" and "wise ways of being." And because the mix of characteristics differs from person to person, each wise person's wisdom has a distinctive character or "flavor."

A key point is that personal wisdom is internal, embodied by persons. Words of wisdom arise from it. Wise behavior arises from it. Socio-Cultural wisdom arises from it. But wisdom itself is not its products. Rather, it's a mode of cognition — one that couples relevant intellectual knowledge with some important perspectives, interpretations, explanatory frameworks, and values. Wisdom is a kind of meta-knowledge that helps us make better sense of the rest of our knowledge.

Aristotle differentiated between two kinds of wisdom: practical wisdom, and existential/metaphysical wisdom. I would add a third variation on the theme: activist, change-the-world wisdom.

1. Practical or "life-centered" wisdom is an information-processing modality — one in which everyday situations are evaluated comprehensively, from many points of view. Howard Gardner wrote, "The defining characteristic of wisdom is the breadth of considerations taken into account when rendering a judgment or recommending a course of action." Wisdom asks: Will this work? What are the consequences? Does this fit with my goals? Is this part of the problem or part of the solution? Does this represent excellence? Is this fair? Is it right? Is action needed or not needed? — plus many others.

2. Big picture, existential wisdom is a variety that Eastern spiritual practices help to develop. Rational evaluation still plays a role in this form of wisdom, but rationality is not enough. That's because the goal is insight into both the informational aspect of reality (that is, form and appearance) and the noninformational aspect (Being, Spirit, Energy, and Awareness). Eastern practices develop and harness the psychological modalities of intuition and identification. These modes of cognition potentially allow us to see beyond the transient to the eternal. Beyond Maya to Brahman. Beyond form to the carrier of form.

3. Activist wisdom combines a high level of psychological/spiritual development with the development of broadly based intellectual understanding (the humanities plus the sciences plus economics). Here, too, mind-quieting practices are used to develop self-knowledge and a broadening of sense-of-self identification.

SOCIO-CULTURAL WISDOM

Societal institutions — corporations, political systems, economies, NGOs — are purposeful entities. They exist to perform certain functions and to behave in certain ways. And that behavior is directed by values. Those values are typically a combination of the personal values of the people who created the institutions in the first place, the values of the people who currently run them, and values imposed from outside, such as laws and the interpretation of those laws by courts.

Some institutions were imbued with wise values at their founding, but were co-opted later. Among the drafters of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights were some very wise people, and that wisdom was reflected in the governmental structures they created. But they couldn't anticipate every future happening, nor build into the constitution every possible protection. As early as the 1860s Lincoln warned about the control that big money could exert over government. And that has clearly happened in the years since then.

Economies are another example. Economies were created as societal subsystems to provision people. Group A had more of some good than it needed, and it traded the excess to Group B for a different good. The provisioning function hasn't disappeared, but today's economies and their institutions have superimposed other purposes on top of the original one. Making a lot of money for a small group of people has become the primary purpose; benefits to society are secondary. The economic TAIL now wags the societal DOG. It doesn't have to be this way. Governments can be configured to serve the many instead of the few. And the original purpose of economies can be restored.

In my view, a wisdom-based society would be one in which many of the high values that guide the lives of wise people would also guide society's institutions. Among those values would be truth, honesty, justice, cooperation, peace, compassion, universal well-being, creativity, and comprehensive knowledge. These values would be implanted into institutional systems in ways that insured, as far as possible, wise institutional behavior. And the institutions would be run in such a way that those values would be maintained on into the future.

It's important to note that there is a mutual feedback relationship between personal wisdom and societal wisdom. It starts with personal wisdom. If a societal institution ends up being guided by wise values, it is almost certainly because wise people designed them in. So there is a creative movement from wise people to wise institutions. But it also works in the other direction. Wise societal institutions support and encourage the development of wisdom in individuals.

Parental control - tv rating system

With the increase of sex and violence on television, or as George Carlin likes to delicately put it, "Sax and Violins", parents have to be more careful than ever about what they allow their children to watch. But how do they do that? Unless they've got some kind of guide or know every movie that's ever come out there is just no way they can possibly know if a movie or program is suitable for their child.

The TV rating system to the rescue.

Essentially, the TV rating system is a system put in place that evaluates a programs sex and violence content and rates the program accordingly. This rating is then displayed, usually at the left hand corner of your TV screen. This way, when you turn a program on you will immediately know if it is something you want your child to watch. How? Well, the ratings are pretty well defined, though there are some gray areas.

Let's cover the basic ratings so you have an idea of what to expect.

TV Y - This is the lowest, or least offensive rating. A program with a TV Y rating is deemed to be appropriate for children of all ages. This can be either animated or live action. The themes of these programs are usually also geared to a very young audience between the ages of 2 and 6. This program should in no way frighten a young child.

TV Y7 - This program is usually designed for children age 7 and older. Usually this type of program is geared to children who can differentiate between make believe and reality. There may be some mild fantasy themes or comedic violence. It might be possible for children under 7 to be scared by these shows. If a show has a great deal of fantasy violence then it may be given a qualifier to this rating and be designated TV Y7 FV.

TV G - This program is for people of all ages. It is not specifically intended for young children but should be okay for them to watch. These are usually your family oriented shows that rarely if ever contain themes that may be inappropriate for children.

TV PG - This program may contain material that is not suitable for young children like mild violence or suggestions of sex. Parents may want to watch these shows with their children to answer any questions they may have about it. These programs occasionally will also have some suggestive language. TV PG shows will usually have a qualifier attached to them as well such as V for mild violence, L for language or S for sexual situations.

TV 14 - This program is for children over the age of 14. Parents are strongly cautioned to watch these shows with their kids. These programs usually have either intense violence, strong sexual situations, strong language or very suggestive dialogue.

TV MA - These programs are intended for mature audiences only. These are usually not for children under 17 and usually contain either graphic violence, explicit sex, or very crude language. Qualifiers will be attached to these as well so the parent knows what is contained. But most likely it won't matter as they probably won't want their kids to watch these shows anyway.

With the above guidelines, parents should have no trouble monitoring what they want their children to watch.

A chef does this and that

An online dictionary defines a chef as the chief cook of a restaurant establishment or a hotel. The chef is usually the one responsible for planning what is needed for the food preparation, menu, and everything that is related to kitchen and food matters.

As for becoming the chef, one must realize and understand that it is not all about cooking. A big part of being creative is needed in becoming a successful chef. Aside from planning the daily menu, a chef also needs to be in the kitchen doing all the “kitchen stuff” that is necessary. It doesn't sound like it requires a lot of work but if you try to get to the fundamentals, you'll realize that cutting, chopping, stirring and a lot of action words are all needed in completing the job of a chef.

And then you ask, what does it really take to become a good chef? First of all, if you don't have any appreciation on how a restaurant food is prepared, then you don't have any idea how chefs work. It isn't easy being a chef. There are a lot of areas you will need to concentrate on. Apart from that general view, the way you present your food and maintain consistency in doing it is an art at its finest. It may seem simple for the untrained eye, but for a chef, it took a lot of thinking and diligence to achieve the perfect taste and appearance of a food.

Relying on your creative skill is one major factor to becoming a great chef. But of course, as you learn how to become one, the questions you should ask yourself are, can you handle doing several things at a time? Can you work under pressure? As you can see, a chef thinks and then put his thoughts in to actions. At the same time, there are constant questions and demands that a chef may get from other cooks in the kitchen; even customers may request a specialty out of the blue and a chef, should learn how to comply.

Working under pressure is one thing a chef experiences in a normal basis but of course, loving what you do is most important. As long as you learn from your everyday experiences and grow from it, you'll do just fine.

Blackjack learn how to become a champion

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Learn How to Play and Win Blackjack after practicing some basic steps that can be learn easily. Blackjack is one of the more easier card games that you will come across, and its basic concept is simple: get 21 as the sum of your cards or get as close to 21 but higher than the sum of your opponent's cards.

1) Do not try and reach 21.
Yes. Even though blackjack is also commonly called 21, trying to reach 21 with every hand is an amateurish move. You will, most certainly, lose the hand. Statistical research conducted has shown that the odds of reaching 21 is lesser than the odds of getting more than 21.

2) Try and Beat the Dealer.
Since blackjack is a one on one battle: you versus the dealer, focus on beating the dealer. Instead of trying to get 21, try to guess what hand the dealer will receive and accordingly play your hand. Remember that the dealer at a regular casino or even at an online casino has to stop taking more cards if the cards on the table add up to 17. But if their cards add up to 16 or any number less, they will have to take another card.

3) Look at the dealer's card facing up.
The only way to play is to look at the dealer's card facing up. If it is a low card like a two or anything up to a 6 or 7, try and get a high number combination. If it’s a 9 or 10, the odds are high that he has a 10 underneath or at least he will be forced to take another card. So, reach anything up to 20 or 21, but its better to even stop at a 18 or 19 and hope they will over-run the sum of 21.

How Blackjack is Played at a Casino:
1) Place your bet on the table.
Each blackjack table has a set beginning bet and this ranges from a dollar to ten or twenty for the high-rollers crowd. This is the amount of chips you will have to put down, and this signals to the dealer that you are taking part in the next round.

2) You will get a card.
The dealer then deals a card to you and all the other players who have also placed a bet down.

3) The dealer places a face-up card in front.
This is one of the cards of the dealer, and since its facing up, all the players have a chance to judge the outcome of his cards.

4) The dealer deals the second card.
The dealer, then, deals you and all the players an additional card. This is the time to have a look at them and at the dealer's card and decide whether you wish to get another card.

5) The dealer asks.
The dealer now turns to each player and asks them if they wish to receive another card. If you wish it, the dealer will give you a card. Then, the dealer will ask you again. Note that the dealer will be with you until you decide that you do not want to receive any more cards. Then, the dealer moves on to the next player, then, the next, and so on.

6) The dealer starts playing.
Only when all the players have said that they do not want any more cards, does the dealer start playing. He takes cards until he has reached 17 or above. Then, he has to stop.

7) The dealer opens the cards.
When he's done, the dealer first reveals all his cards. Then, he moves from one player to the other opening their cards. After revealing each player's hands, the dealer pays out the bet or takes the bet away according to who has won and who has lost.

Write queen gets on her soap box

_Freda Douglas is an accomplished author. Not only did she write a personal essay for a newspaper 17 years, she had her first book released in 2002 “Cherish the Past” which is still available on Amazon. com. Freda says her second book “Winds of Change” will be released this Fall. Freda lives in Alabama with her cat Jewely and loves to hear from her readers and visitors.

I spend a lot of time on the computer. Although I am an illiterate techie I am very literate on the keyboard. There are some things that grossly irritate me about cyberspace that really annoy me.

First of all, let’s take the websites which tell you ‘all you have to do is sign up, we’ll do all the work and you’ll get rich’ If you believe that I’ve got a gold mine in Alaska I’ll sell you cheap.

You would like to believe all people are as honest as you are, but it is difficult sometimes. I made a purchase on April 24, 2007 that cost me $127 which I paid for with a debit card. I no more had bought it when I realized that with my computer illiteracy I wouldn’t be able to use it. I immediately called the man who sold it and explained the situation. He assured me I would have the refund by the end of the week. I am writing this July 8 and I still don’t have the refund,

Take the people who try to sell you something that is grossly over priced, not because it is worth it, but because he/she has a name that everybody knows and they think that people will buy because of who they are.

Who is even worse, in my estimation, is the person who jumps on the bandwagon and offers the buyer a ‘HUGE’ bonus if you’ll buy the same over priced article from him instead. Who’s he trying to kid? That bonus has to be downloaded (by you), you will probably never use it, it costs you paper, ink, wear on your printer and might have cost the benevolent soul that ‘gave’ it to you

a whole dollar to create.

I am a push over for books. I hate to think of the money I spent on them. Several months ago I was offered an ebook by somebody who I never heard of but the title was something that interested me so ordered it for $97. I read the whole book and not one word was ever written about the subject I was interested in and needless to say he wouldn’t give me a refund and also needless to say I have not read any of his emails since. Once burned…

I am not disillusioned by my experiences, but I have been on the Internet to see the seamy side of it. Most of my readers are common people like I am and I beg of you – do be careful when you are on the Internet.

Is all fair in love war and dating blogs

People blog about just about anything these days, from celebrities to restaurants to their painful dayjobs and everything in between. It seems like everyone and their cat (seriously, cats CAN have blogs too), has something to say. Thanks to the internet, and free blog space, everyone is able to broadcast whatever they want to out in the internet universe. Since online dating and social networking are among the most popular uses for the internet, its only natural that dating would become one of the many topics for blogs. But, people aren't only blogging about their dates, but also integrating blogging into their dating lives.

But what about the privacy issues with people featured in these dating blogs? Is it necessary for authors to disclose that their date could possibly be turned into humorous material to be broadcast all around the internet? Is it unfair to the unsuspecting dates to be taken out simply for the purpose of generating “material”, with no intentions for future meetings?

With few regulations about the material that can or cannot be posted in blogs, it can be difficult to monitor how authors obtain the information they post in their blogs. Since blogs are also highly personal, and often written for and by the public, there's no reason that someone cannot write about their own experiences, whether they are true or not (that's called fiction, folks), and regardless of how they got their information. While this freedom is an enormous advantage for writers, and can be used to create a lot of good (think free speech, and enabling people to react to biased sources etc.), there are undoubtedly people who may not think twice about being “ethical journalists”, mostly cause, well, for the most part blog authors not journalists. In the end, this opens up a free-for-all of sorts, that allows people to write about whatever they want, in any way they want, including in dating blogs.

Unfortunately, this may lead to some casualties along the way, in terms of personal embarrassment or privacy in the dating world. But, perhaps blogging is just another part of the risks involved with the modern world of dating. Hopefully the authors of dating blogs will keep privacy issues in mind (aside from just their own),and respect the dignity of the people who agree to go out with them.

Create tax savings and transfer wealth to your child with a roth ira

Parents must give serious thought to protecting their family through estate tax planning. While life insurance and trusts should be a part of every plan, Roth IRAs can be a simple tool for passing money to your child on a tax-free basis.

Roth IRA

First, we need a quick summary of the Roth IRA. A Roth IRA is an after-tax retirement vehicle that produces huge tax savings because all tax distributions are tax-free. That statement can a bit confusing, so lets break it down. The downside of a Roth IRA is the fact that contributions are not tax deductible as with traditional IRAs or 401(k)s. The upside of a Roth IRA, however, is that all distributions are tax-free once the person reaches the age of 59Ѕ. So how can you use a Roth IRA to pass money to your child?

Opening A Roth IRA For Your Child

One of the biggest keys to retirement planning is “time”. The more years you spend saving money for retirement, the more you should have when that blessed day arrives. Imagine if you had started saving for retirement when you were 16. How much bigger would your retirement nest egg be? What if you purchased Microsoft stock in 1990 and watched it split eight times? Okay, that was painful example if you missed that opportunity. Nonetheless, why not do for your child what you didn’t do for yourself?

The fundamental goal of estate planning is to pass as much of your estate as possible to your family on a tax-free basis. You can transfer relatively small amounts of money to your child now. If you have a 16 year-old child with a Roth IRA, you can contribute $4,000 in 2005. That $4,000 is going to grow tax-free for 43 years and be worth quite a bit. A ten percent return would result in the account growing to roughly $200,000 and the full amount would be distributed tax-free. There are other practical advantages to opening a Roth IRA for your child.

As a parent, it is vital that you teach your child the value of money. Opening a Roth IRA gives you the opportunity to sit down and teach your child the value of saving and investing, instead of yelling at them to clean their room. While a parental lecture on the need to save money would typically meet with glassy eyes and yawns, your child’s attitude will undoubtedly change when you are talking about their money.

Work and Maturity Issues

Before you rush out to open a Roth IRA for your child, you must determine if your child is eligible to open an account. To open an account, your son or daughter must be working at least part time for an employer that reports their wages to the IRS. Hiring your child to take out the trash each week is not going to cut it, nor will this strategy work for your 5 year-old. Many teenagers, however, have summer jobs that should suffice for IRS consideration. To avoid any trouble, you should consult with your tax advisor.

A more sublime issue concerns the maturity level of your child. Keep in mind that the Roth IRA will be opened in their name. Your son or daughter will have the legal right to do what they will with the account. It is strongly suggested that you clearly explain the consequences of taking money out of the account [taxes, penalties, being cut out of the will, forced to eat healthy food, grounded for life, etc.] but the decision lies with them. As difficult as it is, try to be objective in evaluating how you child will react to knowing the money is sitting in an account. If you have doubts, you should probably investigate other tax saving strategies.

Opening a Roth IRA for your child can be a very effective means of transferring wealth to your child and teaching important life lessons. If your child exercises restraint, your relatively small contribution to their Roth IRA can grow into a sizeable tax-free nest egg.

Refinancing with home equity loans

If you have lived in your home for a reasonable amount of time, you may be considering refinancing.

Refinancing can be done in a few different ways. One of the most popular recently has been the home equity loan.

A home equity loan is a loan used to pay off your existing mortgage at a lower rate.

Also, when refinancing with a home equity loan, you have the option of liquidating some of the equity you have established in your home through monthly mortgage payments and appreciation.

Lets suppose you owe $125,000.00 on the mortgage to your home, but your home is worth $200,000.00. This means you have $75,000.00 worth of equity that you can liquidate.

Realistically, you could get a home equity loan for $150,000.00, pay off your existing mortgage, and have $25,000.00 left for home improvement, a new car, college tuition, etc.

Home equity loans also come in the form of a line of credit, better known as a home equity line of credit.

The difference between a home equity loan and line is that the line comes with a variable rate, which means it will adjust with the prime rate, so be careful when deciding.

The home equity credit line can also be re-tapped once it has been partially paid off, or paid off in full, which makes for much convenience.

Before deciding on how you want to go about doing your refinancing, be sure to educate yourself as much as possible about the mortgage industry.

Also, shop around for the best rate and program that fits your needs and budget. The mortgage industry is a competitive one, so let them fight for your business. Good luck.

Lasik eye surgery - are you ready

Is Lasik in your future?

Millions of Americans turn to Lasik Surgery when their vision is less than perfect and they’re tired of being tied down to wearing glasses or contacts. What part of the eye is it that may be causing all your vision trouble? Your cornea! When the shape of your cornea is irregular, the image on your retina is blurry and out-of-focus. The cornea is a part of your eye that works to focus light and projects an image on the retina. This focusing of light is called refraction. The 3 main types of refractive errors are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. If you are nearsighted, you have trouble seeing distant objects. If you are farsighted, you have trouble seeing things close up. Astigmatism is caused by irregularities in the surface of the cornea or lens and causes the image on the retina to be distorted. It’s not uncommon for a person to have a combination of all 3 refractive errors, myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Before Lasik Surgery, glasses and contact lenses were the main ways to compensate for your eye's imperfections.

What exactly is Lasik?

Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. Keratomileusis is the carving of the cornea in order to reshape it. As the laser reshapes the cornea, it changes the angle at which you see images and therefore strengthens your vision significantly. This reshaping adjusts and strengthens the power of your cornea to focus on objects near and far. If you are nearsighted, your doctor uses the laser to flatten your cornea that is too-steep. If you are farsighted, your doctor uses the laser to make your cornea steeper because it is too flat. For astigmatism, the laser can be used to smooth an irregular cornea into a more smooth shape. There are few other procedures like Lasik Eye Surgery that can give you these amazing results and permanently change the shape of your cornea in just minutes.

OK, I’m convinced, now what?

Start by talking to family, friends and co-workers. Who do you know that has had Lasik Surgery? Did they have a good outcome? How long were they out of work? How much did they pay? Did they have to pay the total price prior to the surgery? Would they recommend their surgeon to you? Then armed with this information, begin researching what surgeon you would like to schedule an initial consultation with. Ask lots of questions and keep a notebook of all the details that you learn. You’ve taken your first step toward better vision with Lasik Surgery!

Tips in solving relationship problems

It can not be denied that relationships have been considered as the source of a loving relationship that is full of support, enthusiasm and pleasure, whether the relationship is in the family or to somebody you are intimately in love with. And we would like to experience such a relationship to last until death. Hence, we exert so much effort in order to nurture and to make it perfect if possible.

Whether we like it or not it can also be source of sadness and distress when it fails to address the basic elements for a good relationship. This is the reality of what they call relationship problem. To have a relationship problem does not necessarily follow that the relationship we started will automatically doom to failure. That will not be the case to happen. There is still a chance to fix it.

However, we will be required to do some extra effort to keep things intact. There are many couples who take things for granted. They do not bother their relationship problems, still with great hope that the problems will just disappear by itself. They reconcile with each other but never bother to examine what had occurred or why it happened and to find some solutions to the problem.

In view of this indifference, a majority of the couples are going through series of problems. There are some problems which are not too difficult to solve compared to others. And there is a need to really to ask for professional help from a counselor. A number of people believes that the professional guidance helps them in recovering their relationship and enabled them to discover different ways to work out their problems and resolve that it will not happen again in the future. Therefore, it is a must for every couple to deal immediately with their problems in order to be in the back in the right path and continually improve the relationship. Always seek some ways of getting back and relight the fading intimacy of love.

Relationship problems will always be part of our human existence. What do you think are the causes of such problems? Being too close to somebody can give us moral support, consolation and joy, but it could also be a source of grief, disappointment and misery. Secondly, we have ups and downs of being attracted. Sometimes, we do not feel to approach the person. We want to be alone. There are times that we are passive and not eager to see our beloved. And this can strain the relationship.

Sad to say, we have minimal control along this line of the relationship. Thirdly, we have the demands from our work and financial stability. We can not do away from their concrete pressures because are the sources of our life as a human being. They provide the basic necessities of life. Lastly, the differences in our goals to achieve and our expectations from each other so as to sustain the relationship. I suppose these are the areas of concern that we should immediately address in order to make some changes for satisfaction of the relationship. It will eventually lead us to grow together.

What are the most common problems of a relationship? We have the following problems namely, the communication is very poor, poor skill in solving problems, lack of support from one’s companion, and no quality time for each other.

Protect the value of article marketing with 3 important rules

Information-based marketing is usually your safest bet for sharing your business online. It is one of the oldest and most effective techniques to get targeted prospects to a website and convert them into buyers. Article writing, submissions, and publications are developing in popularity as people realize the effectiveness.

Several tools and sites already exist that people can use to hasten the process of distributing their articles. These tools are priceless in getting the contents more exposure, but there’s more to consider than blasting away pre-written or self written articles.

Here are three important rules to consider before submitting your contents to article directories and publishers:

1. Do not confuse the reason to promote the articles with the reason to write them.

With your article, there are useful benefits to sharing them with others. Branding, lead generation, and promotion are some added results and should be essential to the creation or revision process.

However, there is only one primary reason why you write an article. Your primary goal is to inform your audience. If the article is not focused on this crucial, most important goal, it will fail to achieve the added benefits of marketing the article. If your article is one big advertisement, no one will be interested in reading the article.

You need to be able to capture your reader with what is in your article, and then make them click on your resource box. The solution, to make that happen, is to ensure quality information and content that is personalized by you, the writer, specifically for the reader.

2. Do not ignore the hidden benefits associated with article marketing.

You may know already that your articles can help you generate additional back-links to your site. Nevertheless, do you know that you can get more visitors and better search engine results from those same articles?

How do you do that?

The easiest method is to mention keywords at strategic places. Like any keyword optimizing though, pay attention not to overdo the placement. You don’t want to break rule number one. In addition to keyword optimizing your article, some publishers even allow anchor texts, which is also an effective method to improve results. However, realize that the majority of the publishers and directories are not able to support this.

Also keep in mind; it is not solely about the links back to your site and search rankings. Part of doing well in your article marketing requires publishers with a large number of audiences to accept your work. An accepted article has the ability to leverage other brands. Reaching a wider audience also brings more traffic without even needing better search rankings. Although often, the more exposure, then the more back-links, and the better ranking. If you take your time and do it right, it's just a win-win all around.

Still, these things do not bring in the money by themselves. Other factors can turn your article marketing efforts into an opportunity to improve or increase your earnings if that is your goal.

Take the time to do some careful planning and ensure that your article will serve the function that you intended your marketing to have.

3. Do not publish content that is useless to the the publishers or out of your market.

Perhaps in the process of writing, revising, and publishing articles, you are thinking that all you really need are back links to your site. You might be thinking that you can just submit and forget, and any visitors that are generated as a result are just fine with you.

Do you know what?

Not all article banks and directories are going to accept your content automatically.

Frequently, they have established guidelines and specifications regarding acceptable articles for publishing.

You can easily double the number of sites you can submit to by writing articles that the directories are looking to receive and share with their readers. All it takes is stumbling on that one publisher, with a hundred thousand readers, to increase your potential audience overnight.

In other words, write the articles that publishers want in their publications if you want your article marketing to work effectively. Obey the standard guidelines! Run spell checks, do your research on a good topic. If you feel your writing skills are not up to speed, you can also hire freelance writers or start with pre-written private label content and modify it to ensure good personalized content on your behalf.

Regardless of the source of your content, what it comes down to is this; you make the choice on your level of involvement and subsequently the results.

You can start getting a little exposure from increased back-links with limited revision and article submission, or enjoy massive exposure from taking a little extra time making a quality piece of information to submit

I’ll leave that choice up to you.

Just remember, less quality equals less effectiveness. Do you really want that for your business? Maintain the quality of your work! Don’t to ruin the power of article marketing for your online business with poor content.

Yixing chinese teapot the original teapot revealed

The art of drinking and serving tea, which many call as “Chinese tea ceremony” plays a very vital role in China. In fact, the ritual of preparing tea has held a special place in the hearts and minds of the Chinese. Although the ceremony emphasizes the tea, the overall style of tea drinking is still of great importance. Chinese teapots and tea cups are highly needed and each piece plays a role distinct from the other.

Speaking of Chinese teapots, I guess nothing is more suitable for a wonderful tea experience than the original Chinese teapot – the Yixing. Usually pronounced “E-ching”, these collectible pots are so charming and can be starkly simple with designs that are thousands of years old. Many people even claimed that these teapots are whimsical, being shaped like lotus flowers and with Buddhas and pre-Majolica subjects like vegetables, fruits or animals.

The contemporary Yixing Chinese teapots come in different shapes. The most common shapes are chairs, wheelbarrows, and other unusual styles that never fail to bring smile to one’s face.

What’s interesting to know about Yixing teapots is that its primary importance lies in its special, red clay, which is only found in the Yunnan province of mainland China. As noted, this Chinese teapot is porous and absorbs odors easily. It is even unglazed. I think this is the main reason that people are suggested to only use one variety of tea in the pot. But, after a time, the Yixing teapot will take on the character of your favorite Chinese tea.

The Yixing Chinese teapots are now everywhere and I think this is due to their “collectibility”. However, it is somewhat critical to deal with a vendor who really knows their merchandise to avoid machine-made Chinese teapots or perhaps poorly made knockoffs of traditional shapes. Like ay other product, a finely made Yixing teapot holds the heat longer and will pour better.

Now, if you are thinking of buying a Yixing Chinese teapot, then you should read on for I have mentioned below few qualities that a finely-made Yixing teapot should possess:

1.The cap of the pot must be firm and should not move around easily.

2.The body must not feel grainy.

3.The knob on the cap must be in sync with the rest of the body. It must be ergonomic.

4.It should be able to hold substantial water.

5.The Chinese teapot which is artistic and valuable usually but not always contains enough tea to serve 2 to 3 persons and not masses.

6.When water is poured out of the teapot, it should come out in a beautiful stream.

7.The handle should enable one to handle the teapot firmly.

8.Look for Chinese teapots with net on the mouth to catch unwanted tea leaves.

9.The hardness of the body should be just right.

10.The color should not be dyed.

11.The shape should be flowing and there should not be awkward proportions.

12.The pot should have unusual shapes for it indicate craftsmanship.

13.A good Chinese teapot should be made of purple clay or zhu in clay.

14.The bottom of the teapot must have a name of the artist engraved onto it.

15.Good Chinese teapots tend to have skin that feel brittle. Its walls are thinner than the inferior teapots.

Just note that Yixing Chinese teapots possessing the qualities I have mentioned above can be very expensive, so you may want to experiment first with one of the machine-made ones. If, however, you just want to buy these pots for their aesthetic appeal, then buy what really attracts you.