Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Successfully Overcoming Panic Attacks

Before we can even determine the nature of overcoming panic attacks we must firstly try to fully comprehend the meaning of the term panic attack and further to this the actual symptoms of the condition. The symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks are somewhat unclear and they do not appear to be initiated by the panic. We should clear this in our mind that anxiety is neither a clinical disorder nor a disease; it is the change of behaviour.

The entirety of the associated symptoms of the panic attacks come from the stimulation of anxious nerve signals that are produced by the brain. The symptoms of panic attacks are quite normal and without any damage. These symptoms are not toxic, but they are not nice. As we react differently in a response to the same stimulus, so the symptoms of the panic attack vary from person to person. The symptoms of a panic attack can be associated with chest pain, light headiness, excessive sweating, rapid heart beat, abdominal unease and shortness of breath.

Overcoming panic attack is elementary because there are some very helpful techniques, but overcoming the cause the panic or anxiety attack is a different issue. Panic attacks are caused by the autonomic nervous system which controls the sub conscious activities like breathing, digestion and circulation. The particular area in the autonomic nervous system is called amygdale which is responsible for decision making and regarding the things about anxiety. During panic attacks the amygdale remains turned on and it needs to be turned off to enable the person in controlling the panic attack because if amygdale remains stuck, it is responsible for the onset panic attack.

The targeted objective in the treatment should be to reduce fear and to eradicate panic attacks and to cease the applications of those medicines that are used by the people to perform the regular activities.

A medicine which in important in this regard is buspirone. It is chosen above the benzodiazepines due to the fact that it has minor side effects. Another important drug which is used in the prevention of panic attack is barbiturates which has barbital and Phenobarbital etc. But side effects are also there for example respiratory depression and cardiovascular depression.

So we can say that anxiety and panic attacks can be lessened by the use of anxiolytic drugs, but these ought to be used with particular care because nearly all the anti anxiety drugs cause dependence and have side effects in their own way

Panic Attack Reviews |
Panic Away

How To Overcome Anxiety And Panic Attacks Permanently

The desire to overcome anxiety and panic attacks permanently is only natural considering the debilitating effects these issues can have on your life. It should be understood that while the process of overcoming these attacks does require time and dedication, it is possible to overcome anxiety and attacks permanently without the use of prescription medications. If you are interested in how to overcome these attacks once and for all, read on for more tips.

Understanding the connection between anxiety and panic attacks is one of the first steps in learning how to overcome them permanently. While panic attacks can occur from completely out of the blue, in some cases they do occur as a result of anxiety. Furthermore, the fear and anxiety of experiencing another panic attack once you have experienced even one can lead to debilitating effects that profoundly affect the rest of your life. It is not uncommon for an individual to only experience one panic attack but be so consumed by the fear of having another that they develop other conditions, such as agoraphobia.

It is also important to understand that panic and anxiety attacks can actually be linked to your body’s rather natural response to danger. Whenever your body feels threatened it is natural for the pulse to become elevated and for other physical symptoms to arise. Regardless of whether the fear is real or only perceived, your body is likely to respond in the same manner-with a heightened sense of anxiety. These symptoms leave us with two choices-to either stay and face the fear or flee from it. Considering the overwhelming physical symptoms, most choose the latter option. Learning how to overcome anxiety and panic attacks permanently therefore involves learning how to prepare for the feelings associated with panic and anxiety attacks and conquer them.

One way to handle this is through ongoing therapy which can help you to address the fears which may result in panic and anxiety attacks. No matter what you are afraid of, whether it is a real situation or something that you perceive to be of danger, it is important to understand that you can unlearn the behaviors that have produced panic and anxiety attacks in the past. Coping skills like relaxation techniques and imagery skills can help you learn how to overcome anxiety and panic attacks permanently over time.

Learning how to overcome these issues may also involve actually unlearning anxious habits that have developed over the years. The brain must actually learn how to forget the anxious behavior it has practiced over time and replace that behavior with actions that are not anxious in order for this to work. Quite naturally, this will require time, but it is possible and it does work.

No matter which techniques you utilize in order to overcome anxiety and panic attacks, please be aware that you must dedicate time and effort to the process. In many cases this may mean practicing those techniques on a daily basis in order for them to be successful. Despite the effort and time required, the payoff is definitely worth it. Over time you can learn how to overcome anxiety and panic attacks permanently and take back control of your life.

Panic Attack Reviews |
Panic Away

Monday, May 3, 2010

Internet Marketers: Membership Sites That Will Drive Your Ultimate Income

There are various reasons why Internet marketers should start their very own membership site. You can do such things as selling an ebook, sell PLR articles, or even have an up sell item to add to your list.

You should think about having a paid membership site due to the residual benefits that it offers. If you have a paid membership site, then you are going to want to keep adding fresh content on a monthly basis if not more often. Remember that content is king! You must not only have content that captivates your audience but lures new members to your site. Make sure that the content is fresh and new and not old and stale. If you do not know how to write, you can always hire a freelancer or buy some PLR articles and change the content around. The subscriber to your site sets up a monthly billing system that will take money out of their account so that they make sure their subscription is kept up to date.

In Internet marketing, this is as close as you will get to a monthly paycheck! This is your online income. There are many income opportunities out there on the Internet, but you have to recognize the real deal from a scam.

You can start a paid membership site on just about any subject that people are prepared to spend their money to read about. You can put any kind of content, which includes audio and video, on secure pages that are only accessible by password to registered members. It is up to you as to how you want to run your membership site. Remember, the better the site is, the more members you will get, and that translates into more online income for you!

You can choose for these membership sites to be in the marketing industry. You will provide content that other people will pay for to rewrite and then they will use this material in their marketing campaigns. This is called Private Label Rights. An excellent example is the “Simple PLR Club”!

You can develop a totally different kind of membership site which will build an online income that is devoted to a hobby or some leisure interest that people feel very passionate about. An excellent membership site subject is sports because new events and fresh content are added daily.

Some membership sites have been set up selling access to public domain material and the owner of the membership site did not have to pay one red cent to obtain the information. An old book that was published before 1923 is broken up into chapters and is distributed monthly.

Another ingenious way of making an online income in which you do not have to do anything is to develop a membership site where the members are producing some or all of the content. This usually happens with membership sites that have a forum section. This sometimes can only be done with great difficulty, but when everything is up and running it can provide a nice online income for the site owner without him having to do much with the site at all besides routine maintenance.

A membership site is one of the greatest profit makers at this time. If you decide down the road that you wish to move into another area, then you can sell the site, close it or sell Private Label Rights to the content.

With a membership site that is profitable, the choices are all yours. If you really want to make a good online income with a membership site, then you need to keep learning and reading. The key question is: Are you ready to make an online income that pays you every single month?

Membership Product Reviews
Easy Member Pro

Membership Site Software Web: How To Retain Customers

Websites are being the boat of commerce in the modern world today; there are simply enormous things that you can do with your online business. Taking them to another level would simply mean higher standards. On the part of web site software membership, having a program to handle them will likely do the job, but this will only be as good as the one who is managing or configuring them.

Working hard is always a good thing, but planning ahead and being proactive to reactive will definitely help you in your business online even in a small-scaled one will positively absorb the benefits of having a step ahead.

Making sure that you keep you paying customers is not an overnight job, this too requires a lot of customer care and planning ahead to make sure they will be satisfied to your offerings in your particular niche.

Customers are always the key ingredient on a successful business, using your membership website software and managing them is one of the key things you need to do and prevent them from looking or jumping to other competitors.

Satisfaction

A satisfied customer will likely ever jump to other sites. On your part, analyzing data, sorting out customers that are mostly profitable are the things you need to focus on, after all, they're the ones that fuel your business.

Web site membership software helps in acquiring the data you need, there are limitless solutions to any online business to date, you just need to select the best and of course configure them good. Upon registration, you have obtained the useful information to do your work. Administrators like you will need to have customer relationship management software; this solution will make your job easier in the task of keeping your customers as well as making more in the long run.

As industry grows, the online market is also being aggressive and having more and more competition, analyzing the data acquired then making a good marketing strategies are up to your disposal coupled with good customer support, a customer will always be back for more if you play your cards right.

Approach

Using the right scheme will pave its way to the right direction. Using the data obtained during the registration, you can implement your strategy, set objectives and configure your Web site membership software to do its job.

Forcing on automation software is likely a good way to start upon but configuring them to the needs of your customers. On its application, you can embed them to your policies and company efforts.

You can also track customers' behavior on Web site membership software's configuration; you can opt to automatically offer other purchasing methods as well as other promotional agendas. You can also refer them to your affiliates for sturdy revenue; the right configuration will play out even more when you know what they want and need.

In a sizable scale, choosing the right software option for you is another thing. With choosing the right options, your vendor can pick up the best type of software you need.

With the help of web site membership software, you can make a good profit while keeping a firm grip on your customers. You will likely also need to train your staff for the extra effort and embedding them to your overall idea of a good business niche.

Membership Product Reviews
Easy Member Pro

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Protect Your Family With Silver Coins

Have you looked at your investment portfolio lately?

Chances are you are like thousands of other regular folks who used to think their investments were safe and that they would never need to do anything until retirement. Then the market turned on its ear and 401ks everywhere started to tank big time. Now you're cringing and too nervous to even look at your investments for fear of how bad they might actually look.

If this is you, then it is definitely time to start looking into an investment in silver coins.

Silver has been used as a medium of exchange for over 4,000 years. It was first mentioned in the book of Genesis in the Bible's Old Testament (Genesis 23:15)

Did you know that half of the world's existing silver supply has been mined in the past 70 years? Or that every cell phone, television, and computer contains silver?

While gold may be the "holy grail" of all precious metals as far as most people think, the truth is that silver coins continue to increase in value at nearly the same rate that gold does, but because the price has been artificially held down for decades, silver is still quite affordable and easy to get. That will all soon change though, since there is seven times more gold in the world than there is silver, and gold is not being used for anything but jewelry!

Precious metals like silver coins are a safe investment and one that you can feel comfortable knowing will be there for your family regardless of what may happen to the stock market. Silver and gold have never been worth zero, but every day the stock certificates of more and more companies we once thought were giants are just as worthless as the paper their certificates are printed on.

AIG and General Motors may have asked for a bailout from the United States Government but your silver coins never will! In fact, your silver can even be used as currency in the event of some worldwide disaster if the dollar's value were to continue to decrease (like it is right now).

To learn more about the history of silver, as well as more information on how and why you should be investing in silver right now, just download your copy of my free digital e-book, Guide to Silver Coin Investing. You'll be glad you did.

Many people are curious about how to protect their money, but often overlook the many benefits of silver coins. Take a look at our Free Guide to get started today.

Get the Best Deals on Gold and Silver Coins
Don't Pay Too Much for Gold and Silver Coins

What To Know About Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are devices that are used to aid in hearing. They are commonly used to help those who have a difficult time hearing. There are several different types of them. In many cases, they have been developed over time and the various versions of them are mainly due to the improvements that have been used.

One of the types of hearing aids is the body worn aids. These are the first type of aid to be used. Today, they are rarely used because there are better quality options available due to the improvements of technology. They use an amplification system that is connected to a mold that fits around the ear. They are large and this helps in some of the worst cases of hearing loss where other units cannot.

Another option is those that are behind the ear aids. A custom made ear mold is connected to a small case that fits behind the ear. They are used to all types of hearing loss and work well for children because of how durable they are as well as how capable they are of being connected to assistive listening devices that can be used within the classroom.

Yet another type of hearing aid that is commonly used is that of the ITE aids. These are also known as in the ear aids because that is the location that they are in. They are custom made for each person individually. They work for most all types of hearing loss as well. In most cases, a child can wear them after the age of 13 as their growing patterns have slowed down.

Although there are several other types of hearing aids on the market, it is best to speak to your doctor about which is the right device for your needs. In many cases, there will be special equipment to help you in hearing better.


BTE Hearing Aid St Louis MO

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Craigslist, Yellow Pages, And Web Directory Lists As Information Providers

In the space of a few years, phone books have lost out on popularity. Of course, let me not count the occasion when my husband left the toilet paper roll on the floor, directly beneath the waiting empty roll, for the 72nd time in a row. But for its actual use of providing information to me, I cannot remember when I last used it. In this day and age my computer is always so much closer than the phone book, although I must admit, it is much harder to throw across a room when frustrated. But yet I keep the thing around, try to camouflage the ugly machine with my decor or what have you. I have to keep it out and in plain sight for the whole world to agree that yes; I have a phonebook available for your information pleasure. Heaven forbid I lose another useless monstrosity. Right, because something that is 6 inches thick and could be injurious when thrown appropriately could be lost easily. But seriously, do you think I know where it is? No, because I never use it. Just about anything that I need from it can be found on the Internet. The people that want to be found will be in the phone book, but I can look for them online as well. And if they don't want to be found, well, I am not going to find them in either place. But every year, Bell without fail drops one off at the end of my driveway, and within minutes, it ends up - somewhere - just in case I have an immediate phone number emergency where 911 does not apply (I have that one memorized, anyway).

Gone are the days of letting our fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages. In fact, the ubiquitous Yellow Pages are on the Internet as well. The Yellow Pages can't be knocked; they still remain one of the most useful information services out there. When looking for local information on businesses or services, it is my most preferred destination. But I don't intensify my strength training program by flipping through hard copy information. I log on. In fact, it is faster for me to find out about my pizza place on the Internet than to find the phone number in the book. Also, with the advent of sites like Craigslist or web directory sites, I have many more options available to me within seconds if I need information. Craigslist and web directories operate very similarly to the Yellow Pages, with a few extras. Craigslist is primarily a classified ad site, but it can give a whole lot of useful information. Not only can I find local business information, but can also look for housing (which will come in handy for my husband if he attempts the toilet roll conundrum one more time), look for work, social activities, or whatever other community classifieds information you might want. What makes it even better is that I will be free from the attack of the ads while I am doing so, as I am in so many other places on the Internet.

In fact, Craigslist is so easy to use, and now, very much in demand, having over 15 million users a month, that even my online Yellow Pages are becoming archaic. The information on Craigslist is also current information, which does not always hold true for the Yellow Pages, online or otherwise. And now, with eBay controlling some of its shares, it is doing very well even in the presence of big players like Google and Yahoo. Phone books may already have become things of the past, but we have already found substitutes.

Visit Philippine Business Directory an online yellow page in the Philippines.

The Bright Energy Saving Idea - Conserve Energy, Save Money

If all life were a movie, it would be all energy. But with gas and electricity prices moving on up, that same energy is better saved prudently than spent unwisely. In the same way, it pays to think of life as a movie that has to be kept within budget. That means every energy saving idea has to be used, whether it has to do with one's home, office, or equipment.

The best scenes are played out at the best locations, whether at home or in the office. A bright, energy saving idea would be to either scout for a good location, or fashion the one you have to fit your energy needs.

More than half the energy used for heating or cooling a space is lost because of wrong insulation. To keep your home or office warm through the winter, provide walls and windows with the proper insulating materials. Open all drapes and blinds on south-facing windows during the winter's daylight hours, but close them at night to keep the heat in.

During the balmy days of summer, install a fan in your attic to move hot air out of the house. This fan is another bright energy saving idea: you can change the direction of airflow in winter, so that warm air is pushed toward the floor, heating your space.

Any energy saving idea works best inside and outside of your home or office. A well-kept garden can keep your place looking fresh and clean. Plant grasses, flowers, and shrubs that are well-adapted or native to your area, and which will not require extra watering during the summer, or extra maintenance during off-seasons. If possible, plant trees, such as evergreens, to shade your home or office building, and to protect it from winds.

Much money and energy are spent on moving from one location to the next. It would help if you could either create incentives that would encourage staff to live close to the office, or relocate your business near a place where majority of your employees live. Keeping your workplace energy-efficient is an energy saving idea all its own - but bringing it closer to those who use it might be a better energy saving idea in the long run.

A location will not work without the proper costumes and, as in the movies, clothes not only give insight into a character, but into the character's environment as well.

The first bright energy saving idea would be to get the costumes washed. Clothes come out clean whether they're rinsed in cold or warm water - so to save on your water-heating bill, wash in cold rather than in warm, and warm rather than in hot water. Experiments have shown that you can use up to 50% less energy on washing with the heater off.

If you can't be there to watch your costumes dry, a good energy saving idea (though not necessarily money saving) would be to purchase a dryer with a motion sensor. This will allow the appliance to shut off automatically when the load is dry. Another energy saving idea would be to wash and dry clothes only when you have a full load. However, don't overload your dryer, since clothes dry faster when they have room enough to bounce around.

The best energy saving idea, however, is to wear the right clothing. During warm or hot weather, wear comfortable, light-colored, light clothing instead of heavy business suits to work. This not only helps reduce air-conditioning needs - it saves on your laundry load as well.

The scene is ready, the participants are clothed - but with no good energy saving idea in store, everything will remain dark. Lighting is important in both home and office, and it's proper lighting, more than the amount of light, that can best save energy.

If sunlight through the windows will do, shut your lights off and work in the sunbeams. Replace incandescent floodlight bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps. The latter can save you up to 15% on your lighting bill, and are brighter than ordinary bulbs. If you have more lights than you need, the best energy saving idea would be to remove them, and to keep the ones that you have clean. Grease, dirt, and dust reduce your lights' output and increase the energy they need to function.

The technique may be hard on the pocket, but energy is best saved when lighting is used only at the appropriate times. To ensure that this happens, install automatic room-lighting controls. These respond to the amount of available natural light, as well as to the number of occupants in a room. They can also be programmed to shut off lights at the end of the day, leading to your biggest energy savings yet.

Computers take up a big bulk of an office's electricity load. Another good energy saving idea would be to make sure that computers are turned off while they are not in use. Laptops also use up to 80-90% less energy than desktop computers, and smaller monitors use up less energy than larger ones. Smaller machines take up smaller energy, and though not quite a money saving idea yet, making the switch to compact computers is a good energy saving idea.

Energy saved is a chance for more scenes to be played out. That means that every energy saving idea has to be used, so that all locations, costumes, and lighting will always lead to action!

(c) 2006 All Rights Reserved. Tracy Linville This article may be freely distributed as long as this Resource Box stays intact. http://MyHomeEnergySavings.com/blog



Energy Savings Critic

Earth 4 Energy

Monday, April 26, 2010

Finding Information On The Latest In Kitchenware For Your Home


If you are like many women and men in the 21st century, you like to have the most up to date kitchenware for your home. In this regard, because you like to keep up with the current trends and changes when it comes to kitchenware, you may be interested in informational resources in regard to the latest trends in kitchenware.

First of all, in this day and age, there are a number of truly solid television shows broadcasting in this day and age that provide information on the latest developments in regard to kitchenware. You might want to consider tuning into one or another of these programs to get updated on what is being done and sold in the way of kitchenware in this day and age.

Keep in mind that in addition to television broadcasts, there are also some very helpful videos or DVDs that can assist you in making decisions on what types of newly designed kitchenware you might want to consider buying. Of course, one of the benefits to be had to viewing videos as opposed to watching television broadcasts is that you can watch these videos at your convenience.

There are some wonderful books now on the market that explore what the best outfitted kitchen includes. These books generally are available at major booksellers in the brick and mortar world. In addition, many kitchen supply stores also maintain these types of books in their inventories. Finally, on occasion, some home improvement centers in operation in the brick and mortar world also include these types of books on their shelves. As an aside, in some communities, libraries to maintain books of these nature in some instances.

Finally, as with so many other products and services in the 21st century, the Internet is a wonderful resource for information on the latest kitchenware and cookware that is available on the market at this point in time. There are websites that even provide independent evaluations about the latest kitchenware products that have been introduced into the marketplace. Through these independent evaluations you will be in a better position to make a decision about which kitchenware and cookware products will best meet your needs -- not only in the immediate but into the more long term future as well. You will be able to make sounder purchasing decisions through the use of these types of Internet based informational websites.




KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer


KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Free Money Making Opportunities on the Web

In auctions, the seller can specify what's known as a reserve price for an item. If the winning bid for that item is less than the reserve price, the seller can opt not to complete the transaction. Often, this technique is used by sellers who have a detailed understanding of how much the item would be worth if sold elsewhere, or who for whatever reason need to make a certain amount of money from the auction for free money making opportunities on the web. Generally, such sellers can be broken up into two categories: sellers who are simply looking to recoup a certain amount of the item's purchase cost and sellers who rely primarily on auction sales for their livelihood.

The first case often includes businesses that re-sell used items at a depreciated value. If the company uses good accounting practices, this value will be readily available. Otherwise, it will have to estimate the value by consulting with experts (some of whom it may already have on its staff) or comparing prices on similar items for free money making opportunities on the web. Typically, such sales aren't essential to the continuing health of the organization, so accepting a price slightly below the reserve value would likely not result in major harm. In low-priority situations such as this, a business must ask itself whether a reserve is really necessary for free money making opportunities on the web. Most auction venues will charge an additional fee to place a reserve on an item, which, depending on the expected sale price of the item, might be enough to cast the possibility of a satisfactory profit into doubt.

In the second case, though, reserve prices can reasonably be considered on the order of regular store prices: any offer below them will not result in a sale. As such, they need to be carefully calculated for free money making opportunities on the web. Too high, and auctions may result in too few sales and a bad reputation. Too low, and auctions may not generate enough profit to maintain the business. The desired profit margin will vary by business and by item, of course, and needs to be realistic for the market for free money making opportunities on the web. Equally, sellers should be aware of the relevant research, such as studies that indicate that using reserve pricing can have a feast-or-famine effect on profit depending on the estimated value of the goods being sold.* This research, while not conclusive, indicates that, even if relatively expensive goods benefit from reserves, relatively inexpensive ones can actually lose value if a reserve is employed. Ultimately, a business should remember that its bottom line is profit: even if all the theories say that using a reserve will help, if reserve-priced goods consistently under perform, the right answer is to abandon them, and vice versa.

Online reputation

After you have brought people to your page to look at the sports memorabilia you are trying to sell, it is important to entice them to bid. One of the most important factors is by creating and maintaining a positive online reputation. Buyers will be less likely to bid on your merchandise if the feedback left about you is not good. But overall, creating a positive response about your online auction business is not difficult to do and is very similar to the same good business practices people practice in regular storefronts. Along with being honest and descriptive about what you are selling online, it is important to answer all questions posed to you by potential bidders and be forthright about your product. When it comes to shipping the item, pack it appropriately in the correct box and send it out just as you described on your site or if you have made alternative arrangements with the winning bidder.

Tony Forster excels in the home business arena. You can learn more about making money online at http://www.moneymakingsystem76.com

Read some reviews on Online Money Making Opportunity.

The Basics Of Dog Health

Dogs, just like humans, have a variety of conditions that can affect their health. Unfortunately, dogs can have bone and joint problems, eye problems, nervous disorders, digestive, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, as well as hereditary diseases and even cancers. As a dog owner, the health of your pet is always a concern. The good news is that by following a few simple steps, you can ensure that your dog will be healthy and any conditions that arise will be noted and treated as early as possible to obtain the best possible outcome.

The following list is a general outline of the suggestions that most vets recommend for ensuring your dog's health. Remember that some breeds may have additional needs that are health-related, so be sure to research your breed and be aware of any conditions or dog health risks that may be prevalent within the breed.

Exercise

All dogs need some level of exercise on a daily basis. Many of the small breeds will exercise indoors or will "self-exercise", but other breeds simply do not. Owners need to realize that just turning the dog outside in the yard for a couple of hours a day may not be exercise either. Many dogs will simply find a shady spot to rest in until they're allowed back in the house. Having a dog means that you're willing to make a commitment to their daily exercise, whether that is going for a walk, jog, or just tossing the ball or Frisbee for 20 minutes. Watch your dog to be sure that they're not over tired or injured during exercise, especially if there's a lot of jumping or running involved. Encourage your dog to exercise even if they don't seem to want to that day.

Diet

Feed only a good quality or premium dry kibble to your dog. Avoid the wet foods, as they are often not as nutritionally balanced as the kibble, plus they can cause both dental and digestive problems. If you are feeding wet food, consult with your vet and make sure that you are using the correct amount and type to balance the nutritional needs of your dog. Avoid feeding human food and too many treats. Human food or treats should be less than 5% of the daily food intake of your dog. Many vets and dog health experts recommend no human food and only select dog treats.

Some foods should be avoided completely. The following are harmful and possibly fatal to dogs:

Chocolates

Sweets and sugars

Raisins

Raw pork

Raw fish

Any kind of poultry that is raw

Any kind of raw or cooked poultry bones

Coffee

Mushrooms

Onions and garlic (in large quantities)

Dogs should always have free access to clean water and should never be kenneled or kept in an area where there is no water.

Attention to Detail

By carefully observing your dog on a regular basis, you can note any signs of discomfort or anxiety quickly. Watch for changes in your dog's behavior, including their energy level and food and water consumption. Often the first signs of many conditions are a change in eating patterns. Any odd behavior should be noted and carefully monitored. Behaviors such as seizures, excessive salivating, excessive or abnormal tearing of the eyes or discharges from any part of the body should be immediately checked by a vet.

Routine Vet Visits

Be sure to keep vaccinations and other dog health precautions up to date with routine visits to the vet. In some areas, heartworm and other conditions require constant monitoring and the vet can provide this service. Before breeding your dog, be sure to have her or him completely checked for any genetic conditions or predispositions such as hip dysplasia.

Love and Attention

Last, but certainly not least, your dog needs your family's love and attention. Dogs thrive when they feel they are a loved and involved member of the family. Dog health is linked to love and attention, as loving owners are usually more aware of changes in the dog's health and well being and get professional help sooner.

In all cases, it is vitally important to talk to your vet about any concerns that you may have with dog health and be sure to know any conditions that are specific to the breed of dog that you own.

Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist, with a wide range of interests. To read more about dog health - and about dogs in general - visit his website http://www.livingwithadog.com




Dog Supplements | Dog Vitamins

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Dog Health Questions With a Common Answer

As a homeopath, I understand what we call 'maintaining causes' of disease. In other words health problems can not only be caused by an event such as an accident or be hereditary in origin, but it can also be caused by something you're doing every day.

Let me give you some examples. If you smoke regularly, it's widely known that you'll probably eventually get lung problems. If you've had a job which entails handling and cutting asbestos, you'll probably have lung problems later on. If you regularly drink a lot of alcohol, you know your liver will eventually be affected.

Diet plays a crucial part in health. Most people realize that they need to look to healthy food to keep them in the peak of condition.

You are what you eat. It's not the only factor which can contribute to ill health, but by virtue of its daily consumption, food plays an enormous role in your overall health. And it's no less true for dogs. What you feed your dog will reflect how healthy he is and how healthy he remains.

I have found, in my practice, that an enormous number of common dog health questions can be answered, simply by taking the dog off commercial dog food. When I was feeding my pets commercial pet food, many years ago, I read of a remarkable life changing experience for a young dog. She was only about three years old, but had developed such severe arthritis, that the vet recommended euthanasia. The dog's people were not happy with this recommendation and decided to look elsewhere. They searched extensively and eventually come across the notion that the food they were feeding her could be the problem. So they stopped feeding her commercial pet food.

One day, a friend dropped by. One who knew the dog and the prognosis. As he crossed the yard to the house, he noticed an agile dog playing and frolicking about, as only young dogs can. Assuming the worse, he started to give his condolences. He was gobsmacked when he was told that this was the very same dog.

That's when I decided to stop feeding my pets commercial pet food.

It really doesn't matter what dog health questions you have. It could be anything. The first thing you really need to try is stopping the commercial dog food. If you're a bit unsure, try it for a month. After an initial worsening of symptoms (signally a clearing), especially in older dogs, your dog will start to bloom.

What have you got to lose?

It's really pointless going for a medication or other form of treatment if the food your dog is given is the problem. So lets have a look at some common dog health questions, which may all be addressed by stopping the commercial pet food.

My dog:

  • has a terrible skin itchy skin
  • has arthritis
  • is overweight
  • has heart problems
  • has spinal myelopathy
  • is infertile
  • regularly gives birth to dead puppies, or the puppies die soon after birth
  • has kidney stones
  • has hip dysplasia
  • has tumours
  • has cystitis

Holistic veterinarians has all been able to address the above dog health questions with a change of diet off commercial pet food.

If you liked this article, then I invite you to sign up for my free, weekly ezine on how to improve your health and that of your family, including pets, naturally. Included is a complementary ebook on how to have a healthy dog, starting today. Visit http://www.naturallyhealthydogs.com


Dog Supplements | Dog Vitamins

Friday, April 23, 2010

Body Massage for Relaxation, Health Improvement and Sensual Pleasure

By massaging your friend or living partner and let him or her do the same to you, you will both get emotionally closer to each other, and both get several health benefits. Massaging will benefit the mental state of the person you work on, the muscular condition, the blood circulation and the lymph drainage. However, what you want to achieve, will determine the exact technique you use.

MASSAGING ACROSS THE MUSCLE FIBRES

This type of massage is very good for relaxing tense muscles and a stressed mind.

You perform this massage by rubbing or gripping across the direction of the muscle fibres or across tendons. You take one area after the other. You begin by massaging each area lightly, superficially and slowly to warm up, and then proceed by massaging deeper, firmer and more swiftly.

According to the size and conditions of the area you treat, you can use different types of manipulation. You can use a couple of fingers at a small area, or to reach deep into a tense point You can rub with all your finger tips or with the palm of your hand at greater areas. To get a harder effect, you can use your finger knuckles.

MASSAGING ALONG THE MUSCLE FIBRES

This type of massage will give the following effects: Stiffness will be reduced or cured, and the muscles will gain in mobility. The muscles will get better blood supply and drainage. The muscles will get a better drainage of tissue fluids into the lymph system, and thereby swollen muscles will normalize. These effects will in turn make tired muscles faster regain good condition.

By this massage you stroke along the direction of the muscle fibres, and always in the direction of the blood stream towards the heart.

Also now you take one area after the other, but try to reach the whole length of a muscle or muscle group at each stroke. Also by this massage, you begin massaging at each area lightly, superficially and slowly to warm up, and then proceed by massaging deeper, firmer and somewhat faster.

Also by this longitudinal massage, you can press down and stroke with your finger tips, with all your fingers, or grip around a muscle or muscle group with your fingers.

MASSAGE WITH AN ELECTRIC DEVICE

Most electric massage devices are vibrating up and down. This vibration mostly gives the same effect as the massage across the muscle fibres. If you also stroke with the device head along the muscle in the direction of the blood stream towards the heart, you will simultaneously also achieve the effects of longitudinal massage.

COMBINING THE MASSAGE WITH STRETCHING

The effects of the massage can be increased by also stretching the limbs and body parts of the person you work on. Stretch in the natural movement directions of the limb or body parts until you reach some resistance. Do not stretch hard to go beyond the resistance point. However, by holding the limb some time at the resistance point will often cause the limb to relax, and then you can go some way further.

HOW HARD SHOULD YOU PERFROM THE MASSAGE?

Tired and stiff muscles are often tender and aching. Working at a tender point will always cause some temporal pain. However, if you use the right degree of firmness, the effect of the massage should cause an immediate release of pain and tenderness when you have finished working at a point. You should never work so hard that the pain is felt nearly unbearable, or so hard that pain remains after the massage is finished. If you do so, you can hurt or aggravate already existing tissue damage.

To achieve the right firmness you should monitor the reactions of the person you work at and listen to his comments. You should also never perform a massage on an area with a distinct inflammation or a distinct injury.

USE OF MASSAGE OILS

By applying a massage oil or ointment at the area you work at, you ease the massage work and increase the effects of the massage. Your fingers glide more easily upon the skin covering the area. The blood supply of the skin and muscles will be stimulated. You get a sensual and exciting scent on the area and in the air. Ingredients in the oil will ameliorate muscular ache and pain. According to the composition of the massage oil, there will be different stimulating effects upon the muscles, for example faster regeneration of tired or hurt muscle tissue.

MASSAGE FOR MUTUAL PLEASURE

You can use each of the two main techniques, but you let the pleasure of the person you massage decide the technique, the area you massage and the firmness of the massage. Usually gently touching and caressing will be the right manner.

Also your own pleasure shall decide. Do not work so hard that you get tired out yourself, and the person that you give the massage should be willing to repay you by doing the same favour to you.



Fort Worth Yoga | Fort Worth massage

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Digital Hearing aids: Why Do They Cost So Much?


The cost of one digital hearing aid can range from $1700 to $4,750 at the retail level. The costs are no doubt high but let's take a look on why digital hearing aids have such a high price tag especially compared to their analog cousins. One of the reasons that digital hearing aids bring high prices is because of all the time that is invested into research and development. Another reason for the high price is that these devices contain miniaturized computer chips, which makes them more expensive. You can always expect to pay more when you are buying the latest electronic gadgets and hearing aids are no different unfortunately.

Don't worry though; deals on digital hearing aids are available to a thrifty shopper. Keep in mind that there is a lot of competition between hearing aid suppliers. Also, the internet is allowing people to get much better deal. It is easy to save money if you take your time and shop around.

We all know that hearing aids are insanely expensive. However, if you look around you will be able to find some low cost alternatives out there. The Cost of digital hearing aids is based on the brand and model of hearing aid and what features it has.

For those people that have already wear analog devices, an upgrade to a digital model will provide stunning sound quality in normal day to day situations. A drastic improvement in hearing of normal everyday sounds is just the start. Where digital hearing aids really earn their money is eliminating background noise. Adjustments can be made without having to mess with the volume control.

The more money you are willing to spend the more you'll be impressed with the detail and quality of the sounds you can hear. If you are willing to get into the high end of digital hearing aids, you will be totally impressed with the things you can hear. Users report that they can hear even the faintest noises, and perhaps the most talked about results are the way these high end models are able to eliminate all feedback. These high tech devices also have a directional microphone which can be directed at the users front which will eliminate any surrounding noises.

If you decide that a digital hearing aid is for you then consult an audiologist. The audiologist will run test to find the degree and cause of your hearing impairment. Digital hearing aids are programmable so don't be surprised if you have to return to the doctor's office a number of times to get the device tuned in just to your liking. It might take some patience on your part but the advantages are very much worth it. Hearing aids are expensive, but you should not cut corners with something as important as your hearing.

Best of luck!



Affordable Hearing Aids Austin TX

Hearing Aid Styles Review Austin TX

Women's raincoats with hood for protection from rain and added style!

Rainy season is the time of the year when women try to avoid flaunting their expensive and beautiful dresses to prevent spoiling them because of rains. However, if there is some party during rainy season, they cannot go out with a simple dress on. Thus, they need some accessory that will protect them and their dress from getting wet right from head to toe. Women's raincoats with hood serve this purpose.

Buying a raincoat with hood has an added advantage. You do not have to carry anything else to protect your head in rain. Earlier the raincoats used to cause sweating as they did not have breathing space. However, now the material used for the raincoats allows some air circulation that prevents sweating.

There are various types of women's raincoats with hood available in the market. You can buy a fashionable and stylish raincoat for every day use. If you like to go for hikes and camps in rainy season, check out raincoats in the store which keeps things required for camping.

Ladies have to carry an umbrella to avoid the head getting wet. The raincoat with hood is a simple and excellent solution for them. It also has multi purposes because you can wear raincoat whenever you want to show off the latest trend to your friends. This will save them from carrying extra weight of an umbrella and keep their hands free. The full length raincoat with hood can provide maximum protection in rain. Go for a light weight raincoat as that will give you ease and comfort in rainy season.

Happy searching!


Women's Raincoats
Women's Rainwear

Choosing Rainwear - Raincoat Versus Umbrella

Choosing the right rain gear is important. There are many different types of rainwear available, but umbrellas are still a very popular means of keeping one's self dry. If you live in a climate that does not include very much rain, or one that only sees minimal rainfall, an umbrella might work just fine. On the other hand, if you live in an area where rain is frequent, you may want to consider purchasing a raincoat or some other form of rainwear that will help keep all of you both warm and dry.

Raincoats have several advantages over umbrellas. While an umbrella will keep more than one person dry at a time, it is often difficult to hold it over two heads simultaneously. Add to that an additional person and you can seethe chances of anyone staying dry quickly diminishing. Raincoats, however, will keep all who wear them dry. Should you choose to wear a rain jacket and couple it with rain pants, you are increasing your chances of staying dry because more of you is covered. Add to that a pair of rain boots and you are good to go.

Umbrellas also have the uncanny ability to flip inside out in even the slightest of breezes let alone when the wind is really blowing. They are also difficult to hold on to while carrying other items such as a bag or a purse. Raincoats free up your hands, thereby allowing you to carry multiple items. Granted these items won't stay dry, but if you own a waterproof backpack, you may want to consider using it when it rains.

You may even decide to wear a raincoat and carry an umbrella. This is not a bad idea, especially if you have an aversion to hoods. This way you will be able to keep your entire body dry from head to toe without the need for a hood.

While there is certainly nothing wrong with using an umbrella, after all they have become very popular, a raincoat might be a good choice if you plan to be out in a rain quite a bit. The type you choose will depend on your activities as will whether or not you use other types of rainwear. The good news is you will have many options from which to choose so should have no problem making the right decision.



Women's Raincoats
Women's Rainwear

Friday, April 16, 2010

Hearing Aid Implants

Hearing aid implant is a cross-breed device which provides a therapeutic option for those patients who are not satisfied with hearing aids as they do not adequately distinguish sounds. Hearing aids typically are miniature amplifying devices worn outside the ear by people who have some natural hearing. Cochlear implants are surgically implanted within the ear so as to enable those patients who have no hearing left to pick up and distinguish middle and higher frequency sounds. These bypass the damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve, and the electrical impulses are sent to the brain via wires implanted in the ear.

The hearing aid implant is a new alternative to the traditional hearing aid providing superior acoustics. It consists of two components: an internally implanted receiver and an external audio processor which work synergistically in order to enhance the middle ear hearing function in patients with some residual natural hearing.

The external processor nestles behind the ear and transmits sounds across the skin to the receiver. These signals are converted into vibrations by the receiver and transmitted into a miniature transducer in the middle ear via a thin wire, which mechanically vibrates the ossicles.

As the energy is directly transmitted to the middle ear bones, problems related to poor acoustics, background noise and general discomfort are eliminated. As the process bypasses both the auditory canal and the eardrum, the resultant sound clarity is much better.

Specialists believe that patients can hope for a significant improvement in the ability to understand speech, especially in a noisy situation, decreased feedback as well as a significant reduction in infections and discomfort. The implant has a thin electrode, occupies less space in the inner ear, and is implanted by special surgical techniques thus preserving natural hearing.

Researchers believe that this is due to a synergistic effect achieved by preserving natural hearing and coupling it with the cochlear implant, resulting in a device which amplifies low frequencies while simultaneously stimulating middle and high frequencies electronically.

The implantation of the hearing aid implant is an outpatient procedure and takes about two hours. The cost of the implant is around $10,000, but the device proves to be more cost effective than a conventional hearing aid as its life is ten years as against the three to four years that a hearing aid lasts.

The use of this device is still investigational, and given that there have been no randomized case control trials demonstrating it efficacy and potential risks, patients are advised to thoroughly discuss its relative merits and drawbacks with their otolaryngologist before considering the procedure. Anecdotal reports suggest that the most common serious complication is loss of the residual hearing in the ear receiving the implant. Significant hearing loss has been reported in 10 percent to 15 percent of recipients.

The hearing aid implant can prove to be a blessing for the particular subgroup of patients it targets by amplifying as well as electrically transducing the frequencies lost to the hearing impaired ear.

Margaret White is a medical correspondent based in Beverly Hills and covers medical issues. In a series of articles she will be covering problems associated with hearing loss and hearing aids. Her article is based on an interview with Warren Willard owner of Hearing ABC. You can take a Free Online Hearing Test at Hearing ABC to check your audio perceptiveness.

Margaret White is a medical correspondent based in Beverly Hills and covers medical issues. In a series of articles she will be covering problems associated with hearing loss and hearing aids. Her article is based on an interview with Warren Willard owner of Hearing ABC. You can take a Free Online Hearing Test at Hearing ABC to check your audio perceptiveness.



Hearing Aid Repair High Point NC

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Technological Advancement of Digital Hearing Aid

In this modern age it seems that just about anything that can has "gone digital." This includes common things from photographs to phone calls to music and much more. It is hard to dispute that "digital" is the in thing and one reason for this is that there are definite advantages to digital technology in most cases. In the realm of assistive listening devices, digital is also in and digital hearing aids are becoming the standard.

Digital hearing aids were first introduced to the marketplace over twenty years ago, in the early 1980s. However, they did not immediately gain in popularity, mainly because of their size and the fact that they were so easily seen while being worn, even more so than the traditional analogue, in the ear hearing aids.

However, in the decade of the 90s, the fast developments that were happening in technology in general, and the major advancements in miniaturization in specific, brought about an entirely new crop of digital hearing aids that were considerably smaller in size. This smaller size allowed these units to be more discrete, lightweight and comfortable and led to a surge in popularity.

Many people think that nowadays all of them are digital. But the fact of the matter is that the traditional analogue and the high-tech digital devices work quite differently.

As a result, both types of its products are still on the market and likely will be for some time to come. The analogue units use a microphone to pick up sounds, which are then converted to electrical signals, which are then amplified.

The more advanced analogue hearing aids are programmed to compress the sound through a process of "automatic gain control." This is done to amplify quieter sounds so they can be heard readily, yet at the same time filter out the louder sounds that do not need to be amplified.

This is intended to protect the person wearing them from uncomfortably loud noises. Unfortunately, even the best of the analogue devices do not accomplish this important task as well as digital hearing aids do.

The digital types of hearing aids are based on a completely different principle than analogue units. They are designed to better overcome the issues related to background noises. Digital devices convert the input from the microphone into digital bits of information which can then be processed through a minute computer that is an integral part of these types of assistive listening devices.

This process makes it possible to monitor the various incoming sounds and better process these sounds in ways that simply is not possible for analogue devices to match. The most advanced of the digital aids can be adjusted in almost infinite ways to meet the needs of the individual wearers. Many models even have the capacity to adjust automatically to correct for various circumstances and unique sound environments.

Even with the advancements in digital hearing aids, the technology is still not foolproof. Very noisy situations, such as are often encountered in noisy bars, pubs and restaurants can still present a challenge. One way to overcome very noisy backgrounds is to wear hearing aids in both ears which can help to better filter out the ambient noise that often distorts conversations.

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Hearing Aid Maintenance Repair

Thursday, April 8, 2010

A New Orleans Chiropractor's View On Changing Perceptions Of Chiropractic In The US

The art and science of the chiropractor has often been maligned by the western health establishment. The historical animosity is mostly due to the fact that western medicine tends to employ a philosophy of reductionism, which states that the best way to understand how the human body works, how pathologies originate, and how to treat them can best be accomplished by reducing the body to its component parts. The body is classified into organ systems, then into individual organs, which are then divided into their component tissues, and finally individual cells themselves. Traditional western medicine seeks to localize the cause of pathology and then treat the disorder at the narrowest level of scope possible. This reductionism is in direct contrast to the holistic approach taken by the chiropractor. The chiropractor, much like the traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, realizes that the body can not be effectively reduced into component parts. The chiropractor views life as an emergent phenomenon that both encompasses and transcends its component parts. In recent years, many western science practitioners have begun to appreciate the holistic approach of the chiropractor and chiropractic treatments are starting to find their rightful place in the medical mainstream.

The chasm between holistic health care and traditional western medicine is narrowing. Just as physicians are beginning to appreciate the benefits of holistic approaches to health, some chiropractors are also employing some of the techniques and tools of conventional western medicine in their practice. Traditional spine manipulation techniques are combined with modern radiological diagnostic equipment to determine the most effective treatment for the patient. Chiropractors are also trained to recognize the symptoms of serious conditions, such as cancer, and when they detect such a disorder they refer the patient to a health care provider that specializes in that condition. Clearly, chiropractic practice is increasingly being seen more as a complement to traditional health care rather than a direct competitor.

The public has taken note of the changing relationship between the chiropractor and the physician. For this reason, many insurance policies now provide coverage for chiropractic treatments. Additionally, the United States Armed Forces now mandates that all service men and women must have access to a chiropractor while in active service. Many athletes also take advantage of chiropractic treatment, both professional and amateurs. The United States Olympic team keeps a number of chiropractors on staff and chiropractic care is now seen as an integral part of the modern athletic training regimen.

The increased acceptance of chiropractic along with other holistic therapies is not accidental. Scientific studies have shown that holistic techniques are highly effective at treating certain kinds of disorders, including some disorders that can not be easily treated using standard medical techniques. Holistic medicine, once viewed as a fringe pseudoscience, is enjoying an increasingly positive reputation among the general public as well as professional health care providers. Since chiropractic care is now more widely available than in days past, and since many insurance policies now cover the services of a chiropractor, the health care consumer finds that he or she has more options than before and is therefore able to take a more active role in planning his or her own health care.



Chiropractor Manipulation

Chiropractic Service

Chiropractor College

A chiropractor college offers many different challenges for people wishing to get into that field. Many colleges have very high academic standards and expand their offerings for education. A good chiropractor college will put emphasis on strong educational preparation and clinical training in the chiropractor field. The clinical training allows the graduate to realize how successful they can be in a solo practice.

Students are offered an outstanding education at a chiropractor college, and there is high level of excellence. A good chiropractor college will mentor the student with practicing doctors, familiar with every aspect of chiropractic medicine. They will learn chiropractic care, and be enthusiastic in their practice. The curriculum continually grows and teaches the science, art and philosophy that a chiropractor needs to know. Another benefit to a good chiropractor college is that it offers two masters degree programs that help to prepare the student for professional practice as licensed acupuncturists as well. The student should leave feeling competent and confident as a practitioner with an understanding of theoretical concepts. The students will learn by doing, and will integrate theory with practice while working closely with educated and experienced practitioners.

In the end, a good chiropractor college will provide students with all the training and skills that are needed to help alleviate pain maintain wellness and establish a successful and fulfilling career. There should be high standards at a chiropractor college to help bring out the full potential of the student. The instructors will be highly involved and should offer hands-on training. There should be reputable doctors of chiropractic medicine in the program, and there should be new academic choices in acupuncture as it is often used hand in hand with chiropractic medicine. Research and internship opportunities should be available for the students. These areas should help to bring out the students highest potential, as this is one of the goals of a good chiropractor college. When the student graduates, they should be able to run a profitable practice.


Chiropractor Manipulation

Chiropractic Service

Monday, March 29, 2010

Cheap Hearing Aids Are Here to Help Everyone

I often tend to take this space to speak about the great things hearing aids can do and how they really benefit those who need them. With good reason - the advancements in hearing aid technology are numerous and exciting, constantly helping us to improve our hearing and to improve our lives and the lives of those we love and care for. We've also talked a good bit about how those advancements have released a lot of the stigma attached with wearing hearing aids - they're less visible, less bulky and more effective than ever. Not only that, but now it is slowly getting cheaper so that way more people can afford to buy them without having to pay so much money out of their pockets; everyone should be able to afford the technology if they need the help.

We've talked about all the good reasons for wearing hearing aids and they are all excellent reasons for that matter: better social interaction, better safety, just a better quality of life in general. Without the assistance however, life can be very difficult and it can feel very lonely; social interaction will go down and it may very well cause depression, and no one ever wants to suffer from such a horrible thing as depression. Fortunately now, we have the technology to help us but at what cost is all of this progress? The cost tends to be a fairly steep one, especially for those of more modest means. In large part due to the prevalence of hearing loss, hearing aids are not covered by insurance, leaving many forced to fork out the money for them out of their pockets. Luckily, there's a less-expensive solution for those who understand the importance of a good hearing aid while maintaining a good price.

Songbird disposable hearing aids are available for those who don't need hearing aids all the time - or the associate cost of purchasing them. They're available at a variety of drugstores and have a battery life of 400 hours. That could be as much as 6 months of use, depending on usage patterns. With hearing aid costs soaring into the thousands of dollars range, this cheap hearing aid - available in some places for less than $100 - is a welcome addition for those in need of good hearing and a great deal. Not only that, but when it is out of power, there is no need to go and get the battery changed, all you have to do is buy another one, turn it on and enjoy the wonderful world of hearing. It's cheap affordable and it will help improve your life and keep you from missing out on life.

As always, you should ask an audiologist before deciding on a hearing aid. Such great technology should be available to everyone who needs a cheap hearing aid so that way they can still live a good life with the ability to hear well everything around them. It truly would be a tragedy to miss out on life because of the ability to hear well was lost for any reason. Sometimes we all need assistance in these times. The economy is not doing well and it is terrible that those with hearing loss suffer than most other people who need help improving their senses. At least one good thing that can be said is that there are now more and more health insurance companies that will cover your trip to see the ENT and an audiologist. Hopefully, as time continues to progress along with technology, people will be able to afford better hearing assistance technology which will help them lead better lives; perhaps someday within the next ten to twenty years we will hopefully find ways to cure hearing loss with certain medical procedures or some sort of medicine that will be more widely available to anyone who wishes to have better hearing.




Hearing Aid Costs

Factors to Consider Prior to Buying a Hearing Aid

Sunday, March 28, 2010

You Can Learn to Play the Guitar by Ear

All professional musicians, whether they're playing jazz, rock, bluegrass and country music, have spent their first years of practicing bent over a half speed record player. You might be wondering what does this have to do with trying to learn to play the guitar by ear. As you will learn from this article, it actually has a lot to do with it.

Slowing Things Down

In order to learn to play the guitar by ear you have to begin with learning the melodies, chords and leads from a recording. To be able to do this, you've got to slow them down a bit. Some exceptionally gifted people with really good ears are able to learn to play some slow songs just by listening to them at a normal speed. However, even those folks have problems with learning faster melodies and need to slow things down.

Most of us can't even figure out slow songs just by listening to them at a normal speed. While most of us can match a note with our guitar or voice if it's the only thing we're hearing, we tend to get confused when lots of notes are played together. If you slow the music down, we can separate the notes and play them piece by piece until we learn the whole song.

Slowdown Technology

Years ago, the slowing down process was done using half speed tape recorders. However, as you slowed the music down, the pitch dropped. By the time you got to half speed, the pitch had already dropped a lot. Anyway, for most of us, half speed is still to fast. You will probably need a 1/10 speed in order to figure out certain pieces.

Fortunately, nowadays everything has been made easier with the aid of digital slowdown technology. You can now slow the melody down as much as you want, without having the pitch dropping.

Do You Really Have to Put So Much Work Into It?

You're probably thinking that spending so much time on figuring out each note yourself must be awfully hard. Why not just buy a book and get over this part?

Of course, you can buy a book, but, as it usually happens with all music theory books, it will probably be gathering dust on your bookshelf forever. If you really want to learn to play the guitar by ear, you will have to get involved in the process and figure out the notes from a melody yourself.

While figuring out note by note on your own is the best way to go, consulting a transcription book from time to time while you're trying to figure out the music is also good. Some beginner guitar players who want to learn to play the guitar by ear learn from a transcription book first and then play along with the original recording at a slower pace to get the rhythm.

You should learn to play the guitar by ear just because this way you get the most fun. Playing the guitar should be fun and this is why you should have started to learn it in the first place. However, the more you time you invest into the learning process by getting involved in practical activities, the faster the progress.

Left Handed Electric Guitars
Left Hand Electric Guitar

How to fake being a better guitarist in five simple steps PART 1 of 2

You spend five hours a day playing your guitar. You run your scales, master your legato, your two hand tapping would make EVH blush. So why is it that every time you see a band playing at a bar with a guitarist with only a smidgen of your technical ability he is the centre of attention, garnering the praise of all the punters in the crowd?

Wait a minute. Isn’t that the band that you tried out for the other week? The same band that said “don’t call us, we’ll call you”? The same band that was witness to your smoking 32nd note Lydian masterpiece solo?
Yeah it is, and you got smoked because the guitarist on stage knows how to fake being better than they actually are.

It’s not a hard thing to do. I should know, I’ve done it for years. I’m the first to admit to being an “average” guitarist (actually, I’ve been practicing a lot lately and now would call myself an “above average” player, but that is another column in the works). Despite being average, I would get a lot of people, drunken punters, other musicians, women, all approach me after shows proclaiming how good I am. Like most of my ex-girlfriends, I’ve been faking it all along. And now I am going to teach you how to do the same.

Over the next two weeks, I will share with you my five secret tips to help you Fake Being A Better Guitarist. We’ll start today with tip #1 an #2.

1. Decent equipment is a must and look professional

Sorry boys and girls, it’s time to spend some money. A picture is worth a thousand words, and when it comes to music your image is worth a thousand notes. There is nothing quite as satisfying showing up to a guitarist cattle call with your Marshall half stack on a trolley as you pass all the little Peavey Bandit combos and the like. Straight away you give the impression that you know what you are doing.

But this is not just about your amp. Guitars, effects, leads, the whole lot. This means guitar cases, if you have multiple effects a decent pedal board system set up and ready to just plug in. You need to look somewhat professional without looking like a complete tosser.

It’s even more important on stage. Standing on stage with a nice looking guitar and a cool backline is confidence building to say the least. Plus it makes you look damn sexy to boot.

This doesn’t mean spending a fortune though. I have an amazing sounding Fender Twin, but it stays at home while my Marshall AVT150 half stack hits the road with me. The half stack with my Epiphone Les Paul with classic tri-tone sunburst finish and some decent threads make me look the business.

2. Learn to sing

I can’t stress this enough. An average guitarist who is an average singer will get more gigs than an awesome guitarist who sounds like a dying dolphin. It makes you are more versatile, worthwhile musician for any band if you can step up to the mic and sing as well. It makes you look like a musician, rather than just a guitarist. It’s also a hell of a lot of fun.

Of course, some people just cannot sing, and this is you then don’t try to. Be honest with yourself on this one. If you can’t sing and you try to then you just look like a fool. And looking like a fool will not make you look like a good guitarist.

A good way to improve your singing is start singing along with your favourite artists. It’s a cliché, but start in the shower / bathroom with a small stereo cranking out some of you favourite songs. The natural reverb will make your voice sound better and give you some confidence (it’s an old studio trick to feed a wet mix back to the singer as they are recording). Then progress to the car while you’re driving. It’s private and you can just belt it out while you are in between your normal routine. Then the hard part comes. Listen to some music with harmonies and try to sing the different parts. I found Alice In Chains is especially good for doing this. And finally add harmonies to songs that don’t have them.

When you are confident you can do that, then, and only then, try to sing when you are playing. When you can do that (and that will take a while) you can start to think about doing it with your band.

Wrap Up

So there are the first two tips, looking the part and learning to sing. These two things alone will make you look more like a real musician and come across as a real guitarist. Remember that being a guitarist is more than just playing well, it is a persona, a way of being. By rounding out these other facets of your guitarist personality, the way others will perceive you skills will rise dramatically. Next week I’ll look at the next three tips and by then you’ll be able to fake it just like that guitarist on the stage.

Left Handed Electric Guitars
Left Hand Electric Guitar

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Top Three Barbie Games

While those are fun tasks, there is much more to Barbie games than most parents realize. If you decide to bite the plastic bullet and spend an afternoon playing Barbie games with your youngster, you can expect her to be playing one of the top three Barbies games enjoyed by young girls.

Dress Up

The most common game, especially with younger girls, is a simple game of dress up. Barbies come with a huge assortment of outfits, and there is nothing more rewarding than putting together an outfit and seeing the final product on your very own Barbie doll. Children learning to dress themselves might actually use Barbie dolls as a way to practice the critical skills, but for the most part, dressing up Barbie is just plain fun.

If you want to give your child a special treat, you don't need to buy her a new Barbie doll to add to the collection. Rather than spending your money on one doll with one outfit, surprise her with five new outfits that she can mix and match for her current Barbie doll. You might just have a young fashionista in the making.

Character Play

Once your child starts developing an active imagination, you can expect to hear voices coming from her Barbies - provided by your child, of course. This game is character play where each Barbie is assigned a role, or many roles, in an unfolding drama. The Princess Barbie needs help from the Friendly Barbie to defeat the Evil Barbie in time to hop in the Barbie Jeep and pick up Ken for a hot Barbie date.

When you play with your child during this sort of Barbie game, be sure you listen and understand the game and story before jumping in. Some children become incredibly agitated when the story changes unexpectedly. You might think it's funny to add Super Barbie to the mix, but she'll likely see it as an intrusion. Rather than grabbing a doll and making a new character, get her instructions on which character you should be in the current game she's playing.

Online Barbie Games

The newest form of Barbie game takes your child online. There are countless Barbie games online that let your child dress up Barbie in more outfits than you can imagine. The latest fashions are available on websites featuring dress up games, and with new outfits and dolls added daily, it's not hard to see why spending time online with Barbie is a new favorite activity of young girls.

Playing online Barbie games is simple enough. You should let your daughter have creative control, but you can encourage even more creativity by making up a story about why the doll is wearing a particular outfit or dressing different dolls for different roles in a story she's been working on. Then you can print the completed Barbies and have custom puppets ready to take on their designed characters.


Barbie Games

Barbie

Know how to Stay Positive in the Face of Adversity

I am writing to you in support of Gregory Reyes, My name is Diane and I am an executive with GE, working out of New York, NY. I have been with GE for more than 18 years and am currently a Managing Director in GE Corporate Financial Services, Inc. I work closely with a group of private equity clients, providing primarily debt and equity financing for their acquisition and investing activities. I am married to R. Mark Burton and we live in Fairfield Connecticut with our three children. We are active in our community, supporting the public school system through the PTA and other volunteer programs, coaching youth sports and contributing our time and charitable donations to several local organizations.

I came to know Greg more than 18 Years ago when he was dating his now wife, Penny, who is my closest friend. Penny and 1 have known each other since third grade and have remained very close through the years, despite living on opposite coasts these last 12+ years. Our friendship has always been very important to us and we've managed to see each other at least once a year. We've shared our families with each other and have also spent many hours alone talking about our lives and our relationships.

Given my friendship with Penny, I have had many opportunities to spend time with Greg over the years and know him to be a very honest and good man. He is generous and gracious and a devoted and loving husband to Penny and father to Greg Jr. and Rebecca. I know that nothing has been more important to Greg than spending time with Penny and the kids, at their home in Saratoga California or at a vacation property.

He's also been a loving and generous son-in-law to Penny's parents, Dick and Joan Bradley. Several years ago Greg arranged and paid for Penny's parents to move from Florida to a community close to his and Penny's home in Saratoga, CA. He knew, not only how much Penny missed them, but also how important it was for his kids to have their grandparents participate in a meaningful way in their lives. I know that having her parents nearby has been very special for Penny and also a source of great comfort and support for the family with all that has gone on in recent years.

The last couple of years have been nightmarish for Greg, Penny and their kids. They are very private people, living a normal life, driving their kids to school, staying in on Saturday night to watch movies and spending time with family and friends. It’s been impossible for them to go about their lives with any sort of normalcy, as the indictment and court proceedings have been so public. Penny and the kids, in particular, have been deeply affected. The constant fear of what might happen to Greg has made life almost unbearable.

I have so admired how Penny and Greg have conducted themselves throughout this ordeal. They have managed to stay positive in the face of adversity, as they've had complete conviction in Greg's innocence. They've also had confidence in their legal representation but, more than anything, they’ve had faith in our country’s justice system. As difficult as it's been thus far, it will be completely devastating for Penny and the kids if Greg is separated from them through incarceration. The children are at very delicate aged and need the loving support of both parents at home.

On behalf of Greg and his family, I ask that as you consider your sentencing options, you show compassion toward Greg.

Greg Reyes

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Why We Designed Our Own NAS Servers For Use In Our Data Center


Over the past few years, we at Technetium, Inc. have had the opportunity to deal with Snap because of our model 14000 Snap servers. One day we installed new managed switches and the Snap Web-based management console would no longer operate. It would just hang at gigabit speed. To make a long story short, after exhausting all of my options on the Internet, I sent Snap technical support an email to try and resolve the problem. Here is their response:

Your case, 000000000005476, was updated. Please refer to the information below for our response. Please Click here if you need additional support on this issue.

Please do not reply to this email as it will not be seen by a live representative.

Your Query:

I have 2 snap 12000s and they will not negotiate 1000tx to my Dell Powerconnect 5324 switch. I'm afraid to set the nic in debug to anything other than auto.

It also shows half duplex when the switch shows full duplex.

Thank you in advance,

Todd Foster

Our Response:

Good morning Todd.

Again this is not technical support. We can be reached on a pay-per-incident of $120.00 through our 2 numbers: 408-934-7274 and 321-207-2000.

Sincerely,
Adaptec Customer Service

To my dismay, they wanted $120 just to talk to me, and my bet is they wanted another $1,000 or so to upgrade the software. On their Website I could not find any way to buy support for this model any more. And by the way, to add replication between 2 of their Snap servers, it would cost something like $1,000 per box.

So, here we are, with 2 boxes, no support, and I'll bet that you can't even buy parts for it any more from Snap, much less anywhere else (maybe eBay?).

Off we go to buy new NAS replacements. Originally these 14000's were $10K apiece, for roughly 1TB of storage. All things being equal, I should be able to buy a NAS box for really cheap (yeah right!). What I found was that a high-quality NAS system that would do RAID 5 would cost between $3,500 and 4,500, not to mention that a 1TB Snap 520 would be over $5K. That is when we decided to build our own NAS servers!

With a great backround in PC/server hardware, it was easy for me to pick top-quality hardware and brand name components. I still have Pentium Pro servers that work! I chose the best hardware, put it in a rack mount server case, and voila! I have a NAS server. Here is the list of components:

* FreeNAS redone to work with the hardware that we provide
* Kingwin 4 in 3 Multi-Drive Bay SATA Internal Hot Swap Mobile Rack, w/ Key Lock, LED Indicator & Two 40mm Cooling Fans
* SONY Beige DDU1615 Internal EIDE 16X DVD-ROM Drive
* Enermax ELT500AWT 500W Power Supply
* 4U IPC-4071 Rackmount Chassis Server Case - Beige Color
* Transcend TS256MCF45I-D flash card
* 4 ea. Seagate(ST3500630NS)500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s 7200RPM 16MB Buff Hard drive
* Addonics ADSACFW CF to SATA adapter
* SUPERMICRO|MBD-PDSME+
* 3WARE 9650SE-4LPML SATAII RAID controller
* INTEL XEON 3060 775 2.4G 4M
* 1Gx2|Kingston DII667 KVR667D2N5K2/2G

Dallas Colocation

data center

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Infections and Your Child's Hearing

Ear infections are a highly common part of the childhood experience; in the US, about 75% of children contract at least one before the age of three. Some children are especially prone to this problem due to abnormalities of the Eustachian tube (which connects the inner ear to the throat) or the fact that their immune systems are less developed than average.

These conditions can cause pain, a blocked or "full" feeling in the air, and reduced hearing ability. While all of these symptoms are usually temporary and leave when the illness is treated, severe or multiple infections can have long-term effects.

Types of Ear Infections

While people of any age can suffer from bacteria or viral infections in any part of the ear, these conditions most frequently affect young children. Some of the more common kinds include:

  • Otitis media with effusion - If you have ever heard the term "fluid in the ear," the speaker was actually referred to OME. This condition occurs when fluid begins to collect in the middle ear, the area between the external ear and the cochlea where the small bones (ossicles) that allow hearing are located. OME can be the result of a viral respiratory infection, a bacterial infection, or it may have no particular cause. It generally does not cause any pain or other symptoms. If the fluid builds up for too long, it may become infected and cause permanent damage to the ear drum (the membrane between the ossicles and the cochlea).
  • Acute otitis media - This is a bacterial infection of the middle ear, which may cause swelling and a buildup of pus that could block hearing. It is often accompanied by pain and sometimes a low-level fever. It can generally be treated with antibiotics. In rare, severe cases, permanent damage to the middle ear may result.
  • Viral respiratory infections - In some cases, head colds, the flu, or other respiratory diseases can reach the inner ear through the Eustachian tube. Without prompt treatment, they can affect the cochlea, a small fluid-filled organ that plays a vital role in hearing. The resulting damage may fade over time or may be permanent.

While other kinds of illnesses can affect the ears, these basic categories include most of the more common example.

Protecting Your Child

Remember, the odds of your child losing his or her hearing due to illness are rare; there is no need to panic or become paranoid. However, if your child is showing symptoms of an ear infection - complaining of pain in the ears, frequently rubbing or pulling on the ears, failure to acknowledge speech or other sounds - take him or her to a qualified pediatrician as soon as you can.


Best Hearing Aid

Causes of Hearing Loss

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Effective Public Speaking: Audience Contact


Although speaking in public is really a monologue of sorts, this monologue is addressed to a ready, able and receptive audience who wants to learn from you as much as you want to learn from them.

Speaking in public would be more effective if it is listened to. The following are effective tips to maintain that necessary contact with the audience.

Greet them

Minutes before your actual speaking engagement, you could walk around the venue and familiarize yourself with the people who will be listening to you. As the people and the attendees arrive, give them a warm greeting. It is so much easier to deliver a speech to a group of people whom you consider as friends than to a bunch of anonymous faces.

Be positive

Honestly, people expect and want you to succeed. Audiences want to be as informed, stimulated and entertained as they could be. If you fail, they cringe with you. Succeed and your audience benefits just as well from your great speaking performance.

There is nothing to be sorry about

If you mention to the audience that you are nervous or if you express your apologies to any problems you think may exist about your speech or your speech delivery, you may be setting them up to focus on that thing you are apologizing for. You do not have to mention this to them, chances are they haven’t noticed this until you brought it up. Relax and be silent. Your audience will relax with you.

Establish eye contact

Connect with your audience, appear natural. Or better yet, be as natural as you can be, without overdoing it of course. You should be able to get the audience to nod their heads as an acknowledgement of what you are trying to convey. Do not breeze through your speech. Pause for a while or for a brief moment, especially at those points you want to emphasize. This is also a good time to establish eye contact with your attendees as well as to catch that much needed breath.

Do not debate

If during the question and answer part of your speaking engagement an audience expresses disagreement with any part of your message, you need not aggressively prove your point to him or her. A debate is not just a futile means to get your point across but it could just as well never be resolved. Get that attendee to talk with you after your speaking engagement, never during.


Public Speaking Training | Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Travel and Make Money - How to Make Money and Travel Simultaneously


Traveling is fun but people often believe that in addition to its financially draining potential, it also prevents you from earning money. In short, it is considered an all expense, no income activity. But on the contrary, travelers can earn money while having a vacation. They just need a bit of skill and ingenuity.

Online Jobs

Plenty of money making opportunities are available online. The communication technology has made it easy to communicate from anywhere in the world. Anybody with computer and Internet skills can now get different kinds of jobs online.

This is also referred to as electronic freelancing or "e-lancing". Jobs will often include research, typing, and other clerical work. Today, since the Internet is the premiere venue for business and advertising, people can do SEO, web programming and design, link building, and other technical stuff and get paid very lucratively for it.

Online work can also be called telecommuting and some people can become virtual assistants. They can get paid by the hour or can get rated by output; for instance, 4 dollars per article. Payment can be made electronically and it is a safe and secure way to do business. You can work anywhere in the world. Tasks can sometimes be done off line and a constant Internet connection may only be needed in some cases. Other times a job could involve constant connectivity.

Hostel Jobs or Farm/Ranch Hand

Traveling is financially draining however there are a lot of people these days that offer opportunities for backpackers to earn and save money on the go. Travelers can now work in hostels as servers, cleaners, bartenders, or any type of menial job possible. In exchange for these services, travelers will often get free accommodation and sometimes food.

There are also job listings available, usually in local hostels, that enable a travelers to assist in the day to day duties of near by ranches or farms. Travelers can work part and sometimes full time as a farm or ranch hand. Food and shelter is the primary compensation but more often than not, backpackers are able to earn extra wages. Plus, there can be free Internet, pool, and instruction incentives.

Travel Writing or Blogging

If you have the skills to write interesting and informative articles, you can become a travel writer or blogger and earn lots of money out of it. All you have to do is write about your experience, describe what you see, or express your opinions about your encounters. If you are passionate about writing, it will never feel like work but you get to earn from it.

As a travel writer, you can sell your articles to different publishing outfits. Publishing companies that distribute newspapers and travel magazines are the most likely buyers of the articles.

In terms of blogging, this is more of a new age approach to writing. Travel blogging, in contrast, will cater to Internet users but just like travel writing, articles and write ups can be sold to willing customers. In this case, the customers are website owners. They will use the articles as part of their site updates which adds appeal to their respective site.

You can personally use your own articles to your advantage. Have your own website, post your own articles there and earn through affiliate marketing and ad space rentals.

**Attention Readers**

Get our FREE AUDIO CD mailed to you! Want to find more about how to TRAVEL AND MAKE MONEY? Discover in step-by-step detail how to make money while traveling. Click the link or visit http://www.moneyfortraveling.com to claim your free CD.


how to make money while travel


how to make money while travelling