Monday, June 16, 2008

Woodworking Tools: Right Selection And Care Will Save You Money, Part 3

By Ferhat Gul Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 3 – Tools For Measuring & Marking A civilization’s maturity and intelligence is judged, in part, by the diversity and sophistication of its tools. When it comes to woodworking, the human race is quite advanced. There are general tools that work well in many situations, and there are specialty tools made for one specific purpose. There are tools that require only manpower and a rudimentary knowledge, and others that utilize computer programs, a wide range of knowledge, and a powerful motor. We have even learned how to harness power for our tools and package it in a small battery component, giving us the freedom to take our tools wherever we need them. It is truly amazing and wonderful to contemplate the vast number of tools and all that woodworkers are capable of doing and creating with the help of these tools. And for many people, working with tools is one of the thrills, or even obsessions, of woodworking. Woodworking and related tools have become so popular that there are numerous companies that manufacture these tools and thousands of places to purchase them. Combine that with the vast numbers of different types of tools and it can get overwhelming, especially if you are new to woodworking. Our experts helped us focus on the basics to develop an overview of those tools needed to get a good start in woodworking. In the most basic terms, a woodworker needs four kinds of tools. They need a place to work, tools for cutting and shaping, tools for assembly, and finishing equipment. This simple statement provides the basis for the following discussion of woodworking tools. The tools listed and described here represent just the tip of the iceberg. In keeping with the philosophy that it is best to learn the basics first, and to not invest large sums of money until a person is certain that they have an ongoing interest in woodworking, the emphasis is on hand tools, with a few basic power tools thrown in. These tools should prepare you for a variety of beginner projects and give you a solid foundation of equipment and knowledge to build upon. Tools For Measuring & Marking Most basic measuring tools are not complicated instruments that require special care. Yet making proper cuts is a key component of basic woodworking skills. It is important to have an accurate rule, a means of marking angles, and something to mark with. Rulers There are several types of rulers, but the most common are a metal tape measure, a 24-inch wooden folding rule and a wooden zigzag rule, which can be as long as eight feet. Tape measures have a long tape wound up inside the case and are especially handy for jobs with long pieces of wood. They also have a lock to hold the tape at the desired length. Selection Tips When buying wooden rulers, look for sturdy material with both standard and metric markings and a catch or pin for holding the rule closed when folded. Tape measures should also have both types of measurements and a sturdy tape. You should be able to find quality rulers for under $10. If buying used, be sure that all the numbers and markings are legible and that the spring to retract the tape measure and the lock to hold the tape are in working order. Care & Maintenance Most rulers simply need to be wiped down from time to time, especially the metal rulers that are susceptible to rust. Also with a metal tape measure, it is a good idea to hold the blade and let it return slowly back into the case. Simply releasing the lock and letting the blade whiz back inside can result in the tape coming unsprung. Squares A square is used to make angles and check for true and square joinings. It also has measurement markings. There are many different types and as with other tools, certain squares work best for certain types of tasks. A miter square is for marking 45-degree angles. A try square is shaped like an “L” for marking 90-degree angles and checking for true squareness, and a sliding bevel is adjustable and is used with a protractor to mark angles up to 180 degrees. A combination square has settings for both 45 and 90-degree angles. Selection Tips Generally these three items will provide what you need for marking angles with reasonable accuracy. Those made from wood and metal are usually less expensive and slightly less accurate, but are fine for most general projects. You can purchase wood and metal squares at hardware stores or home centers for $10 to $15, although a good combination square may be quite a bit more. Care & Maintenance Squares are low maintenance tools. They need to be wiped down after use and the material should be checked periodically for rust or rot. The rivets or locking nuts should be checked for tightness and function. Beyond that, they don’t require much additional maintenance. Marking Tools A sharp pencil can be used for marking, however many woodworkers feel that a marking knife is a better choice due to its superior accuracy. Unlike a pocketknife, a marking knife is beveled on one side and flat on the other to allow for a thin, straight mark. In addition, the small cut can help guide the cutting tool. A marking knife is one of the most inexpensive tools to purchase. An awl, which is a sharp, pointed piece of metal attached to a round wooden handle, looks similar to an ice pick. It is typically used to mark or start nails and screws. Its sharp point can also be used to scratch a marking in a softer wood. Awls typically sell for under $10. Some woodworkers use a marking gauge, which has a fence to keep it flush to the board and a writing tool on the other end to mark the cut as the tool slides along the edge of the board. Other measuring tools include a compass or divider for drawing circles and marking increments and plane gauges or other tools used to determine if a piece of wood is flat and true. A quality woodworking compass can be expensive to purchase, often costing over $30. Most gauges are under $20. Care & Maintenance The care and maintenance for these marking tools depends on the tool and the material from which it’s made. The main consideration is that the tool be sharp. Most can be sharpened with regular sharpening methods, either by you or the hardware store. Accurate measurements, correct angles and true joins are the basic elements of good woodworking projects. In addition to the items listed above, there are many gadgets and specialty tools for measuring and marking. Beware of fad gadgets and stick to the essential tools you will need to get started. As you gain a better understanding of different measuring and marking situations, you will be able to determine which tools you need to add. Tool Summary This completes part 3 of the condensed overview of some of the tools that are commonly used in beginning woodworking projects. As you can see, this topic could and has provided the content for entire volumes of books and in order to fully understand the possibilities in woodworking and create quality projects, it is critical that you develop a more in-depth knowledge of the tools you plan to use. It is also important to note again that each type of tool has its own care and maintenance needs that are often more specific than what has been touched on here. The details have been left out of this book to avoid overwhelming someone who is brand new to woodworking. However, their omission does not mean they aren’t important. “Failing to care for your tools is ridiculous from a financial standpoint,” stated shop teacher, Kevin Warner. “Why spend $20 on a good quality handsaw or clamp and then allow it to go dull or rust? Not only will you loose money, your work will suffer because your tools won’t perform as intended. And it will take you more time in the long run. Taking good care of your tools is one of the first steps in becoming a serious woodworker.” Copyright 2005 by Ferhat Gul. All rights reserved. You may redistribute this article in its unedited entirety, including this resource box, with all hyperlinked URLs kept intact. Ferhat Gul is the publisher of the brand-new “Woodworking Beginner’s Guide – Tips From Experienced Woodworkers to Help You Get Started”, made just for people who love woodworking. This comprehensive, yet compact woodworking introduction for beginners is easy to read and helps to save time, money and effort. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ferhat_Gul http://EzineArticles.com/?Woodworking-Tools:-Right-Selection-And-Care-Will-Save-You-Money,-Part-3&id=50670 free money to pay student loans paycheck lyrics- boss shove it speedypay day loan buy computer no credit check
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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Do You Have What it Takes to Love Someone?

By Shelley Franklin How many times have you seen the perfect couple walking down the street smiling lovingly at each other? Have you ever found yourself in a relationship in which you felt like this and thought ‘This is THE only love for me’ only to later find yourself unable to stand the thought of being with that person any longer? Even if this has happened more than once, you can take immediate steps to stop the heartbreak cycle by meeting your soul mate and enjoying a lifetime of lasting love through dating. Find out if you have what it takes to fall in love and begin making positive changes in your life today! You must first realize that love doesn’t happen on its own; we allow love to occur as a result of our physical, emotional, and intellectual choices. Love that is based only on one or two of these choices will most likely end in disappointment, but we have a much greater chance of having a successful loving relationship if it is based on all three of these elements. Do you still think you have what it takes to fall in love? Use the following loving relationship advice to help you prepare for finding love if your not sure that you are ready! 1. Know yourself well in order to know how to choose a partner wisely. Start by making a list of your personality traits, health practices, educational background, interests, strengths, weaknesses, and personal and professional goals. When you can discuss the person you are with confidence, you will be more likely to appeal to the one you want. 2. Clearly define what you want in your relationship. Write down the qualities you want most in your partner in a long-term relationship. Then pick the ones that are absolutely necessary, as well as those that you are willing to overlook and accept, even if you don’t particularly like them. 3. Use your personal values to help you determine whether or not a relationship is right for you. 4. Adopt a positive attitude and stop closing the door to opportunities. Stop dwelling on negative feelings from past relationships! By adopting a positive attitude toward finding a relationship, you create the space for limitless possibilities in your life to get what you desire. 5. Always seek opportunities to improve your relationship. When you enter a relationship with someone, evaluate patterns of behavior that may be harmful to you and your relationships with others around you. Just as importantly, however, be on the look out for new patterns that can lead to healthy, fulfilling relationships. In conclusion, you can begin to take steps today to greatly improve your chances of stopping the heartbreak cycle. I sincerely hope you consider trying a few of the tips listed to help you prepare to find the love of your life. If you do try them out, then I’m sure that you will have more fun and be less lonely in the days to come because you will begin to have what it takes to love someone. When you are ready to take the next step toward finding the love of your life or if you would like more dating and relationship advice, please check out loving relationship advice and christian dating and senior dating The author, Shelley Franklin, offers more dating and relationship tips and articles on her blogs. Please visit them for more dating and relationship advice. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelley_Franklin http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Have-What-it-Takes-to-Love-Someone?&id=166671 online loan applications pay day max how to take a personal bank loan bad credit signature loan
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Sunday, June 8, 2008

Fill Up The Financial Gaps With Commercial Secured Loans

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Kelly]Tim Kelly Capital is the foundation of every business. The entrepreneur needs to have enough finances to run his business smoothly. Business always does not mean earning profits. You may have losses as well. The unpredictability in business necessitates the requirement of immediate cash. Commercial secured loans have been designed to help you out in these circumstances. Commercial secured loans are tailored specifically for entrepreneurs who require funds for commercial purposes such starting a business or expanding the existing one. The amount drawn from commercial secured loans can be used for a variety of purposes like buying machinery, renovating premises, purchasing commercial buildings and much more. Commercial needs vary from person to person depending upon the nature of business. Commercial secured loans thus offer flexibility. They can be used for start up businesses, and small and large scale industries. The amount drawn from the loan ranges from 50,000 to 50,000,000. It however differs from lender to lender. It also takes into consideration the business profile, financial status, length of ownership, credit history etc. The entrepreneur is provided with repayment tenure of 12 months to 25 years. One important feature of secured commercial loans is that these are attached to the clause of collateral. The commercial property, equipments, invoices or order books can be placed as collateral. The interest rate is comparatively lower than unsecured commercial loans. The monthly installments and rate of interest is decided at the beginning of the loan. This enables the borrower to plan effectively on how and when to repay the loan. The commercial market is flooded with a number of lenders dealing in secured commercial loans. Many banks and financial institutions are ready to serve you. But theses lenders are considered to be conventional. They demand lot of efforts and time. You are sure to face hassles while dealing with such physical lenders. In case you are looking for the most convenient deal, online lenders are the best option. A little search through the internet will make you aware of different online lenders. The loan seeker needs to fill in the hassle free online loan application form. The lender will contact you as soon as he finds an appropriate deal for you. The entrepreneur has to be cautious while deciding the lender. Do not be in haste. Collect quotes from different lenders. Choose the lender who not only offers you the required services but also provides you the loan at a low rate of interest. The loan provider will require certain documents so as to sanction the loan request at the earliest. If you are trying to start a new business, you need to discuss your business plan and how it will let you repay your loan. The lender would also ask for some necessary documents such as financial statements, balance sheets, profit and loss statements, salary of employees etc. This will help him to serve you the best deal. Overcome your financial crisis with commercial secured loans. Meet the shortage of money and let your business flourish. Tim Kelly is an expert in finance having completed his LLM in Finance (Master of Laws in Finance) from Institute for Law and Finance at Frankfurt University. He is currently working with Commercial Secured Loan as a financial advisor. To Find Business Commercial Secured loan, Bad credit Commercial loan, Commercial Secured loan visit http://www.commercialsecuredloan.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Kelly http://EzineArticles.com/?Fill-Up-The-Financial-Gaps-With-Commercial-Secured-Loans&id=195259 sba loan guarantees loan waiver scheme and its impact on money market long term personal loans for poor bad loans research articles on personal loan in pakistan
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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

The Way Out

By Ann Stewart There is a way out of your sorrows and distress! “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) You are in distress, aren’t you? How do I know? Because you’re in the world, in the end times. All the Biblical prophetic signs are being manifested, from global warming to natural disasters and wars. If you’re not caught up in one of these, you may be grieving for some who are, or fearing what may happen next. Matthew 24 describes some of the happenings the world is experiencing right now and what is yet to come. “There shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Mat. 24:21-22) This does not sound good, does it? The Holy Scriptures are filled with prophesies since Noah and the flood warning about what is to come. Praise God, He has provided a way out for the “elect.” That is you, if you know Him as your Lord and Saviour. Verse 22 describes that you will be taken out before the very worst is to happen. Look at verse 30: “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Although no man knows the day and the hour, you can be very sure by the signs of the time that this day is coming very soon. Are you ready? Those who are left behind will have a great surprise when they see that: “then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Mat. 24:40-41) Be encouraged, therefore. There is a way out. Not only will you be raptured before the worst comes, but you have the Comforter living in you. He shall guide you in all truth (John 16:13) Whether you are grieving over an end time disaster or are concerned about making ends meet, the Source of comfort is always there! Jesus said: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7) Yes, God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is El Shaddai, the all sufficient One; the mighty One. He has engraved you on the palm of His Hand (Isa. 49:16). Trust in Him. You are in Good Hands! The parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25) describes how all the virgins, i.e. those who know God, had oil in their lamps and knew that the bridegroom was very close at hand. The only difference between them was that the foolish ones were not prepared. They did not bother to have extra oil on hand. In other words, although they did know the Lord, and that He was coming, they did not regard the importance of being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Are you enjoying a close daily communication with your Lord? Are you continually being filled up? As it was in Noah’s day, the Lord warned the people through Noah that the end was near. But they scoffed at Noah and did not heed the signs. Only Noah and his immediate family were saved. The Lord is gracious to give us the signs that he is close at hand Enjoy a close, daily relationship with Him, walk in His ways, and you will be prepared to meet Him in the air in eager anticipation. Author of With Wings As Eagles, a testimony of living a life of abundance and miracles. Her e-zine teaches how you can do the same: http://www.lifealteringwords.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ann_Stewart http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Way-Out&id=264916 sample paycheck stubs templates pay day lending residential hard money lenders federal withholdings on my paycheck
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Friday, May 30, 2008

To Diet Or Not To Diet – Review Of Diet Vs. Non-Diet Weight Loss

By Andrea Amador Summer times almost here. Its the time of year when women start thinking about losing weight and fitting into those summer shorts. If youre a gal struggling to decide whether to go on the next new diet or to get off the diet roller coaster once and for all, this article may help you to make that decision. These are the reasons why a diet may be the answer for you: You just have a few pounds to lose and food is not a big deal for youYou dont mind a restricted eating plan or being told what to eatYou thrive on being precise, journalling and structureYou do not eat to feed your emotionsYoure not tempted by or disturbed by having to eliminate forbidden foodsYou have a positive self image Here are the cons of why dieting is not for you: Youve been overweight for decades and food is very important to youYou refuse to be told what to eat. You want to eat real foods You want to learn to trust yourself around all foods You have been suffering with a fat or ugly self imageYou want to stop putting so much effort in dieting You want to heal your relationship with food permanently Conclusion: If you are a woman who is struggling with emotional eating and has spent years bouncing from diet to binge, then dieting is not for you. Diets trigger feelings of deprivation in the brain and that causes many women to sabotage their dieting efforts, give in to cravings and eat out of control. If you are looking for a solution, then you owe it to yourself to discover the path of Intuitive Eating. Its a natural method of weight loss that eliminates the pain of deprivation of dieting. No more diets! On the other hand, if you realize that diets hold the key for you, then get started. Summer is just around the corner! Andrea Amador is The Juicy Woman. As a Certified Weight Loss Coach and Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming and Ericksonian Hypnosis, she uses powerful belief changework methods including Emotional Freedom Technique to debunk the subconscious programs that keep women fat! In her Losing Weight without Dieting Program, she teaches women who are emotional eaters how to reclaim their power over food, get off the diet rollercoaster and the secrets to losing weight effortlessly by eating all the yummy foods that they love. Sign up to get her free article on Losing Weight without Dieting for Busy Gals at http://www.thejuicywoman.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_Amador http://EzineArticles.com/?To-Diet-Or-Not-To-Diet—Review-Of-Diet-Vs.-Non-Diet-Weight-Loss&id=502686 no credit check auto sales direct hard money lender paycheck loans ii pay day advance
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

It’s All Mine, I Own It All Says The Lord

By Matthew Robert Payne I was in bed chatting to the Father tonight before I go to sleep. Its a regular night time thing no matter what time it is, I lie on my back on my bed and look out the window and chat to the Lord. Tonight a turned from the window and turned facing the other way and asked the Lord if He was still there. This is what He said. Of course I am still there Matthew. I am everywhere. I created everything and every place. I own it all. Its only a few little words, it might not even strike you as anything profound but it shook me. So often we lose sight of the LORD of creation in all that goes on in our day. My blanket earlier was making me hot and cold. I would warm up and through it off me and then when I got cold again I would pull it over me. I was chatting to the Lord at the time and I said. This blanket is annoying me its hot and cold. The Lord replied. Its like my church. On Sunday they are hot for me and when they leave church they go cold. We get so busy living life we forget we have a Lord that wants to talk to us all day and who wants to play a part in our lives. The Lord really is fun to chat to. He really does own this world. How about giving Him all your life, rather being hot and cold. Matthew shares his heart in these articles and can be found at http://www.online-prayer.net You can read more of his articles at his link below. If you want a copy of his upcoming book of articles which will have the first sixty of the articles on this web-site called “The Musings of a Mad Prophet” please contact Matthew via email so he can contact you around February 2007 to tell you of the progress of the book. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Robert_Payne http://EzineArticles.com/?Its-All-Mine,-I-Own-It-All-Says-The-Lord&id=454125 online payday loans in canada faxless approves benefits 1000 loan payday loans for online college texas car loan for people with bad credit
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Saturday, May 24, 2008

Marketing 101: The Power of Marketing

By John Follis When you hear the word marketing what comes to mind? More business or wasted money? If your experience with marketing or advertising has been less than positive your cynicism may be well founded. Yet, have you ever noticed a competitor with a mediocre product and a healthy business? The difference is often marketing. Some say theyve never done marketing and dont need to because of good word- of-mouth. Positive word-of-mouth is great, but not enough if youre serious about growing your business. Others do invest in marketing yet treat it as a necessary evil. The problem with that mindset is that its driving with the brakes on. Those people sabotage their efforts by making poor decisions, taking half-measures and often resisting anything innovative. When asked about the one big key to marketing success I reply that theres nothing more important than a marketing mindset. A marketing mindset is an attitude, a way of thinking, that values and embraces the power of marketing. If you look at the companies and brands that are most successful — Nike, Microsoft, Virgin, Trump, Saturn, Kenneth Cole, etc — youll find someone at the top with a marketing mindset. People like Trump, Cole, and Virgins Richard Branson may have it instinctively. For most, however, its a learned attribute. So, if you dont have a marketing mindset yet, keep reading and start to get one. Follis Fact #1 You need a Marketing Mindset. Attracting vs. Chasing A guy sees a beautiful woman in a bar, tracks down her name and number, calls her up and says, “Hi, my name is Joe and Im great in bed.” Thats cold calling. Another guy sees a beautiful woman in a bar and gives her a napkin that says, “Im Bill and Im great in bed.” Thats direct marketing. A third guy sees a beautiful woman in a bar, has his ex-girlfriend go up to her and say, “See that cute guy over there? Hes my ex, his name is Tom, and hes really great in bed.” Thats PR. Last guy walks into a bar, a beautiful woman approaches him and says, “Hi, my name is Courtney and I hear youre really great in bed.” Thats effective marketing. Attraction is the essence of marketing. When you create enough desire to get your prospect to come to you, theyll always be more predisposed to buying. That bares repeating. When you create enough desire to get your prospect to come to you, theyll always be more predisposed to buying. The challenge, of course, is that your prospect is elusive prey. So, imagine the first rabbit hunters. Theyd exhaust themselves using spears and rocks until a more evolved Neanderthal got the idea of using carrots. Or, imagine the girl who desperately wants a date, but cant understand why she scares guys away when she chases them. Unfortunately, too many businesses act like that girl chasing for a date by putting lots into selling and nothing into marketing. Follis Fact #2 Its always better to attract than chase. Expense vs Investment Those who dont understand marketing view it as an expense. Those with a marketing mindset know its an investment. They know that, if done right, it can excite their prospects and produce a great return. Done right means well- researched, well-managed, and generally handled by someone who knows what theyre doing. Regarding expense, being a small business is a bad excuse to do nothing. Start small, but do something. There are plenty of cost-effective, non- traditional ways to do a test. So, if you want to grow, you cant afford not to develop a marketing plan. Determine your Objective and Budget Like building a house it starts with a solid foundation. Start with a clear objective. The more specific you make it, the better you can develop an effective plan to achieve it. If your company has no marketing director to create a plan, get help. A marketing plan is critical and it involves the analysis of key market factors such as: the nature and traits of your product. the exact audience youre targeting. the competitive environment. the traits of your industry/category. the maturity of your business. timing. Your marketing budget depends upon the analysis of these factors as well as your short and long term objectives. For some businesses, 5% of annual sales is plenty to invest. For others, 10% may not be enough. Once the marketing goal is determined it’s easier to determine the budget needed to achieve it. Have a Great Product At the risk of stating the obvious, a big key for marketing success is having a great product. In his best-selling book, Purple Cow, marketing guru Seth Godin calls it, “being remarkable.” Its about having a product or service thats exceptional. Though many non-remarkable products may seem to do well because of great marketing, no long-term success can be achieved without a great product. In fact, if a product is not great, great marketing will usually make it fail faster. People will buy it, not like it, and never buy it again. Case in point: Ever see an exciting teaser for an upcoming movie? It can make a lot of people run out and buy a ticket. The problem starts a couple of weeks later when folks see the movie, hate it, and then spread the word. Before you know it, the movies gone. Heres another case. Remember New Coke? If not, youre not alone. It didnt last long. Despite the marketing muscle that Coke put behind it, the Coke- drinking public decided they were quite happy with the old Coke. Another case involves a new tropical hotel. Eager to jump-start his business the owner got tour directors and travel writers to check it out and hopefully generate some good buzz. Problem was, the hotel wasnt finished. Had he waited a couple more months he wouldve gotten great reviews. Now hell be lucky if those tour directors and writers give him another shot. If businesses spent less energy trying to sell their product and more on improving it, theyd have more success in the long run. Follis Fact #3 Great marketing will make a bad product fail faster. When product, client, and marketing are all exceptional the results can be a beautiful thing — even if it doesnt start off that way. “Let me get this straight…you want my commercial to start with my competitor’s tagline?” That was the company president’s response when I presented the concept. I guess I couldn’t blame him. Recommending that he put $350,000 behind a TV spot that began with his main competitors tagline may not have seemed like the smartest idea. Yet, I knew my concept was strong — if I could articulate it. But, before I continue, let me step back and explain the scenario. Sorrell Ridge Fruit Spreads was an unknown all-natural spreadable fruit” product (ie. jam) that had been selling in health food stores. Now, the tiny brand was ready to battle the big guys on the grocery shelves of America. The main competitor and undisputed leader in the category was Smucker’s. Smucker’s had a 30-year history during which it built one of the strongest, most positive brand images in history. Their tagline, “With a name like Smucker’s it has to be good”, was famous and endeared by the American public. What’s more, their ad budget was about 20 times that of tiny Sorrell Ridge. To say we needed a kick-ass campaign is an understatement. But Smucker’s was vulnerable. Their preserves were mostly high fructose corn syrup, refined sugar, and little fruit. Sorrell Ridge, on the other hand, was all fruit. It was a big competitive difference and the stage was set for a classic David vs. Goliath battle. So, back to our meeting… “You want my commercial to start with my competitor’s tagline?” “The idea here isn’t to promote Smucker’s tagline, it’s to dismantle it,” I replied passionately. The president’s eyebrows raised. I then walked him through the simple 30-second TV spot which opened with the Smucker’s tagline filling the screen… With a name like Smucker’s it has to be good. The announcer began: “For 30 years Smucker’s has been telling us they have to be good. But in fact, Smucker’s Preserves is mostly corn syrup, refined sugar, and only some fruit.” At the mention of each ingredient a pair of hands popped up from the bottom of the TV screen and patched over the last line of type, “it has to be good,” with a succession of modifications starting with “it’s probably good”, to “it might be good,” and finally, “is it really so good?” We then cut to the Sorrell Ridge jar as the announcer explained that “Sorrell Ridge is 100% fruit.” The final stake in the heart was our tagline which played directly off Smucker’s: Sorrell Ridge. With 100% fruit, it has to be better. Holding my breath, I glance over at the Sorrell Ridge president who now looked like a kid on Christmas morning. I then presented a “50 cents off” coupon ad with side- by-side visuals of each jar positioned under their respective tagline. Like the TV, it was simple, but compelling, and he loved it. But now came the legal questions. Could we even do it? After some nail-biting delays, and a few minor copy changes, the lawyers gave us the green light. But not without stern warnings that there was no guarantee that Smucker’s wouldn’t sue. To the president’s credit, he pulled the trigger on the campaign and we held our breath. We didn’t have to hold it long. Sales spiked and within the month were up a full 90%. Our thrilled client immediately doubled his media spending by scraping together every dime he could muster. When the dust finally settled 12 months later, Sorrell Ridge had a 50% national increase while sales for the entire jams category increased only 3.5%. The Harvard Business Review wrote it up as a case study and Forbes wrote it up as a 2-page feature. My partner and I got covered in a dozen trade publications and appeared live on CNBC. And, despite all our legal fears, Smucker’s never did take action. Everything we said was true and obviously Smucker’s knew it. Though they probably couldve tied us up in court, the last thing they needed was more press. We simply had a better product and we got the message across in an exciting way. Follis Fact #4 The better your product, the better your marketing can be. 2005 John Follis. All rights reserved. John Follis is one of the 12 “Best Advertising Minds of New York” as voted by The New York Ad Club. His campaigns are in 3 college textbooks, he has written for ADWEEK, and he has taught at 3 New York universities. Currently, John works on select projects, consults, and speaks. He may be reached at john@follisinc.com For John’s booklet: How to Attract and Excite Your Prospects: A Guide for Getting the Best Marketing Results, visit: http://www.follisinc.com/booklet.htm For consulting info, visit: Marketing Therapy: http://www.follisinc.com/therapy.htm For speaking info, visit: Follis Speaking: http://www.follisinc.com/speaking.htm Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Follis http://EzineArticles.com/?Marketing-101:-The-Power-of-Marketing&id=52981 payday loans no direct deposit or faxing hard money lender for oil and gas deed florida hard money lenders prequalification form deceased employees last paycheck
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

How to Grow Cucumbers

By Hans Dekker The versatile cucumber (cucumis sativus) is tasty pickled, in a salad, as a salad, in a sandwich, or just eaten raw. How to grow cucumbers depends largely in part on how you plan to eat them. Cucumbers come in over 120 varieties that range from small picklers to large slicers and from dark green to the yellow of the lemon cucumber. They come burped or burpless, seeded or without seeds. Originating in India where they have been cultivated for over 3,000 years, the cucumber is a quick growing subtropical vine. In fact, many varieties of cucumber are ready to harvest after 50 days. However, some gardeners shy away from learning how to grow cucumbers because of their peculiar pollination habits. The traditional cucumber produces both a male (staminate) and a female (pistillate) blossom. Male blossoms appear first and soon drop from the vine without bearing fruit. However, the vines soon bloom again with both male and female flowers and continue blooming throughout the growing season. Cucumber vines bear fruit in abundance as long as you harvest them before they reach full maturity. Relatives of squash, melons, and pumpkins, there are a variety of ways to learn how to grow cucumbers. Grow them in hills, in rows along a wire trellis, or train your cucumber vines to climb a wall or wooden trellis. In addition to growing directly in the garden, cucumbers make an attractive container plant. The cucumber is an appealing plant with lovely blossoms that permeate the air with the heady fragrance of what else? cucumbers! When getting ready to learn how to grow cucumbers in your garden, its best to prepare the soil about a month ahead of planting them. Cucumbers are not good at competing for space and nutrients. Remove weeds and spade in rich organic material. Youll have plenty of time to do this, since cucumbers are subtropical vines that prefer the sunny days and balmy nights of summertime. Seeds need about an 80F temperature to germinate, but then will do so in four to five days. Although seeds can be planted directly into the garden, cucumbers can also be started indoors for transplanting. If you use peat pots to start the seed, you can bury the whole pot in the garden lessening the risk that youll damage the tender vines. Once established, in addition to keeping the fruit cleaner, a layer of mulch in your cucumber patch minimizes weed growth and helps your soil retain moisture. Although cucumbers hate wet feet and wont grow in standing water, the more moisture they can absorb the juicier and sweeter they will be. Harvest cucumbers at whatever size you like, as long as you dont wait for them to turn yellow (unless they are a yellow variety). Once they begin to turn yellow, theyre past their prime. Flavor turns bitter and the fruit begins to dry out. Besides, frequently picking your cukes will promote more prolific blossoming resulting in larger harvests. You are free to publish the above article in your ezine or website, provided credit in the form of an (HTML clickable) hyperlink is given to the author. Hans is an enthusiast gardener and one of the authors of the “How To” section of http://www.gardening-guides.com and http://www.patio-furniture-ideas.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hans_Dekker http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Grow-Cucumbers&id=32300 money lender act 1951 no fax payroll loans fast cash ct payday loan legal nc
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Monday, May 19, 2008

4 Indisputable Truths to Help You Choose a College

By Andrew Marx I always remember thinking, whats the big deal, it is only college? These days, it is a big deal, and higher education is a competitive market for your attention. Just remember it is easier to pick a college than the high school advisors, college guides and your parents make it out to be. Relax, take a deep breath and keep in mind these four indisputable truths about choosing a college. 1. A Little Information Goes a Little Way I was not well prepared for selecting a college. My parents did not properly instill in me the need for selectivity and criteria, though they might be surprised to hear that now. All of my peers had dreams of a particular school, or a particular academic reputation, or they aimed for a certain city. I had distances. The minimum distance was 500 miles from my mother and 500 miles from my father. In order to meet these criteria, the school needed to be somewhere in Nevada, or somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. For the record, the vector did eventually land me at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. But looking back now, I realize that I did very little in the way of research then. I did not know the right questions to ask, much less whom to ask them to. You already have the resources, but you have to do the legwork. Parents are a good start. Assess their expectations, particularly how much they expect to pay. Then set that information aside and start researching specific schools. You should use your guidance counselor as a resource, but do not forget the internet. And pay the campus a visit during the school year. The only time it does not pay to do the research is when you already know exactly where you want to go, whether it is your only choice, or your parents alma mater, or you are going locally. If you do not know, it is always a good idea to arm yourself with as much information as you can. Otherwise you might end up at a university in the Pacific Ocean. 2. Rankings Are Relative Any college guide would have you believe that their publication, and only theirs, really has the definitive information on a wide swath of criteria to pick a college. Do not believe it. There are two things at stake here to keep in mind. Every college guide has a bias. And college rankings are dependent on that bias. Take the Harvard University of college guides, U.S. News and World Report as an example. Whats the bias? U.S. News wants to be an elite college guide, the cream of the crop. That means their ranking formula has to be the most complicated, has to utilize the most criteria and they have to devote a whole lot of space to the countrys elite universities. Which is great if you plan on choosing a school based on reputation. But there are other factors to consider. It is appropriate, a great idea even, to pick up a college guide and review the entry on some of your school choices. Better yet, do it online. Most guides have an online component, and so what if you have to register to view it. You are going to spread your name around liberally during the application process anyway. 3. It is not the size of the school but the number of kids that live there that counts Let me tell you a little trick when you examine your schools size. Look strictly at its percentage of students that live on campus. Particularly when you are starting out as a first-year student, you spend a whole lot of time on campus, and most schools require you to live there at least through your first year. The number of students that live on campus has a lot to do with the kind of experience you will have. I went to UNLV which only had an on-campus population of a little over 1,000 students. That is a relatively small population of students to live among. I looked at the overall campus population, over 20,000 students, and assumed I would be interacting with a diverse group. But the truth was, my social and educational circles were usually limited to the 1,000. Whichever population size you prefer, just remember that commuters are usually significantly less engaged in campus activities; clubs, intramural sports, and social nights. 4. Cost is a hill, not a mountain If you want to go to college, prepare to take out loans to pay for it. If your parents can afford it and are willing to pay, you are lucky. For everyone else, once you know the school you want to go to, just go. The cost of education is exorbitant and steadily rising. There is no way around it. Parents look at debt warily, and their opinion is to be respected. But when it comes to picking a college, cost should not be the determining factor. Think of your education loans as an investment in your future. Whatever you invest now compounds in your skill set, your experience and the assets that you develop for furthering your future earning potential. Picking a college is a process, but it should not be an overwhelming one. Make a list of criteria that are important to you and take that with you on your search. It is indisputably a big deal to choose a college for yourself, but the process has never been easier. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. — Andrew Marx is a prolific author and his expertise includes the practical and legal aspects of personal finance and higher education. His body of work is published at http://www.smartremarx.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Marx http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Indisputable-Truths-to-Help-You-Choose-a-College&id=298929 day the home owners loan corporation was established ehlermann cash thru payday shoob paycheck templates cash advance 1 hour
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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Weight Loss, Fitness and Your Mind Set

By Everte Farnell I was watching the news yesterday and I saw a story about a woman who had gastric bypass surgery. Some of the statistics were rather remarkable. After two years the average weight loss is 34%, the surgery is now done laparoscopically and, as in all surgeries, the rate of death depends greatly on the surgeon, but it ranges between 0-3%. All of these stats suggest that maybe it is something folks should look into. If someone has had the surgery, as a friend of mine did, I always wish them the best of luck. If they haven’t had the surgery yet, I always suggest avoiding it. I have told a few people, you didn’t have surgery to get fat, why are you having surgery to get thin. (notice I said thin not in shape.) Now anybody who has looked at the web site knows I am no skinny minny. I do exercise several times a week with body weight exercises. I am not trying to be a body builder, but I am trying to get a good workout in. I use to think that you needed all kinds of equipment to train, but not so. Just a jump rope and yourself, and you can get a good workout. I guess what I am trying to say is that the huge growth in the numbers of gastric bypass surgeries seems to me to be a symptom of a greater ill. The reason we are fat is the same reason we are getting surgery to get thin, we are lazy! Don’t get surgery, get active. Control what you eat. Sure it will take a bit of work, and yes you will have to train your mind and see yourself as thin, but you will be healthier in the end. There exists a reason why fat people are fat. It is a symptom of a greater problem,and that problem can not be fixed by surgery. Your mind must be fixed, then you will not need surgery, the weight will just fall off, until you are healthy. Some people think of me as fat, for example, but by any test (IE blood pressure, strength, cardio.) I am in reasonably good shape. I mean I am not an Olympic runner, but I don’t want to be. I have told many people who are planning, thinking, or considering getting this surgery. Put it off for a year, get my book “The Barbarian’s Guide to Success”. Use it for a year and if you still want the surgery I will give you your money back. Don’t let a doctor cut you up to try and get thin, instead get healthy. To answer the question that will inevitably come up, No my book is not a guide to being healthy. It is, however, a guide to help you get what you want. Some people want more money, some want a better marriage/relationship, and still others want to be thinner. I truly think that surgery, unless it is 100% necessary, should be avoided. I mean, granted, I am a lay person when it comes to this, but it seems to me that our organs are on the inside and they should stay there. Some surgeries are emergencies and are life and death. That is a different story. This surgery is often times just a way to avoid the work involved with getting healthy, or so it seems to me. I want to mention that I am not a doctor, nor am I qualified to give any sort of medical advice. I am just a guy who has has been able to create an amazing amount of health in his life without the experts telling me what to do. I have not been sick in several years. All my vitals are good and I am in decent health, despite a few extra pounds. So what sounds more reasonable to you, a healthy lifestyle or risking death or permanent injury from letting a doctor cut you open and rearrange your stomach and intestine? With that I will say: Get the Barbarian Mind Set and keep it. Stay tr to yourself and your family, the rest will take care of itself. Welga! Everte Everte Farnell is a author and speaker and professional coach. In May of 2003 Everte was a divorced broke single father. Two and a half years later Everte is a happily married father of two. The company he and his wife worked to build supplies his family with a six figure income, and his children are happy healthy and well adjusted. He lives a life that many dream of. It is the life that he dreamed of in May of 2003. In October of 2005 he released his book “The Barbarian’s Guide to Success” and is dedicated to helping other realize their dreams. He is a straight forward, politically incorrect, figure and makes very little time for detractors. He often says “So many ‘coaches’ have made their money by coaching. I do everything I coach. It is important that people know that I have faced or do face the same challenges they face. Life is an integrated process. Your professional life must support your personal and family life and vice versa, otherwise you will never find true success.” Everte Can be reached at his web page http://www.successfulBarbarian.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Everte_Farnell http://EzineArticles.com/?Weight-Loss,-Fitness-and-Your-Mind-Set&id=107636 loans for small business short term federal bid loans easy personal loan payday loans defaults measures when buyer does not get loan commitment does seller keep earnest money
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