For those who want their home theatre to imitate the cinematic experience, a plasma TV wall mount is a good investment to save space and to give a great effect. A plasma TV wall mount is easy to install yourself, but if you prefer, you can hire a professional to do the job for you. The price of a typical plasma TV wall mount can range from $60 to $350, and it is a good idea to invest in the best plasma TV wall mount you can afford, since plasma TVs are quite delicate and you cannot risk having your plasma TV fall to the ground. However, most plasma TV wall mounts do the job sufficiently well. Your plasma TV wall mount should contain at least the following items: • Wall plate • Rails • Arms The wall plate attaches to the wall and the rails are for the back of the television. There should be two perpendicular arms with devices to connect to the back of the plate. The rails enable you to move the TV to the right or the left across the wall and enable you to lift the TV off, if necessary. You need to select a plasma TV wall mount suited to the type of plasma TV that you have. The average size is 26-41” and weighs up to 100 pounds. A typical plasma TV wall mount can handle this type of set. However, if you plasma TV is larger than this and weighs more than 100 pounds, you will need a two stud wall mount. It is possible to install your plasma TV wall mount on a concrete wall, although you will need a different type of plasma TV mount. Cement anchors are needed to keep you TV in place on a concrete surface, and you can also find long belts and other devices specially designed for concrete. As with any type of Plasma TV mount, ensure that your cement anchors are sturdy enough to hold a heavy unit. When you install your plasma TV, you might not be certain about what height you want. If you have a typical, flat plasma TV wall mount, you will need to put your plasma TV at the correct height. However, many people like to have their plasma TV’s a little higher. One reason is that, since plasma TV are so vulnerable to damage, those with children prefer to put their plasma TV as high up as possible to avoid stray balls from hitting the screen. If you want to put your plasma TV up high, you will need a special plasma TV wall mount that tilts so your set can face downward at an angle. You will also need a tilt plasma TV wall mount if your set is not completely flat, but has a gentle curve at the back. You can purchase a plasma TV wall mount with fixed arms or with articulating arms that move along a 90 degree swivel. The articulating wall mounts may cost a bit more, but are worth the investment if you like to view your television from different angles. They are not much more difficult to install than fixed arm wall mounts, and are just as durable. Ensure that your plasma TV wall mount is sufficiently durable. It is a good idea to install your television along with a friend who can help you take your plasma TV on and off the mount while you are testing it for durability. A partner can also see if there is any “giving” or wobbling, and this second pair of eyes might just save your set. If you are unsure of your abilities, it is worthwhile to hire a professional to install your plasma TV mount.

Should you get Visa or MasterCard? Is one of them better than the other? Will one of them help your credit rating more than the other? Many people ask themselves these types of questions when they think about getting their first credit card or additional ones. The fact is, few differences exist between the two credit card brands today, but you can benefit by having a better understanding of the two companies and using their competition to your advantage. Just Who Are Visa and MasterCard First, you should know that neither Visa nor MasterCard actually issue credit cards themselves. Neither company deals with consumers or merchants directly. Instead, they create and run the worldwide computer networks that process the billions of transactions that occur each day from people who use their credit cards at millions of merchants and ATMs. Both companies make their money from financial institutions to whom they license the ability to market the MasterCard or Visa system to consumers and merchants. MasterCard and Visa have been fierce competitors for years, each vying to be faster and more global than the other, just like Hertz and Avis, and McDonalds and Burger King. Each time one brand creates a new twist on their credit cards, the other soon follows to match it. Both companies now offer nearly identical benefits, such as travel insurance, car rental insurance, product warranty extensions, and so on. Furthermore, both cards are accepted worldwide by nearly the same number of merchants. MasterCard says its cards can be used at more than 23 million locations around the globe, including 1 million ATMs and other locations where cash can be obtained. Visa says its cards are accepted at more than twenty million locations in more than 150 countries. In general, most merchants throughout the world accept both cards, or if a merchant takes only one of the brands, another merchant down the block takes the other. The point is, your chances of being locked out of eating or buying a gift or getting a hotel room because you have only one brand of credit card are usually minimal -- other than at a few noted events where one card or the other may have negotiated to be the sole credit card to be accepted. But such instances are far and few between. Which Card is Right for You? Given the above, is one card better or more right for you? The best answer depends on whether it’s your first, second, or additional card, as follows: If You’re Applying for Your FIRST Credit Card In this situation, you can make a choice based simply on selecting which issuing bank you prefer to work with, or which promotional offer you like the most, without regard to the brand on the card. Perhaps you like Chase or Citibank or HSBC, or perhaps you like the 0% APR with no-annual-fee offer you found online. It's six of one, a half-dozen of the other. If You’re Applying for Your SECOND Card In this situation, it is strategically smart to select the opposite brand card from your first card AND to choose a different issuing bank. The rationale for this is that when you have two different cards, you will find that the two banks will compete for your business (assuming you maintain good credit). You will get offers for 0% balance transfers, higher credit limits, and other perks as the two banks vie for your increased use of their card. And just in case you find a merchant who only takes one brand of card, you can now be assured of having all your bases covered. If You’re Applying for ADDITIONAL Credit Cards Many people apply for more than two credit cards because something specific motivates them to get a third or a fourth card. You may want a separate card to use for your business charges, or to compliment your airline frequent flyer program. In these cases, your selection is largely predetermined by whichever card has attracted your attention to fulfill your specific needs. You might even shop around among issuing banks to be sure you find the best offer, no matter which credit card brand stands behind it. In short, choosing between Visa and MasterCard is no longer a frustrating question for anyone applying for a first credit card. You can’t go wrong with either brand. And if you already have a first credit card, it can be a very smart move to apply to get a second card from the other brand. If you treat your credit well, you’ll soon be having two (or more) banks begging for your business -- and that's a good thing! Copyright 2005 Ed Vegliante. You may freely reprint this article provided the resource box remains intact with a live link back to credit-card-surplus.

Rumor has it that press releases are the next big thing in the SEO business, and many companies are spending top dollars trying to write the next big press release announcing the next big balloon breaking technology. But is this really the next big thing? By definition, a Press Release is a kind of news item released by the company on whom the news is being reported. As such, you will have to compete with all the other press releases and hope that your will get picked up. Why Will Your Press Release Be Trashed? 1) Unless you are writing a press release about Microsoft, Adobe, Sony or one of the other mega-companies, or at least about a company that is relatively well known, forget about it. Journalists and news editors receive thousands of press releases a day and there is no way that they will waste more than a quick glance. So why should you pay a company seven to eight hundred dollars for them sending your press release to thousands of editors and journalists when they are going to junk it anyway? 2) Unless you are announcing a truly revolutionary product or technology (which I assume you are not since you are only interested in using the professionally paid and written press release to boost your search engine rankings), whatever you make up or announce such as some new free deal or new portal offering something unique, your chances of being picked up are very slim. Yes, the PR companies will tell you that they have vast experience in writing Press Releases that will make yours stand out and get picked up but this is not accurate. The only way your PR is going to get picked up is if it truly is something out of the ordinary or something that no one has ever thought off. 3) Unless you plan to spend millions of dollars and then just by sheer volume your site will go ahead in the search engines, this is not a good option. Why? If you send a large number of press releases then these will be placed on the different PR companies websites main page. Since most of these home pages have a very high page rank, your site will get a boost. The question is whether this boost is worth the large amount of money you will put into the PR companies pocket. No it is not. Use that money to buy (though I do not recommend this) links from high-ranked websites and you will pay less and receive more benefit. 4) Any press release, even if it has been accepted, will remain on the different pages for just a short time, making the time and effort and even more so the amount of money you paid fruitless. Conclusion: A press release is useful if you wish to contact the press and maybe get some free publicity, but it is of no use if you wish to use it as a tool in order to advance your website in the search engines.

You would be hard pressed to find a garden in most cultures which is not visited by birds. A popular feature in gardens are hanging bird feeders made from either metal, plastic or wood on which food can be placed. Because the feeders can be made from such different types of material, they often feature decorations such as leaves and flowers to camouflage them. There are several different styles of bird feeder available on the market. One of which looks much like a dinner plate and hangs by three chains at different points on the base that can hang from a tree, washing line or hook/nail. Others are similar but hang by just two chains. There are also styles that have a tube with a lid, and the birds land next to the tube and use their beaks to get food from small openings. Tube feeders allow the owner to make their own food that could be in a slightly more liquid form than seeds or nuts. Some bird feeders (mainly the ones that have a tube) have a roof which provides shelter for birds from rain, snow, hail and sleet. Weather is of course an issue with any feature of a garden. Some metals are prone to rust, and some woods are prone to rot. So how do you overcome this? Most metal bird feeders are anti-rust and there is the additional option of treating them with a waterproof oil or varnish to stop the elements taking their toll. Wooden garden decorations will most likely be made from cedar wood that contains their own natural weatherproof resins. These can also be treated with varnishes to give them further protection. All feeders provide easy access so that filling up the food for the hungry visitors (or cleaning the feeder) is simple and quick to complete. Open feeders are easiest to refill as you simply pour the food in, whereas tube feeders need to be opened via the lid and resealed. All bird feeders feature a base onto which birds can land mid flight and easily get access to the food and some styles of bird feeder are much larger than others, allowing more birds to congregate and eat together. Having such a wide range of bird feeders available means that it is possible to include the hanger in a certain garden decor and match it so that it doesn’t clash with anything else. Please note that hanging bird feeders are different from bird houses and tables. Bird feeders can be placed high or low, in a tree or out in the open. Having a bird feeder in a garden will attract birds and many people enjoy this. Involving wildlife in a garden can make it seem more natural and a more enjoyable place to spend time. Bird feeders do also, however, provide a more practical purpose. Providing nuts, seeds and bread for birds to eat will prevent them from eating the berries and flowers the garden owner is growing. Also, attracting birds into the garden environment can mean that they will start to eat the slugs, worms and other garden pests most gardeners would rather be rid of.

: Hi Friend, These days you can find a lot of sites popping up here and there saying you to try their Data Entry or Typing Job that will make you rich. Now the question is “Do these dream opportunities really work?” Well the answer is simple: Yes and No!! I have known people who purchased one of these programs a bit hesitantly but after some initial labor are now making a good living of up to $10 - $25k per month. But there are others who purchased some of these programs but were unable to break even with their investments. It’s the second category that infuses fear into the hearts of the genuine opportunity seekers. In my opinion these Home Money Making Programs do work but not like a magic potion. Your Success depends upon the quality of the program you are joining and the labor you are ready to invest into it. The returns can be massive! You have to be aware that the program you wish to join should provide you after sales support and do not leave you stranded in the middle after mugging you with the one time joining fee. A few days ago I came across dataentrycompany. This was a gem. A truly reliable opportunity. This is the type of company that we should look for. Why? Let’s brief it out: 1) Created by experienced and successful individual willing to share his tactics with you. 2) Believable and to the point content. 3) Minimizing your investment by offering free bonuses helping you to start up. 4) 100% Money Back Guarantee. 5) Allows to peek into its member’s area. 6) Most Importantly – After sales mentoring. This guy offers you free one on one personal coaching. What can be more reliable? I had never seen any such program more transparent before. I mean most of other such opportunities ditch you as soon as you pay them, but this guy is promises to be different. So, the moral – Don’t just let it go thinking that everything is a scam. Just be logical in choosing them!!

Option pricing is a mystery to most traders. They struggle to comprehend terms like implied and historical volatility or intrinsic and time value, or the "Greeks" (Delta, vega, theta, gamma, rho…). These terms are intimidating and my experience suggests that at least half the folks you hear talking about them do not really understand very much about them. It is important to at least be intellectually honest about it and know what you don't know. It is also a good idea to debunk your vocabulary and get what you do know (or think you know) right. And because it is easy to get a head ache from trying to read and comprehend the myriad of equations and models generated from minds of multi-degreed scholars speaking a language only they seem to understand, it is comforting to know you do not have to learn a whole lot about the technical math soup. It is however, mandatory that you gain some working skills in how to recognize and flow with the option prices or you will get whipsawed and shredded by them. It is not unlike the engineering, manufacturing, physics and computer technology that goes into a modern car. Any 10 year old can start it and drive down the road or off a cliff. The skill to use it correctly is mandatory but the technical wizardry to understand and construct it is not. So option pricing must be understood in order to trade with any consistency. One major point is that option pricing is not static or consistent. The pricing structure is a moving target because the interaction of the market and the Market Makers constantly adjust the pricing. Price comes from the floor… Models come from laboratories and do not dictate where the price will go. Rather, they try to predict it. Historically, the idea of options is not new. Ancient Romans, Grecians, and Phoenicians traded options against outgoing cargoes from their local seaports. Modern techniques derive their impetus from a formal history dating back to 1877. * 1877- Charles Castelli wrote a book entitled The Theory of Options in Stocks and Shares. * 1900- Louis Bachelier is recognized for the earliest known analytical valuation for options. His work interested a professor at MIT named Paul Samuelson. * 1955- Samuelson wrote an unpublished paper titled, "Brownian Motion in the Stock Market." * 1956- A. James Boness wrote, "A Theory and Measurement of Stock Option Value". His work served as a precursor to that of Fischer Black and Myron Scholes. * 1969-1973- Fischer Black and Myron Scholes introduced their landmark option pricing model No one discovered the "mother lode" but rather successive scholars added to the work of predecessors. Black and Scholes were noted with the Nobel Prize because of their leap forward and the remarkable accuracy of their model. Since 1973, other scholars have expanded the Black and Scholes Option Pricing Model. * 1973- Robert Merton relaxed the assumption of no dividends. * 1976- Jonathan Ingerson went one step further and relaxed the assumption of no taxes or transaction costs. * 1976- Merton removed the restriction of constant interest rates. The results of this evolution are alarmingly accurate valuation models for stock options. Ok, you think that is boring you should read some of the papers and equations (I have and it was not fun). Modern option pricing techniques are among the most mathematically complex of all applied areas of finance but they have reached the point where they can calculate, with alarming accuracy. Most of the models and techniques employed today are rooted in the Black and Scholes model. One notable major advance is the Cox, Ross, Rubenstein binomial model widely used in more volatile stocks. In fact the brainiacs currently have 7-9 different models out there trying to out do each other. Here is the basic idea… Option Pricing Model: A mathematical model is used to calculate the theoretical or fair value of an option. Inputs to option pricing models typically include: * the price of the underlying instrument (stock): Fixed * the option strike price: Fixed * the time remaining till the expiration date: Fixed * the volatility of the stock: Fixed * the risk-free interest rate (e. g., the Treasury Bill interest rate): Fixed The historical accuracy of the prediction is quite good but short term variations to the price models can and do "Kill" traders on a regular basis. In the long run the models are cool but they are THEORECTICAL and subject to CHANGE!!!!! The difficulty is that the vast majority of option traders do not have the knowledge or even the viewpoint to see the variation when they come. Nor are they able to reflect anomalies in the price structure when they look at an option chain to get a price. This is one of the reasons I so dislike Prescriptive Option Strategies. The prescription dictates how to make the trade. It dictates buy/sell, strike price and which month. Well that's just fine if the market stays constant and the price structure does not move. Ok… so "hey market, I am going to trade now… could you please just stay calm and act really normal and don't do anything rash until I am through? Thanks, that would be real nice of you." Somehow I don't think it works that way. The real problem with most option traders is that they don't know what they don't know. For example; today, with the stock at support and moving up it may or may not be a good idea to buy a call option. It may or may not be a good idea to trade the In the Money strike price. It may or may not be a good idea to trade the next month out. The pricing composition will reveal hidden potholes if you can read it. If the prescription can work, great! But if the pricing landscape is significantly off, you may have a prescription for disaster. Ignorance may be bliss but it is expensive. Market Makers One major area of misunderstanding is market makers. The market maker takes a risk by pricing and selling an option. The response by the market to the offering causes the market maker to make adjustments to the price. They have two goals… make as many traders as possible and try to make some money on most of the trades. They have two tools to try and make this work; the bid / ask spread and the cost of time. The market maker is taking the risk by entering into a contract with risk. They lay off that risk ASAP by either buying the same option (sell a 45 call and buy a 45 call) or buying stock to deliver in case of exercise. They neutralize their risk and collect a small premium for the transaction. If the buying and/or selling pressure, (coming from brokers and/or traders) starts to change they respond by pricing to meet the market action. They don't know you, or stock you. They need you and don't care if you make money or not. They just want your order flow. Many myths abound about market makers and you need to understand them and their motives. (See last newsletter: "Those Darn Market Makers") Volatility Option pricing is most sensitive to volatility. The theoretical option price is derived using a historical volatility, usually 12 months. The model pricing reflects that time frame. Short term option trading and pricing is being done in an environment that is subject to current market whims and conditions. The current climate can be very volatile and the long-term picture can be quite stable. That throws the pricing model off dramatically, but it is a tip to savvy traders. If the short term is more volatile than the historical, the prices will be pumped up and become expensive and unstable. Extra time value is pumped temporarily into the option to reflect the current conditions (higher perceived volatility). If the price action calms down or stabilizes, the "Fluff" can be drawn back out very quickly. For example, rising prices calm the market and reduce fear and volatility. The typical option trader does not see this and then feels violated and cheated when their stock moves in the direction of their trade and they don't get the expected profit in the option. The market breathes a sigh and the volatility shrinks taking their profit with it. An irony in the discrepancy between theoretical/fair value and the actual price is that the actual price is feeding the 12 month volatility and constantly adjusting it. Today's erratic volatility will be smoothed into the ongoing, ever-adjusting, 12-month moving volatility number. Next newsletter, I will introduce the X Factor Options Trading Graph and show you how to put all this stuff into a picture format. Pictures are easy to digest a lot of data (e. g. stock charts). My students often say, "Trading options without X Factor is like trading stocks without a chart". Options can seem simple as long as you don't learn too much. But they can seem overwhelming if you try to learn too much. There is a happy medium. The ten year old does not have to become a manufacturer to start the car, but he does need some practice and maturing to get behind the wheel. Stay tuned. See you in the free web seminars and I hope to see you in my "Trades Forge" 2-day trading camp. Ryan Litchfield with Better Trades

New York Dining on a Dime Dining on the cheap in New York City isn't nearly as hard as you may thing it is. New York is a city of many nations in that there are probably more nations represented in the dining options of New York than any other city in the world. You can find wonderful food options that represent these many nations and won't break your wallet. What a wonderful way to literally enjoy the flavors of the world while on vacation! Rainbow Falafel is the first place I recommend. This may very well be the best falafel shop (if you can call it that) in New York City. If you've never tried falafel you are definitely in for a tasty treat. Falafel is essentially a ball of veggies and spices (chick peas, onions, garlic, and other goodies) that has been fried and placed into a pita along with tomato, hummus, lettuce, and yogurt. Getting hungry? We've only just begun. Gray's Papaya offers the best hot dogs in the city, particularly when you consider the fact that it is hard to mess up hot dogs, especially when that's all you do for the price. The price in fact is what keeps packing the clientele in by the droves. Where else in New York can you get two hot dogs and a drink for two dollars? Be warned however that the dйcor and atmosphere are about what you'd expect in a restaurant that charged two bucks for the average meal and don't expect a Jimmy Buffet type of atmosphere with umbrella drinks and neon colors. For hoagies of heroic or would that be epic proportions you really must try Tony Luke's. The dйcor is simple and the service is quick. You won't find a huge menu or massive variety of specialty breads or carb friendly diet options here (there are some items but not a massive selection). What you will get are mammoth sandwiches with lots of meat and perhaps a side of cheese fries and a soda to wash it down with. The food is good and the price is right making this one of the best cheap places to eat in the city. Whether you refer to it as southern fare or soul food, the Soul Spot has it going on. They offer many of the traditional Sunday dinner types of foods such as fried catfish, fried chicken, and vegetables dripping in 'drippings' for those willing to risk the impending heart attack. This food is certainly and fabulous example of the culinary delights one would experience in the south while also being offered at a price that is comparable to what you would pay on a Mississippi Sunday afternoon. They do offer a lunch menu that is a little bit less expensive than the dinner menu and either offers a great value for the money. Schnack is another institution of inexpensive dining excellence in the great big city of New York. If you have a Krystal's or a White Castle in your area then you'll get the concept of "Schnackies" which are very much like the burgers you'll find in the joints I've mentioned above. Be assured however that you also have other choices if the cheap little burgers aren't really your thing. If you make it in before 5 PM you can have eggs almost anyway you can think of having them and if you have the time and the room you really should try Harry's Famous Warm Chocolate and Banana Bread Pudding. My mouth is watering from just thinking about it. The point to all of this, other than getting you good and hungry was to let you know that despite its reputation for being an expensive place to visit, if you know where to look you can not only find cheap entertainment but also cheap food. You can enjoy the best that New York City has to offer without breaking your budget. And cheap isn't necessarily a bad thing. 666

: Your net worth equals what you own minus what you owe. It is commonly referred to as the difference between your total assets and your total liabilities. Here’s a simple illustration: Home Value = $350,000   Mortgage balance = $150,000 Investments = 100,000     Credit cards = 20,000 Auto = 45,000                  Auto loans = 30,000 Savings = 15,000             Bank loan = 4,000 You Own = $510,000        You Owe = $204,000 Therefore, your net worth would be $306,000. There are two ways to increase your net worth. You can own more things or you can reduce your debt obligation. This article will focus on reducing your debt first because it is the fastest way to generate more money and, then, buy (own) more things. In our example, you have $204,000 of debt. If you’re like most people, you pay less attention to the mortgage and car loan balances because you consider them to be rather normal (necessary) to your way of life. The credit card companies are probably charging somewhere between 12 to 18 percent (forget those slick, short-lived introductory teasers) and the bank loan is probably around 6 percent.

Now, before we go further let me ask you a question. Which is faster? Create $204,000 (in other words, own more) ...

or reduce $204,000 of debt? In both instances, the result is the same because your net worth will have increased by the same amount. To create $204,000 in 15 years, you would have to invest $6,956.69 each year for 15 years and receive a guaranteed 8 percent rate of return.

Where can you find a guaranteed rate of return this high in today’s marketplace? No where! To reduce $204,000 of debt in 13.5 years, it takes only $100 extra each month. Now, let’s make sure you understand what I just said. To increase your net worth by $204,000 you must invest almost $7,000 each year for 15 years.

You hope and pray you’ll receive no less than 8 percent average every year. Or... you can come up with only $100 each month to reduce 100% of your debt (to include your mortgage) in only 13.5 years --- guaranteed! Hard to believe isn’t it? Go ahead and check it out yourself. First, use a compound interest table to compute the investment requirement. Then, print this debt reduction chart. You’ll need an Adobe Reader, which is probably already installed on your computer. Otherwise, go to adobe for a free download version. In every instance, it is faster and more reliable to eliminate your liabilities than to increase your assets.

Why? Because the interest you pay on your debt is excessively higher than the guaranteed interest you can earn. By following the debt chart and adding an additional $100 each month to the minimum payment requirement, you can dramatically compound the effect of your payments and expedite the complete elimination of all your debt. It’s a lot easier to come up with $100 extra each month than it is to find $6,956.69 each and every year for the next 15 years.

Warming up and cooling down before and after singing is crucial in preserving a healthy singing voice. If you don't warm up and cool down your voice, you risk damaging your vocal cords and sometimes permanently so. All athletes know that an effective warm up is essential for optimal athletic performance. But you say, singers are not athletes, so why should singers warm up their singing voices? Singers who are dinner guests are often asked to perform impromptu entertainment by their host after the dinner to entertain other guests. The wise singer will politely decline the request rather than singing raw which is further complicated by a bloated tummy. A proper warming up before a singing performance lets the singer to get in touch with the singer's inner self physically and psychologically since self awareness is the foundation of good vocal techniques. All good singers know that there is a co-ordination of many muscles parts and therefore warming up before singing should be an unhurried and a leisurely self-exploration that allows enough time for the loosening and coordination of the muscles that assist voice production. Warming up your voice should be an enjoyable experience because as you warm up, your voice begins to sound better, effortless and a sense singing freely is felt. Unfortunately, most of the time, the singer is warming up while rushing to a rehearsal or as a last minute preparation before taking the stage. The pressure of a hurried warming up may cause physical and mental tension and as such, the warming up may prove to be ineffective or worse, counter-productive. All well trained singers develop their own distinctive warming up routines best suited to their own personal requirements. The routines may vary with changes in physical, mental and also emotional state. Most good singers begin by warming up their body first with light physical exercises. This is done to reduce the muscular tension so that the singing voice will not sound strained or tensed. Furthermore, light exercises helps to stimulate deep breathing which is essential for good voice support. It is vital to start vocalizing in your comfortable vocal range so as not to strain your vocal cords when it is cold. You can then gradually move on to the higher and lower extreme notes. Some recent biomechanical research have shown that singing at the extremity of both the higher and lower notes of the vocal range can strain the laryngeal muscles, and can result harmful patterns of muscle tension. It goes on to say that thus it is good common sense to avoid the extreme pitches whether they are high or low notes until your voice is warmed up appropriately. Most singer's warm up is devoted to the goals of obtaining a beautiful voice timbre through the use of various vocal exercises. After a singing session, the singer should cool down the voice with exercises that soothe the vocal cords such as soft descending scales on the "oo" or the "ee" vowel. If the singer does not cool down after a sing session, the vocal tension will stay and the vocal cords remain tensed and this will lead to further voice complications. So, to maintain and preserve a healthy singing voice, adequate warm up and cool down is a must in any singer's inventory.

Il est loin du temps du Titanic, avec sa carapace majestueuse, sa luxure, son confort, ses services а bord! Dйtrompez vous, les paquebots de croisiиres existants de nos jours ne font que reprendre l'idйe du Titanic, avec des matiиres plus simples mais d'avantage confortables et fiables. De plus, l'idйe des jeux dйjа prйsente а bord du Titanic a йtй reprise а bord de la majoritй des bateaux avec la mise en place de salles de casinos et leur fameuses tables de craps pour des parties pleines d'йmotions et s'amuser lorsque le bateau reste en mer. Nul bateau ne peut vous кtre recommandй plus qu'un autre du fait que cela dйpend entiиrement de vos goыts, de vos attentes et de votre objectif, culturel ou romantique. La destination dйpendant йnormйment de vous, le bateau amarrй pour cette croisiиre l'est donc йgalement. Pour cela, les listes ne seraient кtre complиtes. Les navires les plus connus sont les suivants: 1) Voyager of the seas: Destination les Antilles. Ce paquebot est le plus grand au monde, et nous faisons grand usage de l'espace disponible. Vous y trouverez plus d'activitйs et d'expйriences que vous ne pouvez imaginer. Un mur d'escalade vous attend pour pouvoir pratiquer votre souplesse et votre rйflexion et dйcouvrir l'ocйan sus un angle nouveau. Au dйpart de Miami, des escales sont prйvues а Nassau, Saint Thomas, San Juan, Labadie, et deux journйes en mer avant un retour au lieu de dйpart. Dйcouvrez йgalement la fameuse patinoire oщ vous pourrez boire un bon chocolat. La vie nocturne y est йgalement de mise: les boutiques, les cafйs et autres animations du s'ouvrent а vous. Danser jusqu'au bout de la nuit au Jesters, une boоte de nuit entraоnante rйpartie sur deux йtages. 2) Jewel of the Seas: Mis en service en mai 2004, le Jewel of the Seas est caractйrisйs par l'allure innovante des super yachts. Il possиde un design avancй avec ses grandes surfaces vitrйes dans les espaces publics et des ascenseurs de verre donnant sur l'ocйan. Au choix, voyagez sur ce paquebot autour des Caraпbes ou dйcouvrez l'Europe Transatlantique. Le "must" des Caraпbes vous attend aux escales de Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Georgetown, et en mer. Pour les amoureux de l'Europe, des escales inattendues vous permettront de dйcouvrir Oslo Copenhague et Hambourg sous un jour nouveau, ou encore, toute la Scandinavie, ses fjords et la Russie grвce а des visites а Harwich, Oslo, Copenhague, Stockholm, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, et Tallinn. 3) Explorer of the Seas: En route vers les Antilles. Ce paquebot, regroupant les caractйristiques du Voyager of The Seas, vous plongera dans un profond dйpaysement au choix, de la Floride au Bahamas, aux Caraпbes, au Mexique, ou encore au bermudes. Vous pourrez, le temps d'une escale, dйcouvrir aussi bien Fort Lauderdale, Labadie, Ocho Rios au Mexique, que Miami, Belize City, Costa Maya, Cozumel, et Georgetown pour dйcouvrir le charme des Caraпbes. 4) Monarch of the Seas: De taille йquivalente а la Statue de la Libertй, ce paquebot vous offre la libertй de vous lever avec le soleil, la libertй de laisser les enfants en sйcuritй grвce au programme pour les enfants а bord. Ce paquebot vous laissera rкver au travers de ses croisiиres sensationnelles au Mexique. Dйcouvrez les villes de Los Angeles, San Diego, Ile Catalina, et Ensenada en cinq jours. Cinq jours de dйpaysement garantis.

: The following four-article series was published in a newsletter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). It serves as an introduction to the recent analysis discipline known as the finite element method. The author is an engineering consultant and expert witness specializing in finite element analysis. FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS: Solution by Steve Roensch, President, Roensch & Associates Third in a four-part series While the pre-processing and post-processing phases of the finite element method are interactive and time-consuming for the analyst, the solution is often a batch process, and is demanding of computer resource. The governing equations are assembled into matrix form and are solved numerically. The assembly process depends not only on the type of analysis (e. g. static or dynamic), but also on the model's element types and properties, material properties and boundary conditions. In the case of a linear static structural analysis, the assembled equation is of the form Kd = r, where K is the system stiffness matrix, d is the nodal degree of freedom (dof) displacement vector, and r is the applied nodal load vector. To appreciate this equation, one must begin with the underlying elasticity theory. The strain-displacement relation may be introduced into the stress-strain relation to express stress in terms of displacement.

Under the assumption of compatibility, the differential equations of equilibrium in concert with the boundary conditions then determine a unique displacement field solution, which in turn determines the strain and stress fields. The chances of directly solving these equations are slim to none for anything but the most trivial geometries, hence the need for approximate numerical techniques presents itself. A finite element mesh is actually a displacement-nodal displacement relation, which, through the element interpolation scheme, determines the displacement anywhere in an element given the values of its nodal dof. Introducing this relation into the strain-displacement relation, we may express strain in terms of the nodal displacement, element interpolation scheme and differential operator matrix. Recalling that the expression for the potential energy of an elastic body includes an integral for strain energy stored (dependent upon the strain field) and integrals for work done by external forces (dependent upon the displacement field), we can therefore express system potential energy in terms of nodal displacement. Applying the principle of minimum potential energy, we may set the partial derivative of potential energy with respect to the nodal dof vector to zero, resulting in: a summation of element stiffness integrals, multiplied by the nodal displacement vector, equals a summation of load integrals.

Each stiffness integral results in an element stiffness matrix, which sum to produce the system stiffness matrix, and the summation of load integrals yields the applied load vector, resulting in Kd = r. In practice, integration rules are applied to elements, loads appear in the r vector, and nodal dof boundary conditions may appear in the d vector or may be partitioned out of the equation. Solution methods for finite element matrix equations are plentiful. In the case of the linear static Kd = r, inverting K is computationally expensive and numerically unstable.

A better technique is Cholesky factorization, a form of Gauss elimination, and a minor variation on the "LDU" factorization theme. The K matrix may be efficiently factored into LDU, where L is lower triangular, D is diagonal, and U is upper triangular, resulting in LDUd = r. Since L and D are easily inverted, and U is upper triangular, d may be determined by back-substitution. Another popular approach is the wavefront method, which assembles and reduces the equations at the same time. Some of the best modern solution methods employ sparse matrix techniques. Because node-to-node stiffnesses are non-zero only for nearby node pairs, the stiffness matrix has a large number of zero entries.

This can be exploited to reduce solution time and storage by a factor of 10 or more. Improved solution methods are continually being developed. The key point is that the analyst must understand the solution technique being applied.

Dynamic analysis for too many analysts means normal modes. Knowledge of the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a design may be enough in the case of a single-frequency vibration of an existing product or prototype, with FEA being used to investigate the effects of mass, stiffness and damping modifications. When investigating a future product, or an existing design with multiple modes excited, forced response modeling should be used to apply the expected transient or frequency environment to estimate the displacement and even dynamic stress at each time step.

This discussion has assumed h-code elements, for which the order of the interpolation polynomials is fixed. Another technique, p-code, increases the order iteratively until convergence, with error estimates available after one analysis. Finally, the boundary element method places elements only along the geometrical boundary. These techniques have limitations, but expect to see more of them in the near future. Next month's article will discuss the post-processing phase of the finite element method.

copyright 2005 Roensch & Associates. All rights reserved.

Creating Effective and Efficient Relationships Relationships of all kinds are often perceived as very delicate things, that require extra effort to maintain. However, a relationship can also be something that can provide security and can also be long lasting despite many trials. Building an effective and lasting relationships is a necessity for several reasons. For example in a group or organization, the well being of the people depends on how efficient and effective that group or organization works. The group or organization is also dependent on how the members work well with the management. An ineffective group or organization can really be very frustrating. An effective group or organization can also ask so much on their members, that sometimes the members would be having no life outside the walls of the area where they work or sacrifice the other aspects of their life just to meet deadlines. For an organization or group with this kind of scenario, relationships can be stressed or suffer from breakdown. People or other entities who depend on these groups or organization also suffer. Society is defined as a web of relationships, which requires all parties to work and contribute their share in order to achieve a common goal. Having a relationship that is good, where cooperation and respect are manifested, can make society work better. In this way each member works for the good of the whole and towards achieving a common goal. This can only be attained with effective and efficient relationships. Understanding the other parties' feeling and position creates an effective and efficient relationship. The easiest method to understand what is important to another party is to ask them what they want and listen to what they have to say. When the other party realizes this, they would feel the importance given to them Effective and efficient relationships require parties to openly express their feelings and positions on all matters pertinent on the relationship. Assuming that the other party understands our needs and give us when we need it without asking for it is not a good practice. Respect is the key to relationship. In order to create a more effective relationship, parties should treat each other with respect. We can show respect just by listening to the other party and by trying sincerely to understand how they function. You can also show respect to other parties by confirming that they are doing everything they can. The opposite of respect is quick forming of judgements based on unfounded facts and prejudice. Respect is the very foundation for a great relationship. This also means respecting yourself and respecting others. Another key area in forming an effective relationship is to tackle differences of the other party directly. Differences between parties or people are quite interesting. For example in a conversation where each party listens to the other party, you may observe that each is having two different perspectives. Work towards a win-win solution for both parties. This can be done when at least one party acknowledges that the relationship is important. That party would then exert more time, effort and energy to understand the other party's needs and deal with it to get it out of the way. Should they fail, it is comforting for that party to know that they tried. Effectively listening and no pre-judging. This is important if parties are to understand each other. Informal discussions are conducive for parties. They bring out issues and concerns comfortably. They also feel more relaxed making them think more clearly. Developing an atmosphere where the other party can express their feelings when they need to. When parties fail to express whatever is on their mind or their feelings, it can get in the way of building an effective relationship. Parties should be aware that certain things exist naturally but should be controlled in any dealings in any relationship. Human nature is one. Some of these things found in a relationship also include a history of stereotyping or mistrust, blaming the other person or party for a strained relationship, excluding the other party's feelings when focusing on a task, no clear and defined objectives, roles and expectations of each party in a relationship is also unclear. Relationships are important to anyone, addressing issues and problems right away is a must to further improve the relationship. As they say 'No man is an Island'.

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As a hypnotherapist specializing in a proprietary Smoke Cessation program, I field a lot of questions regarding “How much do you cost?” and “Why are you so expensive?” It amazes me how focused smokers can be on the cost of quitting, without considering the cost of smoking. Yesterday I received a call from a frustrated smoker. From her tone of voice and attitude I assume that she has unsuccessfully attempted to quit smoking in the past. Her first question was a challenging “How much do you charge?” After a few unsuccessful conversational attempts to explore her situation I gave her my price (about the true price of 10 packs of cigarettes as determined in the following text). I was greeted by several seconds of silence. Her next words were “why are you so expensive?” I spoke for a few more moments, and then she thanked me and hung up. I shook my head in disbelief. Typical of our cautionary times, she declined to give me any information about her life, or her smoking habit. I assume she didn’t want to give me any ammunition to convince her to quit smoking. In case you are in the same situation, let me share a few details easily confirmed with a Google search of “cost of Smoking”. An article on MSN Money (The High Cost of Smoking by Hilary Smith) observes that a 40 year old 1 pack a day smoker who quits and banks the money in a 401K at 9% will net $250K by age 70. In an article in MIT Press (The Price of Smoking by Sloan, Osterman, Conover, Taylor, and Picone) puts the lifetime cost of smoking for a 24 year old man at $220K. This makes the average total cost per pack over $40 when amortized lifetime medical costs are includedbine those two financial facts and you have over half a million dollars earned by not smoking if the 24 year old quits and saves the money that would have been spent on cigarettes. The national cost of smoking in the US is pegged at around $72.7 billion. At over $40 a pack, my fee is less than 1 carton of cigarettes. That is, in my opinion, a steal! At over $4 a pack purchase price, smoking is an exorbitantly expensive habit. At a true cost of over $40 a pack smoking is, for most, unconscionable. Some put the national cost of each cigarette at over $7 each. To put it mildly “Yikes!” My program, unlike most, is guaranteed, so there is virtually no risk to the client. Even without a guarantee, however, any attempt to quit is likely to be a great investment. The single greatest deterrent to smoking is having a heart attack. I suggest you take action today to avoid that occurrence. By the way, hypnosis is the second most effective way to quit. This is another helpful mind management tip from Richard Lefever and the brain weavers at Quit! Check us out at Quitsmokingoregon

Khon Kaen is a good mix of old and new. You can get KFC and Pizza or you can eat noodles and rice from street vendors. Software and DVDs are available at the mall or you can shop at the open markets. Small guest houses, intermediate hotels and a 5-star accommodation are available. Nightlife can be found – but don’t expect it be comparable to Pattaya or Bangkok. There are a few expat bars near the Sofitel Hotel and a few Thai clubs scattered throughout the city. Transportation around the city is easy as the Baht Buses are color-coded. Baht buses are just pick-up truck with seats in the back and cost about 25 cents for a ride. The have set routes and maps are available that display the routes. You just need to figure out where you want to go and find the correct color and hop on. Day time activities for me were shopping and sightseeing. I spent lots of time visiting some of the most beautiful temples in all of Asia. One in particular is located in the heart of the city; right along side the city’s lake (Buun Kaen Nakorn). The temple (Wat Nong Wang Muang) is 9 stories tall and each floor has a mini-museum with artifacts from ancient Thailand. Music classes were going on and one of the Buddhist monks gave us a blessing. I visited other temples in and around Khon Kaen and one was about 1000 stairs to the top to see a beautiful, pure white Buddha called Pu Don Fai. It was a hike, but definitely worth the walk. For lovers of Thai food, there is an abundance of restaurants throughout the city. Many of the restaurants are around Lake Buun with excellent Thai and Western food at very reasonable prices. A typical night out with 3 or 4 dishes, a couple of Singha beers and the total tab would be about $12. Delicious food in open air restaurants with a view of the lake or one of the rivers in the city made for some very relaxing evenings. I spent one day fishing at a small lake. Bait, tackle and a comfortable chair cost all of 200 Baht (about 6 dollars) for the day. There was also a restaurant that served up some good food and cold beer. I didn’t catch any fish, but had a very relaxing day. I also went out to King Cobra village to see the snake show. A good show with no admission fee. Sat in the bleachers and watched the 1/2 hour show and gave 100 Baht when they passed the hat. All in all, a very relaxing 3 1/2 week vacation and I look forward to my return trip next year.