Materials Needed
1 decorative clay or metal planter
1 package of clay pellets (approx. 30 pellets)
3 packets of organic tea leaves seeds (YOUR CHOICE)
Grow-rich or nutrient-rich potting soil (ASK YOUR NURSERY FOR THE BEST RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR AREA)
Directions
1. Spread the clay pellets evenly along bottom of planter. These will absorb water and promote healthy root development of the tea plants.
2. Moisten potting soil in a large plastic bag and then spread mix over clay pellets in planter, leaving 1/2 inch at top of planter.
3. Sprinkle seeds on soil, leaving about 2 or so inches between different varieties.
4. Lightly cover the seeds with dry soil, and then moisten slightly with a spray bottle or a few drops of water.
5. Label the varieties of tea on the bottom or side of planter, or create popsicle-stick signs to place in the soil.
6. Move planter to a warm place in indirect sunlight until germination takes place. After germination, relocate planter to a warm area with natural sunlight.
7. When tea leaves reach a height of about two inches, thin out seedlings across the total planter surface to provide adequate space for future growth.
8. Water periodically, only when the soil is moderately dry.
DO NOT OVERWATER!!)
9. Pick tea leaves sparingly and brew in a hot pot of water. Sit back, sip and enjoy!
About the Author
None
Although this is not a practice I should recommend in a general
way, it must be realized that in many gardens it is a problem to
find room for all the plants one would wish to grow, and it
usually means that some plants encroach on the domain of others.
This brings up the question — is it harmful to roses to have
other plants growing in the same bed?
The answer to this depends to a great extent on whether the
roses are given a fair amount of room, and also whether the beds
are in grass or stone paving. Where rose bushes are not less
than two and a half feet apart other plants could be grown; in
the same way, plants could be grown near the edges of the beds
where stone paving is used. This would not be possible where
there was a grass surround.
Care should be exercised where the roses are newly planted,
since competition from the roots of other plants would seriously
impair the chances of the bushes getting established. The great
thing is to ensure that before other plants are introduced there
will be adequate food for both.
Of plants which can be introduced into the rose beds that can be
relied upon to do the minimum of harm to the roses, bulbous
flowers must come first. These will be in bloom before the roses
have had time to make much growth. I think the early flowering
tulips would be the best choice, for the Darwins coming as they
do at a warmer period, are very susceptible to greenfly which
would transfer their attentions to the roses. Then anemones
could also be used and would find the rich soil of a rose bed
much to their liking.
Of all the plants that may be grown in company with roses,
violas and pansies would be my first choice. The colors are
never obtrusive and varieties can be selected to conform to any
color scheme that may be desired.
It would be very unwise to attempt to grow perennial plants, for
whatever is grown should be cleared from the beds during the
autumn so that the necessary cultivation such as renewal of top
soil or the forking in of manure, can be carried out.
If some of the dwarf annuals are desired, especially those that
do not transplant successfully, a good method which I always
employ is to place a few short pieces of stick where the plants
are to grow and then to sow a few seeds close to the stick. When
the seedlings are up and large enough to handle, they can be
thinned out to one or two plants. The distance between the
sticks would be governed by the plants used, but they should
never be closer than nine inches.
Though most women take much interest in home décor for some reason or other, what they are ignorant about the fact home décor can also be used as an ideal home based money making business opportunity.
If you are women with austere sense of space and beauty and some interior design experience to back you up, you can become home decor expert and offer home décor advice over the internet. You can become home décor consultants. You can also offer your home décor consultation service over the net to come up with some good home improvement ideas for those who look for some useful tips on the net and don’t have the budget to pay the interior decorators.
You can be an entrepreneur by venturing into a home based business by joining an affiliate program of online home décor store or outlet for selling their items.
Home décor business also offers some unique home based business opportunities on the net. You can take up them as a part time or spare time home-based business activity, which can turn out to the most ideal home based business for women. There are many home décor online stores which offer home based business opportunities to women, Milano Direct is one such home decor online store which has offered the best home based money making business opportunity to thousands of women on the net.
Besides the net there are some other home decorating business opportunities which can be taken up in your spare time. For example you can sign up as a sales representatives with a company specializing in home decor or home decorating products and have shows where you present the itemsand sale them. You can offer these shows in your own home or go into other people’s homes. These shows can be a great deal of fun and a way to earn a handsome amount.
If you have a flair for interior decorating and are of independent nature you may want to start a home decorating business all your own. There can be a number of items you can specialize in like draperies, kitchen remodeling, carpeting, art and accessories, or color scheme choices, just to name a few, as the focus of your home decor business. The possibilities are endless plus you can also have your own home decorating ideas to integrate them for the home decor home business concept.
For starting the dome décor business the contacts with the following can be of much help:
• Interior designers
• Home builders and contractors
• Architects
• Art galleries
• Carpet companies
• Paint companies
• Antique dealers
• Lighting specialists
• Furniture stores and dealers
These contacts can help you to be in touch with the prospective clients. Which means you can get to work more quickly, and often with more upscale clients than you could reach on your own, especially when you’re just starting a home decor home business.
You don’t have to be a business person to make any plans for your home decor home business. You just have to think carefully and put in as much of research as you can. Learn what people are looking for right now in terms of interior decorating. Go to different furniture stores, home décor stores to see what they’re stocking. You can also talk with owners and also with the customers what’s hot and what items they would like to buy.
Only after you do proper research and clear what you want to get into you can go ahead with the formalities.
I wish you good luck in all of your ventures into the home décor business.
Author’s Bio
The author contributes topic on www.milanodirect.biz/stay-at-home-business.asp“> home decorating business opportunities to various web publications. He has worked as a part time editor in some business portals. Currently working for www.milanodirect.biz/“>www.milanodirect.biz
Boost Profits: Market to the Gay Community
Research shows that the gay and lesbian market is worth cultivating, no matter what your product or service. Despite the cultural changes during the past fifty years the gay and lesbian market is still relatively untapped. According to GLINN (the Gay/Lesbian International News Network) from 1996-1998 the annual value of the gay and lesbian market was 514 billion dollars. Online research conducted by Community Marketing Inc. in San Francisco from 2001-2003 showed that gay and lesbian travel accounted for 54.1 billion in annual spending in the United States alone. This research also concluded that approximately 76% of gay and lesbian household incomes are above the national average of $40,000 per year.
The incredible “Dual Income, No Kids (DINK)” buying power of the gay and lesbian population is stirring things up in business these days. It is changing the fields of marketing and public relations, as well as economics. In light of recent gay marriage laws passed in Massachusetts and other similar laws on the table in other states, the newest financial explosion has happened within the gay and lesbian wedding industry. There are many ways gay friendly businesses can learn to speak directly to the gay and lesbian community in order to share the wealth.
Advertising to the Gay Community
A report on mygayweb.com says 78% of gay online users prefer to buy from companies that target market to the GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender) community. The first and most important step.is researching this target market by finding gay/lesbian newspapers, magazines, community centers, web sites, expos, or conferences. Once you decide where to advertise, maintain a strong and consistent advertising presence within the community itself. This will produce loyalty.
Gay and Lesbian consumers deeply appreciate being treated with the same respect and consideration as anyone else. Comfort in expressing their lifestyle, flexibility with products and services and creativity in your approach will form a bond of trust between a company and its’ gay and lesbian clients. A business will gain a reputation for openness to gays and lesbians and as word of mouth travels you may receive hundreds of referrals. In the gay and lesbian community trust is an important and marketable commodity.
Community Action
In order to further a bond of trust, gay and lesbian patrons expect to see gay friendly practices in action. The creation of anti-discrimination policies in the work place, involvement in AIDS education, and support of gay rights initiatives are a few examples. Honest communication is also imperative. Gay and lesbian clientele want to rest assured that, if necessary, a protocol is in place for reporting inappropriate behavior or comments from staff. They want reassurance that no matter who assists in a sale the company provides a safe and respectful space at all times.
Symbols of the Gay Community
There are signals a gay friendly business can send out that are discreet and specific. These signals can be presented in a way that does not offend more traditional clients or draw attention to a business located in a more conservative area. An effective way to reach gay and lesbian customers is to learn the symbolism of the community. The use of a small rainbow flag or pink triangle in the form of a sticker on your window or as an icon on your web site will send a message to the gay and lesbian population of your town or city. There are a wide variety of market specific themes and images available to businesses that choose to call themselves gay friendly. If there is a gay or lesbian group in the area ask for any promotional materials they may offer, to gain a better understanding of the lingo, symbolism, and specific needs of the GLBT community.
Any Business Can Be Making More Money
Acceptance, reliability, personal attention, and excellence are qualities all consumers want in a buying experience. Gay and lesbian customers are no different than straight ones. They want all of the same services, from caterers to photographers, from flowers to cars, from cruise packages to tailors and dressmakers. Any business has the ability to reach out to this market and embrace thousands of new clients.
Including the gay and lesbian community in your marketing and PR strategy can help generate profits never before imagined. Use the positive outlook of respecting all clients and providing great service to all as a way to boost the company’s reputation and income.
The gay population is a lucrative market. Learn how to speak the gay community’s language, familiarize yourself with gay community organizations, and create a gay-friendly workspace. With these steps you will be well on your way to selling your products and services to this profitable market sector.
About the Author
Marianne Puechl is co-owner of www.RainbowWeddingNetwork.com, the first exclusive gay and lesbian wedding registry on-line. The site includes a directory of over 4,000 screened, gay-friendly businesses nationwide and in Canada. RWN was launched in 2000, and the first GLBT Wedding Expo will occur in Boston, Massachusetts on May 2, 2004.
THE 200 POINT SYSTEM
With so many different diets available, how are we to know
what works and what is safe? The only way to be sure is to
discover the author’s background and the research behind
the diet’s methodology. Every good diet should give a
background about the author and his/her credentials and
experience in the fields of nutrition and biochemistry.
However, even a vast resume does not mean a credible and
safe diet. But it does suggest, at least, that the author has
some knowledge of nutrition. Providing research behind the
diet proves that the diet is not something the author
invented, so long as the research is not self-serving and
altered to fit a hypothesis.
Some diets may not need a great deal of tests and studies
behind them, simply because they are based on
fundamentals. For example, many women’s magazines
have articles on dieting and weight loss, but they are
common sense suggestions that most people concerned
about weight should know already: “Eat smaller meals”, “cut
down on sugar and fat”, etc., are typical philosophies. More
structured diets should give some scientific reasons for its
suggested success, preferably case studies and research
performed on everyday test subjects, as well as athletes.
Since we have established the importance of eating a
balanced diet in accordance to selecting healthy foods and
obtaining RDA minimums, it is possible now to rate the
diets in accordance to those specific criteria. Begin with a
score of 200 and subtract 10 points from the total for each
statement below in which the diet concedes. An ideal diet
should maintain a score of 200, but a score of 160 or
greater is acceptable.
1. The diet does not include the food groups in adequate
amounts. Some fad diets eliminate one or more of the food
groups. Do not deduct 10 points if a food group’s nutrients
(e.g., carbs, proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals) are
adequately substituted with that of another food group.
2. The diet does not provide at least 45% of its calories from
carbohydrate sources. In order to prevent ketosis, at least
150g of glucose/day is required. That’s 33-50% of total
calorie intake on a 1200-calorie diet. Keep in mind that is
the minimum. For highly active individuals, that amount
should increase to 60% at times, i.e., immediately after
exercise.
3. The carbohydrate content exceeds 20% concentrated
sugars. At least 80% of carbohydrate sources should be
complex, and preferably in the form of vegetables, seeds,
and legumes.
4. The protein content exceeds 30%. A very high protein
intake is unnecessary, it places additional strain on the
urinary system, and it is a poor source of energy. Thirty
percent is more than adequate, even for growing children
and teenagers. The only group that requires higher protein
intake are those who recently suffered a severe injury (e.g.,
leg amputation), infection, or surgery. However, these
individuals will be under the care of a physician with a
special high protein diet.
5. Protein content accounts for 15% or less of total calories.
Although unnecessary in large amounts, protein still has
many vital functions, including tissue repair and the
formation of enzymes.
6. Fats exceed 30% of total intake. Besides increasing the
risk of cardiovascular disease, high fat diets have not been
demonstrated to decrease weight better than other methods
of ‘proper’ eating.
7. Total fat consumption is less than 15% of total calories.
Fat in moderate amounts is essential for a healthy diet, and
such a diet provides taste to many foods. Fat intake below
15% for long periods, for most individuals, is unrealistic.
Fat intake that is too low can also be detrimental to children
and teenagers who require ample kcalories for continued
growth.
8. Total fat consumption is less than 25% essential fatty
acids, and saturated fat is more than 30% of total fat
consumption. Deduct 10 for each.
9. The diet does not suggest common foods, meaning
foods you should be able to obtain at any grocery store or
market.
10. The foods for the diet are expensive or monotonous.
Some diets require the purchase of ‘their’ foods or
expensive ‘organic’ foods only obtained through health food
stores. Some foods taste so bad they are difficult to
tolerate repeatedly (e.g., seaweed). Deduct 10 for each.
11. The diet consists of an inflexible meal plan. The diet
does not allow for substitutions or deviations, requiring a
person to live under ‘house arrest’ with the same food
selections every day.
12. The diet provides less than 1200 kcalories per day.
Less than that and the body’s basic functions may not be
getting the energy, vitamins and minerals needed to work
properly, and the dieter almost is certain to feel hungry all
the time. Diets below 1200 kcalories should be reserved for
those under the supervision of a dietitian or licensed
physician.
13. The diet requires the use of supplements. If the diet
provides adequate energy and it is well balanced,
supplements are unnecessary. ‘Fat accelerators,’ such as
ephedrine, may increase the rate of weight loss, but the diet
should be able to stand on its own merit. Some diet clinics
promote a vast array of herbal preparations and fat
accelerators, and this is where these clinics make their
money - not in their knowledge and ability as nutritionists.
14. The diet does not recommend a realistic weight goal.
Diets should not be promoting the body of a Greek god or a
supermodel. They should not be suggesting that a person
lose 100 pounds (even if 100 pounds overweight). Nor
should diets recommend weight loss below an ideal
weight.
15. The diet recommends or promotes more than 1-2
lbs/week weight loss. Do not expect to lose more than 1-2
pounds of fat a week - it is physically impossible unless
chronically obese, at which point 3 pounds may be
possible. If more than two pounds is lost per week, the
body change is due to a loss of water and/or muscle tissue.
Gimmicks that promise 10 pounds in 2 weeks are either
simply not true or else something other than fat is being
lost. Also keep in mind that the more fat a person wishes to
lose, and the less a person has, the more difficult and
slower it will be to lose additional fat.
16. The diet does not include an evaluation of food habits.
Dieting should be a slow process by which a person
changes normal eating habits. It should not include looking
for quick fixes and quick plans promising short cuts and
extreme changes - a person would never stay with these
programs and such diets do not work long-term. The
number of kcalories eaten, and the food selections and their
amounts, should be reevaluated on a regular basis…
perhaps once every 1-2 months to determine the program’s
effectiveness.
17. Regular exercise is not recommended as part of the
plan for proper weight loss. Weight loss occurs twice as
fast with exercise, and without exercise there is a greater
tendency to lose lean muscle tissue as well as fat. This is
not ideal.
OVERVIEW OF VARIOUS DIETS
Low Carbohydrate Diets: Ketosis occurs, and this presents
the same problems as fasting. Once glycogen stores are
spent (which happens quickly with athletes and those who
exercise regularly), glucose must be made from protein
sources, and there is greater wear on the kidneys as a
result. Even on a high protein diet, some protein will be
taken from body tissues in order to produce enough energy
for the nervous system and regular activity. The onset of
ketosis is an indication that this process has begun and it is
not a positive aspect, regardless of what pro-high-fat
authorities indicate.
Great weight loss on a low-carb diet is evident because of
the fact that carbs hold water in the muscles at a ratio of 1:3.
As carb intake decreases then so, too, does water retention.
Much water flushes as a result of lack of glycogen to hold
water molecules. Moreover, by increasing protein intake,
excess nitrogen flushes with even more water since the
kidneys use water to dilute the concentration of nitrogen.
Once leaving a low-carb diet and the muscles refill with
glycogen, fluid concentrations increase and the dieter
regains some of the weight.
Low calorie diets of 400-600 kcalories that consist primarily
of protein have the same problems as fasting and
low-carbohydrate diets: proteins are used for energy and
weight loss comes largely from water. Low-cal diets must
be supervised properly by a medical professional and only
as a last resort for those who cannot seem to lose weight by
other methods. However, even those individuals tend to
regain most of their weight back once they return to a
balanced diet.
Beverly Hills Diet - a diet consisting of grapefruit, eggs, rice,
and kelp; it is deficient in minerals and vitamins.
Cambridge Diet - a very low kcalorie (300-600 kcal/day);
protein/carb mixture with mineral imbalances; the dieter is
close to fasting.
Complete Scarsdale Diet - this diet is unbalanced
nutritionally; some days are calorically restricted; the dieter
alters portions of carbohydrate, protein, and fat; the diet
consists of low carbs (20-50 g/day), and high fat and
protein; the diet has a high meat (saturated fat and
cholesterol) content.
Dr. Atkin’s Diet Revolution - this diet is unbalanced
nutritionally; some days are calorically restricted; the dieter
alters portions of carbohydrate, protein, and fat; carbs are
very low (20-50 g/day), whereas fat and protein are high;
there is high meat (saturated fat and cholesterol)
consumption.
Dr. Linn’s Last Chance Diet - this diet has a very low
kcalorie intake (300-600 kcal/day); it consists of a
protein/carb mixture with a mineral imbalance; the dieter is
close to fasting.
Dr. Reuben’s The Save Your Life Diet - this is a calorically
dilute diet consisting of high fiber (30-35g/day); the diet is
low in fat and animal products; there is poor absorption of
minerals because of too much high fiber.
“Fake” Mayo Diet - this diet consists of grapefruits, eggs,
rice, and kelp; it is deficient in minerals and vitamins.
F-Plan Diet - this is a calorically dilute diet consisting of
high fiber (30-35g/day); it is low in fat and animal products;
there is poor absorption of minerals because of too much
fiber.
LA Costa Spa Diet - this diet promotes weight loss of 1-1_
lbs/day; there are various plans of 800, 1000, and 1200
kcal/day composed of 25% protein, 30% fat (mostly
polyunsaturates), and 45% carbohydrate; the diets includes
the four food groups.
Medifast Diet - this diet is balanced nutritionally, but
provides only 900 kcal/day; use of liquid formulas makes
this diet monotonous and expensive.
Nutrimed Diet/Medifast Diet - this is a nutritionally balanced
diet, but it supplies only 900 kcal/day; the use of liquid
formulas makes this diet monotonous and expensive.
Optifast Diet - this diet is nutritionally balanced, but
supplies only 900 kcal/day; use of liquid formulas makes
this diet monotonous and expensive.
Pritikin Permanent Weight-Loss Diet - this is a nutritionally
unbalanced diet; some days are calorically restricted; the
dieter alters portions of carbohydrate, protein, and fat; the
diet consists of high protein (100 g/day); unless the foods
properly chosen, it may be low in vitamin B12.
Prudent Diet - this is a balanced, low kcalorie (2400
kcal/day) diet for men; it is low in cholesterol and saturated
fats; a maximum of 20-35% calories are derived from fat
with an emphasis on protein, carbohydrates, and salt; there
is ample consumption of fish and shellfish, and saturated
fats are substituted with polyunsaturated fats.
Quick Weight Loss Diet - this diet is unbalanced
nutritionally; some days are calorically restricted; the dieter
alters portions of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, although
there is low carbs (20-50 g/day), and high fat and protein;
there is high meat consumption (saturated fat and
cholesterol) with this diet.
San Francisco Diet - this diet begins at 500 kcal/day,
consisting of two meals per day of one fruit, one vegetable,
one slice of bread, and two meat exchanges; the second
week limits carbohydrates, with most food coming from the
meat group and with some eggs and cheese, and a few
vegetables; week three includes fruit; in week four there is
an increase in vegetables; week five the dieter add
fat-containing foods (e.g., nuts, avocados); week six
includes milk; week seven includes pastas and bread,
where the diet is maintained at about 1300 kcal/day; this
diet avoids the issue of saturated fats and cholesterol.
Slendernow Diet - this diet is unbalanced nutritionally;
some days are calorically restricted; the dieter alters
portions of carbohydrate, protein, and fat; the protein is
generally high (100 g/day); unless foods are properly
chosen, there may be a deficiency in vitamin B12.
Weight-Watchers Diet - this diet is balanced nutritionally, at
about 1000-1200 kcal; use of high nutrient-dense foods are
consumed; economic and palatable food makes it one of
the most successful diets with no real health risks.
Wine Diet - this diet is about 1200 kcal/day, containing 28
menus together with a glass of dry table wine at dinner;
besides the medicinal components of wine, it is believed
that individuals reduce portion sizes when wine is
consumed with a meal; the diet is low in cholesterol and
saturated fats; there is a focus on fish, poultry, and veal with
moderate amounts of red meat.
Yogurt Diet - this diet consists of two versions, being
900-1000 kcal/day, and 1200-1500 kcal/day; plain low-fat
yogurt is the main dairy dish, consumed at breakfast, lunch,
and as a bedtime snack; the diet is high in protein, and it is
low in cholesterol, saturated fat, and refined carbohydrates.
Diets that do not provide 100% of the U.S. RDA for 13
vitamins and minerals:
Atkins
Beverly Hills
Carbohydrate Craver’s Basic
Carbohydrate Craver’s Dense
California (1200 kcal) California (2000 kcal)
F-Plan
I Love America
I Love New York
Pritikin (700 kcal) Pritikin (1200 kcal)
Richard Simmons
Scarsdale
Stillman
Brian D. Johnston is the Director of Education and President
of the I.A.R.T. fitness certification institute. He has written
over 12 books and is a contributor author to the Merck
Medical Manual. An international lecturer, Mr. Johnston
wears many hats in the fitness and health industries. You
can visit his site at http://www.ExerciseCertification.com
September is that ritualized time of year when children of all ages leave home for school. This week, our twenty-two year old daughter left home for what seemed like the zillionth time. This time it was to return to college, and this time she left total chaos in her wake. She had transferred to a new school and her hitherto well-understood leaving and packing process seemed forgotten. It was as if she had never been away before. She experienced periods of anxiety followed by times of elation. According to her, she needed everything new and there were several significant altercations as her stepfather and I pointed out that what she already possessed was perfectly fine. She took an extra job to earn money for what she wanted and she vacillated between pride in her accomplishments and anger that we weren’t giving her all that she asked for.
At times, I burst with pride at the many wonderful things she did. Other times, I wondered where this “bratty” young woman came from. She refused help with packing and for a week the entire house looked like a college dorm, although historically, her college room unlike her room at home, was in fact military neat. As parents who had been through school starting with several children before her, as well as many with her, we found ourselves surprisingly torn about how much help to give her. Should we impose the much-needed structure that we thought she would benefit from, or should we respect her growing edge and let her do things as she saw fit? We wanted to maintain our feelings of good will and send her off with our support and blessings, but could we? Would she let us?
Some days were easier than others. Sometimes she snapped at us. Other days we snapped at her, and still other times, my husband and I snapped at each other. It was clear that her new adventure was both exciting and scary for her. Since the decision to transfer to a new school was all hers, she tried to hold her anxiety inward and present a brave face to all.
Her new roommate was someone she had known in her old school, but they had not known each other well. The girls, or shall I call them young women, made most of their own arrangements and although they lived in different cities figured out how to drive the several thousand miles they needed to go together.
My husband endlessly and obsessively fretted and worried about the details that he knew they would have to deal with. He made lists that the girls barely paid attention to as he worked out banking and travel links, downloaded map quest, and tried to instill a sense of order, all with little acknowledgment or thanks from the qausi independent females. Our other children had been far more generous in their responses to our efforts, as had she in the past, so the girls’ behavior was difficult to take.
I focused on stressing academics, lecturing as little as possible and I tried to keep in check and remain silent about my constant terror surrounding their journey. ‘Do you have your charger for your cell phone’ was about as verbal as I got. Did I say it one hundred times, or just think it? I am not sure.
Finally the big moment came. A good-bye celebratory lunch and off they went. Relieved, that they were on their way, I wanted to applaud how well my daughter had done. As her car pulled away, the all too familiar feeling came over me. My heart broke and the well-remembered September tears rained down my cheeks. She may be almost all grown up, but she’s still my baby. I imagine I will smile and cry during these bittersweet moments forever.
The house is quiet now — and clean. Order has been restored. I tell myself I like the quiet. And, I do. So why do I find reasons to go into her empty room so often? I guess I miss her presence, chaos and all. I imagine I always will.
Life is too hard to do alone,
Dr. D.
Dorree Lynn, PH.D.
About the Author
Dr. Dorree Lynn is co-founder of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Psychotherapy and a practicing clinician in New York and Washington, DC. Dr. Lynn served on the executive board of the American Academy of Psychotherapists and she is on the editorial board of their publication, Voices. She is also a regular columnist for the Washington, DC newspaper, The Georgetowner. Dr. Lynn is a noted speaker and well known on the lecture circuit.
Valentine’s Day brings with it the message of love and reinforces its universal spirit. With strong reminiscences from the past, today, Valentine’s Day is tagged as global day. Transcending physical boundaries, it has percolated through different regions, cultures and communities. The continuation through centuries reiterates the immense popularity of the Day, whose influence has been growing in leaps and bounds in the wake of commercialization. Hence, what began as a day to commemorate the martyrdom of St. Valentine and his sacrifices in the name of love has come to include within its corpus a gamut of celebrations, festivities and traditions.
Essentially symbolizing a day for lovers, the popularity and appeal of the day is cross-generational. Valentine’s Day might be a celebration between anyone and anywhere. For instance, it might be an expression between a grandfather and his grandson, between an idol and his devoted follower, or it maybe an occasion to reinforce the spirit of love between long-distance lovers or long-lost heartthrobs.
Although twentieth-century celebrations reveal a stark contrast with earlier days, the numerous symbols linked with day remain intact. The red rose, being a symbol of passion and love, is the traditional Valentine’s Day flower. The yellow rose symbolizes friendship. The symbol of Cupid, the son of the goddess of love, with a bow is another popular feature. As a sign of love, the heart is also linked to Valentine’s Day celebrations. Depicting the message of love and loyalty between mates, doves are an eternal part of Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Along with the expression of love, gifts are the major attractions for the day. It could be anything from a bouquet of flowers to an assortment of chocolates to heart-shaped candies. A diamond ring as a gift is symbolic of the sentiment associated with the day. Valentine’s Day is a unique day that is celebrated with pomp and grandeur. This might involve a quiet candlelight dinner between lovers, an extravagant party sprayed with champagne, a scrumptious dinner in restaurant and a display at the movie theatre, a flashy discotheque, and many more celebrations.
In the U.S., the day particularly gained prominence after the Civil War. There are narrations of the exchange of cards and greetings between the people and their worshipped heroes and generals. From the second half of the twentieth century, the practice of exchanging cards also came to include gift-giving rituals. Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated amongst lovers and loved ones with a spree of revels.
It is often said that Valentine’s Day, marked by ostentatious displays, has become a victim of commercialism. Despite of all such claims, the glorious prominence of the event in today’s materialistic world, stricken by tensions and pressures, bears testimony to its unaltered status. The message of love still remains the untarnished essence for the day.
Valentines Day provides detailed information on Valentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day Gifts, Valentine’s Day Gift Baskets, Valentine’s Day Cards and more. Valentines Day is affiliated with Mexican Holidays.
Over the past couple of months it has been quite noticeable that the amount of time and effort that is going into website promotion is rapidly rising and therefore so is the associated cost of keeping ahead of the competition.
More and more people are devoting more and more time to website promotion and it is becoming a feature of nearly all website promotion campaigns that they are embracing all known search engine promotion techniques instead of exclusively relying on one or two methods.
What we are seeing at the moment is a landshift change in promotion techniques. Only a year or so ago it was thought enough for a search engine optimisation company to optimise the pages (on page optimisation) and submit the website.
However now that the competition is becoming ever fiercer off page optimisation is becoming a necessary requirement of any respectable website promotion campaign.
Let’s examine these two terms and see what we mean my “on page optimisation” and “off page optimisation”.
On page optimisation is the process of tuning the page for a search engine or more usually trying to make it rank highly on a selection of search engines. It’s no wonder that many search engine optimisation engineers focus on google exclusively as it certainly produces the most traffic of all engines, but will that always be the case? Things can change quickly in internet land.
Page optimisation strategies generally consist of using your keyword or keyword phrases in all of the pages known “hotspots”. The page title, meta keyword, meta description, alt tags, first heading and the body text. Subsequent “tweaks” can include bolding the keyword phrase, using the keyword phrase in a hyperlink and more.
To a point there is only so much that you can do to search engineer a page before it starts to look spammy, repeating the keyword phrase over and over. Of course some “optimisers” still do this but it’s quickly becoming a frowned upon practice as it detracts sharply from a website wanting to produce a professional image, not to mention your chances of being banned from the search engine altogether.
This is where “off page optimisation” takes over.
Both Google and Yahoo use a system of “ranking” websites dependent on several factors - one of which is how relevant the content appears to be to the keyphrase searched for (on page optimisation).
The second important criteria that your pages are judged on is how “popular” those pages are in comparison with your competition. Broken down into it’s basest form it means that the more quality votes (links) that your page has then the more popular it must be and so is promoted higher up the search engine results.
In google parlance this feature is known as “pagerank” and pagerank is a vitally important part of your website promotion campaign. If you don’t have any then you are standing naked in front of everybody and that’s not a nice feeling!
Google pagerank is based on a scale of 1-10 where 10 has the most influence. The algorithm is configured on a sliding scale so that you only ever gain pagerank as a percentage of the full amount. As those with the highest pagerank are constantly adding more “votes” for their pages it makes sense that those at the bottom end of the scale are going to have to work ever harder to play “catch up” and that is where the extra cost is being factored in to website promotion campaigns.
However it becomes more complicated.
Not all links are equal.
Blindly rushing off and trying to get as many links as possible is not going to help you much. In fact it’s one of the reasons why people are spending so much time and effort in their link exchange campaigns and finding they are getting nowhere.
Savvy online marketers have established that links from pages with a low pagerank are not as valuable as links from those with a higher pagerank. But also in paradox to this it is possible to get more value from linking to a page with lower pagerank than the higher one!
Confused! No wonder “off page optimisation” is becoming such a sought after area of expertise.
The paradox occurs because built into the pagerank algorithm is a method of transferring the amount of pagerank “boost” a page gets by dividing up the total pagerank of a page by the number of links present. So a high pagerank page with 100 links on it is not going to give as much “voting power” as a low pagerank page with only one or two links on it.
Trying to make sense of this is at the heart of any “off page optimisation” campaign. Sifting through links, setting up reciprocal link campaigns (the site you link to links back to you) getting links from directories and so on is a time consuming task, even when using some of the more advanced tools that take a lot of the manual drudgery out of the job.
Link exchanges are springing up all over the place offering to bring together people willing to exchange links and the humble text link is becoming one of the most valuable pieces of internet property. Costs for placing text links on higher ranked sites are escalating and it’s becoming ever more important to network closely with other sites offering useful services to your visitors.
Throwing up a links page and asking all and sundry to link to it is not going to work - all that’s going to do is give you an administrative headache and make your visitors wonder if they are making the right choice. Choosing quality link partners is a time consuming and therefore expensive business.
What this all means is that the cost of website promotion is constantly going up. And those companies with well networked sites and strategically placed links are in a much better position to help their customers than those who rely solely on pay per click campaigns and other expensive forms of advertising.
A website promotion campaign is still the best value for money form of advertising that there is in my opinion, it’s just that the costs are rising and will continue to rise. But the rewards for those that get it right are greater in comparison.
To sum up, search engine optimisation is becoming a more and more labour intensive exercise. There are more pages to be made search engine friendly and to gain top spots each page has to be tuned for a particular search engine. Gone are the days of “one size fits all”.
In addition there is a large amount of work involved in linking strategies and building the “popularity” of a website so that it has a chance of making it into the top 10 results.
It’s this combination of work required that is forcing up the costs of a search engine optimisation campaign.
Tony Cooper is internet marketing manager for:
http://www.keywordmarketing.com
Building results driven websites.
Your local Chamber of Commerce.
Now before you stop reading, I assure you this really works, and no, this is not an advertisement for the Chamber of Commerce although it may read like one.
What seems now like a hundred years ago I owned and operated a company that was made up of three components: a monthly magazine that we converted over to the Internet (http://www.sbmag.org); a graphic art studio; and an advertising agency. While we were in our infant stages, one of the tools I used to build a client base was a one hour consultation for new business start-ups on how to get business with little or no advertising budget.
This program was very successful, and we ended up with a number of excellent clients that stayed with us for years. Most, if not everything that I suggested in that one hour session many years back, is still valid today.
The first thing I would recommend for a new business owner was to become a joiner. If your business is a mama-papa business, you should both join an organization or two, but not the same ones. Spread it out.
The first organization I always recommended joining was the local Chamber of Commerce. Your Chamber of Commerce should be the number one advocate for business of all sizes in your community. Most are structured about the same way with a variety of committees that deal with specific issues related to different aspects that make up your community. Make sure you become active in the committee that has the closest relationship to your business. If you are a retailer, join the retail merchants committee; if you are a contractor, you may want to join the government affairs committee or the transportation and traffic committee, etc., etc. If the opportunity presents itself, you may also want to consider chairing one of these committees or gaining a seat on the board of directors. This will add instant credibility and more exposure to you and your business. But be selective and don’t take on more responsibilities then you want to do or, worse yet, than you can do. Failing here can create negative public relations, the direct opposite of why you are there to begin with.
Most Chambers also sponsor any number of different networking opportunities ranging form mixers to field trips. Attend as many of these functions as you can, and always make sure you wear a nametag and have plenty of businesses cards with you. My favorites were the mixers. However, don’t be obnoxious about it. I have seen people attending chamber events and simply walking around and sticking their business cards in people’s faces and launching into some sort of sales pitch. This won’t get it done. In fact, all it will do is tick people off. Remember, you are only there to meet and greet people and make friends and contacts, not sell them something right then and there.
Also remember that most, if not all, people in attendance are probably there for the same reason you are. Quite often I found it more beneficial to listen more then talk. People that have something to say are appreciative of those that are willing to listen. I can remember incidences where someone would say to me later that I really made a great impression on so-and-so, and that they thought what a great guy I was. In reality, I hardly said more then 20 words to so-and-so, but I did spend a half hour listening to him.
Some Chambers will arrange a ribbon cutting ceremony for you when you first join, assuming yours is a new business. If your business is not all that new, they may be willing to do something similar in the way of announcing you as a new member to the Chamber.
Most Chambers have a monthly newsletter and accept press releases. Some also sell advertising at very reasonable price. Also keep in mind that if you are an active member and maybe even a committee chairperson or board member, you may have your own column in the newsletter or at least a listing as a committee chair or member of the board. This listing usually will include the name of your business.
If your committee is dealing with important issues and or events, there may also be additional benefits in the way of local media coverage. I always made sure I chaired at least one or two events a year, and I picked the ones that were most likely to effect a large segment of the community “in a positive way”. This becomes important. For instance, you may want to think twice about chairing a committee to recall the local mayor and opt instead to take over the Christmas Parade.
A lot of Chambers sponsor trade shows. If promoted right, these events will offer an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your business. The trade shows are sometimes limited to a specific type of business. An example may be an electronics show or a fashion show. Obviously, if you sell running shoes, setting up a booth among nothing but big screen TVs and laptop computers may not be the place for you. On the other hand if you sell insurance, this may be the place for you to pitch homeowners insurance to people with a lot of high priced electronic gadgets. You have to pick and choose the right place at the right time.
Another function some, if not most, Chambers sponsor are seminars. Don’t miss the opportunity to present yourself as an expert in your field. Explore the possibility of becoming a presenter at a seminar being offered.
Don’t over look the possibility of selling your goods or services directly to the Chamber itself. It’s a fairly good bet that, with little exception, they are not going outside their own membership to purchase anything unless they absolutely have to. If you do get a chance to do business with them, make sure you give them the best service and the best prices you can. The last thing you want to do is over charge or under serve what is probably the largest and most influential business organization in your area.
The list of possible exposure via your chamber is endless — web site listings, yearly directories both on line and hard copy, referral services, business card racks, local maps and on and on. I can’t possibly cover all the advantages of membership. There will be many other opportunities that your involvement will create for you. Yet, not all of the benefits can be, nor should they be, measured in dollars and cents. One of the greatest benefits of being a member will be in the overall pride and satisfaction that you will get, knowing you are a leader working to make your community a better place to live. You can’t put a price on that.
Check out http://www.sbmag.org for a number of other ideas on promoting your business on a budget.
No permission is needed to reproduce an unedited copy of this article as long the About The Author tag is left in tact and hot links included. Reciprocal links will be considered. Email floyd@sbmag.org.
Floyd Snyder has been trading and investing in the stock market for three decades. He was on the forefront of the day trading craze that swept the nation back in the late 1990’s both as a trader and as the moderator of one of the Internet’s largest real time trading rooms. He is the owner of http://www.TraderAide.com , Strictly Business Magazine at http://www.sbmag.org, http://www.FrameHouseGallery.com, and http://www.EducationResourcesNetwork.com.
This is Edward Lefevre’s story of the legendary speculator Jesse Livermore - and Reminiscences of a Stock Operator is full of trading wisdom.
Although written 83 years ago, its wisdom and insight are timeless, being often featured as one of the top ten investment books of all time - and this is a book every trader should read.
Jesse Livermore - A Trading Legend
The book follows the exploits of Jesse Livermore and his colorful trading history.
He made and lost tens of millions of dollars, speculating in the stock and commodities markets during the early 1900s.
At one stage, he made $10 million dollars in just one month - imagine what this amount would be worth today!
The Importance of Money Management
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, though, are not so much lessons in how to make money - but how you should protect what you have.
The book is a witty and entertaining read - but the real value of the book is the insight into a traders mind, and how our emotions cause us to lose more than we should - if we don’t trade with discipline.
As Livermore says:
“Losing money is the least of my troubles. A loss never bothers me after I take it. I forget it overnight. But being wrong - not taking the loss - that is what does the damage to the pocketbook and to the soul.”
Can you associate with that? - I can!
“All stock market mistakes wound you in two tender spots - your pocketbook and your vanity.”
Yes, we all hate taking losses, but at the end of the day, you have to forget your pride - as Livermore says, but you need to keep losses small.
The Myth of Market Timing
Whilst the book is rightly seen as an insight into trader psychology, it also makes an important point in relation to market timing, and trying to PREDICT market turning points.
As Livermore correctly says:
“One of the most helpful things that anybody can learn, is to give up trying to catch the last eighth-or the first. These two are the most expensive eighths in the world. They have cost stock traders, in the aggregate, enough millions of dollars to build a concrete highway across the continent.”
He’s Right!
Many traders make the mistake of trying to predict market turning points - and follow methods such as Gann and Prechter - but the fact is, the best way to make money, is to wait for confirmation - before entering the market.
You miss a bit of the move, but so what? - You will make money overall, as the odds will be in your favor.
Predicting the market, nearly 80 years after Livermore’s death, is still a major mistake traders make today.
A Sad Ending and a Lesson
This book was published seven years before the 1929 Crash.
Although Livermore avoided losses in the crash - he got out before the crash - he made the mistake of going back in too early - and lost heavily.
The market falls of late 1931 and 1932 drove him to bankruptcy - and eventually to suicide. This shows how even great traders like Livermore, could not keep their emotions out of trading - we all know it’s hard to do, but it’s an essential part of trading success.
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator remains one of those books that is a true classic, in the eyes of all who have read it.
If you have not read it, do so - it will bring a smile to your face, and give you trading insights you will remember forever.
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