The Refresh Orlando Heirs

Not everybody has a hobby. Some people build model ariplanes for fun, and some people build GIFT BASKETS for fun. Why not make a little money while your at it. Instead of just building a Gift Basket for a friend or family members birthday, why not build them and sell them for a small profit. I wanted to write this article because that’s exactly what I did. Here are a few steps on how to build the Perfect Gift Basket for all Occasions.

Creating the Perfect Gift for all Occasions…a Gift Basket.

A few tips to help you make a full and beautifully tied and tagged gift basket.

• First: Always place larger items in back of container to create height. Don’t place heavy items in the front, this will make the container look unbalanced.

• Second: Step back to see the whole basket, adjust if necessary.

• Third: Try to make all things visible, this can be done by adding filler where needed.

• Fourth: Shrink wrap by gathering the wrapping tightly up over the basket. With a heat gun blow warm air over the wrap while holding the wrap tight.

• Fifth: Add the finished touch with a beautifully made bow and tag that will complement each basket.

  I hope this article will help you weather it’s building a Gift Basket for a loved one, or starting a small successful small business like mine.

If you would like to know more please visit our website: http://www.giftbasketsbylibby.com

The IFCC (Internet Fraud Complaint Center) received over 200,000 complaint submissions for 2004, an increase of 66.6% from 2003. The total dollar loss from all referred cases exceeded 68 million dollars, an average loss of $894 per complaint. There are many types of internet frauds that exist including auction, email, foreign investment letters and online dating. Here are some ways to identify a possible scam or fraud that you may have encountered while surfing the internet.

Auctions

Auction sites are one of the best places to purchase and sell items. They are also one of the easiest places to become an internet fraud victim. Auction fraud represented 71% of the total referred fraud complaints. How the scam works is that you win the auction, but never receive the item. Most of the time the auction site cannot assist you in recovering the money stolen. They will remove the member’s account and disqualify the member’s email address from their site but are not able to do much else. It is in your best interest to research each seller before making any purchases.
Auction sites have a rating system for their members and I would advise you to check this and their profile for certain clues. The first is to check how many sales have been completed and the response from the buyers. I would suggest no less than a hundred transactions for moderately priced items (less than a hundred dollars). A scammer will become a member and sell fifty items for a dollar or less usually in a week or two to build up his member rating. Then they will post twenty auctions ending within a day of each other for items that retail for over a hundred dollars but they are selling them for an unprofitable amount. Again, research a seller’s auction history before placing your bid. Also, if Western Union or similar is stated to be the only form of payment, move right on to the next auction.

Fraudulent Email

Email is a great form of communication and also an easy target for schemers. Electronic mail is the primary mechanism by which a perpetrator makes contact representing 63% compared to just 7% by phone. Fraud victims will receive an email with a link stating that their account information needs to be updated. Upon clicking on the link you are taken to a page that looks almost identical to the member page and asks you to enter in your name, address, social security number, checking account routing number and/or credit card number. When you hit the submit button, your information is instantly shuttled to someone waiting to separate you from your money. Before submitting your information, verify that you are truly on the site that the link states it is taking you.

Foreign Investment Letter

Another popular email scheme is an email from a foreign country stating that they have millions that need to be transferred to the United States but need a bank account to finalize the transaction. The sender of the email is willing to give you a percentage of the amount transferred in exchange for using your bank account. Never submit your social security number and checking account or credit card number via an email or an unfamiliar website. This is also known as Nigerian letter fraud and among one of the highest dollar loss frauds with an average of $3000.

Online Dating

You would also be surprised how easily people give their hard earned money away to people they meet over the internet but not in person. The victim meets someone in a chat room or message board and builds a friendship with the perpetrator who usually sends the victim a picture of an attractive person. When the time comes to meet, the schemer admits to not having the money for airfare and expenses, so the victim sends the money via Western Union or similar money transfer service, never to hear back from the person again.

Avoiding Scams

Here are a few ways to avoid becoming a victim of a scam:

1. Do not disclose your social security number, credit card or banking numbers to anyone you do not feel comfortable with.


2. Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB.org) and Scambusters.com before making a purchase from an unfamiliar website and company.


3. When purchasing items online avoid force seller tactics. If they can’t wait, then tell them you’re not buying. Whenever possible, use escrow. Escrow is a third party who holds the money until the item or service has been delivered to the buyer.


4. Avoid Western Union or similar forms of payment at all costs.


5. Most importantly, do your research.

Please visit the IFCC or view the annual report at http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/strategy/statistics.asp for more information about internet fraud.

James Junior is a freelance writer and web programmer for http://www.jccorner.com

Energy efficiency has been part of the American lexicon since 1978 when the Energy Policy Act was first enacted. Since then, energy efficient homes and increased use of renewable energy resources have become the norm in states like New York and California. Policies and programs have supported these statewide efforts while $847 million in federal funding has recently been allocated to help homeowners across America build better homes. Still, some parts of the country continued to use outmoded housing codes and practices even when it was no longer considered sustainable. The Gulf Coast region of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama was such a place. There is no way to know how many of the homes in the Gulf Coast region were inefficient prior to the hurricane. However, the gap between best practice and actual practice was revealed as Hurricane Katrina came ashore along the Gulf Coast and many Americans glimpsed the sub-standard housing that been the status quo in the region for years.

Yet in this disaster, there is an opportunity synchronous with recent changes in building policies. For example, in September 2005, the new Energy Policy Act was passed by Congress into law. The International Code Council (the ICC, an agency setting the standards for U.S. buildings) likewise upgraded its IECC 2006 codes for new homes . And the government-sponsored ENERGY STAR program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended its guidelines for new homes in October 2005 . Luckily, the policies for a “right rebuild” are in place. Now, a sound financial justification for making “smart energy choices” is needed since 310,353 new single family homes must be built in the affected regions immediately.

By using a complex suite of DOE-2 modeling analyses along with climate, census, and emergency management data from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, this paper makes the case for an energy efficient rebuild. This modeling compared the impacts of rebuilding homes that may have been built to minimum building codes (as a baseline for comparison) versus four increasingly more energy-efficient standards . While the “quick payback” scenario illustrated the fastest payback considering the initial investment, the 2006 ENERGY STAR New Homes Guidelines showed the most reasonable short-term payback with larger savings over time. For example, the initial investment of $900 million to rebuild 310,353 homes to the ENERGY STAR guidelines would have a payback of just 7.5 years—much less than the term of the mortgage.

Due to the increased quality of the home and short return-on-investment, the ENERGY STAR scenario is recommended as the minimum threshold for single family homes during the rebuild. Additionally, the annual electricity savings (using this scenario) would avoid the equivalent of one South Carolina nuclear plant , and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 51,221 cars off the roads.

On August 29, 2005, at 6:10 a.m., a Category 4 hurricane made landfall near Buras, Louisiana, with 145 mph winds. By 9:00 a.m., New Orleans’ Lower Ninth District was under 8 feet of water and a path of destruction the size of the United Kingdom had been created and leaving 1.5 million people without power. The number of parishes affected in Louisiana was 31, in Mississippi 47 counties were affected, and in Alabama 8 counties saw damage to their single family housing units of 2.1 million. By October 2005, an estimated 2.2 million people had registered for aid from the Federal Energy Management Agency (FEMA) and 416,852 people were still without power in Texas and Louisiana .

An estimated 160,000 new single-family homes will need to be built in the coming months in New Orleans alone, with a grand total of 310,353 single family homes needing to be built in the three states.

Brief History of the Gulf Coast Areas’ Single Family Housing
After the Civil War, men known as “carpet baggers” came into the Gulf Coast region, taking advantage of a ravaged countryside and its people. In the 140 years since the Civil War, the Gulf Coast region was populated and an estimated 2 million single family homes built in the affected region. By 2000, the average cost of those homes was $71,685, nearly $48,000 less than the average single-family home in America . These homes were not only cheaper than the typical U.S. house, they were also older, with an average build-date of 1975.

The people in the Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina were more vulnerable than the average populace in America. The percent of the population living on incomes at or below the poverty line in the parishes and counties affected by the hurricane was 19% of the population. The average age of those homes was not only three decades but the relative energy efficiency (as compared the national average) was lower than the norm. The Gulf Coast region hit by Hurricane Katrina had a history of lagging behind the rest of the country in terms of infrastructure, housing quality, and economic robustness. In short, the region was ripe for the kind of disaster the hurricane wrought.

After Hurricane Katrina, a new breed of “carpet baggers” set upon the Gulf Coast region, once again attempting to take advantage of a ravaged countryside and weary populace. But unlike the post-Civil War years, today’s opportunists are local. Suppliers from drywall to roofing materials are inflating material costs and large-scale builders are vying to hire every able-bodied worker capable of swinging a hammer. Yet some large retailers are taking an active stewardship role in the reconstruction. For example, The Home Depot and its suppliers have partnered to donate nearly $1.2 million of products to those areas in need, along with $4 million in donations from the Home Depot Foundation . Meanwhile, Congress is seeking to pass bills to shield contractors from litigation that might result from workers in this polluted, dangerous area that is today’s Gulf Coast. The time to anticipate the impacts of smarter choices for the rebuild is now.

Datasets and Modeling Software
Housing characteristics, including construction type, architectural characteristics, and quantity of construction from the 86 counties and parishes in the three hardest-hit states (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama) were gleaned from 2000 Census Bureau data. Modelers established a baseline of what existed pre-Katrina using DOE-2 modeling software to compare the economic and environmental benefits of rebuilding in an energy efficient manner. For the ease of modeling a representative sample, only single-family homes units were considered since 67% of the homes destroyed were this housing type. Means Cost Data aided in modeling the “per unit cost to rebuild” each home for each scenario. NAHB data described the housing starts projections for 2005-2010 while additional economic characteristics for the region were gathered from the 2000 U.S. Census.

Codes and Standards
The codes climate in these three states gave a snapshot of what would be practical to expect during the rebuild. As of August 29, 2005, the local codes for energy efficiency in the three states were based on standards as recent as the year 2000 and as old as 1975 . However, recent code revisions have made an energy efficient rebuild possible. For example, the newly-revised IECC 2006 of the International Codes Council was considered in one scenario. And since the government-sponsored ENERGY STAR program of the EPA amended its New Homes Guidelines in October 2005 , and those guidelines are effective beginning January 1, 2006, those guidelines were considered as another scenario.

Options for the Gulf Coast Rebuild
Four scenarios were selected for modeling, against a baseline set at the Model Energy Code 1993 (MEC 93). In this baseline, it was assumed that all houses destroyed had indeed been constructed to a code standard that was approximately a decade old. Yet, as can be seen from a cursory review of the codes for these states, it is probable that many of these houses were not built to such a recent code. Nonetheless, the baseline was established as if the home had a window solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.58, a wall R-value of 13, an attic R-value of 23, an air conditioner Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 10, and an estimated size of 2,000 s.f.

Using datasets of several thousand factors and applying those factors to the four basic upgrades in energy efficiency, researchers modeled 72,000 DOE-2 runs to characterize the impacts in two climate zones, and eight cities in the Gulf Coast region affected. This modeling provided the baseline for a “plain vanilla” single-family housing unit in the three states on August 29th, 2005, for comparison with four energy efficiency upgrades.

RESULTS
The estimated number of homes requiring demolition and rebuild has been estimated to be as many as 2.1 million single family homes. As mentioned, this study modeled only those homes utterly obliterated. It bears mentioning that the cost estimates for constructing new homes with these upgrades must be considered estimates only. The cost of materials, regional labor cost differences, the value of money, the cost of electricity or gas, and many other factors might affect these building costs and therefore, the simple payback period estimates.

With that disclaimer in mind, in terms of the “cost to upgrade”, Scenario 4 proved to be the most expensive initial investment, at $6,003 per home. This initial cost put the simple payback period at about 12.5 years. Yet when this payback period is considered within the context of a 30-year mortgage, that return-on-investment appears more favorable. The next most costly upgrade was Scenario 3 (ENERGY STAR) at a cost $2,754 per home. Yet the ENERGY STAR scenario had a much quicker payback than Scenario 4 (Best Practices) or the less expensive option, Scenario 2 (IECC 2006). The simple payback period for Scenario 3 (ENERGY STAR) was just 7.5 years.

The lesser expensive option was Scenario 2, IECC 2006. This option cost an estimated $1,511 to upgrade the home, yet paid back the initial investment in 8.5 years. The most rapid return-on-investment was found to be the Quick Payback scheme outlined in Scenario 1. The initial investment of $527 paid for itself in just over 2 years. However, due to the lack of envelope and insulation considerations, the “quick payback” scenario is not recommended for the rebuild.

For the Gulf Coast rebuild, the opportunity to build energy efficient single family homes is clear: a “right rebuild” will have long-term benefits to the homeowners, the local utilities, the region, and the nation. For homeowners, building homes that have tight envelopes, good insulation, proper windows, and energy efficient equipment will reduce their monthly energy bills and increase the comfort and health of the occupants. The benefit of reduced energy bills cannot be understated. In present-day Mississippi, 34% of the household income pays the mortgage. The second-highest cost is energy bills.

As consumer energy bills rise, some regions are more challenged than others. For example, a study in North Carolina found that of every 100 trailers sold, 20 were repossessed. The problem was not mortgage costs that were too high, rather, the problem was that the monthly energy costs were more than the mortgage. With utility bills as high as $230 a month, the 30-year mortgage on a $25,000 mobile home was minor in comparison.

The fragility of the household incomes in the Gulf Coast region certainly plays a part in determining what ought to be re-built there. The average annual energy bills for the region were around $1,200. Scenario 3 (ENERGY STAR) returns a higher amount than the “Quick Payback” scenario, for example. For that, and other reasons, ENERGY STAR 2006 is the recommended threshold for the rebuild. In other words, there should be no single family home re-built with government-assisted funding that does not conform to the ENERGY STAR for New Homes Guidelines, as a minimum.

OTHER BENEFITS OF SMART ENERGY CHOICES
Load Reduction
The simple payback period for each rebuild scenario was calculated (based on incremental annual utility bill savings) without considering rising costs of electricity (which increased 3.3% in this region in the past year) or rises in crude oil prices (which rose 64% in the past year). In the recommended scenario (ENERGY STAR), an estimated 713 MW annually would be avoided, roughly equal to one nuclear power plant serving Hartsville, South Carolina . The increased benefits in savings for local power plants, and the environmental benefits (in an already-challenged region) would be reduced greenhouse gases in the form of CO2 equivalent to removing 51,221 cars from the roads . And for every 1 MW avoided, an estimated $1 million is saved, and similar savings are achievable in reduced distribution costs.

Better Health
As the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast continues, building energy efficient homes through the 2006 ENERGY STAR for New Homes Guidelines (along with the Indoor Air Package guidelines being piloted) ensure that occupants of these new homes will spend less on medical-related problems and mold-remediation costs long associated with poor construction techniques in hot, humid climates. When considering that indoor air pollution is responsible for one death every 20 seconds , and that the economic impacts of indoor pollution have been estimated at billions of dollars a year , spending a little more on each home to avoid these costs is money well-spent.

LEVERAGING LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS OR TAX INCENTIVES
Louisiana Homeowners
Homeowners in Louisiana can access the Louisiana Home Energy Rebate Option (HERO) program, the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP), the Property Tax Exemption, or the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) program for rebuilding assistance or tax incentives. In general, the HERO program only requires that homes be built 30% better than the 1995 MEC, an outdated standard; and its cash assistance amounts to an energy efficiency premium up to $2,000. The HELP program, a program of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, precludes a homeowner from participating in the HERO program and largely consists of home improvement loans to make energy-related improvements to existing homes.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers to finance half of the improvements at 2% interest, up to a maximum of $6,000 on the DNR portion. Property tax exemptions are available for owner-occupied home equipment that is energy efficient. The QAP program awards points to projects that include energy efficient products, including windows, doors, HVAC, and appliances.

The government should make these budgets available for leverage in the rebuilding efforts.

Mississippi Homeowners
Mississippi’s homeowners can access the Energy Rated Homes of Mississippi Program or the Green Power Switch Generation Partners Program for rebuilding assistance. In the former, five levels of energy efficiency are given to homes, based on the Uniform Energy Rating System. The benefits to the homeowners are unclear. The Green Power Switch Generation Partners Program, a program under the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and participating distributors. Under this program, homeowners are offered a dual-metering option. Homeowners may generate power, feeding excess back to the grid. TVA will purchase the entire output of a qualifying system and the homeowner receives credit for the power generated.

The government should make these budgets available for leverage in the rebuilding efforts.

Alabama Homeowners
Alabama homeowners may access the Income Tax Credit Program, the State Grant Program, or the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) program for rebuilding or tax credit incentives. In general, Alabama homeowners can receive an income tax credit for converting their main energy source for a home to renewable energy resources (for heating only). The State Grant Program is directed largely at biomass projects for industrial and commercial enterprises; and it is unclear if the government will consider rebuilding residential areas as a “government” program that would be eligible to use this program. Primarily, the program gives assistance in the form of loans with interest rates no higher than 2% above the prime rate (with maximum interest subsidy payment amount not to exceed $75,000). The QAP program awards points for projects that promote energy conservation by exceeding standards of the Council of the American Building Officials Model Energy Code (MEC).

The government should make these budgets available for leverage in the rebuilding efforts.

Federal Legislation that Aids Homeowners in All Three States
The most effective financing tool available to homeowners in all Gulf Coast regions affected by the hurricane may be found in the recent federal legislation of the U.S. government. On August 8, 2005, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was enacted. This law includes various sections related to enhancing the energy use of citizens and industry. Among the Act’s components are tax credits for energy efficiency. If homeowners along the Gulf Coast opt to build energy efficiently, they will receive incentives to do so. Were homeowners to build to 2006 ENERGYSTAR for New Homes Guidelines are recommended, homeowners could receive tax incentives. Unlike the state or local programs (cited above), the federal budget allocation is substantial: $50 million per year through FY2008.

For builders of new homes, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Section 1332) provides a credit up to $2,000 for a home that saves at least 50% compared to the 2004 IECC code , and $1,000 for an ENERGYSTAR manufactured home. The applicable dates for these incentives are calendar years 2006 and 2007.

For owners of existing homes, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Section 1333) includes a credit for homeowners for 10% of the cost of installing building envelope components consistent with the IECC code. There is no certification required. The credits are available for calendar years 2006 and 2007.

The home tax credit has an overall per household cap of $500 to reimburse homeowners for the following expenses:
o 10% of the cost for energy efficient insulation, doors, and/or ENERGYSTAR high reflectivity roofs
o 10% (up to $200) of the full cost of energy efficient windows
o Up to $300 of the full cost for purchasing a highly-efficient central air conditioner, furnace, heat pump, or water heater
o Up to $150 of the full cost of a highly-efficient furnace or boiler, and
o Up to $50 of the full cost of a furnace with a highly-efficient fan.

Favorable Mortgage Rates for Rebuilding in the Gulf Coast Region
As homeowners in the affected areas seek to rebuild, they will look for mortgage rates that will help them build homes they can afford to operate. In Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama “energy efficient mortgages” (or EEMs) are available through agencies like Fannie Mae. In Louisiana and Mississippi, these mortgages are available from EnergyWise Mortgage and Indigo Financial Group. In Alabama, these mortgages may be obtained from American Acceptance Mortgage, EnergyWise Mortgage, or the Indigo Financial Group. In general terms, EEMs allow homeowners to borrow funds to make energy improvements at the time of purchase of a home. The average annual savings to homeowners is $300 to $600. Fannie Mae should extend the EEMs to rebuilding homes damaged during the hurricane.

RECOMMENDATIONS
1) The 2006 ENERGY STAR for New Homes Guidelines are the recommended threshold for all new single family homes construction undertaken during the rebuild.
2) State and local incentives should be leveraged for all new homes construction during the rebuild.
3) Federal tax credits and federal funding should be leveraged for all new homes construction during the rebuild to multiply the impacts.
4) EEMs programs (and other similar initiatives) should be extended to include new homes construction needed for the rebuild.
5) The financial benefits that accrue due to “smart energy choices” taken during the rebuild should be tracked to build a larger case for energy efficient development and subsequent mass deployment of energy efficient practices.

This research demonstrates that the decisions made in the coming months will impact the economics and resources of households, utilities, the region, and the nation for several decades to come. As power suppliers struggle to rebuild damaged infrastructure like power distribution systems, and every local provider of materials and manpower is stretched to its limits, there is no better time to reduce the eventual load on manpower and infrastructure than now. Homeowners will benefit from reduced energy bills while area builders will find a whole new business model in setting themselves apart from “plain vanilla” builders as they position themselves as ENERGY STAR builders.

Of course, rebuilding an area this large will not be easy. But as this study proves, rebuilding single family housing to an energy efficiency standard that is higher than what it was makes sound economic sense and forms the most coherent strategy for creating a sustainable re-construction. The incentives under the new tax credits bill, energy efficient mortgages, and state-centered incentives and financing–when supplemented with federal funds for the rebuild—only add to the financial benefits of making smart energy choices in the Gulf Coast rebuild. Even without these benefits, rebuilding the 310,353 homes to ENERGY STAR standards would be an investment that pays for itself quickly, and returns another $3.2 billion dollars into the local economy in just 30 years. Imagine what might be gained by making similarly intelligent energy choices for the other 2.1 million new homes needing to be built.

Here are… Ten Preventative Steps To Help
Safeguard Against Identity Theft.

Guard against malicious thieves stealing your identity.

If you receive suspicious billings or items that you
don’t recognize. Call and investigate them right away with
your provider. Try to head of any means of fraud before it
can occur.

When you receive financial inquiries or solicitations in
the mail…DON’T just discard them in the trash. Invest in a
good crosscut shredder…Don’t discard ANY mail
solicitations, fianancial papers, bank statements, invoices,
quoates, or any items that may contain information about you
or your family members. Don’t give would-be thieves an
opportunity to gain access to your identity.

Don’t give anyone your financial or private information over
the telephone unless you initiated the original phone
conversation and you can verify the person or organization
you’re speaking to.

It’s sad, but true in today’s world. You must be very
careful not offer ANYONE your social security number, bank
account number, credit card number, or any private or
financial information over the phone without first properly
identifying them. Get their contact phone and call back to
verify. Also be careful not to be talking on a cordless or
cellular phone….these are NOT secure devices. Anyone with
a radio scanner may be able to monitor your conversation!

Protect your ATM cards, Personal Identication Numbers
(P.I.N.) Guard against ANYONE gaining posession of of any
ATM Cards, Charge Cards, and (PIN) Personal Identification
Numbers.Check that they are always in your control. Keep
account numbers, receipts, and contact information in a secure place
that’seasily accessed by you in the event that you identity
information is breached.

Report any lost, stolen, or missing checks immediately to
your bank. They can then arrange to block payment on
specific check numbers in question. When you receive your
checks in the mail, always confirm that none are missing.

Make sure to store cancelled checks in a safe place.

If you receive strange or suspicious inquiries asking for
your account information to verify a statement or confirm an
award or prize winnings….call your bank and report this
immediately.

Times have changed over the years. It is suggested that you
no longer attach outgoing mail to your mailbox for pickup.
Instead, deliver it directly to an official Post Office or
postal collection box. This is one of the easiest ways a
thief can steal your identity.

If you notice that your regular bills have stopped coming,
find out why. Call the company to verify. Someone could
have filed a false change of address to re-direct your
information to his or her address.

————————————————————
By protecting yourself using these simple steps, you can
help prevent would be identity theives from accessing and
gaining your identity.

These days Identity Theft is making HUGE headlines in the
News. Always be on guard to detect and prevent any would-be
theieves from stealing your Identity. No one wants to suffer
malicious damages caused by someone posing as you or
cleaning out your bank accounts, running up debt on credit
cards, or any number of other unauthorized acts.

These threats are REAL ! Hundreds of thousands of people
are victimized by these crimes every year.

(c) Copyright 2003 by Ken Burnett

————————————————————

To gain additional information about safety tips around the
home, you may subscribe to a F*REE Newsletter Ezine
entitled “Intruder Alert Ezine” published by a 30-year
veteran of Law Enforcement & the Electronic Alarm Industry. Click Here to get your subscription today. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Ken Burnett
Publisher - Intruder Alert Ezine;http://www.intruderalertezine.com

To subscribe to our Ezine, send blank email to: intruderalert@GetResponse.com

Author - “Professional Home Security Secrets-Revealed”
http://www.professionalhomesecuritysecrets-revealed.com

Quality Software for your Home & Business; http://www.DigitalSpecialtyProducts.com

To gain additional information about safety tips around the
home, you may subscribe to a F*REE Newsletter Ezine
entitled “Intruder Alert Ezine” published by a 30-year
veteran of Law Enforcement & the Electronic Alarm Industry.

Happiness is the culmination of small amounts of success. You will inevitably not be successful at everything you try to do. Also, if you measure your success by extreme standards, such as accomplishing some great and important task then you will likely often be too hard on yourself and feel like a failure, despite all of your other small successes. It is better to focus on the small successes and make them happen as often as you can. Mastering a new hobby can be a small success that you can accomplish, that you can make happen, and that you have control over. Moreover, it is something you choose to do. You can succeed at the things that YOU want to.

If you or someone you know is having trouble getting excited about life or has little ambition, perhaps it is time to have a little success or help them find a little success. Success can be inspiring. Success can build your confidence. As you learn a new hobby, your confidence will rise. You will become more ambitious and happy. You will become excited about other things that before you were not excited about.

A hobby can just be something else for you to do. One of my favorite quotes is “Variety is the spice of life.” A hobby is something you can spice up your life with. It can be very helpful to your mental health as you fill your life with the things that you enjoy and love. It can also give you a sense of control as YOU pick your hobbies. YOU find the things that YOU like. You can pursue your own interests.

As you experiment with different hobbies you can find yourself. You can find out what you are really like, what really makes you happy. Perhaps physical exercise will make you happier, in which case you should find a hobby that requires some physical exertion like mountain biking, running, lifting weights, dancing, swimming, or playing sports. Maybe you would enjoy a hobby where you can interact with other people; most of the hobbies already mentioned could also be done with others. You could also find more laid back hobbies such as outdoor yard games, barbecuing, camping, or boating. Whatever your interests are, or what you think they might be you can find a related hobby and pursue it. There are also hobbies for people who like to spend time alone such as crocheting, scrapbooking, arts and crafts. Some people like to tinker with things or are interested in technology, in which case, they might like model airplanes or radio control airplanes. Many people have a hobby of communicating with ham radios. There are as many hobbies as there are ideas.

By definition, a hobby is a leisure or recreational activity that someone pursues outside of their regular career. It is something that adds quality to life and variety to your nine-to-five job. It is something you can enjoy, something you can look forward to doing at the end of the day or the end of the week. It is something that you can spend time doing with family or friends. It is something that can provide purpose and a reason for you to be happy. Hobbies can help to find yourself and find where your real interests lay.

So, find a new hobby today. Find a hobby at the online hobby store that makes you think, that challenges you to be more intelligent, to be a better person and that gives you something to look forward to. You will be surprised what a difference it makes in your life.

Peter Jay is the Owner/President and CEO of Variety Access – Your online hobby store and more. For more information about hobbies, hobby products, or Variety Access, go to VarietyAccess.com.

Similar to not dating your friend, dating your co-worker is another no-no in the relationship world. There are obvious reasons for not dating one’s co-worker, including a potential negative, awkward working environment if the relationship ends, division among co-workers after a break-up, and in a lesser extent unprofessionalism in the working environment.

Falling for one’s co-worker happens more often than one may think. Given the proximity (time and space) and closeness that co-workers have with each other, it is quite inevitable that relationships form in the workplace. The trick is, one must realize the ramifications of such relationships. If one outweighs the advantages and disadvantages of such a relationship and determines that it is beneficial, then by all means, go for it.

But, realize that if it does not work out (pun intended), then be prepared to suffer the consequences. If one works closely with said co-worker, then it will be a very uncomfortable working environment. This may lead to reassignment or a potential layoff if it becomes too much of an issue. Do not sacrifice your employment for something as trivial as just ‘wanting to have a good time’.

Division between co-workers can also exist if a break-up happens between co-workers. Similar to the uncomfortable working environment, division among the co-workers may lead to increased tension in the workplace and decreased productivity.

On a lesser note, one may be considered unprofessional for mixing business with pleasure. Although this is not such a great factor, it is nonetheless one of the parameters considered worthy enough to discuss about in workplace dating.

In closing, dating your co-worker is not advisable. It can create an uncomfortable working environment, and can lead to strife and potential unemployment if issues become too large. One must outweigh the consequences and make sure that such a potential relationship is worth the potential damage to one’s employment history.

If you are a man and you spend tpo much time at work, I am sure it can be a pain to meet women. Maybe you have said to yourself that you are not good at meeting women.

Well, we spend a lot of time on our computers too. If dating the women we meet at work is not advisable then I advise you to check out online dating options.

The best place for men to meet eligible single women is at an online dating site geared towards bringing together foreign women together with american men. Women wanting to fall in love with you are a dime a dozen.

It is free to join and chat instantly. Yes, thats right, chatting is free! Check out our streamate FAQ resource to learn more at http://www.camsfaq.com today.

What can you do to stay on track, when life throws so many
obstacles in the way? How are you supposed to keep your chin up
when the economy is down? How can you practice positive thinking
“under fire?”

Truthfully, we are tested in “the heat of battle.” Anyone can be
a clear and rational thinker when everything is going in the
right direction. Your ability to maintain goals in “rough
waters” is what separates the leaders from those who just want
to lead.

When you elect to be a leader, you are judged by your ability to
handle a crisis. The role is similar to the captain of a ship
who must plug a hole or go down with the ship. It’s that simple,
and that is the difference between a successful leader and one
who would like to lead.

In the current business climate, with the pace of technology,
and the skill of your competitors, you don’t have time to be
depressed or draw a blank. You must take action and respond
immediately to “damage repair.” There is simply no time for
mourning over past mistakes.

The time of crisis, is the time for solutions. You must allow
for thinking, prayer, meditation, “brain storming sessions,” or
consultation with a coach. This allows you to “think outside the
box.” This is where you will find creative solutions to your
present obstacles of life.

Do you remember the saying, “Life is like a bowl of cherries?”
Sometimes, we could say just the opposite, but life is what we
truly envision. If you fear that everyone is talking badly about
you, you will envision and perceive it. Paranoia becomes
reality, and so it is with real life.

Take the time to recognize fear, paranoia, frustration, and
negative feelings within you. Know your fears through
self-analysis. You should know yourself better than anyone else.
When you hear the little voice of negativity, in the back of
your mind, give it some consideration. Don’t make fear of
failure become your number one priority.

One more suggestion: Visit your local book store or shop online
for a self-improvement book. You can choose audio, e-Book, or
the traditional version. Each has its own usefulness in the
course of your day. Make the most of your time, and listen to
audio books while you are traveling. This gives you an
inexpensive coach whenever you are alone or in transit.

Allow for quiet time in the early morning or later at night.
This is time for reading, meditation, prayer, or creative
thinking, to put what you learn into the planning stage and go
after success with all of your resources.

© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

So you are thinking to yourself “how can I expand my operation, do more business and make more money?”. If you are thinking this right now and are in the web design or webhosting fields then Outsourcing might be for you. Now this is not to say that other companies or businesses can’t do outsourcing work. The reasons I give web design and webhosting as examples is they are sort of related. You can’t have a site up without hosting in return you really don’t need hosting unless you have a site up.

Now you may be thinking what steps do you need to get started on expanding via outsourcing. Well the very first thing for you to do is to see if you have a good clients base where you are:

-Unable to keep up with the work.

-Unable to do the work yourself(in the case you run a website that gets alot of request but have no knowledge in website design).

-Can do website and graphic works but you have no clue about programming.

Anyone of these situations can leave you looking to outsource your business. Especially when you design websites but can not code them in anything but html(which your clients might need it coded in php and mysql). Not being able to offer your clients a complete solution may cause them to go another developer. Which in turn can cause you to lose projects in the $X,XXX range.

Now that you have decided to turn to outsourcing, you need to find a reliable team of developers. Whether they are website designers, programmers or both. You will need to know that they can do the work, are reliable and trustworthy. Make sure when you do this search that you follow these simple rules and check on some things. Such as:

-Make sure you can contact them multiple ways and that they will contact you back in a reasonable amount of time.

-Get samples of their work.

-Ask for references.

-Get their rates.

-Find out their years of experience.

-Make sure they are willing to sign a contract.

-Find out how much work they can handle, what languages they program in, as well as their team size.

-It is all right to give them a deposit but limit it to 25-50% and don’t pay anymore until the project is complete. If you want to break it down into milestones you can, but do it in either 10% or 20% increments. Make sure the milestones are set out in the contract.

These things will protect you.

The next thing you are going to want to do before taking on any projects is start with a test project. This will allow you to try out your new team as well as see what type of markup on projects you will get. This will definitely show you what problems if any you might face with the new team. It will also show you if there is a significant enough markup for you to make it worth your time to outsource.

The final step you are going to need to do is to put in place a fluent system to monitor clients, emails and your team. This will definitely help when updates are needed to be done. A project management system will allow your clients and your team to talk to each other without revealing any personnel contact information. Which will save you from having your clients stolen from you. Also make sure you monitor all contact so that you can be sure you can trust who you are doing business with.

Just remember to take outsourcing one step at a time.

Anthony Jewell has over 6 Years experience in the Web & Graphics World. You can visit my business at http://www.logo2d.com

©Copyright 2005 Logo2D.com : Feel free to use this article freely but please keep in the copyright

iPods have had an amazing rise to stardom that started back when they were first introduced in 2001. In a very short time these have set the standard for digital audio players. This market has been so large that everyone and their brother now have an iPod.

One of the best parts about iPods is the plethora or wide range of aftermarket products. You can now customize, tweak and trick out your iPod to your hearts desires. You might go with something simple to something very wild but no matter what you choice are there will be a product to your liking.

An iPod skin is often seen as one of the most important accessories and aftermarket products out there. There are many manufactures that will offer a wide variety of iPods skins for every make and model of the iPod including the iPod Mini, iPod Shuffle, and iPod Nano. No matter what the skin looks like or the model that you have the skin has one main purpose. The main purpose other then being stylish is to protect your iPod from wear and tear including scratches and drops.

So which is the best iPod skin for your particular needs? Well, it largely depends on your tastes, style and desires. You can get a completely custom and wild look using a custom printable iPod skin also known as iPod Tattoos. If you are looking for something a little more sedate or subdued with classic style then you might want a leather skin or case.

Silicone iPod Skins

These are great little skins that offer tremendous protection and durability. They are made from silicone and thin vinyl. They are great for a variety of reasons. The silicone insulates the iPod from battery heat and keeps the iPod much cooler. These carrying cases often feel soft and rubbery or almost sticky to the touch which is great because you can get a good grip on them. Even if you hands are sweating or moist you can grab your iPod to switch to the next tune or adjust the volume without worrying about dropping it.

Typically silicone types of skins will run anywhere between $20 to $30 dollars. You can get a wide variety everything from glow in the dark to simple solid colors.

Hard Plastic iPod Skins

The skins in this category often run around $8 to $15 dollars depending on the make and model. You can also get them in a wide variety of colors and styles. You can easily find models with lanyards or belt clips to attach your iPod to which is a handy feature.

The only problem that has been noted by many hard case users is the case being made of plastic tend to be more slippery when wet then the silicone models. So you will want to be careful when holding the iPod in a hard plastic case so you don’t drop the unit.

Leather iPod Skins

These are the cream of the crop for iPod users and many of the older generation of iPod users favor the classic styling of leather and the look and feel over the squishy silicone variety. These can really range in price between $20 all the way up to $200. Kate Spade has a line of leather iPod skins which is very classy and stylish.

You will want to try the iPod skin on if at all possible to get used to the look and feel of it. Make sure that you can access all of the features on the iPod unit itself as you do not want anything covered up. For example if you want access to the jack port and docking connector without having to remove the skin. The most important thing is to try a few different skins out in the store or read reviews if you are shopping online before making a purchase. Find something that fits with your own style.

Find more great info on iPods
including tips, tricks, products reviews and news at http://www.podplayerz.com
You can also read more articles on iPods
like the iPod Nano, Shuffle, and Mini here.

If you want to be a great communicator, do you need to have a great vocabulary?

You might be surprised to learn that a really big vocabulary is not necessary in order to express yourself clearly and to move others with your words.

Some of the most dramatic messages that have ever been uttered in the English language actually used very simple words to stir the blood, or touch the heart.

Look at any well-known passage in the Bible. Chances are that the passage does not rely on sophisticated words to create its power.

Think of Lincoln’s Gettysberg Address. Although President Lincoln spoke in a style that is very different from the way we usually speak today, his words still have the power to move us deeply with their clarity and their deep emotion. During the darkest days of World War II, Winston Churchill’s rousing speeches to the British people used very simple, common, powerful words to successfully ignite the courage and determination of his people.

So if it’s possible to communicate effectively without using a lot of very big words, why should we bother to try to expand our vocabulary? The reason is that learning new words expands our understanding and improves our “mental muscles”. Every new word we learn entices our mind to stretch into new areas.

When we have a larger bank of words to draw on, we improve our ability to think and express ourselves. Our thinking will become more fluid and supple, and we will understand more of the world around us and within us, when we have a larger vocabulary. In the modern world the ability to use words effectively is often highly rewarded.

The English language has an enormous number of words, perhaps more than half a million of them. Most people however, use a vocabulary of just a few thousand common words on a daily basis. It is possible to get by in the English language with a limited number of words, but you expand your options as you expand your vocabulary. When you understand very few words, you are limited in your ability to learn new information.

If you want to increase your vocabulary, there are many approaches you can use. One good way is to read books or articles that are slightly more difficult than what you are accustomed to. When you come across a word you don’t know, see if you can figure out its meaning from the context. Look at the way the word is made up, with its letters and syllables. Does it remind you of any words you already know? What parts of it are familiar?

Many words in the English language are made up of common roots they share with other words. You may be able to deduce the meaning of the new word from the way the syllables are put together and the way it is used. You should consult a dictionary to be sure.

If you come across a word you don’t understand during the course of a lecture or a conversation, you can ask someone to explain the meaning of the word. Many people are reluctant to do this because they are afraid of exposing their ignorance by asking.

It is occasionally true that other people may choose to look down on you if you confess that you don’t understand a certain word. On the other hand, they may be happy to teach you something new. If you decide you don’t want to ask anyone else for the meaning of words you don’t know, be sure to make a note of those new words and look them up later.

Should you try to learn new words directly from a dictionary? It depends on your learning style and your preference. Some people will become bored very quickly while reading a dictionary, while others will find it fascinating.

All dictionaries are not alike, and you may find a certain version far more useful than the rest. Good dictionaries will do more than just give a definition of a word. Some will show you an example of the word used in a sentence. Often they will show you alternate spellings, and give the plural forms of nouns and the past tense of verbs. Most dictionaries will show you correct pronunciation. Some will tell you the historical derivation of the word. Many English words have their roots in ancient Anglo-Saxon, French, or German.

Language is always evolving and new words are being created every day. New words can come from technology, from scientific discoveries, from other languages, from pop culture, and from the streets.

When learning new vocabulary, you can better integrate it into your brain if you actively involve yourself in the learning process.

When you encounter a new word, write out a definition of it in your own words, and write one or more sentences using the new word in context. Visualize the word in its printed form. Say the word out loud, and spell it out loud. Say a sentence out loud that uses the new word. Make up an image in your mind that will help you remember the word. If you make the image funny or bizarre, you will probably remember it better.

To improve your use of language and your ability to think, practice summarizing the theme of an entire article or book using just one or two paragraphs. After you have read an article or book, try writing out two different versions summarizing your ideas. Do one version using very simple, everyday words. Make it as clear and simple as you possibly can while still maintaining accuracy. Do another version that uses very complex sentences and advanced vocabulary, like you imagine a university professor might write.

This will give your brain a good work-out and increase your verbal and mental flexibility.

If you are committed to expanding your vocabulary, how many new words should you try to learn in a day? It’s up to you. Just two new words a day will add up to more than 7000 words in ten years. Ten words a day would add 36,000 words in ten years.

Once you have learned a lot of new words, should you work them into your conversation every chance you get? The kind of vocabulary you use should always be appropriate to the context in which you are writing or speaking. For example, if you are speaking to a group of high school dropouts you may want to use different words than if you are speaking to a group of scientists.

Don’t use an impressive vocabulary merely as a means of showing off, always using big words when small ones would do. People can often intuitively feel when you are using fancy words merely for effect, and not because you need them to communicate.

But if your new vocabulary really has become a part of you and has a useful place in your writing and conversation, by all means, go ahead and use it!

About the Author

Royane Real is the author of several self improvement books. This article is taken from her new book “How To Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better and Be More Creative” Get the paperback version, or download it at http://www.lulu.com/real