What does it take to make money online ?

Probably the most important step to making money online is the desire to do it. The key to success on the internet, contrary to so many of the headlines we see, is not in a 'get rich quick' scheme. Some basic foundatiion must be achieved before seeing results.

To make money online, It not just about study hard, working hard and enduring long hours, instead, go for the latest to date information. Study the latest material on marketing and traffic generation, and you be involve in it till some result eventually show up.

* First to understand the basic market function of why people buy. People buy things online because they feel the purchase will make them feel different, , happier, or by impulse or because it will make them rich or well-liked.

* Next develope your product if possible, that go along with your existing project.-it must primarily meet the current market trend or the goal which you are heading toward.

* Following that is to get your own list of customer.The "List" will determine whether you are a pro or amateur. It something that you send out a million emails, or purchase a thousand PPCs, or receive hundreds of visitors a day. You must be able to identify which types of visitors make you money or you will fail. In many marketing campaigns you run, you will have segments that are profitable and segments that are not. If you cannot identify which are which, for the purpose of eliminating those that are not profitable and increasing spending in areas that are, you will fail.

* Once you have a reach the neccessary visitor to your site , you have to be more focused on conversion rates and your web site and have less time for low-cost traffic generation. You will need to develop a budget for more expensive (and usually higher-quality) traffic. Although it is not always the case that paying more gets you a better lead, it is generally the case that paying less gets you an inferior lead.

* Last but perhaps the most important. You must be willing to stick it out. The first few months you may not make much money online, but with proper guidence , and knowing the market niches. After a few months with determination and some luck your dream of telling your boss to go "fly kite" won't be far away, but on the ohter hand sometime things just don't turn out what they use to , can cause fatique and eventually tempted you to quit. But if you burn out and quit, you lose everything you put in. Don't give up!

If you are looking for some quick money link try this

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For your project you will need this :

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2. Step by stepTutorial on Way to Make money online 1 - CLICK HERE - The Rich Jerk.

From Google Adwords, to Google Adsense. From search engine optimization, to sales letters. From wholesale buying & selling of the hottest consumer products on Ebay, to unique investment opportunities

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About the Author
Author Info ...

Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine as long as the following information about author/website is included. http://www.makemoneyhappily.com/lance/

 

7 Rules for Traveling

I haven't blogged in a long time. I promised a further explanation about why my blog went away for two weeks, but now I am thinking, who cares? Anyway, we're about to go off to Germany for Christmas and from there on to Ecuador to see among other things the Galapagos Islands. Very exciting. So, yeah, I like traveling. I've come up with 7 rules to make traveling even more enjoyable. When I say traveling, I mean the Lonely Planet crowd: you don't mind beaches, but you are here to see cool stuff and you are on some sort of budget.

1. Sleep where you want to be
   
   We wanted to spend a weekend in Lisbon and when I booked the flight there was this offer for a luxury hotel at a relative small price, so I took it. Bad move. Yeah, the hotel was a upscale business hotel, but it was in the business district (dead on the weekend), miles away from the historic town. In terms of enjoying the city, any single starred pension right down-town would have been much better.
   
   You should sleep comfortably of course, but other than that, sleeping is sleeping. You wanna be close to what you came for.


2. Smile, mime & 20 words goes a long way
   
   I traveled from Mexico to Venezuela on maybe fifty words of Spanish (maybe a little more at the end) and it worked fine even in places where English was scarce. People like it if you pick a little of the local language, but apart from that, miming and smiling usually works too. When I am confronted with somebody with whom I don't share any language, I usually talk to them in Dutch. Slowly and with lots of hand movements and it surprisingly often works out.


3. Learn to listen and to ignore local advice
   
   We were in Namibia and wanted to cross to Zimbabwe through the caprivi strip. The bus was canceled and the local travel agent said there were no busses at all going there. We asked what the chances for hitchhiking were. Well, we could ask the ‘boys' at the gas station. The ‘boys' were the black people – the travel agent was run by whites and it turned out that they had their own (mini) bus system with continuous departures to Zimbabwe. We had an excellent trip seeing another side of Namibia.
   
   The locals are of course a great source of first hand information when traveling, but they have their own perspective on things. It's an important input, but not the end of all discussion.


4. Trade time for money in your own currency
   
   We booked a boat from Java to Sumatra but through unforeseen circumstances we ended up in third class ten meters below the see in an overcrowded iron compartment. The trip was supposed to take 72 hours. We considered the situation for ten minutes and then upped and left. We booked a flight instead. That night sitting on our porch overlooking a tropical river, sipping an ice cold beer with Orang Utangs in the jungle back drop, we considered that the boat would need another 60 hours.
   
   Travel in third world countries can be cheap and that is great – on a tight budget you couldn't afford it otherwise. But there are times to snap out of the “10ct for a banana are you crazy?” mindset, especially if you can buy a lot of time with a little more money.


5. Readjust your appetite for risk.
   
   Getting around in Kenya's Matatu's is of course way more dangerous than taking the subway at home – to the extend that Matatu's would be outlawed as certain death traps at home. So why take them in Kenya? If you use the same risk calculations you do at home when traveling, you obviously wouldn't be doing much and probably shouldn't go. But since you're going to be taking these risks for only a limited amount of time, it is all ok. Higher risks for a limited amount of time in return for extra ordinary experiences is a good trade off.


6. Check the weather report
   
   While in Morocco, I decided to take an excursion to the sand dunes of the Sahara. It hadn't rained in 10 years, but that day it did. While it is true that in most places travelers go to, the weather is more stable than in say on the East coast of the US or Europe, nothing is certain.
   
   Most places are nicer with sun and if you travel around, you have the choice of where to go next. Any internet café can tell you where the sun shines.


7. Don't under-spend on food all the time
   
   Years ago I was traveling with my brother in Syria on a tight budget. Falafel three times a day is indeed a cheap way to fill your stomach, but it does get old rather quickly.  Only much later did I discover that Syrian food is actually really good. Eat as much rice and dhal as you want while in India, but take one night and splurge on the best food you can find.

Hormones and Cancer: Assessing the Risks

When researchers reported recently that a precipitous drop in breast cancer rates might be explained by a corresponding decrease in the use of hormones for menopause , women reacted with shock, anger and, in some cases, profound relief that they had never taken the drugs.

But many also had questions. How certain were scientists that the hormones were responsible? How could stopping hormones have such an immediate and pronounced effect? And how much did scientists really know about the biology of breast cancer and hormones?

The data seemed clear enough. In 2003, after climbing for almost seven decades, the breast cancer rate fell for the first time in the United States, and it fell sharply. Over all, the incidence of newly diagnosed breast cancer dropped 7 percent, and it dropped 15 percent among women with cancers whose growth is fueled by estrogen .

There also was no question that at the same time, women had begun to abandon hormones as a treatment for menopause. In July 2002, a large study, the Women's Health Initiative, concluded that a popular hormone therapy for menopause, Prempro, made by Wyeth, slightly increased the risk of breast cancer. Within the next six months, prescriptions for Prempro dropped by half.

A connection between hormone use and breast cancer rates did not surprise scientists like Dr. V. Craig Jordan, vice president and scientific director for the medical science division at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Jordan is a leader in studying the effects of estrogen-blocking drugs on breast cancer. Among his many awards is this year's American Cancer Society Award from the American Society for Clinical Oncology for his work on estrogen and the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Dr. Jordan's wife, Dr. Monica Morrow, a breast cancer surgeon, is chairwoman of the surgical oncology department at Fox Chase. Their offices, he says, are across the hall from each other, “so we are together 24 hours a day.”

Q. Prempro, the combination drug that many women took for menopause symptoms, contains both estrogen and progestins. And the findings from the Women's Health Initiative study suggested that estrogen alone has only a tiny effect, if any, on breast cancer risk. So which is the bad actor, progestins or estrogen? Or is it both hormones combined?

A. We've known for 30 years that estrogen can directly cause the growth of breast cells and of endometrial cells. Estrogen is fuel for the fire. But progesterone seems to do different things in different places in a woman's body. In the uterus, it stops the growth of the endometrium and makes it ready for implanting a fertilized egg. In breast cancer, estrogen causes a doubling of cancer cells every 36 hours. Soon, the growing tumor ball needs to increase its blood supply because cells in the middle are not getting enough food and oxygen. Progesterone seems to cause other cells, stromal cells, to gather around the ball of cancer cells and play a supporting role. Stromal cells are the woman's own cells that researchers now think may be specifically selected to build an architecture and send out signals for more blood supply, more fuel.

Q. That seems to be an unusual arrangement. Why would progesterone act on stromal cells in the breast?

A. When a woman is pregnant, her breasts are much larger and her estrogen and progesterone levels are huge. Progesterone is sending out signals that provide a skeleton to build the breasts.

Q. Was it a surprise to learn that estrogen and progestins can cause breast cancer?

A. We've known there is a cause and effect with hormones and breast cancer since 1896. If a woman is premenopausal and she has breast cancer and you take out her ovaries, the tumors decrease in size. Not all the tumors — if you took 100 women who were premenopausal and took their ovaries out, 35 percent would have a response. And you could get a dramatic response. A tumor that was the size of a walnut could shrink in six months to the size of a pinhead. It turned out that the tumors that responded contained estrogen receptors. This became cause and effect — the estrogen receptor was the mechanism that estrogen used to stimulate tumors to grow. If there was no estrogen receptor, taking away estrogen didn't do anything at all.

Q. Did taking away estrogen ever make a breast cancer go away completely?

A. This is the basic difficulty. We were dealing with advanced breast cancer, and what we saw was that we could get complete remissions in 4 or 5 percent of the women. In the majority of women, the remission would last for one to two years. Taking away estrogen slowed things down, it reversed the process, but it did not cure.

Q. Do you agree with the latest analysis indicating that breast cancer is declining because so many women stopped taking Prempro and other menopausal hormones?

A. Throughout the 1990s, physicians were recommending that menopausal women take hormone replacement therapy. What happens is that you increased the rate of breast cancer in the whole country. And it shifted the epidemiology. We have seen an increase in the percentage of estrogen-receptor-positive tumors in the 1990s and in the beginning of the 2000s, so that now 70 percent of tumors are estrogen-receptor positive.

This was, if you like, consistent. Everything was ticking in. The Women's Health Initiative and the Million Women Study in Britain really said: “Here's a controlled series of studies comparing taking nothing with taking hormone replacement therapy. How many cancers were there at the end of the day?”

The Women's Health Initiative found a 23 percent increase in breast cancer; the Million Women Study found a 100 percent increase. Those studies were highly publicized and women stopped taking hormones. Now the breast cancer rates are going down. Now tumors you would have detected are not being detected. There is no proof the tumors will ever go away, but you can't detect them. And it is possible that many subclinical cancer cells may never grow inside a woman's breast if she has no estrogen around to fuel that fire.

Q. If a woman has a tumor that is undetectable because she did not take menopausal hormones, will it eventually grow anyway and turn into a cancer that can be seen on a mammogram ?

A. We don't know. What we have learned from the tamoxifen clinical trial is that tamoxifen, which blocks estrogen, did a fantastic job. The cancer rate in the group taking tamoxifen dropped by 50 percent. Tamoxifen prevented the development of breast cancers that were early stage, and it also stopped cells from progressing to breast cancer.

Q. Some people suggest that the real problem was that the hormones women were taking were artificial or were given in artificial ways. Prempro, for example, gets its estrogen from pregnant mares. Some say other hormone preparations, for example, so-called bioidentical hormones, would be safe. Do you agree?

A. We've been talking about women's ovaries producing estrogen and progesterone. When a woman enters menopause, hormone levels drop dramatically. The longer you bathe a woman's breasts in these hormones, the more likely she will have cancer. If you start menstruating early, if you have two extra years of estrogen in your body, bathing your breasts in that fuel is a risk factor for breast cancer. If you start menopause late, if your periods go on for an extra four or five years, that is a risk. The longer you have menstrual cycles, the higher your probability of breast cancer. And that is with natural hormones, the ones in your body.

Q. What about birth control pills? Do they increase the risk of breast cancer?

A. We have had testing of birth control pills in huge groups of women since the 1950s, and there really is no evidence of a significant rise in breast cancer risk. What we do know is that oral contraceptives reproduce the messages in the brain to stop a woman from ovulating. You are bathing a woman's body with artificial hormones, but normally she would be bathing her own body with estrogen and progesterone. You don't have women getting endometrial cancer, and oral contraceptives reduce the risk of getting ovarian cancer by 50 percent. It is one of the few things we know of that reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.

Q. What about chemicals in the environment, like DDT or chemicals in plastics, that can mimic estrogen. Could they be causing breast cancer?

A. There are a group of compounds like DDT that are byproducts of industry and are in our environment. They can affect cells in the laboratory and can affect the reproduction of animals, but in really huge doses. There is an effect, but does it cause an increase in cancer? I personally don't believe that is the case. I don't think there is enough around to do that. A pinch of estrogen in the environment is very small compared to the gallons in a woman's body.

Q. What should women do now? Should they ever take menopausal hormones?

A. The value of hormone therapy for women with extremely severe menopausal symptoms is well established, and women, in consultation with their doctors, should consider using it for only a few months to alleviate severe symptoms. The main concern is using the drugs for many years to prevent osteoporosis . They can reduce the risk of hip fractures, but there are now many different alternatives for women to maintain bone density, such as bisphosphonates or raloxifene. Hormone replacement therapy should only be considered after all other options have failed.

By GINA KOLATA

Lose Weight: New Year, Same Resolution

This is the year I'm going to lose weight. I'll lose 20 pounds by graduation. This year I'm going to drop 10 lbs. Yup, it's that time of year again; time to make your new years resolution to “lose weight.” We all know the number one New Year's resolution is to lose weight. It's the same every year. So why are so few people successful?

Quite simply, losing weight is not easy.

We need to realize this fact and prepare for the effort its going to take to “drop some pounds.” Every year people set themselves up to fail by thinking this year it'll be different. The pounds will just fall off because I'm going to, uhhhh, start a diet! Oh yah and I'll exercise too. That's what I'm going to do… Well, that's a great start but do you know what you're saying? Weight loss takes time, effort and commitment. Weight loss isn't easy.

Although it's not easy, weight loss is simple.

It's simple math. Each day, put fewer calories into your body than you burn off. If you do this you'll lose weight.

Calories are really just a unit of measure of energy. They're the energy your body needs to function throughout your daily life. All day, everyday your body is burning calories. Whether you are standing, sitting, walking, running, driving or just watching TV; your body is working to pump your heart and expand your lungs to breathe. You're moving your legs to walk and moving your fingers to type, even sleeping takes energy. You are constantly burning calories.

In addition to all the vitamins and nutrients you need to maintain good health, the food you eat gives your body the calories it needs to function. Your body burns off as much of this calorie energy as it needs. It saves the rest for later, just in case it needs to exercise, go dancing, play basketball or some other fun activity that takes additional energy. The way it “saves” these extra calories is in the form of fat. Unfortunately if we don't go dancing, play basketball or get some other exercise the body keeps storing this fat. You know, just in case… Even though we're not using this fat, the body keeps saving it. Plus, if we consume more of these “extra” calories, the body makes more fat to store. You know, just in case we might want to join a dance-a-thon…

Here's where the simple math comes in, 3500 calories = one pound of fat. This means, every time you consume an “extra” 3500 calories, you will probably gain one pound of fat.

By reducing your calorie consumption (diet) or by burning additional calories (exercise) you will, in most cases, lose weight. It's really that simple. Most diets, in one way or another, help you consume fewer calories than you burn. And you probably already know, increasing your exercise will help you burn more calories.

Limiting what you eat and doing the exercises you need to do is the hard work of losing weight. Finding the right diet, personal trainer, or fitness program will increase your chances of success by increasing your commitment and motivation. Try to keep in mind, losing weight isn't easy, BUT it's worth it!

About the Author: Tom Taglang is a staff writer at BodySpex.com , an online resource and weight loss community where members track their progress and achieve fitness together, for more information go to http://www.bodyspex.com

Wealth Vs. Health

Some of us bodybuilders come from backgrounds where money doesn`t allow us to accomplish our fitness goals as fast as we`d like. Without money you can`t afford good gym equipment, the right foods, and even supplements. When you`re living in poverty you have to do everything possible to accomplish your goals without worrying about your financial problems.

I came from a family where our income was always good. During my late teen years my parents ran into some medical problems and our family income wasn`t very good. I had severe depression at the time and couldn`t maintain a solid job. I felt that the world was coming down on me and that I wouldn`t be able to accomplish anything in this sport. I could only train with bodyweight exercises and two 20 pound dumbells. The only healthy food I had access to were peas, oats, eggs, and orange juice for post workout. I didn`t have much but I had due with what I had.

You have to have a little bit of money to accomplish anything in bodybuilding. When your almost living in poverty it will become much easier once you learn to accept it and do your best to overcome your financial problems. You can start by writing down ways to bring in an income no matter what type of education or background you`ve came from. You need to set small obtainable goals just like you would in bodybuilding. The more time you spend looking for money, the less time you have to worry about your body. The key word here is balance. You need to develop ways to find a balance between wealth and health.

When I first started bodybuilding I was overweight and had no self-esteem to even get up and find a job. My confidence levels sky rocketed once I started seeing results and it also gave me the mindset that anything is possible. Your financial status will vary depending on how big your goals are. If your goal is to become the next Olympia you won`t be able to afford much but if you just bodybuilding to be healthy, then you can become successful in almost anything you do just using the methods you`ve used to accomplish great results with your body.

Wealth and health go together but at the same time they are the exact opposite. Goals, family commitments, social support, are all different factors when it comes to dealing with how much you can spend on bodybuilding. You almost have to spend a little bit of money on making yourself better but the investment is worth it. Just remember that I came from nothing and if I can go on to become somewhat successful, you can to.

Zach Bashore

20 years old hoping to become a writer

10 Easy Weight Loss Tips for the New Year

The New Year is almost here! One New Year's resolution for many people is to lose weight and to keep it off.

Unfortunately, for some, this can be such a daunting task that their resolve lasts for a few months at best. The good news is that weight loss does not have to be difficult. With the right mindset, it is possible to lose weight and keep it off.

Here are 10 tips to assist in this process.

Tip #1: Focus on making small changes each step of the way. For most people, successful weight loss involves not only a diet change, but a lifestyle change as well. Since this can be overwhelming for some, it is best to take baby steps. For instance, instead of signing-up for a full year's membership at a gym, go for a few months or try walking in the neighborhood three times a week for thirty minutes. Once this is done habitually it becomes part of one's lifestyle.

Tip #2: Eat 100% organic, virgin, and unrefined coconut oil. There is research which supports this as an aid in weight loss.

Tip #3: Eat apples, preferably organic, every day. Apples decrease appetite and stabilize blood sugar. Eat at least one apple per day.

Tip #4: Stay away from fast foods. These foods are loaded with harmful fats, preservatives, and other chemicals. If one has to eat out, try to eat at a restaurant and make healthy choices such as eating a large salad, a baked potato, and broiled meats instead of fried foods.

Tip #5: Do a liver cleanse. Many people have livers which are clogged and not working efficiently. Did you know that your colon can contain up to 10 pounds of undigested food, foul and putrefied fecal matter trapped in your intestinal tract? This is definitely not good. Can you imagine what these toxins are doing to your health? Health food stores carry a variety of cleansing products. There is a review on my site of a product called Dual Action Cleanse . Read it and take advantage of the offer, it is arguably the best on the market.

Tip #6: Use organic apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar helps to eliminate fat cells from the body. Take a few teaspoons prior to each meal. Apple cider vinegar can be found in health food stores.

Tip #7: Add hot pepper to food. It is amazing what something hot and spicy can do for the metabolism. Hot peppers not only increase metabolism, but also help the body burn off fat more efficiently. Organic hot salsa is best.

Tip #8: Eat a large organic salad at lunch and dinner. The key is organic, if possible. If salad dressing is used, it should be organic olive oil, organic vinegar, and fresh organic lemon juice.

Tip #9: Stay away from refined foods such as sugar and enriched products such as white flour, white rice, white bread, and pasta that is not organic or whole grain. These foods have no nutritional value.

Tip #10: Be positive! Don't say "I'm going to try to lose weight", but "I'm going to lose weight and feel great." Be committed to staying on course and making those necessary lifestyle and dietary changes. With this mindset, one cannot help but be successful.

Obviously one of the keys to weight loss is eating the right foods, more so than eating less. Check out the diet plans section on my web site, they offer meal plans which succeed in helping you eat right and lose weight.

Weight loss does not have to be overwhelming and difficult. Commit to trying at least a few of the steps above and expect to lose weight and feel great!

========================================

MHogan Welcome Weight Loss

Resources for Dieting & Weight Loss

See more weight loss articles here.

http://www.WelcomeWeightLoss.com info@WelcomeWeightLoss.com

How to Translate English to American

If you've ever asked a Brit for a bathroom and got a room with only a tub in it (use 'loo' or 'toilet') you know what I mean. So for anyone planning to go to England - here are some terms that are NOT what you might think when you hear them:



Poofter - An extended version of the word "poof", this is how you could refer either to a gay man or to a guy who is being a bit of a nancy boy or woofter.



Bum chum - Another name for a gay man.



Cake hole - your mouth



Pussy - A cat, as in "pussy cat". So if a Brit asks if you have seen her pussy, try to keep a straight face.



Hash - The thing you call a pound sign!



John Thomas - A man's penis. Too bad if this is really your name, just stay out of England.



Knock up - This means to wake someone up.



On the piss - If you are out on the piss, it means you are out to get drunk.



Pissed - This is a great one for misunderstanding. It means drunk, not mad!



Clever dick - This is a bit of a wise guy, not performing tricks with certain parts of the body!



Wanker - This is a derogatory term used to describe someone who is a bit of a jerk.



Blow me - It is simply an exclamation of surprise, short for "Blow me down", and is even used in polite company (so don't be shocked).



Bung - to throw; or a bribe



Potty - This isn't just the thing you sit a toddler on - if you are potty it means you are a little crazy.



Cock up - A cock up means you have made a mistake.



Diddle - To rip someone off or to con someone is to diddle them.



Fagged - Means you are too lazy or tired to do something.



Fanny - Be careful! This is the word for a woman's breasts! It is a bit rude, and you certainly don't have a fanny pack!



Blower - The blower is the telephone, before you get too excited!



Box - Just the TV



Scatty - Otherwise known as scatterbrains.



Power point - No not Microsoft; This would be an electric socket in the US.



Boffin - This is the word for a nerd.



Scrubber or Slag - This is a nasty way of referring to a loose woman.



Thick - If someone is thick it means they are stupid.



Septic - Try not to be offended, but this means an American.



Beefeater - This is the name given to the guards at the Tower of London (and gin!)



Big girl's blouse - This is a nice way of saying someone is a wimp.



Up the Duff - My personal favorite; If a woman is up the duff it means she is pregnant.





Thanks to The Best of British at Effingpot for the above help!

What Software Should You Use to Make a Video Game?

The answer depends on a couple of questions you have to ask yourself? What skill level do you have with the computer and programming and what are your goals for making video games? I answer these questions and help you find the right software for achieving what you want.

Video game design used to be the realm of crack shot programmers who could write programs, troubleshoot computers, write tools and even draw out the graphics needed. You had to be a writer, artist and programmer all wrapped up in one. But today this is no longer true. There are plenty of programs that do most of the hard work for you and leave the fun part of actually designing a game to you. But every software tool is different and each one is suited to a particular type of game making. Here is a guide for understanding some of the major game design suites and choosing which one is right for you.

For Absolute Beginners to game design and for pre-teens or young adults –

You are the type of person that knows how to use a computer but you don't know how to do any programming at all. You would like to make a few small video games without having to learn too much software stuff. You have lots of ideas for video games and you like the arcade style and side scrolling games. This kind of game would be a thrill for you to make for you and your friends to play.

My Recommendation: The Games Factory or Games Factory 2 by Click team

This is an enormously successful software tool you can use to make arcade style games. Everything is drag and drop so you don't have to learn how to program and you don't have to draw up your own graphics and images. You will learn some of the fundamental concepts behind game making and have a blast doing it.

For Medium Skill Computer Users, for High school age to adult

You have a bit of Savvy with the computer and have tried and used different kinds of programs. Maybe you have done some level design for a popular game. You would really like to make something three-dimensional like Quake and you have the thought that maybe you would like to make whole worlds and dungeons. You really want to make a game that you can walk around in.

My Recommendation: The Reality Factory

This is a shareware program that is built on the Genesis 3D game engine. It is a legitimate game engine with a great workspace that you can actually design whole worlds in. The process is similar to something an architect would use -picture drawing out blueprints because this is what you do with the Reality Factory. This software is free to download and within an hour you can actually have a single room game up and running where you can walk your character around and shoot weapons. To do a more involved game you need to spend a significant amount of time drawing out the rooms. If you get proficient with this free software you will have set for yourself a good foundation in legitimate game making. You will have an understanding of game processes and items like textures, models, scripts and more.

For high skill computer users and adults age 18 and over

You are considering A career in game design and want to set out a good base foundation for your career. You want skills that will transfer to the Real world but you are not yet sure if you want to invest the years it takes to master a high level programming language.

My recommendation: Dark Basic

I recommend you look into the program called Dark Basic by The Game Creators. (They also have a Dark Basic Lite version). This is an excellent way to learn how to make games while you learn the protocol and logic of programming. This is a powerful tool that can make professional games. The good thing about Dark Basic is that it is specifically tailored to making games.

You are going to be a Video Game Maker – no doubts about it

My Recommendation: C++ and Direct X

– Although this is a matter of opinion I recommend you learn how to program using C++ and you learn how to develop with something called Microsoft Direct X. This is some professional and very serious stuff and you will spend months learning the languages without ever seeing a single game pixel. But this route is how to lay out a professional career. This software is also pretty expensive. But imagine the rewards?

Making video games is a wonderful pursuit that can fully tap your creative powers and whether you are doing it just for fun or for a career there are lots of tools available to help you reach your goals and make some great video games.

For more creative ideas and projects on how to make video games visit the author's website at => The Making Video Games for Free Website

What is Gmail?

Like most other prime search engines, the ability to freely giveaway an email account is a positive tool that signals to the user community that this search engine is here to stay! Google is no different in this approach. Recently, Google has been beta testing Gmail. Google's very own email services repository. Best of all, it's free! Well, it's going to be free, its currently available only in Beta mode, if you are lucky enough to have received an invitation to sign up for a complimentary account you currently enjoy the benefits of ubiquitous Gmail.

Found at gmail.google.com, users were at a frenzied pace to secure the names and aliases that may be snatched up once the floodgates were open. People are exclusively invited to partake in the beta testing were selling their names and invitations for quite a handsome sum on eBay. Most users will have to wait until Gmail goes live before actually trying it out. However with all the functionality at a price like this, how could anyone refuse?

Unlike MSN and Yahoo! Google's approach to space was a little more liberal. Google provides 1000 MB of storage space so you would never have to worry about limited space requirements. All messages are displayed intact as well as the replies. Messages can be searched upon as well. Google's approach was to give as much flexibility to the user so the user in turn would use only Google.

Much like the anti-pop up ad theory of The Google Toolbar, there will be an anti-Spam product built into Gmail that will help thwart out unsolicited email.

Currently, new users can ask for a preview address from Google, although there is no guarantee they will get one. Interested parties should go to http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/about.html and fill in their email addresses at the bottom of the page.

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.sitetube.com . Visit his website for the latest on planning, building, promoting and maintaining websites.

Top Ten Excuses for Being Late for Work

Everybody was in a situation when they were late for work. To tell the truth, the situation is bad but not critical, even in a place like Germany. The only problem is to find a perfect excuse.

Hiring managers provided the following 10 examples of the most unusual excuses employees offered for arriving late to work:

1. I dreamed that I was fired, so I didn't bother to get out of bed.

2. I had to take my cat to the dentist.

3. I went all the way to the office and realized I was still in my pajamas and had to go home to change.

4. I saw that you weren't in the office, so I went out looking for you.

5. I couldn't find the right tie, so I had to wait for the stores to open so I could buy one.

6. My son tried to flush our ferret down the toilet and I needed to tend to the ferret.

7. I ran over a goat.

8. I stopped for a bagel sandwich, the store was robbed and the police required everyone to stay for questioning.

9. A bee flew in my car and attacked me and I had to pull over.

10. I wet my pants and went home to change.

How to Get a Grip on Multiple Phone Numbers

Grand Central will give you a Free lifetime phone number that will consolidate all your other phone numbers. When someone dials in to your GC phone number, it will dial any or all of the other numbers that you supplied in your setup: work, cell, Skype, friend's house, etc. Now you can have one number if you move, change jobs, or change cell phone companies. You can keep your real numbers to yourself. Here are some other great features:

• Upload your MP3s to play as messages and inbound ringtones


• Customize by Caller: Pick phones to ring, greetings, and more based on who calls


• ListenIn on Voicemail, through the phone or in your email. All of your voicemail messages will be saved online, for LIFE.


• Forward, download, flag, and add notes to your messages


• Block Callers


• CallerId - even for blocked calls
  

  You can get a local number in many areas. There are a limited amount of phone numbers in some regions. I got one in my area code (732) last month, but when I went today and checked - there none left for that area. Not sure if they plan to add more, but get yours while they're hot!

  
  

  You can add contacts to your GC Contact List via many methods including Outlook, vCard, and CSV.
  
  
  
  

  
  

  They even have a nice QuickRule feature (for which I assume they will be adding more rules later) that lets you forward all calls to a temporary number, e.g., staying with a friend, or at a business conference; another rule lets you send all calls to voicemail.
  
  
  
  

  
  

  The best thing is simply that it allows you to create groups and play different messages for them,, and/or process them differently. Maybe you want to always answer your top-10 customers phone calls no matter what, and maybe your Mother always goes to VoiceMail (sorry, Mom).

  
  

  Another nice feature is that by clicking on someone's contact you can create a private message just for them. So if your business partner calls you back (you couldn't get in touch with him) he could hear an urgent message you left him, e.g., “ Big Kahuna is ready to buy now! I need you to call Joe and order as many widgets as he's got! ”

  
  

  So How Much Does it Cost? (Why do you guys always ask that? )
  
  It is currently in BETA and therefore it is Free - but there are plans to charge for some features, as well as have a free account option. Here is what Grand Central states:

  
  During our initial beta period, we're giving everyone unlimited access to all of our premium features for 60 days. In exchange, all we ask is that you send us your feedback (good or bad) to beta@grandcentral.com. We'll read every comment. After beta, we'll have 3 options to choose from: (1) a FREE service with nearly all of the premium features, unlimited voicemail and 100 minutes (at least) of connected inbound calls, (2) a pre-paid ‘bucket' of minutes to be used in excess of free minutes which will roll over from month-to-month, or (3) a PREMIUM service which will give you unlimited inbound minutes in addition to all premium features. Our philosophy is to give you as much as possible for free or at the least possible cost.
  

  It's nice to know that there will always be a free option - so get your account today. I did.
  
  
  
  by: mike

  
  

How to Call a Thousand People at Once

Do you have an urgent message you need to get to your employees? Change of date? Snow day? Emergency? Phone chains don't always work - it takes time to make all those phone calls. Can you call hundreds or thousand of people in a few minutes?

Check out Call ‘em All



Call ‘em All is a voice broadcasting service which allows you to easily record a message in your own voice and automatically send it to every phone number on your list. Call ‘em All lets you call thousands of numbers in minutes, and there is no hardware or software to buy. After signing up, you can call the toll-free number and record your message. You then setup a schedule of when you want it to go out (or send immediately). You can upload your contact list via Excel or CSV files (it would be nice if they imported Outlook or Act! contacts as well). You can also group your contacts and send messages to groups only, e.g., suppliers, customers, employees, preferred customers, etc.

Here are some other great features :

• Busy signals and no-answers are automatically retried (up to 3 times)


• Your number shows as the caller ID


• Leaves message on answering machines


• Gives option to repeat message (for free)


• After broadcast completes, they send an email with a summary of the results

Another nice feature is that you can get real-time reports on their website so you can monitor your broadcast as it's happening. You can see the results of every phone call (busy, left message, pick-up, no answer, etc.).

I can see a great use for this to notify all of your best customers that you are having a firesale on the last of your new product. Maybe you can even charge a subscription fee, to offset your cost, and give subscribers first dibs on new items. Awesome idea! Definitely has lots of marketing possibilities as well as general notification. This is also a good idea for family events, non-profits, political campaigns, schools, and any place that a phone chain is currently in place.

So how much does it cost?

First of all there are no setup fees, no monthly minimums, or service fees. Also, you do not pay for phone call charges (i.e., long distance). You are required upon sign-up, however, to purchase your initial block of units. You buy units in bulk based on a 30-second message. So the smallest unit block is 100 Call Units at 15 cents per unit (Total = $15). This means you can send 1 message up to 30 seconds to 100 people, or two messages to 50 people, or one 60-second message to 50 people. Get it? You get better prices as you buy larger unit blocks . The lowest unit price discount is 6 cents per unit. These prices are for small businesses. There are different rates for non-profit , personal event planning, etc.

Only calls that are answered by a live person or that leave a voicemail message will count against your call balance. Here is another important point; you don't pay for any long-distance charges! Call ‘em All will contact people in all 50 states plus Canada. So if you have customers all over the country, this might save you some money just in phone charges. If you want to get around the international calling limitation, I don't see any reason why customers/employees with US-based SkypeIn numbers couldn't be called by this service.

Warning! The contacts on your list must be people you would normally call - remember that the Federal Do Not Call List applies to small business. You can't just upload a phone list you bought online and send phone messages to them to sell them a product/service. Obviously this doesn't apply to employees, political announcements, school closings and that sort of thing. Here is Call ‘em All's response about Do Not Call:

Call-Em-All is not intended to be used for unwanted calls. Therefore, we do not integrate with State and National “Do Not Call” lists. Call-Em-All DOES manage our own Do Not Call list, which all recipients can elect to be placed on by visiting our website and clicking Opt Out.

Are there any limitations?

The only one I can see, other than the aforementioned geographic limitations, is that it cannot deliver messages to any phone system that requires the entering of an extension number or forwarding by a person.

by: mike

10 Cool Things to Do with Google Earth

There have been some pretty ingenious uses of the application Google Earth . Realtors are using it to scout areas and to advertise their listings. One landscaping company uses it to estimate square footage of properties and send estimates to potential customers. It could also be used for strictly educational and recreational purposes as well…The possibilities are endless.

Here are a few interesting things to do with Google Earth from the GE blog.

Do you want to learn how to geo-tag your Flickr photos for Google Earth? There is a great online tutorial that shows how to accomplish this. So you can take photos of possible building sites, attach geo-coordinates, and let everyone see exactly where it is on the map.

Are you leaving or heading to LAX? Want to know where you flight is? Check out this (near) real-time flight tracking into Los Angeles . It is done with a dynamic data network link that connects an external data source into Google Earth.

So maybe you know where your flight is - but you often find yourself asking “Where in the world is that package!” Well, PackageMapper will show you where. It can display a map of where your package is (and has been) using a tracking number from FedEx, UPS, or even the USPS.

Going on travel? Want to find a hotel using Google Maps? Check out EarthBooker and find great rates on hotels, and also show integrated geographical data.

Now in the Just For Fun category:

Do you think you're good at geography? Well, here is game that is even better than ‘Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?' - it's the online Earth Contest . Look at photos and try to determine where they were taken (you need to register).

The Placeopedia is best described as Wikipedia meets Google. It's basically a nice way to connect Wikipedia articles with their locations. A similar idea is behind NewsGlobe by Daden Consulting. This software looks at RSS news feeds and tries to determine their location and then displays them on Google Maps.

Here is a site that geographically maps video bloggers (vloggers) and their content.

If all of this hasn't been enough - you can head over to The Edge of I-Hacked and look at hundreds of interesting photos.

The best places to get more information on innovative ways of using Google Earth can be found at the Google Earth Hacks blog, and the official Google Earth blog .

If you think you have a great idea on how your company can benefit by integrating data into Google Earth, but are not the ‘programming type' or just don't have time to mess with APIs, etc. There are several online companies, like Globe Assistant , that will help develop custom code.

by: mike

Track Your MySpace Profile Visitors

I know that everyone who is on MySpace has had the same burning questions that I've had. How can I see who has viewed my MySpace profile? Where can I find a MySpace Tracker? Since MySpace has become so popular, so have the MySpace profile stalkers. Could be your friends, neighbors, ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends, or even someone you don't even know. We are fortunate enough to have the technology for 3rd party websites to provide the code to allow you to see who visits your profile. Unfortunately, the majority of the code that these websites offer have been eliminated because they violate MySpace's TOS (terms of service). Don't get disappointed yet, there are some alternatives.







I still remember the short reign of a very popular website, Profilesnoop. This site provided members with a MySpace tracker code they could enter into their MySpace profile which allowed the tracking of anyone who viewed their profile. After entering the code, you could login to Profilesnoop to see everyone who has viewed your profile. It even had their MySpace pictures! This was very convenient for a short while, until without notice, it stopped working. Apparently, this code violated MySpace's TOS and the code automatically was cut out of your profile. After this, Profilesnoop quickly lost fan base. This left millions of MySpacers in question and looking to find another MySpace tracker.







Another option that does not violate MySpace's TOS is using a website counter in your MySpace profile as a MySpace tracker. The downside to this is that it is very difficult to what MySpace member has viewed your profile, however it does track how many people have viewed your profile along with a detailed analysis on location, system, and IP address of that viewer. What is also possible is using the IP address to find out who that viewer is by performing some tests with your friends' profile. For example, you can call your friends and tell them to one by one view your profile. While they do this, you log into your counter's member area and keep track on their IP addresses. Now you can see what each friend's IP address is, and you know which friend is viewing your profile.







There are many other tricks to creating a usable and free MySpace tracker and also many sites that allow you to track the old fashion way like Profilesnoop. But don't expect them to last long because if MySpace finds out you are using them, your profile will probably be deleted.

By:PaulG

Top 10 Chinese Inventions

1. Paper Currency:

Paper currency was first introduced by the Chinese, and is now used widely in most countries. The earliest documentation of this invention is in the 800 BC.

2. Row crops:

Crops were first planted in rows around sixth century BC, which allows them to grow faster and larger. In addition, the wind will hit the perfectly straight rows and roll gently through.

3. Deep drilling for gas:

A technique developed in 100 BC is still used today, known as deep drilling for gas. The devices that were used were remarkably large and well crafted for the time. This technique has given many Americans jobs in the past and present, and is responsible for a considerable amount of America's income.

4. Fireworks:

Fireworks were invented by the Chinese as entertainment, but were later used to scare off enemies in times of war. Today, we use fireworks to celebrate our independence. It is cool that this seventeenth century BC technique is still practiced and enjoyed today.

5. Gun powder:

Gun powder wasn't designed first for war uses, but as elixir for immortality. Unfortunately for the Chinese, the only thing that gun powder did was explode. The invention of this made wars less gruesome and painful. Instead of dying slowly by a fatal sword wound, a shot takes toll immediately. Imagine, an America where all the soldiers bear swords… Gun powder's date is unknown, but it is assumed that it was invented around the same time as fireworks.

6. Flame thrower:

What pyromaniac nut invented this contraption!?! Invented in the tenth century BC, the flame thrower was a great invention that has a variation used widely today. A torch or welder (following the same basic principles of a flame thrower) is used to weld metals together, and is very important in building large sturdy structures.

7. Parachute:

Nothing like jumping off high objects, huh? I guess even the Chinese had to get their kicks somehow. The invention of the parachute is used widely today, both for recreational, and government uses. When important and sensitive satellites are entering the orbit, they are in a freefall, but once they get to a certain point they deploy a sturdy parachute to allow them to drift to the ground harmlessly. First documentation of the parachute was in 90 BC, but it is assumed to be around in second century BC.

8. Rudder:

The rudder helps with turning a boat or in recent years, a plane. Before the invention of the rudder, boats had to rely on oars to turn, which required a lot of unnecessary time and energy. Now, planes (which cannot be steered by oar) are possible, and are used widely for both recreational and work. It is unknown when the rudder was invented.

9. The Wheelbarrow:

What would life be without the wheelbarrow? When working, you could carry 200+ of weight in a wheelbarrow, while you could only carry half of that. The Chinese's building process was dramatically sped up because of this useful invention. The wheelbarrow emerged in first century BC.

10. Compass:

The compass is one of the most useful inventions by the Chinese, used widely in planes, boats, and in the wilderness to find direction. Many times when you lose your bearings, just consult the compass and you're on your way. Invention date is unknown.

Lunatic Insane Pencil Design Art

This guy proclaims that he is a lunatic and has designed these pencil arrangements . Someone call Charles Manson in jail, I think he might like this guy.

E Modular Power Strip - Awesome

Designed by Chul Min Kang and Sung Hun Lim, the “ E-Rope Modular Power Strip ” is a 2006 Idea Award winning concept. Here's how it works: Its blue lights glow to indicate power is flowing, and if you rotate the socket section 90 degrees, it turns off the current, saving you from that power-sucking standby mode that's so prevalent in many of today's electronic devices. Plus, its modular design lets you add just the right number of outlets needed.

Tips for Successful Investing

One of the quickest paths to financial freedom and security is through the world of real estate investing. Millionaires and even billionaires have been made on the real estate market, but what is it that they know that you dont? There are a series of common sense tips that can be given to any potential investors in the market that if followed can put you on the path to a secure income for decades to come.



One of the reasons so many people go after real estate investing is that it is less volatile than other kinds of investment. Land and buildings are the closest things we have to permanent investments in our world and they tend not to lose value over time. With the stock markets all around the world going up and down like a yo-yo, real estate investing has become a beacon of sanity in an otherwise insane world. But real estate investing isnt without its own pitfalls. The novice investor needs to know how the game works to win it.

The first step to learning about real estate is to know how much things are worth. If you are looking at a particular property in your area, you need to understand how and why things are worth what they are near there. The best way to evaluate that is to draw a circle representing a one mile radius from the property you want to buy and look at what things in that area are worth. Look at what they have been listed for, how long they take to sell, if they sell at all and what the difference is between the asking price and what the final selling price was. All these things will help you evaluate what a particular area is worth. If you find out that 85% of all the properties in your circle sat on the market too long, did not sell for the asking price and bankrupted several people, it might be an area to avoid. On the other hand, if the area is selling well, people are making money and investors are happy, that might be a place to put your money.



Some basic investing ideas that you need to keep in mind is if you are looking mostly to invest to save on your year-end tax bill, than you might want to think twice. Tax laws chance far too quickly to really use real estate investing for tax relief. Real estate investing is a longer-term investment normally, and using property investment for short term tax relief can be a mistake.

Another good tip to keep in mind is to know how much its going to cost to run your property once you buy it. Depending on what your strategy is, if you plan on simply sitting on your property with hopes to sell it back at a higher price a few years later, you need to know how much it will cost to upkeep the investment. If all you have is a plot of land, obviously the upkeep will be considerably less than if you bought an apartment building. Just the property tax load on an investment can swing the chances of making money in the wrong direction.



The best thing any investor can do is to know their local market and seek help if need be. Dont be afraid to ask questions and you can come out on top of the real estate investing game.

By:Kris Koonar

How To Find A Real Estate Agent

It's easy to find a real estate agent. Just put a for sale sign in the yard and wait for the phone to ring. The question is, how do you find a GOOD real estate agent? You can start with newspaper.





Pick up the Saturday or Sunday paper - whichever day they have all the homes for sale in your area. You can also collect a few real estate guides to look through. Browse the listings to find properties similar to yours. If you are selling a cabin, you want to look for cabins for sale. If you are selling a lakefront mansion, look for those.






When you find similar properties, note the names and numbers of the agents that are selling them. The idea here is to find a real estate agent that has experience with your type of property. An agent that has all the million dollar homes may not be the best to sell your mobile home, for example. You want agents that have sold or are selling several properties like yours.

What To Ask A Real Estate Agent





1. When you call the agents - and it's best to call several - you want to verify that they do have experience selling properties like yours. Ask for examples.





2. Ask what they do to market a property. Any agent can place an ad and put your home in the multiple listings. Do they have existing leads - people looking for properties like yours? Do they let other agents know about your property?





3. Do they show their listings very often? Many agents just list real estate for sale and let others sell it for them. It's more profitable for them, but not for you. If they are a good salesperson, you want them to be going through the house with potential buyers.





4. Do they do their own closings? Again, it may be better for them to delegate this part of the process, but it isn't better for you. You want the same person to be there through the whole process. You want one person to call. Things go wrong all the time in real estate, so don't complicate it further by having more people involved.

Most real estate agents will probably argue these points. That's okay, but be aware that there are other things they won't tell you too. For example, did you know that open houses are primarily a prospecting tool for real estate agents? In fact, new agents (not the listing agent) are often given the job of hosting your open house, so they can find buyers to work with. It isn't expected that they will sell your house in the process.





Also understand that when you see ads for homes for sale, and they don't have prices, it is a prospecting technique. When that buyer looking for a $100,000 home calls on your $300,000 home, the agent isn't going to make him able to afford your home. The whole point was to get him to call so he could sell him ANY home. Meanwhile, other potential buyers for your home skipped over the ad - there are enough homes WITH prices to look at (insist that ads for your property have the price listed).





Trust your intuition when choosing an agent. If you don't feel comfortable with an agent, it's possible potential buyers won't either. And ask the right questions. You don't just want to find a real estate agent you like. You want to find the right agent for your property.

By:Steve Gillman

Download Music, Movies and Games for Free - A Hot Issue

The Internet is used by a lot of people to download music, movies, games and various other soft wares for free. The legality of this practise is, and will be for a long time, a hot issue. Some countries want to totally stop the downloading of copy wright protected materials, like the U.S.A. Other countries, like France, want to allow this type of downloading, but only for personal use. And there are quiet a few countries who do not care at al.The Internet has no borders, and it will be a very long time before all the counties of the world have agreed on how to legislate this music, movies and games downloading.







Of course there is an etical issue.A lot of people consider the downloading, for free, of copy right protected material as theft.I have heard all the arguments by now.I did hear them in the 70's when casette recorders became available and very popular.I heard them when CD wrighters became available and I hear them now when downloading over the Internet is becoming more and more popular.







In my opinion it is theft if you copy anything and sell it.If you copy something for your own use, that is o.k. with me.I have noticed that I, and a lot of people I know as well, still buy the “real thing” if we like it ,and I allso have noticed that I am getting selective.







I hardly buy anything anymore from the real top performers.I think they simply earn enough as it is.If I come along a new group I like I usally copy a few songs, and I might go out and score their CD if I really like them.I noticed that I must have been doing this for a long time.



I had a look at my CD's and saw that most of the originals were indeed the earlier work of a certain group.If I had more of them, it were usualy copies.I had downloaded some how from the Internet.







I know there are quit a few people who use this “selective downloading”.A friend of mine loves the music of a certain performer, but, as he told me, he refuses to pay for his records.He refuses to contribute a single penny towards the legal team that is defending this guy in a child molest case.He has downloaded the music of this performer, for free, from the Internet.







But all this free downloading has a downside. A lot of people are having computer problems because they downloaded something from the Internet. The Internet is a jungle and there are a lot of predators around that are searching for their prey. Predators like spy ware and ad ware. Little programs that you sometimes download as well and that hide on your computer without you knowing it. Some can be very harmful indeed, like the so called key loggers. These programs "remember" every keystroke you make, and send this info to their "owners". This way sensitive info, like passwords or credit card numbers, can get in the hands of the wrong people.







I advice every one who wants to download music, movies, games or any other program for free from the Internet to be very careful. Make sure your computer has very good spy-and ad ware protection, and when in doubt, do not download.If you are not a very experienced Internet user than the best way to download music, full length movies, games and various soft wares for free is to get a download site membership. These download sites will provide you with the right soft ware to search for, and download, all sorts of files from the Internet. They also provide a helpdesk in case you run into difficulties and need some assistance.

By:Harry Rackers

10 Tips For A Better Hotel Rest

Hotels hold a very special place in every flight attendant's heart. They are the places where we rest our heads after a long day's work. Most crewmembers will stay in at least one hotel every time they go to work.





We have odd hotel hours. We might check in at 2 a.m. and check out at 10 p.m., so getting a good night's sleep may be a challenge. For example, at 8 a.m. the “attack” of the morning staff begins. The housekeeping army is on full offensive (and fully offensive. The whining and banging of vacuums, slamming of doors, and the yelling of instructions to one another are enough to drive you crazy.





In Europe, I have been awakened many times by hotel staff checking for a depleted mini-bar. Can you imagine waking up to some strange man at the foot of your bed counting drinks? The “Do Not Disturb” sign may be on the door, but that minibar counter seems to have a waiver.

I value sleep immensely, so through the years I have gathered some tricks to the art of sleeping away from home. The following is a list of tips for a happier hotel rest:





1. Room choice. Don't get a room by the elevator or ice machine. You will feel the vibration all night long. It may not be apparent at first, but, believe me, when the lights are out; it will be. One more thing: if the hotel has a disco, make sure you get a room at least two floors away. I can't tell you how many nights in South America I tried to sleep to the beat.







2. Do Not Disturb sign. If your room does not have one, call the concierge or make one out of the hotel stationary paper. Without it, housekeeping will drive you bananas in the morning. I've lost count of the number of times a maid has caught me as I stumbled to the bathroom, naked.







3. Earplugs. Yes, my top in-flight tip is also one of my top hotel tips. It's very important that you get used wearing them. Put them by the bedside table. Bring a back-up pair, just in case.







4. Party time. If there is a party going on next door, do not, and I repeat, do not call security on the assumption they will solve the matter. Instead, I recommend packing your bags, returning to the front desk, and requesting another room. It's very easy for the front desk to say that they have no more rooms on the phone, but much more difficult to say it in person. If you feel inconvenienced by the revelers, you could always remember their room number and then give them a call early the next morning.They are bound to be in mid-sleep with a hangover waiting. The same goes for the loud couple next door going for the sexual marathon record. It's fun to listen to for the first ten minutes but will make you cringe when it goes on for hours.







5. Television timer. If there is a timer function on the remote control, set it no matter how awake you feel. Waking up to a horror or war movie on high volume is a scary experience.







6. Operator. Call the operator and ask for a “do not disturb” on your phone line. Wrong-number calls will abound and are apt to ruin your slumber. You can request a “do not disturb” until a certain time or until you call and cancel. Alternately, you can merely unplug your phone.







7. Trailblazing. Clear a path from the bed to the toilet. This is so you don't have to turn a light on or stub a toe on the way to your nightly visit.







8. Liquids. Keep a glass, or better yet a bottle, of water within hand reach. Looking for some in the middle of the night might ruin any chance of getting back to sleep.







9. Curtains. Close the curtains all the way so the sun doesn't wake you in the morning.







10. Alarming. Check to be sure that the alarm clock has been turned off. There are people who get a kick out of setting it for the middle of the night as a practical joke for the next guest. Not my type of humor, but it's out there.







If you value sleep as much as I do, these strategies are well worth considering. Sweet dreams!

By:David Brights

When Things Go Wrong, Your Choice Of Hotel Counts

I chose the Rome Cavalieri Hilton for a number of reasons. Rome is lovely, but it's so busy and crowded, I wanted to find an oasis from which to escape from sight-seeing at the end of the day. In the hills, overlooking Rome, not more than ten minutes from the Vatican, the Cavalieri is just such a place. Add to that a restaurant that just earned its third Michelin Star, an award-class spa, an Executive Floor Business Center, and one of the most lovely pool settings ever -- not to mention in a city environment -- and I knew I had the makings for a pleasant experience -- maybe.



As it turns out, my trip to Rome is not one that I would necessarily characterize as a “pleasant experience.” In fact, it resembled more the kind of nightmare depicted on television commercials for the American Express card and travelers checks. I can remember watching those commercials and thinking, ‘those poor inexperienced sots. They don't need American Express, they just need to accept the realities of city travel and be more careful.'

I've found in life that it's always a big mistake to be cocky. An example of this presumption was played out quite vividly in Rome. I travel a lot. In fact, if the total days were accumulated, you might say that they rival the days I spend in my home town. I am the epitome of the savvy traveler. I'm aware of my environment, my physical possessions and my safety. On this trip, I was truly in high spirits. I was traveling on business, but had the luxury of being accompanied by my nine year old son who had just finished school. We had toured the Vatican and chose a restaurant nearby to have lunch and talk about the splendors of the Sistine Chapel.



I chose a table in the back corner of the restaurant. I had heard stories about purses being lifted by unaware restaurant patrons who casually hang their purses on the back of their chairs. I had no intentions of being one of those people. We had a tasty meal and were commenting on how unusual it seemed to find a restaurant with good food at a reasonable price so close to one of the most important tourist sights in Rome.



When I went to pay the bill for this economical lunch, I reached for my purse. I had put it on the back of the chair against the wall and it was gone. In it were our passports, my driver's license, my credit cards, our train ticket home, my check book, and all our cash, among other valuables. My son looked at me with imploring eyes, his voice cracking. “How are we going to get home?” he managed to ask.

I was furious, confused, and incredulous. To this day, I don't understand how it happened. I don't even want to guess. “We'll get home,” I said, trying not to think about the photographs in my wallet that I would never see again, or the earrings I had dropped into the internal pocket of the purse hours earlier -- the ones my husband had given me during our first year of marriage. We hailed a cab. Alex reminded me again that we had no money to pay for it. All I could say was, “The Cavalieri will take care of us.”



When we arrived at the Cavalieri, I asked the cab driver to wait, went into reception, explained what had happened and asked for ten Euro to pay the driver. Without any further questions, the cashier handed me the money and I paid the tab. Then I came back in and broke down. The desk manager and client relations manager were already waiting for me. Someone else had gone to get a glass of water for Alex. I tearfully explained what had happened.



My memory of those first few moments at the Cavalieri are not exactly clear. I was distraught and exhausted. Uniformed staff was coming and going. One to get our room key, another to call the embassy, a third to get me the address and telephone number of -- you guessed it -- American Express. Within minutes we were escorted to a beautiful room, with a 180 degree view of Rome. There was a bottle of champagne being chilled. Alex quickly found the remote to the flat-screen plasma T.V. and distracted himself by watching the World Cup. I opened my laptop and began reconstructing the contents of my wallet and the phone numbers I'd need to cancel credit cards. Moments later, a vase of exotic flowers arrived. I almost burst into tears again.

While I was making telephone calls, several floors below the Concierge was investigating how to replace our train tickets. Someone else had made Alex and I a reservation at the pool-side restaurant for dinner. The front desk rang through the American embassy. Minutes later the address and telephone number of American Express was slipped under my door. A cash advance had also arrived which I quickly signed for. I would need it for cabs and other expenses into the center of town to sort out things. I was beginning to think that there was an entire staff of individuals devoted to me.



On the Executive Floor there is food and beverage all day long. Alex consoled himself with chocolate truffles and I with a glass of white wine. He put his arm around me. “It's going to be O.K. Mom.” I asked for the password for the Internet. The attendant began to ask me for my passport -- A new Italian law requires hotel internet users to register --- She stopped in mid-sentence, “Oh, are you the Signora that had her purse stolen with your passport in it?” I nodded. “Go right in,” she said, “I'll figure out a way to register you.” I was amazed. A hotel staff that actually communicates -- what a novel concept. Later, a staff member accompanied me to the police station despite the fact that I speak Italian fluently -- “Just in case …” he told me.



When bad things happen, there are only a few things that make me feel truly better. I tend to obsess about the event, how it could have been different, what I could have done to prevent it -- and those thoughts only make me feel worse. Sometimes, an embrace from my husband or children lifts my spirits, and in general, the indescribable consolation of being surrounded by family, inevitably makes me feel secure and gives me perspective. Alex and I had each other during this trip, and that helped a great deal. But the Cavalieri, in addition to all its efficiency, courtesy, and know how, had also treated me like family, surrounding me with a cloak of protection that gave me the overwhelming feeling that everything would, indeed, be alright.

Alex and I eventually got things sorted out. With one credit card, we had the ability to buy a new ticket and go home. But in the meantime, we went to the spa, we swam, we sipped frozen drinks in our cushy white robes, we ate at the 9th floor Michelin Star, La Pergola Restaurant, and recovered from our experience.



I do have a scar related to my experience in Rome. I can't help but remember that helpless feeling of being violated. But it's not the only thing I will remember. I will remember that my nine-year old son had the fortitude to see through his own fears to comfort me. I will remember that a thief's callousness can be over-shadowed by the caring of an able staff of strangers. I will remember the feeling of my body slipping through the cool water of the Cavalieri pool, the view of sun-drenched Rome from La Pergola Restaurant, and the cocoon that was provided to us so that we could leave concentrating more on our fortune than our misfortune. From one “savvy” traveler to another, the choice of hotel counts when all things are equal. And when things go wrong, that choice counts even more.

By:Denise Hummel

How To Make Contact With Russian Women

There are a number of ways to meet Russian women. The ideal way is for you to travel to Russia and spend some time there. There are lots of women in Russia and no matte where you go, you will meet them.

Whether it is a work environment or a school environment, you will usually have a lot of contact with Russian women. In addition, the sexual harassment legislation that you find in the U.S. is non-existent in Russia.

The women there don't want to be harassed, but they do appreciate the attention of men. There are intensive schools where you live in Russia and learn the language, the people, the culture, and the country.

If you have six months or more of your time and have the desire to spend that long in Russia, this situation may be ideal for you. Please let me know about your experience if you decide to go this route.

At a live-in intensive language school located in Russia, you will meet Russian women in the course of your daily life. You will meet them under most natural of circumstances and have time to get to know them. This is why it is the most ideal situation for meeting Russian women.

However, most Western men don't have the luxury or the desire to spend six months or more living in Russia. Most have financial, career, and family obligations that restrict the amount of time they can spend there.

For them, they need an expedited way to meet that special woman. Perhaps they have two weeks to spend traveling to Russia or other CIS countries. What is the best way for a man in such circumstances to meet a Russian Woman?

John has been successfully married to a Belarussian wife for over five years. He has traveled extensively through Russia and other CIS countries. He will tell you why you should consider Russian women, how to meet them, how to bring your special woman home, and how to survive married life. http://www.russian-luv.com/goalsetting.html

Why do Ugly Guys Get the Beauty Queens?

If you get any single man talking, he will confess pretty quickly that men, on the whole, have very little idea how women think. It's a mystery to us. We think we do, and about the time we think we have it all figured out, the woman in our lives does or says something that totally confuses us and blows our theory right out of the water.

For men, one of the most puzzling things about women is what makes a man attractive to them. We always think it has to be the stunning good looks of a Tom Cruise, or a muscule-bound athlete, or that guy with the six-pack, bronze skin, jet black hair, and the eyes and body of an Adonis that would set a woman's heart on fire.

Then you see women with the ugliest guy in the group and that guy seems to be the one that attracts the most gorgeous women in the club. Why is that!? Or why are they attracted to an older man, with white hair or, worse yet, to a married man who may not be even trying to impress the girls. The attraction of these unlikely men for women is just baffling to those of us who are trying hard to be the kind of guy a woman would want to spend time with, get to know, and fall in love with.

So, clearly, we need a new formula for what attracts women so we can reshape how we present ourselves to them. From what we have observed and from reading women writers, we have learned that what we suspect is true, our preconceived ideas of what makes a man attractive, is off base at best and total fiction at worst. So what is it that makes a man exciting and attractive to women?

Looks Are a Small Part of It

Don't be deceived. Yes, good looks and rugged sexuality are attractive to women. There is no question that when a woman sees a sexy guy, she sighs and admires the sight. But when you get past that initial sigh, she may not be drawn to that hunk at all—at least when it comes to finding a guy she really wants to get to know better and spend time with.

The truth is, women are far more attracted to virtues and “qualities of the heart”, as well as your values, than she is to your looks. Knowing that, you can adjust how you present yourself. It is always best to present yourself as a neat, well groomed man, but look within yourself for the values that will really make the women gravitate toward you.

The Top Ten

The reason certain physical traits are attractive is because they physically portray inner strength and other values and ethics that make a man unique and desirable for a woman. To help us round out our new rules for how to be the perfect guy for your girl, here is a list of ten values that women find attractive in guys. If the guy she is drawn to has some or all of these qualities, she will feel aroused and thrilled by him whether he is a prince or a toad.

Intelligence. This doesn't mean that you have to be a Ph.D. in physics to be a loving boyfriend. But the ability to think, to use your mind to solve problems and discuss things intelligently with her is a huge draw for women.

Honesty is very high on a woman's list of values. That is why some flirtation actually turns women off. A girl will gladly leave the club with the guy who is honest with her and demonstrates that he will always be truthful. She'd rather be with someone who is a straight-shooter, and not into playing mind games, than with the guy with the white teeth and perfect hair cut but who comes off like a phony player when flirting.

Shyness is actually attractive to girls. If you are a bit retiring in groups and shy around her, that brings out the mother in her and she feels safe to nurture you and your relationship. When guys are too bold with girls, the woman often feels threatened and overwhelmed—sometimes even stalked—and they must feel safe with you to feel loving.

Your sense of humor will pay off well with the girl you adore. A woman likes a guy who doesn't take himself, life, or even her too seriously. That ability to use humor in all kinds of situations shows a strong coping skill which means you will be a good companion and provider long term.

Care about her. If you take the time to let her be herself and show that you are as fascinated with her as you are with yourself, her inner self will blossom for you and all the love in her heart will come to you with that princess inside her.

Communicate. Women love men who are able to talk about what they feel. It doesn't come naturally to some men, but be open with your woman and let her know you want to share everything with her and she will share everything with you.

Self-confidence is very important to your girl because she wants to know you are comfortable in your own skin. Sure, you can be shy and vulnerable, but it takes a strong, confident man to be able to share those weaknesses openly. A quiet strength that comes from within is the magic that draws women to you.

Values and a belief system mean a lot to women because they want to know you stand for something. Values imply integrity and integrity means you will be a faithful and loyal friend to her . . . as well as the lover of her dreams.

Be reliable. Be the type of person others can rely on. When you give your word, keep it and expect the same from her. That is the kind of strength that makes a woman sigh much more than muscles on your arms or chest. Strength of character is far sexier to a woman than physical power.

Be fun, creative, and always ready for something new. Then she knows she will never be bored with you.

Where Do They Get These Ideas?

A misconception of where women get their concepts of beauty and what makes a man thrilling is that they get them from the media, from magazines or movies, or even from boys they know or men they have dated. No. Long before a woman ever dates her first guy, she already has the image of the perfect man well defined in her mind.

Now we know that the origin of that image is not supermodels or movie stars. They get their image of what a man should be from their fathers. So if you want to know in greater detail what a woman looks for in a guy, meet her dad and get to know him; there is the soil from which the perfect man has sprung in your girl's mind. But there are values in all fathers that do translate over to what she wants in her boyfriend.

Dads are strong and protecting. She feels safe with him and knows that she can be herself—his love for her is unconditional. If she feels that coming from you, it's easy for her feelings to come to the surface for you.

Dads are faithful and loyal. They are always there for their family and they would never hurt their wives or daughters. Kindness, firmness, and rock solid devotion to your woman reminds her of dad and makes you that “knight in shining armor” to her.

Dads and fun and relentlessly loving. If she can become a “little girl” when around you, that is something that takes her back to the sweet times of growing up. And once she can giggle and play in your presence, or come to you for a cuddle when life hurts her, that little girl will become an affectionate woman in your arms.

We are often puzzled why women are drawn to married men or older men, and perhaps one reason for that is that their basis for what an attractive man is comes from their father. Moreover, it is probably because married men are confident and don't have anything to prove, and that gives a woman a feeling of safety and a desire to stay close to such a guy. Like a big strong tree, she wants to be under that guy's protection in a storm.

Now these are not always things that are easy to bring out when flirting with a girl in a club. But if you begin to present yourself to the women you wish to meet as an honest, sincere man of integrity and values, you will find that you are the “ugly guy getting the girl”, and all the guys who worked hard to be hunks will wonder what secrets you have learned about women. You can share them or keep them to yourself and enjoy the benefits of love, romance and dating excitement for years to come.

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