Archive for March, 2009
March 31st, 2009
Sterling silver jewelry is enjoying an unprecedented popularity with today’s fashion conscious public. You know how beautiful sterling silver jewelry is and how brilliantly it shines. Now here is the rest of the story.
Silver has been used since ancient times, but has not survived as well as ancient gold because it tarnished and decomposes. There have been times, however, when silver was “in”; we are going through such a vogue today.
Silver is the most common of the precious metals. Fine silver is pure silver, which is seldom used for jewelry because it is too soft. Sterling silver is 925 parts silver to 75 of copper, the alloy most often used. Silver weighs about half as much as gold, has greater flexibility, but is not as malleable, it has always been less expensive as well. A comparable piece of gold jewelry might cost four or five times that of a piece of sterling silver jewelry.
The current fashion trend toward black clothing has made silver jewelry more popular than ever. Silver likes to be worn; it stays cleaner & shinier through movement and friction. So sterling silver is a perfect accessory for today’s fast paced lifestyles. Much like gold, sterling silver needs to be cleaned.
Care and Cleaning of your Sterling Silver Jewelry
1.) For daily cleaning it is recommended to use a simple jewelry polishing cloth that is impregnated with special jewelry cleaner. These are widely available and are very easy to use. Store your cloth in a plastic zip-lock bag, and keeping your jewelry drawer or armoire. It is a good idea to have one cleaning cloth for gold and one for silver.
2.) For a slightly more “in-depth” cleaning you may want to use a liquid jewelry cleaner.
3.) For cleaning badly tarnished silver, here’s a neat little trick
a.) Cover the inside bottom of a heat-proof glass dish on bowl with a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side up.
b.) Place the tarnished silver in the bottom of the dish, contacting the aluminum foil.
c.) Add 1 heaping tablespoon of baking soda, and then slowly pour boiling water to cover the piece. The tarnish will gradually collect on the aluminum foil.
d.) Remove your silver, rinse thoroughly, and polish.
Here are Some Tips for Greater Enjoyment of your Sterling Silver Jewelry
1.) Are your silver chains all tied-up in knots? If so, here’s a nifty little trick for straightening them out. Dust your chain with a little talcum powder and then try to unknot it. If the knot is stubborn, place a small drop of baby oil on a sheet of wax paper. Lay the knot in the oil and work it out with two pins; then clean the chain as instructed below.
2.) Always apply make-up, perfumes, oils or colognes before you put on your jewelry.
We hope you have enjoyed this special report. Please feel free to share it with your friends!
Learn How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This informative Special Report reveals little-known facts and insider trade secrets that many jewelers would prefer you didn’t know. To get your FREE copy please go to http://www.morninglightjewelry.com
March 31st, 2009
The FBI along with Monster Worldwide and the Postal Inspectors are trying to reduce Internet Fraud by educating consumers. One thing the FBI is doing is offering Consumers to take a free test online to see how they rate in their Internet Savvy’ness to prevent being ripped off. The problem with online fraud and internet identity theft is said to be growing. The FBI wishes to scare consumers into being careful online to help big box stores with what could be a very tough retail season due to high fuel prices at the pump and tapped out consumers. A new website was launched called:
http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com
This website will help consumers and educate them on “Phishing,” “Pharming” and other scams to steal your identity or to rip off consumers. The FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation says if you come across something on the Internet or in an email, which looks too good to be true, well it just might be so check it out and stay safe. Up until now the FTC has been impotent to curb SPAM like those Viagra Ads or Identity Theft on the Internet. Now the FBI will attempt to see what they can do with new partners. Since the FBI could not stop 9-11 even though they were warned and had plenty of contact with the hijackers before the International Terrorist Attacks they believe they can now protect the American People from Identity Theft.
This specially built website which any one could have built for about $4,500 is labeled as an incredible step forward by law enforcement. Yet it seems to be a scam in itself? How is a website going to stop Identity Theft when the biggest leakage of personal information comes from the government itself? Drivers Licenses, Tax information, social security numbers, marriage licenses, you name it the government has it and makes it available to anyone.
In all fairness to the government and their NEW BIG IDEA, sounds great and it is out of the box thinking. But if you are relying on the government to protect you, they can’t and this new website is merely proof as it has “buyer beware” written all over it. Indeed, why are we paying them to protect us, when this website is educating us to protect ourselves? Has over reliance on government become such a problem that even the mighty US Government cannot keep up the faade anymore, have they finally ran out of PR tricks? Think on it and watch out on the Internet at they are right about that.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
March 29th, 2009
Tough leaders are usually seen as ogres. Their
exacting demands and high expectations add to
stress levels. And their obsessive compulsive
behavior can have a negative effect on results if
they don’t understand how to control stress to get
positive results without serious negative
reactions.
The same kind of leadership challenge can be found
in the Army. Management at all levels are faced
with the decision of “tough leadership” or “easy
does it” in preparing troops for combat and on the
battlefield.
Good military leaders work hard to balance the
encouragment of positive stress with the debilitating
negative stress they confront. The best leaders
know how to use positive stress to get the most out
of their troops. And they know how to tone things
down to when negative stress threatens productivity.
The Army is fanatic about training officers and
sergeants to take care of the troops. And these
well-trained leaders are fanatic about carrying
out their responsibilities. The soldiers in their
command don’t always realize why these leaders
are so focused on having everything 100% ready –
personnel, equipment, and training.
Even the most personable leaders are sometimes
accused of managing “by the book” or of being too
concerned with their own personal recognition and
promotion. But those who make these allegations,
miss the point. Just the opposite is true.
As in the corporate arena, these “fanatic”
leaders are primarily interested in the welfare
of their people. They want to complete the unit’s
mission with minimum personnel loss. Strict
discipline, intensive and complete training, and
numerous inspections are essential for combat
readiness. Corporate leaders face the same type
challenges as they strive for efficient and
effective productivity.
Failing to enforce regulations, conduct detailed
inspections, or practice combat readiness is
tantamount to dereliction of duty. The extra
effort that goes into intensive training programs
creates additional stress in the unit, but less
persistent commanders actually endanger their
troops and their mission when they fail to
schedule training that teaches troops how to deal
with the hazards they will face.
Keep this in mind the next time you are tempted to
relax a corporate policy. “Easy does it” might be
what your employees want to hear, but you might
also be derelict in your responsibilities if you
give them what they want.
A little “tough leadership” can give your people and
your company the edge needed to compete on today’s
corporate battlefield.
To get a free article and learn more about
controlling the top 10 workplace stressors, send
a blank email to 10stressors@couragebuilders.com
Dale Collie - professional speaker, former
US Army Ranger, CEO, and a Fast Company top
50 innovative leader. Author of “Winning
Under Fire.” (McGraw-Hill) collie@couragebuilders.com
March 29th, 2009
Have you ever asked yourself this question? Are you working to have enough to pay the bills, with a little left over, maybe? To keep your head just above water? Many of us are.
Are you working just to get by, while enriching the already abundant lives of the few at the top? Nearly all of us are.
Do you think you deserve better, more, to be able to enjoy all of the fruits of capitalism, and not just the leftovers?
I do!
I want you to try something. Think a little bit about what you really want in life. Dream a little, if you will. Think big, not just enough to pay the bills and life relatively comfortably. How about enough to spend 20, 30, or 40 years in a comfortable retirement.
Far too many retirees are finding themselves having to go back to work just to get by. This seems to me like adding insult to injury. They already worked their whole life, played by the rules, and expected to get a little time off for good behavior in the end.
How about enough for a nice vacation home on the beach, or in the mountains? If you have kids, enough to pay for college without taking loans or completely bankrupting yourself might be a good start, if not as big as you could go.
Whether it be a dollar amount or an object such as the vacation home, be as specific as you can. Now, write down the amount in nice big print, or find a photo of the exact type of home, or whatever it is you want.
Post that piece of paper, tape it or tack it, in a place where you’ll see it every day, preferably several times a day. Over your desk, or on your computer monitor might be a good spot, or maybe on the fridge at home. Just put it in a spot where you look often during the day.
Now, ask your subconscious mind to figure out a way to get that which you desire. This is where most folks get lost. After you ask your subconscious mind, trust it to find the answer, and let it go to work. Just be patient, it will come back with the plan for you.
The subconscious is not only for memory storage, it’s also where all your new, untrained, ideas come from. When you have a problem and really have no idea of what to do, often you’ll find if you walk away for a moment, Bang!, the solution comes to you. It seems to come right out of thin air. This is your subconscious at work.
The picture or printed dollar amount will help your subconscious focus. It’s not enough alone, you have to ask your subconscious mind to help you. It doesn’t know what it is you want until you tell it. So you literally have to ask. Having something to focus on is, however, a great help.
Imagine, or envision yourself already having the thing you’re asking for. There is absolutely no reason why you can’t have it. The earth is very generous, if you’ve ever planted a garden you know this. You just have to help sometimes by planting the seeds, and giving a little water when it’s needed.
Now, this is the tricky part, if you ask and trust it to go to work for you, it will go to work for you. Your subconscious will come back with an answer, without fail. Then your conscious mind takes over. You have to follow through on what it tells you to do.
From here the three Ps go go work. Planning, Positive Attitude, and Persistence.
Try this visualization exercise, give it a couple of months. See what happens. It’s not as if you are taking any risks in giving it a shot.
Believe in yourself and your own abilities, it’s the first step in attaining anything worth having.
S. Minson
Prosperity-Net.com
Get Your Slice Of the American Pie!
March 28th, 2009
McDonald’s does it, why shouldn’t you? Life is filled with choices; why not choose to live life in a more satisfying way.
1. Say Yes to Life.
“Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.” -Henry James
Saying yes to life allows wonderful blessings to come to you. Say yes to opportunity and success. Say yes to a life that you live by your standards. Say yes to making your own decisions and not seeking approval of others. Say yes to a fulfilling and rewarding career. Say yes to a relationship that energizes, supports and stimulates you. Say yes to a promising future. Say yes to living without guilt, resentment or regrets. Say yes to spending more time on your self improvement. Say yes to living an authentic life. Say yes to taking chances and freeing yourself from fear. Say yes to happiness and achievements. Say yes to a well-lived life.
2. Love Yourself and Others Unconditionally.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs…..”
I Corinthians 13: 3, 5)
When was the last time you loved without hesitation or caution? Withholding love as a means of control only leads to distrust and resentment. Loving unconditionally means loving without judgment. Free yourself from unrealistic expectations and accept the person you love for who they are. Do not expect your needs and wants to be fulfilled by someone else. Allow those you love to express themselves without fear of rejection. Do not punish yourself or loved ones for past mistakes. People use the word love very loosely, but do not stop to think of the implications of using the word. Take the time to be responsible in how you show love. Allow yourself to love and be loved.
3. Take Risks
“There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” - Anais Nin
Everything in life involves a risk. Are you allowing fear of rejection and failure to dictate your life? Fear inhibits success. Take chances and free yourself from limiting beliefs. Taking risks empowers you to take charge of your life. Be curious about life; experiment and try new things. Set goals for yourself and take action. Step out of what is safe, comfortable and familiar to you. Examine what feelings emerge when you are thinking about taking a risk. Ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?” Concealing yourself in a safe container prevents you from exploring other possibilities. Embrace the unknown and anticipate success. You will never know the outcome if you don’t take the risk.
4. Make the Impossible, Possible
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”- Winston Churchill
Think it can’t happen; then it won’t. It is possible to get through the difficult times in life. Learn from failures and take responsibility for your life. Listening to your inner critic can sabotage your dreams. Silence the critic by reaffirming all the things you are capable of doing. Dream big and be excited about your future. Find and release your untapped talents. Believe in your abilities and discover what you have to offer the world. Think about all the things you can’t do and try to do them. Think back to a time, when something was difficult and you were able to overcome the challenge. Continuing to live life in a safe container doesn’t help you gain anything in life. Take the necessary actions to achieve your goals. Stop assuming and start achieving!
5. Make Your Life Really Count.
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
- Annie Dillard
What’s your legacy? How do you want to be remembered? The life you live defines who you are and the choices you make will determine what impact you will have on the lives of others. Never underestimate the power of your words and actions. You were uniquely created to make a contribution to the world. It is your right and your obligation to make your mark in this world. Surround yourself with people who are supportive, positive and encouraging. Show appreciation and gratitude to those around you. If you have a message to share, then share it with the world. Staying small and thinking small will not get you where you need to be in life. Starting today, have a new perspective on life. Start a new chapter in your life.
Marie Magdala Roker is a Personal Development Coach an Author of Successful Thinking for a Successful Life: How to Banish the Unhealthy Thoughts and Habits That Limit Your Success. Her Successful Thinking program is an affordable coaching resource that offers support and encouragement when there are roadblocks to success. You can find out more about the program at http://www.thinkandbesuccessful.com or sign up for her free Be Inspired newsletter at http://www.smartbeecoaching.com
Continue Reading March 28th, 2009
Zimmer Durom cup hip replacement surgeries are causing US based patients to undergo revision surgeries. Implant recipients are suing Zimmer Inc. due to the pain sensation and uncomfortableness experienced from the hip implants.
March 27th, 2009
With less than twenty four hours to go before hurricane Katrina hit land my wife and I started to pack up the car to leave St Bernard Parish Louisiana. We had to have the brakes repaired only an hour before we left. We had to depend on the kindness of a neighbor who was frantically working on the car as we loaded it with those things the officials said we should take with us.
We loaded a few changes of clothing our important papers and our dog, Patches. We went to pick up an older gentlemen whose daughter could not pick him up because she lived north of Lake Ponchartrain which was already nearly impassible. He was a member of our church and we faithfully picked him up for every service because he could hardly walk on his own. Looking back now we know he would not be alive if we had not gone to get him out of his house.
We drove through the night. At first we could not go over fifteen miles an hour across the twin spans, an eight mile long bridge across the lake a bridge that today is largely destroyed. The winds came just behind us only hours later and washed the spans that weigh thousands of tons into the water like toothpicks in a bathtub. In time we got up to about fifty but not once did we ever reach the speed limit. We arrived at a friends house near Birmingham Alabama where we stayed for two days. We contacted the old gents family and arranged for his family to come and pick him up. The power went out several times throughout the second night as the winds gusted and threatened Old Birmingham.
On the third day only hours after Katrina had moved above Jackson Mississippi did we began the 450 mile trek to my wife’s sisters house in West Baton Rouge Parish. We listened to the radio reports with some measure of hope that all was not that bad. Our hearts began to sink as hour by hour reports came in about broken levees and rising waters.
Over the next two weeks we followed all the news reports and searched for friends and pictures from our neighborhood on the internet. During the first week it was totally impossible to get a call through to anywhere from Alabama to East Texas. It was a long dark moment of knowing nothing at all about anyone or anything we ever knew.
The news began to trickle in slowly but none of it was good. We saw pictures of our neighborhood with water up to the roofs. We slowly got reports from people we knew who were scattered all across the country in places they had gone to take refuge. Some of them said they would never return.
Next came reports and pictures of toxic laden mud through out our Parish and talk of houses that needed to be bulldozed into the ground that was said to be uninhabitable. Rescues of people, animals and the retrieving of bodies went on with all the pictures being shown daily on Baton Rouge TV stations. If things weren’t glum enough then we began the business of trying to call FEMA and Red Cross.
My wife must have dialed FEMA over 500 times before getting through. Then we were promised a packet in the mail after they took our information. We have still not reached the Red Cross and they are still talking about gathering 40,000 volunteers to help answer the phones. The insurance company that covered our house informed us that their coverage would cover our house only and no more but they are not sure they can do anything without seeing the house. But no one is seeing our house not even us. The St. Bernard Parish President Junior Rodrigues held a news conference in the capitol building here last night and spoke of months before residents could return, not weeks. Only hours before this bad news came in we went to get shots to protect us from a host of diseases that we could get if and when we do return.
Our bank accounts were not accessible and money doesn’t grow on trees even in this fertile Mississippi valley so I thought I’d make an appeal on my own little one page website. Now we feel as if we are caught between the warnings people are hearing about fraudulent sites collecting for Red Cross and other organizations and indifference. No one as yet has responded to the appeal but then only 35 or 40 people a day click on my site.
My wife volunteered her help in feeding some 200 people in a shelter here. She helped prepare the food and serve it. The food was provided by a small Baptist church in Erwinville Louisiana. Later we visited the people in the shelter and are continuing to do so when we are not knocking our heads on the wall in the biggest communications nightmare in the history of the telephone. We asked one family if there was something we could get for them in the shelter, they asked for a bible. We purchased it the next day and delivered it to them in person. That warmed us greatly, not the giving of the bible but the request for it. Unlike stories out of the Superdome this was a wonderful family of black Americans that had a different set of values. And thousands like them are suffering and waiting to begin their lives again, just as we are.
We have had several invitations to go and live with family and friends in other towns and in other states but we are staying close to New Orleans to attempt a look see and to retrieve what we can. So far all we are hearing is “stay away” and of course the endless buzzing of the busy signal from the aid organizations.
We are a praying couple, and when we talk to Jesus we are sure he is saying, I love you and I will take care of it all. We believe Him and we are very grateful that his line was not busy.
Rev Michael Bresciani is the author of “An American Prophet and His Message” and “Hook Line and Sinker or What Has Your Church Been Teaching You” He has written many articles in print and online. His website is, americanprophet.org
March 26th, 2009
France isn’t exactly known for being an inexpensive vacation destination. The number one luxury hotel in the world is located in Paris (the Ritz Carlton). The Michelin Guide points to five star restaurants, and French wine is the most expensive in the world. When most people think of France, they think of it as a dream vacation, but not somewhere that’s necessarily affordable. The truth is that you can visit France on a budget, though. Here are some tips on how to do that.
First, you have to find cheap tickets to Europe . You can do this by searching online at ticket discounters or signing up for travel deal newsletters that send out messages when really great fares are offered. In the case of the deal newsletters, if you find an offer you like, follow up on it immediately because the deals go very quickly. If you’re searching for tickets online, look in the middle of the night when prices are likely to go down.
After buying plane tickets, the next thing to do is to get a good France Travel Guide that will help you find cheap accommodations. If you’re visiting Paris, you can save money by staying in a nearby suburb, but you’ll miss out on the lively atmosphere of the city. A better choice may be to find a youth hostel. You won’t have all of the amenities of a hotel but you’ll meet great people and have a better location from which to enjoy things. Who wants to spend their whole trip in a hotel room anyway?
One great thing about visiting France is that you can easily save money on food there. It’s a French tradition to pack a small picnic, such as a bottle of wine, a baguette, some brie and some chocolate, and eat in the park, on the banks of the Seine or anywhere scenic. Many hotels will also give you a free continental breakfast, but keep in mind that in France that often means nothing more than a roll and a cup of coffee. If you need more than that to fuel your travels, supplement it with a visit to a street vendor.
Continue Reading March 20th, 2009
Looking for alternative methods such as university bursaries to help pay for your degree can be time-consuming and intimidating. These scholarships are different from a student loan in that the money is a grant, and therefore, repayment is not required.
March 20th, 2009
Obtaining the finest fishing gear is an incredibly critical thing to bear in mind when your are considering your forthcoming fishing expedition. You must allow yourself the right supplies to fall into the “state of mind” and get the optimal benefits of fishing. Getting the finest fishing items will help you in various ways. As you may well be aware, the more fishing tools you buy the more exciting fishing will be. One of the questions you should ask is, do you have all that you need prior to you heading out on your excursion? To be victorious you would be prudent to guarantee that your fishing expedition starts with loading up the correct fishing items. There are lots of sorts of fishing supplies and it typically depends on sort of water that you will be fishing in, what type of fish you are hunting for and the form of fishing that you long for. Buy sports equipment online today.
There are numerous makes & styles of fishing reels that have an array of price tags. If you are hoping to throw yourself into professional fishing you ought to make sure that your fishing gear is intended for that type of use. Commercial fishing demands lots more resilient fishing items. Since commercial fishing gear demands twice to three times the use they wear out much more rapidly. This makes it much more shrewd to pay the extra cash at the start. There are a selection of items so that you can make a selection based on needs in addition to what you can actually actually get.
The particular make of fishing rod is another fundamental part of the tackle that you will want. You might well need to evaluate what kind of rod that you need for your fishing outing. Just as there are a selection of reels there is a selection of fishing rods to procure. It is recommended to select your conclusion on the kind of fish that you hope to catch.
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