Cut Yourself Some Slack

We all have had our portion of bad days; they are inevitable. Living in the realm of today’s busy working schedules, while not allowing our bodies and minds to experience any relaxing time or enjoying life’s simple pleasures, has led us feeling physically ill or emotionally worn out. It is time to realize that this is actually a normal outcome of pushing yourself too hard. But what is not normal is allowing this depressing state to continue without doing anything to reverse its negative outcomes.

When the advice of “cutting yourself some slack” is given to you not only by columnists or experts, but also by friends, then you have to reconsider your actions and daily routine and perform any necessary changes to allow yourself some time to breath. Working individuals suffer today from a common problem; being always too busy. Instead of multitasking when you are in the house or simply deciding to stay indoors because you do not think you have the necessary energy to perform anything else, react! Make yourself get out the door and begin experiencing the life you believe you deserve. Begin by calling friends or joining a group of people that are willing to explore life’s choices while being outdoors. Close the door behind you and let work problems exist only when you are in the office.

Although this is easier said than done, try to select a precious time during the day or even the week and spoil yourself by going window shopping, walking around in the nearest park, or jogging early in the morning or later, before dinner time. Those precious moments away from it all can give you a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that only you can provide to your body and mind. Cutting some slack, should not be considered a luxury. Instead, you should think of it as the necessary time to charge your own batteries and thus cope better with life. Others’ expectations, as well as your own, can be a very heavy load for you to carry around, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Make yourself and others realize that engaging in any outdoor activities is one of the few ways you have in hand to become more productive and increase your efficiency levels.

Biking, swimming, jogging, playing baseball, soccer, basketball, football or any other sport of your choice, can direct you to reach a different state of mind and actually begin feeling again useful. Instead of spending the limited available time worrying for things you cannot fix while outside the office, invest in yourself and others will realize the difference as soon as you will.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://outdoorstalk.net/ – In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://4homelife.net/ and http://familyinformationsource.com/

The 2006 Elections – What Does It Mean To The Christian

The winning of the majority of seats in both houses by democrats might seem insignificant to believers but it is part and parcel of a greater trend throughout the world. It is not a cause for panic but it must be carefully analyzed in the light of biblical prophecy and sound biblical doctrine.

As always right after any election the phrase “the American people have spoken” is being resounded profusely. Given that only forty percent of Americans have voted and of those the disenthralled, the unlearned and the well coaxed make up a goodly percentage of the voters, some are more willing to say “the American people have regurgitated.”

Majority rule has never proved itself to be infallible. From lynch mobs to the landslide re-election of former President Nixon in 1972 which ended in cries for his impeachment, majority rule has in so many ways proven that a crowd can be just as mistaken as an individual.

It is also said that the seats were lost because Americans want a new Iraq policy. Staying the course is out and getting out is in. Abrogation from anything that requires a little resolve and the slightest protraction of time and effort is not so surprising in this country today. America is the undisputed avant-garde of the X generation. In a society where information is ingested in split second spots and daily life is broken down into hundreds of little segments of business and complexity it is little wonder that Americans are said to have the shortest attention spans of any people in the world. Stay the course? It would be easier to stop a swarm of killer bees by asking them to calm down.

Adding to a short American attention span is short sightedness concerning the nature of the conflict in Iraq. Removing Saddam from power can only be a good thing for Iraq and for the rest of the world but that is about where it ends. Trying to set up a democracy where a religion formerly carried the ball for over fifteen centuries is like trying to get the whole world to replace soccer with American football.

We are not dealing with clear cut ideologies like communism, fascism or socialism in this region. We can’t call for the removal of a wall as we did in 1989 or send aid to distressed countries as before to help them and generate goodwill for the U.S. Now we are a spiritual entity according to the Muslims (Satan) and it takes more than guns to bring down Satan. It is an Islamic theology not a political ideology that is what is making the U.S. Iraq policy ineffective.

Whether Allah is God or anything like God is up for major dispute but that Arabs rule their countries as not so benevolent theocracies is not. America is anything but a theocracy and there are few Americans who can extend their thinking far enough to understand that kind of government. To America government and theology are miles apart. They may compliment each other but they don’t share the same seat.

It is wrong to say that all democrats are liberal but entirely safe to say that the majority of liberals involved in politics can be found in the democratic camp. While it is only a slight overstatement, liberals are the crowd that generally believes that anything goes. They have been severely suppressed these last twelve years by both the predominantly republican house and a strong executive branch that has defined and carried out policy that kept the old jack at bay. The democratic rebellion was inevitable.

What does the democratic victory in both houses mean to the conservative and more so what does it mean to the conservative Christian and the Christian church? It is not a cause for panic but it is something to carefully note because the political shift is probably a precursor of yet darker and far more ominous trends and events.

Prophetically it would seem that just another shift between the political left and the conservatives is nothing new, so why worry? Normally that would be true. American politics has made countless shifts in the past without plunging into confusion. The one difference today is that nearly every major prophecy about the second coming of Christ is now far underway. This put simply means that what America and the world are running out of is not democracy, hopes for peace, theocracy or any other form of government. What we are running out of is time.

It is not the seats in the Congress that are so important to the believer but the seat of the Antichrist. For almost all conservative eschatologists, theologians and Christians in general, that seat is without doubt the newly formed European Union. Also the unanimous cry of the ancient biblical prophets is that when Israel regains independent sovereign nationhood and possesses Jerusalem again there is but a single generation left before the arrival of Messiah. Other signs and portents are emerging in full force through world events, nature and increased warnings from those in the Christian community who have been called upon by God himself to give stern and urgent warning to all who will listen.

Let’s do the long and the short of it. What liberals have already engineered and what they are actively pursuing today might give us a clue of what they could seek to accomplish in the future.

Liberals have brought in abortion, removal of school prayers, stem cell research, removal of religious symbols in various places, restraints on military chaplains concerning prayer, gay rights and same sex marriage and civil contract laws. This is just scratching the surface the full history would take up more space than this article is wont to produce.

To the serious student of bible prophecy the liberal progressives are the most likely candidates to bring in the changes that are implied or specifically warned about in the scriptures. With all other last days’ prophecies merging and barreling forward to the final rise of the world’s last and worst dictator, the 2006 elections look like yet another step in the wrong direction for America.

Here are some of the things that we will see ahead.

1. A totally new view of marriage and family that includes same sex and multiple partners which will be protected under the law.

2. Laws that will attempt to limit what gospel preachers can say from the pulpit about gays, abortion or any other disputed issue that has come under constitutional protection through the law.

3. Removal of many of the protections and freedoms guaranteed under 501-C exemptions for churches and ministries.

4. The possible rise of a politician or someone akin to a minister of science (the false prophet) that will encourage America to ally with the emerging dictator of the European Union. (the Antichrist)

5. A participation in the world’s newest economic system that tracks all the personal information on every person in the system.

6. The active demonizing and persecution of Christians first, then on to any religion false or real.

7. The jailing and eventually the instant execution of anyone resisting the new dictator by not becoming compliant with his economic program.

8. The shaking of the whole world by wars, natural disaster, disease and pestilence which culminates in the bloodiest battle the world has ever known, Armageddon. Where all the armies of the world will be gathered in the vast plains of Esdraelon but will fall completely.

9. The second coming of Christ, who removes the governments from men and sits in Jerusalem to rule for one thousand years of peace.

The new cultural churches of the day have become increasingly uncomfortable with these kinds of prophecies. But to those who fully understand the commission laid on them by the Lord Jesus Christ there can be no apology or shrinking away from proclaiming them. I too would rather that the world will come into its own and acquire peace and harmony throughout the nations but this is not what is going to happen. To apologize for broadcasting such portents would be the equivalent of saying “I’m sorry for raising my voice” to someone whose life was spared because you yelled at them to jump out of the way of a falling piano.

One item that is often missing in any warning about biblical prophecy is a bit of advice to bolster or prepare the hearers of such prognostications. The biblical prophets always provided their listeners with a way out or a way to change course at least for individuals if they were willing to listen. Here is my best advice.

Turn your life over to the Lord Jesus Christ. Start by confessing your sins and then ask him to endow you with the Holy Spirit so you can live the rest of your life under His Lordship.

Study your bible starting with the New Testament. Ignorance of Gods plan will cost more than any crash of the stock market or personal loss you may ever experience.

If you are already a believer stop being ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel. If you are in a cultural or any other kind of liberal church that is ashamed of him and every word he spoke…get out of it! “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Matthew 8:38

Hurry! I don’t know the day or the hour Jesus is coming but I am persuaded that we are approaching the midnight hour at breakneck speed and when the smoke clears every now and then you can see the final station just ahead.

Rev Michael Bresciani is the author of two Christian books. His articles on the second coming of Christ, faith, politics and the American way of life are read in every country throughout the world. Come visit http://www.americanprophet.org.

How And When To Teach Your Kids About Money

As a child, money seems to somehow “grow on trees” as mum and dad always appear to have money to buy things.

Even though this is clearly not the case, it’s unfortunately the perception of children who live in a very consumer oriented world.

Rather than letting your child grow up thinking that money comes easily, you need to institute some form of education that teaches them how to understand and use money wisely.

Teach them young and they will carry forward that knowledge and live a better financial life. Here’s a few tips how :

From ages 3 – 7

1. Show them the value of money by explaining what $2 can and can’t buy. It may be an idea to do this whilst walking down the super market aisle or toy aisle (if you are game!).

2. Let them watch you pay for things. You may even start by letting them hand over the cash or pressing the OK button on the ATM.

3. Do not give them notes. Pay their pocket money in coins as your children need to understand how to allocate their money.

4. Show them how to visualise their goals. Get them to draw what they want to save up for. Keep the goals realistic otherwise they will very quickly lose interest.

What they learn –

? Different things have different values.
? Money simply doesn’t grow on trees and that you have to work for your money.
? You have to allocate your money for different things

From ages 7 – 12

1. Encourage them to participate in the school banking programme. This will give them a sense of regular commitment to savings.

2. Get them interested in looking at their bank statements and following how much money they are saving. This will get them used to scanning banking paperwork.

3. Get them to start thinking of a long term saving goal and work out how long it will take them to reach that goal.

4. Give them a combination of notes and coins for their pocket money. This will really strengthen their allocation abilities and efficient usage of spare change.

5. Start showing them the family bills and explain positively that the bills have to be paid to keep the family going.

What they will learn –
? Saving is a planned activity and something that needs a bit of thought rather that just putting away what’s left over.
? The value of small change
? It takes a fair bit of money and good money management skills to keep a roof over their head.

For Teenagers

1. Encourage them to set up their own bank account and use internet banking.

2. Direct debit their pocket money into their account. This will get them used to dealing with intangible payments, and that electronic money is not just a set of numbers.

3. Make them responsible for their own bills such as mobiles. This is a very quick way to teach them how to spend wisely.

4. Try not to lend money to them for purchases that are of an extravagant nature. If they really want it, encourage them to get a part time job to save up enough. If you do loan money to them, do so only on the grounds that you will reduce the amount of their pocket money until the loan is paid.

5. Charge them board if they have a part time job – this will start getting them into the habit of paying their way for things they take for granted – like food and shelter!!

6. Introduce them to the concept of return on investment. Show them the value of putting some of their money into high interest savings accounts or even into managed investments.

7. Highlight the fact that if they start now they will be so much better off down the track.

What they learn –

? Not only will they learn more modern and more efficient banking techniques they will also learn how to curb their wants, or find ways to earn rather than going into debt for something that is not totally necessary.

? It takes money to create money.

Greg R Smith is money expert from Australia who is recognized for his gift to translate the often complex money world into simple over the kitchen table language. He is a qualified financial planner with over 20 years experience and is also a best selling an author, TV presenter, columnist, public speaker and radio presenter. He is also the inventor of a revolutionary money box that will change the way children learn about money forever – visit http://www.moneyedbox.com for more.

Using Your Health Savings Account to Pay for International Travel

Thousands of U.S. citizens are taking advantage of the low cost and high quality of foreign hospitals by traveling abroad for medical treatment. The savings are often 75 percent or more, and the entire cost of treatment may even be payable with tax-free money from a Health Savings Account.

Medical tourism first began to get popular in the 1990’s, when people began traveling in large numbers to Brazil for cosmetic surgery. But as costs have continued to rise, thousands of Americans have been traveling overseas for real medical conditions, such as knee replacements, by-pass operations, heart valve replacements, and other serious issues. Many countries are seeing medical tourism as a good way to bring in foreign money.

In many cases the quality of medicine available overseas is equal to the top hospitals in the U.S. Patients are showing up at places like the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, India, part of a 36-hospital chain founded by a cardiologist from Massachusetts General. A heart valve replacement may cost $50,000 to $100,000 in the U.S., and only $12,000 in India, including travel costs.

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center, in Delhi, India, is another popular medical tourist destination. It was founded by Dr. Naresh Trehan, an authority on robotic cardiac surgery formerly based at New York University.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has just announced that they will pay for treatment at Bumrungrad International Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand for individuals from South Carolina. Over 80,000 Americans received treatment there last year. The hospital boasts that over 200 of its doctors are board-certified in the U.S, and will perform a knee replacement operation for 20 percent of what it would cost in the U.S.

Who Does This?

Dodie Gilmore is a 60 year-old rodeo barrel-racing champ from Oklahoma. She runs a 180 acre ranch, but could no longer ride a horse because she needed a hip replacement. Her health insurance plan had an exclusion that wouldn’t cover her operation, and she really didn’t feel like paying the $35,000 it would cost her. Instead she and her partner flew to India where she had the surgery at the Max Institute of Orthopedics and Joint Replacement.

Her physician was Dr. S.K.S. Marya, who averages one American hip-replacement patient every week. Dodie’s total coast, including travel, was only $11,000. She even managed to take in a tour of the Taj Mahal.

Forty to Sixty percent of those surveyed say they would consider surgery abroad if it could save them $5,000 or more. Going out of the U.S. (perhaps even just to Mexico), could be a worthwhile strategy if you have an exclusionary waiver on your policy, if you’ll be having elective surgery not covered by your health insurance policy, or if you have a high deductible plan.

What is the Risk?

According to the Institute of Medicine, over 100,000 accidental deaths occur in hospitals every year. And that’s here in the U.S. Hospitals are a dangerous place to be, and you want to spend as little of your life in one as possible. So there are risks everywhere, and probably greater risks outside the U.S.

But the magic of the free-market does give you some protection. There is a lot of money flowing to countries and international hospitals that practice high-quality medicine. If a hospital does not provide quality service, you can bet its customers will go elsewhere, particularly if they are choosing among anywhere in the world.

The influx of foreign patients (and money) is enticing more western-trained doctors to return home, so the choices are actually increasing, and the quality and prices continue to improve. I believe that if you use care in choosing your provider and structuring your treatment, the risks are no greater than having surgery here in the U.S.

How to Research Your Options

Keep in mind that most health insurance plans still will not cover for treatment outside the U.S., particularly if you are traveling specifically to receive medical care. So check with your insurer if the cost of the treatment is going to exceed your deductible.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations certifies hospitals here in the U.S. Their international division, Joint Commission International, certifies hospitals throughout the rest of the world. Make sure the facility that you are considering has been certified by them.

Then check out your doctor. Confirm that he or she is English speaking, and was trained in the U.S., U.K., Australia, or Germany.

Finally, consider hiring a consultant to help you choose the best hospital and surgeon for your needs. A good service will not only set up the treatment, but can also arrange all travel plans, meet you at the airport, and act as your liaison while you are being treated.

If you spend money from your Health Savings Account to pay for international medical care, the amount you withdraw is tax-free. Health Savings Account regulations also allow you to cover the cost of your travel if the reason you are traveling to get medical care is not “for purely personal reasons.”

When choosing how to manage your health, you should carefully consider all your options. International travel is a great option for people with Health Savings Accounts.

Wiley Long – President, HSA for America (http://www.health–savings–accounts.com) – The nation’s leading independent health insurance firm specializing in individual and family coverage that work with Health Savings Accounts.

Why It’s So Important to Make Legitimate RuneScape Money

You can have all the RuneScape money you will ever need easily and there are only two very basic things you have to do to get it. The first thing is to do a little bit of work and the second is to know the best strategies to make legitimate RuneScape money.

Honestly, no one really wants to do the work for you so if you really want to make lots of RuneScape money and become a millionaire, then you need to put in a little time & effort to get good at the game. However, to create an elite level 85+ RuneScape character and make massive RuneScape money in less than a week, you’ll need to follow top secret strategies that only top notch pro players know about.

However, I tell you one sure way to totally destroy your game, your reputation, and people’s respect for you and that it is to beg for items or gold. The desperate act of begging tells other RuneScape players three things.

1. You don’t respect yourself enough to make your own RuneScape money.

2. You don’t respect the people you beg for RuneScape Money.

3. You want to take advantage of their hard work to make the RuneScape Money in the first place.

That’s why you must never, ever beg for RuneScape money. Believe me, it’s a lot easier to make RuneScape money the legitimate way than it is to resort to begging (or scamming, which is even worse). In a desperate moment asking for RuneScape money may seem like the easy thing to do but an hour later you’ll probably end up losing your RuneScape money and most importantly your self respect. Seriously, in that same hour you could have easily made 50K in RuneScape money employing the right tactics.

Sure, there are people who will give away things for free to low-levels. As a matter of fact, I have a friend that once gave away a whole set of rune to random passer bys and I’ve even given away party hats to total strangers (I’m an old player). The important thing to know is that RuneScape gamers usually only give away stuff to people that aren’t begging for it in the first place! It’s funny but true… so if another RuneScape player surprises you with a freebie, be thankful for the gift but move on and definitely don’t try to make a RuneScape living that way.

I have nothing to say about scamming except that it totally sucks. If you’re willing to stoop to the lowest level of dishonesty to get your money by scamming or hacking (especially when there’s a far easier and more honest way), then there’s nothing anyone can do to help you.

Have you ever seen a pro player beg for RuneScape money? Have you ever seen a level 80+ beg because “they lost all their RuneScape money in the wildy?” Have you ever heard of a top notch player that doesn’t have time to make RuneScape money or to train stats? No… so if you want to preserve your pride and learn to play RuneScape at an elite level always follow the simple rules I just told you about.

Copyright 2006 Roy Phay

Roy Phay is an Internet Marketer on “Top 101 Secrets of Runescape?” ebook. It is a content-rich and most valuable ebook ever written on Runescape, it is Not about Runescape Cheats. It is an ebook sharing the Fastest, Easiest Step-by-Step cut throat strategies to Create Millions and Level 85+ in RuneScape in less than 7 days. To get a copy of the ebook, please click on http://www.RunescapeTopSecrets.com Now!

Stop Your Dog Barking When You’re At Home

When you need to curb your dog’s barking, it can be a real challenge if the only time they do it is when you’re not there. Often, these dogs need a training program that will not only address the barking, but possibly a general case of separation anxiety. However, you’re in luck if they bark in your presence, as you can correct the barking with the right timing, correction, and praise. Dealing with a barking problem when you’re there may also help prevent it from happening when you’re away. There are several methods discussed, which have varying degrees of merit:

* Ignore, wait, and reward method. This is good for attention seekers, but you’ll need some patience, and perhaps a good set of earplugs. The important thing is to reward them immediately after they stop.

* The squirt gun method. I personally don’t enjoy carrying around a gun (how un-American of me!) even if that gun is filled with water. It can be a hassle, and if you’re not a quick enough draw, it diminishes the effect. Note: a mixture of Citronella or water and vinegar solution (one part vinegar to eight parts water) can be more effective than straight water when using this approach. Aim for the chest, not the face.

* The collar and leash method. Effective for dogs on lead that have been trained to respond to a tug and a corrective, “Uh uh” or simple “No.” You may find it easy to suppress barking through the same means. This is a good method.

But here’s the absolute best and quickest:

* Physical correction method. No, it’s not the least bit violent, painful, or inhumane. When your dog barks, meet them at their level, firmly wrap one or both of your hands around the snout (don’t shake it), and repeat your corrective command. I use a continual “Shhh” or a repeated “Uh uh uh uh.” The idea is to hold on not only until they stop making noise (they obviously can’t bark with their mouth closed) but also until they stop resisting the placement of your hand by jerking back or wriggling away. This method is effective also because it asserts your dominant role in the process.

Because it involves a physical correction, it may not be a favorite option for owners uncomfortable with this sort of interaction. But I can only emphasize that dogs are not children and they feel more secure with a clear idea of a pack leader they can trust.

Whatever method you choose, only repetition will do the trick. Never yell. It’s like barking back at them. It just makes more noise. Though it’s easy to tell your dog to shut it through an open window, it’s lazy, and if your dog is barking because it needs to tell you something, even if it’s just that they want a bit more attention, then yelling will upset and confuse them more. Expect more barking. As always, give praise when the barking stops.

All in all, you still need to allow your dog times to fully express themselves and their beautiful voice. It is not realistic that you always ask your dog to stop barking every time they start. In fact, this can have dangerous consequences if the dog needs to alert you to something but they have been discouraged from speaking up. Remember, if they are barking to indicate arrival of someone trying to sell their Tupperware or their religion, let them go for an extra minute, and thank them after they have made a hasty exit.

Martin Olliver is a proud member of the Kingdom of Pets team (http://www.kingdomofpets.com/). For more great articles on problem barking, visit: http://kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/articles/barking_dogs.php

Housebreaking 101

Remember that dog who just knew you didn’t want her piddling in the house? Some dogs just need a slight sense of disapproval from you, and they virtually housebreak themselves.

But you don’t have one of those dogs…or you wouldn’t be reading this!

So how do we house train the dog who just doesn’t seem to get it? Believe it or not, it’s simple.

I have two key words for you:

Confine and Observe.

While there is a great deal to know about food and water scheduling, timing can vary from dog to dog. So we’ll just concentrate here on the main concept which is to confine your dog to an appropriately sized crate when you cannot observe her.

A properly sized crate is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around, but hardly bigger than that. If you have a puppy in a large crate, she’ll think she’s got a bedroom with a bathroom built in. She’ll wee in one corner and sleep in the other.

The correctly sized crate consists of bedroom only with no “bathroom.” So if your crate is too large, go to the pet store and purchase a crate divider so you can temporarily reduce the accessible area.

Fido should be in her crate unless you can observe her 100%. This means that when the dog is loose, she has your undivided attention. Consider attaching a 6 foot light cord to the collar so you can more easily locate the dog, and prevent her from leaving the room without you. Simply step on the cord to stop her.

At the first sign your dog needs to go, whisk her outside. Those signs include circling, sniffing, anxiousness, whining among other symptoms.

When you’re not observing your dog with full attention, you confine her to the crate. That being said, you do need to ensure your dog has liberty periodically so she’s not all day in the crate. By being diligent now, you’ll be able to give Fido years of liberty with no worries. So it’s well worth the investment in time at this stage.

Be sure you spend time playing with your dog, and also let her wander outside the crate. Avoid tossing her in the crate as punishment. Alleviate your guilt feelings by placing bones smeared with peanut butter in with her.

This method makes it impossible for your dog to have an accident. You’re either right there to take her out, or she’s in the crate where she won’t want to go. When you’ve had a month with no accidents, you can begin to let the dog earn a little more liberty, five or ten minutes at a time.

That means she can be out of your sight for a few moments at a time. But only a few. You want to build slowly on a record of success until your dog literally forgets that the house ever contained a bathroom.

For each week with no accident, you can give Fido a few more moments of liberty at a time. However, if there is an accident, go back a step, and reduce that liberty. One accident in the house erases progress made for the several previous days.

Confine and Observe your way to house breaking success. In the course of just two or three months, you’ll have a dog you can trust in the home. It’s going to be worth the effort!

Marc Goldberg is a dog trainer specializing in the rehabilitation of difficult dogs and improving relationships. He is Vice President of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and Editor of SafeHands Journal. The author also educates professional dog trainers in his techniques. Visit him on the web at http://www.chicagodogtrainer.com or http://www.dogtraininginchicago.com.

How To Create Your Own e-Commerce Site

E-commerce is touted as one of the most viable online business opportunities on the Web today. In comparison to traditional brick and mortar businesses, e-commerce site requires minimal start-up cost and is relatively low-risk. However that does not imply creating an e-commerce site is a simple process, neither does it guarantee your future success. The purpose of this article is to walk you through the necessary steps and plans you would need in order to set up a successful e-commerce site.

Un-earth Your Niche

The very first thing to do is find your niche. Examine your hobbies and interests for potential business ideas. If you love soccer, consider selling soccer supplies or team uniforms, online. Focusing on your expertise or something you have great passion for would give you an advantage over competitors who do not have in-depth knowledge of that niche.

Research Your Niche

Once you’ve whittled down a few ideas, explore each one further. Ask yourself these questions: How many people are looking for your services? Where do they go and find people like yourself? How many searches are created for your product or service on Google? You may not have a budget to create demand, so it’s safer and cheaper to go where the demand already exists.

Scope out Your Competitors

Research your competitors inside out. Spend time to check out their websites and compare their products and services. Give yourself an idea of what you’re up against, so you can create your e-commerce site as professional as, or even better than theirs.

Write Your Business Plan

You want to have a foolproof business plan for your business. Work out a detailed formula – including your site theme, goals, business strategies. It’s also a good idea to keep a record of expenditures, sales, profits etc. Your business cannot just be a ‘me-too’ business online. Develop a powerful USP (Unique Selling Position) that sets you apart from your competitors and makes you stand out from the crowd!

Create Your Website

Register a good domain name as marketing tactic. Name that ends in *.com is best of all. Try to include relevant keywords that properly describe your business or product if possible.

A well-designed website creates a good first impression with your prospects. Get yourself a professional website template at an affordable price and customize it to suit your need. Most templates can be easily customized using common HTML editors and simple graphics software.

You’ll want your website content to target specific keywords for high search engines ranking and traffic flow. This can be done by creating informative articles, product reviews, descriptions and comparisons. If you’re short on time, many SEO (search engine optimization) experts are willing to help you out for a reasonable price.

Host Your Website

Find a dependable hosting company to host your website on their servers. A quick search on Google for “web hosting” should bring up hundreds of companies ready to do business with you. Select a reliable web host that provides adequate disk space and bandwidth with e-commerce scripts supporting features. Domain name-specific email accounts must also be available to give a professional image.

Your website files can be uploaded using a simple FTP program or file uploading service in your hosting account. Technical support personnel from your hosting company should walk you through the steps to upload your files and launch your website.

Implement a Shopping Cart

An e-commerce site is never complete without a secure shopping cart. The best option you can consider is a remotely hosted shopping cart which takes the burden of maintaining security and credit card numbers off your shoulder. Most remote shopping carts can be configured to look similar to your website so your customers may not realize that they have left your website when making a payment.

If a remote shopping cart is not within your budget, there are still lots of third party credit card processing companies that are ready to process your credit card orders using their merchant account for a small fee. Some popular ones to you can check out are ClickBank, PayPal and 2CheckOut.

Marketing and Promotion

You have identified your niche, set up your e-commerce site and you are good to go. Now comes the most crucial part – promoting your site! This could be a full-time career option for most people. Either you can learn to do this yourself or you can have an expert do it for you.

Begin by submitting your site to major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Dmoz, etc. You also need to optimize your site using profitable keywords and keyword-rich content. There are lots more business promotion strategies such as advertising, link exchange, e-zine promotion etc. which you may need to explore to create your online presence and build traffic.

Setting up your e-commerce site is sure a lot of work, but it’s just the first step. Making it successful is even more work, but the pay-offs can be rewarding. Remember, success can be yours provided you work hard and smart!

Lewis Low is the founding editor of OnlineBizPromo.com. For more Practical Online Business Ideas and Work-From-Home Opportunities, visit his Work-At-Home directory at www.OnlineBizPromo.com

Hound Dog Breeds:The Top Ten Dogs In This Group

The Hound Group includes dog breeds with a wonderful sense of smell and/or great athleticism. These breeds were developed to follow game either by sight or by smell. Sighthounds include the fast and streamlined Afghans, Greyhounds and Salukis. Sighthounds need lots of exercise but some breeds like the Borzoi, the Greyhound, the Irish Wolfhound and the Saluki can adapt to being left alone during the day if they get lots of exercise before and after work. Scent hounds include the slower Bloodhounds, Bassets and Beagles. The dogs in this group have a great size variation and range from the tiny Miniature Dachshund to the extremely tall Irish Wolfhound. The top ten most popular hound dogs in the US are the following. The number in brackets is the rank of the breed out of 154 breeds registered by the American Kennel Club in 2005.

1. Beagle

The very popular (#5) Beagle is one of the oldest hound dog breeds. The small-sized Beagle is calm, loyal and excellent with children and other dogs. The breed is cheerful and happy and they make good family pets except for the nose. Once a Beagle picks up a scent it will follow it to the exclusion of everything else. Beagles are fairly difficult to obedience train because of their independent or stubborn streak.

2. Dachshund

Dachshunds are small dog breeds with a long body, short crooked legs and large floppy ears. The very popular (#6) Dachshund comes in two sizes – Miniature and Standard and three varieties of coat – Shorthaired, Longhaired and Wirehaired. Dachshunds or Doxies are playful, fun-loving and inquisitive. Doxies are fine with older children but do not like the rough handling they may receive from a toddler. Dachshunds can be independent and stubborn and are difficult to housebreak and train.

3. Basset Hound

The medium- to large-sized Basset Hound is a short legged, loose skinned and powerfully built dog with a great sense of smell. Bassets are one of the easiest-going and best-natured of all dog breeds. The popular (#27) Basset is very gentle, friendly and trustworthy. These hounds adore their masters and children and get along well with other animals and strangers. Bassets can be stubborn, especially when they are investigating an intriguing smell.

4. Bloodhound

The very large and powerful Bloodhound is known for its keen sense of smell which is the most acute of all dog breeds. The Bloodhound is a kind, gentle and loveable dog. The breed is fairly popular (#50) and is gentle and affectionate with his family and children. The Bloody should be supervised around small children and pets as he can be possessive of his food and toys. Bloodhounds are prodigious droolers.

5. Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a lean, well muscled and magnificent, large dog breed. The Ridgeback gets its name from a characteristic ridge running down it’s back, where the stiff hair grows in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat. The Ridgeback is fairly popular (#54) and is dignified, trustworthy, loyal, intelligent and makes a great family pet. It is extremely protective of its immediate family and wary of strangers and other animals. Ridgebacks are good with children if raised with them but young Ridgebacks can be too rambunctious for small children and toddlers

6. Whippet

The Whippet (#61) is a medium-sized sight hound that looks very much like a small Greyhound. The Whippet gets along well with children and makes a good family dog. This breed is good natured, gentle and very playful. As well this dog can be easily trained, sheds very little and is a great size for an apartment. Although it is important to know that Whippets do like and even expect to sit on furniture – so that should not be a concern if you are considering this breed.

7. Basenji

The Basenji (#81) is an unusual small, elegant and athletic dog that trots like a horse and keeps itself clean by fastidious licking like a cat. Basenjis don’t bark but make other unusual sounds like a yodel, howl or chortle – depending on its mood. The Basenji is high spirited, affectionate, demanding and almost cat-like in its cleanliness, lack of bark, grace of movement and inexhaustible curiosity. This breed needs an experienced owner and lots of walks and playtime to prevent it from getting into trouble.

8. Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound (#87) is the largest sighthound and one of the biggest and strongest of all giant dog breeds. This breed makes a wonderful family dog as it is reliable, patient, sweet-tempered, intelligent and good with older children. The Wolfhound adores its family and is not aggressive towards strangers or family pets. Toddlers must be supervised carefully around young Wolfhounds as they are in danger of being accidentally knocked over. Fully-grown Wolfhounds can be left alone during the day as long as they get some moderate exercise before and after work.

9. Borzoi

The Borzoi (#94) or Russian Wolfhound is a tall, lean and aristocratic looking large- to very large-sized dog that belongs to the group of sight hound dog breeds. Borzois are kind, gentle and well-behaved indoors. This breed likes lots of attention and loves to recline on a soft bed, a lap or even a couch. Borzois enjoy the company of other sighthounds but the breed is not good with small pets and young children unless raised with them. Borzois don’t need an excessive amount of exercise and should not be let off leash because they still retain a high prey drive.

10. Afghan Hound

The large Afghan Hound (#95) has a dignified and somewhat aloof disposition but is also very loyal and affectionate dog. Afghan puppies and adolescents require a lot of knowledge and patience to train and need firm and gentle handling. This breed can be difficult to housebreak and train – so professional training may be advisable. The Afghan needs a lot of exercise but still retains a high prey drive and will run off if you let it off leash. The Afghan is suspicious of strangers but can adapt to older children if raised with the family. However the Afghan should be watched around small children as this dog can have a bad temper in adolescence.

Mike Mathews is a contributing writer and editor for the popular dog breed site: http://www.dog-breed-facts.com. He provides informative, real-world advice and tips on dog breeds, dog health, dog grooming and more. As well be sure to check out his free report on Dog Training.

Visiting Munich Germany

A hotspot for those seeking culture as well as those that enjoy taking in fascinating architecture, Munich, Germany, is an excellent choice of destination for those wanting to enjoy a truly memorable vacation in a fabulous European city. The capital city of Bavaria, when you visit Munich you will find yourself within easy reach of many attractions ranging from museums and galleries to breathtaking sights such as the Bavarian Alps. Those into sightseeing will find plenty to explore, and getting around is easy and convenient so you can explore the city and its surrounding areas in comfort and with minimal hassle. There are various ways to travel here depending on where you are coming from, such as flying to Munich airport from where you can easily get to your chosen hotel or accommodation. You will find a range of Munich hotels to select from, including accommodations near to the airport as well as a range of lodgings within the main city and many others in its surrounding areas.

Enjoy a host of attractions in Munich, Germany

You will find many attractions and sights to explore when you visit the charming and beautiful city of Munich. This is a destination that boasts plenty of character as well as elegance and charm, and you will enjoy a fully itinerary when you visit here. Enjoy the unique atmosphere and joviality at the Hofbrauhaus tavern site, visit the Marienplatz situated at the heart of the city and home to many sites of historical significance, take a trip to the fabulous Olympia Park complex, take in the Allianz Football Stadium, or enjoy the arts at Alte Pinakothek. Also due to host the soccer world cup 2006, Munich is destined to be more popular than ever this year, so visitors will enjoy a truly vibrant energy that has to be experienced to be believed.

Look forward to a diverse vacation in this city

Munich is famous for many things, from its culture and architecture to its breweries and events. When you visit this area you will find plenty of events and festivities that allow you to sample to local lifestyle and culture as well as enjoy some fun and excitement. Oktoberfest is a popular festivity here in Munich, and takes place the last two weeks of September. Held in a huge field, this is a beer festival like no other, and anyone that enjoys their beer will be delighted with this vibrant and thriving event. Other events held throughout the year include the Opera Festival, Ballet Week, the Fasching, and a variety of other local events. A good choice of bars, restaurants, and theatres will ensure that you can continue to enjoy this city even when the sun goes down, so come day or night you can enjoy making the most of your time in Munich.

Ken Morris often writes web pages on news similar to Munich airport and Bavaria. Through his writings (e.g. http://www.munich-to-vienna-via-salzburg.com/munich/city.html on Munich Germany ) he expressed his deep knowledge in the field.