How to Build Muscles with Body Building Diets

Are you trying to get buff this summer? Okay, first of all, let me inform you that this can indeed be a process.

Don't expect to hit the gym a few times and see some significant results. For some odd reason this always bothers me. People go to the gym for a mere week and expect to be ripped like Van Dam. That's just nonsense. However, with the right weight training program and the correct body building diets, you can see a great difference in a couple of months. You see, it's all about how hard you train and how well you eat. If you are one of those folks who consume fast food twice a day, you'd better get ready to make some drastic changes. This will sadly get you nowhere. In order to get stacked you'll need to start one of the many recommended body building diets. I'm talking about a lot of protein, vitamins and minerals, but hardly any fat, sugar, and salt. Remember, you truly are what you eat. Just take a gander at the American population.

Are you currently searching for decent body building diets? These are easy to come by in this super age of technology and cyberspace. I too was looking to gain muscle a few months back. Although I'm not looking to acquire a body builder physique by any means, I do prefer some decent muscle mass. My first thought when it came to body building diets and weight training regimes was to hop online. I knew that the World-Wide-Web would have much to offer. After about an hour of surfing and reading, I had come to the conclusion that Whey protein is the bomb right now. We're talking it's all the rage in the body building circuits. Therefore I decided to weigh the options at hand. Because when it comes to contemporary whey protein, there are many products to choose from. In the end I purchased a whey protein mix from Wal-Mart. Go figure! Anyway, this nuance to the modern-day body building diets is basically an all-natural source of high quality protein. You can get a whopping 26 grams of it with one 8 ounce glass of milk. That's a hefty dose of the muscle building stuff if you ask me. Do this three times a day in addition to your weight training and you should surely see results soon. Now, when it comes to body building diets, you can't disregard you regular three meals. Make sure you consume healthy meals containing all of your daily vitamins. The collaboration of health food and whey protein is a sure win. It's time to get pumped.

Coin Values - How Much Is Your Coin Worth?

One of the most enjoyable parts of coin collecting is learning about coin values. After all, as enjoyable as coin collecting is on its own, seeing the investment potential of a coin collection is also enjoyable. Besides, when you can see your coins increase in value, it makes your hobby feel functional. And, when you can see how many coins your current coins are worth, it is a self-expanding hobby. However, to enjoy this aspect of coin collecting, you are going to need a way to look up coin values.

One of the best places to go for coin values is to a coin dealer. These people are experts in their field and they are likely to stay abreast of prices, auctions, information and news related to coin collecting. And, because they are probably coin collectors themselves, you can sit down with them and discuss coins and how you can improve your collection. And, because dealers buy and sell coins, they can help you sell your coins if and when you want to sell portions of your collection; by either buying the coins directly or connecting you to other buyers they are familiar with.

Another method for determining coin values is through coin blue books. There are several books out there that contain complete lists of almost every coin ever struck and their current values. These books come out every year and they list the market value of coins by year, minting location and condition, as well as any other pertinent information that may affect market value. However, their information is fixed once they are published and, in some cases, the information is already out of date by the time the book hits the stands. But they will, at the very least, give a good idea of how much your coins are worth. 

The Internet is also a very good source of information, thanks to several sites that offer lists of coin values. Many of the sites are very up-to-date and stay close to new developments, though it depends on the particular site. Unfortunately, since many things on the Internet are not always reliable, it is best to check a few sites in order to ensure that the information is correct. By looking at a few different sites, you can get averages of several sources and avoid getting bad information from one site that is neglecting to update.

Of course, coin values are not just arbitrary numbers. In fact, the value of a coin is actually the amount that someone would expect to receive upon selling a coin. Which means that it is, essentially, how much someone should be willing to pay for a given coin. So, if you want to figure out what a coin is worth, you should see what people are paying for it. With all the auction sites and coin sale sites out there, you can find the information you need just by researching what other people are asking or paying for a particular coin.

Finding coin values takes a little effort and diligence, but it is certainly worthwhile. It allows you to find out what your collection has been doing for you and it lets you determine how well you have chosen the coins that have gone into your collection. And that has a lot to do with the fact that coin values also determine how many other people want exactly what you have sitting in front of you.

iPaq Software Brings the Pocket PC to Life

The iPAQ software brings the essential functionality to Hewlett Packard PDAs or pocket PCs. It is what let's PDA users send and receive text messages. These are composed of Microsoft Word Mobile files and the preparation of Microsoft Excel Mobile charts. The iPaq users can also browse Microsoft PowerPoint presentations; they just can't edit or make them on their pocket PCs

This software also makes it possible to: retrieve e-mail, keep track of appointments and schedules and even surf the Internet. There are even capabilities to enables users to track sales and check inventory.

With the iPaq software you can also download third-party software like e-books, games, maps or business software. This truly makes the IPaq a valuable source of information. The iPAQ uses the Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition to perform these powerful and varied functions. Much more than the earlier versions.

The HP iPaq rx1950, which is the latest in the iPAQ series, incorporates the latest Windows Mobile 5 operating system, which is even more powerful. It includes updates of Word, Outlook, Excel, Internet Explorer, and PowerPoint files. Further, the OS comes with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile and can play all the major audio and video file formats, including MP3, WMA, and WMV.

Besides Windows Mobile software, the iPAQ also use HP's Image Zone software. This software is used to display images and set up slide shows. HP also provides HP Protect Tools to protect data stored on the iPAQ with a password or a PIN number.  The other software that HP provides is Task Switcher, iPAQ Audio, and a couple of games.

Need a travel guide? The iPAQ GPS software is can be installed on iPAQs that have GPS hardware. This software turns iPAQ into your own handheld travel guides. IPAQ users can navigate roads like a just like a local in all parts of the US and Canada. The software not only shows the shortest route to reach a destination but also keeps informing the user of the distance left and the estimated time of arrival. It even re-routes the user if a turn is missed.

Yesterday's PDAs ere just organizational tools but today's iPAQ can perform scores of tasks beyond keeping schedules, appointments and tracking expenses. Things that were just a dream a few years ago have become a reality today, thanks to having the right kind of software.

Speech Therapy for Children Who Stutter

Do you have a stutter? Does one of your children have a stutter? Do you know somebody who has a stutter? This article is all about the speech impediment known as stuttering or stammering. It includes information about stuttering and also treatments which are available to help people who stutter to achieve fluency.

Stuttering is a much larger problem than many people think. Latest research suggests that as many as one percent of the population of the UK has a stuttering problem and that around eighty percent of these people are male.

I had a stutter for eighteen years. I have been informed that I started stuttering when I was only four years of age. I regularly attended speech therapy over the next fourteen years before deciding that it was unlikely to ever help me to achieve fluency.

The stutter was one huge frustration for me as at times I could talk very well. Certain situations such as when I felt under pressure or when I was very tired, was when speaking fluently became very hard for me. I had a number of words which I believed that I was unable to say and would often fear these types of sounds. I would go to great lengths to avoid having to say them, which was not that easy at times.

Some people I have met have become extremely good at hiding their own stutter. They have stated that most of the people that they know are not even aware that they have a speech impediment.

Other people are not able to hide their stutter in this way and will have what is perceived to be a much more severe stutter.  There are a number of treatments for stuttering including the normal route of speech therapy via the local doctor or hospital. Many people who stutter find this form of therapy very frustrating as there are often long waiting lists, and the sessions are normally quite short and irregular.

There is also private therapy in the form of people who have managed to overcome their own stutter. This can be on a one-to-one basis or in a group situation.  Other people attempt to seek help via hypnotherapy or confidence based courses.

I managed to overcome my own stutter after a lot of hard work and practice. It was not easy by any stretch of the imagination; however the results have totally transformed my life. I have now enjoyed speaking fluently for the last ten years.

I have met many people who stutter in that time and have been amazed to hear some of the stories of how they started to stutter. Contrary to popular belief it does not just originate in childhood but can start at any age. A traumatic event can at times trigger the start of a stutter problem in people as can certain forms of abuse.

If you have a stutter do not despair, help is available and fluency can be achieved if you have the right attitude and are willing to work hard to kill off your stuttering demons.

Resume Writing Hot Tips!

Most job seekers have the same problem when writing their resumes: they feel overwhelmed when it comes to presenting themselves in such a concise format. If you're suffering from this problem, you might want to work with a partner, a friend, a fellow job hunter, a counselor, or a professional resume writer, someone who can ask you probing questions and provide objectivity.

Gather and Check All Necessary Information - Learn to write a resume by writing down information under headings. Write your resume example that embraces your education; experience; honors; skills and activities and make a list of your training and education relating to your job choice.

Match Your Skills and Experience with an Employer's Needs - Choose a target job/title that works best and write a good resume by matching your wishes with positions that are actually available.

Highlight Details That Demonstrate Your Capabilities - Learn to write a good resume by selecting details of your information that best matches the employer's needs. Results need to benefit your employer and make you a viable candidate for the target job.

Organize the Resume Effectively - You write a resume by organizing your Personal information followed by a Summary of key points, Education, Experience, Honors and Activities. Write a good resume chronologically listing primary jobs held, including unpaid work that fills a gap or that shows you have the skills for the job. Write your resume example and compare with other like-positions resumes and create a draft based on the resume format you choose. References are a separate entity and may not be included, but always have solid reference available if requested.<

Consider Word Choice Carefully - You write a resume that accurately describes you – your skills, talents and expertise. Write a good resume by utilizing active verbs (in many forms) such as achieve, analyze, adapt. Learn to write a resume that describes you positively and accurately. Write a good resume using adjectives and nouns such as analytical, resourceful, capable.

Ask Other People to Comment on Your Resume - We at Houston Job Search will help you write resume and then we will critique it. Remain open-minded when you write a resume and with our constructive criticism, the final resume will achieve its objective. Ask your friends and trusted colleagues to review and critique your resume.

Make the Final Product Presentable - A resume should be printed on a high quality (24 lbs stock or more) paper using a laser printer. We at Houston Job Search can provide the resources.

Use dynamic action verbs such as: accomplished, collaborated, encouraged, established, facilitated, founded, managed, etc. Do NOT use the subject I, use tenses in the past.

Home Internet Options: The War between DSL and Cable

If you are still using dial-up, you have probably gotten either the "You don't use DSL yet?" or the "You don't use cable yet?" expressions of credulity. So you've decided that it's probably time to get off of dial-up – yet, the question remains: which is better, DSL or cable? There are advertisements arguing the perks of both, but which will really get you more bang for your buck?

The three issues to take into account when comparing DSL and cable Internet connection are speed, customer satisfaction and security.

Theoretically, cable modems run faster than DSL because they offer more bandwith. There is also a form of DSL called VDSL which can match the speed of a cable modem. However, the speed of cable is relative to the number of people in your area who are accessing the neighborhood at the same time. 

One popular commercial compares cable modems to drinking out of a straw – the straw is fine, if one person is drinking from it. But if the straw must be shared – well, obviously things slow down a little. Both DSL and cable also vary in speed by the minute depending on the congestion caused by multiple users.

Customer service surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Associates in 2004 showed that DSL had an edge over cable in customer satisfaction ratings. This survey looked at billing, the provider's business image, cost and tech support, and email services. Earth link and Verizon, both DSL, was the top two service providers rated in the survey.

Since cable modems necessitate the sharing of a cable line to provide service to the entire neighborhood, DSL is slightly more secure. However, cable modems are easier to install, and many sources believe that the difference in security is not significant enough to go through the trouble of installing DSL. Many cable customers avoid security problems by putting up firewalls in order to protect themselves, and their information.

Cisco CCNA Certification: The (Many) Different Kinds of Switching

When you're studying for your CCNA exam, whether you're taking the Intro-ICND path or the single-exam path, you're quickly introduced to the fact that switching occurs at Layer 2 of the OSI model. No problem there, but then other terms involving switching are thrown in, and some of them can be more than a little confusing. What is "cell switching"? What is "circuit switching"? Most confusing of all, how can you have "packet switching"? Packets are found at Layer 3, but switching occurs at Layer 2. How can packets be switched?

Relax! As you'll see in this article, the terms aren't that hard to keep straight. Packet switching, for example, describes a protocol that divides a message into packets before they're sent. The packets are then sent individually, and may take different paths to the same destination. Once the packets arrive at the final destination, they are reassembled.

Frame switching follows the same process, but at a different layer of the OSI model. When the protocol runs at Layer 2 rather than Layer 3, the process is referred to as frame switching.

Cell switching also does much the same thing, but as the name implies, the device in use is a cell switch. Cell-switched packets are fixed in length. ATM is a popular cell-switching technology.

The process of circuit switching is just a bit different, in that the process of setting up the circuit itself is part of the process. The channel is set up between two parties, data is transmitted, and the channel is then torn down. The circuit-switching technology most familiar to CCNA candidates is ISDN.

Don't let these terms confuse you. The four different terms are describing much the same process. The main difference is that they are occurring at different levels of the OSI model, and using a different transport method to get the data where it needs to go.

Olive Oil, an Ancient Gift for Health

Scientists are always looking to plants to find medicinal and therapeutic secrets. Discoveries of natural compounds within the olive tree and olives provide promising health and medical benefits. Organic olive oil has significant health related properties that have spanned centuries and cultures in the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean olive dates back 6000 years and was native to Iran, Syria and Palestine (Asia Minor). From there it spread to the Mediterranean basin. It is one of the earliest known cultivated trees. According to the Bible, an olive leaf was that which a dove brought back to Noah, as an indication the great flood waters were abating.

The olive tree thrives best in a sunny position and climate. Rocky subsoil suits it well. The trunk is knotty, hard, and gnarled, the bark smooth and ash colored. Olive wood is valuable for its durability and is crafted into many items such as gourmet cooking utensils. The olive tree experiences slow growth, but it lives very long. It is reported that the olive trees on Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, are over 2000 years old. It is commonly believed the Bible passage of "the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine," refers to the olive tree. 

Olive leaves are silver grey-green, and possesses the health qualities of "olive leaf extract" which is pressed from them. Extracted from olive leaves is a bitter substance named oleuropein. In the 1960's researchers reported that oleuropein lowered blood pressure in animals, this caused immediate medicinal interest in the olive leaf. There are new studies that indicate olive leaf extract may be a natural preventative against the common cold and flu.

The olive is believed to be a source of wealth for the Minoan Kingdom. Egyptians tombs dating back as far as 2000 BC have been proved to contain olives. The Greeks spread the usage of olives to the Romans who, in turn, spread it across their vast empire. The use of olive oil has been advocated by many religions and cultures. The early Greek Kings were anointed with olive oil. It was also used to anoint winning Olympic athletes. Across many cultures, olive oil is recognized for healthy benefits for both the inner and outward body.

Some research indicates extra-virgin olive oil is the most digestible of the edible fats. Olive oil also it helps to assimilate vitamins A, D and K in the human body. Benefits of consuming olive oil include slowing down the aging process and helps liver, bile, and intestinal functions. Olive oil is valued for its culinary attributes and organoleptic virtues, these being: flavor, bouquet or aroma, and color.

Various grades of olive oil are derived from the time of pressing. Earlier pressings are regarded as better quality. Cold pressed olive oil is a pressing process requiring no heat or chemicals, which destroy vital nutrients. This olive oil is generally the best to use for cooking and healthy cuisine.

Olive oil has been extensively used in cooking and forms an integral part of the basic Mediterranean diet. It is a healthier substitute to butter. Strong and pungent flavored olive oils are great for frying fish or other items having a strong flavor. Extra virgin olive oil goes well with salads. A late harvest mission variety olive oil, which is mellow, can be used for baking cakes. 

Gourmet olive oil is a healthier and tastier substitute to other fatty cooking oils. The health benefits of cold pressed olive oil already have federal agency approval. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized marketing ads that say organic olive oil helps reduce the risk of coronary disease and disorders.

Given below is a simple recipe for olive oil bread dipping sauce.

Bread Dipping Sauce
Servings : 2 - 4
Preparation time : 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• ½ cup virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced (Italian parsley is best)
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced
• ½ teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed well
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• Salt, to taste

Method:

Heat the olive oil in a pan. Add the garlic and saute till it changes color. Add all the other ingredients and cook for about 2 – 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Serve as a bread dip.

Router - How It Works

If you've been brought up in the 21st century then you probably take a lot of things for granted that 30 years ago people just didn't have. One of those things is the Internet and its ability to be able to connect people from all over the world and allow them to interact with each other in a variety of ways including sending email, visiting web sites, joining forums, attending online chats and countless other things. But none of this would be possible if it weren't for a device that most people have never seen and probably don't even know exist, called a router.

Routers are pieces of equipment that send messages from everyone connected to the network along thousands of different pathways. We're going to take a behind the scenes look at exactly how these routers work.

Let's say you're sending an email to a friend of yours who is living across country or even in another part of the world. How does the email know to end up on your friend's computer instead of all the other millions of computers all over the world? A good part of the work to get these messages from one computer to another is handled by routers. Rather than pass messages within networks, routers pass messages from one network to another.

To get an idea of how this works, let's take a very simple example.

Let's say you have two departments. Department A with 5 employees and Department B with 5 employees. Let's say that Employee 1 from Department A wants to send an email to Employee 3 at Department B. Each department is part of its own network of computers. A router links the two networks together so that they can communicate with each other. 

It is the only piece of equipment that sees both networks. Many people ask, why not just make one network? The simple answer is that if the two departments do two completely different jobs for the company and send massive amounts of info within the department, you don't want to slow down the other department with the one department's info. To ease what they call the "traffic burden" the two departments are separated into two networks with a router put between them to connect them just in case they do want to communicate for some reason.

The way the router knows what to send where is with what is called a configuration table. These configuration table consists of info on which connections lead to which addresses, priorities for each connection, and rules for how to handle the passing of info between networks. The router then has two basic jobs. The main task is to make sure that information doesn't go where it's not needed so that the volume of data doesn't clog up the network and the next task is to make sure the information goes to where it's supposed to go.

To simplify how this happens, the router looks at the destination address of each packet sent from the source location. It checks its table to see where this address is and sends each packet to that address, bypassing all the other addresses in the network so as not to slow the network down.

In future articles we'll take a more in depth and technical look at how packets are actually routed. Get on your thinking gear for this one.

Roses 101: When to Send Them & Why

  

Roses are perfect for any occasion because they are classic and they smell just as terrific as they look. Whether you opt for real or silk roses, the lucky recipient is sure to be happy. Below are some common uses for roses:

$ Valentine's Day. Because the classic red rose is a symbol of passion, it is undeniably the most popular floral arrangement to be given on a holiday that is all about love. On Valentine's Day, florists find themselves delivering countless orders of roses to all who are lucky enough to have found love.

$ Wedding bouquet. Speaking of love, there is no better day to celebrate it than on a wedding day. Many brides prefer to carry a bouquet draped with roses because of their classic beauty and elegance.

$ Prom corsage and boutonniere. Every high school student looks forward to their prom and, as such, they are responsible for selecting a flower for their date. The gentleman will select a corsage, either wrist or pinned, that will feature a rose and ribbons to coordinate with their date's dress. The young ladies will select a rose boutonniere for their date, which will commonly feature a simple rose bloom with an accent of babies breath.

$ Mother's Day. Every woman loves roses and this is especially true of moms on Mother's Day, which is the perfect day to remind her how much she means to you with a beautiful bouquet of roses or a vase filled with a beautiful arrangement and accented with a red bow.

$ Anniversary. Whether it's your anniversary, your friends or family, roses are the perfect gift to celebrate this happy occasion.

$ Congratulatory messages for a new birth, graduation, new business or other milestone. Nothing says congratulations quite as well as roses do.

$ Show of appreciation. If someone has been especially kind, helped you through a difficult situation or simply offered you encouragement when you needed it the most, roses are the perfect way to say 'thank you' and offer a thoughtful way of showing your appreciation.

Just as there are many different occasions for which roses are appropriate, there are a number of variations in their color. The most classic rose color is red, but these slender beauties are also grown in white, pink, peach, yellow, etc. An arrangement of roses is usually prepared with babies breath, which is a white decorative addition that adds the perfect contrast and brings out the brightness of the rose. If you are looking for a classic way to show you care, roses are just the ticket.

9 Tips for Handling Public Speaking Questions

How you handle questions from an audience can often be the deciding factor as to how your presentation is received. If you're pitching for business, then it's absolutely vital to handle questions well.

1. Be prepared for questions - When you write your presentation, think about what you're likely to be asked and what your answer is going to be. Maybe you won't want to answer a particular question there and then, so think about what you'll say to satisfy the questioner.

2. Make it clear at the start - You may decide to take questions as you go or at the end of your presentation. Whatever you decide, make it clear at the start and don't change your mind. I would suggest questions at the end in a short presentation; if you take questions as you go, then your timing will get knocked out. And always remember, an audience won't forgive you for taking half an hour when you were only scheduled to speak for fifteen minutes.

3. Never finish with questions - Far better to ask for questions five or ten minutes before the end, deal with the questions and then summaries for a strong finish. Too many presentations finish on questions and the whole thing goes a bit flat - particularly if you don't get any.

4. Listen - When asked a question, listen and look like your listening. It may be something you've heard a million times before. Treat the questioner with respect and don't trivialize their point.

5. Thank the questioner - It's only polite, it shows respect and it gives you a bit more time to consider your answer.

6. Repeat the essence of the question - Some people may not have heard the question so your answer may not make any sense to them. It can also be irritating for them not to hear the question. Again, it gives you more time to think of the answer and it makes you look so clever and in control.

7. Answer to everyone - Don't fall into the trap of only answering the questioner. If they happen to be near the front then you could end up having a conversation with them and exclude everyone else.

8. Keep it simple - Many speakers, when it comes to questions, have become more relaxed and the fact that someone is interested enough to ask them a question, leads them to go on too long with the answer - DON'T.

9. Don't bluff or bluster - If you don't know the answer to a question, say so and find out. Suggest to the questioner that you'll 'phone them or come and see them with the answer. It can even be a good way to make further contact after the presentation.

As we all know, it's possible that you may not be asked any questions and you then have that awkward silence. People may be thinking about what you've just said and may need more time to ask. They may also be a bit shy and may take a few minutes to speak out. Why not have a question of your own prepared and say something like. "You may be asking yourself.........?" If you still fail to get any questions then go straight into your summary and closing statement.

Handling a question and answer session well, demonstrates your professionalism and reflects on your message.

Cholesterol Types

Cholesterol is a blood fat needed by the body in moderate amounts. However, high cholesterol (http://www.vasacor.com/) levels can lead to atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). Angina is chest pain caused by the restriction of blood flow to the heart (cardiac ischemia). Nitrates may be used to relieve angina. 

Most people will have cholesterol blood tests regularly, including triglycerides, HDL (http://www.cholesterol-reduction.org/treatment/increasing-good-cholesterol.html), LDL and total cholesterol. Methods for increasing good cholesterol or lowering cholesterol levels (http://www.cholesterol-reduction.org/cholesterol/cholesterol-levels.html) may include cholesterol reducing drugs, such as stains, fib rates, niacin (nicotine acid) and bile acid resins.

However, these drugs do not reverse calcification. A heart attack occurs when the coronary arteries become blocked. Cholesterol has many types. The two big components are called LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). And simplistically, we talk about the LDL being the bad cholesterol and the HDL being the good cholesterol. 

That means that the bad cholesterol tends to accumulate in the arteries, tends to form plaques, tends to be the precursor to what eventually might end up being a heart attack.  The good cholesterol actually acts in part in reversing the cholesterol transport, takes cholesterol out of the plaque in the artery and may return it to the circulation, to the liver, to be excreted. So these are the two major categories, but within each one there are different particles, different cholesterol's, different lipoproteins that carry the cholesterol, and they are differentially difficult players. 

Some of the LDL cholesterol, i.e., the bad cholesterol, is worse than others. And it tends to be the small particle size that is very dense. You can think of the cholesterol particles as marbles, maybe, the small dense ones, and the larger, lighter ones might be ping-pong balls. And so the small marble ones are more dangerous. 

On the other side, HDL the good cholesterol possesses some components that are better than the others. So cholesterol is quite a complicated subject, and we're developing more and more therapies that aim not just at the total cholesterol, but in altering the good and the bad.

The Business of Publishing

Congratulations, you're published! But what exactly does it mean to be "published"? Besides the fact that your work is finally in print and your college alumni has asked to interview you for their newsletter it also means fame and fortune, right? Well, OK, maybe not on the level of J. K. Rowling, but at the very least you can expect a call from Oprah, right? I hate to be the one to break it to you but you're probably not even on her radar screen. The truth about publishing is really stranger than fiction and the truth is: getting published is only half the battle. The other half is to keep your reality check in balance so it doesn't bounce.

While publishing is all about creative expression, it's also about business and it's those business savvy authors who will succeed in the end. Now you don't have to be an MBA to be a keen business person, you simply have to understand that the choices you make relative to your books future should be based on strategies that will enhance sales not just drain your pocketbook. So, how do you do this? First, take a long, hard look at your reader.

At Author Marketing Experts, we always create a reader profile for each book we promote. This reader profile will tell us where to find buyers for the books we represent. Taking this first step helps us sort through our choices when it comes to book promotion and make decisions on behalf of our authors that are sound and will help leverage sales.
There are times when it's a waste of resources to do a nationwide radio or TV promotion. In fact, some of our programs don't include any outreach to broadcast media. Why? Because as alluring as it might seem to appear on the Today Show, what's the point if your audience doesn't watch morning TV? And, if your audience isn't watching this show, the chances are slim they'll even consider you anyway. What? More rejection? Who needs it!

As you embark on or continue your campaign, ask yourself a few tough questions. First, what's your ultimate goal for this book? If it's just to give away at family reunions, that's great! But then you'll probably want to nix any marketing. If your book is an arm of your business and you have speaking engagements lined up through the end of the year. You probably don't need to spend a lot on marketing since most of your sales will come from your speaking engagements (i.e. back of the room sales). On the other hand, if you wrote this book to grow your business or to leverage your credibility then you will probably want to dial yourself into your industry through enhanced media exposure.

For fiction authors this area becomes a little tricky. First, you need to determine your long term goals. By long term we mean: do you want to stay in this business or was this book just "something you wanted to do." If it's a hobby, then treat it as such but if this is going to be your career, then you need to keep your message out there on a continual basis, through venues such as author events, talks, signings, print and broadcast media.

Make sure the choices you make, make sense for your book and aren't just made because you've always dream t of being on Oprah. I've known authors lured into inappropriate marketing plans by big, flashy names and promises of stardom, wasting thousands of valuable marketing dollars and heading in a direction that wasn't right for them. If you're serious about your work, ready to let go of your muse and face the task at hand with some business savvy, then you're really ready to get published. Below are some guidelines that will help further your success!<

1) Reader profile: create one of these at the beginning of your marketing campaign and keep refining it as you move through the process. Refine and redefine who and where your audience is and how to get to them. 


2) Time commitment: determine what you can and can't reasonably do. If you have a full time job it probably doesn't make a lot of sense to commit yourself to forty hours of marketing a week unless your boss is on vacation. 


3) Investment: how much are you willing to invest in your future? Are you willing to invest money without seeing much in return knowing that you are building a foundation or do you want to see immediate monetary results? Most authors don't see a return on their investment for a year or more. Are you committed enough to yourself or your project to keep this investment going? 


4) Reality check: what's realistic for the industry you're in? Are you latching onto a fad or something with more longevity? Are you getting into a brand new market that will require lots of reader education? Or are you trying to go mainstream with a non-mainstream topic? While this is an admirable goal, it can be like swimming upstream.


5) Budget: while we encourage authors to invest in their future, we've also seen a number of people go into heavy debt, quit their jobs and even sell their homes just to promote their book. While that kind of dedication is certainly admirable, remember that although you have the potential to make a great deal of money it's not going to be overnight. The lure here is of course that "If I stick with it, this next sale will make me famous." Well, maybe or maybe not. If you've been plugging away for a while without any significant success get a professional to give you some honest, constructive feedback about your plan, your market, and your book. It might be that a poorly designed cover is the reason you're not making sales, or a topic that's fallen off of the public's radar screen. In the meantime as you're waiting to hit the big time you'll still need a place to sleep and Uncle Vinnie's couch will get old real quick. 


6) Burnout: we hear this term often, even to the point of being overused. What we're really talking about here is author burnout. We've found that the average author only markets their book for ninety days. That means ninety days of day and night marketing, radio interviews at 3am and a book signing every weekend. On day ninety-one they are so tired, so discouraged and so broke they quit. You can avoid this by giving yourself realistic goals and a realistic time frame in which to complete them. There's nothing in the world like seeing your book in print. If approached realistically, objectively and with sound business sense, it can be one of the most exciting times in your life.

You Only Need 51 percent Belief to Begin Attracting

I've seen too many people 'beat themselves up' as they learn about the Law of Attraction and begin to apply it in their lives. Why are they so hard on themselves? Because when their desire doesn't materialize in a few days, they think they aren't doing it right or they don't believe enough. They are under the impression that in order to receive, they must have 100% belief--no doubt at all. And so they try to convince themselves, and the Universe, that they DO have 100% belief--when, in their heart, they don't.

Here's good news! You don't need 100% belief, just 51% to start the process of receiving all your goals, desires and hopes whatever you want in life will start to become your reality. Just believe that it's possible for you to have what you've asked for. All you need to do is tip the scales slightly and you will begin to notice small (or big) evidence that your desire is on its way.

As you stay in the mind-set of possibility, possibility grows into probability. Probability grows into belief and belief grows into certainty. Certainty is the opposite of doubt.

Here's a true story I received this week from Tony, a coaching client:

"Since learning about the Law of Attraction, I have discovered that there are times when I cannot BE the way I'd like to be. This week, I found myself in an impossible situation and I remembered what you said: 'Instead of starting from a place of certainty, 100% guarantee, start with it's possible.'
We visited friends in another state this weekend. On our return flight, airport security was so tight, we actually missed our flight by four minutes (we arrived at our gate--literally the farthest gate in the airport-- with six minutes to spare, but they close the aircraft ten minutes before departure and do not open it for anyone). We were put on the standby list for the next flight, which was full. Every flight after that next one was full, and it was important that we get back to go to work Monday--we both have full schedules, and staying another night was less than ideal.

I couldn't bring myself to believe that we were going to get on that next flight as 'Standby.' My wife was still freaking out that we missed our previous flight, we had run out of baby food, and my son was getting cranky for a nap.

I could not bring myself to believe we were getting on that flight, but I kept thinking 'it's possible.' The next thing I know, one of the flight attendants took a fancy to my son, and started chatting with my wife, and before you knows it, we have--literally--the last two seats on the aircraft, and she arranged it so they were together, and we had a window. (Our son sat on our lap.)

It's still hard to believe I 'vibrated' us onto that aircraft, but I did keep it open as a possibility. So you were right, I only had to believe by 51%. Thank you, Rebecca!"
Tony G., New York

Think about all the times you HAVE received something when you still had doubts about it. What is your desire today? Has anyone else every received what you desire? If so, then is it possible that you can have it too?

If you can believe...You will receive.

Laser Hair Removal: Know the Provider Qualifications

Laser hair removal is a fast-growing procedure that's helping thousands of people get rid of unwanted hair. The latest procedure uses intended pulsed light (IPL) to destroy hair follicles and prevent the growth of follicles and hair for an extended period of time. Laser hair removal has been so popular because of its preciseness and success rates. If you're considering laser hair removal, your first step is to find someone who's qualified to perform the procedure. It's important that they be qualified and experienced to provide a high-quality procedure.

Finding Laser Hair Removal Specialists

Locating your laser hair removal specialist is not difficult. Make sure he or she is Board Certified in Dermatology. If more than one specialist is working at the office, find out if each is certified. If another member of the doctor's staff will be performing the procedure, that person should be a registered nurse or licensed physician to ensure proper care and use of the laser equipment. The facility where your procedure will be performed should be clean and professional. Ask for a tour of the facility and where your procedure will take place if possible. Take special care in choosing your specialist because laser hair removal is a medical procedure, and should be treated as such.

State Requirements for Laser Hair Removal

Each state varies in how laser hair removal can be performed. You'll need to know what your state requires and make sure your specialist understands this as well. The state requirements are broken down into four categories. Each category specifies how and by whom the procedure can be performed within that particular state. A brief explanation of each category is below.

1) Physician Only: A medical doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) must actually fire the laser. Then, the doctor may ask a PA, RN or other licensed professional to use laser during the hair removal procedure.

2) Direct: The laser can be fired by a medical or non-medical professional (according to the state's requirements), but the professional must remain under the direct supervision of the MD or DO, and also use the license and practice of the doctor.

3) Supervision: A medical or non-medical professional can fire the laser and perform the procedure under the supervision of a MD or DO. Depending on the state, the physician might or might not be present when the laser hair removal procedure is performed.

4) N/A: The state has no official requirements for laser hair removal procedures.

*Below is a list of states and their general requirements for based on the four above definitions. Check within your own state, however, to obtain more detailed requirements.

Alabama: Direct
Alaska: Supervision
Arizona: Supervision
Arkansas: Supervision
California: Direct
Colorado: Supervision
Connecticut: Direct
Delaware: Physician Only
Florida: Supervision
Georgia: Supervision
Hawaii: Physician Only
Idaho: Supervision
Illinois: Supervision
Indiana: Physician Only
Iowa: Supervision
Kansas: Supervision
Kentucky: Supervision
Louisiana: Supervision
Maine: Physician Only
Maryland: Physician Only
Massachusetts: Direct
Michigan: Supervision
Minnesota: Supervision
Mississippi: Supervision
Missouri: Supervision
Montana: Physician Only
Nebraska: Direct
Nevada: Supervision
New Hampshire: Physician Only
New Jersey: Physician Only
New Mexico: Physician Only
New York: N/A
North Carolina: Supervision
North Dakota: Direct
Ohio: Supervision
Oklahoma: Direct
Oregon: Supervision
Pennsylvania: Direct
Rhode Island: Supervision
South Carolina: Direct
South Dakota: Supervision
Tennessee: N/A
Texas: Supervision
Utah: Direct
Vermont: Supervision
Virginia: Direct
Washington: Supervision
West Virginia: Supervision
Wisconsin: Supervision
Wyoming: Supervision

*State requirements as shown at the Web site of Rocky Mountain Laser College of Denver, Colorado.

Laser hair removal can be a simple, pleasant process if you find the right doctor. You can usually locate professionals in your local telephone directory, online or by consulting with your own family doctor. If you take the time to locate a doctor that's right for you, you'll be more satisfied with your results. You can see that unwanted hair disappear in no time!

What's The Opposite Of Doubt?

The Law of Attraction teaches us that whatever you focus on, you will attract MORE of into your life--whether it's wanted or unwanted. To deliberately attract more of what you enjoy, you need do only three things:

Be very clear about what you want--write it down, find the precise words that describe your desire.
Become a vibrational match for what you want--speak only in the most positive way about your desire and remember the three phrases that will raise your vibration faster:
I am in the process of attracting...
The Universe is in the process of lining every thing up so I can attract...
I LOVE it when...
Allow the Law of Attraction to deliver! Just eliminate doubt and receive what you've asked for.
What we're not told, is how to eliminate doubt. Better yet, what's the opposite of doubt? CERTAINTY. Say that word out loud...C E R T A I N T Y.

How does it feel to have CERTAINTY?
Can you recall a time when you had CERTAINTY?
What did CERTAINTY look like or feel like?

Do you remember arriving at a state of 'knowing' that what you desired would be yours?
Do you recall thinking or saying, "I know it doesn't look that way right now, but I just KNOW this is going to happen?" That's CERTAINTY.

The good news is that the Law of Attraction doesn't wait for you to have complete certainty before it starts delivering what you want.

It is waiting for you to have a little more belief than doubt--just 51% more belief for your desire will get things started. Once you 'allow' yourself to believe that it IS POSSIBLE to have your desire--that if it's possible for someone else to have this, then it is possible for ME to have it too--once you have tipped the scale so that your desire outweighs doubt, you'll begin to notice 'signpost' events that prove your desire is getting closer and closer.

Do you recognize signposts? A 'close-match' is a signpost. So is a 'taster' experience such as this one:

I've had a dream for my company, Telecasts International Services Inc., to bring the Telecast Model into Corporations. The first signpost that this dream would be realized was a small contract we had with IBM to train 15 of their trainers. At the time, I thought my dream was in 'full production', however the next contract for Corporate TeleLeader Training arrived two years later. In the meantime, we attracted the perfect person to deliver the Corporate Training and we've had adequate time to train her in all aspects of this industry. Recently, the Corporate contracts have been flowing in at a steady rate as more corporations learn about Tessellates and how this model can reduce their training costs. NOW my dream is being fulfilled.

As you pay attention to those signposts, acknowledge them for the encouragement that they are intended to be and celebrate that you are one more step closer, your belief will grow into CERTAINTY.

Notice how much closer you are today, to being certain that a long-held dream will one day become true. Make CERTAINTY your goal--and the Law of Attraction may surprise you with an early gift.

Plastic Surgery - A viable option for Baby Boomers

A lot have been written about this decade being that of the baby boomers and their penchant for looking trim and fit. Plastic surgery options like tummy tuck and liposuction have never been so popular. Seniors, take note that Los Angeles tummy tuck expert has mentioned that liposuction and tummy tuck can work great for baby boomers. Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon Dr.Younai specializes in cosmetic surgery procedures especially tummy tuck, liposuction and brachiaplasty. 

His experience, empathy and sense of balance have helped many patients regain their sense of self worth and renewed their confidence.  Men and women tend to store fat in different areas. Men often put extra weight around their love handles and abdomen while women tend to gain it around their thighs and hips. While exercise and dieting reduce total body fat they cannot induce spot fat reduction.

For example, push-ups do not reduce the fat around the abdomen but help to reduce the total body fat. Considering this, liposuction provides an avenue for selectively removing fat and therefore sculpting the body in ways not possible by other means. Can a person regain fat in areas that were liposuctioned ? Most likely no. This is because fat only gets deposited into fat cells.

Because liposuction removes fat cells from the areas that are suctioned, new fat will be deposited in other areas of the body. Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, addresses this problem by not only removing excess skin and fat, but also by tightening the abdominal muscles, therefore, reestablishing the integrity of the abdominal wall.

A typical tummy tuck or liposuction at los angeles can cost a fair bit, but how much is your self confidence worth? I think it is priceless!  A number of financing options are available in most plastic surgery centers, including at California Center for Plastic Surgery.

Achieving Success And Progress Through Creative Thinking

Many people believe that the goal of any society is progress, however for most of us it is not easy to get used to something new. It takes more or less time for every person to adapt to new environment, even if it is only using a new tool, cooking a new dish or finding a new bus stop. That is the reason why many people cling to the way things are and it is much easier for them to do habitual things.

Any person's every day of life consists of many repeated activities, such as driving car, dressing, eating. People do most of these activities automatically, without much thinking. Automatic operations help brains to avoid unnecessary efforts, but many people also use this natural capability of brain in a wrong way.

They create "cliche" for many activities in their life, use same expressions, eat same food, and go to same supermarkets. People live with same world outlook whole their life. It is clear that in most cases laziness makes them live with "cliche" because it is much easier for people to make habitual things, say habitual phrases and do the same job everyday, then straining the brain, creating something new, and making progress in their life.

However, there are still many activities, which demand creativity, ability to orientate us in new, unusual situations. Life brings us surprises every day, and sometimes it is impossible to be prepared for all circumstances. Economical and political situation of any country in the world transforms every month or year and leads to changes in many life aspects. Today people need to be creative to get ahead, because it is impossible to find favorable work or life conditions, without any changes and unexpected circumstance.

There are not too many people, which think and act creatively. Most of those people are successful businessmen, artists or politicians, because they can effectively use the natural capability of brain to think creatively. Creative and imaginative people do not achieve success for themselves only; they also contribute to progress of the society. That is why it is important to train yourself to be creative and get rid of many "cliche" opinions in your mind.

First step to think creatively is to comprehend which activities are indeed in need of "cliche" (such every day simple operations as driving car) and which activities demand creativity (such as work, business, education, upbringing of children).

Second, do your daily activities such as work or family creatively, enrich your knowledge about your business, and find new ways to improve it, do not be afraid to give work to your brain, because in daily life most people use only 4-5% of their brain ability to think.

Last, but not least is to be aware that if you are creative and imaginative person you would not be disarmed by unexpected or unusual life circumstances and changes because you can always find a way to adjust and get ahead in your life.

Free For All

A debate is taking place on the worldwide web in connection with the use or overuse of content. Everyone seems to agree that the use of quality content is important, but how much is too much and what ways are best for the distribution of your content?

Please note that this issue is not related to write-for-hire or contract content writing.

Close to the Vest

Some writers in this camp indicate they feel there is an integrity issue at stake when a writer makes their work widely available and used on multiple sites.

In this line of thinking the author should only use the article on their own personal site without the ability of other sites to use the work.

Many authors feel that the use of the article in a singular location provides more weight to the article when viewed by online guests.

Free For All

In this camp the mantra is "Everyone can use it!" The motivations for allowing the use might be different for each author, but there are many that use this strategy.

For some writers, the allowance of article use is tied to their interest in making a certain point of view widely available. This may be tied to religious or political thought. For other writers, the use of free-to-use articles has more to do with a wealth of online marketing potential.

In either case, these articles do tend to be widely used.

Which is the right perspective?

I suppose the answer to that question lie in what it is you are most interested in accomplishing with your article. It could be that the tie to the article is so intimate that it would be a violation of conscience to allow it to be used elsewhere. However, it could be a message of such importance that it makes sense to make it available to a wider audience.

There are obvious benefits to making at least some of your work available at no cost through an online article submission service. In many cases the body of free articles represents a voice of authority for those interested in using the articles. It is also safe to say that there are numerous publishers with limited budgets for the purchase of material. These individuals rely heavily on free-to-reprint articles to meet their content goals. In turn, you have another publishing credit to add to your portfolio.

So, check your motivation and career objectives and see which direction best suits your specific writing objectives.

Home Brew Steam Generator Helpful Yet Dangerous

Raising the temperature of mash can be a slow, yet necessary process and using a home brew steam generator can cut the time. However, using steam to heat the mash can also be dangerous as steam can cause sever burns, quickly. While water heated to boiling at 212-degrees Fahrenheit is hot, steam heated to the same temperature will do more damage simply because boiling water begins to cool as soon as it touches your skin. Steam, on the other hand, will need to condense to water before beginning to cool off, giving it more time to inflict more damage and pain.

With that in mind, a home brew steam generator can decrease the time it takes to heat the mash by considering the same principal. Essentially, steam can be generated in a pressure cooker and then piped into the container holding the mash. As the steam enters, it maintains its temperature longer than boiling water will and increases the temperature of the mash at a rate of about one degree centigrade, 33.8 degrees Fahrenheit, per minute.

There are some precautions to be used for making your own home brew steam generator and having the right heat source is needed, or else the heat of the steam may lack enough power to produce the sustained release of steam that is needed to achieve consistent heat exchange.

Ease Of Construction For Steam Generator

To build your own home brew steam generator you will need an electric hot plate capable of about 2100 watt, along with a pressure cooker, copper tubing, the pressure weight for the cooker and a shut-off valve. The copper tubing is attached to the lid of the pressure cooker by drilling and threading the hole and using a copper connector available at most hardware stores. <

The other end of the first copper tube is connected to the input of the shut-off valve. Another tube, connected to the output of the valve goes into the top of the container of mash and extends to the bottom with at least 13-inches lying near the floor of the container.

The end of this tube is pinched closed and a series of small holes, about one-sixteenth of an inch are drilled a half-inch apart to complete the home brew steam generator. Fill the pressure cooker about three-fourths full of clean water and turn on the heat source, leaving the pressure weight off for now. When steam begins to rise from the top tube, clearing any air from the cooker, place the weight in position and the steam will be forced through the tube, in the bottom of the mash, beginning the heating process.

Stir the mash occasionally during heating to keep the temperature uniform. To stop the heating process, turn off the heat source and remove the pressure weight. You can also at this time close the shut-off valve.