Wantusawa

by: Paul Pzelf

Myspace.com has become a success story like no other in the history of the Net. Side by side with its success it has been instrumental for the creation of some brilliant websites which provide support and content to the myspace page. One such excellent website is redpython.com. You will find on this webpage the links of the most popular and latest games on the Net.

It is true that myspace.com is spreading like wildfire totally encompassing the globe roping in youngsters from all over the world. It is also true that myspace games page is self sufficient in many ways, i.e. it provides links and helps you to be as creative as you would like to be. Even so, web pages like redpython.com are exceptionally useful when it comes to entertainment upgradation. Instead of limiting yourself to the games posted on the myspace games page, you can use the redpython.com as the source and pepper your myspace page with the latest and most popular games on the Net.

You can choose from a huge library of games – as many as 2300 free games – to post on your page to make the stay of your friends and invitees as relaxing and entertaining as you want. There are new games added every week, so you will never run out of stock or feel that you need to repeat any game. Not only redpython.com has excellent choice of games, it also chooses only games which have passed their stringent quality tests. You will not find any broken links or un-uploadable links on this page because there are continuous quality controls checks which assure that whatever is showcased on Red Python is of the highest quality.

This is why millions chose this website as their source for online games. In spite of having such a huge library (2300 free games ready to be linked, downloaded or played at the click of the mouse) the redpython.com is extremely easy to navigate and you can find the game you want in matters of seconds.

The myspace games on your myspace page will be highly enriched once you link yourself to redpython.com. Check out the many links that are posted on the site and add it to your myspace games page. Your friends will love you all the more for it. You will feel good about your page because it is loaded with the latest games and the most popular ones too.

In order to have an exceptional myspace page, you will need to have a good amount of interesting information and entertainment so your visitors can enjoy their stop over and recommend your page to others. There is nothing more inviting that the listing of the latest games available on the Net right there on your myspace games page – ready to be played with, ready to be enjoyed. All your friend and visitors will appreciate your collection and definitely recommend this site to other games enthusiasts. You will get all that and much more from redpython.com. Stay in touch!

About The Author
Paul Pzelf works for http://redpython.com - Myspace Games Myspace Codes - a website which provides 2300 Myspace Games. Play free online games for and add them to your MySpace, Xanga, Friendster profile, orkut, blogs etc.

This article was posted on October 30, 2006

by: Greg Eiskins

If you are like most other computer users, you have probably some time accidently deleted some of the important data or documents from your computer. The good news if that there is data recovery software out there that is capable to recover the data you have lost, there is no reason to despair. Since data viruses have been a part of computer users' everyday life there are chances that a virus program would have deleted some of your important data from your system. Software used for recovering data is your assurance and functions pretty much the same way as an insurance policy.

There are lots of programs available in the market for recovering your lost files and for those files that were once rendered inaccessible. Data recovery software can "undelete" files or information that have previously been deleted

recover any information lost after uncontrollable instances like virus attacks, power cut, software failures and more.

Since we all know how unpredictable technology can be, we must always be prepared for the worst scenario.

One of these recovery programs are called "GetDataBack". This is one of the most popular software for data recovery. It is one of the best selling pieces in the market today because of the frequency that people are losing valuable pieces of information and valuable files. This software functions easily, as do most other recovery software products, to recover entire drives. You can achieve this just by clicking a few buttons.

Are there data recovery services available?

There are also lots of data recovery services or so called "hotlines" that can be called to help assist you with recovery of some of your lost data. It is always helpful to have a little knowledge of your computer system because this helps you to describe the problem adequately to the customer service operator of the data recovery company and they can give you as much information as poinal settings in the computer.

Data recovery is defined as the process by which lost data is retrieved from a damaged or infected hard drive or any other piece of computer or electronic equipment. Computer users today use a special software for data recovery to get back the lost information from their personal computers, business computer systems, cellular phones, Blackberries, and any other electronic systems that store vital information. There are also cases where data simply disappears for no obvious reason at all. However, the software meant for data recovery can back the data to normal.

If you are an active computer user, it is important to have a backup plan and a good software for recovering data in case you lose your data accidentally or due to a virus sweep. Data recovery software is a must for your business and very important for computer amateurs as well.

About The Author
Greg Eiskins is a writer and internet publisher who likes to publish data recovery and related info. Read more at the website http://www.datarecovery2020.com.

This article was posted on October 30, 2006

by: Luke Cameron

Almost everyone knows what a computer is and how to use its basic functions. Some people have their own desktop computers or laptops. Those who do not own a computer may still be able to use one by renting or using the ones in public libraries. However, there are cheap computers that are now available in the market, so it is possible that everyone and their grandmothers will be able to afford it. Computers are really amazing. The technology has evolved so much through the years. A lot of things can be done with the newest models that were not possible on the machines which were the “top of the line” a few decades ago. Give or take a few years from now, the current computers will be phased out and replaced by a more stable, more feature-packed machine.

A few years ago computers were very expensive. One unit of a desktop computer in 1998 cost about $1,600. That’s a lot. Fast forward to the present. The computers in 1998 are nothing compared to the models that we have now. The machines are faster, more durable, and capable of multitasking. Imagine doing so much in so little time! To top it all off, the cost is definitely worth the product. Nowadays, cheap computers are very easy to find. Promo packages as low as $300 are not impossible to find. In fact, they are all over! You might think that cheap computers are not as good as the high-end ones, but that is not the case. You get the same functionality, durability and technology at a very inexpensive price. But where do you find such cheap computers? Stores like Circuit City and Best Buy offer packages that are very inexpensive. However, there is a cheaper alternative – shop online! There are a lot of online stores that sell either promo packages or individual hardware parts for you to assemble. Of course, that is up to you. You purchase a machine that is tailored to your own needs.

These days, owning a computer is essential. There isn’t any industry that does not make use of this technology. Computers aid in learning and working. The world is a much smaller place now because of computers and the internet. There are just countless of benefits you can get from one single machine. And it does not cost much. Cheap computers are now available online. That is functionality and information within your reach.

About The Author
Luke Cameron is the owner of Computer Cubicle, an online magazine offering advice and articles on Computers. You can find his website at: http://www.computercubicle.com and http://www.ecomputersmag.com.

This article was posted on October 12, 2006

by: Robert Jones

Remember your old Commodore Vic 20? You were free to spend a Saturday afternoon doing nothing but playing video games--as soon as you found the game cartridge and typed in that lengthy run code. But man, it was fun!

Computer game plays have come a long way since those days in the 1980's. From pinging a white dot from paddle to paddle, to simple static non-scrolling games, to today's mind blowing sound and graphics, computer games have evolved into game categories that are played on super consoles.

Playing computer games is part of our everyday popular culture. The entertainment genre that was once reserved for idle teenagers has grown to be the favorite pastime of the average thirty year-old. The computer games marketed today are so varied in style; anyone choosing from a selection of computer game software can easily be overwhelmed by the available choices.

The latest development to boost computer game playing was the development of broadband. With this technology, two players can play games from different parts of the world. As long as the broadband connection is good, the game is played simultaneously in real time, with no lag. Because of the universal appeal, computer games have made it possible to interact with other players anywhere, despite the cultural, time or language barriers. Even toddlers can now enjoy software with games and software designed for their education and amusement.

Computer game playing has enjoyed such worldwide popularity with people of all ages, studies are now being conducted on the effects it has on players. The seemingly innocent invention has created so much attention that international assessments are underway to track the impact of these products on user's behavior and thinking. Initial studies hint that computer game "bestsellers" tend to be violent or ugly game styles, but the results may be leaning to a more optimistic side.

Choosing which computer games to play is a personal choice affected by a number of factors. Taste and preference of the player are the biggest determining factors. When choosing a computer game, consider these factors to find the style that suits you:

* Challenge: What are your strong points? Logic, speed, verbalizing or coordination? Find a game that challenges you and builds your skills.

* Number of Players: Do you play well with others? Team play or opposition involves organization, multi-player strategies and building coalitions.

* Luck: If you're just plain lucky, try cards or games of chance.

* Strategies: Strategic games are great for your brain. Choose titles with deeply strategic game play.

* Ease of use: Some games are so complicated they're just not fun to play. Kids, especially, should choose games appropriate to their age and skill.

* Reality: Does the game attempt to simulate real life, or is it an abstract game designed purely for entertainment.

* Objectives: What is the objective of the game? Do players get eliminated, or can everyone stay to the end?

* Style: There is an incredible range of themes and styles of computer games, from comical to downright violent.

Depending on your interests, you can shoot, race, fight or role-play on your computer. There are real time games, and simulation games.

Computer games have come a long, long way since those early blips and bleeps of the 1980's. Our screens are now graced with full-colour 3D graphics (although many still prefer two-dimensional games). Anytime you're ready to take a break, you can just turn on your computer and instantly disappear with the computer game of your choice.

About The Author
Robert Jones contributes articles to several web sites, including http://easy-recreation.com and http://kemop.com.

This article was posted on October 24, 2006

by: Chris Hall

If you are in the market to purchase a computer there are many options in existence. You can purchase a Hewlett Packard, Gateway, IBM, or a custom built system. But there is one thing that all of these computers will utilize and that is a CPU (central processing unit). The CPU is responsible for interpreting and executing instructions for the motherboard. CPU's are key to the functioning of your new computer. CPU's from Intel and AMD power virtually every personal computer that you can purchase today.

The argument over an AMD CPU versus an Intel CPU and which has a higher functionality is currently raging. Simply two years ago this was not even a question. Anyone would tell you that the Intel CPU won the speed and complex algorithm war with AMD CPU's without question. Fast-forward to today and Intel is now playing catch-up to the latest in AMD technologies.

Intel played marketing games with their CPU's pricing them high and touting the functionality that they posses as cutting edge. AMD started out as the cheap alternative CPU manufacturer for computer brands such as e-Machines and low-end Compaqs. From the beginning, AMD CPU's were fighting an uphill battle to catch up with the technology in the Intel CPU. As the years have progressed, AMD has progressed.

AMD now clearly leads in the consumer pricing wars. AMD CPU equipped machines with similar performance specifications will cost you hundreds of dollars less than equivalent Intel CPU based machines. This cost differential is now enough to push many Intel CPU customers to the upstart AMD CPU equipped machines.

If performance is the main concern over price, the AMD CPU line was the first to include 64 bit technology. In 2003 AMD pushed the first 64 bit CPU to market. It was unstable and unreliable at first. But the underlying architecture was sound. The AMD 64 bit CPU was soon running stable and fast. The performance of this AMD CPU caught the Intel CPU team off guard.

Intel had to rush to market their EMT64 CPU to compete with this upstart challenge from AMD. The next item on the board was dual CPU power. Again, AMD one-upped the Intel CPU rule.

AMD CPU's have the information transfer on a dual chip machine flowing through the chips. The Intel dual CPU has a bridge to the motherboard where the information that is being processed by the dual CPU's flows for splitting.

The internal data flow in the AMD CPU's allows them to function with lower heat generation than the dual core Intel CPU's. As a consumer this lower heat generation allows the AMD CPU to last longer than the Intel CPU.

If you are energy conscious, then the AMD CPU will be for you as well. The AMD CPU equipped motherboard will function with approximately 275 watts of power. Compare that to a similarly equipped Intel processor at 400 watts of power, and you have major energy savings by going to the AMD CPU.

So where do the Intel CPU's win out over the AMD CPU's? The Intel CPU's are able to function faster with single programs. So, if you are going to play one game and only that game on your machine, the Intel CPU equipped machine can pull and analyze the data faster. However add in chat and e-mail running in the background and the AMD CPU machine catches up.

All in all, the CPU processor war that is currently waging between AMD and Intel is great for the consumer. Each company is in the middle of a CPU processor one-upmanship and both are looking to gain market share.

About The Author

Chris Hall has been in the IT industry for many years, and is the owner of Australian-based StoneBridge Computing (www.stonebridgecomputing.com.au), which specialises in the sale of Computers, Laptops, Hardware and Software Australia-wide. Visit his website here: http://www.stonebridgecomputing.com.au/catalog/cpu-c-70.html

This article was posted on August 21, 2006

by: Keith Edwards

For a few years now AMD has dominated the performance PC market, but the latest release of Intel's new desktop chips has changed that virtually overnight. Intel's new Core 2 Duo chips do not simply outperform AMD's fastest chips; they leave them in the dust. Preliminary benchmark testing puts Intel's fastest chip, the Core 2 Extreme X6800, 17 percent faster than AMD's Athlon FX-62 on the World Bench 5. The World Bench 5 consists of a multi-tasking test encoding a file with Windows Media Encoder while browsing the net with Mozilla. Even Intel's more affordable Core 2 Duo E6700 can beat the Athlon FX-62 by 12 percent. This makes a huge difference in the microchip market where gains of 10 percent or less are more common.

Intel's Core 2 Duo line ranges from a 1.86 GHz E6300 to the 2.93 GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800. These chips are already available in Dell's XPS line of desktops, in Alienware's Area-51 and ALX series, and in ABS Ultimate computers. Many of these desktops with new chips are more affordable than you might think.

How did Intel do it? One of the major features Intel improved upon in their new chip architecture was power consumption. While the Pentium Extreme Edition was burning 135 watts, the latest Core 2 Extreme X6800 burns only 75 watts. That is a 44 percent increase in efficiency. This means the new Intel Core Duo chips run a lot cooler. For the hardcore gamers and those needing the ultimate performance, such a low base temperature allows for more stable overclocking, and ABS has proven this with the ABS Ultimate X9. The Ultimate X9 runs the Intel Core 2 Extreme chip overclocked to 3.5 GHz for even stronger performance on the World Bench 5. This decrease in core temperature also means PC manufacturers will be able to build smaller and quieter systems, using fewer fans.

Another major feature of Intel's new chip architecture is the development of multiple CPU cores. This allows the chip to be more adaptable and better able to deal with bottlenecks. A great deal of the increase in performance comes from an extra executable core. While the Pentium D had 3, the new Core 2 Duo has 4 executable cores. That extra core along with some coding have allowed the chip to read multiple sets of instructions as if they are a single set. Intel has also eliminated another major bottleneck with its huge 4 MB cache. Though most dual core chips allocate a specific amount of cache, to each core, the Core 2 Duo is able to share the entire cache across both cores. Amazingly, it is able to distribute that shared cache as needed to the core working on the more complex task. This core might use 3 MB of he cache to complete a difficult task while the other core uses the other 1 MB for a simpler, though necessary, task.

So, these developments beg the question, has Intel finally defeated AMD? It certainly looks that way for the remainder of 2006 and perhaps through 2007. AMD has a new chip architecture for the desktop due out in 2007. AMD is attempting to stay competitive with Intel with some dramatic price cuts. The FX-62 has gone down in price by over $200. They have a CPU package for multisocket PCs called "Torrenza". Torrenza will debut on servers where multi-socket configurations are already common. This will not be their answer to Intel's Core 2 Duo. AMD's next generation chip architecture is due out in 2007 and it has been called "K8L". No one really knows how these and quad core chips will be able to perform. So, while AMD is still in the race for the long run, for the next 6 months to 1 year, Intel is now the unquestioned leader in high performance chips.

About The Author

Keith Edwards is chief technology author for 360 Enterprises Inc. He specializes in high performance gaming PCs such as alienware computers. http://www.gaming-pc.net

by: Mike Spence

Some websites fare well. Others falter - and miserably at that. What’s the difference? What do the successful websites do right and what do the failed websites do wrong?

The answer - or answers even - isn’t difficult to fathom. There are quite a number of common mistakes that seal the fate on internet marketers and their dreams. Here are 6 of them, which hopefully, you’d try to avoid at all cost.

1. A slow loading website. There is nothing more irritating than a website that tales forever to load. Granted that most internet users these days have high speed connections, a great percentage are still hooked up to the World Wide Web via slower 56K access. This percentage should not be taken for granted. In building your website, try to stay away from the humongous graphic files. No, you don’t need a high number of pixels. No, you don’t need fancy movies or flash animation. No, you don’t need catchy music. You need a website that will deliver the information it promises at an instantaneous rate, and for this reason, you have to choose functionality over design.

2. A navigation system that is very difficult to understand. If your menu bar is too complicated, you’ll just end up driving away a lot of your visitors. You don’t want your visitors to get stuck in just one page. You need to make it easy for them to explore your website. Your pages must be interlinked in a logical way, and this connection should be easily navigable through an intuitive interface that even a 7 year old will be able to understand. Again, this is a matter of functionality over design. Place your navigation links either at the top of the page right below the header, or at either side of the page in a separate column. This is where your visitors’ eyes will wander once they want to discover the other pages in your website.

3. Low quality content. Content is king on the internet. People log online to find information they need, and information is conveyed through your content. If your content is poorly written, who will have the patience to read the same? If your content is not unique, why will people choose your website over others? Indeed, there are two requisites for good quality content: excellent presentation and originality. Minus either of this, your entire website will be in jeopardy.

4. Poor choice of keywords to focus on. Keywords drive traffic to your website. Keywords are the terms that people search for when they’re looking for information. If you targeted the right keywords, quality visitors will come aplenty. If you targeted the wrong keywords, visitors will be scarce. So make sure you discover the right keywords even before you start building your website.

5. Cookie cutter websites. Again, this is a matter of originality - or the lack of it. Why would people choose your website over thousands of others sharing the same layout and boasting of the same content? What makes your website special? If these questions cannot be answered positively, then your online business is doomed. Worse, search engines penalize duplicate content, and your website will have a lower position in the search engine results.

6. A website that lacks focus. Focus is key in designing a website. It will be difficult for a website to focus on several, unrelated topics. Why would visitors who are interested with dogs be interested with astronomy? There’s no connection between the two subjects, and if your website caters to these topics, among others, then prepare for some rough sailings ahead.

These are the things you should try to avoid. Your online business depends on how well your website fares. So take some time to think about how you can properly build your website,

About The Author
Mike Spence has been involved in Website design and marketing for years and currently runs variety of business online and offline. Readers can visit He's http://LiveDeal.com Classified Website

Mike is in a variety of business such as international trade, publishing, media, and maunufacturing selling different types of products and offering advice to customers. For more infomation about this topic visit: http://mystore.livedeal.com/miketrader

by: Jane Wyvern

Do you have an invention you would like to get a patent for? If so, then you have three choices for going about it. You can hire a patent attorney which is probably the safest thing to do but also extremely expensive. You can go through the patent process your self which will be much cheaper but extremely difficult to do. Or you can hire a patent agent. A patent agent is much cheaper than an attorney but has been specially trained and licensed and is fully competent to take your patent through the legal process.

A patent agent works on your behalf to draft the patent application and take it through the various stages to get it granted. A patent agent will also perform a thorough patent and trademark search in order to ensure that your invention will not infringe upon an existing patent or trademark.

This is an essential step in the patent process and one that is difficult for an individual to do alone. If not done properly, you could face legal troubles and huge fees if you are found at a later time to have violated another patent, even if it was done unintentionally.

Even though by law you are allowed to file your own patent and represent your case, the practice is actually frowned upon by the Patent and Trademark Office only because the process is so complex that an individual can rarely do it successfully. The patent examiner will encourage you to obtain the services of a competent attorney or patent agent before you proceed.

It is really in your own best interest to make sure you follow the law and properly register your patent or your invention may be at risk. You can often obtain a free initial consultation with a patent attorney to get a feel for what all is involved.

A patent attorney is an attorney at law who has also been specially trained in patent and trademark execution and law. In order to legally use the term ‘patent attorney’, he must pass examinations on the preparation and filing as well as the prosecution of patent applications.

Patent agents must also receive their designation from the Commissioner of Patents and pass similar examinations. A patent agent does not have to be an attorney, but does require special training.

Often, patent attorneys will have patent agents on staff. This makes for a good situation for you in that you have a patent attorney available if need, but can use the services of a patent agent to do the majority of the work so your fee will not be as high.

Many patent agents work for themselves and because they are independent, may offer more affordable rates. Just make sure whichever patent agent you choose, that you verify they are licensed and registered by the Commissioner of Patents.

You can find a patent agent by looking in your yellow pages or you can obtain a list of patent agents from the patent office. They will be more than happy to provide you with a list although they will not go as far as to make specific recommendations.

About The Author
Jane Wyvern is an established freelance writer. You can find more of her writing at http://www.patents-source.com/ and http://www.real-estate-picks.com/.

by: Allison Thompson

I think many of us have now noticed the prices of laptop computers recently and certainly purchasing one can be quite a big investment for any one these days, but it all depends on you just how much you want to invest in one. When trawling through the paper on a Sunday there are flyers dotted all over the place offering various models on sale week by week. When people were first looking at purchasing a laptop they would select the one they wanted by looking at each laptops specifications and its general appearance (was it pleasing to the eye). Yet in today’s market these are not the sole choices that any one will have to make when purchasing a new laptop, and because the choice of laptop now available is so extensive that are you sure that the choice you have made is the right one for you. Provided below are several points that should be taken into consideration when looking to purchase a new laptop.

Firstly let us talk about the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and which is the main component of any laptop and this determines just how well your laptop will perform as well as controlling the heating and the length of life of the battery. But remember there is no way that you can have high quality CPU whilst comprising on the quality of the battery and power provided. So if your laptop is going to be replacing your desktop computer because you will be away from the office for extended periods traveling then there are several options that you could look at which offer a CPU that is integrated in to the laptops main board such as P4. Also if you should be using your laptop for business or schooling then it may well be worth considering purchasing one that has a more suitable CPU and certainly one fitted with an AMD Athlon may be the perfect solution for you. The Athlon processor has been designed for those users who are looking for an economical solution both in cost and the way it is used. Although older Athlon models certainly do not quite have the performance of the Intel Pentium Processor models with regard to performance, certainly the more recent models such as the 2800+ are strong enough now to compete as it has P4 2.8GHz of power.

However there seems to be one model of CPU more than any other that people prefer and this is the Centrino. The Centrino has been produced by Intel to provide a balance between performance and mobility issues for all laptop users. It comes with 2MB second level cash, and the Pentium CPU has been modified for laptop use which results in the easing of the burden placed on the CPU itself. This then helps to decrease the levels of heat and power consumption produced.

Next we will discuss RAM (Random Access Memory) and also the graphics card. Both these two items are important for the laptop to be of a high quality. You will find that there are 2 sorts of RAM now available on the market, SD RAM and DD RAM, and certainly if you are looking for a RAM providing you with high quality then look no further than the DD RAM. But you should still be careful when purchasing your RAM to look at the clock specification. If you purchase RAM in your laptop of 3.0MHz clock speed then you will see that the performance supplied is to the whole system. Also if possible do not look at purchase a laptop that has two slots of 256MB Ram x 2 as this will not be sufficient for your use, rather you should be looking at a laptop which comes equipped with 3.0Mz, 512MB, DD RAM.

Now as for video cards there are many varieties around today and the first thing that should look at when purchasing a video card is its “ON-Board” specification. Video cards are integrated into the laptop main board and normally run off of the main RAM for the video memory. So if you want to use your laptop for general purposes rather than gaming or 3-D design work (which would require 3D hardware acceleration) those laptops with onboard video cards are the right ones for you. But say you are someone who plays Counter Strike professionally then you would certainly be disappointed with the way the screen freezes and play becomes delayed.

The final technical matter that anyone should be looking at when purchasing a laptop is the hard disk. When purchasing a hard disk there is a detail you should be looking at which is more important than the capacity it provides and the RPM (Rotation per Minute) which determines how fast data can be transferred to the CPU to be processed. So this specification should be carefully considered as it plays a major role in the laptops abilities when dealing with multimedia functions.

So if you are considering purchasing a new laptop then certainly one to be considered is the Centrino with its onboard video card, big RAM (for those planning to use it at school or for their business) and if you want to occasionally watch a movie or listen to music. Yet you could also consider the Pentium laptops with AGP or PCI Express off board video cards which would provide you with the performance of a desktop computer (as long as you don’t mind the weight, noise and heat produced) in a laptop.

So with so many decisions to be considered when thinking of purchasing a laptop it is wise if you take your time and carry out your research thoroughly in order to make a wise investment for the future.

About The Author
Allison Thompson a work from home mum living in Spain who is now an expert author in many fields. She has built a number of sites with her husband and one is relating to laptops and their peripherals. If you would like to learn more please visit

http://www.laptop.oneohtwo.info.

by: Leonard Bartholomew

Clearly one of the most proven income generating opportunities for promoting your web site or small internet business is to publish articles online. This is a very simple way to contribute informative content and best of all it is free to use. You do not need to have a lot of experience or be a professional writer, to be able to place articles on your web site. Having articles that are directly related to the theme of the web site, will in turn give you an edge on the competition. By writing an article yourself and submitting it to the directory that you are using to get your articles, you then are feeding the community with great content for everyone to share.

There are literally thousands of these directories of articles on the Internet, being a member of multiple web societies will yield more and more reference materials that you can benefit from. When writing an article that you intend on placing on one of the many directories, it is very important to keep the required formatting in mind, there are some directories that wish for you to use no formatting, this is not a bad thing as in the end it will save you time not having to set the formatting up. Just make sure it is all done in a text document, and all will be fine.

Sometimes the directory will require a keyword or keywords to go along with the article, and may or may not ask for a brief description of the article in a separate box. Along with all this information, it is a great idea for you to have a resource box at the bottom of the article. This is an excellent way for you to give information about you, and the web site or sites you may have. This is an excellent method of self-promotion. The key here is to generate as much traffic to your web site as you can, by efficiently using web content and articles that appeal to people. This is very effective when you find great articles that pertain to your site as a whole.

Here is a helpful hint - Content is king, but the choice of keywords is also an important aspect of your article publication initiatives. Simply place keywords that you use in the keywords metatag of your web site in your title and in the body of the article. You will be giving your web site a boost in the search engine rankings when your article is accepted by the directories and they link back to your web site! You can find the search engine ranking of the article directory easily by installing the Google toolbar on your web browser. You will notice that the article directories have some of the highest rankings of all web sites worldwide! This is due to all the quality submissions and links they get from online publishers.

There is a very good chance that if someone reads an entire article that you have written, that they will be willing to read more of your work. This can easily draw them to your site out of curiosity, and could generate a new sale. This new sale could then be referred to someone else looking for the same product or service, and again draw a new customer. Word of mouth on the Internet is a very powerful tool indeed. So in closing, it is clear that these services known as article directories do have a proven solid purpose in the way of generating more traffic to your intended target and increasing the search engine ranking of that tarket. That target is your web site, an income opportunity proven to make you money online!

About The Author
Leonard Bartholomew, B.S. Computer Science. Build your own proven income opportunity at http://www.moxie-drive.com.

by: Mary Greenwood

I recently purchased a new vehicle when visiting my son and was able to use some of my negotiating techniques:

1.Be Prepared and Do Your Research

Being prepared is of the utmost importance. Before even going to the showroom, one should first look at the ads in the newspaper and look at car sales at Edmunds.com or a similar website. That will give you an idea what is available and the going prices. In my situation, we actually went to the lot after it was closed and looked at the cars that we liked and saw the prices. One car model had a special discount of $7000. There was also a special for zero percent financing. The next day we called and asked the receptionist about the $7000 discount. She told us that the $7000 discount did not apply if using the zero percent financing. However, she did tell us that there was a $3000 dollar discount if one used the zero percent financing. That was useful information because we knew that the $3000 discount was a given and we would have to negotiate to get a higher discount. If you are not prepared, don’t go to the showroom yet. You need to know what you want before you get there.

2.Bring A Friend and Give Him/Her A Role.

Buying a car should be a team effort. Bring a friend or relative or two. In my case, I brought my son and very pregnant daughter-in-law. We each had a role. Whatever was said my daughter-in-law was supposed to say. “Let’s go home and think it over.” Sometimes the deal that the dealer presents sounds so good that it is tempting to accept it on face value. We had agreed beforehand that no matter what the deal was, I would say that we needed some time to think it over and needed to meet in private to discuss further. Our strategy was to have a dollar amount. I did not want to pay over $25,000 for the car no matter what. This kind of negotiation can be very stressful and this is another reason why having friends or family by your side is a plus.

3.Read The Fine Print And Know What All The Costs Are.

When we met with the sales rep, he started talking gibberish about the various costs and it was hard to follow exactly what he was talking about. At that point it is important to use your own checklist and write down all the costs that are being presented and add them up. Don’t be afraid to ask what a particular cost item is. Look at the sticker price and all the features that are presented. What are the extra or hidden fees? Maybe there is some leeway. Our strategy was to have a dollar amount that I did not want to go below. I did not want to pay over $25,000 for the car. It did not matter where the discounts came from, but the bottom line or deal breaker was anything above $25,000. As it turned out, this was the last day of the month, which is usually a good time to buy a car because the dealerships are very competitive as to who has the best track record for the month and are sometimes willing to go lower to get the sale so it can be counted in this month’s sales

4. Ask for One More thing

I knew which car I wanted and knew that I would probably leave the showroom with that particular car. It was the color I wanted and had the special features that were on my wish list. However, I wanted to get the best financial deal possible. I was not planning on getting financing, but the zero financing was too good to pass up. When I was comparing the price to another smaller and cheaper car, I realized that with the financing costs of the other car, my car was actually cheaper in the long run. If the dealership absolutely says the price cannot go any lower, then see if something else can be added to the deal as a sweetener. Is there an accessory you want that could make the deal more attractive such as floor mats, or steering wheel cover? Be creative and flexible. If there are two similar cars, maybe you could switch to the better car for the price you are negotiating. Maybe you can negotiate service for the car. Your want list is only limited by your imagination.

5.Stick To Your Guns and Don’t Say Yes Right Away.

As my mother used to say, it does not hurt to ask; the worse that can happen is that they say no. If you think that they have made their final offer, stick to your guns and try one more round. In my case, I was trying to stay under $25,000. The dealer came back with a figure that was a couple hundred dollars more than the $25,000 with a plausible explanation that this was absolutely the lowest they could go. At that point, part of me wanted to accept that amount and just pay the $200, but I forced myself to say that I wanted the sales rep to go back one more time to see if he could come down to the $25,000. The dealer accepted that offer, probably, because it was the end of the month and the amount in question was relatively small. If they had been resolute on the price, I probably would have paid the higher price but they did not know that.

If you follow these rules for buying a car, you will be negotiating like a pro.

Copyright 2006 Mary Greenwood

About The Author
Mary Greenwood, J.D., LL.M: Arbitrator, Mediator, Author of How to Negotiate like a Pro, 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes Available at http://www.barnesandnoble.com or http://www.amazon.com or http://www.booksamillion.com ; Email me at: Howtonegotiatelikeapro@aol.com. Visit http://www.Howtonegotiatelikeapro.com or http://www.Marygreenwood.com

by: Mike Francis

Search engines will be your primary assistants in the internet, to satisfy your queries. As every one is familiar with, search engines are used to list the websites, which are appropriate to provide information about the key word phrase. In the world of internet marketing, every websites developers need their website to be listed top positions of search engine results and adopt search engine optimization techniques to optimize the websites according to the search engine requirements. However to start with optimization, primarily you have to be aware about the common search engine principles, which will detail about the basic working pattern of search engines.

Search engines are computer programs, created to find out particular web sites from the millions of websites present in internet. There are many types of search engines, such as crawler based, human based and hybrid. In crawler based search engines particular programs for the searching process, whereas, for human based search engines such as directories and DMOZ, human editors will list out the pages, according to the relevancy of the content. In hybrid search engines, crawlers may be used for the search, but, human editorial intervention will be present. Out of the three, programmed search engines are more common and their principles are quite different from human searches.

The most common principle of search engines is that their language will be HTML, and all the information will be coded in HTML codes. The web server will be entry page of the search engines. And, a specific input area such as box is present in the particular HTML page to enter the key word phrase. The crawler based search engines will use specific algorithmic programs to locate and list the pages. Even though the basic components will be same, the grouping of the specific algorithms will differ according to the search engine.

Spiders or robots will be the primary searching algorithms for search engines, which identifies the web pages. It will identify the web pages in its HTML source tags, and it differs with a browser for not having any visual components such as texts or graphics. Crawlers are used to find out the documents in the links prescribed in the web pages. Indexing is the next phase, in which the web pages will be listed according to their characteristic features such as text, HTML tags and other specialties. The indexed pages have to be stored for the search engines, and databases are the common store houses of the web pages. The result pages will then rank the priority of the web pages, according to the various factors of consideration in a search engine listing. And, the viewer can see the results in the display pages of the web server in HTML visual version.

About The Author
Mike Francis' home page http://www.pegasusdirectory.com is a free directory that helps webmasters promote their sites and get relevant backlinks.We are now offering a new source of traffic http://www.pegasusdirectory.com/myspacebulletins.php.

by: Morgan Hamilton

Today blogging is undoubtedly the last in fashion as far as the Internet is concerned. You would not believe how many blogs have been created. By blogging you can get in touch with people who share the same interests as you. This new world serves as a networking tool as well. I found this out when the idea of advertising on my blog first came to light.

I use my blog to post freelance writing jobs for other writers. With the help of my site, employers advertise indirectly. Probably there is no need to say that many visitors to my site appreciate this as they are often searching for work. Many writers come to my blog to see what I advertise as opposed to loosing time visiting countless web pages.

I take on steady projects with reliable clients as I appreciate consistency. I wouldn't neglect the great thrill of the chase, though. Despite the fact that I do not advertise on my site to find work for myself, I should admit that I get a kick out of hunting down the offers.

Another thing I like a lot about blogs is that many writers who get work through the advertisements on my site give me feedback. Personally I find it hard to imagine searching for work every single day. It is not that I don't do search all the time but I don't rely on it to make a living.

Many visitors who had been hired for a projects leave messages on my blog. I always feel so good reading these messages as they remind me that I am doing some good.

I had a bad experience with one reader in the past. I remember she was offended because I used Google advertisements on my web page. She disliked the fact that I make a profit out of it. To be completely honest, the profit is quite small as writers are not much of clickers. Apart from that, I really don't see anything bad about getting some small profit from the advertisements considering the free service I provide.

This brings up the subject about blog etiquette. I hope you will agree with me that all visitors should consider the purpose of the particular site before actually judging it.

The reason why I advertise on my site is for it offers valuable service. After all, anyone who isn't interested in the advertisements can simply scroll down as no one is obligated to click on an ad.

I know from my visitors' messages that most of them haven't even noticed the advertisements on my blog before they read a complaint posted by someone else. I do appreciate this complain. Whoever did it has done good to me as now my readers are taking some time to give a few clicks on the advertisements.

About The Author
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning sales. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.salesandcommerce.com/sales/sa... advertise-on-my-blog.html

by: Matthew Bredel

The MP3 and MP4 generation was generated mostly due to advances in data compression. Let us first take a step back and focus on digital music. There are two types of data in the world: Analog and Digital data. Analog data is real time data, and it is essentially how we perceive the world. As you listen to any music, you are listening to an analog signal. Everything we see and hear is analog. So what is the significance of digital? Digital is a way of storing and transferring this data. Think of a twelve inch ruler. With this ruler, you can measure any distance between between 0 and 12 inches. Depending on how good you are at reading the ruler, you can probably measure to a resolution of 1/16 of an inch. Even though there is measurable distance between these 1/16 inch marks, the distance is rather insignificant to you. At this point, you can record the distance two ways:

1) You can mark the ruler with a pencil and store it in its true "analog" value

2) You can round the value to the nearest 1/16th and record it. This could be referred to as a "digital" value.

Digital is a collection of zeros and ones that represent a number. Because there are two values, the system is base 2. Our normal system is a base 10 system. For example:

The number 1456 is really:

6x(1) + 5x(10) + 4x(100) + 1x(1000) = 1456

Where the number in parentheses are 10^x power.

Let's try a base 2 number of 100110:

0x(1) + 1x(2) + 1x(4) + 0x(8) + 0x(16) + 1x(32) = 38 (decimal)

Where the number in parentheses are 2^x power.

In this base-2 example, the number is referred to as "6-bits". A typical "byte" is normally "8-bits". So instead of storing the number 38, computers would store the number 100110.

So why would you want to do that? There are 6 digitals in base-2 versus two digitals in base-10. The answer is simple! Ones and zeros are much easier to store (It is like a light switch, either ON or OFF). Further, in a base-2 system, there are only 2 possible solutions. In a base-10 solution, there are 10 solutions per digit. The more solutions you have, the more chance to make errors.

Now let's revisit the the analog signal. In this type of data, there are an infinite number of solutions. Mind you, the error won't be great, but you ARE guaranteed some error every time. Every time you recall a analog signal, the results will be varied to some degree.

Think about your cell phone. About 5 years ago, all cell phones were analog. When you entered areas of poor reception, you received static, distortion and noise. Now, most cells phones are digital. As long as a portion of the ones and zeros are transmitted, you will receive a perfect signal every time. (If you transmit the number 1.2 or 1.5 or 0.8, it will always be read a one! i.e., the signal is immune to noise!) If you cannot even read these simple ones and zeros, you drop off completely. The clarity of the signal is perfect and repeatable, as long as the data is present.

Music works in the same manner. Old-school records and cassette tapes are analog signals. These media will product static and noise and will degrade over time. CDs are digital signals. As long as the compact is readable, the CD player will provide you with the exact sound as it was recorded. The CD itself might degrade over time, but the data will always be stored in its original form.

Since the inception of digitally stored music, the quality of music has remained high and to the same standard as it is today. Compact discs still offer the highest form of music available. The problem with compact discs is that the amount of bits required to store a song is high. That leads us to the modern use of data compression and MP3. (And another article for another day!)

About The Author
Matthew Bredel is a 31 year old online entrepreneur and engineer currently living in San Diego, CA.

Visit http://www.MP4nMore.com for iPod and portable media reviews and resources!

Visit http://www.TheWebReviewer.com for money making articles, resources and reviews on today’s hottest online money making ventures.

by: Mark Robbins

Microsoft has tried to catch up with some of the titans of the gaming world, such as Sony with the release of the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 offers many new features that players will love:

Free limited subscription to online gaming - This allows players who have not been participating in online gaming a chance to see what is available at no charge. All Xbox 360s come with Live-aware - This means you can get a friend invite or see who is online and what they are playing from your Xbox 360. The button in the middle of the controller makes all this very easy.

It offers great media features including listening to music while you play games, the ability to create custom playlists and your own custom soundtracks, the ability to rip songs from original CDs to your Xbox 360 and stream music from your MP3 player to your Xbox 360. You can also create slideshows of photos to share with friends and family. Xbox 360 has a wireless controller. No more tripping over the wires, although it can support two wired controllers through USB ports in the front. The game console is not only great for gamers, but developers as well. It is a powerful machine with an unprecedented amount of RAM - a feature added on the request of developers.

But, Xbox 360 still has some problems that need to be worked out:

Their Japanese third party support is lacking - While some Japanese developers offer software for the Xbox, it is small in number when compared to what the same developers offer for Playstation. While the controller is wireless, it eats batteries rather quickly. Standard alkaline batteries only last about thirty hours, so if you buy Xbox 360, invest in rechargeable batteries to save yourself some money in the end. When they were set up in WalMart stores before days before the launch, many suffered what is known as the Xbox "360 screen of death," an error screen. The Xbox 360 had also had some problems with overheating. Some report the Xbox 360 system as being very noisy when playing an Xbox 360 disc.

Many people are eagerly awaiting the release of Playstation 3, which may occur as soon as November of this year. It has been said that the Playstation 3 has an outward feel (which allows it to stand vertically or horizontally on its own), as opposed to the Xbox 360's inward feel. It is a much larger console than the Playstation 2 and closer to the original size of the Xbox. Game discs slide into the console like CDs slide into a car player.

Here are a few attractive features of the Playstation 3:

It is always on, so you can access your Playstation 3 from anywhere as long as you have an Internet connection. With a Playstation Portable, you can connect to your Playstation 3 and transfer media such as music and movies. The Playstation 3 appears to be much more powerful than that Xbox 360, Ninetindo Revolution, and Playstation 2. Initial reports say it will be twice as fast as the Xbox 360. Developers and publishers of over 230 games have announced titles for Playstation 3 games.

Here are a few reported cons and problems with the Playstation 360:

Comes with only 256 MB, less than the 512 MB the Xbox 360 will come with. Their Playstation Network Platform (the online service) is still in development and may not be ready by the time Playstation 3 is released.

The launch of the Playstation 3 has already been delayed due to disk problems.

Both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are incredible gaming consoles. It seems that although the Xbox 360 came out first, the best bet is still the Playstation 3. The strongest point of the Xbox 360 is its online functionality, but Sony may be working on something similar to Xbox Live right now. However, Microsoft is closing the gap with Xbox 360 and probably will eventually catch up with Sony in gaming consoles. For some users, it may come down to something as simple as which one is more compatible with the games they already own.

About The Author
Mark Robbins is a gamer providing valuable tips and advice on video game systems, game cheats, and giving new game reviews. http://www.xbox-360-guide.com

by: Rich Insider

Many of you whom read the headline are probably saying of course I need a cell phone. For those of us who can remember when cell phones weren’t as popular as they are now, you should know what I’m talking about. Now don’t get me wrong I currently have two cell phones one for business and personal. I just think its getting out of hand with kids getting phones, and when I say kids I mean kids 13 and under.

Also people using cell phones as their life line. It’s almost like an extra organ to their body. Even when I’m driving at least 7 out of 10 people have a cell phone to their ear. Ok so what’s the point? Yes kids are getting phones yes everywhere I look their people on the phones so what!

Well I don’t think of it like that, I think of it as someone has access to me anytime and anywhere. Of course unless I don’t have service, but do your phone is mostly used as safety use or as a tracking device. Safety is one thing such as they have new phones coming out for kids that you can activate live GPS on, and be able to track your kid where ever they are. I’m going to assume this won’t only be for kids but for some other things also. You can log in to your computer and see a live map of the location of the phone you’re tracking. That can be safe for parents wanting to know where their kids are at all times.

Let’s talk about tracking. Well as you know the blackberry is one of the mostly used devices in the business world. They are now coming out with devices that can track your sales reps, deliverers, technicians and ect. They will be able to have their employees input their daily numbers and spreadsheets. This will make business more efficient so no more goofing off on your route.

So cell phones are coming more of a tracking device rather than a communication device. I’m going to say I need a cell phone, but not all the time. Their will be a part 2 of this article soon.

About The Author
My name is Rich “The Insider”, and I’ve worked in the wireless industry for over 9 years now for each major carrier. I decided to make this blog for frustrated customers, and to keep you updated on the latest news from your carrier. http://www.cellphonetruths.com

by: Roger Burton

The Twenty One Card Trick is a trick illusion effect where the conjurer deals twenty one playing cards onto the table, and into 3 card value face up piles of 7 cards each, & asks the observer to try to remember any of the cards viewed. The viewer is not supposed to tell the magician which card is being thought of, but advises the conjurer which stack the card is in. This is executed three times & the conjurer is able to tell the spectator which card they had in mind. The cards are doled out into the piles one after another, like when dealing out hands in a playing card game. Every time they are dealt, after the observer indicates which stack contains the thought of playing card, the illusionist places that pile between the other two. After the first time, the playing card will be one of the ones in positions 8 to 14. When the cards are dealt the second time, the choice will be the third, 4th, or fifth playing card in the stack it finds itself. In picking up the stacks, the conjurer places this stack between the other two again. This guarantees that the choice will now be one of those in position ten to twelve. The third occasion the playing cards are dealt out, the choice will be the fourth playing card in which ever pile it ends up in. On the third deal, as soon as the spectator points out which stack contains the choice, the magician knows that it is the 4th, or centre, playing card in that stack. If the magician collects up the piles again, as before with the pile comprising the selection in the middle, the choice will be the eleventh card in the 21 playing card packet.

About The Author

Article by Roger Burton of http://www.magic-tricks-information.com ( The resource for magic trick information )

by: Nathalie Fiset, M.D.

With autumn comes a time to relax and start enjoying quality family time. Halloween is one of those special occasions where parents and children can share unique and magical moments.

People are getting more concerned with potential threat and want to assure the maximal security for their loved ones.

Allow me to review with you the top ten recommendations to insure that you and your family spend a happy and safe Halloween. You can make a game or reviewing these recommendations with your children. Let's say they get one point for every recommendation they can guess or they can draw the recommendation they liked the most and you can post it on your refrigerator.

By observing these simple recommendations, you will be able to enjoy a fun and safe Halloween. Remember it is allowed for parents to disguise themselves as they are passing Halloween with their children. Although your children will pretend to be embarrassed about the fact that you are wearing a costume, they will secretly think you are the coolest parent. Just don't expect them to say it out loud to you!

Here are the top ten tips for a safe and fun Halloween, in random order:

1) It is better to wear make-up than wearing a mask, the visibility can be greatly reduced when wearing a mask, especially if the mask is not a perfect fit for the child.

2) It is always better to pass Halloween with an adult. This parent can stay in the street and will be very helpful to carry the extra bags. Seriously, in case of emergencies, an adult carrying a cellular phone can be of great help.

3) Wearing a bright costume is highly recommended. Although a black, dark costume can have its effect it can easily be missed out by passing cars. A costume in which it is easy to walk is also highly recommended. Smaller children tend to get tired fast at Halloween and can tumble and fall if their costume is too long.

4) Carrying a flashlight or a fluorescent necklace can be very handy and will make children more visible upon walking the streets in Halloween.

5) A child should never pass Halloween alone. Furthermore, even though most people are trustworthy, children should be informed to never go into any house upon Halloween night.

6) Upon passing Halloween, street signalization should still be respected. It is highly recommended to only cross streets at intersections and waiting for cars to go by. After all, although your children are wearing Superman and Spiderman costumes, this does not make then invincible against a car hit.

7) Reinforce to your children that they should never get into a vehicle unless it is yours.

8) When your children arrive from their Halloween treasure hunt, check their candies with them making certain that none contain suspicious matters. Most children will naturally limit themselves to a certain amount of candies. It is somewhat recommended to supervise their ingestion of candies so they don't get carried away and end-up regretting it.

9) It is recommended, upon passing Halloween in one street, to do one side and then the other. This way, the children only get to cross the street once, thus limiting the dangers.

10) If your children are older and want to pass Halloween in group and have forbidden you to tag along (it can happen), make sure you know their route and what time they plan on returning. In our modern days too, it is very easy to trust your children with a cell phone and keep contact this way. You do have to remind them to turn it on before leaving…

Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor, a certified hypnotherapist and a neuro-linguistic practitionner . She is the author of the powerful hypnosis for childbirth program Hypno-Beginning© (http://www.hypno-beginning.com) . She has also created the amazing Alpha-Power© program (http://www.myalpha-power.com) for best mental and physical health with hypnosis. You can consult her other complete and professional web sites on hypnosis for well-being at: http://www.aperfectharmony.com and http://www.a-1hypnosis.com. If you are planning a big Florida vacation, go to: http://www.bigfloridavacation.com

About The Author
Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor. For more information go to: http://www.aperfectharmony.com or http://www.a-1hypnosis.com and http://www.bigfloridavacation.com

by: Celia Namart

Halloween is a great party occasion, a truly unique chance for everyone to unload some stress and go back to a time when everything was much more simple, and dressing up in costumes made everything funny and great. This is one day you will want to celebrate, if not for the fun of it – simply for the relaxation and happiness it brings.

Halloween has its roots in past times, it has been celebrated for many years in many different ways, but the true idea of Halloween remains the same throughout times, it is about clearing all rational thought and having some plain old fashion fun for a few hours, spending time with the kids and thinking about treats and tricks.

In preparation for Halloween you will find yourself spending time on costume choosing and then costume finding, most of the original costumes are a combination of many different things put together, sometimes it does not even have to cost a fortune to combine some clothes into a spectacular Halloween costume.

The true benefit of Halloween for us adults is the opportunity to have fun and relax for a while, live in the children fantasy world, and concentrate our thoughts on candy and the funniest tricks we can think of, if practiced well Halloween can be a nice break from the every day routine and business schedule, it can be a nice chance to spend quality time with the family, and enjoy the spirit of this special day.

Once you decide on a costume you should also start thinking of the tricks and gadgets you will want to have on you once you meet those people you will ask the candy from, although you should consider the other people safety you should also think about what can make the biggest effect on them, and what will also stay in their memories of this Halloween, a good Halloween joke can survive many years.

Treat yourself and your family to lots of candy and a nice Halloween gift basket, make sure you got all the things you want to have to hand out to those nice kids who will be knocking on your door very soon, and try not to think about costs of dental clinic visits too much on this day, after all one day will not make the difference between healthy or damaged teeth.

For one day we have a chance to go back to childhood and do crazy things, this is also a very good way to leave some stress and anxiety behind and let go for a few hours, spend some nice moments with your family and behave like you were eight years old once again, you will feel a whole lot better after this day, and your family will love that new side of you too.

About The Author
Celia Nemart has been writing about travel and wellness over the last few years, this time she had decided to write about something that is even more fun, Halloween, the things you need to know about Halloween at http://halloween.advice-tips.com.

by: Ria Sharon

While kids are picking pumpkins and Halloween costumes, parents of kids with food allergies are bracing themselves. Halloween is frightening for these parents, who have to guard against bite-sized treats that as early as September, are showcased by many retailers. What are treats for most children, are life-threatening “tricks” for the 5 million American children who are in danger of anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, systemic allergic reaction that can involve various areas of the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system). Symptoms can include hives, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue and throat, a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Symptoms can occur within minutes or hours after contact with the allergy-causing substance. In 150-200 incidents a year, anaphylaxis is fatal. It can be caused by a trace amount of an allergen, the eight most common culprits being peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, milk, eggs, shellfish, fish and soy.

“It’s not just the trick-or-treating experience that is nerve-racking about Halloween,” says Tom Croghan whose son has a severe peanut allergy. “but Halloween also kicks off the ‘candy-on-the-coffee table’ season. Beginning now and through the holidays, my wife and I are forced to make a clean sweep of every home we visit to clear away the candies, chocolates and nuts that could land Brad in the hospital.” The abundance of accessible food during the holidays creates added danger for a child with food allergies. It is especially risky for children who are too young to comprehend their medical condition or too young to tell people around them that they have to avoid certain foods. The challenge of readily identifying food-allergic children and raising awareness about food allergies is what inspired Ria Sharon, a mom of a toddler with food allergies to create a line of clothing specifically for children at risk.

Sharon started a company called Check My Tag, which offers shirts and dresses that are alert devices for food-allergic kids. Each garment has a sewn-on badge on its left sleeve that announces, “Check my Tag! I have food allergies.” The inside tag can be personalized by parents with a list of trigger foods and important, life-saving information. The patent-pending design is specifically for children under five, whose parents may hesitate to put an alert bracelet or necklace on their young child but still want to keep their toddler safe in situations when they have to leave them with a caregiver. “I wanted something that would give me back my confidence in being able to keep him safe. To my surprise, everything that was currently available in terms of alert products were not practical solutions for us.” Ria applied her creative skills to develop a solution that eased her own anxiety and empowered her son’s teachers and babysitters to care for him safely.

The number of diagnosed cases of food allergies has doubled in the last five years. 3-1/2 year old Colin Depke from Ballwin is among them. His mom, Carol writes, “Thanks for creating such a great product with a purpose! Our 3-1/2 year old has severe food allergies and leaving him at camps and school is hard. Your shirts help to let other people know about his food allergies, yet discreetly. We love the colors and unique style to boot! The med pouch is very convenient to slip into a purse and we love that his action plan is right in the front window. Our son’s words sum it up best, “I like my tag shirt ’cause it helps keep me safe!”

HALLOWEEN FOOD SAFETY TIPS

• Have non-food treat options for trick-or-treaters
• Place treats in places that cannot be reached by young children without assistance
• Ask teachers before bringing in special Halloween goodies to classrooms
• If you are hosting a party, ask if there are food allergy concerns on your invitation
• Be aware—ask a parent or caregiver before offering food to any child
• If you see a Check My Tag shirt or any other alert device on a child, be extra vigilant

About The Author
Ria Sharon is the founder of Check My Tag (http://www.checkmytag.com), a company offering shirts and dresses that are alert devices for food-allergic kids. She is also the mother of a toddler with severe food allergies.

This article may be freely published in any form, as long as the author credit, including the website link is included.

by: John Grant

Urban dwellers would normally prefer to rove around the metropolis and explore every side-street in search for ideal refuge, more than traveling to remote provinces. However, there are more than 7,000 reasons to explore the parameters of this archipelago, taking into account its profuse land and marine resources and myriad sanctuaries.

Among the many interesting regions in the Philippines is the mountainous terrain and savanna in northern Luzon as inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Part of this region is Sagada. With a measly P2,500, a determined explorer can take a fulfilling jaunt to Sagada—a serene mountain community in Mt. Province. The adventurous travelers would customarily take the 10-hour bus ride from Manila to Banaue, Ifugao (via Solano, Nueva Ecija route) that costs not more than P300.

In Banaue, travelers have the option to take the day off and trek along the well-engineered Banaur Rice Terraces or take a jeepney ride to Bontoc and from there, one can catch a bus ride to a more tranquil region, Sagada in Mt. Province.

Sagada has economical lodging houses and hotels to spend the night over. For as low as P200, a traveler can avail of a bedroom for two and a well-scrubbed common bathroom with sufficient amount of water—for an overnight abode. Even though electricity and water are accessible in these highland regions, one of the guidelines in immersing to remote areas is not to expect for urban amenities.

However, the lack of adequate necessities is not an hindrance to any devoted backpacker. Indeed, the remarkable view of the mountains, sight of abundant natural resources, and exposure to mountain community are enough reasons to enjoy the trip.

Trekking along the narrow mountain trails of Batad and Bangaan Villages in Banaue is one of the many leisure options where panoramic views of the terraces can be enjoyed. To keep track of the trail, a number of villagers can be hired for hours as tour guides.

The trip is truly breathtaking and for an amateur trekker, the long hours of walk should not impede them to reach the other side of the trail. There are a number of brooks along the curvy mountain range that are guaranteed to quench one’s thirst during the hours of hike. Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring endpoint is an antidote to muscle pain.

Batad is comparable to realizing the pot of gold at the other end of the rainbow. It boasts of scenic and unspoiled layers of rice fields forming a colossal amphitheater, where native Ifugaos mostly dwell. The terraces is still a functional source of livelihood and personal sustenance for Ifugaos, except for some where irrigation systems have been destroyed through seepage, landslides, prolonged drought, erosion, and other inevitable natural calamities.

About The Author

John Grant has been living in the Philippines for 5 years and has travelled the country extensively. His online Philippines Travel Guide http://www.netguard.dk covers major destinations like Boracay, Sagada http://www.netguard.dk/luzon/sagada/ Puerto Galera and Palawan.

by: Nestor Santos

For many centuries, Subic Bay was recognized as a deep safe harbour. Realizing Subic Bay’s potentials, the Spaniards used the bay as a port to defend and maintain the Philippines as a part of their empire in the 17th century. In 1885, it was built into a naval base that utilized the safe harbors and natural resources.

After their victory over the Spaniards in 1898, a naval repair and supply base in Subic Bay was established by the Americans. It was only reachable by sea until 1932 when the zigzag roads were opened linking Subic Bay and Olongapo to the rest of the Philippines.

The Japanese bombed Subic Bay in 1941 and was held by them until the US took back the Philippines in 1945. The naval base was returned to the control of the United States. The two invasions by the Japanese and Americans produced a number of bombed or scuttled naval ships in Subic Bay. Scuba divers from around the world are now enjoying these wrecks in their underwater graveyards.

Control and maintenance of Subic naval base remained under the United States despite the Philippines gaining their independence. The United States was given 99 years free access of the facility via an agreement signed between the Philippines and US. With the outbreak of the Vietnam War, Subic Bay became a strategic site in the maintenance of a strong US presence in Asia.

In 1991, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo covered Olongapo and Subic Bay with nearly half a metre of ash. After the Senate of the Philippines rejected the renewal of the US bases treaty in 1992, the Subic Bay Freeport was established after the last of the American naval ships completed its pullout of forces.

Since then, Subic Bay Freeport Zone has now become a well-known economic, commercial and tourist hub. It is booming with world class restaurants and duty-free shopping.

Subic Bay is situated in Zambales Province on the west coast of Luzon 120 kilometres north of Manila. Mountains with lush jungles bound its coastal area. Mountains with lush dense jungles, suitable for trekking, surround the coastal area. The bay cuts out into the South China Sea.

Subic Bay brags of interesting wreck dives. It is home to a impressive combination of wrecks. The six wreck sites have an average depth of 45 ft.

Subic Bay boasts of its rainforest and a white sand beach. Its world-class facilities, which include a marina, yacht club, hotels, shopping arcades and food shops, are supported by Philippine tourism. An international airport is another attraction.

About The Author

Nestor Santos is a field reporter for http://www.PhilippinesVacation.org, where you can enjoy great articles about the Philippines. Philippines Travel Tips: http://www.philippinesvacation.org/philippines-travel-tips/philippines-travel-tips/.

By Nat Pinero

The island paradise of Boracay in the central Philippines is one of the few remaining unspoilt places on earth. It has remained largely untouched by modern civilization despite the droves of tourists that visit it every year.

The first hint of this idyllic hideaway's remoteness comes upon arrival: there is no airport or pier. Travelers are taken on small, wooden outriggers to the island, where they disembark by jumping into thigh-deep water and wading ashore.

Located at the northwestern tip of Panay in the Western Visayas region 345 kilometers from Manila, Boracay boasts 30 beaches and about 200 private resorts that cater to the more than 300,000 tourists that descend on the 630-hectare island annually.

It's not clear how the island emerged from obscurity to become one of the world's best beaches. But it's said that a group of foreign travelers stumbled upon the place by accident in the early eighties and word quickly spread about the modern day Eden tucked away somewhere in the central Philippines.

Boracay has since become a beacon attracting sun-worshippers from the four corners of the world. Its crystal-clear waters and powder-fine white sand make it second to none.

Boracay offers more than just sun, sea and sand.

The mouth-watering smell of barbecue and freshly cooked seafood lingers in the air as tourists sample the local culinary taste. Fruits are also in abundance. And for those who prefer foreign food, international cuisine is always available.

There's also a host of relaxing activities for all kinds of tourists, including sailing on an outrigger to the other side of the island, diving, exploring by bike and hopping from one beach to another.

If you're the less energetic type, you can comb the beach on horseback, lie in the sand and soak up the sun or simply watch the sun set while you finish a cocktail or a beer.

The fun doesn't stop after nightfall. In fact, the action is just beginning as travelers get ready for a night of dancing and partying until the wee hours of the morning.

If you're a sun-worshipper, Boracay is the place. If you want to forget about the cares of the world and be close to nature, Boracay is the ticket. If you just want to get away from it all, Boracay is the answer.

Indeed, Boracay is paradise on earth.

But it may not remain one for long. Civilization is fast catching up. Already the island has access to cable television and the internet.

In a world of instant communication and jet travel, the isolation that the island has enjoyed for centuries is finally coming to an end.

This has raised fears that Boracay will ultimately become a victim of its own success as development takes its toll on the once virgin territory. That day may just be around the corner.

But for the island’s residents and the many foreigners who have come and made it their home, Boracay will always remain a paradise.

More information and pictures at my webpage http://www.orenip.com

By Mike Jonson

Few can argue that the tiny island in central Philippines known as “Boracay” is nothing less than spectacular. With a 3 kilometer long sugar white beach, some of the lowest prices in the world and perhaps best of all plenty of good ole' Filipino charm and hospitality, Boracay is truly a wonder to behold.

Anyone who has been there will tell you that Boracay, or “Bora” as the locals call it, is a wonderful place to spend a vacation. During the off season (from June to mid-October) this small resort town slows way down, making it a favorite for anyone looking to spend some quiet time on the beach. Backpackers love to visit Boracay beach during the off season where they can stay in lower class hostels and villas just behind the beachfront resorts, from rates as low as $15 a night!

Families love Boracay because it is a safe, affordable and offers plenty entertainment options for those on the go. Mom will love the vendors selling jewelry on the boardwalk, and growing number of fashionable gift shops, selling everything from low cost bathing suits to Filipino pasalubong. (or “gifts from your trip”) Dad will surely enjoy a $5 massage on the beach, plenty of cold drinks and over 100 great restaurants all within a short walk of the beach.

The kids and those more active will enjoy plenty of water sports in Boracay. Just a few years ago, all powered water sports were prohibited, but now there is a flourishing water spots industry that includes jet skis, water skis, wake boarding, knee boarding and parasailing. You can even rent your own speed boat to cruise around the island in style, or a more traditional “banca” boat, for a day of island hopping.

During peak season (from Mid-October to May) Boracay beach is absolutely bustling with activity. If you plan to visit during peak season, be sure to plan your trip at least 4-5 months in advance, as all of the best rooms and resorts fill up very quickly. During peak season, Boracay has a very festive atmosphere and is crawling with people, events and activities virtually every day.

For scuba divers, Boracay has a number of high quality dive resorts located right on the famous white beach. From there you can dive any one of 40+ dive spots located in the waters surrounding Boracay. Since the water is warm in the Philippines year round, wet suits are an option for many who enjoy taking it off, for an easy dive around Bora.

My personal favorite is to rent a motorcycle for about $25 a day and “explore” the island, completely on my own. There is so much to see and explore behind the beachfront resorts, including a completely different culture just steps away from the famous boardwalk. A short drive to the back of the island for example, and you can explore the famous bat caves, enjoy some local cuisine at any number of beach front cafes (for ¼ the cost of beach front resorts) or just enjoy a care free day of fresh air riding in the hills of Boracay.

What ever your Philippine travel plans, don't miss this world famous travel destination!

The author is a professional travel consultant. He travels extensively throughout Asia, exploring new destinations as a researcher, writer and consultant for HAS Travel, Corp., one of the Philippines leading travel agencies. He is also a licensed scuba diver and helicopter pilot, who enjoys exploring new destinations from a new perspective. http://hastravel.com/

By Brett Jankowiak

It was not until I had been given my first San Miguel that I realised that this place was hot, humid and sticky. My first San Mig didn't even touch the sides. I was back in Manila sitting at the bar in the hotel, after dropping off my bag and putting all my important documents in the safety deposit box. I took some time to reflect on my first visit to this incredibly diverse country.

When you discuss holiday destinations with people, the better trodden paths are the ones most frequented, not many people I know have traveled to the Philippines. Let me tell you, if you enjoy tropical islands with white powdery sand merging into the jungle on one side and then disappearing into the turquoise blue water on the other, then this is the place for you! After all there are 7,107 islands in the Philippines, take your pick!

The Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world, which makes getting around so much easier. Tourism has not really taken off like in neighboring Asian countries, like Thailand and Malaysia and the infrastructure is not quite there, which in a way makes it all the more exciting because your holiday will become an adventure, it can drag you down at times but once you arrive at your final destination the trip getting there will be long forgotten.

My journey took me to the resort town of Puerto Galera on the island of Mindoro. Puerto Galera is the port where Spanish Galleons use to take refuge from the might of the typhoons. Letting your imagination wonder a little as you glance around the port, you can almost see the Spanish Galleons swinging on their anchors. Puerto Galera has recently won the 2005 Most Beautiful Bay in the World Award. It is easy to see why.

Getting to Puerto Galera

From Manila you need to take a bus to Batangas which takes approximately three hours, depending on the time of day and which day it is, the longest it has taken me was seven hours. From Batangas which is south of the Philippine capital of Manila you can catch a ferry across to Puerto Galera which is about an hour to an hour and half. The trip to Batangas is pretty uneventful, the real beauty starts when you get on the ferry. The water is a deep cobalt blue, if you are lucky you may even see dolphins, turtles and flying fish.

The Beaches

The majority of the resorts are centered around the beaches of Sabang, Small La Laguna and Big la Laguna. Sabang is where most of the action is, discos, pubs, restaurants and lots of accommodation. The next beach along is Small La Laguna which has more accommodation and the beach is quite nice. Make sure you stop off at the Point Bar which separates Sabang from Small La Laguna Beach the view is outstanding. Moving further away from Sabang you come to, in my opinion, the pick of the beaches, Big La Laguna Beach. The beach here is beautiful and it a lot quieter than Sabang, with some superior accommodation.

What to do in Puerto Galera?

The main focus here is the water. Scuba diving and snorkeling are the number one pursuits. The scuba diving is first class. There is no swell so swimming is safe, as are other water activities, sailing, windsurfing and kayaking.

Do try and get up to Ponderosa Golf Club for some jungle golf, lots of fun. Trekking is also available and do combine the trek to visit a Mangyan Village. Or you can just curl up on the beach with a good book!

Back to Reality

Pondering over my icy cold San Miguel, my first two week stay in these enchanted islands left me relaxed and ready to get back into the rat race of modern society. My first trip seemed like years ago, but I have visited and lived in this wonderful country on and off for a decade.

Brett Jankowiak is the owner of Philippines Travel Guide, his passion for the Philippines is reflected in his writings and articles on his information based website.

By Alison Cole

Earthquakes, hurricanes, and storms—these are some of the natural calamities that usually hit the country and that can also occur unexpectedly. This is why everyone needs to play their own role in preparing for these emergencies. It is essential that each individual be aware of emergency preparedness.

Some things to do

Emergency preparedness should start at home. Every individual should be ready at all times to undertake the necessary preparations to avoid the negative results of certain emergencies. If you have enough money to purchase extra food whenever you hit the grocery store, you can buy a sufficient amount for future use. This is a wise move, especially when a storm suddenly hits your place and it is dangerous to be outdoors.

Aside from food, it is also advisable that you keep an extra supply of clean drinking water. Water is even more important than food. It is vital that you save at least a gallon of water a day for each member of the household for three days.

Another thing that you should do is to secure your home with a first aid kit complete with different medications. This kit can be very helpful during emergency situations, most especially if there is no nearby clinic or hospital in your area.

And lastly, you should always be ready with a family evacuation plan in case worse comes to worst. This is very important during emergencies because this will help you ensure the safety of each member of the household and prevent panic and possibly, an accident.

These are some of the things that you can do in preparation for emergency situations. If you are willing to take the necessary steps to avoid undue stress during dire situations, then you needn't worry so much when an emergency hits.

Emergency Preparedness provides detailed information on Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness Kits, Emergency Preparedness Cartoons, Emergency Preparedness Plans and more. Emergency Preparedness is affiliated with Military Gas Masks.

By Stephen McBride

There are numerous insurance companies on the Internet that offer low cost car insurance with various types of coverage. Car insurance prices have increased in recent years. If you are looking for cheap car insurance on the Internet, then with some concerted efforts in the right direction you can find an insurance company that will offer you great deals on your insurance.

There are many ways through which you can find low cost car insurance. Here are a few points you should look for on the Internet while shopping that will enable you to shrink your auto insurance premium.

You can get low cost car insurance by combining all of your insurance coverage with a single company. Most insurance companies offer discounts for multi-line insurance policies that combine yourauto insurance with homeowners and life insurance. You can save a lot on your home premium by insuring both your car and home together. Besides this you also save time by dealing with just one insurance company. A policyholder can get low cost car insurance by taking advantage of less known discounts, while at the same time ensuring appropriate protection for the vehicles.

If you have more than one car to insure on the same policy then you can definitely get cheaper car insurance by availing the multiple-car discount option that many companies offer.

Did you know that your good driving record could actually help you get a low cost car insurance? Many insurance companies offer discounts for safe driving. Almost all companies provide discounts if you have had no accident or traffic violation in the last three to six years. Insurance companies also offer discounts to car insurance holders for completing a defensive driving course.

There are continuous coverage discounts for those who have maintained continuous auto coverage with a valid insurance carrier. Anti-theft devices and added safety features on your car can fetch you a good discount too.

Many companies offer discounts on car insurance for educators, scientists, and engineers who are generally known to be good drivers. Military discounts are available in many states. Active and retired members of the military are offered 2 to 15% discount on their car insurance premiums.

Carpool participants and car owners, who use public transportation to commute, can get low cost car insurance. They are offered special discounts because their cars would be at lesser risk and have lower annual mileage.

You can shop online and compare rates to find the best low cost car insurance. You can get instant quotes by just typing in your zip code at the company websites. The first step is to decide on the types of coverage you need for your car. Apart from the mandatory coverage by state laws, all others are optional. Even if you opt for high deductibles and wider coverage you can still get low cost car insurance.

Many insurance companies offer a substantial discounts for Internet shoppers who purchase car insurance policies directly from their websites. Finding low cost car insurance on the Internet is not a daunting task at all. All you have to do is some good research and look out for discounts.

Stephen Mcbride is the webmaster of a site dedicated to information on low cost car insurance.