Good Planning Is The Key To The Success Of Any Event!

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Owen James


Many factors such as flexibility of scheduling, size of installation and coordination of other services such as decorating, catering, and will influence the timing of set up. The same holds true for removal. For large events we usually try to set up one or more days prior to date.

Marquee Hire Info

A marquee that can comfortably accommodate your number of guests

A layout that will flow well for both ceremony and reception

A layout that will work well for electrical, heating and lighting needs

In addition, you'll want to be sure you've considered:

The position of the bride, groom, cake table and any top tables Suitable access for catering staff, and catering tents if required The position of the dance floor, and it's size

Owen-James are happy to put our planning expertise at your disposal when considering all of your marquee options and to ensure that the right decisions are made to fit your function.

Event Planning Marquee - Occupational Chart

Event Seating and Space Information - Recommended Minimums

Cocktail Parties and Receptions

Standing only - 8 sq.ft. per person

Partial seating - 10 sq.ft. per person

Dinner and Banquet Seating

8' Rectangular tables - 12 sq.ft. per person

60" Round tables - 15 sq.ft. per person

72" Round tables - 15 sq.ft. per person

Classroom or Theater Seating

Chairs in rows - 8 sq.ft. per person

Tables and chairs in rows - 10 sq.ft. per person

Additional Allowances

Dance floor (per person) - 4 sq.ft.

Bar area (per bar) - 100 sq.ft.

Buffet area (per table) - 100 sq.ft.

Band (per band member) - 15 sq.ft.

DJ - 50 sq.ft

Head table (per person) - 15 sq.ft.

Speaker/podium area - 15 sq.ft.

Multiply the number of guests by the recommended square footage per person. This will give you the total square footage necessary. Add the recommended additional allowances for head tables, buffet areas, bars or dance floors. Be sure to check with the decorator, caterer and band or DJ for their specific space requirements.

# of guests x sq ft per person + space for head tables, buffet tables, stages, bars, dance floors, band/DJ, etc = total square footage for the event. Add a little extra for overflow room.

Keep in mind that every event is different. Each event deserves to be looked at individually so that the exact size of the tent can be determined based on your personal needs and preferences.

Another important consideration is the amount of space that is available. You need to allow a minimum of 5' of space on each side of your tent. For example, if you have a 40' x 40' space, the largest tent you can use is 30' x 30'.


About the Author:
This article was written by Owen James for Carnival Marquees UK. Carnival Marquees announces the introduction of a new type of marquee to its range, a stunning and contemporary styled High Peak Marquees, along with the new wedding reception packages for 2009, Owen-James offer more to customers who are getting married and having parties throughout 2009. For more information visit http://www.carnival-marquees.co.uk or call 0800 3892604

I Want My Ex Back! 5 Tips That Will Improve Your Chances

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 James Kern


Do you really want to improve your chances and get your ex back? Well, don't sit there and feel sad for yourself. Go and do something about it!

You've just broken up and feel that you MUST get your ex back but don't know where to start nor how to go about getting them back. All that you know is that they're gone.

Let me share with you some killer tips that can really tilt the scales in your favor!

Tip One - Time Is Your Friend

One of the first questions you should ask yourself is - "What happened to cause your ex to leave and where did you go wrong?"

You absolutely need to get your head together before you can work on the solution to get you ex back. Time helps to put things into a better perspective and gives you opportunity to work on a plan. Time also gives your ex space to think about things without being under pressure from you.

I cannot underestimate the importance of time. Use it to your advantage.

Tip Two - The New You

Now that you've had some time to sort through your feelings and grief it's time for some changes to take place.

If you want your ex to feel good about you, then you've got to feel good about yourself. Stop moping around. Hold your head high and gleam with confidence.

Work on things that you will make you look and feel better. Besides the emotional workout you need the physical workout as well.

You want to exude an air of confidence not one of desperation.

Tip Three - Plan And Then Fire!

Now is time for the planning stage to kick in.

Here you will formulate the plan on how to go about winning your ex back.

What actions will you take?

You're not shooting straight from the hip and misfiring because you won't let your emotions rule your actions.

Planning should include things like first casual approaches to the ex after the break up.

Plan on getting together with your ex for short periods. Enjoy a lunch together. Drop off some fresh strawberries with the excuse that you were given too many by a friend. Don't do dinner as this tends to be a more intimate meal.

Tip Four - My Super Ninja Tactic ;-)

Create a more intimate time to be with each other.

In this step you should look at something that you both enjoyed together in the past and plan on doing this again.

Here you're trying to get your ex to remember how it felt when things were good and how it could be good again. You want them to know that you remember the good 'ol days, and can still re-create them.

This should be a positive outing and not one in which you hash out everything that happened after the good times. Take your ex out on several dates. You want to leave them with a good feeling as well as the desire for more time with you.

Tip Five - Work On Your Problems As A Couple

Let your ex know how you feel and that you want in again.

Work together as a couple, in a non-threatening or challenging way to resolve the problem(s) that you once had. Without working through these issues that surrounded the breakup there will always be a part of your relationship broken.

Taking no action is better than pleading but will never get your ex back. You have to be committed to doing what it takes.

If you follow my five tips here, you'll improve your chances of getting back your ex. So don't just sit there! Get up and get at it. You can do it!




About the Author:
James Kern makes it easy to claw back your ex and rapidly turn around a hopeless situation. To receive your free Quick Start Guide visit Back Together Forever at http://www.backtogetherforever.com/

Killarney, Ireland Has It All!

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Patricia G. McKinney-Lins


Among the most beautiful places in the world is Killarney, Ireland. Even the most experienced traveler will put Killarney on the list of most spectacular places on earth. Killarney offers the opportunity to experience the mystery, the magic, the history and the majesty of Ireland. If you are lucky enough to visit Ireland, you must make a point to visit the Killarney region.

There are a number of reasons you may want to center your visit to the Emerald Isle around your adventures in Killarney in County Kerry. Killarney has an old world charm that is appealing to every traveler. The memories of your visit will stay with you long after you have returned home.

Killarney is filled with a history unrivaled by many other great European towns. The history of nearby Ross Castle can be traced back to the 15th century. The cultural heritage of the region makes Killarney an intriguing place to visit. Killarney's rich past and lore leaves you wanting to return for more.

The scenery in and around Killarney brings many visitors to the southwest Ireland each year. Although it is a busy town, it is still possible to get away from the crowds to enjoy the surrounding rural area. The gently rolling hills, the gardens, and the lakes contribute to the idyllic landscape. The panoramic views and vistas are breathtaking; photographic opportunities abound.

There are many places to visit and things to do in Killarney. You will definitely want to take time during your travels to see the Muckross House, Gardens, and Traditional Farm. The home, built in the mid 19th century, makes for a glorious tour and the gardens are simply spectacular. The working farm will take you back in time to experience early twentieth century rural Irish life. You will see the beauty as well as the heartache that is so much a part of Ireland's past.

Killarney is also filled with many legends that make Irish history so special. At Ross Castle you will see one of the last holdouts from Cromwell's invasion centuries ago. The castle is situated on the banks of Lough Leane, one of the stunning lakes of Killarney National Park. Ross Castle is a typical Irish stronghold of the Middle Ages. It was built by one of the O'Donoghue Ross chieftains. It was surrounded by a fortified wall and circular towers. The castle contains 16th and 17th century furnishings. Its four floors include the great hall, the parlour and the bed chamber. The castle is nicely restored; you will enjoy the display room and a guided tour. During the busy summer months, you may have to wait a bit for your tour. But don't worry; sitting outside by the lake shore gives you a nice break from your sight-seeing.

You may want to hire a boatride from Ross Castle to Innisfallen Island. The island is one mile from shore and has the remains of an abbey founded in about 600AD. Some visitors take a picnic and relax before resuming their travels.

After your visit to Ross Castle, you will want to explore more of Killarney National Park. The park provides you with a phenomenal experience of Irish nature. The rocky terrain of the mountains is dotted with wildflowers and waterfalls. You can take a horse-drawn carriage (called a jaunting car) ride with a friendly driver, a hike to Torc Waterfall, or a boat excursion on another of the Killarney Lakes.

If you like to golf or fish, you will be in heaven at nearby Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. When I took my children to Killarney, my son took a golf lesson and my daughter and I just enjoyed the scenery and a lunch. Any activity you choose in Killarney will leave you with a love of the splendor of the Irish countryside.

For a taste of the history of Ireland along with a new experience every day, there is simply no better place on Earth to visit than Killarney. Your memories from Killarney will last you a lifetime. A trip to Killarney is a chance to make your travel dreams come true.

Copyright 2008-2009, Patricia McKinney-Lins. All rights reserved.


About the Author:
Written by: Patricia G. McKinney-Lins. Take the worry out of booking your own special trip to the Emerald Isle. Go to the author's website at http://www.majestic-castles-in-ireland.com for free travel advice and recommendations. Sign up for your free newsletter at http://www.majestic-castles-in-ireland.com/ezine and get great travel tips for your next escape to Ireland!

Do We Need to Buy Ads to Get Media Coverage? Publicity Dilemma 4

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Marcia Yudkin


A well-known product development expert claims that few magazines feature new products these days, and of those that do, almost all of them print articles only about companies that advertise in the magazine. The game is "pay to play," he says, so if you write and distribute a release about a new product without buying ads in the magazines that reach your target market, you are wasting your time.

Is that true?

As a publicity expert and a former freelance writer for national magazines, I'm a bit more tuned in to magazines than the average person, and from my vantage point, this claim seems wildly mistaken.

Here's what I find in a consumer magazine that happens to be on my kitchen counter today - Everyday with Rachael Ray. This magazine covers cooking and entertaining tips, tied into a popular TV show on the Food Network. In the front of the magazine, Everyday contains a section called "Yum" that highlights new products from Orville Redenbacher, Target, Bed and Bath, Hammacher Schlemmer, and products or services from smaller companies Ilium Software, ThinkGeek and Banpresto. Not a single one of those companies has an advertisement in that issue.

Taking the same kind of look at a business magazine, Fast Company, I find in the "what's new" section near the front (which is where most publications cover new stuff), articles on new offerings from Panjiva, David Rockwell, Philips and StemSave. Again, not one of these companies has an advertisement in that issue of the magazine.

I agree that sometimes, in some magazines and papers, advertisers do get favored treatment in the non-ad pages, either in advertorial columns that are not clearly labeled as such, or through implications by sales representatives or editors that they'll be covered if they advertise. But this happens almost exclusively with smaller publications. The larger and more prestigious the publication, the less this happens. That's because it's a time-honored principle of journalistic ethics that advertising and editorial copy must be functionally separate.

By and large, then, you do not have to buy advertising to get media coverage for a new product. Follow the tips below and maximize your chances for publicity.

New Product Publicity Tips

1. Focus your release or product pitch on the benefits buyers get from the product. What can they do, have or avoid because of it? Whenever pitching, don't forget to mention the price and where people can buy the item.

2. Take advantage of three prime opportunities to promote your product: First, whenever it's brand new; second, for the Christmas holiday season; and third, for special sections related to other holidays like Mother's Day, Father's Day, or graduation season, or to a traditional time of year for promoting certain items, like cruises in January, wedding guides in February or March or back-to-school items in late August. For the Christmas holiday season, get the scoop on who's looking for which kinds of items at GiftListMedia.com.

3. Make photos available. Some press release distribution services now allow you to send a photo or even a short video along with a release for no extra charge. And if you go to the trouble of sending a product sample to publications, include photos too or indicate on your accompanying cover letter how they can get high-resolution photos from you instead of having to take them themselves.

4. Do you have a do-good angle? If you donate a portion of profits to a charity, or have something like organic or LEED certification, mention it in your publicity materials. Some publications and some product roundups focus on environmentally safe or child-safe or charity-friendly products only.


About the Author:
Publicity expert Marcia Yudkin is the author of 6 Steps to Free Publicity, Persuading on Paper, Web Site Marketing Makeover and eight other books. She has engineered coverage for herself or her company in the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Success, Women in Business and dozens of newspapers around the world. Get free access to a one-hour audio recording in which she answers the most common questions about getting media coverage at http://www.yudkin.com/publicityideas.htm

Tips For Restoring Your Credit In The Aftermath Of Foreclosure

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Fred Vanhoosen


With foreclosures hitting record levels, many people are having to sit down today and wonder how they should go about restoring their credit in the aftermath of a foreclosure.

I am not going to lie to you. It will not be easy, and it will take some time to work out, but it can be done.

Most people simply file bankruptcy and wait ten years for that foreclosure and bankruptcy to drop from their record. At this point in this article, it is very important to note that you just cannot wait for the for foreclosure and bankruptcy to drop off your credit report. The law says that after ten years, the credit bureau must drop those records from your credit report, but they will not do so unless requested to do so by the consumer. So when your time comes, be sure to get in touch with the credit bureaus and request for them to drop the records that will hamper your credit status.

Secured Credit Cards

One of the easiest methods available to help people rebuild their credit starts with a savings account. With as little as $300 in hand, one can go to companies such as the Bank Of America to request a savings-backed credit card.

The Bank Of America Secured Visa Credit Card required a minimum deposit of $300 and a maximum deposit of $10,000, and it requires a $29 annual fee.

In essence, you will deposit money into a Bank Of America security deposit account, and BofA will make available to you a credit card that has a maximum limit equal to the amount of money you have in your BofA security deposit account.

You can use your BofA Secured Visa Credit Card as you use any credit card, to make purchases at stores or to get a cash advance from an ATM machine.

Keep in mind that Bank Of America will not draw money from your security deposit account to make your monthly payments. You will still be required to make the minimum monthly payment each month that you have a balance, and your security deposit account only exists to ensure that BofA will be paid in the event that you default on your secured credit card.

Although you are only required to make the minimum payment each month on your secured credit card, BofA recommends that in order to rebuild your credit more quickly, you should pay your payment in full each month.

The Bank Of America Secured Visa Credit Card is one of the most recommended secure credit cards available in the marketplace, although it is not the only one.

Another popular secured credit card is the one issued by the New Millennium Bank, which you can learn about here:
http://www.creditcardnewsroom.com/brand/new-millennium-bank/secured/black-diamond.html

Secured Bank Loans

Back in the 1980's, I had built my credit using a process that was recommended in a book.

I started with a cash deposit of $1000 at a local bank. I then acquired a loan from that bank, secured by the savings account that I had opened there.

I took that money borrowed from the first bank, and deposited it in a second bank. From that second bank, I obtained a second loan secured by my second savings account.

With the money acquired from that second loan, I set up a savings account at a third bank, and then I left that money alone.

You can trail this process out as far as you want, but I only did it with two loans myself.

Each month, I paid my loan payment when it became due. If I was short cash that month to pay both of my bank loans, I would take money from the third savings account to make that payment. Otherwise, I would just pay the loan payments out of pocket.

For what amounted to be a few dollars interest, I managed to pay off two $1000 loans in one-year, at two different banks. At the end of the cycle, I repeated the cycle, letting my first bank keep the cash on hand, and the third bank to become a new lender.

Of course, I had managed to save some money over that first year, so when I repeated the process in the second year, I did it with $2000 instead of the original $1000.

By the end of the second year, three banks were offering me loans and many credit card companies were also looking to loan me money.

Bank Loan Advice

The trick to borrowing from a bank is to pay off your loans over the stated term of the loan. If you take a one-year loan and pay it off in a couple of months, then you will have gained no positive favor on your credit report. The reason why paying early does not always benefit the borrower, is because the bank was not able to see that loan payments can be paid "on time".

Whatever loans you may take from a lender, you should always maintain payments for a minimum of six months, before paying off that loan. To do otherwise will not yield a positive mark on your credit report.

So long as you keep your loan running for a minimum of six months, there is no problem in paying off your loan early. Some people get ahead on their credit reports by paying double payments each month.

As recommended by some economic guru's, you may also consider making thirteen payments a year, instead of the standard twelve payments per year. If you think about that, all you need to do is to make one payment every four weeks, as opposed to making one payment each calendar month. This works really well towards paying down your principle on a home mortgage or car loan.

Another recommendation that many guru's suggest is to make semi-monthly payments - payments every two weeks. This is beneficial in that it reduces the overall interest you will have to pay over the life of the loan, since interest is always calculated against the amount of principle due on payment dates.

Small Loan Companies

In the small consumer loan market, there are a lot of loan choices available to the consumer.

Of course, there are the loan companies who specialize in loans that can be used to purchase furniture or consumer electronics.

There are also loan companies that specialize in loans of up to $500.

With these types of loan companies, the same rules apply as recommended above. Also with these loan companies, if you ask them to do so, they will report your positive payment history to the credit bureaus.

There are also the loan companies that specialize in what is called payday loans or cash advance loans. With these companies, you are in effect getting a loan that will come due on your next payday, hence the description - payday loans.

Payday loan companies should not be employed to build credit, as it is the most expensive type loan you can acquire. You can use it when you are meeting a cash shortage to help you get over that next hump, but you should only borrow from the cash advance company when you know for certain that you will be able to pay the loan back on your next paycheck.

Rebuilding Your Credit

Rebuilding your credit requires determination, dedication and discipline. You have to start small and work your way up the credit ladder.

I know that what I am getting ready to tell you is going to be hard to believe, but my hand on my heart honest, it is God's honest truth.

A couple decades back, I knew a kid - I say kid, but he was in his twenties - who worked for minimum wage as a dishwasher in a restaurant.

This lowly dishwasher had better credit than I did; he even had better credit than the guy who managed the restaurant - I was friends with the restaurant's manager. This is true... I swear.

This young man lived within his means and paid all of his bills on time, and in full, every month.

Soon, he started receiving credit card offers, which he accepted. With his credit cards, he played by the same rules. He lived within his means, and paid all of his bills in full and on time every month.

After about five years, he bought a motorcycle to help him meet his transportation needs. Of course, he made those payments on time and in full every month.

Soon, he was able to finance the purchase of a home. And as you would imagine, he always made his house payment on time and in full every month.

When I last chatted with him, he was still working as a dishwasher for a bit more than minimum wage. He owned his own transportation and his own one-bedroom house, and he had credit cards in his pocket that he could tap any time he wanted to do so that in total offered him a credit line of - get this - $120,000!

This lowly minimum wage employee had a credit line large enough to buy the best stuff money could buy, but he maintained the lifestyle that he was accustomed to living - living within his means and never spending more money that he could afford to pay back.

Now, that is discipline. He has the credit available to run out and buy a nice big screen television, yet he would not do so, because he knew his finances would not let him pay that money back quickly.

I learned a lot about credit in having known that young man. I hope that you have also learned something by knowing his story.




About the Author:
Fred Vanhoosen writes about the payday loan / cash advance industry. To learn more about the payday loans industry, we recommend reading the following overview of the cash advance loans concept. Learn more at: http://www.fastcash4all.net/

Online Dating Is A Difficult Process That Offers Some Rewards

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Lance Metzger


Many people who are on the dating scene turn to the online dating websites to find new friends and lovers. But that road is a hard one that can occasionally bring those with great patience - great rewards.

Beyond everything else, patience is required of anyone who is pursuing friends, lovers or mates in the real world and online. When I do the dating thing in the real world, I find several opportunities to talk to the person in whom I am interested. Then after a few meets, I pop the big question, asking for a date. Then date night comes along and it may work, and it may not, but more frequently all seems well early, only to fall apart at a later date.

Folks, online dating comes with all the same pitfalls as offline dating. You advertise yourself, you find people whom you may be interested, you try to talk it up, and then the first date comes. That first date may work and it may not.

In the end, online dating is much the same as offline dating, with a few more benefits and pitfalls thrown in to frustrate the person seeking a date.

The Differences Between The Online And Offline Experience

The biggest difference between the online and offline dating experience is a benefit that comes from it.

Benefits Of Online Dating

With online dating, you get to be introduced to people with whom you may have never had the opportunity to meet in person - usually due to different lifestyles and different locations.

With online dating, you also have the ability to sort through the profiles of hundreds or thousands of people to narrow your list to your best matches more quickly.

Shortcomings Of Online Dating

When you meet someone you like in person and you say hi, he or she will usually say hi back. For every 20 emails sent out, as few as 2 or 3 may respond back.

Some online daters have defined this as the difference between "talkers" and "doers". Many point out that most people online only want to talk about meeting, but when it comes down to it, they will be unwilling to take the "action" step.

This actually happens in one of two ways. First is when you send out an email and no one ever responds. The second is when you actually set up a date, only to be stood up.

Let's be honest about why this happens.

So many people have heard horror stories about people who have met strangers online, only to have the meet go horribly bad. Yes, the criminal element hangs out online as well as at the local mall.

Ladies fear the criminal predators, and the guys should fear the fake profile predators who are always working towards asking for money to be sent for a needed emergency expense.

The one time I ran into the fake profile predator, I should have known when she could not talk intelligently about her hometown. I knew the gig was up when she started professing her love after only a few conversations. And the gig was finally up, when this woman who supposedly made about three times as much money as myself needed help to pay for her babysitter in some far off state.

The trick to ensuring your safety is to always make your first date in a public place. That way, if things go badly on that first date, then you can seek assistance from other people if necessary. You can even ask the cashier to call the police out to help escort you to your car.

Unfortunately, many people go so far as to set up a date in a public place, but when the scheduled date time arrives, they simply do not show up. Many of the people who got stood up were good, honest people, but the person who stood them up will never be able to find that out, because they never met the person whom they agreed to meet for that first date.

Fear Is The Greatest Demotivator

When dating online, the opportunities are available for some great people to meet and get together, but too often, people let the fear of contact stand in the way of letting people come together. The fear of responding to an email is the greatest threat to the successful fulfillment of one's relationship desires, but also the fear of actually meeting someone in person will prevent even people who have chatted online for a long time from coming together.

I am always amazed when I think back to my friend Lisa, who chatted with a guy online for more than one year, before the two of them met. And then they dated for several months when he moved to her hometown. They are still married eight years later. With so many things that could go wrong in the online dating experience, it is nice to know that there are success stories that we can share.


About the Author:
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online dating. If you liked this article, you can read more of Lance's articles here: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/articles.htm "No Strings Attached" simply means, "Let's get to know one another before we start making any commitments to one another." To explore Online Dating, at a website where all members get free email, please visit the NSA Dating Site at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com

Nike Air Force One 25th Anniversary

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Jose Nevarez


Sneakers were originally designed for sports men and women, for them to get the maximum out of running, athletics and sports games. Today they are a popular shoe worn by millions all over the world as casual wear. There are many of different designs and well known brand names of sneakers on the market, in all the different price categories ranging from cheap to very expensive sneakers. When you shop at Sneaker Alley then you can choose from top quality brand names like Nike air force 1's, Reebok, Puma, and Adidas running shoes. These are just a few of the most popular market brands, and when you see our prices you will agree that we offer the lowest online.

Nike air force 1's are superior sneakers that are renowned for their great support and cushioning mid soles, which were great for basketball players to help absorb shock and also provide players with excellent support for their ankles. There are a variety of different designs and different colors of air force 1's, which have now become not only just a sports shoe, but an extremely popular casual foot wear. Air force 1's have been on the market for a number of years and progressed into a variety of delightful styles that are great for men and women. Sneaker Alley offers you the most extensive selections of air force 1's sneakers covering a complete range of sizes. You can get your sneakers in any of your preferred brand names at sensational value for money all in the comfort of your own home and afterwards have them shipped directly to you.

When it concerns the Nike air force 1's selection then you can see why Sneaker Alley have built up a reputation for being the leading online supplier with the most comprehensive selection to choose from. Since way back in 1987 the Nike air force 1's have become one of the most popular causal wear among young and old. You will also find that we carry the Nike Jordan, Air Max and Dunks series so that you will easily find the sneaker in this brand name that appeals to you the most! Since early 2000 Nike have produced another line of Nike Air force 2's but the Nike Air force 1's remain the most popular when it comes to casual wear sneakers particularly among the younger generation.

You will be thrilled to find that when it comes to buying Nike air force 1's or from the other listed brand names we stock that all of our range comes to o you will excellent value for money well below recommended retail prices.




About the Author:
Article written by: Jose Nevarez. Find the Nike Air Force One at: http://www.sneakeralley.com/

Bed And Breakfast Owners Understand Tourism

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Jeb Maxwell


When was the last time you stayed at a bed and breakfast (b&b) on your vacation? If the answer is never, I am about to introduce you to one of the most underutilized vacation resources. Otherwise, I am about to tell you how you can get the most out of your vacation, by asking a few simple questions.

What Is A Bed And Breakfast?

For those readers who know exactly what a Bed And Breakfast is, please skip this section. You may be surprised that not everyone knows why a Bed And Breakfast would be better than a hotel room.

In the very simplest of terms, a bed and breakfast proprietor is usually someone who bought a big house and converted it into a full service hotel.

Most bed and breakfasts have one-, two- or three-bedrooms for rent. All rooms have either a private bath, private hot tub or both. Most b&b's have a big screen hdtv in their rooms, with DVD players and movies to watch.

Bed n Breakfast proprietors provide three meals per day - often provided by a chef, either in the guest's room or in the dining room.

Pampered Like Royalty

For the average b&b guest, there is no reason to ever leave the bed and breakfast to enjoy ones' self. Many couples choose the b&b vacation, to lock themselves away from the world outside and to be pampered in the manner of royalty.

But other couples want to get out and explore the world around them, while on vacation.

As a general rule, the bed and breakfast proprietor has a finger on the pulse of tourism, to a greater degree than any other person involved in the tourism industry.

The big city-sponsored tourism websites tend to only highlight the big traffic attractions that will bring the most people to their town on vacation.

City-sponsored travel websites are more focused on bringing more tax dollars to their city, so they are not going to pay much attention to those private affairs where only a dozen or so guests are expected to attend.

Bed and breakfast proprietors on the other hand tend to keep an eye open for smaller events that their guests would enjoy. Since B&B guests typically want to be pampered, B&B owners network with other small business owners to find out about those under-the-radar events that they believe their guests will appreciate and enjoy.

Examples Of Under-The-Radar Festivities

Some of the larger Bed and Breakfast establishments will feature wine-tasting parties for local vineyards. Generally, the only way that you will hear about a wine-tasting party is to call the vineyard in question, or to ask your bed and breakfast host.

Local art studios are always looking for ways to get guests into the building to view their art. Often, art studios host a party to show off local artists or other art collections. Art museums can typically turn to the city-sponsored travel websites to get the word out about their showing, but the smaller venues typically need to network with locals to attract an audience. The local B&B proprietors are usually one of the first contacts on the art studio managers' calling list.

Charity events are a frequent attraction, which pampers all who come to visit. Very likely, your b&b proprietor will be the first to know about upcoming charity events and the benefits that attendees will receive, if they attend.

Private tours are another tourist attraction that usually escape notice of the larger tourism destinations, which your bed and breakfast proprietor will know about. On a recent b&b excursion, my wife and I were told of a private tour of a local haunted house. We enjoyed the haunted house tour immensely. Of course, a midnight tromp through any big old house might be scary, if you had never been there before.

A friend recently attended a bed and breakfast in Texas, and his host pointed out that the local town was having a parade that day. Had his b&b host never told him, he would never had known. He and his wife said they very much enjoyed the parade and appreciated the recommendation.

Extra B&B Attractions

If you are into the cowboy experience, several bed and breakfasts around the country offer horseback riding to their guests. In the morning, the horses will be brought in from the stables to take as many guests as would like to go for a ride through the nearby countryside.

A bed and breakfast I had visited last year said that they held a fashion show one weekend of every month and invited us to attend. Of course, that is not my cup of tea, but others might find that very appealing. Of course, it should be noted that the reason I was at that b&b that weekend was to attend a seminar on a subject in which I am very interested.

Hands Down, Bed And Breakfast Always Beat Hotels

When vacationing, the bed and breakfast experience will always top the hotel experience. Since learning about Bed And Breakfasts and Vacation Home Rentals, I have given up on hotels entirely, except for those unique situations where the accommodation is only needed for a few hours sleep and a shower.

For a planned vacation, I choose between a Bed And Breakfast and a Vacation Home Rental.

When I am traveling only with my wife or by myself, I usually choose the Bed And Breakfast, so that we can be pampered like royalty during our stay.

When I take the whole family on vacation, I choose a Vacation Home Rental. When traveling with the kids, I have access to a full house, with many bedrooms and a fully stocked kitchen, for the length of my vacation.

Never again will I try to stuff my family of five into a cramped hotel room for a week or weekend. And never again will I increase the cost of my travel by having to take every meal in a restaurant. At the B&B, we are served our meals, and at the vacation home rental, we have a fully stocked kitchen enabling us to prepare all of our meals as if we were at home.

Improve Your Travel Experience - Ask Questions

So the next time you go on vacation, ask your bed and breakfast proprietor about those under-the-radar tourist travel ideas that only they will know about. You might be surprised to learn something new and exciting.


About the Author:
This article was originally published on the B&B, N.A. website.

Jeb Maxwell writes about travel, the Bed and Breakfast industry and the vacation rentals by owner industry. To find more info about B&B's visit: http://www.findbnb.com/

Taguabella Beautiful Fair Trade Jewellery

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Linda Garrould


Taguabella jewellery is handcrafted from the Tagua nut of genus Phytelephas. They are commonly known as Ivory Palms, Ivory-Nut Palms or Tagua Palms; their Latin name means "plant elephant". The common names refer to the very hard white endosperm of their seeds (Tagua nuts), which resembles elephant ivory.

The Ivory-nut palms used for Taguabella jewellery are from the palm tree which is indigenous to Colombia. The palm trees are organically and sustainably grown making them eco-friendly. Tagua helps the local economy of the South American providing a real alternative to cutting down the rainforests and prevents elephants from being killed for their ivory tusks.

The process of creating this beautiful handcrafted jewellery starts with the seed being dried, dyed in various colours and then sliced. When dried out, it can be carved like elephant ivory.

The grain of this natural material and the variation in the shape of the nuts means that no two pieces of Taguabella jewellery are ever completely alike.

Once the raw materials have been prepared they are assembled into beautifully crafted pieces of organic jewellery. The Taguabella brand is owned and distributed by Kazuri Beads Limited who are officially recognized by the British Association for Fair Trade Shops as a Fair Trade Importer to the UK.

This is truly beautiful and natural jewellery, which will complement your spring and summer wardrobe and will equally, add a touch of colour to your winter wardrobe.

Next time you are looking for a piece of jewellery for yourself or as a gift for a friend don't forget to look at the exciting, colourful pieces from Taguabella.


About the Author:
Linda runs the an online gifts and jewellery boutique http://www.iadoreyour.com/ which is excited to be stocking Taguabella jewellery (see Taguabella jewellery ). "I Adore Your Gifts and Jewellery" has grown quickly since it was launched. The site prides itself in bringing high levels of personal service and the boutique experience to online customers. They sell quality gifts and Jewellery that you won't find in every high street store. Their jewellery also includes the ethical Kazuri range. An extended version of this article which includes pictures can be found at: http://www.iadoreyour.com/gstore/Taguabella-Jewellery-Information.php

Online Fax Providers - How To Get The Best Online Fax Service

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins


Times are changing and in our fast paced Internet savvy society, my advice is you change with the times. The latest example of this is sending faxes over the Internet rather than through the traditional method of a fax machine; this is done through the help of an online fax service.

Sending a fax over the Internet through the help of an online fax service works in a similar manner to sending an attached document via email but you send it to a fax number rather than an email address. The use of an online fax service is especially helpful to businesses.

Let's face it, we live in an age where email is the main form of communication within the office workplace and thanks to the fact that signatures are now legally valid when they are sent electronically; paper documents are becoming less common. This is a trend that isn't going to die down anytime soon; however many independent contractors and small business owners still prefer and in some cases require printed documents for their records, especially where legal documents are concerned.

Faxing remains one of the most efficient means of transmitting documents but in order to do this company's no longer need the help of a land line or a costly fax machine in order to send and receive them; instead you send them over the Internet and there are countless reasons as to why this is a lot better than the traditional method of faxing.

By using an online fax service you don't have the expense of buying a fax machine, nor do you have the expense that it takes to maintain the machine. All you need is an Internet connection. You are saving yourself a lot of money as all you now only have to pay is a small fee to your online fax provider and there is no longer the cost of an extra phone line. As well as money you are also saving yourself time as you no longer have to fill out cover sheets and there's no need to wait for each page to feed like there is with a traditional machine and you are able to send documents to not only other online fax services but you can also send them to traditional fax machines too but just how do you know which online fax provider to choose?

There are a number of different online fax service providers that can give you different packages and prices, which is why it is important that you do your research so that you can find the one that is best for you. Monthly rates can run anywhere from $4 to around $15 a month. Choosing the right one is important as you will be trusting them to delivery important documents; so to tell if a provider is any good there are certain features that you should look out for.

Some of the most popular Internet fax providers are: MyFax, RingCentral, eFax, TrustFax, MertoFax, Send2Fax, RapidFax and Faxage. You can tell if an online fax service provider is any good based on features such as if they have reliable customer support that is available to you on a 24/7 basis. You should also look out for whether they offer competitive pricing that comes with no hidden costs and no set up fees. Most, but not all have no set up fees but remember online fax service providers are meant to be saving you money not costing you more so check the prices!

Another feature that you should look out for is whether the provider if offering you a free trial, which is always worth trying as it allows you to test out the service to make sure it is right for you.

A good online fax service provider not only allows you to send and receive faxes through an email account but they will also have other features such as forwarding, notifications and storage options. So if you are considering getting on board with an online fax service I recommend that you visit some comparison sites to ensure that you are getting the best deal for your situation.


About the Author:
For more information on Internet Fax Services use this handy online Comparison Guide to get your own: Online Fax Service. Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: Internet Fax Guide. Titus Hoskins Copyright (c) 2009. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached. Learn more at: http://www.onlinefaxguide.com

Billy Joel and Elton John Together Again

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Mark Anderson


Elton John and Billy Joel will once again go on tour together beginning March 2nd, 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida. You'll be able to see the Rocket Man and the Piano Man performing live in venues across America.

Despite the down economy, promoters say sales for this upcoming concert tour are going well. And you have to ask yourself, "How could anything, including a bad economy, affect these two icons' tickets sales?" This tour ought to be very special and fans can expect to hear classic tune after classic tune performed by both artists.

However, touring together isn't all these two legends have in mind.

"We're thinking about recording three songs together," said John in a recent interview. "Definitely not our own songs, or oldies, but we're interested in getting some people to write new songs for us. I've got Raphael Saadiq and Nile Rodgers working on something, so we're booking some time to go into the studio and record."

Why Joel and John need songwriters is a complete and utter mystery. Still, the prospect of them recording together is very enticing.

Joel and John first toured together in 1994. The "Face 2 Face Tour" was so successful they returned to the road in 1995, 2001, 2002, and 2003.

In 1998, the "Face 2 Face Tour" visited Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Billy Joel and Elton John have quite a bit in common so joining forces made a lot of sense, both financially and artistically. The duo also has enough differences to remain interesting, as their strengths and weaknesses complement one another.

To begin the comparison, Joel and John are both skilled piano players and marginally good singers. They are both masterful songwriters (although John doesn't write his own lyrics). And they are both hugely successful recording artists creating hits that have spanned decades.

According to the Record Industry Association of America, Joel is the sixth best-selling recording artist in the United States and John is 10th—although John has sold more records worldwide.

Joel and John both flourished in the 1970's (Elton in first half and Billy in the second), lost their identities in the 1980's and accepted their fates as "has-beens" in the 1990's.

At one time or another, Billy and Elton suffered from drug and alcohol dependency and they've both battled depression.

Moving on to what makes them different, the Rocket Man is British, flamboyant, and embraces the celebrity lifestyle. From being godfather to many British children of famous parents to attending celebrity parties, galas and awards shows, Elton John relishes the lime light.

John has struggled with his sexuality. In a 1976 Rolling Stone interview, John announced he was bisexual. Then John married and divorced Renate Blauel, a sound engineer, in the mid-1980's.

Eventually John denounced his bisexuality and embraced his homosexuality. In 2004, he entered into a civil partnership with Canadian-born filmmaker David Furnish.

Musically, John is quite a bit more theatrical ("Bennie and the Jets" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road").

Despite John's numerous hits, he also had a few clunkers: "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" and "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," just to name a few.

Meanwhile, the Piano Man is a true New Yorker. He's simple, confident, and a hero to the common man—except when it comes to women.

Joel has dated super model Elle Macpherson and married super model Christie Brinkley (they divorced in 1994). In 2004, Joel married Katie Lee, a woman 32 years his younger. Not exactly the love life of your average Joe.

Musically Joel is more soulful (the entire An Innocent Man album) and more romantic ("Just the Way You Are" and "She's Always a Woman").

Joel wasn't afraid to tackle politics as is evident in the poignant "Allentown" and the somber "Goodnight Saigon." And Billy's lyrics are often catchy, memorable and poignant.

Like John, Joel can be cheesy too. For examples, listen to the ridiculous "We Didn't Start the Fire" and the sappy "The River of Dreams."

Suffice to say, their careers crossed paths and their careers diverged. They shared similar demons but had different loves. At times they sounded the same and at times they sounded completely different.

They seem to be a match made in music heaven. One can see how the two of them together collaborating musically makes a lot of sense, and at the same time one can also wonder why these two mesh so well.

You can say Billy Joel is the American Elton John and you can say Elton John is the British Billy Joel. However, they are both originals and they both transcend the cultural and political divide.

Yet through all their trials and tribulations, fans still continue to relate to their music and fans still enjoy watching them perform. And even though seeing Billy Joel and Elton John in concert is almost too much of a good thing, it's well worth the price of the admission.


About the Author:
Mark Anderson writes for BestShowTicketsLasVegas, an event tickets website where you can purchase cheap Billy Joel tickets, Elton John tickets as well as any other kind of sports or concert tickets. From a huge inventory of sports, theater and concert tickets to a library of original sports and entertainment articles, find it all at http://www.bestshowticketslasvegas.com/.

Sea World Orlando Florida - A Tour Of The Attraction

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Jeb Maxwell


Sea World Orlando Water Park is central Florida's premier marine life park, accepting visitors year around and presenting its guests with an sea wildlife experience that will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Theatrical Performances

Shamu, the killer whale, performs in the Shamu Stadium in Sea World's signature performance called "Believe". This show features a choreographed demonstration of music, video, stunts, and splashing whales, to deliver one of the most unforgettable performances you will have the pleasure of viewing in this lifetime.

Also at Sea World Orlando is the Cirque-du-Soleil-style show called Blue Horizons. Blue Horizons is a show that integrates the performance of trained dolphins and birds, enabling visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature and the theatrics of the choreographed animal performances.

Exhibitions

My favorite Sea World Orlando treat is the acrylic tube walkway through and under the giant shark tank, called the Shark Encounter. The opportunity to see a wide variety of fish species up close and personal in their own habitat is a thrill to those of us who never took up snorkeling.

The exhibit begins at the Sharks Underwater Grill, a sit-down restaurant, which features windows looking into the huge fish tanks above and beside the restaurant. If you are traveling without children, you will find that if you are willing to sit in the restaurant bar, then you can frequently bypass the lines of families waiting for a table. In the restaurant bar, you can order a drink, and you may order from the full restaurant menu as well.

If you have never been to Sea World Orlando, you might be surprised to learn that you will see more species of fish than just sharks.

As you enter the acrylic tunnel, you will find an artificial reef built into the display, and in the first tank, you will be able to view moray eels swimming with a wide variety of reef fish, in and around the artificial reef that has been designed to mimic the natural habitat known to these fish.

As you progress down the tunnel, you will see a number of fish tanks separated from the others, each with their own habitat and species of fish.

In the various tanks, you can see:

The Camouflaged Lion Fish - The feathery appendages of the camouflaged lion fish are actually poisonous spines that can inflict great pain on any swimmer that actually touches its spines.

Fugu is also known as the Puffer Fish - If you have ever seen Spongebob Squarepants, Spongebob's driving instructor is a Puffer Fish - Ms. Puff. The Puffer Fish is considered to be one of the world's most poisonous fish and accounts for several human deaths each year. The Japanese consider its edible portions to be a delicacy, and Fugu Chefs must be licensed in Japan in order to prepare this fish for eating. The Fugu Chef must be trained to separate the poison glands from the meat of the fish, but mistakes are sometimes made, and people die from Fugu poisoning after ingesting this fish.

Surgeon Fish - Surgeon Fish swim in the same tank as the Puffer Fish (Fugu). Although beautiful, the Surgeon Fish carries a secret weapon, in the form of fins near its tail that are extremely sharp to the touch. If a person or other creature grabs the Surgeon Fish, it will whip its tail violently, often inflicting a deep cut on the person or animal that crossed its path.

Barracuda - In a nearby tank, one can see Barracuda up close and personal. Although the Barracuda has a fierce reputation, it seldom attacks humans swimming in its midst.

Sharks, and more Sharks - When you finally reach the main feature, you will be in a room at the bottom of the shark tank. The room is insulated by a one-foot thick panel of acrylic that offers solid protection from the 450-tons of man-made salt water overhead. In the main tank, you will see small brown sharks, bull sharks, lemon sharks, nurse sharks, sandpiper sharks, and sawtooth sharks.

Even more Sharks - On the way out of the exhibit, near the restaurant, there is one more shark tank that is quite a bit smaller than the main exhibit. In this second shark tank, you will be able to see small hammerhead sharks and nurse sharks, as well as a variety of rays, which includes the jet-black bat ray.

Additional Sea World Orlando Highlights

On my last visit, I personally received more pleasure from the Shark Encounter than any portion of the park. But when it came to what the kids enjoyed, they found the greatest pleasure in the following three attractions:

Stingray Lagoon - There is a reason why so many people were shocked to hear of the death of naturalist Steve Irwin, as the result of a Stingray piercing his heart. Stingrays are known to be one of the most docile creatures in the oceans of the earth. When Steve Irwin was stung by the ray, it was a freak accident. In fact, there were only 18 deaths as the result of Stingray / human contact in recorded history. Although the Stingray carries a barb in its tail, most incidents related to the tail of a Stingray, were the result of someone accidentally touching its tail, as is theorized to have happened in the Steve Irwin incident. At Stingray Lagoon, visitors can reach into the pool and pet the Stingray as it swims by. Just don't reach for the tail. ;-) Sea World animal care experts oversee the Stingray Lagoon, where the adults swim, and they also oversea the shallow pool where Stingray pups swim.

Dolphin Cove - At Dolphin Cove, visitors can enter the water with the Dolphins, pet them and feed them, under the supervision of Sea World caregivers.

Penguin Encounter - At Penguin Encounter, it can be a chilling experience as the air temperature is maintained at a steady 30 degrees and the water temp is kept at 45 degrees Fahrenheit. This exhibit is designed to mimic life in Antarctica, complete with 6,000 pounds of snow falling everyday, in the heart of Florida. The Penguins are so accustomed to the human visitors that they spend their days playing on the snow and swimming through the water. The Penguin Encounter enables visitors to watch Penguins in a habitat where they enjoy life as only a Penguin could enjoy life: waddling, running, falling, sliding and swimming. Okay. I enjoyed this exhibit almost as much as I enjoyed the Shark Experience, but don't tell my kids that I said that. ;-) They will think I am getting soft in my old age.

Final Thoughts

Sea World Orlando is on the southwest side of Orlando Florida, just to the northeast of Walt Disney World. You can reach Sea World Orlando by traveling east from I-4 on Central Florida Parkway.

Although open year-around, Sea World Orlando has different operating hours for different times of the year. You can check their schedule on the Sea World website.

When visiting Orlando Florida to see the many attractions, it is easy to assume the easiest accommodations to be one of the many hotel chains that operate in and around Orlando FL. But once you have taken the time to research the vacation home rentals available in the Orlando FL area, you might just realize as I have done that vacation rentals make so much more sense for the traveling family.

If you go the hotel route, you will be stuck in a small room and have to take all of your meals at a restaurant. However, if you choose the vacation home route, you will often find that you can stay in a large, beautiful home, often with a swimming pool or hot tub, and always with a full kitchen with dishes and cookware.

Once I started going the vacation rental route, I found that the money I saved by not taking all of our meals in restaurants enabled us to be able to get into much nicer vacation homes for about the same amount of money as I would have spent on the hotel and food.


About the Author:
This article was originally published with links and photos on the American Travel Ideas website.

Jeb Maxwell writes about travel, vacation homes and the Bed and Breakfast industry. To explore additional information about vacation home rentals, visit: http://www.findvacationrentals.com

Find Awesome Travel Specials for the Spring and Summer of 2009

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Anson Werner


As the recession sets in, commercial enterprise begins the struggle of staying afloat during an economic downtown. The days of profit taking are now in the rear-view mirror as businesses strive to stay economically viable, while the economy works to right itself. Even the most profitable, most stable companies of yesteryear are finding these times tough. We have all heard the struggles of companies such as Ford, Chevrolet and Chrysler, but other known companies such as Disney, Marriott, and United Airlines are working hard to weather this economic storm.

As a consumer, you and I will begin to see special offers thrown at us, in an effort to attract our dollars to these major travel industry providers. To date, one of the more aggressive companies in the travel discount offers has been the Walt Disney corporation. Whether you are seeking to travel to Disney Land in California or Walt Disney World in Florida, you will find a large variety of discount specials designed to attract your vacation dollars to Disney properties.

Disney World Specials

One such special currently being offered by Walt Disney World is a Buy 4 Get 3 For Free special. We originally mentioned this special in December of 2008, and the special was originally slated to end in December, but now in February of 2009, that special is still ongoing. With this package, if you buy four nights at Disney World, you will get three more nights for free. That is a wonderful special offer.

If you live near an AirTran Airways hub airport, you can get significant air travel discounts for your seven days at Walt Disney World Resorts, when you order your air travel with your Disney vacation. AirTran serves has routes into and out of airports mostly on the East Coast, but also in the Midwest and Plain states, as well as a few western airports. Visit the AirTran website to learn more specific information about the routes that they serve.

If you are planning for a Spring Break getaway, select Walt Disney Resorts are also offering a $74 per night special.

Now, my kids are too young for those dream Disney vacation deals, so I have to look elsewhere for my travel specials. My kids love visiting zoos and animal parks, so that is what we usually do on vacation.

San Diego Zoo Specials

To find the kinds of travel deals I look for, visit any of the zoo websites and you could be very impressed by the travel specials that they offer. For example, the San Diego Zoo is offering wonderful family travel packages. You can get three days and two nights for a family of four, complete with hotel rooms and zoo tickets, for only $144. This package is regularly priced at $534.

For the San Diego Wild Animal Park Safari, you can get the same three days and two nights in a hotel with tickets to the Safari, for only $164. This package also normally retails for $534.

Given that the San Diego Zoo is offering their packages for two-thirds off the regular rate, it is clear that the Zoo is willing to throw away a lot of profits, just to keep the cash registers ringing.

Don't Be Afraid To Shop Around

Many of the travel destinations that you and I would like to visit, have an online presence in the form of a website dedicated to share information about a given destination.

If you have a travel destination that you would like to visit this summer, don't be shy about seeing if they have a website. If you do, you might just find that the destination is offering some pretty handsome travel deals this spring and summer.



Author's note: This article was originally published at http://www.shoppingtraveldeals.com/blog/2009/02/23/spring-2009-travel-specials/


About the Author:
Anson Werner spends his spare time shopping for travel discounts and learning tricks to help him stretch his limited travel dollars. Recent finds include a 3-day/2-night vacation for two to Las Vegas for $49, and a trick for getting a free cruise for his family. Anson shares his knowledge and recent finds in his travel blog at: http://www.shoppingtraveldeals.com/blog/

Obama Leadership: 8 Ways to Lead in the 21st Century

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Sharif Khan


"I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends." - Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

The world is looking for a new kind of leader who can bring hope and stability in dark economic times. President Obama could very well be that leader. Only time will tell. What can we learn so far from Obama's style of leadership? Here are some observations to note for leading in the 21st century:

1. Survival of the Fittest

Charles Darwin spoke of survival of the fittest belonging to the species that is not necessarily the strongest, but the most adaptive. Obama was strong, bold and fiercely determined at the very start of his campaign. But what catapulted his success into the stratosphere was how his communications team adapted to the power of the internet to engage voters through various online social media channels such as Facebook, Myspace, YouTube and Twitter, and by developing a powerful web presence that helped raise over half a billion dollars online for his campaign.

2. Foes to Friends

Will Lincoln's "team of rivals" strategy of appointing campaign opponents to his cabinet work for President Obama? That remains to be seen; but Obama has shown so far that he is a charismatic leader who can successfully put differences behind and get opponents onboard his team using charm and intelligence. Although easier said than done, an enemy turned into a true friend can prove to be a loyal ally. On a broader scale, Obama's consensus building approach to international relations by seeking to understand before being understood and welcoming multilateral decision making, could help ease world tensions and maybe even convert certain enemy nations into allies. Naïve yes, impossible no.

3. Lead by Example

On his first day of office, President Obama froze senior White House staff salaries exceeding $100,000 and promised more openness and transparency to "make government more trustworthy in the eyes of the American people." His example sends a clear message to the public that his leadership team is willing to share in the sacrifices necessary to turn the economy around.

4. Bold and Swift Action

Rhetoric has to be backed by action. In his inaugural speech, Obama spoke of 'bold and swift' action. From the decision to close down Guantanamo prison in a year, to vowing to pull out American combat troops from Iraq in sixteen months, not to mention the herculean task of getting Congress to pass an $800 billion-plus stimulus package, Obama has so far delivered on his call for 'bold and swift' action. Leadership is about judgment - the ability to make decisions. Some of the choices may be wrong in retrospect, but leadership, like a river, must keep moving forward.

5. Admit Mistakes

It takes a special person of character to readily admit mistakes. When Tom Daschle pulled out of the nomination process for the post of Health Secretary after controversy over his personal tax records, Obama admitted, "I screwed up." He was sincere, direct, and to the point. True leaders earn respect by honestly admitting their mistakes. False leaders are despised, and their plans eventually undermined, because they hide behind their title or position and blame someone else for their own mistakes.

6. Maintain Poise

Whether in a public debate, press conference, or media interview, Obama has shown his trademark signature of remaining cool, calm, and collected by neither overreacting nor underreacting to curve ball questions and attacks. When all is said and done, the person who can keep cool when others are hot is usually the one to boss the job.

7. Powered by Purpose

One of the reasons why President Obama has such a high approval rating is that people see that he is driven by a genuine sense of moral purpose. While he could have easily pursued a high paying corporate law career, Obama chose civil rights law practice instead and served as a community organizer who took a grassroots approach to improving his community in the South Side of Chicago. He is a caring and compassionate leader who burns for justice. In perhaps the greatest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in the history of America, Obama expresses outrage at Wall Street execs who pocketed billions in bonuses from taxpayer bailout money and calls for a 'new era of responsibility'.

8. Hope Rooted in Reality

Abraham Lincoln once said, "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." With unprecedented access to information today, it is becoming nearly impossible to fool all the people even some of the time. People want the facts and aren't fooled easily. Leaders who make the mistake of blind optimism or obscuring the facts are in for a rude awakening. Without the facts, without the proper diagnosis, the disease will only get worse and spread.

President Obama understands this phenomenon and is a leader who provides hope rooted in reality. With sobering resolve, Obama is telling his people that they will have to hunker down, roll up their sleeves, and work hard to rebuild the American dream; a dream that may take more than a term to rebuild, but that can become a reality - with the audacity of hope.


About the Author:
Sharif Khan (http://www.herosoul.com; sharif@herosoul.com) is a freelance writer, consultant, speaker, and author of the inspirational leadership book, Psychology of the Hero Soul.

Maui, Hawaii Travel Specials and Travel Ideas

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Anson Werner


Whale Watching Package

The Kaanapali Beach Hotel in Kaanapali, Hawaii is offering its 2009 Whale Encounter travel special through 04/04/2009.

Maui's humpback whale season is right around the corner, and Kaanapali Beach Hotel's 5-Night Whale Encounter Package is priced just right for two people!

This travel package includes:

5 nights in Partial Ocean View accommodations

Daily buffet breakfast at the Kaanapali Mixed Plate Restaurant

Compact rental car

$50 dinner credit at the Tiki Terrace Restaurant

One 12" pizza

Whale Watch Cruise for two

Admission for two to the Maui Ocean Center

KBH logo cooler bag with two bottles of water per day

A disposable camera and two beach towels

The 2009 Whale Encounter is priced at $1585 for five nights and two people. Valid travel dates run through April 4, 2009.

Honeymoon In Hawaii

Maui's white sand beaches and exotic flowers are among the most beautiful in the world.

The Kaanapali Beach Hotel is a prime destination for couples seeking to get married or to go on a honeymoon vacation.

The Kaanapali Beach Hotel has a nice oceanfront garden for the wedding ceremony. They also provide a caring, knowledgeable experts to assist with all the event planning details. The staff at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel are committed to helping their guests achieve the most memorable wedding experience possible.

Wedding and honeymoon packages start from just $950 complete for a truly affordable and Hawaiian wedding experience.

Hawaii's Volcanoes

While you are in Maui, Hawaii, enjoying the natural beauty of the beaches and the whales, a trip to a nearby volcano will add to the excitement of your vacation.

Maui is the second largest of Hawaii's islands, behind the Big Island, and both islands are mostly inaccessible from land. When it comes to touring the islands, one of the best ways to take in the full experience is to take one of the available flying tours, by aircraft or helicopter.

Flights leave Maui daily, taking visitors for an aerial tour of Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. These flights take visitors over rain forests, spectacular beaches including black sand beaches, scenic coastline views, dramatic cliffs, and cascading waterfalls. Tour operators also overfly the world's largest dormant volcano (Haleakala), located on Maui, and lava flows in an active volcano area (Kilauea) on the Big Island of Hawaii.

If you are traveling to Hawaii for the Whale Encounter, chances are that you will also be able to see the whales as you are flying over Hawaiian waters.

If you decide that you would like to hike Kilauea volcano's lava flows, there are also tour operators who help make this possible too.

Once In A Lifetime

If you only get once chance to go to Hawaii in your lifetime, you should take the opportunity to soak in all that Hawaii has to offer. Take in the whales, the exotic birds and sea life, the beautiful beaches, the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii's volcanoes, all in the same action packed week.


About the Author:
The above story was originally published with links on Anson Werner's blog. Anson Werner searches for and shares travel specials with his readers on his blog at: http://www.shoppingtraveldeals.com/blog/

Three Event Registrations Scams To Watch Out For

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Jim Romanik


Internet scams have become an expected, albeit annoying, intrusion on our personal and business lives. While online event registration is certainly not exempt from scams, simply being aware of the types of scams that are circulating should minimize any repercussions that they could have on your event.

That being said, some incredibly creative person is always dreaming up a new type of scam, so don't let your guard down. A recent personal experience got me thinking about how scams also infiltrate online event registration.

Recently, I was checking house rental ads that I had posted online and saw our house advertised for $500/month less than our asking price! At first, I thought that I had made a huge mistake, but it soon became clear that I hadn't posted this ad at all. Somebody had copied my ad and photos and had posted it along with a few revised "instructions" about how to send through applicant information. After some research, it soon became clear that this was yet another internet scam coming out of Nigeria.

Registering with a Stolen Credit Card and Refund Requests

Online event registration is somewhat exempt from credit card fraud because no merchandise is being shipped and it's fairly unlikely that somebody is going to pay for their event fees with a stolen credit card and then show up at the event. However, if somebody registers for your event with a stolen credit card and then requests a refund, you could fall into a trap if you are persuaded to refund the registration fees by cheque rather than by applying the refund to the original credit card.

If you mail a cheque to the scammer, they will have your money. When the person who owns the credit card sees the fraudulent transaction on their credit card statement, they will contact the credit card company to have the charges removed. The credit card company will take the funds from your bank account and you will be out for the amount of the cheque. As a general rule, you should always refund a transaction by the method it was paid.

Registering to Get a Visitor's Visa

If your event is open to international registration, people may register for the event as a pretense so that they can gain access to the country. If this occurs, the registrant will most likely contact you requesting a letter of invitation which will be required as part of their visitor's visa application. Once your event has been targeted, there may be multiple registrations coming in from the country in question.

You should question registrations from countries that you don't expect registrants from. Based off our experience, these fraudulent registrations originate from African countries, particularly Nigeria. Fraudulent registrations may have been submitted using a stolen credit card, so you will want to be aware of any with approved credit card transactions.

Requesting Personal Information

While registration data is generally of a public nature (such as name and address) as opposed to personal information (such as passwords and account information), it's good practice to establish policies about how you give out registrant information. Thank you and see you at the event.

If somebody contacts you by phone or email indicating that they have registered for your event, ask some questions to verify their identity before offering them any information. If handled properly, these scams should not have any impact on your event other than the annoyance factor.

In the next newsletter, we will discuss how to spot fraudulent registrations in your database and what to do about them. The following month, we will discuss measures that you can take to avoid being targeted by scammers.

If you have any questions about this topic, don't hesitate to contact us. If you would like to research this topic further, the following websites provide more information about internet scams:

Spamhaus: http://www.spamhaus.org/

Crimes of Persuasion: Schemes, Scams, Frauds: http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/


About the Author:
Jim Romanik - founder of ePly Online Event Registration Software (http://www.eply.com)

We are online registration experts and treat your reputation as our own to build registration forms that help your events succeed and make people wonder how you did it.

Download our Free Guide - "What Every Event Planner Should Know About Online Event Registration" at: http://www.eply.com/lp/articles.html

Cheap Gaming Laptops - Where To Find Them?

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins


As a general rule, gaming laptops are not cheap, they are usually the most expensive laptops you can purchase. If you go with a fully-loaded high-end gaming machine from the popular brand-name makers you will likely have to dish out 4 to 6 grand for the top rigs.

However, since all laptop prices have been falling at a steady rate in recent years, if you shop around you can find a half-decent gaming laptop at a reasonable price. Here we're still talking about $1500 to $2500 for a good quality gaming laptop. Although there are probably cheaper ones to be found if you look in the right places.

Now, the main reason gaming laptops are so expensive is because of the high-end components and high-end specs that's needed to produce a superior gaming machine. In a gaming laptop you need top-level Graphics (CPUs), High Processor Speeds, tons of RAM, high-end HD Displays and high-end Optical Drives featuring Blu-ray and the like.

Of course, if you're buying a flashy brand-name gaming laptop like those produced by Alienware or Rock, you will be paying extra for all that style and flash. Now, if money is no object, going with these top brand-names could probably be your best bet if you're playing the name game. Also keep in mind, you don't always have to buy the really expensive "flag-ship" models; going with an entry-level gaming laptop from Alienware or Rock can make them more affordable for the average gamer.

However, if you're on a really tight budget (and who isn't these days) then you have other options when buying a completely good quality gaming laptop. You might not get all the "bells and whistles" but you will get a fast, high-performance gaming machine that will let you play the latest 3D video games on your laptop.

Before you even begin your search, you will have to decide whether or not you're ruling out the possibility of purchasing a refurbished or even a used gaming laptop. If you know what you're doing, some excellent bargains can be had with online auction sites like eBay. Just make sure you thoroughly check out the seller and product before you buy.

Refurbished laptops is another option you can take, just make sure you have some iron-clad guarantees or warranties if you're buying a refurbished gaming laptop. Also remember, check around in your own local area... in hard economic times many perfectly good gaming laptops may be offered for sale so check your local newspaper ads and online places like Craigslist to see if you can pick up a quality gaming rig at a very reasonable price.

Next, if you're in the market for new gaming laptop, there are several lower price models you could consider.

Gateway P-7811FX ($1,449)

The Gateway P-7811FX is one rather inexpensive laptop you should check out if you're searching for good gaming laptop at a reasonable price. It sports a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor with 4GB, 667MHz DDR3 memory, 200GB 7200rpm, Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS and a HD-friendly 1920x1200 17.1 inch display.

Which is great value for your money and if you're on a tight budget, you should consider this one.

Qosmio X305 ($1,500 - $2000)

Toshiba has recently launched its Qosmio X305 series of gaming laptops featuring two NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS SLI graphics cards. With Intel Core2 Duo Processor P8400 and 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM memory - these beauties can handle the most demanding Direct X 10 games and applications.

Throw in Toshiba great 17" Diagonal TruBrite Widescreen Display for full 1680 x 1050 (WSXGA+) resolution and 4 Harman/Kardon speakers with a Subwoofer and you have a good quality gaming machine at a reasonable price.

Know Your Clevo

Furthermore, experienced gamers know their "Clevo" - this is the Taiwan-based notebook maker ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) who supplies many of the Brand-name Boutique OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) like Falcon, M-TECH, Sager, Rock... with the necessary components and models. By comparing the prices on these Clevo models offered by the different OEMs, you can find the cheapest price that's offered. You can save hundreds, if not thousands off by shopping around and finding the best priced Clevo.

These are just but a few examples of finding a relatively cheap gaming laptop, if you're on the hunt for a good quality gaming rig. But there are many more out there, so shop around and cover all your bases.

Happy hunting!


About the Author:
The author runs a handy online Laptop Guide featuring the latest top gaming notebooks: gaming laptops For the latest laptop discounts and bargains try here: cheap laptops at http://www.bizwaremagic.com/cheap_laptops.htm Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Visit Haunted Castles in Ireland!

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Patricia G. McKinney-Lins, All Rights Reserved


Castle doors suddenly slam shut. Swift winds tear through guest rooms on otherwise calm nights. Terrifying wails are heard from deep within castles. The reason for these events? Ghosts. Their spirits have been haunting some castles in Ireland for hundreds of years. If you are brave enough, you might want to visit or stay in one of the real haunted castles in Ireland.

Many battles took place in Irish castles over many centuries of struggle for Irish rule. The violence and bloodshed took many lives and created many legends. Some of the castle ghosts were involved in the fighting; others had more personal tragedies. I visited many haunted castles during my most recent castle tour.

Charleville Castle in Tullamore, County Offaly is haunted by the ghost of its former owner, by druids buried on the grounds, and by a girl who fell from a high staircase to her death. When I visited, ghost hunters were setting up equipment to detect the spirits.

Clonony Castle in Birr, County Offaly, is near the Shannon River in the Irish Midlands. A ghostly figure of a man reportedly patrols one of its towers.

Ballygally Castle is 20 miles from Belfast on the Antrim coast in Northern Ireland. This beautiful hotel has a seaside location and its own friendly ghost! Her name is Isabella; she was the wife of James Shaw. The legend says that she was locked in her room after she gave birth to her baby. She tried to escape and either fell or was thrown to her death. I don't know why she would be a friendly ghost with that history!

Carrickfergus Castle is just east of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This haunted castle is has a seaside location and is home to "Buttoncap", the ghost of a young 16th Century soldier.

Huntington Castle in Clonegal, County Carlow is built on the site of a Druids Temple. Spirits of deceased monks, a murdered soldier, and Lady Esmond all haunt this large estate. You may want to visit this site when you are in Ireland's Southeast Region.

Killua Castle, located in County Westmeath, in the East Coast and Midlands Region of Ireland, is rumored to have a former employee's ghostly figure stalking the grounds at night.

Castle Leslie in County Monaghan, Northern Ireland is a beautiful castle haunted by Norman Leslie, slain in World War I.

Gormanston Castle in County Meath was owned by a family for seven centuries. Legend has it that foxes surrounded the castle upon the death of one of the family members.

Kinnitty Castle in Country Offaly is a beautifully restored castle hotel built on land once inhabited by Druids. This castle is haunted by the "Phantom Monk of Kinnitty". The castle has become a popular wedding venue, despite the uninvited ghostly guest!

Wilton Castle in County Wexford, is in Ireland's Southeast Region. This castle is said to be home to the ghosts of a former magistrate, a dead actress, and a former castle resident.

Leap Castle in County Offaly is widely regarded as the most haunted castle in Ireland. Its bloody past of massacres and murders has led to the presence of vengeful ghosts and unexplained noises, placing Leap Castle at the top of the list of real haunted castles in Ireland. The current owners of this haunted castle have been interviewed by several reporters of paranormal activity. Various television shows and even internet movie clips have featured the ghosts of Leap Castle. The owners claim to co-exist peacefully with the spirits and have come to accept their presence.

Whether or not you believe in ghost stories, it is worth testing your beliefs firsthand. You will definitely enjoy a visit to these beautiful and real haunted castles in Ireland.

Copyright 2008-2009, Patricia McKinney-Lins. All rights reserved.


About the Author:
Written by: Patricia G. McKinney-Lins. Take the worry out of booking your own special trip to the Emerald Isle. Go to the author's website at http://www.majestic-castles-in-ireland.com for free travel advice and recommendations. Sign up for your free newsletter at http://www.majestic-castles-in-ireland.com/ezine and get great travel tips for your next escape to Ireland!

Toy Shopping Online Offers Great Choices and Convenience

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Kim Michael


Toys are important items in the homes of anyone who has children. Toys keep youngsters occupied, interested, and help them to learn as well. However, it can sometimes be stressful to figure out which toys to buy, and finding them at various stores can also be frustrating. Therefore, toy shopping online can offer you great choices as well as excellent conveniences, which will allow you to make sure that you provide yourself with those wonderful toys!

There is a lot to be said about toy shopping online. First of all, you can look at pictures of the toys to get a good idea of the types of things that are offered. Also, you can get a good idea of the specifications of the toys, just by looking at them. You can provide yourself with a lot of information about the toys, just by seeking them out on the internet. The best deals, prices, and information can be found online - so you can make a great choice regarding the toys that you are going to be finding.

Also, there are plenty of different types of toys that you can find while toy shopping online. With so many different types of toys to choose from, it is no longer hard to find just what you are looking for - and have them delivered to your front door.

Activity Toys

There are plenty of great activity toys that you can find online. Activity toys are the toys that keep children entertained and keep them moving and active. There are plenty of them to choose from, and with the right activity toys, you can make any child happy. Toys like Legos and other building materials help a child to develop that great creativity that is often used later in life. Toys like farm play sets, cars, and cooking play sets help children to develop interests, and allow children to continue to build up their creativity. Outdoor activity toys are toys that kids can use outdoors - in the winter or the summer - toys that provide them with skills or creative play as well.

Learning Toys

Learning toys are another category of toys that can be found online - and these can be great ways for kids to enjoy learning. With toys like books and word and letter blocks, kids can learn about the various letters and how to make words. Other toys, like erector sets, can be great activities, but can also help a child to reason and learn how to do mechanical functions with the toys they use. From learning toys, kids can learn more about the world around them. There are toys that enhance reading and math skills, and toys that enhance science and biology learning. Even regular toys, like toy cars or dolls, can be learning toys as well because they have been developed to teach some sort of skill to the children as they play.

Toddler Toys

For each age group, toys are very important. The most important thing about choosing toys for different age groups is that you need to be sure that you are providing children with toys that are developmentally appropriate. With toys like kitchen sets, dolls, and toy cars, careful attention must be paid to the age that is appropriate. For toddlers, dolls and cars as well as kitchen sets need to be monitored. Those that are made for toddlers are made without the small parts that a child could choke on, and they are made with the bigger pieces that can be more easily moved and grasped by younger children. Toddler toys are also often brightly colored, and are often learning toys as well - with giant letters and numbers. Many times, toddler toys make noises or have music. The best toddler toys are going to encourage brain development by having lots of different stimulation and lots of fun things to think about and learn.

No matter what type of toys you are looking for, one of the best things that you can do is help to provide yourself with an easy and affordable way to buy them. Buying toys online can do both of these things for you.




About the Author:
This article was written by: Kim Michael. To find these and many other selections of Educational and Fun Toys, Children, Toddlers and Baby Furnishings, please visit us online at: http://www.TheUniqueToyShop.com

The NBA's Western Conference at the Start of '09

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Ryan Hogan


At the beginning of 2009, the Western Conference has it all: a very dominant team, parity and a lot of NBA Lottery contestants.

The defending conference champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, have a five game lead. Teams #2 through #9 are separated by only two-and-a-half games.

The remaining six teams are at least 12 games under .500.

As the season creeps towards the mid-way point, the Lakers hope to stay consistent and healthy, while the contenders hope to position themselves for a post All-Star-break run into the playoffs.

The Pacific Division

At 25-5, the Lakers are off to their best start since 1999-2000, a year they won the NBA Title.

The lone downside to their start, with the exception of New Orleans (28), is that no Western Conference team has played fewer games than the Lakers. Meaning L.A. will have more opportunities than others clubs to lose.

Of course, it won't be easier for the Lakers to rack up a lot of losses, not the way they can score.

The Lakers lead the league in scoring, averaging 107.3 points a game. Kobe Byrant is third in the NBA in scoring with just over 26 points per game. He's also shooting an impressive 47.3 percent from the field.

The Lakers are deep and talented. And they have a great mix of youth (Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza) and veterans (Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom).

Looking up at the Lakers is the rapidly aging, and increasingly surly, Phoenix Suns.

New head coach Terry Porter has been given the unenviable task of bringing an identity to a team that has both Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal-two great players with radically different playing styles.

After a shaky start to the season, Shaq has been playing better. Over his last eight games, O'Neal is averaging 23.3 points.

The Suns' schedule has been brutal, so an 18-12 record isn't all that bad.

A team with Nash, Shaq, Richardson, Stoudemire and veteran Grant Hill should make the playoffs.

But age, health and Stoudemire's anger management issues will probably prohibit the Suns from seriously challenging for the title.

While the Warriors' problems stem from personnel, the Clippers have some good players.

Point guard Baron Davis, shooting guard Eric Gordon, small forward Al Thornton, power forward Zach Randolph and center Marcus Camby are a formidable starting five (when they are healthy).

The Clippers' problem is they can't shoot. Both Davis and Thornton are in major shooting slumps and the team is closing in on the franchise record for worst field-goal shooting percentage in a season.

Not surprisingly, the Clippers are 28th in points per game, next-to-last in three-point field-goal percentage and 26th in free-throw percentage.

The Clippers run a predictable offense that relies heavily on isolation plays. Players seldom cut without the ball and they are also one of the worst screening teams in the West.

To salvage this season, Davis needs to reenergize his game and Randolph, out a couple of weeks with a dislocated shoulder, needs to return to help the Clippers get easy/open looks on pick and rolls, and pick and pops.

Even if all that happens, look for the Clippers to be nothing more than spoilers for teams trying to make the playoffs.

The Sacramento Kings' best player, Kevin Martin, has already missed 22 games this season due to injury. Entering January, he finally seems healthy and ready to play.

They are one of the league's worst defensive team, allowing over 105 points a game and the Kings are the worst team in point differential, with nearly a minus 10-point difference between their score and their opponents'.

Amazingly, the Kings have eight wins, but don't look for that number to get much larger. This is a team preparing for the draft lottery.

The Northwest Division

Earlier this season, the Denver Nuggets made headlines when they traded Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons for point guard, and Denver native, Chauncey Billups.

Since Billups joined the club, the Nuggets have gone 20-9. The Nuggets are also good at home, they've started the season 11-4 in Colorado.

The Nuggets play an ugly style basketball except for Carmello Anthony. Mello may be the most complete offensive player in the game today.

Denver's bench isn't very good, but their starting five (including center Nene, who is having the best year of his career) should be enough to win this division-especially with the Blazers experiencing growing pains and the Jazz just experiencing pains.

The Portland Trailblazers have just everything you need in a team.

They have a superstar and clutch shooter in Brandon Roy and they have another big-time scorer in LaMarcus Aldridge.

They have size and strength in centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla.

And they have depth with Rudy Fernandez and Travis Outlaw coming off the bench.

However, the Blazers need to be more consistent on defense. This young team can score, but they allow too many open looks and too many easy buckets.

If, or when, Portland realizes they need to play championship caliber defense all-the-time, the West will be there's for the taking.

Before the season started, the Utah Jazz were the obvious pick to win the Pacific division-after all, they've won the last two Northwest Division titles.

A third title in-a-row seems nearly impossible now that the Jazz have been ravaged by injuries.

Guard C.J. Miles is the only Jazz player to have logged minutes in every game this season.

Despite the injuries, the Jazz have battled to a 19-14 record. Jerry Sloan has done a tremendous job keeping his team competitive and the Jazz have the good fortunate of having the league's 6th easiest schedule.

Even if the Jazz get healthy, landing that 8th playoff spot will be difficult. They are an awful road team, currently 7-10 away from Salt Lake City, and the hard part of the schedule is still to come.

While the Blazers and the Nuggets are catchable, the Jazz maybe the good Western Conference team that doesn't make the playoffs.

It will be a long year for the T-Wolves and unless they show significant improvement, it will also be McHale's last season as their employee.

As bad as it is for the T-Wolves at least they're not in last place. That distinction falls to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In the month of December, Kevin Durant averaged 25.6 points and 7.5 boards. He shot a respectable 48 percent from the field and 45 percent from behind the arc.

His performance was good enough to lead his team to a 1-12 record for the month.

In total, you can count all the Thunder's wins on one hand (4) and still have a digit left over to show your feelings towards owner Clay Bennett.

Chances are the Thunder won't win enough games to fill up two hands. In fact, they may make more trades than wins.

The Southwest Division

This year Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets hope to improve on last year's team that finished 56-26 and lost to the Spurs in the conference semi-finals.

Last season, the Hornets started 18-10. This year they started 19-9. That's good, but what's cause for concern is the Hornets are 7-6 against teams that made the playoffs last season.

The first month of 2009 will play a large part in whether or not the Hornets can surpass their 2007-2008 results. The Hornets play 16 games in the month of January (nine of those on the road) including four sets of back-to-back games.

If the Hornets can escape January with 10 or more wins, look for them to repeat as Southwest Division champs.

Even the name San Antonio Spurs sounds old.

Age has definitely made the Spurs more vulnerable than they've ever been under Gregg Popovich, but it's only January.

Is this team even out of hibernation?

Spurs don't even start caring about basketball until March.

Despite suffering injuries (at various points of the season) to Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the Spurs have still managed to post a 20-11 mark.

The Spurs lost Brent Barry and Robert Horry from last year's squad, but newcomer Roger Mason and rookie George Hill have been productive and nice additions to the team.

The stars are still shining, Parker is averaging 22 points and 6 assists a game, while Tim Duncan is averaging a double-double a game-20.7 points and 10.3 rebound.

Like you would expect from a veteran team, the Spurs know how to win close ball games. San Antonio is 10-3 in games decided by six points or less, or games decided in overtime-they've already won their three double-overtime games.

Staying in Texas, the Houston Rockets are reminiscent of another team from the Lone Star state that plays a different sport. The Rockets, like those "Boys" of winter, can win some games but when it comes down to crunch time, they scare no one.

Yes, the addition of Ron Artest is a good one. But even if he's Mother Teresa off the court, he's not going to lead the Rockets to the second round of the playoffs by himself-you know after Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady go down with injuries.

McGrady, after a meeting with head coach Rick Adelman and general manager Daryl Morey, said he won't be playing in the second of back-to-back games.

Seriously?

T-Mac isn't even 30-years old and he's already taking games off?

Sure, the Rockets will win some games, make the playoffs and show a few signs of being a legitimate contender, but eventually they will wilt.

You don't have to be a Dallas Mavericks fan to be sick of hearing about how they shouldn't have traded Devin Harris to the New Jersey Nets for Jason Kidd.

We get it!

Harris is tearing it up in Jersey and Kidd is playing out the twilight of his career before going to hall of the fame.

As you might imagine, Dirk Nowitzki is a large part of why the Mavs are now headed in the right direction, but some credit should go to reserve guard Jason Terry. He's the leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year and is averaging over 21 points per game.

Forward Josh Howard is finally healthy-a sprained left wrist followed by sprained left ankle cost him 11 games.

Guard Jason Terry has been critical of his defense this season (when was the last time you heard a NBA player say that). His tenacious D was part of the reason the Mavs were able to come back and defeat the Timberwolves after falling behind 62-40 at halftime.

Jason Kidd may not be averaging 23 points like Devin Harris, but he still knows how to ball. Kidd is averaging 8.6 assists, 2.6 steals and 6.5 rebounds a game, while turning over the rock less than two-and-half times a game. That's solid production.

The Mavs are a good team and they are much better than their 19-12 record indicates.

Can someone please put the Memphis Grizzles on television? I want to see O.J. Mayo play.

Can't TNT broadcast one of his games or do they have to air the dozen Tyler Perry sitcoms?

The rookie guard from USC is averaging 20 points a game. He leads his team in scoring and turnovers. He's second in steals and third in assists.

Speaking of assists, the Grizzlies are the only team in the league that doesn't record assists on at least half of their field goals.

This type of selfish play is started to wear on head coach Marc Iavaroni. If it continues, it may cost Iavaroni his job.

Recently, Iavaroni received the kiss of death from his owner, Michael Heisley, who publically stated he's solidly behind his head coach.

That's never a good sign for a coach.

If the Grizz can keep Mayo, Marc Gasol, Darrell Arthur and Rudy Gay together, they may have a future.

Conclusion

The Los Angeles Lakers should win this conference and return to the NBA Finals. If they somehow fail to play defense at a championship-level, a slew of teams are ready to pounce and make a move.

The Spurs are probably saving their energy for one last championship run; remember they know how to win.

The Hornets are hungry and in their prime; when it's all said and done, Chris Paul will be listed as one of the all-time greats.

The Mavs may sneak up and surprise a lot of teams; too many basketball fans are talking about the Kidd-Harris trade and not their solid play.

Denver, Portland, Phoenix and Utah are long shots to catch the Lakers, but they are more than capable of winning a serious or two in the postseason.

To highlight the depth of the Western Conference, one of the following teams will be in the NBA lottery: New Orleans, San Antonio, Denver, Portland, Dallas, Phoenix and Utah.

The Western Conference is tough.




About the Author:
Ryan Hogan is a writer for Basketball Central and is an avid NBA fan too. Read an expanded version of this NBA Western Conference article here. If you're a basketball fan as well, visit http://www.bballcentral.com for articles, a basketball forum and a wallpaper gallery.

Eco Friendly Home Accents Are in Demand

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Kris Bond


The Eco Friendly trend continues to grow.... not falling short of entering the home. For the past several years manufacturers of all the different industries and local retail stores have been in search of ways to save the environment - or at least preserve what can be. One can even find reusable grocery bags in local drug stores and supermarkets. It is really no surprise that the home décor industry is following suit. Consumers can purchase stylish lighting, furniture, art sculptures, floor décor, and a variety of other home accessories made from natural fibers and materials that are considered environmentally friendly.

A variety of elegant lighting is available to consumers from hanging fixtures, to desk lamps, wall sconces and floor lamps. All of which are made from economically safe materials. The modern-day rectangular shaped hanging light would be a perfect replacement to the traditional inlayed ceiling light in the kitchen or even above a pool table. The island style is unique in taste and modern. The ideal accent piece for any room would be the one of the elegant penshell collection, either the hanging style or mounted on a stunning black base.

Eco friendly furniture has also become a demand. Consumers can now fill the rooms of their homes with furnishings made from recycled wood. The quality and style are not discounted in any way. An elegant, traditionally round rosewood table would be a wonderful addition to a dining room. Scraps and strips of wood were collected and reformed to design the top and then completed with an economically friendly oil for protection. Matching recycled rosewood dining chairs are also available. They too are pieced together by hand and formed into a comfortable yet sturdy place to sit and enjoy a family dinner. Other tables such as end tables, coffee tables, and console tables are great additions to the home. Each follow the lead of the dining table being handmade and finished with a safe oil for protection.

Artistically sound sculptures can also be found and enjoyed by a variety of tastes. For the mask lover there are a variety of stone and shell masks. A blue base, turquoise, natural and white onyx are choices that are given. Each mask has been handcrafted and provides a different look and tells a different story. Their history dates back to over one thousand years ago. They are completed with a stone stand making them suitable for placement on a shelf or table. Wall mountable sculptures are also available. A beautifully handmade deer head sculpture would be a wonderful accent piece for a trophy room. The sculpture is made from a recycled teak wood that forms the deer's head, antlers, and neck. Whether being used as a mount on the wall or on a table, each sculpture is hand formed from components that are collected and then remanufactured.

What room would be complete without floor accents? Truly unique in design, the Reclaimed Monkey Wood Vine Floor Screen can serve as a room divider and accent for any room in the home. Pieces from Monkey Wood Trees are hand formed to create this beauty. Banana Tree Bark and Rubber Wood Leaf inlays make up the Banana Bark Floor Décor Collection. Two vases of various sizes are grouped together into one package for an exotically, tasteful addition.

There is a variety of other accents that can be added to a consumer's economically favored style: Coconut Shell House Motif Jewelry Box, White Capiz Shell Candlesticks, Turquoise Blue Penshell Vases, Turquoise Blue Penshell Candle Holders, Nautilus décor, the list could go on forever. The World has turned to salvaging itself and relies upon those that reside in it. Eco Friendly items can go as far as decorating a living room. The modern style surely adds to an artistic taste.




About the Author:
This article was written by: Kris Bond. For these and many other Earth-Friendly products to feel good about, please visit us at: http://www.UnusualHomeDecor.com/

Is Your Favorite Team in the AL East? Then Read This

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Ryan Hogan


The American League East is arguably the toughest division in Major League Baseball today. The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox alone are enough to earn that reputation, but now you can add the pennant winning Tampa Bay Rays to the A.L. East's competitive teams.

If you're still not convinced, after a mid-season managerial change, the Toronto Blue Jays finished 10 games above .500 to become the best 4th place team in the wildcard era. As for the Baltimore Orioles...well, someone had to finish last.

The Tamp Bay Rays are young and inexpensive—they have less than $50 million in 2009 commitments. They also have a farm system overflowing with talented prospects, giving the defending A.L. Champs plenty of options to fix weaknesses.

Their biggest weakness is hitting left-handed pitching. With Cliff Floyd and Eric Hinske testing the free agency waters, the Rays will try to add more offense that can improve the league's third-worst OPS against lefties.

Tampa Bay would like to add depth to the closer position. Current closer Troy Percival is old and injury prone. If the Rays don't want to promote an arm from within, they will take a long hard look at what's available on the free agency market.

The Tampa Bay Rays were forced to a Game 7 of the American League Championship Series by a wounded Boston Red Sox squad. Despite being just one game away from returning to the World Series, the Red Sox have already started to close the gap between them and the upstart Rays.

The Red Sox bolstered their bullpen and thinned out a log jam in centerfield by trading Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals for right-handed reliever Ramon Ramirez. This makes Jacoby Ellsbury the Red Sox's starting center fielder.

The Red Sox offered arbitration to catcher Jason Varitek, meaning he's unlikely to be back with the team next year. To fill the void behind the plate, the Red Sox will likely pursue Taylor Teagarden or Jarrod Saltalamacchia, both with the Texas Rangers.

On January 8th, the Red Sox acquired Rocco Baldelli to add to their outfield.

The Red Sox acquired right handed pitcher Randor Bierd from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for right handed pitcher David Pauley.

Boston also signed Brad Penny and free agent right handed pitcher Takashi Saito to a one-year contract through the 2009 season with a club option for 2010.

Any trade Boston makes will probably involve highly touted pitcher Clay Buchholz. Red Sox can part with pitching prospects since they have a solid four-man rotation.

And the team just signed free agent right handed pitcher John Smoltz to a one-year contract through the 2009 season. So their pitching is starting to look very good.

With Manny Ramirez gone and slugger David Oritz another year older, the Red Sox would have loved to have landed the 29-year-old switch-hitting free agent Mark Teixeira to their lineup. But alas, the New York Yankees snatched him up in a move very similar to how they got A-Rod. The deal is for 8-years and $180 million.

The Yankees have a lot of two things: money and old age. Look for baseball's richest franchise to spend more of its money to get younger, both at the plate and on the mound. They also got

The Yanks have $75 million in 2008 salaries coming off the books thanks to the free agencies of Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte (although Abreu and Pettitte might be back with the team) and to the retirement of pitcher Mike Mussina.

Besides Teixeira, the Yankees have also been salivating over starting pitcher CC Sabathia. The former Brewer ace wants a nine-figure salary and the Yanks can afford to write that check. And in the end, the Evil Empire signed Sabathia as well for 7 years and $161 million.

The Toronto Blue Jays finished the 2008 season with 86 wins, the league's best ERA, and the league's fourth-best run differential—all good enough for fourth place in the division.

So can these birds really compete with the top flyers in the AL East? The answer is probably not.

Last year, the Blue Jays had one of the league's best four-man rotations with Roy Halladay, Burnett, Jesse Litsch and Shaun Marcum. Two of those four pitchers are already gone for next season. Burnett opted for free agency and Marcum will miss all of 2009 with Tommy John surgery.

The problem with the Blue Jays is they don't have the Red Sox's or the Yankees' money, but are stuck in their division. It might be prudent for Toronto to think beyond 2009 and start preparing now to dump salaries before the trade deadline.

The Baltimore Orioles had the fifth oldest lineup in the majors, only two players were south of 30. The good news for the Birds is most of their veterans are entering the final year of their contracts.

Last off season, the Orioles pillaged the Seattle Mariners of numerous prospects for the hugely disappointing Erik Bedard. Anticipate Oriole GM Andy MacPhail to try and repeat that transaction. While it will be difficult to find a team as stupid as the Mariners were a year ago, it's not out of the question for MacPhail to make several solid trades that make the Orioles younger and competitive.

2nd Basemen Brian Roberts should be one of the first to go followed by Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora and Ramon Hernandez. In return, Baltimore should aim to improve its pitching staff. In 2009, the Orioles had the league's worst ERA.

The upcoming 2009 MLB season is going to be very exciting and the A.L. East is going to be extremely competitive. Look for the off-season changes to make a big difference for all of the teams in the A.L. East and expect to see Tampa, New York and Boston battle it out all season long.


About the Author:
Ryan Hogan writes for ClickitTicket, a website where you can buy MLB and other sports tickets and read original sports and music articles. This is a MUST-SEE website that has great deals on sports, theater and concert tickets and great original content, visit http://www.clickitticket.com

Interviewing an Expert For a Teleseminar? Avoid These Six Mistakes

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Marcia Yudkin


Recording and interviewing an expert on a topic that has value for a group of listeners is one of the quickest and easiest ways to create a saleable product. This sort of teleseminar can also help drum up interest in an upcoming event as a free preview call.

However, as someone who has been interviewed or interviewed others dozens of times and listened to scores more expert interviews, I've observed several pitfalls that can affect the quality of the product.

To end up with a recording people that people feel good about having paid for, avoid making the following mistakes when you interview experts, either during a live teleseminar with listeners on the line or when just you and the expert are on the line for later distribution of your conversation.

1. Talking too much. As the interviewer, you should be talking no more than 20 percent of the time. It's fine to offer occasional observations that add to and round out what the expert has said. But it's rude to both the expert and the listeners to horn in on his expertise by running off at the mouth. However much you also know about the subject at hand, your role is subsidiary here. Write the following two words in big letters in front of you as a reminder: SHUT UP. If you just can't be quiet, reverse your role and find someone to interview you.

2. Not introducing the expert. Some interviewers either say outright, "So-and-so needs no introduction" or act as if everyone listening knows the stature and credentials of the guest expert. Yet even people who paid to be on a call and presumably read your sales copy might not remember the expert's qualifications or might be new to the circles in which your expert is a living legend. Always provide at least a brief bio of the expert to set the context for your questions.

3. Gushing. It's painful to listen to someone who responds to every other point of the expert by praising him or her to the sky. Instead of flowery or overly emotional flattery, be sparing and specific in your praise. Rather than "Wow, that's another incredibly insightful point," for instance, you can say "That's something most gurus don't tell you," or "I would never have guessed that," or "I see I'm going to have to make some changes after we finish today's call." Let listeners make up their own minds about the value of the expert's savvy for them.

4. Lousy questions. Good questions are open-ended ones that call for an explanation, anecdote or perspective of some sort rather than a simple yes or no. Avoid multi-part questions, because inevitably one of the parts gets lost in the expert's answer, confusing or disappointing listeners.

5. Getting off track. As interviewer, you are responsible to keep the discussion on track. However interesting a side issue might be, you can't let it get in the way of what you advertised would be covered in the call. Good phrases for reining in a digression include "But to get back to our topic for tonight..." or "I'm not sure we have time to get into that. Do you have any more ideas about ___ [the central topic]?"

6. Not providing URLs. Sometimes during a preview call that is promoting an upcoming paid event, the expert mentions valuable information available on the expert's web site, but the interviewer fails to prompt the expert to provide the web address so listeners can access it. This gets listeners feeling like the interviewer cares only about the event selling out and not about helping listeners. Listeners deserve to receive sufficient information to follow up with the expert directly or check out his or her books or web site.

By following these guidelines, you provide a solid educational experience for listeners, treat your expert with respect and are positioned well to receive the payoff that you planned for the teleseminar project.


About the Author:
Veteran teleseminar presenter Marcia Yudkin specializes in high- ticket, high-value teleteaching courses. To find out more about your teleseminar options, download a complimentary copy of "66 Ways to Use Teleseminars to Promote Your Business or Your Cause," go to http://www.yudkin.com/teleteach.htm . Discover how to plan, promote and deliver profitable teleseminars, whether you're an entrepreneur, business or health professional, nonprofit organization or corporate marketer.