Stress at individual and social levels; distorts our cognition, affect and conation (perception, feelings and actions); and leads to amongst many other evils; deterioration of international, national and local education policy and its implementation. The present day non-holistic (sectarian, prejudiced, vindictive, malicious, mercenary, exploitative and malevolent) education (formal, curricular, co curricular, extracurricular and informal) is a major stressor that though aids in petty pursuits; opposes our blossoming and further perpetuates stress and ill effects in the individual and social life. Let us review; the present perspective, policy and practice of education; as seen around.

Even though education is defined in various ways; and often inadequately or incompletely; there has been a general agreement on the fact that education is basically a process of blossoming of an individual and the society. Hence it included three domains, which are as follows.

The first domain is called AFFECTIVE DOMAIN. This means the state of mind. In simple words affective domain relates to how we feel. Thus when our mind is full of alertness, attention, enthusiasm, buoyancy, affection, concern, joy, tolerance, self esteem, mutual respect, mutual trust, commitment, dedication, love, romance, confidence, positive and victorious spirit, we would call it healthy affective domain. In addition; the zeal and concentration needed; in the pursuit of excellence in intellectual field, tenacity and endurance required; in skillful activities and patience and commitment essential; for internally satisfying and socially beneficial (conscientious) actions constitute affective domain. The purpose of education is to nurture this domain by designing suitable curricula and syllabi.

The second domain of education is called PSYCHOMOTOR DOMAIN. This implies ability to appreciate skills and ability to perform physical and mental skills, with speed, accuracy, elegance, ease of performance etc. This may involve appreciation and performance of skills such as surgery, playing a musical instrument, playing basket ball or doing carpentry! The purpose of education is to nurture this domain through not only designing suitable curricula, syllabi but also by providing sufficient practical and demonstration classes; with all the necessary equipments.

The third domain is called COGNITIVE DOMAIN. Cognitive domain incorporates accurate perspective, contemplation, correct perception understanding, conceptualization, analysis and recall of fact and problems, ability to evaluate, synthesize, correlate and make decisions, appropriate policies, plans and expertise in the management, administration, etc.

It is clear that all these domains have three components each viz. Cognition [Perception], affect [Feelings] and conation [Response].

Thus cognitive domain would have intellectual perception, clarity and intellectual expression, affective domain would include feeling, motivation and response in emotional sphere such as poetry; and psychomotor domain would include grasp and internalization of a particular skill, confidence to perform it and actually performing it.

Let us now see, how in spite of these goals; how it has come to be conceived as a process of achieving political, economic, scientific and technological supremacy and thus deteriorated to the present stage; where all the three domains are defective; apart from lacking in the spiritual and productive domains. In short; let us see how it has become a major stressor.

For this; a brief consideration of the traditional education system in India would prove useful.

Traditional Education System in India in general; ensured that:

a] Careers were not selected on the basis of monetary gains,

b] Careers were not selected arbitrarily on the basis of idiosyncrasies and whims,

c] Some lucrative careers could not be sought after; in preference to the others,

d] All careers ensured income and production from early age,

e] All careers ensured that the society was benefited,

f] All careers ensured security to all the social groups,

g] All the careers ensured intimacy and closeness between young and old in the families.

h] All careers ensured ethical education and passage of experience and wisdom; from generation to generation.

These were merits. But it is also true that, the traditional system was apparently marked by deprivation of scholastic education on mass scale, apparently unjustifiable availability of education of jobs based on caste, deficient infrastructure for collective scientific and technological efforts, and an element of arbitrary imposition of hierarchy.

The traditional education system has attained the present status of being a major stressor as a result of several stressful factors including the onslaught of the tempting and impressive individualistic doctrines. Thus the transition from traditional system to the present one (whether due to British, American or any other influence, but basically due to individualistic pursuits); has become a major stressor tearing apart the cohesive social fabric of India by failing to preserve and nurture the merits and discard and dispose off the demerits.

As the education shifted from homes, home industries and farms to; nurseries, K.G. schools, schools, colleges, universities, corporate industries, research institutions etc. the transition became viciously poisonous.

Cognition suffered because of:

a] Huge number of students, in a single class making following three things almost impossible. These things are i] individual attention ii] dialogue iii] discussions,

b] Lack of adequate salary, accountability, incentive and economic security to the teachers taking away the initiative of nurturing cognitive domain

c] Increase in alienation with respect to student’s background and aptitude

d] Lack of adequate incentive to the students in the form of creativity, production and earning, service to the family and service to the nation, takes away the motivation required for building up cognitive domain

e] Lack of conviction essential in the growth of cognitive domain in the teachers and students because of outdated practical and demonstration classes, lack of interdisciplinary dialogue and in general the irrelevance of education to the realities of day to day life in as much as almost predictable consecutive unemployment at the end! The lack of conviction could be partly due to lack of participation by teachers in decision-making, policy making, development of curricula, syllabi etc.

f] Emphasis on recall and hence rote learning thereby denying free inquiry, reading, questioning etc. thereby directly thwarting the cognitive domain

g]] Too many examinations; with irrelevant parameters or criteria of evaluation [besides being unfair in many instances] leading to misguided and in most cases counterproductive efforts thus adversely affecting the cognitive domain

h] Competitions where the manipulative skills, callousness, selfishness are given more respect, destroy the enthusiasm of growing in cognitive domain

i] Information explosion affecting cognitive domain by either causing enormous and unnecessary burden on memory or inferiority complex

j] Pressure of interviews causing constant tension and sense of inadequacy, right from the tender age,

k] Protracted hours of homework in schools denying the students their legitimate right to enjoy their childhood and make them physically, mentally and intellectually unfit to grow in cognitive domain

l] Irrelevant and unnecessary information loading in lectures in the form of monologue, leading to suppression of the spontaneity, originality, interest and enthusiasm so much required in cognitive development amongst the students,

Affective domain suffered due to,

A] Isolation of the children from their parents and their domestic environment at an early age [Making the parents also equally sad]

B] Lack of warm bonds due to huge number,

C] Cut throat individualistic and petty competition,

D] Inadequate facilities of sports, trekking, educational tours, recreation and physical development etc

E] Alienation from one’s social environment and culture

Psychomotor domain suffered due to

A] Almost total lack of opportunities to actually participate in skillful activities such as drawing, painting, sewing, sculpturing, carpentry, knitting, weaving, music, agriculture, horticulture, other handicrafts, various sports, performing arts etc.

It is important to realize that promotion of psychomotor domain is evident but in its caricature form. It has no concrete economic realistic basis. The activities have no economic incentive and no productive element.

Apart from the defects in the three domains; the other two domains viz. spiritual and productive; have not TOTALLY ABSENT in the education.

The spiritual domain that imparts universal perspective and globally beneficial outlook; incorporates inner blossoming of an individual through introspection, heart to heart communication (not merely discussion and arguments), mutual understanding and blossoming of the teachers and students together; through one of the most universal practices; viz. NAMASMARAN. Thus the spiritual domain is a key to conquer lust, whims, fancies, pride, arrogance, callousness, contempt, ungratefulness, prejudices, jealousy, hatred, meanness, meekness, beggary, cheating, stealing, treachery and so on; is never made available to the teachers, students and the others; associated with education.

The present education system in India lacks the other important domain viz. the productive domain that empowers the people concerned with education. This prevents a huge section of society such as teachers, students, clerks, servants, sweepers and many others such as education inspectors, from being creative and productive. In addition it causes colossal loss of space, electricity, construction cost and so on. In addition because of the typical emphasis on rote learning it leads to phenomenal waste of “educational material” such as paper, bags, pencils, ball pens etc.

It has to be appreciated that billions of rupees are spent on unproductive or rather counterproductive exercise of construction, decoration and maintenance of schools and colleges, electricity, and so called educational material, payment of millions of teachers and other staff members engaged, and exams conducted to test the “capacity and merit of rote learning”. This way we weaken the national economy, jeopardize the developmental activities.

It also causes economic loss to everyone involved in education; while suppressing and starving their all three domains nurtured in productive activity. This is a single most important cause of

1] Reduction in the dignity of labor amongst those who continue to learn, as well as reduction in the income of the concerned families and the nation

2] Lack of education, lack of employment and starvation or criminalization amongst those who are forced to drop out because the poor villagers’ children normally contribute to the earning of the family.

3] Inhuman suffering of those millions of students dropouts, who somehow manage to get into the hell of cheap child labor for subsistence; due to economic reasons.

In short, present day education system harnesses arrogance and diffidence; amongst those who continue to learn. But their spiritual, cognitive, psychomotor, affective and productive domains are defective. Their spiritual blossoming, self empowerment, creative wisdom, intellectual competence, productive skills, self sufficiency and even physical health are deficient. Thus we have increasing number of unproductive criminals and mental wrecks or highly competitive efficient maniacs pursuing petty goals at the cost of others!

For those who are unable to continue the education; the abyss of being child labor, stealing, delinquency, criminals, perverts, beggars is wide open!

The piecemeal approach or facilitation of petty pursuits (under the guise of development and progress) is not only useless but are in fact counterproductive! It leads to cancerous spread of industries with uncontrolled production of unnecessary utilities and their maddening marketing. These industries consume energy, fuel and add to undisposable waste and pollution. This sickening and stressful atmosphere nurtured by the present education; promotes the growth of terrorism on the one hand; and pretends to act against it (in a counterproductive way) on the other!

Mainstream Education System and the courses and careers in it; revolve around and serve the grossly petty and superficial considerations, motivations and interests and this state of affairs; is strongly protected and strengthened by the elements with similar interests! Hence the present laws, rules and regulations also promote present education and its ill effects.

Some institutions and individuals, for whom we have great respect, are involved in the holistic approach to education (mainstream, formal, informal, curricular, co curricular, extracurricular as well as education of physically and mentally challenged children). But these efforts are too feeble to make a difference to our life.

While piecemeal approaches are failing; there is no adequate awareness and promotion of holistic education, which leaves the vicious cycle of stress distorting education and distorted education creating, aggravating and spreading the stress; to continue unabashedly and unabated.

Hence; the ill effects of stress on present education and vice versa; can be eradicated if we understand and propagate the defects in present education and promote holistic education as an international solution. It has to be appreciated that no statesman, no political leader, no policy maker and no administrator can bring about change in an existing system (in democratic set up); unless, we evolve a consensus about the changes in the majority of people; whose cooperation is very vital.

In short; the policy of holistic education; demands that every school, college, university etc must become the center of production and service, self sufficient and must aid in self sufficiency and blossoming of everyone involved in education and also of the nation.

The students, teachers and others associated with education; must blossom as independent and empowered individuals; spiritually, intellectually, mentally, instinctually, physically and economically.

In practice; everyday; approximately

20 % of the time must be spent in production, service etc.

20 % of the time must be spent in physical activities

20 % of the time must be spent in personality (conceptual and spiritual) development and

20 % of the time must be spent in entertainment

20 % of the time must be spent on cognitive domain

20 % of the time must be spent in production, service etc.

1. The productive domain should be an essential ingredient of education System, but no particular job should be enforced. The teachers and others should participate in the productive domain. Production and service can involve community projects such plantation of medicinal herbs, rearing of cows, home flower gardening, production of chalk sticks, carpentry, pottery, cleanliness, crafts, skills, arts and their sale according to the situations.. Working physically in different ways and earning is not a burden. It is an opportunity to grow from within. It is an opportunity to develop our self esteem. It is an opportunity to become self sufficient.

2. This leads to self sufficiency in schools. They do not have to depend on heavy fees or federal grants or donations and this way they become accessible to all; rendering the reservations redundant!

3. Through productive domain the hypokinetic stress, emotional stress of being dependent and intellectual stress of excessive memorizing is averted.

4. Due to productive domain, the dropping out due to lack of earning (as is common in case of millions of students in many parts of world) and then turning into helpless, vulnerable and cheap child labor would come down.

5. Being empowered, the students would not go through the stress of unemployment and turn into helpless, frustrated mental wrecks or criminals.

6. The emphasis on productive domain (and hence psychomotor and practical aspects) would bring down the necessity and also the capability and possibility to “copy” and associated crimes and corruption in procedures of examinations, certification, providing grants and so on!

The caste based or any other kind of reservation for education, jobs and promotions; responsible for social divide and strife; in many parts of the world; (especially India) can be rendered redundant and thus; peacefully and advantageously done away with, by consensus!

Most importantly; we have to introduce and incorporate examinations, which examine the actual skill, capacity or performance of the student, rather than his/her ability of repeating or reproducing things and/or copying.

20 % of the time must be spent in physical activities

Physical activities can include pranayama, sports, exercise, trekking, hiking, a variety of physical fitness training programs and methods to avoid monotony and improve efficacy. A variety of sports prevalent in every other parts of the world can make the programs more interesting, entertaining thereby promoting global unity.

20 % of the time must be spent in personality (conceptual and spiritual) development and

Personality development includes affective domain, spiritual domain and embodies broadening of perspective through various means such as; NAMASMARAN, by hearting and chanting prayers, poems and songs from different languages and countries thereby promoting global unity, invited guest lectures, seminars, discussions on holistic health, educational tours and visits to places where the student gets exposed to rapid developments in the society such as laboratories, airports, government offices, share market, farms etc.

20 % of the time must be spent in entertainment

Entertainment that enriches the soul; not only should include playing musical instruments, dance, painting, mimicry, singing, story telling, drama, movie etc. but everything that nurtures the affective domain and spiritual domain as well.

20 % of the time must be spent on cognitive domain

Development of cognitive domain can include teaching of languages, history, geography, mathematics etc with utmost emphasis on interpretation and relevance in day to day life. Thus typical irrelevant questions in the examination of history, languages, mathematics; should be totally done away with. The subject such as economics, psychology, civics, philosophy, logic, sociology etc must include field work and made relevant to the present society.

We must encourage maximum and daily person to person interaction and dialogue amongst the teachers and students; so that analytical, synthetic, contemplative, decision making, trouble shooting and problem solving capacities are developed optimally.

Let us realize the fact that the vicious cycle of stress distorting education and distorted education causing and multiplying stress e.g. in the form of RESERVATION POLICY and its ILL EFFECTS; in individual and social life; can NOT be managed effectively unless and until; a situation where millions are “imprisoned” in unproductive work and millions are forced into unemployment and inhuman cheap child labor; is eradicated through holistic education policy and its implementation; at international, national and local levels; through the laws, government rules and public awareness, consensus and participation.

The details of practical steps can be developed by interactions amongst the people active in the field of education all over the world. But we all need;

1, Perspective and conviction of Global Unity and global welfare

2. Readiness to accept and introduce physiological insights and principles in the holistic education

3. Readiness and openness to have dialogue with experts in other fields

4. Participation from the society and governments and the media including internet websites, so that holistic education activists all over the world can have a meaningful dialogue and share views, work and experiences and may be, inspire others!

5. Administrative proficiency and due care and concern for the physical capacities of the children (normal as well as the physically and mentally challenged) and should not be painful and troublesome.

7. The opportunities for psychomotor activities and productive activities; without impositions.

8. Every kind of open mindedness and tolerance amongst teachers and students; so that better international relations can be realized.

The physical, instinctual, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and economic empowerment and blossoming; of all those involved in holistic education is integral to Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN); i.e. individual and global blossoming; culminating into global unity, harmony and justice.

Can NAMASMARAN be useful in this? To find out that; we must find out what is NAMASMARAN!

Namasmaran usually embodies; remembering the name of God, Guru, great souls; such as prophets and whatever is considered as holy e.g. planets and stars. It is remembered silently, loudly, along with music, dance, along with breathing, in group or alone. Further, NAMASMARAN is either counted by some means such as fingers, rosary (called SMARANI or JAPAMALA), or electronic counter; or practiced without counting. The traditions vary from region to region and from religion to religion.

However the universal principle underlying

NAMASMARAN is to reorient our physiological and social being; with our true self and establish and strengthen the bond between; our physiological and social being; with our true self; and finally reunification or merger with our true self!

Since individual consciousness is the culmination of every activity in life; and NAMASMARAN the pinnacle of or culmination of individual consciousness; NAMASMARAN is actually opening the final common pathway to objective or cosmic consciousness; so that individual consciousness in every possible activity gets funneled into or unified with Him!

Thus NAMASMARAN is in fact the YOGA of YOGA in the sense that it is the culmination of consciousness associated with every possible procedure and technique in the yoga that we are familiar with. It is the

YOGA of YOGA because it is the culmination of consciousness associated with all the activities in the universe, which it encompasses as well! It is YOGA of YOGA because everybody in the world irrespective of his/her tradition and the beliefs; would eventually, ultimately and naturally reach it; in the process of liberation. Even so called non believers also would not “miss” the “benefit of NAMASMARAN as they may remember true self through one symbol or another”!

Just as NAMASMARAN is YOGA of YOGA it is meditation of meditation also! This is because the natural and ultimate climax of every form of meditation; is remembering true self or merging with cosmic consciousness effortlessly!

These facts however have to be realized with persistent practice of NAMSMARAN and not blindly believed or blindly disbelieved with casual approach!

In short NAMSMARAN is super-bounty of cosmic consciousness for every individual to realize it (cosmic consciousness)! This is truly a super-bounty because a person, who experiences it, rises above mercenary, commercial and even professional and charity planes and manifest super- transactions in his or her life!

These are just few observations to give rough idea about what is NAMASMARAN. NAMASMARAN is an ocean of bliss. Its true meaning is beyond description in words and has to b experienced, not by one or few person sporadically; but most preferably, by billions!

The last point is; NAMASMARAN would certainly enlighten, empower and enable some people; out of those billions practicing NAMASMARAN; to evolve, guide and consolidate the global conscience and thereby manifest global unity and harmony and justice, through globally benevolent proper policies!

Some camps have a targeted focus like religious study, academics, and competitive sports. The variety of camps available today is almost innumerable, meaning there will be some specialized camps that may have availability left even into the summer. Each summer, more than 10 million children and counselors attend day camps and overnight summer camps across the country.

Basically, if you can think of any subject of interest, there’s probably a camp that specializes in it. The more artistically minded might consider arts and crafts, clowning, drama, photography, or dance to be important elements of having a well-rounded camp experience. There are overnight summer camps with a focus on self-improvement, weight loss and grief counseling.

There are overnight summer camps that are co-ed camps, boys camps, girls camps or brother-sister camps where boys and girls may have separate venues and activities. There are four basic types of camps to choose from for your child: day programs, sleepaway or overnight summer camp, day programs with trips, and special needs camps. Special needs camps meet the needs of a wide range of children with disabilities; these camps provide an outdoor summer camp experience along with a therapeutic environment.

Four weeks at a good private overnight summer camp or sleepaway camp will cost anywhere from $3500 to $6500, and eight weeks will range from $4000 to $7000. Although camp counselor jobs don’t usually pay very well, usually minimum wage or less, counselors receive free room and board; many take the job primarily for the camping experience. Try to determine whether the director incorporates a similar philosophy to running the camp as you do in parenting your child or children.

Camp tuition can be expensive; similar to travel insurance, there are now insurance policies for families sending their children to overnight summer camp to cover last minute cancellations, homesickness, medical emergencies and emergency evacuations. The best overnight summer sports camps do much more than just improve a camper’s soccer, tennis, lacrosse, or wrestling skills – they help each child become a more skillful athlete, a more gracious competitor, a more committed team player, and a more confident person.

Visit the camp; you can view campers and counselors in their element, witness activities as they occur, and just obtain an overall feel of the camp, something that cannot be accurately experienced when the camp is closed.

Get to know the camp director from an in-person visit to your home if possible, phone conversations, email or other correspondence. At camp would it benefit your child more if he or she interacted more with the opposite gender? Weight loss camps are for children and teens in order to help them learn about how to lose weight and how to keep it off while having a great overnight summer camp experience.

Most camp counselors are in their late teens or early twenties and are high school and college students on their summer break. Some camps are often called adventure camps – having a very specific theme or interest; many of these programs emphasize skill development and personal growth through the adventures the offer. There are many types of overnight summer camps with a focus on education that cater to students with differing ages and academic interests.

If you spend the time needed to research your options and include your child in all the decisions, he or she will most likely have a memorable experience that provides pportunities to grow while having a lot of fun and making new friends. Look over and evaluate the brochures and promotional materials; read the fine print.Take time to consider what you can reasonably afford. If you think your child may not be ready for a sleepaway or overnight summer camp, choose a local camp in case you end up having to make a late night pickup in the event he or she gets homesick.

For more information on choosing the best overnight summer camp and finding the best sleepaway or overnight summer camp online and offline go to http://www.OvernightSummerCamp.biz a nurse’s website specializing in overnight summer camp tips, help, facts, free tuition resources, including information on overnight summer camp reviews

“It is up to the buyer to beware, as in this case the stakes are very high – their children.”

Each year thousands of children are incarcerated and are not given due process. They lose their basic human rights. They also lose contact with the outside world, are abused, and are humiliated.

These are kids from all walks of life. Some who are straight A students, others are failing in school, some have disabilities and mental health issues, and some are just average kids. Some come from a two-parent home while others come from broken homes or are adopted. Some have woven their way through the foster care system. How do they all end up in the same place?

There is a silent and growing industry that the average American knows nothing about. It is the multi-billion dollar child / teen help industry. It is really quite simple to explain.

In the early 90’s two men discovered a need – parents at their wits end with their troubled children and teens. They found parents were willing to pay a lot of money for someone else to “fix” their child. Today, parents pay anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 per year in hopes someone else can return to them a normal, well-behaved child or teen. Does this sound too good to be true? It is.

These same two men found others who were like-minded. They developed seminars that parents and kids are forced to attend once they sign up for the program – seminars parents and teens say practice brain-washing techniques.

Parents have reported they were told their child was a manipulator and liar. Other than censored and altered letters, communication between them was banned for months, sometimes up to a year or more.

The reason for altering letters?

Parents are told the reason some letters are “blacked out” is because the child is only manipulating and lying to them in an effort to come home. And other times they do allow the parent to see the letter, telling parents the child is only manipulating and lying in an effort to come home. It is a lose-lose situation for a child who is locked behind closed doors with no way to report abuse if and/or when it occurs. Sadly it was too late by the time their learned their child was telling them the truth.

Children and teens are often told their parents do not want to talk to them, do not want to see them, and blame them for all of the problems in the family. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many parents have reported the agony they go through while their child is away – the guilt, the fear, and the shame. They have invested a lot of money into the “program” and want to believe they will get what they paid for – a normal, happy, well-adjusted child or teen. Sadly, they don’t get what they bargained for. Instead, some children are returned broken. Some have died and never come home.

Private abductions …

Many parents are convinced by program staff they should hire “teen escort” services to transport their children – some as young as seven – to their facilities located in remote rural areas. Though some transport services are licensed and hire caring staff, most are not licensed or regulated. Many youth are unjustifiably hand-cuffed, restrained, or pepper-sprayed in the process. The trauma of such abductions can last a lifetime

Parents were duped by glossy brochures, an endless number of convincing websites, and smooth-talking businessmen or their agents preying on their desperation.

Parents were talked into refinancing their homes, drawing from their retirement, spending their child’s college money, and taking out long-term loans.

Parents are convinced to give strangers Power of Attorney over their teens and pre-teens

Some children are as young as seven.

Where did children end up? In the hands of people who convinced parents they would save their child … in reality many of these children have been abused and neglected.

Dangerous and unfair forms of punishment:

Untrained staff perform dangerous restraints resulting in physical harm and all too often in the death of a child. Many programs operate on a points-based system. The youth lose hard-earned points for small infractions such as dropping a fork on the floor or belching. In some facilities, children are severely punished for looking out the window, as they are considered a runaway threat.

Over the years, thousands of children have ended up at WWASP’s Tranquility Bay facility in Jamaica where reports and articles have shown, and victims have alleged, there are no laws to protect the children, the facility is not licensed and there is no oversight

Children lose their basic human rights, many have no privacy to use the restroom or shower, and children lose contact with the outside world.

Once phone calls with parents are finally allowed, usually 3-6 months or more after the child enters the program, they are censored; children lose virtually all other verbal contact with the outside world. Children’s letters to extended family and friends are usually not delivered, and mail is censored. Many have spent months on their faces in isolation.

John France, an Educational and Forensic Psychologist, testified about his son’s stay at WWASP facility Spring Creek Lodge in Utah. He stated his son spent nearly nine months in “The Hobbit”, a small structure that was no more than two shelves on top of one another, his body barely able to fit.

It was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. So cold, his orange he stored away at night was frozen by morning. He was forced to sleep on a small shelf and to urinate in his drinking cup during the night. He etched the words “Let Freedom Ring” on one of the shelves.

At WWASPS’ High Impact facility in Mexico bathroom accommodations were atrocious. There was absolutely no privacy of any kind when showering or using the restroom. In a recent lawsuit filed in Texas, it was said some children in WWASPS facilities were forced to eat their own vomit.

During the jury trial WWASPS, et al. v. Sue Scheff, et al, some of the jurors cried as they watched video clips of the “Box,” where American children were reportedly hog-tied, hand-cuffed, duct-taped, starved, and slugged by staff. Video clips were shown of children who were locked in dog cages in the hot Mexican sun at WWASP’s High Impact program in Mexico, sometimes for days at a time. Children were forced exercise beyond their capacity in the heat of the day.

High Impact was shut down by the Mexican government for allegations of child neglect and abuse. Although Robert Lichfield, Ken Kay, and Karr Farnsworth claim High Impact is not a WWASP program, former employees and parents testified they were. Employees testified they were asked not to divulge the program’s association with WWASP – one employee testified she traveled to High Impact with Ken Kay, president of WWASP, who specifically warned her against divulging its association with WWASP.

One WWASP victim who had been trafficked by WWASP through five of their programs sobbed in court as video clips of children in dog cages were shown. Children’s hands were tied to the corners of the dog cages as they lay in the scorching Mexico sun.

One boy went down to 80 pounds during his confinement at WWASP’s Paradise Cove. He was hidden from television reporters. His confinement within the WWASP Empire of children’s programs ended 4 ½ years later with his removal from the cages at High Impact.

WWASP, the largest corporation in the industry, continues to keep thousands of children from all over the United States in its programs each year. President Ken Kay and founder Robert Lichfield say their numbers are growing with today’s social problems. They deny all allegations of fraud, child abuse and neglect. The company admitted to annual revenue in excess of $90,000,000 from all its corporate shells – that was in 2004 and the numbers continue to grow.

Four separate countries, all with limited child protection laws, have shut WWASP facilities down for suspected child abuse and neglect, including Casa by the Sea in Mexico, Dundee Ranch in Costa Rica, Morava in Czech Republic, Paradise Cove in Western Samoa, Sunrise Beach, Mexico, and High Impact, Mexico

Something to ask ourselves … Can we believe all of these allegations are false? Coming from poverty-stricken nations who would normally welcome American money?

There are legitimate and good programs for children. But it is up to the buyer to beware, as in this case the stakes are very high – their children.

SUMMARIZED:

Children Warehoused for Profit:

Two young college students offering parents a weekend wilderness experience for their troubled youth stumbled onto a need in the early 90’s – parents at their wits end willing to do just about anything to “fix” their child. The response was alarming.

Their project grew into a multi-million dollar industry where children are warehoused for profit to facilities that are virtually unregulated and have little to no governmental oversight, oftentimes hiring untrained, unqualified staff. While some tout the program as having saved their lives, for many the results have been devastating. Reports of abuse, neglect, and deaths have been seen in hundreds of news articles, television reports, and now documentaries. For this, parents pay between $40,000 to $100,000 per year, with some children remaining in their programs for up to three years or more.

Still, most people are not aware it exists. Their marketing skills are excellent. Parents are convinced it’s a good idea to have their child woken up in the middle of the night by perfect strangers, escorted to facilities hundreds and thousands of miles from home, to a place parents have often never even visited. There, children are locked up without access to the outside world. Parents are not allowed to speak with their child for months, sometimes up to a year or more. Letters are censored or not sent at all. All contact with the outside world is prohibited for most children. Mandatory seminars for both parents and students have been reported as using brainwashing techniques.

I would urge parents to do their homework before sending their child or teen away. Any program restricting parent/child communication longer than the typical 2-week cool-down period should send out red flags. We warn our children to stay away from strangers and I believe it is our responsibility as parents to not put them into the hands of strangers without first doing extensive research. Please visit http://www.caica.org for more information.

April 7, 2007

By Isabelle Zehnder

© 2007

Isabelle Zehnder is a Professional Life and Family Coach and the Founder and CEO of Positive Family Solutions, LLC. She is also the Founder and President of the Coalition Against Institutionalized Child Abuse, Inc. (CAICA). She is an Active Member of the International Coaching Federation and an active member of their local Chartered Chapter, the Northwest Coaches Association.

Isabelle has researched child behavior and child development for 25 years and has authored and published a number of articles. She has also attended and participated in a number of seminars and workshops regarding families, children, teens, and child abuse & prevention. She has been invited to speak on child, teen, and family issues both on radio and at workshops and seminars.

She was awarded the TASH Award in Excellence for Public Service in 2006, serves on their Public Policy Committee, and has been asked to speak at their 2007 conference.

Isabelle worked in law for 7 1/2 years. She has volunteered in the school system helping teens find effective ways to communicate with their parents.

A health insurance broker is just like any other type of broker; this one just happens to specialize in the field of health insurance. A broker is somewhat like a matchmaker. His responsibility is to match up those seeking health insurance with health insurance companies that most closely match that person or group’s needs.

Quality is better than quantity. It is of no use writing numerous pages of nonsense for the reader. Instead, it is better to write a short, and informative article on specific subjects like health insurance. People tend to enjoy it more.

Health insurance brokers are sought by those individuals who, for various reasons, do not belong to a group insurance policy. These individuals are often the self-employed, or those with pre-existing conditions. However, a health insurance broker will also work with the coordinators of group insurance benefits in much the same way he works with an individual. The broker is given a list of desired benefits, either by an individual or a group coordinator, and the broker shops around to find the best match. The health insurance broker then presents what he feels is the best plan based on the list of needs, and if the person or group benefits coordinator agrees, the broker usually works to get a contract signed by both parties.

Who Does the Health Insurance Broker Work For?

It’s important to understand that a health insurance broker does not work for a health insurance company. Instead, a broker makes it his business to know all about the different health insurance companies in the area including their reputations, their frequency of rate increases, and even such things as the way they treat policy holders who submit a lot of medical claims. But even though the health insurance broker is different from a health insurance company, it often does happen that a broker is given an incentive (usually a financial incentive) to recommend one health insurance company over another.

There has been a gradual introduction to the world of health insurance projected in this article. We had done this so that the actual meaning of the article will sink within you.

Nothing abusive about health insurance have been intentionally added here. Whatever it is that we have added, is all informative and productive to you.

Will it Cost More to Use a Broker?

We have not actually resorted to roundabout means of getting our message on health insurance through to you. All the matter here is genuine and to the point.

Does the cost of health insurance differ if it is secured by a broker? That’s difficult to answer in general terms. A health insurance broker might be able to get an individual included in a group plan that is offered by the state or a trade union or organization and in such a case, an applicant might find the rates are lower and the coverage better than if he had attempted directly applying via a health insurance company. Most health insurance brokers work on commission and only make money when they’ve matched up insurer and insured. That means that one party or the other (and in some cases, both parties) typically is responsible for paying the broker’s fee.

Because the rates and the rules regarding health insurance are continually changing, health insurance brokers are few and far between. Most states do have licensing requirements that brokers must meet before they’re allowed to work as a health insurance broker. And because these requirements are issued at the state level, they differ from state to state. But if you find yourself lost in the tangled web of health insurance red tape, consider working with a health insurance broker. That person might just turn out to be your best ally.

To view our recommended sources for health insurance, or to read more articles about health insurance, visit:

Insurance Quote Puppy for free health insurance quotes [http://insurance-quote-puppy.com/temporary-health-insurance.htm]Jimmy Chuang is the publisher of [http://insurance-quote-puppy.com] He provides more insurance information and offers free home, life, health and auto insurance quotes on his website.

Florida residents that are self employed and looking for health insurance have a number of options available to them. Be aware that depending upon your health, your age, and other factors unique to your particular situation there is no hard and fast rule as to which option is best for you. However, there are some general guidelines that will help you make the best Florida self employed health insurance decision.

The first Florida health insurance option available to the self employed is to simply apply for an individual health insurance policy. The benefit to applying for an individual health insurance policy is that individual health insurance rates in Florida are very competitive.

The downside to attempting to purchase an individual health insurance policy in the state of Florida is that you must be healthy. According to FL law, a health insurance company can decline your application for an individual health insurance policy based on prior medical history (pre-existing conditions), height and weight restrictions, and other health related criteria.

That means if you have cancer, diabetes, weight problems, or a host of other physical ailments then you will be denied coverage with a Florida individual health insurance policy. (Any unscrupulous agent that tries to tell you other wise is misrepresenting whatever product he or she is trying to sell you as health insurance when in fact it is probably a discount health plan or a health insurance indemnity plan with very limited coverage).

The second Florida health insurance option available to the self employed is to apply for a Florida group health insurance plan. In Florida, any group of 2 employer/employees or more is considered eligible for a Florida small group health insurance. (If it is just you: 1 self employed person functioning as a sole proprietor in the state of Florida then you have a different option open to you – see option 3 below). The benefit to applying for a Florida small group health insurance policy is that that certain health issues that can signal an automatic decline on the individual health insurance side will not signal an automatic decline on the group health insurance side.

The downside to attempting to purchase a group health insurance policy in the state of Florida is that it can be very expensive. Think of it in terms of: the more potentially unhealthy people that the insurance company has to give health insurance to (group health insurance) the higher the premiums will be as opposed to where the insurance company can pick and choose who they will accept for health insurance (individual health insurance).

The third Florida health insurance option available to the self employed is for those that are functioning as a sole proprietor. Florida self employed sole proprietors can apply for a Florida guaranteed issue small group health plan. The Florida guaranteed issue small group health plans has an open enrollment period only during the month of August.

Florida self employed health insurance can be a somewhat tricky area to navigate without the help of a licensed independent Florida health insurance agent. There are also many different ways to save money in taxes – one of which being the ability to deduct your health insurance premiums paid on Schedule C of your tax return against and up to your Schedule C income (Meaning that even if you don’t itemize [Schedule A] you can still deduct your health insurance premiums paid all the way up to your Schedule C income!).

Get free health insurance quotes by comparing all of the top health insurance plans in your zip code – in less time than it takes to brush your teeth!

Comparison shop multiple insurance companies instantly and in real time by viewing free Florida health insurance quotes: Aetna, Humana, United Healthcare and more.

Request help from the Florida self employed health insurance experts (CPA, Certified Financial Planner, and licensed Florida independent insurance agents) by visiting Real time Health Quotes.

Now that you’ve taken the big step, booked your ski vacation and reserved your spot in the beginners skiing class (as discussed in Part 1 of the series), its time to take a look what you’ve actually let yourself in for.

So what exactly will your first skiing lesson try to teach you?

Tip # 2 – Learning Control

The most critical skill in learning to snow ski is that of control. Remember, you’re adding a hefty amount of extra length to your feet – being able to control your feet and moving on them will keep your behind dry and your pride intact.

Rather start out with shorter skis than longer ones. Although there are disadvantages such as less glide in using shorter skis, this gives you the opportunity to get the basics right and then upgrade your ski length as your skill improves. Once you have the skis on, use your poles as a balancing device while moving your weight from side to side on your skis. This side to side motion is what will eventually guide you down the mountain slope at a speed that you feel comfortable at. The shortest route to the bottom of the slope is straight down – but this is neither advisable at beginner level, nor necessarily the best way to get to the bottom! So make sure you’re comfortable with shifting your weight from one foot to the other while on the skis.

Probably the most important skill to learn control of is how to STOP without doing yourself some major injury. The easiest and best way to slow your momentum is to point the toes of your skis towards each other and spreading your heels apart – much like a slice of cake. NB – but whatever you do, DON’T let the tips of your skis cross each other – it’s a surefire way of ensuring a wet and uncomfortable tumble.

Another important skill is learning balance. And the best time to practice is while you’re still on flat ground! The trick is to practice balancing on one ski at a time. Lift one ski a couple of centimeters off the snow and shift all your weight to the other leg. Observe how your body adjusts to maintain your balance on just one foot – and remember, your ski-poles are there to help you. Now try skiing on just one leg to get used to being in balance, whether you’re on two feet or only one. You won’t go haring down the mountain on one foot though – this is just an exercise to get you used to your own sense of weight distribution and balance. It is advisable to be comfortable skiing on one leg (practice doing this on both) before you become proficient in skiing on two.

Now that you’ve put on your skies, practiced shifting your weight from side to side, found your balance on your skis and learned how to stop your forward momentum, you’re almost ready to face your first down hill ski. But first, you’ll have to master one more critical skill that everyone needs to learn … how to get up when you fall.

Yolande runs the website [http://www.skiingtips.org] that provides infomation on skiing for the beginner to the advance skier.

Part 3 of Beginner Snow Skiing Tips for the beginner [http://www.skiingtips.org/Taking-The-Plunge-Snow-Skiing-Tips-For-The-Beginner-Part-3.php] can be found on the website

If you’re looking for information on Ski Resorts visit World Ski Resorts [http://www.worldskiresorts.info/skiresort_articles/index.php]

What’s the best way for your child to be safe, have fun and beat the summer heat? Sign them up for a water sports camp!

Summertime and aquatic activities go hand-in-hand. According to Theresa Torrone, a volunteer for the American Camp Association (ACA), “Water sports camps are one of the fastest growing segments of the specialty camp field within the summer camp industry as a whole. There’s a water sports camp for kids and teens of all ages no matter where you live.”

Also known as aquatics sports camps, water sports camps generally offer surfing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, boogie boarding, body surfing, parasailing, swimming, inner-tubing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, boating and related activities.

What if your child doesn’t have previous experience with these activities? Torrone says not to worry.

“Most water sports camps accept kids from every aquatic background, so your child can participate and enjoy the activities safely and have fun no matter what.” To cover your bets, however, Torrone says to “always check with the camp director first.”

Sometimes parents think a water sports camp is out of the question if they don’t live close to the ocean. But Torrone says your kids can still get the full benefit of attending a water sports camp no matter where you live.

“Some of the premier water sports camps in the country use lakes, reservoirs and pools as their primary activity base. The ocean is fun, but it’s definitely not essential to enjoying a premier water sports camp experience. For example, jet skiing, wakeboarding and fishing camps often take place at lakes or rivers. They don’t require a beach or ocean for kids to have fun.”

When asked about surfing camps, Torrone said, “I suppose if you want to learn to surf or attend a surf camp, you’ll need to find a water sports camp near the beach. But even if you don’t live by the beach, you can still go to an overnight surf camp. There are a number of them across the country.”

To find a list of water sports camps, Torrone suggests contacting the American Camp Association.

“The ACA’s a great resource. Whether you’re looking for a surf camp, jet skiing camp, wakeboarding camp, or just a swimming camp, the ACA can provide you with a list of accredited programs all over the country.”

Torrone says you can also look on the Internet. “If you want a surf camp, try Surf Camp Search.com. It’s a fantastic search engine for finding surf camps.

Other Internet sites for finding waters sports camps and surf camps include http://www.USSportsCamps.com and http://www.LocalSportsCamps.com. “These sites have comprehensive listings of water sports camps so you can find a great program.”

Whatever camp you choose, it’s always wise to involve your child in the decision-making process. “If your child is involved in picking the water sports camp they’ll eventually attend,” she said, “they’re going to end up loving it that much more.”

Copyright Eric D. Naftulin. All rights reserved.

Eric Naftulin owns and operate Aloha Beach and Surf Camp, a Los Angeles, California aquatic sports summer camp for children, kids and teens. Visit http://www.alohabeachcamp.com to learn more.

Want to take a race with wind! Not a bad idea at all; only you need to have the right sports car to give you company. Cars are the most passionate possessions in the boy’s toy’s list especially when it comes to throwing challenge to the wind. So how do you find your dream sports car that gives you the height of joy at the top speed, yet comes for an affordable price? Well, here are a few useful tips to find out your sports car without burning a hole in your pocket.

Begin with the used cars

The most practical way of buying your car for most affordable price is to go for a used sports car. You can look for the classic sports cars like Fiat or Triumph, which can be restored back to their old glory for little price. These pre owned cars will help you to save on your sports car budget without cutting down on your adrenaline rush at the time of wild driving of a sports car. Owning and driving sports car become really enjoyable when you know where to find the most lucrative deals. There are two surefire ways of finding your dream sports car at an affordable price.

Online auction

Ask around and most of the auto enthusiasts will let you know that the best place for finding your dream sports car is the internet auto auctions. If you really want to strike it big, then take a virtual journey through the online auction of eBay Motors— the largest online auction in the world. The vast range of comparison that you can experience here is really amazing. But the best thing about eBay Motors is: you can strike gold here by taking the advantage of some real good bargains.

However you should take notice of some important areas like shipment and model number before entering into any sort of commitment.

Deals through friendly car mechanic

One way of grabbing a great bargain is forging a rapport with your local car mechanic. He is the best person to supply you with valuable information about fabulous deals at an unbelievable bargain. Informing beforehand your mechanic about the sports car you are looking for will definitely help you to come across the sports car of your dream. The mechanic is a person to rely on so far as buying a used car is concerned because the mechanic has worked on the car and he knows the exact condition of the car.

Sometimes the car owners fail to foot the bill of the car repairing and in that case the mechanic gets back his money by putting the car for sale. This situation can offer you a particularly lucrative deal as it allows for great bargains.

In case you do not happen to find the sports car of your dream in pre owned market, keep an eye on the advertisements put up by the car dealers; sometimes car dealers offer big rebates and huge discounts that make for a really lucrative deal. Grab these offers to become the proud owner of a brand new sports car that won’t make you break the bank.

***You may use this article on your website as long as the two URLs are hyperlinked.

Tania Penwell provides information on sports cars and other car topics for Auto Savvy – featuring auto news, car shopping tips, and information.

Cooking is a spontaneous cooking nature while baking is more to precision cooking or engineering cooking. This is a 40th year old lady, my mom philosophy. My mom, housewife for twenty five years always enjoy cooking but not baking. To her, cooking is an easy and spontaneous process. As long as there are raw ingredients ready, she can cook. Cooking is straightforward, the methods involve, basically throw everything in the skillet, add some salt, sugar to enhance the taste and fry for sometimes, it is ready. So she gets pleasure from cooking and doing it for couple of years.

My mom cooking is very unique. She can cook well, can cook so many dishes but she can’t write out any recipes. Expert in cooking, but can’t teach! Why this happened? Because she had her own feast of recipes, she doesn’t cook based on measurement. She cooks freely and spontaneously. She will cook according to her taste; add in the salt, sugar or any flavour enhancement material based on her own measurement. So, she will not know how to explain her cooking to the others. She can tell you roughly what will be need in her cooking but not exactly what she uses. Because when she found out that the dish is not tasty enough, she will add in something that she feels like. So there is no standard in her world of cooking.

Before I left home to study, I learn to cook few dishes from her. It is a hand on teaching, but due do all the estimation method she use I can’t cook without her hand on coaching. There is no standard measurement in all the raw materials or ingredients use. This make me headache as I am someone who is rarely walk into the kitchen since young. End up, I learning nothing! But still, my mom cooking is the best cooking.

Leaving home from study made me miss home cook dishes so much. I started to search for recipes and learn to cook on my own. In my cooking world, I need accurate measurement on the ingredients I used. I realize that I can cook if I have clear step by step instructions and accurate measurement of the ingredients. I can’t cook with the estimation method my mom applies. With the step by step clear and direct instructions, then only I can cook!

I am dessert lover, I love cake and pudding so much. One day I come across a home made cheese cake recipe in newspaper. I try it out. It is cool. Simple, easy and taste delicious. I share this with my mom, she feel so excited for me. Ask me to bake one for her to try. My mom never enjoys baking cake or pudding because she hates those precision in cake making principle. Step by step instructions need to be follow and no any single step need can be miss out.

My mom hates what I love. So she enjoys cooking while I enjoy baking. My mom hates to follow step by step instructions while I can’t miss the step by step instructions. So I enjoy baking more than cooking. I realize that cooking and baking reflect someone character. I am an engineering background student, in engineering everything must be precise, accurate. So I apply the same principle in baking. So it is comfortable for me to just follow the technique, trouble-free and simple.

Siew Wen, i am an expert in dining and recipe. Expert in dining and recipe, master in dining and food testing. Where to dine-[http://www.dining-choices.com] Video for dining [http://www.dining-tube.com]

Anyone with the slightest interest in cooking would ultimately wish to become a professional in the field. What better way to learn than from well-known professionals themselves? There was a time when ladies were required to attend expensive finishing schools to acquire skills in gourmet cooking. Today, they have been replaced by gourmet cooking magazines which can provide everything that one needs!

The trick here is to get hold of just the perfect gourmet cooking magazine for you, because all may not prove to be equally satisfying though each one does provide some great ideas to cook wonderful meals and also gives a peep into insider tips. In fact, some of them are more advertisement-based than content-based. The one that you require should go into the details of cooking and convey information that will prove very useful to you.

Basically, how would you find the gourmet cooking magazine useful for you?

(1) Information about supplies needed for gourmet cooking is provided here. There would be advertisements indicating where good supplies can be found. Maybe you could purchase them through the gourmet cooking magazine itself. Who knows, you may have never known about them otherwise, you being a novice to the art still!

(2) A professional cook would also find the gourmet cooking magazine useful since the latest cooking methodology along with new gadgets on the market are displayed in it. The prices are also given.

(3) Beginner or professional, there are directions provided on the usage of supplies and gadgets presented here, along with tips on how they can be used to enhance your cooking skills.

(4) Not only supplies, but a choice of recipes is presented in a gourmet cooking magazine. There are old recipes, as well as fresh and new ones, including preparation of sauces, jams, etc. Tips on getting that sauce or jam just perfect are also provided. Hence, you slowly get to increase your bundle of recipes. To be noted is the fact that the recipes presented in the magazine are those used by professional chefs.

(5) Whether you are a beginner or a professional, cooking is always a continuous learning process. Articles on “how to” cook in 100% gourmet style are presented. Sometimes, they come in a series, making it easy to acquire the necessary knowledge step-by-step. Yes, the process is not easy and takes time, but with practice and guidance, you will become perfect!

Now that you are aware of what is meant by a great gourmet cooking magazine, the next question is – where can I find such a magazine?

Just do some scouting on the Internet. There are many magazines offered. Go through their reviews, select the right one for yourself, and subscribe to it. Some of them are designed very attractively! An additional advantage is online tutorials for learning and forums for discussion that are offered with the magazine, along with good discounts on products.

Abhishek is really passionate about Cooking and he has got some great Cooking Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 88 Pages Ebook, “Cooking Mastery!” from his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com/770/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

A blog is basically an online journal wherein you can digitally pen down your thoughts, ideas, opinions and practically anything that you want people to read. Blogs come in different styles, formats, and settings, depending on the preference of the user. Many blogging sites, offer built in features such as hyperlink, straight texts, pictures etc. Some blogging sites, even allow you to put video and mp3’s on your blogs.

Instead of writing texts, some bloggers choose to make their blogs more audio friendly, by using spoken word entries. This is called audio blogging.

Basically a blog contains these features:

title- which allows you to label your post

body- this is the content of your post

trackback- other sites can be linked back to your blog

permanent link- every article that you write has a URL

comments- this allow readers to post comments on your blog.

One of the advantages of blogging, is that it is made of only a few templates. Unlike, other websites that is made up of numerous individual pages. This make it easier for blog users to create new pages, because it already has a fix setting that include: slots for title, body of the post, category, etc.

This is especially useful for first time users, since they can start blogging right away. They can chose from a number of templates that blogging websites provide.

Anyone who wants to start a blog can do so by becoming a member of a blogging website of their choice. Once they’ve become members, they automatically become a part of that particular blogging community. They can browse through other bloggers pages, and link them back to their own blogs. They can also make comments on other members’ blogs.

Blogging is not just limited to personal usage. There are a lot of blogs that follow a theme such as: sports, politics, philosophy, social commentary, etc. These blogs espouse on their specific themes. This way blogging becomes a medium in which people can share their knowledge and opinions about a variety of themes and topics.

Some bloggers even use their blogs as a means to advertise. Some authors advertise their books on their blogs. While other bloggers, use their blogs to shed light to currents issues, events, news and catastrophes.

Nowadays in education, blogs also play an important part. Professors use blogging to document the lessons that they have discussed and taught. This way, students who who have missed classes, can easily catch up with their assignments.

A lot of entrepreneurs benefit from blogging by promoting their businesses on their blogs, with millions and millions of people logging onto the net everyday, blogging has become a lucrative move. Some bloggers who run online businesses promote their merchandise online. While others profit through advertisement.

But by far, the most popular blog type is the one that takes the form of a personal journal. This is the kind that is usually used by first time bloggers. Individuals who want to document the daily struggle of their everyday lives, poems, rants, opinions, find that blogging offers them a medium in which to express themselves.

Bloggers usually communicate within themselves. This is one of the appeals of blogging. It creates a community of people sharing their ideas, thoughts, and comments with each other.

Blogs varying in topics, themes, and set-ups, can be found in blog directories. First time users who want to get an idea of what the blogging world is all about can browse through a number of blogs using these directories. This way they’d get an idea of what these blogging communities are like.

Blogging is popular all over the world. Blog is short for the term weblog. There are no rules when it comes to blogging. Bloggers have the freedom to express themselves how ever way they want, and the best thing about blogging, is that most blogging sites are free.

There are numerous blogging websites to choose from in the net. This give first time users the option of joining a blogging community that appeals to their interests.

Just search any blogging directory and you’d get a listing of a lot of blogging sites that are available on the net. It’s easy to search a blogging directory, because it is organized according to category. This way you would get exactly what you are after. Blogging is really for everyone. It is fun, simple and easy.

Jeremiah Patton has been utilizing blogging to gain traffic and interest for his work at home business opportunities website at http://www.2ndincome4u.com

Cruising with celebrities may be gaining in popularity. You might have seen ads on TV saying in essence that your favorite celebrity will be on a certain cruise and asking fans of the celebrity to take the cruise too. But one question you might want to ask is …

Is cruising with a celebrity worth the money?

Now, this is not to be confused with ‘Celebrity Cruise Lines’ which is a popular cruse line. Celebrity cruises are cruise vacations that a number of cruise lines offer and they all feature a celebrity who will be on the cruise. Popular movie stars, TV stars and musicians may be paid by a cruise line to be on a particular cruise with the intention that fans of the celebrity will be attracted to the cruise.

Now, taking a cruise vacation with your favorite celebrity might be a great thing to do, but you may want to ask some questions about whether it will be really worth your money since celebrity cruises actually might cost more than normal cruises. Here are a few such questions that might help you make a better choice …

1. Why is the celebrity taking the cruise ? While a celebrity might be paid to be on the cruise, some also take a cruise to promote their upcoming movies, shows or music albums. If so, then you might get to see some behind the scenes footage and the like. While this is not guaranteed, it might be a possibility. If that excites you, then you may count that as a reason to take the cruise … or not.

Many celebrities also promote their favorite charities on a cruise and if you are interested in the charity as well, then there might be another reason. That would be an opportunity for you to make a positive difference in the lives of people as well as get to meet your celebrity.

2. How Long will the celebrity be on board? Some celebrities may be on board for a couple of days or less partly due to their busy schedules. You might want to consider the length of time the celebrity will be on board the cruise to determine if the cruise will really be worth the money.

3. What promotional events are scheduled? Promotional events on a celebrity cruise may be established well ahead of time and you may want to know what they will be. Will you be able to dine with, get an autograph or meet the celebrity?

4. How many fellow passengers will be on the ship ? If there will be thousands of passengers, then you might not be able to get to meet the celebrity, or get hardly any time to interact with the celebrity. If so, would you still be willing to take the cruise ?

5. What will the cruise cost ? Since celebrity cruises may cost quite a bit more than traditional cruises, you may want to take a close look at the difference in costs between a celebrity cruise and other cruises. After getting to know the difference in cost, would you still be willing to take the cruise?

Celebrity cruises may be great as you may be able to meet you favorite star and maybe even make a positive difference in some person’s life. But if all you are looking to have on a vacation is some pure, unadulterated fun, then you can do that even on a more traditional cruise.

Ever considered a Mexico Cruise? You may want to read about NCL discount cruises to the Mexican Riviera.

To keep your cat happy, healthy and clean it is essential to properly groom your cat. By reading this section you will learn how and when to groom your cat and also what equipment to use. You will learn how to brush your cat, bath your cat, how to clean your cats ears and how to look after your cats teeth.

Brushing and combing your cat

Cats spend 10 percent of their waking hours grooming themselves by licking dirt and excess fur of their coat but this is not enough to properly keep them clean and some cats do not clean themselves properly. You should brush and comb your cat on a regular basis. Short-hair cats are much easier to groom than long-hair cats. If you are unsure of what your cat is, visit the breeds section. When you are grooming your cat you should be alert and checking for fleas, scars, wounds and lumps.

The first thing you need to know is the difference between a cat comb and a cat brush. A cat comb is used to remove excess hair, remove knots and to remove dirt. A cat brush is to fluff up the fur and make it smooth and look good. If you own long-hair cat I would recommend buying both a comb and a brush as you will learn later on, if you own a short-hair cat it is not as important but you can if you want.

You could alternatively choose to buy a cat grooming kit which includes a comb, brush and everything else you need. You can buy the right equipment from your local pet shop but you could also consider buying online. There are many different combs and brushes to choose from and all of them have their advantages and disadvantages. If you want to get the best results and not spend a fortune you should buy a wide toothed comb, a brush and a flea comb. This should all cost under $10 USD.

It is a waste of time brushing your cat with a normal comb/brush. The advantages of using a cat brush is that it shelters the natural body oils, the bristles gently remove tangles and after brushing your cat it will have a shiny, good looking and healthy coat. But most importantly it is designed to remove excess hair, then in future when your cat cleans itself it does not swallow as much hair, preventing it from having a hairball.

If you have a kitten, it should be brushed from an early age so it becomes accustomed to the process and doesn’t find it a scary and distressing experience. It will enjoy the grooming procedure but most of all you will not have to train it later on in its life. If you have an adult cat that does not like to be brushed and finds the experience frightening, introduce grooming slowly and do not make the sessions more than five minutes. If this does not work you could try ending the grooming session with playtime so your cat will look forward to it each day. One of the most important things to remember is that a short session each day is better than a long session each week.

As I briefly mentioned before, short hair cats are easier to groom than long-hair cats, it is a bit more difficult and the process can take a bit longer. If you own a short-hair cat you should groom it on a weekly basis or every few days and it should take from 5 to 10 minutes. If you own a long-hair cat grooming should be done everyday or every two days and it should take about 10 to 20 minutes. By now you are probably thinking ‘how can you brush a cat for 20 minutes’. The grooming process is not just brushing but is also cleaning nose and ears if necessary and sometimes brushing your cat’s teeth. For more information about these, read on.

To groom your cat, follow these easy steps:

-Place your cat on a bench or table. It depends on what your cat is most comfortable with; some owners brush their cat on their laps.

-Gently brush from head to tale using short and gentle strokes with your comb to remove knots, do not pull hard otherwise it will hurt and distress your cat, making the experience unpleasant and enjoyable. For best results also brush under its neck and stomach. If you have a flea comb, brush again from head to tale.

-Use a brush to fluff up the fur, if you are unsure of what brush to use ask your local pet shop. A cat brush is good for your cat’s appearance and health and can be brought from a number of different places.

Bathing your cat

It is not necessary to bath your cat unless it becomes very dirty. Most people who have prize-winning cats bath their cat on a regular basis. Many cats do not like water and find a bath a frightening and traumatic experience. If you ever need to bath your cat, the below information will tell you how. The first thing you need to do is to brush your cat to remove excess hair and dirt. Talk to your cat with relaxed voice to keep it as calm as possible and do no make quick movements. Have everything ready before you start which should consist of 4-6 towels, shampoo, a hair dryer and cotton balls. You can use special cat shampoo or you can use regular shampoo but it really doesn’t make a difference.

Use cotton balls to protect water from getting into your cats ears. If your cat has smaller ears use only half or even a quarter. If you have a bathroom or laundry hose, use it because it makes it much easier. If you don’t have a hose use a cup or plastic container. You should not wear good clothes because the chances are that you will end up as wet as your cat. Wash your cat in a bath or a laundry sink. Start by wetting it with warm water. Avoid wetting its eyes and ears as much as possible unless it particularly dirty.

Hold your cat firmly because it will try to escape and probably bite and scratch you. Once the cat is wet apply shampoo and gently massage. If your cat is really dirty you can shampoo twice. Rinse your cat from top to bottom and make sure you get all of the shampoo out. Use the towels to dry your cat as best as you can then finish the job off with a hairdryer.

Cleaning your cats ears

Cleaning your cat’s ears should be a part of your grooming routine. To get rid of the dirt and wax, use a cotton swab but never go deeper than you can see because it can cause permanent damage to your cats hearing. It should be done every month.

Dental Care (article)

Many people do not brush their cats teeth often enough, some have never done it. If your cat’s teeth are not brushed, bacteria will build up and could result in loss of teeth. You should brush your cat’s teeth every week. If you have a kitten you should start brushing when all of its 36 teeth have grown which is around 6 months of age. If you have an adult cat, introduce slowly and keep the sessions short.

You can buy special toothbrushes designed for cats but a child’s toothbrush will be just as good, just make sure the bristles are soft so they do not cut the gums. Do not use normal toothpaste because it will cause digestive problems and make your cat sick. You can buy special cat toothpaste from your pet shop, vet or online.

To properly brush your cat’s teeth start by gently brushing the outer surface of the teeth. Do not brush the inside of the teeth until your cat is used to the process. Brush in a circular motion from the bottom of the gum to the tips of the teeth. Some cats require professional cleaning when there is a severe build up of tartar. When brushing your cat’s teeth note the condition of your cat’s gums.

Consult your vet if the gums are swollen, if there is any bleeding, bad breath, drooling, dark spots, sores, refusal to open mouth or reluctance to eat. If your cat has any of these symptoms there is a chance that it has gum disease. Gum disease is common in cats and can be fatal unless treated. It begins with the build up of plaque and tartar which causes the roots to become infected. This can be prevented by regular brushing.

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Skiing appeared to be initially a simple means of getting via 1 spot to yet another in packed or even crusted snow. For some, skiing signifies recreational alpine skiing during which 1 goes to a resort, secures a lift ticket, dons cold-weather garments, skis, ski shoes or boots, ski posts and embarks with a chair lift or different means of mechanized uphill transportation. This sport has come a considerable ways during the past half-century nonetheless. To many people whom enjoy watching it on television, it may seem like an extremely elitist sport activity, demanding a high amount of education as well as pricey gear.

Even so, snow-boarding and skiing are generally each stimulating and common wintertime pursuits. Skiing is usually most apparent to the public throughout the Winter Olympic Games. As an example, conventional competitive skiing is actually made of 4 activities; downhill (a extreme descent in a contest versus time), slalom (raced over a dramatically rotating course marked off by means of flags), the ski jump (in which contestants jump via specifically prepared jump inclines and they are evaluated at both long distance as well as form) and cross-country (in which skiers battle over a lengthy course- which range from TEN km/6 mi to FIFTY km/31 mi) on which this landscape and obstacles test strength and maneuverability. Generally speaking, competitive skiing is usually separated into 2 disciplines: racing and freestyle.

Skiing is straightforward to learn, however more challenging to master. Consequently there are actually ski classes which train everything from basic principles of turning and stopping properly, to more advanced carving and mogul methods. If you find yourself learning to ski, whatever type, a handful of critical supplies becomes necessary, including headgear, skis, ski posts, ski bindings, ski shoes or boots, ski pants, eye protection, hand protection and the checklist keeps growing.

One particular type of skiing is freestyle skiing, that is a mix of skiing methods, acrobatics and aerial skiing. Freestyle skiing started in the 1930s, while Norwegian skiers started doing acrobatics in the course of alpine and cross-country exercising. This particular form 1st started to get taken seriously in the early 1970s, while it had been referred to as hot-dogging. Freestyle skiing ended up being a demo occurrence at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Additionally there is alpine skiing. You will discover a couple of main forms of alpine skiing, telemark and alpine. Downhill skiing thoroughly works your leg muscle groups, particularly hamstrings and quadriceps.

Next you can find vintage x-country skiing. To the rookie this is really a little just like walking or jogging. X-country skiing, otherwise known as Nordic skiing, is simple to understand and with one’s body weight dispersed over the surface of lengthy, straight skis, you are able to skim around over deep snowfall. It’s a good kind of exercising and an opportune method to investigate the out-of-doors in the winter season.

X-country skiing has changed into practically 2 distinct activities – 1 using the skating method and the other using the diagonal stride or traditional skiing strategy. Cross-country skiing really evolved into an Olympic discipline during the games which occurred in 1924. This specific type of skiing takes it’s identify from a kind of ski competition that’s 1 / 3 upward, 1 / 3 down and one third flat. A typical issue while cross-country skiing is the skier is working and inhaling hard, therefore eyeglasses are likely to fog up, which makes it hard to see plus depth perception can be pretty much non-existent. For a positive encounter on the other hand, back country skiing delivers substantial expanses of gentle, steady natural powder snow throughout rural as well as stunning high-mountain surroundings.

How about skiers who may have physical afflictions? Adaptive Skiing is the title of skiing performed by people who have physical afflictions. Recreational skiing packages for individuals with afflictions can be found at mountains throughout the world.

Next there’s snow-boarding. Snow boarding uses a single wide ski or board, absolutely no posts and includes similarities to surfing and skateboarding. Snow-boarding can be easier on the legs in comparison with skiing. Though snow boarding futures the traits of skiing sporting activities, this progressed out of surfing and skateboarding and thus is really not a kind of skiing.

Skiing and snow-boarding grow to be progressively more well-known with every single winter season. To become very good skier, you have to learn the right skiing approaches, work with appropriate gear not to mention like the hobby. If you’d prefer skiing, you’re certain to locate a excellent vacation resort someplace, as part of your price range, which accommodates the needs you have and caters to your capability. Soaring straight down the mountain with the blowing wind in your face and snow underfoot definitely epitomizes the activity.

Outside Enthusiast is a site dedicated to those who have a love for the great outdoors and a passion for sharing the amazing outdoor activities nature has to offer with family and friends. For more information regarding skiing styles come visit us at http://www.outsidenthusiast.com

If you have ever driven through a campground and seen families having great fun camping together and thought, “that looks that a great family activity”, you are right! Camping is one of the most wholesome, fun, affordable and bonding experiences a family can get into. But if you have driven along looking at all the equipment and skills needed to learn camp and thought, “I can never learn to do all of that”, you are wrong. It really isn’t that hard to learn to camp and every step along the way is lots of fun for everyone.

So how do you get started learning to camp? There is no question that there is some equipment involved and learning to set up a camp, use your gear to enjoy a night of eating and sleeping in the open spaces and then get home safe and sound requires a bit of a learning curve. For many parents that want to start camping to give their children those experiences, the idea of buying all that equipment is intimidating. And you don’t want to get the wrong equipment and then have to buy it all over again. Those kinds of mistakes can kill your enthusiasm for expanding your camping hobby into a passion for camping.

So one of the best ways to learn to camp and to try out camping equipment is to camp with someone who is good at it. Many experienced camping families have excess equipment or know other families who will loan you equipment to try out on your first camp out. If one of your friends or friends of your children are experienced campers, you will find them to probably be evangelistic about it and happy to let you tag along on their next camp out to show you the ropes. If they can help you borrow some equipment, you can learn to use it and try out different camping options so when you are ready to buy your own equipment you already know what you like and don’t like.

Another great way to get some camping experience without buying a thing is to get involved in camping organization. If you have children, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are organizations geared for building life skills in children and who are heavily dedicated to camping. Most scout troops have an extensive arsenal of camping gear and the leadership are almost always seasoned campers with a flair for teaching.

It is the mission of the scouts to train new recruits in the fine points of camping so you can tag along on some camp outs and learn some great camping skills. Also scouts actively encourages parent involvement so dad and mom can learn to camp right along with their children. Who knows but you may get involved with the scouts just to harvest some camping skills and find yourself hooked and becoming life long Boy or Girl Scout enthusiasts. There are worse things children or a whole family can be involved in for sure.

After getting some exposure, you will want to think through what kind of tents, sleeping bags and other camping gear you will want to buy as you launch your family camping hobby. Many two-man tents are economical and easy to transport, put up and break down. But if you are going to have the entire family in one tent, you may want to look into a larger family tent that mom and dad can stand up in and that provides plenty of room for gear and children as well. But look ahead in your camping life. As the children grow older, they may want to move out into their own tents to think of how your first starter tent will fit into the larger scheme of camping as you grow in your camping ambitions.

Another consideration is whether you will need electricity and water facilities at the camp grounds you visit or if you will provide for those things yourself. Many beginning campers prefer to use electricity and water hook ups to make it easier on parents who are learning the tricks of the trade of camping. But remember to take extension cords and water hoses so you can bring those resources into camp and even right into the tent with you.

Also think about the space in your vehicle for camping gear and how you will transport your new gear to and from camp. You probably don’t want to buy a vehicle just for camping at first so learning to pack light and only take what is needed will be an important skill for you throughout your camping career.

Take it slow as you learn each new method of camping and begin to use new tools that you see other campers use. One way to slowly expand your camping gear is to plan to buy one new piece of camping equipment each season so you find your knowledge and skills at using that new gear grow at a steady pace as well.

Take it slow in how ambitious you get in your camping plans. Don’t drive two days to the deep mountains and take on a primitive camping adventure if you are new to the sport. Start out with one night camp outs close to home. Yes, your first camp out may even be in your back yard so you can do a trial run with your equipment but be close enough to run inside if things go wrong. Then slowly expand the number of nights you are out and how far away from home you get.

You will find camping to be an addictive passion and it’s an addiction that you will be glad your family got hooked on. By using some common sense and developing your skills steadily, you can expand your vision and take on more and more aggressive and ambitious camping adventures over time. Then when you have graduated from beginner camper to seasoned old pro, you will look back at your progress and get some real gratification that you took on something new and made it your own. You will be proud of yourself and your kids will be proud too because they will have a love of camping that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for CampingEarth.com – your complete resource to camping. If you’d like to learn more camping basics, please visit us. Also, be sure to check out our comprehensive guides such as the complete guide to popup campers.

Now I’m sure that you know what a fashion show is but have you ever been to one? Most of you probably think that fashion shows are only for the rich and I will admit at one time that was mostly true but of late I have seen that change immensely. These fun functions have been geared more for the Rich at “Heart” as well as the Rich of pocket book. So if you enjoy fun, fashion and your own piece of the fashion world then get out and partake in one.

“Why should I attend a fashion show?” Well you don’t exactly need a reason to attend one as long as you remember that they are for everyone and anybody. And if your feeling uneasy and have a fear of the unknown join some friends and attend one or better yet go alone and gather up the fashions for you while making new friends. Need other suggestions, read on

You may not wind up making any purchases from the numerous designers carrying their latest trends but one thing for sure is you will learn what is popular and selling. And this alone is a great reason to attend especially if you own or run a clothing store, fashion store or even a clothing accessory store. You’ll want to make sure your stores are selling what is selling nationally and locally and stocked with the latest fashions. Attending any fashion show can help improve your business, by becoming the store that is sought after for stocking the styles and fashions most wanted in your area.

For those of you that do attend fashion shows for business reasons, including fashion consultants, you may want to think about attending a fashion show. While these shows are basically immersing us with the latest fashion trends, you will also encounter upcoming designers and their fashion trends as well. Fashion shows are a great source of knowledge for improving one’s fashion sense and whether your business is one of providing expert knowledge of fashion or wanting to appear as such, you best attend. Fashion shows are not only formatted for the demur frame but can also focus on plus sized clothing, work wear, swimwear, eveningwear, weddings, men, and teens.

Those businesses’ that are fashion related most definitely benefit from fashion shows. But that is not to say that you cannot also benefit from attending fashion shows. If you want to look your best and learn how to use the latest trends to accomplish that you may want to attend a fashion show. If your wardrobe is lacking or you don’t really know how to put your wardrobe together to make the pieces you purchase work better together and go farther have no fear there is a fashion show out there to help you learn what you need. You will find that the more you attend fashion shows the more your closets begin to work better for.

All learning and business sense aside Fashion Shows are a fun time. And everyone at one time or another is looking to have a good time. Why not incorporate that with a few friends and you have a fun filled fashion experience. Did you know that fashion shows are held in numerous locations as well as formats? Well of course you know they are held in the fashion capital cities like New York and Paris, but these fashion shows can also be held locally. If you’re up for attending these shows in New York, Paris or even at your local shopping mall, a memorable and fun experience will surely be had by all of you.

Remember “Why do I have to attend a fashion show?” Well, you really do not need to have a reason to attend a fashion show. If you want to attend even if it is to see what it is all about you will want to start making plans to attend as soon as possible.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about style as well as fashion accessories at http://www.styleandentertainment.com

There are times where a pet sitter may be a good choice for you and your pets when you travel without them. Unlike a boarding facility or kennel, your animals stay at home and the pet sitter comes to your house (usually once or twice a day). If you have a single pet or a highly social animal, such as a dog, it is better to board them at a facility where they will have lots of attention. However, if you have several cats, horses, birds or an animal not suited for a boarding facility, a reliable pet sitter may be the best choice for your pets. Multi-pet households often benefit from pet sitting services because it’s usually less expensive and less stressful to hire a pet sitter rather than transporting and boarding all your animals. The following suggestions are designed to help you find a good and reliable pet sitter.

Ask friends or veterinarian for a pet sitter referral.

Even if you are new in a neighborhood, or don’t know your neighbors well, it’s pretty easy to identify people who value their pet. Ask several neighbors for recommendations. Try to find a little bit about your neighbors pet and their pet sitter experience. This will give you a good indication as to the level of care you can expect from the people they recommend. Many veterinarians, in addition to having boarding facilities, may have a veterinary technician on staff that also provides pet sitting service, or they may know of a high quality pet sitter.

Research your pet sitter.

As you call potential pet sitters ask them the type of animals they like to work with, how long they’ve been in business, how they got started in business, and specific questions about your pet’s needs. People who have some experience as vet techs, animal shelter employees, or veterinary students often supplement their income by pet sitting. Some excellent animal care workers start a pet sitting service if they’ve suffered from career burnout. Pet sitters with these type of credentials can offer the best type of service because they are more likely to recognize illness in your pet, and may be more experienced with administering medications or tending special needs. However, the most important thing is to find someone who will be attentive, reliable and responsible with your pet. Once you feel a level of comfort with a pet sitter, ask for three client referrals. Follow up with the referrals, and use your intuition before you provide the pet sitter a key to your home. If you are not able to get a pet sitter referral in your area and you cold-call a potential pet sitter, I’d recommend a criminal background check on your pet sitter. A quality sitter won’t mind your concerns for safety.

Shop around for services and fees.

Most pet sitters charge a per visit fee, regardless of the number of animals you have. However, if you have more than three animals or an animal that needs medication, it’s normal to expect a slightly higher fee per visit. Ask the pet sitter how much time they will spend with the pet, and what they charge per visit. Some pet sitters give a break if they are doing two visits a day, or if you are taking a long trip. A few pet sitters offer overnight visits-where they sleep at your home. If your trip is long, ask them if they will call or email you every few days.

Meet your pet sitter.

Several weeks prior to your trip, have the pet sitter stop by so she can be introduced to your animals. Watch how they are with your pets. Are they gentle, and non-invasive? If the pet sitter breezes in and out of their first visit with you, most likely that’s what they’ll do when you are paying them to care for the pet. If you have any negative feelings or thoughts, do not give them a key-trust your instincts. However, if you feel comfortable, provide them with a key, and show them around your house; pet food storage, where pets are feed, how to administer medicine, toys, alarm system, and anything else that will make them comfortable. I always encourage my pet sitter to feel free to watch t.v. or take a nap at my house. The more time they spend with the animals, the better.

Final Tips

The day before your trip, call the pet sitter and confirm your travel plans. Inform them of your expected return, but ask them to continue pet care until you call them to say you’ve returned. Leave a note on your kitchen table or refrigerator that has a brief description of each pet, your veterinarian’s name and phone number, unique habits or medical needs, how to reach you, where you will be staying, expected return date, and who to call in case of an emergency-such as your trip being severely delayed or if you have a health emergency. I typically check do a quick check in with my pet sitter every two to three days. This gives me peace of mind. If you require a daily call from your pet sitter, please be respectful of their time and give them a generous tip upon your return. Pay all pet sitting fees promptly. When you consider gas, travel time, and the initial and post visit key exchange, you’ll realize most pet sitter charge a low fee for their time. Also, let your closest neighbors know what your pet sitter looks like, so they won’t be concerned when they see a stranger going in and out of your house or apartment.

If your travel plans are more than 10 days, or if you travel frequently, you may want to consider whether or not you should have a pet, or you may want to find a roommate who loves animals and does not mind taking care of them for you as you travel. Having a pet and finding quality care is similar to being a parent. A reliable pet sitter can make travel plans fun and relaxing.

Kate Garvey is a former Vet Tech and animal rights supporter. She teaches Sound Healing Workshops (throughout the US) and treats clients by appointment in the San Diego area. For more information on how you can use sound for optimal health please visit http://www.InstituteOfSoundHealing.com

Kate is also a freelance writer, published author, and the author of several books; “Aging, Death and Euthanasia-A Guide for People with Pets”, “Summer Pet Care Tips”, and “The Low Risk Guide for Real Estate Investment.”

Increase your profit potential by identifying – and avoiding – these 11 marketing mistakes.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 1: Sinking a Fortune Into an Unproven Product

Is your business idea built on market research or a hunch?

Entrepreneurs often fall in love with their products or services before they determine if there’s a real market, and they throw fistfuls of money into the venture. If you, your spouse, your uncle, and your neighbor think you’ve got a winning idea, that’s simply not enough qualified input to run to the bank and drain your savings account!

Avoid this mistake by:

• Conducting your detective work (research).
• Testing your business idea with the real marketplace.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 2: Believing That “If You Build It, They Will Come”

Do you think you have a product or service that will practically sell itself?

Trust me – you don’t.

There is a misconception among small business owners that, with the right product or service, your customers will simply “find” you when you open your doors for business. Whether you have a physical storefront on a corner lot in the busiest part of downtown, or a graphically pleasing online storefront offering easy access to your hot products and services, your customers will not find you if you do not market to them.

The day you open for business is the day you put on your “marketer’s hat” and never take it off. You must consistently move product, or schedule service time.

To stay in business you must profit.

To profit you must sell.

To sell you must market.

The good news is that, with a marketing strategy, you take the control out of your potential customers’ hands and put it into your own. If you have a product that will “practically sell itself,” then your marketing job will be easy. Just remember that the job must still be done.

Avoid this mistake by:

• Defining your niche market and USP (Unique Selling Proposition) that differentiates you from your competition.
• Developing a marketing action plan and strategy to reach your niche market with your USP message.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 3: Trying to Reinvent the Wheel

Marketing is an age-old practice with some very basic principles. Yet, I’m sure you’ve read many marketing information products that stress the importance of being innovative and creative with your marketing efforts. It’s easy to get caught up in the innovation process and forget that the REAL focus should be on results.

Avoid this mistake by:

• Emulating success instead of trying to create something completely new. Please note that I am not saying, “copy” what others are doing. Look at the basic structure of a tactic, campaign, advertisement, or event and use the same formula as a basis for developing your own tactics.
• Realizing great marketing ideas are used over and over again with just the right twist to make them fit a specific business. Focus on results, and choose imitation over innovation to create your own twist on a proven, winning technique.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 4: Over-Preparing and Doing Nothing

The fear of failure can be powerful. So powerful that we do everything we can think of to prevent it. Yet, there is a point at which we are so busy preparing, organizing, and researching to prevent failure that we never get around to the actual marketing of the business. Here are two things to remember:

1. Activity is not productivity.
2. In order to sell a million of something, you have to sell the first ONE.

Avoid this mistake by:

• Doing something! If you believe in your business and have done your detective work, it’s time to dive into the marketing pool. Start small, track results and build from there.
• Not being afraid to make a mistake. Mistakes are the entry to success. At the very least, a failed promotion means you have SUCCESSFULLY determined what promotion does not work. And, to learn what does NOT work is a valuable tool in getting you closer to discovering what WILL work.

So, go ahead. Fail a little. It will make your eventual successes even sweeter.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 5: Boredom

When I was working for an ad agency many years ago, I had one client that was running an extremely successful ad campaign. After about six months, I received a phone call from the client. He wanted to develop an entirely new campaign. When I asked, “why?” he simply said, “I’m bored with the one we have.”

What?

That client may have had the money to spend on a new campaign due to “boredom” but you and I usually don’t. Yet, I’ve often seen my small business clients switch promotions for the same reason. This is detrimental to your business!

“Losing money” is a reason.

“Boredom” is not.

Avoid this mistake by:

• Remembering that, what is old to you, is new to an untapped target market. If you have a promotion that is consistently getting you results, stick with it until results show you its time for change.
• Testing new promotions without abandoning the current one. Then track results. Never swap a current promotion with a new one that hasn’t been tested.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 6: Relying on Networking to Generate Sales Leads

Joining the Chamber of Commerce and schmoozing at association meetings can put you in contact with vendors and possible joint venture partners, and will be invaluable exposure for you as a community supporter – but it will rarely generate substantial sales leads.

Everyone else who attends these “meet and greet” assemblies is there to do the same thing you are. You may be able to make some valuable contacts for future ventures and promotions, but one-on-one networking is time-consuming and results are unpredictable.

Avoid this mistake by:

• Treating networking opportunities the same as any other marketing tactic. Track results by determining your costs and measuring your payback.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 7: Doing What Your Competitors Do

It’s important to be aware of what your competitors are offering, but do not let it dictate the strategy you use for your own business.

If your competitor wants to be the low price leader, let him. Don’t try to become the “lower price” leader. Chances are this will lead you to financial problems because it will thrust you into an ugly price war.

If your competitor wants to tout low prices, then you focus on value. Bargain hunters don’t necessarily want the lowest price. They want the best VALUE. Make what you have to offer something of value.

Avoid this mistake by:

• Finding an unmet need or want of your target market, and fill it to differentiate your products and services from your competitors.
• Giving customers a reason to choose you over your competitors. Define your USP, and identify your niche market.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 8: Not Targeting a Specific Market

If you believe your market is “everybody,” you will struggle to attract people who will buy from you. The value of target (niche) marketing is one of the toughest sells I make to my clients. They understand the logic of it, but the “fear of losing a potential customer” gets the best of them.

Avoid this mistake by:

• Viewing the practice of niche marketing as inclusive, not exclusive.

Think of your business as part of a person’s support group. It’s logical to say, “Everybody needs a support group so my business should attract everyone.” But, will it? People – your customers – want to go to a support business that understands their specific concerns, needs, and wants. Make sure you ARE that business by targeting a niche market.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 9: Targeting a Market You Can’t Reach or One That Can’t Afford You

Targeting a niche market is the smartest way to market. Yet, targeting a market that is too specific will limit your ability to succeed long term. For example, a market that might be too specific would be: female pilots under the age of 35 who fly ONLY New York to London flights. That’s a pretty narrow market to sustain your business in the long term unless you can capture the ENTIRE market with a product or service that has a high profit point and customers need to use or replace it often.

In that same vein, a market that is begging for the service or product you have but cannot afford it will also be a business impossible to sustain. Never compete for someone’s rent money. Your target market must have the means to buy your products and services.

Avoid this mistake by:

• Creating your customer profile to identify characteristics of your potential buyers,
• Identifying a niche market,
• Examining the long term potential for new and repeat sales.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 10: Focusing On Acquiring New Customers Instead of Promoting to Current or Previous Customers

When you first start a business you have little choice but to focus on gaining new customers. The cost of finding those new customers can be expensive, which is one reason it is so important to really target a specific niche. However, once you’ve made just one sale, you’re ready to start looking at other marketing options.

Wouldn’t you like to:

… slash your marketing costs by half or more?

… reach proven buyers for your service or products?

That little goldmine of proven buyers available to you “on the cheap” is already yours in the form of current and previous customers.

Any respected marketing guru, past or present, online or offline, will tell you that the biggest asset your company has is your customer base.

Avoid this mistake by:

• Realizing that, when a sale is finalized, it is the beginning of your relationship with that customer, not the end.
• Offering additional products or services to current customers. If you don’t have your own to offer them, then develop a referral, joint venture or product bundling program so you can reap profits from your already-interested (and buying) customers.

MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 11: Not Systematically Following Up on Leads

The least expensive part of business is making the sale. The most expensive is generating leads – finding the people who are interested in what you have.

Once you find people who express an interest in what you have to offer – whether they buy from you or not – you MUST develop a follow up system that will keep marketing to those interested prospects. A person who has expressed interest in your products and services is far more likely to eventually buy from you than someone who did not respond at all!

Avoid this mistake by:

• Curbing the tendency to become obsessed with generating more leads until you have exhausted the ones you already have.
• Developing an easy, systematic follow up for leads, designed to convert a “maybe” into a “yes.”

About The Author

Susan Carter helps business owners “do more with less” to operate and market their small and growing businesses. She is the author of How To Make Your Business Run Without You, and SPLASH Marketing for Overworked Small Business Owners. Carter offers FREE book chapters, and distributes free business-building advice in her twice-monthly ezine, SuccessExpress Press, available at http://www.successideas.com susancarter@successideas.com

A loose definition of the word improvisation is to invent, compose, or perform something extemporaneously. For example if you’ve ever seen a Woody Allen movie, laughed at a sketch on Saturday Night Live or heard Miles Davis play notes of music not bound by this earth, you’ve experienced improvisation in action. As it is in movies, sketch comedy or jazz the joy of improvisational cooking is in the results that spring forth from inspired creation.

How do you use a recipe? Do you follow each step and measure each ingredient with the precision of a chemist? Do you nervously meter out the baking time of your cookies by tapping your foot to the cadence of the timer? We perform this culinary art to please more than our stomachs, the reasons too numerous to mention. Whatever the reason we usually approach it with recipe in hand. Often times a recipe we don’t understand. The essence of Improv Cooking, with it’s somewhat Zen like approach, demands you’re imagination and instinct to help you solve the riddle of the recipe.

The Steps Towards Improv Cooking

Improvisational cooking is not so much reading and following a recipe as it is using skills and techniques to take a recipe to another level or create a recipe out nothing more than a larder full of ingredients. You have to possess a certain amount of skill and understanding before plunging in to any kind of cooking. Improv Cooking is no different. It forces you to trust your instincts as well. Follow these seven simple steps and you’ll soon be free to open the fridge and just start cooking.

#1 Taste As Many Different Styles of Cooking as Possible

This is probably the simplest of all the Improv techniques to learn and master. Just eat as many different cooking styles as you can. The axiom is straightforward. The more you’re exposed to, the more imaginative you’ll become. Fill your headphones with nothing but Britney and it certainly would be difficult to imagine Charlie Parker’s saxophone. Consequently, eat nothing but the same restaurant or home cooked food all the time and your cooking vocabulary will reflect it.

#2 Understand the Basic Fundamental Techniques of Cooking

You can’t pick up a trumpet and expect to sound like Miles Davis without knowing a few things first. I won’t go into all the things that could and will go wrong. I’m sure you get the picture. Well, Improv Cooking follows the same rules. You can’t expect to be able to whip out a perfect Coq Au Vin without knowing the techniques involved to do so. But, the rewards will be greater once you do. The following list is more than just the basic fundamentals though. I’ve listed all the techniques and methods that matter to the experienced cook.

The Oven Group

Roasting – Cooking with dry heat that surrounds the food with as much direct heat as possible.

Pan Roasting – The wary little secret of every professional kitchen. This is a combination of method of starting the food in a hot sauté pan then finishing in a hot oven.

Broiling – A cousin to grilling, this is direct heat cooking with the heat source above the food instead of under it.

Braising – Moist heat cooking usually achieved in a sealed container like a Dutch oven, tagine or stoneware crock.

Baking – A dry heat method of cooking usually referring to breads, pastries etc.

The Wet Group

Boiling – Cooking in a large quantity of liquid, usually water.

Steaming – Cooking in a sealed container with a small amount of liquid (usually water but not especially) with the food suspended over the liquid so that it only comes in contact with the steam vapors.

Poaching – Best known as a method to cook egg, fish and perhaps chicken. This is cooking in a hot still liquid where the liquid never reaches more than a bare simmer.

The Frying Group

Sautéing – Cooking in a hot pan with little or no fat (butter, oil etc.)

Pan Frying – Very similar to sautéing, except done with more fat. Sometimes enough to almost immerse the food.

Stir-Frying – The Asian method of cooking in an extremely hot pan, usually a wok, with very little fat while keeping the food almost in constant motion.

Deep-Frying – Cooking by totally immersing the food in hot fat. The fat does the job of cooking by encircling the food with heat, thereby allowing it to cook faster sealing in natural juices and flavors. If done properly it’s not the health demon most people assume it is.

The Outdoor Group

Grilling – Cooking over direct heat with the food usually supported by a grate of some sort. This method can be performed indoors as well with the right equipment.

Smoking – This is actually two sub groups. Hot smoking is cooking at temperatures that will cook the food at the same time it infuses the food with smoke flavor. Cold smoking is done with the heat source separate from the cooking chamber so the food is enveloped in low temperature smoke that will infuse flavor without cooking.

Rotisserie – Like grilling, this method does not necessarily have to be done outdoors for the lucky few that have the capability in a well-equipped kitchen. Either way this is cooking with the food suspended over or next to direct heat and rotated via by some mechanical means.

The Sauce Group

Here’s where it gets a little dicey and can separate the cooks from the pretenders. Some of these techniques are best learned at the elbow of someone who’s been there before. But don’t let that stop you from digging in and trying on your own. You may come with some pretty awful stuff, but the attempt will teach you a lot.

Stock – A cornerstone of cooking, whether, meat, fish, poultry or vegetable. A low and slow cooking that’s meant to draw the true essence of flavor into a liquid form.

Brown Sauce – Usually made with beef or veal, but can be made with any brown stock made from roasted bones, flavored with aromatic herbs and vegetables.

Demi-Glace – Similar to brown sauce only made without a thickener and reduced to thicken and intensify flavors.

White Sauce – Also known as Béchamel, made with milk and or cream and thickened with a roux (flour and butter paste)

Veloute – Constructed very much like white sauce, except the milk is replaced usually by a light colored stock of either meat or poultry. It is often enhanced with egg yolks and butter at finishing.

The “Aise” Family – This includes Hollandaise and all its progeny like béarnaise, choron etc. and mayonnaise and all its descendants like aioli, remoulade etc. These are all emulsion sauces with egg bases and a body made mostly of oil or butter.

Other Emulsions – This can range from aiolis or butter sauces to vinaigrettes, to pan sauces that are thickened or finished last minute with butter and or cream.

Gravy – A sauce in loose terms only. Gravies are usually made with the juices collected from roasting meats or poultry. The non-thickened varieties are sometimes called “Jus” in modern menu vernacular.

The Soup Group

The Hearty Family – This includes all the varieties you want to serve in meal-sized bowls like beef stew, chicken and dumplings, chili, chowder and minestrone.

Bisque – Usually and intensely flavored soup that’s been thickened with rice, potatoes or a flour paste called panade.

Purees – Similar to bisque in nature but usually made with a single vegetable flavoring and thickened by pureeing the entire mass via some mechanical or manual means. Often times these soups are finished with cream.

Creams – Any soup, thick or thin, where a significant portion of the liquid is either milk or cream.

Broth – Often confused with stock, both are liquids that have been flavored with aromatics. But the basic building block of stock is bones whereas broth is composed from pieces of meat giving it more collagen. This is the lip sticking quality that gives broth its viscous body.

Consommé – A broth that’s been clarified with egg whites

The Miscellaneous Group

This is a hodgepodge of techniques that will give you a little more depth to your creativity.

Papillote, Packages and Pouches – This is where the food is wrapped and sealed in paper, foil or sometimes a natural wrapper like corn husk or banana leaf. The packages can be cooked by baking, steaming, boiling or grilling.

Dumplings – This is a very broad category of foods and methods that includes many varieties that I’m going to break put into two families. The filled dough variety and the nothing but dough variety. The filled dough relatives have names like ravioli, dim sum, kreplach or pierogi. After filling, these succulent siblings can be steamed, boiled, baked or fried. The nothing but dough relations generally just go by the name “dumpling” but sometimes have the main flavoring preceding their surname such as apple or onion. Also on this branch of the tree are hush puppies, zeppoli and matzoth balls.

Croquettes – Usually a fried delicacy, but sometimes baked. A soft filling of any manner of meat, cheese, vegetable or fruit encased in a crisp shell.

Brining – Very popular these days. Besides turkey at Thanksgiving, it’s an essential step in the process of smoking certain foods, like salmon or ham. But will often stand on its own in foods like gravlax or prosciutto.

Paté – A French term to describe a dish made with forcemeat (ground) of innards or any kind of meat. But the technique occurs in other cuisine and has recently been tagged to concoctions of vegetables or fruits as well. Cold meatloaf is technically a pate.

Charcuterie – Pardon my French, but they did have a huge influence on the world of cooking. This term covers all manners of sausage making and preserving of meats.

The Baker’s Group

This group of techniques is where the art of cooking meets the science of food. Precision in measurement, combination of ingredients and technique is of utmost importance. Discipline and a strict adherence to formula must replace the looser attitude you can give to other areas of cooking. But, as in life, there are no absolutes. Once mastered, these techniques will reveal many ways to tweak and stretch a recipe to your will.

Yeast Breads – These can be savory or sweet, loaves, rolls or doughnuts. They can be baked, fried or steamed.

Quick Breads – The “Quick” generally refers to the active leavening that’s achieved with eggs, baking soda, baking powder, and any combination thereof. These can be baked in loaves or cups (then they’re called muffins). Or steamed in molds which will change their name to pudding.

Pies, Tarts and Cobblers – Be they one crust or two, hand held or deep dish, cream filled, fruit filled, custard or meat. The basic construction varies very little.

Cakes and Tortes – The basic building blocks of flour (usually wheat but can be any variation), sweetener (sugar, honey whatever) and leavening (very similar to quick bread) rarely change. The differences all come in the flavoring and final construction.

Icings and Frostings etc. – Really a sub group of cakes and tortes, but for this purpose it stands alone. I’m including in this arena fondant, buttercream, ganache, boiled icing and all the wondrous creations done with pulled sugar.

Soufflés and Mousse- A seemingly daunting hurdle to the novice, but once the simple construction of flavoring base lightened with egg whites in the case of soufflé or whipped cream for mousse is mastered the sky is the limit.

Custards – Learning how to manage both breeds, baked and stir-cooked over heat, opens opportunities for both sweet and savory variations.

Puddings – A difficult process to pin down because of the wide range of foods that can be called puddings.

#3 Learn the Relationships of Aroma, Flavor, Texture and Color

The relationships of aroma, flavor, texture and color are possibly the most important aspect of improv cooking. In order for any dish to be cooked well, the dish must be whole. It must appeal to all the senses completely and with harmony. Webster’s Dictionary describes these elements in the following way;

Aroma – A pleasant characteristic odor

Flavor – the taste experience when a savory condiment is taken into the mouth

Texture – The distinctive physical composition or structure of something, especially with respect to the size, shape, and arrangement of its parts.

Color – That aspect of things that is caused by differing qualities of the light reflected or emitted by them.

To make all of this work in harmony is no small task. Whether from recipes or you’re imaginations it’s the crux of all cooking. To neglect or diminish anyone of these elements would result in a dish that’s not complete. And by contrast, to enhance or over emphasize anyone of these elements as well would result in a dish that is off balance and probably not very appealing. So how do you know when you get it right? Is there a formula or system of measuring these elements that can insure all the pieces of the puzzle are in place? No, you just know when it works. Even though the balance of these elements is crucial, the right answer is up to you. Let your self go and become the dish or as was first said in Caddyshack “Be the ball!” Let your senses tell you what’s happening in that pot or pan. Smell, taste, look and even listen to the food as it cooks. It has a great story to tell if you let it.

#4 Learn the Art of Accompaniment

Very few things we cook stand-alone. Even the most well-crafted stew or soup becomes even more complete and interesting by what it is served with. The gamut of choices can range from side dishes to condiments to beverages and even to the choice of lighting or music. In fact there are too many choices to discuss in detail. The best way to approach this dilemma is to first understand the goal. Because there are huge differences in these as well, a simple lunch for two suggests a different set of choices from a large family gathering or an elegant supper. Throw this into the mix along with your own level of ability or comfort with certain techniques and dishes and well I think you get my point. Perhaps the best way to approach this step towards Improv Cooking is to begin with what you know, because just as the right accompaniments can make a meal, the wrong ones can just as easily destroy it.

#5 Cook With Others

“One can acquire everything in solitude except character.”

Stendhal, On Love, 1822

Unlike jazz, comedy or any of the other improvisational arts, where the act of improv is rarely done alone, you rarely think of cooking as something that can and should be done with others. Yet there are the accidental improvisational sessions that happen all the time.

While developing the skills of Improv cooking, you should plan several intentional cooking sessions centered on a specific dish or meal that two or more people can prepare together. Cooking with someone else can magically open a door to your imagination.

#6 Taste Analytically

I started cooking because I wanted to understand the magic behind the food I was eating. Tasting smelling and analyzing ingredients to understand the effects each can have within a dish is an essential improvisational skill. The more you do it the easier it becomes to unlock the magic of a dish. This skill coupled with a solid understanding of technique will enable you to accomplish great things in the kitchen.

#7 Break the Rules.

Without a sense of exploration, which is the ultimate rule breaker, we would have never walked on the moon or experienced Nouvelle Cuisine. The space program produced hundreds of modern conveniences we enjoy today. Yet many food writers and Chefs look upon Nouvelle Cuisine with the same disdain as the embarrassingly wide collars and polyester clothing of the day. Nouvelle Cuisine left us with a legacy of pushing the envelope. Unlike any other period in cooking, Chefs were taking the expected and giving us a whole new way to see it. The foods, techniques and presentations that seemed far out and strange then have today become not only the norm for many Chefs, but a jumping off point to even wilder ways to cook. Breaking the rules is the mantra in many kitchens today. Savory foams, laser printed edible paper, carnival midway snacks served in the palaces of high cuisine are just a few of the ways rules are being broken. If something feels like a rule the next time you’re in the kitchen, then break it. You may create something inedible, but you will learn a valuable lesson. I can’t emphasize enough that once you combine your increased knowledge of techniques, flavors and construction your imagination will be free to see new avenues to explore. Soon the rules will start disappearing.

CHICKEN BREASTS IN MUSTARD PAN SAUCE IMPROV

Chicken Breast, boneless and skinless

Unsalted Butter

Kosher Salt

Fresh Ground Pepper

Veloute Sauce

Good Grainy French Mustard

Egg Yolks

Lemon Juice

Chives for garnish

Butterfly the chicken breasts or pound them to 1/2″ thick. Season each liberally with salt and pepper then set aside. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat until it foams and begins to brown. Add the just enough chicken to the pan so its not too crowded. Brown the breasts on one side then turn and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and lift the chicken breasts to a warm platter. Repeat the process again if you need to cook more chicken. If not, return the pan to the heat and add the veloute sauce. Stir in the mustard and reduce the heat to low. Scrape the pan to lift all the little bits of browned chicken stuck to the pan. Beat the egg yolks in a small bowl. Add a little of the warm sauce to the yolks to warm them then stir the mix into the warm sauce. Return the pan to the heat, but do not let the sauce boil. Finally, stir in the lemon juice and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the sauce and warm briefly. Serve the chicken topped with a little sauce and garnished with some snipped chives.

Improv Hint: The veloute sauce in this case should be a little on the thin side. The simmering in the pan, the mustard and the egg yolks will have an affect on making it a little thicker. Plan on about one-third cup of sauce per chicken breast.

Tobie began his career as part of a restaurant and tavern family in Chicago. As a student of liberal arts at Kendall College he discovered his calling in the restaurant industry. Leaving school before graduation, he accepted an apprenticeship under Chef John Snowden at Dumas Pere L’Ecole de la Cuisine Francais. The classic French apprenticeship prepared him for a career as Chef and consultant. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ re-opening of the legendary Pump Room in 1977 was his first project. Since then, he has used his creative talents working with restaurants all over the country. He currently resides in Minneapolis working with an active list of consulting projects including, The Sample Room, a renovation of an old bar to a modern eatery Ike’s Bar and Grill, classic dining in downtown Minneapolis, Monkey Dish Bar and Grill ; an outrageous fun concept in suburban Chicago among others. His articles have appeared in various local publications and he makes regular appearances on radio and TV. He is working on a book called “IMPROV COOKING”.

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http://online-fashion-sch.blogspot.com