June 2008
Living in a Past Period in a Virtual Reality Dream
In the future virtual reality may be so real that it will be indistinguishable from actual real-life. In fact as you are immersed in the virtual reality dream, your mind will be tricked into believing that you are actually in the real world scenario and that you really live in the time period and setting that the virtual reality dream has set up.
Imagine living in a past period in a virtual reality dream that you chose very similarly to pressing the buttons on a jukebox. Insert your credit card, put on a special hat on and a hood would come over you like a simulator in aviation. Your brain would be tricked into believing you are actually there and all of your senses would be engaged and immersed fully in the virtual reality dream.
Perhaps you would go to a Shakespeare play and sit in the peanut gallery and watch. You would believe that you were actually there and your memory would be blocked as to who you really are. I believe that this is the future of virtual reality and it may be so powerful with such strong visions that people will actually enjoy it to the point that it becomes a drug and or an addiction to life itself. As those people who wish to escape their present day life and stress will thoroughly enjoy it, even more than real-life. Consider all this in 2006.
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“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/ |
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7 Ways GPS Can Save You Time, Money, Your Mind, and Even Your Life
Here are 7 ways to save with GPS:
1. Have a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost!
Devices such as the Garmin Forerunner GPS provides a way to keep track of the time, speed, distance, and pace information for athletic activities. It also provides a way to measure the amount of calories burned based on a variety of customizable personal options and factors.
2. Save on Gas, brake wear, etc on your car as you drive more efficiently.
3. Find where you want to go faster: important business meetings, life events, but also to save your own time so you can use the balance to be with your loved ones.
4. Gain peace of mind knowing where your children are, whether your elderly parents have wandered off, or when and where your family pet has wandered off your premises.
5. Save money on your car insurance. Some auto insurance providers, in return for allowing them to implement GPS tracking devices on your car, can help you reduce your premiums.
6. Run a more efficient business with time tracking of employees and prevent lost company time and money.
7. And the most important reason is that GPS can help save your life from reckless driving, etc. Such as providing voice prompts when you are approaching your specific destination, warnings that you are going over the speed limit, advanced notice of potential accident blackspots, etc.
Two more bonus reasons on how GPS won’t make a significant dent in your wallet
1. Don’t have to worry about new models coming out every few months like the PC. 1 Decent model from Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrance should last the typical user many years.
2. No monthly fees like internet, GPS Signals are free like radio waves. You just need a receiver. Advanced features such as tracking services are different (i.e. for your children, elderly, your valuable possessions, and your pets, and may cost a nominal monthly fee depending on the service provider and your needs whether commercial or private.
These are just some of the ways you can benefit it time/money savings as an individual. And just a few ways for you to get a good Return on Investment for your business.
Warnings/Caveats
Remember, that technology will NEVER subsitute basic common sense such as teaching your kids about personal safety, being a safe driver, etc. The best technology for all those starts within your own brain and senses. No matter what the big companies tell you, never let technology replace your own judgment but rather to complement and help refocus it.
Also just because GPS makes it simple to track your employees for instance, doesn’t mean there are no human barriers to overcome such as the trust factor. It’s important to explain to your employees in a manner that allows them to understand the business savings and benefits of incorporating such a tracking system, and is not designed to compromise their privacy and integrity. This applies to family members as well. If you think your family pet has issues with privacy then you may need to convince him/her if applicable.
Not a techno geek or have direct access to one? Visit Simon Wyryzowki’s regularly updated blog with quality information without the fluff or extensive sales pitches. Get up and running in no time with GPS tracking services for people including your children and elderly, etc.
Buy A Business Without Paying For An Attorney, CPA, Airline Ticket Or Even A Taxi Cab Ride
After half a century of buying businesses, people still ask me why I spend so much of my time investing in buying businesses instead of real estate, the stock market and other things like that.
And I always tell them — and this is absolutely true — the reason I don’t do anything but buy businesses is because, in 50 years of doing so, I still have yet to come across a better investment than buying a business. In fact, nothing else even comes close in terms of both return on investment and risk.
Let’s put it this way. If you get any financing at all, the cap rate on the average business with some
financing is about 60 percent. What I mean by “cap rate” is you’re getting 60 percent of your money back
every year.
So, if you invest $100,000, you’re going to get $60,000 back a year. I mean, on real estate you invest a $100,000 and you’re going to get 10,000 back — if that. So, buying a business gets you six times what you normally get with real estate and blows it right out of the water as an investment.
But it’s actually more than that because the amount you normally invest (if you use investor financing) is as close as you can get to zero in most cases.
And while it’s true you need to have an attorney and a CPA help you through the whole process, if you understand what to say to them, they’ll “ride along” with you, not billing you until after you actually buy a business — so you can pay them with money from the business you bought, and not your own money. You may also have expenses for traveling to different cities, too, if you choose to go long distance. But even with that, you just make sure you tell your investors that at the close of escrow, you’re pulling back all the money you invested. Which they will almost never complain or care about.
Again, I have yet to see anything else that even comes close to buying a business as far as return on investment and risk go.
Arthur B. Hamel has bought over 200 businesses in the past 50 years, and is a well-known author, consultant, investor, business owner, and dynamic lecturer who has shared the stage with such business greats as Robert Allen of “No Money Down” fame. For the past 20 years Art has taught thousands of people around the world — even so-called “little guys” with no formal education or money — how to quickly and easily buy large, multi-million dollar businesses with no credit, banks or prior business experience. He has recently decided to share his unique business-buying secrets and tactics free of charge at: http://arthurhamel.com
Take Pleasure In Skandia Cowes Sailing Week 2008, Corporate Yachting Events with Ondeck Powerboat School
Sailing as a sport, relaxation or used as a company device is exceedingly gratifying. There are also special powerboat events that make it equally exciting & can be something that the whole family equipped to go & observe at the same time. One of the most interesting weeks of the yachting diary is the Cowes Regatta Week; this event takes place every year & has been functioning since 1826 which makes it the longest running yachting event today. With more than six hundred ships and 6,000 entrants partaking, being watched by more than sixty thousand spectators every day Cowes week has realised the merit as one of the principal yachting business hospitality & community occurrence of the full year. Check out Ondeck’s website for the all the latest info on the 2008 Cowes Regatta.
The 8500 sailors cover Commonwealth & world class able sailors to recently qualified sailors. Nevertheless, if you are not onboard yourself, watching the sailing, benefiting from the festivities & live shows, and to witness the unique vibe, makes it a one of a type corporate event.
With Ondeck Sailing, this year commences the launch of their up-to-the-minute Regatta Division. Developing on their good position in the charter marketplace, this has seen Ondeck Yachting, run many electrifying sailing events for businesses, they have recently joined-up with Britannia Sailing Events the chief organisers of industry regattas in the UK.
The direction of the race itself will differ each day as reasons such as the climate state of affairs, tidal streams & swiftness of each class of boat is taken into care. A classic Skandia Cowes Regatta has over thirty-five commences each day for opponents of cruiser racers, one designs & keelboats; adding to a sum total of over 900 boats. For the duration of this point in time the Solent which is a considerably busy industrial shipping channel, is occupied with boats of all manufactures and is principally vibrant in colour owing to the boats spinnakers. As high lighted prior on top of the yachting activities the week comprises of a big number of onshore events like that of live comedy & cocktail parties. From private or commercial house parties and nominally private sailing groups & boats, there are large marquees setup in the marinas providing food and champagne.
Top of the Mind Awareness in Equine Marketing: Familiarity Breeds Sales
One of the large challenges you face as an equine marketer is achieving what marketing professionals call “top of the mind awareness” of your horses and business.
What is Top of the Mind Awareness?
Top of the Mind Awareness, or “TOMA,” is being the first supplier a prospective customer thinks of when they think about the horses, equine products, or horse-related services that you offer. Increasing your level of TOMA in your prospects’ minds impacts your current sales of horses and services as well as your future sales.
Here are some examples of TOMA at work:
Example 1: You have TOMA of products with which you are familiar.
If someone asks you about farriers, the image or name that pops into your mind is probably that of your own farrier. You are most familiar with your own farrier, so he is on “top of your mind.” Your awareness may be so strong that when you hear the general word “farrier,” you picture your own farrier’s face!
Most people maintain their own status quowhen they find their service providers to be satisfactory, they are in a comfortable position than selecting another and venturing into the unknown. You are a current customer of your farrier and, as long as you are otherwise satisfied, that familiarity helps to keep you a current customer.
Example 2: You have TOMA for products that you have never used!
Think about a type of product that you haven’t tried. For example, the first time you think you might try feeding a joint health supplement, do any names come to mind? Cosequin, Corta-Flx, or another brand?
Even though you don’t have first-hand familiarity with the product, you probably can think of one or more specific brands. The reason those brands come to the top of your mind is that effective marketing has put them there! You have seen an ad for the brand, or the product package, or heard its name in conjunction with the product’s purpose. Odds are, you have been exposed to information about the product in several ways and many times. Your mind has associated that brand with the idea of “joint supplement,” and stored it away in your memory.
How to Build Your Horse Business by Building TOMA:
Familiarity builds positive associations. In one psychological study, each subject was shown a random squiggly line. When the person was later presented with a set of squiggly line patterns and asked which they liked the best, most chose the line that they had seen before.
It works for squiggly lines, for products, and for business and brand names: The more familiarity, the more likely that something is preferred.
Think of ways to create TOMA with your prospective customers, put those strategies into practice, and become your prospects’ instinctive first choice!
Copyright 2005 by I.M. Andrews/Equinnovation Equine Marketing/www.Equinnovation.com. For more articles, information, and tips on horse business topics and equine marketing, subscribe to the Equine Business Edge, the free newsletter for horse-related business owners and the equine industry, at www.equinnovation.com/newsletter.
Make Money With A Home Based Business
Would you like to make money by starting your own home-based business? People choose to work from home for several reasons including the desire to stay home with their children, the need for extra income, or simply being dissatisfied with their current job. A home-based business will provide you with an exciting way to make money and be your own boss. Numerous opportunities are available to internet marketers.
When starting your home-based business you should develop a business plan and research your options thoroughly. Making wise decisions and following your business plan each step of the way can help you in creating a steady stream of income. Operating a home-based business will require hard work and effort. You will not become wealthy over night. It will take determination to succeed as an internet marketer. The amount of money you make will be directly related to the amount of work you are willing to do.
When making your business plan, include both short and long term goals. Determine how you will achieve those goals and put your plan into action. Affiliate programs are excellent home-based business programs and there are numerous other internet marketing offers that will create steady income if you are willing to make the effort. Some of these opportunities may require an initial investment from you and others are advertised as free. Research all internet marketing opportunities carefully to make sure you understand the terms and conditions.
As an internet marketer, you will have to distinguish yourself from the competition if you want to succeed. You should know your target audience and know your competition even better. Do not let self-doubt stop you from accomplishing your goals. Every successful internet marketer gives their business the very best effort possible. Hard work and determination will make your home-based business a success and provide you with a steady stream of income.
Starting a home-based business is one of the most exciting and challenging endeavors you will ever undertake. A sound business plan and the will to succeed will set you apart from the competition. Choose the products or services you provide carefully. Make certain your services will be needed over the long term and make customer service your top priority. A loyal customer base is the key to the success or failure of your home-based business. A home-based business is an excellent way to gain independence and financial freedom. A sound business plan and a strong work ethic are all it takes to succeed.
Hans Hasselfors is a successful business entrepreneur and internet marketing consultant. Get the net working for you. Join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and make your living online. Become a member of The Business Professional network. www.internet-marketing-experts-online.com
Bariatric surgery & early death
Weight loss surgeries have witnessed huge popularity in recent times. The number of stomach-shrinking operations, a type of bariatric surgery meant for severely obese people has skyrocketed in recent years. Few celebrities of Hollywood have also opted for this form of surgery to curtail obesity.
But there are various risks associated with these surgeries especially for elderly people and those suffering from heart disease. At times, it can result in early death. Patients aged 65 or older face a nearly threefold increase in the risk of early mortality according to latest findings. It has been found that men are nearly twice as likely to die following such procedures as opposed to women. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than 5% of men and nearly 3% of women aged 35 to 44 years were dead within a year of having the surgery and a slightly higher rate were found in patients aged between 45 to 54.
Bariatric surgery is a complicated procedure therefore a surgeon requires prior experience to perform it properly. Patients whose surgeons had performed fewer than 20 procedures were nearly five times as likely to die within 30 days after the operation as compared to others. Despite the greater risk associated with it, bariatric surgery can be a safe and effective tool for morbidly obese people, who face serious health problems if they don’t lose weight.
Things you need to know about bariatric surgery
1.Bariatric surgery is not an easy option for obesity sufferers as it carries the usual pain and risks of any major gastrointestinal surgical operation.
2.Bariatric surgery requires changes in eating habits therefore after having bariatric surgery; patients remain at a lifelong risk of nutritional deficiencies.
3.Bariatric Surgery is best suited for morbidly obese people.
4.High amount of motivation is required to make the surgery a success.
5.This procedure is costly as compared to other weight loss techniques.
Therefore, be well informed about the surgery you want to opt for as it can make weight loss an easy and safe affair for you.
to know more about weight loss and diet pills, visit:http://www.slimtour.com
www.slimtour.com/articles/index.html
The 3 Most Basic Thoughts for Mutual Fund Investing Online
If you are thinking of investing some money then you have thousands of options available in the forms of mutual funds.
However, how do you know what the right one or best one is for you to open?
Is investing online in mutual funds the right thing for you to do right now?
For you to even be able to begin to think about investing online then you must meet a few requirements regarding your computer’s capabilities first.
Your computer must be able to connect to the internet (obviously), your web browser must be at least 128-bit compatible such as Netscape 3.0 or Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher, and logically you must have at least a small amount of money - if not more - to start and actually invest. (Some online brokers require that you have as much as $1,000 or the equivalent in securities to open an account.)
If these things aren’t possible now or might stretch you a bit too thin in your personal life then mutual fund investing online may not be the best option right now.
Different accounts may be available for mutual fund investing online than are found in the bank you can walk into down the street and it is very worth your while to check in to this before making a final decision. With different companies comes different requirements, some require you to place cash up front and others may not require any cash to open the account.
You should (for “should” - read ‘must’) do an extensive detailed search to find an account that fits your needs as well as your bank account. Your best research tool is the World Wide Web and it is right at your finger tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The subject of fees is always a tricky one to partake in and accounts online may be better for personal access as well as learning the subject, but the fees will still be there. Brokers online and brokers in big, fancy offices are going to charge fees whether you like it or not, but some may have “no fee” accounts that require certain balances or certain types of accounts.
Read the fine print, that is always where the important stuff is printed and you need to know everything about the place that is holding your money. No broker is truly going to “hide” fees and hang onto their trading licence for long, but it is up to you to read everything you sign, even the “terms of service” to understand exactly what you are getting yourself into.
Some websites will also help you by giving daily, monthly, and historical mutual fund data so you can make informed decisions. View everything available on the particular fund you are thinking of investing in, it is the best way to find the best account that is open to you or investors just like you.
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Duncan Roberts is a keen investor - happiest when he sees the value of his portfolio climbing! To learn more tricks and tips on investing, check out his Mutual Fund Investing advice. Duncan writes for the Investing site - http://www.theadvicecentre.info/investing/mutual-fund-investing.htm |
Debit Cards: Use and Abuse
Did you know that youngsters between the ages of 13 and 19 have huge buying and spending power? On average, this consumer group spends about $5,000 each per year. And much of that funding is provided by Mom and Dad. You may send your daughters to the mall for school shopping, or you may have a child who just can’t seem to keep away from the video arcades. You reason that it is money they’ve earned mowing lawns, baby-sitting or with part time jobs, so it’s their money to spend, right? That may be true; yet this age group is at real risk for developing credit and spending habits which will not serve them well in just a few years.
If you’ve had a child go off to college, I can guarantee that he or she has been offered credit cards. And these are credit cards you may not know anything about at all. Lenders do target college kids for seemingly attractive credit card offers. And many of them do sign up. Unfortunately, they may not have the financial savvy or experience to understand what they are getting into. Today, more than ever, it’s important to educate your children about the use (and abuse) of credit. And one way that seems to be gaining popularity is with debit-cards. When I first heard about parents actually encouraging the use of debit cards, I was very concerned. But read on. Parent-controlled use of debit cards might be just what you and your child need to build a foundation of financial literacy.
Debit cards do look like credit cards, but the similarity should end there. With credit cards, your student can charge on up to the credit limit of the card on the very day the card is received. A debit card can be used like a credit card to pay for goods and services but only up the balance on the card at any particular time. So, if you and your student have agreed on a particular allowance from home for various expenses, you can fund that amount monthly and know that your child can’t use up next month’s rent this month simply because it’s not available to him.
Debit cards actually work like a checking account if you think about it. When there is no more balance on the card, the card is rejected. Your student can’t write “checks” which will bounce with a debit card. The card simply won’t be accepted if the money isn’t there. Debit cards can work like ATM cards, too, so access to cash, if there is cash available, can be as convenient as your local ATM machine. Parents don’t have to make a mad dash at lunch to put money into a checking account which would take a couple of days to clear. They can set up deposits to a debit card on a regular basis, and those amounts do appear on time on the debit card balance. It’s less stress all the way around.
Does this mean your student might not call you at midnight with a “desperate” need for weekend money which won’t be deposited till Monday? Nope. He or she still will call. And you can still make the dash to deposit if you want to. But what if you don’t? Your student knows that the money will be there, as a balance on the debit card, like clockwork. Are you getting the picture? This is actually a pretty good way to teach your student money management. He can’t get into trouble by overcharging or writing bad checks. He will have to learn to pace his spending until the debit card is refreshed at the agreed upon time.
As parents, you may have additional concerns about student spending. Well, there’s a monthly statement you receive. If ALL the withdrawals on the debit card are to the local beer emporium, you might need to have a conversation. Also, if all the withdrawals are only at the very beginning of the month, some time/money management discussions might be in order. Many debit card accounts allow parents to limit ATM withdrawals to a certain amount per day to ward off spending sprees. Check with your Credit Union about other safeguards which may be available including how to handle fraudulent use of such a card, and how to handle lost cards. And breathe a sigh of relieve, parents. This really is a good tool for you and your young spenders.
Take advantage of low rate debit cards and all of the benefits that your local Credit Union has to offer. New, “Community” registration status makes joining one simple and open to everyone. Find out how easy it is at http://usacreditunions.com
John Holder is the founder of http://usacreditunions.com. We have a dedicated page of detailed information on every Credit Union in the USA and make it easy for you to find one for you to join.
Permanent Hair Removal And Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is a new cosmetic technique aimed to remove unwanted body or facial hair permanently using light energy. It is a new and improved alternative to shaving, tweezing, waxing and using all sorts of chemicals to remove hair. Laser hair removal is also a less time consuming procedure than other techniques, such as electrolysis. It can remove hair from several areas at the same time. Permanent hair removal can be used on legs, chest or back, as well as some facial areas, such as eyebrows or lips.
Laser Hair Removal Candidates
The best candidates for permanent hair removal are individuals with fair skin and dark hair. Laser hair removal is less effective on red or blond hair and has better effects on coarse rather than fine hair. Several treatments are required and patients have to be willing to spend a lot of time on this procedure. Treatments are performed within a period of several months. The number of treatments required for facial hair removal varies from one patient to another. The best candidates have to be both mentally and physically healthy and share realistic expectations on the probable results of laser hair removal.
Permanent Laser Hair Removal Procedure
Doctors use one of several laser types for a permanent hair removal procedure, including the diode laser and the Q-switched Nd: Yag. For patients who have dark-colored skin, they often apply a bleaching cream to increase the chances of high effectiveness. An anesthetic cream is applied to the skin surface after it is shaved and cleaned. Then pulses of laser light send energy into the pigment of the hair shaft, thus damaging the surrounding follicle. Some surgeons use a carbon lotion, which responds to the laser wavelength and helps with stopping the hair from growing.
The Risks of Laser Hair Removal
Even though permanent hair removal is usually safe, there are some side effects that might occur in some cases. Among these side effects there is the darkening or lightening of the skin surface that has been treated. Darker skin is associated with a higher risk of changing its pigment, so tanning before the laser treatment should be avoided. Another possible side effect is burning and blistering. The risk of these side effects can be decreased by following carefully the cosmetic surgeon’s advices and instructions.
Length of Permanent Hair Removal Treatment
Your hairs are probably not all in the same growth stage at a given time. Generally, two-thirds of all hairs are growing, while the others are in a resting phase. Therefore, several laser hair removal treatments are required in order to get the desired effects. On average, three sessions are needed in order to remove all the hair from one area. Treatment sessions are usually scheduled at least one month apart to ensure the remaining hair will be back in the growth phase and can be removed during the next procedure. The length of one session depends on whether it is performed for body or facial hair removal and the size of the area that will be treated. The necessary amount of time for one session ranges between five minutes and one hour.
Permanent laser hair removal is a revolutionary cosmetic procedure that provides a lot of benefits and releases you from worrying about unaesthetic body hair and depilation. However, in order to reduce the probability of unwanted side effects, you have to make sure you choose a high-qualified cosmetic surgeon to perform the procedure.
Sue Taylor is the webmaster of several sites dedicated to removing unwanted hair permanently. Refer to http://www.permanenthairremovalsite.com and http://www.laserhairremovalpage.com