Lets Get Clear On Proper Dog Care
December 26, 2007
Whether you’re a new dog owner or have had dogs around you for many years, learning about proper dog care is essential if you’re to give your dog the greatest possible chance to enjoy a long and healthy life. The most basic area of dog care is feeding. Unfortunately, many dog owners believe that as long as their dog is being given enough food, everything’s ok.
Too many dogs suffer from brittle bones, bad teeth and joint problems due to being fed the wrong kind of food and therefore not receiving the nutrients that are necessary for them to grow and maintain healthy bones, muscles and teeth. Foods that contain artificial colorants and preservatives often lead to allergies developing and feeding a dog on raw meat alone simply won’t cover his daily calcium needs. A dry food that’s specially formulated to cover the nutritional needs of your dog depending on his age and level of activity is always the best choice. Cheap foods may seem like a good alternative but are often the most expensive choice in the long run. Consider that the dog will generally need more of the cheaper varieties as much of what’s in these foods is ‘padding’ and that the padding will just lead to him having more bowel movements than would otherwise be necessary. Grooming is an important area of your dog’s care.
Five Tips to Find More Time for Your Writing Life
December 26, 2007
When I asked new ezine subscribers, “What is your Number One writing question?” the answer came back loud and clear: “Time!”
How do I find time to write? I’m busy all day — and when I make some time, the phone rings or someone needs to see me right away.
Here’s how a coaching session — or series of sessions — might address these questions.
1. What’s happening in the rest of your life? Are you chronically late? Waking up exhausted? Feeling out of control? Some people have gotten so accustomed to feeling pressured they need to learn a whole new concept of creating space in their lives to do what they want.
2. Why do you want to write? Do you have room in your life for everything but writing? Maybe you need to find a new way to reach your goals.
Remember: You do not need to write. This is your coach speaking! Writing can be the most powerful tool in your marketing arsenal — but chances are you can find ways to succeed by hiring a writer and promoting your service in creative, non-writing ways.
Prepare for the Master (CD Mastering)
December 26, 2007
Many artists are still confused as to what goes on during a mastering session. This article will try to shed some light on the last step before fame and riches (well, at least the last step before duplication), and help you with preparing your music before sending to a mastering studio.
Mastering is the last stage of production, right before the master CD is sent for duplication. It is extremely important for your product and can dramatically improve the quality and consistency of your recordings. Since many musicians have home studios, it is more important than ever to get your final CD mastered properly. It will bring your home-recordings closer to a “radio ready” professional level.
Some of the work done at the mastering stage include:
-> Equalization and harmonic balancing for consistent sound throughout your entire album.
-> Adjusting micro/macro-dynamics (volume changes) of your songs for consistency and loudness.
-> Checking inter-channel phase and polarity for mono compatibility.
-> Final CD layout with proper song spaces, segues, fades and crossfades snapped to CD frame boundaries.
-> Sample and bit rate conversion with dither to Red Book CD Standard.
Does it Matter Who Does the Magic Trick?
December 26, 2007
Does it Matter Who Does the Magic Trick?
by: Dion Semeniuk
The magic that you see magicians performing today is really
truly amazing. It seems like every year the bar is being raised
to put the challenge on the rest of the magic community to come
up with the next “big thing”. Magic shows are getting bigger;
they’re getting more elaborate; they’re getting extreme. But is
bigger always better?
Think about it. What would you rather see, David Copperfield on
stage performing one of his unbelievable elusions with all the
lights, pretty assistants, and fire and smoke or some ordinary
Joe walking up to you on the street and asking you to pick a
card, any card?
What’s your first reaction? Of course, who wouldn’t want to go
see David Copperfield? He is the man, well known for all of his
mind blowing magic that he has performed on stage and seen by
millions on TV. Hey, if I was asked this question, I’d be the
first to admit, I would choose David Copperfield in a heartbeat.
Protect Your Pets From The Pound
December 25, 2007
Pets are people, too. At least, that’s the way they should be treated by their owners. The sad reality, though, is that a lot people own pets when they’re really not ready to care properly for their little furry friends. Or they just don’t know how to love, clean, and treat a cat, dog, or other animal the right and humane way. What happens to these poor animals? Many end up in shelters, lost and unwanted-to the tune of 6 to 8 million every year according to the Humane Society. At least half of those end up being "put to sleep," to put it nicely.
When they first start out looking to buy a pet, everyone says that they aren’t like that, that they won’t have their pet end up caged in a pound somewhere. If you want to be one of the people who says this and means it, read on. Your commitment shows you are ready to learn how to own a pet. Once you are trained in the following pet ownership basics, then you can take the next step and find the perfect pet for you.
But before you meet this furry companion, take these following tips to heart:
A Teak Table - Accent Your Outdoor Decor With One
December 25, 2007
It’s been time consuming, and there have been a lot of hard decisions along the way, but finally you have chosen the perfect outdoor furniture that fits your personality, budget and space. And as you sit on your new favorite chaise lounge, drink balanced precariously on the edge of the flower box to your left, you suddenly realize what your space is lacking: tables. Not just any table, but a teak table.
The truth is: Not only are teak tables practical for your outdoor space, they also accent the larger pieces and tie everything together. A seating area without a teak table can sometimes look haphazard or not quite complete without the addition of these accent pieces. By investing just a little more, you can create a look that is truly elegant and perfect for entertaining.
Maybe you already have a few pieces of teak furniture and you know first hand how beautiful and durable furniture made from this wood can be, or maybe you are just browsing for that perfect table. In either case, there are several reasons why you should give more than just a passing thought to purchasing a teak table.
Think Market!
December 25, 2007
Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was too small: type face, layout and spacing. She weighed each word, counted each comma. She sent out 200 resumes and received no responses.
Reginald spent even more hours designing the most perfect website for his new business. Working with a highly recommended web designer, he chose colors, graphics, and layout. He agonized over products to offer his clients. After the site was launched, nobody came — and visitors flew away, like bumblebees from a flower, taking free honey and moving on.
Griselda and Reginald are intelligent, motivated people. They turned their intelligence and motivation to designing a perfect product — not conducting research on what the market wants.
Why? Testing the market is difficult — sometimes impossible. Ideally, you will find at least six people who resemble those in your target market. I encourage clients to choose people who can offer you candid opinions. When you keep hearing, “This is wonderful,” you haven’t found the right resources.
Some newbie entrepreneurs hold focus groups or idea parties, complete with refreshments. That’s a great idea if you can pull it off. Communication is contagious. When one person begins to be critical, the rest will follow.
Mediterranean Cruise Expert Guide
December 25, 2007
A Mediterranean cruise is without doubt the most varied type of cruise available. There are more than 120 seaports around the Mediterranean coastline, offering numerous combinations of cruise vacations over one-week, two-week or longer trips.
A huge clash of cultures await all who opt for a Mediterranean cruise. You can visit no less than 17 different countries, including such nations as Spain, Italy, Greece and Egypt. Each nation has its own unique attractions, all of which you can sample as your cruise ship gracefully sails around the calm blue Mediterranean Sea.
More than 50 companies offer cruises along varied routes in the Mediterranean. Some companies specialize in providing Western Mediterranean cruises, concentrating on ports of call around Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Morocco. Other companies offer Eastern Mediterranean cruises which take in Croatia, Greece, Turkey and countries in the Middle East. Popular specialist Mediterranean cruises include a tour of the North African nations, a Mediterranean islands cruise that visits the island nations of Cyprus and Malta, as well as cruises around the Greek Islands. If you’re after a longer vacation, it is possible to arrange a cruise itinerary that takes you around most if not all of the Mediterranean nations.
My Fathers Daughter
December 24, 2007
My dad was an avid animal lover. We grew up with all kinds of animals but especially dogs. That is one of the main things I got from my dad. He taught me a lot about the care and consideration it takes in owning an animal and the responsibility involved in doing it right. He never looked at them as simply pets but an extension of family that needed to be treated as such. So needless to say I had tons of animals.
I always felt this remarkable bond with them and see my own son following the steps that his mom and his grandpa took in regards to that. I could see my son being a Veterinarian which is what I wanted to be at his age, maybe a K9 handler which we have discussed. He seems to follow what road I take and is so much like me it is scary. He could and would be a great defender of animal rights simply because he chooses to be that now. He will stand up to a grown man and stand his ground if he thinks that person is abusing an animal. He is, to a point, fanatical about it and he is only 7 yrs old.
How to Relax Your Writing
December 24, 2007
Q. My writing sounds stiff and stilted. Help!
A. Memories of high school and college papers are probably getting in the way. We’re often brought up to believe writing is a Big Deal. We can’t, of course, write the way we speak. That would be too easy!
Some corporate departments perpetuate this myth. Many years ago, one group that hired a couple of writing consultants — over zealous English majors with little business experience who enjoyed showing off their expertise. Experienced managers were thoroughly intimidated. They had bought into the myth, “Writing is for experts.”
To relax, try these tips:
(a) Read your work aloud, preferably into a tape recorder. Do you find yourself stumbling over certain phrases? Do you have one collection of words and phrases for speaking and another for writing? As you listen to yourself, you’ll become sensitized to your own voice.
(b) Show what you’ve written to a thirteen-year-old. If they can’t understand what you’re saying, start over! I often use this exercise when people try to describe their jobs, especially in a resume, to people who don’t know their industry.
