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I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. In fact, I remember my kindergarden teacher sending home notes to my parents telling them how much I excelled in all areas connected with art. She told them that I had great potential to be a wonderful artist. So it was only natural when I decided to attend university to study art and when I was hired by a magazine to run their art department. One of the most fascinating assignments I have had so far is to visit various tattoo shops in order to write a piece about tattoo art for our magazine.

I was a little bit hesitant to work on this project because my goal was to get a well rounded picture of what kinds of tattoo art are popular right now and to figure out the main reasons why people are rushing to get tattoo art on various places of their bodies. My main problem was that I had never really considered tattoos art. So I struggled over how I was supposed to write a piece about “tattoo art” when I didn’t agree that it was true art.

During the project my photographer and I spent time in ten different tattoo art shops. We interviewed each owner, several tattoo artists at each shop, and various customers at each place we went. My photographer did several formal and informal photo shoots to get enough photos of tattoo art for our piece. I was honestly amazed at what I discovered as I worked on this piece. I learned that tattoo art really is an art. I learned that it is much more detailed, intricate and sometimes beautiful than I ever expected it to be.

I changed my mind about tattoo art primarily as I discussed the profession with the tattoo artist themselves. They had the most fascinating stories of how hey learned to do tattoo art and of why they desired to do it in the first place. They shared about lifelong dreams of getting to make the human body more beautiful and of their years struggling through various art and drawing classes to perfect their abilities to design tattoo art.

The whole process of someone receiving tattoo art on their body is much more complicated than I ever imagined. In fact, by the time I finished my piece I had nothing but respect and admiration for everything involved in the process of making tattoo art a reality for people.

The Lake Vouliagmeni is not only famous as a very beautiful spot but also but also as containing medicinal waters. This spot has been visited by people who wish to enjoy its waters for centuries, and is one of the most attractive areas in the Greek region of Peloponnese. Visitors approach in order to enjoy its beautiful shores, practice different water sports, relax in front of unique landscapes, taste excellent local dishes, and have a great time in a picturesque environment.

Lake Vouliagmeni has an extension of about 26 km or 15 miles, and is located within the municipality called after it, Vouliagmeni, at about 20 kilometers from the central area of Athens. This lake provides an ideal destination for all those who enjoy water related activities, and it is very common to see visitors fishing, swimming and even windsurfing in this region.

The municipality of Vouliagmeni has a population of about 4000 inhabitants, and offers a very beautiful scenery which combines the attractive of the water which the charm of an appealing mountainous background provided by the Hymettus mountains. This municipality has many beautiful beaches and shores, some of them by the sea and some others provided by Lake Vouliagmeni, but all of them beautiful and ideal for relaxing while observing unique sights.

Lake Vouliagmeni’s waters partially come from underground currents from Mount Hymettus. This lake is at about 40 cm from the regular level of the ground and one of its most peculiar and appealing characteristics is based on the fact that its waters offer a constant temperature of about 24 C, a fact placed among the first qualities in the list of the lake’s attractions.

Before the middle Ages, Lake Vouliagmeni was a cavern. This cavern became the actual lake after an important earthquake caused it to collapse and take the actual shape and characteristics. Nowadays, the lake can be still traced into Mount Hymettus, and it is possible to see, now and then, some experienced divers exploring it, although it is not recommendable to amateurs due to the important risks it implies.

So here I am at the dealer about to purchase a brand new vehicle. My old car was a good one, but after being having its frame and axle bent in a car accident, (that by the way wasnt my fault, but thats another story…) my old car was just never the same. It was about time I moved on, and got myself a brand new vehicle.

So Im going through the usual list of standard options, and things I just got to have in this new car, when a guy car browsing next to me says, Nice vehicle. Going to keep it on the street, or in your garage?. I said Well, in my development, we have assigned parking spots, so I will keep it as close to my unit as Im able.

He replied back You better consider a custom car cover then, you want to protect your investment. A car cover, I thought to myself, I wouldnt have even considered that. I thanked the gentlemen, and continued with signing the papers for the new car.

I asked the dealer what he thought about car covers, and he said They are a great investment if you dont have a indoor place to park your car. They help protect your vehicle from the elements, not to mention, other people. Seems I hit on a topic he knew about because he kept on talking.

Youre going to need a custom car cover for this vehicle, being its a SUV, and there are plenty of places you can find that make them he replied. He then went on to explain that not only will it help to retain a higher value of the car, but it will have less wear and tear, and it would help to avoid the usual nicks and scratches you get.

Most of the time you speak to people in casual conversation, you either forget what they were saying, or you just brush it off as nonsense, but I have to say, this time I sure am glad that complete stranger mentioned this to me. Protect what you have, get a better return on your investment, and keep your car looking newer, longer, with a custom car cover.

You’ve tried virtually every “diet” you can think of and still haven’t lost weight. Or, perhaps you’ve lost weight only to quickly gain it back. You feel like you are in a never-ending battle that you just can’t win. Does this sound familiar? Stop beating yourself over the head in frustration!

More than likely you just aren’t armed with the right information to help you be successful in reaching your weight loss goals. There are so many diet misnomers floating about that it’s easy to feel like your drowning. The first step toward success is distinguishing fact from myth and using the power of knowledge.

To help you get started on the path to permanent weight loss and healthy living, read below to learn what’s true and what’s false in the world of diet and fitness. Take the quiz below to test your knowledge and you’ll learn what it really takes to beat the scale. Read each question and answer true or false. Then read below to find out whether or not you guessed right.

1.Skipping Meals Is a Good Idea
2.You Can Spot Reduce Certain Parts of Your Body
3.Eating Late At Night Makes You Fat
4.If Something Is Fat Free, You Can Eat As Much As You Want
5.Eating Less Than 1200 Calories Will Accelerate Weight Loss
6.Salads Are Always A Great Eating Out Choice
7.You Can Lose and Maintain Weight Without Exercise
8.If You Only Lose One Pound A Week You Need A New Diet
9.You Shouldn’t Exercise Every Day
10.You Should Wait To Strength Train Until You’ve Lost Weight

1. False. The idea behind this myth is that you’ll consume fewer calories in the entire day. The reality is that you probably will consume at least the same amount, if not more. Skipping a meal lowers your blood sugar. Low blood sugar usually makes you very hungry. In return you end up eating quickly and probably making poor food choices when those hunger pains come a knocking. Eating several small meals per day helps you stabilize blood sugars and control your appetite.

2. False. If you slave over 200 sit ups a day, it still isn’t going to get rid of your spare tire. Fat is lost evenly throughout the body. You can’t focus on one body part and only work it in an attempt to reduce that fatty area. To help a trouble spot you must focus on overall fitness – aerobic workouts, strength training, good nutrition and more. That’s the only way to reduce extra fat.

3. False. Your body doesn’t determine your weight based on WHEN you eat. It just cares how much you eat. What’s important is determining how many calories are coming in versus how many are going out. You need to find the right balance based on how much your eating and exercising. If you take in more calories than you burn, then the extras will be stored as fat. That’s true whether you eat at night or not.

4. False. For the most part, a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. Sure, it is a little more complex than that but just keep in mind that for every extra 3,500 calories that you take in and don’t burn off, you will gain a pound. Does it matter if all of those 3,500 calories are fat-free? No! Your body just cares that the extra calories were consumed. Plus, fat makes you feel full. If you don’t eat enough of it, you may find yourself constantly hungry and you may end up consuming more calories than if you had eaten something with fat in it to begin with.

5. False. In fact, it may have the opposite effect. Too few calories per day causes your body to adapt to a minimal amount of food, and slows down your metabolic rate. The body may think it’s “starving” and actually hold onto every bit of food to ensure survival. Then, when you begin to eat normally, your calorie needs are reduced and you end up gaining more weight even though you are consuming less food.

6. False. Sometimes you’d be better of eating a burger than a salad. Many restaurant salads are dripping in high calorie, high fat dressings. Plus, they often add fatty toppings like croutons and bacon bits. If you are going to choose a salad, be sure the dressing and extras don’t sabotage your calorie counting.

7. True. When it comes right down to it, weight loss is about the difference between intake and output. As long as you are burning more calories then you are consuming, then you should be able to lose weight. So, exercise isn’t a necessity but it certainly is the best approach. Study after study has proven that groups that both maintain an appropriate calorie intake and also exercise have better weight loss successes and are better at keeping it off. Plus, exercising provides SO many health benefits it would be crazy not to include it as part of a healthy lifestyle.

8. False. Losing 1-2 pounds per week is actually an excellent weight loss rate. If you lose more than that, then it’s very likely that it won’t be permanent. You’ll just end up gaining it back. When you lose at rapid paces, typically you end up losing water weight and lean mass. You want to lose fat. So, even though the scale may show less, you won’t be as healthy and won’t look as good.

9. True. It’s not necessary to exercise every single day of the week. Sure, it’s great if you can get some type of physical activity in on a daily basis. But, it also is important to give your body rest time to recover and improve. For example, you don’t want to lift weights every day working the same muscles. They need time to rest. And, intense cardio workouts daily can wear you down. Resting one day a week can actually help you.

10. False. Strength training is an essential part of good fitness. Virtually everyone should include some type of strength training in their weekly workouts regardless of whether they are wanting to lose weight, just maintain it, or build muscle. And, muscle actually helps your metabolism (e.g. helps you burn calories), so you should do it as part of a weight loss program.

Drug addiction or chemical dependency involves regular taking of psychoactive drugs to the point where the user does not have any effective choice with him. The addictive nature of drugs varies from substance to substance and from individual to individual. Often drugs like codeine and alcohol typically require more exposures to addict their users than drugs like heroin and cocaine, which create fast addiction.

Types of drugs

Drugs are something that affects your brain and behavior. Often people start taking drugs out of sheer curiosity but this proves to be dangerous.

Following are the types of drugs available in the market:

Cocaine a powerfully addictive hydrochloride salt stimulant.

Ecstasy an illegal drug often referred to LSD.

Hallucinogens drugs that lead to hallucination and severely affects body by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and neurotransmitter serotonin.

Heroine a highly addictive drug processed from morphine and appears as white or brown sugar.

Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, stems, seeds, shredded leaves and flowers of Cannabis Sativa, the hemp plant.

Methamphetamine it is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that dissolves in water or alcohol to form a powerfully addictive stimulant.

Prescription drugs prescription drugs include opioids, CNS depressants, stimulants that are prescribed to treat narcolepsy and obesity.

Signs of drug addiction

If you are wondering how to distinguish drug addiction from normal depression or mental problems, then here are the specific signs and symbols of drug addiction:

Feeling that drugs should be taken regularly

Feeling that you need drug to soothe your personal problems and depression

Suddenly feeling a sense of relaxation and happiness, red eyes, difficulty in concentration, increasing blood pressure and heart rate, paranoid thinking, drowsiness and slurred speech.

The other symptoms common to all include memory impairment, slow breathing, confusion, decreased appetite, insomnia, restlessness and sudden weight loss.

Drug addiction treatments

So drug addiction involves compulsively seeking to use a drug, regardless of the potentially negative, social, physical and psychological consequences. Breaking a drug addiction is not impossible but it is certainly a difficult job. You should support your family; friends and relatives to come out of drug addiction either through psychological counseling or through drug addition treatments.
Following are the variety of drug addiction treatments:
Withdrawal therapy help you stop taking drugs by detoxifying the effects. The method includes gradually reducing the dose of the drug or temporarily substituting other substances such as methadone that has much less side effects.
Counseling this is more of a psychological treatment that suggest strategies to avoid drugs and prevent relapses, and also offering suggestions on how to deal with relapses if it occurs again.
Self-help groups it helps people associated with mild drugs like cocaine, sedatives and narcotics. You are given the disadvantages of drugs and their stimulating effects so you start taking less of it.
Treatment programs it includes educational and therapy sessions based on sobriety and preventing relapses.

Almost all these methods offer you instant and permanent recovery from drug addiction.

There are so many different types of diets out there including calorie controlled diets, carbohydrate controlled diets and I have also heard of one called the cabbage soup diet. There are clubs that you can go along to and get group therapy, weekly weigh-ins and they have whole support networks.

Most womens magazines seem to concentrate almost fixatedly on this particular issue. We are certainly a nation becoming obsessed with the way we look and how much we weigh. This is not such a bad thing, however when we look at government reports, the situation is only seeming to get worse. The question that we need to ask is that, is the dieting industry really as effective as it says it is.

The other problem is that people are so confused with the diets out there. A lot of these diets have become controversial. There have been loads of articles in the newspapers alleging negative side-effects, with even scientists condemning there use. Its no wonder that most people get confused about the subject and dont even know where to start.

Slimming is one of those areas that most of us tend to struggle in and with all the new diets available on the market who could blame us? So what is different about Hypnosis? Well Hypnosis isn’t about just getting the weight off, it’s about empowering you to change your lifestyle to accommodate the new leaner you, and help you to achieve the body you want and keep it that way! Why not take advantage of hypnosis to reach your ideal weight today?

Imagine buying a new wardrobe this summer and achieving the body of you dreams! Your new life is just around the corner with the easy to use process of Hypnosis!

Why not take avantage of the world’s most successful approach and ‘Sleep yourself Slimmer’?

Hong Kong is an international city and it has vast number of tourists come from all over the world in all year round. According to the Hong Kong Government statistics, the number of international tourists visited Hong Kong in 2005 reaches 10.8 million which represents a 13.1% increase when compared to 2004. Countries such as Australia, Canada, French, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Korean, Thailand, British and United States all contributes significant tourist growth for Hong Kong. This article presents some critical traveler tips for tourists so that you could enjoy more and have a wonderful trip to Hong Kong.

1. Personal Identity and Safety
Tourists must carry valid personal identity documentation such as passport during their stay in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a very safe city according to the low crime rate. However, due to the densely population, it is not suggested to take a large amount of cash when going out since most of the shops in Hong Kong accepts credit cards. Expensive belongs should be locked in the safe in hotel. You could easily find policemen on the streets whenever you have encountered any problems.

2. Service Charges
Most of the restaurants except fast food shops will add 10% service charges to the bill. Therefore, you may choose to give out the odd dollars from the changes as the service tips. For taxi driver or bellboy in the hotel, there is no pre set norm for the service tips, you may choose to give out whenever you think the service is deserved for.

3. Telephone Service
All local telephone call is free except for the public telephone which charges HK$1 for every 5 minutes. Emergency call is 999 and it is free to call even in public telephone. You could either use IDD telephone call card or credit card for long distance call, or simply through operator for collect call in all public telephone counter.

4. Drinking Water
The drinking water in Hong Kong reaches World Health Organization standard. However, you may also choose to buy the bottle water in the supermarkets if you think it is necessary.

5. Taxi
All taxi only accept cash and they have invoice print out whenever you request. It is easier to catch the taxi in the taxi stop or outside the hotel. Many of the taxi drivers could understand simple English. It is suggest writing down your destination (in English) on paper to minimize misunderstandings. The taxi charges is based on the meter which is HK$15 for the first 2 Km and HK$1.4 for the subsequent 0.2 Km. Besides, there are tunnel charges ranging from HK$3-45 depends on which tunnel you have to take. The charging table is clearly shown on the inner side of the doors so you could check it before you pay. In case of any complaints or lost case, you may record down the name of the taxi driver and his license plate number which is clearly shown on the front seat stand, and reports to the police hotline: 2527 7177 whenever necessary.

6. Mass Transit Railway (MTR)
Hong Kong has 6 MTR routes, which covers most parts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories.
Tsuen Wan Route: Tsuen Wan to Central
Kwun Tong Route: Yau Mat Tei to Tiu Keng Leng
Tseung Kwan O Route: North Point to Po Lam
Main Route: Sheung Wan to Chai Wan
Tung Chung Route: Tung Chung to Hong Kong
Airport Route: Airport to Hong Kong
Due to the convenience of MTR and the compact area of Hong Kong, most tourists find it is not necessary to rent car during their stay. Besides, due to the very heavy traffic and the complexity of the city roads, it is not recommended for tourists to drive. In case you really need car rental, you may consult your hotel, and be ready with your passport and driving license.

7. Kowloon Canton Railway (KCR)
The KCR is the major railway which links up the New Territories and the city of Kowloon. It runs through Tsim Sha Tsui East to Lo Wu which takes about 40 minutes for the whole route. Lo Wo is the final station which you could pass through to enter China with valid visa. The train will depart for every 3 to 10 minutes, and the earliest one will be started at 5:35 a.m. while the last one will be departed at 12:20 p.m. The ordinary fair and the first class fair are HK$18 and HK$36 respectively from Hung Hom to Sheung Shui.

8. Tram
The tram service has been started in 1904 and it is the oldest transportation system in Hong Kong. It only services the Hong Kong Island running from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan plus another route to Happy Valley. The earliest tram starts at 6: 00 a.m. and run until 1:00 p.m. and the fair is HK$ 2 for adult and HK$ 1 for children under age12. It is the cheapest transportation in Hong Kong, and you are highly recommended to take a ride at the upper stairs so that you could enjoy all the street scenery of Hong Kong.

9. Star Ferry
The scenery of Hong Kong harbor is famous in the world, especially the night scenery. Besides, there is spectacular light show by the commercial buildings in the Hong Kong island at 8:00 p.m. every night which you must not miss. The Star Ferry has been serving on the harbor for more than 100 years, and the fair is less than HK$3 per rides. You could take the Star Ferry from Cental to Tsim Sha Tsui at around 8:00 p.m. You could enjoy the harbor scenery on the ferry and continue with the light show at the Starlight Road of Tsim Sha Tsui.

10. Hong Kong International Airport
The most convenient route to the Hong Kong International Airport is through the MTR which takes about 23 minutes from Central. It passes through stations of Kowloon, Olympic, Tsing Yi, and the train will be departed for every ten minutes. With the MTR, you would never miss the airplane due to the traditional traffic jam. Other than the MTR, you could take the Airport Bus which starts from 6:00 a.m. at the morning until 11:00 p.m. at night. It covers most part of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon with major hotels.

As summer and the long days of prolonged hot sunshine is upon us once again, the natural instinct to remove items of clothing as the sun comes out is evident. But could your employer be liable if you suffer from skin cancer as a result of removing clothing and not being supplied skin protection cream or sun lotions?

An extensive search for court rulings in which an employer was held responsible for one of their staff contracting skin cancer whilst at work has provider no evidence and no case law provided. However this does not mean that an employer in the future might be found liable if they do not protect their employees welfare whilst at work.

The risks created by the suns rays should never be ignored, but what is being said is that you as an employee are not completely responsible for your own skin protection and employers to some extent must take ownership of the associated risks.

Free sun protection creams and guidance information on the risks of sun exposure should be supplied to employees if they are exposed for considerable amounts of time in the sun, as an example lets think about external workers such as builders, external landscapers etc.

A suggestion if you are spending prolonged periods of time in the sun to protect yourself is to when ever possible wear long sleeved, loose fitting clothing. Not only will this protect your skin, it will also help to keep the body temperature down and also minimise the risk of a heat stroke. Your employer could supply light weight clothing which allows the body top breathe in all weathers or prohibit the removing of clothing for their own safety.

Advise on using sun barrier creams could be instigated and the rule to use these for skin protection mandatory whilst exposed to the sun. A sun protection of no less than Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 should be used as this will provide adequate protection.

Also advice on breaks that they should be taken in doors or in the shade out of the suns rays is another way protection can be offered. If temperatures are particularly hot then, your employer might want to consider being flexible with break allowances incorporating more frequent short rest breaks out of the sun. This time could be used to apply more protection barrier creams and to re hydrate by drinking more fresh cold drinking water.

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Eikenberry

Candles have never been so popular. Candles are now a must, whatever may be the occasion. You have aromatic candles, candles made up of beeswax, and paraffin. The candle industry is witnessing an unprecedented boom, thanks to the candle wholesalers for playing a large part of this phenomenal growth.

As in the case with other wholesalers, candle wholesalers purchase these candles in bulk quantities from manufacturers at a mark-up price. The wholesaler then sells these candles, keeping a percentage, to the retailer, who in turn sells these candles ultimately to the consumer.

This chain or distribution channel regulates the market prices and determines the end price of any product. Candles are no different. Dinner candles, church candles, scented candles, you name it and leading wholesalers always maintain large inventories of these products. Needless to say, they have even larger inventories of particular types of candles, which have greater demand, aromatic candles for instance. If you are a candle retailer, looking forward to getting fabulous discounts from wholesalers, you have every chance of getting one. Just visit the online resources of leading candle wholesalers and find out what they are offering. You can get the entire information on the kind of candles they have to offer and importantly at what price do they offer. Once you establish a connection with one of these leading wholesalers, your job becomes easy. In the bargain, many a wholesaler might pass on these discounts to you, the retailer.

A single wholesaler may have all types of candles. Sometimes certain wholesalers have only one type or brand of candles. They are also responsible for the local promotion of the brand to a large extent. Candle wholesalers have good working relationships with both manufacturers and retailers. It always helps them to maintain a certain stronghold on the business.

Recently, while sitting in my chair drinking the last of my breakfast coffee, a thought staggered into my mind. I must confess most thoughts are quite lonely once they enter my mind, but this one had a nagging element to it.

Experience has taught me I should never give in to these strange trespassers. Every time I entertain any of them, Im the one getting burnt.

This time was different. Dont ask me how it was different, or how I knew it was different, it just was. Of course, looking back I could have been wrong.

The thought: why not surprise my wife by baking her a cake?

I know what youre thinking. I thought the same thing when this suggested itself to me. But, the more I thought about it, the more delightfully delicious it sounded. How can anything go wrong if I am doing it for my wife?

The only question I needed to answer was what kind of cake should I bake.

After a long period of ruminating, I settled on a lemon sponge cake with peanut butter icing. This was going to be the best surprise my wife has ever received from me.

Sitting in a prominent place in the kitchen is my wifes Betty Crocker Cookbook. I dont know how long she has had that book, its been in our kitchen for as long as I can remember which really may not be that long when I come to think of it.

I took the book, sat in my favorite chair and opened it. How do you read a cookbook? As I leafed through it, it did not have any rhyme or reason to me. In musing on the book I said to myself, how important is it to follow directions?

Placing the book back in its revered spot, I concluded that since this was my cake, I didnt need help from anybody else, particularly Betty Crocker. This is the difference between men and women. Women need a lot of directions, while men enjoy the liberty of doing their own thing.

I knew exactly what I wanted. A lemon sponge cake, with peanut butter icing. What could be simpler?

Retrieving a large mixing bowl, I assembled all the ingredients I needed; flour, sugar, eggs, milk and baking powder. Everyone knows you cannot bake without baking powder.

I have no idea what baking powder is, except when you bake you use baking powder.

I put everything in the mixing bowl. The only thing I wasnt quite sure of was the measure, but how hard could that be anyway? Betty Crocker mentioned a cup of this and a cup of that, but never defined what she meant by a cup.

I went to the cupboard and looked at all the cups. There were all kinds and sizes of cups and I did not know which one to use. I eyed a large coffee cup and said to myself, this will do just fine.

I dumped 6 or 8 cups of flour into the mixing bowl, I cant remember how many. Then I cracked a dozen eggs and put that into the mixing bowl as well. Pouring a quart of milk into the mixing bowl, I whipped everything into a nice batter.

This was to be a lemon sponge cake but I could find nothing marked lemon in the cupboard. I opened the refrigerator, and as luck would have it, I found a quart of lemonade.

I poured this concoction into the largest cake pan I could find. As I was about to put it into the oven, I remembered the baking powder. How is this cake going to bake if it doesnt have the baking powder?

Setting the cake pan down, I grabbed the baking powder and liberally sprinkled it on top of my batter. I have no idea what baking powder does but I put enough on my cake so it would do a good job.

Into the oven the cake went, and with a flick of the wrist I turned the temperature to 450 degrees. Remembering this was a big cake, I readjusted the temperature to 650.

The bigger the cake the hotter the oven, is what I always say.

Now all I needed to do was wait for my cake to bake. As I was waiting, I heard rumblings coming from the oven but just chalked that up to a good cake baking.

I guess I fell asleep, because the next thing I knew there was a strange odor permeating the air. It smelled a little smoky and then it dawned on me. My cake, its done.

What I pulled out of the oven did not resemble any cake I had ever seen. It looked like a burnt pancake, twice the size of the cake pan, with some kind of disease on the surface.

No amount of peanut butter icing in the world could camouflage this disaster.

It was about this time I began reassessing the idea of reading directions. Maybe instructions have a purpose after all.

I remember something the Apostle Paul said. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV.)

To live right without getting burnt you need the right directions.

If you’re always on the go, traveling or taking long road trips with the children, portable DVD player. are likely one of the most important accessories to take along for the ride. The convenience of being able to watch movies anytime, anywhere is a huge benefit. If you are taking a long flight, experiencing delays on a commuter train or just want to keep the children entertained in the backseat during a road trip, portable DVD players are more than convenient – they are a sanity saver.

Before looking at portable DVD players, take the time to create a realistic budget. Most units range from $100.00 and up to several hundred dollars. If you know that there is an occasion coming up and you may want to purchase a unit, consider placing it on layaway at your local retail store. A layaway program typically consists of 10% down and convenient monthly payments until the balance is paid. At that time, the layaway ends and you take the product home. It’s fully paid and you own a brand new portable DVD player. This is especially helpful if you don’t have the cash on hand to pay for the unit all at once, but still want to secure the purchase. If you have the cash to pay upfront, that’s great. If not, try layaway as opposed to charging the purchase on a credit card. With interest, you will likely end up spending a lot more in the long run unless you pay the balance off over a few months.

Now that you know how much you can spend, start looking at portable DVD players and their features. When making any type of investment in a product, you will want to check out the warranty. Most quality units offer 1 year labor and up to 3 years for replacement parts. Always be sure to save the original receipt, along with the warranty information. Portable DVD players offer a variety of screen sizes, so be sure to select one that is convenient for travel, easy to see and offers good quality images. Another important feature is that most portable DVD players offer the capability of both music and video playback, which means you can insert a music CD or movie on DVD and either can be enjoyed in a single unit.

With most portable DVD players, weight is not going to be an issue. They are designed to be lightweight because they are portable and the manufacturer expects that you plan to travel with the unit. But, some products are more lightweight than others, so shop around until you find one that isn’t going to add a lot of extra bulk and weight to your travel bag.

Compare donating art to adopting art: both require planning.

Locate a qualifying institution to accept the item.
Pass the related use test.
Arrange for an appraisal not more than 60 days ahead of the date of gift.
Obtain a letter of acceptance dated prior to December 31 of the year you plan to take the deduction.
Deliver the property to the institution.

Want to make sure what you are about to read is correct? Get the IRS publications 1) 526 Charitable Contributions and 2) 561 Determining the Value of Donated Property. You can get these publications on the Internet at www.irs.ustreas.gov or you can call 800-TAX-FORMS (800 829-3676) to order them.

Publication 526 specifies that a charitable contribution is a donation or gift to, or for the use of, a qualified organization. A qualified organization is a nonprofit group that is religious, charitable, educational, scientific or literary in purpose or that work to prevent cruelty to children or animals. The amount is generally limited to 50% of your adjusted gross income, but in some cases 20% and 30% limits may apply. The detailing of which of these limits applies is on page 9 and 10 of Publication 526. You can carryover unused deductions for a maximum of 5 years.

Form 8283

You must complete Form 8283 and have it accompany your donation. This form identifies who receives the gift, its condition, how, and when you acquired the gift, and its fair market value as of the date of gift. If you received the item as a gift from an artist, you can only deduct the artists basis, which is the cost of materials needed to create the art work.

Related-Use Test

Related use is a concept that was instituted roughly 10 years ago to prevent citizens from donating items to organizations that were inconsistent with their collection direction. For example, if you gift a Civil War sword to a clock museum, a 19th century doll to a contemporary art museum, an Art Deco sculpture to a science museum, this pairing will not pass the related-use test. Flunking the related-use test mandates a deduction that is limited to your cost or basis.

The first question in Tax Court is: On what day did the appraiser view the property? Your appraiser must personally inspect the property. If you jump ahead and send the piece across the country to a qualified organization that fits the related use test, you will also need to ship your appraiser to inspect it or find one who can visit the piece in person. The following people cannot perform the appraisal: anyone associated with the qualified organization receiving the gift, the dealer who sold it to you, anyone who a reasonable person could imagine would have a bias in producing a value. The appraiser must be someone who holds themselves out to be a professional appraiser.

The report can be prepared after the date of gift, but not more than 60 days before the date of donation. Another time sensitive element is the date of the qualifying organizations acceptance letter. A representative of the qualifying organization using that organizations stationery must write the donor an acceptance letter dated no later than December 31 of the year you plan to take the deduction. If giving a fractional interest, a new appraisal must be prepared for each year a percentage of the item is given.

Timing is a key issue with respect to accession meetings. These generally take place once a month and often a quorum of Trustees or committee members must be present. Contact the organization on December 20 and you may be told they held their last meeting for the year on December 11.

Word of caution, a gift means it is not yours anymore. Most organizations will not allow you to specify how and when it is to be exhibited. Deliver the item to the organization and mentally separate from it. Do consider closely if you want to be cited as the donor or if you would prefer to have the citation read anonymous donor.

Tax forms frighten everyone, but thankfully, the 8283 Form is quite simple to complete. Specify your name and social security number and then fill in different parts, depending on the fair market value of the property given. Section A Part I is to be filled in if the deduction is $5,000 or less. There you give the name and address of the organization receiving the gift as well as a description of the property. Then specify the date of the contribution, the date acquired, how it was acquired and the your cost or basis, its fair market value and the method used to determine fair market value. Section B Part I is for property that is worth more than $5,000, where you are asked the same information. If the fair market value is greater than $5,000, the qualifying organization has to complete Part IV of Section B. Part III is completed by the appraiser.

If you are donating property with a fair market value of $500 or more, you must complete Form 8283. You may be asked for an appraisal if the value is greater than $5,000. You must attach an appraisal to your IRS filing, if the value is $20,000 or greater. It is generally understood that donated property valued at $20,000 or greater will be reviewed by the Art Advisory Panel.

Diving has undergone a deep change from its original generic meaning. Originally it only meant a headlong plunge into water, and even an athletic competition that involves diving into water. Today, if you jump out of your plane for sport, they call it diving or sky diving.

Diving As a Sport
Diving has been internationally recognized as sport long ago and it is the one of the most coveted part of modern Olympics. The sport involves taking the plunge, from a height or distance, into the water acrobatically.

Diving has 3 disciplines such as 1m, 3m and tower and divers are classified by age and gender. Towers vary in height from 5m to 10m and high level competitions like World Cup and Olympics require diving from 10m only. Spring boards and platforms are terms used in 3 & 5m as well as 10m diving respectively.

Know the Components of Diving?
Your body needs to be every bit a gymnasts, strong, flexible and kinesthetic. To pursue diving, starting very young is advised as your body will be at its flexible best. There are four components of diving defining the diving positions.

1.Layout position- Body straight like an arrow.
2.Pike position- Body folded only at waist and nowhere else.
3.Tuck position- Body curled into a ball, with knees touching chin and heels your hips.
4.Free position- Relaxed position suitable for twisted diving.

Takeoff, flight and entry into water are the key elements that determine the scoring in diving. Each carries equal weightage of 3 points and 1 for the judges discretion. For example a perfect entry splashes little or no water.

Then there are diving positions like forward, backward, inward and reverse depending on how you start and then rotate.

Although deep sea diving and scuba diving are similar sounding and albeit connected to water sport, they are not as popular as pool diving, as we know it. A tip here to aspiring divers; fitness, training and practice apart, what it takes to be a successful diver is dedication as exemplified by the great Greg Louganis. He is the living example of what level you can raise the game to.

Whether it is scuba diving, cliff diving or sky diving, utmost emphasis needs to be given to the physical requirements of the diver, to avert any sort of physiological or psychological hassles while diving. Individuals with physical ailments like bone disorders, diabetes, and high blood pressure are told not to plunge. Before you decide to take the plunge, it is imperative to check with a physician to elude any health problems.

Horse racing is a very exciting and lucrative sport. Anyone who hasnt been to a good track is missing out. Winning lots of money at horse racing is very possible. In fact, it tends to get overlooked in the sports betting world. Think about this. If you were going to wager on a baseball team that was far better than the team it was facing, you might have to lay down $2.50 to $3.00 to win $1. In horse racing, you can often wager on a horse thats superior to the rest of the field (even a small field) and receive a much better line.

Since this is a primer, lets talk about the basics of horse racing itself. A horse race can consist of two or more horses. The field, as it is called, varies from race to race. There are three main finishing points in any horse raceWin, Place and Show. Win is of course first place. Second place is called Place and Show is third. These three spots are known as in the money. A horse that doesnt finish in the money is referred to as also ran.

Horse racing offers a plethora of wagering options. For instance, one can wager on a horse to win, place and showalso called across the boardor any mixture of the three. There are also other wagers, which are called exotics. One example of an exotic wager is a Trifecta. A Trifecta wager consists of three horses that will finish in the exact listed order. For example, if a bettor placed a 5-8-1 Trifecta, the 5 horse must finish first, the 8 horse second and the 1 horse third.

Another example of an exotic wager in horse racing, and a popular one, is the Pick 4. Horse racing bettors play Pick 4s constantly. When a bettor makes a pick 4 wager, he or she is picking the winner in four consecutive races. Winners of the Pick 4 are paid from a pool of wagered money. Theres also a Daily Double, Pick 3 and Pick 6. In the event that theres no winner, the money is carried over to the next day. This happens often with the Pick 6.

One of the best things I like about horse racing is the quickness of the races. Unlike a baseball game, I dont have to wait three hours to find out if I won or not. Additionally, unlike other sports, there can be up to hundreds of races on a single day. A typical racetrack will run eight races or more per day. There are many racetracks around the country. Theres a lot more to horse racing, but this primer will start you on the right path.

Why is it some people are incredibly successful at utilizing the power of the Internet in their marketing while others cant seem to figure out the winning formula?

How often do entrepreneurs and salespeople look for that next magic formula to build their business and increasing revenues, never quite making any of it work? Many people make it much more difficult to succeed than it need be while others know exactly what to do and they do it.

Ask anyone who has effectively integrated the use of the Internet into their overall marketing strategy and they will tell you success in building your business, both online and off, is about systems. Simple as that.

Developing and utilizing systems is nothing new. Yet, the great search for the pot-of-gold at the end of the rainbow and getting-rich-quick continues.

The place youll find more gold than virtually anywhere else is in doing something many people just dont find appealing. It is in developing and maintaining a solid database. Unfortunately, many people dont find database management sexy enough. So they continually buy into that next secret formula.

Fact is, with a well-groomed database you can increase your revenues and decrease your marketing costs. You can build customer relations and keep your name fresh in the minds of your market by keeping in touch. This establishes excellent position within your market.

Most people would be amazed at how simple it is to build an incredibly profitable database by applying a few simple strategies. Remember, simple is not always easy. It will take time, commitment and focus.

Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to your database. Depending on your industry and what you sell you may be well served to focus on the few dozen or few hundred who want to buy from you rather than thousands who couldnt care less about what you offer.

On the other hand, there will be situations where building a massive list is exactly what you need to do. Especially if you have mass quantity products you are selling at a very low price. Then you may want to go for the numbers.

Driving traffic to your site is an ongoing process as is building and maintaining your database. If you are serious about using the Internet in your marketing you need to lay the groundwork to optimize your opportunities.

-Develop a fully operational web site
-Have a way to capture contact information such as a sign up form
-Give people a reason for leaving their contact information such as an Ezine, free report or ebook, an article of interest to your target market or anything that is of benefit to the reader
-Develop a series of content driven messages that address your customers needs
-Keep your name in front of your market consistently without being annoying
-Write and distribute articles to various online resources pertinent to your market
-Create a resource box containing your web address
-Do not make the articles a hard sell. Rather, provide information that positions you as a resource before you are a vendor
-Develop a list of forums and discussion groups you can participate in
-Commit to the long-term.

By focusing on developing a solid database and providing incredible value to your market you can and will achieve success in your business. Guaranteed!

Most of us dream. But only a very small percentage of us understands that dreams hold much importance and opportunity for our self growth, improvement and self discovery. But many mystics of both Eastern and Western origins are aware of the fact that dreams hold a wealth of untapped knowledge. Because of its inherently vague nature, dreams and the art of interpreting them never entered mainstream sciences. Jungian psychology is the closest mainstream science that took dreams seriously.

This article is a concise description of the method of dream interpretation that I use. There are several points/guidelines to take note.

1. The dreams are often symbolic representations of what we are experiencing or are about to experience in the near future. I have found that my dreams often convey messages of occurrences that will most likely happen within a month or so.

2. Usually the people that we encounter in the dream symbolize the different aspects/characteristics of ourselves. For example: a woman may represent a feminine aspect of oneself even when one is male in the waking hours. Much of our repressed tendencies also tend to manifest themselves as characters in dreams as well.
Have you ever wondered why we sometimes appear and behave so differently in our dreams. Well, my take is that dreaming offers an outlet for us to be ‘somebody else’ that we never had the opportunity to be during our waking hours.

3. Often how we feel and the emotion we felt during the dream reveals and conveys much about the meaning of the symbols.
Intuition and the willingness to examine ourselves with brutal honesty are two very important factors for successful analysis.
Below is a list of commonly encountered symbols. In my opinion, we should always take into consideration the fact that symbols hold certain semantics and meanings that are specific to individuals. Thus the interpretations of symbols are not generic and therefore there can be no hard and fast rules with regards to dream analysis.

Common dream symbolism

Water- associated with emotion.
Ocean or any large body of water – often represents the subconscious mind. The state of the sea often is an indication of the emotional state as well
Eating/digesting- Trying to understand an issue/situation
Walking- associated with learning and assimilating.
Path, road or pavement- symbolizes life or spiritual Path/journey
House- symbolizes our self. Within the house, the various rooms could represent the various aspects of self.
Snake- symbolizes knowledge.
Tree and forest – subconscious feelings that governs our emotions
Bridge- a transitional phase or period of transformation / change

Below is an example of a dream and its interpretation. Like any other types of skills, dream interpretation is an art in which one’s proficiency improves with experience.

Dream
Miss A was visiting a foreign country. She boarded a train that has a stop in a shopping complex that meanders through mountains and terrains. She remembered telling the train driver that she wanted to alight in the shopping centre so that she can find her way home.
Instead of alighting at the intended destination, she alighted at a strange place. She had difficulty getting to her destination. She contacted her partner (boyfriend). Though they communicated through the phone, she was still stuck and lost in that unfamiliar place. By this time, she was starting to get depressed. In the moment of depression, she woke up from the dream.

Symbolism involved
Foreign country- unknown knowledge, new experience Train- accelerated learning and understanding Through mountains and terrains- ups and downs Find the way home- spiritual path Train-in-charge guiding aspect Her partner male/ mental aspect Queen shopping center station an intermediate stage that must be attained.

Interpretation
Miss A is currently experiencing and/or learning something that is still unknown to her. It is something that is rather difficult for her to grasp and apply. She is/will be experiencing some feelings of ups and downs. However, if understood, the newfound understanding and knowledge could significantly accelerate her self-growth and discovery. However, for the time being, it is something not within her experience yet (as symbolized by alighting at a strange place instead of the designated station). When she tried contacting her male partner (which symbolizes using her mental reasoning), she was still confused and thus became depressed.

Well, that’s all for a quick lesson in dream interpretation. I hope it is informative and beneficial.

Happy Dreaming…

Spring is just around the corner. You know how it is: One minute you’re adding antifreeze, and the next you’re wiping spots of sap off the car hood.

After being cooped up all winter, the temptation to hit the road- or go off-road – with the first breath of a warm breeze is overwhelming.

Before you take off on a whim, however, think for a moment about your all-terrain vehicle. How is the tire pressure and coolant level?? Is the vehicle clean?

Polaris, a leading manufacturer of ATVs, offers the following tips to get your vehicle in top shape before hitting the trails:

* Be sure to do a “walk-around” of your unit, checking air filter, coolant level, battery, tire pressure, operation of lights, tire pressure and operation of throttle and brakes. Also, check and drain fuel.

* Clean the vehicle and inspect for damage. Be sure fasteners are tight.

* After any storage period an ATV should have a complete tuneup. Call your local dealer early to beat the spring rush.

* To prevent damage to springs and blown seals caused by mud, dirt and trail debris, install shock covers. If already installed, check to make sure they are still offering full protection. If they are not, replace them.

* Don’t forget to check your protective gear – helmet, eye gear, boots, gloves and apparel- to ensure it will offer ultimate protection.

So you decided to consolidate your high interest rate credit cards into one 0% APR credit card with a transfer balance offer. The low introductory offer is good for twelve months, which will give you a chance to pay down your debt virtually interest free for a whole year!

But then six months into using that new 0% APR credit card, poof! The 0% APR is gone and you’re paying 10.9% or maybe 17.99% interest or maybe even higher. What happened?

Oops, you didn’t read the fine print and the penalties if you didn’t adhere to the terms and conditions of that new 0% APR credit card. You must have missed this quote: “There is no grace period on balance transfers. Any introductory/special rates will terminate if you are late making a payment or your account is overlimit as discussed…”

Taking advantage of a new credit card 0% APR that includes a balance transfer offer can be a wise move if you have a plan and you are able to abide by the rules. That’s why everyone needs to read the fine print to know what the penalties are if you slip up, even once. By knowing the rules and working with your plan, you can avoid costly mistakes.

Now, if you should find yourself in such a situation, all may not be lost. After all, you did get six months of interest free. But chances are that new credit card has added features that you also found attractive and fit into your life style and financial goals.

Many balance transfer credit card offers, in addition to the 0% APR, also have a number of rewards included that made it attractive in the first place. Although you do have an interest rate that you must pay each month, you still may be able to enjoy things like 5% cashback bonus points on gasoline, or a percentage of cashback on other purchases. Often times the added incentive could be an accumulation of points for air miles. You still may be able to take that trip next year after all, for free.

So with this learning experience, you did save interest for six months and were able to pay down part of your debt at no cost to you. Now that you are being charged interest, you can still take advantage of the additional options of that new credit card. Plus, you learned a valuable lesson and will never make that mistake again.

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