What is Graphic Design and How Can It Help My Business

What is Graphic Design and How Can It Help My Business? by sundial

Graphic design is an art and for professional results you should be utilising the skills of someone that can demonstrate relevant experience in the field of design, advertising, typography, print and the use of colour. Desktop publishing is not graphic design.

It is important that your advertising materials should be well designed to create the initial visual impact before the user reads the information or explores the website.

As the number of companies, products and services increase, an effective eye catching design is a critical element for marketing your business. An innovative design will help differentiate your company from the competition

A professional qualified graphic designer should take an individual approach to graphic design and with each clients project should produce strong creative designs appropriate for that business or service.

Graphic design done for print can be adapted for use on the web and CD ROM which means you can have strong corporate branding throughout your range of advertising materials.

High quality graphics for print should be processed by a highly regarded professional printer, one who has demonstrated that they can consistently produce high quality printed materials. Don’t cut corners and for the sake of saving a few pounds use a printer that will not do the graphics justice.

Do you need to consider branding & image for your companies materials?

Brands are not just for big companies, they can also make smaller businesses stand out from the crowd and can play a significant part in helping your business or services become the first choice for customers.

In increasingly competitive markets, it is important to establish a strong company (corporate) image or brand which will give potential new customers a true idea of what they are buying before they buy it which should make that decision easier to make for them. Existing customers trust strong brands because they know exactly what to expect and they will keep coming back to you.

If you want to build and manage a strong company brand or image you will need to convey a consistent message to your customers in all ways that you communicate with them.

Strong branding is achieved by a consistency in your marketing tools of which the following are examples:

Web site, Business name, Names of products or services, Company slogan, Company logo, Style and quality of your business stationery including brochures, business cards, letterheads, flyers, folders, Product packaging.

It is important that you commission a professional designer to obtain good quality visual images - photographs and graphics, which will ensure that your marketing materials have maximum impact.

A professional graphic design service will provide high quality graphics which can be adapted for use on your website as well as in all your printed materials such as business stationery, letterheads, business cards, brochures and flyers. High quality graphic designs can also be used on your large conference boards and to build interfaces for an interactive CD Rom which is becoming a more popular way of distributing information about a companies products or services.

John Lewis is a multimedia designer who specialises in producing interactive CD Rom, original graphic design Edinburgh and web design Scotland

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A Tale of Two Ad:Techs -- NY and Shanghai

A Tale of Two Ad:Techs -- NY and Shanghai by Joseph Pratt

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, The Matrix of ancient Greece, suggests that the totality of our perceptions conspire to divert us from larger truths and my experience at ad:tech New York would support its argument. Garish memories of catchy doo-dads and occasional run-ins with kooky characters once again defined the event as I experienced it while blotting out the greater reality of the event. I’m not saying I spent two full days in a surreal funhouse, but for the rest of the week I was calculating the shame/profit ratio that would ensue if I were to start wearing bright suits festooned with punctuation marks. I needed some time to dissociate from the glitz before I could go back and start tackling relatively mundane issues, such as how today’s interactive trends will influence tomorrow’s advertising dollar.

And weren’t we all giddy, though? Prior to November’s grand affair at the New York Hilton when I wasn’t thinking about which cocktail socials were lined up for which campaigns, I was focused on the impeding attack of some 7,000 attention starved conventioneers. I, along with the dozen-plus scheduled to work the conference from ICMediaDirect.com, ran through what questions we’d hear and, wisely, “what do you guys do?” was the number one question anticipated. We were a conference sponsor and prominently tabled across the foyer from the registration desks so it was imperative for us to be well-prepared in response to all queries of our company’s business. And we were.

Our central positioning during ad:tech allowed me to greet the seemingly endless crowd marching back and forth from the featured speaker venues and the exhibitor floors. I hear that total attendance was north of 8,300. But even if that figure was doubled, I doubt that I could have made any more contacts -- it was simply that busy. It felt like no locale mattered more to my profession than where I was then; I mean, were we not in New York City participating in the biggest and baddest convention in the interactive field? I can’t speak for others, but at times it was easy for me to forget that I was merely doing business and not changing the planet.

Diana Lee, ICMediaDirect.com’s VP of Business Development, not only coordinated the New York event for us, but was scheduled to leave at the week’s end to run our operation at the inaugural convention ad:tech Shanghai, which we also sponsored. All that this meant for me, really, was that someone was getting to go on an extended trip to China, lucky her. As far as Shanghai itself was concerned; well, come on, someone’s got to slog through the interactive backwaters, right? A fluent speaker of Mandarin and an outgoing marketing pro, Diana was the ideal candidate for such a foray.

I sat with Diana to recount her trip after she returned to the ICMediaDirect.com’s office in the Empire State Building. The level of sophistication presented at ad:tech Shanghai genuinely surprised her and she remarked that the Chinese people will certainly continue to immerse themselves online.

China’s economic ministers must have recognized that their people, like Western consumers, value innovative technology and appreciate choice. The economic boon generated by the resulting consumerism has helped to entice the government to cautiously explore foreign investment over these past few years.

And nowhere will this impact be more dramatically felt than in interactive marketing. The advertising potential for China’s online population is simply more attractive than any other market. Consider this, roughly 250 million Chinese are already online (more than ten times the number 5 years ago) in an economy that’s been growing steadily at 8-9%. This enormous audience, which will parallel the total census numbers of the US by 2008, represents only the one-fifth of their population on the Internet. Let’s recap. In two more years the number of Chinese consumers online will equal the total number of people in the US.

If there is a place to invest in business advertising, it is online in China.

In fact, our dutiful representative told me that in China, search engine marketing is the same hot ticket that it has been here recently. Although shouldn’t have surprised me, it momentarily did. Maybe I was thinking that the Chinese interactive entities, being relatively late entrants into an evolving game, owe it to the world to be heavily immersed in a few fruitless tactics, like keyword stuffing for instance, before adopting today’s darlings.

My short-sightedness has no logic, folks, except provincialism. And from such a mindset leaks notions that one ad:tech event might be of a higher inherent tech relevance than another. I was wrong. The Internet and its applications are truly universal and what matters most is who’s using it and how, not where people gather to gab about it.

Beijing’s history of disinterest in consumer choice for its people hasn’t ended without its ramifications. The Chinese, who do not share our storied and anesthetizing love affair with consumer-targeted advertiser-supported television, are more open than we are to utilizing the Internet as a primary source of information, like news. In fact, many believe that the Chinese are starting to prefer the Internet as a primary source of daily news. Obviously, many of those reading these words also feel the same way, but let’s remember that much of our country is falling all over itself in speculation over who the next anchor will be at CBS. I guess this matters to some people.

While internet advertising monies continue in a ‘break-out’ mode, the reports of aggregate advertising revenues in “traditional” mediums in China have leveled off to the rates of a maturing business. We are all given to think, perhaps, that technology’s march is sure, certain and inevitable. But we should lend this particular trend in China its own context – the Chinese experience just might be a glimpse into our own future. In a scenario where advertiser-driven television and the Internet all came down the pike about the same time, the Chinese may be indicating that they value the internet the most. Granted, they may still be taking their “baby steps” into the interactive marketplace, but we in the West are the ones with more traditional advertising baggage to shed due to our comfort level with the boob tube. As China matures the day may come when their inclusion of the Internet into everyday life will be our model to emulate. Now, that’s hot.


Joseph Pratt

Media Analyst

ICMediaDirect.com

joseph@icmediadirect.com


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Unspoken Rules Of The Road For Truckers

Unspoken Rules Of The Road For Truckers by Mike Dobson

Many truckers seem like they belong to a secret society and part of that membership consists of various courtesies and unspoken rules of the road. Trucking companies are privy to those rules, but don’t always let the newbies know about them. Those new truck drivers get to learn the hard way. But if they are lucky, veteran truckers will give them a probationary pass to the secret society. Membership has its privileges!

Unspoken Rule #1 – Acknowledging other truckers in this secret society. Common courtesy on the roads is a little thing, but can pay off big if you are ever in the need of some assistance. CB radios are often used to recognize other truckers and even a friendly wave does the trick.

Unspoken Rule #2 – Passing the pavement. Sometimes on busy roads, truckers may not be able to keep an eye on all of the traffic around them. Fellow truckers traveling in other lanes will often flash their lights or make contact by CB radio to tell another truck when they have safely passed another vehicle and it is all right to switch lanes.

Unspoken Rule #3 – Know the code. If you want to communicate with other members of this secret society, you have to have a CB radio. And with that CB radio, comes responsibilities and codes used when talking on the radio. Things like letting other truckers know where all the police speed traps are or if there are any accidents to possibly avoid are among the duties in this secret society.

Unspoken Rule #4 – Headlight Headaches. Anther unspoken common courtesy that truckers will extend to other trucks has to do with headlights. Stopping for any length of time, whether at a weigh station or a fuel stop, truckers will often turn off the headlights and put on their blinking hazard lights. Those headlights are very bright and can easily blind another driver at an inappropriate moment and can be a potential hazard.

There are many other small courtesies that truck drivers extend to one another. As newbies establish themselves with their trucking companies, the die hard truckers will eventually take pity on them and let them know the ins and outs of their “Secret society.” Some of these rules may be unspoken ones, but they sure do pave the way for a more enjoyable trucking experience. Now all these truckers need is a secret handshake!

Mike Dobson is the creator of the web's most comprehensive
trucking resource. Start learning about trucking jobs and quality information on trucking companies.

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Lane Splitting Law Is A Legal Grey Area

Lane Splitting Law Is A Legal Grey Area by Yaroslav Shakula

There is no absolutely universal legal view on lane splitting, because lane splitting law varies from each state to the next. Even within a single state, lane splitting law tends to be far more complex than many of the other kinds of legislation that restrict how drivers and motorcycle riders can behave. Lane splitting in California is legal in many circumstances, but not in all circumstances, so whether a biker is cited for illegal lane splitting in California has as much to do with what kind of mood a police officer is in as it does with the realities of lane splitting law. Lane splitting law is one of the greyest areas of ambiguity in modern laws that govern the safe use of vehicles, so it is little wonder then that there is a lot of confusion about lane splitting law among driver, motorcycle riders, and even among lawyers and other law professionals.

Even in states where lane splitting is legal, most motorcycle riders who are concerned with being very prudent about their safety and making sure that they are within the confines of the law avoid lane splitting at all because it is such a grey area in terms of law and in terms of safety. Lane splitting law is complex, but the most important decision that a motorcycle rider makes about lane splitting shouldn’t be whether it is legal in a given situation, but rather whether it is safe. Lane splitting is often very dangerous, and even in the cleanest and clearest of circumstances lane splitting can lead to an accident if things go even slightly awry.

Although lane splitting is legal in some states like California, California bikers might find it prudent to take a cue from other states on this matter. The fact that lane splitting is technically legal in California under most circumstances does not mean that it is a safe practice. One of the most dangerous things about lane splitting is that many automobile drivers do not know how to safely interact with motorcycle riders, so lane splitting can make drivers panic and do things that are unpredictable and often cause injury or even death to motorcycle riders who were technically behaving within their legal rights. It is important to remember that legal lane splitting isn’t always safe lane splitting, so although it is important to follow lane splitting law it is even more important to follow your common sense when deciding whether to lane split on your bike or not.

There is a lot of debate among the motorcycle riding community and among drivers about whether current lane splitting law is satisfactory. Some people feel that current lane splitting law is too loose and not restrictive enough about lane splitting. There are even individuals and groups calling for a national ban on lane splitting under any circumstances. However, there are also plenty of individuals and groups who believe that lane splitting can be safely practiced, and that there should be more of an effort to educate motorcycle riders and divers about how to split lanes safely without causing accidents. Whatever your personal views on lane splitting may be, it is almost certainly true that lane splitting law is one of the most complex areas of law surrounding the practices of drivers and motorcycle riders.

Yaroslav Shakula is the editor-in-chief of I Hate This site which is probably the best place for people to vent their feelings and reviews on almost anything.

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Diesel Exhaust Systems For Performance

Diesel Exhaust Systems For Performance by Todd Johnson

If you are looking for a diesel exhaust system to enhance your performance, the choice can be a tough one. Diesel gets more and more popular all the time and because of this there are many viable options on the market for your diesel exhaust. In addition to diesel exhaust, there are also many chips and tuners that will help enhance your performance, which makes the choice of an exhaust even more overwhelming. Luckily, there are a few brands that are well known for delivering the best in diesel exhaust for performance each and every time. If you are looking to improve your Chevy Duramax, Dodge Cummins, or Ford Powerstroke engine you can definitely maximize your diesel performance with the right exhaust.

Magnaflow

Magnaflow is definitely a brand that is well recognized and respected in the diesel exhaust market. Magnaflow has really embraced diesel performance and they have a tried and true formula that matches the right amount of air with the measured amount of fuel for the most power. A Magnaflow diesel exhaust system will help your diesel engine maintain a normal temperature to lengthen the life of your engine. With a Magnaflow diesel exhaust system, you have the benefit of years of experience in diesel performance on your side, and you know that the exhaust system will compliment all Dodge Cummins engines.

Magnaflow is one of the latest contributors to the four-inch performance diesel exhaust that has become standard. Magnaflow has also introduced a stainless steel mandrel bent system that carries a lifetime warranty, polished muffler and five-inch tip. The Magnaflow diesel exhaust system is definitely one that has made its mark and is a great choice for your vehicle.

MBRP

MBRP is also another great diesel performance company that can offer you the best in diesel exhaust systems. The MBRP Dodge Cummins exhaust is considered a must have if you are working with a Dodge Ram. The MBRP promises maximum gains with a direct bold on application that comes with a four-inch turbo down pipe. The MBRP will simply add horsepower, torque, improved fuel economy, and will lower exhaust gas temperatures. This is a quality buy for anyone looking to enhance diesel performance.

Bully Dog

Bully dog is another outstanding diesel exhaust company that will provide custom-made diesel performance systems for your Ford, Doge, or Chevrolet truck. Bully dog will promise immediate improvements in horsepower, throttle response, and pulling torque, not to mention the exhaust system looks awesome. Bully dog exhaust systems also lower gas temperatures by more than 200 degrees, which is ideal when you are pulling heavy loads. The bully dog performance exhaust packages will also increase gas mileage. A good exhaust system from a great company.

Banks

If you are looking for a diesel performance exhaust system from a company that knows diesel, Banks is an outstanding company. They’ve been around since 1897 improving the use of diesel for performance big and small. Banks is a company constantly implementing innovative techniques with a quality and consistency not often found.

As you can see, there are a lot of options for your diesel exhaust, depending on the type of truck you have, and what you want to see in the way of performance. These are all top-notch brands that you’ll likely be happy with.

If you are looking for any diesel performance products such as diesel chips and exhaust please visit http://www.dieselsmoke.com

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How To Buy Your Dream Car And Avoid Car Dealers Dirty Tricks

How To Buy Your Dream Car And Avoid Car Dealers Dirty Tricks by Amit Laufer

Buying a car is usually our second biggest investment after our home purchase and most of us will do it more than once in our life.

There is something emotional about cars, it represents our taste and style, our economic status and our character. Some women even claim that a car is a man’s extension of his reproductive organ. One the other hand (the good hand) there are women out there that might express their exhibitionism and extravagance by choosing to drive a red flashy car for the whole world to notice them. Both sexes would agree they sometimes feel they ”fall in love” with a certain car model.

There are people who get very existed from a small scratch on the cars lower side, as if it were their own skin. The beauty of the car, its aerodynamics shape, the gadgets inside, the seats the feel of it all play a major part in our decision making.

In our modern life it’s almost impossible to function without one and it’s expensive to acquire, to finance and to maintain.

Buying a new car is a lot of fun, the new car has its unique smell no doubt about it, the very fact you can afford to own a brand new car is a great feeling.

When is the best time to buy a new car?

There are two "best times" to buy a car. The end of December is a good time for car buyers to buy a new car. Everyone is out buying Christmas gifts, leaving new car dealer lots void of customers, motivating dealers to cut costs, and break year end sales records. Another good time to buy a car is July to October as new car dealers sell off cars at low prices to clear space for new car models. Secret factory to dealer incentives can be $1000-$6000 in addition to new car consumer rebates!

How and where to search for prices:

Invoice price – what the dealer pays the manufacturer – has become the real negotiating point. Allowing for the dealer's need to make a profit, the price you pay should be somewhere between sticker and invoice.

Virtually all car buying sites on the Internet show invoice and in most cases their buying tools automatically add option/package invoice amounts as you work your way through the process.

Any car buyer, with very little effort, can get an accurate summation of a car's value, which immediately puts him or her in a stronger negotiating position.

Happily for the consumer, the Internet now allows a prospective buyer to uncover market conditions at any moment in various parts of the country. http://www.Edmunds.com/

for example, reveals the True Market Value: http://www.CarsDirect.com/, which sells cars online, has its own version called Guaranteed CarsDirect price http://www.Intellichoice.com/ sorts out the Best Deals of the Month.

The negotiation phase and the dirty tricks:

After you made your research via the Internet, it’s important you make some phone calls to car dealers and ask for some written offers to be sent to you via the fax or email for the car of your dreams. That way, you can compare prices between several dealers without being pressured by a salesperson.

You would be much better off selling your old car yourself rather than to trade it in through the dealer because the dealer will have to earn some money on it as well.

Remember, everything is a negotiable, car too. Buying a new car is tricky from the moment you step into the car dealership arena, you might be manipulated by scam artists, well trained sales persons that will use every trick in their fat book of tricks to extort every last Dollar out of your bank account.

There is one well known trick they teach in car dealers sales courses, it’s called “throwing a lowball”, in this tactic a customer is offered a very good price on a car, Perhaps as much as $500 below competitors prices. The good deal, however, is not genuine, its only purpose is to cause a prospect to decide to buy at this dealership and not from the other dealers. Once the decision is made a raft of purchase forms are filled out, extensive financial terms are arranged. The dealer knows, customers develop a range of new reasons to support the choice they have now made.

Then something happens. All of a sudden an “error” in the calculations is discovered, It might be the salesman forgot to add in the cost of the air conditioner and if the customer insists on having it, then $500 must be added to the price...

The cover up operation is played sophistically, some times they let the bank handling the financing find the “mistake”, other times the boss is not approving the deal because “we’d be losing money”. They make it look as if it’s not that big mistake as it’s a relatively small percentage of the price of the car and as they stress out it only brings it to be equal to competitors.

The impressive thing about the lowball tactic is its ability to make a person feel pleased with a poor choice. If anyone tries to change the originally-quoted terms or talk you into buying a different vehicle, just say "no" and go somewhere else.

If you are interested to learn about many others car dealers scams and how to avoid them go to: http://www.carbuyingtips.com/scams.htm

Until all the papers have been signed there are still ways in which a shrewd dealer may add to his profit by talking you into extras you don't want and probably don't need. These can include added and overpriced insurance, extended warranties, rust proofing (absolutely unnecessary), paint or fabric protection, anti-theft plans, and more. Smile and firmly turn them all down.

Finally, before you drive away, do a careful inspection of the car, looking for scratches or dents; anything that mars the perfect finish. If you're not happy, get a written agreement (known as a Due Bill). It means you have the right to later return the vehicle in order that flaws can be corrected.

MBA - International Trade & Finance - Heriot-Watt University. Bsc. Computers and Information Systems - Long Island University - C.W Post Campus. Hobby: Photography & Cars. Married with two Children.
Owner Editor of: http://www.Cars-I-Like.com

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Air Filters for Your Vehicle

Air Filters for Your Vehicle by Gary Wells

If you are a typical driver, it’s likely you don’t keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance like you should. When buying the car, the owner’s manual probably included a maintenance schedule. This undoubtedly outlined several types of service to be managed every few months or so, such as an oil change and tire rotation. One of the accompanying common maintenance tasks that many drivers don’t think about is when to change a car’s air filter.

The air filter for your vehicle helps to clean the air passing through the engine area and into the vehicle. Cleaning the air facilitates your car’s operation by trapping small particles of litter or debris, such as sand or dust that can quickly build up and slow an engine’s performance. The air filter helps to provide cleaner air inside your car, too, so you don’t start hacking and coughing when breathing the dust kicked up by your car while traveling an unpaved country road.

If you aren’t sure when to change the air filter, ask an automobile technician. He or she will probably inspect yours when performing the routine oil change or an annual checkup. During one of these maintenance visits, the technician can check the air filter to see how dirty it is and pop it out for a replacement, if needed. This probably won’t need to be done more than once or twice a year, depending on your driving habits and road conditions. Fortunately, air filters aren’t terribly expensive, either, and if you replace it yourself after buying one at an auto parts store, the cost can be low, indeed.

Car owners who live in rural areas and travel dirt roads, farmers who drive across muddy fields or low-lying streams, and anyone who drives in sandy soil or weather conditions that are chronically adverse may need to change their air filters more often than other drivers. Get in the habit of checking it with every oil change just to see if it is ready for replacement. If the technician doesn’t mention it, ask about it.

You might want to plan an annual overview of your vehicle to keep it running in tip-top condition. If your manufacturer didn’t supply you with a checklist of things to inspect, make up one that includes the usual features that tend to wear out over time, including tires, trim, and engine parts, along with the air filter. Staying on top of these things will keep your car running harder and longer. On the other hand, letting them go until something breaks can lead into serious complications.

Although an air filter may seem like a rather boring or unimportant part of your car’s maintenance schedule, don’t take it for granted or neglect its care. Without a clean air filter, the engine could deteriorate more quickly due to excess wear and tear, and you may not enjoy the stuffy feeling inside the car. Pick up an inexpensive air filter at your local auto parts store soon for do-it-yourself installation, or ask specifically for it to be checked at your next annual checkup.

For more information about air filters, visit Home air filters, car air filters and more.

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Seven Vital Facts About Your Car’s Air Conditioning System

Seven Vital Facts About Your Car’s Air Conditioning System by Steve Magill

Air conditioning, which was once a great luxury, is now a common feature on most motor vehicles. While the servicing of modern car air conditioning systems is best left to professionals, you can get the most enjoyment from your ac system if you know a bit about how it works and what malfunctions you should be on the lookout for.

1. Odd smells coming from the air conditioning may be caused by bacterial buildups

As your car becomes older, or when the air conditioning system is used infrequently, bacteria, micro-organisms, mold and fungi may start growing, just behind the dash panel on the evaporator causing some very unpleasant odors. Some even claim this can result in headaches and flu like symptom sometimes referred to as “sick car syndrome.”

This problem can be solved by using an anti-bacterial treatment that destroys the bacteria growth and leaves your car smelling fresh again.

2. If you car does not feel cold enough, then you may need to recharge your system

If you feel that your car doesn’t feel as cold as your friend’s car, then your system may need servicing. The air conditioning system in your vehicle is not usually covered by most manufacturers servicing schedules and the refrigerant gas that is used to operate the system depletes over time. On average most vehicles lose up to 15% per annum. This leakage can be caused when then system is not used during the winter months. Thus allowing the small “O” ring seals to dry out resulting in a gradual deterioration in system performance. If this continues, eventually the system will not be able to operate at all.

Most problems of this type can be put right fairly easily by a leak check of your system followed by a complete refill of your air conditioning refrigerant, this is sometimes referred to as a re-gas.

3. Running your air conditioning year round will help maintain the system

If you run the air conditioning in the winter it will help to keep the system well lubricated and leak tight. This is because the refrigerant actually carries the oil that lubricates the system and most importantly the compressor. It also keeps the seals and hoses moist, thus preventing them from drying out and cracking which can lead to leaks.

4. Strange noises coming from the air conditioning should be attended to immediately

If your air-con system suddenly starts making noises you have not heard before it is very advisable to have a qualified vehicle air conditioning specialist to have a look at it.

Some noises could be early symptoms of a compressor failure (the compressor is the air conditioning pump).The compressor is usually the most expensive part on the system ranging from approximately £230 to £600+ and if the bearings in your compressor break down or if the compressor seizes up it also means that other components can become contaminated with metal particles A flush of the system would then be needed as well as replacement of the compressor, the receiver/drier and the expansion valve - quite a hefty bill!

5. Don’t worry about a pool of water forming under your car after using the A/C

If you see a puddle of water on the ground, usually under the passenger area don’t be alarmed. This is a normal feature of the system as it is only water dripping from the air conditioning evaporator. The evaporator has a drain tube fitted to allow the condensation from the evaporator to drain away from the vehicle.

6. Excessive moisture inside the car can be fixed easily

Sometimes the drain tube from the evaporator may become blocked or detached allowing the condensation to build up inside your evaporator. If this occurs water will just build up inside your car to a point where there are damp carpets or misting / high humidity type problems. These problems can be solved with low-cost servicing.

7. Have your air conditioning serviced regularly, even if there are no visible problems

Just as the other systems of your car need servicing on a regular basis, the same is true for the air conditioning system. The compressor needs oil, or else it will seize up. The filter collects debris and moisture. If the filter becomes blocked, then the performance of the system will deteriorate and it can even quit working entirely (probably when you need it most!)

Normally the refrigerant gas in a car air conditioning system has to be recharged completely within four years from the manufacture date and thereafter every two to three years.

An annual servicing of your car’s air conditioning system will guard against malfunctions in the compressor and other vital parts of the system. Regular maintenance will save you money in the long run and guarantee you comfort in the hottest months.

Steve Magill is the managing director of LVV Services Ltd. http://www.lvvservices.com . Located in South Wales, LVV Services specializes in Smart Repair of autos, including dent removal, car diagnostics, paint repair, alloy wheel repair and air conditioning services.

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Poetry World

Poetry World by millsy75

Poetry World is a poetry website list I've put together that features so many great poetry forums and poets for your reading pleasure. For example some of the newest members of the site to join and include their work on the list are people like Marine and famous poet Thomas L. Vaultonburg of Zombie Logic Press and Janet Kuypers who has written many books and Brian Douthit who is enjoying great success with his book Perfectly Said when words become art. Also people like Carolyn Edwards you can find listed on the site so check it out because it's jam packed full of poetic talent.

Visit Vaultonburg's site and just see the good things celebrities like Gary Busey and Henry Rollins had to say about the man and that alone is worth the click. So come and enjoy the many poetry resources you can find at Poetry World.

Here is a poem of mine for your enjoyment and I hope you do like the poem and decide to visit Poetry World.



I could Really Love You



There's something right in front of me that I can't leave behind

It's always in my dreams and keeps on dancing in my mind

I don't know if I'll lose it just because of circumstance

Cause I could really love you if I only had the chance

I could make you happy and I'd chase away your fears

I could hold you close to me and wipe away your tears

And I could hold your heart and show you love that's pure and true

Cause I could really love you if you only loved me too

Jeffrey Michael Miller

http://jeffreymichaelmiller.topsiteworld.com

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Geometry: An Archetypal Form of Communication

Geometry: An Archetypal Form of Communication by Eldon Taylor

The Picture of Sound

Years ago I noticed an uncanny correlation between mantras and mandalas. A mandala is the picture or symbol of an event or focus of worship, such as the Star of Bethlehem, and a mantra is a sound usually intoned for centering and contact such as ohm. When Handel wrote his classical Messiah, it was to celebrate the birth and life of Christ. When the hallelujah chorus is sung, a perfect five pointed star or Star of Bethlehem is produced. Did Handel knowingly create the music for this purpose? I don't believe so. Still, somehow he tapped into a form, a geometry, and intuited music that represented the geometry.

Geometry and Sound

My interest in this correspondence between the early pictorial interpretations of sound patterns and frequencies led me into a long and continuing research project. Just how often does sound correspond with form? Is there a sound to the DNA molecule? Could sound be generated from the geometry? In other words, could some mathematical method yield a geometry of creation?

For most, geometry is a boring subject studied in High School. For others, it is the sacred path to the Ultimate. For still others, it is a science that when applied outside of the realm of pure abstraction (mathematical theory) is both predictive and creative. That is, through the use of geometry, functional forces can be directed such as geomagnetic or electro-magnetic fields.

Geometry is the stuff of Pythagoras, Hermes, Thoth, and so many more mystical thinkers that it is hard to overlook. In every spiritual tradition, there is a path written in geometry. The Sufi, in their dance, the Hebrew in their Cabbalah, the Egyptian in their structures and sciences, the Greek in their brotherhoods, philosophy and universities, the Rosicrucian, the Mason, the Hindu, the Native American, and on and on all honor and employ geometry both as a science and a mystical path. Is it possible that a true archetype of a universal nature begins in geometry itself? In other words, is geometry the archetype?

Cymatics is the study of the sound of geometry (see my book, Subliminal Communication, p60-61). Early researchers used a stylus vibrating across a turn-table covered with fine sand to picture sound. The stylus was sensitive to frequency and signal strength. Thus, when a sound was played, the turn-table turned and the stylus vibrated. The result, a picture in sand. This method was laborious and time consuming, but it worked.

The Universe is kind and patient. For me, due to my interest in this work, the chore was made much easier. Today I have a remarkable device in my studio that is essentially a rotating arm full of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs are sensitive to frequency and signal strength. They are colorized across the spectrum to coincide with frequency length. As such, when I put a sound into the spinning light-bar, a color motion picture results. The continuous geometry of sound in real time.

Over the past five years, using this rotating light-bar, I have witnessed the math of the DNA helix, generated in sound through a special software program, reproduce the geometry of the helix on my light-bar. Indeed, using many of the rates from Radionic research, I have seen what I believe to be the organic geometry of cells, tissue, organs, and more--but save all this for another issue.

Geometry of Creation

Back to the point at hand, geometry appears to be not only an aspect of science and mysticism, but an archetype with the power of what might be called a morphogenic field. Biologists believe that morphogenic fields define the characteristics of species and species differentiation. In straight forward terms, it is the morphogenic field that accounts for why an acorn always becomes an oak.

The accomplished behavioral scientist, Carl Jung, is generally credited for the modern notion of archetypes. An archetype is an essential image that universally communicates without linguistic need. Dream images are often thought of as having representative meanings universal to all. These images are referred to as archetypes.

Archetypal imagery is powerful. It pulls at some level of consciousness in ways that are meaningful but usually difficult to describe in words. Geometrical archetypes exist everywhere and I am frankly puzzled as to why this is yet a basically unexplored area of science.

Let's digress a little at this point and look at a very brief history of geometry and science. It is instructive to realize that modern science has its beginning with Galileo Galilei. He was the first to carry out systematic experiments and to use mathematics to describe his work. To Galileo, mathematics was geometry. Actually, at the time of Galileo, there were two distinct forms of mathematics available. Geometry, and the math derived from early Indian mathematicians known after its Arabic name given by the Persians as algebra. Algebra is a system of equations as you all remember from your school days. Rene Descartes combined these two systems thereby producing pictures of equations in what is today known as analytic geometry. As important to science as this was, it nevertheless fell short of being able to deal with non-linear equations. This problem was solved by Isaac Newton a century later. To make a long story short, for various reasons mathematics tended away from geometry until recently. Jules Henri Poincare is credited with reversing this trend with a system of visual mathematics known as topology or "rubber sheet geometry". It is upon this system that the mathematics of complexity lie. It is also in this system of mathematics that chaos theory demonstrates a higher order. Now, it is not in the scope of our enquiry to spend the necessary time to adequately review mathematics, but for those of you interested, the best history, description and application of historical mathematics as applied to modern science that this author is aware of is given by Fritjof Capra in his marvelous book, The Web of Life.

Here is the reason for our digression. It is geometry that makes sense out of our most contemporary theories in the physical sciences. From the Nobel prize winning work of Prigogine and his theory of dissipative structures to the latest theories proposing an all life connectedness, a network of life, a one ecology of life, the Gaia Hypothesis, or the metaphor used by Capra, the web of life; the intelligent self organizing nature of the planet--nature as alive. These new theories are gaining prominence chiefly on the back of mathematical models/geometry that illustrate order arising from chaos. Not just order, but a higher order. It would seem that not only does the law of conservation (nothing lost) apply to nature, but when order seems to break down, it's really reorganization destined for a higher order. An apparently self organizing reorganization that reveals itself as a geometric process.

Geometry as a Primordial Archetype

I return to my question, is it possible that geometry is the primordial archetype? Is its elegance and simplicity capable of ordering everything in the universe? Is it due to this ancient intuited knowledge, noetic wisdom, that so many hold geometry as sacred? Could it be that when we know the form we discover the function? Is geometry the language of creation? Certainly many can and have shown the geometric progression from singularity to space/time universe. Indeed, multi-dimensional theories currently so popular in physics, including the string theory, our most promising hope for providing a general unified theory, are strongest in their appeal when laid open by geometry.

In my opinion, geometry is a fundamental archetype. It is also more.

To that end, after showing many the effect of geometrical shapes naturally organizing and changing, of fractals collecting into a higher order, of shape and color generating what many have perceived as the matrix, cookie cutter if you will, of all that we know in our physical world and much of what we theorize about, it was decided to join geometry with our patented Whole Brain® InnerTalk® technology and create video tapes.

As with anything, as the new product evolved, it was tweaked. In the end, the geometry vibrates in permutation to an amazing dance of color. It is stillness in motion to watch. The rotating kaleidoscope of colors are used to hide positive messages. Sometimes you see them as the color changes, but unless you still frame your video they do not normally reveal their entire word content. So maybe one sees the word "good" but misses the "I am" content in the sentence--at least consciously. Of course, the research shows your subconscious doesn't miss it.

The soundtrack, music and nature sounds, also carries the positive messages. Additionally, we added tones and frequencies with a canceling beat differential to entrain the brain, slow down brain wave activity, and produce a natural deep state of relaxation or altered consciousness. The best part--they work. Our trial subjects, bankers, businessmen, dental patients, secretarial and clerical persons, truck drivers and so forth have all reported the same absolutely mesmerizing affect followed by a sense of personal empowerment.

Geometry For Health?

For me, this is a beginning. The use of geometry holds many possibilities. Some of these are not abstract mathematical methods for scientists. Deep down I sense that the visual stimuli may even hold a new path to wellness. Perhaps, I have theorized, if the geometry of a healthy organ were presented together with its sound, that somehow the body would imitate, mimic, vibrate or sympathetically resonate to this sound picture and thereby restore its own health. Somewhat analogous to tuning a piano, tuning the body and mind through the sound picture of organic geometry.

Eldon Taylor, Ph.D., is Director of Progressive Awareness Research. He is a Diplomat in the American Psychotherapy Assoication and received the 2005 International Peace Prize from the United Cultural Convention for his work in teaching self-responsibility and respect for all life. He is the author of over 200 books and self-help programs (http://www.innertalk.com ).

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Listening - A Question Of Studio Monitoring

Listening - A Question Of Studio Monitoring by David Wright

Monitoring in a music studio is, quite simply, the most important part of the studio set up. Your studio may contain the most advanced equipment available, but without accurate monitoring, you will never hear an accurate mix, which is kinda pointless, isn't it?!

So, what’s the difference between a good pair of hi fi speakers and true studio monitors?

Well. hi fi speakers exaggerate the lows, and often the highs, to create maximum impact. This can be good to listen to, but it’s seldom accurate. Studio monitors are designed to be very accurate to insure a real reproduction of what's actually being recorded. They’re also built to much sturdier and exacting standards than hi fi speakers, to cater for the vigourous demands of studio use.

Monitors must be very transparent sounding to enable you to mix parts of the music like vocals, bass and even reverb trails without each part colliding into one and other.

To fully understand the concept of monitoring, you must understand that it’s an art. It’s more than just conveniently placing a pair of speakers in the room.

We’re all different, as are studio monitors, and we use the ones with which we’re most comfortable and can best judge the mix. I've used Yamaha NS10s, Dyn-Audio and Tannoys over the years, but have settled with a pair of Alesis M1 active for near-field monitoring and a pair of Alesis Monitor Two’s for midfield monitoring. They're my personal preference and what I'm used to. There are more expensive monitors available on the market, but surprisingly accurate results can be achieved with less expensive monitors just by following a few simple rules.

When monitoring, you're listening to the placement of sound, dynamics, eq, reverb trails, echoes and delays etc. Correctly placed monitors allow you to do this. Hi fi speakers, however good, do not!

A professional, well recorded mix will sound good on anything, and that is the single most important principle to remember. If you use a pair of hi fi speakers to monitor, your mix may well sound great to YOU on THOSE speakers, but I guarantee it won't sound great to others elsewhere!

So, the first rule is, don't use hi fi speakers to monitor.

Nearfield monitors are intended for mounting close to the listener. The idea is to improve the direct acoustic path between the speaker and the listener by making it shorter, thereby giving less opportunity for the reflected sounds to get back in and muddle things up. With nearfield monitoring, the surrounding acoustic environment becomes less of a problem. However, try to optimise the listening environment whenever possible and be aware of the effect that the size of the listening room can have on low frequency response. Usually, the smaller the room, the stronger the bottom end will be.

The ideal placement of speakers is out in the room, away from side and rear walls, and reflective surfaces like tiles, windows or table tops. Unfortunately, and particularly in home studios, this isn't always possible. So do what is practical with the environment you have.

The physical spacing between the speakers is very important, approximately 3 feet apart. A good set of monitors, if positioned correctly in a reasonably non-reverberant room, will give accurate results. There should be equal distance between the listener and either speaker. In other words, the listener and the two speakers are the three corners of a triangle with equal length sides. Both speakers must be turned in accordingly so that from your prime position, you see only the face of both speakers. Also, your ears should be level with the tweeters, so, if you're placement of the speakers is higher, perhaps on a shelf or wall mounted on brackets, then the speakers must be tilted down accordingly.

Most studios use monitor speakers in the horizontal position. This set-up will promote a strongly focused centre image, ideal for the vocalist, for example. And because the image width is narrower, the sounds can be placed with greater precision than when the speakers are placed vertically. Also, in the horizontal position, there will be much less chance of first reflections from the studio environment colouring your mix.

However, that isn't to say that monitors shouldn't ever be used in the vertical position. Indeed, some manufacturers recommend that in ‘perfect’ situations, they should be. With vertical placement you hear the mix with the deepest and widest soundstage possible. But this wide a dispersion pattern can add strong reflections to the sound you hear, muddying the mix, hence the preference for the horizontal position.

The rules for midfield monitors are the same as with nearfield, except that the three cornered triangle is much bigger, usually a minimum of 6 ft.

So, the second rule is, place the monitors correctly, read the instructions that come with the monitors and attain a better understanding of your listening environment.

When recording for any length of time, you will get listening fatigue, So take regular breaks every few hours. It’s amazing how differently things can sound when you return refreshed.

There is also an old saying; “If a song sounds great at low volume, it'll sound great at any level. But a song that sounds great loud will not necessarily sound great at a lower volume”.

Think also of the effect on your hearing over time when constantly listening at loud levels!

So, the third rule is, take regular breakes when recording, make your regular listening level a sensible one and listen at louder levels only occasionally, for feel and bass purposes.

There is of course, a place for the car stereo and hi fi in the process. When I'm happy with the mix, I listen on my hi fi and car stereo. If it still sounds good, then I can be confident that it’s a good mix.

So, the fourth rule is, a professional, well recorded mix will sound great on any system. So use your car stereo and hi fi to 'final check' your mix.

David Wright is a solo keyboard player and recording artist, composer and producer who founded the electronic music label AD Music in 1989. AD Music - Record Label David Wright's Own Site

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Sunshine, Blue Skies and Pizza Pies

Sunshine, Blue Skies and Pizza Pies by Leslie Fieger

Some friends called this past Sunday morning. "We are taking the boat out to test out the new diesel motors. Want to come along?" There ended up being eight of us. John, an ex-pat Brit who owns a local yacht chartering business, a retired French Canadian couple, the Ambassador from a foreign country not currently on the USA's close friends list, Jan and Gus (the boat owners) and Sandra and myself.

It wass a splendid day. Jan provided a gourmet lunch. The rest of us had each brought various appetizers. The coolers were full of cold beer, coconut water and wine. We spent most of the day anchored off Princess Margaret beach at Bequia, swimming, eating, drinking and telling stories.

John in particular, was in the mood to be a raconteur. Some of his stories were a little too risqué to reproduce here, but I'll share a couple of tidbits that produced chuckles all around. First this tale...

_______________________

Princess Margaret Beach, by the way, is so named because she famously once swam nude here. That kind of thing is, of course, frowned upon here in these islands. Was back then; is still. The yacht she was on at that time was anchored, like us, just offshore. At some point in the festivities, Margaret announced, "I am inclined to go for a skinny dip. Is that alright?" she inquired of the local dignitaries who were, up until then, so pleased to be able to hobnob with visiting royalty. They were taken aback, but managed to reply with as much dignity as possible, "Whatever suits you, ma'am."

"No, actually, it is whatever or whoever un-suits me," she answered, stripping off and diving in.

This bold move so impressed Colin Tennant that he gave Margaret a ten acre piece of land on his newly acquired, neighboring island of Mustique and that was the beginning of the mystique of Mustique, the island hideaway of many of the rich and famous.

In the once-British islands, the underwater shoreline and beach front is commonly known as the Queen's bottom, which means that it belongs to the crown and is, for all intents and purposes, public land that cannot be privatized. That means that no one can deny anchorage to any boat on any shoreline. On Bequia and in Mustique, the semi-irreverent yachter's toast, 'Here's to the Queen's bottom,' which roughly translates as 'Here's to a safe anchorage,' has been replaced with, "Here's to Maggie's bottom", which is both better known and better looking.

________________________________


Who says that history has to be a dry subject? Of course, these days, there is no member of the British royal family whose bottom anyone would care to glimpse; so it is unlikely that this bit of history is doomed to repeat itself, despite any who may remain ignorant of it.

In a spirit of kinship, or rather kindred soul-ship (since I am not related by blood) with Maggie, I too have now swum naked in these waters, although I don't, for one moment, imagine that Sir Colin Tennant's Mustique company will bequeath me any of their precious land as a result. I don't think the foreign ambassador was much impressed either. Her swim was taken fully clothed.

Later in the day, John came up with this one...

I was over at The Reef one day a couple of months ago and happened to overhear a funny conversation you'd enjoy, said John with a big smile.

We knew he had yet another story for us. Maybe it was even true. Not that it matters much; humor is its own truth.

_______________________________

Two sailors were touring the Caribbean islands in their forty-two foot Morgan. They had anchored just off the next beach over, called Lower Bay, and were planning on spending a few days enjoying the island of Bequia. At sunset, they decided to go ashore and have drinks and dinner at The Reef. The local country & western band playing and the noise level was quite high.

I was sipping a beer, enjoying the music when the two visitors sidled up to the bar.

"What'll you have?" asked the bartender.

"Rum and coke," replied the first one. "Two of those." enjoined the second fellow.

You OK with Mount Gay?" Inquired the bartender.

"Yes we are. Why do you ask?" replied one of the sailors, having misheard in the noisy bar.

"In case you'd like another kind tonight," replied the barkeep, also having misunderstood the reply.

"Oh no; we are monogamous." stammered the one, shocked at the brazen offer he thought they'd received.

"What did you say? You're on a mono-hull?" asked the clueless mixologist of the two confused misogynists.

"Yes, I'm the captain of that Morgan out there, and he's my mate. We're couple of gays." answered one of the sailors, having heard this last question correctly, but still attempting to clarify their position.

"Two Mount Gays and a Captain Morgan coming right up." proclaimed the bartender, still not hearing or understanding.

I, having heard and caught the drift of both sides of this conversation, decided that now was not the time to ask for a shooter with a fancy name, explained John, though I was tempted. It could have gotten very interesting.

__________________


It took a while for that one to settle in and it had to be explained to the French-Canadian couple who did not quite catch all the English nuances and who were also unfamiliar with the whimsical names often given to shooters made with multiple liqueurs.

That evening, back home, two of the many songs that Gus had played on the boat's CD player reverberated in my head. Dean Martin's "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's Amore." which was appropriate, since there was a full moon to enjoy and I was surely in love; and Jimmy Cliff's "I can see clearly now; the rain has gone. It's going to be a bright, bright, bright sunshiny day." which was also appropriate, since it had been a very bright sunshiny day, punctuated with a couple of refreshing rain showers.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coincidentally, just now, just when I thought I had finished writing this piece, the Ambassador's chauffeur has shown up with a printed invitation to a musical recital her Embassy is putting on this weekend, so I guess she was not terribly offended by my skinny dip. Who knows? Maybe it is not entirely impossible that I'll also end up with a couple of acres on Mustique. Perhaps I should take a nude dive off the deck at Basil's Bar at next year's Blues Festival to reinforce my position? Stay tuned. I'll let you know.


© Leslie Fieger. All rights reserved worldwide.

Leslie is the author of The DELFIN Knowledge System Trilogy: The Initiation, The Journey and The Quest plus many more success publications. Subscribe to his free and ad-free eZine at http://www.ProsperityParadigm.com or http://www.LeslieFieger.com.

Reprinting and republishing of this article is granted only with the above credit included. Permission to reprint or republish does not waive any copyright.

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The Best Long Running Las Vegas Shows

The Best Long Running Las Vegas Shows by Simon Oliver

Las Vegas shows appeal to people as a display of wonderful images and a thrilling experience. Some of these images are comedic acts, roulette, acrobat, magic, and colorful lights. These are all in Las Vegas. There are many types of shows to be seen and some of them have been performing for years.

One of the most frequently visited places are the stages where Las Vegas shows are held. One of the longest running shows is the “Danny Gans” show. He was awarded “Entertainer of the Year” and “Show of the Year”. His award-winning show is the hottest ticket around. He is also known as the best singer-impressionist-comedian-actor in today’s entertainment industry. Few people know it, but he never dreamed of becoming an entertainer when he was young. When he was in college he played for the Dodgers baseball team but his career ended when was injured. His family and friends encouraged him to go into show business. As a result, Gans moved his focus from the world of baseball to the entertainment business. He has a wonderful singing voice and he has the ability to make people laugh.

The adult shows are also very popular. One must be 21 years of age or older to be admitted into these shows. Greg Thompson’s Erocktica Live! is one of the best selling shows in Las Vegas. Together with choreographer, Mistinguett, they produce sexy late-night productions for Playboy, and HBO. They also produce the current “Skintight” at Harrah’s Las Vegas. The show is a combination of MTV videos, Classic rock music, and the Pussycat dolls. The show also features singers and dancers like Gabriella Versace and musicians such as Ray-J Jones and the sexy and enticing Mistinguett dancers. The US/UK all-star classic rock band play classic rock n’ roll music from popular bands like Aerosmith, Kiss, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, U2, Velvet Revolver, Journey, Foreigner and many more.

Another ticket selling show is The Blue Man Group. This is a creative and artistic organization which is dedicated in forming thrilling and innovative work using a wide range of mediums. They are the award-winning theatrical productions which critics describe as astounding, magnificent, hilarious but musically influential. They feature three blue characters who capture the eyes of audiences by combining theatre, art, science and percussive performance into an entertainment venue that is unique and original.

KA is a martial arts and acrobatic show. It features magnificent pyrotechnics, multimedia and puppetry combined. It is hosted by MGM Grand, and Las Vegas is the only place where this show is performed and held. It has the theatrical energy that the audiences would like to have and experience. It is a story of twins on a death-defying journey to carry out their entwined destiny. They demonstrate the various martial arts known to the world and mix it with their incredible acrobatic skills. These are only some of the many Las Vegas shows that have been selling and running for years now. So what are you waiting for? Come and enjoy the fun!

Simon Oliver has an interest in Las Vegas Shows. To access more articles on Las Vegas Show’s or for additional information and resources visit this Las Vegas Shows related website

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Audio Books – What’s Hot For 2006?

Audio Books – What’s Hot For 2006? by Paton Jackson

2006 is already here and many ask me what we should expect of the emerging interesting market of Audio Books. Audio books have been here for over 20 years and they have become so popular in the last couple of years but yet I claim that the audio books revolution has just begun.

Find out the hot trends in the audio books market for 2006:

1. Less audio books on CD and cassettes and more downloadable audio books – MP3 audio books and other formats of digital audio books will become cheaper and more reachable, While audio books on CD and books on tape are much less convenient and user friendly. The amount of podcast listeners who download audio books from the internet to listen on their mobile devices such as iPod will rise significantly.

2. Audio book rental services will become the most common method of listening to audio books – Similar to the DVD market, most audio book listeners will prefer renting audio books instead of buying them. This trend will be the strongest for downloadable audio books but also true for audio books on CD and books on tape.

3. Free audio books – More online audio book services will offer low cost and free audio books by free trials and special sales.

4. Audio books will invade Europe – While the audio book market in the United kingdom is developed and have reached a turnover of 124$ million in 2004, The market in Germany is constantly rising and have already reached a turnover of 120$ million in 2005. The audio book market in the whole continent is expected to rise in about 20% during 2006.

Sony has also recognized the emerging market of digital audio books and has recently announced of a new audio book mobile player. The new product will let the users store and listen to digital audio books and is predicted to gain the same popularity as the “iPod”.

Audio books will be a part of everyone’s life. Join the audio book revolution

Find out all about audio books only on Audio books free downloads and more - The audio book bible. The audio books bible: http://www.911makemoretime.com/audio%20books%20bible.htm

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Portrait Photography : One of the Greatest Arts

Portrait Photography : One of the Greatest Arts by Ispas Marin

Before doing any portrait photography there are some very important questions that any photographer should ask himself. What kind of light source it's going to be used? From what angle the light will fall on the subject? What film, camera and lens are best to use?

If you manage to answer all this questions before taking the photo then you will probably make quite a good portrait photography. But i know that you don't want a good portrait photography, you want a perfect one. So the best way to achieve this performance is to talk with the client trying to know him, his past, his desires. This way you can create distinctive portraits. If you want a real great portrait then you have to add a bit of the client's personality in the photo. This works very well especially when you make female portrait photography. You shouldn't look for a face that is over painted by a makeup artist. Try to surprise something that really represents the subject.

If you are wondering what to talk about with your clients then the answer is anything that will show you something distinctive for that person. Try to look for different face expressions and eye or mouth movement. When you see something beautiful keep it in mind and later capture it in your portraits. Belive me that studying the subject before making the portrait photography is the biggest secret in this art.

Meeting with the client, building rapport, knowing the client, and planning the session are essential elements. So don't do the final session at the first meeting. After you are sure that you know everything you need to know to make a perfect portrait photography choose the best location and time of day and take the session.

I advice you to always use natural light if it's possible. Choosing the background it's also very important too. If the picture is to close then the background looses any meaning, if it's to far then the background will overwhelm the subject. So try not to merge the subject with the background in an indistinguishable shape.

From my point of view making portrait photography is the greatest art. I belive this because it's very different from making landscape photography or nature photography. When you make a photo you can make the subject to react to your wills and you really can control the picture.

So, in conclusion when it comes to portrait photography it all depends on how much you want the photo to be perfect and how dedicated you are to the art and the feeling of seeing that your client is really pleased.

For great information on Portrait Photography, Digital Photography and any other photography related subjects visit us at the best photography site.

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Diamond Engagement Rings: Making Your Selection

Diamond Engagement Rings: Making Your Selection by Amy Lee Johnson

When you’ve found the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, selecting an engagement ring can seem a daunting, yet necessary, task. Diamonds are a classic and traditional choice for such rings. However, with numerous color, size and appearance options available, how does a hopeful groom select the perfect diamond engagement ring for his bride-to-be?

Style

Men should be conscious of his significant other’s taste and lifestyle when choosing an engagement ring. Is she formal or casual? Does she prefer large accessories or dainty pieces? Is she active or sedentary? Does she own mostly gold or silver-colored jewelry? All of these factors should be evaluated before selecting an engagement ring.

An engagement ring should match the personality of its owner. A woman who throws on jeans and a t-shirt every day may want an attractive yet simple ring to go with her easy lifestyle, whereas a formal dresser would likely prefer a more dramatic ring with a larger diamond. Active brides-to-be may value comfort over a cumbersome stone that may be easily damaged. A woman who wears mostly silver jewelry might prefer a platinum or white gold setting to coordinate with her existing accessories.

Diamond Rating System

In considering the purchase of a diamond engagement ring, men should be familiar with the “Four C’s” of diamond grading: Caret (weight of the diamond), Clarity (presence of flaws), Color (the slight tint of the diamond) and Cut (exact cut within the shape of the diamond). The rating of the diamond can raise or lower the ring’s overall cost.

Metals

The type of metal used in the band can also significantly affect the appearance and price of the ring. Platinum rings are currently a popular selection due to their strength, beauty and light color. Because platinum is over 90 percent pure, it is hypoallergenic for most people. Platinum is the most expensive metal. Gold is a considerably less expensive metal for wedding rings. While yellow gold is a traditional choice that compliments many settings, white gold is an option for those who want the light color without the sticker shock.

Customization

Men may wish to consider a customized diamond engagement ring for their intended. A custom ring serves as a personalized representation of the couple’s love for each other. A man does not have to be a designer to create a unique ring – many jewelers can help translate his rough ideas into a beautiful reality.


Amy Lee Johnson regularly contributes to Wedding-Vows-4u.com a site dedicated to helping you with information about everything wedding related. We feature article directories on many topics such as Wedding Vows and Wedding Gowns to help you get the information you need – check them out!

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