The LuxMob Info Tags

(December 11, 2005, Orange, NJ) On May 4, 2005, Yasmeen
celebrated her 39th birthday! She’s now ready to share her
challenges surrounding her childhood, adulthood, the aftermath
of 9/11 as a Muslim woman, and passion to run a business, and
relationships maintained throughout her life. This process for
Yasmeen began as she embarks on composing her thoughts on
raising her son alone after an eight-year marriage and the
divorce. A bit of what you’ll read about from her memoirs is how
an African-American, little girl, born and raised in Newark, New
Jersey in 1966 made it while later ending up in Cary, North
Carolina in 2001 to raise her now 16-year old son as a single
parent. In addition to running and operating a home-based
business, Yasmeen graduated from high school in 1984 and
business school in 1985. She has plans to further her education
towards a degree in psychology. She is a member of
Coachville.com and International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Yasmeen will embark on this journey with her family and friends.
Yasmeen’s personal journals and friends will play a pivotal role
in rekindling her memories of past and present events. Yasmeen’s
goal is to have her manuscript typed, edited and ready for print
by the end of 2006. After this huge task is completed, she plans
to venture out to writing books geared towards women in
entrepreneurship and other self-help books. Go to her website
(http://www.thebrownstoneworkshop.bigstep.com) periodically to
read up on how she’s progressing on her goals. The End

Present Contact Information: Yasmeen Abdur-Rahman Lifestyle
Entrepreneur Coach Owner, The Brownstone Workshop 572 Nassau
Street, 2nd Floor Orange, New Jersey 07050 Ph/fax: 973-673-5679
Mobile: 732-423-5177 Email: mailto:yasmeen033@aol.com Website:
http://www.thebrownstoneworkshop.bigstep.com

When you decide to have an opt-in list, it is not just a matter
of sending your subscribers your promotional newsletters or
catalogs. There are many things to consider in avoiding many
complications. While there are so many ways you can make people
subscribe to your list, there are also some things you must do
to avoid subscribers from wanting to get off from your list.

Aside from that, you also want to avoid any problems with the
law and your internet service provider or ISP. There are now
many laws and rules that are applied to help protect the privacy
of the internet users from spamming and unwanted mails. With the
popularity of the electronic mail as a medium for marketing
because of the low cost, many company’s have seized the
opportunity and have flooded many people’s e-mail accounts with
promotional mail.

But, with an opt-in list, you avoid this annoyance because
people subscribe to the list; they want to receive the
newsletters and promotional materials. They have consented to
being on the list by subscribing themselves, just don’t forget
to put an unsubscribe feature everytime in your opt-in list so
that you avoid any confusion. There may be times when an email
account was provided when the real owner didn’t want to
subscribe.

It is essential that you keep your list clean and manageable.
Arrange it by using the many tools and technologies available
for your opt-in list. Do not worry; your investment in this
marketing strategy is well worth it with all the coverage you
will get which will likely be converted into sales then to
profit.

Keep yourself and your business out of trouble and potential
run-ins with the law and the internet service providers. Keep
your operation legit and clean. Your reputation as a legitimate
businessman and a legitimate site depends on your being a
straight and true marketing strategist. As a tip, here are three
things to avoid when emailing your list.

1) Take notice of your unsuccessful sends. These are the e-mails
that bounce. Bounced emails, also known as undeliverable
messages, are those messages that, for whatever reason, were not
successfully received by the intended recipient.

There are bounces that happen or occur because the server was
busy at that time but can still be delivered in another time.
There are also bounces because the inbox of the recipient is
full at that time. There are those bounce messages that are
simply undeliverable ever. The reason for this is that it may be
an invalid email address, a misspelled email address, or an
email address that was abandoned and erased already.

Manage your list by putting markings on those that bounce. Erase
an email account from your list so that you have an accurate
statistics and records as to how many are actually receiving
your mail. You may also want to check the spellings of your
email addresses in your list. One common mistake is when an N
instead of an M is placed in the .com area.

2) Always provide an unsubscribe feature in your site and an
unsubscribe link in your mails. When someone in your list files
a request to be unsubscribed, always take that request
seriously. If you don’t take them off your list and keep sending
them your e-mails, you are now sending them spam mail.

When you are reported as a spammer, you and your business can
get into a lot of trouble. You can be reported to the
authorities and maybe blacklisted by many internet service
providers. You will lose a lot of subscribers this way and many
more in potential subscribers.

3) Do not provide pornographic or shocking and disturbing
content in your newsletters. It is hard to decipher the age of
the recipient and many complaints may stem from these.
Controversial issues also are to be avoided to not be branded by
your subscribers. Stick to the nature of your site and business.

Always remember these tips in this article so that you can have
a healthy relationship with your subscribers as well as be kept
within the boundaries of what is allowed in sending mails to an
opt-in list.

Who can own a Volvo? Anyone. Well, that is if they are willing to shed thousands of dollars for a Volvo. Good thing, Volvo came up with a vehicle that does not need that much money. If you have some $22,990 (this is the base price), you can own up the Volvo S40.

The Volvo S40 is just like any other Volvo out in the market. Upon closer inspection, though, one would notice that the angles have been softened out. Unlike the 2004 models, the Volvo S40 has a rear that is not quite peaked out. The front fascia is sleeker and holds more curves. Compared to its siblings, the Volvo S40 is taller, wider, and shorter. It is unlike the Volvos of times previous that were like boxes. It sports four doors. There is an easy entry and exit for passengers. Its seats show off beauty and simplicity. It also holds a five speed manual transmission. The steering wheel is very sporty looking and holds three spokes.

Take a chance to place yourself on the driver’s seat. You would find a remote control fob that is very much similar to that of Audi and Jaguar vehicles. However, this time around, press a button and the key pops out like a switchblade knife. This type of function makes things easier for the driver. Although there is one problem when starting the Volvo S40. The ignition switch is actually found almost underneath the windshield wiper stalk so it means that you would have to more or less use both hands so as to reach the switch.

If you do try to press on the trunk button, the trunk does not pop up like most trunks hoods would do. This time, the Volvo S40’s button unlocks it. You would be the one to do the releasing and the raising of the trunk deck. This could prove to be difficult for some people who are not used to this kind of feature however once you get the hang of it, it would seem like something that you had already been doing for years and years.

Volvo Parts and Used Volvo Parts

Volvo S40 parts

Volvo accessories

———-

Kenneth McKinley is a 35-year old marketing specialist of a leading auto parts dealer in the country today. Working in the car parts industry for a long time now and being a car enthusiast himself gives him a wealth of knowledge on anything automotive.

If you’re a teacher or parent, you may be interested in creating some fun digital photography related projects for children. I sometimes plan fun and interesting photo projects for my son so that he can learn about photography and have a whale of a time too.

In this article, we’ll explore 3 interesting photo project ideas we can prepare for children, so read on!

Idea 1: Make a Photo Journal

One interesting photo project is to let the child create a personal photo journal. Ask the child to hang on to the digital camera for a few days, snapping anything that captures his or her fancy.

At the end of that period, help him or her to upload the pictures to a computer, then add some good captions or funny quotes. A simple, easy activity to do, which is also rewarding for the family too.

You can use a program like Microsoft Powerpoint to maintain the photo album or print the pictures and bind them into a hardcover book.

Idea 2: Create a Nice Jigsaw Puzzle

Here’s a good project to undertake if your child likes jigsaw puzzles. Print out a nice, large format picture, then stick it onto a large cardboard. Next, cut up the cardboard into small curved pieces anf voila, we have a homemade jigsaw puzzle.

Another way to do this is to use a cool software I found called Brainsbreaker. This program allows you to turn any digital photo into a jigsaw puzzel which you can solve on the computer. Neat, huh?

Idea 3: What Could This Be?
Another interesting photo project is to snap a picture of a common, everyday object - using a very odd angle or close-up view.

Entrust the digital camera to the kids, then ask them to sniff out ordinary objects to take photos of. Ask them to take the photos at weird, unusual, and otherworldly angles.

When they’re done, upload the pictures to the PC and start playing a guessing game. Ask the kids to guess what subject is being photographed in each mystery photo. You’ll be amazed at the answers you get! Snap a whole slew of such pictures and you’ll occupy the kids for the whole afternoon!

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many fun-filled photo projects you can create for kids. Take note of some of these ideas the next time you’re cracking your brains and thinking about how to occupy the children.

Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site on digital photography. Visit his website at Basic-Digital-Photography.com for tips and tricks on buying digital cameras, as well as shooting great photos.

Over the years, there has been millions and millions of people who have tried countless numbers of different diets to try and lose weight. Equally so, there has been millions and millions of people who failed at these diets. If all of these diets are supposed to be designed to make you lose weight, then why do most of them fail to do that? Why is it that no matter what diet you try, it never seems to work? Perhaps the diet itself was no good. Maybe it was too expensive to stick with. It could be that there was no support. Possibly, it just seemed to take too long to lose weight.

The fact is, not one of those reasons is why most diets don’t work. Surprised? Don’t be. In reality, it all boils down to one simple yet complex reason. Yes, there is really only one thing that stands between you and your weight loss and that one thing is; your desire to eat was stronger than your desire to lose weight.

It may sound too simple and may be a little hard to swallow, the truth often is, but that, my friend, is the plain and simple truth.
The only real reason diets fail is because people decide to let themselves go back to their former eating habits rather than making the changes necessary to lose the weight and keep it off and maintaining those changes.

Dieting is a long and oftentimes difficult journey that must be done step by step, little by little. There can be and often are all kinds of setbacks and pitfalls that can trap you, particularly during an endeavor that takes so much time and effort. Just one slip, one temptation given in to, and your whole struggle for weight loss can be sabotaged.

In order for any diet to be successful, it must have a strong foundation. With a strong foundation, it will be a bit easier to hold your ground when those little pitfalls come along to tempt you. There also must be a solid plan. Without a good, solid plan, you will just be grasping at straws and going in all different directions. You need a plan to help guide you in the right direction at all times.
One thing that has helped many people who were successful with their diets was having the support of family members and friends. This can be a major asset that can help you stay with it.

Probably the most important thing to remember is, never starve yourself, make sure you make room to eat the foods you like from time to time and make a little time for some moderate exercise. Your diet does not have to fail, and with a little help from you, it can succeed and that means, you can succeed.

Jim O’Neill is a certified personal fitness trainer and also holds a sports nutrition certification. He has been helping people successfully achieve their weight loss and fitness goals for over 15 years by staying on the cutting edge of weight loss and fitness technology. To learn more about how you can benefit from his easy to use weight loss and fitness programs go to: www.mrgymhealth.com

I walked into the commercial gym yesterday after a long day of work excited to begin my workout. After warming up I proceeded to the squat rack to start my resistance training workout. I unfortunately ran into a bit of a roadblock. I was planning on starting with some Back Squats but there was a young man in the power rack performing barbell biceps curls with horrible form (a definite no-no!).

I decided to go to Plan B and rearrange my workout only to find that the flat benches were all occupied as well. This trend continued and everywhere I turned the equipment I desired was being used. I was happy that so many people were working out but at the same time I was frustrated that my well-laid plans were spoiled. I learned a long time ago that it is wise to have a back-up plan in place for situations like this so I decided to head home and revert to Plan C, which was my home workout routine.

I have found that having the option to workout at home is essential for people with busy schedules, for others who do not like going to crowded gyms, or for people who need a contingency plan for just-in-case situations (that’s me!). Another reason to have a home gym is that warmer weather has finally arrived and you may be less likely to go to your commercial gym.

I have helped people design expensive, well-equipped home gyms and I have helped others design very cost-effective, space-saving workouts areas. My personal home gym consists of a Stability Ball, 5lb to 95lb Dumbbells, some Kettlebells, an adjustable Weighted Vest, Adjustable DB Handles, Elastic Bands, 2kg to 10kg Medicine Balls, Ankle Weights, an AB Roller, a variety of Exercise Videos, and a minimal amount of space!

Anyone can have a Home Gym and there are many reasons to have one. The following list of questions should help you design a Home Gym that will suit your needs, your space, and your budget!

Questions To Ask When Building Your Home Gym:

The First Step: Ask Yourself Why?

Why do you want a home gym? What will it give you that you do not already have? What is your empowering vision of your ideal physique or athletic accomplishment? What are your short and long term goals? Always begin with a vision of the end results in mind, as this will guide you in your efforts. If you have not developed a vision of what you want to accomplish at this point, then that is the first thing you need to do. Develop a plan of attack for building your body and building your home gym.

Without a plan you might end up disappointed with the lack of results and frustrated that you bought the wrong equipment. Ask yourself what kind of results you expect your home gym to deliver? Is your home gym going to supplement your commercial gym membership (as a contingency plan)? Will you be doing your cardiovascular exercise outside or inside on a machine? Will you be doing stretching, strength training, or both? Is your home gym going to be the only place that you work out? Think about these things when designing your home gym.

I. How much are you willing to spend ($$$$$$$)?

How much do you want to spend, plain and simple? If you are just starting out with an exercise program, you might consider starting small with a simple, yet very effective, pair of Dumbbells. You can perform a full-body workout with a pair of dumbbells, some bodyweight exercises, and with a little knowledgeable of proper exercise technique. If you want to do it inexpensively, hire a knowledgeable fitness professional to design an individualized exercise program that you can do with a pair of Dumbbells in the comfort of your home. I have listed a variety of items that you might consider adding to your home gym.

Equipment Considerations:

A. Cardiovascular Machine

If you insist on performing your cardiovascular exercise routine at home be prepared to spend some money! Be aware, a gym quality treadmill, stationary bike, rowing ergometer, or elliptical trainer is going to cost you. You can buy used or refurbished gym quality equipment for a discounted price and if I wanted a cardio machine for my home this is probably the route that I would take. If you are thinking, “I’ll just save a few hundred dollars and buy an inexpensive treadmill at the mall,” make sure you do some research and ensure that you will buy something that is going to last and that will fit y our needs. I know many people who have purchased flimsy treadmills and regretted it soon thereafter. There are quality treadmills out there you just have to know where to look. I would recommend talking to my friend Bob McKinnon at McKinnon Technical Services (603-644-7539) who knows gym equipment like the back of his hand. He can point you in the right direction if you want to!

B. A Multi-Purpose Home Gym Machine

There are numerous multi-purpose gyms on the market and some are better than others. Chances are, if you turn on your television late at night and flip through the channels, you will be exposed to clever marketing using beautifully sculpted fitness models promising results in six weeks or less if you purchase their machine! Guess what. You can get results without a two thousand dollar machine that will most likely be collecting dust in a year anyway! Why not begin your quest for improved fitness with a modest investment in a pair of Dumbbells? Why not purchase a $20 book on how to get into shape? How about meeting with someone who specializes in coaching people through the process of positive physical change such as fitness professional or Registered Dietician? Infomercials are notorious for clever marketing and they can be very compelling. Avoid impulsive buying and do some research first before purchasing an expensive multi-gym. I recommend consulting a qualified fitness professional about the usefulness of such a machine, interviewing people who have that machine, and possibly even test-driving one before you make this decision. I have to mention that every Spring and Fall I see countless multi-gyms sitting out on someone’s lawn as part of the annual yard sale. I wonder why that is?

C. Barbells

If I had the room in my apartment, I would go out and buy a Barbell today! With a 45 lb. Olympic Barbell you can perform a wide variety of exercises in a variety of different ways. If you are an athlete, you have the space available, and you want to improve your sports performance, learning how to correctly perform the Olympic Weightlifting movements (Clean and Jerk, Snatch, and all the variations) can take your performance to the next level! To name a few, exercises such as Squats, Overhead Squats, Deadlifts, Bent over Rows, Bench Presses, Overhead Presses, and Upright Rows can be performed. I would recommend having an adjustable Power Rack and adjustable bench to augment the versatility of the barbell. Space and total cost are big factors when considering purchasing a barbell.

D. Dumbbells

If you want to save money and space, dumbbells are the way to go. You might consider two to three sets of dumbbells (they can be purchased at a sporting goods store for any where between $.35-$.75/pound (In Concord, NH, Check out Olympia Sports in the Mall, Sears, Target, Walmart, Northeast Fitness, or check out the newspapers for the least expensive way to go!). I prefer the metal dumbbells but there are also rubber coated and adjustable dumbbells available. “Power Blocks,” (perform a search on the internet to learn more about these) are adjustable dumbbells and are a great tool that take up a lot less space in your home gym, offers great versatility, and offers adjustable resistance to suit your needs. There are also other forms of adjustable dumbbells that consist of two handles, collars, and series of different size weight plates.

When selecting weights, it wise to start light and gradually purchase heavier dumbbells as you need them. I am able to perform wide variety of exercises with Dumbbells. If your goal is fat-loss, then a properly designed resistance training program that incorporates multi-joint Dumbbell exercises will help you achieve your goals more efficiently than many gym machines that “isolate” certain muscle groups. Remember, the more muscle groups that you incorporate, the more energy your body burns, and the better your results will be! Exercise technique is a factor but I’ll happily let you know that I have taught 90-year-old women and 11-year-old boys how to perform the most “difficult” Dumbbell exercises with pristine form.

E. Medicine Balls

Medicine Balls are a great tool depending upon your fitness goals and your current training level. For an athlete in search of sports performance enhancement, Medicine Balls are a great tool because they can be accelerated in a rapid fashion through many planes of motion. If general fitness is your goal, you can perform many traditional gym exercises with a Medicine Ball as well. Medicine balls come in all shapes, sizes, weights, and colors. Be sure that the ball you pick suits your needs. By the way, these are also great for outdoor workouts on a sunny day!

F. Benches and Stability Balls:

A bench can be a great tool that will allow you to perform more exercises during your home workout sessions. Some benches are adjustable and offer great versatility while others are just fixed benches. Space is a concern for many people and that makes the Stability Ball (a.k.a. Swiss Ball) a great alternative to a bench. With a Stability Ball you can perform inclined, seated, prone, supine, floor, and a number of lower body exercises. A knowledgeable fitness professional could teach you how to perform a full-body workout with a Stability Ball and a pair of dumbbells. There are a number of different ways to use it in order to maximize your home workout routines. Not only can it replace a more expensive exercise machine or bench, but it can also double as a chair, take up less space, and challenge your body’s balance in ways that a stable bench/machine cannot.

G. Resistance Bands/Tubes:

The cable pulley system at your local gym offers a number of exercises that can increase the variety of your workouts tremendously. An alternative to the cable pulley system for your home gym could be resistance bands or tubing that you can tie to a pillar in the basement of fix in a closed door. You can buy tubing that comes with handles already attached in some fitness catalogs or you could just tie a loop in one end to make your own makeshift handle. It is important to mention that elastic resistance training has many benefits and many inherent flaws. If you understand how to properly combine elastic resistance training with inertial (free weight training) you can maximize your results! A knowledgeable exercise professional can help you design your home gym to take advantage of these tools.

H. Exercise Videos:

There are many great exercise videos out there (and a lot more bad ones!). There are videos for Yoga, Step Aerobics, Tae-Bo, Pilates, Strength Training, Stability Ball Training, and every other imaginable fitness topic out there. Check out your local sporting goods store or Borders for a selection of exercise videos. The key is to find a couple videos that you enjoy and that give you the workout that you are looking for.

I. Other Fun Tools:

If you walk into a sporting goods store or open a fitness equipment catalog you will see a variety of toys that can supposedly enhance your workouts and deliver unbelievable results. Buyer beware! No one piece of equipment can solve all of your home gym needs and you must consider how this piece of equipment will fit into your complete program. Watch out for gimmicks and miracle exercise machines. Ask a fitness professional their opinion before you buy and you may save yourself some money! Do a little research before purchasing equipment for your home or you may run the risk of buying an expensive coat rack!

II. How much square footage do you have?

Simply put, how much space do you have available? Do you have enough room for an adjustable bench or a mutli-purpose exercise machine? Is the area well ventilated? How much ceiling height do you have? Are your floors solid? Do you have neighbors that might not appreciate you jumping up and down? Will you have room for all of the equipment you want to get? Thinking about these issues in advance will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. Finally, determine what else your home gym is used for? Will your home gym also be used for family gatherings, a playroom for the kids, an office, a gathering area to watch the Final Four, or strictly as a home gym? These are some other aspects to consider when designing your home gym.

III. Do you know your way around the gym?

Are you a beginner, an intermediate, an expert, or an advanced exerciser? A beginner might start out with an exercise tape, a Stability ball, and a couple of 5 pound dumbbells where as a more advanced exerciser might have a Barbell, Olympic Bench, a Stability Ball, an Adjustable Step, a Selectorized Weight Machine, a Power Rack, and a variety of Dumbbells. Have you been properly trained in the use of Free Weights or do you feel more comfortable using a machine? What kind of equipment does your plan of attack call for? The answers to these questions will help you better choose a home gym that works for you.

In closing, be sure to spend considerable time looking into the process of designing and constructing your home gym as it can be a very important addition to your life and to your home. Consider consulting an exercise professional to make sure that your gym will suit your individual needs, your budget, and your home. There are many reasons to have a home gym and it can be designed to help you achieve the results that you are looking for!

On-Line Sources for Home Gym Equipment:

-Exertools: http://www.exertools.com

-Perform Better: http://www.performbetter.com

-Power Systems: http://www.power-systems.com

-Body Trends: http://www.bodytrends.com

-Clubbells: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=186111

-Kettlebells: http://www.dragondoor.com/index.html?kbid=2094

-Multi-Gyms: www.megaftiness.com

Stay fit,

Kyle Battis CSCS, L/ATC, NSCA-CPT

ATTENTION: “To build a home gym that really delivers results or to learn how to crank up progress from your current home gym go to www.HomeGymSecrets.com and you’ll receive a FREE special report valued at $15 just for stopping by!

Kyle is a fitness professional that has been in the trenches teaching his clients how to get amazing results from their home gyms for the past 6 years. Kyle started http://www.HomeGymSecrets.com to help people really understand what it takes to build a great body by using their home gyms. No matter what kind of equipment you have you can achieve great results if you know these secrets. Kyle may be contacted through e-mail kyle@homegymsecrets.com.

WILL MY CREDITORS STOP HARASSING ME?

Yes, they will! By law, all actions against a debtor must cease
once bankruptcy documents are filed. Creditors cannot initiate
or continue any lawsuits, wage garnishees, or even telephone calls
demanding payments. Secured creditors such as banks holding, for
example, a lien on a car, will get the stay lifted if you cannot
make payments.

WILL MY SPOUSE BE AFFECTED?

Your wife or husband will not be affected by your bankruptcy if
they are not responsible (did not sign an agreement or contract)
for any of your debt. If they have a supplemental credit card
they are probably responsible for that debt.

However, In community property states, either spouse can contract
for a debt without the other spouse’s signature on anything, and
still obligate the marital community. There are a few exceptions
to that rule, such as the purchase or sale of real estate; those
few exceptions do require both spouse’s signatures on contracts.
But the day to day debts, such as credit cards, do NOT require
both spouses to have signed.

Your bankruptcy lawyer will be able to guide you in this regard.

WHO WILL KNOW?

Chapter 7 filings are public records. However, under normal circumstances,
no one will know you filed for Chapter 7. The Credit Bureaus will
record your filing and it will remain on your credit record for
10 years.

WILL I EVER GET CREDIT AGAIN?

Yes! A number of banks now offer “secured” credit cards
where a debtor puts up a certain amount of money (as little as
$200) in an account at the bank to guarantee payment. Usually
the credit limit is equal to the security given and is increased
as the debtor proves his or her ability to pay the debt.

Two years after a discharge, debtors are eligible for mortgage
loans on terms as good as those of others, with the same financial
profile, who have not filed Chapter 7. The size of your down payment
and the stability of your income will be much more important than
the fact you filed chapter 7 in the past.

The fact you filed Chapter 7 or 13 stays on your credit report
for 10 years. It becomes less significant the further in the past
the filing is. The truth is, that you are probably a better credit
risk after bankruptcy than before.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Costs for filing your bankruptcy will vary depending on the type
of bankruptcy you are seeking. The rule of thumb is that a consumer
bankruptcy will cost approximately $200. This does not include
attorney fees that can run between $700 and $1500 depending on
the nature and complexity of your case. Many bankruptcy lawyers
will give you a free initial consultation. You can keep the fees
down by being well organized and well prepared. You may also be
able to keep the fees down by not requiring the lawyer to attend
the meeting of creditors with you. Check this with your lawyer.
In some states such as Massachusetts, attorneys must attend the
Section 341 meeting with the debtors otherwise attorneys are deemed
to have NOT represented the debtors.

These fee quotes are mere estimates based on nationally reported
averages and subject to variation and change. Please consult with
your local bankruptcy court and with legal counsel on fees before
commencing any action.

For more information, please visit www.mybankruptcycounseling.com

Nathan Dawson writes for http://www.mybankruptcycounseling.com

The Apple Ipod Nano? Not another article about it! Well, fasten your seatbelt, because I’m going to take you on a nice literary roller coaster ride.

Huh? What does a jaunty verbal exposition have to do with the most popular personal electronic in the history of man? Well, before you go to dictionary.com and try to decipher the last sentence, I submit to you the following proposition. Sit tight, relax, and keep your ears peeled for some insightful remarks.

So let’s get started. It all started when I was a little boy…or was I already grown up? Hmm. Now that I think about it, I think I was already in college at that time. Do you remember those times? Were you even born yet, back in the 90’s? If you weren’t even born yet, please click “close” on this browser window, shut down Windows (or Linux if you’re geek-cool), and proceed to expunge the plug of your little computer from the electrical outlet. Because you won’t even begin to understand what the heck I’m about to tell you.

You see, music was completely free way back in pre-historic times (a.k.a. the 90’s). You could turn your computer on (all 10mb of RAM), go to an unmentionable site (with the initials of Napster) and get all the illegally shared music you can swallow in one day, like a fish stuffed silly to the gills with deep fried cheese jalapenoes. By the way, I just watched a documentary on how these things are made on the Food Network, and all I can say is if you’re still eating them, I wouldn’t bet on you if you were the only horse out the gate.

But back to my story. Or should we go back? Hmm…Umm. I think what you’re really waiting for is some new, juicy news about the delightful gadget known as the Apple Ipod Nano. Well guess what. I’ve got some bad news for you junior. And you are junior to me, even if you’re older than me, because I’m from the Napster era.

And the news is: the apple nano is one sleek piece of Apple gadgetry. If you know of where I can get one for free, drop me a line, eh?

Sam Watkins goes to Free Music Downloads when he needs to fill up his Ipod with good tunes. Sammy also recommends Wholesale Electronics for wholesale mp3 players.

NEW YORK, January 31, 2006 — Parker & Waichman, LLP
(www.yourlawyer.com) announces that in addition to numerous
inquiries from potential clients it has been retained in a case
involving the use of Trasylol and is actively evaluating claims
concerning Trasylol, a drug commonly used during heart surgery
to reduce blood loss. Trasylol, known generically as Aprotinin,
is manufactured by Bayer AG (NYSE:BAY) and is estimated to have
generated $600 million in sales in 2005.

A study reported last week in the New England Journal of
Medicine shows that Trasylol is linked to serious side effects.
The study of 4,374 patients demonstrated that Trasylol at least
doubles the risk of kidney failure and stroke, or
encephalopathy, and raises the risk of heart failure or heart
attack by 55 percent. Parker & Waichman, LLP represents victims
of Trasylol and is actively evaluating claims on their behalf.
For more information about Trasylol and the study published in
the New England Journal of Medicine please visit
http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/trasylol or
http://www.trasylol-lawsuit.com.

Trasylol was initially approved by the FDA in 1993 and is
indicated to reduce perioperative blood loss and the need for
blood transfusion in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass
(CPB) in the course of coronary artery bypass graft surgery
(CABG). While Trasylol is only approved for specific heart
surgeries, it is commonly used for other surgeries including
orthopedic procedures. Prior to the publication of the study
reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, Bayer AG filed
a request with the FDA seeking Trasylol approval for hip and
spinal surgeries.

Trasylol, which is derived from the lungs of bovine, is
significantly more dangerous than similar drugs used to reduce
blood loss. The two generic drugs examined in the New England
Journal of Medicine study, aminocaproic acid and tranexamic
acid, were found to be significantly safer and just as effective
as Trasylol. Furthermore, these generics are significantly less
expensive than Trasylol; Trasylol costs more than $1,000 per
patient versus $10 to $50 per patient for the generic drugs. The
researchers estimated that using one of these generic drugs
instead of Trasylol could prevent as many as 11,050 dialysis
complications worldwide, and reduce drug costs by $250 million
per year.

“This has all the signs of a drug that should not be on the
market. It’s more dangerous than the alternatives, which are
just as effective. It’s also more costly to patients and the
healthcare system as a whole. There is no reason for this drug
to be on the market today” said Jason Mark, an attorney with
Parker & Waichman, LLP

Most surgical patients are unaware of the medications they are
given during the course of a surgical procedure. Trasylol is
used during surgery, and it is therefore unlikely that patients
would be aware that this drug was administered. For this reason,
Parker & Waichman, LLP is encouraging all patients who suffered
kidney failure, heart attack, heart failure or stroke after any
surgical procedure to request a free case evaluation at
http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/trasylol

Copyright 2006 Black Butterfly Press

It is often said that if they had to choose, many novelists
would prefer to have the developmental (or content) editing
completed on their manuscripts versus the copy editing. Why?
Because if the story is good, people will overlook a missing
comma. But conversely, all the grammatical edits in the world
will not bring a fictional story alive, without using various
developmental techniques.

>From experience as a story editor of over 170 books, I’ve
learned that a good story editor can make a novel work, however,
a copy editor can not accomplish this alone. For example, I’ve
worked with a copy editor who can go behind my work and improve
any fictional manuscript I’ve completed.

In fact, with her line edit, this editor might even discover
holes in the story, which further tightens up the plot.
Nonetheless, for all her skills as a copy editor, she cannot
make the characters leap off the page in fiction. Her copy edit
works fine in nonfiction, but even in memoirs, there are
fictional elements, which will make the book more believable.
Without it, a memoir will be one long narrative, without any
dialogue, or without any recreating of scenes.

As a last step, there is a book doctor who can read the final
product as a whole and determine if the story, including the
ending, works for the novel. They will also tell you if you have
an interesting protagonist who can sustain a reader’s attention
for 300 pages plus.

Bottom line is this. A copy edit is very necessary to a
manuscript, but it cannot save a hackneyed plot that only
flaunts flat narrative. However, a good content edit can
resuscitate a story by rerouting the tracks of the tale. A
novelist would do well to go through both levels of editing as
they complement one another.

In that first level of editing, these are just some of the
things a good story edit can bring to the table for your book.

1. A good story edit will develop the different nuances,
contradictions, and core values of your characters. By the same
token, it will also show the other characters’ opposing values,
which will deepen the conflict among the characters. 2. A good
story edit will help develop the back-story of your protagonist.
3. A good story edit will help you develop your antagonists, so
that they are not all bad or your stereotypical villains. 4. A
good story edit will help you tie up all the subplots and story
questions. 5. A good story edit will clean up your prose when it
comes to clichéd writing. 6. A good story will make setting so
strong it will stand out like a character. 7. A good story edit
will make your details so crisp and clear that the readers feel
like they are sitting right in the middle of the scene.

Why Hire a Good Story Editor?

A marriage between fiction writing and story editing can make
for a phenomenal reading experience Many great writers, such as
James Baldwin, had great editors such as Sol Stein, who was a
novelist, editor, and publisher.

According to Kathleen Krul, author of 12 KEYS TO WRITING BOOKS
THAT SELL, (p. 84, ) “Writers who have worked both sides of the
desk treasure a good editor’s vision.” She quotes Pulitzer
prize-winning writer Toni Morrison as saying that “piercing
knots in language and in ideas, assisting in the discovery of
clarity, connections, illustrations, tone are what editing
requires.” And as a writer, Morrison “always takes the editor’s
comments seriously, because even if they are not on target, the
fact that the editor is restless about something is important.”

Now if Toni Morrison, one of the greatest writers of the
twentieth century, can value her editor’s opinion, why are so
many writer’s resistant to change?

Because they take the criticism personally. It’s as if someone
has called his or her baby ugly.

So toughen your skin, and learn to let your “literary darlings”
go with love. Like children, let them go so they can grow. In
the process, you will grow as a fictional writer with the aid of
a developmental editor.