German deformed steel bar market continues on downward trend

It is reported that the German deformed steel bar market has stayed in downward trend recently.

It's learned that the quotes of deformed steel bars with diameter of 12mm have fallen to EUR 550 per tonne from EUR 580 to EUR 590 per tonne in three weeks ago in German market. The actual transaction prices were at EUR 540 per tonne.

However, buyers preferred to purchase in accordance with their requirements instead of placing huge amounts of orders as the scrap prices continued falling in October 2012.

Thus, it's predicted that German deformed steel bar market would remain weak in the short term.

Source - www.yieh.com)

Steel distributor Tibnor inks a group wide agreement with Peab

The Nordic steel distributor Tibnor and the Nordic construction and civil engineering company Peab has signed a group wide agreement of reinforcing and long products deliveries in Sweden, Norway and Finland.

The deepened collaboration begins during the end of 2012 and is a complete solution including material and value add services within logistics, production and administration.

Mr Mikael Nyquist CEO of Tibnor said that "We are very pleased that Peab selected Tibnor as the complete solution provider for reinforcing and long products deliveries. It is evidence that we have a joint view on long-term development projects and partnerships. The group-wide agreement will be a significant volume for our production and logistic system in the Nordics."

Source - SSAB

Steel Square Bars For Your Roof

Mild steel frameworks make perfect materials for roofs. The steel flat bars have become rather well-known to builders. Recently they have become the popular choice for making different shapes of steel and for framework fabrication. They come in quite a range of sizes and designs, and are being sold by different companies so it will be quite easy for you to choose what you like, to make sure that it fits within your budget.

You may be the type who is into the aesthetic of the material or perhaps you are concerned solely on the durability. Whatever your specific need or demand, there is definitely a steel flat bar for you. As a matter of fact, steel flat bars have become rather fashionable nowadays so they can fit well into your homes. You just really have to be careful with making your choice; taking into account durability and quality, all the time, not just price.

The great demand for flat bar have been graciously met by manufacturers who willingly lowered each of their rates to be able to compete with other brands. The trouble with such a phenomenon though is that to be able to lower the price, consumers have to make do with lower quality products. They lower their prices to be able to compete with each other but they can only do so if they lower the cost of production. In the end, consumers end up suffering the cost with houses being unstable after construction and crumbling away with the money they have spent.

A better option for building houses, therefore, is to use steel square bars instead. They are as versatile as flat bars and can be used in different kinds of fabrication purposes, but since they have smaller surface areas, they are more durable and can withstand greater pressure.

It does not really matter whether you are the homeowner, the construction firm owner, or a lowly builder, your responsibility in the construction of a house or a building is not something that can be taken lightly. After the whole building or home is finished, it will be occupied by people whom you may know, and always keep in mind that when you are building the structure, there is no room for making mistakes.

You will be responsible for any accident that may happen and if the building collapses and it falls on someone who ends up getting hurt or worst, dead, you will be answerable for this.

If you cannot afford quality steel flat bars and are hesitant on purchasing a couple of surplus materials, then you are doing the right thing by ordering a couple of steel square bars instead. Steel square bars are as versatile as a typical flat bar and you can use it for a variety of things. Do not ever try to compromise quality just to be able to save. There are things that require top grade materials and for construction you should always take into consideration the lives who will be occupying this as soon as it is complete.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3428584

Selling Steel Reinforcing Bars (Rebar)? Lear How Factoring Can Help You Grow

Companies that sell reinforcing steel bars (or concrete bars - also known as Rebar) have seen a boom in recent years. Many cities have seen a surge in residential and commercial real estate projects, which in turn has increased the demand for Rebar.

Companies that sell, cut and bend Rebar have profited nicely from this growth - however, they have also faced a common problem in the industry. The problem is tight cash flow. Basically, they sell the Rebar to customers (e.g. builders, contractors) at good prices. These customers usually pay their invoices in 30 to 60 days. In the meantime, the Rebar company must wait to get paid while covering all supplier, payroll and rent expenses. Many times, this is not sustainable. Either the company stops growing, or worse, it starts missing key supplier or employee payments.

Going to the bank to get business financing is not always the best solution. Why? Banks seldom finance companies in the Rebar industry. And before they finance a company, they need to see a detailed business plan, three years worth of company financials and owners with good personal credit. Also, they take months to make a decision. However, there is a better solution problem - the solution is to factor your receivables.

Factoring receivables provides your company with an immediate advance on the slow paying invoices. This gives you the necessary cash to pay suppliers, employees and rent. And as opposed to bank financing, invoice factoring is easy to obtain.

This is how accounts receivable factoring works:

1. You sell the Reinforcing Bars to your client. You send them an invoice

2. You send a copy of the invoice to the factoring company, who advances you up to 85% of its value

3. Once the customer pays for the invoices, you get the remaining 15%, less the service fee

Factoring companies charge differently for their services, but the cost is generally anywhere between 1.5% and 3% per month. Price varies based on financing volume and on the quality of your invoices.

The biggest difference between factoring financing and bank financing is that factoring is very easy to obtain and quick to set up. Most companies can obtain a substantial line of financing in as little as 5 days. Although not widely used in the reinforced bar industry at this time, it's an ideal source of working capital that is quickly gaining popularity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/472737

New concrete reinforcement product to replace steel bar

Construction company Pan Mixers South Africa (PMSA) and Basalt Technology, which is a part of the PMSA group of companies, have launched a concrete reinforcing product made of crushed and melted basalt rock.

PMSA consists of a group of companies which work together with a common outcome to provide concrete equipment, solutions and technologies to concrete manufacturers and producers.

“Basalt Technology, which joined [the PMSA group] has brought in StoneRod, a trademark product it has started marketing,” says PMSA marketing manager Quintin Booysen.

“StoneRod is a basalt fibre material that serves as an alternative to industry-standard steel and E-glass concrete reinforcement for numerous industrial applications,” he adds.

Booysen mentions that instead of steel, Basalt Technology will be using StoneRod in rebar for concrete work.

He also believes this new technology will help the industry expand, as it provides different parameters to steel.

Being the only company that currently imports basalt into Southern Africa, Booysen says there has already been good response to this technology from the universities where a trial run was undertaken.

“StoneRod has not been used commer- cially in South Africa yet but we have started testing it at the civil engineering departments of two local universities to provide quantitative results from testing the new technology,” he says.

He adds that there has been a positive response from the head of the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at one of the universities, who says that he and the university has been waiting for a long time for this kind of technology, as the department needs to find new and innovative ways of providing civil engineers with new and innovative technologies for concrete structures.

“Basalt rock is transformed into fibres by taking the rock in its purest form and melting it, before drawing it through dies. The material can then be spun to produce a twisted yarn, or it can be a single filament material,” says Basalt Technology director Gordon Forrester.

He adds that StoneRod is corrosion proof and its tensile strength is 1 200 MPa. It is rust resistant, which means the concrete does not become distressed.

In coastal regions, there is very high corro- sion, which means that conventional reinforce- ment steel bar has to be deeper and requires more cover from the concrete, which has to provide protection for the steel bar so that the salt does not ingress and corrode the steel.

Before the introduction of the StoneRod, E-glass and stainless steel were the two materials used to overcome the problem, but they are costly.

The StoneRod can be pushed closer to the surface and it will not corrode or rust because it is a natural stone and not a metal.

Booysen says StoneRod is also cost-efficient, which he believes will be advantageous for the construction sector.

“We believe that, in future, we will reduce costs by having higher-performance material like the StoneRod and with a much higher tensile strength compared with steel.

“StoneRod is about 80% lighter than steel, which results in lower transport costs, he adds.

As a result of the differences between the steel and StoneRod, PMSA is planning to build a training centre in 2013, where it will host seminars and showcase the StoneRod material and its full complement of concrete equipment.

“We are planning to have lectures for engineers and architects to learn more about PMSA’s full product range and offering, as well as about industry trends.

“With the advent of high-performance concrete, we believe we will be able to create new structures that will bring a new pool of skills into the market, which will hopefully create more jobs,” says Booysen.

Despite the decline in construction work after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, PMSA believes there will be growth moving forward.

“We cannot have drought forever; at some point, it will have to end. The current political instability in South Africa will create economic instability if government is unsure of its focus moving forward,” Booysen adds.

PMSA believes there are opportunities in Africa, which South African countries can pursue for business.

Booysen says there is a growing demand in the developing regions of Africa, which are still rich in minerals and resources. A lot of resources in Africa are allocated for international use and many international countries are looking at South Africa as the hub of the continent.

“If we can show that we are an efficient economy with a stable government, that will also help to create jobs indirectly for South Africans,” he notes.

Edited by: Chanel de Bruyn

Resource : http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/new-concrete-reinforcement-product-to-replace-steel-bar-2012-07-20

Maid Service Can Help You Keep Dust Away

Whether you own or rent your place of residence, you need to keep it clean, but don't always have time to do it right. For years, cleaning the home has been considered the woman's job, but since we have many women in the work force now, it has become important to hire a maid service. No matter what the reason is that you struggle keeping a clean house, you may want to consider hiring someone to give you that needed edge before company comes to town. Many homeowners today also are not familiar with the cleaning.

Maid service is any outside company that specializes in cleaning homes or businesses for profit. Maids are often thought of, as being females who work in the homes of the wealthy, but in today's society, can also be domestic workers employed in the homes in the middle class as well. The tasks they perform include cooking the family meals, cleaning, walking the family pet, caring for the children, and shopping for the family groceries.

You may consider using a maid service for several different reasons. These could include the culture of where you live, you just had a baby and could use some extra help, don't have the time due to family or occupational responsibilities, or that you can afford it.

When you are looking for a maid service you want to make sure that you are choosing one that you can trust and will supply workers that are reliable so that you can depend on them being at your home or place of business when they are scheduled. The best way to find one is to go through an agency. This will give you the piece of mind that you need because each person who works for the agency has had background checks performed. The agency will also make sure that the maids understand what is expected of them, in case there are language barriers that make communication more difficult. Choosing your maid through an agency will also make it so that you are not liable if there is anything wrong with their ability to work in the United States and that they are being paid properly since they will do all the paperwork for you. It will also assure that you will be hiring a trustworthy house cleaner so that you can leave your home in her care while you work or if you have errands to run.

When you are looking for a company to clean your home, you want one that makes you comfortable so that you can enjoy some time for relaxation without worry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7119794

The Courage to Fail Well

We can become so stilted toward success in life that we become morbidly fearful of failure. When the drive to achieve sets the compass of all our hopes, there is little room or toleration for missing the mark.

Our very hunger for success may just be the thing that keeps us from true success - the liberation of our person. Only when we are free to fail, abjectly free to remain happily broken, not fearful at all of disappointing people, are we relaxed regarding performance.

And let's get it straight, life is all about performance.

It seems a core competency in the vanguard toward maturity, that failure would become accepted - not as an end in itself, but as an important means compelling us to a better end.

GOING AGAINST THE THEME OF LIFE

It can be hard going against the theme of life, especially regarding our personal preferences for success and others' expectations that we would be successful.

But the success-at-all-costs approach fails because it is so fearful of failure. It doesn't have an answer for failure. It may even be confounded by it.

Going against the theme of life, which is the aberrant passion for success, is not about attracting failure per se - for who would do that? It is more about seeing failure as a necessary part of every journey of success. No one can taste success every time.

How would we learn to improve if we never failed? How would we be inspired to win if we never lost? How would we connect with compassion and sorrow if all there was were bliss and happiness? The experience of failure actually makes us more rounded individuals. We become better winners for having lost. And when we can lose, yet we don't give up, then we have assumed the attitude of a true winner.

BEYOND EMBARRASSMENT AND HUMILIATION

The essence of failure is the feeling of replete exposure. The outworking of such emotion is generally embarrassment and humiliation. Courage is required in meeting these emotions. These are paradoxical concepts. Where we fail, we most need courage.

Getting beyond embarrassment and humiliation, without denying the failure that has occurred, is reliant on how well we can draw on courage. Courage in this way is the ability to handle truth truthfully.

When we don't have to hide the truth, and we can live with ourselves beyond the embarrassment and humiliation, no failure can defeat us; not ultimately.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7121459

Bandage Dresses Are Here For the Taking!

Bandage dresses, better known in Hollywood as "bodycons" (body-conscious), is a type of apparel for females which have recently become very popular in any fashion-forward spot in the world nowadays. The bandage dress is so popular it already has its nickname just like when the "little black dress" was given the nickname of "LBD". Bandage dresses are famous for its body-hugging figure which is why it is usually made from stretchable fabric so as to fluidly fit the body like mold. Known as clothes for the "body conscious", the idea behind these dresses is to flaunt those curves in a very flattering way using the wearer's own body silhouette. Bodycons are not just obviously sexy but it also exudes a high level of confidence and elegance to modern women knowing that their curves leave very little to everyone's imagination.

ARE BODYCON DRESSES JUST A ONE HIT WONDER?

Today, bandage dresses are all the rave not just among Hollywood A-listers but also among many teens and young professional females. The arrival of bandage dresses in the fashion scene is much like the advent of skinny jeans where people would wonder why it is only "in" now when it in fact it is such a no-brainer must-have item that works its magic on every body type. Additionally, it compliments almost any other accessories and fashion item paired with it. Bandage dresses are definitely here for the taking just like when skinny jeans were here to stay.

A STAPLE ITEM

Sharing the limelight with LBD as the "staple" item in every girl's closet, bandage dresses come in various colors, patterns, prints and designs. While the bodycon dress is already sexy and flattering on its own, designers even added spice to this piece of clothing by combining it with other colors, sexy-illusion patterns, sheer cloths, embellishments and crochets, color-blocking techniques, and using glittery or shimmering fabric or metallic colors which are very hot in the fashion scene these days.

GETTING INTO THE RIGHT SHAPES AND CURVES

Bodycons give more reasons for modern women to hit the gym and watch their carbohydrates count. Bandage dresses is the ultimate dream wear for women who want to achieve a curvier physique and a more well-defined shape which can be shown off in just about any type of clothing.

One more reason to have this piece of clothing aside from its clear-cut sexy and sultry shape is that bandage dresses to do not cost a fortune. Unlike other trendy items which would cost one an arm and a leg, bandage dresses are available in many online shops and physical stores which come in great deals and a myriad of selection for every woman's unique taste. Also, because it is very much coveted these days, they even come in discounted prices giving women all the reasons to reward themselves with one of this popular apparel.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7120735

The Most Essential Tips for Creating an Advertisement for Facebook (Part 2)

It's important to create a compelling advertisement for Facebook when branding your business online. You're most likely on this popular social network in order to drive sales and traffic to your online presence. You want to create buzz for your products or services and using Facebook ads can really help speed this process along. Before you create your ad, consider these tips before you spend gobs of money.

Know Where to Direct Your Customers

If you want to sell something outright to your audience, there's no point in directing someone to your Facebook page that doesn't have an extension to your online store or website. There's really no reason to make this process any more difficult. If your advertisement presents a special discount on purses, give them a link that leads them directly to your web page where they can buy the purses at discount. You only have a few seconds to convince them to buy so take full advantage of those seconds to maximize your return on investment from the money you're spending on the ads.

Target Your Physical Market

If you're selling products to just one state or city, limit the presentation of your ads to a specific state or city. There's no point in showing your ads to Facebook users in Dubai if your actual market is in Dallas. Every ad impression should bring you closer to a sale, so by limiting your viewership geographically, you are zeroing in on real potential customers.

Your Market's Interests

If you want to draw people in based on what they like, you'll want to focus on genuine human interests instead of lone keywords. An individual interested in vegetarian and health foods might also be interested in environmental issues or products since so many of these individuals like to purchase organic products that are also good for the environment. You definitely want to broaden your scope when creating content if your audience is geographically based.

Utilize Existing Customer Data

Do you already know where your ideal target audiences are on Facebook? Use the knowledge you already know from previous business data to determine where they are. When you are buying ads, it's better to know where they live, what interests them, and how you can find them online.

Create Custom Ads

Another method is to create custom advertising campaigns for specific population segments and specific interests of people who you believe will respond to your ads. Just because you have 1 product doesn't mean you have to create one specific ad. Create several ads for different demographics or related interests and see which ads do best. If you owned a pet store, you probably wouldn't advertise the same way for singles living in the city with pets compared to a family of 4 living in the suburbs. Although both are customers and pet owners, they may react differently based on lifestyle preferences.

It's beneficial to really know your market when creating advertisements for Facebook. Creating an ad doesn't have to be a difficult process, but it does take the knowledge of what your customers are looking for in order to get them involved with your Facebook page and your website. Users don't log-in to Facebook every day to shop, but we are a buying culture. If we see something that interests us, whether it be a discount or for a personal hobby, we'll click an ad link to learn more. Use this information to create greater traffic and future sales for your growing business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7106793

How to Write a Successful eBook - Part I

I've chosen an unusual title for this article. It's a title that is somewhat subjective since the definition of success is not the same for everyone. In this article I will explain why there really only should be one primary definition for success for the aspiring eBook author. I'll also provide helpful information about choosing a niche.

To answer the question posed in this title, I will provide a couple actions in this article. Okay, lets dive in.

Determine that your definition of success will be to help others. If your only goal for writing eBooks is to make money then you will probably fail. Most markets are just too competitive. You may make a few sales here and there with this mindset, but it won't change your life. On the other hand, if you truly desire to add value to others by providing information via your eBook that will solve their problem, relieve their pain or help them get unstuck, then you can probably sell your eBook even in competitive niches.

How do you determine to change lives with your eBook? By making the content as valuable as possible and by connecting with your prospects through relationships and accessibility. The benefit of having this mindset tremendous. People will trust you and will be more likely to buy from you.

Decide on a topic (niche). What do you want to write about? Is there a topic in which you are an expert? Perhaps you are currently a professional (e.g., doctor, counselor, trainer, etc.) and you want to help more people by packaging your knowledge in an eBook.

Perhaps you don't have knowledge in a particular area that can be used for an eBook. If this is the case, then you'll need to get an education in a particular area first. This isn't as hard as it seems. It's not like you'll need a four-year degree to learn enough information to write an eBook. Actually, you could find four or five good books on a specific topic, study them and use this newly acquired knowledge to create your eBook. Just make sure that you're learning about a topic in which a demand already exists.

Hopefully this information has helped you understand the initial steps required to write a successful eBook. If you desire to use your knowledge for the purpose of truly helping others, then writing an eBook is a fantastic way to accomplish this goal.

By the way, would you like to know the steps for writing eBooks? Download my free guide today to learn how:

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7106777

How To Repair Over Exposed Flower Photos Using Lightroom

Flower photography is one of the most stunning aspects to photography. Not only are flowers abundant, but they are the personification of beauty. It's painless to capture a stunning flower photo, although every now and then we come across a predicament.

In order to capture delightful flower photos we first have got to be able to have a target in mind. This means we must know what the outcome isend result looks like i.e. in what way we want the final photograph to appear. A cool way to do that is to have a checklist.

On your checklist ought to be methods that assist to create beautifully clear flower photos. At the top of your list should be what light to shoot in. (More on this in a jiffy). Also, it is a good idea to have a sturdy tripod so your camera is kept as motionless as possible. The tripod permits for sharp photos. Thirdly, shoot RAW rather than Jpeg. When you shoot in RAW you produce the finest quality in your shooting and the photograph will stay in good quality for a lot of years.

Photography is all about getting the right lighting for your flower photo, and given that your flowers are outside, you need to read the lighting carefully. If you shoot in brilliant sun you can possibly overexpose the photo. Alternatively you can retain too much shadow within your shot. Both of these aspects can absolutely ruin your flower photo.

Once in a while we capture a flower that is resting right in bright sunlight. We may not possess control over the lighting or the flowers position. (Taking pictures in the botanical gardens is an illustration.) If your flower is a cream colour, light yellow or soft pink, then too much bright light can overexpose several or every single one of the flowers petals. When we have too much luminosity on our flowers, the flower loses finer details as a result of this saturation.

What can be done about this? Go into Lightroom. Lightroom is owned by Adobe who also created Photoshop. Lightroom is an alternative photo editing program. I find it the greatest photo editing program I have ever come across. You can trial it free for thirty days at Adobes website.

Lightroom has a panel made of various controls. These controls are in the shape of sliders you can move from either side- left to right.. Each of these sliders controls various elements of light. The "Highlights" slider increases or lessens the amount of stark, bright light in your photo. "Exposure" controls the amount of bright and darkness the photo has (literally controls the exposure of the image). "Whites" is a control that alters how illuminant your white areas are in the photo.

In the case of an flower that has too much exposure, we want to examine these three various controls. If you want to reduce any of these elements of the photo all you have to do is reposition the slider toward the left. Your flower photo will look less stark and have a lesser amount of harsh, intense brightness light within it.

How about increase in the sharpening in your flower photo? Lightroom has a little panel known as "Detail". Once you open this small panel you will then see 4 sliders that manipulate sharpening of the photo:

1. Amount
2. Radius
3. Detail
4. Masking

All these four sliders manipulate how sharp your flower photo is. The effective way is to reposition the sliders to the right hand side until you see the image has increased in sharpness to an acceptable amount. "Amount" means how much sharpening you increase as a result of moving the slider. "Radius" relates to how big the area of sharpening is. "Detail" refers to how much detail you want the increase in the sharpening to have. "Masking" merely removes sharpening over the regions that doesn't really need as much sharpening. Areas of deep black and deep navy blue would be an example.

Would you be interested to see how I have done this myself in Lightroom? Now you can I have done a video that you can observe at Digital Photography Secrets that teaches how to complete this process from start to finish.

In order to take begin photographing take lovely flower photos it is ideal to photograph in gentle light (from an overcast day), and employ a sturdy tripod to keep the camera immobile. Even if you make use of the auto setting on your camera, it doesn't matter too much. The significant thing is that good lighting will give you the most excellent results.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7106767

Things You Should Know First About A Heat Pump

Heat pumps are basically an air conditioning machine that has the ability to operate reversely. It is a kind of system that has a compressor cycle in conditioning the air according to the environment's temperature. On warmer seasons, the machine will exhaust heat from the room, and then it cools the heat-air. The cooled air will then be blown back inside the room while the excess heat-air will be blown outside the room. Although during cold weather, the machine will reverse its operation through the use of a reversing valve which enables the unit to function reversely. It is perfect in any infrastructure bringing comfortable-temperature to every household member.

The unit will use the heat from the exterior of the room to heat the interior and remains on this functionality provided that the exterior temperature is 25°F and above. However, in the event that the temperature of the exterior drops below 25°F, a supplementary heat source will then be needed like for an instance, a heat strip. This additional heat source will give off the desired heat for your home. The heat source will then come-on automatically the moment the temperature outside drops and the machine can no longer provide the needed heat. The best thing about this heat pump is that it cools or warms any home or work environment when needed.

You would know if the system is operating properly and efficiently regardless of whether in heating mode or cooling, if the main parts of the system like the coils, fans as well as the compressor are functioning well. For the efficiency of the heat pump system, correct amount of air flowing in this system is highly important. Moreover, when it comes to air conditioners, air filters must always be maintained clean. Also, it is equally essential that the exterior of the machine must be kept clean, free from debris and snow as well, in order for the unit to function effectively.

On the other hand, in case the unit is not working properly in both modes, an expert in solving heat pump problems is highly needed and must be contacted immediately in order to go-through your unit keenly. The most known problem when it comes to heat pumps would be the valve which is use in reversing its functionality. Usually, the valve is broken and must be replaced immediately for the machine to work properly again. But if you find the valve in great shape, then you must call a heat pump professional to see your unit and have him repair your machine. You can also ask for some advises on how to maintain your unit correctly to avoid another malfunction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7074523

Information on Athlete and Entertainer Visas

The P and O categories of visas are for non-immigrants that will be visiting the United States to perform in athletics or entertainment.

Attaining a P or O visa may require several months. Luckily, expedited processing is available. The visa applicant may have to use "expedited processing" in order to be able to make it to the competition or event in time. As such visas are not issued overnight, it is recommended to plan ahead in order to attain one.

For how long are visa holders admitted to the US?

Visa holders are usually admitted only for the duration of a specific competition, event or performance. Consequently, it is very vital to have a comprehensive schedule of events. Please take note that the lengthier the schedule of events, the lengthier the admission will be.

What happens if your visa is suspended?

If the visa holder is suspended, and not voluntary resigned, the U.S. employer must fund the costs of transportation to return the person or people back to their native countries.

O Visa vs. P Visa

Standards of eligibility for the O visa are higher than that of the P visa. This is because the P visa is limited to certain artists, entertainers and athletes. However, O visa holders may engage in a wider range of fields such as athletics, arts, education, business, science, or in media productions.

In addition, O visa workers don't have to sustain a residence abroad. However, P visa workers are required to maintain a residence abroad. This is to assure that they will return to their country of origin once their work in the U.S. is complete.

Request an extension of stay:

As an O or P visa holder you are able to file an extension while completing or continuing the activity or event specified in the original petition.

To request an extension of stay the sponsor or employer must file the following:

· A request to prolong the visa worker's authorized duration of stay

· And an application to extend the validity of the visa worker's original petition.

To submit such a request the visa holder must be present in the U.S. when the time comes to file for the extension of stay. The sponsor or employer will send Form I-797, Notice of Action.

In addition, Form I-129 must be filed and it must be submitted with a statement explaining the reasoning behind the extension request.

A visa holder can attain an extension up to 5 years per request. However, the total period of stay must not exceed 10 years.

Support personnel are eligible to get an extension with increases of 1 year to resume or conclude the event or activity for which they were issued the visa initially.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7093942

Carolina Panthers' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

1st Round (#9) LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

2rd Round (#40) OT/G Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State

4th Round (#103) DE Frank Alexander, Oklahoma

4th Round (#104) WR Joe Adams, Arkansas

5th Round (#143) CB Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina

6th Round (#207) P Brad Nortman, Wisconsin

7th Round (#216) FS D.J. Campbell, Cal

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Luke Kuechly: The Panthers allowed almost 27 points per game last season. The team has needs at every level of the defense, but especially in the front seven. Carolina passed on defensive lineman help for Luke Kuechly. The former Boston College star is one of the most instinctive linebackers in the draft in quite some time. Kuechly is terrific in pass coverage and is a tackling machine. He was as safe of a choice as any in the 2012 NFL draft. The Panthers lost Dan Connor via free agency. In addition, it is unlikely that Thomas Davis can be counted on after a 3rd ACL surgery on the same knee. Jon Beason is also returning from a torn Achilles tendon and may not be able to return to pre-injury form. The Panthers had a major need at linebacker and Luke Kuechly should develop into a terrific NFL player. Kuechly's exceptional dedication to the game also will enable him to eventually be one of the leaders of Carolina's defense.

Amini Silatolu: Carolina could have added a defensive tackle (Kendall Reyes, Jerel Worthy or Devon Still), but opted to improve their offensive line. Cam Newton has a big future, but the Panthers still want a balanced offense and run the ball with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Newton will be at his best throwing off of play-action and getting the ball downfield. The Midwestern State offensive lineman played against marginal competition, but looked like a man among boys. Larry Allen went to tiny Sonoma State and that did not stop him from dominating in the NFL. It would be wildly speculative to compare Silatolu to Larry Allen, but he is physically gifted and plays with a nasty demeanor. The Panthers absolutely needed better play at guard and Silatolu is a strong run blocker. The Panthers could have an extremely powerful run blocking line with the addition of Silatolu and a healthy Jeff Otah at right tackle. The Panthers likely made a wise decision in bolstering their offensive line with the addition of Silatolu.

Frank Alexander: Carolina has to strengthen their front four and traded a 6th round pick and a 2013 3rd round draft choice to San Francisco for their 4th round selection. The former Sooner kept getting better every year and developed into a solid defensive end by his senior year. Alexander does not have an explosive burst, but he is a good run defender and plays hard. However, he may not have been worth trading away a 3rd round pick in next year's draft. Carolina has not had much luck trading away future picks to move up in the current draft (remember the Everette Brown trade).

Joe Adams: Armanti Edwards has been a big disappointment as a punt returner and wide receiver. Carolina ranked 30th in punt return average last season and were poor overall on special teams. Joe Adams was a dynamic punt returner (4 touchdowns last season) at Arkansas due to his lightening quickness. Adams can also be an effective slot receiver and he is tough for his size (5' 10" and 180 lbs). The former Razorback was a good choice by the Panthers.

Josh Norman: The Panthers add a good-sized cornerback (6' and 196 lbs) who plays the ball well in the air. Norman was productive at Coastal Carolina, but he possesses average speed. Norman will have to become a student of the game and more disciplined to make-up for his lack of speed. Carolina passed on Juron Criner and the team still needs more receiver help for Steve Smith. Criner lacks speed, but he is very skilled at catching the ball in traffic to keep drives alive and score touchdowns.

2012 NFL Draft Grade: B

Bottom Line: Luke Kuechly is going to help the Panthers a lot on defense for many years. The team also stayed true to its identity of wanting to run the football by adding Amini Silatolu to the offensive line. Carolina was very poor on special teams last year and Joe Adams and a new punter should help improve this unit. The Panthers helped themselves in the 2012 NFL draft, but probably gave up too much to add Frank Alexander at defensive end.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7108894

Is The Bridal Lehenga the Ultimate Wedding Dress?

Since weddings are so important in our lives, it is therefore no wonder why couples tend to pay ultimate attention to details of their special day. But the most outstanding feature of any wedding is the attire worn by both husband and wife. What to wear on their wedding day always presents a big decision situation for both of them. For the groom he may readily decide to go with the salwar kameez, it may seem that it is easier for him to decide. This is however not so for the bride. For her there are several options she has to choose from. She may decide to go with the bridal sari which is exquisite and glamorous in its own right. She may however decide to go with the bridal lehenga which also stands out when embellished with the right accessories.

Ideally, the salwar kameez worn by the groom can go with either of the two bridal attires. So it all comes down to the bride to decide which attire she feels will provide her with the best opportunity to create memories that will last forever. As for the sari, it has an understandable need to preserve some basic components of the attire. This is understandable because of the cultural sentiments attached to it. This is not so for the lehenga as it enjoys some leeway with how designs and concepts are devised around it. This may therefore prove it to be the preferred option for most brides. The bride has an ultimate need to dress her best but tradition can only permit so much modifications and alteration to the traditional attires worn for weddings in India and other Asian regions.

Another big decision to make beyond which kind attire to wear is what colour to wear. This is a key decision because she has to factor in compatibility into the situation. Whatever colour she decides has to be comfortable with her groom who perhaps has no problem deciding to wear a nicely sewn salwar kameez. If she decides to go with a sari, then she may not have too much problem deciding what colour to use because of the customary attachments with the attire. As for the bridal lehenga, there might be a considerable challenge with making such a decision about what colour to use. The attire is worn with plenty of accessories and these accessories might be selective of colour. More often than not, brides tend to go with the colour red for this attire. This applied appropriately, will often yield the best of results for the bride.

Eventually, the bride's decision of which attire to wear mostly depends on what look she desires most for her special day. If she wants the customary attire that promotes tradition and culture, then the sari is the answer. However, if she wants a fine mixture of culture and modernization, then the bridal lehenga is the way to go. The groom has little or no issue, as all he has to do is step out in his elegant salwar kameez and all is set for the most memorable day of his life. Ultimately, the most important thing is to look beautiful in whatever attire you decide to wear, and then have fun to the fullest on your special day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7097930

Leadership Coaching: Coping With Difficult People In The Workplace

The Cost Of Workplace Conflict

How much of workplace conflict do supervisors and managers have to deal with? According to an article featured by the Conflict Resolutions Center, that's 30% to 40% of their daily activities. That's 1/3 of the company leaders' workday spent for handling rifts among people in the workplace. In this day and age where time is never enough, that's a cost companies cannot afford.

What happens when there are co- workers or bosses that employees don't like, are afraid of or whom they find difficult to work with? Litigation cost is high, work projects don't make it on the deadline and employees avoid work by having too many sick days.

What Is Really Going On?

What's the real deal here and what's really going on? You might think the workplace is no kids' play and people ought to deal with workplace conflict as adults, but it's often not that easy. Life experiences have gotten employees to this point, and some of them are negative experiences of having been teased by siblings, being bullied in school or having been picked on by teachers. Some parents may have not done quite a good job of raising confident and self assured children. These situations are apt to make some employees incapable of dealing with difficult people in the workplace. There just wasn't enough practice.

Very few of us, throughout the course of our lives, were taught how to deal with difficult people in active and productive ways. In a work situation wherein you're struggling with other co- workers or superiors, what should you do? There are those who think of the easiest way out- quitting, but dealing with the problem is a better option.

How To Cope With Difficult People

Learn the skills of coping with difficult people in the workplace, which are also skills you can use in other situations.

* The first thing you have to ask yourself is- is that person worth your time and frustration? How does he/she impact you? Maybe that person is simply annoying, or do they prevent you from accomplishing your tasks? Sometimes it doesn't matter as much as you think, so don't waste your time or energy.

* What are your options? If the person really does impact you, what can you do to resolve the issue? Should you talk it over coffee? Or should you use a different approach when working with him/her? Should you look for somebody to mediate between you?

* Try viewing the situation objectively and with detachment. What can you learn from your boss or co worker? Think about why they bother you so much. Be interested and clinical. This removes the personal sting of that person's behavior towards you.

* Try changing your attitude. How about seeing what's positive about the situation or the person and modifying things accordingly? Change the lens you use so that your experience changes.

Regardless of the conflict or difficulty in the workplace, believe that it will pass. The job or the situation is not the be all and end all of your existence. Things change, and with positive and hopeful approach, they will change for the better.

By the way, do you want to learn more about leadership in your company? If so, download your FREE ebook here: Guide to Elegant Courage Leadership

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7098211

Sailing Jacksonville's St Johns River, a Hidden Treasure

Many folks do not realize what a fabulous sailing venue exists in Jacksonville, Florida. Whether you are on a sailboat charter or a private yacht, you can enjoy this hidden treasure. When the St Johns River turns south from downtown Jacksonville it opens up into the perfect sailing location. Wide enough to ensure a good steady breeze and to provide room to sail no matter what direction the wind blows. Narrow enough to provide protection so the waters hardly ever get rough, even when the wind kicks up.

The shores are lined with manicured estates and ancient trees. The Florida Yacht Club and Timuquana Country Club grace the western shore. Beautiful homes stretch from San Marco south past Julington Creek along the entire eastern shore. You can even watch the planes taking off and landing from the Naval Air Station (NAS) just north of Interstate 295 (the Buckman Bridge).

Sunset Cruise on the St Johns River

Ortega on the west side of the river, just 10 minutes from downtown Jacksonville, is home to a number of marinas. It is the perfect departure point for a sunset sail. Leaving the dock about 3 hours before sunset, you will want to head south. Sailing close hauled into the afternoon sea breeze, you get to sail up close to the shore as you criss-cross the river. With a good breeze you will be down near the Buckman Bridge in about two hours.

Turning around and heading north is the perfect time to be out on the bow as the colors of the sunset flood the sky. Sticking close to the eastern shore ensures an ideal view of the sinking sun. As the sun disappears below the horizon the sky fills with pinks, purples, and oranges of the after glow. By then you will be approaching downtown Jacksonville as the lights of the city create their own "light show". One hour later you can be back at the dock as last light of dusk fads from the sky. The perfect four hour excursion!

Day Sails on the St Johns River

If you have a full day, you can sail further south under the Buckman Bridge; perhaps stopping at Julington Creek for lunch at the New Orleans Cafe. Or, you could continue on south toward Green Cove Springs, passing Club Continental and Doctors Lake.

Or you could head north to enjoy the cityscape, sailing right through downtown Jacksonville passing the Jacksonville Landing and the Times-Union Center/Symphony Hall. After opening the blue eye-catching Main St Bridge, you can sail pass Metro Park and the Jaguars (Everbank) Stadium. Proceeding a bit further you can sail under the Hart Bridge, the 19 th largest truss bridge in the world, for a glimpse of some of Jacksonville's port operations.

A Sailing Vacation from Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida, is a great place to start a sailing vacation too. It is only a 3 hour trip down the St Johns (with the current) going by the Port of Jacksonville to the Intracoastal Waterway. You pass under the striking Dames Point Bridge, the 2nd longest cable-stayed bridge in America, the sixth in the world, and the only one with harp stays. In a day you can be lounging on the beach at Fort George Island, bar hopping or dining in the quaint shrimping village of Fernandia, or exploring Cumberland Island. Perfect for three or four day trips and even better if you have a week to explore Georgia's Jekyll and St Simon Islands too.

An Experience You Will Remember for Years to Come

North or south, daytime or sunset, sailing charter or private sailboat, everyone who sails on the St Johns tells me how beautiful and relaxing it is. Even the "old salts" are amazed that more folks have not discovered this treasure. So if you are visiting Jacksonville, be sure to mark a sail on the St Johns River on your "must do" list.

About the Author:
Ralph Hubbard is the GM of Now and Zen Sailing Charters which offers crewed charters on a 42 ft Manta sailing catamaran. Sunset and day sails for up to 12 people plus sailing vacations for up to 4 people are available on a private charter basis. These "Experience of a Life Time" sailboat charters are offered in Jacksonville, St Augustine, and Fernandina/Amelia Island, Florida from March to December. Charters are also offered in the Coconut Grove/Miami area from January to March. Check http://nowandzensailingcharters.com/ for details of our location and special discounts. Find out how you can set sail on a luxury world class cruising catamaran for less than $70 per person for 4 hours.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7076938

Home Invasion - What You Need To Know

Law enforcement agencies do not categorize home invasions separately from burglary and robbery so accurate statistics on this crime don't exist. However, with commercial establishments limiting cash on hand, installing video surveillance and silent alarms, there is a trend of violent robberies escalating on the home front. This crime is similar to a carjacking which continues to grow in popularity.

Are home invaders like burglars?

The home invader is very different from a burglar because they confront their victims where a burglar avoids confrontation. The home invader relies on the fear instilled in their victims to get whatever they want. While a burglar hits an empty home, a home invader comes knocking when they know that you're home. This type of thief may be someone who has been in your home as a repairman, or a friend of one that has seen valuable targets. They rarely work alone. They may target a wealthy elderly person who lives alone. They may follow you from a store where they may have seen the jewelry that you wear. We unfortunately live at a time when it's impossible to trust strangers.

The first few minutes of a home invasion are crucial for the robber to gain control and create panic and fear in their victims. They may come equipped with handcuffs, duct tape or other devices to restrain their victims. At this point, they will hold your family hostage while demanding valuables, car keys and even take you to a bank for an ATM withdrawal. They may cut telephone wires to prevent a call for help and disable a security monitoring system. Although a home invasion usually begins with a knock at the front door, open windows or garage doors provide an easy entrance too.

Prevention boils down to getting into safe habits.

• Keep your front door locked all the time
• Make sure that you have a strong lock and strike plate
• Install a peephole on your front door and don't just open it when you hear a knock or doorbell
• Never just open the door for a stranger or solicitor
• Install a security device that allows the door to be partly opened. Never rely on the old chain that gets mounted to a molding with tiny screws
• Be wary of anyone following you towards your front door when arriving home
• Do not leave an attached garage door open
• Have a light outside the front entrance so you can see through the peephole
• Instruct all family members on the safety basics outlined here

Install a security system and turn on the perimeter protection when you're home. Central station monitoring using cell technology will allow your panic button and perimeter protection to work even with cut telephone wires.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7082297

Does Chiropractic Work?

Natural Remedies Questioned

Does Chiropractic Work? This is a question that is often heard from those who are on the fence wondering if they should try - usually as a last resort - chiropractic treatment.

It's not been that many years ago when the validity of chiropractic treatments and chiropractors at large was under question. In the past 50 to 80 years, everything has moved under the microscope, so to speak.

As the medical world has become more and more symptom and prescription oriented, the more natural remedies have been discredited and cast aside. If it cannot be validated in a laboratory, or in a scientific study, it is often dismissed by the traditional medical world.

Prescription Drugs Mask Problems

It's a known fact that the pharmaceutical companies and the American Medical Association work in tandem to undermine alternative medicine (such as chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathic, and naturopathic treatments). Sad to say, but money is the motive for such actions. It's true that people who are well and healthy have little need for prescriptions or multiple doctor office visits.

What is even sadder is the fact that prescriptions drugs don't work! At least they do not work to eliminate a physical malady. Drugs mask the problem and are often addictive. The patient takes a pill to lower cholesterol one day and then must take it again the next day, and the next and the next. So has the problem been taken care of? The real question should be: Does traditional medicine work?

The Newly Self-Educated Public

The good news is that due to the Internet and other mass communication, the general public is becoming more aware of viable alternatives to traditional medicine. They are stepping up to take full responsibility of their own health; they are becoming self educated. (And likewise, they want their children - the next generation - to do the same.)

Back to the original question: Does chiropractic work?

Chiropractors Do Not Treat Disease

In order to answer the question correctly, one must keep in mind that chiropractors do not treat disease. They do not treat symptoms. And they do not prescribe medicine. Their sole intent is to correct any nerve interference that may be present in the body.

This nerve interference is also known as subluxation. Such interference may have been caused by physical, chemical, or emotional dynamics. A subluxation works to short-circuit certain organs in the body. Once the short-circuit problem has been resolved, health and wellness can be restored.

Translated, this means the treatment is directed at the root of the problem, rather than masking the problem as in traditional medical practices. Subsequently, chiropractic treatments often cause the patient to experience a greater sense of overall well-being.

Because Americans have become pill-grabbing, pill-poppers, we have lost the full awareness of optimum health. Most people believe if they can go a few days without a headache, or an upset stomach, they are healthy. Healthy is more than simply the absence of disease.

Chiropractic Maintenance Can Be a Life-Changer

Does chiropractic work?

It works in so many ways it's difficult to cover all the bases in this short article. Suffice to say that those who are ready and willing to take charge of their own health are ready to seek out a nearby chiropractor and learn more about how regular chiropractic maintenance can prove to be a life-changer.

If you believe it's time to enjoy optimum health rather than simply existing for a few symptom-free days at a time, you can find out for yourself if chiropractic works!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7082433

6 Simple Steps to Becoming a Better Writer

Good writing doesn't happen overnight. You'll find plenty of examples of bloggers who think good writing simply means mastering the rules of grammar. Their blog posts are technically precise, but boring as hell. You'll also find plenty of examples of bloggers who think writing is secondary to good ideas. Not so. You're writing, so I would recommend you give ample attention to how to write.

Here are some tips for better writing that you can use today. I promise you, if you put these tips into use, and if you commit to them, you will see an improvement in your writing.

1. Read. Read. Read

Writers who don't read are fooling themselves. You have to read. I'm not talking about the next James Patterson thriller or your favorite romance novelist. I'm talking about highly crafted writing. If you don't like poetry, then look for personal essays with a literary flair. Check out The Sun magazine. Their website gives snippets of the essays or articles in the print magazine. You should also try The Atlantic or The New Yorker, both of which have very high quality writing.

Once you've done some of that fancy writing, go check out your favorite blogs and think about which posts are interesting and which aren't. Which posts keep you reading, and which do you give up on?

Don't just read, but think. Why did you stop reading an article or post? Was the language too stuffy? Was the vocabulary too impossible? Was it just flat-out boring? Do the same for articles or blog posts you loved. You'll have to think about why you like or dislike something if you're going to understand how to replicate it.

2. Writing is revising

Even the best writers in the world have to write terrible first drafts. Some of us edit as we write (which is actually a bad habit), but that takes talent and skill. Frankly, I don't recommend it. Far too often I trip myself up by trying to edit too early, and I never get any momentum.

Blogging seems to encourage writing off the cuff and then publishing without a second thought. Maybe you're a brilliant writer who can get away with that, but then I doubt you would've read this far if that were true. So accept the fact that your writing probably needs some work, and revise before you publish.

Writing is a craft. It's something you create, piece together. You don't get a special award for writing a perfect piece on the first try.

3. Imitate others

In the first tip, I mentioned replicating what you like in others' writing. Imitation is a critical part of learning how to write. Don't steal someone's material, but if you liked the way another blogger laid out a post, or if you loved how someone addressed a certain topic, then don't be afraid to do the same. If you feel weird copying someone else's writing techniques, then just think of it like they're your trainer, and you're practicing. Or think of it as a rehearsal.

4. Read the newspaper

Journalists have learned how to structure a story so that all of the most important information is at the top. They called it the inverted pyramid. Everything you need to know (the wide base of a standard pyramid) is at the top. The rest of the article slowly tapers to the pyramid's point, with increasingly specific - but nonessential - information. The benefit for journalists is twofold. First, people get everything they need to know if the first paragraph. If they want to move on to another article, then so be it. Second, when the editors need to cut an article for space, it's easy and acceptable to lop off the end, since that information is nonessential to the story.

Think about that for a minute. All of the most essential information - everything you really need to know about a story - is in the first paragraph of a newspaper article. That's intense! That's some seriously concise writing.

And that's what you can learn from newspapers as a blogger.

You don't need to use an inverted pyramid in your blog posts, but you should be concise with your language. If you're going to write 2,000 words, it should be a tight 2,000 words, not something you could just as effectively convey in 500 words.

5. Take a class

I put this at the end only because writing workshops can get expensive, and they're not always helpful. I've participated in several workshops, and it depends on the quality of the students and the quality of the leader.

However, a writing workshop should still teach you some fundamentals of good writing. You'll get feedback from your leader and feedback from your fellow students. It hardly hurts to have several sets of eyes looking for ways to improve your writing. Just be sure you don't take criticism personally.

6. Finally, practice writing everyday

The more you write, and the more you read, the better you'll get. I've been a student of the writing craft, both independently and as a college student, for 12 years now, and where I am today is worlds away from where I was when I started.

You will get better, but only if you commit.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7088235

The 'Illness of Input,' Cured! With Body-Weight Exercise and Other Simple Solutions

Isn't it amazing how some of the most simple and beneficial things in life are ignored by the 'mass of Man?' I'm betting this has to do with the needlessly complex overload of information that has inundated modern society.

That information often seems to have been created by those who have it fixed in their minds that a complex world can only be 'solved,' by a mass of correspondingly complex solutions. Yet how effective is most of this information when it comes to solving the problems confronting the average person?

Not very, I'd say.

If I were wrong, if even a percentage of this information truly worked, would Man be in his current state of confusion? Would he be overweight and unhealthy when he could be athletic and vibrant? Would he be addicted to processed, altered foods, where he could be far healthier on more natural, fare? Would he be in need of constant distraction and noise for entertainment, rather than simpler, quieter, pleasures?

I think not.

The inundation of Man's collective mind with an overload of useless information has distracted him from that which is simple, pure, and truly effective.

It has created an 'illness of input.'

Here, however, are a few simple solutions to that 'illness,' that do work. They address three of Man's most pressing problems; his increasing lack of physical fitness, the effect of food choices on his body, and his very peace of mind.

*Simple body-weight exercise. Many people have become so distracted by fitness-related commercials, unnecessary exercise gadgets, and cluttered gyms that they've forgotten a fundamental truth: You need nothing but the weight of your own body to get into the best shape of your life.

If you doubt this, wake up tomorrow morning, and engage in 30 minutes of uninterrupted squats, push-ups, and crunches, or sit-ups. Do as many of each as you can; then cycle through sets of them again. Do this for 30 minutes with as little rest as possible between sets of each exercise.

You'll likely find it tough to complete this simple workout. You'll be exhausted. You'll be drenched in sweat. And you'll have challenged yourself at your very core.

Follow this 'program' daily and you'll build attractive, lean muscle from head to toe. You'll burn excess fat, fast. You'll develop the type of cardiovascular fitness that allows you to work or play, all day, without tiring. And you'll become mentally disciplined as never before in your life.

All by doing something that costs nothing, requires no equipment, and can be done anywhere you can stand.

*Simple food from the tree. Look inside your cupboards and refrigerator. Do they contain mostly fresh produce and natural foods? Or are they full of prepackaged, processed, largely nutrient-deficient 'stuff?'

If you're like most people, it's the latter of the two.

And how do animals in nature eat? Do they cook, process, or alter their food? They do not. Yet, barring injury, they enjoy a lifetime of vibrant health.

Take the animal in nature, most like you; the chimpanzee. He thrives on a diet of little more than fruit, edible leaves, and a pittance of nuts or seeds. He doesn't develop diabetes, cancer, or heart disease.

Would he be so healthy eating pancakes for breakfast, burgers for lunch, and pasta for dinner? I doubt it. Eat naturally as he does, from the tree; and you'll enjoy vibrant health for a lifetime.

*Simple silence. Can you walk into a room and sit, in complete silence? Can you do so for 15 minutes? Does your mind 'spiral' out of control with thoughts of the past or worries for the future?

Most are not satisfied with their answers to these questions.

Why? Because most of us have chosen noise over silence. We've chosen to watch television rather than read a book. We've chosen to engage in meaningless talk, or gossip, rather than productive discourse. And always, computer, over pen and paper.

Most of us have become addicted to 'input,' from the world. So much so, that we've become disconnected from that which is truly entertaining, enriching, or valuable.

So try this:

After exercising each morning, sit in silence for 15 minutes. Focus only upon your breath. Do not judge thoughts as they enter your mind. Simply observe, and let them go. Then bring your attention back to the quiet breath, moving in and out of your lungs.

You'll develop a calm, inner peace that stays with you, your entire day. Plus, you'll develop a host of physiological benefits; including deeper sleep, less illness, even calmer brain-wave activity. Read all about it in Dr. Khalsa, M.D.'s excellent, Meditation As Medicine.

Oh yes; as you rekindle a love of silence, your addiction to distraction and noise will, correspondingly, dissipate.

Simple exercise requiring nothing but your own body-weight; food from the tree that affords you the vibrant health of an animal in the wild; and silence which develops a calm, inner peace.

Uncomplicated solutions, all. Yet it was artist, scientist, and mathematician, Da Vinci who claimed, 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.' He had success with the idea. So might simple, rather than complex, make for the perfect 'antidote' for the 'illness of input?'

I believe: Yes!

Jeff Sekerak

Jeff Sekerak is a former Alaskan Commercial Fisherman, and fast-food addict, turned 'Super-Fit Vegan.' He is the author of the book/DVD, The Super-Fit Vegan: Raw Plant Foods and Body-Weight Exercise for Natural Beauty, a Lean Athletic Body, and Life-Long health, From the Inside Out. Sign up for great, informative, useful blog updates on the 'super-fit vegan' lifestyle, at http://thesuperfitvegan.com Plus, read Jeff's current blog posts at http://thesuperfitvegan.com/blog (he's got a TON of great, free info there right now!)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7086312

How to Write an Advertising or Marketing Proposal

Do you specialize in developing marketing plans for products? Or perhaps you're a graphic design expert who works in the field of advertising. Or maybe you sell ads on radio or television.

Whether you specialize in advertising or in the larger world of marketing in general, you know that the success of your business depends on keeping a steady stream of satisfied clients. Mass mailing brochures or networking at meetings in person can help you identify potential clients, but to land a contract, you will probably need to write targeted proposals for specific projects.

If you're not a writer, the prospect of writing a business proposal can sound a little intimidating. This article will show you that it's not as difficult as you may imagine. First of all, you know your business and what you have to offer, so you know how to talk about your services. Now, all you have to do is put yourself in the potential client's place, and write your information in an easy to follow sequence.

No matter what type of goods or services you are pitching to a potential client, every proposal should use the following four-part structure: an introduction, a client-centered section, a detailed description of what you propose to do, and finally, a section that's all about your expertise and experience. Your proposal may be five pages long or twenty, and the content in the last three sections will vary according to your business and the project you are proposing, but the order of information will remain the same.

Let's look at each of these four parts in a little more detail. The introduction should include a Cover Letter, which briefly explains who you are and why you are submitting the proposal, states what you'd like the reader to do next, and provides all your contact information. At the top of the proposal itself you should create a Title Page, which contains a name for your proposal. Keep that simple and descriptive, using titles like "S&T Design Services Proposal to Maxxwell, Inc. for New Corporate Branding Campaign" or "Proposed Marketing Plan for the RT5 Product Line." For a simple business proposal, that might be all you need in the way of introduction. But if your proposal is more complex, you may want to include also an Executive Summary of your most important points and a Table of Contents to help readers find the sections they want.

The client-centered section often makes the difference between a successful proposal and one that ends up in the slush pile. In this section, your goal is to prove that you understand what your potential client needs and wants. You also want to discuss any concerns you're aware of. For example, a client might be worried about a specific competitor, connecting with their target market, repeating past mistakes, spending too much money, or not meeting important deadlines. Discuss all of that here. If you need to call the potential client and ask questions about the organization or the proposed project, do it. Doing a little research to show you listen to your client can pay off in a big way.

Even for a short straightforward project, you'll want a Needs page or Requirements page here to list the specifics for the project. For a more involved project, you may need separate topic pages for Specifications, Schedule, Budget, Deadlines, and other areas you want to describe in detail. It's not time yet to talk about what you can do for your client; this section is all about the client and proving you have listened to their needs.

After you have finished describing the needs and concerns of your client, move on to the next section, the description of your goods and services. Here, you will describe exactly what you propose to do for the project, how your ideas will meet the needs laid out in the previous section, how this will benefit the client, and what it will cost.

For a simple proposal, you might need only a Solutions or Services Provided page and a Price List or Cost Summary. For a longer proposal, you may want to include topics like Options, Packages, Schedule, Market Study, Venues, Subcontractors, Teamwork, Market and Audience, Sales Plan, Marketing Plan, Promotion, Advertising, Demographics, Publicity, Packaging, Brand Development, and so forth - it all depends on the project. Your objective in this section is to describe in detail what you plan to do and explain how your ideas will provide the solution to the client's needs. Be as specific as possible.

Last but never least is the all-about-you section. This is where you need to include all the information you have that will persuade the potential client that you are the best pick to accomplish their project. You'll want to include topic pages like About Us or Company History, perhaps a page named Staff, Personnel, or Teams, pages that describe relevant Experience or list Clients you've done similar work for, and lists of successful Projects you've accomplished. If you have Awards, special Certifications or Training, or Testimonials from satisfied clients, you'll want to include those, too.

There you have it--at this point, you have created the first draft of your proposal. Now take the time to perfect it. Use a good proofreader or editor to make sure all pages are error-free, and format the pages well so they are visually appealing, too. You might want to add design elements such as special fonts or bullet points, or add color or your own corporate logo.

Then print your proposal or bundle it into a PDF file, and deliver it to your client by whatever method is likely to make the best impression (email, upload to your web site, print and deliver, etc.).

Did you know that you can use pre-designed templates to help you write business proposals quickly and efficiently? Using a proposal kit is one way to get started right away--it has topic templates (hundreds, including those listed above), sample proposals (dozens), basic contracts, and of course, instructions for use. Each template page in a kit includes suggestions and examples, so you'll never sit staring at a blank page, wondering what to put on it. The sample proposals in a kit will show you what a wide variety of finished business proposals might look like. You can also find kits in a variety of graphic designs to give your proposal a professional look, or you can adapt all the pages to your own designs and logo.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7086854

The Ultimate Guide To Changing Your Guitar Strings

There are many different ways to change your guitar strings. It is important to change them the proper way, or your guitar will keep going out of tune. Many people do not know the right way to change them, and in result their guitar will rapidly go out of tune and have a hard time keeping the right tension on the strings. What happens is as you strum, pick, bend strings, if they aren't installed correctly will move around it will sound awful and can drive you crazy.

After 20 years of experience, here is what I do. First of all, do one string at a time, I start with the low E string, the top string on the guitar. Cut it in the middle then remove the string. Next, depending on if it is an electric or acoustic guitar, get the string through the bridge. Once it is in there, pull the string tight towards the tuning peg, without putting the string through the whole yet, wrap the string around 1-2 times, then put the string through the whole, above the 1-2 wraps you made. What this method does is make it so you don't have to wind the string a million times to wrap it around the tuning peg. We are first wrapping it, then putting in the whole, and then tightening the tension on the string. Once you have it in there nice, tune the string using a tuner.

Continue this method for all the rest of the strings. As the strings get thinner, you can do more wraps before putting through the tuning peg whole, so on the D and G strings do 3-4 wraps and on the B and E strings do 4-5. It is also hard to do the thinner strings because your wraps want to overlap. Do not let them overlap, it will create tuning issues. To prevent this make sure to pull the string tight and keep lots of tension on it so your wraps are nice and tight and don't overlap.

Once all the strings are on and in tune, now you want to stretch the strings. We do this to take out any slack and get the string tight so it won't go out of tune. To stretch the string simply pull up and down on the string up and down from the nut to the bridge. It will go very out of tune. Retune it and repeat this process for each one.

Once you completed stretching every one a few times and retuning, then you want to tune all your strings up a half step and put the guitar away for overnight.

Come back the next day and see if it is in tune, it should be pretty close. Now stretch the strings one more time, retune, and you should have a nice fresh set of strings on your guitar that won't go out of tune!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7087406

Efficient Market Theory

Efficient Market Theory is the hypothesis that the market can always adequately determine the value of an equity, commodity or security. In layman's terms this means that the price of a stock or commodity is its' true value. This belief is the basis of many modern schools of investing and of some theories of capitalism.

Believers in the theory maintain that the market will always determine the real price of something in the end. If it is overpriced its price will fall to reflect its true value. If it is under-priced the price will rise to reach the true value. Many efficient-market practitioners invest purely based upon price and ignore all other factors. Others practice technical analysis which tries to predict the future value of stocks or commodities.

Why the Market is not Efficient
Even though this hypothesis is very attractive it is not true. The market often overvalues or undervalues investments. It often fluctuates wildly which means prices will not actually reflect what something is worth.

There are two big reasons why the efficient market theory can not work. The first is that most of the decisions to buy and sell are made by people whose decisions are based largely on emotion. Individuals sell when the market is falling out of fear and buy when it is riding out of excitement. They also make many decisions based on intuition, prejudice and personal beliefs.

The second reason is that the players in the market cannot have all the information about the equities, commodities and securities they are trading. Outside events can have a profound impact on markets. The price of copper could be affected by a miner's strike or the outbreak of civil war in a copper mining country. Copper traders may not be aware of these developments until they see them in the news.

Corporate executives often hide or try to hide the true data about their enterprise's performance even though laws mandate such disclosures. If they cannot hide information such as sales figures executives may distort, falsify or obscure it. This means it may not be possible to determine the true value of a stock.

A Classic Example of Market Inefficiency
An excellent example of market inefficiency in action is the trading of gold as a commodity. Gold is a commodity yet its price is deeply affected by emotion and irrational expectations. Many people have almost blind faith in the precious metal while others purchase it out of fear.

In the forty year period from 1971 when trading started until 2011 the gold price fluctuated wildly. The metal hit its highest price around $650 an ounce in 1980 and 1981. This price was based purely on fears on irrational fears about the economy and Soviet military moves during the Cold War. Gold then fell drastically to less than $300 an ounce during the late 1990s (if adjusted for inflation it's fall was even higher). Later it regained some of its value by 2010 and 2011 but never reached the high of 1980 when adjusted for inflation.

The example of gold shows us that the market is not very efficient. In fact it can be highly inefficient at times. Nobody should depend purely upon the market as a determination of value.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7049954

How Active Retirees Speak, Sell Books, Reports On Retirement Made Easy

Are you a retiree who is looking for something intriguing and fun to do, while making extra money? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. In fact, most older employees (65 percent) told researchers they would like to have some form of work in their retirement, according to a 2011 Harris Interactive survey of 1,001 people age 55 and older commissioned by Sun America.

Interestingly, of those surveyed few said they want full time work; only 4 percent told Harris researchers they want to work full time in retirement. Some 25 percent said they want to work part time in retirement, and 36 percent would rather to go back and forth between work and leisure, reports Dave Bernard for U.S. News.

If you find yourself looking for either full or part time activity to keep your brain active, while making some extra money, consider speaking before groups of pre and post-retirees about successful retirement ideas. A popular way to get started is speaking before a local organization or club, with a well researched book or report to sell at the back of the room.

With retirement a good topic to address (it should be, since baby boomers are starting to retire in large numbers), here are three important retirement questions that you could write a speech around:

-- Why are some people more ready for retirement than others?

-- Are there any specific issues that most people overlook when considering retirement?

-- Why is the idea of retirement difficult for some, and easy for others?

Any speakers who are fast on their feet with answers to questions like these should impress their audience. To prepare to speak before a group, here is some quick help in preparing your cheat sheet (or talking points) for your speech on making retirement easy, focusing on several or all of these questions.

Who really IS ready for retirement?

People who help or coach others to prepare for retirement often introduce some of the following issues to see if the people they are working with are retirement-ready:

--Do you believe your financial support plan covers you appropriately for the years ahead?

--Do you have other plans for your retirement (how you will spend your time)?

--Do you exercise for 20 minutes without a break at least three times a week?

All are appropriate questions, and even more like them come from The Retirement Readiness Assessment sponsored by My Next Phase. I took the online quiz and actually learned a few things about retirement readiness, so I challenge you to take it, too.

So, what appears to be some over-looked retirement issues?

While people who are retiring are typically advised to take stock of their financial resources, they don't always consider their psychological resources, says Nancy Schlossberg, Professor Emerita of Education at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Schlossberg has written extensively about retirement planning, noting that many baby boomers "didn't realize what was at stake when they left their jobs. They didn't think about things like how to structure their lives, their time, and how they might matter to others."

This researcher tells About Senior Living editor Shannon O'Brien that identity is key. "...when someone can say, for example, "I'm a professor," that's one thing, but when that identity is no longer there, it can be quite upsetting. It can take time to figure out a new identity."

Now, moving on to...

Why is retirement hard for some, and easier for others?

As a retirement blogger and author, I do not see this question asked often enough, and it is a good one. "Jacob" who blogs for Early Retirement Extremes, notes that how people approach personal finance makes a true difference, distinguishing why some people retire easier than others.

According to this "extreme" blogger: "To get ahead, you must either press the accelerator harder or ease on the brake. Apparently lots of people are not fully aware of just how hard they're flooring the brake. Therefore try this exercise. Every time you touch something [that you are considering for purchase], ask yourself whether this item has accelerated your income or whether it has decreased your savings."

Any other important, last-minute tips?

A wealth of retirement information is found online just by searching with the major browsers. I suggest taking a look at Investopedia, a particularly helpful site filled with many sophisticated ideas for soon-to-be retirees. Here is one of its many last-minute retirement tips:

Establish a Cash Emergency Fund to get you through the hard times. "It acts as a safety net in case something expensive or unplanned happens, such as medical expenses, market downturns or expensive home maintenance issues, just to name a few."

In fact, retirees are often advised to have three to six months of emergency cash reserves available separate from their investment portfolio. In normal economic times, this may be okay, but if the economic downturns, and the retiree is living off savings then it would help to add 12 to 18 months of cash to the investment portfolio to allow bonds and stocks to recover during bad times, according to Investopedia.

Are you ready for your retirement speech? With this information in hand, and your additional research, you should keep the attention of your audience. (Be sure to have your well-researched book or report ready to sell, and business cards to hand out.)

Susan Klopfer, author and speaker, writes on civil rights and diversity. Her newest books, Who Killed Emmett Till?" "Where Rebels Roost: Mississippi Civil Rights Revisited" and "The Emmett Till Book" are now in print and are carried in most online bookstores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and in eBook versions on iBooks and Smashwords. "Where Rebels Roost" focuses on the Mississippi Delta, with stories about Emmett Till, Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry, Amzie Moore and many other civil rights foot soldiers. These books emphasize unsolved murders of Delta blacks from mid 1950s on. She is also the author of eBook, Cash In On Diversity. Klopfer is an award-winning journalist and former acquisitions and development editor for Prentice-Hall. Her computer book, "Abort, Retry, Fail!" was an alternate selection by the Book of-the-Month Club.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7057410