Saturday, January 26, 2008

Four Steps to Better Business Leads from Search

So you got a click on your PPC ad. Now what do you do? The job of the B2B search marketer is only beginning when a prospect clicks. As MarketingSherpa points out, the decision to click is microscopically unimportant compared to all the things you are asking from a prospect after they've clicked: Stick around and read your copy, fill out a form, risk getting their privacy invaded, take a meeting, recommend your product, make a purchase, and so on.

Without each of these following steps in place, a click is just a click, and a click by itself is a waste of time and money.

Optimized landing pages

A good landing page provides two main benefits to a PPC campaign. First, search engines like Google care about the relevancy of the landing page when ranking ads, meaning a high-quality landing page gets better ranking (and more clicks) for less money. Second, a relevant and optimized landing page can have dramatically higher conversion rates, meaning you get more leads for your money. These two factors combine to drive dramatic ROI for landing page improvements.

Despite this, few B2B marketers use landing pages to their fullest advantage. According to Forrester Research, only about a quarter of B2B search ads take the prospective customer to keyword specific landing pages. The challenge is that landing page optimization requires building and maintaining dozens of landing pages, one for each ad group and testing multiplies the complexity of the problem.

Lead analytics and scoring

Even if you do get a conversion, it turns out that only 25% of conversions are sales-ready. You need the ability to find these hot leads and pass them to your sales team as soon as possible, before they get cold or a competitor contacts them first.

You can do this with lead scoring, which requires two kinds of information: (1) demographic/behavioral and (2) lead source. Examples of demographic/behavioral information include title, company, and BANT criteria (budget, authority, need, and timing); examples of lead source information include where the lead came from, what kind of offer created the lead, and lead age.

Demographic and behavioral information represent the biggest challenge for online marketers. The most obvious way to get it is when the prospect fills out the registration formbut research shows that every additional field on the form reduces conversion rates. A more subtle problem is that the searcher is likely to be an influencer, not a decision maker, and asking certain BANT questions can be off-putting.

There are two main solutions. The first is called progressive profiling, in which you get to know a lead over time by asking additional questions each time you interact (kind of like dating). One quick way to do this is to ask the prospect for additional information on the thank you page after submitting the form. Prospects who make it this far have expressed quite a bit of interest so they may be willing to give you more data now that you've built trust by sharing useful content.

A second solution is to use directed behavioral segmentation. Rather than sending clicks to a single landing page, this approach uses a "landing path" a series of pages that collect information based on how the prospect navigates.

Lead nurturing

If only 25% of leads are sales-ready, what do you do with the other 75%? Some of those prospects may be truly unqualified, but as many of 70% of them will eventually buy a product from youor your competitors. Prematurely passing this type of lead to sales is a recipe for disaster. Since sales reps are compensated for driving short-term revenue, a long-term lead like this creates the impression that search-generated leads are no good. As a result, the sales rep is more likely to ignore the next lead he receiveswhich is why reps end up ignoring 80% of all search-generated leads.

The solution is to use lead nurturing, a disciplined marketing-driven process of helping qualified prospects who are not yet sales-ready move through their buying process. Lead nurturing is not just sending a monthly email newsletter to your entire database, or calling prospects every few weeks to see if they are ready to buy yet. It is about progressively understanding more about the prospect's needs, and using targeted one-to-one communications to build your company's position as a trusted advisor.

The benefits of lead nurturing go beyond better sales-marketing alignment and higher win rates. Research shows that prospects that are nurtured buy more, require less discounting, and have shorter sales cycles than prospects who bought but were not nurtured.

Closed-loop measurement

Once the lead is passed to sales, the B2B search marketer's job is still not finished. Unlike B2C marketing, the time between the first click and a closed sale can be weeks or months or even years. Also, most analytic and search marketing solutions don't have automated access to the CRM system (such as salesforce.com) to know which leads become opportunities and ultimately generate revenue. This can make the process of measuring success and fine-tuning the search marketing campaign much more difficult.

There are two ways most companies try to solve this problem, both unsatisfactory. The first is to ignore it and measure PPC success solely on conversions. This is certainly easy to do because it is what the search engines support, but it creates a significant disconnect between marketing and the realities of what drives revenue for the businessalways an uncomfortable situation. The second approach is to tie search marketing results to opportunities and revenue using manual analytics. In other words, generate a report in Google, another in salesforce.com, and spend a lot of time in Excel trying to tie everything together. I'm sure this scenario is familiar to many B2B search marketers. A better approach is to use analytics that automates this process by unifying your search marketing data with your CRM data.

Crossing The Click Chasm

For too many B2B companies, there is a chasm between the campaigns that generate clicks to a website and the activities that turn clicks into customers. This chasm creates lower response rates, inadequate lead follow-up, and poorly optimized campaigns. To succeed in B2B, search marketing needs to become an integrated part of a complete demand generation process that includes landing pages, lead analytics, lead nurturing, and closed-loop measurement. Only by focusing on what happens after the click will B2B marketers be able to ensure optimal results for their PPC campaigns.

Jon Miller is VP of Marketing for Marketo, a provider of marketing automation software that helps B2B marketing professionals drive revenue and improve accountability. Jon's blog, Modern B2B Marketing, explores best practices in business marketing, ranging from pay-per-click management to lead nurturing to marketing accountability. The Strictly Business column appears Wednesdays at Search Engine Land.Hei Blog99342
Graciela Blog58480

The Popularity Of Learning Online

Online courses help students to further their learning abilities and education. No matter where a student is located, the resources are available at their fingertips when one studies online courses. There are innumerable online courses and training methods available.

A course on personal development, to continue with a hobby, training for a new career or enhancing business skills are just some of the possibilities available in online courses. Their area of interest can be explored at the students own pace. There are thousands of online courses covering hundreds of topics.

Online Courses in Business among others include a course to start your own business or training in time management. Other available online courses include leadership skills, techniques on conducting interviews and marketing courses online or offline.

Online courses in training includes programming languages, marketing through internet, personal computer hardware, Linux, training in office software, graphic designs, web design and other certificate courses in information technology.

Online courses for training in a specific career are also possible. The available resources includes various vocational training programs in wedding planning, carpentry, bookkeeping, real estate, automotive courses, medical transcription and lot of other options to get a diploma. Find more info at http://www.online-courses4u.info

Professionals who would like to continue their education have various options available in online courses. Engineers, architects, lawyers, physicians, real-estate professionals, social workers, teachers and massage therapists and others, can pursue online CEU and CE courses.

Online courses in personal development are meant for developing a hobby or pursuing a personal interest. Home improvement, investing, gardening, cooking, art and design, digital photography and traffic school and many others are included.

Languages can be learned through various online courses available on the internet. Expanding the existing language skill or learning a foreign language is made easy. Supplementary help for courses such ESL, TEFL are also included in various online courses. Languages such as Japanese, Spanish, Italian, French or German can be easily learnt through online resources.

Convenience and flexibility are the advantages in online learning. This is more so if the students have other commitments. Depending upon on the needs of the student a greater adaptability is also possible along with enhanced communication between the student and the teaching resources online. Some of the advantages of online courses include the teaching materials presented in non-verbal mode and the varieties of learning experience, using multimedia.

E-assessment or assessments made with the aid of a computer includes multiple choice tests which are automatically generated, gearing towards the specific mistakes made by the students and to navigate through a series of questions to find out what the student has learned or not learned.

Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. For more info visit http://online-courses4u.info/ or http://online-courses4u.info/free-online-course.htmlGore Blog18255
Hildegard Blog72567

Auto Repair Scams Can Cost You a Fortune

A lot of people like owning and driving cars, but no one likes to repair them or pay to have them repaired. But cars are like anything else; if you use them, they eventually need attention. Today's vehicles are far more complicated than the cars of a generation ago, so fewer and fewer consumers are able to do their own repairs. That means taking it to a professional mechanic when something goes wrong, and choosing a bad one can cost you a fortune.

While the majority of auto mechanics are honest people, there are more than a few that have been known to take advantage of consumers by engaging in a number of unethical practices:

Padding the price with unnecessary repairs.

Padding the price with work not actually done.

Charging for new parts when using used ones or charging for factory parts when using third-party parts.

Providing higher estimates to female customers than they do to men.

Using the wrong mechanic can not only cost you money, but it can actually endanger your life if the work was not done properly or even done at all. What can you do to make sure that the mechanic you hire will do a good job and treat you fairly?

You might consider the following:

Ask your family or friends for recommendations. People often take their cars to the same shop for years, so a recommendation from a longtime customer would be helpful.

Check with the local Better Business Bureau to see if the shop in question has a history of consumer complaints.

Check to see if the mechanics are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. These certifications indicate technicians who have passed comprehensive exams and are probably sufficiently competent to handle the job.

Check out the shop in person. Look around. Is it clean? Organized? Does it have a professional look? If the shop is run by professionals, it should look as though it is run by professionals.

Do they provide a written estimate? Most reputable shops will do so; if they don't, you could find yourself with a rapidly escalating repair bill.

Check with the American Automobile Association. They provide members with a list of reputable shops that can take care of your needs.

If you drive a lot, and most people do, it is vitally important that your car be kept in the best possible condition. That means finding a reputable place to have it repaired when something goes wrong. The last thing you want when your car breaks is to take it to someone who will do a poor job or charge you too much money. Taking your time in finding a reputable mechanic is a good start.

©Copyright 2006 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing. Retro Marketing, established in 1978, is a firm devoted to informational Websites, including http://www.LemonLawHelp.net, a site devoted to automobile lemon laws, and http://www.Car-Insurance-Help.net, a site devoted to automobile insurance.Garth Blog17086
Heywood Blog80282

Organization Of Your Childs First Birthday Party

It is intense to believe that a year has gone by. Sometimes it feels like it was only yesterday that you were carrying your baby home. All the forces are pointing in the right direction and you are ona a job to give your little lad or your sweet princess a birthday they won't forget. At there first birthday, children care for things like color and noise. Consider that this birthday party kids are to young to remember so take pictures and videos. With all this said here are some steps to bear in mind.

First choose the date, time and show. Determine about how many serveral people (adults versus kids) will be here and an appropriate venue for the party. One place you can have it is at home, outside is great. Larger venues work for lots of guests. Don't pick nap time or before as your baby probably will be very tired to enjoy his/her birthday party.

Choose invitations. Elect a theme that you can have fun with. Yet again, it's more about what you like here.

Mail invitations out and give at least three weeks in advance, if you can try to four weeks. Double-check to make a list the you can use to amount those people who have confirmed and call those people who have not contacted you.

Decorations! Now you can have fun and do alot with colors, themes and decorations. Balloons (Make sure no one chokes!) plastic forks and spoons, plates and banners will do just great.

Games. If parents bring additional children there, include quite a few fun games. If not, bear in mind a collage of pictures to amuse your visitors with.

Foods need to be easy to prepare, handle and eat. For just a few guests a full scale meal would be okay. Don't forget the cake.

Pictures. Many of the perfect things to do you think now is to take lots of pictures during your party. Plan to do this so that you enforce ample opportunity to share and for scrapbooking.

To make your child's first birthday esteemed, bear in mind hiring a professional planner to do you think the work for you!

Melissa Fishman is the owner of http://mailordermommy.com. Mailordermommy sells birthday parties.Hera Blog5093
Griffin Blog91776

Web Hosting And Design Services Companies

Huge businesses and organizations spend a lot of time and money creating magnificent websites that are of top quality in terms of their looks and programming capabilities. Very often, they get disappointed when they approach their web hosting service provider to launch their brilliant sites because of server incompatibilities. Some of them realize that parts of their website's functionality do not work correctly when hosted on to their server; some of them realize that a particular service, which would be the core to their business model, could not be implemented on their server. In such situations, these companies have to spend additional time and money to make their website functionalities compatible with their server specifications.

All of this happens because of the gulf that exists between the web design company and the web hosting service provider. This could be avoided to a certain extent by having your web design company communicate with your web hosting company before your website is built. However, this may not be an apt solution because your web hosting company has to be cooperative in responding to your web design company.

The ideal solution in such situations is to look for companies that will offer both services. There are many companies today that offer multiple services. Therefore, you need to find a reliable company that offers both web design and web hosting services. You will win a great advantage by hiring such a company to take care of your web design and web hosting needs. You do not have to worry about wasting your time and money in restructuring your website to make it compatible to your hosting server. While analyzing your requirements itself, the web design team will be able to advise you on any issues that may rise later or at least take care of the issues during the development phase.

If you are new to online business and just setting up your new website then the above points are very pertinent to you. As a fresher to the field, you will not be able to make wise decisions on the features and functions of your website that will lead to functional efficiency of your website. Very often, it happens that the new comer finds it difficult to translate what their web hosting company says in terms of server compatibility, Operating System, scripts etc to their web design company. This inadequacy of the website owner leads to the delay in the completion of their website. If they have not anticipated this delay but planned to have their website launched before a certain season to promote their business, there is a great danger of missing their deadline, defeating the whole purpose of having a website.

Hiring a company that offers both web design and web hosting service will also help you in the long run. This will help your website maintenance become much easier. Every website needs periodic maintenance at hosting levels and at design levels to ensure continued efficiency of operation of the website. Therefore, when it comes to website maintenance, you need not have to run to two different vendors. You can have them all done from the same vendor. It is all the better to get your website maintenance service from those who developed your website.

Founder and actual CEO, Ricardo d'Argence has been in the field for more than ten years. http://Alojate.com is now one of the biggest web hosting providers in Mexico. http://www.alojate.com http://www.alojateextra.com.Heriberto Blog69371
Gerhard Blog61226

Web Hosting Affiliate Program: Your One Way Ticket To Success

Are you tired of working 8 hours a day, 6 days a week for some company that you are not really interested in? Do you want to have your own home business that provides non-stop income that keeps growing and growing?

If you answered yes to either of these questions then web hosting affiliate program is for you. Web hosting affiliate program can provide more income than you ever have. There may be people in the Internet that says affiliate marketing doesnt work or it doesnt generate any money at all, but these people are those who have never tried affiliate programs before or have tried it but didnt to it the right way.

In fact, there are people who earn a lot of money from web hosting affiliate programs that they even quit their day jobs and concentrate more on this very lucrative business. These people saw the potential in affiliate programs and they saw that it is a great home business opportunity that they would want to continue.

One benefit of web hosting affiliate program is that it allows you to build your income every month and every year. Web hosting affiliate programs is much better than making a commission from every product sold now and then.

In web hosting affiliate program, you will be making commission if you refer people to open an account in the web-hosting program. This means that you will be making a lot of money every month if you just refer about 100 accounts. For example, if you get a commission of 5 dollars per account, you will be making 500 dollars every month.

This is why you have to refer someone to a web hosting affiliate program in order to increase your income every month and every year. So, if you hear someone that there's no money in the internet or selling stuff in the internet is the only way to make money, tell them that web hosting affiliates is one of those things commonly overlooked that creates a good money-making potential.

All you need is hard work and dedications. With enough hard work, you will see that you will be making a lot of money in web hosting affiliates. You will also see that with the money you will be making, you will eventually quit your day job and prefer to stay at home with your family and concentrate on your home business.

To start your web hosting affiliate program, you first have to look for one that offers instant account activation for customers. These are one of the features you should look for in order to attract more customers for your web hosting affiliate program. The fact that people would want to get what they pay for immediately is why you should look for a web hosting affiliate program like this.

A good customer support service should also be present. In case your customer runs into a problem, they can have an easy access on customer support services to help them with their problems.

These are the things you should consider when you are considering starting a web hosting affiliate program as a home business. In time, you will see that you will be making a lot of money out of this small business. You have to think that there are a lot of people using the Internet today who wants to open up their account. Think big in order to make it big.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information checkout http://www.turnkeyaffiliateprogram.com and http://www.killeraffiliateprogram.com.Gioia Blog53570
Gastone Blog18542

Fifty Mistakes Men Make When Having Sex

Just in case you thought the route to sexual bliss was straightforward, here's a list of things to avoid. They're all pretty much guaranteed passion killers for a woman - and if your check list contains more than ten of these, you've got some serious work to do on your sexual etiquette!

1 Going straight for the naughty bits

You've got to be sensitive to the fact that a woman is more likely to be irritated than aroused when a man dives for her breasts and vulva after a few minutes' perfunctory kissing. While you might get to feel the goods, you're not going to be invited back.

2 Not knowing how to kiss sensitively

Passionate or sensitive, firm or gentle, good kissing is an art form which lubricates the wheels of sex and gets everyone in the mood for more intimacy. Learn how to kiss, and do it well. That doesn't mean sticking your tongue in her mouth and wiggling it around like you're trying to floss her teeth.

3 Being too rough when you touch her erogenous zones

Men like a firmer touch than women, especially when it comes to our penises. So if you touch her clitoris with as much force as you apply to your penis when you masturbate, she's most likely to howl with pain - and then kick you out of bed. Remember: the clitoris has twice as many nerve endings as the penis, in a much smaller area. Treat it with respect. It's the only organ in the human body that has no function other than to provide pleasure.

4 Not stroking and caressing her

A woman's second biggest sex organ is her skin. (The first is her mind.) You can make your touch on any part of her body into a sexy caress, but you have to focus on what you're doing and put some sexual energy into your fingers while you caress her. That means not thinking about the baseball game while you're giving her a sensuous massage.

5 Locking onto her nipples like a suckling child

Yes, we know it's fun for you. To her it just feels like she's got a teething infant hanging off her breast. Lick and kiss around her whole breast before you go for the nipple, then flick your tongue gently across the nipple and around the areolae. If she likes what you're doing, you'll know by her moans of pleasure.

6 Biting on her earlobe because you think it's sexy

She may not agree with you. In which case it will just be irritating for her, not a prelude to her turning into the sex goddess you thought you were summoning up.

7 Leaving a hickey on her neck like a teenage badge of honor

If you're over sixteen, this is a no-no. If you need to know why, you're obviously under sixteen.

8 Not shaving before sex

When you're in the throes of passion, having your beard stubble brushing back and forth across her face isn't so sexy, but at least it'll produce a red rash she can remember you by.

9 Not washing your pits and bits before you have sex

If there's one thing that turns women off, it's a lover whose personal hygiene isn't up to scratch. Even though men have a higher smell threshold than women, keeping yourself clean - especially in the more intimate corners of your anatomy (like under your foreskin) - is not just a matter of courtesy, it's a ticket back to the bedroom.

10 Forgetting she has a sensuous body waiting to be stroked

Pretty much the same point we already made up above, but worth remembering: touch doesn't just have to be in the bedroom, a prelude to sex. In fact, if you touch her a lot in a loving way during the day, she'll be ready to melt into your arms by bedtime.

11 Trying to get your fingers in her underwear before she's ready

This is the mark of a gauche teenage lover who wants to get to fourth base just so he feels more accomplished as a lover. Take your time, let things evolve naturally, and apply a little sensuous touch on the fabric covering her vulva before you dive under the elastic. The hint of what's to come is often more erotic than diving straight in there.

12 Dropping the condom on the floor

Must we say why this isn't the most popular move post sex? Dispose of the condom tidily in a tissue - put it in the bin rather than down the toilet, or it's likely to float there for some time to come as a reminder of your sexual encounter.

13 Going straight for the clitoris during oral sex or masturbation

Like we said above, most women just find this irritating - and, if you press too hard, bloody uncomfortable too. Your first caresses should be on her labia, the lips of her vulva, then as she gets more aroused, you can work nearer the clitoris itself. But even when she's aroused a soft touch along the sides of her clitoris may be more acceptable for her than any pressure on the head of her clitoris.

14 Breaking off just as she's getting to the point where she wants you to keep going at all costs

Women often get so lost in their sexual arousal that they forget to give feedback. In reality, the fact that she's lying there quietly may actually mean she loves what you're doing; if so, you should feel her pressing her vulva against your mouth or fingers, or shifting like she wants more touch, rather than giving you a sense that she'd rather be out shopping.

15 Undressing her clumsily

Listen up guys: you don't have to be able to take her bra off with one hand, behind her back, while kissing her. In fact, in my experience, it's better if you don't try. She probably puts it on by fastening it first and pulling it over her head anyway. Let her take off the garments you don't understand, and whenever you do lend a helping hand, undress her gently and sensuously rather than pulling at her clothes like you're ripping the paper off a birthday present.

16 Undressing yourself inelegantly - which includes taking your socks off after your underwear

Nothing is more comical (or pathetic) to a woman than a man in his socks and pants. Except possibly a naked man wearing socks. If you don't understand why, just accept that it is so.

17 Expecting her to shave for you

You might like the baby smooth look around her vulva, but she's more likely to see this as a prickly route to itchy stubble. Ask her nicely if you'd like her to go smooth. If she says "no", accept that graciously.

18 Sticking a finger up her vagina before she's ready, willing and able

In general, women do like to be penetrated just as much as men like to penetrate, which, considering how much men like to stick things up there, is just as well. However, she'll only want you to do this when the time is right - i.e. when she's aroused enough to enjoy it. If you're giving her clitoris attention, there'll be a point where she might like to have a finger or two inside her. If so, be gentle, and start with one finger on her G-spot. Make sure she enjoys this before you put another one up there. Two fingers on her G-spot is probably as much as she will want. And be just as firm with your touch as she finds pleasurable. If you don't know what the G-spot is, then do some Google-ing before you get into bed.

19 Entering her without asking her first

What is it with men and these dark, wet places? Just keep in mind that she decides how far sex goes, and if she doesn't want to enjoy intercourse then don't press the point. This applies especially to any strategy that involves nudging your penis into position and then pressing forward without her consent, verbal or otherwise! Having said that, you don't always need to ask "May I enter you?" though it can be a romantic and sexy thing to do if you're looking deep into her eyes. Needless to say, that's most likely to happen in the man on top position, which, by the way, remains everyone's most popular position for sex.

20 Pecking away around her vagina with your penis if you can't find the way in

This is, by all accounts, many women's least desired sexual moment. If for any reason you can't get in, don't pretend you're in control and keep trying. Simply ask her to guide you in with her hand. That way you'll save a lot of embarrassment, not to mention time.

20 Pumping away without regard for her pleasure

When you've achieved your most desired objective, and your penis is inside her, you'll want to show a certain consideration for her pleasure. She may want hard and fast thrusting, but it's best to start slow and shallow. While you're making love, she'll most appreciate your efforts if you're masculine and strong - which is to say, if you act like you know what you're doing, you're considerate and gentle at first, and work up to firm and strong thrusts if she likes them.

21 Expecting her to make love bottom up

Yes, we all enjoy rear entry. But she may be more self-conscious of her butt, she may feel like a sex object, and she may not like the rather impersonal nature of this position. If you really want to do it, and you explain to her why you like it so much (i.e. "It's incredibly exciting to see your gorgeous bottom as we make love", rather than "I get so turned on fucking from behind") she'll probably co-operate from time to time, even if it's only on your birthday and hers.

22 Thrusting too hard

If you happen to be well-endowed, or she has a short vagina, and you thrust too hard, you may end up banging her cervix. This can make her shriek, though sadly not with sexual pleasure.

22 Coming before she's got excited or begun to enjoy sex

There aren't many men who can last long enough to really satisfy a woman who enjoys vaginal intercourse and G-spot stimulation. If you can't be bothered learning how to be a long lasting lover, then at least have the decency to keep going for a few minutes so she gets some pleasure. This isn't hard, and there are plenty of ways you can learn to extend intercourse and not come so quickly. Do some research on Google for "end premature ejaculation". See also number 26.

23 Not coming at all - or losing your erection when you put the condom on

If you're one of that rarer breed of men who has trouble coming during intercourse, may we respectfully suggest you see a sexual therapist? You can then deal with this problem, learn to come more quickly, and avoid giving her a numb vagina and an intimate knowledge of the exact shade of color you painted your bedroom ceiling. If you're one of the many men who lose their erection when the condom comes out of its foil wrapper and onto the head of your penis, it's back to Google for a search on, surprisingly enough, "losing erection when putting on a condom".

24 Asking her how it was for her

This is not the mark of a confident lover, so if you really want some feedback, phrase it thus: "Did you prefer it when I did X or Y?"

25 Not going down on her when she wants oral pleasure

Since oral sex on a woman is so pleasurable for most men, this seems unlikely. But if it's a question of the smell or taste being a bit much for you, try taking a shower or bath together before sex. If you just want her to fellate you and you simply can't be bothered to reciprocate with cunnilingus, then reading these tips isn't going to help you much anyway.

26 Failing to give her pleasure if you come quickly

Remember the motto: "Women come first!" As a man, you're probably going to lose interest in sex once you've ejaculated - at least for a while. In which case, make sure she comes through oral sex or masturbation before you enter her. That way, she gets her pleasure and so do you. (With the added bonus that it doesn't matter so much if you shoot quite quickly.) Just to enter her, thrust a few times, come, roll over and forget about her is the mark of a boorish lover, and you wouldn't want to be one of those, now would you?

27 Trying to force her head towards your cock

Let's face it: she's either willing to give your oral sex or she's not. Trying to persuade her to get her lips around your glans by edging her head towards your groin is a bit crass, to say the least. If she doesn't seem to be heading that way as things hot up, just ask her: "There's something you could do that'd give me so much pleasure....."

28 Trying to force her head further down on her cock when she's giving you oral

Yes, once again we know it feels good, but you have to be considerate about it. She's not likely to be a deep throat expert, and there's no reason why she should be, since most of the pleasure of oral sex comes from the action of her tongue on your glans. Keep your hands away from her head unless it's to gently stroke her hair, and you won't feel the temptation to encourage her to go deeper.

29 Holding her head when she goes down on you

Pretty similar to number 28, but this time, holding her head and moving it up and down on your penis is the no-no. If you think that's acceptable sexual etiquette you've been watching too many of the wrong kind of films.

30 Coming in her mouth without asking her if it's OK

The taste of semen is very much an acquired taste; unfortunately it's one that few woman ever acquire. If she doesn't like it, ask her to keep going until the last minute, then tell her when you're going to come so she can move back and finish the job with a well-lubed hand. You'll get just as much pleasure, and she won't have to gag or spit your semen out. By the way, accidentally forgetting to tell her you're going to come is not permitted.

31 Thinking that a porno movie has anything to do with real life

Porn is not good for men's egos. Real life isn't like that, OK?

32 Switching on a hard core porn film without asking whether that's OK with her

Even if you find it arousing, she's not likely to, for the simple reason that much of the porn available today is fairly abusive to women. Ask her first, and if you want to share the erotic thrill of watching people have sex, get hold of some romantic sex movies that will appeal to her emotions as well as her sex drive.

33 Apologizing for the size of your penis

Just in case you ever feel inclined to apologize for not matching up to the guys in the wrong kind of movies, just remember: 98% of women would rather have a sensitive lover than one with a big penis. If you're with one of the other two percent, you need to find a new lover.

34 Answering honestly when she asks you what your last lover was like

Guys, when a woman asks you if her butt is too big, do you tell her the truth? Enough said. Your current lover is always the most gorgeous, sexy and desirable woman around. Even if she doesn't really believe it, that's what she wants to hear.

35 Asking her if she'd mind if her girlfriend joined you

Threesomes can be exciting, but they usually just cause jealousy and upset when one partner unexpectedly finds they don't want their partner making out with another person. Needless to say, this usually happens to the woman. So be sure, be very sure, you know what you're doing before you try this one.

36 Making her do all the work

Changing positions is all very well, but asking her to ride you each time you have sex seems a bit one sided. Vary the positions, have fun, and take equal shares of the work. Don't just settle for one favorite position and flog it to death.

37 Trying to slip it in the back door by "accident"

Anal sex is something that a lot fewer couples have tried than you'd believe from what you read on the internet or see in porn. It's something you might like to try, but you both have to want to do it. She's not likely to respond with warmth if you keep pretending you're poking her anus by accident. And she won't believe you if you tell her you just didn't want to ask for directions, even if that's how you are when you're driving around lost, looking for somewhere.

38 Photographing or videoing your lovemaking

Unfortunately, as many jilted lovers can testify, taking pictures while you enjoy sex is putting power in the hands of the person who has the pictures. A good compromise is to link your video camera direct to your TV without recording the images. That way you can have the erotic thrill of seeing yourself during sex without having to worry about seeing yourself having sex on the internet in a few years' time.

39 Getting into the same old same old routine every time you have sex

Above almost everything else (except possibly being deeply in love), ringing the changes when you make love is the thing that will keep your sex life fresh and passionate. You'll be surprised just how exciting it can be when you try a new position. This is simply because every position puts a different pressure on the penis and vagina, or gives you a new perspective of your partner's body, or perhaps allows you to see entering your partner's body, and so on. Exactly which sex position feels most pleasurable will depend on the shape and size and shape of your penis and her vagina.

40 Not romancing her

Women love romance. Men put up with it, or do it to get sex. True or false? Probably true, but the romantic "chase" is deeply rewarding for most men (i.e. seducing and winning a woman makes us feel deeply fulfilled), and romance is an essential part of that process. If you're able to continue being romantic once you're an established couple, then you set yourself head and shoulders above the rest of your fellow men, and you stand that much greater chance of getting regular, passionate sex.

41 Slapping her buttocks without checking if she's into a little dominance play

No mater how exciting you may find the idea, don't land a heavy slap on her butt without trying a few lighter ones first and seeing how she reacts. If you do, you may get a slap in the face. Or a kick in the balls.

42 Trying to do sex by the book (or the film)

Don't copy the moves you see in porn films. They lack a certain something. Consideration for the woman, that would be.

43 Playing with her anus before she's excited enough to appreciate it

When you're masturbating her clitoris, and you have a finger inside her vagina, you may find that she responds well to a little anal play. If you have the position right, you can use your little finger to tickle gently at her anus as your forefinger plays with her G-spot. This may well add to her excitement - especially if she's on the verge of orgasm. If you try this before she's really excited and has stopped caring what's happening to her, you might just turn her off completely, so it might not be a bad idea to check it out with her in advance.

44 Deafening her by shouting in her ear when you come

An easy mistake to make, especially if you like to have sex in the man on top position lying close to your partner, and you like to let the world know when you come. Unfortunately she won't let you do it a second time, so bury your face in the pillow or something if you're prone to uncontrollable vocal ejaculations as well as physical ones.

45 Talking dirty without checking if she likes it

Generally a little consensual dirty talk between adults adds to the excitement. The first time your partner tells you to f*** her hot wet c*** you'll see what I mean. If that hasn't happened yet, and you'd like it to, encourage her to talk dirty to you when you're making love, and see what pops out of her mouth. You might be surprised. Remember legend has it that the quiet ones are often the most surprising in bed!

46 Lying on top of her without supporting your weight on your arms

Always remember: a gentleman takes his weight on his arms. Or elbows, or knees, or something.

47 Ejaculating on her without asking permission

Coming between her breasts or on her vulva or bottom can be incredibly exciting, but it's nice to ask her first. She may see it less a mark of your ejaculatory prowess or manhood than a mess to clear up.

48 Not controlling your ejaculation

Like we said before, a good lover makes the effort to make sure his partner is satisfied before he is.

49 Not spending some time with her in your arms after sex

A man who gets up after he's done the business and sets about his daily routine is probably top of most women's sexual dislikes. For her, this is a special time when a woman feels very close to her partner. She takes much longer to come down from sex than a man does, she wants to know she's loved and special, and she wants to feel adored by the man to whom she has just given her most precious asset. The very least you can do is to spend a half hour or so cuddling her while you relax after making love, even if you're not going to spend the night with her.

50 Not cleaning up after sex

And since sex inevitably involves a certain amount of fluids, keep the tissues handy for afterwards. If you feel like being chivalrous, offer her a warm towel to clean herself, especially if you aren't using condoms.

There you go! And if you've got any more sexual tips for sexual success, send them to us at the email address in the box below.

Rod Phillips is an online sexual counselor at Sex and Relationships - http://www.sex-and-relationships.com/index.html , Send your sex tips to tips@sex-and-relationships.com , For more information on controlling your ejaculation, see: End Premature Ejaculation Now! - http://www.end-premature-ejaculation-now.com/index.html.Hema Blog90944
Harout Blog99622

6 Tips For Saving Gas

In the past months we have seen the price of gasoline soar higher than ever before, and this can be hard on people who have a budget that is tight. Even though gas prices have come down a slight bit, you still will want to do everything you possibly can to save on the money you have to pay out for gas. There are a variety of ways that you can save gas, and save money.

Tip#1 - Start Carpooling

Carpooling is a great idea for fellow students and fellow employees both. If you can find people that are going to the same place you are you can save gas by riding together. It may be a good idea to trade off on who is driving from week to week so no one person gets stuck having to drive all the time. If you have to take your children to school or other functions you can also work on trading off with your friends and neighbors to take them there.

Tip#2 - Public Transportation

If it is possible you can take public transportation to work instead of driving your car. Not only will this save you money on gas, but you will also be able to relax and not worry about having to drive through all that rush hour traffic. You may even be able to fit in a quick nap on your way to work or on your way home.

Tip#3 - Price Shop

Often it may be so convenient to buy your gas at the small gas station just up the road, but to save some money on gas you may want to check the prices at other gas stations that are nearby as well. Even if the difference is only a few cents, after putting hundreds of gallons of gas in you vehicle each year, those few cents are going to add up to quite a sum of money.

Tip#4 - Get Moving

You can save some money on gas if you start walking to where you are going, or you can ride a bike as well. You will not have to worry about paying to park your car, and the exercise will be great for you body. If you are walking or biking you will not have to worry about those huge traffic jams either.

Tip#5 - Take Care of Your Car

It is always important to take care of your car so it gets the best gas mileage possible. Also be sure to plan where you are going before you go so you will not have to backtrack and waste gas. If you can, you should use your air conditioning as little as possible because using it takes more gas. Roll down your windows and you will use less gas.

Tip#6 - Check your Tires

It is important that you check the air pressure in your tires as often as possible. If your tires are too low, or the pressure in them is unequal it can make your car burn more gas. You should also be careful how you drive. If you take off from every red light very fast you are going to burn more fuel, so it is best to take off a little slower.

These are a few tips that can help the money conscious person to save money on gas. Even as gas prices drop, these tips can still help you to save more money. Conservation is important, so take advantage of these tips, save money, and save gas.

Jackson Porter is a staff writer at http://www.automobileenthusiast.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.environmental-central.com.Gayathree Blog63360
Gastone Blog18542

Parenting Autism Being Your Childs Primary Resource

Dont be Afraid of the Myths and Misconceptions about Autism.

Parents often feel sad, afraid and confused when they learn their child has an autism spectrum disorder, and Its no wonder -- autism is often portrayed as a grim, lifelong disability, from which there is no hope of recovery.

Of course, these expectations are based on outdated information about people who grew up a generation ago, when only the most severe cases were diagnosed, and treatment was practically nonexistent. Unfortunately, parents are still given this outdated information, presented as if its still accurate and relevant in our present day.

These misconceptions lead to more fear, more sadness, limited expectations, and feelings of incompetence in parents about how to best help their child. As a result, some parents rely entirely on other people to work with their child and to make decisions for their child, instead of trusting their own instincts, knowledge, and abilities. Parents are their childs best resource, yet somehow thats not the message theyre getting from the experts.

Dont be Afraid to Believe in Your Childs Potential.

Each child has their own unique, unknown potential. Everyone who works with your child must believe in his ability to learn, grow, and have a bright future.

With effective intervention, the vast majority of children experience improvement, ranging all the way from slight recovery to complete recovery, and everything in-between. The degree of recovery a child experiences depends primarily on his unique potential, combined with whatever learning opportunities he experiences.

Learning opportunities are not just teaching style and content alone. A child's overall environment and expectations are also an integral part of his learning experience.

Knowing these things, we can do three very powerful things for our child:

1. We can love our child as he is now, and provide a positive, nurturing environment.

2. We can keep a completely open mind as to how far our child can go.

3.We can present lots of positive opportunities for learning and growth.

If we do these things, our child will have the opportunity to truly fulfill his unique potential.

Dont Be Afraid to Ask Questions.

If your child has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, its important to ask questions. Ask as many as you need in order to feel confident in your understanding of the disorder. Even if you get most of your initial questions answered, you may find there are still many questions that no one can answer conclusively, because in many ways autism research is still in its infancy. Researchers are still gathering information regarding cause, prognosis, and what interventions are most effective.

Dont Be Afraid to Explore Your Options.

Get to know all your options. It takes some time, but continue to seek opinions and advice from people with different backgrounds in autism. Even after your initial questions have been answered, its still a good idea to consult with additional people with different types of knowledge and expertise.

For instance, you may want to ask a few different doctors, psychologists, teachers, therapists, and parents with contrasting approaches to autism about their opinions and experience. Our understanding of autism is continually evolving, and one person may have knowledge that another does not.

As you gather more and more relevant information, you will make better and better decisions for your child. Remember, no decision is carved in stone. In fact, youll probably change direction and switch approaches a few times, and thats okay. Its all part of the process of learning what works best for your child, and adapting to your childs changing needs.

Dont Be Afraid to Work with Your Child.

Never believe that the experts have all the answers and that you should not get involved with your childs treatment program. Talk with the experts to learn more about what you can do at home with your child. Do further research by reading books and articles on autism, attending classes and conferences, and talking to other parents.

You know your child better than anyone else. In addition, you have an undeniable bond with your child that no one else could ever possibly have. Take advantage of your bond to teach your child, build his self-esteem, and explore treatment options you feel will work for your child.

Regardless of their potential, children will seldom go beyond the expectations of their parents. We can't know how far our children can go, but we can take the lid off the box of low expectations, by having faith in their ability to learn, and by providing the loving environment necessary for them to achieve their highest potential.

Copyright 2006 Sandra Sinclair

Sandra Sinclair is a parent of a child with PDD-NOS, and a life coach for parents of children on the autism spectrum. She is author of Newly Diagnosed Autism Spectrum- A free mini-course with 7 clear steps you can take to help your child. http://www.autismvoice.com/blog/7StepstoHelpChildrenwithAutismHema Blog90944
Harout Blog99622

How the Right To An Education Destroys Our Childrens Education

One of the most common arguments that school authorities use to justify public schools is that all children have a right to an education. Public-school apologists claim that all children have a right to an education, and that only the existence of a massive, compulsory, government-controlled public-school system can guarantee that right.

As I will explain below, the claim that all children have a right to an education ends up hurting the very children it was intended to help. I will therefore ask a seemingly shocking question do all children have a right to an education? If they do, public-school apologists are correct in assuming that we need government to guarantee that right so no child gets left behind.

What is an economic "right" such as the alleged right to an education? A "right" means that a person has a claim on the rest of society (other Americans) to give him some product or service he wants, regardless of whether he can pay for it or not. For example, if we claimed that everyone has a right to a car, that would mean if someone couldnt afford a car, government would give that person the money to buy it (the payment might be called a car voucher).

Similarly, if we say that all children have a right to an education, regardless of their parents ability to pay tuition, then only government can guarantee this alleged right. Government has to guarantee this right because no private, for-profit school will admit a student if the parents dont pay tuition (unless the student gets a scholarship). If a private school doesnt get paid for its services, it soon goes out of business.

Local or state governments can guarantee this alleged right in two basic ways. They can own and operate all the public schools and force all children to attend these schools, or they can give subsidies (vouchers) to parents to pay for tuition in the private school of their choice. Since most school authorities strongly oppose vouchers, that means they support only a government-controlled system of compulsory public schools and school taxes to guarantee children this alleged right to an education.

But government produces nothing by itself. Government gets its money by taxing us. To guarantee this alleged right to a product or service, government tax collectors must therefore take money from one person to give it to another. They must take from Peter to pay Paul, as the saying goes. So, in effect, a person who demands food, housing, or medical care as an alleged right, is really demanding that government tax agents steal money from his neighbor to give him an unearned benefit he didnt work for.

Education, like housing or medical care, does not grow free in nature. Just as someone must pay doctors, nurses, and hospitals for all the services they provide, someone must also pay for teachers salaries, textbooks, janitorial services, and school upkeep. Other than air, nothing that we need is free.

The average public school now gets over $7,500 a year per student, paid from compulsory taxes. To guarantee education as a right, local, state, and federal governments must tax all Americans to pay for public schools. All of us are taxed, whether or not we have school-age children or think these schools are worth paying for. So when some parents claim that their children have a right to an education, they are really demanding that their local or state government steal money from their neighbors to pay for their childrens education.

Heres an analogy that might help clarify this issue. Imagine that your unemployed neighbor comes to you and asks you to lend him money to pay for his childrens education. You reply that, though you sympathize with his problem, your answer is no. He responds by saying that he is poor, points out that you have a big house and a job, and insists that his children have a right to an education. You say, Sorry, my answer is still no because I need my money for my own childrens education. Suppose that your neighbor then gets real mad, pulls out a gun, puts it to your head, and says, I asked you nicely. I told you my children need an education. You have a job, and Im unemployed, so you have a moral duty to give me your money. Then he clicks back the hammer on the gun.

Does your neighbor have the right to put a gun to your head and steal your money because his children need an education? He has no such right. Nor does he, or any number of your neighbors, have the right to rob you by getting government to be their enforcer by pressuring local governments to take your money through school taxes. Any school system that uses compulsory taxes is a system based on the notion that theft is moral if its for a good cause. No goal, not even educating children, justifies legalized theft.

It is only natural that all parents want the best education for their children, but do good intentions justify stealing from your neighbor? A mugger on the street who puts a knife to your throat and demands your money also has good intentions he wants to make his life better with your money. One of the Ten Commandments says, Thou shalt not steal. It does not say, Thou shalt not steal, except if you need tuition money to educate your child. Since no one has a right to steal from his neighbor, no one, including children, has a right to an education.

Some might argue that I may be correct on this issue when it comes to adults, but surely we cant punish innocent children for their parents failures? Just because parents are poor or unemployed, why should innocent children suffer and be denied an education? The answer to that question is one that many people find hard to accept, yet it is true there are no guarantees in life, not for adults or for children. Good intentions to alleviate a problem do not justify hurting other people by stealing from them. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Moreover, if we agree that children have a right to an education because their parents are poor, then shouldnt they also have a right to food, a bicycle, a nice house in the suburbs, and designer clothes? If poor kids (and all children) have an alleged right to an education, dont they also have an alleged right to everything else that other kids have whose parents are well-off? Why not then say that anyone, poor, middle-class, or rich who has less money than his neighbor, has the right to steal from his neighbor? Where do we stop if some people can legally steal from others because they claim their kids need this or that?

The answer is, we dont stop, and we havent stopped. That is why our country has turned into a devouring welfare state that is drowning in debt. When I use the word welfare, I dont mean only for the poor. Rich, poor, and middle-class alike in America now claim the right to everything from corporate tax breaks and subsidies, to price supports for farmers, to Medicare, to rent subsidies for unwed mothers. When we let government steal money from taxpayers to give unearned benefits or subsidies to special-interest groups, we open up a Pandoras box. We become a nation of thieves stealing from each other. Is this what we want America to become?

It is true that a free market does not and can not guarantee that all children have enough to eat or live in a comfortable house. Likewise, a free-market education system in which all parents have to pay for their childrens education obviously cant guarantee a quality education for every child.

However, government-controlled public schools also cant guarantee that every child gets a quality education. These failed schools can barely teach our children to read. Also, neither system can make guarantees because there are no guarantees in life, and because each childs abilities, personality, and family background are so different that such guarantees are impossible. The real question, then, is not which system is perfect, but which system is more likely to give the vast majority of children a quality education that most parents could afford?

Public schools fail and betray millions of children, year after year. The only right the public-school system gives to school children is the right to suffer through a mind-numbing, third-rate education for twelve years.

In contrast, the free-market, while not perfect, gives us all the wondrous goods and services we buy every day, such as cars, fresh food, computers, refrigerators, and televisions. The superbly efficient and competitive free market gives us all these marvelous products at prices that most people can afford. Even the poorest American families today have a car, refrigerator, and sometimes two televisions in their homes. If we want to discover which system would give the vast majority of children a quality education at reasonable prices, I think we have the answer the free market, hands down.

We therefore dont need a failed public-school system to enforce an alleged right to an education, when there is no such right in the first place. Each parent should be responsible for paying for their own childrens education, just as they pay for their childrens food or clothing.

Finally, public-school apologists use this alleged right to an education to justify keeping the public-school dinosaur alive, in spite of these schools never-ending failure. Many public-school apologists who claim that children have a right to an education do so out of good intentions. They want to give all children a chance to get a decent education. But good intentions mean worse than nothing if they lead to dismal consequences. This alleged right to an education lets government bureaucrats have tyrannical control over our childrens minds and future.

The right to an education requires a massive government-controlled public-school system to enforce that right. But it is this same public-school system that cripples the education and lives of millions of children. So, ironically, the alleged right to an education is the worst thing we can offer our children.

Most low-income families dont need government education handouts anymore in the form of allegedly free public schools. Parents today can buy quality, low-cost food in a competitive, free-market food industry full of grocery stores and supermarkets. In the same way, parents today can give their kids a quality education using low-cost Internet private schools and homeschooling.

Only when we reject the notion that all children have a right to an education will we get government out of the education business, permanently. Only a fiercely-competitive free-market education system can give kids the quality, low-cost education they deserve.

Joel Turtel is the author of two books Public Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children" and The Welfare State: No Mercy For the Middle Class. He is also a syndicated columnist and education policy analyst.Gayathree Blog63360
Hakim Blog55923

Jigsaw Puzzles, A Great Gift With A Lot To Offer!

Here comes the holiday season again, gasp! That means chasing all over town searching for that perfect gift for everyone on your list, fighting with the crowds for the latest "it" toy or newest electronic thing-a-ma-jig, right?

Why not try a different approach this year, and give some- thing special to your family and friends? Jigsaw puzzles could be the answer!

My love of jigsaw puzzles comes from my Grandmother.

My grandmother lived in a very small town in northern Minnesota where the moquitos out number the people. It certainly was a boring place to spend a summer vacation as a kid. What was worse I realized, Grandma didn't have cable TV! Out of sheer boredom, I sat down with her while she worked a puzzle.

Grandma was smart, she had an extra chair and some cookies waiting for me to join her.

There is one puzzle I remember clearly, it was a picture of a red and white quilt and it was huge! It must have been 2000 pieces and it took up the entire dinning room table. I was sure there was no way anyone could ever get that whole puzzle put together, it was simply too hard. It took some time but after I found a few pieces and had completed one square of the quilt I was hooked. Every day I looked forward to working on the puzzle, and every piece found was a triumph! It took a few weeks, but we finally finished that puzzle, and all of Grandma's famous sugar cookies too!

I felt proud of what we accomplished and that I was able to help. We left it on the table for a couple of days to admire our work. Soon I discovered the rest of Grandma's puzzle collection and I couldn't wait to dig into a new puzzle!

Looking back on this now as an adult and a mom myself, I realize that this simple pastime gave me many things. At first I didn't think it was possible to complete the jigsaw puzzle, but once it was done I felt a great sense of pride and accomplish- ment. More importantly, the real gift was quality time, great conversation and fantastic memories of my Grandmother. ( And I still have her cookie recipe!)

So before you rush out to buy the latest "batteries not included" flashing light gadget, take a second look at this old fashioned gift. You may get more back then you expected.

Tips to make a jigsaw puzzle a hit this holiday season

Jigsaw puzzles are more fun when they are part of a bigger plan.

Give tickets to your local zoo with an animal puzzle, or tickets to an aquarium with an underwater puzzle.

Find a puzzle of your next vacation destination, or someplace you would like to visit someday.

Start a new family tradition and work a puzzle together.

Look for a puzzle with a fantastic winter scene, or holiday celebration to get you into that Christmas spirit. Turn off the television and turn on some Christmas music and enjoy some time with your family.

Jigsaw puzzles can add to a collection.

Perhaps someone you know collects dragons, dolphins, or roosters for instance, look for a puzzle with those things and you've got a great gift.

Jigsaw puzzles can be used to decorate your home.

Jigsaw puzzles can be easily glued together and hung up as artwork. Keep the theme of your children's rooms, and your dining room in mind as you look for a puzzle, you can fill your home with art work you made yourself!

Things to look for when purchasing a jigsaw puzzle:

1) Picture :

I think the most important thing to look for when purchasing a jigsaw puzzle is the picture itself. Puzzles are meant to be fun, so find a picture that makes you smile! Have fun!

2) Size and Piece count:

You should pay attention to the piece count, make sure it is appropriate to the age and skill of the puzzler. 500 pieces may be to hard for your 6 year old to do solo, but may be perfect for the family to do together.

The size of the completed puzzle is important. Make sure the area you will assemble the puzzle will hold the puzzle and have extra room for the un assembled puzzle pieces.

3) Quality:

A quality puzzle is well worth the price! Vibrant colors, tightly fitting pieces etc. will make assembling the puzzle more enjoyable.

It is frustrating to have the paper fall off the cardboard of a puzzle piece or to have thin pieces that break easily.

4) Challenge level:

While choosing a puzzle, keep in mind that a puzzle of a solid color or repeating pattern may make it more difficult then a puzzle with a variety of colors. Example, a puzzle of black cat on a black blanket even though it is only 500 pieces may be extra challenging.

Keep this in mind, but remember a puzzle is supposed to be a challenge!

5) Specialty Puzzles:

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of a puzzle may be a rectangle shape with a picture of a field of flowers. If this sounds boring to you keep looking! There are many unique puzzles out there.

Shaped puzzles are puzzles that have a unique border shape.

Such as in the shape of a dog or of an eagle in flight. These puzzles offer a a challenge to those who always work the border of a puzzle first. Round puzzles are some of my favorites to work because of the unusual way the pieces are cut!

Glow In The Dark puzzles look like a standard puzzle but parts of the design will glow in the dark making them a great choice to glue and save!
Tips for getting started:

Now that you have a puzzle, and a place to work it, you are a little overwhelmed by looking at that huge pile of pieces. Now what?

1) Lighting A bright place to work will reduce eye strain and make for a more enjoyable experience.

2) Sort your pieces I like to turn all the pieces right side up first as well as sorting the edge pieces right away. I have also found that using boxes or small containers to sort the different colors into is very helpful! ( The boxes of previously worked puzzles that you have glued together to display are perfect for this.)

3) Enlist help I have found that it is nearly impossible to walk past someone who is working a puzzle without stopping to find a few pieces myself.

Puzzles are a great way to pass time and you may have a wonderful conversation too!

4) Puzzle roll ups If you need to use the dining room table again, and you are not finished with your puzzle yet, don't despair! A puzzle roll up will help you move and store your unfinished puzzle for another day! Puzzle roll ups are available in a variety of sizes.

5) Puzzle Glue Once you have completed your puzzle it can be heart breaking to take it apart again. If you really like the design, or just want to show off your hard work, it is a simple task to glue the puzzle together and hang it on your wall! A good puzzle glue will dry clear so it doesn't distort the beauty of the colors. Puzzle glue is brushed on, and when it is dry you can frame the puzzle, or hang it up as is. Keep the decor of your home in mind when you are buying puzzles, and you can fill your home with art you made yourself!

6) Afterwards...

If you have completed a puzzle and don't wish to work it again here are several ideas for you. Pass it on! Know a friend that enjoys puzzles? Exchange your completed puzzles with them! Donate puzzles to local schools, churches, nursing homes etc.

HTTP://www.thepuzzlezone.net

PuzzleLover liver in Bismarck, North Dakota with her husband and their daughter.Gilbert Blog78351
Gina Blog90141

Rally the Troops with Inner Fire

Many who thrive in the workplace are those bursting with drive and determination. These folks who are motivated by their jobs.

Every person who works have personal reasons for working. While most work for money, others work because they love their jobs and because experience a sense of fulfillment. Some work because they desire to aid others or to feel distinguished in a field. People work because they are motivated by certain reasons.

A core reason why people are driven to work is because of the earning potential. Money is a key factor in working. Money is also the motive why most people are inflamed to get degrees or intense training for their jobs. They seek to better themselves in their workplace to attain a higher pay. Compensation for work pays the bills, stocks the fridge, buys clothing for the kids and allows for people to enjoy leisure activities. When people receive commensurate pay for the work they do, they are more spurred to work harder and more efficiently. An employer who underestimates the power of money is making a grave mistake. Not fairly compensating an employee can mean losing that person to a high paying job. Money can motivate almost any employee to labor more efficiently.

Additionally, another reason why people spend nine hours or more a day at work is because they crave recognition for their performance. Without proper recognition, employees will slack off.

Recognition comes in many forms. In fact, after money, recognition is one of the main reasons why people search for advanced jobs. They desire to work for a company where they feel secure with their future and know that they have a chance for promotion. Employees want others that work with them to feel equally responsible and work just as hard. Most employees feel that fellow workers should be fired or suffer demotions if they do not work as hard as they do. The failure to discipline slacking employees results in severe office demotivation.

A further reason why people feel motivated to work is because they want their employer to recognize what is significant to them. Those who work desire flexibility in their itinerary and feel that if their employer cannot offer this, then they will look for alternatives. Workers want their supervisors to know that they have brilliant ideas too and they do not want to feel belittled about expressing their ideas. Employees also feel more driven when they feel comfy about talking to their supervisors even if it is a complaint. They will take comfort in knowing that they have sympathetic supervisors and can go to them when they need to express concerns at the workplace.

Employers can also boost morale and motivation among employees by sympathizing with unique employee needs. Some employees may feel that they want to be in control of their work environment. They dont feel inspired if they constantly have a supervisor looking over their shoulder and deconstructing their labor. Give workers their space and enough breathing room to stretch their creativity. Theyll enjoy a sense of ownership over the output of their labors and reward you with passionate service.

Naturally, the best way to nurture motivation throughout the workplace is to provide an environment where all employees feel valued. It is necessary for supervisors to understand that each individual is different and is motivated for different reasons. They need to understand what each employee seeks and their reason for laboring. Find out these hot buttons and productivity will soar.

Joseph R. Plazo is a fan of NLP and persuasion techniques. Know more here: http://www.max-influence.xtrememind.comHafeez Blog71918
Harley Blog46762

Historical Amelia Island

To many travelers, Amelia Island is a newfound paradise. But centuries of people have been drawn to its tranquil shores and exquisite natural beauty.

According to local folklore and historical evidence, Timucuan Indians first inhabited Amelia Island as early as 2000 BC. The Timucuan people were known for elaborate body tattoos in yellow, black, blue and red.

The island was originally named "Isle de Mai" (Island of May) by Jean Ribault, a Huguenot leader who landed on Amelia Island in 1562. It is said that when Ribault and his troops arrived, they were welcomed by the Timcuans and given baskets of berries. Even though the Spanish had claimed the area in 1513, these French colonists showed interest in the Island to claim land for France and to seek refuge from the religious and political persecution given to Huguenots. Though Ribault and his company did not settle on Amelia Island, other Huguenots landed in 1564. This second colony constructed Fort Caroline in Northern Jacksonville near the mouth of the St. John's River. In 1565, Spanish troops came to the area, killed the French settlers and regained the territory, which they had claimed as their own years before.

The arrival of these Spanish troops led to the first Spanish reign from 1565 to 1763. A mission called Santa Maria was built on the northern end of Amelia Island in what is now known as Old Town. The mission was created to convert Indians to Christianity. At that time, the original name "Isle de Mai" was changed to "Isle de Santa Maria".

In the years to follow, the Timucuans of Amelia Island gained contact with the Europeans, and British settlements in the North soon took a keen interest in the naturally deep ports and the strategic trade route locations on the island. Once again the name of the island was changed, this time to "Amelia" in honour of the Princess Amelia, daughter of King George II. James Oglethorpe, Governor of Georgia, put the name change in place in 1735. The British changed the name of the island to "Amelia", but the land did not fall into British hands until the Spanish Florida was traded for British Cuba in 1763 in an agreement under the Treaty of Paris. During British rule, Amelia Island was known as Egmont.

In 1783, the Second Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, and Florida was returned to Spain. In 1811 a surveyor named George J. F. Clarke plotted the town of Fernandina, named in honor of King Ferdinand VII of Spain. The Patriots of Amelia Island, an independent group of American civilians backed by the United States government, seized control of the island, drove out the Spanish, and raised the American flag. The following day, Amelia Island was ceded to the United States.

1870 to 1910 was considered the Golden Age of Amelia Island. During this era, several wealthy Americans made Fernandina their homes. Elegant Victorian style houses were built in what became known as the Silk Stocking District. Ulysses Grant visited the Egmont Hotel, one of the grandest hotels of its time. The turn-of-the-century boom of Amelia Island came about with the advent of the shipping industry, and increasing numbers of New Yorkers who came traveled by steamboat to enjoy the warm climate and elegant hotels in Amelia.

In recent years, Amelia Island has grown and prospered as a popular tourist destination. Many accommodation choices are available to suit every sort of traveler, and the Amelia Island Plantation is considered to be one of the world's perfect island destinations. Modern tourists are learning what centuries had already known: Amelia Island is a true treasure.

Charles Jackson contributes to several online magazines, including http://great-recreation.com and http://susaq.com.Gilberto Blog9660
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Scooters A Versatile And User Friendly Mobility Device

Scooters, the name itself brings to our mind a vehicle, which is usually a two- wheeler and helps us to be mobile. A scooter before used to be motorized scooter but from time to time there have been various upgrades on scooters and now we have many types of scooters that are available in the market. With the upgrades a lot of different accessories are also available for the scooters.

First let us see the various kinds of scooters that are available in the market:

Electric scooters: Electric scooters come in different sizes from small and portable to full-sized and rugged. Apart from a two-wheeler electric scooter also comes as a three-wheel travel scooter or a four-wheel travel scooter. These scooters also have a backrest to ease your back. These scooters are not only comfortable but also portable. It is amazing to note the speeds that these electric scooters can achieve and the ride is also smooth. Now you can ride around on an electric scooter and do your work in style.

Zap scooters: These are a stand up electric scooter that reaches a maximum speed of 12 mph. It has a powerful motor and a stability of a three wheel that makes kids and adults love it.

Razor scooters: Razor scooters are motorized scooters that are available for the kids. These scooters are available for the age group 5 yrs and above. They are usually small sized and portable vehicle.

Gas powered scooters: These kinds of scooters run on fuel and have got an engine. These scooters are motorized scooters also known as mobility scooters. They are stylish and light weighted vehicles. They are also reliable and sophisticated by nature.

Basically, gas scooters electric scooters and gas-powered scooters are by far the best-engineered, trouble-free scooters in the world. These gas scooters and electric scooters are made of the highest quality, materials, and components. The braking on these scooters is handled by powerful, highly technological front disc brake that stops exactly when you want it to. These scooters are designed for demanding riders who love a machine with handling capabilities and that will facilitate just about any type of maneuver one may desire to perform. And, should you crave for more performance; fear not, your craze for these wheelers can be satisfied with scooter parts and accessories that will thrill your soul. You can have your own custom made versions having knobby off-road tires, as well as graphically done footboards, complimented with extraordinary colors and cool paint schemes.

Jason Uvios enjoys Writing about on Scooters-A Versatile And User Friendly Mobility Device to Visit :- http://www.scooternow.info, http://www.scootertoday.info and http://www.sweetscooteronline.info.Harout Blog99622
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Won't Medicare Pay for Our Long Term Care?

Fact: Medicare is NOT DESIGNED to cover long term care. It was designed primarily to help with 'short term' rehabilitation.

"How much WILL the government actually pay?"

Medicare does not pay for long term care expenses. Medicare does cover some limited convalescent skilled nursing care and some limited home health care under restrictive, short-term conditions, but not for long term care. This short-term care is usually limited to 100 days, and to get it the following conditions must be met:

* For Medicare you must have been in a hospital for at least three days immediately prior to entering the nursing facility. This eliminates most Alzheimer's and Parkinson's cases.

* For Medicare you must go into the facility for the same condition for which you were previously hospitalized, and it must be within thirty days of discharge.

* For Medicare you must be getting better each day. Once you level off, Medicare stops paying.

In any case, Medicare covers only Skilled Nursing care and does not cover Intermediate or Custodial care at all!

Susan L. McGloghlon, president of the American HealthCare Institute National Medicare Recovery Services, Inc. states, "There are no limits to the number of benefit periods (100 days) that a Part A Beneficiary is entitled to in a Skilled nursing Facility, provided you meet the criteria as set forth by HCFA."

But the catch is in "the criteria as set forth by HCFA". If you study the fine print, you may find that the cold hard fact is:

If you ever need prolonged, "long term" care, say for Alzheimer's or Parkinson's... It will not be covered by Medicare.

Medicare, HMO's, Major Medical and Medigap insurance do not pay for long term nursing home care stays.

A one year stay in a nursing home can cost anywhere from $42,000 - $191,000 per year, depending upon the nursing home's locale. Insurance can be purchased to help pay for these costs. Without it, your family nest egg can be wiped out. The well spouse can be left without financial resources for their living expenses.

Long term care issues are bound to become more contentious as budget balancers seek to slow the growth of federal Medicare and Medicaid... Many proposed cuts have already passed. If we accept the fact that the cost of long term care is going to continually rise and that programs such as Medicare are realizing marked reductions in funding, we also must accept that the responsibility for long term care expenses will rest squarely on us." In fact, with the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, that is exactly the message from Washington.

The message: Take care of your self, and look out for your own. Don't count on Uncle Sam.

Copyright (c) 2006 Clay Cotton

Long term care insurance activist, Clay Cotton, writes for http://www.PrepSmart.com - The Online Baby Boomers Decision Assistance Center, where you get Free Long Term Care Insurance advice, comparative rate quotes and personal guidance, all while safely at home in your favorite pajamas and bunny slippers.Gian Carlo Blog99646
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About Xoops---Pack of Information for the Newbie

When it comes to the creation of a content rich, large, dynamic website, you are invariably faced with several myths---strong enough to make you drop your plan altogether. One such myth is: it requires you to be a smart programmer to upload and run a versatile website like this. WRONG!! Getting and running a dynamic website of your dream become piece of cake without hassle or lot of efforts, when you are armed with a tool like XOOPS.

If you are a web host, Xoops can be a great CMS tool for you to easily create dynamic websites. Xoops acts as an ideal tool for developing dynamic community websites---big or small. If you want to create personal weblog or corporate intranet site, or a content rich informative portal----Xoops can be the ultimate solution for getting them and running.

To install it in your server, simply what you need are: a PHP-capable web server such as Apache and a database preferably MySQL.

To keep with the spirit of the type of your website, you can use the software differently.

As for example, Lite XOOPS can be used to create a small size personal weblog or journal. The news module that comes inbuilt with its core framework is enough for the purpose.

For a medium size website you need to make use of the additional modules such as News, Forum, Download, Web Links etc. These modules will help in building up of a community and facilitate interaction among the members and with the visitors.

A feature rich e-commerce site however requires development of some of the customized modules. You can download them free or buy from the outside developers. In any case, Xoops uniform user management system will help you to seamlessly integrate these modules with the core system.

There are some must-to install modules which you need to use as add-ons for a stronger foundation along with the core framework of Xoops. These are:

Security module (antivirus and firewall), additional editors (word processors), a backup module to protect the data, and a few diagnostic modules for managing the site.

Here is a brief guide of the locations from where you can download these add-ons.

Security (the Protector Module v3.0)

Backup (DB Backup and Restore)

Editors (Frameworks and Xoopseditors v1.10)

Diagnostics (XoopsInfo v2.12)

In addition to the above mentioned modules which are essentially administrative in nature, you need to download more modules to support the features like news, photo galleries, links, forums, wikis, blogs and games.

Here is the last piece of advice relating to the selection of the version. We recommend the latest version which can be found by clicking Download Xoops in the Xoops .org Community menu. The latest version---2.0.16 has been released in March 2007.

Fat Jack Hosting is the Internet Marketers Dream when it comes to hosting. Not only do we have great ongoing 24/7 support, but we understand the small business owner, entrepreneur and internet marketer because we are owned and operated by an extremely successful one. Thats why you get great customer service, tips, strategies and support. Go here right now to get your hosting account>> http://www.fatjackhosting.comHans Werner Blog3670
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The Key to Wealth: Dont Work Alone

What is happening in the business world today? Will the job you have now always be available or are you at risk of being laid off at any time? The world today has seen many corporate mergers and fallouts. Relying on a company pension or retirement fund has become a thing of the past. Company layoffs and downsizing has become commonplace. The only thing you can truly count on now is yourself.

The corporate world was different in the past. Employees would work for the same company their entire life. A retirement fund would be available when they retired. You found a job and you were set for life. This is no longer the case. The corporate world has intense control over your life. They can lay you off at any time. They make your decisions for you.

With the proper knowledge and tools, you can step out of the corporate world and control your own life. You can become a millionaire. Does this seem impossible? Well, its not. Take the statistic that 2,740 new millionaires are created each day! These millionaires built their own wealth and didnt find it in the corporate world. Did you know that the number of Lottery millionaires + number of Lawsuit millionaires + Entertainment millionaires + Sports millionaires = less than 1% of all millionaires? Surprising, isnt it?

In addition, 80% of millionaires have little or no education. These millionaires understand how to structure their business to create wealth. They didnt learn this information in the standard school system. They learned it from mentors, coaches, and successful millionaires.

Anyone can become part of this millionaires club if you know what to do. It is vital to understand that to create wealth you must not work alone. Two heads are better then one. Following are three reasons why you shouldnt attempt to build wealth on your own.

Dont Work Alone Reason #1: Direction

You need guidance otherwise you will waste both time and money. Think about it. You might work for a year using a system that you think will be successful. When in fact the system you are using is obsolete, inefficient, and wont yield you profits. Therefore, you need to find a mentor or coach to guide you through the process.

Dont Work Alone Reason #2: Support and Friendships

Working with others to build wealth pushes you higher. You will definitely encounter people who tell you that building wealth is impossible and you cant do it. You need the support and friendships of like minded people to overcome these negative opinions. Remember, its your duty and right to make building wealth your passion.

Dont Work Alone Reason #3: Come together with brain power.

Working with others can give you new ideas. For example, you can find someone with a different business or service and combine your complementary services together. Also working with people who are more successful then you are can drive and motivate you to accomplish more.

So what are you waiting for? Act now and find a mentor or coach to help you succeed.

Matt Bacak became "#1 Best Selling Author" in just a few short hours. Recent Entrepreneur Magazine's e-Biz radio show host is turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into Overnight Success Stories. Discover The Secrets To Unleash The Powerful Promoter In You! Sign up for Matt Bacak's Promoting Tips Ezine ($100 value) just visit his website at http://www.promotingtips.com or http://www.powerfulpromoter.com.Hatsumi Blog76289
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Ultimate Wedding: Writing the Ultimate Wedding Vows

Every bride dreams of the ultimate wedding.

Todd and I experienced the ultimate beach wedding on March 11, 2007. We found the perfect destination, the perfect music, the perfect flowers, the perfect dress, wrote the perfect vows and exchanged the perfect rings for us to create our dream wedding. We want to share our experience so you can create your own ultimate wedding.

Creating the ultimate dream wedding does not have to be difficult, but it does take knowing what you want and what is important to both the bride and the groom.

Todd and I spent a lot of time writing our complete wedding ceremony. We did not just write the vows. We wrote the complete ceremony from opening to introduction of the bride and groom and selected music to compliment each facet of the wedding from the prelude to the closing music.

The major elements of a wedding are universal with a greeting, exchange of wedding vows, exchanging of the rings, a reading or blessing, and the pronouncement of the couple. However each element can be customized from ceremony to ceremony.

You do not have to write the entire wedding ceremony to create your ultimate dream wedding, but we do suggest you review the major elements of the ceremony and customize as appropriate. For example, we used a reading from the book of Corinthians in our opening, and we edited a reading from Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward from 1958 as our first reading.

Your wedding vows are an expression of your love and devotion witnessed by family and friends and God. And in order to create your ultimate dream wedding, you need to ensure the vows are memorable and meaningful to you. We have a collection of sample wedding vows on OurUltimateWedding.com from traditional wedding vows, to various religious vows, to our very own custom vows to help you get started.

As an example, here are the vows my husband wrote for me.

Wedding Vows - Groom
I, (Groom), take you (Bride ) to be my
Best friend and My True Love
The One I Laugh With
The One I Live Life With
The One I Want To Grow Old With

You Give Me Hope, Strength, and Courage

You are My World
The Sun, the Stars, and the Sky

I promise to Love, Honor, and Cherish You
Through all of our years
And Through All that Life May Bring

We want to share our experience so you can create your own ultimate wedding. We created OurUltimateWedding.com to help brides and grooms create their own ultimate wedding for a lifetime.

Todd and Amy Huston planned their ultimate beach wedding and created OurUltimateWedding.Com to share their experience with others. The website offers tips and services to plan the ultimate dream wedding.Gerhart Blog42269
Gottfried Blog14770

Discovering Organic Coffee

Many people have turned to organic fruits and vegetables (and even meats) in recent years, striving to live healthier, longer lives. You may be one of these people. But did you know that organic coffee is now available, too? If you can't find it at your local health food store, then you can definitely find it online.

How Organic Coffee Differs From Traditional Coffee

The coffee plant has traditionally been grown in the company of shade trees and other food and cash crops. This approach made for healthier soil and prevented water contamination. Unfortunately, many coffee growers have abandoned this approach in favor of larger crops and hence larger profits. However, synthetic pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers have become necessary to maintain these crops, and along with them the taste of the coffee has suffered, the soil has suffered, and no one knows the potential impact they may have on the future health of the coffee consumer.

In addition, the loss of the shade trees has had a direct impact on migratory song birds. While an obvious connection may not immediately come to mind, the relationship has actually been symbiotic. These birds used the shade trees as their habitat as they migrated, and as a result they provided a natural defense against many of the bugs and pests that can ruin a coffee crop. Without them, pesticides must be used to do the job.

Unlike the large, commercial coffee plantations, organic coffees are generally grown on small farms with plenty of shade cover. There are plenty of migratory birds to control insects, and pesticides are unnecessary. In fact, the United States requires that organic coffees be grown on shaded land and be completely chemical free for three consecutive years.

Tips For A Great Cup of Organic Coffee

Whole beans should be used within a week of purchase in order to enjoy the full flavor of the coffee.

Avoid vacuum-packed coffee, even organic vaccum-packed coffee. The process of vacuum packing cannot be done immediately after roasting. The coffee must sit for nearly a week before it can be vacuum-packed. This degrades much of the flavor.

Coffee beans should be stored in an airtight container, not on the shelf in the paper bag you brought them home with from the store. And in order to enjoy the full flavor of the coffee, you should grind only the amount you intend to use just before brewing.

Whole coffee beans that will be stored longer than a week should be placed in an airtight glass container that's kept in the freezer.

As with any coffee blend, organic or not, grind the beans according to the brewing method you intend to use. Keep in mind that if you grind your beans too fine your coffee may end up bitter and muddy; if you don't grind them enough, your coffee may end up flavorless.

Often overlooked, many people consider the most important step toward a good cup of coffee to be the proportion of water to coffee. Experts recommend 2 tablespoons for every 6 ounces of water.

In Conclusion

While you will pay more for organic coffee, just as you'll generally pay more for organic fruits and vegetables, choosing organic coffee promotes the environment, the health of the coffee grower, and your health, too. Just as important for coffee drinkers everywhere: organic coffee tastes as good if not better than non-organic coffee.

D. Silva is the webmaster for Coffee Pleasures (http://coffeepleasures.com), a website about coffee, coffee flavors, coffee makers, and more.Herman Blog10907
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