Sikhism, A View of the Sikh Religion

At the northwestern tip of India is located The Golden Temple, or Harimandir Sahib, the most significant historical center on earth to the 20 million Sikhs worldwide. Here people from all walks of life are invited to join in listening to the hymns and teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib and to join in unity for a communal meal (Langar). This sacred gurdwara (temple) has entrances on all four sides, a symbol that this faith "is for people of all castes and all creeds from whichever direction they come and to whichever direction they bow." (Guru Arjun Dev)

Over five hundred years ago in Punjab, India, a son was born to a Hindi couple. The child, who was named Nanak, was expected to follow in his merchant father's footsteps. But this child was different in many ways. He was contemplative and thoughtful. He would frequently get lost in meditation. He seemed disinterested with the things of this world. He discussed religion with his Muslim and Hindi associates.

Finally, one morning he went to the river to bathe. According to legend, he entered the stream but did not surface. For three days and nights his friends searched for him, but he was not to be found. Then came the miraculous event-Nanak emerged from the river. During the time he'd been missing, Nanak had an incredible spiritual experience. He'd been in communion with God, and had been enlightened and given a calling to tell the world of his True Name. The first thing Nanak said upon his return was "There is no Hindu, no Muslim." Nanak's message was that only through true devotion to the one True Name could humans break the cycle of birth and deaths and merge with God. Nanak became the first Guru, and Sikhism came into being.

At that point, Guru Nanak left his home on the first of four major journeys to spread his message. Between the years 1499 and 1521 he traveled to such places as Sri Lanka, Tibet, Baghdad, Mecca, and Medina. Miraculous events accompanied him wherever he went, and he gained a large following. Finally at the close of his life he settled in Kartapur with his wife and two sons. His many disciples came here to listen to his teachings. Before he died, he appointed one to continue his work. Since Nanak, there have been nine other living gurus. The tenth, Guru Gobind Singh taught that there was no longer a need for a living guru. Instead, he found a spiritual successor in the Guru Granth Sahib (sacred texts), and a physical successor in the Khalsa.

Literally translated, khalsa means "the pure," and it is the goal of all Sikhs to become Khalsa. Officially, one becomes Khalsa when he or she has undergone Sikh baptism, and have agreed to follow the Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions, along with wearing the prescribed physical articles of the faith. This ceremony takes place when a mature individual presents him or herself in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib and five other Khalsa Sikhs. The candidate is taught what will be expected of him or her, and then drinks Amrit (sugar water stirred with a dagger).

Khalsa members can easily be distinguished by certain articles of clothing which they wear as symbols of their faith. These are referred to as the Five K's.

* Kesh, or long, unshorn hair, is a symbol of spirituality. It reminds the individual to behave like gurus. (Male members wear a turban over the hair.)

* Kirpan, or the ceremonial sword, is a symbol of dignity. This is not regarded as a weapon, much as the cross is worn by Christians as a symbol of faith, and not an instrument of torture.

* Kangha, or comb, is a symbol of hygiene and discipline.

* Kara, or a steel bracelet, is a symbol of restraint in actions and a constant reminder of one's devotion to God.

* Kachha, or drawers, which symbolize self-control and chastity.

Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. It began as a progressive religion which rejected all distinctions of caste, creed, race, or sex. It recognized the full equality of women at a time when women were regarded as property or entertainment of men, when female infanticide and widow burning was common and even encouraged. The legacy of Sikhism is its emphasis on one's devotion to God and truthful living.


Emma Snow writes educational articles for Reglious Beliefs http://www.religious-beliefs.com and assists with content management at Religious Podcasts http://www.religious-podcasts.netHema Blog50427
Jo Ann Blog19717

Successful Trade Show Booths - 10 Easy Tips

1. Listen 80%, talk 20%. Ask open ended questions to promote conversation.

2. Offer an incentive for visitors to leave their contact information. For example, drop off your business card to be entered in a draw. You can follow up with these new contacts later.

3. Set up a laptop with a video or slide show running to catch peoples eyes and interest.

4. Dont eat, fold your arms or sit down in your booth. Youre not encouraging anyone to visit.

5. FOOD! A bowl of individually wrapped candies is a great incentive for people to come to your booth. Especially when shows run along mealtimes! You can also have your business info printed on the wrappers.

6. Make sure you know what comes with your booth. Is there electricity? Do you need to bring your own tablecloth? If they are providing you with one, what color is it? Is it stained and full of holes? Great things to know beforehand!

7. Find out who your neighbors will be. You may get a surprise if you show up at your booth the day of the show and discover youll be sitting next to a competitor all day.

8. GIVEAWAYS! Lets face it, freebies make people feel happy. Make sure your giveaway is something useful and hopefully long lasting. Be sure of the quality of the ink used to imprint your company name and contact info. You dont want your phone number to wear off in a week.

9. Keep notes on your visitors. This will help when you follow up with them.

10. Have a goal for the show. Do you want to come out with 200 business cards or 5 quality leads? Be realistic, but challenge yourself.

Copyright 2006. Kitt MacLean. Article may be reprinted so long as the Bio is included. Please inform the author of the use.

Kitt MacLean is a graphic designer and operator of Mauna Kea Design, a Halifax-based design studio. Her background is in business and marketing and she loves helping other small business owners succeed. Visit her website at http://www.MaunaKeaDesign.ca and sign up for her free monthly newsletter.Jaroslav Blog68197
Huckleberry Blog2766

How Your Credit Card Interest Charge Is Determined

Your credit card's interest rate isn't the only thing that affects how much you end up paying on your credit card bill, though it is a major determining factor. There is a difference between your interest rate and your interest charge. In simple terms, the rate is the percentage of your balance that your interest charge will be based on. The interest charge is the actual number of dollars that you pay for interest - based on your interest rate.

If that's confusing, this quick example can help illustrate the difference.

Balance - $1000

multiplied by

Interest Rate @ 18% or 0.18

Total Interest charge for the year = $180

If you've been paying attention, though, you'll have figured out that it really doesn't work to say that your interest charge will be $180 divided by 12 - because your balance will vary from month to month. So how do they figure out what you owe for interest on your credit card when the balance keeps changing?

There are three basic ways that credit card interest charges are determined. Your credit card company should state in its terms and conditions which method they use to calculate interest charged on your balance. They do make a difference, though it can be a subtle one for most credit card users.

Adjusted Balance

The credit card company starts with your balance from last month. They add in any charges for the month, subtract any payments and come up with an 'adjusted balance'. The adjusted balance is multiplied by the monthly interest rate (the annual interest rate divided by 12) to come up with your interest charge for the month. This method is generally most favorable to the credit card holder - that's you. If your balance at the start of the month was $200, and during the month you make a payment of $60 and charge $20, your adjusted balance at the end of the month is $160.

Average Daily Balance

Average daily balance is the most commonly used method of computing interest charges, and it's pretty even-handed, favoring neither credit card company or user. The credit card company keeps a running tally of your credit card balance day by day, adding in charges and payments as they come in and are posted. At the end of the month, all the daily balances are averaged to come up with a single figure, and the interest charge for the month is based on that figure. If, for example, your balance was $100 for the first 22 days of the month, and you charged a $500 computer on the 23rd day, then your average daily balance would be figured out based on (22 x 100) + (8 x 600) divided by 30 - an average daily balance of $233.

Previous Balance

Most consumer experts agree that this method of computing interest favors the credit card company, though it's certainly the simplest for them as well. They simply base your monthly interest charge on your balance at the end of last month (or the beginning of this, whichever way you prefer to look at it). If your balance at the start of the month is $400, and you pay $150 during the month, you will be charged interest on $400 this month. Next month, however, you'll be charged interest on $250, even if you charge $600 during the month.

Knowing how interest charges are figured can help you decide when to make major purchases while incurring the least amount of interest charge. If you know how and when the interest on your balance is computed, and can pay off charges within the time frame, your interest may end up costing you nothing at all.

Joe Kenny writes for the UK personal finance sites http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk and also http://www.cardguide.co.ukIsabelle Blog23023
Inigo Blog47551

How Not to Treat Women On A Car Lot

The majority of cars one finds on used car lots were acquired at huge, dealer-only wholesale auctions. Most dealers bid on cars they wish to market, transport those they buy back to their lots, mark them up by 25% (or more), and then wait for someone looking for a used car to browse their lot in search of the perfect car for them. It is a tried-and-true method for many dealers, but it can be a harrowing process for potential buyersthey have no input to the stocking process and their perfect car may not be availableso they frequently have to settle for something far short of what they want, at a price considerably higher than they want to pay. If they dont settle for something already in the inventory, they have to invest more time and energy searching other lots, and maybe eventually they find something that comes close to what they wantalthough, most likely, still for a lot more than they wanted to pay. This process clearly favors the dealer over the buyer.

Auction houses limit access to their sites to licensed/registered dealers, and do not permit the public to participate in the bidding process. Dealer-only auctions are part of a closed re-marketing system, operated by auction houses and dealers, designed to move the huge volume of previously owned vehicles which result from the American publics almost insatiable desire for a new car every few years. There are millions of cars which enter the re-marketing system each year, and many of them are in great shape, with lots of options, and low mileage--and the vast majority are bought by dealers at wholesale prices. Wouldnt it be nice if you had access to that inventory so you could look through the constant flow of vehicles to find the exact make, model, year, color and options you always wanted in a vehicle?

Wouldnt it be nice if someone designed a program to provide prospective buyers with indirect access to dealer-only wholesale auctions, with direct input on inventory selection, and total control of the amount they wish to bid in an effort to acquire the car of their dreams at a reasonable price?

Wouldnt it be nice to work with a dealer who would provide access by proxy to dealer-only auctions so you could purchase a quality used car not only well below typical retail prices, but at or near wholesale prices?

Wouldnt it be nice to experience the excitement and cost savings of dealer-only auctions, but without the bother of actually having to enter the restricted-access sites where these huge events occur?

Wouldnt it be nice to have access to various auction inventory bases to conduct searches for year-specific makes & models coming up for auction in the immediate future, and to peruse highly restricted dealer sales data about recent wholesale/retail pricing for those vehicles?

Of course it would, there are companies out there that do just that. You get to pick the year(s), make(s), model(s), mileage range, color(s) and options you are interested in. They let you know what is available at upcoming auctions within your specifications.

Tom Carey is a co-owner of That's My New Car. The company that specializes in finding the perfect car for it's customers, way under the retail price. That's My New Car gives proxy access to exclusive dealer-only auctions. Tom can be reached at 610-272-1998 or http://www.ThatsMyNewCar.com.Jaroslav Blog68197
Henny Blog1884

Beating The Stay At Home Mom Stereotypes

Everyone has a picture in their mind of what a stay at home mom should be. Sometimes its fairly flattering - the perfect mother who is always there for her family, home cooks every meal and keeps a perfect house. Other times its a picture of a woman lazing on the couch, watching soap operas, eating bon bons and spending her husbands hard earned money.

Most stay at home moms dont fit perfectly into either. Maybe youre great at cooking meals for your family, but when it comes to thinking of great ways to keep the kids busy, you struggle. Maybe your house is clean but you hate to cook. And maybe you do enjoy those soap operas as you help the kids with homework and projects.

Most people dont recognize the challenges your typical stay at home mom deals with. They see it as a kind of makework, nothing real.

As a stay at home mother you have many doors open these days. You can express yourself for the entire world to see on a blog. You can start a home business. You can volunteer. You can find a work at home job. Or you can just delight in being a stay at home mother and ignore your detractors.

Is a stay at home mom lazy? Rarely. Most try hard to contribute their fair share by budgeting money wisely, being there for their family, raising the kids, cleaning the house, cooking meals, and generally working what studies have shown to be the equivalent of two full time jobs. Next time someone calls stay at home moms lazy, just remind them of that.

You dont have to be June Cleaver to be a successful stay at home mom. If you dont enjoy cooking, thats just fine. Use the shortcuts available to you that fit in your budget. I would suggest keeping the food healthy for your familys sake, but otherwise its up to you.

Despite what some feminists think, choosing to be a stay at home mom is not a betrayal of what the feminist movement fought for. Women now have options, and can choose what exactly they want to do with their lives. Saying that it is unreasonable to choose a traditional path is denying you the right to live your life as you choose.

Just take a look at what todays stay at home mom is like. Odds are you werent raised to think of yourself as a future stay at home mother. Growing up, girls are now encouraged to think of having careers, not merely raising their families.

Its okay for a stay at home mom to have outside interests. They dont have to be the more or less traditional volunteering, cooking and so forth. You can keep up your skills so that when your children are grown or reach an age where you decide to go back to work you still have the skills. You can do real work at home.

There are more options out there for stay at home moms than there used to be. Even as you take the time off from outside the home jobs to raise your family you can maintain your own interests.

Stephanie Foster is one of the lucky ones who has been a stay at home mom since her children were born. Visit her site at http://www.homewiththekids.com/lifestyle.php to learn more about being a stay at home mom.Humbert Blog60351
Jeremy Blog77508

Handcrafted Gift Card Bows: Theyll never expect it!

What in the world are gift card bows? Well, in a word, gift card bows and boxes are pure showmanship.

They are a way to make your gift card more of a real 'gift' instead of an impersonal gesture that you just got out of the way. There's a real stigma associated to gift card presents, and taking the time to invest in a little bow or a box you make it stand out as something special.

Make your gift unique and remembered

One of the primary problems with giving out a gift card at a wedding or an anniversary is that they often have a difficult time standing out or even being noticed among all the other presents in their big shiny colorful boxes. But who said you couldn't get a shiny box and bow of your own? That'll show 'em!

Be thoughtful

Always make sure you read up on and are familiar with every single fee and charge your recipient might encounter when they try to redeem their gift card. Some states have passed laws against this type of thing, but in some places there still exists the chance that they'll be faced with a dormancy fee or a balance fee when they try to cash it in, and you do not want that to happen.

Make a good impression

For some people a gift card is just a cop-out! They think that they are lazy, unthoughtful gifts. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. And by having your card in a nice box along with a nice bow you can make the whole thing fun and playful and also make it personal and appreciated.

Make it a safe gift as well

Stolen gift cards cannot be replaced. Make sure the person knows that carrying a gift card is exactly like carrying cash. It needs to be protected and kept in the same way! Nowadays, many stores are replacing and redeeming lost or stolen gift cards, but it is still a concern.

Angela Bacci is the writer and creator of giftickles, a new rockin' rowdin' website dedicated to the genius that is and always will be gift cards! Come check us out at http://www.giftickles.com!Hilary Blog31509
Ji Liang Blog37413

A Certain Order of Things

Adventure looms close on my personal horizon. Vacation time arrives next week and I am traveling to a place I have never been before, the Western United States. I'd watched a PBS special last summer and felt a distinct pull to go to Yosemite National Park this year. Although that is not my destination, I feel I have kept an important promise to myself of which I am still in the process of discerning. I'll get back to you with the details on that as they unfold. What I've realized as I've begun the usual pre-trip preparations is how easy it is to slide off course or step off the trail when we are distracted by things in the distance, or things in the distant past, that are a part of our lives, but don't necessarily inform or contribute to what we need to be doing for ourselves right how. At least by logical standards.

As I've been cleaning, organizing, paying bills, sorting clothing and arranging for cat care, as I am wont to do before any trip, I found my mind drifting to a time when I sewed all my own clothes. Now, I stick to curtains, napkins, pillows, simple things that add some extra touches to my home and some buoyancy to my spirit, but don't take a whole lot of time to produce. Although sewing is one of those old-fashioned skills, sort of like playing the piano if you are not a professional musician, which I also do, I'm glad to have some practical skills with which to surprise people now and again. Both the sewing and the piano playing taught me some life lessons, but it is the skill of sewing that taught me the whole process of creating an envisioned project and the steps needed to take to feel the joyous satisfaction of successful completion.

Creating a new dress or top started with seeing a great style on someone else - a classmate, a television star or a model in the Sears catalogue - that looked fantastic. Sometimes the item was on the third floor of the downtown department store. "Off the rack" meant my parents usually couldn't afford it and it wouldn't fit anyway. In those days, small-town stores only carried sizes in the range they could sell, so those simple realities sent me to the basement of said downtown store to see if the pattern companies, Butterick, Simplicity or McCalls, had kept up with the times closely enough to help me out. If they had, then there were choices to make for fabric and any additional materials I would need, like buttons, zippers and thread, and braid or ribbon trims.

Back home with the goods, the project began in full force. Reading the instructions, laying out the fabric, pinning the pattern and cutting out the pieces then led to marking button holes, gathering points and hem lengths. After all the preparation was completed, the pattern pieces could be removed and the construction process begun. The sewing machine came out, the instructions were pulled back out of the package, and step-by-step, what was once only a dream transformed to a hope, and finally embodied the promise of something special, something I could claim as my own creation and wear whenever I wanted to.

Of course this entire scenario is dependent upon following the instructions and working with the pattern as your experience grows. Experience, of course, is usually born of trial and error, and of a firm teenage belief that you have a short cut that will save time and allow you to wear your new garment that much faster. Measure twice, cut once applies here too, as does think before you act.

Which brings me back to cleaning, organizing, paying bills, sorting clothing and arranging for cat care as I continue to prepare for my trip. As I follow my routine and manage the larger routine of the rest of this thing called my life, I sometimes wonder how to keep everything on track, and how I've managed to do so to this point. It feels very easy to get distracted by old patterns that no longer fit or were missing pieces that had to be adjusted for along the way. Sometimes it feels right to go back to my old friends in the pattern department, the Buttericks, the Simplicitys and the McCalls and just say hi, and see if there are some new patterns that might be a better fit for me now. The fabric section also speaks its mind, inviting me over with rich colors and textures.

What continues to delight and charm me, in this whole sense of life as a creatively abundant process, is God's consistency in helping us work with our own plans and God's plan with all of us together. "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2)," comes at the end of all of Job's miseries. This is a man who had to rework the pattern over and over, and struggled with how to make the falling-apart pieces of his life make sense with his faith in God who he believed loved him and had blessed his life in every way possible. Step-by-step, Job did find his way along, completing his projects and moving on to the next as he and God decided.

In his book, The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle also speaks to this sense of order and timing in our lives, using his character, the Prince, to express the yearnings of many of our souls to get our lives right and find our way to a happy ending.

"My Lady," he said, "I am a hero. It is a trade, like weaving or brewing, and like them it has its own tricks and knacks and small arts. There are ways of perceiving witches and knowing poison streams. There are certain weak spots that all dragons have and certain riddles that hooded strangers tend to set you. But the true secret of being a hero lies in knowing the order of things. The swineherd cannot be wed to the princess before he embarks on his adventures. Nor can the boy knock on the witch's door while she is away on vacation. The wicked uncle cannot be found out and foiled before he does something wicked. Things must happen when it is time for them to happen. Quests may not simply be abandoned. Prophecies may not be left to rot like unpicked fruit. Unicorns may go unrescued for a long time, but not forever. The happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story (p. 212.)"

God has a way of reminding us that there is often more to come before the plan is successfully completed.

Cory L. KempIrma Blog85759
Janiele Blog74936

Business Banking Keeping Your Accounts Healthy

Theres no room for complacency when it comes to running a business, and running your account is no different. You should check your statements carefully, and have a periodic review of the market to make sure your account is still the best one for your needs.

New accounts and special offers crop up all the time, and it may be worth your while to change banks. You can also point out the competitions rates when negotiating terms with your own bank often these are flexible and a bank may offer you improved rates if you hint that you are considering taking your business elsewhere. Stay on top of bank charges, and if any show on your account that you do not understand, contact the British Bankers Association for more detailed explanations on charges and interest: www.bba.org.uk

There are ways to minimise charges and run your account as smoothly as possible:

1. Automate Your Account

If you have frequent customers, you could encourage them to make payments by direct debit or standing order. The more electronic payments you have, the fewer charges you will incur. The same goes for your expenses try to use automated services for all your regular payments.

2. Bank Online

If your bank account has online facilities, make use of them. It is both more efficient and cost effective. Larger businesses may be offered PC banking, which involves special software being installed on your accounting computer, so that your accounting system is linked directly to your bank.

If you find yourself struggling, for example if cash is short and its becoming difficult to meet the repayments on your loan, the best course of action is to visit your bank and renegotiate your account. You should do your best not to exceed any overdraft limit that has been agreed, and stick to the terms of your account. If you break the terms of your agreement there can be stiff penalties, such as referral fees and administration costs.

If you accept a cheque which then bounces, you will lose the money owed to you and also incur a charge. Be sure to write the number of the cheque guarantee card on the back of all cheques

You should also keep your records scrupulously accurate noting all transactions and crosschecking your records with your bank statements. Not only will this mean you can query any discrepancies, but it will make filling in your tax return much quicker and easier!

Joe Kenny writes for the Loans Store offering secured loans and offer more information on car loans and other loan topics available on site.Ingram Blog30705
Jiann Chen Blog53186

4 Gardening Lessons Revealed: Planting Methods, Tools, Crop Rotation & Clothing

1. Planting Methods: There are several methods for planting.

Picking any of these methods depends on the vegetable, the size of your garden, and your fondness. Three methods of planting, namely, single rows, wide rows, and hills are clarified as follows:

A) Single Rows: In this method, seeds are sown in rows or lines that are spaced equal distances apart. The distances between the rows and between the seeds within the rows differ from vegetable to vegetable. If you want the rows to be straight, which gives a pleasant appearance to your garden, stretch a string between two stakes and sow the seeds along it. If you think this is too much work, use a stick to mark a line on the ground and try to make the line as straight as possible. With some training, you will get it straight.

B) Wide Rows: In wide row planting, seeds are sprinkled at equal spacing in both directions over a wide area. The width of the row varies from 6 to 16 inches. The row's width is limited by your arm's reach to the area in the middle of the row while standing at the edges. We find that wide rows are convenient and productive for peas and beans. In addition to giving high yield per unit area, they cut down on weeds. Wide rows are also good for starting leaf vegetables like lettuce and spinach. When the seedlings emerge, they can be thinned and transplanted elsewhere. Double rows are a special form of wide rows.

C) Hills: In hill planting, 3 to 5 seeds are sown close to each other. They need not be sown on a formed hill, as the name implies.

This method is used for example when planting zucchini and cucumbers.

2. Gardening Tools: There are many gardening tools available on the market today. The basic tools you'll need are a shovel, trowel, steel rake, tomato cages, and a water hose or can. The shovel is used to till the soil, mix potting soil, move soil around, and cut the weeds if they grow big. Some gardeners use a fork instead of a shovel to till the soil, but we don't.

The choice is yours. The trowel is used for cultivating the weeds, transplanting the seedlings, mixing soil or fertilizers, and filling containers with soil. The steel rake is used to grade the soil and to compact the soil over the seeds. Tomato cages are indispensable for supporting tomato plants. You can also use them to support running plants such as cucumbers and peas. Without them the plants will collapse on the ground and their fruit will get into contact with the soil and eventually decay. A hose or a can is used to water the plants in the garden and within containers.

3. Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is the practice of planting each vegetable in a different location each year. The advantages of crop rotation are:

A) The chances of transmitting diseases and insects to next year's crop are very much reduced. Certain diseases and insects attack certain vegetables. These diseases and insects move from the plants to the soil, where they winter. If the same vegetable is planted in the same spot the following year, the diseases and insects will surface from the soil and attack the new plants once again.

B) Each vegetable absorbs trace amounts of specific minerals from the soil. If the same vegetable is planted in the same spot year after year, the minerals the vegetable needs to grow healthy plants will be depleted, resulting in a meagre harvest.

C) The roots of legumes (peas and beans) have bacteria that soak up nitrogen from the air and fix it on the roots of the plants and in the soil. To take advantage of the nitrogen they fix in the soil, the legumes should be followed by a leafy vegetable, such as lettuce and or spinach, which both need nitrogen-rich soil. This is one of the techniques organic growers use to grow vegetables without the use of chemical fertilizers. It may be impractical to rotate every crop each year if your garden is small.

This difficulty can be overcome by taking the following measures:

(1) choose disease-resistant vegetable varieties, (2) keep your garden clean of rubbish, and (3) watch for insects and diseases. If a plant becomes teeming with insects, pick them by hand; if a plant is infected by a disease, pull it from the ground and dispose of it.

4. Proper Gardening Clothing: In the course of gardening, your footwear and clothes are likely to be soiled. You walk on dirt and or mud, your clothes make contact with plant leaves and stems, and your hands are soiled. You are also exposed to the sun. Your shoes accumulate mud and will soil the floor if you walk directly into the house. Therefore, you should have a pair of aged shoes set aside for gardening. Put them on before going into the garden and take them off before entering the house. Leave them in the garage or put them in a bag until you use them again.

Also, have special clothes for the garden. If you don't, your ordinary clothes will be soiled no matter how careful you are. To protect your hands and fingernails from collecting dirt, use a good pair of garden gloves. Some are washable and can be reused again and again...

Please feel free to forward a copy of the "Gardening Online Newsletter" to any of your friends and associates.

Happy Gardening,

John Parker makes it easy to create beautiful gardens, quickly & easily. Learn the essential keys to lush, vibrant gardens. To receive your free gardening newsletter visit: http://www.how-to-grow-tomatoes.comIrwin Blog48729
Jeremiah Blog11150

Inventory Management Made Easy

Devising an inventory management program that will generate maximum sales and profitability requires an advanced computerized program that is difficult and costly for a retailer to implement, but should be offered as part of the supplier program.

Failure to customize video sell-through programs to the needs of individual stores most often will result in erratic sales performance and lower than expected profitability. Because the dynamics involved in achieving sell-through success are different in each store, the program must be tailored to the individual situation. A cookie-cutter approach that treats all stores within a chain as essentially the same is a sure recipe for disappointment.

The supplier must devise an inventory management program -- including the size of the section, the category of titles to be stressed, the price points to be offered, and the signage and promotions to be featured -- to the particular demographics of the store. As retailers often do not have the time or extra resources to manage the complicated section on a store by store basis, especially with the enormous number of titles involved in video sell-through, finding a supplier who provides that service is vital to cashing in on the category's full potential.

Although many suppliers are now jumping into the sell-through video marketing arena, choosing a company that has extensive video experience in the supermarket environment is important. Properly managing a sell-through section is not easy. Suppliers must not only have a large number of video titles available but also be able to analyze the section's potential for succeeding. To do that, the supplier should already be familiar with the supermarket industry and have a demonstrated ability to provide solid retail support at store level. A successful program requires constant, efficient in-store service by a fully trained, experienced service staff. The supplier must be able to execute at store level.

One solution to ensuring that the supplier selected can fulfill the program's promise may be for retailers to choose a company they already have a buying relationship with or that at least has considerable experience servicing supermarket departments.

Ensuring that the video sell-through program is managed primarily by the supplier -- rather than requiring extensive in-store labor -- can be crucial to maximizing in-store profitability. The difference between staffing the department and selling product and having to run the entire operation -- from selecting titles initially to charting sales to restocking the fixtures -- is significant and can tie up a tremendous amount of valuable time.

The best programs minimize the amount of in-store labor necessary to run the section by providing a complete inventory management service. The other option -- to manage the section in-store with minimal outside help -- is often frustrating and can eventually lead to failure.

For the latest in inventory management software and systems, see: http://www.inventorymanagementinfo.net Inventory Management.Irene Blog22796
Jie Blog79949

Bad Credit Unsecured Loan Despite, Financial Respite

It is the changing nature of man that he is susceptible to forget things in between. It happens more often than not, of taking various loans as per ones requirements; the man defers repayments due to lacking financial planning. Or, there are some who wish not to place any thing, still for availing a loan. For, the lending authority has configured a bad credit unsecured loan. This loan is offered without any sort of security placing.

Individuals having adverse credit history i.e., CCJs, IVAs, bankrupts, arrears, and defaulters attest special attention to the bad credit unsecured loan. Although, provisioning contains credit evaluation and borrowers repayment capacity and capability, owing to many lenders in money market for this loan gives a good attention to has shortened the processing time of the bad credit unsecured loan.

Amount raised by the lending authority under the bad credit unsecured loan is a minimum of 3, 000; this amount can be further increased up to 25, 000 too at best. The benefits of these loan amount borrowers get a period from 5 to 10 years.

This sanctioned amount is invested into various purposes of an individual. Renovation and improvement at home, childrens higher education, infrastructural development at businesses etc., are some of the benefits of the bad credit unsecured loan. More so, an act of debt consolidation under the bad credit unsecured loan too, is one of the best debt management a solution comes within the parameters of this loan.

In order to cover up the insurance of the bad credit unsecured loan, lenders charge a bit higher to other loans, as no collateral has been placed as of borrowers security. Lenders do not ask borrowers to offer any asset as security against bad credit unsecured loan offered. Lenders rely on borrowers profile, evaluate through information such as employment history, income level, recommendations, final payment of any previous loans etc. however, if a borrower defaults on a bad credit unsecured loan, the lender has no priority claim against any particular property of the borrower. The lender can try to obtain just a money judgement against the borrower. In such loans, the risk element is the highest for the lenders. Such lenders compensate their increased risk by offering lower amount and by charging a little higher interest. Lenders provide bad credit unsecured loan financial respite despite borrowers adversity of bad credits.

Andrew Baker has done his masters in finance from CPIT. He is engaged in providing free, professional, and independent advice to the residents of the UK. He works for the UK finance world to find more about Bad Credit Unsecured Loan, personal loans, loan, loans, unsecured loans, secured loans, debt consolidation loan, mortgage, remortgage please visit http://www.ukfinanceworld.co.uk/Hetty Blog47650
Jenci Blog69342

A Short History of the Christmas Carol

Some of our songs about Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Baby Jesus, and the holiday of Christmas are probably older than you think. Can you believe that one of the oldest Christmas carols was actually put together in the 300s? That is 1,700 years ago if you need us to do the math for you. It is believed that "Of the Father's Love Begotten," written by Aurelius Prudentius may have been the first recorded Christmas carol.

Over the years, Christian leaders have created Christmas carols to sing with their congregations and neighborhoods during the Festival of Lights. There were songs by St. Francis of Assisi, and those by Italians during the days of the Renaissance. Even the English added some Christmas carols to the mix.

Christmas carols became more popular when the famous inventor Johannes Gutenberg created his printing press around the year 1447. This machine allowed copies to be made fairly easily, so paper copies of Christmas carols could be rolled off by the dozens, even hundreds, and passed around to celebrators looking for song and fun.

Of course, around this time Christmas and Christianity were serious business. Puritans and other very stringent folks frowned upon carols, so they were not entirely popular. Whats worse, most of these paper copies were destroyed over time, by age or on purpose. From 1649 to 1660 in England, when the Puritans ruled the country, Christmas carols were banned altogether.

But it wouldnt be too long after that that one of the most famous Christmas carols of all time was created, the Messiah by George Frederich Handel. Handel first performed the song in 1742 in Ireland in true Santa spirit, as a fundraiser for charities.

Another famous Christmas carol was written around this time as well. Silent Night, Holy Night, was penned by Joseph Mohr, a priest in Austria, in 1818. He wrote the song one Christmas Eve after discovering that his churchs organ was broken. He put together a song that everyone could sing without the need for the organ, and Mohr saved Christmas for his congregation that year.

Despite all of these early songs, many of our current Christmas carols didnt start appearing until the end of the 1800s. Thats in part because the 1800s is when Christmas as a whole really started picking up steam as a holiday, and when puritanically dislike for Santa, carols, and anything fun with Christmas started to die down.

It doesnt hurt, as well, that technology now makes it so easy to spread the cheer with Christmas carols. First, there were records and radio, but now we have CDs, DVDs, MP3s, and the Internet to spread holiday cheer. Whether you favor classic carols like, Silent Night, Holy Night or new traditions like Bing Crosbys recording of White Christmas (the best selling Christmas single of all time!), Christmas carols are a long-established way to help celebrate the Christmas season.

Randy Stocklin is the co-owner of Mail from Santa Claus. Mail from Santa Claus offers memorable letters from Santa Claus that helps keep the Christmas spirit alive. For more information about Mail from Santa Claus and to purchase letter from Santa please visit http://www.mailfromsantaclaus.com/.Jelka Blog94266
Huy Thanh Blog95657

Pharm Organic Deer Repellent Safe and Effective

Always Green Nurserys Deer Pharm Organic Repellant solves one of the most lingering issues for serious gardeners in all areas of the country. How does one get rid of those annoying ruminants eating everything green that appears in the garden without destroying the plants which make up the food crop, rendering the food unfit for human consumption due to the smell or taste of the repellent, or spending all ones gardening time applying the repellent?

Deer are a year-round problem in rural area gardens. In the spring, they love to visit the new shoots of the vegetable garden or the tips of ornamental shrubbery and strip away the leaves. The hoof prints in the planted but unsprouted areas of the garden can undo in one evening what has taken hours of planting to accomplish. During the summer, the produce from the vegetable garden is mature and they have been known to mow down a row of spinach, chard or lettuce during one evenings feeding frenzy.

Fall brings new problems. As melons and vines ripen, so does the audacity of the nighttime visits. The animals are rarely content with picking and eating only one item. They have been known to move down a row of ripe melons taking a bite of one here, stepping on another there, and gnawing through a vine in yet another area. One or two animals in a garden can literally destroy a whole seasons produce in a single night.

And then there is the winter season. One would think that the dear would stay away because the garden is down to dead stalks, but nothey love dried corn stalks and may even move into lawn or shrubbery in order to forage for food. They can do serious damage to the trunks of fruit trees as they rub antlers against the wood.

Deer Pharm Organic Repellant is 100 percent safe for your children, animals and pets. Applied correctly, its undetectable to human olfactory organs after 10-12 hours, yet the deer hate it. During the early season, you can apply Deer Pharm frequently, and space out the applications as the season progresses. The product is 100% natural and contains 100% pure organic ingredients.

Jonathan Coffman is the owner of Always Green Nursery located in Columbia, MO. They are a premium grower of perennial plants to retail and wholesale customers across the country. You can buy plants, seeds, gardening supplies and more from http://www.alwaysgreenursery.com/buy-perennials.Joann Blog117
Isabella Blog68431

Charm Bracelets Basics

Besides a wedding or graduation ring, there is a piece of jewelry on the market that has the capacity to signify some of the best moments in your life. Charm bracelets are placed around the wrist with numerous decorative trinkets dangling about. These small pendants are meant to symbolize the things most important to whoever wears them.

Often, charm bracelets are started at a memorable point in a persons life, usually given to them as a gift. This is referred to as a starter bracelet and every once in a while, as new events and memories arise, the wearer will add to their bracelet. A perfect example of this is when an expectant first-time mother receives a charm bracelet. She may add to the bracelet after her child is born during various milestones. Relevant charms include baby booties, pacifier, a tooth, teddy bear and their initials.

The History of Charm Bracelets

Charm bracelets have a history dating back to the Neolithic era and were used as a way to ward off evil. The jewelry form of these amulets werent fully realized until Egyptian Pharaohs began creating charm bracelets from pieces of metal and precious stones. During the early 20th century, charm bracelets became a feverish fad as Queen Victoria began wearing them. This time, additional items were placed on the bracelets, such as glass beads, family crests and small lockets containing images of loved ones.

The Charm Bracelets of Today

Today, anyone can have an interest in charm bracelets, whether it is for the art of collecting or to display their warm memories. They are given to love ones on the day of their graduation, wedding or sweet sixteen-birthday party. Best friends, mothers and bridesmaids are also common wearers of charm bracelets. A mother may have a charm to represent each one of her children.

Charm bracelets can be obtained from catalogs, department stores, antique jewelers, as well as fashion boutiques. You never know when one will present itself. Charm bracelets and their accessories are often tucked away in hotel gift shops and art shows, as well as flea markets.

Choosing a Charm Bracelet & Charms

There are three main sizes to choose from when picking out a charm bracelet: small, medium and large. This may also determine the amount of links available for a charm. For instance, a medium bracelet provides room for 18 charms. The number of links can always be subtracted or added at any time. Once you have the bracelet, the next important thing is to collect the charms. When choosing charms, you should familiarize yourself with their meanings. For example, a ballerina signifies that your dreams will come true. Elephants stand for cherished memories and a key symbolizes a happy home.

Charm Bracelet Prices

Depending on where you purchase a charm bracelet, you will find that the market is filled with numerous price ranges. Some can cost as little as $5, while others may set you back $500. It is the quality, material and charm detail that often dictates the price of a charm bracelet. Today, Italian charm bracelets are quite popular. The age of the charm bracelet is also a factor. There are vintage pieces that date back to the 1930s that will fetch quite a high price.

Whoever is responsible for creating your charm bracelet will also influence the price. For example, a diamond and platinum charm bracelet from Tiffany & Co costs $15,000 with nature-themed charms attached, such as a dragonfly and salamander. The Louis Vuitton charm bracelet costs $25,000 and features a bottle of champagne and a charm of the world. Often, these bracelets are given as gifts without the intention of charm collecting.

Roy Dietelzieg worked in the jewelry industry for 10 years and has been writing about his reflections on jewelry philosophy. Roy currently writes articles with tips for buying Charm Bracletes at http://charmbraclete.advice-tips.com.Jingmin Blog20454
Jeana Blog46285

Celebration Of Faith

I barely remember any details on my own baptism, but my mother told me that I was named on the same day that I was baptized. It was a simple ceremony attended by relatives and close friends of my parents. And thus, I began my life as a Christian early in life. My parents organized a brief but meaningful ceremony for my baptism. There were no more that 20 people inside the church to celebrate that special occasion.

If you are organizing a baptism party for your baby, you may want to do some careful early planning to avoid possible hiccups in the event. Early planning involves making arrangements with the church, booking and confirming the venue, compiling and finalize guests list, preparing thank-you notes and gifts for all guests and the key people involved in the ceremony. If you are not sure whether you are doing the right thing, you may refer to an experienced person who had gone through the ceremony. If you have a bigger budget and do not wish to go through all the trouble, you may hire an event planner to organize the party for you. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to splurge on such occasion, so in this kind of situation, a low-key event can be organized. With proper planning and clever ideas, even low-key celebrations can be equally wonderful and meaningful.

Godfather and godmother are essential elements in a baptism ceremony. Parents of the baby must choose godparents for their child. The decision can be made earlier and the godparents are informed about it. Normally parents would appoint one godmother and one godfather for their child. In other places, the arrangement may be different. The decision is entirely for the parents to make. Parents will need to inform the godparents about their decision. Normally parents would appoint their closest and most trusted friends as godparents to their baby. Godparents also bear the responsibility as guardians of the child. Parents may choose to hold the ceremony indoors or outdoors. Garden party on a sunny, pleasant day would be nice. Reception can also be held in hotels and private clubs.

If you are organizing any event and want to avoid any possible glitches, it is best that you plan everything early and that includes sending out invitation cards. One month to two weeks prior to the actual event date is the recommended period for sending out invitation cards. Guests are given enough time to decide and inform you whether they are able to attend the event or not. Early planning benefits both the host and the guests alike.

In a traditional Baptism/Christening your baby will wear a gown during the service. This gown would be a long white or cream in color, it is worn by both girls and boys. Your family may have a gown that has been passed to them from other generations, but always purchase a new one easily.

After the solemn ritual ends, the baby's parents may hold a reception for their guests. This is a nice way of celebrating the occasion after some prayers and also good opportunity to get closely together with the guests. The host may choose to hold the reception at a restaurant, hall or at the privacy of the host's own home. If he chooses a public venue for the reception, he may have to make advance booking.

Light foods like burgers, drumsticks, fries, salads and soups are delightful treats for guests at the baptism reception. It is appropriate for the host to serve soft drinks and non-alcoholic drinks to his guests at the reception. It is important not to go overboard with the foods and drinks if the host does not wish to blow his budget. Another easy way is to order foods from the catering companies. If the host wishes for their guests to contribute or bring their own food to share with the rest, he may do so and inform them earlier about it. This is to allow ample time for the guests to make preparations.

It is a good idea to prepare a small favor for your guests. These are akin to baby shower favors and can be any small gift or trinket that your guests can take home to remind them of the ceremony. The baptism favors can be given at the ceremony, the reception, or both. It is also a common practice to give a small gift to the godparents. Guest also normally hand out small gifts to the parents, these usually consist of religious items for the baby such as bibles and rosaries unlike baby shower gifts .Last but not least dont forget to send thank-you cards or letters to all your guests to show your appreciation for coming to your childs Baptism.

Elizabeth Ellis is a leading expert in all personalized gifts and has written a number of articles related to baptism gifts, personalized photo mugs, http://www.peculiarstuff.com/Baby.htm baby shower favors and so on.Irma Blog85759
Jacob Blog4585

Getting Ready For Your 1st Ladies Night Poker Game

You have seen all of the Poker shows on t.v., your husband or boyfriend plays poker every week and now you want to Host a Ladies Poker Night. A trend that is becoming more and more popular throughout the U.S. There are certain things that you need to Host a Poker Game, and I will go through them with you now.

Because their may be many different skill levels at your 1st Home Game, it is a good idea to let everyone know what the rules are, what hands beat what, and some basic betting strategy. The easiest thing to do is to hang up the poster titled: All In- A Quick Guide To Poker Poster. This is large enough that everyone will be able to see it from their spot at the table, and will help to move the game along,

You will definitely need a set of quality poker chips. The best ones are made from clay, and the 2 top choices would be the Nexgen or Paulson Chips. The Paulson chips are used in casinos nation-wide. The most common type of chips are the composite material chips and these usually will say 11.5 gr. chip. Along with the chips, you should get some sort of carrying case...either aluminum, wood, or acrylic, and get some chip trays.

The next thing that you will need will be some cards. It is not a great idea to play poker with the cards that you get at a dollar store, or to use paper cards. The reason for this is that they will rip, tear, get bent out of shape, and if a drink spills on them, they are ruined. That is why you need to get cards made from PVC. The 2 top brands are Copag, and Kem. While the price is higher than the paper cards, you will be able to use the same decks week after week instead of replacing them thus making them the much better value.

You will need a place to play. A great starting point would be to use a table layout that will just sit on your table and look like a poker table. The next step up, and a great choice are the folding tables. Some of these will come with padded arm rests and cup holders. The obvious benefit of the folding table is that you have an authentic look and feel while you are playing but it will fold up for easy storage or for transport to next weeks Host Home. Finally if you want your Home Game to look and feel like an authentic casino experience then you Need to get the Full Size Casino Quality Poker Table.

There are some other things that you will need like a Dealer Kit. This will include a Dealer Button, Small and Big Blind Buttons as well as the missed blind button and the kill button. It also includes some chip spacers just like in the casino. You may also want to have a Tournament Timer to keep track of time between increasing blinds. Some people use a card cover/spinner to protect your cards. You need to let other players know that you are in the hand, and they should not take your cards. Some people use a coin, or a pre-fab cover/spinner while others use a bobblehead or something that is important to them(pic.of a kid)You can search for each of these items individually, or head over to www.ExecutiveGamingMonthly.com. Executive Gaming Monthly(EGM) is the first Casino Game of the Month Gift Club, and has 6 different complete Poker Packages in 3 different price points.

EGM's packages include everything that you need to Host Your

Own Game all in one place. We hand pick the highest quality products for each of the packages, so all you need to do is provide the most important thing---FOOD.

Eric Hansel is the President of Executive Gaming Monthly (EGM), the 1st Casino Game of the Month Gift Club(like a cigar of the month). He has been in sales and marketing for the past 10 years and lives in New Jersey with his wife, and son. Bring the Casino Home with http://www.ExecutiveGamingMonthly.com.Insu Blog85426
Jamal Blog59610

Cash is More Powerful than Credit!

Have you seen it? There is a new Visa commercial on TV. The setting is a busy deli where dozens of fast moving busy people are buying lunch. The sandwiches, sodas, lunch meat, veggies and condiments are flying through the air with the precision of a river dance. Everyone is happy as they approach the register to pay using a credit card. The pace is fast and well choreographed. Everything is going with incredible precision when suddenly a man approaches the register and pulls cash out of his wallet. Suddenly everything screams to an abrupt stop, people spill their food, several loud audible gasps can be heard and everyone begins to stare at this man in profound horror. The message: cash disrupts the fast pace flow of society.

Imagine for a moment that you and I are standing on a busy street having a conversation. I am holding a $20 bill in my hand. Come with me to that vendor over there and I will treat you to a latte or a coffee. Here is what will happen:

First, the vendor will smile. He will *-not-* have to pay a 1.5% + $.30 transaction credit card processing fee on the purchase we just made. If our coffee costs $8.97 and we pay with cash then the vendor will get to keep $0.43 that he did not have to pay to Visa, MasterCard or Discover. If everyone paid with cash, and 100 people purchased coffee a day, he would have an additional profit of $57.00 per day ($399 per week). But, dont worry because the vendor already figured the cost of credit into your cup of coffee. He has no choice as long as Visa brainwashes you and me into thinking that cash is a punishment and credit is king.

Second, I would not have to pay 24% interest for a cup of coffee. Visa takes money out of the vendors pocket and then takes money out of my pocket. And because I like to entertain and let my coffee habit get away from me, I could be forced to carry the balance over until next month. Wow! I have never had a cup of coffee stay with me for that long. Combined with all the other purchases of yesterday, I have nothing left for tomorrow.

Third, I will enjoy my coffee the most because I dont have to hassle with reconciling my credit card or bank statement at the end of the month. Cash is final. Cash is immediate. Cash is complete and the sale will not haunt me for ages to come.

And finally, I get my approval elsewhere. Not from a machine that blurts out the word approved as if my low self esteem needed a credit card machine to give me an ego boost. I have never been declined when paying with cash. Never embarrassed and never intimidated. I am thinking that Cash is far more powerful than credit.

So why would Visa pay such a premium to convince you that cash is a punishment for our society? Because, debt is a product. And a very profitable product at that. Think about the numbers I mentioned above. Ask your favorite vendor what they pay a month in credit card transaction processing fees. The amounts you hear will be very eye opening. Then ask your vendor for a discount when you pay with cash. Ill bet he will gladly give you one! I gladly give cash discounts for all my customers.

Wow! Imagine if I bought my next car with cash? What would that feel like? I would be a king! And then imagine if I bought all my future cars with cash. Sound impossible? It is most certainly not! We only make it impossible because we have adopted a gotta get a loan mindset that sabotages our future wealth.

The New Debt-Free Mindset is sweeping the world. Will you embrace it? Or will you pay $469,520* in Interest over the next 37 years struggling to make ends meet and saving nothing for your future? This is the prevailing question of many financial planners today. Debt is the nemesis of retirement for the average American and as debt grows, retirement funds shrink to dangerously low levels.

-- Sobering Statistics

The average family pays $4,680 in credit card interest per year. The typical credit card will be paid off in 37 years if you only make minimum payments. Over 70% of American families today live paycheck to paycheck and never touch the principle on their overwhelming debt load. After 37 years these families will have paid $182,520 in credit card, car loan and student loan interest alone. Add another $287,000 of mortgage interest and these families will have handed $469,520 to the bank over their lifetime. Was it worth it? We now understand why debt is the most heavily marketed product in the world today!

So many people are sick and tired of the negative impact debt has on their lives that they are declaring war. Myths about debt are being dispelled everyday and people are adopting this new debt free mind set as their primary defense against poverty, bankruptcy, and personal disaster. Hope has been stolen from us and we want it back! King Solomon wrote the following words nearly 3000 years ago. Take a moment to think about them.

So next time will you pay with cash or with credit? Remember that rich people pay with cash, poor people use credit. Will you be poor or be rich?

Tom Beeson is a Consumer Financial Coach, writer, public speaker, and founder of Bright Pathways Coaching Center for Abundant Living helping families to achieve financial stability and wealth. He is well known for free weekly tips on abundant living. Readers are invited to signup at http://www.brightpathways.com/.Hideaki Blog81127
Hilary Blog31509

Poker, The Cheating Game? - Part II

The introduction of the 52-card deck meant that the poker tables could now accommodate more players and there were more cards left over to draw, with each player having the chance to improve their hands. As the game of poker became more complex with the introduction of straights and flushes, so to did the complexities of cheating, as crooked gamblers had to adjust to the changing games and perfect new strategies and methods to fleece the suckers.

Collusion, whereby two or more poker cheaters would secretly partner in a game, using a series of signals to let each other know what cards they were holding, became popular with gamblers looking for a distinct advantage at the tables. The notorious marked deck was a commonly used ruse to give gamblers a secret advantage in the games. Decks of cards were marked in various ways, such as using undetectable markings on the card backsides, or nicking the edges of certain key cards in a way noticeable only to the cheater.

Some cheaters spent long hours perfecting the art of deftly manipulating cards to their advantage by second dealing or so-called bottom dealing, meaning that these experts could, for instance, hold back the top card in the deck, using the thumb of the hand holding the deck and unobtrusively deal every second card or bottom card to the other players and dealing the top card the card that would improve the cheaters hand to himself. Certainly, these maneuvers were meant for private games, and only possible to use when the gambler is dealing. and not possible in well regulated casinos where cards are dealt from shoes and multiple decks are commonly used.

But lets give the crooked gambler his due. The ability to manipulate cards to ones advantage under the direct gaze of other players requires not only a high degree of skill, but nerves of steel as well. Some cheaters take an easier path and devise ways of stealing chips from their fellow players. One method is to closely observe the players on either side and watch for an inattentive player. Then, with the use of a sticky substance hidden in his palm, the chip thief will casually lay his hand on a stray chip near the other players main stack, or palm a chip while pushing a pot toward that rounds winner. Slipping these chips into his own pile is easy, since the cheaters chips are purposefully not neatly stacked.

These various methods of cheating, among countless others, such as card counting, the use of electronic devices and a myriad other ways to cheat at cards are very difficult to accomplish in a modern casino, where the staff is well trained and observant. However, there have been occasions when crooked gamblers and casino dealers worked together, with the dealer aiding his partner in various ways, one of which was to cleverly lift the corner of each card as it is dealt, allowing the cheater to see what was being dealt to each player. Assuredly, the chances of being cheated in a well-run casino are small, but when you are gambling alertness pays off, regardless.

Kenneth Bateman writes numerous articles on the subject of poker and its players. To read more player profiles, visit http://www.xlpoker.comHylton Blog53210
Janna Blog66114

Getting A Credit Card In An Instant

Getting a credit card used to be a time-consuming business. You'd have to ring or go into your bank, fill out a lengthy form and wait for quite a while before you got a reply. Although many people are still using that method, there's now a quicker way, thanks to the Internet.

How Do I Find An Online Credit Card Application?

Most card issuers now offer online application for their credit cards. Finding one is as simple as doing an Internet search or visiting that company's website. In addition, there are several credit card comparison sites that allow users to select cards that match a range of features and then apply. Credit card applicants are required to be UK residents and over 18.

Most online credit card applications now have a summary box which gives details of the rates that apply to purchases, balance transfers and cash advances, the interest free period, fees and charges, how interest is charged and how payments are allocated. There is also a link to the detailed terms and conditions. Once you've read these, it's time to fill in the application form. Here is the information that most credit card applications ask for.

Cardholder's Name And Address

To start with, you will need to give your name. This is usually your full name no hiding that unwanted moniker from the credit card companies. They will also ask about marital status and your date of birth. Credit card companies also ask for your mother's maiden name for security purposes. Applications are only taken from the principal cardholder. This means you can't apply for a credit card on someone else's behalf. However, you can add an additional cardholder at the time of application or later.

You will also need details of your address and postcode. If you have lived at this address less than three years, you will also need to give your previous address and postcode. In essence, you need to show a three year history of where you have lived. Other contact details required include a phone number and an email address.

Home Ownership And Employment

Most companies want to know whether you own or rent your home and some may ask about the size of your mortgage payment. They will also want to know your occupation and employment status. Ideally credit card applicants should be working more than 16 hours a week.

They will also require annual income and bank details, including how long you've been with the bank. Finally, you'll have to list the types of credit cards you already have (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, store cards and so on).

All of these help credit card companies establish what level of credit risk you are and what credit rating you have.

Other Credit Card Services

Many online applications forms offer you the chance to take up additional services such as payment protection insurance, travel insurance, household insurance and much more.

You will also need to have details of any cards that need to be transferred to your new credit card.

Once you've completed all these details, you simply need to wait a short while for a response. Some card issuers respond within a minute. It's worth knowing that there will be some cases where they will ask for additional information before issuing a credit card.

Joe Kenny writes for the Card Guide, offering advice and links to UK credit cards, visit CardGuide.co.uk for more top credit cards. Hui Ling Blog37949
Jie Blog9888

Unique Hotels Around The World

Though hotels are all similar in that they all have beds and other accommodations to make staying there much more homelike, there are some very unique hotels in various parts of the world that challenge the concept of the traditional hotel.

The unique treetop hotels in Costa Rica, Kenya and other parts of the world where the hotels are built with very large living trees making up a substantial part of the hotel structure. The treetop hotel in Kenya is built into the trees surrounding a watering hole for the many species of animals that forage there. When you leave the main dining room to go back to your room you are always accompanied by a guard for protection from wild predators. The Ariau Towers in Brazil, near the city of Manaus is in the middle of the Amazon on the Rio Negro and is a similar type of living tree hotel.

Ariau Amazon Towers is another unique hotel, located 35 miles from Manaus, Brazil where the Rio Negro and Ariau Creek meet. Built entirely at the level of the Rainforest Canopy, Ariau's towers are linked together by 4 miles of strong wooden catwalks. This architectural wonder affords visitors a unique communion with the regions teeming plant and animal life while leaving the fragile eco-system completely undisturbed. Bill gates invested in the hotel and had modern telephone / internet connections installed.

Straight out of Neromancer, the Sci-Fi book by William Gibson, but only for the Japanese as of yet, the unique capsule hotels are an economy type of hotel with extremely high occupancy capabilities. Most capsule hotel compartments are only about 6 feet by 4 feet by a little over 3 feet. These hotels are not recommended for large or very tall people. This amount of space certainly gives one enough room to read or sleep, but not much else. Of course if youve got wireless internet the possibilities are considerably expanded.

Capsule hotels are not necessarily frequented primarily by lower income people, but are used by many types of people for many different reasons. For about $25-34 per night, a tired working person who stayed out too late drinking and missed the last train can get a nights rest. There are often discount rates for those wishing to nap for only a couple of hours during the day.

There are several cave hotels throughout the world in such places as Australia, Spain, Turkey, the United States and several other countries. Rooms in cave hotels typically have the entire walls or even two or three walls made out of the mountain or other hard sediment formation that the hotel is built into.

For instance there is the cave hotel in Southern Australia, an Underground hotel and casino, in Coober Pedy.

The Desert Cave Hotel allows you to experience dug-out style living, underground shops, bar and opal display areas. Sleeping underground is a very unique experience. Quiet, cool, dark and airy, the rooms seem spacious with their high ceilings.

The unique Desert Cave Hotel, famous as the only international rated underground hotel in the world, allows you to experience dug-out style living. Its the experience to enjoy if you are in the area.

They have all of the amenities, fine dining, a pool, a beautiful spa and a well equipped gym.

There is one underwater hotel in the entire world that can be reached without the aid of scuba gear which is really a unique hotel. The Utter Inn located in Lake Malaren, Sweden features one large room and visitors can simply walk down into the hotel while viewing underwater. This same company also has an undersea lodge in Key Largo, Florida that does require scuba diving to reach.

The Utter (Otter) Inn in Sweden is a small floating house with a deck for sunning. Its uniqueness is that you descend the stairs into the lake. The bedroom is like an aquarium but you are the fish. There is an inflatable boat so that you can visit a near by un-inhabited island to swim and sun. You will have to buy the deluxe package to have dinner delivered to you (by boat, of course) in the evening.

These are the few totally different and unique hotels around the world. Be adventuresome and check one or two of the out.

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Travel. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruiseGold.com You can read more of her articles at http://www.ArticleBazaar.net.Hoskuldur Blog85056
Hymon Blog66915

Make Extra Spending Money in time For Holiday Shopping

With the holidays just a few short months away, now is the time to try to get extra cash to spend on your friends, family and maybe even youself. You'll hear all over the news to try and NOT use your credit cards, as interest rates will kill you later. It can be so hard to decide how much to spend on people, and what you can afford without going broke doing it. So what can you do, in order to make that extra money you may need for the holidays? Follow our tips below to help you find that "hidden" cash that you can use now to make your holidays merry and bright.

1. Clean out your house - Look around your house/garage. Do you have anything you don't use anymore, doesn't fit, given as a gift but you didn't want it to begin with? Sell it on eBay. Take your item, do a search on eBay and see what similiar items are going for now. You can do a short 3 day sale, or a 7 day sale, depending on how quickly you need the cash. Take good quality digital photos of your item, and make sure your description covers everything. If your items are quite large, and too expensive to ship, offer a "pick up only" option, to lure those in your area to bid on your item. Be realistic about the price as well. If you start the bid too high, you may end up getting no bids at all. Many times a lower starting bid will start a bidding war in the end between people who have gotten the "auction itch" and now want your item regardless of the price. When I sell on eBay, I prefer buyers who either send me a money order, or PayPal only. It gives you better options in the end.

2. Organize a neighborhood yard sale - Get you and your neighbors together to have a commuinty yard sale. Advertise in the paper for either free, or cheaply, and then more people are likley to come if they see that there are multiple families participating as compared to just one. Make it worth their while. Have coffee and donuts available for the early birds. If they want to talk you down, bargain with them. Remember - you are trying to make extra cash so every little bit counts.

3. Cut out buying coffee/lunch for a month - If you like to have that $4.00 cafe latte every morning, and lunch at the local spot, try bringing it from home for a month, and see how much you can save. Put the money you would've spent that week in a jar. By the end of the month you could have anywhere between $80 - 200 dollars at the end of the month, depending on how much you were spending.

4. Offer your services - If you bake well, or are crafty, tell your friends that you'll make those school cookies, or teacher's gifts for a nominal fee. Some parents may even like it if you delivered those items as well, which you could add to your cost.

5. Look in the paper for temp jobs - if you have the time, perhaps only on the weekend, see if local stores are offering seasonal jobs that would give you extra spending money. Even better would be an employee discount, where you could use your extra cash for gitf buying.

There are many other ways for you to come up with extra spending money for the holidays. Don't let the credit card companies lure you into thinking that you can spend up to your limit. You can easily and creatively have a great holiday season without breaking the bank. Good luck to you all!

S.W. Chadwick has been working in online businesses from home since 2000. She has written dozens of articles regarding entrepreneurial pursuits and online businesses. To learn more about working from home, please visit http://www.dowhatyouloveandmakemoney.com. Copyright 2006, S.W. Chadwick, All Rights ReservedJackie S Blog94104
Insu Blog45629

22 Year Old Millionaire

Who is this 22 year old rich kid called Mark Warren? What do we know about him? We know he has over a million dollars in his banking account and have millions more! We have seen the proof! Well he must be a university graduate maybe gone to Princeton?.

I was intrigued, wanted to find out more!

This is his story!

He is just like you and I, Mark is indeed 22 he does have millions but he is a high school drop out who had a Dream of making it big on the internet.

He did not want to work for a Boss and have to depend on overtime to make ends meet.

HE WANTED MORE!

My only regret is that I did no know about him six months ago when I also decided that I wanted to create my own online business empire!

Over the last 6 months, I had bought every program I could lay my hands on .. all promised instant riches 15 min from now!. You must have seen dozens of those before. What they also promised was if I got stuck they would be there for me. Well I got stuck pretty quickly and needed assistance. Out of the 30 emails I sent to the various companies that were only to happy to take my money from me buying their programs, I got one reply! In fact they phoned me personally to invite me to join their VIP program where they would teach me the ropes. After half an hours conversation I was so exited by the prospect of this opportunity, only to be told that it would only cost me between $6,000 - $10,000 to join? I cant help thinking once you reach the $6000 mark do they withhold the rest of the information? Reality sent in and I realized that I was on my own.

Then I heard about this kid who has created this amazing program. Yeah Right! My first thought was that this is just another charge on my credit card that his program will end up gathering dust on my shelf!

How wrong I was!

NOT WITH MARK!!!

The first day I bought the program I sent off my first request for assistance and within an hour I had a reply. Now that is what I call support! And I was not charged a dime for the information that I received!

Not only did he offer to build a website FREE of charge for me he also gave me enough information (the right information) to get me started with the promise of support on demand! Invaluable when you are starting out.

What more can you ask for!

Starting your own internet business can be as daunting if not more that a normal everyday business. There are so many companies out there bombarding you with idle promises that in the end all you have is information overload. Not to mention worse off financially than ever before!

My Internet Business experience can be divided into two categories.

Before Mark and After Mark.

Before Mark.. I had credit card debt due to the rubbish information that I had to pay dearly for. NO support from any of the companies that I bought programs from. No money coming in regardless of what I did to promote their programs.

Now After Mark

What you will get when you join Marks VIP club is a customized website plus products to sell and all the support you need to create a very profitable business for yourself. (However, this is time sensitive and I dont know for how much longer this offer will be available!)

All the tools and downloads In fact I call it my ONE STOP SHOP INTERNET BUSINESS! And all that for peanuts money!

You are not going to start making money 15 minutes from now!! That statement just makes my blood boil! But with the solid foundation that Mark will supply you, you will start seeing money rolling in very, very quickly! I can GUARANTEE that!

If you are really serious about starting your own Internet Business and have the Drive and Desire to succeed, I suggest after sifting through all the other offers out there of which 99% are scams to check out Marks program.

Where were you when you were 22 years old? Odds are nowhere near where this kid is right now! It is never too late! Check out this website! It WILL change your life!

http://www.adwordsforyou.com/money

Ken RadianJoann Blog50594
Jeannie Blog44577

Avoid Credit Card Late Fees!

Late payments can turn an otherwise normal credit card balance into an unbearable burden. Some credit cards charge incredibly high amounts as punitive fees when you fail to pay on time. Thus, you should avoid such situations as the road to bankruptcy is a one way path and late payments are the first steps.

You may think it somewhat overstated but the truth is that most people who end up defaulting and ruining their credit score for many years start by missing payments and paying late. Fees pill up, interest rates grow and before you know you cant even pay the minimum. Believe me when I say, if action is not taken, thats the beginning of the end.

The advice would be then: Avoid paying late and NEVER miss a payment. If your financial situation is complicated you may find the following guidelines useful to avoid penalties and bad notes on your credit report that may compromise your ability to get finance in the future:

Dont just pay, pay in time and form

Lawyers have a saying he who pays wrong, pays twice. Pay before payment is due, if possible a week before or more. Otherwise, if something comes up you wont have enough time to solve it and youll get penalized. What you may think justifies your late payment surely doesnt make it for the credit card issuer. Within your credit card bill youll find all the instructions regarding payment. Follow them accurately; pay where you are supposed to pay, how you are supposed to pay and when you are supposed to pay.

Cant pay full? Always pay the minimum!

If you dont have money to pay the whole balance, dont worry. But you should always pay the minimum. In fact even if youll be able to pay more in a week or two, pay the minimum amount required first. You can always add up to it by sending additional payments. As soon as your credit card bill arrives you should have the minimum set aside and you should pay it immediately. Once you are sure you wont be charged a late fee, you can always consider paying a higher amount. But youll rest assured that no additional fees will be added to your next bill.

Skip-a-payment services

Make sure your credit card issuer offers this service. A Skip a payment service lets you request a waiver on your payment that month when something unexpected happens and you cant pay on time or in full. Use this service wisely as it usually can be used only once a year. So make sure the current situation is really an emergency and you have no other means to solve your problem. Obviously this service has a cost and youll have to pay it the following month so ensure that the fee for such a service is not larger than the amount youll be saving for not paying late fees.

Change your due date

Finally, if your credit card bill arrives at a time on the month you dont have enough money to cover it and the due date is just too close to your payment date, just contact your credit card issuer and ask them to move the due date to a more comfortable day on the month so you can be sure youll have time to arrange payment if there is any problem.

Bryan Quinn is a financial advisor with more than thirty years of experience in the field of finance who aids people undergoing financial problems and helps them obtain personal loans, home loans, student loans and grants, consolidation loans, car loans and many other financial products regardless of their credit situation. For more smart tips on Credit Cards and Bankruptcy you can visit http://www.badcreditloanservices.com and also learn more about other financial options.Iosif Blog53923
Herve Blog14122

Where To Market Your Santa Letters?

So, youve decided to start a Santa Letter Business. Youve got your kit, ink, stationery and some little goodies for the envelopes.

Youre ready to start processing orders. But, before you get too excited, you still have some marketing to do. Even though there is a demand for Santa Letters, you still have to make it easy for people to find you by marketing about your service.

You have three basic options for selling your letters.

Sell the Letters offline via Order Forms

This is a great alternative to those who are not interested in working online. Create order forms and deliver them to local preschools, baby sitters and daycares. If youre business-savvy you may consider marketing your offer as a fundraiser to encourage the preschools to recommend the Santa Letters to family and friends. Turn your customers into your sales force.

Sell them on auction sites like eBay

This time of year many people are shopping at eBay. Not only that, but they are searching for words like Santa and Holidays so your letter offer stands a good chance of getting viewers. Of course, youll want to position yourself to get as many visitors as possible to your letter auction.

Create a website where you can sell your letters year-round

This is, of course, another option for selling your Santa Letters. If this is too intimidating to you, there are easy site builder options that you can utilize that make creating a website as easy as creating a Word Document.

Each of these methods has benefits, and they dont have to be mutually exclusive. You can do all three set up an online store, sell on eBay, and do a fundraiser at your childs school by sending home order forms! Why not? Have a wonderful, and profitable Holiday Season!

Nicole Dean is the Publisher of several e-guides online, including the Santa Letter Kit. Stop by http://www.SantaLetterBusiness.com to learn how you can start a Santa Letter Business and make extra money this holiday season.Joann Blog117
Jackie S Blog34267

Pashmina Shawls... The Old Is New Again!

Pashmina shawls! Imagine this...you have to dress and you're expecting it to be cold...and it is. But, when you get into your warm office, it gets too hot.

Is there some way that you can find a balance? ...a happy medium that can help you feel warm when you want to be warm and cool down when you need to do that also? And at the same time feeling fashionable? It sounds like an impossible order to be accomplished. Can it be done?

Well, yes it can. What kind of fashion garment do you need to turn your winter wardrobe blues into winter wardrobe bliss? It's hard to feel good about your clothing you wear when the temperature drops and you're stuck wearing the same thing day in and day out. It really feels like your options are so limited as soon as snow appears on the ground.

Of course the answer are pashmina shawls. They are a comfortable, soft type of wool that feels and looks luxurious. A shawl allows you to keep warm when you need to but is convenient to carry and stow when you don't need it. Just roll it up and put it in your office drawer or over your lap if you're wearing a skirt. Then, when you need to go outside, wrap it around you and you're ready to go!

These fashion items are versatile, practical, and in vogue. Scarves aren't just for your shoulders they also make beautiful, stylish head wraps for women who want to cover their heads. This could be for religious, fashion, or medical (chemotherapy) reasons.

There are so many reasons why you should wear one of these soft and warm garments. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, and with or without fringes so you have a wide choice to choose from. Get several and match them with a variety of outfits to multiply the potential outfits you have in your closet.

Why not put together a great pair with jeans and a top for a stylish look on a date or out with your friends? Or, wrap one around you to feel comfortable at the office (many offices are kept far too cold!). Or, surround yourself in a soft cashmere that matches your formal dress for those winter special occasions. They look great and you'll feel great in them. They bring so much versatility to your wardrobe and bring a sense of refined fashion sense to how you carry yourself.

You don't find that combination very often. Remember, these fashion statements have been around since the dawn of time and were used by women in various cultures for both practical and fashionable purposes. That's no different today.

You'll love yourself in one of these soft, luxurious pashmina shawls around your shoulders. Also, don't forget to keep it together with a brooch pin. Shopping for the perfect brooch to match your wrap is almost as fun as shopping for the perfect scarf.

Meryl Rougeaux owns and operates http://www.FashionScarvesandShawls.com. With hundreds of fashionable scarves and shawls to choose from.Jeannette Blog37925
Jeffrey Blog84650

Get Rid of those Bills Credit Card Debt Consolidation Loans

A credit card acts as temporary money for you. It allows you to make spending when you are short of cash or if you are uncomfortable in carrying too much cash in your pocket. But it is not freeyou get the bill at the end of every month for the value of all the spending you had done during the month through the credit card. And you are required to pay these credit card bills on time as banks and financial institutions are very strict regarding these payments. A little delay and be ready to pay the charges for the penalty and fine. This is the story of a single piece of plastic known as credit card. The situation become worst, when you are carry too many of them. So, when these credit card debts become unmanageable, you can take the help of credit card debt consolidation loans.

Credit card debt management loans helps you pay all the existing debts for credit cards which you are carrying. These loans are easily available in the loan market with large number of lenders. Also, in order to attract borrowers, lenders are continuously reducing the interest rates on these loans. So, a research among these loan lenders through online option can be beneficial for you in choosing a loan lender for credit card debt consolidation loans. You can apply for the credit card debt consolidation loans with or without offering the collateral to the lender.

There are various steps which you can take along with going for a Credit Card debt consolidation loans to get back the control over your credit card bills. These include attending credit counseling, planning a budget according to your income, close your credit card accounts which you dont use, making cash purchases wherever possible, using debit cards, transfer your balance to the credit card with lowest interest rate. All this steps will make the loan more effective. This will also give you the freedom from the stress and anxiety which you may be facing due to threatening calls and legal letter from your creditors to repay the credit card debt.

While filling an application form for a credit card debt consolidation loan through online option you need to fill simple details about your personal information, residential and employment status, loan amount required and an idea of your credit score. The lender once convinced will call you back for further assistance.

Credit card debt consolidation loans considers homeowners, non-homeowners, employed and self-employed, people with bad credit etc. So you dont have to worry about your status to apply for a credit card debt consolidation loan, which can serve you with a debt free life.

Alex Jonnes is associated with Easy Debt Consolidations. He is Masters in Business Administration and writes on various finance related topics. To find credit card debt consolidation loans,Debt consolidation loan bad credit, online debt consolidation loan, easy debt consolidations visit http://www.easy-debt-consolidations.co.ukJennie Blog69124
Jennipher Blog2054

How To Develop A Marketing Plan That Will Make Your Small Business Sales Explode

Along with your business plan, your small business marketing plan is one of the most important long-term plans youll make for your small business. Some small business owners choose to ignore that advice, instead preferring to fly by the seat of their pants, so to speak, to wing it. While some of those small business owners are successful, theyre not nearly as successful as they could be had they laid out a well-defined small business marketing plan. Brandt Stohr advises business owners to create a well laid out marketing plan

Small business marketing strategy step 1: Know your market

The first step Brandt Stohr advises in developing a successful small business marketing strategy is to make sure that you have a really solid handle on your target market. Ask yourself: Who are my customers? Once youve identified who they are, ask yourself: What are my customers problems? What are their dreams and aspirations? The surest way to answer those questions, of course, is to ask your customers themselves. Even if you cant afford to hire a small business marketing firm that will conduct focus group tests for you, you can do your own simple survey by hitting the streets and talking to those people you plan to sell to (and make contacts at the same time!). Youd be surprised how powerful that simple task is yet how few businesses do it. Brandt Stohr advises to find a starving market first and then feed it!

Small business marketing strategy step 2: Know yourself

The second step in developing your small business marketing strategy is to get to know yourself (your business), once youve gotten to know your customers. Ask yourself: What does my business do? How is my business different than my competitors? How does my business help solve my customers problems or help them achieve their dreams? Brandt Stohr advises answering these questions will help you to define your unique selling proposition those aspects that set you apart from your competitors.

That unique selling proposition should become your brand your businesss identity. Your brand is what will pervade all of your marketing materials and what your customers will use to identify you. Brandt Stohr advises his clients on the importance of diligently developing your brand as part of a successful small business marketing strategy cant be overstated.

Small business marketing strategy step 3: Analyze your competitors small business marketing strategies

Once youve developed your brand that unique identity that tells your customers who you are and how youre different you can begin thinking about how youre going to actually market your business. First, look at your competitors small business marketing strategies. Are there obvious gaps that you could fill (and thereby stand out among the competition)? For example, if you see that none of your competitors have websites, you could stand out with a small business marketing strategy online.

Wherever you market your business, it must be where your customers are. For example, small business marketing online will be a waste if none of your potential customers use the Internet. Likewise, you may think that writing a monthly column in your local newspaper would be a great way to advertise your services and establish yourself as an expert; but if none of your potential customers read that paper, that small business marketing strategy will fail. Brandt Stohr teaches his clients to get to completely know your clients lifestyles, hobbies, habits, attitudes intimately.

At this point, your small business marketing strategy will not only be defined by where your customers are and what your competitors are doing, but it will also depend on your small business marketing budget. A full-page spread in a national magazine may be the best way to reach your target audience, but if you cant afford to shell out tens of thousands of dollars, its not the small business marketing strategy for you.

Wherever your small business marketing plan takes you, the careful development of your small business marketing strategy by knowing your market, knowing your business, and analyzing your competitors strategies will be a critical determinant of your long-term business success.

Brandt Stohr, the Small Business Marketing Genius has brought startup one man operations to billion dollar corporations by using creative marketing techniques rather then investors and capital. Brandt has been helped hundreds of entrepreneurs to get their small businesses exploding with sales without the use of expensive traditional marketing techniques. For more information and a free report on the ten deadly mistakes most small businesses are still making visit Brandt Stohr's site at http://www.smallbusinessmktng.comHiroyuki Blog49748
Jared Blog52224