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Monte Bianco Augments in Size since 2000 as Announced by Scientists

December 31st, 2008

New elaborate GPS readings acquired on the 14-15th Oct have proven that Monte Bianco amounts to 4810.6 m. Mont Blanc is covered by a heavy ice cap which has grown bigger by 2.4 m in precisely 2 years but more unexpectedly the amount of the snow and ice has all but grown twofold . At any rate that’s as reported by the scientists.

The bulk of ice and snow was calculated for the maiden time during 2000. It amounted to 14500 metres cubed higher up than 4780 meters. It comprised scarcely 13700 cubic meters in 2003 possibly ascribable to the high temperatures with plus temperatures even at 4900 metres height. All the same the ice-cap has all but increased twofold since then and today amounts to 21000 cubic metres.

Chamonix town’s esteemed near by weather forecaster Catherine Holland stated the growth in the mass of the ice-cap is among the perverse outcomes of global warming: Snow has not grown generally in the Alps simply with the climate change we are seeing added warm prevailing westerly air currents which bring rain at lower altitudes however in summertime this results in compact snow that rests above 4000 m elevation hence the volume of the ice is growing. Compare this to the state of affairs in wintertime where the snow crystals are extremely cold and are carried by the wind and so do not settle down on the peak.

Chamonix village is not only famous for Mount Blanc it is also a world renowned snowboarding town and climbing centre with many holiday deals and luxury chalets to be had. And at just 1 hr from Geneva airport it is unbeatable for a ski weekend.

The Power of Connections

December 31st, 2008

The consensus among those who have had dealings with Peter Sutherland is that his unique mix of great charm and directness has served him well over the years. Peter Sutherland was a key figure in negotiating the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and it has been well documented that in order to get the accord passed, he sometimes kept negotiators at the table late into the night. The deal came together after seven years of negotiations, and the very gavel he used throughout now has a prominent place on his desk in London where he serves as chairman of the arm of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. that oversees Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

It was back in the mid nineties when he rejoined Goldman Sachs, where he had previously worked as an adviser. Eugene Fife then head of the firm’s London office recruited him after they met on a London-to-New York flight. Not only current but also former Goldman Sachs employees say Mr. Sutherland gave the bank a lift when it was trying to break into Europe.

Peter was widely recognized as being key for winning business away from some of London’s most illustrious and well established banks as well as European financial firms. He brought with him a stable of high-level contacts. Not only that but he is also known to be close to Italian Prime Minister Prodi. In more recent times he accompanied former Goldman CEO Henry Paulson on trips to Russia and China before Paulson became treasury secretary last year. Not only this, he also helped forge a relationship between Goldman and Mittal Steel Co. That paid dividends when Mittal hired Goldman as lead banker in its $39 billion takeover of Arcelor SA last year. By all accounts Peter Sutherland has been instrumental in some keys bits of business which have had a massive impact on the development of Goldman.

O que a TV quer nos mostrar?

December 30th, 2008

A TV s quer mostrar que a vida é uma grande sacanagem, onde gente passa a perna em gente e nada mais. Os vencedores so sempre os que criam intrigas, armam esquemas mil, fazem conchavos… isso que tenho visto nos eventuais momentos que assisto a TV Globo e outras novelas.

A TV é um grande veiculo de cultura e mudana de atitudes nas pessoas. Basta quem tem um pouco mais de idade, da novela Anos Dourados, onde as pessoas comearam a voltar ouvir msicas dos anos 60, e se vestir igual… na época de Tieta, foi a mesma coisa, todos comearam até falar com um sotaque nordestino.

Porque ento a Rede Globo, no procura uma forma mais construtiva de influenciar as pessoas? Mostra somente homens e mulheres se vendendo para obter alguma vantagem e os bons, os que seguem uma vida baseada na honra e palavra, s se phodem… porque?

Ser que realmente s se d bem neste mundo de Deus, quem passa a perna? Quem faz esquemas para passar por cima de outras pessoas?

Sei no… No consigo acreditar nisso… Fico me lembrando de alguns filmes e novelas de antigamente, onde havia, claro tais esquemas, mas também as cenas visavam mostrar que boas aes e atitues valiam MUITO mais… que a Familia, o Lar e a Palavra tinham valores acima até da vida…

triste ver que a coisa do ruim est TO infiltrada, que os jornais s apresentam uma viso ruim de tudo… So enchentes que esto acabando com o Brasil, mas no falam que a represas esto enchendo seus reservatrios… Comenta sobrea criminalidade exagerada, mas no comenta que também mais jovens esto deixando as drogas e virando pessoas normais? O que vale realmente é a desgraa… Queremos é realmente ver isso… Viver isso… Sentir cada vez mais isso nas nossas vidas… Porque?

Precisamos nos revoltar desse tipo de mensagem, porque na sua maioria elas so danosas para ns, que somos um pouco mais exclarecidos. Imagine para os jovens? Nossos filhos? Pois é minha gente… A gua que é mole, de tanto bater na pedra, ela a fura… Precisamos avaliar que tipo de informao vamos deixar o nosso cérebro processar, ele processa tudo e o que nos emociona ou nos chama ateno, é incluido no seu software bsico… é colocado como parte de nossa vida e atitudes.

Gostaria de ver casais unidos para construir e ajudar outras pessoas. Gostaria de ver empresrios querendo desenvolver bons produtos, pagando os impostos, ajudando verdadeiramente seus funcionrios. Gostaria também de ver polticos desenvolvendo realmente suas propostas eleitorais.

A TV que poderia ser uma grande ferramenta de motivao para o cresciemento do nosso pais, mostra somente que devemos continuar ou até piorar a nossa forma de ser. Lembre-se que os EUA so a potencia de hoje, devido aos filmes e programas de TV altamente instrutivos que foram passados nas décadas de 50, 60 e 70… quando o Brasil ainda estava iniciando nessa rea.

Ento? O que vamos fazer a respeito do que é apresentado nas nossas TVs?
Vamos nos deixar ser invadidos?
Vamos deixar nossos dias ficarem chatos somente assintindo programas e mais programas de auditrio?
Tele jornais que s falam de desastres e problemas?

Eu no gosto… somente quando estou sentado com a minha me na sala que fico assistindo alguma coisa, ela gosta dos programas de auditrios… Acho que o motivo do gosto das pessoas é pelo intil inusitado, onde conseguimos passar o tempo sem sentir… quando vemos, o tempo passou e vamos domir, isto é, se no dormimos assintindo a TV.

Eu prefiro assistir programas como o Discovery Channel, onde fala sobre as baleias entre outras coisas. Gosto também de assistir algumas séries como Star Trek entre outras… Principalmente porque procuram mostrar que ns, os humanos, temos muito o que oferecer, fora guerras, destruio, ganncia, dinheiro e tudo mais que vemos hoje em dia nas nossas TVs.

Ou ainda, poderemos desenvolver outras atividades fora assistir TV, como:
- Jogar algum jogo com a familia;
- Montar algum quebra cabeas… tem alguns de 10 mil peas que so maravilhosos;
- Ler livros… Amo ler…
- Pegar alguns vdeos e assisti-los;
- Namorar… Essa é a das melhores;
- Etc.

About the Author

Analista de Sistemas, especialista de projetos para Internet desde 1993, projetista e mantenedor de diversos sites no Brasil, como os sites da FAMEM e Porto do Itaqui

7 Things You Must Do If You Want To Increase Your Traffic

December 30th, 2008

Gary Halbert once said that the ONLY advantage he wanted when it came to selling burgers was not a better sauce, or better grade of beef, but a STARVING CROWD.

It’s a simple concept, but not many people get it.

#1. Find and Know Your Starving Crowd

You can have the greatest product in the world, but still sell squat if no one wants to buy your product. Who are your potential buyers? Do you know them like the back of your hand? KNOW your buyers. Head down to http://www.Overture.com, type in your keywords and take furious notes!

#2. Power Position Yourself

Understand that people online are looking for information. They don’t want information from just anyone. They want good, solid information from people who have been there, done that. If you can provide valuable advice to your prospects, you can be sure that they’ll begin to trust you and develop a RELATIONSHIP with you. And just how do you position yourself as an expert? Easy, Become one.

Once you develop a reputation as an expert, the traffic will come in flocks. People NEED help. Help from experts. Are you an expert? : – )

#3. Create an Epidemic

Imagine this. What if you could get a super salesman to spend 24 hours everyday, 7 days every week, 52 weeks every year, for the rest of your life… a salesman who never gets sick or tired and all he does is direct hordes and hordes of targeted traffic to your site?

Don’t even try to estimate the astounding value someone like this would bring to your business.

It is possible, and it’s called viral marketing. It’s the most powerful concept on the Internet. Many have tried using it and many have failed miserably.

People have this misconception that as long as they have an ebook that is “brandable”, it constitutes a viral marketing campaign.

They are dead wrong.

#4. Steal Traffic from Someone Else

Got you. Of course, there are ethical ways to do that. The most powerful way, is through a JV or Joint Venture. A JV does not mean shooting an email to someone in your field of high repute saying “Hey, wanna do business with me?”

You’re in for a big disappointment if you think that’s gonna work. Your potential JV partner is a human as well, and chances are, he/she is a SOMEBODY in your field. So make your JV proposal as benefit laden, and “hands free” for your potential partner as possible. Recognize your JV partner’s accomplishments, be generous with your praise and above all, be sincere.

But never be afraid to ASK. If you don’t A-S-K, you will never G-E-T.

#5. Become A Marketing PI

Here’s Industrial Espionage 101. The magic word?

Forums.

Forums will show you exactly what your target market is unhappy about and the problems they have. Lurk around forums. LISTEN. Forget about YOUR problems and listen to other people’s problems. Solve those problems. I guarantee you’ll become rich. Zig Ziglar said, the way to achieve success is to help others get what they want.

#6. Expired Domains Do More Than Expire

You can always use expired domain names as a great source of traffic. Search the expired domain databases, look on EBay. Some web hosts now allow multiple domains to park on a single account. Take advantage of that.

#7. Transform Words into Traffic

Articles are the best “Traffic Machines” that work for ANYONE- no matter what product, service, or information they’re selling.

You get 100% targeted traffic, FREE! And, they position you as an expert, and improve your link popularity. Plus, articles are really easy to write as well.

If you have never written an article, go try writing one NOW!

All 7 steps above seem really easy. It’s one thing to read and go “ahh” and another thing to read those steps and actually take solid action. Nothing will happen until you take action. No action equals no traffic, equals no sales, equals no money to pay the rent.

Copyright 2004 Jo Han Mok

About The Author

Jo Han Mok is a frequent guest and featured speaker at Internet Marketing bootcamps and conferences on subjects such as copywriting and Joint Venture Marketing. Find out how Jo Han’s latest web tool can help you get laser targeted traffic in the next 7 minutes!

==> http://www.InstantVisitorSurge.com

Cisco CCNA Certification Exam Tutorial: Port-Based Authentication

December 29th, 2008

To pass your CCNA exam and earn this coveted certification, you must understand the details of port-based authentication. This knowledge has a great deal of value in production networks as well, since this authentication scheme is regularly implemented. Let’s take a look at this particular CCNA skill.

Consider a situation where you have a server that will be connected to your switch, and you want the port to shut down if a device with a different MAC address that that of the switch attempts to connect to that port. You could also have a situation where you have someone who has a connection to a switch port in his office, and he wants to make sure that only his laptop can use that port.

Both of these examples are real-world situations, and there are two solutions for each. First, we could create a static MAC entry for that particular switch port. I don’t recommend this, mainly because both you and I have better things to do than manage static MAC entries. The better solution is to configure port-based authentication on the switch.

The Cisco switch uses MAC addresses to enforce port security. With port security, only devices with certain MAC addresses can connect to the port successfully. This is another reason source MACs are looked at before the destination MAC is examined. If the source MAC is non-secure and port-based authentication is in effect, the destination does not matter, as the frame will not be forwarded. In essence, the source MAC address serves as the password.

MAC addresses that are allowed to successfully communicate with the switch port are secure MAC addresses. The default number of secure MAC addresses is 1, but a maximum of 132 secure MACs can be configured.

When a non-secure MAC address attempts to communicate with the switch port, one of three actions will occur, depending on the port security mode. In Protect mode, frames with non-secure MAC addresses are dropped. There is no notification that a violation has occurred. The port will continue to switch frames for the secure MAC address.

In Restrict mode, the same action is taken, but a syslog message is logged via SNMP, which is a messaging protocol used by Cisco routers.

In Shutdown mode, the interface goes into error-disabled state, the port LED will go out, and a syslog message is logged. The port has to be manually reopened. Shutdown mode is the default port-security mode.

Port-based authentication is just one of the many switching skills you’ll have to demonstrate to earn your CCNA certification. Make sure you know the basics shown here, including the action of each particular mode, and you’re on your way to CCNA exam success!

Chris Bryant - EzineArticles Expert Author

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

You can also join his RSS feed and visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions! Details are on the website.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and “How To Pass The CCNP”, visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Get your CCNA study guide from The Bryant Advantage!

Cisco Certification: The Importance Of Building Your Own Home Lab

December 28th, 2008

CCNAs and CCNA candidates hear it all the time: “Get some hands-on experience”. From my personal experience climbing the Cisco certification ladder, I can tell you firsthand that there is no learning like hands-on learning. No simulator in the world is going to give you the experience you will get cabling and configuring your own routers.

Whenever I mention this to one of my students, they always say it costs too much. The truth is, it is cheaper now to build your own CCNA and CCNP lab than it has ever been. The secret? Used routers.

The word “used” turns off a lot of people not many of us buy used computers or used servers. Cisco routers, though, are robust I personally own a Cisco 4000 router that I use as a Frame Relay switch in my lab that I’ve had for about four years, and I’ve never had a problem with it.

The good news for current CCNA and CCNP candidates interested in building their own labs is that used Cisco equipment has never been more plentiful or cheaper. eBay is a good way to get an idea of what’s out there and what the prices are, but you don’t have to assemble your lab one piece at a time. Many eBay vendors who sell used Cisco equipment sell ready-made CCNA and CCNP labs for one price, including cables. I personally recommend www.ciscokits.com for your lab needs, and there are many other vendors as well.

And should you desire to sell your lab after you complete your certification, you can either negotiate a price with the vendor who sold it to you, or you can sell it yourself on ebay. It’s my experience that 95% of candidates who earn their CCNA go on to pursue their CCNP within one year, though, so don’t sell it too quickly.

In the end, you spend only a few hundred dollars, and you gain invaluable experience and knowledge that will help you both in your certification quest and your job performance. Having been there, I can tell you that you will learn much more from actually configuring and cabling your own equipment than you ever will from any simulation of the real thing.

Chris Bryant

CCIE #12933

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. Video courses and training, binary and subnetting help, and corporate training are also available.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” or “How To Pass The CCNP”, send a request to chris@thebryantadvantage.com today !

Review of Rio MP3 Players

December 27th, 2008

Below you will find some useful information and comments about a few of the most popular MP3 players by Rio, including the Nitrus, Carbon, Cali, and Forge. None of these MP3 players are perfect, but each offers a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that should be taken into consideration before you purchase any one of them. Be sure to compare price, usability, and the overall performance of each.

Rio Carbon 5 GB MP3 Player

Manufacturers Description: The Rio Carbon is capable of holding up to 80 hours of MP3 (160 hours WMA) music, and with up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, music lovers need not worry about running out of juice.

Sporting an ultrathin and tapered design and with 25 percent more memory than iPod Mini, this tiny MP3 player–about the size of a business card–will slide into any pocket, virtually unnoticeable. The Rio Carbon is capable of holding up to 80 hours of MP3 music (160 hours of WMA), and with up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, music lovers need not worry about running out of juice. Supporting USB 2.0 and a host of file formats, users can download music efficiently and easily from most of their favorite online music sites. The Rio Carbon also includes voice recording and provides seamless integration and support of both the Windows and Mac platforms.

Features:

- 5 GB of memory stores up to 80 hours of MP3 music or 160 hours of WMA music
- Plays MP3, WMA, and Audible audio formats
- Built-in microphone for voice recording
- Easily drag and drop data and music files onto your player
- Rechargeable battery offers up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge
- USB 2.0 for faster downloads
- Charge from USB or the included power adapter
- Windows and Mac compatible
- Includes Rio Music Manager, the most intuitive way to create and manage your digital music library

Comments: Users tend to agree that this is one of the best mp3 players Rio has developed. It’s really quite small and slim, and can actually fit in your pockets. 5GB of memory really doesn’t sound like all that much any more, but I think most new user will find that that is plenty of space. The long battery is nice (20 compared with iPod’s 12), and the interface is easy enough to work with. One little dissapointment is the inability to hit any buttons on the device when it is in its carrying case. Also, it does have some compatibility issues with Mac music programs like iTunes. If you really love Mac, you may want to consider iPod or Shuffle instead (this goes for all Rio products).

Price: $230

Rio Cali 128 MB Sport MP3 Player

Manufacturers Description: Wrapped in grippy, protective rubber, the Cali 128 is built to play hard. Solid-state electronics carry over 30 songs with no skips — ever. Comfortable Sport Clip earphones, case with armband, and integrated stopwatch with lap timer make the Cali a functional sport accessory. 5-band adjustable equalizer gives more control over your sound than most players. Onboard FM tuner means you always have something to listen to. An empty expansion slot allows you to add up to 512 MB of additional SDTM or MMCTM memory. Simple menus and intuitive controls make for easy one-handed operation.

Features:

- 128 MB of memory plays back over 2 hours of MP3 or 4 hours of WMA music (over 30 MP3 or 60 WMA songs)*
- Expansion slot to add up to 512 MB additional memory using SD or MMC cards (sold separately)
- USB 1.1 connects to almost any computer
- Transfer content between multiple PCs
- 18-hour continuous playback using one Energizer AAA Battery
- 5-Band adjustable equalizer with pre-sets

Comments: Anyone considering buying this device should be aware of some odd functional issues that may be frustrating. First of all, when changing memory cards, many users have had to actually take out the batteries in order to get the device to recognize the new memory card (another note: some users have had problems getting the device to accept 3rd party memory cards). Also, it seems that the player may not be able to play regular mp3 formats you may have on your pc hard drive. Rio admits that these mp3 files need to be converted through their own software in order for them to work. These, and other odd quirks, undermine this particular player quite a bit. On the positive side, the device has good battery life, plays clear, crisp music, and has a good radio feature as well.

Price: $120

Rio Forge 512 MB Sport MP3 Player

Manufacturers Description: The Rio Forge series is our latest generation of flash based sport players. The Rio Forge was designed for people that like to play hard and use music to play even harder. The new design integrates the grippy, protective rubber from previous models with a new shiny stainless steel face plate for added durability. Up to 20 hours of battery life allows you hours of non-stop work out time. Comfortable Sport Clip earphones and a newly designed case with armband keep your player and music secure and accessible. Simple menus and intuitive controls make for easy one-handed operation. Stopwatch and Lap Timer make the Rio Forge the ultimate gym or running companion. Plus, the new FM record feature allows you to record radio content onto your player to listen to at a later time.

Features:

- Holds 16 hours worth of Music
- Storage capacity may be upgraded up to 1 GB
- Durable Stainless Steel Face
- 512 MB of storage
- Stopwatch feature for work-outs
- Up to 20 hours of battery life

Comments: This latest generation of sport mp3 players by Rio is perhaps the best so far. What we really liked about this device is the easy to use and intuitive user interface and clear LCD screen. The one downside is the 512mb upper limit in storage (although technically you can upgrade to 1GB), which is a little low compared with the market average. Even so, the features like the FM tuner and stop watch make this a really cool little sport mp3 player. It’s about as durable and user friendly as they come, plus the battery life is friendly for those long work-outs. Thumbs up on this one.

Price: $180

Rio Nitrus 1.5 GB MP3 Jukebox

Manufacturers Description: The revolutionary Rio Nitrus packs 1.5 GB into a stealthy, razor-thin design. With the ability to carry over 375 songs, never before has this much capacity been offered on a player this small. Fast USB 2.0 connection loads the player quickly. Simple menus, thoughtful controls, and a clear display make navigation instinctive. A 5-band adjustable equalizer provides a custom listening experience. Quality components throughout yield a player without compromise.

Features:

- 1.5GB HDD plays back over 25 hours of MP3 or 50 hours of WMA music (over 375 MP3 or 750 WMA songs)
- USB 2.0 for fast transfers
- Transfer content between multiple PCs
- 16-hour continuous playback with the rechargeable LiIon battery
- 5-Band adjustable equalizer with pre-sets

Comments: This is an overall fairly solid mp3 player with a few design and engineering defects that should be mentioned. First, the buttons are not quite as easy to use, or as well laid out as some of Rio’s other players. Specifically, the volume buttons are smaller and closer together than they should be. Another thing is problems with the battery life, some users getting significantly less time out of their batteries than they are supposed to. And you really can’t expect to get the full 16 hours. Also, the scrolling feature doesn’t seem to help much. On the plus side, the device is big enough in storage size (1.5GB), and small enough in physical size to appeal to alot of potential consumers. The sound is also quite good and just about every volume level.

Price: $175

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on Rio mp3 players, please visit our Rio mp3 webpage.

Magickal Baths

December 26th, 2008

Taking a Magickal Bath doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as running to your local drug or beauty supply and buying a product that is appropriately scented or contains an herb or essential oil. The important thing about taking one of these baths, no matter how humble or expensive the ingredients are, is to meditate on your intention while you are sitting in the tub.

You can get a little fancier, by making an infusion from flowers, herbs or other elements. Brewing the herbs as you would brew a cup of herbal tea and then pouring the strained infusion into your bath water is the easiest way to make an infusion. You can also put the ingredients in a cheesecloth bag that hangs over the bathtub faucet and have the hot water run through the ingredients. In some cases you can actually buy tea bags and just toss them in the water. I’m a purist so personally I love to throw the entire herb, flower or vegetable in the bath. It makes me feel like I am Cleopatra having a bath in ancient Egypt or like some kind of wicked harlot getting ready for her Roman Soldier.

However if you do decide to get really into the food aspect of this make sure you have some kind of strainer on your drain so that stuff doesn’t flow down your pipes. What can I say? Some miracles can be quite “messy.”

Below are a couple of “quick fixes” for aspiring witches on the run.

ALL PURPOSE AURA CLEANER: Half a cup of sea or Epsom salts plus half a cup of baking soda dumped in the tub is the potion used to purify the aura and clear it of all negative attachments so that you are surrounded by a rainbow of opportunities again.

BARLEY WATER BATH: This is for protection and to dispel evil with a capital E. This is definitely the one to do if you are feeling haunted by something that seems unseemly and of supernatural origin. Boil whole barley until it is soft in a pot. Drain and save the water. Pour into the bath. Bad spirits will run like hell.

CHAMOMILE: Chamomile not only relaxes you, but you can use it as a magical bath to draw money to you. Many preparations are available commercially but you can also make an infusion out of the buds or even throw the buds directly into the bath. I do not advise this if you are allergic to ragweed.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BATH: Ok this one is completely decadent and is designed to bring more erotic pleasure into your life. First of all you should know that there are commercial chocolate bubble bath preparations out there on the market, but they can be somewhat hard to find in some areas. So what you need to do first, is mix yourself up a little glass of chocolate milk. The milk is good for your skin and the chocolate raises your serotonin levels – the pleasure chemicals in your brain. It also makes the water a very nice loving looking pink. You dump this into the tub as the hot water is pouring into the tub and then you pop nine whole cherries into the bath with you. Then you are supposed to sit there and eat each cherry, while imagining what a good time you are going to have with your lover. The little bobbing cherries are like all your “little ducks” lined up in a row when it comes to your romantic intentions. Rinse off good after this. You’ll need it.

FAME AND GLORY BATH: This one is from Lexa Rosean (author of The Supermarket Sorceress series of books). I tried it and I LOVED it. Cut an apple in nine pieces, or alternately throw nine whole shiny apples into the tub. Use green and golden apples if you want your fame to come with some money attached. Then add nine bay leaves. Get in the tub and immerse yourself for exactly nine minutes, and then get out. It is supposed to be a good one for artists and writers.

GINGER-LIME BATH: You can buy this commercially (made by Ombra). Which is way easier than grating the ginger, peeling the lime and making a “bath tea” out of it, or you can cut up some ginger and lime and make an infusion of it a pot. The ginger is to relax and focus you and the lime is for self-control, discipline and a clear head. This is a great bath for those who need to “get down to business fast.”

FRUIT BLOSSOM BATHS: Once again these are available commercially which will do, but it is really really nice to take a handful of blossoms from a tree and dump them in your bath. Apple Blossoms, Apricot Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms and Orange Blossoms all correspond to the planet Venus and are ideal for attracting love, fidelity and marriage proposals.

HONEYSUCKLE: You can buy this as a bubble bath or once again, just throw the flowers into the tub. Honeysuckle attracts wealth, riches, honours, marriage proposals and treasures. This is one way to draw the bird to the blossom. It also honours Chuparosa – the Divine Hummingbird of Love.

HOPS: You can buy hops in a commercially prepared bubble bath (OMBRA) or you can pour half a cup of beer in the bath for spiritual cleansing (and also a peaceful sleep.) David from Psychic Realm suggests combining a half a cup of sea salt, the juice of a lemon and a half of cup of beer for spiritual purification and protection from astral attack.

LAVENDER: Lavender corresponds to the planet Mercury and is used to improve communication, attract happiness and achieve piece of mind. It is also a very seductive flower that was used by prostitutes as a magic charm to attract customers many years ago. Many commercial preparations are available, but throwing in a few of the live buds might bring you a wealthy and generous lover.

OAT BEAUTY BATH: OK, most of us don’t live near a field, but if you gather your own oats and throw the sheaves into the bathtub with you, you are performing a significant act of magical transformation. Oats are very feminine and appeal to the Goddess energies. They soften the skin, make the eyes glow and give you a youthful appearance. You can throw a cup of raw, uncooked oats into the bath if you’re in hurry or you can buy a commercial preparation. Aveeno makes a good one.

ORANGE AND MINT LEAVES: This is a bath to make yourself more attractive and your skin smell really nice. Take nine mint leaves and nine orange segments and dump them in the bath with you. You don’t have to eat the mint and orange leaves this time (thank God) but you can if you get hungry.) When you get out of the bath, you are not supposed to rinse off, just towel yourself off lightly so that the scent lingers. You could also try mixing an orange bath gel with a mint one.

PINEAPPLE: Pineapple juice is used to bring luck, money and wealth, and if you are a savage purist, you can throw nine chunks of the raw stuff right in your bath. However I warn you, that it is pretty messy. Some people prefer to throw in the dried rinds. Just adding a spoonful of the juice or making an infusion from the dried rinds and immersing yourself from head to toe in it for a couple of minutes should make you luckier than a leprechaun.

ROSE: Roses correspond to Venus and attract love, luck and protection. There are tons of rose-scented products on the market, including essential oils – though David from Psychic Realm points out that Essential Rose Oil is incredibly expensive and you may want to stick with fragrance oils used in perfumes and baths. If you want to go all out and make yourself a powerful love attracting bath, tint the scented water pink with a touch of food colouring and cast a pinch or two some multicoloured glitter (from a craft store) in there to strengthen your magical intentions.

ROSEMARY: Rosemary is a powerful “wish granting” herb. Ombra makes an excellent commercial bath, but you can make an infusion of this from the spice jar in your cupboard or put a bit of the essential oil in your bath (but make it just one drop – rosemary is strong and can irritate the skin – so I mean it, use one drop!) A bath in rosemary uplifts the spirits and is used to create lust, attract love and improve communication skills. It is also corresponds to the Virgin Mary, so if you are in need of a lucky break, a bath in this may enable you to be shown some mercy.

SAFFRON BATH: Saffron was sacred to the Moon and Fertility Goddess, Ashtoreth. Saffron is a very expensive spice and you need to only add a couple of strands to your bath water to turn it a yellow colour. Don’t add too much or you will turn yellow. You’ll be a jaundiced colour. So either make an infusion from it first or just add one strand. Saffron was used to purify oneself before healing rituals, increase psychic powers and also attract love, happiness, lust, and strength.

SAGE BATH: Sage is an herb of wisdom. Make a brew of the herb and pour it into your bath. Some companies (like Ombra and Kniepp) make a sage bath, but you can also just buy the tea bags. This is a good bath to take just before studying for a test or if you are trying to find a solution to a problem.

Samantha Steven’s articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. If you wish to buy Samantha’s books about metaphysics click here
http://www.insomniacpress.com/author.php?id=110
You can meet Samantha Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com

Fundamentals of Real Estate Marketing

December 26th, 2008

Your personal marketing program needs certain ingredients in order to succeed. Chief among them — research, focus, testing, honesty and enthusiasm.

Fundamentals of research Effective marketing demands thorough research, the more of it the better. In fact, I would rank research in the top-three factors of successful marketing.

Before you can write a brochure to inform your audience … before you can write an advertisement to persuade your audience … before you can write Web content to educate your audience … you have to know everything about your audience.

You have to know what their days are like, how they define success, what they worry about. Everything. Only then can you begin to communicate to them effectively.

Fundamentals of focus

In marketing and communications, seduction lurks around every corner. New ideas emerge during a prolonged campaign. Distractions and side doors present themselves. “This is old,” you might think. “I need to shake things up a little.”

Focus and consistency bring benefits over the long haul, but it takes patience. An ad-testing program, for example, could take several months to start producing valuable insight. It takes steady measurement. It takes long-term vision. It takes focus.

Fundamentals of testing

Eugene Schwartz, author of Breakthrough Advertising, said it best: “There are no answers in direct mail except test answers. You don’t know whether something will work until you test it. And you cannot predict test results based on past experience.”

What he meant was, you can take an offer that has worked for somebody else in your industry, apply it to your audience, and have it flop.

Sure, there are “best practices” you can start with. And you can learn a lot from the successes and failures of other marketers. But to get the best possible ROI on your marketing investment, there is no substitute for testing.

Think of it this way. Best practices will put you ahead of 75% of your competition. Testing will help you surpass the other 25%.

Fundamentals of honesty

If you say “free,” it better be free — with no strings attached. If you say “number one real estate company on the east coast” … you better be number one in some legitimate way.

Deceit and trickery only work the first time around.

Fundamentals of enthusiasm

Have you ever read an ad, article or website and found yourself thinking, “Boy, this writer doesn’t even care.”?

If your designer, copywriter, webmaster — or anyone else involved with your marketing — lacks enthusiasm for a particular project, the project has already failed.

A wise marketing manager knows this and will take the necessary steps to inspire his or her team. All this being said, it always helps to have a superior or service. But that’s another topic entirely.

Refinancing After Bankruptcy – Is Refinancing Your Home a Good Idea?

December 26th, 2008

Refinancing your home after a bankruptcy is similar to purchasing a new home. A refinance creates a new mortgage to replace the existing mortgage. Thus, you are required to complete loan applications and pay closing costs and other fees. Some believe that obtaining credit following a bankruptcy is impossible. However, this is the best way to rebuild your credit. Some people choose to acquire new credit cards or lines of credit. On the other hand, if you are hoping to receive an interest rate reduction on your mortgage and receive cash-out at closing, refinancing after bankruptcy is a great idea.

Obtain a Lower or Fixed Rate

If you purchased your home before interest rates began to decline, you likely have a rate that is considerably higher than current trends. Various lenders are willing to lend money to people one day after a bankruptcy. However, if you wait two years after a discharge before refinancing your home, you may be able to obtain a reasonable, low rate. A lower rate will lower your monthly payments. Moreover, refinancing your home after bankruptcy is ideal for obtaining a fixed rate. Initially, some people accept an adjustable
rate mortgage. These loans are risky because your mortgage rate will fluctuate according to current market trends. Thus, your mortgage may increase several times throughout the loan. With a fixed rate, your mortgage rate remains the same.

Improve Your Credit History

Refinancing your home after a bankruptcy is a perfect way to re-establish credit. Lenders review credit reports to determine our credit worthiness. A bankruptcy may disqualify you from receiving low interest rates on credit cards and other lines of credit. Once you have obtained three or four new lines of credit following a bankruptcy, and maintained a good payment history, other lenders will see you as a low risk and are willing to extend credit with reasonable rates. Moreover, mortgage companies are more ready to grant a loan because funds are secured by the property. If you choose to refinance and cash-out at closing, the funds received may go towards repaying chapter 13 debts, which will also improve credit.

View our recommended bad mortgage refinance companies here at:
Recommended Bad Credit
Mortgage Refinance Lenders.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan
Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.

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