The Refresh Orlando Heirs

Recently, I was asked to write a Top 10 list about the secrets of success, and I spent time thinking about the most successful people I’ve known. There have been a thousand books and tape sets written about the “Secrets of Success”, so the challenge was to see if I could add something new. I think I have at least found a new way of thinking about successful people.

When I think about the most successful people I’ve known, both as clients and as colleagues or friends, the following key traits stand out.

First, they are insatiable learners, and some have lots of formal education. But I’m talking about something different. They are incredibly curious. They are like little kids who never stop asking “Why?” And perhaps more important, they ask, “Why not?” These people read “Popular Mechanics” and poetry. They take classes in art appreciation and learn to scuba dive. They buy books on quality parenting and take broken appliances apart to see how they work. They are permanent fixtures at their local community colleges, the public library, a favorite bookstore, and they watch PBS.

Second, they use all this learning to build creative contexts. They see how things are connected, and they see opportunities in terms of history and popular trends and new technology. They see ideas in the context of people and they make connections between ideas, technology, and the needs of individuals. How do they do this? I’m not exactly sure, but highly successful people can be reading a novel, which reminds them of a new technology they saw in a magazine, connect it with an idea they saw on PBS, and call a computer programmer to check out the new business opportunities, all in less than 30 minutes! They see a broader context than the rest of us.

Third, they assess risk accurately. Impulsive people under-estimate the level of risk and rush into foolish ventures with inadequate preparation. Cautious people have great ideas, but fail to act, often because they over-estimate the risk of failure. Highly successful people seem to evaluate both the chances of success and the costs of failure accurately and quickly. Because they correctly assess risk, they experience fewer failures and are not shocked or caught unprepared when things don’t work out they way they hoped.

Finally, extremely successful people respond quickly. They don’t over-react, rarely lose their temper or lose control, and yet they are seen as decisive leaders, as incredibly creative and energetic people. They don’t seem to move very fast, and yet they accomplish more than most of us. They never rush, and they rarely hesitate. They respond appropriately and impact or change situations in the direction they desire. The simply get a lot done and they do it successfully.

Highly successful people hunger to learn everything, they see connections, they assess risk accurately, and they respond quickly. Skills I plan to develop!

And one more thing: Successful people enjoy themselves! As I look out my window, I see the trees are in bloom and my lawn needs mowing. Spring is here! Have a wonderful week, get outside, stretch your mind and your body, do something nice for yourself and someone else.

© Copyright 2003 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved. This article may be copied and used in your own newsletter or on your website as long as you include the following information: “Written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools and resources for your success, including a great newsletter! It’s all on his website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com

1. Use your autoresponders to conduct simple polls.

Your polls can give you valuable information that you can use to make your ezine, site or product better. They can also help you to make decisions concerning making changes to your product, site, or ezine.

You can also make your ezine more interactive by running a poll in each issue and then publishing the results in the following issue.

Using polls in this way will help you to increase your readership as your readers will be interested in seeing the results of the polls you’ve run.

2. Use your autoresponder to deliver an email course that shares with your visitors the benefits of owning your product.

To create your course, you could use your articles as the main content of your course or you could use them as a guide to making your course.

You could also use questions you get from your visitors and customers to write a course that your visitors would be interested in and that increases your sales.

3. Make a multipart report available by autoresponder that delivers extracts of your informational product.

Your multipart report will lead to more sales of your product as it allows your visitors to try out your product before they buy it.

To make up your multipart report you could use excerpts from a single chapter of your informational product or you could string together excerpts from several different chapters to create your report.

4. Use your autoresponders to deliver training courses.

For instance, you could offer your new affiliates a generic email training course that shows them how to make money promoting affiliate programs.

Your course would not only encourage more people to join your affiliate program but would also increase your profit by elevating the number of your affiliates that effectively promote your products to their visitors or subscribers.

5. Use your autoresponders to publish an ezine.

Autoresponders with a broadcast feature will handle your subscribe and unsubscribe requests, and provide you with an easy way to send out your issues to people that join your list.

Concentrate on making your ezine a valuable source of information for your subscribers. Also add your personality to your ezine by writing articles, adding an editors section, or by giving your views on subjects of interest to your readers.

6. Use your autoresponders to deliver a “rate card” for advertising on your website, or for purchasing advertising in your ezine.

7. Use your autoresponders to deliver sample issues of your ezine.

Providing a sample issue is a simple and effective way to increase your subscriptions by showing your visitors what your ezine is all about.

Your sample issues can also increase the sign ups you get from ezine directories that allow you to submit a sample issue for their visitors to receive by autoresponder.

8. Use autoresponders to create a list that announces when you’ve written a new article or articles for publication.

Your list will increase the number of ezine publishers and webmasters that publish your articles, and can also help you to increase sign ups to your affiliate program if you let your affiliates use your articles as a promotional tool.

9. Use your autoresponders to announce when your directory is updated.

For instance you could create a list that announces when your article directory is updated with new articles.

You could list the titles of the articles submitted to your site along with the URL where they can be viewed.

Creating a list like this will build up repeat traffic to your site giving you an excellent way to achieve more sales of your products.

10. Use your autoresponders to send out an “evergreen” newsletter.

“Evergreen” newsletters have all their issues already completed. Each new subscriber gets the same first issue, second issue, third issue, etc.,

Publishing an “evergreen” newsletter is a good choice for people that don’t have the time to publish an ezine on a regular basis, but that would still like to reap some of the benefits of publishing an ezine.

Publishing your “evergreen” newsletter can be as simple as sending out a valuable tip every week that targets your niche audience such as an informative weekly writing tip if you sold a product aimed at writers.

Keep in mind that your “evergreen” newsletter should not be on a topic where the information you provide your readers could become outdated. Choose a subject where the information you provide your subscribers will continue to be relevant for a long period of time.

About the Author

Article by writer, Ken Hill. Ignite Your Sales With Unlimited Follow Up Autoresponders! All in one list builder, follow-up manager, and ezine publishing tool. Pick up your no cost 30 day trial today at: http://www.scstats.com/r.cfm?i=5343

Soccer matches are all about scoring goals and being winners. As a result, soccer can hold up a mirror to life since many humans also want to achieve goals and to be winners in the game of life. There is much to be learned about life in general from soccer players, managers and commentators.

When you listen to commentators on soccer matches, the key words they use again and again when teams are winning are words about character and attitude like belief, excitement, confidence, effort and so on. Soccer skills and strategies are important but mean little without the right attitude.

Team managers urge their players to show focus, determination and maximum effort. They tell them they should expect to win and not to show too much respect for their opponents no matter how famous they are.

I love listening to the comments of the great soccer managers. They have all been to hell and back. They are praised and popular when their teams win. They are criticised and even sacked when their teams fail to win. They know the heights of elation and the depths of despair. They have to find ways to deal with both and to keep motivating their teams to win.

Gordon Strachan took over as manager of Celtic, one of the top two clubs in Scotland, in 2005. It was not long before he experienced “the worst night of my life”

Bratislava beat Celtic 5-0 in the Champions league, the top European competition. His watch stopped after the match and he still wears it to remind himself that it was the worst night of his life. Celtic, the pride of Scotland, had been humiliated by a less famous team.

Other failures seemed small to him by comparison. We can all learn to deal with difficult situations by reminding ourselves of worst situations in our past or by imagining how much worse our lives could be than they actually are.

None of us knows for sure what will happen to us tomorrow. We could be seriously ill or even dead. Gordon has faced this possibility already. He told the media that on his gravestone he would like these words carved:

“This is better than that night in Bratislava.”

He uses the humour of exaggeration to deal with the criticisms of the media when things go wrong. A reporter commented when his team lost a match in Scotland:

“Bang, there goes your unbeaten run. Can you take it? “

“No,” said Strachan. “I’m just going to crumble like a wreck. I’ll go home,
become an alcoholic and maybe jump off a bridge. Hmmm….I think I can
take it, yeah.”

He knows the importance of positive thinking if you wish to achieve success.
One reporter foolishly asked: “There’s no negative vibes or negative feelings here?”

Strachan replied: “Apart from yourself, we’re all quite positive round here.
I’m going to whack you over the head with a big stick; down negative man,
down.”

Strachan often speaks with disarming honesty and schoolboy cheek. He is ready to admit that he and his players are not always at their best. He is ready to face reality. Facing up to reality is a key characteristic of the successful.

When he managed a team in England, a reporter asked him: “So, Gordon, in what areas do you think Middlesbrough were better than you today?”

Strachan replied: “What areas? Mainly that big green one out there….”

Strachan has had his defeats but recently he has led his latest team, Celtic, to undisputed victory in the Scottish Premier League. He is widely accepted as a great manager.

Another great manager now works in the English Premier League. He is Jose Mourihno, the manager of Chelsea. He came to England in June 2004 and soon showed his confidence in himself and his players. He wants only to be judged by the results. A good manager wins. A bad one loses:

“I’m not a defender of old or new football managers. I believe in good ones and bad ones; those that achieve success and those that don’t. Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one”

He soon proved himself to be a ’special one’ in England as well as in Portugal, his native country. As the name ‘the special one’ suggests he believes in himself in a big way. A key factor in his success in England is his self-belief and a rich Russian backer who allows him to buy the best players in Europe. You can safely bet money that Chelsea will win almost all their matches.

The odds are not great but you could put £100 on Chelsea to win and make an easy £26 from your bet. Of course, this does not always work out. No team is perfect!

Mourinho is passionate about soccer but retains his sense of perspective and humour. Recently he was asked in London if he was concerned about losing the championship to his main rivals, Manchester United. His reply was typical of him:

“No, I’m more concerned about bird ‘flu.” The assembled press started laughing.

“Seriously; it’s that swan in Scotland that concerns me. It’s not that far from here!” (The swan was the first creature with bird ‘flu in the UK in 2006)

Over the last few weeks, his team, Chelsea, have been criticised for having players sent off for breaking the rules. When Jose was asked about his success away from home against West Brom, he commented ironically:

“Maybe we won because we played with ten men. That is our best tactic at the moment.”

However, he realises that the main reason Chelsea win so often is as follows:”We have top players and, sorry if I’m arrogant, we have a top manager.”

Public confidence is so rare in the UK that it is often mistaken for arrogance.

Jose does not believe in having favourites; he believes in the power of the team rather than the individual:

“I don’t want special relations with one of them (his players). I hate to speak about individuals. Players don’t win you trophies, teams win trophies, squads win trophies.”

Another great manager is Harry Redknapp of Portsmouth. He commented about his players in a match with Burnley which ended in a 2-2 draw:

“When the crowd was on their backs no one wanted to try anything in case they got booed. They were defensive and wanted to avoid mistakes.”

Harry understands human psychology. If we are too worried about appearing foolish or making mistakes we will fail to make things happen and we will not make full use of our abilities. We go into our shells and play safe.

I remember feeling like this when I played cricket at school. I tried to avoid being anywhere near the ball in case I dropped a catch. It was many years before I realised that I was quite good at catching!

A commentator remarked: “Harry knows how to get his teams going and how to restore their confidence. Now they expect to win at Fratton Park (the Portsmouth ground). They firmly believe they will win.” Recently they have won three games in a row and are on their way to escaping relegation to a lower division.

Another manager, Stuart Pierce, of Manchester City also knows the importance of confidence: “We need to go out and really believe we can play a bit.”

What key success lessons can we learn from the above?

Skill is important but attitude is even more important. We should expect to win and not show too much respect for the obstacles in our path whether they are human or otherwise and whether they are real or imaginary. We need to believe in our own ability and expect to win even if this makes us seem arrogant.

We should handle failures by reminding ourselves that things could be much worse. Retaining our sense of humour also helps. Teamwork is a key factor in many types of achievement. We should not be worried about making mistakes whether we are playing soccer or cricket or the game of life.

We need to face up to reality and be willing to be judged by the results we achieve as well as the effort we put in. On the whole, I think, that the effort we expend is more important. We cannot always control the results but we can control the effort we put in. The same manager can lose with one team and win with another. He is still the same person and he still made the same efforts.

I’ll leave you with a final quote from Gordon Strachan who has been both a winning and a losing manager:

A reporter asked: “Gordon, can we have a quick word?”

“Velocity”, replied Gordon as he walked off.

John Watson is an award winning teacher and 5th degree martial arts instructor. One of his motivational ebooks can be found at www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

If you are a database designer or developer, you may be racking your brains trying to find the most suitable software to help you with your database design-related tasks. There are pretty many tools for designing and modeling database structures available in the market. However, the question is what features and facilities they offer, what the quality is, how easy-to-use (or complicated…) their interface is, how many databases they support and finally what the price and maintenance costs are.

Putting myself in your shoes, I can imagine how tired you can be of evaluating tens of database modeling tools that don’t live up to your expectations and if do, their price is not acceptable. (Believe me, I have the same experience…) Let’s face it, considering all the aspects mentioned above, the offer suddenly narrows down especially if your budget is tight…

I don’t want to make any marketing research or analyze all database modeling tools in the market. I’ve just wanted to draw your attention to one, quite inconspicuous db modeling tool - CASE Studio 2 (CS2). As a user of this software, I’d like to share my experience on this product with you.

This tool has been designed by Charonware, s.r.o., a software company established in the Czech Republic (member of European Union), and is really worth taking up.

The main CS2 features include particularly: Entity relationship diagrams (ER diagrams), automatic generating of SQL (DDL) scripts, generating of HTML and RTF reports and reverse engineering. CS2 allows users to create ER diagrams for more than thirty databases like Oracle, MySQL, MS SQL, Advantage, Interbase, Informix, Firebird and much more. Also, you can take advantage of the reverse engineering feature and load already existing db structure to CS2 very easily. After ER diagram is created, you are allowed to generate SQL scripts automatically.

Besides these main features, I’ve come across another great one - the possibility to customize the software as I need. Via the CS2 Templates Editor, you can modify system templates, import new templates that are available for free on Charonware’s website, or even create your own templates. CS2 also contains MS Scripting dialog for modifying the scripts.

This way you can customize generation of SQL scripts, modify design and content of HTML and RTF reports etc. This feature makes this product much more flexible and more responsive to each customer’s needs and requirements, which I really do appreciate.

Among other helpful features belong: export into XML format, support for text objects like triggers, procedures, views, sequences etc., Data Flow diagrams, Model conversion, Version Manager and more.

Information on CS2 can be found on Charonware’s website (http://www.casestudio.com). Except the free CS2 trial, there’s also a great range of online resources including support documentation, movie tutorials, add-ins, scripts etc.

My friend says: “When you feel like you’re working hard but not getting what you need, it’s pretty frustrating. I need a software that is stable, allows me to do just what I need, is easy to use and… that I can get at a good price!” - That’s it!

Taking into account the CS2 features, functionality and price (Apropos, Charonware provides free updates and free, time-unlimited technical support!), CASE Studio 2 comes out very well!

###

Thierry Brochot is a freelance consultant of database-related issues with a focus on designing and developing database structures.

Fifteen-year-old Rhonda sleeps with men for pleasure, and
says she once made $400 in a steamy one night stand. Donna
Lynn, 17, a veteran of the streets, has been trading sex in
exchange for money since the age of 12. Nicole, 15, has a
16-month -old son and at last count had 68 sexual partners.
Amy, 17, is a topless dancer who lives for sex and the
thrill of orgasms.

The above quartet was prominently featured on a popular talk
show that shall remain anonymous. As a rule I try to steer
clear of talk shows, but this segment titled “Teen Girls
Out of Control” intrigued me to the point where I felt
compelled to watch.

At 12 noon Eastern Standard Time, I sat down to what I
thought would be another rehashing of teenage girls talking
non-stop about their promiscuity and unbridled lust.
Surprisingly, the show was a winsome narrative on easy
virtues and loose morals.

At the onset, two teens identified as sisters sat on the
stage. Looking at them I didn’t think they fit the
stereotypical teen vixen. In fact, one girl, April was
dressed in a conservative white suit, either this was the
wrong show or someone switched segments. I later learned
the women were Rhonda’s sisters, and their reason for being
on the show was to help their younger sibling rectify her
wild and wicked ways.

One of the sisters, Marilyn, told the audience that Rhonda
likes to trick men and is heavily influenced by her best
friend Donna Lynn. After hearing more about the teens, the
host of the show then asked the audience if they were ready
to meet Rhonda and Donna Lynn. They indicated yes by
clapping wildly. Five seconds later, out they came.

Dressed in short tops and daisy dukes they strutted onto
the stage. One of the girls whom the audience would come to
know as Rhonda felt so good, she put on her own private
show. Turning her back to the audience, she patted her rear
end and told everyone to “kiss what I twist.” The audience
responded with gasps, laughter and head shaking.

The girls then proceeded to dish their business, by
divulging that they’ve been given as much as $400 for sex.
When asked why she sleeps around, Rhonda, looking older than
her 15 years replied, “It ain’t all about that,” she said
laughing. “We wanna go out and chill. We can’t go out hiking
on a bus. I need somebody with a ride. I ain’t paying no
bus fare.” The host then asked, “So you trade sex for bus
fare?” The question sent the audience into hysterics and
left Rhonda looking like an idiot, as she tried to explain
why she does anything for sex. “This is my body, and if I
wanna trade sex for bus fare, cab fare, or whatever fare I
choose, what business is that of yours?” Yeah, that’s
telling them Rhonda, use those brains girl friend.

Rhonda’s partner in promiscuity, Donna Lynn, was a trip
unto herself. In reference to the phrase “hoochie,” from
head to toe, Baby Cakes was it. With her tapered bangs and
long braids embedded with flowers, Donna Lynn in her tawdry
home girl persona cautioned the audience, “That’s why I
came out here dressed like this, cause you all act like yall
don’t do nothing wrong.” An unsuccessful attempt to make
the audience the issue instead of herself. Rhonda then told
the host how she blackmails married men. “I tell em either
I go to your house and break up your happy home and tell
your wife. Or you come over here and give me my ends (a
slang for money).

Watching her, I silently inquired why any man would risk
losing his wife and family to be with a 15-year-old whose
claim to fame is that she is a teen in heat, taking on all
comers. Within seconds the conversation turned raunchy when
Rhonda hissed, “Yeah I use men. They’d use me. While
they’re lying under me, they’ve probably been lying under
somebody else’s “sloppy cake,” a hip hop reference to the
female genitalia. Looking at the two of them grinning like a
Cheshire cat and pushing out their lips, I felt like I was
watching a circus.

Although Rhonda and Donna Lyn characterize themselves as
sexy and alluring; according to the audience they were
anything but. Moreover, they further embarrassed themselves
when they repeatedly said they were paid $400 for sex. At
the mention of $400, the audience wanted to know why they
didn’t look better than they did. A man in the audience got
the ball rolling when he chimed “These guys that gave you
all $400 must be homeless.” To which the host replied, “If
they were homeless they couldn’t afford $400.” Next up,
another man, who appeared more street savvy than the first.
Standing up he looked at Rhonda, then Donna Lynn and said
“You all get $400 a night and can’t come out here looking
no better than a hot mess?” The remark drew a chorus of
snickers from the audience, many of whom stood up and
applauded. Visibly embarrassed, Donna Lynn came out
swinging. Calling her detractor a few choice words, she told
the man, “Baby, I’ll take care of you after the show,” as
she clinched both fists.

Leaving the circus, the audience turned their attention to
the next exhibit. Sitting in a chair, flanked by her older
sister, Nicole, 15, told the audience she has been with 68
men, and that she had her first sexual encounter at 13, in
the backyard of her home as her mother slept.

Nicole was then asked why she made the statement that sex
was a hobby for her. The dark haired girl casually remarked,
“Because when I get bored I go outside or call somebody up
and take care of my business.” The mother of a 16-month-old
son, Nicole struck a nerve when she said she didn’t know
who the father of her baby was. When asked by the host if
she wanted to know the man’s identity, she said yes and
followed up that statement up with,” but they want give
blood tests.” Curious to know what number “they” consisted
of, Nicole said three men could have fathered her son.

The last guest whose aunt was trying desperately to get her
to change was Amy. A bottled blond with black roots, the
teen stunned the audience when she admitted that she had her
first sexual encounter at ten. She raised more eyebrows
when she noted that she was 8 when she took her first drink.
Like Nicole, Amy also has a son, a 3-year-old. And with no
education and no plans for the future, Amy’s life is a
revolving door of parties, alcohol and assorted sexual
partners. Amy’s had so many men, according to her aunt,
she’s lost count.

When confronted about AIDS and other sexually transmitted
diseases, none of the girls gave it a second thought. In
fact they found it downright amusing, especially Donna Lynn,
who waved her hands in the air and cooed, “No baby, before
they get with me they have to put on a condom.” Logical
reasoning for the average teen, one would conclude, but when
you’re having sex with dozens of men, a condom is hardly a
preventive against VD, heroes and syphilis.

Although the girls lack of respect for their bodies and
themselves troubled the audience, figures from the Allan
Guttamacher Institute, says such reaction is not
unexpected, since girls under 14 are having sex more
frequently than in the past. As the show ended, I can
imagine Amy, Nicole, Rhonda and Donna Lynn’s surprise when
they reach 21 and their bodies are worn out, or worse yet,
ravaged by AIDS. What will they do then? Why young ladies do
you wear promiscuity and bad judgment as badges of honor?
How’s that for a dose of reality?

Peggy Butler is a freelance writer based in Florida. She
has written for various magazines andInternet publications
including Africana.com, TimBook Tu, and Emerging Minds.

Moreover, Butler who lists collecting
60s memorabilia among her hobbies, writes news, features,
sports and entertainment articles, as well as commentaries
and humor pieces.

Visit her webite at http://www.Psbwrite.com

Historicallythis is an extremely shortened version of this account the Lenten season tell us about the time when Jesus, the Christ went to the wilderness to reflect and meditate. Among other things, he spent 6 weeks, about 40 days, without food and shelter. Just meditating.

Nowadays, if you are a Christian, you know that the Lent season starts after Carnival, or Mardi Gras, and lasts 40 days, culminating with the celebration of Easter. This is a good piece of information even if you are not Christian.

For those who live in the Northern Hemisphere, this is a time when spring is coming, and with it, the sense of renewal or rebirth of nature. For those who live in the Southern Hemisphere, it is a time when autumn arrives and with it, the quieting of the Earth and the preparation for the darkness of winter. In both cases, nature invites reflection.

Now you may ask: “What do I care about Lent if I am not a Christian? Well, I say that no matter what religion you belong to, if any, seeing that nature is also inviting you to become more aware of the seasonal changes, Lent may be the best excuse for you to go into your cave for a little while and, as others have done before you, to reflect and meditate on your life.

What can you do to take advantage of such a great time for the renewal of your soul as well as the renewal of your body and your life?

Here are some suggestions:

1. Take time off. Go for walks, take hot baths, go for bike rides, or skiing, etc; preferably alone.

2. Quiet down. Be silent. Turn off the radio. Avoid phone calls.

3. Refrain from watching TV, especially the news. Remember that there is always someone who will let you know what horrible tragedies are hitting the globe. You will not feel deprived of information.

4. Slow down: delegate what you can. Put off for tomorrow as much as you can. The world will not end because of that.

5. Eat wholesome, nutritious food. Let go of sugar and junk. Eat organic foods and take your supplements.

6. Let go of grudges, resentment, judgment, unkindness. When your mind starts rampaging on someone, immediately turn your thoughts around and send the person to the light. That includes you.

7. Avoid conflicts. Stay away from arguments. Use your manners. Be nice to people. Smile.

8. Pray. Ninety percent of the planet’s population believes in a higher power. No need to ask for anything. God already knows what you need. Just be thankful for your many blessings.

9. Focus on what you want and it will expand and manifest to you. Dream. Dream big.

10. Appreciate everything around you. Bless everyone you encounter.

11. Care for those who cannot care for themselves. This includes older people, children, and animals.

12. Be gentle with yourself. Use natural products for your body. Move slowly. Practice some Yoga or Tai Chi. Take deep breaths.

13. Cleanse your body. Drink herbal and medicinal teas.

14. Do your journaling. Use mine if you don’t like to write that much.

15. Meditate on your life. Where are you? Where do you want to go?

There. I hope you will pick up on some suggestions and practice them for these 40 days. Come Easter, you will realize how much better you feel and how much you have improved the lives of those around you.

© Maria Moratto 2005

About the author

Dr. Maria Moratto is the author of “My Healing Journey,” a journal that will definetly help you feel better. Check Prescription For bliss at http://www.rx4bliss.com

You may reprint this article in its entirety as long as you add this source box.

Is Linux the way to go?

Well that’s a question that does not have a simple answer. Some people, mostly hardcore gurus, will say “Yes it sure is!” but believe it or not there are people who still like Windows.

When it comes to deciding between installing Linux instead of Windows (or any other operating system) you must keep various things in mind. Below is a list of the five key things you need to consider before choosing.

1. Is this going to be used as a desktop or server system? - Linux has been primarily used in the mainstream server world as web and ftp servers. There are many types of servers that you can run with Linux such as DHCP (BOOTP in Linux terms), directory services (LDAP), and many more.

2. What software is going to run on this computer? - There are many applications that still have not been written for Linux. Check with your software vendor before installing Linux to see if they have a version of their software that will work.

3. Are you going to be playing games? - As with other software, there are lots of games that have not be ported over to Linux. If you are really into a certain game and it does not exist in a Linux version you might want to consider staying with Windows.

4. What is your level of computer knowledge? - Since Linux is completely different than Windows you will probably have to learn everything from scratch. Things such as installing software, booting up, and deleting files are completely different. If you are not willing to take some time to learn a new operating system then you may want to steer clear.

5. What is the price? - Well with Linux there are two price ranges, free and not so free. The main idea behind Linux is the “Open Source” concept. This basically means that the code of the operating system is free to use, distribute, and modify at your will. This is good because most Linux distributions are free. It also means that companies can package and sell it under their own name. Ordinarily if you want to go with Linux you should stick with the free versions.

After you have considered these five questions you should have a good idea of whether or not to install Linux on your computer. The main benefit of Linux is that there are tons of free versions out there. Over the past few years Linux, in general, has grown quite well and there are many resources, on the web, where you can find information, explanations, and tutorials on just about anything to do with it.

Dennis d’Entremont is the operator of SaveLoad Video Game Directory and Computers-Made-Easy.com

Don’t invade into others conversation

Certainly you have noticed when you are in company that one of the persons is invading in the conversation all the time, convinced that his/her comments or jokes are the top of the intelligence or wittiness. Remember that picture at times when you want to invade in some conversation in order to prolong it. So, to be polite and wishful in the company stick to the next rules: wait the other person to finish the story, see if the speech is over, make a little break and then prolong to the conversation.

But, we must admit that there are situations when it’s necessarily to turn the conversation on the other side. If you presume that some fillings are going to be hearth (and maybe yours) there is no harm at all if you change the subject. Try in a way like this: “Speaking of it…”. If you see that your friend is in that kind of situation, realize that as a signal that you should make something in order to change the subject.

Sympathize above the logic

If sometimes you find in a situation when on some stranger or close friend you have spilled the coffee, you’ll think that in order to abate the situation logic is the best choice. “I didn’t spill the coffee by purpose on your coat” you’ll say. But the essences of every interpersonal relations are the feelings. Logic often is able to drive mad the people, which are on the boundary to burst from nervousness. Why? With reason there is no easy way to sympathize those kinds of people. That way we reduce the meaning of the emotions. It’s better in that kind of situation to let the person come to himself, to regain his self confidence even if he is not right. It’s well known that if you give up from keeping the things under control or as soon as you prove that you are right, the opposite side is “cooling” fast.

Scrutinize the people around you

It’s well famous the sentence of the women “At least if I knew how he was before I end with this”. You could know, because everything that it needs to know is in front of you, just if you like to foresee the truth. Traps are all over there, but they can be omitted. For example, if your new boyfriend/girlfriend has a red car, great looking office, that says something about him/her. But it’s more valuable to see how he/she drives the car and how is reacting when the tired waiter brings him/her squids instead of sea-shells.

In order to sharpen your sense for observation, the psychologists suggest giving attention on not so important things. For example, the eyes on the interlocutor can say a lot thing about him/her. If they are expanding, that means that is coming thrilling to him/her. It’s similar with the voice who can reveal the emotional condition of the person. Often a flimsy foreshadows a lie. Also the handshaking is an important part of studding the people. Person who accepts your hand with both his/her hands, no dough the person is a sensible and open with the emotions.

Anthropologists accept the fact that there is no universal way of interpretation of the gestures in which in every way helps to understand someone. Of cause, the reason is the mixture of various cultures. Even the simple smile can be interpreted in various ways in various places in the world. Also the body language is used by everyone who wants to hide his/her emotional state. The right way of estimating the gestures is to observe in a particular situation with particular person.

In a word, if you want to be accepted in your surrounding, you need to accommodate in that particular environment and their life experience. It’s not enough just to listen their words, it’s a great prominence to listen between phrases.

Mathew Greem is devoted person to finding true values in life. You can visit his site and find more articles and tests about simular topics.

http://kingdom-of-life.50webs.com

Martin Torrijos, President of Panama, formally announced the government’s intention to modernize the 92-year-old Panama Canal during a ceremony held at Panama City’s Atlapa Convention Center in late April.

The plan presented by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) entails the construction of a third set of locks -a project expected to cost over 5.2 billion dollars.

The announcement, which attracted the attention of the world’s media, was delivered in presence of Torrijos’ cabinet, the Board of Directors of the Canal and Alberto Alemn Zubieta, the administrator of the ACP.

“My desire is for future generations to acknowledge our ability to take advantage of this historic moment,” said Torrijos.

Torrijos stated that the project’s cost will be shared by the users of the waterway (through rate increases) and assured the project would not entail the relocation of the small farming communities of the Canal’s basin nor the construction of additional lakes that would cause further environmental damage.

The son of General Omar Torrijos (who back in 1977 signed the treaties that would transfer the Canal from U.S. to Panamanian hands in the year 2000,) stated that the expansion plan is the result of over six years of in-depth studies and research.

Approximately 120 studies were conducted before the formal launching of the plan, all of which are enclosed in over 55,000 pages. However, Torrijos underlined that the final decision will be the sole responsibility of the Panamanian people through a referendum.

President Torrijos cited the extraordinary growth of international commerce, current trends in cargo movements through the waterway and the construction of larger ships (presenting larger dimensions than those allowed by the existing locks) as the major reasons for the expansion of the Canal.

“If we don’t take advantage of this opportunity now, other routes will soon appear to compete with ours,” said Torrijos.

The Canal’s modernization project will take between 7 and 11 years to complete and it is expected to be the largest project conducted on Panamanian soil since the construction of the waterway over one hundred years ago.

According to recent polls, 70% of Panamanians approve the Canal’s expansion. Isthmians will be summoned to the polls for a nation-wide referendum on the project towards the end of the year.

AUTHOR:

Kenneth J. Jones
- General Manager -
Focus Publications (Int.), S.A.
Panama, R.P.
http://www.thevisitorpanama.com/

Electronic Distribution

How Electronic Distribution Works

The Problems of Distributing Prepaid Services with Hard (Scratch) Cards

Introduction

One of the most significant developments in the prepaid telecom industry in the last few years has been the emergence of electronic distribution technologies, such as Prepaid Wireless Direct point-of-sale activaton (POSA) will completely reconstruct the way in which prepaid services are sold.

How Electronic Distribution Works

Prepaid Wireless Direct electronic distribution systems enable any prepaid sevice to electronically transmit their services to virtually any retail location. Prepaid Wireless Direct provides an integrated POSA solution comprised of flexible and compact point-of-sale terminal equipment, proprietary software, transactional communications, protocols, and professional services to assist retailers with implementation.

Once in the retail environment, consumers simply select a product from point-of sale signage or displays and make the approprate payment to the clerk who then inserts a wallet-sized thermal card into the POSA terminal. After pushing a few key corresponding to the desired product, terminal prints a prepaid PIN along with usage instruction on the card. Prepaid Wireless Direct also supports PIN-less delivery whereby the terminal makes a real-time connection service provider. A credit is instantly issued to the customer’s account. Within moments of purchase, customers can use services.

The types of retail environments that are beginning to switch to electronic delivery include wireless shops, supermarkets, conveience stores, check cashers, food marts, university shops, electronics stores, hotels and many more.

The Problems of Distributing Prepaid Services with Hard (Scratch) Cards

Prepaid Wireless Direct has developed electronic distribution services to address the many problems of distributing prepaid mobile and other prepaid services through hard cards. Hard cards are also known as scratch cards because the customer scratches a panel on the back of the card to reveal a PIN or other secret code.

The current and traditional distribution methodology of most prepaid services involves the prepaid services involves the provider printing scratch cards, warehousing them and fulfilling orders to distributors. The distributors purchase large quantities for providers, warehouse them and fulfill retail orders. And retailers purchase the cards from distributors, manage the inventory and sell the cards to consumers.

Each participant in the distribution chain encounters problems with scratch cards.

Retailer Problems. Under today’s traditional hard card distribution format, most retailers struggle on several fronts to offer prepaid products

Retailer have a difficult time carrying the inventory costs of prepaid services. The recent growth and popularity of prepaid wireless intensifies the problem. With prepiad mobile, airtime denominations are much more expensive the phone cards that most retailers are familiar with. It’s common for one prepaid wireless provider to offer 5 or more different airtime denominations that range in price form $20 to $150 each. To make things worse, prepaid wireless airtime is carrier specific, meaning that Verizon prepaid wireless customers cannot top up (recharge or replenish) their accounts with AT&T, Cingular or any other providers’s airtime, and vice versa. This makes it critical for retailers to carry airtime for all of the popular national and regional prepaid wireless carriers or operators in their area, something that retailers didn’t have to worry about with phone cards.

Today there is an average of six major carriers or operators offering prepaid wireless in each of the top 20 U.S. markets. Trying to inventory product for all six could mean that prepaid wireless alone could account for as much as 25 percent of a conveience stores total in-store inventory costs. Many retailers simple cannot afford the cash outlay required to successfully sell prepaid wireless services.

Retailer trying to minimize inventory costs often create out-of-stock problems. In general, stock outages cost the average retailer 6% of its sales, resulting in loss of billions of dollars every year and high customer dissatisfaction.

To make thing worse, today’s airtime hard cards, also know as vouchers, scratch cards, replenishment cards, recharge cards, and hanging cards, increase the likelihood of fraud. The biggest problem seems to be at the point of sale where easily concealed, high-value airtime cards can be the target of both retail customers and employees alike. To prevent comsumer theft, retailers often put cards under lock and key but still suffer losses due to employee pilferage. In the conveience store industry, it is believed that as much as 80 percent of the store’s shrinkage is attributable to employees. Retail employess often feel underpaid and rationalize theft as a way to make up for what they’re owed. As prepaid wireless airtime cards often range in denominations from $10 to $150, employees can easily conceal thousands of dollars of product in their pockets or purses.

Cards are also attractive because they can be easily converted to cash on the street by offering them for sale at a discount of their face value. Because they’re close cash equivalents, prepaid wireless cards have become tantamount to an underground currency in some places including Europe. Because of the proliferation of theft reduction is the number one investment priority among convenience store executives.

Additionally, each of the supply chain participants lacks efficient inventory controls and reporting while battling fraud. Because of the difficulties they face, and retailers that sell traditional hard cards are in dire need of cost-effective distribution solutions.

Electronic Distribution Solutions

Prepaid Wireless Direct products and services solve the distrbution problems of retailers that sell prepaid wireless (mobile) and other prepaid services.

Retailer. Retailers are increasingly demanding electronic delivery for the significant benefits they derive.

By delivering prepaid products electronically, on demand, with point-of-sale activation(POSA) techniques, Prepaid Wireless Direct essentially allows any retailer to sell prepaid wireless or other prepaid service without carrying any inventory. This eliminates prepaid inventory costs that acted as enormous cash barriers, prohibiting many retailers from selling prepaid wireless or other prepaid services. What once tied up thousands of dollars in inventory, now requires no up front cash from retailers. Now virtually any retailer not only can afford to participate in selling prepaid services, but also can expand their product portfolios to include phone cards, wireless, dail tone, credit cards, internet and more. In addition, they can also afford to represent all of the popular prepaid wireless service providers in their areas.

Also, because products are automatically replenished at POSA terminals electronically in PIN or real-time formats, retailer never run out of inventory. With Prepaid Wireless Direct POSA solution, retailers avoid the heavy costs of out of stocks and resultant customer dissatisfaction.

Once installed in a retail location, the POSA terminal virtually eliminates theft by retail customers and employess. Because only inactive products are on display, retail customers can no longer steal valuable airtime. And because all retail employees are assigned unique passwords required to accesss the POSA terminal, the system creates an audit trail that details all sales activity by date, time, shift and employee. This audit trail provides a monitoring system that virtually eliminates employee theft. With the POSA system, retailer no longer need to count and reconcile scratch card inventory amounts at the beginning of every shift.

POSA also reduces shelf space requirements and simplifies a retailers job by consolidating all prepaid products into one convenient POSA platform. POSA delivers operating flexibility to the retail marketplace that traditional point of sale products fail to provide.

Retailers also have 24/7 online access to reports that show real-time sales activity by each of their locations. Retailers can also print real-time sales report directly for their POSA terminals. Reports can drill down to sales activity at individual retail outlets by product, clerk, day, and time. Reports come standard but may be customized to match the retailers unique information needs. Retailers use sales activity reports can also highlight sudden changes in sales at a particular location. Subsequent investigation often reveals a simple solution to boosting sales such as replacement of signage that has been taken down by a window washer. Timely awareness of problems and simple remedies often make a significant difference to the amount of sales at retail.

Prepaid Wireless Direct is proud to be leading the way in the electronic distribution of prepaid services through retail environment. By delivering unique, industry-first features and benefits, while supporting a growing list of platforms, methods, suppliers, and products. Prepaid Wireless Direct is poised to lead the electronic distribution movement into the future. In addition to its current suite of products. Prepaid Wireless Direct intends to introduce many more electronic product delivery solutions as it continues to leverage the leading technologies to create cutting-edge, customized products for emerging customer segments.

Retail Licensing Provider of Bill Payment & Cellular Providers Technologies.

http://www.prepaidwireless.2ya.com

1-877-947-3577