Car maintenance can be expensive, and the rising cost of gasoline in the United States can really drain, so to speak, the funds available for car maintenance and related costs. According to Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council, Loose or missing gas caps, under-inflated tires, worn spark plugs, and dirty air filters all contribute to poor fuel economy. Here are some tips, courtesy of the Car Care Council, to help you save money on gasoline, even as the prices continue to climb. Don’t drive aggressively. This can actually lower gas mileage by up to 33 percent on the highway and five percent on city streets, resulting in a cost of 7 to 49 cents per gallon. Take care of your tires. A smart care maintenance tip in general, since driving with an under inflated tire is the equivalent of driving your car with the parking break on, and can cost you a mile for each gallon. Watch out for worn spark plugs. Vehicles have four, six, or eight spark plugs, and these fire as much as three million times every on thousand miles, which creates heat, electrical, and chemical erosion. Replace your spark plug regularly for proper care maintenance, and gas conservation as well. Change your dirty air filter. Air filters clogged with dust, dirt, and bugs cuts off the air and results in more gas than necessary being burned. This wastes gas, and causes the engine to lose power as well. Watch those gas caps. Approximately 17 percent of vehicles, according to the CCC, have gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing, and this causes 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize each year. Don’t idle excessively. Idling gets you zero miles to the gallon, and you really only need to warm up your vehicle for about one to two minutes. Watch that speed. As your car’s speed increases, gas mileage decreases, and each mph over sixty results in an additional ten cents per gallon cost. Lose some weight. By simply removing unnecessary items from your vehicle, you could reduce the weight by 100 pounds, which in turn will reduce your MPG by up to 2%, based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the weight of the vehicle. Proper car maintenance is the best way to get the most out of your car, and to make sure that it remains fuel efficient. Don’t skip regular visits to the auto mechanic—the health of your car depends on them.

The idea that there exists a secret cabal of power elite whose soul purpose is world domination has inspired untold numbers to cower in paranoia. If they even exist, this group, often referred to as The Illuminati, are so secretive that they can only be speculated upon. They are rumored to be the most powerful people in the world. Based on these rumors lets see what things these people can teach us about becoming "enlightened". Here is my list of the top ten things that the Illuminati do that make them better than the rest of us. 10. They start off rich and powerful. This is number ten because it's the least important. Having a good foundation to start from does make things easier but if you're smart, have a plan and be flexible, it's very likely that you can achieve anything. Poet Rob McCuen once said "I was born a poor bastard. All I had to go was up." 9. They build networks and trust the right people. You may find that with all the people in the world there are a lot of them who are fun to hang around but few of them you can truly trust. That's because when asked to do something important most people avoid the responsibility or fail. The more important the responsibility the more trusted these people need to be and the only way to do that is to test them. Trust is earned slowly through progressive demonstrations. Trusting the right people doesn't mean they trust family, or friends... they only trust the people who have proven themselves to be trustworthy. You can be nice to almost anyone but you can trust only a few. 8. They build themselves up. There is no lack of self esteem within the Illuminati. They consider themselves to be "The Enlightened Ones" and they act accordingly. Most people walk through life beaten down into submission groveling for the slightest bit of respect. They never consider the possibility that if they start to think of themselves as respected, honorable, loved and admired that they might feel better and get more done. 7. They do what works. If something works they use it. If something needs to be done they put it into action. They don't resort to dreaming, wishing or hoping. This is unlike most people who rely on what they've always known and not looked for something better. Worse, when something doesn't work they resort to doing it more and harder. They also don't resort to relying merely upon "divine intervention". Instead they take complete responsibility for where they are at and get to work going after what they want. 6. They keep secrets. If you've ever revealed a magic secret you know how disappointing it can be. From that point on your secret is out and people will come to you not to be amazed at your magic but to steal your knowledge. Knowledge is power and the Illuminati know how to keep it. So should you. Keeping your goals, plans and ambitions secret builds you up on the inside and help strengthen your resolve. It also prevents the petty and envious from sabotaging your efforts. No one can battle what they do not know. You'll learn to reveal your secrets to only those people who you know can help you and reveal only as much as they will need to know. 5. They use mind control. Yet another reason to learn mind control. They don't rely on luck or hope. They use everything they know that works to get what they want. That means mind control in all it's form; hypnosis, nlp, persuasion and more. They use mind control on others to influence, seduce and persuade (Just another reason to learn NLP and hypnosis). They also use mind control on themselves to keep themselves focused. This mean keeping abreast of any self improvement program that will train their minds as if they world class athletes. 4. They keep calm. One reason they can stay so calm is that they have a plan that details exactly what to do next. There is no guess work. They also have been trained in how to respond to chaos and confusion. They know that a rash and emotional reaction to anything will do nothing for them and work against their greater goals. How many people do you know can do that? It's easy to assume that the Illuminati are without emotion but in fact, they simply know what emotions help them and what emotions don't. They are overjoyed when they know that even the smallest step is made toward their goal. They reserve anger and fear as a tool of control for the rest of us because they know the vast majority have never given any thought as to how they will respond when under stress. The old kung fu masters are always calm and unemotional when challenged by the young and ambitious students. They know how to apply the least amount of effort to kick anyone's ass. 3. They save. The Illuminati know that to grow in money and power you can't spend it all at once. You must save a portion of all your profits and resources and let them grow. What percentage of your annual income do you have in savings? 2. They invest. The Illuminati know that money and power have to be cultivated and grown. This it done by investment in both time and money. Smart investing requires a two thing that most people lack 1) a deep understanding of the investment process and 2) patience. The Illuminati invest in what will make a profit: human nature. No one ever went broke when they built a business around the seven deadly sins. 1. They plan. The Illuminati are working a plan that some will say is hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years old. While the plan may change slightly based on circumstances the end result always remains the same; world domination. They know that this plan will not come about in one fell swoop but only with the patient progress of time and always keeping their goal in mind. This is completely different from those of us who start college with one dream or ambition only to change our major six times and graduate waiting tables.... hardly the plan we started with. Final Note: The point of this tongue-in-cheek article was not to build up the self esteem of the power elite ... they are doing quite well in that area ... but to point out that anything they can do to prosper you can do too. PS, if you are in the Illuminati I'd like to submit my membership application. Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

: Truly epic, fondue history starts with a recipe in Homer's Iliad (Song XI). Doesn't it stand to reason that the mixture described of Pramnos wine, grated goat's cheese and white flour was a fondue? Well, whether that's what Homer was describing or not, fondue history states that the warm cheese dish originated in Switzerland but more specifically in the Canton of Neuchatel. According to history experts, fondue consists of at least two varieties of cheeses that are melted with wine and a bit of flour. It's served communally out of pot called a "caquelon". Long forks are used by each guest to spear a cube of bread then the bread is dipped into the cheese and eaten. How did cheese fondue get started??Well, before we get into the nitty gritty of cheese fondue, let's back up for a second. The word fondue is a derivative of the French word, fondre, which means "to melt". However, this is only a part of how the word fondue is used today. In doing my research of fondue history,"fondue" has a much broader meaning.

It refers to foods that are dunked, heated, or cooked in sauce, oil, or broth in a fondue (or similar) pot. We know now, of course, that the Swiss take credit for the neighborly cuisine. They created it out of necessity, not because someone with too much time on their hands came up with a great idea for eating together! Before the invention of the refrigerator, cheese and bread were made in the summer and fall to last through the winter. Both became extremely hard and inedible in that state. The bread became so much like concrete that it literally had to be chopped with an ax! The Swiss realized that if hard-as-rock cheese was heated with wine over a fire, it softened and became deliciously edible. Bread that was too dried out to eat by itself, became soft and pliable when dunked in the melted cheese. Once a necessity, the cooking method of fondue became a social custom of making the best of the long, cold Swiss winters by huddling around the fire with friends or family with a large pot of cheese and some hard bread. It's a tradition that has stood the years and travelled across the continents. Fondue history states that the cooking method of fondue dates back to the 18th century when both cheese and wine were important industries in Switzerland. The simple-to-prepare meal used ingredients that were found in most average homes. Most recipes we see for "traditional" Swiss style fondue are a combination of two cheeses used, Gruyere and Emmenthaler. They are combined because either cheese alone would make for a mixture that was too sharp or too bland. Most recipes call for the cheeses to be melted in a dry white wine. This helps to keep the cheese from the direct heat as it melts, as well as to add flavor. Kirsch (a clear cherry brandy) was added if the cheese itself was too young to produce the desired tartness. Adding garlic gives the flavoring a good mellow taste, while the flour or cornstarch assists in keeping the cheese from separating. Here's a delicious and easy recipe for traditional Swiss Fondue: What you'll need: - 2 cups shredded process Swiss cheese (1/2 lb unshredded) - 1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch - 1/4 tsp salt - 1/8 tsp dry mustard - 1/8 tsp nutmeg - 1/8 tsp pepper - 1 cup buttermilk - 1 clove garlic - Dry white table wine - Cooked ham cubes - Toast triangles Serve this version of Swiss fondue with ham cubes and toast triangles that are made ahead for swirling in the cheese mixture. You can also use fresh fruits such as apple and pear slices. Start by tossing the cheese with cornstarch, salt, dry mustard, nutmeg, and pepper. Heat the buttermilk with the garlic in a double boiler or over hot water in the fondue pot. When thoroughly heated, remove the garlic and add the cheese mixture. Stir it until the cheese melts and is blending smoothly. Heat the wine up a little and add gradually to the mixture, 2 Tbsp at a time. This keeps the fondue at a dipping consistency. Serve your guest and make sure each has a fondue fork to use with the ham cubes and fruit. Once you swirl the ham in the cheese mixture, place it on top of the toast triangle and eat until you can eat no more. Delicious! Important: Feel free to republish this article on your website. However, you are not allowed to modify any part of its content and all links should be kept active. For more great info on Fondue and other types of appetizers and appetizer meals, visit Easy Appetizer Recipes at easy-appetizer-recipes.

: There are many money-making opportunities out there and we’ve been involved with quite a few, namely property marketing, web development, residential construction security, multi-level marketing businesses etc. We’ve come to a few conclusions with the help of some well-known properity coaches. Often people with the income they desire don’t have the time to enjoy it. Those that have time don’t often have money. You don’t have to sacrifice your life-style to earn an above-average income. If you focus on the Forex for a few months you can make that dream a reality and create time and money to do what you REALLY want. To earn a living money is given in exchange for a product or service rendered. It needs to be sold continuously otherwise your income stops abruptly unless it’s a repeat type of product or service. Money is a medium of exchange. There’s no magical formula to possess it, you need to exchange something of value for it. What if, you could have access to thousands of customers who are ready, willing and able to buy from you whenever you wanted? Wouldn’t it be great to avoid any hassles like money collection problems (just had a delayed payment from my web business), keeping difficult customers happy (we all know what that’s like), competition stealing your business without providing the same value etc. All that is possible with Forex. You can also trade from anywhere. Take your laptop with you, find an internet connection and away you go. Another advantage is that you don’t need experience to get started. Get a traditionally job involves accumulating specialized experience, having a well-polished resume and having the right contacts. With the right training course, you can get started straight away. Here’s 7 more reasons to trade Forex: 1. It never closes. It’s open around the clock, worldwide. Trading positions open at Monday 7am, New Zealand time and close 5pm New York time on Friday. During this time, you can enter or exit the market whenever you like. It’s a continuous electronic currency exchange. This is great because you can trade whenever you have spare time.

2. Leverage. Standard $100 000 currency lots can be traded with as little as $1000. This is mainly because of the ease with which you can buy and sell, some brokers will leverage up to 200 times, so with $100 you can control a 200 000 unit currency position. It’s the best use of trading capital around, even banks lending on property investments don’t come close. 3. Accurately predict the outcomes. Currency prices generally repeat themselves in predictable cycles so you can see what the trends are. ‘Technical Analysis’ helps to see these trends and profit from them. 4. Low Transaction Cost. In other words, you mistakes won’t cost you a fortune.

Good brokers won’ charge commissions to trade or maintain an account even if you have a mini account and trade small volumes. 5. Unlimited Earning Potential. Forex has a daily trading volume of over 1.5 trillion, the largest financial market in the world. It dwarfs the equities market (50 billion daily) and the futures market (30 billion).

6. You can make money in any market conditions. Each market is one currency against another, so when you buy in one, you’re selling in another so there’s no biase towards either currency moving up or down. This means it’s up to you to choose which currency to buy or sell with. Yu can make money going up or down. 7. Market transparency. This is an advantage in any business or trading environment.

It means you can manage risk and execute orders within seconds. It’s highly efficient and allows you to avoid unexpected ‘surprises’. I hope you’re now convinced that Forex is the best investment and income opportunity around. To continue your journey of Forex Trading success and achieve enormous profits, visit wealthyforex . You’ll receive all of the resources you need to positively impact your future.

Do you know children affected with autism find it difficult to communicate and to become socialized? There are two notions about the existence of autism. One thought is that autism is due to a bio-chemical imbalance, and the other notion is it is a psychological disorder. The autism-affected children seldom communicate with others except to fulfill their needs. Autism spectrum disorders can be called an umbrella term since it covers classic autism, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and Asperger’s syndrome. Autism can be termed a spectrum disorder as the intensity and the number of the symptoms of autism differs from person to person. Autism causes impairments in the people in three areas: social relationships, communication, and restricted patterns of behavior. The spectrum of autism can be classified as severely affected, less able, and dependent on others. This also includes persons with above-average intelligence and independence, but lacking social skills. Autism sufferers lack a proper response to social and environmental stimulations. The affected child would be in a separate world. The child’s communication will be very minimal and he will not be able to communicate his emotions and feelings properly. Malabsorption is the most common problem noticed in autism. Autism sufferers experience structural compromise and chronic gastric inflammation in the digestive tract. The intestinal absorption is delayed due to intestinal inflammation. The specific symptoms of autism are restricted behaviors and interests and this is even seen towards the food choices. Self-limited and restricted diets are highly noticed in the autism condition, which may cause deficiency in one or more essential nutrients. The commonly occurring deficiencies in the children suffering from autism are Vitamin-A, Sulfate deficiency, calcium deficiency, B12 deficiency, High copper: zinc ratio, etc. There are numerous treatments available to cure the autism condition in children. Initially, nutritional supplements are offered to the child suffering from autism. This might be followed by behavioral training. In general Vitamin B12 is given as a supplement. The behavioral change noticed in autism can be improved by giving suitable educational therapies, where the child is motivated to give good response to the environmental and social changes promptly. Although it is easy to say that educational therapy is good for autism patients, the children found difficult in learning the task, and they will intercept the process and show aggressive behavior to other people to avoid learning any new task. In order to improve the autism behaviors, Magnesium in the form of injections are given to the autism sufferers. Within 2-4 weeks of administration of Vitamin-B12, autism behaviors can be reduced within 2 to 4 weeks. It can take more than 3 months for some children to respond with Vitamin-B12. The autism child with speech problems can be treated with Dimethylglycine (DMG) for better results. DMG will improve the immune system of one’s own body. Moreover, this improves frustration tolerance and eye contact. For negative attention-seeking behaviors of autism, it is advisable to eliminate the behavior by giving attention to desired behavior rather than the negative behavior.

1- Have a written project plan Run your fundraiser like a small business. Have a written project plan that spells out all roles and responsibilities. Slot motivated individuals into those roles and equip them with everything they need to do a great job. 2- Use your website If you don't have one, get one. Use it to communicate goals, thank your sponsors, highlight periodic offerings, recognize successes, honor individual contributors, etc. Promote your web site on all your materials. 3- Review previous records See what's been successful before. Look for ways to improve upon the past. What items sold best? Get more of them. Has your gift-wrap sale lost its luster with declining revenues? Jazz it up with newer offerings. 4- Set a specific timeline Make sure that your start date and end date are both firm. The best selling period is 17 days, including 3 weekends. Any longer and the drive runs out of gas; any shorter and you limit your prospects. Avoid any scheduling conflicts. Plan ahead to avoid overlapping other important community events, holidays, etc. 5- Actively recruit volunteers Get more and better volunteers by going after them. Don't wait for them to come to you. Use a calling tree to root out prospects. Ask for dads, older siblings, and grandparents to get involved. Advertise for specific help via newsletters and word of mouth. 6- Identify needs and define roles Do it ahead of time and match your group's needs to each volunteer's skills and availability by including it in each position's description. 7- Use different people Double up, particularly for key positions. Fill organizational roles well ahead of time with different people than on the last fundraiser, unless there is a good reason not to switch. 8- Start early to broaden participation Put the word out early and often about what volunteers you need. Get plenty of them so no one feels overworked. Offer a volunteer sign-up sheet for different events at every meeting. 9- Have a master sergeant Use a strong communicator to help group and assign volunteers. Some people are a natural for this key role. 10- Set small group goals Break overall goal down into what's needed from each sub-group. Set up each unit with their own goal and translate that into what's in it for them. Reward each sub-group based on their own success. That will reinforce the correlation between funds raised and their own efforts.

Not a few women who have been confronted with the reality of unwanted pregnancy have chosen to resolve their problem through abortion. Abortion is a procedure that makes use of medicine or surgery to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus to end a pregnancy. The procedure is usually done by a licensed physician or someone acting under the supervision of a licensed physician. Research shows that women are just as likely to get an abortion whether it is outlawed or legal. Statistics show that one out of five pregnancies ends in abortion. In a study examining abortion trends from 1995 to 2003, experts also found that abortion rates are virtually equal in rich and poor countries, and that half of all abortions worldwide are done in an unsafe manner. In spite of the legal status of abortion, it has never dissuaded women who seek to end unwanted pregnancy. Abortion accounts for 13 percent of maternal mortality worldwide. While 70,000 women die every year from unsafe abortions, an additional five million women suffer permanent or temporary injury as a result of this procedure. Although worldwide, abortion rates have dipped from about 46 million in 1995 to just under 42 million in 2003, the rate of unsafe abortion didn't change at all. In developing countries, the incidence of unsafe abortion continue to rise with nearly half the procedures still performed illegally in potentially dangerous conditions, making it a public health crisis and an assault to human rights. The increase in contraceptive medication is seen by some sectors as a way to minimize, if not totally eliminate, unsafe abortion. However, while more countries are allowing women to have abortions in a legal way, many women are still receiving medical attention only after a procedure has gone wrong. Women shouldn't have to hurt themselves before they get the necessary medical attention. Unsafe abortion may be defined as a procedure performed by people lacking the required skills or done in an environment that does not conform to the proper medical standards. The developing world comprised the biggest share of the abortion pie with a figure of about 35 million abortion cases. And nearly 97 percent of all unsafe abortions were in poor countries. In eastern Europe, there are more abortions than live births, or 105 abortions for every 100 live births. In Western Europe, there are 23 abortions for every 100 live births. In North America, there are 33 abortions for every 100 live births, while in Africa, where abortion is illegal in most African states, there are 17 abortions for every 100 live births. Providing safe abortions depends on a working health-care system. Experts believe that improving access to safe abortion requires improvement on women's health. In the last two decades, there has been little improvement to help women survive pregnancy and childbirth, especially in third world countries due to poverty. While improvement in child health can be done with government support, such as immunization against various diseases, the same cannot be said with improving women's health as funds are restricted from any health services associated with abortion. Abortion is about making a decision about ending the life of a baby. The debate is still on whether the fetus can be medically considered a human being --- a factor that defines the morality or lack of morality of the choice to undergo an abortion. Indeed, given the very sensitive nature of this procedure , abortion should be considered a very personal decision that requires counseling.

Steroids were invented during the first quarter of the 20th century. Since then, they’ve been used to treat various medical conditions including puberty delays, low appetite, chronic wasting conditions due to cancer, AIDS, bone growth etc. Anabolic steroids are commonly known for their impressive enhancement of muscle growth and athletic performance. These substances are derived from the male hormone, testosterone and hence, also possess androgenic qualities. So, they also affect sexual characteristics when used. Due to their ability to enhance strength and athletic performance, many sportspeople started abusing these drugs as early as the 60s. Overdose and wrong usage lead to various side-effects and to control use of steroids, many countries imposed restrictions on their manufacture and distribution. Today, anabolic steroids can ONLY be purchased with a valid prescription. The most common effects of the intake of anabolic steroids are: • Increases bone growth. • Increases muscle growth in a short period of time, and thereby increases overall body mass. • Burns excess body fat and reduces weight considerably. • Affects sexual characteristics. In men, this means higher estrogen levels as the body works to balance hormone levels. The breast-like features might be developed further. Women may face a change in the working of vocal chords and therefore a deeper voice. • Increases growth of hair (head, facial and pubic). • Elevates blood pressure. • Increases LDL cholesterol levels and decreases HDL levels. This may lead to cardiovascular complications. • Increases acne levels. With all of that said, the reader is advised to be extremely careful when choosing to actually buy anabolic steroids. Looking to acquire these without a medical prescription might lead to illegal dealings and finally, legal troubles. Also, you must seek and heed professional medical advice at every level of steroid usage. This ensures safe and beneficial use of these substances. Effects of steroids Anabolic steroids are most commonly known for their usage in sports and bodybuilding. These steroids are capable of manipulating protein synthesis within the muscular cells, thereby stimulating growth. Anabolic steroids are so called because they boost anabolic processes. They are direct derivatives of testosterone, the male hormone, and thus possess certain androgenic properties which allow them to affect sexual processes. Steroids find extensive use in competitive sports, bodybuilding and modeling because of their effectiveness. However, they do have their own share of harmful side-effects. The most common effects of anabolic steroids are: • Disturbance in hormone production. This is because steroids are hormones themselves and the excess of testosterone disturbs the hormone balance, prompting the body to work to restore the balance. • Increased estrogen. This happens due to imbalance of hormones. Results in breast-enlargement in men. In women, enlargement of the clitoris, hair growth and deepening of the voice are most common. • Possible liver damage. This is known to happen when steroids are consumed orally. The reason is that many enzymes in the liver are altered due to the nature of anabolic steroids. • Elevated cholesterol levels. Many sportspeople who use steroids have been tested to show high LDL and low HDL levels of cholesterol. • Cardiovascular complications. The alteration of cholesterol levels might lead to heart-related diseases. • Increased blood pressure. • Increased acne levels. • Possible sterility. Although rare, it is a potential risk which may occur due to the imbalance in testosterone levels. Considering the harmful effects, it is the responsibility of the reader to do his/her research before actually deciding to buy anabolic steroids. Due to popular abuse of these substances, they have been banned by almost all major sports bodies. Not only that, many countries including the USA place them under “controlled substances”. It is illegal to purchase them without a prescription. Hence, be aware of the consequences before buying steroids.

: Room by room home decorating ideas Whether you live in small metropolitan apartment, a house in the suburbs, or a log cabin in the mountains, your living room creates a lasting impression on those who visit. It sets the mood and should reflect your personal taste. So, to begin our helpful hints for home decorating ideas, let's start with some simple tips for the living room. You don't have to spend a lot of time or money to get a new look that will be a pick up for both you and your living room. Just add some color; here's how: 1. Paint just One Wall This will really change the focal point of the living room without getting into a major redecorating project. If your room has a niche, it's the perfect choice for extra color. You can choose a bold, contrasting color picked from a floral fabric, or a subtle tone darker than the tone of the other walls. Any change in color will add interest and splash! 2. Throw a Few Pillows Around Nothing adds color like strategically placed throw pillows. Choose solids for a floral print or colorful, patterned pillows for a solid color chair or sofa. This is just one of many home decorating ideas that will not only add a bright splash of color, but will also add comfort to your seating arrangements. 3. Add Green or Flowering Plants If you don't have a green thumb, ask your nursery or home center to recommend ones that require little or no care. If you're gone from home a lot, settle for some of the wonderful artificial ones on the market now. You can find great looking plants, foliage, and flowers that only need to be dusted. The Internet is a wonderful source for these. 4. Put Some Color on the Floor A colorful throw rug placed in front of a chair or under a coffee table can add color and texture to a living room (or any room). It can be put on top of any type of flooring, including carpet. If it is on a smooth surface, make certain to have a no skid backing. Choose a contrast color (from fabric you're using in the room}, or look for one with an interesting pattern that ties into the theme of your room. 5. Add Interesting Artwork A colorful piece of art placed in a living room not only adds a decorative touch, but also introduces colors and shapes. Try framing simple photos with colorful mats and bright frames. <6. A Throw Adds both Warmth and Color A handmade quilt, nubby woven throw, or cozy, colorful blanket adds interest when draped over the back or arm of a neutral sofa or chair. Choose a color that accents other pieces in the room, as well. 7. Reflect Color This is one of the home decorating ideas that appeals to many. Place a large mirror on a bare or boring wall. Buy an interesting frame or just decorate a piece of mirror with cording or braid. If you have an old frame, consider painting it a bright color. The mirror will reflect the color from around the room and add light to the space. Tips for the guest room Not too many people give enough thought to decorating the guest room in their home, but, if you like to have guests stay over, here are some simple home decorating ideas for your guest room. Your budget may not allow you to provide all the amenities of a five star hotel, but there are certain things you can do to make your guests comfortable. 1. Buy the Best Bed Your Money Can Buy Don't give your guest the oldest, most saggy mattress you have. If you can't afford a new bed, think about getting a quality air mattress. They're quite comfortable and can be placed on top of a box spring, over a sofa bed mattress, or on the floor. 2. Clean Bedding a Must Just make sure you have nicely laundered, clean bedding. 3. A Place to Put a Suitcase Clear a space to put a luggage rack or a small table or bench to set down a suitcase. Even a chair is better than nothing! 4. Keep it Uncluttered Get rid of anything that you would not find in the room of a fine hotel. Keep only the most useful items in the room, like a clock and calendar. A good reading lamp would be a plus! 5. Hanger and Drawer Space If your guest room shares space with a home office, clear at least a foot or two of pole space in the closet. Or purchase an inexpensive over-the-door hook that can accommodate some hanging clothes and clear out one or two drawers for small items. Both you and your guest will feel better with odds and ends out of sight.

You’ve seen audio books in many formats, haven't you? Recorded books, as they are also called, come on CDs and tapes. The latest technology has created MP3 books. As weird as it may sound, many people like recorded books on tape better than books on CD. Read along to learn why. Although CDs are great, but when it comes to listening to recorded books, books on tape are the long-term consumer’s favorite. As a sideline, MP3 books are the new kids on the block. They offer even more flexibility and convenience. Above all formats, MP3 books cut out the fancy packaging, the mail carrier or extra shopping trips. How would an instant download at home suit your busy schedule? Overall, their superior storage, unnoticeable portability and better price make them superior above other formats so far. But what’s with recorded books on tape being superior to books on CD? 1. Most audio books on CD are incapable of holding more than 75 minutes of content. On the other hand, books on tape cram 90 plus minutes of voice-over. Sure, you can have the complete audio book copied out over several CDs. But who wants to haul around a heavyweight case with CDs, right? So, a few tape cassettes will do you for a particular audio book. In contrast, you will need many more CDs for that same audio book. 2. Would you spend extra money for audio books on CD when you can get the same book on tape (or in MP3 format) for less? Here’s a quick example to explain: An unabridged version of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" slims down to nest in 12 audiotapes. It sells for a mere $31.96 on the Barnes & Noble. Ready for the CD numbers now? The same version there, on CDs, costs roughly double the amount - $55.96. And you’ll have 5 more items to handle ‘cause there are 17 sets of CDs. Now, you are thinking … “What a rip off!” Whoa! It’s far from being fleeced. CDs simply cost much more time and money to produce. Because of the extra outlays, the price tag is higher than the one for the tapes. 3. This one’s clear. When you turn off your CD player while listening to an audio book, often, you won't be able to carry on from the exact spot you left off. With a tape, you can continue from the exact track location you left off. Imagine how annoying this can be if you are driving and you turn off your car. You’d need to kick-start the audio book CD and patiently locate the spot where you stopped at. If you have a more advanced CD player that saves your location when you turn off your car, then it’s no problem until … You shut off the car and pull out the CD. Oops. If you do the same with an audiocassette, the spot where you left off is waiting for you when you push the tape back into the player. 4. You may or may not agree with me here. Audio books, after all, are narrations. Many recorded books enthusiasts are smart. They say …”Why would I spend the extra cash to buy CDs because of recording quality level when I can snatch near enough the same quality on audiotapes for much less?” It boils down to the reality that a human voice recording has little to gain in depth and clarity when recorded on a CD as an alternative of a tape cassette. Recorded books are here to stay. You, too, may prefer books on tape over books on CD. The tape benefits clearly outweigh the ones of CDs. Have they surprised you at all? With the entrance of MP3 players and MP3-enabled cellular phones, you can be in good company with audio books MP3 of your choice anywhere you go. The pure ease of use for MP3 books pushes them to the top of modern portable conveniences. They allow for a fun-on-the-go cruising or an educational makeover without trying to find the extra time.

5 HTP, GABA and St. Johns Wort Mood Enhancers What is 5 HTP Mood Enhancer? The Griffonia Extract is rich in 5-HydroxyTryptophan (5-HTP), which comes from an African vegetable, the Griffonia simplicifolia seed, and contains 30% 5–HTP. 5-HTP is an amino acid that is a direct precursor of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter having pain soothing and relaxing effects. 5-HTP is not present in significant amounts in a typical diet. The human body manufactures 5-HTP from L-tryptophan, a natural amino acid found in most dietary proteins. However, eating food that contains L-tryptophan does not significantly increase 5-HTP levels. 5-HTP mood enhancer is the precursor to serotonin. It improves mood, anxiety and is beneficial in weight loss. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid that is the intermediate step between tryptophan and the important brain chemical serotonin. There is a massive amount of evidence that suggests that low serotonin levels are a common consequence of modern living. The lifestyle and dietary practices of many people living in this stress-filled era results in lowered levels of serotonin within the brain. Read more about 5 HTP Mood Enhancer supplements, click here. What is GABA? A non-essential amino acid found mainly in the human brain and eyes. It is considered an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means it regulates brain and nerve cell activity by inhibiting the number of neurons firing in the brain. GABA is referred to as the "brain's natural calming agent". By inhibiting over-stimulation of the brain, GABA may help promote relaxation and ease nervous tension. GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid, discovered in 1950, is the most important and widespread inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Excitation in the brain must be balanced with inhibition. Too much excitation can lead to restlessness, irritability, insomnia, and even seizures. GABA is able to induce relaxation, analgesia, and sleep. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are known to stimulate GABA receptors, and hence induce relaxation. Several neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, sleep disorders, and Parkinson’s disease are affected by this neurotransmitter. What is St Johns Wort Mood Enhancer? Extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (St John's wort) are now successfully competing for status as a standard antidepressant therapy. Because of this, great effort has been devoted to identifying the active antidepressant compounds in the extract. From a phytochemical point of view, St John's wort is one of the best-investigated medicinal plants. Researchers in Europe have studied St John's Wort for decades. They discovered a combination of elements in the plant, foremost of which is "hypericin", react with specific chemicals in the brain to temper emotional discomfort, lift depression, and calm the nerves. Working very much like the common synthetic prescription antidepressants (maprotiline hydrochloride and imipramine), natural extracts from St. John's Wort have shown to relax and soothe the psyche with minimal side effects.

She quickly shot back, “Do you think of Kimberly every once in a while? And do you wonder what it would have been like if the two of you had decided to pursue a relationship?” “Yes, I do. But those thoughts don’t occupy every waking moment. Now and then I’ll close my eyes and see her on that beach. Sometimes the vision is so strong and clear that I can almost sense her in my arms and feel her lips against mine. There was that electric spark from the moment we met. I guess it happens all the time.” I looked at my watch and saw that the time for leaving had arrived. “When we examine others’ choices, we sometimes see a reflection of our own,” she said as she started to get up. “Time to be on our way.” “It’s been a great weekend, Marla,” I replied, and as I stood up, she lifted her arms for me to help her up. I took them and slowly pulled her into my arms. It was almost dark and flashing before me was the picture of Kimberly. I held Marla close and ran my fingers through her hair. She smiled and suddenly, without even meaning to, I gently drew her face to mine and kissed her softly on the lips. Her lips parted and for a lingering moment, we stood there, enveloped in a blinding flash of joy. “There!” she said as she slowly drew away,“that was fantastic. Where did you learn to do that?” I knew that she wasn’t upset by what happened. In fact, I felt she knew it would. “Didn’t really mean to, Marla,” I said, “I just got carried away.” “Don’t be silly, John. That was marvelous. Right time, right place, right feelings. A time and place for everything, you know.” She hesitated a second then added, “You seem somewhat upset. I thought you enjoyed it, too? What’s the matter?” To read the rest of the story visit spiritual-simplicity

Total the amount of money involved in a day’s trading on the US stock and Treasury Bills markets by three, and you’ll still have less than a third of the amount of money which exchanges hands on the currency Forex--foreign exchange--market. The currency Forex market is where the money of one country--US dollars, for instance—is exchanged for that of another, like Japanese yen. But unlike the world’s other economic markets, currency Forex trading is not centralized. There is no Wall Street or Throgmorton Street with an historic exchange building; Currency Forex trading exists only over telephone wires and Internet connections. But exist it does; and it involve a global network of financial institutions, individuals, and banks all working around the clock and unhampered by international borders. Time and physical distance have no meaning in the currency Forex market. At one time currency Forex trading was the domain of banks that held large amounts of money in various currencies so that they could participate in global investment and business opportunities. Individuals could participate in currency Forex trading only by going through their banks. But when exchange rates became unregulated the volume of currency Forex trading began to mushroom. What Is Currency Forex Trading? When either a private corporation or government wishes to either buy or sell products or services in another country, it has to engage in “bartering” its national currency against the currency of the country where it wishes to do business. There are also large numbers of investment firms who trade the currency Forex market as a more speculative part of their portfolios. For more info see e-forextradingsystem/ on e-Forex Trading. And even individuals can participate in trading the currency Forex market, provided they have sufficient risk capital and are willing to do the homework necessary to master the art of currency Forex trading, which can be extremely complicated. Currency Forex Trading At Home Many individuals are drawn to the currency Forex market because they see it as a lucrative business which can be run from the convenience of their homes. All that is required is a personal computer with an Internet connection and a workstation organized with to create a minimum of distractions. They see the currency Forex market as both inflation and deflation proof, and a way to make money regardless of the worldwide economic situation. Investors make or lose money when trading the currency Forex market depending on the fluctuations of the currency exchange rates. All currencies are constantly appreciating or depreciating in value when compared to one another, and it is up to the individual investor to understand how conditions around the globe will increase of decrease currency values before risking his or her money trading those currencies.

Improve Usability of Your Website No matter how brilliant your website design is, if it is hard to reach the content of your site then your site is as useful as an empty shell. Here are some tips to improve the usability of your website to ensure it serves its functions optimally. The first method is to make sure the typography of your content is suitable. If you have large blocks of text, make sure to use CSS to space out the lines accordingly. The longer a single line of text is, the greater the line-height of each line should be. Also, make sure the font size of your text is big enough to read easily. Some sites have 10-pixel-tall text in Verdana font; while that may look neat and tidy, you have to really strain your eyes to read the actual text. Make it easy for visitors to find content that they want on your site. If you have thousands of articles on your site and a certain visitor wants to find one single article from that pile, you have to provide a feasible means to enable visitors to do that without hassle. Be it an SQL-driven database search engine or just a glossary or index of articles that you have, providing such a feature will make sure your visitors can use your site with ease. Ensure that your site loads fast if you do not want to lose visitors. Most internet users will leave a website if it doesn't load completely within 15 seconds, so make sure the crиme de la crиme of your website is delivered to the visitors as soon as possible to retain their attention. Last of all, test each and every link on your site before it goes online. There is nothing more effective in tarnishing your professional image than broken links, so be very careful about that.

Just about anyone who has been using the Internet in the last few years has no doubt come across the term "pay per click" once or twice. Pay per click is actually one of the less expensive, albeit efficient, forms of advertising online. There are several companies that offer pay per click advertising as part of their services. Some of the most recognizable names in the pay per click ads industry include Google, Yahoo and Overture. Pay per click is considered as the cheapest and most affordable form of advertising online. How so? Well, unlike with other forms of online advertising wherein you have to pay just to load your ad on a page and that is regardless whether someone sees it or not. With pay per click ads, you will only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad. In effect, you are paying for results only. In this business, it is all about – clicks. Basically, each click represents the actions that each user makes over the Internet. So with pay per click ads, you are only paying your Pay Per Click Company every time a user clicks on your advertisement. Be careful though that you are not mislead into thinking that a click is a lead, as some pay per click companies tend to. Remember, that it can only be consider as a lead if someone has expressed an interest in your product or service. Since a user simply clicked on your ad, there is no way for you to determine yet whether the user’s interest is of the same level as a lead or just a curious visitor. Nevertheless, it is still a step in the right direction. So does pay per click works? For example, you own an ecommerce site that sells branded fashion bags and you wish to increase your sales. One way of doing that is by trying pay per click advertising. As mentioned before there are several companies that offer pay per click advertising programs, such as Google AdWords. All you need to do to get started is to open an account with AdWords. Then you compile a list of the keywords that you want to target and set it up with your daily budget and you‘re all set. If you plan your campaign correctly, every time a user searches for branded fashion bags your site will show up on the first results page of Google. The success in pay per click is determined by the popularity of the keywords and its position in the list. Prices usually ranged from a few cents up to $5. However, some keywords can be worth so much more. Another thing you need to remember with pay per clicks, the price for a specific keyword always varies. The same goes for the position where the ads are displayed on the page. With pay per clicks you are in control. You are the one who names the maximum amount that you are willing to pay and then Google uses this as well as other information from other advertisers in order to determine the positions of each ad. Most pay per click companies, like Google AdWords have comprehensive online help screens as well as samples that can help you set up your campaigns. Once you have set up you campaigns, you can now work on your strategies to ensure that your ads are indeed effective. As with all type of advertising, the key here is to continually test and improve the performance of your ads. You might try doing some research regarding pay per click ads as well as on the popularity of keywords. It might also be a good idea is to seek help from the experts by reviewing the step by step instructions and coaching videos designed specifically for newbies that are usually available online as well. So, how do you determine whether your pay per click ads are indeed successful? Well, the rule of thumb is that your profits should worth more than what you are spending on your ads. The popularity of pay per click ads is growing consistently as more and more businesses began to realize the long-term benefit that could be gain from pay per click advertising. What is this long-term benefit you ask? Well, pay per click ads are mainly used for sales in the present time frame. However, most advertisers are unaware that pay per click ads can also be use to build an identity for their business, one that their customers will remember for the time to come. What’s great here is that the companies are given equal playing field. Whether they are a small company or a big one, they can have the same level of brand awareness. How so? Well, every day various users usually use search engines in order to look for a certain product or service over the Internet. Therefore, if they see the same site come up in their searches over and over it begins to create that same brand awareness for that product or service. More than 85% of all searches on the Internet are done with the help of search engines and this is one reason why they are considered as the best tools in enhancing a company's identity. Search engines are identity builders. They direct customers who are interested in your product or service right to your doorstep. In the long run, this kind of brand awareness will bring visitors to your site without the need for additional advertising. By using pay per click ads, you are also utilizing the power of search engines and this means you can use the Internet to deliver a targeted customer and build long term brand awareness at the same time. So why not give pay-per-clicks a try? After all, you do not have to pay anything unless someone clicks on your ad. If you’re not satisfied then just consider it as one tactic in your bag of online marketing tricks that you need to test. If things do not go the way you want them to, then you can easily gain online exposure in using other tricks.