Archive for December, 2007

Cash Advance - One of the Quickest Way to Get Hold of Money

Friday, December 21st, 2007

By Wain Roy One of the most crucial commercial financing needs for any business is assuring that short-term cash necessity are successfully met. This is frequently a challenging task. Even prospering small businesses often need more cash than they can borrow from a bank. The use of a feasible business cash advance scheme has become a progressively important commercial financing process for many businesses faced with a prospective short-term cash deficit. If you find yourself in the same class with a need for cash but with no other option then the best choice for you would be that of unsecured cash advance. Cash advance are just like any other unsecured loans where you need not to deposit anything as security for the loaned amount. It is an unsecured loan that gets matures on your next pay date. Receiving cash through instant cash advance simply takes few hours. A cash advance is designed to accomplish your short-term financial requirements and should not be used as a regular lending option. The loans are normally for short-term in that you are expected to return back in two to three weeks. Cash advance are loans that are given who are in need for cash either for a short term or long term demand. Bad credit cash advance services satisfy the requirements of people who need fast emergency cash but their bad credit history indispose them for getting a loan. Bad credit should not halt you from applying for a payday or cash advance loan. There will be no credit check apart from the verification of the information you supply. Applying and getting approved is quick and convenient. Online lenders can approve you application quickly and you’ll have the cash you need as soon as the very day you are approved. Interest rates of cash advance loan vary from company to company. Some lenders offer fewer rates for new or old customers. After providing the cash advance loan company with the required information, normally your name, address, employment and banking information, you can be approved in as little as one hour and the funds can often be in your checking account the very same day. Bad credit cash advance services are generally very fast. Bad credit fast cash loan is a short-term answer to your urgent cash need and you have to pay it back on or before your next payday. If you dont make repayment before the next payday, the lenders will enforce penalties and the rate of interest will increase. A cash advance can be acquired online and with no credit check. Bad credit will not disqualify you from qualifying for a payday loan. The Internet provides chance to find help. Many websites and online lenders exist to provide service to individuals in a situation where a bad credit cash advance is essential. You can get instant approval by simply filling up the application form. Some lenders do not even require you to deposit any paperwork. Internet is a nice medium and a wonderful way to find lenders that offer business cash advance, but can sometimes lead to companies that are not legitimate. Wain Roy is an internet marketing professional expert in various industries like real estate, web design, finance, medical tourism and small business loans Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wain_Roy http://EzineArticles.com/?Cash-Advance—One-of-the-Quickest-Way-to-Get-Hold-of-Money&id=525664 ultram 0 59 order phentermine buy tramadol online cod fast turn around time online order overnight tramadol online prescription tramadol

Serving Company Politics

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

By Nan S. Russell I once had a boss who informed me there was no such thing as company politics. At the time, I decided that depended on whether you were the person wielding power or influenced by it. In my career experience, Id categorize self-serving antics, sabotaging behaviors, information hoarding and artful manipulation under the heading of company politics. Id throw in veiled threats, perpetuated mistruths, finger-pointing and coercion. Theres a long list of behaviors Ive personally experienced or witnessed in the workplace under the politics label. And Im sure you can add your own. These negative work cultures are fraught with fear. Fear youll step on a career grenade, lose your job, be labeled a trouble-maker or relegated to the non-promotable category. Fear youll say the wrong thing, fall into project quicksand, find no support or be kept out of the loop. These soul-depleting cultures trample self-esteem, negate initiative, encourage survival behavior and diminish motivation. But in twenty years in management Ive learned something else about company politics. It doesnt have to be a blood-sport. The politics label can be assigned to assisting other departments, supporting company initiatives, cooperating with those in charge, sharing information, and helping others achieve results. You see, strategic alignments, interdepartmental collaboration and volunteering for additional work assignments are politics, too. Politics can be served with a negative or a positive impact. Samuel B. Bacharach, a Cornell University professor, puts it this way in Get Them on Your Side: Politics is simply the way we influence others to achieve our goals. As long as those goals are positive, and not achieved at the expense of others, the politics of getting them accomplished is neither manipulative nor negative. Dictators may be political, but saints might be, too. Its the intention behind an action that determines whether politics creates fear or builds relationships. Whats the motive? If politics is a dirty word where you work, undermining results and reducing staff engagement, consider your contribution to that culture. You see, we have a choice how we use our power and influence. And dont be nave to think you dont have both. We all have power and influence over people in our lives: staff, coworkers, family, bosses, children. We can serve our brand of politics from well-intentioned thoughts or manipulative self-interest. And each impacts differently. (c) 2006 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved. Sign up to receive Nan’s complimentary biweekly eColumn or Podcast at http://www.winningatworking.com Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a columnist, writer and speaker. Visit http://www.nanrussell.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nan_S._Russell http://EzineArticles.com/?Serving-Company-Politics&id=193478 buy prescription tramadol without order ultram prescription medications medical fed ex tramadol buy ultram 50 mg

The Mirror of Relationships

Tuesday, December 18th, 2007

By Margaret Paul, Ph.D. Nedra, one of my clients, was quite upset when she received an email from her friend, Roxanne, ending their friendship. The email was quite blaming, telling Nedra that she was narcissistic, selfish, and uncaring. Roxanne complained that Nedra just talked about herself and was never there for Roxanne. You dont listen to me. You dont care about me. You are never there for me when I need you. Nedra was stunned. In her experience, this was not going on at all. I just cant understand how she could see me this way! she told me in our counseling session. Nedras inclination was to write it off as projection. In her mind, this had nothing to do with her. Nedra, I said to her, Lets see if we can find the lesson here. There is always something to learn from a situation like this. While this might indeed be a projection, there is some way in which it has something to do with you. Im wondering how you might have abandoned yourself in your friendship with Roxanne. Well, often I didnt speak up for myself. Roxanne wasnt really open, so I would go along with things to avoid conflict. So you didnt really take care of yourself in this friendship? I guess I didnt. I let a lot of things go. And recently I started to feel distant from her. I think I could feel that she wanted me to take care of her feelings so I started to pull away. She is not open to learning and, while she talks a good talk about taking responsibility for her feelings, she doesnt really do it. But it sounds like you didnt take care of your feelings either that you ignored your own feelings to avoid conflict with her. So I would like you to try something with this email you received from her. I would like you to pretend that your Inner Child your feeling self - wrote it to your Adult. Pretend that it is your Inner Child who is saying, You dont listen to me. You dont care about me. You are never there for me when I need you. Does this make sense to you? Oh yes! I can see this! I never would have thought of it this way, but I can see that she was not taking care of her feelings so she is blaming toward me for not taking care of her, and I was not taking care of my feelings so I was pulling away from her. In a way, her letter to me is a gift to me! Right. You can see that you need to be going within more, paying more attention to your own feelings. It sounds like, at least in this relationship, your focus was outward instead of within. Yes, I often do this. And I can see that it never works out well. I have done the same thing in my relationships with men, and the relationships have never worked out. Okay, Im going to start to pay more attention to my own feelings. But Im wondering what I should do about the email? I have no idea what to say to her. I feel that I dont want to respond to her at all. Yes, I think that is appropriate. I dont see that there is anything to say. You can send her your love and your prayers and let it go. She has made it clear that she is ending the relationship and that she is not open to learning or exploring with you. So there is nothing for you to say or do. How does that feel? I actually feel relieved! Im excited to have learned this from the letter. All my resentment is gone and I feel complete with this. Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including “Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?” and Healing Your Aloneness. She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or email her at margaret@innerbonding.com. Phone sessions available. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Paul,_Ph.D. http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Mirror-of-Relationships&id=222758 tramadol cheap no prescription lowest prices buy tramadol without prescription how do i order tramadol legally online help can i buy ultram online

The making of Lead Crystal Glass

Monday, December 17th, 2007

By Bonnie Spring Composition Lead crystal glass is made from a mixture of sand, potash and lead oxide. The type of lead crystal glass is determined by a British specification (BS 3828: 1964) for each type. Lead crystal glass contains a minimum lead oxide content of 24% and is produced primarily for its beauty of appearance. Full lead crystal glass contains higher amounts of lead oxide usually not less than 30%. This higher content of lead oxide enhances the beauty of the item but it is more costly to manufacture. The Glass Workshop The workshop where the lead crystal glass making is done is an interesting scene. Workers are stationed in groups around the furnace where the glass is melted. Each group is known as a chair and consists of 4 or 5 persons: The workman, who is the principal, two who are known as foot maker and servitor and one or two boys who are employed in what we would call gofer positions. A certain part of the work is assigned to each member of the group, according to the design of the item on which the chair is making. Any lead crystal figurine or other piece begins as a ball of molten glass. This ball is drawn from the pot on the end of a blow-iron, which is a steel tube about 4 ft. long. It is constantly rotated in order to distribute the glass evenly. The molten glass is rolled on a polished iron table to smooth the surface. The glassworker now blows through the tube and the hot glass forms into a hollow sphere. By turning, tilting and swinging the molten glass on the tube the shape begins to develop. The glass is further created as the iron is rolled up and down on the arms of the glassmakers chair. Few tools are used in this process - a steel pincers, calipers, shears, wooden measuring sticks and clappers. Once a stem and foot are added to the piece being made it is transferred for further working to steel rod called a pontil, the end of which it is attached by a blob of hot glass. The glass is re-melting before excessive glass is sheared away from the item being made and any final touches are given. The still glowing article is cracked off the rod, dropped into a carrying case and transported to a lehr or annealing oven. Annealing The annealing oven is a long chamber through which the glass is slowly carried, passing little by little from a high temperature to the ambient temperature of the workshop. This is necessary because the glass could cool too rapidly and shatter the item being created. When removed from the lehr, each article undergoes an examination for any defects. An instrument utilizing polarized light is used to reveal any imperfect annealing. Cutting Cutting is one of the more critical processes and calls for a very high degree of skill. Cutting is done by holding the lead crystal figurine against the edge of a revolving cutting wheel. The glass is carefully guided to produce some of the lovely and complex patterns that are possible. The number of patterns is infinite and in combination creates some beautiful effects. The pattern which has been designated on the glass “blank” by specially trained workers, is first roughly cut by the carborundum wheel. The glass is now ready for polishing. Polishing Polishing is done by placing the glass into a vat containing a mixture of hydrofluoric and sulphuric acid for about a minute. It is then thoroughly rinsed and the glass transforms into sparkling pieces of crystal. This is the process that virtually any piece of lead crystal glass goes through before it becomes a beautiful piece of art. Throughout the years little in the process has changed. Bonnie Spring is writer and administrator for Kbkgifts.com, where you can find beautiful crystal. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bonnie_Spring http://EzineArticles.com/?The-making-of-Lead-Crystal-Glass&id=282932 how to buy phentermine without a prescription buy phentermine diet pill cheap phentermine no prescription required cheap phentermine online

The Benefits of a Cantilever Parasol in Your Garden

Sunday, December 16th, 2007

By Jenny Edwards Wouldnt it be nice to have your dinner party in the garden without a large pole obstructing the view? Do you need shade over you garden furniture but your table doesnt have a parasol hole? Or do you want to get a little shelter from the sun and showers when youre relaxing in your hot tub without having to ruin you masonry with an unsightly awning? Well now you can with cantilever parasol! This type of parasol is becoming ever more popular due to its convenience and multitude of uses and because of the fast growing garden leisure products industry there are a multitude of different styles, colours and sizes available to suit every situation. The cantilevers design is perfect for any range of furniture or situation that will not allow for a traditional parasol which normally fits through the centre of a table. They can be placed next to your furniture set and still provide you with all the required protection with intruding on you and your guests. Using them in conjunction with an outdoor hot tub is increasingly popular as they are less damaging then fitting an awning onto the side of your house and can be easily moved around if necessary. A standard design feature of most parasols nowadays is air vents in the top of the canopy which helps to stop it rocking or toppling over in strong gusts of wind. Canopy material is generally made with a degree of weather proofing so it not only helps protect from the harmful suns rays but also from light summer showers. As with all parasols it is best to make sure that the canopy material is easy to clean to prevent having to bring it inside after every time you use it or having to pay out extra for a cover. The majority of models come with a base that can be built in to decking or patios if you want the shade in a permanent place like over a hot tub, however, if you want to leave the parasol mobile they base can be weighted down with heavy items such as patio slabs. Standard bases are available which are similar to those of traditional parasols. The winding mechanisms are simple and effortless and most canopies can be tilted and swivelled so you can have the shade just where you need it. The frame construction is obviously very important for this type of parasol so a hardwood or metal frame is recommended for low maintenance and longer life span. Join the multitude people looking to create an outdoor living space in the garden and make sure you find the right furniture and accessories to suit your mood and style. Jenny Edwards is the operations manager of Arboreta Home & Garden Store She is responsible for the buying and importing of new products. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Edwards http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-a-Cantilever-Parasol-in-Your-Garden&id=149304 buy phentermine online ky phentermine overnight without a prescription buy phentermine mastercard phentermine no prescription

Tips On College Selection

Saturday, December 15th, 2007

By Reecy Aresty It is highly recommended that early in the college selection process, parents and student(s) visit some schools to determine if theyll be suitable. The criteria that must be considered before any college is applied to include: Average GPA, SAT I, class rank for acceptance The school should offer enough choices in the event the student changes their major Size, location, Greeks, religious affiliation Percentage of freshmen that return for year two Percentage of freshmen that graduate in four years Percentage of financial need met Percentage of gift aid/self-help awarded On or off campus job opportunities Meal plans and dietary situations met Name recognition Student/teacher ratio Average class size, semester or trimester Percentage of professors who teach and percentage of teaching assistants 2 or 4-year college or university Co-ed dorms Freshman cars permitted Handicap accessibility Cost of the sheepskin It is also recommended that you determine if the school uses a need-blind or need-sensitive admissions policy. Need-blind is a practice where the student is evaluated without any regard to family income or assets. Need-sensitive is a shameful policy used by a host of elite schools such as Duke, Emory and Stanford. These schools will admit a less than qualified rich kid in anticipation of a large contribution to their own endowment funds. In essence, the wealthy family has bought an admission ticket to a school where their student might never have otherwise been accepted! Its anyones guess how many other schools enrich their coffers in this deceitful, unprincipled manner. Duke has even been brazenly open about this policy, and I find it curious that shortly after reaching their $2 billion fund raising goal in 2003, they reduced their freshman acceptance percentage from 7.5% to 4%. The words of former U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) come to mind here, When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses. Parents and student(s) should make the official unofficial visit to potential schools no later than the 10th grade. Colleges are always impressed when a 9th or 10th grader pays a visit. By keeping in touch with officials youve met, in essence, you will have added points to both your GPA and SAT I scores by establishing a rapport. When the time comes, administrators will be able to associate a face with your application. This helps a merely qualified student become a far more acceptable one. However, before packing your bags and filling up the SUV with gas, make a checklist that includes the following: Confirm that everything you plan to visit will be open and, ideally, that school is in session. Ask plenty of questions and be an attentive listener. Consider bringing a video camera or tape recorder for your notes no matter how good your memory is. Find out who reads applications from your area and, if possible, try to meet with a reader and be sure to keep in touch with them. Student athletes should meet with a coach or two. Listen to the school radio station and get a copy of the campus newspaper. If the student has Greek intentions, visit some frat or sorority houses. Students should check out the dorm unannounced, introduce themselves to attending students and pick their brains. Have a snack in the cafeteria. After all, their food is what the student will be eating for the next four years! Students who have decided upon their course of study should make every effort to arrange a meeting with the head of that particular department and audit a class or two. This may require an overnight, giving the student a greater opportunity to check out the dorm. These are some college selection websites I recommend: For alternative criteria go to www.fairtest.org or call 617-864-4810. They have a list of some 300 schools that apply non-traditional guidelines in the Admissions Process. Afro-American schools: www.blackhighereducation.com/hbcu.html Jesuit schools: www.ajcunet.edu Jewish affiliation: www.hillel.org Trade and vocational schools: www.overview.com/colleges/ Reecy Aresty has been a financial advisor since 1977, and is founder and president of College Assistance, Inc., located in Boca Raton, Florida. He is the author of “How To Pay For College Without Going Broke,” an invaluable, critically acclaimed, parent/student manual, (updated from its previous edition, “Getting Into College And Paying for It!”). Arguably the most revealing book ever written on college admissions and financial aid, it is also the only book of its kind available in Spanish. For the past 28 years, Reecy has helped thousands of families send their kids to the college of their choice for less than they ever dreamed possible. For more information on admissions & financial aid, and to checkout the best college book on the market today, please visit Paylessforcollege.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reecy_Aresty http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-On-College-Selection&id=37301 buy phentermine online without a prescription buy phentermine 37.5 phentermine adipex pharmacy phentermine online no perscription

How to Land a Job in Pharmaceutical Sales

Friday, December 14th, 2007

By Ryan Stewart Pharmaceutical companies always look for exceptional sales people to represent them. A college degree, a strong work ethic, and good communication skills, both verbal and written, are some of the pre-requisites for a pharmaceutical sales representative. There are around 85,000 pharmaceutical sales reps in the United States. In this brief article, well discuss how you can achieve a position as a sales representative and tap into this great market. * Word of mouth The best way to fill an opening is through a word of mouth recommendation. By keeping your eyes and ears open, you might find an opportunity where you least expect it. For instance, one representative learned about an unadvertised position from her physician. * Hire executive recruiters You can get a good job by coming through a recruitment agency. Many recruitment agents specialize in pharmaceutical sales and they know about the positions before theyre even advertised. * Answer newspaper ads Make sure that you check out your local newspapers. Although a great many positions arent advertised, companies will occasionally need to hire someone quickly and will go the newspaper route. If youre on the lookout for these advertised positions, you wont miss out on these great opportunities. * Network with sales reps Take some time to network with current representatives. Take some time to get to meet some sales people and they will not only provide you with valuable information but might steer you toward advertised and unadvertised career opportunities. * Go online - There are literally hundreds of job search boards that are available. Some, like Phamboard, specialize in matching employers with qualified companies. Make sure that you visit these on a regular basis and be prepared to submit your resume. In conclusion, you can obtain the pharmaceutical sales position of your choice. By going online, networking with sales reps, answering newspaper ads, hiring executive recruiters, and utilizing word of mouth advertising. Ryan Stewart has coached hundreds to pharma sales success(and he’s done it all for free). To jump-start your pharmaceutical sales career go to pharmaceutical-sales-representative.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Stewart http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Land-a-Job-in-Pharmaceutical-Sales&id=153323 buy phentermine now buy phentermine online prescription buy discount phentermine online generic phentermine without prescription

Easy-As-Pie Knitting Gift Idea #2!

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

By Alice Seidel Knitting for Christmas and other holidays is so special, that once you start, you won’t want to stop! So here is the second of my knitting gift ideas for you to knit up quickly! Once you learn to knit, there are absolutely endless patterns to choose from! To knit something in a hurry, keep it simple. Oh, I know, sometimes the urge to complicate life is very strong; but, in the case of needles and yarn, you don’t have to go down that road. For these Christmas and holiday ideas, you only need to know the basic knit and purl stitches, and how to “yarn-over”, and “knit two together.” But, the variations in texture and colors will be quite stunning. Especially with all the yarn which is now available for us knitters! For this Knitting Gift Idea #2, I have chosen one of my all-time favorite stitches and applied it to a pattern for placemats. I love all kinds of knitted accessories for my kitchen; placemats, of course, colorful table runners, tea cozies, potholders, doilies, and any other little knitted trinket that just makes my kitchen so “mine!” Giving gifts like these will be sure to put a smile on the faces of your family and friends, because these patterns are so unique and one-of-a-kind. So, enjoy the following pattern for placemats, and remember to mix them up, yarn-wise, color-wise, length-wise, and even stitch-wise; you’ll be glad you did! Cotton yarn works best for placemats. Buy about 120 yds. total of the yarn you will use. Also, use size 10 knitting needles. You can use a gauge for this pattern, but it is not imperative. If you decide to use a gauge, keep it this: 4 sts and 5 rows = 1 inch. The finished size of the placemat should be approximately 18″ wide by 13″ long. The directions are as follows: Cast on 78 sts. Knit across for 2 rows. Row 1: K3, K2tog 4 times, *YO, K1, 8 times, K2tog 8 times, * repeat between the *’s across to last 11 sts, K2tog 4 times, K3. Row 2: K3, purl across to the last 3 sts, K3. Row 3: Knit across. Row 4: K3, purl across to the last 3 sts, K3. Repeat these 4 rows for the pattern. Knit until placemat is 13 inches long, ending on a purl row. Knit 1 row, then knit 2 more rows. Bind off in the knit stitch. Weave ends into back of placemat. Remember to keep an eye on your edges; always begin and end your rows with “K3″!! For this pattern, you can knit in one solid color, or one color yarn design, or change colors throughout. I recommend changing colors on every 8th row, once you start the pattern. Use two colors, three or four; all shades of one color, or beautiful complimentary colors. It is all up to you, but if you are knitting for Christmas or any other holiday, keep in mind those holiday colors, and knit accordingly. I would save this pattern and use it for other knitting projects. I have used this pattern to knit gorgeous afghans; knitting long panels using this pattern, and then sewing the panels together. For afghans, use a worsted weight yarn; it works best for knitted items such as these. Or try a wool yarn. When you go shopping for yarn, you will come across so many different brand names. If you look closely on each label, they will tell you what type of yarn it is; for instance, 100% cotton, or worsted- weight, wool, a mohair blend, or chenille. And that’s just naming a few! All the information you need should be on the label: yardage, type, ply, color, dye lot, even where it is manufactured. If you buy many skeins of one color, try and purchase the same dye lot. That number is usually a “stamped” number, and for uniformity, stick with the same stamped number. For instance, if you buy a linen color, and you purchase various dye lots, there will definitely be slight variations in the linen color. You don’t think you can see it, but once in a while, you notice! So, until next week, when I will share with you my “Easy-as-Pie Knitting Gift Idea #3″ — get knitting, times-a-wastin’! Copyright (c) 2006 Alice Seidel Keep YOUR knitting on the “Cutting Edge” with FREE patterns. The place where smart knitters gather resources and share stories.FREE Details ==>http://www.theknitstitch.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Seidel http://EzineArticles.com/?Easy-As-Pie-Knitting-Gift-Idea-2!&id=324192 phentermine no prescription no doctor cheap phentermine diet pills phentermine com online where to buy phentermine

Make Your Homework Time Count

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

By Aldene Fredenburg Under more pressure than ever to achieve, high school students often find themselves overwhelmed with increasing amounts of homework. While some high schools are guilty of assigning too much homework, there are ways of approaching the task that allow you to become more productive and efficient. Organizing your homework assignments saves a lot of time and wasted effort. Make sure you record your assignments for each class as they are given, and then make a checklist - before you leave school for the day if possible - to make sure you have all the tools and supplies you need for each assignment, including textbooks, class notes, additional reading material from the library, etc. If you have a study hall near the end of the day, use at least a few minutes of that time to organize yourself. Are there assignments that you believe are going to give you more trouble than others? Use your study hall time to think about those particular assignments, and either tackle them in study hall or think about some resources you can access before you leave school for the day. Maybe you need to clarify something with the teacher, or get information from one of your classmates about the assignment. Get a library pass and use your library time to gather resources for your evening’s homework. You should arrive home with everything you need to complete the evening’s homework assignments. Again, organization will save you time and trouble. Wherever you do your homework, whether it’s at your own desk on stretched out on the bed in your room, have all the books, notebooks, and supplies you need within easy reach. There are a few standard tricks to approaching reading assignments. Before you start to fully read the assigned passages, glance through them. Notice the chapter titles and the interior headings and subheadings, if any. Look at all the illustrations, charts, and tables, and be sure to read all the captions. Go to the back of the chapter or subchapter to see if there are any questions; if there are, read them. Then start reading the assignment in full, keeping a notebook handy. When you run across information which looks like it will help you answer the questions at the end of the passage, take notes, or at least jot down the page number as you come across relevant information. Even if you haven’t been assigned the questions as homework, try to answer them, at least by jotting down a few notes on each question (chances are your teacher will use these questions in class the next day, or as the basis for future tests). Make a list of your own questions about the subject to ask your teacher. At the beginning of each course, consider going through your assigned texts and creating an outline of each textbook. Create a three-ring binder and provide sections for each chapter and subchapter, and file your class notes and completed assignments as they come up in the appropriate section. If a class - for instance, algebra or physics - includes formulas which you need to work with and commit to memory, write the formula and one or two examples of the calculations on a separate page, and file the homework on succeeding pages. Do the same with theories - the commutative and associative principles of math should each have a separate page in your algebra notebook, for example. Design these particular pages in a way which will stand out and be easily found as you page through the notebook. What you create by imposing an organization at the beginning of your course is a template for studying as you move through the course and submit to quizzes and tests. Don’t forget to review your homework when you get it back from your teacher. If you’ve missed a few math problems, make sure you go over your work and figure out what you did wrong, and recalculate until you’re sure you’ve come up with the right solution and the reason for it. If your homework involves creative writing, which you enjoy, file it in its own binder. You may not have time to revise assigned writings now, but sometime in the future you may want to do some additional work on the subject, and you’ll have your writing assignments ready and organized, available for creative inspiration. One neat trick to keep you on task: Keep track of your time. Create a log which records the assignment, including page numbers of reading material, and record a start time and a finish time for each task. After a while you will develop an understanding of just how much time it takes to complete various assignments, and will help you plan your day and evening. It’ll also help conquer the worst problem many of us have with any task - procrastination - because you’ll know that a certain assignment is only going to take fifteen minutes, and then it’ll be over, and you can move on to another part of your life, like watching your newest DVD. Also, in the event that you really do have way too much homework - some schools and teachers are notorious for piling on very demanding assignments, day after day - you’ll have evidence! If you’re consistently burning the midnight oil and then arriving at school the next day bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived, talk to your parents. Armed with specific information, they may be able to intervene, either directly or through your local PTA. If you have an assignment - a school project, a term paper, or other task - which requires an extended period of time to complete, make your checklist and create a timetable for each task. Include planning, gathering of resources, outlining, reading (drawing, painting), etc., and divide up the necessary tasks into chunks of work which you can schedule over the time allowed for the assignment. Consider scheduling the task so that it actually gets done early; if the assignment is supposed to be passed in two weeks from Friday, for instance, try to schedule it for completion by Tuesday or Wednesday of that week. This give you time for false starts and problem solving, and will take the heat off and lower your stress level as you meet each task ahead of schedule. Don’t forget to schedule time for your personal life! Getting a handle on your homework assignments and the time they take means that you can incorporate them into other aspects of your life, like school activities, trips to the mall, parties, get-togethers with friends or family, etc. When you know that a particular group of assignments is going to take you two hours, it frees the rest of your time up for - well, living! Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for local and regional newspapers and for a number of Internet websites, including Tips and Topics. She expresses her opinions periodically on her blog, http://beyondagendas.blogspot.com She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aldene_Fredenburg http://EzineArticles.com/?Make-Your-Homework-Time-Count&id=194969 buy phentermine without a prescription buy phentermine online ky buy generic phentermine buy phentermine with cod

Loyalty Cards Systems - Beware, Some Should Be Avoided

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

By Jeff Walters Recently, I discussed a loyalty card system with a vendor who was selling quite a number of his systems to restaurants. I was shocked to discover the lack of detailed information that this vendor catered for, and the opportunities the system he provided squandered. The way their scheme works is that whenever a restaurant customer is presented with a bill, they provide their loyalty card to the waiter, who swipes it at the till. If the customer has accumulated sufficient points from previously purchased meals, he/she is awarded a rebate on the price of the meal. This is simple price discounting based on repeat purchases. No other marketing activities are carried out - either by the loyalty card company, or by the restaurant - to proactively influence the number of times the card holder frequents the restaurant - they rely solely on the meal discount to attract customers back for more meals. This is a system that is woefully underexploited. I asked about the level of detail that was transmitted to the card site - and was once again disappointed - only the total meal cost was transmitted. The customer profile that was being created was extremely superficial. My view was further confirmed when I asked whether the ’significant other’, or other family members’ details were collected. Once again, no. The key things wrong with this service offering: Lack of transaction details. These days, with broadband communication and high volume data disks, there is really no excuse not to collect data at transaction level. The simple act of recording the bill at individual meal item level opens up a wealth of information: Number of main meals - if there are children in the family unit (provided during signup), analysis of the bill will provide a clear indication of whether the whole family always eats out, or if on occaision the parents treat themselves to a quiet night on their own - possibly anniversaries, or birthdays, or just a regular night away from the kids. Types of meals - red meat, fish, vegetarian - which could be used for special promotions Beer, cheap wine, or expensive wine drinker If you had the above information at your finger tips, who would you rather focus your marketing efforts on to get to come back to your restaurant - the family of six that buys budget meals, and drinks beer and soda, or 3 couples ordering starters, high-priced meals, drinking quality wine, and finishing off with expensive liqueurs? Even recording the value of the tip could be useful. A usually-generous tipper who awards a low tip (possibly to a new waiter) is giving a clear indication of a bad experience. This information could be used by the restaurant owner to contact the customer within a few days to establish what was wrong with the meal or service, and to invite the customer back with an offer of a generous discount for the next meal. Not getting the details of the ’significant other’ and details of any children prevents marketing to special days. Its pretty pointless merely getting the birthday of the cardholder - it’s not that compelling to get an SMS or postcard suggesting that you treat yourself to a special night out. It’s far more effective to receive a prompt to take your significant other out for that special meal. Children’s birthdays are another opportunity to encourage the family to come out to the restaurant for a slap-up meal -but this is only possible if you take the trouble to collect the data… Hopefully the above points have provided some ideas as to how basic transaction data can be used effectively by an information analyst or direct marketer. If you are approached by a vendor to implement a loyalty scheme, or you are thinking about calling for proposals from scheme suppliers, make sure that you investigate the level of data detail that each supplier collects. If data is recorded at line item level - i.e. product ID, quantity, and price - then you will have a wealth of sales data that you can start using for a variety of campaigns. If they only provide you with a bill total per meal, then I suggest you look elsewhere for a more effective loyalty card scheme. 2005 Intellinova (Pty) Ltd. - All Rights ReservedThis article may be reprinted, provided it is published in its entirety, includes the author bio information, and all links remain active. For the past 20 years, Jeff Walters has been actively involved in transforming raw business data into profit-producing strategic information. He has worked in various data intensive sectors- banking, insurance, gambling, medical, government - leading several data-to-information projects: ABC Costing, analytical CRM, datamart /data warehouse development, and Balanced Scorecard. If you want to convert your raw data into strategic assets, contact Jeff Walters through the following sites: Customer Relationship Management, or Direct Marketing Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Walters http://EzineArticles.com/?Loyalty-Cards-Systems—Beware,-Some-Should-Be-Avoided&id=64607 phentermine without prescription overnight buy adipex phentermine buy phentermine overnight delivery buy phentermine online with no prescription