American and International Info Resources

What turns your best dress into a showstopper? Accessories. And what turns your online course content into dazzlingly useful learning content? Learning Activities. What is a Learning Activity? In e-learning content development, we use all forms of questions for test and quizzes:

1. Multiple correct, which presents a number of choices as answers to a particular question. There may be more than one answer to this question. The students chooses all answers that are correct.

2. Single correct, which presents multiple choices as answers to a particular questions. One answer of the possible choices is correct.

3. Item matching, in which there is one column of possible answers that relate to another column of questions. Item matching is commonly used for matching the correct term to the definition.

4. Fill-in-the-blank, in which the students enters the correct word or words that complete a sentence.

5. True/false, in which the student answers whether a statement is true or false.

6. Short answer, in which the student enters a one to two sentence answer to a question.

7. Essay, in which the student responds to a question with a page (or more) long response.

All of these question types are useful for testing knowledge gained from taking a course, as well as testing the level of knowledge prior to a course. In addition, such questions are useful in the course itself as learning checks. The learning check enables the student to determine whether he understands the material. Most companies consider these questions to be adequate learning activities. However, learning activities can be much more. Learning activities that are simulations can involve the student and give him a safe environment in which to practice skills gained through the course. .

Learning Activities are interactive activities that help to explain concepts and involve the student with hands-on learning. This may include all forms of drag and drop questions (one to one correlation, many to one correlation) as well as interactive ordering of graphics or text, and finally, simulations.

An IDC article and survey, Technology-Based Simulations: Cloning the Work Environment for More Effective Learning, June 2004 by Michael Brennan, states, “By 2008 the use of simulations will quadruple…. Simulations provide a parallel universe in which employees hone their skills… Innovative companies have realized this, and others will follow.”

Simulations are currently the most expensive learning activity. Simulations must be individually designed and programmed. For example, suppose you have a sales course in which you are testing the sales student’s retention of the message that the company wishes to deliver to its customers. You could do a question workshop: several questions that give situations requiring an action in multiple correct or single correct formats. Another, more entertaining, method would be to have the sales person run through a scenario in which he indicates what he would do to sell his product. The learning activity indicates whether the customer would buy this product based on those actions. This feedback could be indicated by a graph indicating customer readiness to buy. It could also be complimented by video, in which the customer appears aggravated when the sales person gives his message incorrectly and pleased when the sales person gives his message correctly.

Online courses are taken privately and at the student’s convenience. If the student requires several attempts with a particular scenario, praise the student for continued effort and eventual competency.

Adding humor to simulations and learning activities is essential yet can be controversial. As the simulation developer or content developer, you do not want to add any humor that could be perceived as offensive, sexist or worse, unfunny. To extend our sales example, when the sales person is unsuccessful at selling his product in the learning activity, you would not want your customer video or simple animation of the customer to offend the sales person. Yet you want him to laugh and try again. Perhaps the customer morosely shaking his head and leaving the room, with text indicating how the sales call went dreadfully south would be acceptable and could be done in a humorous fashion. You would not want this animation to be disturbing - the customer should not shake his fist and yell for a restraining order against the sales person, for example.

In the past, I participated in designing a simulation of patient anesthesia. The computer program consisted of a patient on the operating room table and two dials that the student could turn. One dial administered oxygen, the other dial administered anesthetic. The patient’s parameters could change (height, weight, age). As the student administered the anesthesia, a graph showed the patient’s stats. If you administered too much anesthesia the patient would die! It was a great simulation, but scary. The death knell of the patient was accompanied by funeral music. . Ouch!

On the other hand, sometimes we encounter simulations and learning activities that add nothing to the content or the course. They are superfluous, added to maintain interest. You must be very careful in these instances. If you want to add something to maintain interest, it should still be useful and explore some aspect of the topic. A Flash movie of interesting fractals may be colorful and fun - useless in a course that is not about fractals, art or Flash. For example, suppose you are teaching contractual document details. You can still relate the content of the course to a learning activity in which the student must put the correct elements from a list into three different types of contracts. As dry as you may think detailing the elements of a contract might be, if you add audio that indicates whether the addition was right or wrong, you can keep your student’s interest. “Wrong!” can be contrasted with “Oh, not that element, it does not belong” said in a beautiful feminine voice. The second response can add a smile and cause the student to remember how the contractual elements are added to a contract. A booming male voice that states, “You sir, are correct!” can bring that same acknowledgement.

In conclusion, questions and quizzes while useful are not the end of interactivity. We need to provide the means for simulations inside online courses to provide the hands on learning that students need. Through clever activities that allow seeing the consequences of your actions on the simulation model, we can provide activities that enable retention of material and practice. If these activities lead the student to greater understanding, we have provided not only an entertaining activity but also great value for our online courses.

Dana Fine is a Senior Instructional Designer at SyberWorks, Inc. SyberWorks is a custom e-learning solutions company that specializes in learning management systems, e-learning solutions, and custom online course development. Dana is also a frequent contributor to the Online Training Content Journal.

This is the continuing story of our two imaginary traders, Peter and Paul.

Peter is a professional trader, Paul is not. Peter has a tested, proven, written trading plan that he follows each time he enters a trade, Paul does not.

Peter and Paul have had vastly different Stock trading experiences - Peter has just made another substantial profit - this time from the Bear market, Paul has lost heavily.

A chance meeting with Peter’s group of friends one day at lunch launches Paul on a learning curve that will see him become a good trader, but not without some hard lessons along the way.

In discussing the different attitudes of our two hypothetical traders, Peter and Paul, I have tried to share with you the thought processes that make a successful trader.

If you read any of the marketing material from the Financial Planning community or the Mutual Fund promoters, they all stress the principle of diversification.

They say it enhances returns while minimizing risk - Peter believes that ,as Frank Watkins says in his book, Exploding the Myths, “Diversification is another word for risk minimization, but it has very little to do with making profits.”

As one of the World’s greatest Investors, Warren Buffet, has said on many occasions - diversification is simply an antidote for ignorance!

Diversification for diversification’s sake simply means that you will have your money in a lot of Stocks or markets that aren’t performing to their fullest potential - some will be rising, some will be falling, some will be going nowhere.

Hardly the best way to run your trading Business is it?

Peter’s view of diversification is different to that of the herd - use technical analysis to find several quality Stocks that are rising, then buy all of them in equal dollar amounts to reduce the risk of one Company crashing and taking all of his capital with it. When these quality Stocks stop going up, sell, take a profit and move on.

Why hold Stocks in a Portfolio that are not rising, or worse, falling in value, simply because you want to have some diversification?

If you look at the typical Brokers Portfolio recommendations, they will include Stocks that are in various stages of trends, both up and down. When you ask them why they would recommend something that is falling in price, they tell you, “Well you have to have some diversification.

And based on fundamentals, it’s valued at much more than the Market is quoting it. Don’t put all your eggs in the one basket, spread your risk through different sectors, etc. etc.”

Peter merely takes the prudent step of diversifying across several quality Stocks that are rising in price. Simple.

Below are some charts of Stocks that Peter found met his criteria - of course, this is in no way a recommendation to go out and buy any of these - they are simply examples of Stocks that met Peter’s buy criteria at the time of entry.

They might not fit the buy criteria now, and some have given Peter sell signals, but they will give you an idea of what to look for when a Broker or well meaning friend gives you that ‘hot tip’ and says you should buy as many of ’such and such stock’ as you can get your hands on straight away.

(Charts available at www.StockTradingReview.com)

Study the charts above and you will notice that all of these Stocks were trending strongly with small reactions. The moving averages crossed and gave a buy signal - some gave a sell signal early and then another buy signal, and then they never looked back.

Of course, not every Stock Peter bought rallied like these did. If they didn’t, they were sold and the proceeds were used to buy something that had more potential.

These are the types of trends Peter looks for and diversifies into.

He doesn’t buy, hold and hope for profits, based on some imagined intrinsic value that his Broker says the market hasn’t identified yet…

Remember though, if things don’t go according to plan, Peter gets out quickly and looks for the next trade - but while the price is going his way, he simply looks for opportunities to compound his position.

“Remember this simple rule”, Peter tells Paul with monotonous regularity - “With any Stock you are considering buying, don’t buy it or hold onto it if it isn’t going up!!”

Pretty simple advice, really…

To Your Trading Success,

Tony Spann and the Team

Stock Trading Review is dedicated to helping you succeed as a trader by sharing with you simple and easy to follow tips and techniques.

Discover more insider secrets and the exact proven strategies to trade stocks profitably: http://www.stocktradingreview.com

Copyright(C)2005 Stock Trading Review

Regardless if you have good credit or bad credit or even if you are rich or poor, there is a credit card on the marketplace for you. If you have bad credit then you will need to find a company that offers unsecured credit cards.
The secured credit cards are for families and individuals that have money, yet want a credit card to maintain their credit rates on the records. Spending money is not going to build their credit, therefore they will use the cards to build there credit line. Frequently these people will expend a couple of hundred each month and repay the charges off quickly. This is ludicrous since the repayments paid sooner than the date due will not build any credit lines. Rather, the cardholder must show good faith by paying the cards off on the due date.

If you have bad credit, then be aware that providers that offer unsecured credit cards may require a small deposit. The deposit is a security to the lenders that if you fail to make payments, they can use the deposit to meet the debt amount. If you apply for the card and are approved, most likely you will not receive a credit line above the depositing amount. In other words, you credit card may only provide you $500 credit and if you exceed these amount you are at risk of loosing your card.

Most unsecured credit cards offer low fixed interest rates and a credit line, starting at $200 and up, depending on the card provider and the depositing amount. The providers may even offer additional benefits, including cash back or points per purchase made on the credit card. You will need to be very cautious while looking for an unsecured credit card.

The Pesky Sales People
Salespeople will often go out of their way to make a sell. At times, you may receive phone calls, emails, or letters in the mail with special offers on credit cards. The credit lines may range from $200 up to $10, 000 regardless of your credit ratings. Most of the offers tell you to sign up now before the offer expires. BE CAUTIOUS! Most of these offer a ’slicks’ to lower you into a web of debt.
Also, watch out for the advertising slicks that send messages, claiming that you are approved for a Guaranteed Credit Card. Most likely, the slicks have a high-paying approval line of credit to offer.

If you do find a credit card and are approved it will help you when times are tough. One advantage of credit cards is that you can head over to the bank and withdraw $500 when you need quick cash.
The downside is being aware that you will be paying more than $500 back in most instances. On the other hand, you are not going deeper in debt really, (depends on the payday advance amount and fees), but Payday Loan lenders will attach a higher fee than many credit card lenders. For example, you could get a payday loan up to $500 at a Payday Advance store and may pay $82 for the loan borrowed. If you exceed three extensions on Payday Loans then you could pay up to 449.9% interest rates on the loans. Therefore, credit cards are more reliable for offering payday loans.

No matter if, you have good, bad or no credit at all, the unsecured cards are more available to be on your side, than few of the other types of cards offered are. If you have bad credit or no credit, you may want to check out the High-Risk card lenders, since many will work hard to get you a card. The lenders will also go out of their way to find a card that better suits your needs.

Furthermore, if you are searching for an unsecured credit card, or any card for that matter, be sure to stay alert to each detail laid out in the terms and agreements. Some card providers will charge yearly rates, monthly rates, and additional hidden charges. Therefore, reading the fine print before signing a contract is the wisest thing you will ever do!

Please visit http://www.finance-online.net for more information regarding finance and credit cards.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts have a 97% chance of Winning the Division Title
The Colts have a margin of victory this season of 9.09 have scord an averaged of 28.25 points per game and have allowed an average of 19.16 points to be scored against them.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steeler have a 68.2% chance of Winning the Division Title
The Steelers have a margin of victory this season of 7.77 have scord an averaged of 24.13 points per game and have allowed an average of 16.36 points to be scored against them.

AFC East

New England Patriots have a 90.4% chance of Winning the Division Title
The Pats have a margin of victory this season of 7.15 have scord an averaged of 26.29 points per game and have allowed an average of 19.15 points to be scored against them.

NFC East

NY Giants have a 74.8% chance of Winning the Division Title
The Giants have a margin of victory this season of 6.86 have scord an averaged of 27.37 points per game and have allowed an average of 20.51 points to be scored against them.

NFC South

Carloina Panthers have a 53.6% chance of Winning the Division Title
The Panthers have a margin of victory this season of 5.1 have scord an averaged of 24.41 points per game and have allowed an average of 19.31 points to be scored against them.

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks have a 79.7% chance of Winning the Division Title
The Seahawks have a margin of victory this season of 3.79 have scord an averaged of 24.18 points per game and have allowed an average of 20.38 points to be scored against them.

AFC West

Denver Broncos have a 70.1% chance of Winning the Division Title
The Broncos have a margin of victory this season of 3 have scord an averaged of 23.52 points per game and have allowed an average of 20.52 points to be scored against them.

NFC North

Chicago Bears have a 55.6% chance of Winning the Division Title
The Bears have a margin of victory this season of -3.36 have scord an averaged of 17.33 points per game and have allowed an average of 20.69 points to be scored against them.

George Smeader is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/George_Smeader.htm

You will begin to realise why this exercise is called the Dickens Pattern (with reference to the ghost showing Scrooge some different futures) as you notice that the idea of this exercise is to hypnotize yourself to be aware of two very real possibilities for your future. Two distinct pathways that you could take for your life this very day.

Have a think about something that you do that you are maybe not motivated to change about yourself. Prior to running through this technique, just have a think about something that you know you need to be doing, but are not. Then with that thing in mind, follow these simple steps.

Step One: Get yourself nice and relaxed and settled. Concentrate on your breathing, engage in the moment and spend some time being still, quiet and drift inside of your own mind. Hypnotize yourself here.

Step two: Use your imagination to imagine walking down the path of your life.

Ok, I know that some of you just cried out “but I can’t visualise!” First up, if you believe you can’t then of course you can’t. Second up, just imagine these things. They do not have to be in cinema screen perfect detail. You can remember what colour what your front door is, right? You can remember what your childhood bedroom is like, right? That is your imagination doing that. You know the sound that your feet make when you walk across gravel don’t you? You can imagine it, but you are not hearing it in your ears, are you? Just imagine these things as best as you can. Failing that, pretend that you are imagining them and that will do the trick.

So, as you imagine walking along the path of your life, notice that every step forwards is a minute, an hour or a day into your future. If you look back, you will notice that your past is there; everything you have ever done or experienced is behind you.

Become aware of the temperature, the sights, the sounds and enjoy walking along the path of your life. Make it sensory rich and get comfortable with the idea. Imagine the feeling of your feet walking along the path and the sound they make. Engage with the idea of really being there.

Step Three: Imagine that a few more steps ahead there is a place where the path splits, where is goes off to the left and off to the right. Pause here for a few moments and have a think. Here, there are two different pathways, two possibilities, two ways that you could choose to go.

If you were to choose the path to the left, life is pretty much the same as it is. You carry on doing the same things, living the same way and dealing with this thing in the same way as you have been doing.

If you were choose the path to the right, the right path, there are new possibilities, achievement, freedom of mind, positive and progressive implications. Think about that as you stand at this place where the path splits. You want to make a decision and commit to one of these paths. Before you make that decision, we are going to see what each path holds for your future.

Step Four: Step out on to the path to your left. Where there is no change. Briefly imagine that you are not going to live and discover your unfulfilled dreams. Instead, you continue doing what you have in the past. What will life be like in 10 years time?

Step out, every step you take you get older, days pass, weeks pass. Notice how your body is, how your mind is, how you feel about staying on this path. Walk out into your future to the 10 year point. Walk out 10 years into your future and feel how it feels to carry on doing the same thing.

This path is just like today, with one difference: you have 10 fewer years remaining in your life. I want you to think about how you will feel in 10 years if you continue doing the exact same things you have done to date. What will your daily life be like?

Really experience that. See what you see, hear what you hear, feel the feelings. Disappointment? Anger? Frustration? Failure? How does that feel? How do you affect those around you? How do they feel? Absorb every aspect of this path that you can take today if you so choose. Notice everything that you need to know about what it will be like if you carry on with the same behaviour, putting off change.

Drift back to where the path splits.

Step Five: Now take a step out on to the path to the right. This is where you create powerful, progressive change. Notice the sense of freedom in your thoughts, the sense of accomplishment and walk out 10 years into your future.

Imagine you are 10 years into the future but this time it’s different. Why? Because starting today you actually begin making changes in your life. Specific intentional changes are not easy. They are intentional because these changes are changes that you are choosing and they are the changes that will cause you to live the life you want to live and dream. They often mean leaving the perception of security in order to discover your personal freedom. These are the changes that will bring happiness and satisfaction into your life.

Just go there now. 10 years out… having made a decade of changes. Imagine living the life you want to live.

How does that feel inside? Do you feel that you have lived life? See the people of your life and how they feel about you and how they react to you. This is the path of a different choice, a different decision. You have the freedom to be how you want to be.

Absorb all you need from this moment in your future and the positive things that you can learn consciously and unconsciously and then drift and float back to the place where the path splits.

Step Six: Now that you know and have experienced the two contrasting futures. Now that you know what your future holds as a result of what you do this very day, you can make a decision. You can compare and contrast those two futures that can be yours based on a decision that you make about how you are going to live your life.

Imagine reaching deep inside you for all the strength and wisdom that you need to make this decision today. As you do so, imagine that when you choose to make that decision that deep inside your mind you are switching off the alternative path, you are switching off the opportunity to drift back to that place.

Then step out and take your future path.

Absorb yourself in the sensations, the feelings, the sights, the sounds and of course continue to engage in your future the way I have discussed in previous articles on this blog.

Step Seven: Open your eyes and begin to plan your future and take action to achieve that outcome. Your unconscious mind now knows what it is working towards.

What is the exact sequence of events that will take you to where you want to be? Have a think consciously of what you need to do. Every outcome begins with the first step. When you decide you want to have a romantic meal for two, there are many steps that you need to perform in order for that to happen. (Check the fridge, do you have what you want to serve up? No? Find keys, open garage door, drive car to the supermarket etc. etc.) You need to determine the exact sequence of events and write it down.

Begin with the outcome in mind. Write without stopping. 10 years from now, I plan to be living in a… at…. With…. Get really detailed about it. Why? Because you are hooking up the neural connections in your brain. You must improve upon, clarify and make clear just exactly who and what you are going to be doing, experiencing, living and having in 10 years. This is the first step of the process!

Key: Notice how you felt excited and optimistic when you did this? The reason is simple. It’s the life you are designing instead of the one that was given you and that you have lived with less intention and purpose to date.

This is the beginning of creating the life that you want to live. Know what the future holds for you as a result of the choice you can make today.

Have some fun and hypnotize yourself to be your very own “Ghost of Christmas future” and see what the future holds for you.

Adam is the best selling author of ‘The Secrets of Self-Hypnosis’ please visit his website for a vast range of resources from the fields of hypnosis and to receive your amazing, free, instantly downloadable hypnosis session: http://www.adam-eason.com

I often wonder why people seem reluctant to smile these days. It
costs nothing to smile so come on people lets start looking a
bit happier. This article is all about this and about having a
more positive outlook on life which will bring positive results.

I am somebody who used to always think in a negative way, I have
now managed to stop this and my life has improved no end. I now
like to be around positive people, as these people tend to be
more successful and happier. In my opinion there are too many
people who are always moaning and groaning and are seemingly
depressed.

Growing up I had many things to be negative about, I had a
stutter, I have a bald patch, I was overweight and am also quite
short for a male at five foot four. I was one of the ones who
walked around in a depressed state and I used to feel sorry for
myself. Even when I write about it now, I laugh about how stupid
I used to be.

I realised early into my twenties that I needed to change my
approach to life. I was quite fortunate in that I had a friend
at the company I worked for, who was to prove an inspiration to
me. His name was Stuart, and even though this may seem cruel,
Stuart did not have a lot going for him. I won’t go into details
but lets just say even with the problems I felt I had, I was not
jealous of him. I became quite good friends with Stuart and we
would regularly have lunch together. I would meet him in the
canteen at 1pm and would be waiting in my gloomy state of mind,
with my gloomy face, for him to arrive. Arrive he certianly did,
always with a beaming smile on his face. This always amazed me
as I could never understand what he had to be happy about. We
would sit down and talk whilst eating our lunch and he never had
a negative word to say. When he talked, he talked with passion,
about his work and interests. One day it dawned on me, if Stuart
(who from what I know of him, seemingly has nothing going for
him) can always be positive, happy and smiling, why can’t I?

This was the beginning of my new outlook on life. An era of
being positive, appreciating what I have got and more than
anything else, plenty of smiles. I now am happy with my weight,
height, bald patch and am proud to say I have now overcome my
stutter.

You will discover individual brands of boarding that the capital comprises of. Certain are of a comparable standard to one another, but they might have individual services to offer, therefore you may have to be unambiguous on what it is you are searching for. Do you need to be spoilt, go out for a lovely tea in a place that is memorable or possibly revel in a small number of isolated days off work & laze about in indulgence?

Twenty somethings these days are pursuing exclusive locations that are somewhat innovative & different from the usual lodging. These places are generally referred to as boutique establishments & there’s many up and coming hotels that were endorsed as some of the coolest hotels to stay in in the metropolis. see the future top London hotels with Time Out.

The Pavilion’s an incredible thirty bed-room establishment that you will find in the centre that is targeted at a discerning, stylish customer. The rooms present a newfangled and smart image. One establishment is simply an accolade to the 70s. The Casablanca Nights hotel is based pretty near to Oxford Street, so, if you find yourself looking for straightforward walks to central London then this establishment is the right place. The accomodation is simply several minutes amble from Paddington, it is furthermore accessible direct from Heathrow Airport using the new fast rail route & via Waterloo. The hotel rooms are brimming with offbeat features & they benefit from including the various provisions of up to date living, including en suite services, direct call handsets and also sat. tv. The Pavilion is celebrated with the music, fashion and media domains. A varied medley of performers, pop acts and actors have visited this establishment.

Another top notch hotel now is called The Beaufort hotel. The venue is located at the heart of the smart locale of Knightsbridge - a cure for the hubbub of this awesome capital. When entering the hotel, you’ll be surrounded by soft, pleasant colours; you will discover lovely maple furniture and also a general design considered for contentment and luxury. If you are thinking of residing in London, & you’re specifically on the prowl for a boutique accomodation that provides opulence, and also a central location and flawless decor then this is surely your establishment.

The first impression is purely that of complete enchantment as the fragrance of stimulating flower arrangements permeate the entrance. Original English watercolours are on the walls while the contemporarily styled foreroom has both relaxation and peace & quiet. In their quarters one will find rich floors, bathrooms laid in Italian marble, & all normal services. Should you need a quiet spot for business talks, then the establishment provides a company location which is elegantly matched for minor meetings, perhaps of roughly 8 persons.

Chester Bennington is wailing, “The sun goes down, I feel the light betray me” on your radio; the cold beads of sweat that form on your forehead agree with Bennington- for the nth time you have a long exam tomorrow morning and you are nowhere near prepared. You call on every divinity, pray to every God, to be miraculously given effective study skills; however, you will settle for time to stop so you can cram longer.

Hypothetically, if time did stop, how can you make up for lost time and acquire effective study skills? How about through M.U.R.D.E.R.:

* Mood:
Think of studying as a date that you would like to impress and go out of your way. Create the right ambience. Pick a place that can help you concentrate, most people need a place where there is silence but there are a handful of people that need noise to concentrate. Play some music to sustain your mood.

* Understand:
Get yourself a marker and mark areas of your text that strikes you as important; or make an outline of the material.

* Recall:
Stop every once in a while to paraphrase what you have read in your own words; if you can express the idea in your own words, it means you have understood what you were studying and have also memorized it.

* Digest:
You can also mark concepts or ideas that you did not understand and look it up further or ask for a second opinion from a classmate or the professor.

* Expand:
Try to see the connection between the material you are currently studying and your previous lessons; or try to see the relevance of your text in your life.

* Review:
Review the materials you have studied; ideally, you should be reviewing the highlighted texts and the notes you have made instead of reading everything again.

Whether you have a big exam or you just want to maintain a respectable GPA, always keep MURDER at the back of your mind: MURDER, the only crime that pays.

Brian Stocker is a former teacher and Psychologist. He has written widely on education and testing. Visit his websites Exam Preparation and Improve Your Study Skills for information and study guides on College Entrance exams, test preparation and how to study.

What could be more wonderful than a relaxed, easy drive while listening to great music with your sweetie? Near Satsop above a field marked with a sign that said “Hay for Sale” a huge hawk floated above circling hay binders. Like the hawk, our Buick Century floated over the miles from Tacoma to Ocean Shores.

The music playing continually was The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers A Tribute. The CD was released in 1997 on the 100th birthday of the legendary “Singing Breakman.” Peg had purchased the CD long before our drive across Western Washington, but I had never had a chance to sit and listen. I’m overjoyed I had the chance.

Peg’s father loved the “Father of Country Music” and we used to listen to Ike’s Jimmie Rodgers record album when we were first married. For a birthday present Peg bought me a Jimmie Rodgers songbook from which I occasionally play songs on the piano.

The CD dedication is written by Bob Dylan and is surprisingly coherent, “His voice gives hope to the vanquished and humility to the mighty.” Rodgers performed music from different current venues and made them his own. County Music is too limiting for the likes of Rodgers. Dylan even credits Jerry Lee Lewis with a statement, “Jerry Lee Lewis once said that there are only four stylists - Jimmie, Al Jolson, Hank Williams, and himself.”

The joy of listening to the music is to realize and respect the diversity and wide range of the performers. If you heard the songs being played on the radio you would just accept the beauty of the songs. To hear them in this collection makes you say, “Wow.” The CD starts off with an incredibly soulful version of Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes by Bono. Among my additional absolute favorites are: Alison Krause singing Any Old Time, Bob Dylan performing Blue Eyed Jane, and Aaron Neville yodeling through Why Should I be Lonely. Other artists on the CD are: Iris Dement, Jerry Garcia (with the lamest yodeling ever . . . but kinda catchy), Van Morrison, Dwight Yoakam, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

After playing through the entire repertoire several times we neared Ocean Shores. We could tell we were getting close to the ocean. The sky turned gray and fog enshrouded the tops of the evergreens along the highway. We rolled into the parking lot of The Nautilus condominiums and instantly froze as we got out of the car. Peg supervised as I made three trips from the car up to the third floor condo then we headed out for dinner.

We drove past the limited number of restaurants. Since we were there on Tuesday evening there was even more of a limit on dining. Many of the places were closed. We finally decided on Chinese food at the Lucky Dragon.

We knew the food was going to be good - a local policeman was picking up a take-out order as we arrived. Inside the restaurant we broke a cardinal rule - we used a cell phone. We took out her phone and called Tacoma. My sister, Marsha, answered. Peg warned her of the weather and suggested everyone bring coats and jackets. We asked for her to fetch a bathing suit for Peg, a jacket for me and a bread knife.

The food at the Lucky Dragon was good, but nothing special. It was the standard Americanized Chinese menu. Living in Tacoma and visiting Seattle occasionally we are spoiled by the wonderful selections from our Northwest, urban asians.

Back at The Nautilus we made ourselves at home. Like many of the places we stay, the lighting is inadequate for reading. We like to read. Vacation means eating, sleeping and reading. We pulled the shade off the table lamp to give a little more light. We should have called home for higher wattage lightbulbs.

Our third-floor corner room gave us an excellent view of the dunes. I watched a young boy play animal head games. He ducked behind a hillock with a large dog on a leash. A smaller dog ran through the dunes. He would stop. Ears up, his head nervously tracked over the tall grass. The boy whistled and stayed hidden. The little dog raced around searching and sniffing. Finally, the boy stepped out and called the dog to him and laughed.

As a boy I played similar games. I would sometimes come home from school and circle around to the alley. My dogs, Pal, a collie, and Cindy, a cocker spaniel, waited patiently for me by the frontyard fence. My Shetland pony, a pinto named KoKo, stood in the small corral under the carport and watched the frontyard. I would sneak into the carport and give a holler startling all three.

This was our second time at The Nautilus. It’s a comfortable place and not expensive. Actually, it not much more than The Sands a couple hundred yards up the street which I would never recommend. My sisters stay there. The Sands has a flotsam, jetsam, ocean wreck exterior décor.

Outside The Nautilus has a Puppy Poop Area. Inside The Nautilus has coffee maker, microwave, full kitchen, fireplace, VCR, cable TV, and fancy folded-towels. We stayed for the first time when we couldn’t get into the Grey Gull. The Grey Gull is where we used to stay when we had kids at home. We’ve gone back repeatedly over the years. It’s very nice. We’ll eventually go back there, also.

As a child I never stayed in an Ocean Shores motel. My family always camped out. Generally friends and family joined us. Those are fond memories. On our trip out to the coast Peg and I talked about times past and our first anniversary. We celebrated by camping out. We sat up our tent in the dunes and then went to Hoquiam for a movie. After the movie we stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken (it’s still there), ordered a bucket, and took our chicken to the beach. On the Ocean City beach we sat in our darkened, green and white, two-door hardtop, 1955 Chrysler New Yorker and ate our “Original Recipe” chicken (the only version they had then). I still remember that as the best Kentucky Friend Chicken I’ve ever had and that memory is probably the reason I always order Original Recipe.

Wednesday morning I slept in. I got up at 6:30. I went out to breakfast and brought back half a chicken fried steak sandwich on toast for Peg. I even brought back a slice of orange with a twist for a garnish. When she got up at ten I gave her the take-home box. The orange slice was on top of the sandwich. Presentation is everything.

My sisters and other relatives have been going to Ocean Shores for the 4th of July for several years. They’ve kept telling Peg and I that we should go the the beach for the fireworks display. This always seemed amusing to me because friends of ours used to through a July 4th party at their house overlooking old town. I usually left early and was in bed by the time the fireworks started.

This year we decided to try out the Fourth at Ocean Shores. We stayed in our room and watched from our deck. It was amazing. We had a 180 degree view of fireworks. As far as you would see to the left was fireworks displays and as far as you could see to the right was fireworks displays. Ocean City, a couple miles to the North of Ocean Shores had a big professional display, but from our vantage point, you couldn’t tell any difference.

Our son Patrick, daughter-in-law Wendy, and our youngest granddaughter Bailee went to the beach and shot off their own fireworks. I asked Patrick about there being fewer people at the beach this time because the holiday was mid-week. He just laughed, “It didn’t make any difference. There was no room on the beach for anyone else.” Apparently, each family grouping butted up against the next one all the way down the beach.

The next morning of course there was fireworks debris everywhere. Empty cartons lined the roads onto the beach. Evidently the fireworks didn’t scare off the wildlife. I saw deer walking across a parking lot just two hundred feet down the road from our condo the next morning. Deer where abundant.

When son Patrick and I played golf on Friday morning. We saw several groupings. One group contained two does and two fawns. Ocean Shores contains lots of brush, schrub and trees for the deer to hide and thrive in. Many of the brackets are so thick you can’t see into them more than a couple of inches. None of the deer we saw came to us for a handout. They were wary and watched us and then took and continued on their own business. No deer were harmed during our golf game. Each time I teed the ball, the deer ran to the fairway. They knew they would be safe there. They were.

On Friday we moved in with Patrick and Wendy. We could have stayed with them during the entire stay, but we like our privacy and so do they. Many people in the urban centers of the Puget Sound area maintain summer home or cabins around Ocean Shores. Wendy’s sister and brother-in-law have a three bedroom cabin near the beach. The vacation home reminded me of our camping days when our kids were younger. We had a truck and camper and not a furnished cabin, but they are similar in that there’s no phone and no TV. For entertainment we played games. On Thursday night my sister Marsha came with us. My sister Dee Dee and her daughters stayed at the motel and got caught up in a Mariner’s game on cable TV. We had fun playing games on both Thursday and Friday evenings.

Author Don Doman: Don is a published author of books for small business, corporate video producer, and owner of Ideas and Training (http://www.ideasandtraining.com), which provides business training products. Don also owns NW Adventures(http://www.nwadventures.us), which tells stories and provides information on two day get-a-ways in the Pacific Northwest.

“If you’re like me, than I’m sure you’re pretty familiar with the well-known writer’s block.

From time to time, when you have to start writing something, be it an article, an ebook, or just a letter, there is that moment when you just stare at the blank sheet of paper (or at the vibrant colors of your monitor) and nothing seems to come out from your mind.

The good news is that there is a cure for this disease.

American poet William Stafford offers this advice to poets who suffer from Writer’s Block: “”There is no such thing as writer’s block for writers whose standards are low enough.”"

But, this is not an incentive to write junk!

Perhaps the most important reason that leads to WB is the lack of an idea. You just sit down in front of your perfectly empty monitor and think about what should you be writing. “”There is nothing I can write about”" seems to be the only thing that you can think about.

This doesn’t happen to me anymore because now I have a text document right on my desktop where I note down any important thought, idea, question that comes into my mind during my daily habits. Every time I start writing about something, all I have to do is to open that (now pretty big) file and “”presto”", I know what to write about.

If you don’t have an “”ideas file”" on your computer yet, no problem, just take a look through some forums related to your niche market and look for questions.

Well, now that I have a great idea of what I want to write about, I just sit down again in front of my computer… and here comes the block again.

How should I start?

Here is a tip for you: It’s OK to start writing at whatever point you like. You can begin with the final chapter. You can start writing the middle of the book. It’s OK if the introductory part of your book is the last thing you’ll write.

Another thing you can do is to talk over the subject with a friend. If you can’t do that, you should record yourself talking about the matter.

Anyway, you must force yourself to write down something, however poorly worded that approximates your thought and go on with the next idea.

Also, you can always try free writing. All you have to do is to choose one sentence in a paragraph and write a paragraph about it. Then, choose a sentence from that paragraph and do that again.

Whatever you do, it’s always a good idea to be flexible. Be willing to throw out sections of text that are causing problems or just don’t work.

Physical actions can move your brain in good directions so move around, stretch, or walk.

Get a snack or drink, talk to someone, or just relax for five minutes before you start to write again.

After you already have a few ideas written down it’s ok to reread and jot down ideas while doing so.

Relax! Because the more you worry, the harder it gets to think clearly.

And once you have your book ready, remember that you will need a cover for it.

I can help you with that at www.AbsoluteCovers.com“

About The Author

Ovi Dogar is specialized in the creation of professionally custom made covers that really sell. You can view some recent samples of his work at http://www.AbsoluteCovers.com