Melida

With our busy lives today, do you find its difficult to stay in touch with friends and family who live close by, never mind anyone else who live in different cities or countries?

Times have changed since email was introduced. We are no longer writing letters as much, instead opting for email because it saves time and the stamp for mailing. Email is easy to use and available anytime and virtually anywhere in the world. As we move forward, technology has changed the way we communicate. We live in the digital world. Most of us either have a digital camera, ipod, MP3 player, digital cell phone or PDA. Were also downloading music online, storing photos, networking online and producing videos for viewing via YouTube or MySpace and others similar in offerings. Most of the content we see, hear and read is delivered through these digital devices. With the emerging digital revolution, whether we like it or not, were heading in that direction.

From Reuters, Jan 27,2007 Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman The internet is set to revolutionize television within five years, due to an explosion of online video content and the merging of PCs and TV sets. The rise of high-speed internet and the popularity of video sites like Google Inc.s YouTube have already led to a worldwide decline in the number of hours spent by young people in front of a TV set

What do you need?
Having a web camera, headset is all you need to communicate face to face instantly and anywhere in the world. You can see, hear and chat with others in real time. Talk about instant gratification! Once the equipment is in place, connect via the internet and sign up for your account. The best part is its cost effective and easy to use.

How It Works
Firstly, communicating online requires an internet connection. Dial up connection is fine for text messaging however for video streaming, a high speed connection improves the bandwidth speed to upload the video file. The quality and bandwidth is important because you wont have to worry about freeze framing and broken thread conversations.

There are many messaging software companies providing this type of service. VM Directs helloWorld products provide quality streaming video at a very low price for the consumer without any software downloads. Its an account you sign up and the information is held in their secured server. The best thing is it doesnt take up any space on your own PCs hard drive. Sign up your account with log in, password and youre ready to begin

Messaging software is required to link up with others. Macintosh comes with iChat, while PC users may choose from MSN Messenger or AOL Instant Messenger. Software required may be downloaded from the internet. Make sure the software you select is compatible with your system. For videoconferencing on Macs, youll need iChat and PCs, AIM 5.9. Both require User ID and password.

Once your account is up and running, you can start adding your address book of friends and family. When you want to chat, click on their name or picture and start talking. With video capabilities, you can see each other while youre chatting. On helloWorld, you can have up to 4 people talking at the same time. This is taking family conversations to a whole new level. Imagine, visiting friends and family from anywhere on the planet.

Cameras are becoming very inexpensive to purchase. See webcam considerations.

Text vs Video?
VM Direct has the most comprehensive products available without having to download any software. VM Direct offer video emailing with banners, post pictures or graphics next to your email box as youre speaking. They also offer video blogging, podcasting, live webcasting which is like having your own TV show, social networking, storing of music, photos and more!

Sending text for chatting is also available but why when you can see and hear the person youre talking to? Also, have you ever sent a text message when it was misunderstood? When speaking face to face and seeing the facial expressions can only make communication clearer. No need to use emotion icons. Text messaging will go by the wayside in the next 3-5 years.

Calling VOIP
To speak with someone via the computer, a headset, microphone and web cam is required. Most cameras or computers now have built in microphones. To use services with Skype or MSN, click on call to connect. Voice over internet protocol (VOIP) is becoming more popular versus the traditional method of calling on the telephone. The call is virtually free or for overseas, the rate is nominal. With Skype, you can sign up for a phone number with the same area code (or country code, in many cases) as your friends or family. This allows them to contact you on your computer from any phone at the local rate. A pre-paid phone card is purchased for the time.

Again, consider how much set up time the software youre using to determine the best method for your communication.

Video Chatting or Conferencing
Talking face to face via video is the closest thing to being together without physically being there. Having both parties using a webcam will allow each other to see on their computer screen. The image should be clear. Sitting in a well lit area is important. If sitting in a darker area, the person may seem like their word and mouth match is off key. The key to hearing the other person clearly without the feedback or noise level is to wear a headset. If not, the microphone will pick up on the voice coming through and bouncing it back to the person speaking.

The next time you feel like connecting with friends or family, send them a video email or connect via chatting online. To take it even further, broadcast live your family BBQ, wedding, childs school play or any day to day activities you wish to share with others unable to attend in person. Its like visiting with them in your own living room or where ever you may be.

Virtual coffee anyone?

Webcam Considerations:

1)Software and Web Camera - there are different brands such as Logitech, Creative Labs, Microsoft, Labtech and Phillips to name a few. Be sure the quality of the picture and color is good. A web cam may be used for more than video chatting. Video emailing is becoming more popular to communicate instead of text messaging. Others are using it to monitor their home remotely. Most web cams now have microphones built in the camera. Be sure it does otherwise a separate microphone is necessary. The software will be included in the packaging or the latest download is available via the company website.

2)Image Resolution - for video, most cameras capture thirty VHS quality (320 by 240 pixels) frames per second. This is adequate for small quarter size clips of your screen. For video streaming or full size screen video, look for a model that captures 640 by 480 pixels, or DVD quality frames. The larger the pixels, the clearer the picture.

3)Internet Connection - the type of connection is important for quality as well as the upload speed of the video file. The more pixels are per frame, the more data is sent. High speed internet or higher is best for video streaming. If your connection is slow, it may cause choppy videos as well as freeze framing the picture. Therefore, dial up or slower connections use a web cam with a lower resolution. Wireless internet connection may tend to be a bit slower as well. Hard wired to cable is optimal.

4)Lens a camera with a glass lens tend to have a sharper image. Cameras with a glass lens range anywhere from $50 and up. Plastic lens are available on lower prices cameras so the picture will tend to be fuzzy. In this case, the likelihood of what you pay is what you get.

Joyce Ingram, provides tips for small business owners and entrepreneurs with VM Direct Technology, helloWorld. Joyce works with clients, showing them the super secrets to success on-line! Sign up for her free ezine and receive a 30 day trial CD using helloWorld's cutting edge technology. Contact Joyce Ingram at http://www.joyceingram.com

The Global Positions System (GPS) satellites are free for anyone to use. However, to use it, a GPS receiver is required which is not free. In recent years these GPS receivers have become very small and embedded in mobile phones. This has given rise to many location based services. Though there are many LBS applications that are very useful, there are a few applications that are misused.

One of the location-based services as mentioned at http://www.m-indya.com is Child Tracking. In a study carried out by New Media Technologies students (2005) in Australia, they have detailed how this service can be misused. They state that,

In 1998 the US implemented the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act 1998 which limits the ways Web site operators and others may collect and disseminate information pertaining to customers under the age of 13. So far, Australia has not followed suit and does not seem to have a law, which directly protects children from technology such as the Internet. With the introduction of global positioning systems for tracking purposes, the issue of child protection needs to be addressed before this technology gets into the wrong hands and used for malicious purposes.

Some of the other consequences that may occur due to these services are the problem of parent-child relationship and also marital relationship. In their study they point out parents should negotiate with their teenagers an agreeable form of knowing where they are whether it be GPS on their phone or just a phone call to let them know where they are. This will ensure that the relationship will not be damaged through a form of mistrust.

And even between spouses each needs a bit of their own space and privacy, which will be jeopardised by the use of this service and may cause problems in marital relationships.

In a ZDNet news by Lisa Bowman (1999) speaks of some scary scenarios where this technology can be misused such as, Insurance companies could refuse to insure you, or charge you higher rates, unless you install a tracking system on your car. They could then tell if you drive over 55 or spend time in shady neighbourhoods where your car has a greater chance of being stolen. Or FBI and local police officials could have access to your whereabouts by simply logging onto a database attached to a cell phone, tollbooth or GPS tracker.

In yet another case a rental car company was sued by the customer for tracking him down using GPS. In a case that could help set the bar for the amount of privacy drivers of rental cars can expect, a Connecticut man is suing a local rental company, Acme Rent-a-Car, after it used GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to track him and then fined him $450 for speeding three times. (Robert Lemos, 2001).

A Wireless week (2003) article lists how even location based games can be misused. In Sweden, thousands of wireless game subscribers stalk each other using cell phones and location technology. In Japan, you can use a GPS-enabled cell phone to arrange a date, an application sometimes used by teenage prostitutes. In many countries around the world, a GPS-based game called "geocaching" is growing in popularity. Ever since Princess Dianas death the perils of stalking has come to the forefront in the media. The availability of such services will only help the stalkers.

As if these are not enough there are other privacy issues related to location based services. If you need further reference visit the website http://www.m-indya.com

William Alexander is a wireless solutions consultant based in Singapore. He has more than ten years of experience in architecting solutions based on many Wireless Technologies including GPS, 3G, GPRS, WAP, SMS, Bluetooth and GSM.

"Win $4000 dollars an hour with my roulette strategies" , just another typical headline, when you type roulette strategies or roulette systems in to a search engine. I have been a gambler all my life and I am amazed at the presence of roulette strategies. I am even more amazed by the people who fall for these headlines and buy these roulette strategies, some times buying one roulette system after another.

Roulette is a mathematically perfect game. No matter what bet you place, the wheel cannot be beat in the long term. The more spins a wheel makes the more money that casino will make. No roulette strategy can ever change the odds or turn them in your favour.

Roulette strategies have probably been around as long as the game itself. The oldest of all the table games, roulette is easy to play and a big win at roulette is a great feeling.

Betting on a single number on a roulette wheel will pay you 35-1. There are 37 or 38 numbers on a wheel (depending on where you play - american roulette wheels generally have zero and double zero). So the odds of hitting your number are 36 or 37-1. The casino always have an edge.

Mouth watering sales copy of these next great roulette strategies are the hook that catch the gambling fish. Gamblers are addicts, the very nature of the word entices you to keep going back. that is why you lose. The people selling these gambling strategies know you will lose. If you knew of a roulette system that made you $4000 an hour why would you right a book and sell it as a roulette strategy for a few bucks when the time would be better spent at the wheel.

My life as a gambler has bought me in contact with all sorts of scams. Gamblers very rarely walk away so are always easy targets. My writing career has taken me down the road of exposing these scams as it is important to protect gamblers and gambling at these times of government legislation.

Roulette strategies are just the tip of the ice berg but you must start somewhere. If you have are thinking of buying a roulette strategy you may want to check out this review first.

James Gregor is a professional gambler and author for numerous gambling magazines and gambling websites. He has amassed personal gambling winnings in excess of $2,000,000. Read his FREE REPORT and learn more about roulette, how to be a winning gambler and scam roulette systems . For your Free Roulette Report visit...

http://www.roulettereviewed.com

The lack of air and shortness of breath an asthma sufferer feels must be one of the worst experiences someone can experiment as oxygen is our vital lifeline that keeps the body functioning and in good shape. The lack of this vital gas affects the brain in just a few minutes and a continuos lack of oxygen can cause irreversible damage in the brain after just five minutes. An asthma attack can be compared to living on the edge, with just the minimum oxygen needed to survive.

Unfortunately many asthma sufferers are children, as they are more sensible to environment hazards than adults are and they often develop asthma easily. One of these environmental hazards that can influence the development of asthma attacks by children is the presence of tobacco smoke.

Recently there have been studies made indicating that genetic defects can increase a childs risk of developing asthma from second-hand smoke. The defects discovered in these studies involve an enzyme called glutathione S transferase (GST), this is a molecule which is known to help to detoxify the effects of passive smoking on the air passages of people. And is this GST deficiency that may add to the adverse health effects caused by passive and active smoking.

In a study made to more than 3,000 German children it was found that those with this defect whose parents were smokers were five times more likely to suffer from asthma and wheezing and had an even higher risk of shortness of breath than youngsters whose parents didnt smoke. It has also been found that another fault with GST can be linked with reduced lung function in children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. Which is one more reason for pregnant women not to smoke while they are carrying their unborn babies. Clear evidence exists that smoking during pregnancy affects the growth of the fetus and the maturation of the fetal lung, resulting in impairment of lung function in the newborn.

Learn more about Asthma and its effective treatment. Many people has stopped suffering asthma attacks by using this information:

http://www.askingplanet.com/Asthma-Cure

It was either spend my anniversary without my husband, or accompany him to Port Allegheny for one of his weekend farming trips. This year, to commemorate our seventeenth year of married life, we left the kids at home with my mother in-law and planned to stay in the small house on the property which had been vacant since the fall. My husband had already taken up a mattress and box-spring on his last trip to make it seem more inviting. He explained I could take my laptop along and write, and he could finish plowing. Farming the following weekend would be out of the question because of Mothers Day, and his leaving would break our tradition of meeting his mom and sisters family for a lunch midway between our state and theirs. Three upset mothers would be inevitably worse than dealing with one upset wife, and it wasnt like this was one of those big, round-numbered anniversaries that came with grand expectations.

I didnt have to go. He didnt have to stay. That much we made clear to each other from the get go. But the more I thought about how many times hed sat through my plays, or proofed one of my four hundred page manuscripts in a twenty-four hour period, I thought I should at least be as good a sport. After all, he worked all week in New York City and generally took this six hour drive solo on Friday nights after work, occasionally even after my sons baseball games, arriving at the farm sometime between one and two a.m. I always knew he was a saint, which made me feel even worse doing my rain-dance once I had agreed to go. Often I agreed to challenges feeling certain God would surely get me out of them.

To my inexplicable shock, the weather forecast was good. I consoled myself knowing my husband didnt want to drive out on Friday night. Instead, we were leaving Friday morning so we could (thank you again, God) have an extra full day.

By six a.m. we each had a coffee and muffin. Cows came into view around seven-thirty. By nine a.m., we had a second coffee, and a Schmuffin Sandwich from Sheets, getting two more muffins to go. I had already eaten more than I usually eat before 3 p.m, more carbs than I eat in an entire week. This was roughing it for sure.

The ride was remarkably pleasant. It was amazing how relaxing driving seemed once we were out of our major metropolitan area and away from our teenage kids. We had the longest uninterrupted conversation since our honeymoon, discussing each of our three kids in no particular order, spouting philosophies that didnt work, comparing their upbringing to our own, and deciding we would do well to provide for ourselves until death, just to be safe.

I packed well, light on the clothes, heavy on the other supplies. I had my work covered with a laptop, printer, my manuscript, folding table, chairs, a notebook, pens, pencils, a coffee pot, and coffee. I had essentials like sheets, towels, a hand towel, shower curtain and hooks, paper towels, toilet cleaner, all purpose cleaner, trash bags, phone charger, and a novel, in case I hit a dry spot.

Finally, as the two lane highway merged into one, and the gravel gave way to dirt roads, the farm appeared. I was excited to see the red barn again, the trees, the house, horses, and pole barn, and some neighboring houses. I was undoubtedly out of my element here, and the more humans I was aware of, the more secure I felt.

The house hadnt been lived in for a while, so I expected a little bit of a musty odor. The dead bugs were another story. My husband noted the expression on my face, and quickly ran off to get a stick vacuum out of a shed. I was busily running the kitchen sink water when I realized I wasnt alone. A large wasp was crawling slowly up the door to the basement. I admit my first thought was to run, but I reminded myself I was after all in the wild, and the insect wasnt really flying. I cursed myself for not packing hair spray. I was honestly trying to get into the spirit of roughing it and couldnt imagine why I would need to keep my hair in one position. I forgot that hair spray was more important to me than a first aid kit, because one shot would render a bugs wings too stiff to fly, and I could then place an upside-down glass upon it, until my husband came in from the field and removed the stiffened body. Guess what, no glasses eitheronly a paper cup which would amplify the wicked buzz, and drive me out of my skin.

I watched from the kitchen focused only on that one spot, watching the bug walk up and down the trim as if patrolling. I was never a jumper and screamer. I preferred to feign paralysis, play dead if necessary, and tip toe very slowly toward the nearest exit. I tried to talk myself through my panic. The predator was walking slowly. Probably, it was wounded. Possibly, it came in the front door. My husband always said they followed you insidenot that I ever believed him. One sighting in my home and I phoned the Chem-tech guy, regardless of how random the event seemed, or how asphyxiating the solution.

I looked at my car thinking I could clearly make a run for it if I needed to, except, there was a cat sitting in front of my door. A big, dark, brown, hairy, fat, biker of a cat, and if there was one thing I felt less comfortable with than bees, it was cats, which in my nightmares become vampires and sucked my blood, not my breath. So I wondered if my husband was making the vacuum from scratch, because it seemed like forever since Id last seen him, and just then I noticed the congregation of bees in the sink, which only made me look at the cellar doorway again, where I could confirm, yes, they were in addition to the original one that so obviously did not follow us in the door. Now I was thinking, cat versus bees, and there was no contest, because it was a numbers game and thus far, I didnt possess the ability to out-fly them.

Outside, I dashed past the cat, not making eye contact. I treated it like the threats Id encountered in the Port Authority. I waited politely while my husband finished his conversation with a neighbor, trying very hard not to let the word hotel spring forth from my lips. He caught my look of distress and excused himself, apologizing for his delay. We walked close together to the shed, and on the way I casually asked for bug spray, explaining that we had an infestation. I knew he wanted to roll his eyes about as much as I wanted to say hotel, so we were even. Then I told him about the cat, and he told me to just to walk past it. I agreed, but when I looked for it using my peripheral vision, I couldnt find it. It was now inside our car, walking on our yet unpacked belongings, probably looking to pick off a twenty out of my husbands wallet. So this next grand announcement from me did produce the eye roll and the word hotel nearly simultaneously. Wed always had good rhythm.

My husband chased the cat out of the car. I stood still, confused and wondering whether I should go into the house knowing hes going to war with the bees, or stay outside with the cat who was ticked because I ratted him out. This time I chose to go inside, because I had a competent defender holding two cans of poison. Plus, I needed to point out the bee that was still undoubtedly crawling up and down the doorway. He sprayed the sink easily enough, sprayed around the doorway, and then he asked if I noticed where they might be coming from. By now, I was talking non-stop in one of those Houston-we-have-a-problem tones, yes, there were a number on the window, some on the floor, hotel, hotel, hotel, kitchen counterbut God bless America, none in the bathroom where I was sure I would hide at the first sign of retaliation. As he sprayed and vacuumed the dead bodies, I pointed to the nest outside the right hand corner of the window, close to where Id coincidentally placed my folding table and computer. He nodded, picked up the twenty-foot spray, and headed for the door, while I reminded him in my loudest Minnie Mouse voice of the cans advisory never to spray during the day! But of course, he was going to do exactly that--what country man wouldnt?

I couldnt watch. I was a mixture of panic, horror, and adrenaline. If they attacked him, where was the nearest hospital? Did 911 work everywhere? Did my cell have a signal? If he was attacked, do I spray him with the other can which at least was approved for indoor use with the doors and windows wide open? Where was the neighbor now? Oh my God, where was the cat? I had been in the country less than twenty minutes, and I was already having chest pains.

My husband returned looking victorious. When I realized he wasnt being tracked by an air brigade, I was ecstatic. I could hear my pinched voice telling him the infestation of Ladybugs I just found certainly meant good luck. I was actually flicking them off my workspace, making wishes. Before leaving me to begin his field work, he plugged in an XM portable satellite radio, so could I listen to the soothing voice of Jonathan Schwartz who I recalled from WNEW back when I was young and safe in New Jersey. It immediately calmed me down. I popped the top on my computer, and barely flinched as the ladybugs smashed themselves against the toxic window. Hours passed as I busily edited. I rose to make a pot of coffee, and as I looked at the cat rolling on his back at my doorstep, I comforted myself knowing at least my chances of encountering field mice indoors today were pretty slim.

L. A. Rentschler, author of the newly released novel Mother (amazon.com). Author of Jitters which was produced as a Lifetime Original Movie. Playwright, best known for Deathbed. IWWG. Dramatist Guild of America. http://www.larentschler.com Write to her: linda@larentschler.com

Be smart, play smart, and learn how to play craps the right way!

You think, "Tip the dealers? What? Losing money to the casino isn't enough, now you tell me I have to give money to the dealers?" Yes, you should tip dealers, especially when they're helpful. In the casino business, a "toke" is a tip. Dealers call tippers "George" or "live," and non-tippers "stiffs."

Dealers typically work for minimum wage (or close to it) plus tips. I compare them to restaurant servers because they provide a service and they rely on tips for their livelihood. The service that dealers provide includes properly handling your bets and winnings, answering questions about the game, being courteous and friendly, and just making your craps play more enjoyable.

Craps dealers typically share tips instead of keeping what they get. This makes your job of tipping a bit trickier. Ideally, you want to maximize tips for good dealers and minimize tips for bad ones. In terms of craps dealers, "good" versus "bad" isn't necessarily a measure of skill. If a dealer is friendly, respectful, attentive, and funny, I won't reproach him for being slow (he may be slow because, for example, he's new on the job). I'd much rather be in a slow game with fun dealers than a fast game with dealers who are mannequins when they aren't handling chips.

If craps dealers share tips, how do ensure yours goes to the good ones? You can't. If I'm disappointed in a dealer's service, I ensure his colleagues know I'm disappointed. When the bad one takes a break and a good one replaces him, I politely tell the good one something like, "I don't know if Fred is having a bad day or what, but he's been downright mean to the newbie on the hook." The dealer knows I've been tipping well and he usually gets the hint that Fred ought to lighten up if they want me to continue tipping. Because dealers' income depends on player tips, the good dealer won't hesitate to insist that the lousy one get his act together. The good one knows, if I stop tipping, maybe others will, too.

If you're losing during a particular session, it's not the dealers' fault, so don't blame them. It's not easy to tip while losing, but you shouldn't base your tipping on your gambling success (or failure). When losing, if you can't keep the same tipping pace as when you're winning, simply slow down, but don't stop it altogether. Always remember that you give tips for good service, not for your success at the table.

For whatever reason, most craps players don't tip at all. I don't know if it's because of stinginess or just plain ignorance. Usually, you're the only one tipping. Although not good for the dealers, that's great for you. It means you get all the dealers' attention and reap all the rewards. Rewards? Absolutely, positively, undeniably yes! Learning how and when to tip, as well as how you'll benefit from tipping are part of learning the secret to craps.

Now you know! Remember, learn how to play craps the right way.

Bill Enslen is a reliability engineer who routinely works with statistics. Having played and analyzed craps for more than 25 years, he has compiled his winning secrets in a new Ebook, The Secret to Craps: The Right Way to Play. He doesn't offer false hope or prey on your blazing desire to beat the house. Instead, he explains the reality of the game and how to optimize your fun without losing your shirt. Without fully understanding the game and the truth behind the numbers, you're vulnerable to believing bizarre claims that you can consistently beat the casino. The plain truth is that you can't and won't. Don't be a sucker. Be smart, play smart, and learn how to play craps the right way. For more information, and to read a sample chapter about the silliness of dice control, visit his site at Learn How to Play Craps the Right Way.

All foods contain some carbohydrates, which is the term which describes molecules made up of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. The human body is designed to break carbohydrates down into sugars quickly and efficiently, and to use the sugars to fuel itself. No diet should be without a least a small amount of carbohydrates.

You may have heard claims of a miracle low carb diet which restricted its users to as much as they wanted of meats, poultry, fish and seafood, eggs, cheese, and fats, including butter and cream. But even best know of these diets allowed its users a small salad during the first two weeks of the plan, and let them gradually increase their carb intake gradually after that.

The truth is that a diet consisting of only proteins and fats will be extremely short on fiber and nutrients, and throw your system so far out of balance that you are at risk for serious cardiovascular and digestive problems. If you want to give a low carb diet a try, the best way to go about it is to stick with low carb foods which still have a full complement of nutrients.

Lose The Processed Foods
Taking that approach will, of course, eliminate 99% of all processed foods from you low carbohydrate foods selections. Carbohydrates are classified either as simple, or complex carbs. Simple carbs contain sucrose, or table sugar; lactose, or milk sugar, or fructose, fruit sugar. You can get wholesome low carb foods with lactose or fructose, but foods with sucrose seldom have low carb counts, and if they are processed to boot, have almost no nutritional value. You should avoid sucrose laden food even if you are not trying to limit yourself to low carb foods.

Most diet gurus, however, know that deprivation can lead to a downfall, and allow a very small portion of a sucrose based dessert from time to time. Such small desserts are hardly more that a salute to days gone by, but they can help train dieters to enjoy dessert more intensely when it does come their way.

Limits On Low Carb Dieters
Low carb foods like most meats, cheeses, and poultry are not necessarily low calorie foods, and their calorie content can be increased significantly depending on how they are prepared. Even low carb dieters should limit their intake of the protein and fat rich foods which are the basis for their daily menus.

Those low carb foods should be supplemented with large amounts of fresh low carb vegetables and fruits, which will be low-fat and low calorie. The low carb fruits and vegetables will break up the monotony of a protein heavy diet, and supply filling fiber and other essential nutrients.

Sticking to a low carb diet means learning to distinguish between high and low carb foods, and learning to balance the proportions of each so that the diet provides a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and fibers, without triggering the cravings which can lead to a carbohydrate binge.

Its entirely possible that the fixation on losing weight at all costs and limiting food intake to low carb foods or low calorie foods could be addressed simply by learning to recognize when our bodies are physically hungry and waiting to eat until then. But until people understand that eating, while it is certainly pleasurable, is about getting nourished and not about enjoyment, the chances of that approach producing a healthy diet are small indeed.

You can also find more info on south beach diet phase three and south beach diet success stories. Southbeachdietclub.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about South beachdiet club.

As English language teaching professionals were always on the lookout for new ideas and activities to expand the repertoire of dynamics in our EFL class rooms. One area which could always use more attention is the use of drama. Its all around us and our learners in the media of television, radio, cinema, stories in the printed media and the internet. Everyone loves a good story. So why not then incorporate more drama into our class rooms? Here are some interesting ways you could initiate Drama into an EFL class or new drama group.

Role Play activities from the learner text books

If youre using a course book such as Interchange, American Channel, Headway, Cutting Edge, First Class, etc. you can have the learners start out by "acting out" dialogues from their text books. Additional scenes to cover what happened before and after the dialogue can be created and added for even more dimension.

Act Out video scenes

If there is a video from the same course book series learners can act these out too. In this case also, additional before and after scenes can be created and added to expand and deepen the role play context. Be sure to use realia and props in the scene dramatizations to help the learners get "into character". And by all means, be creative. If the dramas are recorded (video and/or audio you can easily demonstrate improvement in technique, speech, language use, fluency, etc. to the students later on.

Use Scenes From Movies

Use dramatic scenes from movies and films as a basis for drama / dialogue practice. Famous, popular or memorable movie scenes work best. Have learners take the roles of characters in the movie scene and do the same lines as the original actors imitating accent, gestures, discourse, etc. Students can also put their own personal spin or interpretation on the scene and dialogue for added interest. Encourage the use of the local variety of English for added impact. Here are some famous line starting scene suggestions:

Dirty Harry - "Go ahead, make my day."

The Terminator: "I'll be back."

The Godfather, Don Corleone: "Were going to make him an offer he can't refuse."

You get the idea. Just expand to use the full scenes surrounding these famous lines. For maximum punch, have the learners get into costume as well as character. When learners at the university where I teach did a play in which the Devil bargained with characters for their soul, the Devil made his pitch dressed and painted in red. He even sported horns and a tail complete with a barb at the end. It sure worked for me.

You could get even more mileage from these activities and materials, if you videotape or audio-tape record and use them for listening comprehension, error-correction exercises, pronunciation, language use or grammar practice activities. Other drama activities are discussed in the article How to Dramatize Your Foreign Language Teaching and Learning. Try some of these ideas out for yourself. Please do feel free to let me know about your progress and experiences. Good luck.

Prof Larry M. Lynch is a certified English language teacher / trainer, bi-lingual copywriter, expert author and photographer specializing in business, travel, food and education-related writing in South America. His work has appeared in Transitions Abroad, South American Explorer, Escape From America, Mexico News and Brazil magazines. He teaches at a university in Cali, Colombia. To read more or get additional original, exclusive language education based articles and content for your newsletter, blog or website contact him at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com.

Business interruption insurance refers to that insurance which covers the risk of losses a business may have to suffer because of a temporary closure of the business due to some circumstances like fire or other insured peril. Business owners who bought business interruption insurance get the compensation for lost profits and recurring expenses.

Explore All the Options and Make a Wise Decision:

Insurance providers offer several options for business interruption insurance. For example, a policy reimburses you the extra expenses if you need to perform business operations from a new place because of some disaster at the original place. Choosing this kind of option is an indication of buyers' foresightedness and good judgment.

How to Buy Business Interruption Insurance?

The unique character of business interruption insurance is that it alone is not sold as separate insurance policy. If you want to purchase this insurance, ask the insurance providers to add on to an already existent property insurance policy. A typical example is business owner's policy on which Business interruption insurance can be added. Before finalizing, make sure by asking to the agent if there is any new offer by the insurance company.

Make Sure That You Get Enough Time:

One important point to keep in mind when buying Business interruption insurance is that you should get enough time to restart your business as usual. A major disaster can damage to such an extent that rebuilding business can take more time than you had estimated. Normal waiting period is approximately 2 days. Waiting period is the time for which the insurance providers do not start making payments.

Factors Affecting Price:

Factors that affect the price of business interruption insurance include the kind of business, location of the business and the degree of ease of shifting to a temporary location. For example, a real estate agency may get a cheaper deal than a restaurant because the risk of fire associated with it less than restaurant.

If you have bought the business interruption insurance cover and a disaster occurs, then the insurance provider will reimburse you actual amount of money that you would have earned had the business activities not got disturbed. This calculation is done on the base of your financial records. You also get compensation for the expenses like electricity because it is a continuous expense whether business is running or not.

Don't Think That You Will Never Need It?

Finally, you should not avoid buying business interruption insurance just by giving an excuse that these situations are hypothetical. September 11 event has shown that business interruptions may happen. The place from where you are earning your butter and bread can be completely damaged.

Alexander Gordon is a writer for http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com - The Small Business Consulting Community. Sign-up for the free success steps newsletter and get our booklet valued at $24.95 for free as a special bonus. The newsletter provides daily strategies on starting and significantly growing a business.

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An Expanded Approval mortgage will generally be several percent lower than a typical sub-prime mortgage. This can result in a lower payment and a huge savings over the life of a loan. Fixed or adjustable rate terms are available. There is also a feature that can result in an interest rate reduction if payments are on time for a specified period. (May not be available in some cases). This may eliminate the need to do a refinance with additional closing fees at a later date.

If you already have a mortgage with a high interest rate the Expanded Approval loan could be a good choice for a refinance. Depending on how long you expect to own your home it can be advisable to refinance if you can save percent or more on the rate.

Loan decisions for Expanded Approval are made be Desktop Underwriter (DU) and Desktop Originator (DO). These are basically software programs that evaluate mortgage applications. The software gives a recommendation of EA-I, EA-II, EA-III, or Refer W Caution IV. EA-I, II, and III generally qualify with I being the best rate or terms and II and III are a little higher.

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