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While working on a student practical task in one of the Universities of Asia, in Department of Psychology, I had an opportunity to visit a boarding school for children with chronic psychic illnesses or underdevelopment. That was an unforgettable experience. The boarding school was an old ugly building on outskirts of a big city, behind a ravine, and very difficult to find without a guide. Our group of students, walked there for about 40 minutes, and eventually we found the high fence and gray building behind it.

We were asked to put on white doctor smocks, and after that we entered the building. First thing that shocked us, was very unpleasant smell inside the school, we met the director and she told us that unfortunately the amount of ill children had increased and it had been very difficult to find any donations or financial support for school. She asked us to bring old clothes if we could, because school could not support everybody and most parents just do not want to know and take care about their children. Some parents visit children ones or twice a year, and these children are considered lucky.

Then we were led to the girls part of the boarding school. There were girls of different ages, and as young specialists in the field of psychology we were surprised that there were children with different levels of underdevelopment in one single group. Some of them had only some chronic illnesses without mental disorders, but they were treated like mentally ill patients! The day schedule was the same for them everyday – they were sitting all in one room, all together about 35-40 children, or they had small walks around the building. I must admit that we had tears in our eyes, because it resembled a prison for little criminals.

These girls tried to hug us and we understood that they are in great need of love and attention. They were telling us that their parents would take them home soon. Some of older girls already had menstrual periods and they didnt know what to do. Workers salary in this school is very low and there is no enough personal and nurses to help every child.

In the boys section of the school we saw very similar sad picture. About 35-40 children were sitting in one room with walls and chairs only. Some of the children had become degraded in those conditions.
Having had finished our practice most of us confessed, that during several days after the boarding school visit, they were seeing those children in their dreams at night while sleeping. That was a real shock for us. Most of us could not eat and sleep. Some of the students brought clothes and toys to that school.

This boarding school and other similar places are a very sad unknown side of the otherwise beautiful country and friendly people. Here in the United States, I have a huge wish and hope to find donations and support for the boarding school I visited 2 years ago.

Some say that the more you are exposed to something, the more likely you are to pick it up. The same has been anecdotally proven to be true for mental health conditions and outright insanity. The longer you are thrust into an environment where mental health is compromised, the higher the chances are that you’ll end up emulating their behavior. Some hardcore psychologists can sometimes deliberately attempt to appear insane just to get an inside look at how things are on the other side, but those people have questionable mental health anyway. It is interesting that there are very few studies being conducted to see whether or not prolonged exposure to insanity can lead a perfectly sane person to go down that same road.

Burt Reynolds revealed his vulnerable side when he realized he was being steered into marriage. One day while browsing the furniture department with his would-be bride, he suddenly collapsed onto a bed and doubled into the protective fetal form. Moments later, he was sucking oxygen through a brown paper bag, his eyes wide and darting.

His panic attack was interpreted in a humorous way for the sake of the movie, but real panic and anxiety attack survivors know there’s nothing funny about it.

Impending divorce triggered my first major panic episode. It stirred almost daily, waiting for any event that would bring it to the surface in a full blown attack. Sure enough such an event did arise, but not from any outside force.
While I contemplated taking a shower one day, anxiety swept over me, along with an unexplained dread that something terrible was going to happen.

Suddenly, I was afraid to eat, afraid to go out, afraid to stay home alone.
As I drove down the highway, uprooted trees and black garbage bags along the route took on indistinguishable grotesque shapes. Passing through overpasses was particularly alarming as I dreaded losing control and smashing into the abutment. Elevators and stairwells triggered a new symptom: claustrophobia.

Particularly alarming was the day I was afraid I’d lose control and toss myself off the 6th floor balcony. That’s when I knew it was time to get help.
Two years of psychiatric treatment eventually brought an end to those terrifying events. Until 10 years later when I decided to switch careers and return to college. I was 37.

Then, it happened again. I was in the huge school cafeteria walking along the self serve line. It began as I became intensely aware of the drone of voices echoing throughout the quadrant. Quite unexpectedly, anxiety swept over me. I thought I’d lose my mind as my heart and thoughts raced and that old familiar dread took hold.

Struggling with the attack, I made it to a seat and tried to eat my lunch but it soon became apparent it wasn’t possible. The initial fear was verging on panic. I rushed from the cafeteria to the nursing station at the top of the stairs, but at that point, I felt it might pass.

I continued aimlessly down the busy hallway. All I could think of was getting away from the noise, the bustling students and the insecure openness. Moments later, sitting in the peaceful, dimly lit student lounge, I curled up in an armchair and fell asleep. When I awoke, the attack had passed.

Years ago, my doctor had explained that my attacks were a result of a chemical imbalance. He also pointed out that a lack of confidence and a sense of impending loss of control were related to my anxiety.

During my therapy, I persistently plied him with questions and bombarded him with every sensation I had over the previous week. He was a man of few words, always turning my questions back on me to interpret. Through his few choice words, worries of things going wrong in my life were soon mere flashes, rather than mounting thoughts to stoke my simmering anxiety.

His advice echoed when I emerged from that major panic attack at the college 10 years later. I was in a strange environment undertaking a new career. The attack clearly was brought on by my fear of failing, along with numerous other fears.

It all made sense. I was moving into a new frontier with new faces, new challenges. In all likelihood, I would emerge a new person, but as happened with my divorce, it was a time when I feared I would lose control of my body, my mind and my life.

What saved me was something my psychiatrist said years before when he responded quite simply to one of my ‘what if’ questions. His reply has become my ‘mantra’, if you will.

In an effort to make me focus directly on the issue and think rationally about the outcome, he merely asked, ‘So what?’ Who could have known that those two small words would become my rock? The moment a terrifying thought entered my head, all I had to do was ask, “So what? What’s the worst that could happen?” and it was never as bad as I’d imagined. And today, it always brings me back to earth. There is help for you, too.

Recently, I came across a product that I wish I had when my panic attacks were raging. This e-book provides an equally simple and highly effective solution for people who have panic attacks. In fact, the methods prescribed are exactly the ones I developed to avert my own panic.

Understanding how the body reacts is the first step to knowing that panic and anxiety attacks can be cured without medication. Joe Barry has taught thousands of people to be panic free. To learn more about his successful formula go to http://www.book-titles.ca/panic.htm.
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If you have ever needed to print a large number of files, you would probably know how tedious and time consuming this process can be.

If the number of files to print is not very high and the files are of the same type, the task might not be too bad. In this case the best way to print all the files can be: open all files in an application which can print this file type, then go quickly through every file one-by-one and send every file to printer.

The printing process is usually organized in such way that you do not need to wait for printer to finish each document(file), instead you can spool many files into a queue. While printer processes a document, which is a relatively slow process, all upcoming files are stored in computer and printer memory. This memory queue for upcoming files allows users quickly submit their documents for printing and continue doing other tasks.

The problem arises when the number and type of file for printing is getting high. If there are different types of files to be printed, user must open each file type group in a corresponding application and submit each file for printing individually. The problem is becoming even worse when the number of opened files and applications grows, computer memory has its limits and it cannot open too many files and applications.

User can still deal with different types of files if their number is probably not more than 20-30. How would a user deal with 100, 1000, or 10,000 files? This can be a big problem for users at print shops, medical transcription industry, or for anybody who needs to print large number of files, for example PDF, Excel, Word, Image, TIFF, and others.

There are software solutions exist to overcome the problem of printing multiple files of different types. Some of the popular titles include Print Helper by DCI, Batch & Print Pro by Traction Software, and Batch Print & Batch Convert by SilentPrint. They offer free trial versions for download.

(Extended spoof, presented In 10 installments of 4 pages each. This is the first installment; previous installments will also be on this site , in case you miss one.)

Excellent, Dan! See you today for your first class, Dr. Richard Coburn told the universitys star football player, who had just called to sign up for the doctors controversial course in abstinence, which was based on his hot new book, Just Say No To Sex. Since Dan Fox, like many a star athlete, was much beloved by the girls, his call had surprised even the ebulliently confident doctor.

Just as Dr. Coburn hung up, his lovely and voluptuous daughter, who was also his prize student, returned from class, pausing just long enough to wave good-bye to the latest throng of male admirers who hooted from a passing convertible.

Hi, bye! she called, and closed the door, a bit exhausted by another day of fending off the romantic wiles of ever-hopeful young men. Hi, Daddy! she said, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Hello there, Mel, he replied. The usual crop of overheated admirers?

I’m sorry, she told him, but I just cant seem to make them give up. Then she crossed the traditionally furnished living room and handed him a bag from the bookstore. Heres a present, Daddy.

What is it?

A copy of your new book.

But, child, Ive got copies of it by the boxful, all ready for the rush of students I anticipate will be knocking down the door.

But this ones different, she said. Look inside.

He opened the cover, and she pointed. See, I wrote you a note.

Why, thank you, Melanie, he said, and read aloud, To Daddy. Thanks to you and your wonderful method, I will never procreate or contract a sexually transmitted disease. Love, Mel.”

He became tearful. Ah, my dear, sweet, Melanie I’m touched. I know your entire life will shine forth like a beacon of hope to all who know the transcendent value of my abstinence-building program. That reminds me. I must autograph a copy, too. I want to give it to Dr. Ernst. She’ll be here any minute.

Dr. Ernst? Whats she visiting you for? Shes always ridiculing your work?

Oh, shes just a bit piqued that the answer to the population time-bomb and the AIDS epidemic has come, not from her much touted medical school, but from the sociology department.

I dont think theres any excuse to talk the way she does about your method.

Oh, dont trouble yourself about it. One finally grows used to such competitive behavior. The human race still knows no cure for professional jealousy. But, forgive me I can’t help gloating, he continued, holding his book high. Given the way Just Say No To Sex has already started to fly off the bookstore shelves, what harm can anything she says do? Who knows? Perhaps shes even come to offer her congratulations.

Whatever, Melanie sighed. Im sure more and more people will realize how important your work is, no matter what she says. Then theyll be just like me and wont have a clue why people do the thing they seem to do and do and do.

I haven’t got a clue why they do and do it, either, Melanie. Oh, guess what happened while you were in class?

What, Daddy?

Readers Digest called.

Really?

Yes! Theyre considering doing an excerpt!

Thats awesome! Congratulations!

Thank you, dear. It seems that, with the popular media starting to pay attention to my achievement, I may finally transcend the confines of academic chitchat. I expect that soon well see major reviews of the book and, as a result, I’ll be busy on the lecture circuit and making appearances on a variety of talk shows. And, once my method is widely known, in what locale wont you find a Coburn Club for Sexual Abstinence?

It’s so great! I cant wait!

Frankly, neither can I. As you well know, I have put the wise, conservative position of just saying no to sex on a solid and irresistible foundation. At last, the supremely ethical remedy is at hand for rampant overpopulation and the resultant ecological depredation teenage pregnancy, the heartbreak of abortion, and the scourge of AIDS and other STDs all thanks to my brilliant new method. And what a magnificent turning point it will be for the highly over-sexed human race. At last, mankind and womankind will have the willpower required to work their way back from the brink of self-inflicted annihilation.

Oh, Daddy, I’m so proud of you! Melanie exclaimed and bent forward to hug him with propriety.

Thank you, Mel, he replied, and orated, So I ask you, with my approach, can sex survive? Oh, I doubt it very, very much, I truly do.

Just then the doorbell rang. Ah, he said, that must be Dr. Ernst now. I’ll get the door for you, Melanie volunteered.

Thank you, sweetheart. She crossed to the living room, as he struck a grand pose with his book underarm.

Hi, Dr. Ernst, she said, making a special effort to be cordial. My dad’s expecting you.

Thank you, Melanie, the doctor replied, and stepped in.

Good afternoon, Dr. Ernst, Dr. Coburn said.

Hello, Richard, she responded, rather coldly.

Would you like a cup of tea or anything? Melanie asked her.

No, thank you. I had lunch in the university cafeteria. And, as you know, a meal there does more than satisfy one’s appetite. It destroys it.

How about you, Daddy?

Thank you, Mel. Nothing right now.

Excuse me, then. I want to do some abstinence mental training.

Good girl. Today, I suggest you concentrate on verbal disassociation.

Yes, Daddy, she agreed, and walked off, reminding herself, Remember, when anybody mentions sex, quickly think of Texaco or Mexico.

Ah, shes quite a girl, Doctor Coburn enthused. I’m extraordinarily proud of her. She has not, like many a young person, fled from her distinguished fathers imposing presence to seek her own ego distinction at a comfortable distance. Quite the contrary. She has wholeheartedly embraced my method. May I offer you a seat?

Thank you.

They sat on the two leather chairs that graced the living room.

I have a present for you, he said. An autographed copy of my new book.

Thank you, she said.

He handed it to her, and she put it on her lap.

Arent you going to read it?

I already have, she said.

I mean, the inscription.

Oh, she said, and opened the cover. She noted what he had written. Very nice of you, Richard. Then she closed the book and placed it on the coffee table.

Well, what do you think of it? he asked tentatively.

Well, I must say it has aroused

Aroused, Priscilla? Careful with your choice of words, he advised her, wagging his finger somewhat playfully. Don’t want to key off, as my book cautions, any untoward associations.

Oh, Richard, dont be so persnickety. If we were to exclude every word in the English language that can be construed to have a sexual undercurrent, we would hardly be able to talk.

A patent exaggeration! he replied. Verbal rectitude is at the very foundation of my method. And quite understandably when you realize what even the smallest intimation can lead to.

Of course, Richard. Please, excuse my linguistic ineptitude. Let me say, instead, that your book has precipitated very serious concern at the medical school.

Concern, Prissy? I should think in would evoke, at long last, a chorus of undiluted praise!

It has, Im afraid, evoked just the opposite: undiluted consternation.

Professional jealousy, pure and simple, he replied. There can be no other excuse for such a reaction, when the very survival of the human race may well depend on my method.

Oh, please, Richard. Overwrought people with one agenda or another have been invoking Armageddon for millennia, unusually in an attempt to foist some specious belief on the more gullible members of society. Today’s challenge for blind and blighted humanity is to imagine, not the end, but the beginning of the human race, well-adjusted to life and the requirements of its responsible stewardship.

And the opinion of the medical faculty is that my method offers no hope toward such a laudable goal?

Richard, of course, there is some merit in advising abstinence. But to present it as a cure-all offers, we are certain, a very false and ultimately pernicious hope.

Oh, Priscilla, I cant bear it. Out of the illimitable depth of my compassion for humanity and its self-defeating foibles, I have wrought this majestic fountain of immediately applicable wisdom and you and your colleagues dare to label it as pernicious? Pernicious when I expect that I shall even find myself being mentioned for the Nobel Prize?

I should think, rather, for the dumbbell prize!

How heartless of you to hurl such a flat-footed insult my way, he informed her, and, raising his voice, continued, There are certain minimum standards of civilized intercourse that I demand we adhere to if this conversation is to continue.

Richard, did I just hear you mention the word intercourse? she half kidded him. Dont want to key off any inadvertent associations.

My faux pas, he admitted, but you’ve upset me terribly. You know I admire you and even feel a certain collegial affection for you. So I find your derogations especially upsetting.

As I find your overly confident pontification. It fries my nerves. Like most sensitive and educated people, I do not usually even require a direct statement. A hint generally suffices to convey a meaning.

Im sorry if I became too vocal but to cast aspersions on an intellectual breakthrough so vital

” At the medical school we have taken to calling it Coburn’s Folly.

Folly?

Not invariably. At other times, I’ve heard it simply referred to as idiotic.

How incomprehensibly wrongheaded! Do you suppose I created my method without establishing it on a firm empirical basis? The entire construct grows out of my own remorseful experiences as a young idealist in the citys Department of Social Services. Oh, Prissy, how hopeless I became as I witnessed the toll undisciplined copulation takes on the downtrodden excessive and often unwanted pregnancies and the undisciplined spread of STDs. Why, I even had the personal tragedy of seeing a colleague contract the AIDS virus from a tainted needle and waste away unto death. But now, after years of tumultuous creative gestation, I have synthesized the remedy this wretched and over-populous world is crying out for. And I shall not be deterred by the ill-considered quips of you and your colleagues.

Richard, I understand the depth of your care I truly do and I respect your commendable intentions. There is, nevertheless, good cause for the concern your work has elicited. We at the medical school are worried that the sudden attention being paid to your approach may provide a springboard for conservatives to succeed in securing cutbacks in funding for the sort of programs in which we believe true hope lies, such as genuine sex education and medical research.

But my Just Say No To Sex program offers

” a welter of nothing more than ineffectual persiflage!

No, no! On the contrary, it offers something you and your colleagues simply refuse to acknowledge the entirely natural and indubitably ethical panacea. The persistently neglected cure for humanitys most daunting problems that is built right into every human persona a splendidly cost-effective remedy requiring only expert reinforcement. I speak of willpower, Dr. Ernst. Willpower, strengthened by my inarguable axioms of sexual abstinence, so that willpower alone may function as an impenetrable bulwark against willy-nilly copulation and its lamentable consequences. I might add that both I and my own daughter are living proof of the efficacy of my method.

Richard, have I not known you since childhood? Dont you recall your overheated youth? Are you even certain, as an adult, of your own capacity for consistent self-denial?

I admit I may have strayed in my salad days. But at the time there was no readily available remedy. Now, my resistance is unassailable.

Tell me, how long has it been now since your wife fled with the gardener?

Three years, during which

You have never once felt the desire

Desire is irrelevant. What matters is that my axioms have prevailed absolutely.

I suppose you have made yourself into quite the cold potato, she replied, and then reflected, I’m afraid I can’t say the years have left me as tepid.

You, Priscilla, still subject to the idiotic perturbations of desire?

Let me rather say that, having reached the age of thirty-nine, with only one brief and inexplicably stupid marriage oh, how could I have married icy, indifferent Alex I’ve found myself feeling deeply saddened when I return to the solitude of my apartment, resentful even, at what I have missed. Then she snapped herself out of her reverie, and concluded, But never mind. You wouldnt understand.

Of course, I understand. But I simply have no place for such susceptibilities. Nor does my infinitely admirable Gibraltar of unassailability, Melanie.

The poor dear. How youve crippled her!

Crippled her? On the contrary, Ive enabled her! Enabled her to be in control of the usual youthful volcano of hormonal activity and its potentially explosive consequences.

Youve trained her totally away from the normal development of her

most counterproductive urges. Melanie is a beacon that shines forth with the resplendent benefits of my method a method destined to illuminate the world with the attainability and rewards of sexual abstinence.

Youve had the poor child under you canny thumb since she was an infant. I cant wait until you try your method on some lifelong libertines.

Would you like to see the list of students who’ve signed up for my crash course?”

What, since the publication of your book?

Yes, Im virtually undergoing a spring rush and in balmy August. Just wait until the fall semester begins.

Are you sure they havent signed up just for the fun of it?

Many Americans are searching for a meaningful way to honor the men and women who defend the nation’s freedoms.

Fortunately, a Charlotte, NC- based company, Products for Good has created a unique way to do just that.

It has taken Iraqi coins, called “fils” which were decommissioned by Saddam Hussein, because they did not have his picture on them, and placed them in patriotic shadowboxes surrounded by symbols of American freedom.

This special tribute was created for two reasons: 1) to honor all of the nation’s men and women in uniform who made these symbols of freedom possible; and 2) to raise moneys for the families of wounded and fallen heroes in the current global war on terror. So far, Products for Good has raised over $86,000 for these causes and hopes eventually to raise more than $20 million.

“The funds from the sales of the shadowboxes are nothing short of a lifeline for some of the receiving families,” said Lee Greenwood Singer/Songwriter of God Bless the USA. “Whether the funds go towards medical bills, upgrades to a home to make it wheelchair accessible or for grieving families coping with loss, these patriotic collectors’ items help our nation’s heroes and their families to have a better life.”

The coins, relics of a tyrannical regime, are set against an inspiring backdrop, including photographs of the American flag and American soldiers, along with a written definition of freedom.

Founders of the group wanted a patriotic means to say thank you to America’s heroes. They say they have already received hundreds of letters from appreciative veterans, dozens of whom were moved to tears.

This is not the first time the fils have been used to benefit the victims of Saddam’s brutality. When British troops initially captured the coins in the spring of 2003, they decided to consign them to raise money for the Basra Orphanage.

They were then shipped to a metals dealer in England. There they came to the attention of the co-founders of Products for Good, who envisioned how they would benefit American troops and their families.

Ironman Langkawi-Malaysia is soon to take place in the idealic setting of Kuah town. The race is to go ahead as scheduled on February 26, 2006 and there are still openings for those of you looking for a race in the very near future.

The langkawi-Malaysia Ironman first took place in the year 2000 and has since become the favorite of many athletes from around the world.

The swim is a 3.8 km swim in the tranquil waters of the Kuah town Jetty.

The bike is a 2 and one half loop course that takes place on the coastal roads of Langkawi island. The course itself is hilly and undulating

The marathon consists of two 21.1 km. loops on a course that is generally flat but with gradual climbs at the 4-10 and 24-30 km. marks.

From all reports Ironman Langkawi-Malaysia is well organized and supported with great enthusiasm by the local population.

One thing to be aware of and possibly train for is the heat which can be anywhere from 28-35 degrees C. Also, it is a very humid heat and reminds me quite a lot of what one might experience in the Hawaii Ironman in Kona.

Pros will be competing for prize money and age groupers will have the opportunity to qualify for the world championships in Hawaii as there will be spots available for age group qualifiers.

Accomodation prices look very reasonable. Several of the major hotels in Langkawi are just minutes from the race start. However, expect to pay quite a lot for the return flight from North America with gateways from Los Angeles and New York. There is no ferry necessary from the mainland to Langkawi island as they now have their own international airport.

This seems to be a terrific holiday destination for those looking for a more “exotic” Ironman venue and comes highly recommended by those who have competed there in the past. Athletes from 17 countries are expected for the 2006 edition of this Ironnam.

For those looking for a last minute race, it appears that entries will be available until mid-February. If not this year, then possibly it might be an ideal race to consider for 2007. Take the whole family and make a holiday of this beautiful Ironman destination. What an opportunity to visit the “other” side of the world.

Any information you might need can be found on their website@LangkawiIronman.com

Summer is here, schools are letting out. Time for some family fun and for many Americans, that means camping. Mothers everywhere cringe at all the dirt and grime and germs associated with outdoor living, even if just for one night. I’m one of those mothers and I’ll share with you how I’ve combated the icks and yucks my three sons seem to gravitate to.

Go clean. My sons are required to shower or bathe within 12 hours of departure. This may seem like common sense, but I was surprised at how many kiddos hit the campground filthy. If your kids are clean when you go, they’ll be less dirty when they come back.

Cook clean. Bar-be-que sauce is a one of the top violators of cleanliness. Leave sauces off food, use dry rubs on meat and season veggies with some salt mixed with cumin, black pepper and dry oregano. Make skewered food, prepared ahead of time. The fewer plates and utensils you need, the fewer ways to get dirty.

Wash and wash again. If you bring gallons upon gallons of water with you, wash hands often. If you don’t bring much more than drinking water, pack along some Wet Ones. They are similar to baby wipes but also contain an anti-bacterial solution, to kill those pesky germs.

Zip it up. Tents should always be kept closed to keep out bugs and dirt. Most tents are equipped with screens that can be left closed while you air out the tent by unzipping the door or window. Keeping dirt out will remind your family what clean feels like when you and your kids climb into sleeping bags at night.

Air it out. Remove all foods and clothing from campers and tents. Then, for at least 1 hour before packing up camp, let your camper and/or tent air out by opening all windows and doors (keep those screens closed, though).

Bag it. Make sure you bring plenty of trash bags with you. In addition to waste, you can pack all of those stinky clothes and dishes in them before you head home. Deliver the bags to their destination (trash can, laundry room, kitchen) as soon as you get home. Otherwise, you’ll make your vehicle into a huge Petri dish.

Shower straight away. Everyone should take turns showering and changing into clean clothes as soon as you get home. In addition to cleaning off the surface dirt, the camping germs will go down the drain and take funky smells with them.

The Detroit Pistons have everything on their side right now. Time, wins, great players and some say they may be one of the best NBA team to ever grace the professional courts of the NBA. What do you think?

Look at Detroits last season record of 54 wins to 28 losses making them first in the Central Division. Also, take into account the fact that two years ago, they took the NBA title by maintaining outstanding play throughout the season and with exceptional coaching. Will it be the same for the 2005 – 2006 season? What has changed and what has remained the same?

First of all, Detroits former Coach Larry Brown has moved to New York. Brown is often credited with developing the fabulous defense that gave the Pistons that winning edge. Brown is also credited with leaving players and fans angry in the wake of his decision to move to New York.

Now, Coach Flip Saunders, in his eleventh season of coaching with 411 wins and 328 losses under his belt, will try to heat up the courts as Detroits new head coach. Fans can expect to see a combination of unmatched defense as well as a diligent offense providing the scores needed to excel this season. Saunders transferred from the Minnesota Timberwolves after ten very successful seasons of coaching. Will he be able to fully prepare and implement the proper aggressive offense that has been missing in order to secure a berth in the Finals in his first year with Detroit? It is anticipated that he will, because of he did lead Minnesota into the playoffs for eight of the ten years that he was coaching at Minnesota. Offense has always been considered Coach Saunders strongest point. This should give Detroit the edge it needs to stay on top.

As for Detroits team members, G. Maurice Evans was added this year. After playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2001, Evans played in Europe until returning to play with Sacramento and then moving on to Detroit. He is known for his superior shooting from the outside, this should give Detroit the edge it needed in the past. If he is able to mesh with the remaining players this should give the Pistons another dimension that it has been lacking in the past. Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Carlos Arroyo, Carlos Delfino, Darko Milicic, Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter and Tayshaun Prince remain from last year’s line up. There were no key players lost this season.

Of course, Detroit is up against some stiff competition. It is never an easy job to be the best of the best in the NBA, but it looks like Detroit has accomplished this goal. Fans consider Saunders a good coach, but many of them wonder if he will be able to bring another championship home to the Motor City. If Saunders is able to get the players to play to their potential and adapt to his coaching philosophy, Detroit will be a team to be reckoned with this season. If the current players are able to use the teachings of Brown and the new techniques of Saunders this might be one of the best Detroit teams ever.

Detroit is very motivated and highly energized to finish out this season on top. They want to show Brown and the rest of the league that they can win without him and that they are here to stay. If they are able to play with the same intensity they have over the last couple of years winning shouldnt be a problem.

It does help that the starting five Pistons will be returning. Beginning with Chauncey Billups, who would have earned a second straight MVP in the Finals had his team made it through the series, he’ll be joined by Richard Hamilton, an established veteran. Center Ben Wallace at 6 foot 9 inches will make the defense glow again. Antonio McDyess will play a prime backup role again. He is known for his play during the playoffs. He will get help from veteran newcomer Dale Davis. Roster moves were minimal this season but those that were made should be key to the overall success for the team this season.

The only things that could possibly hold this team back would be key player injuries or team members failing to adjust to Saunders style of play. You can rest assured that the team wants to take the title this year badly, so it is rather doubtful that this team will not give it 100%. Yet, injuries are unpredictable and this could be the only way that this team is stopped. Barring injuries this team might walk away with the NBA title in the 2005-06 season.

Detroit is the team to watch this year. You should see some exciting play, different styles and a newly developed offense to complement the already strong defense. This team has all the components of a winner including: good coaching, great defense, strong offense, and great teamwork. The Pistons are easily one of the best team on the court today, and it is very possible they are one of the best teams the NBA has ever seen!

Every model you see on TV has it: the 6 perfect ripples on the stomach and all the girls just melt at the sight. Now youve decided you want to be that guy that just drives the women wild. Youre going to do whatever it takes to get a six pack!

Conventional knowledge leads us to believe that the way to get a six pack is to sit-ups, and lots of them. The truth, however, is that you may develop very strong upper abs, but they may never show. The abs are muscles that hide behind a layer of fat. In order to see them, you must first work on removing the fat that hides these muscles. The proper way to do this is with cardio exercise like jogging, running, riding a bike or using the stair-stepper!

Try jogging at a constant rate for 15 minutes a day for a week. Increase the time by 5 minutes every week. If you think you can go longer or harder, do it. Be sure to avoid eating fattening foods, drinking soda and consuming too much sugar as it will only mask your hard work.

After youre in a cardio routine, you can begin with the sit-ups or crunches. Get in a routine of doing sit-ups as soon as you wake up and right before you go to bed. Start with, for example, 50 each morning and night, and increase that number every week as well. If your muscles are sore, thats great; youre doing your job. The abs and the calf muscles are the only muscles in the body that can be worked day in and day out without worry of damage and need for rest.

Stick with the routine and you will see results in 1 or 2 months. Coupled with a strict diet, you can build your six-pack just in time for summer! If you wish to build more muscle and have a professional workout plan tailored to your needs, visit your local gym and enlist the services of a personal trainer. A membership to a gym is also a great start to losing weight and gaining muscle.

Its only a couple of weeks into the New Year and all those goals and resolutions you wanted for yourself are already slipping away. One of two things is happening: Either you simply never got started, or youre running out of steam.

Not getting started is common. Even with all the great enthusiasm and excitement we had about the year, the diversion of the holidays and then just trying to get back into our normal routines didnt allow us to incorporate our new goals into our old schedules. The goals we initially set now seem too difficult to know where to start. Simply put, we are busy and distracted by the overall tasks of our lives. Dont worry. There is always tomorrow or next year.

The other common element to resolution failure is burn out. It is comically predictable, but have you ever noticed the level of activity the first week of January. Go to any gym and you will see it packed. In fact, January 1st and 2nd are two of the busiest days in gym attendance. Weight loss groups, dating sites, financial planners, career advisors, and support groups all report high activity the first week of January.

Everyone wants to get in shape, lose weight, meet someone, get a better job, save money, quit smoking, quit drinking and more. So we start out the year no holds barred and go for it! Unfortunately the results we want dont come as fast as our initial enthusiasm and when we dont see quick changes we lose our motivation. As the weeks go by the crowds disappear and soon everything is back to normal activity levels as we all slip back into our routines. Then we stay there until another failed attempt next January. The result is that 2006 will be yet another year you failed to achieve the changes you wanted.

The New Year motivates us to start, but we need to develop a habit of successful behavior. As Jim Ryan put it, Motivation is what gets us started. Habit is what keeps us going.

You can develop success habits and remedy lack of or diminished motivation with a life coach technique called ABC.

A = Action. Start taking action today. We dont achieve change through thinking about it, but by doing something.

B = Bite size. Reduce all your new activities to small daily actions. It truly is amazing how doing something small doesnt overwhelm us and produces amazing results. When we take on too much we either dont start or cant keep it up. Work out 10 minutes a day; send out one resume a day, save a little money every day and the results will materialize over time.

C = Consistency. Through the accumulation of small actions, we get big results. Do your bite size action activities daily!

We all want big changes, but literally think about the change in your pocket. We have all taken our daily change and placed it in a container of some sort. Before long, that pile of nickels and dimes had grown to several dollars. If you want to produce real changes, concentrate on the ABC Success Habits. Get into action today with small bite size activities consistently and before you know it, youll be going to the bank at the end of 2006 with a sizable deposit of results.

Copyright 2006 Dr Joe Rubino

Many people live their entire lives without getting to the source of what originally caused their feelings of low self-esteem. Because they are unaware of how they can heal their painful past and reframe the circumstances that originally resulted in interpretations of being unworthy, unlovable, or deficient in some way, most people instead often resort to finding ways to distract themselves from the unpleasant sensations that accompany feeling inferior. Instead of effectively silencing the nagging voice of past hurts, they seek out distractions to help them temporarily forget about their lacking confidence and deficient self-image. Five of the more common ways to relieve the pain of low self-esteem and poor self-confidence involve excessive attention to work, food, sports, sex, or even shopping. Like all addictions, they help to distract from but do not resolve the underlying problem and so one is still plagued by feelings that will continually require greater efforts from which to hide.

Workaholism

In our culture, work is usually an acceptable means of diverting our attention. Through hard work, we busy ourselves to the extent that we lack the free time needed to brood over our sorrows. Those who work excessively are often too tired to worry about a lacking social life or the pursuit of fun pastimes that they often likewise believe they do not deserve to experience. Work provides rewards such as money, recognition, and a feeling of accomplishment, all of which help to compensate for feelings of failure in other areas of life.

Its not that a commitment to work is bad. In fact, it is quite admirable as just one component to a well-balanced life. However, when pursued to excess, it doesnt allow for the honoring of other equally important elements such as a commitment to family, friends, fun, recreation, personal and spiritual development, etc. An obsession with work can take its toll on health, relationships, and missed opportunities for other equally valuable pursuits.

Moreover, when work is undertaken from the perspective that one is not good enough in one or more aspects of their being, it cant be fully enjoyed. Feelings of low self confidence and little self-esteem diminish ones energy by consuming attention that could have been spent more productively in the joyful pursuit of ones goals, rather than as a distraction from persistent negative self-talk.

Over-Eating

Like working excessively, an obsession with food is often a common escape from feelings of unworthiness. Eating can serve both as a distraction and a way to make ourselves feel better temporarily. We often seek from food the emotional connection that we are lacking in close, intimate relationships. Frequently, food is linked in our minds to happy times with family or friends. Perhaps we experienced food rewards from our parents or authority figures for scholastic or sports accomplishments. For many, food has become synonymous with love. And so in times of stress, fear, and loneliness, many turn to food to fill a void that only love and self-fulfillment can satisfy.

Habitual overeating also results in being out of shape, overweight, and generally unattractive in the paradigm of Western modern-day culture. The more one eats as a substitute for missing self-love and intimacy with others, the more obese he or she is likely to become. This in turn reinforces the feeling that the heavier the person becomes, the less she fits in and the lower her self-esteem and self-confidence plummets. The greater the feelings of loneliness and not fitting in that result, the more she is likely to seek comfort in food (especially the high carbohydrate, high fat, high comfort variety). A vicious cycle is thus set in motion ensuring more weight gain and lower self-esteem.

Sports and Other Physical Outlets

Some people run to overcome feelings of loneliness, boredom, depression or lacking self-worth. Some pump iron, play golf, or work out at the gym while others find their own unique way to divert their focus through exercise, hobbies, or sports. Many would argue that such a diversion is a healthy way to funnel energy into an activity that contributes to good physical health. However, like any obsession, when taken to the extreme for the purpose of diverting attention from issues in need of resolution, it can become an unhealthy means of avoiding areas in serious need of attention.

Sex

An obsession with sex outside of a healthy, loving relationship can likewise become a means of distraction to take the focus away from self-esteem and self-confidence issues. Whether its Internet porn sites, an obsession with strip clubs, or the need for frequent casual sexual encounters, all serve as an effort to numb the pain of isolation. Ironically, the greater the obsession to connect with others through meaningless sexual experiences, the greater ones sense of isolation will likely become.

Shopping

Another common obsession to compensate for a low self-image is shopping. While some find temporary comfort in making themselves feel more attractive by purchasing the latest, most stylish clothes, shoes, accessories, or even cars and other expensive toys if their budget allows (and many times even if it does not!), compulsive shoppers find that the comfort they seek in material items is typically short lived. They often fool themselves into thinking that next new dress, sport coat, outfit or cologne purchase will make the difference they seek in having them feel better about themselves. Sadly, it never does. However, all too often such excessive spending sprees send the shopaholic deeper into debt. This further reinforces or worsens the failure interpretation they already possessed and continues to diminish their self-esteem and confidence level.

There are countless other addictions that people resort to in an effort to find meaning in life when their own self-worth is lacking. Whether it is compulsive gambling, studying, puttering in the yard, decorating the house, or whatever other diversion, those who lack inner peace will not soon find it externally with a focus that seeks to cover up feelings of being unworthy or unlovable.

Thankfully, there IS a way to reclaim ones self-worth and restore self-esteem to a high level providing internal comfort and fulfillment. For a complete roadmap to reclaiming self-esteem, visit TheSelfEsteemBook.com and discover all details of this strong authentic formula that will assist you in boosting your self-esteem and self-confidence.

My top ten baseball movies consist of five movies on the list. That sounds pretty weird. There have been many movies with a baseball theme that I have liked, but there are only five I have loved. I will get to them soon.

Some of the ones I have liked are Bull Durham with Kevin Costner, a light hearted tale about a minor league season in North Carolina and the characters on and around that team. Bang The Drum Slowly with Robert DeNiro, Cobb with Tommy Lee Jones, Fear Strikes Out, Eight Men Out, A League of Their Own, Major League, and Rookie of the Year.
One thing that my favorites have in common is that I have been moved to tears. For similar and different reasons, I have been inspired or moved by some of the following scenes.

Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones.
When I think about this movie I always think how corny it was. Come on Cut down a corn field to create a baseball field. I have seen this movie approximately 15 times. It is the only movie I have seen in my adult life twice in the theaters. The scene that is so moving for me is when Kevin Costner asks his father to play catch. He is so awkward in his asking. He is so delighted when his father says sure. I melt whenever I see this scene.

The Rookie with Dennis Quaid
How does a man in his late 30s leave his family and start playing baseball in the minor leagues. He is fulfilling a dream. There are a couple of scenes in the movie that lead to a most uplifting moment. While playing in the minor leagues in the Tampa Bay organization Dennis Quaid (Playing pitcher Jim Morris) thinks he may have made a mistake by leaving his family to pursue a dumb dream. He is in anguish. He is not making any money pitching in the minors while his family is suffering at home with very little money coming into the house. Finally, after vacillating between playing baseball and going back to his wife to make a constant living he sees one of his teammates and asks him. Do you know what we are going to do today? His teammate looks puzzled. Dennis responds to his own question. We are going to play baseball today. With a big grin on his face Dennis captures the joy of playing baseball. I loved it.

The Natural with Robert Redford
The music in this flick was superb. Good versus evil. Robert Redford comes out of the hospital to play in the most important game of the year. As corny as this movie was I loved the scene at the end of the movie when he hits the ball into the lights and a shower of sparkling flashes illuminate the screen. I can still hear the music from that part of the movie, as he circles the bases. I get chills whenever I see this part of the film. This is also one of my wife’s favorites as well film.

Pride of The Yankees with Gary Cooper and Teresa Wright
One of my all time favorite players, Lou Gehrig, is played on the screen so superbly by Gary Cooper. The scene that gets to me every time is when Lou goes to see the doctor at the hospital because he feels a nagging injury not healing. As his wife nervously waits in the waiting room, Lou is examined and then given the fatal news of his illness. He is greeted by his wife as he leaves the examination room. She then asks him how it went. They embrace and he tells her its a little bump or bruise.
She seems to know without him telling her that this is serious. Oh my. I melt every time.

This following epic motion picture reminds me of a baseball season. Long, lasting and lovable.

Baseball by Ken Burns
Can you believe 18 hours of baseball footage? Still pictures from the 19th century. Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Lou Gehrig, Buck O’Neil. Highlights on film. Dead ball era. Modern day. Pitchers, hitters. This movie had it all. The pictures were spectacular. There were so many stories that were told. I was amazed by Ken Burns’ commitment to get this movie done. That is what moved me the most.

So there you have it. I cannot thank the people ENOUGH that made these movies. I have been touched writing about their commitment, passion, and excellence.

Free to pass this article on to anyone you think would enjoy reading it.

Learning how to setup a linux email server is valuable. The more you can do for yourself for your business web presence and email abilities the more money you will save. There will be no need to call in a tech when the email goes down, when you need it installed, or when you need to do simple maintenance like adding addresses or setting up. When you know how to setup a linux email server you are simply giving yourself more power over your own company. If that is something you think you would like to do, then there are a few resources you should consider for educating yourself.

The first place to look for ways to learn how to setup a linux email server is, of course, online. You may be able, through a search engine, to find some free information on the process. However, you may have better look with low-cost ebooks and internet classes that will give you a better quality of education and better guidance. It is not just about learning how to setup a linux email server, but about learning Linux in general so that once it is setup you can fix small problems and make adjustments as needed. However, not everyone enjoys working through the internet on things like this, so it is good that there are other options.

The second option for learning how to setup a linux email server is to visit your local book store. With the popularity of linux, it is not difficult to find instruction books that will walk you through the process of setup as well as troubleshooting. In your local book store, go to the how to section or perhaps a technology section. You will undoubtedly find a number of quality books that will teach you how to setup a linux email server. Find the one that is best for you and take it home. The advantage to a book is that you can have it with you the entire time, at your fingertips, so that you will have a quicker reference.

Thirdly, you can try taking a class at the local tech school or community college. There are many linux programs out there where you can certainly learn how to setup a linux email server effectively. The cost is higher with a class, but you will likely get a more thorough understanding of the program as well as good support as you take on more and more with linux. Additionally, a class will actually end with you having some sort of certification in linux, which means you will not only know how to setup a linux email server, but also how maintain it for yourself and others.

Learning how to setup a linux email server can be of great value to you in your company. You will save money from having others do it, and will likely make yourself more valuable to clients, no matter what your true business is. In order to learn how, you should consider three main sources: online information that you can find for free or pay for, hard copies of books at your local library or bookstore, and classes you can take locally. No matter what you choose, you will be happier once you know how to setup your linux email server.

In part 1 of: Get the most out of your camera, we looked at how to use the aperture and the creative uses of depth-of-field. In this part well look at how to use the shutter button on your camera and how both the shutter and the aperture control exposure.

The shutter is a mechanical device that controls the length of time that light is allowed to act on the film.
Most standard cameras allow us to use a range between 16 second and 1/1000 second. You might be wondering, why anyone would use a long shutter time of 16 seconds: Ive used this and even longer shutter times when taken lowlight landscape images. I would always advise the use of a tripod with these long exposures time to avoid blur images.

Using a shutter speed of 1/125 second should safely avoid overall blur due to camera movement if you hold the camera by hand. Any longer shutter time should require a tripod.

Each time you open the shutter by one, we double the light, when we close down the light by one we half the light. Open the shutter at 1 second allows twice the light as that of a second.

The shutter can also be used creatively when taking landscape images or sport images. If you want to add motion to your image a slow shutter speed can give an image an extra bit of sway. No more so than taking images of streams. Using a slow shutter speed when photographing water will cause the water to blur, resulting with the image expressing motion.

By contrast, a fast shutter speed of 1/250 would be used in shooting wildlife or where the subject that youre shooting needs to be still and sharp. Most wildlife photographers would use a fast shutter speed.

By using the shutter and aperture together we control exposure. Both allow light to enter the camera: the shutter by time and the aperture by the size of the hole in the lens.

For example: youre shooting a landscape scene; you get an exposure reading at f/11 at second. You know that by using f/11 that the entire image wont be sharp. You want to shoot at f/22, which is four times less light than f/11. You need to quadruple the light through time; each time you open the shutter by one you double the light, so open it by two stops and your exposure time will be 1 second. Your final exposure should read f/22 at 1 second.

At the best of times, calculating the correct exposure can be a difficult task, but with a few simple tips our images can produce eye-catching colours that we see all around us every day.

When I was actively training at the Karate Dojo, every workout included time spent repeating individual techniques over and over and over and . . . well you get the idea. We would stand in a circle and count off by tens and twenties, punches, chops and kicks, as the Sensei and senior students came around correcting our form. During one of these sessions, a senior student explained the concept of Muscle Memory and why it is important to repeat the movement so many times.

Muscle Memory, or, if you like technical terms, Neuromuscular Facilitation, occurs when you have repeated an action enough times to have etched the pattern into your brain. The action becomes automatic, requiring no conscious input on your part.

Neuromuscular Facilitation or Muscle Memory allows you to walk, get dressed, tie your shoes and start the car without thinking.

Many, if not most of the activities in our daily lives are run by Muscle Memory. This is usually a good thing. But what if the pattern is holding us back or contributing to poor health. For instance, what about a muscle memory that causes you to slouch or clench your jaw when youre tense?

If you golf, you know that a Muscle Memory that causes you to slice your drives is extremely difficult to shift. It involves coaching, constant awareness, and lots of repetition to break that original, inefficient pattern and create a new, more beneficial pattern.

The same is true with our thoughts. How many habitual thought patterns do you have that hold you back? I call these patterns Mental Muscle Memories or MMMs. Here are just a few common Mental Muscle Memories that hold people back from success and contentment:

Negative thoughts such as: I cant do it, Im not smart enough, I dont have the money, Im not attractive.

Inefficient patterns including: Procrastination, consistent tardiness, working under stress, disorganization, lack of focus.

Faulty beliefs like: You cant make a living doing what you love. You have to do it alone. In order to win, someone has to lose.

All of these thoughts, patterns and beliefs are learned, usually at a very young age, and become MMMs that FEEL true. In other words, they seem so integral to who you are that you cannot imagine yourself without them.

So how do you shift these patterns? Here are a few techniques that can help shift MMMs:

Acknowledgement and Acceptance: Obviously you have to acknowledge the pattern to begin shifting it. But, while it may seem counterintuitive, you also need to accept the negative pattern in order to begin the shift. Acceptance brings patience and compassion for yourself during the transformation process. Its sort of like a 12-step program, Hi my name is Edward and Im a web surfaholic. Once you acknowledge it you open the door for consciousness and choice to enter into the pattern.

Coaching/Mentoring: This can involve a relationship with a professional coach, a mentor, a trusted friend (co-coaching) or your own inner wisdom (self-coaching). When I was in college, a friend and I noticed that we both used like far too often in our speech, as in, Like, what do you mean, you dont, like, want to skip class. We decided to coach each other. Whenever we noticed the other person using like in its non-dictionary usage, we would punch their shoulder (lightly!). It worked. We both stopped using like within a month. One caveat here: make sure that anyone you enlist to help coach you is truly interested in helping you shift out of the old pattern. Sometimes the people who love us the most dont want to see us change.

Logic: For you left-brained folks out there, sometimes, pure old reasoning works wonders. Lets say you have a belief that you cant make a living doing what you love. Ask yourself, is it true? Can you think of anyone who DOES make a living doing what they love? I bet you can. Once you find examples that disprove the belief embedded in your old Mental Muscle Memory, you can begin looking to those examples each time you feel that old believe come up.

Affirmations: I know, affirmations got a bad rap thanks to Stuart Smalley and Saturday Night Live. (If youre not of the SNL generation, then nevermind!) But affirmations work! They begin to shift the neural programming by replacing the negative belief or pattern with a positive belief or pattern or your choice. Heres an example you could use to shift that old work/love MMM:

In an easy and graceful manner
In a healthy and joyous way
In its own perfect time
And in the highest good of all
I am now Being my True Self and Doing What I Love in order to create all the money required to live comfortably and securely.

You can use any or all of these techniques, or make up your own. Whatever method you choose to shift your old patterns and beliefs, repetition is the key. If youre a tennis player and want to improve your serve, what do you do? You have someone coach you on the most effective technique and then you go out and practice your serve. Over and over and over. If you spent one-hour a day for 30-days practicing your serve do you think you would see some improvement? You bet.

Its the same with Mental Muscle Memory. Practice really does make perfect. So get out there and start practicing!

Its Spring Cleaning Time! The weather is getting warmer and it is time to dig through those closets, garages and storage areas and turn your unused items into cash! Traditionally, this is the busiest time of the year for classified advertising. Motor vehicles and recreational vehicles are especially big sellers during the warm weather. If you are considering selling, now is the time. Hundreds of potential buyers are out there reading the Sunday morning newspaper every week, so take advantage of the opportunity to sell your items. Below you will find some great tips to help you get the ball rolling.

1.PREPARE: Determine the items around your home that you no longer need. Once you have collected these items, confirm that they are in working order and in good selling condition. If items have been in storage for a long period of time, you may need to clean them up to make them more attractive to potential buyers.

2.RESEARCH: After all items are collected, do your research. Determine the value of your items and decide whether it would be worth you time and effort to place a classified ad. Some things will do well on their own while others may do better in a garage sale setting. If certain items do not have enough value to justify placing an advertisement and you are not interested in hosting a garage sale, donate these items to a local charity for a nice tax deduction.

3.WHERE TO ADVERTISE: Once you have the items sorted out, you need to decide the best method of advertising. Most items will do best advertised in your daily newspaper since you will be able to reach a local audience. Online classifieds generally do not receive as many local buyers, but most are free so you may want to place an ad there as well just to cover all the bases. If you are selling a larger item such as a car, motorcycle, motor home, etc., you will also want to place prominent for sale signs on the items themselves. You can also utilize bulletin boards in your local community to post a free advertisement.

4.DRAFTING YOUR AD: What are the most attractive selling features of your items for sale? Decide which of these features you want to highlight in your advertisement. Look for classified ads for similar items to get an idea of how they are written. Check out the competition to see how your item is better or different than the items that will be running along side your ad.

5.WRITING YOUR AD: Create a catchy title to get your readers attention. This will spark an interest in your classified ad. Always include the brand name when applicable. Price should only be included in the title if it is an obvious selling point. Next, you need to write the body text of your ad and entice buyers even further with the details. Make your description clear and factual. Provide specific details in what it is that makes your item stand out from the others. Be honest in your representation and do not make your item appear better than it actually is. Always include the price in your ad. Take some time to view other classified ads for similar items in your newspaper. This will help you determine a fair asking price for your item. Keep in mind, just because you paid $1,500 for your dining room set, does not mean you will receive that much for it on resale. Be realistic in your expectations. Furthermore, if you will only be available during certain times of the day to discuss your item, make a note of this in your advertisement so buyers know the best time to reach you. If possible, include your email address.

6.INCLUDING PHOTOS: A picture is worth a thousand words. Some local newspapers provide you with the option to include photos with your classified ad. Be sure to include the photos! When buyers have the opportunity to see an article for sale they have a higher degree of interest and are more likely to buy when they follow up by telephone or email to ask questions or to get more information. If your newspaper does not offer photos or the photo option is too expensive, you can use an online classified photo hosting service.

7.COMMUNICATING WITH BUYERS: Do your best to be available when customers call for information regarding your item. Be polite and helpful and answer all questions to the best of your knowledge.

8.SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS: If you receive numerous calls for your item, be sure to space out the appointments so that you will have enough time to spend with each buyer and your appointments will not overlap. Safety tip: Whenever possible, have someone home with you when a buyer is coming over to look at your item. You really can never be too careful when dealing with people you have never met before.

9.NEGOTIATION: Decide before you negotiate, the lowest amount you will be willing to accept for your item. This will assure a smoother negotiation process.

10.PAYMENT: Never accept a check for your item. You should only accept cash or money orders. If a buyer decides they want the item, but they do not have cash on them, always take a deposit to hold the item until they are able to come back. Be sure to set a deadline for them to return with the balance due. Even though you have a deposit, do not stop showing your item since the deal is not final until you have the cash in your hand. If someone else is also interested, tell them you just received an offer, but you will be happy to take down their name and number in case the deal falls through. This will give you more options should the original buyer back out of the sale.

Thats it! Keep these selling tips in mind and you will be on the road to a successful sale. Take your time, be thorough and most of all have fun! If you follow the steps outlined above, you will be turning your unused items into cash in no time.

No matter what your age or what your life looks like, you must take time to party. That’s right – party! Everyone needs a break from the rut of everyday life but not everyone has the time or money to afford taking an exotic vacation. Taking time to host or attend an energizing party can be as easy and inexpensive as you make it.

The first step for busy people is to make time in your schedule to relax and celebrate. You will never find rest and refreshment apart from your busy life if you do not make it happen intentionally. Chances are strong that your life will not get any less chaotic or busy in the weeks and months to come. You may have been going at such a rushed pace for so long that you do not even recognize your need for something like a party. Ask yourself when is the last time that you have really enjoyed a few hours with the people that mean the most to you. If it has been a while then you especially need to get planning.

Taking time off to party can be as simple as meeting a few friends for a coffee or dinner after work. Just be sure that the conversation during this time doesn’t revolve around the craziness of home or work. Another simple way to take time to party is to get outside with a friend and enjoy the beauty that we so often miss in our busyness. Bring a thermos of tea and a few snacks and you have yourself a little party.

If you really want to go all out in planning a party feel free because the options are endless. Choose a day and a time and create a list of guests to invite to your party. You can make a party intimate with just a few close friends or large enough to include everyone you know. It is up to you. The important thing to remember is that this should feel like a party to you, too, so don’t get so busy and stressed in planning that it doesn’t feel like a party at all.

In planning activities for your party be sure to plan only what will be restful, fun and energizing for your guests. Everyone will love to spend an afternoon that allows them to laugh and forget about the stresses of life for a little while.

I hope by now you are convinced that your life could use a little time to party and so could the lives of the people you love. Whether you decide to do something simple like invite a friend to dinner or whether you host the largest party of the season remember to have fun because that is what a party is all about.

Life is a stressful game — one that you have no option but to play till the end. However, like all games, players will inevitably have a moment or two of frustration at how the cards have been dealt. People grow frustrated with the rules and regulations of the game, as well as having a sense of indignation at how some people are able to bend the rules while others are incapable of doing so. These instances of stress and anxiety can really get to people though there are several ways to help alleviate the problem. Some people are able to react well or have the ability to cope with the stress and anxiety of modern life, with all the trials and tribulations that playing the game entails. However, some people cannot deal with stress and anxiety, eventually making that person’s mind open ground for a number of mental disorders.

In 1991, a California motorist named Rodney King was brutally beaten by four police officers in an incident widely regarded as racially motivated.

The next year, the YWCA USA initiated the Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism in response to that incident, the subsequent acquittal of the police officers charged in the case and the ensuing riots in Los Angeles.

The observance is meant to draw attention to how racism still harms our communities and to move the nation to racial justice. The YWCA feels that it’s important to fight racism year-round. One of the most pernicious ways racism is exhibited is in jokes and remarks that all too often don’t even register. By calling people out on even racist remarks that may be meant jokingly, we can help eliminate the attitudes that cause discrimination and hatred.

Here are some things you can do to combat bigotry:

• Be inclusive when planning meetings, activities, posters, and surveys to ensure everyone is represented, while avoiding tokenism. Make sure your organization has truly embraced diversity.

• Racial jokes aren’t funny. Don’t laugh. Interrupt and ask the person to stop telling the joke.

• Do not tolerate prejudiced talk or racist action. Intervene and tell those involved that their behavior is unacceptable.

• Make a list of injustices and commit to fighting them.

• Start looking at each individual as an equal and as an individual.

• Write letters to newspapers, magazines, and TV sponsors about public statements and actions that demean people.

• Set an example for your family and friends by showing an unbiased respect and acceptance of others.

• Be proud of and share your heritage so others can learn about you.

• Find others who are taking active steps to eliminate racism and join them.