East meets the West - Evolution of Indian Furniture

Filed under: Home Improvement Hall — admin at 5:12 am on Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Indian craftsmanship has always enjoyed a fame that has invited both respect and pillage from the earliest days. Whether it is stone work on temples or standalone articles, terracotta figurines, jewelry pieces, woodwork or graphic and plastic art, the craftsmen from this country have always been welcomed by connoisseurs of beauty. At times, however, this fixation with beauty sacrificed utility and comfort - this tendency resulted in ornate and complicated creations like a wooden throne, for example, that would have raised the goose-bumps, but would also have given a nasty backache. Local tradition and culture contributed to the furthest development of ornamental woodwork - for palaces, temples, public houses, works of arts, etc - but did not generate any utilitarian furniture of the kind we modern dwellers of the world are used to. One big reason for this was that eating was mainly done on floor, and sitting and resting on charpoys (simple string bed with wooden posts). The main thrust to furniture development was given by foreign influence.

When the Portuguese, the first Europeans to come to India, arrived, they did not find any familiar furniture, it was them, and later, the Dutch, the French and the English, who inspired the composition of domestic furniture to cater to their settlements. The Indian carpenter turned out to be precocious in adapting foreign designs and inducing in them an indigenous flavor of craftsmanship. Thus, as Joseph Butler mentions in an article in Encyclopedia Britannica, “India’s place in the history of furniture is that of an adapter or transformer of imported Western styles rather than a creator of independent styles of its own.” It was the play of these influences that gave birth to the Mughal style, the Goanese, the Indo-Dutch style, the use of ebony and ivory in the manner of Chippendale and Sheraton.

English predominance since the 18th century resulted in English influence in furniture styling, and this became so popular that even Indian rulers became patrons (this latter tendency could simply be a reflection of the Anglicization of the rulers, of their desire to identify with the ruling class). In the 19th century, the ornamentation assumed primacy, divorcing itself once again from utility.

A tropical country with about eighty varieties of hardwood available for woodwork, India has an old tradition of furniture making. Subsequent to the English influence who cultivated teak as a ‘royal tree’ for shipping industry (teak is tremendously resilient to water and weather), teak assumed tremendous popularity for quality woodwork. Almost all large articles were composed on wood. Royal houses and rich households have always been the traditional patrons of the furniture industry, and even today the royal palaces strewn across the four corners of India feature some of the most illustrious examples of indigenous woodwork. Frederick Litchfield’s Illustrated History of Furniture (1893) mentions many such marvels that still mesmerize. Like the two wooden teak doors sent as gift to the Indian Government and now kept in the National Museum (Kolkata). Or the shisham wood (rosewood) carved window at Amritsar with its overhanging cornice, ornamental arches with pillars and intricate work on the body. Royal gifts sent to the Queen and the King as well as the Princes also showed an obsession with details that is unique to India. Even today, much of British royal furniture is of Indian vintage.

In the years since the British left the furniture industry in India has evolved. Utility and simplicity gained primacy over art. Price considerations have driven down ornamentation to the minimum, and cheaper wood varieties have come to be used to cater to the huge low cost demand. Yet, in niche areas the old forms of furniture still continue to be crafted. In many places, like Rajasthan, that still has a royal ethos in a Republican India, with its dozens of Palaces’, the old form of furniture making is still preserved. Here, one can take a time travel and find works of an earlier day being crafted with the same expertise. Exported around the world wherever antique and ornamental furniture is appreciated, the Jodhpur furniture forms the focal point of this industry. Nowadays foreign designs are adapted with local styles that are hugely popular with Western customers. Once again we are back to the Portuguese days when designs were an inventive amalgamation of European sensibilities and Indian craftsmanship.

Written by http://www.eastwindtraders.com/ team. EastWindTraders.com is an American company involved in importation of custom designed line of unique handcrafted wooden and leather furniture, antiques and more. Furniture sourced from India and China, feature impeccable craftsmanship with custom made designs.

Powder Skiing for the Young at Heart

Filed under: Sports + Movement — admin at 8:14 pm on Monday, May 26, 2008

About 8 years ago, I got a call from the daughter an old
friend. “It’s Dad’s 60th birthday soon and the family wants to
send him on a ski trip. We are hoping that you and Bill and Owen
will keep him company”. “Sure”, I said, expecting a destination
like Sun Peaks or Rossland. “Where are we going?” “Cat Skiing
near Fernie.” “What skiing?” “Cat skiing!” “What’s Cat Skiing?”
“Its backcountry skiing from snowcats, sort of a poor man’s
heli-skiing.” “Can I afford it?” “You can’t afford to miss this!”

That four-day trip was the start of seven years of superb
skiing. On that first trip, we had a marvelous time and powder
skiing, the likes of which none of us could remember. Run after
run in fresh, untracked snow. There were steep rollovers that
put my heart in my throat, where the deep snow seemed to support
us like an invisible hand, letting us down the fall line slowly
and gently. Wow! Face shots galore! I thought, “Life is too
short not to be doing this every year!”

On the second day of that tour, I presented myself at the lodge
office and requested a booking for the following year. “Sorry,
full up”. “No!” “Yes!” “However, the year after has an opening,
and you could have a whole cat.” “Done”, I said, and thought,
“You fool, what are you doing?”

After much effort, evening after evening of phone calls,
hounding old friends and a very long wait, we were back two
years later with twelve good men and women. Some were old ski
friends of almost 50 years. We had another wonderful trip with
great skiing, great snow and great company.

Now, years later, we are still at it. We’ve changed venue from
near Fernie to a spot near Golden, B.C., where the skiing is a
little higher and the snow seems to be a little more reliable.
Our host is Chatter Creek Snowcat Skiing
(www.chattercreekcatskiing.com), a partnership of four
personable young men who run an excellent operation, about 20
minutes by helicopter north of Golden, on the western flank of
the Rocky Mountains.

The 130 sq. km. tenure includes a large glacier at just under
10,000ft. elevation, huge open alpine slopes and bowls and a
number of enormous ridges that offer superb tree skiing. After
many trips to Chatter Creek, we have yet to ski the entire area.
Each summer, snowcat roads are extended to open up ever more
terrain. An application has been made to increase the terrain
size by about 85%. See Cat Skiing Terrain
(http://www.cat-skiing-terrain.blogspot.com) for a photographic
tour of the Chatter Creek tenure.

Skiing on the Vertebrae glacier is “mellow” and the views are
spectacular. From the highest point, the view spreads to the
west, over nearby peaks and ridges to the distant Adamant Range
and Selkirk Mountains. To the east, much nearer and in clear
view, are countless peaks and snowfields of the Continental
Divide, including the Clemenceau Icefield, Mt Columbia and the
Snow Dome. The latter is the source of the famous Columbia
Icefield and contains the hydrographic apex of North America. As
skiers ski on the glacier, the unusual “squiggles” of the
Sullivan Fault fill the view and forms the backdrop of many a
guest photograph. See Glacier Skiing at Chatter Creek
(http://glacier-skiing.blogspot.com) for many photos from the
Vertebrae glacier.

On bluebird days, the guides usually head to the high alpine for
a few runs on the Vertebrae glacier, or in one of the many large
bowls or slopes such as the Clamshell, upper Lodge Ridge, Super
Spruce, South Park, Lakeview , and Oyster Bowl. After a few of
runs, the group will move on to nearby areas, skiing here and
there on the way, never staying long in any one spot. Every run
in untracked snow!

Snowcat rides are rarely more than 15 to 20 minutes long,
usually just long enough to enjoy half a sandwich and a drink,
to rest the legs and to share a couple of bad jokes with our
companions. The Bombardier snowcats
(http://www.bombardier-snowcats-at-chatter-creek.blogspot.com)
are warm and comfortable. They accommodate 12 guests, two guides
and a driver. The three cats move independently and are usually
out of sight of one another all day.

When skiing, the guide keeps the group together, while allowing
everyone their own line in unbroken snow. There’s no pressure to
“farm” snow.

The speed of the group and number of stops depends on the group.
Faster groups of expert skiers may ski non-stop to the bottom.
Groups of intermediate skiers may stop along the way, to
regroup, rest, share experiences and take pictures. Cat skiing
is laid back and relaxed. The guests “call the shots” and
determine the pace. The guides concentrate on the preferences
and needs of the group and provide a “tailor made” skiing
experience.

A favorite with many skiers is the tree skiing on the great
ridges. A group can ski for many days on any one ridge and not
run out of fresh snow. Runs pass through old burns with widely
spaced snags, living forest with open glades and cut blocks with
deeply buried stumps that form “pillows” and undulations of
endless variety.

Intermediate skiers who rarely ski “the trees” not only find
they can do it, but that it’s fun. The snow in the trees tends
to be deeper and unaffected by sun and wind. Snow is soft and
consistent and there are no moguls and lumps. The short, fat
powder skis that can be rented from Chatter Creek make it all
pretty easy. Novices learn very quickly. Cat skiing does not
require prior experience or special equipment, just boots and
clothing and enthusiasm.

Cat skiing at Chatter Creek is well suited for skiers and
snowboarders having a wide range of ability. My group of expert
skiers has enjoyed every trip and is always challenged and
experiencing new terrain. Chatter Creek recommends that guests
be at least strong intermediate skiers. However, I have
organized “friends and family” groups that have included skiers
of lesser ability and everyone got on fine. Good physical
condition makes up for a lack of experience. Ages have ranged
from the 20’s to 70, with most group members in the 50 to 65
year range.

As the ski-day wears on and people may begin to tire, guests are
welcome to sit-out a run and ride back down the hill with the
snowcat driver. If someone wants to “call it a day”, a staff
member will drive the guest back to the lodge on a snowmobile.

Runs can vary from about 800 vertical feet to over 2000 ft.
Typical runs drop 1200 to 1500 ft. The amount of skiing done in
a day depends entirely on the strength of the group. Daily
“vertical” usually varies from 9,000 to 14,000 feet. Very fast
groups may do 16,000 ft, or even more. Our group has always worn
itself out, day after day.

A nice feature at Chatter Creek is that almost always, the cat
picks up the group where they finish their run. Unlike some
operations, there is very little skiing on hard-packed roads to
get to the cat.

The perfect end to a day at Chatter Creek is a run on Lodge
Ridge, ending at the door of Vertebrae Lodge
(http://www.lodge-life-at-chatter-creek.blogspot.com). We step
out of our skis and boards and into the bar, dropping into soft
couches, with cold beers in hand. After some laughs with our
mates and browsing on the afternoon snacks, we stumble off to
the outdoor hot tub to enjoy another beer or a Caesar and to
watch the sunlight disappear from the peaks.

In 2004, Chatter Creek built a second
9000 sq. ft lodge
and expanded to 36 clients. All guests
enjoy double occupancy bedrooms, each with a private bathroom.
Our group has expanded to fill the lodge and we have 36
enthusiastic skiers and snowboarders all signed up and waiting
patiently for next year. Some of the old-boys are now taking
along their grown offspring, and one cat is set aside for two
entire families. It’s going to be a great party, with great
skiing!

Guitar Tapping Tips And Techniques

Filed under: World Of Lifestyle — admin at 2:36 pm on Sunday, May 25, 2008

Although made popular recently by Eddie VanHalen, guitar tapping
or right hand ‘legatos’ is a technique players have been
executing for years. Country players know the benefit of laying
down a nice subtle lead and just putting in those quick hammers
with clear guitar tapping. And while it’s not the easiest thing,
guitar finger tapping techniques are really nothing much more
then fast hammer on and a pull offs. Whether you use your middle
finger or your first, most times you can hold the pick as usual
to execute your guitar tapping and get the speed and positioning
essential to good guitar tapping techniques. But like anything
else, guitar tapping takes practice and patience.

Since this is a highly specialized, yet popular way of playing
we hear a lot of player’s guitar tapping these days…and just
as many tapping badly. Especially when a guitar is cranked
through distortion, a whole host of extra noises will come out
if the player’s guitar finger tapping techniques aren’t the
cleanest. An important trick to ‘clean-up’ when you are cranked
through that Marshall Stack and you’re in “overdrive”, is to
rest the back of your right hand on the lower strings for
muting; what you want to avoid is these string making a lot of
extra noise while you get that guitar tapping in one steady
movement. Of course, if you’re a rock player you are most likely
already dreaming of the all-too flashy ‘cross-handed tapping’
but this is so impractical it only ever works when playing live
(and even then it is a hard to get those guitar tapping
progressions cooking in this way!) Admittedly though, this
particular type of guitar tapping, above all other types of
guitar finger tapping techniques, creates a truly distinct tone.

There are hundreds of videos and books that show guitar tapping
tips, but as it is with everything else, you can’t even begin to
understand how guitar tapping works until you get up and do it
yourself. Although modern listeners have been conditioned to
want speed like Eddie V., it is more important to get the strong
and clear sound of each note then to sacrifice technique for
potential sloppiness. Guitar finger tapping techniques are only
good if you can do them; nothing sounds worse then reaching for
a flashy technique and not being able to pull it off. As with
everything else you learn on guitar, if you mater a technique on
acoustic then you can feel all that more confident trying it on
electric.

Playing a difficult and flashy exercise, such as guitar tapping
or lightening fast arpeggios, sometimes seem to be easier on an
electric; you get-off on the sound you are creating, the noise,
but don’t catch nuisances or mistakes. Try tapping on an
acoustic guitar (or you want a big challenge-try guitar tapping
on an acoustic bass!) Guitar finger tapping is hard on an
acoustic; cross-handed guitar tapping is almost impossible (it
takes a ton of strength and precision), but master guitar
tapping on an acoustic and you’ll find you are that much more
prepared for what you might do on your electric.

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar), Diabetes Testing and Driving

Filed under: Life Of Medicine — admin at 11:47 am on Sunday, May 25, 2008

Because hypoglycemia can effect your driving performance (even modestly low blood sugar can do this), if you are at all prone to hypoglycemia, I personally would strongly recommend you check out your blood sugar level each time you are about to drive.

Prior to you putting the key in the ignition, test your blood sugar. There are some great glucometers out there, like the Accu-Check Compact with the Accu-Check Multi-clix lancet pen.

The Accu-Check Compact has a 17 strip drum inside so you don’t have to take any extra strips with you. The Accu-Check Multi-clix lancet pen has a drum that automatically holds 6 lancets within the pen to use quickly and easily. Again, you won’t have to bring any lancets separately with you. If your blood sugar is low, treat yourself to some juice or hard candy and don’t drive until your blood sugar is back to normal. Usually 80 mg/dl and higher you should feel better. Then try and eat a small meal, like a low fat cheese and/or turkey sandwich.

Usually in 15 minutes taking 15-20 grams of Carbohydrate (CHO) will usually bring up your blood sugar to normal range. You can have a 4-6 ounce glass of juice, glucose tablets or 2-3 pieces of hard candy. Don’t overdo it because your blood sugar will then go sky high. If it doesn’t return within normal limits in 15 minutes, repeat the 15-20 grams of CHO and then check your blood sugar in 15 minutes.

Usually if your blood sugar is above 80 mg/dl, you should feel fine but sometimes going above 100 mg/dl, you’ll feel better. You should always follow with a small meal that contains CHO, protein that contains a small amount of fat.

Always make sure you have something to eat right within reach in the car (not in the trunk!). I tell my father to put 2-3 peppermint candy right in his pocket and have a supply of hard candy or peppermint candy always stashed in his car.

It is best if you eat 6-8 small meals a day. This would include a CHO, protein food that contains a little fat included. Example would be a cheese sandwich that contains either 1 or 2 slices of bread, a cheese that is low fat or turkey low in fat but not fat free. The protein and fat does help to stablize your blood sugar over a period of time instead of a quick spike in your blood sugar and a quick drop in blood sugar like juice would do.

During your trip if you need to take an insulin injection or an oral blood sugar medication, then make sure you eat as prescibed with your medication, otherwise your blood sugar can go low. I will be writing about how insulin and certain oral blood sugar medications can make your sugar go low. Not all insulin, esp. Lantus, or oral diabetic medications make your blood sugar low.

Signs of Hypoglycemia:

**Cold sweat, faintness, dizziness
**Headache
**Pounding of heart, trembling, nervousness
**blurred vision
**hunger
**Irritability
**Personality Change
**Not able to awaken

Now you can also have problems driving if your blood sugar is over 200 mg/dl. My father got in an accident because his blood sugar was over 200, he was becoming confused and at the same time had a Urinary Tract Infection. The police officer told me that a diabetic’s license can be revoked if an accident is caused by diabetes. I don’t know if that is true but why risk losing your license altogether if this is the case.

If you were going to be driving for any sort of extended time, every so often find an appropriate place to pull across and retest your blood. When it comes to driving: if in doubt, check out your blood sugar & eat!

Copyright 2005
Fern Kuhn, RN
Specializing in Diabetes

http://www.giftbasketcenter.info
http://www.diabetestestingcenter.com
http://www.attentiondeficitdisordercenter.com

You may reprint this article as long as you keep the links active

Winclear :History Of Dakota County/Term Search Option

Filed under: Commerce News, House Of Podcasts, Publishing Resources — admin at 9:03 am on Sunday, May 25, 2008

If you are looking for effective spyware and adware protection, you can always look online to check out some of the most effective anti-spyware and adware tools available for you. There are a number of software companies who have dedicated their resources to develop more effective and more sophisticated programs to provide you with the best anti-spyware and adware protection for your PC. Parents should know what happens with their children and try to prevent the possible danger.

Cyber criminals are online waiting for you and will take advantage of you and your unawareness of them. Data loggers, key loggers are just a few programs which harvest info from your computer. Winclear is the only program created specially to auto remove such spywares. If your account was compromised while AccSent was enabled there is a high probability that you either have a security hole in your computer which allowed hackers to take control of your computer or you have a Trojan virus spyware or keylogger software installed on your computer because someone not only had access to your e-gold passphrase they also had access to your email address password. That is why every computer owner needs winclear.

Protect With Winclear :Erase Internet History
Yes, the seemingly endless onslaught of cyber crime continues, this time via the innocent e-card - that which once was a nice surprise in the Inbox has become a gate to identity theft. Exploit Prevention Labs in Atlanta, GA reported in September that company researchers have discovered a scam in which e-cards are used to install keylogger software on the victim’s computer. The scam, which was executed by an Australian cyber criminal ring and is known as MDAC, involves sending to the user an e-card that appears to originate from a major online greeting card service. When the user clicks on the hyperlink to open the card, the browser is redirected to a exploit server, which checks to see if the computer has been updated with the latest security patches. If it hasn’t, the server installs a rootkit and keylogger, then redirects the computer on to an actual e-card. The user continues working on the computer, likely forgetting about the e-card. But from that point on, all keystrokes are being recorded and accessed by the attackers for use in identity theft. Winclear is the only software which is capable of removing keylogger programs. Some may save up to 30 or 60 days automatically. Winclear has been the industry leader in fighting keyloggers for the last 8 years.

Winclear:
Every time we are required to supply a password we need to use a new and different password. That is the reason why you need Winclear installed onto your computer. However just like a coin the Internet has two sides. Protect your computer security by using Winclear! More about Winclear here: Winclear.

Definitve Proof - Supplements Heal

Filed under: House Of Nutrition — admin at 11:13 pm on Saturday, May 24, 2008

No Money in Prevention

I have been recommending a wide variety of dietary supplements to my patients for the past 18 years. Needless to say, this is not the norm for physicians. The medical establishment as a whole is treatment driven rather the prevention driven. There is much more profit in treating illness and disease rather than preventing it. As a matter of fact, the healthcare industry, including the American Medical Association (AMA), medical schools, hospitals, research institutions and drug manufacturers, have made a concerted effort to obfuscate the truth about health supplements and their intrinsic value. What little legitimate research and data, detailing the benefits of supplementation, that actually reaches the general public is quickly dismissed by the medical community as being “unsubstantiated” or “preliminary.” Whenever I relate to a colleague a patient’s recovery from a chronic condition by simply adjusting their diet and prescribing the appropriate health supplements, I often become the recipient of an incredulous laugh or sarcastic comment. At best, I am summarily dismissed with any one of a number of explanations to contradict what I know to be empirical evidence of successful treatment. Supplements can neither treat nor prevent any serious illness or disease according to the vast majority of healthcare providers.

“Only highly trained medical professionals are able to successfully treat chronic illnesses.” This is the mantra of the traditional medical community. The most disturbing aspect of this attitude is that medical students receive little or no education regarding nutrition, dietary supplements or any alternative treatments. There is no curriculum that includes preventative medicine. Similarly, physicians do not augment their education with post-doctoral fellowships in nutrition or alternative treatment research. Additional education or training in this area is non-existent. Again, the primary motivating factor is not the patient’s health and well being, it is treatment. The healthcare system is reactive, not proactive, to such an extent that physicians do not recognize they are, in part, responsible for their patients’ poor health. Physicians wait for symptoms, diagnose the symptoms and then attempt to treat the condition. A more pragmatic and cost-effective approach would be to administer healthcare systemically and organically. Ignoring the importance of preventative medicine contributes to the astronomical cost of healthcare in this country, along with Medicaid/Medicare, frivolous lawsuits and unlimited tort awards. For all these reasons, the average person is woefully misinformed about the benefits that proper nutrition and quality health supplements offer.

Quantifiable Results

Proper nutrition and regular exercise is the cornerstone of any effective health maintenance program. Again, most people do not appreciate the tremendous impact their diet has on their overall health and longevity. There are countless illnesses and diseases that are directly attributable to vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies. It is crucial for you to learn about the nutrients contained in the foods you eat (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, etc.). The only way to accomplish this is to read. There is far too much data to impart to be sufficiently addressed in this article. The Internet is probably the best and easiest venue for obtaining this type of material.

For a nutritionally sound-eating plan, refer to my “Eating for Health, Happiness and Successful Weight Control” (http://www.healthproductsusa.net/free_diet_health.htm) or, for a more structured diet, consider WebMD’s weight loss program (”https://diet.webmd.com/webmddiet/default_main.aspx?referrer=1111_006_0000_0013&secure=1″), which I highly recommend.

Unfortunately, even the healthiest of diets will be somewhat nutritionally deficient due to processing, cooking, and mineral deficient soil. Many food-processing methods, such as pasteurization, destroy essential nutrients necessary for good health. Cooking food also removes many nutritional elements. For decades, our farming soil has been virtually devoid of the 74 minerals necessary to sustain life (see http://www.healthproductsusa.net/govreports_health.htm). Consequently, no matter how much healthful food we eat, without supplementation we are still “starving” for nutrients. Therefore, as part of a comprehensive health maintenance regimen, I recommend that all my patients take a high-quality multivitamin (ingredients will differ for men and women), an absorbable mineral complex (either colloidal or an above-sea coral mineral), CoEnzyme Q10, an omega EFA group, methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), chondroitin, colostrum and an immune system support supplement (as such beta-1,3D glucan). It is important to note, however, supplements do not replace healthful food. Their function is exactly as their name, “dietary supplements.” Patients that have incorporated a varied, healthful diet coupled with a consistent supplementation program report notably fewer ailments, with the exception of pre-existing conditions.

For patients with pre-existing conditions or new patients with previously undiagnosed conditions, I will, in many cases, prescribe additional supplements based on:
dietary deficiency that may be causing the condition, case history, medical profile, symptomology and test results.
I consider pharmaceuticals a second tier modality and surgery and/or hospitalization a final option unless otherwise indicated. Connective tissue and bone ailments are most easily treated with supplements and have the most dramatic results. Vitamin K1, silica, chrondoitin, MSM, minerals, collagen and elastin are all elements that will facilitate connective tissue and bone (joint) ailment recovery. I could cite a litany of conditions that were markedly improved. Suffice to say, there have been very few patients, whether their condition(s) were minor or chronic, who did not realize at least some relief after taking the recommended supplements for an appropriate period of time. To their pleasant surprise, many patients also experience unexpected ancillary health improvements beyond that of the targeted condition.

Although I have not methodically tracked the recovery success rate, I feel confident in reporting that a significant percentage of my patients have responded well to a nutrition modality. To the extent that the use of more traditional modalities were not required.

For the defintive proof that supplements can heal, read the remainder of Dr. Parsons’ article which can be found at Health Products USA (http://healthproductsusa.net).

Dr. William Parsons is the author of “Eating for Health, Happiness and Weight Control” and “Physicians’ Anti-Supplement Attitude - Conspiracy or Ignorance?” A free condensed versions have been made available to Health Products USA (http://www.healthproductsusa.net).

Make Money Online for Free

Filed under: Your Business — admin at 7:42 pm on Friday, May 23, 2008

Working from home does not always require a fee. Most multi-level business opportunities require you to pay for a business kit, which includes brochures, order forms, company manual, etc, to get you up and running the same day you receive your kit. Making money online with an autosurf company will put you into profit your very first day. Many will even give you free money so that you can begin earning immediately. What this means for you is no out-of-pocket expenses, and the money that you earn online is 100% profit.

How Does It Work?
After you have opened a free account, you will click the “start surfing” button and a new browser will open with a 15 to 30 second timer, and you will view one of the members’ website. As the timer counts down to zero, a new website will be shown. You will continue viewing websites until the minimum number of websites have been viewed.

When you have surfed the required minimum of websites, then you will earn a percentage of the amount that is in your account level, for each day that you surf. Of course, if you do not surf, then you do not earn. There are autosurf companies who will start you out with free money so that you do not have any out-of-pocket expenses. You also have the option to upgrade your account level by adding to the money given to you by the company. This is to your advantage because you will earn more money.

Another way to increase your earnings is to join a company that will compound the money you make on a monthly basis. You will be paid when you have a minimum balance in your account level, or when your auto surfing has expired. There are different expiration dates with each company. Many payouts are sent to your payment processor automatically. Some payouts must be requested during a certain time frame of the month. Each company will list their requirements on their website, along with the payment processors they use such as StormPay, PayPal, eGold, etc.

Other Ways to Make Money
Autosurf companies will reward you each time you refer someone to their company. You will earn a percentage of the money earned by each of your referrals. The more referrals you have, the more money you will earn. You are not limited by the number of people you refer. Even if you do not refer anyone at all, you will still earn a significant income through your own efforts.

If you are affiliated with another company, you will be able to generate free traffic to the programs you would like to promote. When you join, you will have an option of listing your website so that it will be added to the autosurf rotator. Each time you autosurf, you will earn free credits which are used to display your website to other members, each time they autosurf. This will increase your earning power because you have the potential to make more sales and get more referrals to your other programs. To get additional exposure, many companies will allow you to purchase low cost advertising throughout their autosurf website.

Making money online with autosurf companies is the least expensive way to make money. To diversify, I would recommend that you join more than one company to give yourself several streams of income. You could upgrade your new accounts with money that you’ve earned from the first company that you joined. This will keep down your out-of-pocket expenses. If you give it enough time, you will be able to replace your income, and enjoy the freedom of working online from the comfort of your home.

Adrianne Geyer has been a full-time internet marketer since July 2000. The companies she represents have an excellent reputation for paying their members on time, and has remained consistent for the past 2 years. For more information, please visit the following link: Free Online Programs

Visiting Whistler Before The 2010 Olympics?

Filed under: Online Travel Resources — admin at 12:05 pm on Friday, May 23, 2008

As a resident, business owner and frequent skiier at Whistler, I have realized that there are “secrets”, things to see and do that the average visitor to Whistler has NO idea about. I’ll try to pass along a local’s knowledge, but know that Whistler is a paradise all of its own - these secrets merely add to the magic!

Hotels can be $300 a night and up during ski season, and peak summer season - but three ideas have saved me money on accommodation. First, there is a condo booking agency called Resortquest that can offer off season specials - I stayed in a gorgeous townhouse a block from the village square, with hot tub, fireplace, kitchen, sleeping 4-6 people for $100 in the early fall - ask about any deals like that!

If you are sociable, and willing to both ENJOY and put up with the common areas of a bed and breakfast - Chalet Beau Sejour had bed and breakfast in a spectacular chalet looking out on the mountains for $90-125. Very social hosts, and a dining table looking out on the mountains with double sided fireplace and mulled wine while visitors from around the world discuss snow and ski conditions simply can’t be beat!

Lastly, there are two hostels - the venerable Shoestring Lodge, just north of Whistler maybe ten blocks distance, and slated to be “developed” into townhouses before the Olympics, has beds for $25, as does the hostel across the Lake from Whistler - you may share a room with some interesting strangers, but that price leaves plenty of money for food and entertainment!

Whistler has an incredible array of high end restaurants, but one I found outstanding was the Edgewater Lodge, just north of Whistler a few miles. Check the picture in the website, combined with the Zagat quote “venison to die for” (they have their own venison farm) and you’ll be on your way!

At the other end of the spectrum, the mall beside the Whistler Conference Center hosts Shakespeare’s Pies - Australian meat pies for under $4 that you will come back for over and over, especially after visiting Whistler’s bars and nightclubs!

Three bars stand out as amongst Whistler’s best, and offer a unique experience. Tommy Africa’s will attract the early 20s crowd, with glass DJ booth, the best local DJs and a zebra striped door! The Savage Beagle is a two level bar on the main walkway, with a crowded dance floor downstairs, and a “belly up to the bar” section upstairs. The “cougar bar” for 30s and up is Buffalo Bills, at the other end of the main walkway - live bands, great DJs and comedians have offered many great nights over the years.

Ski lift passes are often available at the 7-11 in Squamish or Vancouver on your way to Whistler for a discount that can be $10-20 per lift ticket. Lift lines are shortest at the Whistler Creekside lift, if you want to get going quickly, but I prefer the skiing at Blackcomb, the other mountain (they are joined at Whistler Village)

The best kept secrets about Whistler are the summer activities - there are a group of pristine lakes to swim or canoe, mountain bikes with full protection gear are rocketed to the top of the mountain for rapid or tricky, descents, and the ski hill has a glacier at the top that is kept open until August!

Oh yeah, some guys named Palmer and Nicholas have golf courses, and there are ski camps, tennis camps, zip trek lines, heli hiking, white water rafting, fishing, horseback riding, ATVs - there are a LOT of great things to do, but bring money!!

Enjoy it now, before the Olympics - because 2 weeks of staring at this on TV is going to make the world go crazy for Whistler!

EzineArticles Expert Author Andrew Larder

Andrew Larder
Whistler, Whistler Accommodation, Whistler Lodging

Save Money When Going Out

Filed under: Diversions + Entertainment — admin at 7:57 am on Friday, May 23, 2008

It seems as though whenever we go out for the night, it costs much more than we originally intended to spend. Having a ‘night on the town’ shouldn’t cost you a whole weeks salary.

Keep in mind that the amount you spend is directly related to the place you go and what you purchase. If you are attending an opera with private balcony seats, followed by an elegant candle-lit dinner . . . . plan on spending more than forty dollars.

However, many activities can be a lot of fun and not cost much money at the same time. Sure, it’s nice to go out in style once and awhile, but realistically, how often can our pocketbooks afford it?

Use the following tips to help cut some of the costs when going out. These tips can also be helpful if you have children, and are looking for some lower priced outings.

How And Where To Save Money

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You can often find local organizations and establishments offering a variety of “weekly” specials that will save you money. By lowering prices and offering special discounts, these businesses attract customers during their “down” time, or slow days.

For instance, many Los Angeles area bars and restaurants offer free midweek buffets, $1 drink specials, and even half price appetizers. And many times, these specials last all night long! Those that don’t, have “Happy Hours” usually from 4-8pm offering food and drink specials ranging anywhere from $1-$5.

Granted these places won’t have the typical Friday night crowds, nevertheless they WILL provide you and your date more quality time together and save you money at the same time.

There is no need to feel cheap, or tight, just because you are interested in saving some of YOUR money. Is there a law commanding that you spend $200 every time you go out?

Check For Local Events

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Another idea is to check with your City Hall or local Parks and Recreation center to see what’s coming up. Often cities/counties sponsor a number of dance, theater, musical and visual arts events that are either FREE, or cost a few dollars for admission.

Local colleges also offer quite a number of events that cost very little to attend. Sporting events, musicals, drama and performing arts, are just a few that you will find. Contact your local colleges and see if you can be placed on a mailing list to be notified of upcoming events.

Don’t forget to check the papers and the ever popular website Ebay.com!

Many times you will find ticket deals on all types of events just from browsing the classifieds/Internet. You can often find ads placed by season ticket holders, selling because they are unable to attend. This is a great opportunity to score on a deal. You may also find lower priced tickets on games that are during the week or on games that are a bit “unpopular”.

Save When Dining Out

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If you are looking to save money when dining out, consider eating something at home before you go out, to lessen your hunger. You can then order a smaller meal or an appetizer when out. Also, avoid desserts and alcoholic beverages at restaurants since their markups are very high. This will really reduce the overall cost for dinner.

Here’s an idea for a somewhat of a romantic evening. Prepare a nice candle-lit dinner at home (pasta is very inexpensive) along with soothing music and afterwards, go out somewhere nice for dessert or a nice walk around a lake or by the beach.

It Does Not Stop Here

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These are just a few ideas and tips that can help you save money when going out, but don’t stop here! There are literally hundreds of activities, places, and events to see and do that cost very little. All it takes is a little research, creativity, and a willingness to try something new.

How about camping at the beach, desert, or mountains? Not only is camping inexpensive, but tons of fun. The whole family will enjoy this weekend getaway. You can also try visiting parks and lakes in your neighboring cities and towns. Doesn’t a relaxing picnic and a nice walk through scenic trails and vistas sound wonderful?

Just remember, it shouldn’t matter where you go with your ’special’ someone. If you really enjoy each others company, then you will have fun literally anywhere you go. You can even make it a contest between the two of you to see who can come up with the best lowest priced date. Take turns and compare the price and results afterwards. Contests are always fun especially when the two of you get to decide on what the winner gets ;-)


Learn Effective Money-Saving Techniques & Eliminate Your Debt At SavingSecrets.com. Hop on over and you’ll find FREE money-saving articles, a monthly newsletter, and even a FREE Ebook download just for stopping by!

http://www.SavingSecrets.com

About the Author

It seems as though whenever we go out for the night, it costs much more than we originally intended to spend. Having a ‘night on the town’ shouldn’t cost you a whole weeks salary.

Building Customer Relationships With Booklets

Filed under: Marketing + More — admin at 6:11 pm on Thursday, May 22, 2008

Marketing with booklets is an excellent way to reach new customers and maintain contact with existing customers.

Booklets are such powerful marketing vehicles because they allow you to educate your customers and maintain long term contact.

Newspaper advertisements, for example, allow only a small part of your story to be told. You can only put so much information in that tiny newspaper advertisement. Newspapers are usually kept for recycling, not reading.

Here are four advantages of marketing with booklets:

Booklet Marketing Advantage #1 - Longevity

How long do you think your customers will keep last Sunday’s newspaper advertisement? One day? Two days at the most? Then it’s off to the recycling bin.

Do you think they’ll keep your information filled tips booklet longer? They will if it contains information they find useful.

How many times have you kept a marketing product because it contained helpful information? Why do you think people put calendars on the back of business cards?

Booklet Marketing Advantage #2 - Credibility

Booklets that provide high quality information will increase your credibility. Americans love experts, publishing articles and booklets will help your customers see you as the expert.

Your customers’ know you are an expert because the information in your booklet helped solve their problems. They have proof you know what you are talking about, and that will cross over to other areas of your business.

Booklet Marketing Advantage #3 - Education

Do your product sales depend on your customer having a specific level of knowledge? If so, marketing with booklets gives you the opportunity to provide your customer with enough information to make an informed decision.

Can you say the same about newspaper advertising?

Booklet Marketing Advantage #4 - Costs

How much does each of your current customers contribute to your bottom line? Are they worth keeping? Since keeping a current customer is much cheaper than acquiring new customers, you bet they are!

Booklets allow you to maintain contact with your current customer base by providing them with tangible proof that your business values their patronage.

Conventional marketing wisdom is that a customer needs to see an advertisement up to seven times before they respond. If your booklet provides good usable information, your customer’s will read it and act on it without needing to see it multiple times.
Marketing that helps maintain your relationship with your current customer base or build rapport with new customers is inexpensive and effective marketing.

Conclusion

In my experience people buy from those they trust, and most Americans trust experts. By positioning yourself or your business as the expert you can benefit from this trust.

Marketing with booklets is a great way to establish your expertise with your customer base.

Rick Parrott - EzineArticles Expert Author

***
Parrott Writing Services, a San Antonio Texas company specializing in web content, ghostwriting, website optimization, online/offline ad copy and technical writing for small businesses.

http://www.rickparrott.com
mailto:rickparrott@sasecure.net

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