The LuxMob Info Tags

The largest manufacturer of hive products in the United States

Forever Living Products offers you a remarkable line of 100%
natural bee products. Only the finest ingredients are used. We
use state-of-the-art, specially designed pollen collectors to
gather and preserve the ingredients in the conditions nature
intended. Our pure, natural honey is handled with care and never
altered or diluted. In fact, all of our bee products - Honey,
Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly and Bee Propolis - are natural and
nutritionally rich, from the hives directly to you, just as
honeybees have been making them for thousands of years.

Forever Bee Honey (#207) Bees make honey by traveling
from flower to flower, removing the rich nectar, storing it
briefly to mix with their enzymes, and then depositing the honey
in their hives. Throughout the ages, honey has been recognized
as a premium natural food - a storehouse of nutritional
goodness, easily digested by children and adults alike. Honey
contains many ingredients needed to maintain good health,
including 78% sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose), and other
minerals, vitamins, enzymes, proteins and amino acids. Its
tinted, easy-pour container prevents loss of any valuable
nutrients caused by the sunlight.

Forever Bee Honey is a great-tasting, nutritious sweetener is
loaded with nature’s goodness, containing approximately 70
calories per tablespoon. Easy to digest and rich in
carbohydrates and the minerals calcium and phosphorus, Forever
Bee Honey is a quick and nutritious energy source for any
occasion!

Forever Bee Pollen (#026). Pollen is the fertilizing
dust of flowers. Bees gather and bring it back to their hives
for food. Without pollen, plants, trees and flowers could not
exist; even we depend on it. Forever’s bee pollen is gathered in
specially- designed stainless steel collectors. This ensures the
freshest and most potent natural food.

Bee pollen naturally contains a wide spectrum of nutrients that
help maintain good health and are beneficial to the skin,
including all vitamins of the B-complex and vitamin C. Bee
pollen also contains vitamins D, E, K, and Beta Carotene (a
source of vitamin A), plus numerous minerals, enzymes and
coenzymes, plant-source fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins,
and 22 amino acids - including all eight ‘essential’ amino acids
that the body cannot manufacture for itself. Bee pollen also
contains Lecithin, which exists naturally in all cells and aids
in the metabolism of fats.

Bee pollen is considered to be one of the most complete foods
available. The nutrients in bee pollen are readily digestible
and easily absorbed by the human body. Forever Bee Pollen may
assist in maintaining a healthy circulatory, digestive, immune,
and nervous system.

Forever Royal Jelly (#036). Royal Jelly is derived from
the pharyngeal glands of the honey bee. This ’super food’ of the
bees is specially blended with enzymes and fed to each bee that
is destined to become a queen. It is the exclusive food of the
queen bee throughout her highly productive life, enabling her to
lay up to 3,000 eggs per day during her six-year lifespan!
Worker bees eating ordinary honey live for just four to six
weeks.

Royal Jelly is also considered a complete food as it contains
vitamins A, C, D, and E, and it is a rich, natural storehouse of
the B-complex vitamins. A major ingredient is vitamin B5
(Pantothenic Acid), one of the most important substances in the
body, essential for the synthesis and metabolism of proteins,
fats, carbohydrates and several hormones. Royal Jelly contains
all eight essential amino acids, plus 10 secondary amino acids
and notable amounts of the minerals calcium, copper, iron,
phosphorus, potassium, silicon and sulphur. Royal Jelly also
contains nucleic acid.

Royal Jelly is high in protein and is produced during the
digestion of pollen. It contains no preservatives, artificial
colors or flavors, and it is easily absorbed and readily
digestible.

Forever’s Royal Jelly is extracted from the hive and
immediately freeze-dried to remove only the excess water from
the product, leaving all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and
co-enzymes present.

Forever Bee Propolis (#027). When we think of bees,
honey and pollen are usually foremost in our thoughts. Yet
another important substance, propolis, is a sticky resin
secreted by trees. Honeybees collect and metabolize the
propolis, then line their hives with it to protect the hive.
It’s so effective that the interior of the bee hive is safer
than most operating rooms. The word ‘propolis’ is derived from a
Greek word, meaning ‘before the city’; it signifies that
propolis helped to defend the entire community from external
threat. Propolis has a 5,000-year old history. The Assyrians and
the Greeks used propolis to help maintain good health.
Containing 22 amino acids, B-complex vitamins and fortified with
Royal Jelly, Forever Bee Propolis is an excellent way to help
support the body’s natural defenses.

Forever Bee Propolis is gathered from specially designed
beehive collectors. Forever Bee Propolis is 100% natural with no
added preservatives, or artificial colors. It is also an
excellent natural food form, loaded with nutrients such as
vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and a rich supply of
other elements in trace amounts. No matter which of Forever
Living’s quality bee products you choose, they are natural and
nutritionally rich, from the hives directly to you - just as
honeybees have been making them for thousands of years!

For more information on Forever Bee Products or any of
Forever’s other quality products, please visit
http://foreverliving.com/. Click “Come in”, then- “Shop” and use
Distributor Id # 001002251915.

Attention! With Forever Company you have an excellent
opportunity to have additional income or work at home,
especially if you have your own web site! Pease contact:
victoriazeltov@yahoo.com.

* The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by
the FDA. The products discussed are not intended to diagnose,
mitigate, treat, cure or prevent a specific disease or class of
diseases. You should consult your family physician if you are
experiencing a medical problem.

If you want to reproduce this article in your web site please
ask permission: victoriazeltov@yahoo.com

Blogging is gaining huge traction with entrepreneurs and small businesses. These folks have realized that the “blogosphere” presents a unique opportunity to reach a global audience with little to no cost.

The key to selling with a blog is to give great value to your readers in the form of free information. Blogs build your authority as an expert in your industry and create a relationship with readers that creates a perfect buying environment. But with all the noise out there, you need to be strategic about ways to gain an audience in the first place.

The great thing about blogs is the links that you can get from other bloggers, which bring you traffic. Plus, these links help you rank better in search engines like Google. To get links from other bloggers, you need to say or create something that is worthy of attention.

In other words, you’re looking for publicity, just like you might offline with the mainstream media. But online, a little bit of attention from bloggers often leads to even more attention from even more bloggers, which creates the possibility that something you write could spread virally all over the Internet.

Here are five strategies for creating content that gets attention:

1. Hold a Contest. Come up with a competition relevant to your industry or business niche. Promote it to other relevant bloggers and get them involved. Or, you could create a form of sweepstakes, but make sure to consult an attorney in this case, as sweepstakes are highly regulated.

2. Create a Tutorial or Free Ebook. The Internet is built on information. Create a useful guide based on your expertise and people will take notice. You’ll gain publicity, new prospects and hopefully sales from just one effort.

3. Give an Award or Hold an Event. Create an award for the best blogger or website in your niche, or try creating an industry awareness event that you orchestrate. The most valuable traffic you can get is from related, but perhaps non-competitive businesses in your own industry, and any industry loves to buzz about who’s the best or what’s going on.

4. Give to Charity. Combine a fundraising or paid online event with a pledge to donate all proceeds to charity. You’ll be doing a good deed and be perceived as a good citizen, and you might also get loads of free publicity as well.

5. Be Controversial. A good controversy almost always gains attention. Do or say something that goes against the grain of your industry or niche. Be careful not to go too far, but it’s much worse to simply play it safe and have no audience at all.

These are just a few ways to gain attention online with your blog. The key is to think about what has value to your desired audience (as opposed to just you), and then find a creative way to present it.

To find out more about how to use these 5 strategies, plus learn about several more, download the FREE Viral Copy Report from Copyblogger. In this 30-page viral marketing report, you’ll discover 11 strategies in 4 categories that grab attention and result in links and traffic to your blog.

What exactly is Charisma? Most would agree that it is a magical, illusive, personal quality, divinely endowed on some people more than others. One thing is for certain, it is more easily identified than defined. It is the secret to being liked and agreed with by others. It is the much sought-after quality that causes people to envy others because of their congeniality and ease at which they interact with people. Charisma, like many other character traits, may be gifted more to some, but regardless of your given level, charisma, like any other skill, can be further developed.

It is officially defined as “an unusual ability to influence people and arouse devotion” and “a personal attractiveness that enables you to influence others.” Other definitions describe it as “a gift, the ability to charm or influence people” and “appeal, magnetism, presence and leadership ability.” Dr. Tony Alessandra defines charisma as “the ability to influence others positively by connecting with them physically, emotionally, and intellectually.” Harvard anthropologist Charles Lindholm defines it as “above all, a relationship, a mutual mingling of the inner selves of leader and follower.”

Charisma certainly has several key components, Dr. Alessandra choosing to summarize them as intellectual, physical and emotional. Intellectual charisma is often characterized by an impressive vocabulary and an ability to draw out the best and most thoughtful ideas from others. A well-read person with an impressive and resonating speaking style is usually associated with being very charismatic. A person who is extremely well educated but not arrogant might too be considered as charismatic. Leadership ability is often associated with charisma.

Physical charisma is often evident simply because of ones commanding presence and impressive physical stature. It may also be embellished by the relative attractiveness of that person, whether male or female. A great handshake, a confident, articulate voice and positive eye contact that conveys “I am interested in learning more about you and respect you immensely” are all means of conveying charisma. Great posture, proximity and even wardrobe all adds to a persons’ charismatic quotient.

Emotional charisma is conveyed by a sense of being a deep thinker or one who is willing to ponder the larger picture. These people have a tendency to bring out the best in the rest of us by causing us to dig deeper emotionally and seek out better answers to the challenges in life. They see more in us than we sometimes see in ourselves. They are both motivating and captivating people.

Charismatic people have a “twinkle” or “sparkle” in their eye. You know what I mean. They have the essence of a positive and energizing manner of thought and immediately are able to transfer that feeling to others. These traits allow the charismatic person to connect easily with others. A charismatic person will illuminate a room by simply walking into it. We have all experienced this feeling as we have personally witnessed the change of mood or emotional intensity in a room simply because of the presence of an individual who has just entered.

A great example of a well known charismatic person is former president Bill Clinton. Whether or not you agree with his politics or antics, most people would agree that he might arguably be one of the most charismatic leaders of our time. Why? Was he always correct? Did he have the total support of the Congress or the American people? Did other world leaders always see things his way? Was he faultless? Of course he was not. He was never any of those things.

What President Clinton has is an uncanny ability to persuade people to his point of view. He has the ability to make a connection with people at all levels by being sincerely interested in them. His influence on others is profound. He has a commanding physical presence, yet maintains a boyish charm. He is extremely intelligent and well-read. He is articulate yet not at all condescending. Many would describe him as handsome. He has possessed and experienced the power of the Presidency of the United States. He also has that “sparkle” in his eye. The man has great charisma!

Can you be charismatic like President Clinton? Certainly you can. You already have some charisma, certain strengths and abilities that others find attractive. Develop these. Look people in the eye. Listen carefully when you are conversing. Take a genuine interest in their point of view. Be quick to forgive minor errors and sincerely issue compliments and polite gratitude where appropriate. You may not be able to do anything about your physical stature, but you can still have a commanding presence by means of your confidence level, your posture, your voice and your eye contact.

Charisma is not merely a gift from God that was bestowed upon some people, but given to all. You have some charisma, just like President Clinton. Determine your strengths and build on those first. Target other areas where you would like to grow and get busy. Making the effort to further develop your charisma is truly gratifying and will surely pay you back in spades.

Daniel Sitter is the author of the popular, breakthrough e-book, Learning For Profit. Designed for busy people, this new book teaches simple, step-by-step accelerated learning skills, demonstrating exactly how to learn anything faster than ever before. It’s currently available from the author’s web site http://www.learningforprofit.com/ and a variety of online software and book merchants. Mr. Sitter is a contributing writer for several online and traditional publications. His expertise includes sales, marketing, self-improvement and general business interests.

Are you on the brink of a divorce? In the process? Already divorced, and wondering how you’re going to move forward as a single person? The first thing to remember is: everything happens for a reason. You are right where you are supposed to be.

This may not be what you want to hear. Most people going through a divorce never thought they would be in that situation. The breakup of a marriage can be disconcerting and bring about a flood of grief, anger, and depression. Yet, learning how to move on from a divorce can allow us to heal so that we grow and become better, stronger human beings.

In working with divorced people, it is apparent that the breakdown of a relationship can be quite a shock. No matter how long you have been miserable in the relationship, coming to that final decision to separate can be quite traumatic and stay with you for a long time. Sometimes it may seem surreal, taking months or years for the reality to just sink in.

During the initial period of divorce, you may be asking yourself dozens of questions about what went wrong. You may be trying to figure out who is at fault, what you did wrong, why the other person left, and many other questions. Sometimes you can feel like you are drowning in self-doubt and questioning. Yet, there are ways to change your thinking so that you are moving in a more productive and healing direction.

By thinking more positively about your relationship, even though it may have ended, you can get better perspective on yourself and your relationship. Focus on how things started with you and your ex-spouse and how you were together. Figure out what attracted you to each other and why things were good. Then you can question how things changed and what outside factors impacted your relationship. Ultimately you will want to determine why you could not overcome your differences. Though these thoughts will be upsetting sometimes, they allow you to see ways for you to grow emotionally and spiritually. Journaling or writing letters may help you work through your thoughts about these questions so that you can learn to let go of the guilt, anger, despair and confusion you have been feeling.

While you are trying to work through the deeply rooted emotional upheaval in your life, you may also need to do some things to keep the practical tasks of everyday life in order. By keeping track of your responsibilities, you will gain some perspective of your life and realize that life will go on even though you are single. Make arrangements for how you and your spouse will handle vacations and holidays for your children. This will alleviate conflicts later.

Create a budget and/or a schedule to help yourself get things done. There is a significant change happening in your lifestyle, and with all of the emotions surrounding this change, having a practical approach to your money and time can ease some of that burden. Make sure, though, that you schedule some fun activities for you during your day and week. Sometimes that time appreciating art, nature, or activities can allow you to move on a bit every day from your breakup. Also, maintaining and sticking to a budget can keep other stress from compounding the sense of loss you feel from the divorce.

While taking a practical approach to moving on is helpful, so is taking a spiritual approach. Divorce can take its toll on your mind, body, and spirit. Journaling can be helpful in the healing process, but so can meditation or support groups. Sometimes connecting with yourself and others can help you understand what you are feeling and have confidence that your emotions are normal. However, if you feel that you are slipping further into depression or you are having suicidal thoughts, you should seek professional assistance immediately.

Learning to move on after divorce is important to allowing your mind, body, and soul to heal. As you work through your emotions and connect to yourself and others you will find yourself getting stronger little by little. Remember that grief is normal and healing takes time, but working through it will allow you to become a stronger, more well-adjusted person who embraces life and lives it well.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. If you want to learn from your marriage, you will. It was not a “failure” if you have taken some lessons with you, and are willing to work on those things in yourself that get in the way of true intimacy. Give yourself permission to heal and let go at your own pace, and, at the same time, allow yourself to look forward with anticipation to the future. You will be re-inventing yourself and your new life. It’s like a second chance to live a full, purposeful, balanced and joyous life. Don’t miss this gift!

Marcia Breitenbach is a speaker, author, therapist and songwriter dedicated to assisting others to live a magnificent life. Sign up for her free Songletter at http://www.thesongletter.com and receive free original inspiring music and strategies for living your best life.

According to the principles of Feng Shui, strategic placement of objects can mean the difference between health and illness. Placing houseplants in the main living areas of a house, for example, can enhance the flow of energy through the entire structure. Similarly, placing houseplants in the bedroom can mean better sleep for the occupants of the house.

There are several reasons why houseplants can promote better sleep.

a) Healthy plants are a source of cleaner air; because plants release oxygen, they can bring the air quality of a room up several notches. Some plants produce more oxygen during the night; these are snake plants and bromeliads, aloe and orchids. Placing these houseplants in the bedroom will enhance night-time sleep.

b)Most plants remove toxins from the air—pollutants that are found in houses– such as formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, ammonia, acetone, ethyl acetate. Houseplants can actually absorb these pollutants through their leaves and convert them to harmless substances. New findings suggest that plants can be a good antidote to the sick building “disease” most often caused by our unsustainable high tech innovations for convenience. A single spider plant in a closed chamber containing formaldehyde can remove 85% of the pollutant within 24 hours. Experts estimate that fifteen houseplants can make a dramatic impact on clean air quality in an average house. Some houseplants seem to be particularly effective in absorbing and removing indoor pollutants. These are, to name a few, Chinese evergreen, dracaena, orchids, golden pothos, Norfolk Island pine, red emerald philodendron, spider plant, schefflera and snake plant.

c)Houseplants also act as purifiers of animal bioeffluents—substances not produced by materials in a building, but by humans and animals. These include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, alcohol and others. Houseplants do a wonderful job of converting these bioeffluents into harmless substances. Peace lilies, parlor palms, chrysanthemums, for example, are wonderful houseplants that purify the air of biological and biochemical toxins. Moreover, the moisture given off by plants suppress the formation of airborne microbes, thus diminishing the “allergenic” potential of the bedroom.

d)The green foliage of most houseplants also “soften” the mood of a room. They can mute away harsh corners, endow a bare window with charm or render a touch of symmetry to oddly furnished walls. In general houseplants give a pleasant , soothing effect to the bedroom, an effect that promotes relaxation and sleep. They also absorb odors and fumes, replenish the air with oxygen and humidity, keeping the temperatures cool and sustainable for better sleep. No wonder the most attractive bedrooms in “Better Homes” magazines are always shown with several charming houseplants strategically placed in various spots. And if you are still unsure about the positive effects of plants on human emotions, take note of this: a study by the Washington State University found that people with plants in their work environment were 12 percent more productive and had lower blood pressure than people who did not have plants. There is much support for the idea that the botanical world is inextricably linked to the human psyche and that houseplants can promote better sleep.

However, the air-cleaning abilities of these houseplants are jeopardized if the plants are sick, unhealthy or unclean. Unhealthy houseplants are perfect invitations for insect infestations which produce mold spores that are highly allergenic. To ensure that your houseplants will give you better sleep, you must keep them cleaned and trimmed, free of insects or mites as these are easy sources of allergies and breathing spasms. As well, choose plants that do not shed pollen.

Copyright 2006 Mary Desaulniers

A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves. You can visit her at http://www.GreatBodyat50.com or learn how she lost her weight at http://www.greatbodyproteinpower.com.

Unwanted telephone sales calls are regarded by many as one of the inevitable inconveniences of modern life. These calls can be especially annoying, the phone always seems to ring just as you’re about to sit down to a family meal or step into a nice relaxing bath.

Although most people find these calls irksome, a significant number – such as the elderly, people who live alone, people separating after an abusive relationship etc. - can also find them intimidating. This is especially so if, when the phone is answered, there is nobody at the other end – a common occurrence as telemarketing firms often disconnect if the call is not answered quickly enough in order to maximise their efficiency.

Some people go to incredible lengths to deal with these calls. They invent stories about why they aren’t interested in the product or service on offer, they pretend that there’s someone at the door – anything other than just saying “sorry not interested” and hanging up.

It’s quite possible that one of the few things worse than unwanted telephone sales pitches is listening to the bizarre and convoluted methods people dream up to deal with them. Of course, the fact that people feel the need to be so inventive simply serves to underline the powerful influence of these calls.

The good news is that it’s very easy to stop all of these calls completely. In the UK, simply register with the Telephone Preference Service(TPS). This can be done online for residential, mobile and commercial telephone numbers - and it’s completely free.

There is a 28 day period of grace after registration. After this time has elapsed any company which phones you is acting unlawfully and liable to a fine. In practice, the system works very well and you are extremely unlikely to receive any sales calls after the 28 days is up.

In the USA a similar scheme, the National Do-Not-Call Registry, exists. Like the UK service it is free and you can register online register online or by calling 1-888-382-1222 (toll free). With the US system there is a 31 day period of grace. After this you should no longer receive any unwanted sales pitches by phone.

Yes… a window washing business can be profitable, but you will
have much more long term success and profitability if you expose
your marketing message and your company to your prospects over
and over again. If you don’t, you’ll be remembered briefly today
and forgotten tomorrow. That’s just a fact.

The advertising “gurus” state that someone has to see your
message at least 7 times before they feel comfortable with you,
your service, or your company.

Now I’m not saying that you have to mail out 7 postcards or
distribute flyers 7 times to the same neighborhood of window
cleaning prospects before someone calls you. No.

But every time you do advertise multiple times, or get the
message out repeatedly to a prospect, you’ll get more calls,
you’ll end up with more business, and consequently, you’ll make
more money.

It really is amazing how this works, but subconsciously your
prospects will begin to trust you and begin to get to know you
if they see your advertising message(s) all over town or they
hear your company name on a regular basis… even though they
probably still don’t know you from a hill of beans.

Way back when I was younger, I had a business as a “Bankruptcy
Petition Preparer” where I was assisting people in filing for
bankruptcy.

When I first got into the business, I started advertising in the
local pennysavers and other publications. At one point I was in
13 different publications. Initially, I received very few calls
and it was getting a bit frustrating. What I was paying the
advertisers was certainly more than what I was making.

But I also knew that if I didn’t give up, it would only be a
matter of time before business would boom and people would begin
to trust me simply because they see my advertising message week
after week after week.

And lo and behold… it worked. The phone eventually started to
ring. And it didn’t stop.

As a matter of fact, it worked so well that the local bankruptcy
attorneys got together and proceeded to force me out of business
by filing all this legal mumbo jumbo against my company. They
couldn’t compete with me on price, so they eliminated the
competition. Oh well.

But back to using repetition in the window washing business.

Think about this for a second… You mail a postcard to a
neighborhood filled with your desired prospects. A week later
you distribute flyers (or have someone else do it) in that same
neighborhood. Then the people in that neighborhood see you at
one of their neighbor’s houses doing a window washing job.

At this point what they’re thinking is “Hey… this guy is
serious about his business. He must be good because I’ve
received some quality information about his service and now I
see him around the neighborhood. Maybe I should give him a call
and get my windows cleaned.”

See what I mean?

Repetition when it comes to marketing may not really be earth
shattering news to you, but it really needs to be stressed,
especially in the residential window washing business.

Remember, you’re trying to gain access to a person’s private
sanctum-their home. It’s a lot easier to gain access if they
feel comfortable with you BEFORE they even give you a call.

Then when you cement the prospect’s comfortable feelings about
you by showing up with a solid image and estimate presentation,
your chances of securing the job have just increased
dramatically.

Within my manual, “How to Start Your Own Residential Window
Washing Business”, I even go so far as to mention that if you
only plan to do one postcard mailing to one neighborhood (if
that’s the marketing method you choose), and do no more
mailings, then it would be best to save your money.

Sure you’ll get some calls from one mailing. I’ve used 3
different versions of postcards and they all worked
exceptionally well, but you won’t see the absolute full benefit
unless they’re used repetitiously.

“Repetition” is another one of those lessons I learned the hard
way. In the first few months of my business I spread myself too
thin and was not consistent with any one marketing message.

A good example is when I went out and bought some radio spots on
a Jazz station. Radio isn’t cheap, so I naturally couldn’t
afford to run my radio commercial for an unlimited number of
times. I did end up running it 2 times a day for 12 weeks, BUT
that is not nearly enough.

I received 2 calls from that radio spot, for a cost of $1,500.
Um…not a good deal, huh?

Unless I had a huge budget where I could set aside quite a few
thousand dollars and just continually run ads all day long for
six months or so, this type of marketing would never work
because my prospects simply would not be exposed to my message
enough.

So… don’t forget to use repetition and consistency when
spreading the message of how great you and your window washing
company are. If you do employ this tactic, then instead of being
forgotten quickly like most window washing businesses are,
you’ll be remembered. And what does that mean to you? You’ll
simply put a whole bunch more profits in your pocket!

Best Wishes,

Steve

The first question you need to ask yourself is why you need a computer and for what purpose you will use it:

* Surfing the Internet

* Sending and receiving e-mail

* Word Processing

* Spreadsheet and Money management

* Listening and recording music

* Storing and manipulating images

* Playing games

When you are certain that you really need a computer then you need to consider what computer to purchase.

The most common type of computer is the PC. Fewer and fewer people these days use Macintoshes and while Apple still makes them they are used primarily for graphics work at the high end multimedia level.

For home or office use you may be far better purchasing a desktop PC with pre-installed software. And PC prices are on the way down.

Of course notebook computers are really great if you want to take advantage of the portability that they offer, although you really need to weigh this against the cost — as laptops are still much more expensive than your average PC with the same functionality.

You need to determine what capabilities you want your computer to have – the size of the hard drive, the memory and the types of cards – video and audio – that it comes with.

For a standard home or basic office use you should be adequately served by 256Mb of RAM memory with a 80Gb hard drive for storage.

Two other things to consider are that you will need a monitor and software.

For a monitor, try for a 17 inch so that you don’t have to squint to see what is on your screen. Flat panel displays are great for saving space too and the clarity of the displays now are quite impressive.

Most computers will come installed with software. Find what software the PC will come with and work out if this is all you need.

Basic word processing, spreadsheet and email/organizer software is adequate for most people and the ability to access the internet will require a modem installed as well.

If you are worried about learning to use your computer, don’t be. There are tutorials within Windows XP to help get you started, and “wizards” are easy to use, step by step programs built into Windows that will help you learn a lot too.

Plus, once you get hooked up and online with your own computer, you will have access to millions of sites ready and willing to help you learn all about your new desktop PC, the software you have, and even learn how to do things you never imagined!

Check out more of our articles on the parts of a computer to help you understand what computer components you need and what you don’t before you buy! http://www.cheap-computers-guide.com/computer-components.html

Guy Ames has been working on and learning about computers for over 10 years, get starter tips on buying a computer or building your own desktop PC including step-by-step tutorials at http://www.cheap-computers-guide.com/

A month or two ago I decided to be some blog posting software called RSS to Blog. The software promised to automate some of the more mundane tasks of blogging. Having implemented the software and read extensively about it, I would now like to offer my two cents worth on RSS to Blog.

First of all, the program does do what it says it will in terms of automating the blogging process. You can paste in scores of articles in advance, and RSS to Blog will faithfully post them to your blog. This can be done in random intervals, and is done with the help of cron jobs, which are a way of running automatic scripts on a web server. RSS to Blog can also post RSS feeds from other sites into your blog, and rotate things randomly.

The idea of automated blog posting is particularly nice for a blogger who is going on vacation, or has trouble maintaining the daily discipline of blogging. However, there is also a significant amount of abuse associated with this type of software.

Most notably, people are publishing spammy blogs, otherwise known as splogs. Some people are publishing as many as 250 blogs each, all spewing forth spammy content laced with Google Adsense ads. One I read about online claimed to be making $200k per year, a claim that I tend to believe.

The problem is, these cron jobs suck up a lot of server resources. It doesn’t hurt a server if somebody has a cron job automating their blog posts 2-4 times per day. But these people who have 100, 200 or 250 blogs, and who are posting and pinging at a high rate of speed, can take down a server all by themselves. Then when a bunch of people running the same script at the same time all congregate on the same server, this really wreaks havoc. So much so, that some web hosts have kicked RSS to Blog software users from their hosting service.

This is a shame, because when used properly, RSS to Blog really can be a helpful productivity tool. Personally, I like to write in spurts. I would rather write 2-10 pages of content, divide it into original posts, and set them up to run over time, than be driven by a need to blog 2-4 times per day, day in and day out. This doesn’t lessen the quality of my posts, it only makes life easier for a busy person.

This is in contrast to people who are picking certain keywords, generating thousands of pages, and pinging the daylights out of the blogosphere. I don’t hate such people, and if they can earn $200k per year cranking out spam, more power to them. But truth be told, I think the search engines and users are getting smarter and smarter about weeding out spam and splogs.

One spammy splogger noted online that he couldn’t care less how rotten his pages were, in fact his goal was to make people who landed on his pages want to barf so badly that they would click on a Google ad just to get off his lousy page. With all due respect, this doesn’t seem like a very profitable business model for Google or its advertisers.

The sploggers also say that they have to keep building, building, building more and more splogs—because once the search engines find out what they are, their traffic tapers off and drops. This is in contrast to a truly helpful blog with great content, whose value and traffic should continue to spiral upward.

In their defense, I don’t think the developers of RSS to Blog intended for their software to be used in this manner. As a matter of fact, I heard rumblings about limits to be built into newer, more powerful versions. That sounds like a good idea to me. It’s always nice to land on a page with truly meaningful and helpful content.

Since I didn’t want any surprises, and have a good relationship with my web host, I phoned him and told him about the software I was using. He agreed with me that RSS to Blog could be a powerful productivity tool, and that if used rightly (e.g. a reasonable number of random posts) should not diminish his server resources in the least little way. This made me pretty happy, since I plan to use RSS to Blog to help promote my log furniture store.

Cari Haus, CPA and entrepreneur, has been a webmaster and online retailer for more than five years. She sells log furniture through her website, http://www.logcabinrustics.com/

This article is addressed to two groups of people: those who have cruised and those
who haven’t. Does that make sense? If you’ve cruised, you can relate to what this is
all about. If not, I’m preparing you for what to expect on that fateful day when you
do. Well, as a cruiser, I feel that an urban legend regarding weight gain must be put
to rest. The myth perpetuated by former cruisers is that, during the course of the
journey you will gain (a) 5 pounds, (b) 10 pounds, (c) 20 pounds, (d) so much
weight, they’ll arrange for a forklift on the other end. I can attest that this isn’t true.

But, people do add additional girth because, once at sea, they have forgotten how to
eat. Let me explain.

This ‘out-of-control’ behavior is the direct result of the insidious cruise line.
They make ‘food’ a destination by itself. By providing outrageous buffets, dining
rooms, snack areas, and unlimited cabin service, food is available in a nonstop,
never-ending, extravaganza that tempts even the best of strong-willed travelers.
One could eat continuously for the entire trip if one desired. Normal people become
transformed into eating machines with uncontrollable urges, heaping outlandish
portions upon their plates. It’s as if they were hypnotized into a feeding frenzy,
against their better judgment. Is there no help for these soon-to-be members of
overeaters anonymous?

Of course, and that’s why I’m here. There’s a simple solution, which I will share.
Begin with an attitude that says, I don’t want to hate myself when I get home, but I
still want to have fun and indulge. Consider every meal as a personal challenge.

Think about how you eat when you’re not on a vacation, where there is:

(a) less temptation,
(b) limited choices,
(c) an actual cost associated with each portion, and
(d) consequences with overeating.

Then begin with your breakfast. Does a stack of foot-high pancakes, a dozen
sausages and a whole pineapple look anything like what you eat at home? Try to
make a relationship back to realistic needs. If you usually have a piece of toast at
home, then why would you require a tray-load of Belgium waffles, covered with
extra whipped cream, at sea?

It’s okay to treat yourself with a dessert that you might not normally order, but
try to keep things in perspective. The temptation to overeat, because all the meals
are included, is attractive. But the reality is that one day, you’ll be back home
bemoaning the fact you have to diet because certain clothes you love won’t fit
anymore. Another way to stay fit on a cruise is to bypass the elevator. Personally, I
never use one. Even if I’m on the 5th floor and need to get to deck 14, I walk the
stairs. And walk the ship often. And when you’re in port, walk there too. If you work
out at home, use the ship’s gym: it’s free. Then, when you grab the chocolate
mousse dessert at night, you have a fighting chance to keep your weight gain to a
minimum, if any at all.

To recap, avoid temptation and eat like you were at home. Walk everywhere and
often. Treat yourself in moderation. You may not lose weight, but you should at
least keep the status quo and you’ll thank yourself when you’re back on land.
Gaining weight on a cruise is not inevitable: Myth busted and Bon Voyage!

Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for
nearly 25 years. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising
and has a Master’s Degree from Monmouth University. He had his own
advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design
firm, ABC Advertising. He has authored 6 books and a novel, “Pursuit of the
Phoenix,” available at http://www.amazon.com. His latest book is, “Inside the Yellow
Pages.” Currently, he is the Marketing Director for http://www.thenurseschoice.com,
a Health Information and Doctor Referral site.