Archive for January, 2009
01.31.09
Posted in World of Science at 5:34 am by admin
Across the world glaciers are melting at a quicker pace than at any decade since measurements began, states The Sun. Glaciologists from the World Glacier Monitoring Service, which records 28 glaciers in 7 mountains, calculate that from 1847 to 1968 glaciers were shrinking at a average rate of 28 centimeters per year. From 1967 to 2000 losses climbed to 50 to 90 cm a yr. From then the average has constituted greater than one meter per yr. The last year saw the highest losses thus far of 1.3 metres.
Worldwide glaciers are receding at least as fast as those glaciers in the sample with possibly disastrous consequences for nearby villages. Shortly there could be more floodings, whilst in the long term, water supplies could disappear, leading to acute water deficits.
Chamonix in the Haute Savoie, has a large number of glaciers, the effects of climate change and the receding of glaciers will be sharply experienced. Possibly this is why several shops and locals appear to be more cognisant of the events so therefore seeking to undertake measures to restrain the carbon footprint. With luck it is not too belated to stem the upshots of global climate change and ensure a world for our children. Therefore if you are going to travel to Chamonix then think of your carbon footprint.
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01.30.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:15 pm by admin
This one statement might not mean much — if anything — to
you until you actually try promoting your business in the
‘real world’. I know it didn’t mean anything to me; for
years I heard ‘experts’ repeatedly say that the one thing
online marketers neglected was the offline market.
It wasn’t until I opened up a new website where most of
the audience preferred good old postal mail that I had my
first taste of offline marketing. My worst campaign barely
broke even; my best earned me back my costs by a margin of
7-to-1!
It’s easy to become comfortable just marketing online;
after all, it’s relatively cheap, a big advantage for
those just getting started. Still, it’s by no means
‘perfect’. Some of the problems include:
* Email marketing, one of the most prevalent and popular
ways to market online, is getting harder. With the vast
amounts of spam (unsolicited email) we receive every
day in our email boxes, legitimate email can easily be
overlooked. Many people simply press the ‘delete’ key
if the email isn’t from someone they immediately
recognize.
* Anyone can put up a web page. There’s no easy way to
differentiate legitimate businesses from the ’scammers’,
and there seems to be an huge proliferation of scams
online.
* It’s difficult to get the *right* people to see your
website. With billions upon billions of web pages, how
do you attract people to your little corner on the web?
And once they’re there, how do you keep them? Another
website is just a ‘click’ away!
These problems make offline marketing much more attractive!
Offline marketing has many advantages that cyberspace
can’t offer. Consider this:
* You are not limited to a web page or online ad. For
instance, you can use texture and taste (ie. product
samples); or enclose stickers in your mailings to
help engage the customer in your message.
* It’s something tangible that your prospect can hold
in his hands… and with things like brochures,
postcards, and business cards, although they might
initially be tossed aside, the recipient can
‘rediscover’ them lying on a counter, on the fridge,
etc — or he may hand it to someone else he knows.
* You can reach a whole new segment of the population
that would never see your ads online. Some people
don’t use the Internet at all (or rarely)… while
some of those who do, don’t necessarily know how to
search for specific information.
* People can more easily focus on your message. For
example, let’s say you’re stuck in traffic behind
some guy with his URL on his car. There isn’t much
for you to do or to look at, so you read his decal.
Similarly, a brightly colored postcard in someone’s
mailbox is more likely to stand out (and get read!)
than an email that appears alongside dozens of others,
most of which are spam.
Granted, offline marketing isn’t always cheap when you
consider the cost of paper, envelopes, ink, postage,
and much more that can go into an offline campaign.
But not all offline marketing has to be expensive; for
instance, one of the easiest and most affordable methods
I’ve used is a simple decal on my car ( I got mine at Web
Decals, http://buildyourhomebiz.com/rd/webdecal.html ).
The decal displays my tagline and URL, and everytime I
drive, get stuck in traffic, or park at the mall, my
business gets exposure. I keep a few brochures in my
glove compartment to give out to people who ask about
my site.
Online marketing is a wonderfully affordable way to reach
an audience. However, a combination of online and offline
marketing can help your business thrive! More ideas on how
to market your business offline can be found in the article,
‘A Beginner’s Checklist to Promoting an Online Business’:
http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/articles/checklist3.html
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
_________
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical
guide to building an Internet business on a shoestring
budget. If you’re tired of hype and just want solid,
down-to-earth information, then visit us now — and in
moments you can have access to loads of instantly useable
tips, specifically chosen for beginners!
http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html
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01.26.09
Posted in Nutrition at 8:05 pm by admin
Culinary herbs are safe to use in the kitchen without any need for caution, as the majority have been used in food preparation for countless generations and these include the well known sage, garlic, rosemary, thyme and parsley. But the range of these traditional herbs is ever increasing beyond the locally grown herbs as we import them from all over the world and venture into new taste experiences for our palates. Many of these familiar culinary garden herbs can also be safely used as cottage remedies for common complaints so are included amongst the range of medicinal herbs from which our medicines are produced. Therefore herbs such as chamomile, valerian, lavender and many others are quite safe to use in cottage healing.
Medicinal herbs and plants, however, gathered for the production both of modern drugs and of herbal remedies are not generally found in garden cultivation, but are gathered from the wild in many countries throughout the world, or cultivated in commercial plantings for specific purposes. Their use in the manufacture of medicinal drugs is limited as this method aims to make synthetic replicas of the active ingredients by chemical means. In contrast, great volumes of raw herbs and plants are required for drying for herbal teas, for powder used in tablets or for the liquid plant extracts which provide the bottled medicines we find in health food shops and in herbal dispensaries.
Professional herbalists have the responsibility of undertaking considerable study in order to learn which herbs are best prescribed and in what doses, as well as learning the cautions which are required as to those plants which are best avoided. Their professional recommendation is therefore generally advised.
Each herbal substance possesses specific properties, whether it is the root, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits or seeds or the whole plant itself. There can be some variance in the quantities and qualities of these properties, depending upon the growing conditions and methods used in plant production. Appropriate information is detailed, for the benefit of consumers, upon the label of every product.
Constituents of Medicinal Herbs:
The most well known medicinal herbs have been thoroughly researched as to their active constituents. This information provides us with a reason why these plants have been satisfactorily used in traditional medicine for so many centuries but this is not the only reason. It is because when the plant substances are administered in their entire form with the organic chemicals arranged and proportionate to nature’s recipe, it provides a natural balance and a mysterious ‘x’ factor or life factor, known as ’synergy’ which no amount of analysis or scientific investigation has been able to explain. Isolating the identified ‘active constituents’ is not as effective as methods which keep the plant whole.
Herbalists depend upon their herbal material being of high quality, organically grown where possible. It is either dried for use in teas, powdered for tablets or produced as liquid extracts or medicinal tinctures. These methods guarantee their success in healing as the vital ingredients are supported by other properties which provide a safe chemical balance with no ’side effects’.
As well as the mineral, vitamin and protein content of plants the most important of the active constituents found in medicinal herbs fall into certain categories, each with special function in healing.
Phenols - anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antioxidant and perhaps antiviral.
Flavonoids - help circulation, are antioxidant and protect the liver.
Volatile Oils - from which come our essential oils each with a wide variety of applications.
Tannins - these astringent plants are used to stop bleeding and check any infection.
Coumarins - have a wide range of actions some keeping the blood the and in others are muscle relaxants.
Saponins - similar to chemicals in body hormones, oestrogen and cortisol - caution is required. Proanthocyanins - compounds which are antioxidant and help the heart and circulation Anthraquinones - these have irritant laxative action used to ease bowel movements.
Glycosides - cyanogenic, in high doses are poisonous - but in small doses to treat cancer and lung problems.
Glycosides - cardiac, affect the heart and also are diuretic.
Polysaccharides - in roots, bark and seeds soothe irritations and some help the immune system. Glucosilinates - found only in the brassicas - radish, cabbages etc.
Bitters - stimulate the salivary glands and digestive organs to improve appetite.
Alkaloids - give mixed reactions - with a strong effect in pain relief but care must be used to avoid negative reactions.
Generally the herbalist relies upon the traditional uses as a basis for prescribing herbal medicine or herbal supplements. Because most herbs have a wide range of therapeutic use, both external and internal, there may sometimes be a confusion or even an apparent contradiction as to choice of a remedy. For example, thyme, is a natural antiseptic, but also relieves headaches and gotu kola can be applied externally to eczema or as a tonic for brain and nervous system. Traditional uses often vary in the different countries of their origin.
However, many herbs remain in the Materia Medica used by orthodox doctors and so can be referenced there as well as in the Herbal Materia Medica now available from Britain. Research into herbs is also very advanced in Australia and some European countries. In addition, the extensive research commenced by the Russians may soon be available to the west. The ancient systems of both Chinese medicine and the Indian Ayurveda are becoming known to us to add further growth and a new dimension to the healing sciences.
For those who wish to avoid modern medicinal drugs and the side effects which are common to all of them, safe herbal medicine is the answer. When used as a supplement to a healthy diet with plenty of naturally produced fresh fruit, salads, vegetables, nuts and grains it provides a natural way of supplying the body with the variety of elements required both in maintaining physical health and relieving any symptoms of illness.
Public confidence in using herbs as a safer and more natural alternative to the artificially produced drugs is growing steadily. Millions are now enjoying the benefits of a healthier and more natural lifestyle as their health is gradually built up and physical discomforts diminish.
There is usually no sudden reaction as experienced with drugs, but if you take medicinal herbs you will find a steady improvement and will be inclined to continue to follow the safe, sure ways which are closer to Nature and as many believe, closer to the divine intention in providing us with access to simple remedies in ‘the herbs of the field’.
Michael Russell
Your Independent Herbal guide.
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01.25.09
Posted in Nutrition at 11:33 am by admin
Saw palmetto
A small North American palm like plant is called saw palmetto. The extract is obtained from the berries of the plant and it comprises of different fatty acids and sterols. Initial native uses of this extract have helped in improving the reproductive, urinary and genital problems.
Constituents of Saw palmetto
It basically comprises of fatty acids like- lauric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid and myritic acid. Also phytosterols( plant sterols) and polysaccharides.
Uses of Saw Palmetto
It may be of great help in improvement in a condition of BPH or benign prostrate hyperplasia. It is very important as it inhibits the testosterone from acting on the prostrate and interferes with the urine flow. Saw Palmetto may aid in regulating urine flow and may help in reduction of the frequency and urgency of urine flow in men affected by BPH. It may be also used to treat bladder inflammation and chronic bronchitis; it also helps in prevention of balding in men by stopping the testosterone by converting and multiplying the cells. Saw Palmetto also inhibits androgen and estrogen activity and may help in the balanced growth of hormones both amongst men and women. It can also be beneficial in women for breast enlargement and to treat uterine irritability. However owing to hormonal activity saw palmetto is not recommended to pregnant and breast feeding women.
Interaction with Drugs
The interaction with other drugs is still a growing field for saw palmetto. The interactions Mentioned below are those from scientific journals however it is recommended that whenever it is taken it should be on the prescription of a doctor.
Interactions
It is highly inadvisable to take Saw palmetto with drugs that affect the level of male sex hormones. It is believed in theory that saw palmetto interferes with contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy. The combination herbal product PC-SPES has saw palmetto and warfarin an anticoagulant. There is a can be a serious risk of bleeding if PC-SPES is used with drugs that can cause bleeding like warfarin and clopidogrel.
Interactions of Saw Palmetto with herbs and dietary Supplements
According to theory saw palmetto may interfere with herbs having estrogen like properties like redclover and soy. The tannins that could be present in saw palmetto affect the absorption of iron in the body.
Side Effects of Saw Palmetto
The scientific journals and studies report that saw palmetto users can have gastrointestinal trouble, mild headache, erectile dysfunction, mild headache and insomnia. There can be chances of stomach upset, fatigue and restlessness. It is advisable to stop taking saw palmetto before surgeries as it causes bleeding at tiems in some people.
Usage
The usage mentioned below is according to scientific journals and traditional usage-
Adults- aged 18 or older
• A usage of 320 milligrams daily if taken as tablets and capsules
• Berries- Two grams of ground berries or whole taken by mouth
• Tincture- two to four ml for oral dosage
Children- Aged below 18
There is no satisfactory evidence to give saw palmetto to children.
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01.24.09
Posted in Nutrition at 12:41 am by admin
Moderate amounts of vitamin E in the diet can protect against Parkinson’s disease, according to a study in the Lancet Neurology (2005;4:362-5).
A chronic, progressive neurological disease, Parkinson’s disease is characterized by resting tremors, increasing muscle rigidity, and eventual paralysis. The cause is unknown, but a number of factors, including age, genetics, and environmental influences are believed to affect risk. Drugs can help relieve the symptoms and might slow the progress of the disease, but cannot cure it.
Highly reactive free radicals appear to play an important role in the nerve damage that occurs in Parkinson’s disease patients. Antioxidants (such as vitamins A, C, and E, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, zinc, and plant chemicals known as bioflavonoids) are nutrients that prevent free radicals from injuring cells. Several studies have looked at the effects of dietary antioxidants on the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
The current report analyzed the research on the possible link between the risk of Parkinson’s disease and dietary intake of three antioxidants: vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. Eight studies were found to meet the criteria of this analysis, and of these, seven looked at the effect of vitamin E on the risk of Parkinson’s disease, seven looked at vitamin C, and four looked at beta-carotene. The studies used questionnaires to approximate the amounts of these antioxidants in the participants’ diets and supplements. For this analysis, intake was categorized as high if it was within the top 20 to 25% of people’s diets and moderate if it was in the middle 50 to 60%. Moderate and high dietary intake of vitamin E were associated with a 19% reduction in the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, but no protective effects of either vitamin C or beta-carotene were seen. High intake of vitamin E was slightly more protective than moderate intake, but this difference was not statistically significant.
The findings of this analysis show that eating a diet rich in Vitamin E can reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Foods with high amounts of vitamin E include nuts, seeds, olives, olive oil, other vegetable oils, and avocados. Despite their high fat content, it’s important for people to understand that these foods are an important part of a healthy diet.
It is important to note that at least one study suggested that synthetic vitamin E (the most common and least expensive form used in supplements) is unlikely to provide the same benefit as vitamin E in its natural form because of its reduced activity and possible reduced ability to reach the brain tissue.
Vitamin Herb University is the premier online course and informational resource for dietary supplements, supplement reviews, vitamin information, herb information, and drug herb interaction.
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01.23.09
Posted in Nutrition at 9:03 pm by admin
The term fruitarian is not in many older dictionaries. This article will explain what a fruitarian is and talk about some of the criticisms and positive aspects of the fruitarian diet.
Depending on who you talk to a fruitarian eats anywhere from 50 - 100% raw fruit. Fruit comes in sweet, acid and non-sweet packages. All fruit has one thing in common. It is the reproductive part a plant. Usually we consider a fruit a fleshy outer package with seeds inside. A strict interpretation would also include grains, nuts, and seeds of all kinds.
Fruitarians eat a high percentage of fruit of all kinds plus succulent vegetables, and leaves. The Genesis 1:29 diet is a fruitarian diet. Most people think of fruit as something that comes off trees, but tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and many other garden plants are fruits. By eating a variety of fruits with some green leafy vegetables a fruitarian can receive more than adequate nutrition. Most fruitarians include root vegetables in their diets.
My personal diet usually consists of about 75% raw fruit, and 25% raw or cooked vegetables and other plant based foods.
If I eat breakfast, it us usually some kind of sweet or semi-acid to acid fruit, like banana, apple, grapes, oranges or grapefruit. When I can afford it or when it is in season I sometimes have watermelon or cantaloupe for breakfast.
My noon meal is usually my breakfast and the above is usually what I would eat. I would pick one of the above or some other fruit that is in season.
If I have a snack it is usually raw or dried fruit.
My evening meal will usually consist of a salad with non-starchy fruit such as sweet bell pepper, tomato, or cucumber, along with a few sunflower seeds or some nuts. If I were having cooked potatoes or squash after the salad I would leave off the nuts and seeds.
Why eat fruit.
Fruit is what our bodies were designed for. Very little has to be done to fruit for our bodies to assimilate the food value. Our primary nutritional need is for energy. Fruit supplies the energy we need in a form that is ready to be assimilated as is without any modification by the body. This great benefit is also the cause of some of the criticisms to eating fruit, which I will discuss further down.
The protein is in the form of amino acids so our body does not have to brake the protein down into amino acids before we can use it, as it does with animal products and some other plant foods.
The sugars are in a form our body can use as is. That is why they do not cause any sluggishness that often comes from complex carbohydrates like potatoes. All the other nutrients in fruit (other than Starchy fruits like squash) are ready to be used as is, with no further processing by the body.
Fruit is known as a cleansing food, largely because of its ease of digestion. It requires very little energy to assimilate.
Criticism;
Fruit has too much sugar.
Answer;
Most long term fruitarians I have talked to eat a significant amount of non sweet fruits to control the amount of sugar they take in. To my knowledge no one who has lived his or her entire life on a fruitarian diet has ever gotten diabetes, because of the fruit sugar. Diabetes is caused by many factors but refined sugar is at the heart of the issue, along with too much protein in the diet. On the other hand many have recovered from diabetes by adopting the fruitarian diet.
Criticism;
It is not satisfying.
Answer;
I find that much of the dissatisfaction comes from other lifestyle factors that encourage or prompt unnatural cravings. Things like seeing an ad on the TV can trigger a craving that is very hard to overcome, even when you are already stuffed with too much food.
Criticism;
I get sick if I eat too much fruit.
Answer;
This is common but you need to understand what is happening. When you eat fruit your body gets a reprieve from the bulk of the digestion process. This frees up a great deal of energy for cleaning your internal house. Your body will start dumping toxins that it has stored for many months or even years.
This housecleaning can be frustrating. It can be confusing. If you don’t understand what is going on you can easily assume that it is a bad thing. The truth is that you need to get rid of the toxins. Once you have the toxins out, your body will stop the unpleasant symptoms. You should be thankful that your body has enough vitality to dump the trash.
Criticism;
I get too hungry on just fruit.
Answer;
More frequent small meals of fruit during the day may help you overcome the cravings.
When I work ad a job I have fruit for my brakes as well as my lunch. I never have cravings during the workday unless I am working with food and the sight of it is at the root of the cravings. It is easy to over eat. My best advice is to limit the variety, and eat until you are content. Mono meals tend to satisfy more than a variety of foods at a given meal.
Another thing you can do is carry some dried fruit, in your pocket, or purse. What I do especially if I have to work outdoors in winter is carry a little dried apple slices or other dried fruit if am not going to get regular brakes. If I feel that I need something I have it with me. The beauty of dried fruit is that it does not weigh much, and your body temperature will not harm it. It can be kept with you for several days until you decide you want it in a plastic bag. You can pull out a piece of dried fruit instead of a stick of gum.
Many vegans and vegetarians are actually fruitarians and don’t know it.
To summarize, most fruitarians try to average about 75% raw fruit in their diet. They adjust the balance between sweet and non-sweet fruits to keep from gaining too much weight and to eat from a variety of plant sources. They include leafy greens and other succulent plant foods. Though they may occasionally eat small amounts of dairy because they like it they try to stay away from animal products.
I personally try to stay away from animal products because I don’t like pain. I am prone to develop arthritis when I eat animal products. An ounce of cheese once in a while does not cause me too much grief. However frequent use of dairy will cause much arthritis pain in my joints.
I praise God that I am prone to develop arthritis. People who are prone to develop other more serious diseases like heart disease may not know that they are doing harm until it is too late.
Short Term
The fruitarian Genesis 1:29 or Hallelujah diet, or Natural Hygiene, have been proven to curtail disease. Myself and countless others overcame arthritis. Cancer cannot grow on the fruitarian diet with all animal products removed. It has been shown to help the body heal itself from most other diseases.
Disease is a result of a body being out of balance. A well-rounded fruitarian diet will bring the body back into balance.
Long Term
Many critics claim that the fruitarian lifestyle is not sustainable long term. That claim is not sustainable by the facts. There are thousands of fruitarian vegetarians out there who have lived 50 or more years on a plant based diet after living a more traditional diet. They overcame their disease and went on to live a happy healthy life.
There are millions of people who live in societies where living plant food diets are the norm. They experience virtually no disease, and live happy productive lives up until they die. I find that most critics just don’t want to give up their favorite foods, so it is easier, and strokes their ego, if they criticize the fruitarian diet and lifestyle.
I mentioned diabetes and the fact that fruitarians don’t have a problem with diabetes. However if you have diabetes you should not eat too much sweet fruit. If you replace your sweet treats that caused your diabetes with fruit it would be a step in the right direction but once you have diabetes it is easy to eat too much fruit.
If you use this information to change your diet and lifestyle you do so at your own risk. I offer you this information to help you learn how to stop causing disease. However I am not a medical doctor and do not prescribe diet as a treatment.
Charles Snyder (Chuck) is a health minister with Hallelujah Acres, and a teacher of Natural Hygiene. He is not a medical doctor. If you have a medical condition please see your doctor. Natural Hygiene helps you build health naturally, by living in accord with the way we were designed.
You can contact Chuck through his website. He has many other articles and resources there to help you on your journey to health.
Charles Snyder (Chuck) is a health minister with Hallelujah Acres, and a teacher of Natural Hygiene. He is not a medical doctor. If you have a medical condition please see your doctor. Natural Hygiene helps you build health naturally, by living in accord with the way we were designed.
You can contact Chuck through his website. He has many other articles and resources there to help you on your journey to health.
http://www.arthritis-back-knee-pain-free-health-restored.com
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Posted in Uncategorized at 3:23 am by admin
So you want to switch to satellite radio, but you aren’t sure with which service to go with? Two of the biggest names in satellite radio today, XM and Sirius, both offer a large variety of music stations that you would never hear on regular commercial radio. And most of the music channels, for both services, are commercial free. Of course, nothing is truely free. Both Sirius and XM charge you a service fee to listen to their music channels - someone has to pay for those satellites!
So what is the difference between Sirius and XM?
First of all, Sirius and XM both offer the same commercial-free music service broadcasted via satellites. Sirius offers 120 channels, or feeds, of music, sports, and entertainment programming. For this service, Sirius charges a flat monthly subscription fee of $12.95 for residents of the continental US. XM currently charges, on the other hand, has 122 channels broadcasting similar content (68 of which are music channels), and charge a slightly smaller monthly fee: $9.95. XM currently has the largest share in the satellite marked with 2 million customers.
So why does Sirius charge more? Sirius claims to have superior sound quality thanks to their statistical multiplexing technology, which provides additional bandwidth across all SIRIUS streams. This is supposed to increase overall sound quality and resolution. There has been little feedback however, to verify whether or not this system really enhances sound quality to a noticeable degree. In addition, Sirius is offering free audio feeds through the internet to its paying customers, something XM charges a couple dollars a month extra for. So if you plan on listening to the radio via the net often, you can expect to pay about the same no matter which company you go with. Sirius also claims to have 24 hour customer service - something XM radio has yet to fully achieve. Oh, and one more thing. Sirius has 2 NPR channels, for you NPR fans out there: NPR Now and NPR Talk. Pretty cool.
So does that mean Sirius is better? Well, that depends. XM has some neat stuff too, like a bunch of cool XM Satellite Radio receivers and displays. They also have the biggest broadcasting network right now, and are probably the most likely to expand services significantly in the near future. Overall, they are just about equal, and you are better off going with either of these services than any other.
This Sirius vs XM satellite radio review was brought to you by SciNet Science and Technology Search Engine. SciNet is not affiliated with or specifically endorses Sirius or XM satellite radio. Please consult the XM and Sirius product information and configurations before you purchase either device or service. It is also a good idea to seek other product review and information as necessary.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 12:23 am by admin
PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required.
There are five techniques that I shall share with you. They have been proved to be effective in resolving, minimizing, and preventing conflicts. And by conflicts I am referring to any of the following that take place between two or more people: misunderstanding, miscommunications, arguments, disagreements, mixed messages, fighting, etc.
A. I-Message: Use this approach to convey a message to someone when:
* your communication and that of the other person might become hostile;
* the communication might become a shouting match; or
* the words might turn to physical confrontation.
Put an I-Message into action by following these sequence of steps:
1. Get his attention. (Call person by name.) “John, Bob, Sue, Mary, …”
2. Identify your emotion. (Identify and name the emotion you are feeling.) “I feel/am happy, angry, mad, excited, etc. …”
3. Name his misconduct. (Identify the behavior that is offensive.) ” …when you slam the door, spill juice on the clean floor, call me names, etc. …”
4. State the consequence(s). (Identify the consequence that you wish him/her to change. And stop! Be extremely cautious not to ramble because by doing so you run the risk of throwing a spark on the cinders.) “… because it/you causes me to jump, have to remop the floor, be disrespected, etc.”
Putting it together it should sound like this: “John, I get angry when you slam the door because it makes me jumpy.” (Stop! Wait for a response!)
Research has shown that the response is 95-98% non-confrontational or aggressive.) Remember: This approach lets the person know that, although you disapprove of his (or her) behavior, you still care about him.
B. You-Message: Use this approach when you want to reflect to your listener what you’re observing. [Reflect the emotion.] (Identify and name the emotion you are observing.)
(Call person by name), “You seem happy, angry, mad, excited, etc. … “
C. Active Listening: Use this approach when you want to let someone know that you’re truly paying attention. Do so by totally involving your eyes, ears, and body. Pay attention to his body language, move close, cup your hand over your ear, lean forward, etc.
D. Paraphrasing: Use this approach when you want to make sure you did not miss what was said. “So, if I understood you correctly, you said there were only 5 spaces.”
E. Summarizing: Use this approach when you want to break up lengthy conversations into smaller pieces that you can remember and understand. Rather than let the other person ramble on about what all he did last weekend, take control by asking to tell you about each day’s events before moving on the next.
Put it all together. Begin SOARING to the top of the Mountain when you:
* Summarize when the conversation is becoming too lengthy.
* Observe to see if the body language matches the words spoken.
* Actively listen to what is being said by making eye contact.
* Reflect what you thought you heard.
* Indicate that you truly care about the doer and not the deed.
* Name the misconduct to bring it out into the open.
* Go beyond the emotions to get to the facts.
Remember: When you maximize your potential; we all win. When you don’t, we all lose.
© MMIV, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW
About the Author
Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts lectures, seminars, and writes articles on his theme: … helping you maximize your potential. For more information visit www.MaximizingYourPotential.blogspot.com.
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01.19.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:13 am by admin
Are you making yourself a target for fraud? More and more often I am hearing stories of people who have had their accounts hacked. They have had money stolen, lost sleep, spent hours setting up new accounts, or had their credit ruined. Don’t let this happen to you.
Are you making these dangerous mistakes?
Mistake #1: Using the same password for all your accounts.
Please don’t do this. Use different passwords for every email account, and definitely use unique passwords for shopping websites where you’d enter your credit card.
Mistake #2: Short passwords
The risk of someone guessing your password is increasingly difficult the more characters are in it. So, go for the gusto and make your passwords long.
Mistake #3: BradPitt, Charlie, Sarah, Princess, Barbie, Gandolf — Did I guess it yet?
Do not use kids’ names, pet’s name, nicknames, names from characters in books or movies or celebrity names. Even if I didn’t guess it in my list, someone who knows you could.
Mistake #4: Easy to remember English words
Easy to remember is also easy to guess. Passwords should not contain English words found in a dictionary. Non-English words or any words in any dictionary are a high risk as well. And, for goodness sakes, if your password is “password” or “test” then it’s a wonder you haven’t been hacked yet!
Mistake #5: Numbers are no-no’s.
Seriously, stay away from birthdays, anniversaries, addresses, social security numbers or telephone numbers. They are all too easy to guess.
Choose random passwords for banking sites like PayPal. Combine letters (both uppercase and lowercase) and numbers.
If all of this sounds too hard to remember, then consider using a Password program. Most of the good password programs will not only store your passwords on your computer, but they’ll generate completely random passwords when you need one.
Here are a few to try.
http://www.fgroupsoft.com/Traysafe/
http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/
http://www.treepad.com/treepadsafe/
It’s never a good time to find out that someone has stolen money from you — or locked you out of your own email account. It’s a waste of your time and money. Please protect yourself.
Nicole Dean is the mostly-sane Mom behind www.ShowMomTheMoney.com. Are you a Work at Home Mom looking for help in your online business? Take the ShowMomtheMoney 101 Tour - Free! www.showmomthemoney.com/free-tutorial.htm
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01.18.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:02 pm by admin
According to Stephen Carson, Executive Vice-President of Visibility Corporation, “The ETO business process begins with the Request-for-Proposal. The preliminary work leading to the proposal generation is considerable and requires the interaction of many departments such as, internal engineering, estimating, sales, design, and production. Together they need to effectively collaborate to generate a substantial, yet cost effective proposal and quote. The project timeframe can be 6-8 months for proposal generation and production may extend beyond a year.”
Engineer-to-Order Manufacturers face several key challenges that distinguish them from repetitive manufacturers including:
* Complex engineering design changes
* Lengthy pre-proposal design work
* Considerable engineering collaboration
* Inadequate cost capture
* Poor tool sets for analyzing project profitability
Many ETO manufacturers current MRP system consists of traditional standard cost, period-based accounting and did not provide for the administration of costly, complex, multi-year projects. Without improvement on the front end process and accurate collection of project costs, there is little hope for profitable growth.
Visibility Corporation (www.visibility.com) is a leading developer and supplier of business software solutions designed for the unique needs of project-based, engineer-to-order and to-order manufacturers. Visibility’s Enterprise Application solutions help midsize manufacturers of complex products operate their businesses effectively.
VISIBILITY.net is an integrated ERP solution and more. Offering unparalleled functionality and integrated workflow, this browser-based solution cost effectively delivers the power of .NET-based Web services for use with either a Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle® database. Conducting business any place, any time, any where is a reality, deployable with unprecedented flexibility.
Visibility www.visibility.com Jaclyn Aldrich 978-694-8000
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