Archive for September, 2007

7 Questions You Must Answer Before You Pursue a Job

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

By Rob Sullivan The first two questions below are self-assessment questions that address your interests, motivations, and potential. The last five questions are company-specific and must be answered separately for each company you approach. What is your dream job? Whether or not you know the answer to this question, you owe it to yourself to talk with as many people in as many different careers as possible. If you can, focus on people who love their jobs. They can teach you the most about what to look for in a career because, in all likelihood, they didnt start out in a job they love. They worked toward it. Find out what they learned along the way. Once you have a career in mind, do your best to learn not only what people enjoy about it, but also what frustrates them. Whatever you do, its important not to romanticize the career of choice. This way, you can minimize the impact of unpleasant surprises down the road. What attracts you to this career? Of all the questions people neglect to ask, this may be the most common. Its not enough to say that you have always wanted to work in a particular job because it doesnt give people a reason to believe you. After the movie Big was released, Id be willing to bet the toy industry was bombarded by people who wanted the job Josh Baskin (Tom Hanks) had in the movie. And I bet Mattel, Tyco, and the other toy companies didnt interview any of those people because there was no reason to believe theyd given the career more than 2 hours of thought. Career-changers and entry-level candidates in particular have to make a compelling case for pursuing a given career because employers want to feel confident they arent taking a risk. What skills or qualities are important to each particular employer?Is it surprising that this has almost nothing to do with you? If, as I suspect, you havent given this enough attention, dont beat yourself up. Most people dont consider it all. Thats why most people who pursue hard-to-get jobs dont often get them. Remember, every company is different. They have different customers, different products or services, and different corporate cultures. As a result, they also have different needs. Qualities that are important to one employer may be irrelevant or, at worst, detrimental to another. Take the time to understand the differences. For example, one company may seek employees who are personally so conservative and corporate that they border on uptight. Another company in the same industry may look for employees who are outgoing and free-spirited, while at the same time professional. The same candidate will not appeal to both. Why would you excel at this company? The answer to this question is directly related to the prior two questions. Once you have demonstrated the initiative to build a base of knowledge and understanding about the needs of a potential employer, selling yourself will be much easier. Although this may come as a surprise, just having the passion to educate yourself about a particular career is often enough to demonstrate potentialespecially at the entry-level. The fact is, relatively few people learn anything on their own. Its not as if you need to sign up for extra courses either. Just read everything you can find. If you are genuinely interest in the career, it wont seem like work. Why is the position open? This question should always be part of your due diligence in learning more about the company and the opportunity. Perhaps the company is growing and getting new business from clients. As a result, they need to hire more people to meet their needs. That, of course, is ideal. However, it is also possible that the position is extremely stressful. Or, it may be that the supervisor is difficult to work with and no one has ever lasted more than six months. Whatever the case, its always best to find out BEFORE your first day of work. Are raises and promotions based on tenure or performance? If you are a person who is motivated, enjoys challenges, and expects to be rewarded for a job well done, you arent likely to be happy in an environment that values tenure more than performance. What incentive would you have to work hard if raises and promotions are based primarily on your length of employment? Considering the impact this can have on your personal happiness and overall career satisfaction, you owe it to yourself to find a company that values and rewards performance first and foremost. What can you expect salary-wise? Before you go into an interview, its important to do your homework and know your market value. Since this can vary from city to city and from company to company, its pays to know as much as possible in advance. For a general idea, you can start by reading the trade press (i.e., the magazines and newspapers that cater to specific industries.) Trade magazines like Restaurant News, Advertising Age, and others often have an annual issue that features a salary survey. However, these salary surveys are always subject to error so be careful. If you have networking contacts within the industry, they would probably be a far better source of information. Better still, contact a headhunter (executive recruiter) who specializes in the industry. Its their job to know what different companies are paying employees. Rob Sullivan is a Chicago-based inspirational speaker, corporate trainer, and career coach who specializes in helping companies and individuals with professional development, recruiting, and career-related challenges. Find out more about Rob Sullivan at http://thecareerelevator.com/sullivan Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Sullivan http://EzineArticles.com/?7-Questions-You-Must-Answer-Before-You-Pursue-a-Job&id=141930 ultram for sale cheap tramadol no prescription cheap tramadol online tramadol no prescription overnight

Make eBay Selling Better by Building Trust and Credibility

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

By Doug Luthringer You will need to develop trust and credibility to be successful, not only on eBay but in your business life as well. Trying to build a trusting relationship with someone you’ve never even talked to is extremely difficult, and this is what you will have to do when selling on eBay. I cover many ways to develop trust throughout my eBay selling book, but I will hit on a few simple ways to quickly become a credible source of information in this article. The first is as easy as choosing an appropriate eBay User ID. If you are selling wedding accessories, your eBay User ID should not be “crazyjoe_3568″. This is not the type of place most people would want to shop at for their wedding. Now if your eBay User ID is “YourDay” or “WeddingAccessories”, people are much more likely to trust your products and service over crazyjoe_3568. If people are more likely to trust you, they will be more willing to bid higher for your items. The lesson here is that the first impression is the most important and to be honest in all your business ventures. If you are comfortable with yourself and the business you operate, then knowing that you provide a high level of service and professionalism will lead others to believe in you also. You might get banged around a little at times, but hold your head high and things will work out for the better. And don’t forget, crazyjoe_3568 will have a hard time selling much of anything unless it’s CRAZY! Doug Luthringer is a certified eBay education specialist who has taught more than 150 students The Basics of eBay Selling course and The Advanced eBay Selling Techniques course. He has been selling on eBay for nearly six years and has completed over 1800 eBay transactions and has over 1150 unique positive comments with no negative feedback. Doug has also been invited to be a guest speaker to talk about how to sell on eBay and the use of Google AdWords to small and medium size business, as well as university students. You can get more information about Doug and his eBay selling book at http://www.Thefastmall.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Luthringer http://EzineArticles.com/?Make-eBay-Selling-Better-by-Building-Trust-and-Credibility&id=101436 buy cheap levitra online levitra no prescription order cheap levitra levitra online prescription

Lose Weight & Improve Your Cholesterol

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007

By Craig Ballantyne Do you know everything you need to know about your health status? Sure you look great in the mirror (or do you?), but do you know everything you need to know about your cardiovascular health, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol levels (both good and bad cholesterol)? Preemptive disease prevention is the single most powerful technique anyone could ever use to extend their life and stay healthy and energetic for decades to come. You might be a father of a young family who wants to be around to see his children go to college, get married, and have kids of their own. Who wouldn’t, of course? But often, men and women have stressful, time-consuming jobs that don’t give you time for exercise, not to mention the crappy eating options that go along with that type of lifestyle. So you owe it to your family to know how your health is, and then to try and improve it. Knowing your health information is extremely important to anyone that has a family history of heart disease or diabetes. Research shows that genetics are one of the biggest factors determining your risk for these diseases. So the more you know now, the better you can avoid problems in the future. You want to be able to provide for your family for a long life, right? Spending a hundred bucks now on your health could save your family literally tens of thousands of dollars later. And as a trainer, it is important to know your personal health information so that you can continue to set the best example to your clients. If you think you can eat all the fast food you want just because you are active, the truth is that it can seriously and negatively impact your health. And who would want to be trained by someone that has terrible cholesterol levels or high-blood sugar? And what if, after getting your results back, you find something out of place. Won’t you be glad that you took the steps to correct it now instead of later? Getting your blood tested is such a simple thing to do. And when you get your results, you and your family will all have the piece of mind knowing your health status, and what you need to do to improve it. Now I’ve been using strength and interval training for many years and that helps people lose weight faster than anything else. And although I’m still relatively young, I believe that it is never too early to know your blood cholesterol and blood sugar values. In fact, I suggest that everyone over the age of 30 should get a baseline physical examination and get as many of the following blood tests done as possible. So earlier this year, I went to great lengths to get my results. I was willing to do whatever I had to in order to get my results and to learn as much about my health as possible. So not only did I get the normal blood tests done (cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar), but I also went to a University laboratory to have even more blood tests taken that will give me an even more accurate estimation of my cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk. These additional tests included hemoglobin-A1C (HBA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine. It is also important to know your hormone levels for fat loss, so I had insulin and testosterone tested as well. If your insulin levels are not controlled, you will have a hard time losing fat. And if you are a man with low testosterone levels, then you will have a hard time putting on muscle and losing fat. Men that eat a very low fat diet tend to have low testosterone. But they can be returned to normal simply by eating healthy fat sources. So simply by following the strength and interval program and a healthy lifestyle (eating lean protein sources, healthy fat sources, low-glycemic and high-fiber fruits and vegetables), you can improve your health status. And add intense exercise to the mix, as found in the strength and interval workouts, and your health levels will improve dramatically so that you can live a long, prosperous life full of vitality. My Results (All goals are for primary prevention of disease) Total Cholesterol = 157mg/dl (Normal = 150-225) HDL = 54 mg/dl (Normal = 30-70, should be over 40) LDL = 103 mg/dl (Normal = 70-130) (Lab’s comment on HDL: Your level is very high!) TG = 1.90 mM (Goal: less than 2.3mM) Glucose = 73mg/dl (Goal = less than 130) HBA1c = 4.6 mg/dl (Less than 7 is very healthy.) (HBA1c measures your average blood glucose over the past 4 - 6 weeks and is considered to be a better indicator of diabetes risk than glucose.) Insulin = 6.7 IU/ml (Normal = 6-20) CRP = 1.16 mg/l (Normal = Up to 4.9) (Normative range for untrained persons 1.6-4.3 while trained persons can be as low as 0.52) Homocysteine = 11.2 M (Normative ranges 5-15 M, average 10 M: 15-30 M = moderate hyperhomocysteinemia) Testosterone (total) = 647ng/dl (Normal = 270-1100) For more info on these measures, please see your doctor. For more info on training, look for articles on strength and interval training. Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Mens Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines and all over the Internet, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence Training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit http://www.TurbulenceTraining.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Ballantyne http://EzineArticles.com/?Lose-Weight-and-Improve-Your-Cholesterol&id=401158 cheap fioricet online buy fioricet buy fioricet rx fioricet online ordering

Adsense Arbitrage and Leveraging

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

By William Plante FROM WIKIPEDIA: In economics, arbitrage is the practice of taking advantage of a price differential between two or more markets: a combination of matching deals are struck that capitalize upon the imbalance, the profit being the difference between the market prices. When used by academics, an arbitrage is a transaction that involves no negative cash flow at any probabilistic or temporal state and a positive cash flow in at least one state; in simple terms, a risk-free profit. A person who engages in arbitrage is called an arbitrageur. The term is mainly applied to trading in financial instruments, such as bonds, stocks, derivatives and currencies.If the market prices do not allow for profitable arbitrage, the prices are said to constitute an arbitrage equilibrium or arbitrage free market. An arbitrage equilibrium is a precondition for a general economic equilibrium.Statistical arbitrage is an imbalance in expected values. A casino has a statistical arbitrage in almost every game of chance that it offers. Sounds pretty intimidating, huh? Its not as heavy duty as it sounds, I promise. Read on: Good examples of arbitrage are: 1. Stock Market - You have heard of “buy low, sell high”, right? The profit is derived from the spread of those values of high and low. Say the stock is selling in two different markets at the same time, one higher than the other. You buy stock at a low price in one market, and you sell at the higher price in another market. The only bad point about this example is the risk inherent in dealing with stocks. Arbitrage does not contain a high amount of risk, as outcomes are predetermined and usually very consistent. 2. Real Estate - Ever heard of “house flipping”? This is where someone comes in and buys a house at a much reduced price, usually a fixer-upper. They invest a certain budget into the house to fix it up. Once completed, they sell the house at or above the market value. Again - the concept of buy low, sell high comes into play here. The profit is derived between the low price of the purchase and the high price of the sale. Are you starting to get the picture here? The more I view the world, the more I see examples of arbitrage I never saw before I started doing this project. It’s really amazing when you think about all the ways that people could be making some really easy money simply leveraging costs and pulling their profits from the difference! The AdSense Arbitrage project that I started on October 16, 2006 was born from approximately one year studying the theory of arbitrage itself. Not necessarily how it applies strictly to AdWords and AdSense, but to the world in general. Examples such as the ones I gave above were the ones that really opened my eyes, because they are real world examples that everyone can relate to in one way or another. I had been studying this as much as possible over the course of the last year, and a few things struck me along the way: 1. While there is plentiful information on the Internet about Arbitrage, there is not a huge amount of it out there about AdSense/AdWords arbitrage. 2. What little I found on AdSense arbitrage was mostly negative, with most people who were writing about it saying that it did not work, you could not make money on this, etc. Very few were saying anything positive about it at all. 3. While you see an Internet marketing guru around every corner in this industry, strangely there were NOT THAT MANY people out there selling arbitrage products or services. A hand full at most, and I would say that in retrospect, half of them probably have no clue as to what they are talking about. Scary, huh? I am here to tell you that AdSense Arbitrage DOES WORK! It works, but it takes work to make it work! Are you are willing to put the work, time, effort and research into it to make it work for you? It works, if you can discipline yourself to MAKE it work according to my business model. It works, if you stick to it. Michael Plante has developed a realistic business model on Adsense Arbitrage. If you wish to find out more about this business methodology, you can sign up for his free newsletter at http://adsenseandarbitrage.net Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Plante http://EzineArticles.com/?Adsense-Arbitrage-and-Leveraging&id=397128 online pharmacy xenical diet pill xenical online prescription xenical buy cheap xenical

Negative Calorie Foods FAQs

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

By P. Mehta What is negative calorie effect? Whatever food we eat, our body has to work hard to digest and absorb. There are certain foods that require more calories to digest than their own calories. The overall effect of these foods in our body is that of using calories from body in the process of digestion. What are negative calorie foods? Negative calorie foods require more calories to digest than their own calories. This results in a negative calorie balance. Give some examples of such foods. There are several foods available in nature with negative calorie properties. Some such foods are asparagus, broccoli, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, carrot, garlic, papaya, spinach, turnip, zucchini, apples, oranges, lettuce, grapefruit, pineapples, strawberries, and raspberries. What is a diet? A diet is a combination of a balanced selection of foods. A good diet is one that includes all majorfood groups. Is a diet with negative calorie foods possible? A diet with negative calorie foods as main ingredients is infact good for weight loss and to control cholesterol. Such a negative calorie diet should include as much negative calorie foods as possible from the list of negative calorie foods.Copyright P. Mehta, http://www.NegativeCalorieFoods.com [You have permission to publish this article in your web sites,ezines or electronic publication, as long as it is used in itsentirety including the resource box, all HTML hyperlinks, references (clickable) and copyright information.] ———————————— For more information on negative calorie foods, negative calorierecipes and diet, visit the web site: Negative Calorie Foods, Negative Calorie Recipes and Diet ———————————— Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=P._Mehta http://EzineArticles.com/?Negative-Calorie-Foods-FAQs&id=27848 where to buy phentermine online buy phentermine pay cod order phentermine online without prescription buy phentermine online cod

Hoodia Patch

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

By Mike Dakin Pick up any newspaper or magazine youll find majority of the vendors are claiming that the so-called hoodia patch will kill your appetite. Furthermore, they also work even better and faster in comparison to any regular hoodia in a capsule, tablet, or liquid. The claim seems to be good but do they really work thats the main question. Hoodia patch generally works by putting it on your skin and then it starts suppressing your appetite in a time-release fashion. It goes into your skin through pores and then gets dissolved into your bloodstream. And the ultimate result is that you are ought to feel less hungry during the day. Ones your hunger is suppressed, automatically youll start to lose unwanted body fat. This idea seems to be good but to be honest only on paper. As till now there are no proofs that the hoodia patch actually works. Till now no clinical test or case study have been done to prove this. Thus, it wise to be cautious and if any vendor dare to claim to have a scientific study or clinical trial that supports the validity of their hoodia patch, such proof then mind you they are fake. They are simply supporting wrong conception just to endorse, promote, and sell the so-called hoodia patch to the unsuspecting public. Very few know that hoodia patch began as the birth control. But since then the fact indicates that such a patch must endure very critical and demanding scientific tests before it is finally approved and given the green light to become available to the general public. Youll be amazed to know that not a single hoodia patch whether online or offline is prescription-driven. This suggests that such diet patches have not undergone scientific clinical trials or testing. The crux is that no vendor has a right to claim that their hoodia patch works more effectively than hoodia capsules, tablets, or in liquid. This means spending thousands of dollars over hoodia patch is nothing but waste of money and also taking risk of your health. Till now not a single scientific backing or documentation has been done from a third party that supports the hoodia patch as an authentic product worthy of being purchased. So the question arises why would you want to risk buying something that might not work at all? Thus, it is wise to save yourself from unnecessary tension and frustrations. So, avoid falling prey to high flying claims of questionable hoodia patches. Instead, consider real hoodia in a capsule, tablet, or liquid. Mike Dakin is an associate editor to the website online-pharmacy.2rx.biz/. The website is committed to provide visitors with complete information on weight loss, obesity and hoodia diet pills. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Dakin http://EzineArticles.com/?Hoodia-Patch&id=285925 levitra information levetra zenegra sildenafil pulmonary hypertension best price in uk for vardenafil 1mexican cialis

Do Not Start A Quilting Business Until You Can Answer This Question!

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

By Michelle Frost Lots of people have a hobby they are truly passionate about. Maybe its writing or perhaps its painting. For thousands of people worldwide, that hobby is quilting. If you are in fact a talented quilter, youve more than likely heard the statementYou should do this as a business. Maybe the thought has even crossed your mind before. However, before you hastily jump into a time consuming and costly endeavor, you have to ask yourself another essential question: Is a home business right for me? Something that many people dont acknowledge is the business mantra: passion is not profit. Just because you really love an activity does not necessarily mean you can make money from it. After all, a quilting business necessarily involves two major aspects. One is quilting and the other is business. If you just want to quilt all day but not deal with the hassle and complications of a serious business, perhaps quilting best remains your hobby. But if you are ready to tackle the added difficulties of day to day business, quilting may just be a lucrative and fulfilling career option. However, there are still a few nuances of a home business that you must ensure work with your lifestyle. Having your business in your home affords you great flexibility, but it can also be frustrating for many people. If you cant effectively separate your work life and your home life, you can quickly become displeased with both. If you think you are willing and able to compartmentalize your life, a home business may be perfect for you. You also need to be honest with yourself about who you are as a businessperson. Are you somebody that can set challenging but realistic goals and stick to them? If you know youre not, a home business might not be the best option for you. Being your own boss can quickly go from dream job to nightmare if you are not self-motivated enough to accomplish anything. The most important thing to remember is that working from home is still working. Just because you dont commute, doesnt mean you can relax all day and turn a profit. Yet if you know you have the talent, the drive and the right personality, your hobby can translate into income with just a little bit of effort. Michelle Frost is a Quilting enthusiast who has been helping Quilters world wide, create an income from their quilting for the last 2 years.. In these 2 years she has taken her little book on starting a quilting business and sold over 1500 copies… Recently “Quilting As A Business : Turning Your Passion To Profit” has been revamped to rave reviews… Michelle now includes business tools, audios and videos in her quilting business package… Go and check it out at http://www-quiltprofits.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Frost http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-Not-Start-A-Quilting-Business-Until-You-Can-Answer-This-Question!&id=358969 generic for ultram cheapest tramadol discount ultram online buy tramadol online without prescription

The Perfect Vehicle

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

By James Stratemeyer Jesus Christ, is Gods sinless and perfect vehicle for the redemption of mankind. The Bible states unequivocally that Jesus was the only sinless man, ever, and He was tempted like man in all ways. Through that one solitary life God offered us His best gift of love, an intimate personality with which we could relate. That one solitary life sealed the blood oath with Abraham, and answered for the sins of all men, because its the one life that God Himself experienced first hand, and it is through that solitary life that we are joined with God, if we choose to be and seek Him out. Most of Gods prophets and servants have been far from sinless perfection. In fact Jonah told God No, Im not gonna do it! (loosely paraphrased), David was an adulterer and murderer, his son and heir Solomon allowed idol worship in Israel, and Rahab was a harlot. These are only the Biblical examples of how God has used His imperfect and occasionally defiant servants. Throughout our relationship with Him, He has used His imperfect vessels to get His message across and His work done. George Muller was a Prussian born philanthropist and minister who lived during the nineteenth century, he moved to England in his twenties and eventually settled in Bristol, he remained in Bristol for the rest of his life. His funeral, over fifty years later, was so massive that it closed down the town. In his troubled youth, George was not the object of such community affection, in fact he spent at least twenty-four days (that we know of) in jail for theft and other charges. His father was apparently a rather successful government official and if it werent for his fathers money and influence he probably would have done a lot more time than he did. At that time in his life George was sixteen and he was a cynical, impatient and ungrateful young man. Apparently he had many of the material advantages that the upper middle class youth of his day could possess, and a trusting father that was willing to pay for him to get an education, but that wasnt good enough for George. Much like young people who get themselves into trouble today, he wanted it all, right now! He didnt have a lot of scruples about just taking what he wanted either. He stole from his friends, his father, his school and his government. He was a liar, a con-artist, and a playboy, and by his own reckoning, a servant of Satan destined to eternal damnation which he didnt believe in so he didnt care. He spent most of his young life in trouble and thinking about ways to get over. His alcohol abuse was so bad that as his own mother lay fighting a losing battle for her life, he was found drunk and staggering around in the streets. He justified his actions and attitude by watching the moral behavior of others, and in comparing himself to others he claimed there was only a difference of degrees. He attended Halle University which had a Divinity College with nine-hundred students in it including George and he claimed that there wasnt nine among all of them worthy to teach morality or divinity to anyone. When George Muller was twenty, something happened to change the course of his life forever. All written accounts relate that it had something to do with a Saturday evening prayer meeting that George attended with one of his old party pals, another Halle University student named Beta. It was at this meeting that George met and fellowshipped with sincere Bible believing Christians for what he claimed was the first time in his life. Also I suspect that George knew that he had reached his bottom and he started to hear the Lord in his conscience calling him to repentance. George found acceptance and understanding at the meeting and he was given a kind and open invitation to return and worship anytime he felt led to do so. Within weeks of that first Saturday evening fellowship George Muller had become a new creature in Christ. He started to hold a Bible study and fellowship of his own at 6 A.M. every morning before his 8 A.M. classes and in the evenings he would pray with anyone he could find and many nights these evening prayers would last until after midnight. As it is with all of us, Jesus led him step by step, George started to understand the importance of meditating on the Scriptures and then the realization came to him that God was calling him to the missionary field. When George told his father what his plans were, his father withdrew his financial support and George was on his own. From that point on, George never relied on another human being for financial support, any need he had he took to God in faith and in secret. He began to keep an accurate account of the petitions that he set before the Lord. His secret prayer journal contained when the Reverend Muller would start to pray for something and when and how the Lord answered his prayer. No one knew of this prayer journal until after his death at ninety-two years old and it was found among his papers. By the end of his long life Reverend Muller, with guidance of the Holy Spirit had started 117 schools that educated over 120,000 children and he had raised and given away more $7,500,000.00. When he died he had less than $300.00 in total personal assets and the orphanage work, that he became so famous for, began with two children that ended up in his care when he had only two schillings in his pocket. The Reverend George Mullers life is an example of what the solitary life of Jesus can do if we have faith and choose to seek His truth, live by His will and for His glory. It doesnt matter what kind of start we had in life or what kind of tangent our lives went off on. If we seek Christ and take him at His word and understand that He is the perfect vehicle of our redemption, the Son of our God, a God of kept promises and miracles, there isnt anything we cant overcome. No obstacle is too big for God, not jail, addiction, depression nor any type of past abuse or neglect that God cant fix if you honestly seek Him and His will for your life. All this is possible for any person just by giving God what He desires from us, but will never take, that is our recognition, love and obedience, pretty much in that order. James Stratemeyer Harford County Christan Jail Ministry (HCCJM) Newsletter, editor.I am freelance writer, editor, poet, cartoonist, commentator, blogger & advocate for the prisoner & the homeless. Contact me by email: straightruth@yahoo.comphone (landline): 410-663-0673 Send voice messages or text messages to: 443-722-1030 Visit my blog: http://www.straightruth.blogspot.comSample work available: poems, commentaries, articles, sketches & short fiction The HCCJM is a non-denominational, Bible based, all volunteer, prison outreach. Ministry website: http://www.hccjm.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Stratemeyer http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Perfect-Vehicle&id=127869 refill prescriptions online online pharmacy no prescription required purchase prescriptions online getting prescriptions online

Amish Quilts - A Dying American Art

Sunday, September 16th, 2007

By Maggie Prichard Amish quilting has been a tradition for more than a century here in rural Pennsylvania. Amish women create quilts, often in groups called quilting bees. This bee affords them the opportunity to gather in a social setting as well as give a rare opportunity to be creative and expressive in a community that frowns on pride and fanciful possessions. Because the quilts are a functional creation for use in the home, the women are permitted to create these amazing pieces of art. They boldly experiment with contrasting colors, exquisite designs, and a variety of geometric shapes to create wonders that please the eye and bring delight to those who appreciate the complexity of the construction. Since the Amish do not have electricity much of the stitching is done by hand or with the aid of a treadle machine. The designs of the quilt are pieced together from pieces of fabric cut into various shapes and then sewn into what will become the top of the quilt. When the top of the quilt is complete, the bottom fabric and batting are added and then quilted together with intricate stitching that form infinite numbers are patterns themselves. The quilt is then bound at the edges. This process can take weeks or even months depending on how many quilters are working on the quilt and how much time is afforded to the project, depending on the season in which it is being created. During harvest time, in addition to their busy household schedules of cooking three large meals, cleaning, raising the children, making the familys clothing, these women are often involved in working along the men to help in the harvest. Today, however, I fear this wonderful tradition is becoming slowly a thing of the past. The young Amish women I have spoken with are becoming more involved in other areas of Amish life. In what I perceive as a type of womens movement in the community, many are learning the trades previously only taught to their young male counterparts. Many are learning carpentry and help their families crafting furniture and cabinetry. Some can be seen driving team of draft horses along with their fathers in the fields. Many are working in their familys stores, keeping books, ringing registers, selling the goods that they have to offer. They do not seem to have the interest in the bees as their mothers and grandmothers did since it seems to be increasingly accepted that they take a more active role in the family businesses. There is also the ever present English world outside their community which offers constant shortcuts to the traditional Amish life. Recently, the big news in our little corner of the world was that a Wal-Mart was being constructed about 10 miles from our little community. When the store opened, I must say I was saddened, but not surprised to see in addition to the vast parking lot, there was a hitching post. What this meant to me was that the retail world was sending a special invitation to these simple folks to come and let us replace your century old traditions with a $69 mass produced factory bedspread. It makes sense for these women to accept this invitation. They have long days filled with countless tasks and here is an opportunity to send less money than they do on fabric and get a completed item and countless hours back! To further my concern about this, I recently met an Amish gentleman at a local quilt sale. We began speaking as we both sell Amish quilts. I was surprised to learn he had traveled here to Lancaster from Ohio to buy quilts. When I inquired about this, as I know Ohio has a substantial Amish community, he replied that they arent making many quilts there and he had better luck coming all the way to my neck of the woods to find them!! How long will it be until this happens in my community! Well, that is all on this subject for now. I will close in saying that if you, the reader, own an Amish quilt, cherish it! You have a treasure that may someday soon become a rare commodity. If you do not, and you love art, find one! Support this artform before it is lost! Maggie Prichard http://www.honeybrookamishquilts.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maggie_Prichard http://EzineArticles.com/?Amish-Quilts—-A-Dying-American-Art&id=57930 buy carisoprodol generic soma keywords soma online purchase soma carisoprodol online purchase soma online

Aromatherapy Candles: Scent of Peace

Saturday, September 15th, 2007

By Tania Penwell A friend of mine named Charlene, who runs an aromatherapy course in Lincoln, Nebraska, told me a story about a young man who had just joined the course and was raring to go because he had read so much about aromatherapy. It was Charlenes practice to light an aromatherapy candle at the beginning of every session and ask the participants what the fragrance reminded them of. As it happened, she was using a lavender candle and asked the young man what he could smell. He took a deep breath, and with a look of great disappointment on his face, said, Room freshener! I never found out what he was expecting, Charlene later told me. With apologies for this initial digression, I think the young man got it at least partially right. Aromatherapy candles are a room freshener par excellence, because they keep a room smelling exquisite for hours together. However, what makes them even better is that they have therapeutic effects on the mind and body. Why is that? Well, aromatherapy candles are made of wax laced with essential oils from certain aromatic plants, so that as the wax melts, the molecules of the plant extract are diffused into the environment, thus creating a heavenly fragrance. So which are the plants from which aromatherapy candles draw their fragrances? The answer is not exactly straightforward, since any or more than one part of a particular plant may be the source of the fragrance. But that minor complication apart, lavender is the most popular oil when it comes to aromatherapy candles. That does not mean you dont have a wide enough choice, given the speed with which the popularity of aromatherapy is increasing. According to aromatherapy practitioners like Charlene, there are candles to suit all moods. So if you are suffering from insomnia, light sage, chamomile, and ylang ylang candles next to your bath. Those suffering from depression should try rosemary and grapefruit aromatherapy candles, while all-purpose aromatherapy candles contain extracts of sandalwood, eucalyptus, geranium, peppermint, and many other plants. However, you may very well find that reactions vary from person to person, so it is best not to generalize if you are using a candle for therapy. Consult an expert first. In addition to aromas, these candles are also available in a vast array of shapes and sizes. So you can go for a floating, pillar, gel, votive or jar candle. In addition, if you feel up to it, you can prepare a personalized aromatherapy candle at home by mixing and matching several aromas. To get you started, try a blend of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. An alternative could be a refreshing and stimulating mix of peppermint, lemon, and rosemary. Dont forget to write in with the results! Tania Penwell is a professional author who provides information on aromatherapy candles and aromatherapy products for Candles-4-U.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tania_Penwell http://EzineArticles.com/?Aromatherapy-Candles:-Scent-of-Peace&id=234343 finasteride prescription online purchase finasteride cheap online buy propecia online usa buy propecia online pharmacy propecia online physician consultant