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Negotiating skills are a nonnegotiable requirement for success, but few people understand the structures, techniques and approaches available to them in an attempt to gain successful results. Effective negotiation means more than just getting what you want. It means arriving at a solution that satisfies all parties and creates future opportunities. Fine tune your communication style. Listening is a key part of effective communication. What is and is not said is key during negotiations and in building professional relationship. Establish an assertive approach, communicate in a clear fashion, remain professional, be patient, try to avoid aggressive behaviors. Neutralize objectives presented by the counterpart and negotiate with confidence.
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After earning a bachelor’s degree, people get busy in their professional life that they hardly get time to earn their master’s degree, in this way they either sacrifice their on going job, so that they can enhance their skills to attain a brighter career or they drop the idea of getting their master’s degree, instead of leaving their current job in the middle. Therefore, those who have earned their bachelors degree in political science or in a related field of study can easily enroll for their online political science masters degree. This degree is offered online at a number of well known accredited colleges and universities.
By the end of online political science masters degree, graduates become capable to analyze, from an international point of view various political issues. This is because; they acquire academic qualification important in this regard, hence, it is assumed that they can be the future’s finest political scientists.
Those who opt to excel in the field of political science, by earning their masters degree, make efficient use of their practices of life as well as their work and undergraduate experience, to discover profound issues of politics and power. Thus, in this way, they find it easy to extend their understanding of political structure and its impact on domestic and international policy.
During the program, students study the theories and philosophies behind government, political processes and economies. Furthermore, the theories behind democracy are assessed and recognized by them. They also learn to make comparison between those theories and other political systems. Including the study of American government and its policies, students also study about various other governments in different parts of the world. After completing online political science masters degree, students acquire the skills to interact in a global system.
In addition, the students of online political science masters degree analyze that how public policies and political systems are developed, operated and originated. They learn research methodologies as well, so that they can collect data and perform appropriate analysis and research in their domain.
Moreover, while earning the degree, students are skilled in collecting and analyzing data, in taking interviews, in doing surveys and in presenting their findings by maintaining a proper report, which is very useful for political lobbying, nonprofit, civic and social organizations.
Students are taught a number of courses, during this degree program that includes contemporary political theory, international politics, American government and politics, East Asian politics, environmental politics, European politics, Feminist political theory, International economics, Public policy, Critical geopolitics and various others.
Career Prospects and Salary Information
As stated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in near future, political scientists will be highly in demand, because the employment rate is expected to rise to a great level. Hence, graduates of online political science masters degree will find rewarding career opportunities in their domain.
After earning online political science masters degree, one can opt from a variety of careers available in business, teaching, government, journalism, political activism and in various other areas. Like in government one can work as a politician, legislator, ambassador, diplomat, lobbyist, an electoral official, a political campaign worker and etc. Furthermore, positions other then in government includes political researcher, legislative analyst, corporate public affairs advisor, sociologist, historian, lawyer, judge, political journalist, political talk show host and etc.
Depending on the nature of federal, state and local governments, it has been found that there are positions available for people having political science background. This is because of retirements and promotions that gradually or sometimes rapidly takes place in federal, state and local governments. Whenever, economic insecurities are encountered, positions in federal government are found highly competitive.
Therefore, to get authentic information about accredited online colleges and universities offering online political science degree at masters level, visit http://www.politicalsciencedegree.net
Other then this, if you want to get information about online bachelors degree in political science, then check out http://online-politicalsciencedegree.blogspot.com/2011/01/online-bachelors-degree-in-political.html
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Many people like to have fish for pets because they are low maintenance, and can be very relaxing to watch them swim. Most first time fish enthusiast like to keep cold water fish, because they are cheap and most of the different types of these fish will get along together. These fish have some bright colors and have some very fancy fins, but they are mostly large goldfish, and eventually switch to tropical fish to get a larger selection of fish. But keeping tropical fish can be a bit of a gamble, the fish cost more and some of them are very aggressive and will eat your other fish.
animals, aquariums, entertainment, fish, Hobbies, pets, sports and leisur
Drug testing is a big business. With at least fifteen large U.S. corporations supplying laboratory testing, employees and others are only a few minutes drive from a testing facility. From employers who use drug testing as a pre-employment screening tool to parents who want to keep tabs on the well being of their teenagers, there are many groups that frequently use drug testing as a screening mechanism.
Since the mid-1980s, drug testing has become more and more common. Probably the group that is tested most often is prospective employees. With strict workplace safety legislation and the fact that employees can use dangerous equipment or have access to sensitive information, employers want to be certain that their employees are not drug abusers. With a sample of urine, hair, blood or swab from the mouth, drug-testing laboratories can often product positive or negative results within 24 to 48 hours.
Recently, drug abuse testing has become increasingly common in professional athletics. With the controversies surrounding the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, athletes are under a great deal of scrutiny. The government has also stepped in, and has begun to implement stricter controls and more frequent screening of athletes. A positive result on a drug test can result in penalties such as fines, loss of game time, or complete dismissal from the team. It is safe to say that drug-abusing athletes are taking huge risks with their careers by abusing performance or other illegal drugs.
Opponents of drug testing argue that it violates a persons rights to privacy. They hold that even if an employee is a recreational drug user, it does not necessarily follow that his or her work will be affected. With random drug testing gaining popularity in the workforce, one may literally be drawn out of a hat as the next one up for a drug screening. While states only loosely enforce drug-testing laws, opponents say that random drug testing can ruin a persons life. Even recreational weekend usage may result in the loss of employment if the drug usage is determined with a drug test. Random drug testing is often argued to be testing without any probable cause.
Drug Testing, Employee Drug Testing, Pre-Employment Drug Testing, Random Drug Testin
For many people, snoring may seem like a fairly minor issue in their lives. After all, something that is experienced by so many people around the world cannot possibly be all that serious, they suppose, so it seems a waste to consider such treatments as snoring surgery. The truth is that snoring can have a number of negative effects on a person’s life, as well as the lives of those close to them. And even more severe is the fact that snoring is sometimes not the problem in and of itself, but rather a symptom of a more severe problem, such as sleep apnea. Snoring surgery may not only be the right choice to improve the quality of your sleep, and the sleep of those around you, but also may be the right choice because of a greater health risk.
Snoring surgery may not be the only solution for you. Obviously, it would be a wise choice to consult a doctor before you decide to go with a surgical procedure, as there may be other treatments available which would be able to give you the positive results you need without the extra costs and hassle associated with a surgical procedure. These treatments may include simple things such as nasal strips. In fact, it may even be as simple as sleeping in a different position or losing a bit of weight, both of which can yield remarkable results in stopping your snoring. Consulting a doctor will also give you a chance to find out if your snoring is caused by simple things such as nasal congestion, or more severe causes such as a deviated septum or sleep apnea.
Once you have consulted a doctor, if you still feel that snoring surgery is the right choice for you, then you have a few options which are open to you. Each option works in different ways, and as such varies in effectiveness depending on the cause of your snoring. One of the simplest and easiest methods is a procedure that is known as Somnoplasty. Somnoplasty uses a specific frequency of radio waves to, over time, correct blocked airways. This will reduce snoring, as well as potentially reducing or eliminating the threat of an obstructive sleep apnea. The advantages of this method are obvious, as there is no real surgical procedure involved. However, the time frame is a bit longer than one might expect from some other methods.
Other types of snoring surgery are, obviously, more invasive than the Somnoplasty treatment. However, they may be necessary, as Somnoplasty is not effective in cases where the cause of snoring is within the nasal passages. For instance, direct nasal surgery would be required in order to fix snoring that is caused by a deviated septum, and other similar sorts of nasal blockages. Again, the specific type of snoring surgery you use should be decided based on advice from a medical professional, as they will be able to inform you of how effective you can expect each different method to be in your case.
Copyright Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.
sleep apnea, sleep disorder, snoring surgery
Despite easier than ever access to personal finance services, there are still 3 million adults in the UK today who are completely outside the banking system, and don’t have access to a bank account.
Many of these people are unable to get a standard account because they have a poor credit score, either because of past financial difficulties or simply a lack of positive financial history. While high street banks are always keen to deal with people with good credit ratings, they can be cautious about making credit facilities such as overdrafts available to people with sub-prime ratings.
A new kind of bank account was needed if the industry’s government prompted goal of increasing financial inclusion was to be met, and Basic Bank Accounts were born.
Basic bank accounts, also known as starter accounts or introductory accounts, are a very simple type of account which offer little in the way of credit or ways for accountholders to get into debt. There is usually no overdraft facility, no cheque book, and no debit card. The accounts simply provide a way for money to be paid in either over the counter or by electronic transfer, and withdrawn by cash machine.
This lack of features means that there is little risk or cost involved for the banks, and so their approval rates are much higher. In fact, about the only people who will have their applications rejected are undischarged bankrupts, or those with a history of fraud or very serious bad debt.
So how can getting a basic bank account benefit you? Firstly, most accounts will let you set up direct debits to pay your bills, and this will save you money as many companies will give you a discount if you pay in this way.
Also, the government is moving towards paying all benefits and pensions direct into bank accounts rather than in the old way over the Post Office counter, and basic bank accounts will let you receive money in this way.
Finally, this kind of account can be a ‘stepping stone’ into other financial services, helping you to build up a better credit rating, and in the future to take advantage of other services available such as overdrafts and debit or credit cards.
Since they were introduced, basic accounts have been very successful, and there have now been around 5 million accounts opened. Both the government and the banking industry say they are committed to increasing this figure even more over the next few years, until ideally every adult has some form of bank account, and so we can expect to hear a lot more about basic accounts in the near future.
banking, basic bank account
The idea of quitting smoking has been coming to your mind recently. Well, this is a serious sign that it is quite time to leave this dangerous habit behind and start a healthy, cigarette smoke free life.
Here are some quit smoking tips to make the cessation process easier and hopefully successful.
The first and most important quit smoking tip: set up a stop date and stop smoking on that day at once. Reducing the number for the cigarettes you are having per day is not good enough if your aim is to stop smoking completely.
The next quit smoking tip is pretty much connected with the previous one. Get rid of all of the smoking stuff throw your cigarettes in the toilet (yes, there as you will not be able to get one out when the first craving comes), put the ashtrays and the lighters in the attic or just throw them in the garbage bin; clean property your home to chase away the cigarette smell; get your teeth cleaned.
So after you do all of the above it is time to get some help. Go see your doctor and discuss what are the products that can help you in the smoking cessation process. He will be able to advise you about the best medical and herbal products and their dosage. Do not underestimate the power of such products quitting cold turkey may sound easy but it is not.
The next quit smoking tip is: change your daily routines and your lifestyle. If you think about it, you will discover that smoking has roots in most of your daily activities and lifestyle habits. Revising them will help you cope with the craving stress and will eventually make the smoking temptation disappear. It is a good idea to avoid cigarette smoke areas such as pubs and discos, and even to stop going out with your friends that still smoke.
The last quit smoking tip in the row is again connected with your perception of smoking. Many people use smoking as a reward scheme they light up a cigarette after a business meeting of a deal, to celebrate a success or to pamper themselves after a failure. Replace the cigarette rewards with something else. Use the money saved on cigarettes to buy yourself nice things or to pamper yourself with beauty or health services. You can set a stop smoking prize draw for example promise a vacation in Italy of you succeed not to smoke for three months. It is amazing how powerful such reward plan is when applied as part of your smoking cessation plan.
For more tips to quit smoking, please feel free to visit www.quit-cigarettes-quit-smoking.com. It’s a site I set up because I have finally quit smoking due to my wife’s nagging. Honestly, it’s less stressful to quit smoking than to be nagged. So I hope this quit smoking tips I provided above will help you in your quest for better health and to put cigarettes behind you for good.
quit smoking ti
A new report by the National Academies’ Institute of Medicine shows that between 50 and 70 million Americans struggle with chronic sleep problems, and according to the United States Surgeon General, sleep deprivation and disorders cost the nation $15 billion in health care expenses and $50 billion in lost productivity each year.
A lack of sleep can take a toll both psychologically and physically, from daytime sleepiness to weakened immune systems. Long-term sleep deprivation leads to problems that can include memory lapses, depression, irritability and impaired work performance.
To win the battle over sleepless nights, many Americans are turning to medication. In 2005, 42 million prescriptions for sleeping pills were filled. An analysis by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. found that the number of adults ages 20 to 44 using sleeping medications rose 128 percent between 2000 and 2005, and was up 114 percent among 10 to 19-year-olds in that same time period.
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, affecting between 30 and 40 percent of adults within a given year. Other sleep disorders include sleep apnea-a temporary suspension of breathing that occurs throughout the night-and restless leg syndrome, which is characterized by intense discomfort, mostly felt in the legs when at rest. One of the first steps to relieving sleep problems is to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about it.
Here are some tips for insomniacs:
• Keep to a regular sleep schedule: Go to sleep and wake up at about the same time each day, even on weekends.
• Exercise regularly: Exercise done early in the day can reduce stress and help put you to sleep at night.
• Watch what you eat and drink: Avoid alcohol, caffeine and meals close to bedtime, but a cup of warm milk can help make you sleepy.
• Unplug: This is particularly important for teens with sleep problems-make sure the bedroom is free of computers, video games, TVs and phones.
Sleep troubles can be a symptom of a physical or psychological condition that requires treatment, so it’s important to see your doctor if your sleep problem persists. Depending on the diagnosis, your physician may recommend a behavioral therapy and possibly drug treatments for serious sleep disorders. Medications include both over-the-counter and prescription drugs called hypnotics. Drug therapy is usually only recommended for short-term use. A combination of medication and behavioral interventions is often more effective than either approach alone for those with chronic insomnia.
As many as one in four Americans report trouble sleeping.
A Sleepless Nation 70 Million Stron
Let’s break out of our winter hibernation and venture into the crisp, clean outdoor air and hit some dirt trails! I’ll give some tips so you can have an enjoyable hike.
1. Find information about the area you will be going to. Whether it’s from a website with information and trail details, or a map at the park office, trailhead, or visitor center, always check before you head out on your hike so you know what to expect.
2. You must know weather conditions, wherever you go. Nothing is worse than traveling to a hiking destination only to miss the hike, because it was raining or freezing and you weren’t prepared. It is also good to know if there are any plants or animals to watch out for at your hiking location. Wiping with poison ivy in the morning won’t feel good.
3. Wear clothing that works and fits the terrain and hike conditions. Look for synthetic and natural fibers that pull moisture away from your body, or at least stay warm when wet. The two most important pieces of clothing for any hiker are good socks and good shoes. Uncomfortable shoes and socks can cause you real pain. Finally, a hat in cold weather is a great addition, since your body loses over half its heat through your head.
4. You will also need to be prepared with a first aid kit that matches the hiking you will be doing. In most cases a simple kit from local department or sporting goods store will do. If you want to build your own first aid kit you must include these basics: – Different sizes and shapes of bandages and gauzes. – Various types of tape for wounds or fixing tools. – Suntan lotion. – A light emergency blanket (preferably with some kind of water resistance). – Aspirin, allergy, laxative, and anti-diuretic medications. – Small multi-use tool with a knife, scissors, and a needle and thread. - A cell phone can come in very handy in emergencies. It is recommended that you pack all of this in a waterproof bag or container.
These tips should ensure a comfortable hiking adventure.
hikin
How can you use fossils as a teaching tool? In my classrooms over the years, fossils have never failed to spark fun and enthusiasm for learning about earth sciences. I have seen students, otherwise disengaged in activities of learning, become totally captivated with the process of uncovering the fossil hiding beneath the surface of soft rock.
Fossils connect students to the history of our planet. They can simultaneously imagine the situation of ancient life, while examining current habitats and species that could become the fossils of the future.
Perhaps you are looking to bring this sort of enthusiasm to your classroom or your children at home. Fossils inspire all sorts of questions. Consider these possibilities :
- How old is this? (Leading to the study of the Earths history.)
- What kind of animal was this? (Leading to zoology and species classification.)
- Where did it live? (Leading to habitats past and present, including botany.)
- How did it live? (Leading to a study of vital functionsmore zoology.)
- How did it form? (Back to a study of geology and earth science.)
The list seems endless. Fossils are not only attention-getters; they are also incredibly versatile as a teaching tool. Fossils make a great theme for integrated curriculum studies.
If you get creative, there are all types of stories to be written: factual, imaginative, and even poetry. Imaginations run wild when you hold the fossil of a long-extinct species in your hand. You could write tales of life on the ancient sea floor, or how that particular animal met its demise and became the fossil you are holding today. You could create an entire language arts curriculum around it!
If its math youd like to kick into gear, working with the geologic time periods offers opportunities for scientific notation, exponents, scale (when placing them on a timeline), and comparisons between lifespan lengths. Then there are the geometric qualities of the shells and chitinous exoskeletons. You could study fractals or tessellations, just to name a couple possibilities.
The biology-related curriculum is obvious. Classification, developmental changes and adaptation to environment, vital functions, and predator-prey relationships are just a few of the possibilities for further in-depth study.
Likewise, geology takes on a new meaning when seen through the fossils eyes. The stone containing the fossil may have once been an ocean floor, a swampy bog, or a boulder-filled riverbed. As students look at the quality of the matrix that contains their fossil, they are inspired to think about the material and situation that created it.
It seems that using fossils as a teaching tool a creative teacher, parent, or student would find an endless promise of topics to study, limited only by the personal interest and creativity of the student.
There is truly nothing like a fossil to inspire! Your students will show you the wayand love you for letting them reach deep into their creativity to do it!
earth science, earth science lesson plans, fossil lesson plans, fossils, kids activities, teaching tool
The Orioles had a long time without picking up a victory from the Red Sox. Finally they did it last week at Baltimore. Erik Bedard pitched seven effective innings for the Orioles, who had lost 13 straight to Boston — including eight this season — since Sept. 2, 2005. The victory also enabled Baltimore to end an eight-game home skid against the Red Sox.
Bedard (5-2) gave up one run, a pair of doubles and three walks. The left-hander who came in with a 7.57 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox struck out three. It was his first victory in five starts since April 20.
“It’s a win that we needed to have, but it’s also special because I competed with these guys the last three years,” said Millar, whose two-run homer gave Baltimore a lead it never lost Wednesday night in a 4.3 victory. “It was a lot of fun.”
This victory will give a confidence boost to the Orioles players. They really need this win because of what it represent, the ending of the losing streak against Boston and also the opportunity to try and reach Toronto for the third place of their division.
Lineup
1. Eddie Rogers, 2nd B. 2. Melvin Mora, 3rd B. 3. Miguel Tejada, SS. 4.Jay Gibbons, RF. 5.Ramon Hernandez, C. 6.Javy Lopez. 7. Kevin Millar, 1st B. 8. Corey Patterson, CF. 9.Luis Matos, LF.
The Mariners suffered a three game sweep in Oakland last week. The last game was played on Thursday and they fell 6-3 in a game they started winning in the first inning one run up. But the As contested with three in the bottom of the first and from that point they held the lead through the whole game.
The Mariners, who are 13th in the American League in hitting against lefties got eight hits but no runs off the left-handed Zito and fell to 4-10 against left-handed starters. Meanwhile Jamie Moyer turned in his poorest start of the season giving up seven runs (five earned) in six innings. In his career he is 10-7 against Oakland but the Mariners have lost the last five times he’s started against the A’s.
Seattle at the bottom of the AL West couldve used the victory to try and climb to reach the teams on top of the standings. Unfortunately for them it just didnt happened; theyll have a chance to improve their record this week against the Orioles. They just need to focus and try no to commit so many mistakes in the games that could cost them a lot.
The team that make fewest mistakes and play focused will win this series. Since both teams are so compared it will be an interesting series to bet on because the lines will be very low. If you like sports betting take some time and study your picks to try and beat the house as these two teams face each other.
Lineup
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF. 2.Jose Lopez, 2nd B. 3. Raul Ibanez, LF. 4. Richie Sexson, 1st B. 5. Carl Everett, DH. 6. Adrian Beltre, 3rd B. 7. Kenji Johjima, C. 8.Willie Bloomquist, CF. 9.Yuniesky Betancourt, SS.
baseball, mlb, online sportsboo, sportsbetting
Eriksson has chosen three goalkeepers for his England squad to go to the Fifa World Cup – Germany 2006:
Paul Robinson
Must be regarded as England’s number 1 after a very solid season with Spurs. Has improved over the season after looking a little indecisive at times early in 2006. Robinson Appears to be going to the World Cup at the top of his game and must surely give confidence to his defence. It is hoped Robinson keeps his fitness throughout, as the other two potential ‘keepers do not inspire much confidence.
David James
James’ nickname is Calamity, and with good reason. Many England fans will hope David doesn’t take to the pitch, as he is prone to the odd catastrophic error.
Robert Green
It’s a little disheartening, given England’s tradition of producing goalkeepers, that Green is in the squad. He has not performed at the top level in England and really is only there to make up the numbers. There are, however, few other candidates who could have gone in his place.
Eriksson has good strength in his defensive department, and has called up an experienced and capable back line of seven defenders as follows.
Gary Neville
Has always been solid and dependable in defense for England, and his International experience is not in doubt. He will start at Right back in all the matches he’s fit for.
Ashley Cole
It’s good to see Ashley Cole back to peak fitness in good time to make the World Cup squad. He’s a class act and his attacking left sided play is very important to England’s chances. His pace is a definite asset. A sure starter at Left back.
Wayne Bridge
A little Surprising to see his inclusion in England’s squad because he’s hardly had any match football recently, due to injury. Bridge can only be going as an understudy for Cole. Should not be needed to play unless injuries necessitate.
Rio Ferdinand
Rio has the chance to prove to everyone that he is truly world class. He should revel in the big occasion and has got pace and ability. The only worry with Rio is that mentally he’s not the strongesty. Ferdinand will start in central defence but must be in confident mood to produce his best.
John Terry
Will start alongside Ferdinand at the heart of the England back four, and must step up to the plate as a leader. He needs to organise and boss the defence, because Rio certainly won’t. Terry will need to be vocal in his organisation of the defence. Minor concerns with Terry are his lack of pace, and his robust style, which may lead to disciplinary problems.
Sol Campbell
Sol has had a crazy year, but has come to form just when it matters. He will not let England down. Even if he starts ahead of Terry or Ferdinand (which is very unlikely), he will be dependable. Should be preferred to Carragher, should injuries or suspensions make changes necessary.
Jamie Carragher
Jamie must only play if absolutely necessary, due to injuries e.t.c. He is an average performer in several different positions and is in the squad as cover. Will get found wahting at the top level.
Erikssons real strength lies in his midfield, which is undoubtably England’s strongest area. However, one or two eyebrows were raised by some of his selections. He has picked a total of nine midfielders.
David Beckham
The captain of England’s World cup team must provide his best in this tournament. Beckham is possibly the World’s best known face of football, and this will probably his last chance on the world stage. If he performs to his ability, he will raise the whole team.
Michael Carrick
It’s difficult to see Carrick in the starting lineup as Sven has not used a five man midfield. Carrick will however be a big success if he is used, as he can orchestrate proceedings from deep midfield, giving others license to roam forward. Carrick may prove to be England’s man of the tournament if Eriksson uses him wisely.
Frank Lampard
Lampard will surely start in central midfield and should be allowed to venture forward at will. He has a devastating shot and frequently gets on the scoresheet. England will need his goals if they are to progress a long way in the tournament.
Steven GerrardWorld’s best midfielder? Stevie G can possibly win the World Cup on his own, he really is that good. Sven must get get him forward and make him into a goal threat. Gerrard needs to be involved in everything for England. Carrick in the side would definitely release him forward to do so.
Jermain Jenas
It’s hard to understand why Jermaine is going, he’s a very lucky boy. He’s a good player, but I can’t see where he fits into the plan, as all the other midfielders bar one command their places. It’s difficult imagining how he will be required.
Owen Hargreaves
Hargreaves is clearly a favourite of Eriksson, but many English fans will be hoping he does not set foot on the pitch in Germany. With all the quality midfielders in the squad Hargreaves is an absolute waste of a squad place.
Joe Cole
Cole is the most improved English player of the season, and his skill and trickery can defeat any side. A possible star if he is allowed a free reign to express himself. If Sven makes the most of him he could be a match winner.
Stewart Downing
It’sood to see Downing in the squad, as without him the English are lacking in width. He may be an unlikely starter if the 4-5-1 formation is employed, and should provide crosses from the left for the front player(s).
Aaron Lennon
Similar to Downing, Lennon gives England width, pace and trickery. He may be an efffective bench man if used late in games to attack down the right. Untried at International level, but has impressed in the Premiership.
Eriksson has produced a strange mix of players as front men and has also made gambles that may backfire on him. He has only picked four forwards, which seems to leave England a little under strength.
Wayne Rooney
England’s best player, and possibly the World’s. Unfortunately he’s injured at the moment, but the latest reports show he is ahead of his recovery schedule. All England is hoping he will be ready for thefirst game, but realistically, he will probably miss at least the first two. This makes Sven’s decision to take just 4 strikers all the more puzzling.
Michael Owen
Owen now becomes England’s biggest hope for goals, but is still worryingly unfit. Owen will probably start up front alone with 5 midfielders providing support. International defences know all about Owen and fear his pace, so he will be an important man for England.
Peter Crouch
There’s a distinct possibility that Crouch will start as England’s main striker if Rooney & Owen both remain unfit. If that happens, England are in deep trouble. Crouch is not up to the standards expected of the World Cup, and will struggle to score. At 6 feet 7 inches he is too ungainly and awkward.
Theo Walcott
17 years old and has not played for his team Arsenal, yet alone England. His inclusion, at the expense of more experienced strikers was bewildering. From what I’ve seen of him,which is very little, he looks encouraging, and he maybe useful coming off the bench in late bursts – as Owen used to be.
Overview: Eriksson seems to have left England without too many options up front, which seems to suggest he is favouring a 4-5-1 system instead of his usual regimented 4-4-2.
4-5-1 would allow Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham & Joe Cole licence to attack at will from midfield, and nobody – not even Brazil would relish that prospect.
It has to be said that Jenas & Hargreaves could have been left out of the squad, because of the excellence of all the other midfield players selected. This would allowed for Jermaine Defoe plus another striker to be in as attacking options. As it is, with only the untried Walcott on the bench, England may be found wanting in front of goal.
2006, beckham, cole, crouch, cup, england, english, eriksson, fan, ferdinand, football, germany, gerrard, lampard, News, owen, players, rooney, soccer, squad, team, world
Copyright 2006 Marshall House
Differences are inevitable when two or more persons come together. It would be pointless and boring for two or more to come together if there are no differences. Some differences are pleasant; others can be disconcerting. Differences can accelerate to disharmony, conflict, competition, or war.
While a reasonable amount of conflict can be creative and enriching, conflict that is not properly managed can be harmful. Interpersonal conflicts as contrasted to conflicts of ideas or principles are in special need of careful management. Viewing conflict or disharmony as the expression of differences can help to take the fear from conflict. Of course, if it is a heated or emotionally charged conflict, just re-naming it is unlikely to defuse the charge. But it may be enough for you to find your place of harmony in the conflict.
Living in conscious harmony is like playing in a symphony and knowing that we are playing in a symphony. At any given moment, our section of the orchestra may be in temporary harmony or temporary disharmony. Both group members and musicians must have the conscious intention to strive for harmony without being discouraged by the momentary notes of disharmony that add interest to the experience.
The symphonys composer wrote a score which the conductor interprets and the musicians play with different instruments, in their own style, according to their ability. At some times, we are more aware of one instrument than another. Or we hear a solo or a duet.
When we listen deeply to the music, we notice space between the notes: rhythm. Colors and tones and volume add texture and interest: timbre. We have different responses to different parts: feelings.
Satisfaction increases when everyone in the orchestra reads at the same place on the same sheet of music. At some times, its important for a musician to play softly to blend with the rest of the sounds and add texture. At other times, its important to play loudly, even being the center of attention. Rhythms might change, even in the middle of a piece. Sounds might fight with each other to heighten drama before leading to resolution.
Joy happens when everyone perceives the symphony as all One, with each instrument playing an important part. In order to live in conscious harmony, we must embrace the concept that we are all One. Comparing the interactions of individuals in groups to a the interactions of musicians in a symphony or an orchestra can be powerful.
What is the song you will sing or the dance you will dance or the instrument you will play today?
Conflict, Differences, Empowerin, Empowerment, Harmony, Interpersonal Dynamics, music, Rhythm, team
United States public speaking audiences are becoming more and more diverse. It is your responsibility as a public speaker to be aware of and acknowledge significant portions of the audience that come from differing backgrounds. If you are speaking in a different country, again, it is up to you to find out about local customs and types of humor that are appreciated in that locale. The response to humor is quite different for different cultures. Paying close attention to this fact will give you a greater chance of connecting with international audiences in and out of the U.S. You will also be more aware of etiquette and customs that will make you a welcome speaker anywhere you go.
If you are not familiar with your intended audience, in your pre- program research you might ask, ‘How diverse is your group? Or do you have members from other countries?’ The answers to these questions will help you plan your strategy for connecting with a particular audience.
I was doing my planning for a speech in Baltimore, Maryland and found out that twenty-five percent of the audience was Asian Indian. I knew nothing about the Indian culture and didn’t have long to plan. What I did know was the Dunkin’ Donut store near my home was owned and run by Indians. That was a good excuse to stop in, down a few eclairs, and do some research. I told the proprietor what I was trying to accomplish and he was glad to help. Out of all the information he gave me about humor in India, I only used one line. That was all it took to connect. The line was, ‘I want to tell all my new Indian friends I’m sorry Johnny Lever couldn’t make it.’ Johnny Lever was one of the top comedians in India. They lit up and I went on with the program.
If your local donut shop isn’t run by the appropriate nationality for your next speaking engagement, don’t worry. There are other sure-fire methods to get the information you need. If you are speaking outside the US, get the opinion of local people before you attempt to use humor. If you are speaking in the U.S., seek out members of the nationality to whom you are speaking. If you don’t happen to know any, you can always call their embassy. I’ve called our State Department, The World Bank, Voice of America and many other public agencies for information. Just tell the receptionist you want to speak to someone from the country of interest. Don’t forget to tell them you want to converse in English.
In Hong Kong you would never beckon someone by putting your hand out and curling your index finger back and forth. Why? Read on.
When speaking to foreign audiences you must check your humor carefully so you don’t accidentally offend someone. In some countries you may hear people openly joking on television or in public about subjects that would be taboo in the U.S. That doesn’t mean you can attempt to joke about the same subjects in your presentation.
Even if your speaking humor is OK, you need to become familiar with other customs in the country in which you are speaking. Customs are quite different around the world. It is easy to make mistakes when you are in a totally new environment. You’ll never get the audience to laugh if you accidentally do something offensive. A good resource that gives you a fun look at customs in other countries is the book ‘Gestures: The Do’s and Taboos of Body Language Around the World’ by Roger Axtell. This book gives lots of information on things to do and not to do in public when in a foreign country. Here’s just a few serious mistakes that could easily be made during a speaking engagement that would offend:
1. In Columbia if you wanted to show the height of an animal you would hold your arm out palm down and raise it to the appropriate height. If you are trying to show the height of a person, you do the same thing, but your palm is on edge. So, if you meant to show the height of a person, but you did it palm down as we normally would in the U.S., you would have either insulted the person by treating he or she like an animal or you would have confused your audience because they would now think that you were actually talking about an animal that had the name of a person. See how crazy this can get.
2. I’ve got another animal problem for you. In Hong Kong, Indonesia and Australia you would never beckon someone by putting your hand out and curling your index finger back and forth (like you might do to coax someone on stage with you). This gesture is used to call animals and/or ladies of the night and would be offensive to your audience.
3. In Latin American and the Middle East people stand much closer while conversing. If you were interacting with a person from one of these cultures during a public speaking engagement and you backed away to keep a normal U.S. personal space, you would be sending a very unfriendly message. Asians, however typically stand farther apart. Your understanding of this will keep you from chasing them all over the stage. Keep this in mind too if you go into the audience to interact with them. Since they are seated, you control the interpersonal space.
Sometimes your mistakes are funny. Hermine Hilton, the well known memory expert, tells of a speaking engagement in Nigeria where she tried to pronounce the names of members of the audience and innocently added sexual innuendo. She said everyone was falling on the floor with laughter. Most foreign audiences do appreciate your effort to speak their language.
Here’s a few more international public speaking tips I’ve run across:
1. You might think you are putting your audience to sleep in Japan, but don’t worry. In Japan it is common to show concentration and attentiveness in public by closing the eyes and nodding the head up and down slightly. — Then again, maybe you really are boring.
2. Applause is accepted as a form of approval in most areas of the world. In the United States the applause is sometimes accompanied by whistling. If you hear whistles in many parts of Europe, you better run because it is a signal of disapproval.
3. If you were finishing a speaking engagement in Argentina and you waved goodbye, U.S. style, the members of the audience might all turn around and come back to sit down. To them the wave means, ‘Hey! Come back.’ In other parts of Latin American and in Europe the same wave means ‘no.’
The book I previously mentioned has hundreds of tips that will help keep the audience on your side when you present outside the U. S. Another good and inexpensive source of international background information is the ‘Culturgram’ published by the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, which is part of Brigham Young University, located in Provo, Utah.
Each ‘Culturgram’ is a four page newsletter that gives you an easy to understand overview of the country of your choice. It includes customs and common courtesies, along with information about the people and their lifestyle. References point you toward additional study resources. Currently ‘Culturgrams’ are available.for 118 countries.
Visual
Regardless of one’s nationality and culture, cartoons and comic strips are the most universally accepted format for humor. A good resource is Witty World International Cartoon Magazine by Creators Syndicate 310-337-7003. If you are speaking to a small group you can hold up the magazine or pass it around. If you want to use the cartoon or comic strip in a visual, you may need permission from the copyright holder. Always read the caption for a foreign audience and give them time to mentally translate what you say. It may take what seems to be forever (4-6 seconds) for the idea to sink in.
Cartoons and comic strips are seen in newspapers and magazines in most areas of the world. Newsstands in large cities usually have foreign periodicals, or you may find them in large libraries. It might be fun to collect cartoons and comic strips when you travel so you have a ready supply when you need one for a speech.
Be careful about your selection of cartoons. Many American cartoons would totally bomb if used outside the U.S. Much of our humor is based on making fun of someone else. This type of humor is not understood in most areas of the world and is considered disrespectful.
Other forms of visual humor that transcend most cultural barriers are juggling and magic. I don’t do either, but good resources are available. Speaking With Magic is a book by Michael Jeffreys that not only teaches you simple tricks, but gives you the points you can relate to the trick. I got my copy from Royal Publishing, Box 1120, Glendora, CA 91740 Phone (626) 335-8069. For juggling and other magic books call or write for Morris Costume’s Catalog, 3108 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 Phone (704) 332-3304. There is a charge for the catalog, but it’s worth it.
Words
Terminology is different in most areas of the world even if the country is English based. Highly tested humor that would work anywhere in the U.S. may fall flat in another country simply because the audience doesn’t understand one of the words. For example, in Australia, public speaking break out sessions are called syndicates. If you were making a joke that used the word syndicate, you may totally confuse the audience and they won’t laugh. People from most other countries will not relate easily if you mention miles per gallon or miles per hour. You should avoid speaking about seasons, sports figures or celebrities that don’t have world-wide name recognition. Rethink all humor you normally use and try to find problematic words. This is difficult to do by yourself. Try to find a person familiar with the local culture to help you.
When using translators, humor is tougher because timing and word play don’t translate well. You might have to slow down considerably because of interpretation. Some speakers use half sentences to keep up the pace. This is very difficult and requires practice.
Speakers have been known to have fun with interpreters (of course, I would never do this). An unnamed speaker I know purposely mumbled to his interpreter to see what would happen. The interpreter mumbled back. Then the speaker mumbled again. It was hilarious.
Even when the audience speaks English they may not be able to understand your accent. Check with locals to see if you can be easily understood. You may have to adjust your normal delivery and rate of pitch slightly.
Art Gliner, a long- time humor trainer, gave me this tip: He learns how to say Happy New Year in the different languages represented in his audience. That technique always gets a laugh and the further away it is from New Years, the better. He also tells me a word of welcome in the native language works well too.
A few additional tips from around the world:
* In general, Asians tend not to show excitement. Thais are an exception. They want to have fun while they learn. Be sure to take lots of small gifts to give out and be prepared to receive some too.
* Do not expect standing ovations when speaking in public in Australia. It doesn’t seem to be part of their culture.
* Remember -the U.S. is the foreign country when you speak outside its borders. Lots of things can be different and you should be prepared. Many countries have different standard paper sizes and use two hole punches instead of three. Any video you plan to use must be converted to PAL. You may need a converter to operate equipment you bring with you.
* South of the border people don’t like us to refer to ourselves as Americans. We must remember that we are not the only ones. There are North Americans, Central Americans and South Americans.
* In Japan you should never use self-effacing humor during your public speaking engagement which is well received in American culture. Actually, the Japanese don’t like humor in seminars at all. Conversely, Australians love humor.
The point is that every culture has its likes and dislikes when it comes to humor. They also have customs that can be very different from our own. Your knowledge in this area will help you create a connection with your international audience. You must do your homework, but it is worth it because a laugh sounds the same and produces the same good feelings in any language.
Copyright © 1998 – 2005 Advanced Public Speaking Institute
Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book “Wake ‘em Up Business Presentations” and “Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing.” It is important to Tom that his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly committed to his clients’ needs. http://www.antion.com
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You’ve performed three of the most important tasks for a dog owner: decided if you were right for a dog, determined what dog was the best for you and taught your best friend some manners. That should be about it, right? Wrong!
You have an ongoing relationship with your pet, just like you do your children or your spouse. It’s important to maintain the relationship if you want it to be fruitful. If you don’t, all of that training you’ve done so far will be for naught.
Sometimes, though, like all relationships, the one with your dog can be rocky. Even well-trained owners have dogs with behavior problems when things change. Dog have been known to act out when their owners being working more hours, go back to school, have a baby or get married. Dogs aren’t themselves when they are ill or in pain. Some dogs are just never quite right because of problems inherited from poor breeding.
Here are nine things you can do to make sure your well-behaved dog stays that way.
1. Don’t forget that you are leader of the pack. Remind yourself that your dog is genetically programmed to be part of a group and to obey the leader of his pack. If you don’t provide him consistent strong, yet fair, leadership, he will try to become the leader. If he becomes the leader by default, behavior problems will increase exponentially. Here are some tips to make sure he remembers you are his leader:
- Don’t let him pull on his leash.
- Don’t put the leash on your dog until he sits quietly.
- Don’t let him get away with bad behavior.
- Always eat before he does.
- Don’t chase or play rough games like tug-of-war with your dog.
- Don’t allow him to bite anyone.
- Always go through doorways before him.
- Try to always be calm, fair and confident when dealing with your dog.
- Don’t give him anything – attention, food, play – without him doing something for you first, like sitting on command.
- Don’t allow your dog on furniture without your permission.
- Protect your dog from other animals or people who try to harm him.
When you are a strong leader, your dog will respect you. With this respect comes an innate desire to please. He will love you and want to obey your every command!
2. Train with your dog every day. Just like with humans, any behavior you train your dog to do will be forgotten if he doesn’t practice it. Work with your dog at least 15 minutes a day on an aspect of his behavior. This is important, also, to remind your canine that you are the leader of his pack. Try to teach your dog something new every month or two. This will keep him challenged and give you both a sense of accomplishment. Most dogs were bred to do some kind of work, and if you don’t give your dog purpose, he’ll become bored and develop behavioral problems.
3. Make sure to give your dog treats and praise. Continue the technique you’ve used to train your dog. People tend to get complacent, and before you know it, Spot is hogging your bed and dragging you down the street by the leash. To make things worse, he won’t listen to your commands any more. To prevent this, make your dog perform an act of obedience to earn praise, petting or a treat.
4. Never strike or yell at your dog. Hitting or kicking your dog will have about the same effect that it would on a spouse or a child – it ruins the relationship and breaks down all the trust your pet had for you. Some owners use physical abuse to train their dogs to fight for money. Others believe, erroneously, that abuse will make them become better watch or attack dogs. Statistics show that thousands of dogs are killed or injured by people every year. No matter how frustrated you get with him, never, ever strike your pet.
Dogs don’t respond well to yelling. All it does is get your dog more stressed, which will more than likely make his behavior problems worse. Everyone loses their patience from time to time, but remember that your dog only responds to fair leadership.
5. Get your dog proper medical care. Your dog needs a checkup at the veterinarian annually to make sure he’s in top form physically and to receive yearly shots to prevent rabies and other diseases. It’s important to go to the same vet every year so he or she can monitor your pet and notice any evidence of problems. All dogs need a teeth cleaning from time to time, too, to keep them healthy. If your dog is injured or sick, he needs to get proper medical attention. Your veterinarian can also give you advice on behavior as well as diet, breeding, training, and puppy selection
6. Attend obedience training. As an absolute necessity for getting a good to a positive relationship with your dog, be sure to take him to a six-to-eight-week-long obedience class, before his first birthday if he’s a puppy, as soon as possible if he’s an adult dog. A good trainer will teach you the basics and what a good dog/owner relationship is.
If you have an adult dog, don’t worry. That old saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is not true! A dog of any age can learn good behavior. Both you and your dog will benefit. He will learn some good behavior and to respect you, the leader of the pack. You’ll learn the subtleties of your dog’s behavior and how to act in a fair, yet dominant, manner. Obedience training is great way to teach an “only dog” how to properly socialize with other dogs and people. Whether you are alone with your dogs or in a group of people and animals, your dog will learn how to behave.
Here are some tips to help you determine what obedience class is the right one for you and your pet:
- Ask your friends, family members, vet or groomer for
recommendations.
- Be sure the trainer uses positive reinforcement and no methods that hurt or frighten the dogs.
- Choose a trainer that focuses primarily on group classes. Although it may seem like one-on-one training might be best, group classes give both you and your dog to observe other people and their pets. Your dog will also focus on your commands, not just those of the trainer. Some owners do both individual and group classes.
- Make sure there are separate classes for puppies and adult dogs. Dogs between eight and 16 weeks should be in puppy classes. You may also feel more comfortable with a trainer who offers beginning, intermediate and advanced obedience classes.
- Ask the trainer you are considering if you can watch a class. While you watch, note some of these details: Notice if the class is small enough that everyone can get some individualized attention. Watch to see if both and dogs and owners are having fun. See if the trainer provides lesson handouts. In a good class, you’ll hear plenty of praise and commands in upbeat, yet firm, tones. Does the trainer give the owners other information about health, grooming or specific breeds? You want to make sure your trainer is knowledgeable about the whole dog, not just obedience training techniques.
- Ask your trainer if he or she knows several different techniques to work with dogs. This can come in handy if your dog doesn’t always respond to the tried-and-true methods.
- Make certain that the trainer requires that dogs be vaccinated and certified healthy by their vet before enrolling in classes.
- Be sure to get a list of equipment you’ll need to bring with you to your first class.
Once you find the right trainer and obedience class, make sure both you and your dog are prepared. Be sure to bring all the required equipment. Don’t feed your dog before class – since treats are part of the reinforcement of good behavior, you want him to be willing to eat the treats, which he might not want if he has a full belly. Don’t forget to do your homework! Practice between classes is essential to reinforce your dog’s behavior.
7. Lean all you can about your dog, his breed, and canine care. You can never know too much when it comes to your dog. Learn all you can from books, television and magazines. Be sure just to take the time to browse at the pet supply store or your favorite online pet supplies merchant to see what kind of new products are on the market. A new toy from time to time is a new adventure for both you and your pet.
8. Keep your dog’s home safe and stimulating. Giving your dog a fun, secure place to live will help to prevent bad behavior and may even prolong his life. Always have a number of fun toys available, including balls, chews and squeaky toys. Be sure to play with your dog daily to give him the necessary exercise he needs, to help you bond with your pet and to just have fun!
If no one is home during the day, leave a talk radio station on. Keep your pet out of areas of your home where he might eat something toxic or injure himself. Keep your fence well maintained.
If your dog starts to have behavior problems, don’t despair! There’s nothing to say that you can’t start training him to change his behavior! With a little patience and perseverance, you will be able to eliminate most bad behavior. In the most extreme cases, you may not be able to stop the behavior, but with training your dog will show improvement.
Some problems won’t be entirely eliminated, especially if you chose a dog that doesn’t have the temperament for your lifestyle. But even some of these dogs can change if you have a good dog/dog owner relationship. Now we’ll look at some of the most common behavior problems and how to re-train your dog to behave appropriately.
Marilyn Burnham
Author: ‘Dog Owners Boot Camp’
The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don’t Want You To Know!
For More Information On Dog Training
Marilyn Burnham was the owner operator of 4 successful dog grooming stores in British Columbia, Canada for more than a decade. To spend more time with her children Marilyn made the decision to sell her business in the mid 90′s. Get a copy of her book: ‘Dog Owners Boot CampÂ’ The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers DonÂ’t Want You To Know!
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Imagine getting tomorrows newspaper today. Sounds impossible and bizarre, right? But this has been the theme of one television show a few years back. Kind of a futuristic show that allows one man to know beforehand what will happen tomorrow, hence, he has the ability to stop an accident and change a persons life forever. Funny how one paper can change the entire future.
Newspapers have been around since the Roman Empire. The urge to inform the public of official developments and announcement gave way to the first newspaper in history. Until today, newspapers are used to inform, notify and even humor the public. Everyday thousands of newspapers are printed from all over the world. You can just imagine the hardwork and dedication that reporters, editors, photographers and printers put into producing one edition. They stay up all night gathering news, writing and editing them so that by the time you set your eyes on your breakfast, the morning paper is next to your coffee and bacon. But have you ever thought of how these newspapers get printed? How newspaper companies are able to effectively deliver the news crisp and fresh everyday? Well, you must have though of these questions just for a short time even in-between your sleep or perhaps even amid your fantasy of the curvaceous long-legged girl occupying the cubicle next to you.
Since its introduction newspaper printing has gone a long way. From the printing press used to the manner of gathering news significant advances has helped news delivery improve to a great level. With the advancement in printing technology, newspaper printing has become much easier and faster. Publishers take advantage of these modern printing techniques to be able to achieve higher circulation and reach greater readers.
The prime source of revenue for any newspaper is still advertising. Without enough paid advertising, the newspaper will stop to exist. Commercial newspaper publishers strive for greater circulation so that advertising in the newspaper are more effective, thus, allowing the newspaper to attract more advertisers. But some says that the future of newspapers is cloudy with the advent of the television and the Internet. Additionally, high-quality tabloids seem to have stolen the limelight from newspapers. This smaller and easier to hold sheets appear to have drawn younger readers who are otherwise abandoning newspapers.
Nevertheless, the technology exists and the capability for producing a myriad of quality informative newspapers is just around the corner. As long as there are people who would prefer to read the news in ink and paper then the industry is far from dead. There will always be stories to tell and news to share, thus, newspaper printing will continue to prosper despite modern advancements. Who knows maybe youll start getting tomorrows newspaper today.
color, digita, newspaper, printing
When it comes to The Simpsons, longevity is an asset few can ignore. 18 years old and counting, the TV series has carved its niche into pop culture. Most of today’s high school students hadn’t been born when The Simpsons debuted as filler on Tracey Ullman’s variety show. It’s no longer as fresh, as acerbic, and as popular as it once was, but could one expect anything else from a show that has turned out about 400 twenty-two minute episodes? It is a little odd that it has taken so long for The Simpsons to make the transition from the small screen to the big one; there has been talk about a movie since the mid-’90s. While nothing in this motion picture quite matches the television series at its early best, this is more of a throwback than a throw-away. It’s wittier and more energetic than anything that has appeared on FOX in quite a few years.
animated comedy, Dan Castellaneta, movie, simpsons
No doubt, one of the things that make legal language hardest to understand is its unusual words and terms. Some legal terms such as-judge, court, interrogation etc. are relatively well known, where as others are complete mystery to non-professionals. Some legal writings tend to consist of very long sentences, sometimes hundreds of words in length. This makes the transcription job harder. Below are some tips and hints of the legal terms encountered in legal transcription and how to transcribe a document successfully.
difficult legal terms, Legal transcription, legal transcription services, tips to good transcription, transcribing legal dcoments, transcription services
When it comes to Internet statistics the most important statistic at the end of the day is how many orders or inquiries did you get. However, your ability to improve your orders and site performance will depend on your understanding of your websites other underlying traffic statistics. Here are some things to watch out for.
First of all, forget about hits. Whenever someone requests a file it is a hit. If you visit a web page, then you are requesting several files all at once: the file for the page and the files for all the graphics on the page. By visiting one page on a site you are registering several hits. Hits is a very vague term and doesnt give you a good picture of what is happening on your site.
A more precise indicator of your traffic, and thus a more useful statistic, is the amount of unique visitors you receive each day. Internet statistics are never precise, but your number of unique visitors will give you a rough idea of how many people visited? your website on any given day. Compare this number to the amount of orders or inquiries you get and you can figure out your conversion rate.
Another important Internet statistic to keep you eye on are the referrers. A referrer is the website where a person was visiting prior to landing on your site. Search engines are important referrers, and sites that link to you are other referrers. Compare your referred traffic to total traffic and you will see how many people just typed in your url and how many came after seeing your link in another location.
Knowing where your visitors came from is very important, but it is even better if you can get more details about this kind of traffic. That is why you should also look for the search terms that people used when coming from a search engine. Most trackers or log analysis program will give you the search terms that were used on the referring search engines.
Take a look at these terms and see if you are really getting targeted traffic. If what you consider to be your most important keywords are not high up in the list of search terms that people are actually using to find you, then you have to adjust the content of your website accordingly.
The activity of people on your site is also important. Which pages do they use to enter your site, and from which pages do they leave the site? Which are the pages that are most frequently visited and which pages are least frequently visited? Finally, what is the pattern of the traffic on your site?
Good tracking or analysis programs will tell you the click-path that people take through your site. The click-path is the sequence of consecutive pages that people follow as they go through your site. For example, if your visitors are not ending up on your order page, but following a sequence that leads them out of the site without ordering, you can look at your site again and correct the weak spots.
You can get access to these statistics in a few ways
1. Your hosting provider may have a built in traffic analysis program, such as Awstats and Webalizer. Both programs are excellent and if they are installed on your server you should take advantage of them. Just log into your account and view your statistics online.
2. You can analyze your sites access logs using programs installed on your computer. I like the OpenWebScope program, available at www.openwebscope.com Get a trial version, analyze your sites access log and you will end up with a report of visitor activity on your website. A similar program is offered by http://www.sawmill.co.uk/
3. Paste java script tracking code to your pages. Several companies provide java script trackers. Once your tracker is installed, all you have to do is to log onto a site to see your stats. Some of the trackers are free, such as the one at http://extreme-dm.com/tracking. There are also various paid services that offer a similar method of gathering statistics.
4. Google recently bought the Urchin tracking system and now offers a statistics reporting service, free of charge, in their Google Analytics program. Unfortunately, you can only get on the waiting list as the system was heavily oversubscribed in its opening days.
Gather your website statistics using a method that is easy for you and use this data to improve the performance of your website. When you get an idea of who your visitors are, how they are finding your website and which pages they are visiting on your website, you can then make changes and upgrades that will boost your online success.
Internet traffi, log analysis, trackers, unique visitors, website statistics, website traffic
Copyright 2006 Danna Schneider
Dieting and weight loss products and programs are such a big budget, big profit business today. We’ve all heard dozens of sales pitches for diet and weight loss products, plans, books, and other items that will supposedly help us miraculously lose that extra weight we’ve gained with the least amount of effort possible.
Each of these programs, books and products also usually tout themselves as being based “unique” and strongly backed science and technology.
These hyped diet aids range anywhere from diet supplements that claim to burn fat and/or blast calories away, help to suppress the appetite, or even help to block carbs and fat from even entering the blood stream and being stored as fat or extra weight. But how do we as consumers really know that any of this will actually work?
One of these so called scientifically based diet fads, which costs a fairly lofty sum of money, called the DNA Diet, has recently been in the news for allegedly preying on customers for astronomical sums of money. The company which sells this idea is currently under government investigation for misleading consumers.
The DNA “kits” the company sells online are for swabbing the inside of your mouth and sending it in for “DNA analysis”, along with an accompanying recommendation for your personally tailored diet.
The cost may be anywhere from $499 to $1,000, and a full year of this diet advice and accompanying diet supplements can cost you upwards of $1,800.
Investigators say there is not even any scientific proof that this method of diet advice and supplementation or anyalysis works, further casting doubt on the companies that offer this service.
This particular company also offers expensive diet supplements which are mostly made of concentrated vitamins, some of which analysts claim may actually cause more harm than good due to their high dosages.
Not only that, analysis done on the supplements showed there was no difference in the formula even when different DNA was sent in, so the idea that the supplements themselves are “custom tailored” genetically is assumed to be false.
The investigators created fourteen fake customers and purchased the DNA analysis kits from four different websites. They filled out the accompnaying questionnaires with varied client information, such as different lifestyles, age brackets, etc,. All questionnaires were paired with the DNA sample of an infant girl and a grown male.
The advice varied greatly, the first sign this was an unreliable or simply fake analysis, and many of the pieces of advice received contained generalities such as smoking leads to heart disease and other already well known facts.
The investigation is ongoing, and there has been no announcement whether the company will be forced to close or change their methods and practices.
This is a perfect example of why a consumer must be vigilant when purchasing or researching any claims of diet products, or any other self improvement products for that matter. You never know when the next phony product might come along.
diet, diets, dna, fad, frau, genetic, loss, plan, scam, weight
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