Mr Stein, I Couldn't Have Said It Better - by Judi Lynn Lake

Mr Stein, I Couldn't Have Said It Better - by Judi Lynn Lake: "As we prepare for the New Year, it is understandable to become reflective and hopeful. Following is a touching commentary written by Mr. Ben Stein and, frankly, I couldn't have said it better. For all who read this, I wish you the very best for the coming year.

'Herewith a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important?"

Was Popeye Right? - by Roger Haeske

Was Popeye Right? - by Roger Haeske: "The other day I was doing some research on discovering which raw foods have the highest alkaline mineral content. The major alkaline minerals are calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Any raw foods that are high in those minerals will be alkaline forming.

As you may or may not know, it's very important to keep your body properly mineralized and at the same time functioning at the proper blood pH level of about 7.4.

Eating a cooked food diet will make you more acidic. Also eating too much fat in the diet will make you more acidic, because fat interferes with the body's ability to deliver oxygen to the cells. Also nuts and seeds tend to be higher in the acid forming minerals of chlorine, phosphorous and sulfur. A high protein diet will also make you more acidic.

Keep in mind that it's also possible to be too alkaline. The key here is the proper balance. "

Starting a Career as a Veterinarian Today - by Josh Stone

Starting a Career as a Veterinarian Today - by Josh Stone: "A veterinarian (from Latin veterinae, 'draught animals') is an animal doctor, a practitioner of veterinary medicine. Although veterinarians hold doctoral degrees in veterinary medicine, not all veterinarians enter clinical practice. Those that work in clinical settings practice medicine in specific fields, such as companion animal or 'pet' medicine, reptile medicine, ratite medicine, livestock medicine, equine medicine (e.g. sports, race track, show, rodeo), or laboratory animal medicine. Other veterinarians research areas of human medicine, veterinary medicine, and pharmacology. Research veterinarians were the first to isolate oncoviruses, Salmonella species, Brucella species, and various other pathogenic agents. They also helped conquer malaria and yellow fever; solved the mystery of botulism; produced an anticoagulant used to treat human heart disease; and developed surgical techniques for humans, such as hip-joint replacement, and limb and organ transplants.

Like all physicians, veterinarians must make serious ethical decisions about their patients' care. There is ongoing debate over the ethics of performing certain controversial procedures, like declawing cats and docking tails, cropping ears, and debarking dogs. In some countries, these procedures are illegal, and therefore their practice is contentious. The Veterinarian's Oath was adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates July 1969, and amended by the AVMA Executive Board, November 1999. It goes as follows: "

How is Hydroponic Gardening Different from Regular Gardening? - by Tony Buel

How is Hydroponic Gardening Different from Regular Gardening? - by Tony Buel: "When growing hydroponics, there are a vast variety of growing mediums that may be used. The mediums include materials, including perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber, gravel, sand, or any number of other materials. Even air may be used as a hydroponic growing medium. The hydroponic growing medium is an inert substance that does not supply any nutrition to the plants.

All of the nutrition comes from the nutrient solution, typically combining water and fertilizer. Hydroponic fertilizer and fertilizer intended for use in soil (regularfertilizer) contain the three main nutrients. These nutrients are nitrogen, Phosphorus, and potassium. The main difference between hydroponic fertilizer and dirt fertilizer is that hydroponic gardening fertilizers contain the proper amounts of all of the essential micro-nutrients that regular fertilizers do not include. The plants are expected to find these elements in the soil."

Simple Tips to Pickling at Home - by Jonathan Heusman

Simple Tips to Pickling at Home - by Jonathan Heusman: "One of the great things about pickles is that anyone, and I DO mean anyone, can make their own right in their own home. There is no special skill and just a bit of pickling knowledge needed. You will also need just a few simple to get, cheap items that you can find at most of your local shopping outlets. Not only is making pickles fun, but you will save money as well, and impress your friends and neighbors. There really is no good reason not to learn to make your own pickles right at home. So let�s take a look at some of the items that you will need to get started."

How To Get Rid Of A Sinus Headache - by Alvin Toh

How To Get Rid Of A Sinus Headache - by Alvin Toh: "A sinus headache is usually caused by blocked sinuses or a sinus infection. This is due to thick mucous that blocks the nasal and sinus passages. The resulting headache may be difficult to get rid of. Continually taking medications can cause side effects and may be responsible for long-term damage of internal organs such as the liver.

Here are some natural sinus headache remedies that you can try."

Minority Shareholder Squeeze Out - by Dave Kauppi

Minority Shareholder Squeeze Out - by Dave Kauppi: "For those that have been a victim of a minority shareholder squeeze out, the experience can be a nightmare. It usually involves the majority shareholder first terminating the employment of a shareholder of less than 50% of the privately held company's stock. The benefit to the minority shareholders in owning the stock is primarily their employment and the anticipation of a fair purchase price when the entire company is sold.

Dividends are seldom paid to shareholders, and if they are, they are minimal. After the minority shareholder is terminated, he receives an offer to purchase his shares from the majority holder or the corporation for what he feels is way below market price. When he objects, he is referred to the shareholder agreement that he signed years ago that gives the Corporation or other shareholders the right of first refusal to purchase his shares at valuations that are not even close to the fair value of his shares.

The first reaction is to sue. Let me tell you it is usually a waste of time and almost always a waste of money. After all, you signed the shareholder agreement that states very clearly:"

Dealing with Poor Performance - by Bill Shirley

Dealing with Poor Performance - by Bill Shirley: "Recent research in business management demonstrates the over riding importance of positive work relationships in building a profitable company. Business schools which have historically focused on the task dimensions of leadership are beginning to get the message and are putting more emphasis on building interpersonal skills in future managers. This approach is coming to be known as 'relationship-leadership.'

The relationship-leadership approach to managing people differs from traditional management practices in many subtle ways. To demonstrate the difference, we will look at an alternative way of dealing with an employee's poor perform-ance.

Let's start with a story. Tom just joined the organization as a salesman. He comes to the organization with an out-standing track record in technical sales. However, his new company sells investment services to very wealthy people. Selling a service is quite different from selling a tangible product. As a result, he will have to develop some new sales skills. Tom is regarded as an exceptional sales talent, so both Tom and his boss are confident he will be successful.

Tami has been with the company several years, always performed well and is regarded as a talented, loyal employee. She was recently promoted into a highly technical position reporting to a manager who has been with the organization for only two months. Tami is looking to her boss for direction on what she should be doing but her new boss is still trying to figure out the 'lay of the land.'"

Keeping Your Online Business Simple - by Liane Bate

Keeping Your Online Business Simple - by Liane Bate: "When starting an online business, I think people have this impression that it will make life simpler than having a regular 9-5 job. In some cases, I'm sure this is very true, but many people have both a 9-5 job, and start an online business, and life just got a lot more complicated for them, and well, me!

Once the 9-5 job can be replaced if that's what you so desire, then perhaps having an online business is easier. However, I'm willing to bet that a full-time online business can be just as crazy and complicated, or even more so than a regular job. After all, you have to organize yourself and your work rather than someone else doing it for you.

The online world I have found is a whole new world. I have actually tried to imagine my life without it, and I feel that suddenly I would be cut off from the internet business world and I'd be dying to connect to a discussion forum, talk to my subscriber list, change my website, write to my blog, and find out what's going on out there!

The fact is, there is so much to owning an online business that it's hard to keep it all straight, it's hard to stay organized, it's hard to turn new products or opportunities down, it's hard to know how to best advertise your business, it's hard to stay focused and motivated, and it's hard to know when to say yes and when to say no. That's what this article is all about...Knowing what you can simplify, and how you can simplify your online business life."

How To Succeed Despite Fear Of Failure - by Regina Maniam

How To Succeed Despite Fear Of Failure - by Regina Maniam: "Did you know that Thomas Alva Edison failed more than ten thousand times before he successfully made the lightbulb work? Ten thousand failures. If he had a fear of failure and given up because of this, he would not have been able to do it. He said 'I have not failed. I have just found ten thousand ways that won't work'. It was but mere feedback to be considered while he tried something else. For him failure was not an option.

Each time something does not work the way you wanted it to, is that a failure? One definition of failure is lack of success, but is lack of success the first or second time that you try to do something mean it is a failure? Not necessarily. Thomas Alva Edsion would have been a miserable failure considering that he failed ten thousand times.

This article discusses how failure can be used as feedback to achieve your objectives. In fact, it will probably be some of the best experiential learning that you can get. When something you did does not work, it is not a failure. It is just not the best step to have taken. This simply means that you now have to figure out what is the better step. Then work on it. What if this step also does not work? Again you get back to thinking and strategizing. Why did this step fail? How different must your next step be to make this work? "

4 and a Half Ways to Make New Years Goals Stick - by Mary Foley

4 and a Half Ways to Make New Years Goals Stick - by Mary Foley: "It's that time of year again for New Years resolutions. We've all heard that key to a successful life, career, or business means having setting and achieving goals. Make goals. Post goals. Follow your goals. Goals, goals, goals, it all sounds so disciplined and draining.

Don't get me wrong, I love achieving things that are important to me. Without goals, I couldn't have gotten this far. But I needed a new way of looking at goals that didn't make me tired already. So, I came up with my four and a half ways to make my goals stick and be fun. Use them for yourself and make 2007 your best year yet!"

7 Simple Steps on Keeping Your New Year’s Weight-Loss Resolution - by Karen Sessions

7 Simple Steps on Keeping Your New Year’s Weight-Loss Resolution - by Karen Sessions: "Is It a New Year's Resolution or Just another New Year's Delusion?

The New Year is when numerous people embark on making resolutions, especially the resolution for weight loss. Sadly, most do not even follow through a week in taking the necessary steps to succeed with their new resolution.

So I ask you…Do New Year's Resolutions work or not?

Whether a New Year's weight-loss resolution is that or just a delusion is based on how you view it. If you make a weight-loss resolution in relation as a negative, then chances are you won't stick with it very long.

If you only see a weight-loss New Years resolution as: Diet Deprivation Starvation Hunger

You will most assuredly fail.

However, if you view your New Year's weight-loss resolution as a fresh start, chances are you will accomplish it and allow it to become a new lifestyle."

Fight Against Phishing to Protect Your Reputation and Money - by Jim Degerstrom

Fight Against Phishing to Protect Your Reputation and Money - by Jim Degerstrom: "The problem of phishing, pronounced just like 'fishing' and very similar in tactics, continues to grow in the USA. In short, unscrupulous persons attempt to defraud unsuspecting consumers by imitating legitimate businesses through email and fake websites. Most scams begin with an email that is broadcast to millions in the hope that a small percentage will take the bait.

These thieves impersonate real businesses such as eBay or PayPal and large banks or credit card companies, and they use scare tactics in their email message asking the reader to visit their site immediately to help them recover missing information.

The link provided in the email then takes the victim to a bogus site designed to look like an official website, however, the request to reconfirm personal information such as account numbers, passwords, or social security numbers is a scam. Once the criminal has collected your personal data the real nightmare begins.

Crime never takes a vacation, and daily errors in judgment has cost countless people and small business owners in the USA time and money attempting to recover losses from stolen identity. Avoid becoming a victim if you receive any email that may be suspicious. Instead of following the website link in the email, open your browser and visit the official site and look for 'support', 'news', or 'FAQs' to search for details."

Publish Your Own EBook In Less Than One Week - by Ruth Barringham

Publish Your Own EBook In Less Than One Week - by Ruth Barringham: "There are too many lies on the internet these days that tell you that it’s possible to get rich online without money, without investing any time and you don’t need your own product. Just buy their product or sell it for them and you’re on your way to making millions of dollars.

Well they’re right about one thing. It is possible to make money online – but you need your own products that you can produce quickly and cheaply and sell over and over again with little or no further input from you required.

It’s easier than ever before to make a living online because people now have a better understanding of how to use the internet than they’ve ever had before.

But making money without effort, time or investment? WAKE UP!"

10 Tips For Feng Shui Decorating - by Lee Dobbins

10 Tips For Feng Shui Decorating - by Lee Dobbins: "Feng shui refers to the ancient Chinese belief that focuses on arrangement and placement of things on certain places.

Though there are very few written documentation about the first existence of feng shui, it has survived time and tradition by oral communication and actual practice by the Chinese people.

One might notice that several regulations are derived from common sense and intuition. For example, a cluttered room or office is believed to imbibe bad feng shui, which, in actuality would really hinder productive work due to stress that might be a result of inability to find needed documents from a cluttered table.

Literally meaning 'wind and water' feng shui is not simply a style of decorating. Most feng shui practices coincide with various decorating or arrangement styles. In fact, a certain room that accommodates feng shui regulations is more visually attractive and well-coordinated than those that had not been subjected to its practices.

Arrangement of furniture or other materials are considered so as to allow the entrance and passage of 'good energy' or chi.

Good feng shui means that the arrangement coincides with nature. For example, the sink should not be placed beside the stove since the water (sink) puts out fire (stove), meaning one element overpowers the other.

Below are 10 tips taking into consideration Feng Shui decorating principles:"

A Guide To Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Fibromyalgia - by Lee Dobbins

A Guide To Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Fibromyalgia - by Lee Dobbins: "Many find it difficult to make a distinction between fibromyalgia, also known as FM, and chronic fatigue syndrome, particularly because the symptoms of both illnesses are very similar. Even doctors and experts, up until now, cannot definitely say if CFS, short for chronic fatigue syndrome, and FM are two different diseases with like symptoms, separate aspects of one disorder, or two completely distinct illnesses.

Issues surrounding fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome became even murkier after an FM/CFS expert released his findings in a National Fibromyalgia Association publication in September 2002. According to the findings of Dr. Charles W Lapp, around 70% of people suffering from FM also qualify for CFS, and about the same percentage of CFS sufferers also manifest symptoms of FM.

Definition of FM and CFS"

New Year - New Language - New Benefits for Your Child - by Beth Butler

New Year - New Language - New Benefits for Your Child - by Beth Butler: "Remember those language learning labs in junior high school? Those labs with headsets, the classrooms with written workbooks full of verb conjugation and a teacher who followed a curriculum vs. her students' capabilities combined to create absolutely the worst (and least) effective method used to teach a second language. That is why those of us who took languages back in the days of middle school being called junior high school remember just a few choice words (and probably pronounce them incorrectly!).

Today, as parents and as educators, we know the importance of raising our children to be bilingual. We see and experience this ever-shrinking world of ours and encounter endless opportunities to test our own bilingual skills. We know from recent research and the barrage of studies thrown at us that the secret to success is introducing the new language early in life. Why, even TIME and NEWSWEEK Magazines ran feature articles on the window of opportunity to introduce a new language is between birth and around the age of ten to twelve."

A Novel Idea For Solving The Success Puzzle - by Donovan Baldwin

A Novel Idea For Solving The Success Puzzle - by Donovan Baldwin: "As a writer writing for other writers, I have written a couple of articles on how writers can come up with ideas. As a writer who is also an internet marketer who has achieved some success online, I have written articles on, you guessed it...achieving success. In many of these articles, I tell the writers that ideas for their articles, short stories, novels, and poems are everywhere if they will only look and be prepared to see that ANYTHING might be the next bright idea. In other articles, I tell the internet marketers and network marketers that there is one major key to success. A little episode this morning brought the two together and prompted THIS article.

I love to work puzzles of all kinds, but I love crosswords and logic puzzles the best. This morning, I was starting a logic puzzle called 'A Novel Approach' by Sue M. Angel. In it, the five characters, all authors of novels, each talk about five different subjects, relating them to the writing of novels. Just for interest, the subjects are: Characters, Continuity, Credibility, Plot, and Setting. After reading the setup for the puzzle, I laid the magazine down because simply reading that had triggered a thought.

All of those items are important to success in terms of writing a novel. I have no doubt about this. If one is more important than the others...well, I believe you could generate a lot of discussion on that, and you would probably get a lot of differing opinions...even from successful novelists."