How to Make Email Marketing Works for Your Business

Topic 1 ~ Your Email Subject Lines ~

How To Write A Good E-mail Subject Lines That Works?

Here are the 5 tips:

1. Ask a question. One of the best ways to get a reader's attention is to ask a question. But like a trial lawyer questioning a witness on the stand, make sure it 'll get you the response you're looking for. "What's the best way to grow your business?" is a great subject line for business owners. After all, what business owner would not want to grow his or her business? Or let's say you run a health club. An e-mail with the subject line, "How can you lose 5 pounds in one month?" would certainly be compelling. It's important your question to be relevant to your audience.

2. Be a tease. A clever subject line can be enticing. When it's done right, reader curiosity is piqued. They want to know more - and they'll open your e-mail. Writing a teaser-style subject line requires some creativity, and your content needs to deliver. A company that sells high-definition TVs could use the subject line, "You're not going to believe your eyes" as a teaser to introduce a new addition to their product line.

3. Tell it like it is. Often, what works best is to say exactly what you want your reader to know. Examples of this straightforward approach are, "Sale on all sweaters this weekend," "Master jazz pianist plays live this Friday" and "The seven secrets of a profitable business." This just-the-facts approach works especially well when you can appeal directly to your audience's interests. It's also the best approach to use when you send a newsletter.

4. Remember "WIIFM". When a person gets your e-mail, the first thing they consider is "what's in it for me?" They have a decision to make. Do they open your e-mail, leave it for later or delete it? If there is not something about the subject line that lets them know why it's worth their precious time to see what's inside, then the choice will be clear. Keep WIIFM in mind when creating every aspect of your e-mails, including the offer, content, images - and most definitely the subject line. It's all about them. They know that; just make sure you know it, too.

5. Get personal. The more you can make each contact feel you're speaking directly to them, the more effective your communication will be. Whatever style of subject line you use, you can make it personal by using the word "you." Professional copywriters know the secret of using this powerful little word. Just look at the advertisements, mail and e-mail you receive. A few examples are, "Find the right swimsuit for you," "You can save 50 percent on travel," and "You're look phenomenal in a custom-tailored suit." "You" is ideal, but "your" works too.

6. Not sure which approach is right for you? Try them all, and then show a friend or colleague to get their feedback. Pick the one you believe will be most effective for your audience. Whichever approach you choose, it's always worth spending the time and effort to write a great subject line. Because if your readers do not open your e-mail, they'll never have the chance to read the important message you've created for them inside.

Topic 2 ~ Increase Click-Through Rate (CTR) ~

How to Increases Click-Through Rate (CTR)?

Here are some guidelines:

1. Include a feature, a benefit, and an advantage in the opening. This needs to be used in a subtle way, but in the opening you're really doing a small marketing job for this issue of your email newsletter. Highlight an article or two that are important, explain what you're providing the readers that they will not get elsewhere, and tell them what the benefit will be. A great example is something like "Nokia and Sprint announced second quarter earnings today. Learn what our Wireless Week experts say about the results, and what effect you can expect them to have on the industry at large."

2. Put the email newsletter in the context of your readers' day. This goes hand in hand with the last point. Your readers are busy, and if you can make a compelling case for why they should stop what they are doing and take a few minutes now to read your email newsletter, you'll get them in. We recommend editors reference important events, upcoming trade shows, or other things that say to the reader "You will find it worthwhile to stop and read this email newsletter now, because the information in it will help you stay on top of your business."

3. Keep it fresh. Do not craft a "perfect paragraph" and use it issue after issue after issue. One of the keys to success is to keep the copy fresh and highlight items in that issue of the email newsletter. If you use the same generic language repeatedly, people will stop reading it and it'll be a waste of your time.

4. Keep it short. This is critical. We recommend no more than two to three sentences - just enough to get them interested and pull them in to read the rest of your email newsletter.

Try it out and see the results! This is just one of the simple things you can do to engage your reader and optimize your CTR.

Topic 3 ~ Killer Email Sales Letter ~

How to Write Killer Email Sales Letter That Get Results?

Here are what we've found works best. Use these tips correctly and your results will skyrocket.

1. Your email "from" sender line should be your brand name or company name and stay consistent. Use your own personal name only if that is your brand image.

2. Send emails only when you have something to say that will benefit the reader. No fluff. No filler. You must be relevant. If you can not be, do not send an email until you have something beneficial to say.

3. Start your emails with the specific benefit the reader can get from your message. You have no more than 3 seconds to pass the crucial "what's in it for me?" test.

4. The copywriting tone and language should be personal and conversational, instead of stuffy and "corporate".

5. Make a specific offer to the reader and, if possible, include a short deadline by which he must respond to get it.

6. Use as much copy as is needed to fully pile on all the benefits the reader will get by ordering, answer objections, create urgency, and close the sale.

7. Test your subject lines and offers on small segments of your list before you send the email to your entire list.

8. Include "Email this to a friend" service in all your communications for pass along and viral marketing.

Topic 4 ~ Good Call-to-Action ~

Get More Clicks With a Good Call-to-Action!

The call-to-action is a determining factor of your click-through rate. It is an important component of your email copy because it answers three important questions for the recipient. They are:

1. What you want them to do

2. Why they should do it, and

3. How to take that next step.

Whatever action you want your recipients to take, you can make it happen more often with a good call-to-action. First, decide what you want them to do:

1. Buy something

2. Sign up for a service

3. Fill out a form

4. Read an article or get more information

5. Visit your website or store

6. Make an appointment

Etc ...

Then, make sure you incorporate these 6 characteristics to get the results you're looking for. Make your call-to action:

1. Visible - People read, react, make decisions and take action differently. Some make decisions right away ("You had me at hello.") And some need more details ("I'm from Missouri."). Place call-to-action links in the beginning, middle and end of the email so that recipients can click whenever they are ready.

2. Clear - Stick to simple words, short phrases, bulleted benefits and paragraphs of 1-3 short sentences. Include appropriate graphics and cut the clutter by making effective use of white space.

3. Compelling - Use action-oriented verbs and phrases: "buy now," "call today," "save" and so on.

4. Rewarding - Offer an incentive or reward for action. For example, "Act now and also receives ...," or "the First 100 responders will be entered into a raffle to win ..." The giveaway, or prize, you choose should be closely related to your product or service. That way, you will be targeting customers who are interested in what you have to offer, not just the latest gadget.

5. Urgent - The longer an email sits in an inbox, the less likely it is to be acted on. Create a sense of urgency to get a more immediate response. Try limiting the offer to a specific time period, to the "first 50 customers," "while supplies last," etc.

6. Direct - Your call-to-action links should go to the appropriate page on your website with more details on the specific product or service you're promoting. If you do not have a website, the call-to-action might be store locations to visit or a number to call for an appointment.

Keep in mind that, in addition to repeating your call-to-action, you can vary your call-to-action to appeal to different types of buyers (and to fit your sales cycle). For example: "Click here to buy now" will naturally work better with loyal customers. The softer, "Click here to learn more" may be better for newer prospects.

Topic 5 ~ Avoid Common Pitfalls ~

Read Your Email Message Backwards to Avoid Common Pitfalls

Here are some common problems to look out for:

1. Misspelled words - It's a good idea to spell-check a document, but it's not enough. A spell checker will not catch every error.

2. Wrong word used - This is why a spell checker is not enough. A spell checker will only flag words it does not recognize. It can not tell if a legitimate word is used incorrectly. Some words commonly confused: accept, except; your, you're; then, than; there, their, they're; cite, site, sight; lay, lie; loose, loosen, lose. Also, look out for missing "r" in the word "your." It's easy to overlook a sentence such as "Visit our Web site now to receive you free copy."

3. Grammar error - Again, if you know you're not a good writer, have someone else look your writing for grammatical errors. Mistakes make you look bad.

4. Punctuation error - This is another area where you'll benefit from a review by someone who knows their stuff. If you're determined to do it yourself, purchase a good grammar or style book. One of the most common punctuation problems: Too many stupid commas!

5. Vague or confusing statement - Make sure every sentence is crystal-clear. You do not want your promotional message to raise more questions than it answers.

6. Ilogical statement - Read over what you have written slowly. At the end of each paragraph, ask yourself: "Did that make sense?" Rewrite so that it does.

Topic 6 ~ Frequency of Sending Emails ~

How Often (Frequency) Should You Send Email?

There's no quick answer to the frequency question. It depends on the goals for your email and the type of content you send. Some rough guidelines:

1. Mail at least once a month. Mail less often than this, and you risk being forgotten by recipients. Monthly is the bare minimum if you want to keep your brand or company name top of mind (a common email goal).

2. Let content be your guide. Look at what you provide readers and you'll get a feel for proper frequency. Analyze how often the information changes and how quickly readers must receive it to act on it.

3. Work within your resources. A daily email requires many more resources than a monthly. Better a well-done monthly email than shoddy weekly or daily. It's recommended to start with a monthly. Once that's going smoothly, they can think about moving to weekly. You need to walk before you can run!

4. Watch for trends. Declining response, open, and click-through rates can be signs of list fatigue. Although some decrease is normal, watch carefully and cut back frequency if you see a problem. Do not assume if the unsubscribe rate is stable you're OK. Many people prefer to forward email directly to their delete folder rather than unsubscribe.

Topic 7 ~ Understanding Spam Filters ~

Understanding Spam Filters to Avoid Your Emails Get Junked!

If you send email campaigns long enough, you will inevitably run into spam filter issues. On average, you can expect 10-20% of your emails to just get lost in cyberspace, mostly due to overzealous spam filters. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. If you want to avoid getting your emails junked by spam filters, you have to understand how they work.

Generally speaking, spam filters look at a long list of criteria to judge whether or not your email is junk. For example, they might look for spammy phrases like "CLICK HERE!" Egypt "FREE! BUY NOW!". They'll assign points each time they see one of those phrases. Certain criteria get more points than others. Here's a sample of criteria from Spam Assassin, one of the most popular spam filters out there:

o Talks about lots of money (.93 points)

o Describes some sort of breach (.32 points)

o Looks like mortgage pitch (.297 points)

o Contains urgent matter (.288 points)

o Money back guarantee (2.051 points)

o Why Pay More? (1.249 points)

It's easy to use "spammy" keywords in your email without even knowing it. Here are some common ways marketers unwittingly trigger spam filters with their campaigns:

1. Using spammy phrases, like "Click here!" Egypt "Once in a lifetime opportunity!" too many times in your email. Sometimes, you can not avoid phrases like "FREE SHIPPING!" but use them sparingly, and do not do anything else risky.

2. Going crazy with exclamation points !!!!!!

3. USING ALL CAPS, WHICH IS LIKE YELLING IN EMAIL

4. Coloring their fonts bright red, or green

5. Coding sloppy HTML (such as converting a Microsoft Word file to HTML)

6. Creating an HTML email that's nothing but one big image, with no text (since spam filters can not read images, they assume you're a spammer that's trying to trick 'em)

7. Using the word "Test" in the subject line (agencies run into this all the time, when sending drafts to clients for approval)

Topic 8 ~ Why Email Marketing Does not Work? ~

If Your Email Marketing Does not Work, Think Again Why?

Before you arrive at the faulty conclusion that email marketing does not work, let's look at this from a different perspective for a moment that would make your emails ineffective.

First there's what you are writing in the body of the email. If this is your first attempt to get in touch with a prospect, what are you putting in the email? A dissertation? If it's longer than one or two paragraphs, it's too long. Look at your emails like an initial cold call. You need to laser in and deliver a compelling opening statement that's going to grab their interest and stimulate a conversation. Because there's no one to cut you off in an email or stop you from persistent pontification, people have a tendency to ramble on and on in an email, giving the prospect the life story of the product or service they want them to consider. Keep it short and focus on the one or two benefits, opening up the opportunity to have a dialogue. That's it.

Second, are you sending attachments in the first email? No attachments! It's hard enough sending an unsolicited email to a prospect. Now you're adding more barriers and increasing the opportunities of your email winding up in their spam box or junk email folder. Some people have filters on their email that if an attachment is sent it automatically gets deleted. No attachment until that information in the attachment is solicited by the person.

Third, html or text? Once again, with all the email filters people use today, you will increase your odds by sending a text message only rather than trying to get fancy with formatting, graphics and pictures. The prospect really does not care about how beautiful your email looks; they care about the core message. Beside, they will never even get a chance to see your beautiful masterpiece in an html email if it's winding up in the trash.

Finally, you are using way too many spam words. As mentioned, the largest enemy to email marketing or selling via email is the additional security that companies and individuals have on their network or computer. As such, the specific words you are using in the body of the email can be the culprit who is sending your email directly into the trash or spam box. In other words, you are using words that are often identified is spam and in turn, you email is getting flagged and deleted. Not even eye contact! The prospect is not getting a chance to, at the very least, see your email let alone read it and have a chance to respond accordingly.

Ending ~ Please Forward ~

Reasons to Choose Custom Boxes for Your Business

The most important factor that determinates the success of any business is your relationship with your customers. So, the more effort you put into satisficing your customers, the better your growth prospects will be. While the first thing that must have popped in your mind on reading the above lines is, beyond any doubt, the 'product,' there is another - often overlooked- factor, ie the way you deliver your products. Here are four reasons why you should consider packaging and delivering your products in custom boxes:

1. Solution to budgeting problems

As a matter of fact, your way of delivery not only affects your business-customer relationship but can also improve or deter your budget, since your profit and revenue graph; the reason being the freedom and ability to choose the appropriate, or to be more precise, the exact size of the box for each product. Think for yourself- suppose you sell five different kinds of products varying sizes and fragility, and ship them all in the same sized box, would not that cause you to put in more money into providing extra protective sheaths for the smaller, fragile ones to keep it in place and reduce the risk of any damage? However, if you use a custom box of appropriate size, you would use just the right amount of protective layering, like bubble wraps, thereby saving money in the process.

2. Customer magnets

Putting a little bit of thought into the packaging, itself, shows that you care, and it is a well-known fact in the business realm that what your customers feel matters. Think of it from the perspective of the receiver. Would not a good, unique packaging thrill you? Would not it heighten the excitation of getting your chosen product? Moreover, it creates a positive experience for your customers, especially for e-commerce businesses where physical interaction with customers is close to nil, which in turn increases the chance of being recommended. So, custom boxes can be used as an effective marketing technique to score more potential customers.

3. Unique Brand Identity

There are many businesses that are primarily known for their unique packaging boxes. For instance, Amazon or Origami Craft Box or John & Kira's. These boxes infuse a sense of passion and appeal to the customers by making the process of unboxing a little bit more rewarding. Secondly, it makes your business name and logo more identifiable. In fact, the more appealing your custom box's design is, more are the opportunities that your customers will keep it with them. Most people find it hard to toss out boxes that are too beautiful for trash. So, in a way, custom boxes help reflect and polish your brand identity.

Furthermore, if your custom boxes are also durable besides being eye-catchy, you can rest assured that your customers will keep them, and then you get the lifelong worth of continued advertising without any additional investment.

So, what's the wait for? Call in a meeting with your design and marketing team, and build your custom boxes to give your brand a new life.

Gaming Hardware Guide - Learn What It Takes To Make A Gaming Computer

So you're into gaming, and you're looking to turn that shabby computer into a gaming powerhouse? You do not need unnecessarily expensive gaming computer though, you just need some decent gaming hardware.

If you do not exactly know what gaming hardware is, I've put together a guide explaining what it takes to have a gaming computer. You do not needily need all of these components, so I've broken them down by level of importance.

3D Video Card

First and foremost, if you have to have a decent video card to play the latest 3D games. You can have the best computer around, but if it has a cheap video card, 3D games will appear to run as slow as if you had a slow computer. You do not necessarily need the latest video card, because at the rate they come out it will be outdated in a few months anyway .. unless of course you have $ 500 burning a hole in your pocket and you really want to.

CPU

Since your CPU is the heart of the computer, this one is kind of obvious. Like most things, you do not need the fastest CPU around, but if you want a real gaming computer, you'll want something at or around 3 gigahertz (or 3000+ for you AMD enthusiasts).

You'll also want something that has a fast front side bus. It's usually best to find a motherboard and cpu that have similar front side bus speeds, because they work together, and the overall speed of the front side bus will only be as fast as the one with the slowest speed on it. It's kind of like driving a sports car on a highway with a 55 mile per hour speed limit, the car might be able to go 155, but the highway will only let you go 55.

Memory

Also known as Ram, it's what applications and games use to store information, the more the better. It's good to have at least 512 Megabytes, but real gamers have 750 megabytes, to 1 Gigabyte or more. Memory is extremely cheap these days, it's one of the cheapest and simplest upgrades you can do.

It's not only the amount that matters though, they also come in different times. DDR2 is the fastest, cheapest memory you can get right now. If you have SDRam, you'll probably want to upgrade your motherboard and CPU so you can have faster memory. It's kind of drastic, but your games will most likely be sluggish if your equipment is that old. Regular DDR is good enough for gaming, it just does not have the throughput that DDR2 does.

Motherboards

Today's fastest motherboards have faster Front Side Bus. The Front Side Bus (or FSB) is essentially the highway that runs from the CPU to the Ram, the bigger the highway, the more traffic it can handle at once, making calculations faster. Another thing to watch out for is what kinds of hard drives it supports. If you want SATA or SCSI drives, either your motherboard needs to support them, or you need to purchase an expansion card to plug them into. You'll also want a motherboard that supports the fastest computer memory you can get, which is currently DDR2.

Hard Drives

Hard drive speed may not sound important, but it can be one of many bottle necks that your computer runs into if it's not up to par with the rest of your computer. If you purchase regular IDE hard drives, you'll want at least 7200 rpm (rpm = rotations per minute, the more rotations the faster the drive).

If you want real speed though, you'll want a Serial ATA hard drive (SATA), which is one of the fastest hard drives you can get without buying server grade hard drives (SCSI), which are pretty expensive. Your motherboard has to support SATA or SCSI though if you plan to purchase these kinds of hard drives, or you have to have a PCI expansion card to plug them into.

Sound Card

If you want gaming quality sound, then you definitely need to replace that stock or built in sound card for a decent gaming sound card. And if you want the full effect, go for a dolby 5.1 surround sound enabled sound card for that super crisp sound your games can produce. Mix that with some 5.1 enabled speakers, and your gaming experience just took a new turn.

Computer Cases

Ok, so computer cases are not that important for speed, but if you want your new gaming computer to look slick too, then you need a nice colored case. Your friends will be jealous, and you will finally be able to look at your computer and smile, because it looks so awesome.

Auto Body Paint Services

Having your car painted is a process. It is important to find a good servicing company that will take care of your vehicle completely and compassionately. Finding a professional service with employees who are trained and skilled at their job is important when finding a company to paint your car. It is not as easy as you think. There are many factors to consider when finding your car repair company to paint your car.

Things to consider are paint quality. Some companies do not use the best paint. That is partly why it does not cost that much. The paint will not last as long as it could if it was a good paint and applied properly. It must be sanded well and completely dry. They should then tape off all the glass, mirrors, lights, grill and tires perfectly to not get the paint on the glass and chrome surfaces. They should then put an even layer of all the paintings on the car because if they do not they can get sagging in the paint. That is when the paint falls and looks like it's dripping even when it's dry. It is flat, but you can tell that it was dripping with the way it looks. It should be treated properly and thoroughly to not get mush spots or nicks in the paint.

Professional auto body services will know what to do when you need a partial paint. If you have had an accident and only the front end has been damaged, you will need parts to fit and may need to have them painted if they're not already the right color. To do that you can hire a service that will have enough knowledge and experience to pick the right color paint that will match the rest of your car. They often times have a swatch book with paint colors and the ability to mix it to best match your car.

Your auto body service should be able to get your car in and out quickly so you can have it back in a timely fashion. If they can not sometimes they offer rental car services for you to use while they're at work. You should get your car back the way you want it but if for any reason you are dissatisfied with the service you can tell them what you do not like or what is still wrong and they will be happy to correct their mistake for you.

Benefits of Your Online Business Offering a Money Back Guarantee

When considering local internet marketing for your online business, do not forget about the basics, such as customer service. By providing a good experience for your customers, offering them an informative, easy-to-use website with shopping cart, and making them feel confident about their purchases, your business is sure to thrive both offline and online. Take those concepts a step further and minimize risk to your clientele by offering a money back guarantee on the products or services you sell. Here are five reasons why this gives you the advantage.

1. The Trust Factor

Anytime you're starting a business, you are sure to encounter objections from buyers. Perhaps the most common objection is that your company is an unknown. It's always a bit risky to make a purchase from an unfamiliar entity and if you're selling a new product or service, the buyer's objections are doubled. How can someone be assured that the items they buy from your company are going to perform as promised?

One of the best ways to get past that objection is by offering a guarantee, preferably a full refund for any purchase that does not live up to the customer's expectations.

2. Beat the Competition

What about your competitors? Do they refund the purchase price for any dissatisfied customer? Chances are any big retailer selling the same or similar products does. When competing against other "small guys", the satisfaction guarantee identifies your company. When competing against the big retailers, it levels the playing field. Either way, it's a must.

3. Sales Copy

Wondering what to say about your products or services online? Why not mention the satisfaction guarantee? This is a great way to introduce your product and make potential customers confident in making a purchase. The inclusion of a guarantee just might be the difference between thinking about buying and actually making a purchase.

4. Good Business

When it comes down to it, guaranteeing the satisfaction of your customers is just good business. The last thing you want to do is annoy, frustrate, or anger someone by refusing to refund their money. And that could lead to a lot of bad PR - and future lost sales. Avoid the possibility by cheerfully reimbursing the purchase price and moving on to find the next customer through local internet marketing.

5. The Customer's Advantage

But, you might be saying to yourself, what about those people who make a business out of buying things, using them for a while, then returning them? There will always be a few of those in every bunch and unfortunately, it's just a part of doing business. Rest assured that the majority of your clientele will only go through the hassle of a return because they are truly dissatisfied. In this case, go ahead and let the customer have the advantage.

Do not forget that an integral part of local internet marketing objectives good customer service, and a money back guarantee is just one aspect of that. It cultivates trust in your company, allows you to compete with other businesses, and may even serve as the ultimate purchase incentive.

Summary Of Mine Boy Chapters 1-6

OVERVIEW OF THE STORY
The story sets in South Africa. In this story, Peter Abraham portraits apartheid through following the life of Xuma, a villager in search of a better life. Xuma first lived in Malay camp where he was offered accommodation by Leah on his first night in the city. After getting a job, he moves to his own house in Vrededorp.

Leah earned her living through selling illicit brew. There was also Dladla who was bitter about Leah controlling him and betrays her to the police. Leah found out about it but before she could deal with Dladla, he was found dead in the bush stabbed in the back. Johannes, a strong well built miner, was a timid person who became bold and loud only when drunk.

Daddy was never sober and died after being hit by a car. Xuma falls in love with Eliza. He constantly rejects Maisy who loves him.

However, in the end he accepts her and promises to marry her as soon as he gets out of jail as Eliza left him.

Leah gets sent to jail after being caught red handed with the illicit brew by the crafty policeman nicknamed the Fox who had been trying to catch her for a long time. She had managed to escape the police dragnet by bribing some policemen who kept her informed.

Johannes and his white boss Chris died under the mine as they tried to prevent it from collapsing. Paddy, Xuma's boss sides with the blacks and is arrested when a riot breaks out in the mine. Xuma flees but later surrenders himself at the police station.

CHAPTER BY CHAPTER SUMMARY OF THE BOOK

CHAPTER ONE

It was three o'clock in the morning when a man arrives in a town on a narrow street. The whole town was in darkness. He surprised where he was. Suddenly, he saw a woman at a door standing in the darkness.

He moved closer and asked her if he could get a place to rest and have a drink.

The woman asked him if he had but the man said he had none. She further enquired to know his name. The man identified himself as Xuma, form the north. After speaking for once the woman left to bring light. She returned without him noticing.

From the door, a beam of powerful torch stuck on Xuma with a voice calling him to come. He followed the beam of light and the woman into a room where he met three men and an old woman. The woman introduced Xuma to the people and asked Ma Plank to give him food. Xuma got to know Dladla, a man fond of playing with knife. Xuma saw a knife in Dladla's hand. Xuma however carefully placed his bundle on the table and went round a long bench.

Dladla raised his knife and showed his teeth. Leah commanded Dladla to give her the knife but he refused with a plea in his voice. He later lowered his eyes andave her the knife.

Daddy showed displeasure towards Leah. Xuma's food was brought to him by Ma Plank.

Whilst Dladla and Ma Plank went out, the man who had remained silent expressed his suspicion and asked "How do we know if he's not from the police?" Leah was always optimistic about Xuma's identity.

She identified the man as her man's brother. Leah's man was in jail for killing a man who tried to kiss her.

There was no work at the north. This was what brought Xuma into the town, to work. He however expressed interest in working in the mines.

Leah took her time to tell him about the dangers involved in working in the mines and tried to convince him to work with her but Xuma refused.
Xuma was finally given a place to sleep but he found it hard to sleep because he was tired.

CHAPTER 2
When Xuma woke up the next day, he met the house empty. However he found himself among a crowd forming a ring outside, and Daddy hopping and shouting at the top of his voice. Two women, Lena and Drunk Liz, were also on the ground engaged in a fight.

Xuma pushed his way through the roaring crowd wanting to get away. But he heard a voice shout "stop it". He turned and it was Leah. When she arrived at the scene, Lena (the thin dark woman) was on top of

Drunk Liz who was fat and pale. Leah walked through the crowd and picked up the thin woman and flung her away from the fat one. The crowd grumbled yet no one was able to speak to her hearing. Leah challenged the crowd to fight but they broke up in silence and walked away.

Leah picked up the thin woman, who was woefully injured, into the yard. She was followed by Xuma and Daddy. Upon entering the house, Daddy bought a sack and spread it in the shade for Leah to place the woman on.

Leah prepared food and they ate. She saw Daddy in the yard and called him to come and tell Xuma about the custom the city. Daddy spoke drunkenly about the custom and the city. After he had finished, he picked a sack and spread it a little distance away, stretched himself and slept. Soon it began to rain. Xuma went into the yard and watched the three sleeping people.

In the house, Leah sang a guy song full of happiness and laughter. Xuma went back into the house and saw Joseph, the brother of Leah's man. Leah asked Joseph to take Xuma to see the market. At the market, Joseph and Xuma saw many people on the street. One street was crowded as another. The people were in their colorful clothes with a lot of money to spend. The big men among them wear singlet and sometimes cooked among them to determine who is the strongest.

Joseph and Xuma stopped on a corner and watched the crowd across. A little further up the road, they saw two colored men fighting. Still further, there were two "swankies" on their way down the road. A crowd of cheering and laughing people followed them.

Suddenly, a pick-up van swerved round a corner. Policemen jumped out and run down the street. The crowd scattered except the colored people who claimed they have done nothing. However, Joseph warned them that the police would not ask them.

A policeman who was ten yards away came straight ahead to Xuma. But Xuma waited because he had done nothing. The policeman came nearer, raised his stick but it missed Xuma's head and stuck his left shoulder. Xuma whispered and stuck the policeman in the face repeatedly till the policeman collapsed.

Xuma looked around and saw the police van still a distance away but two policemen were closing in on him so he decided to ran.

The two colored men stepped into the road. Xuma felt afraid, to run and knock two men at the same time was impossible. But an unbelievable thing happened, the second colored man knocked the first one down and ran down the street traveling to Xuma to follow him. Xuma followed him into a house. The colored man locked the door and flopped down into a chair breathing heavily.

The man's woman came into the room and Xuma noted with surprise that she was black. She expressed her disappointment at Xuma for striking the policeman.

Finally, when Xuma asked to leave, the man's woman cautioned that it was not safe he left.

CHAPTER 3
Xuma came out and found the street free of trouble but it was difficult for him to find his house. He saw the fat Drunk Liz and touched her shoulder to ask her for direction to Leah's house. The woman looked at him with bleary eyes and looked her head barely refusing to help him.

Xuma met Daddy who thought he was in jail. Daddy was drunk but he agreed to take Xuma to the Leah's house if only he (Xuma) would buy him a drink again. At the house, old Ma Plank sat over a huge vat in the yard and in the kitchen was Joseph who was busy. Joseph was happy to see Xuma. Leah entered the house; she grabbed Xuma and hugged him.

They stand on the corner and waited. Leah kept looking up the street that cut across the one where they stand. After ten minutes a black policeman on a cycle came down and stopped. Leah smiled and counted five pound notes from her leather bag andave them to the policeman.

Leah led the way through the yard to the door at the far end of the yard. She introduced Xuma to a girl they met in the house. Xuma asked the girl's name, who said she was called Eliza.

Eliza asked Xuma to help her lift a machine. Xuma jumped up and grabbed the sewing machine but he felt a sharp pain stab in his shoulder. Eliza found a bottle of ointment and rubbed it on where Xuma's pain was.

She saved him a cigarette and looked at his face and laughed. Xuma turned and saw huge towering shapes almost in the sky. He pointed and asked what they were. Eliza replied and said "those are the mine-dumps". Xuma shifted his eyes from the mine-dump to Eliza and longed for her.

All that night people drank at Leah's place. Xuma and Eliza returned and saw more people crowed at Leah's place.

Dladla attacked Xuma with a knife accusing him of stealing his woman and brave him a cut on his face. Eliza took Xuma into a room and washed his bloody face. They returned and found a doctor who fixed Xuma's face.

CHAPTER 4

The streets were empty after being crowded on Saturday. Xuma and Johannes walked up and down the empty street. They left Johannesburg behind them and in front of them were the towering peaks of the min-damp. They ever found themselves at the mines.

For Xuma, the day was strange. Stranger than any day he had ever known. There was the rumbling noise and the shouting and explosions and the trembling of the earth. Xuma was scaredened.

When the whistle blew for the workers to stop work for food, one of the men called Nana asked Xuma to eat with him. He divined his food and wave Xuma half. When they had finished Nana stretched himself full-length on the ground and slept.

The men who had gone underground that morning came up. Xuma watched them coming and shading their eyes against the light. Xuma asked Nana if it is dark underground. But Nana laughed at Xuma.
Xuma looked up quickly when he hear Johannes voice. Johannes had a confrontation with one of the white men. He called Xuma who flung his spade and followed him. Johannes took Xuma to the shed of the mine doctor.

Xuma stripped and lay on the long table. The doctor examined him while Chris and Paddy watched. Johannes led the way to the washing place for the mine boys. He pushed a few men out of the way and the men made place for them.

They went in and washed and set off for Malay Camp.

CHAPTER 5
When they got to Leah's place, a group of women were just leaving and Leah was at the gate watching them go. Leah welcomed them. Johannes went inside the house leaving Xuma and Leah outside to talk.
Leah told Xuma about life in the city. She said "to live in the city you must be hard. And money must be your friend.

There was a long silence between them. Rosita who lived across the way had turned on her gramophone and came on her veranda. She called Leah from across.

Leah and Xuma got startled. They got up and went inside the house.

Xuma was offered food, finished eating and left the room. He felt dissatisfied and unhappy. He went on the veranda and watched the street. Maisy came out and joined him. On the corner of the street, under the light of the lamp, a group of men and women formed a ring. And in the center of the ring a couple danced and made signs to each other as they mimed.

Xuma and Maisy joined the ring. When they got home, Xuma sat on his bed and held his hands. He thought about Eliza for a while. He blew out the candle and sat in the dark. As soon as he lit his cigarette, there was a knock at the door. He responded and it was Eliza's voice.

CHAPTER 6

Xuma had left Leah's place and lived in a room in Malay Camp for three months now. Eliza is now like a devil in Xuma's blood and he did not want to go to Leah's place again to see Leah for the fear that he should meet Eliza. As he sat alone he longed to see all the people he left at Leah's place but for the fear of Eliza he would not go.

It was Saturday night and in spite of the cold the streets were crowded. But it was not as it had been that first Saturday when he had gone walking with Joseph. He went up the street and walked in the direction of the heart of Johannesburg. He near the heart of Johannesburg and the people grew fewer. There were more white people now and they were different. They were not his people so he did not give attention to what they did or said.

Xuma saw some cakes in a window and stopped to look at them. He felt a tap on his shoulder and when he turned it was a policeman. Without a word Xuma gave his pass to the policeman for inspection. As the policeman goes, Xuma traveled on up the street. The crowd on the street was thick that it was difficult for Xuma to move among them. The only place that Xuma could be free was underground in the mines. There he was a master and knew the way.

Xuma met his white man, Paddy, who was with a woman. Paddy led Xuma a little way down the street and showed him where he lived. Xuma looked around Paddy's house. He had never seen a place like that before. Paddy and Xuma sat down while the woman came in with three glasses. They raised their glasses and cheered Xuma. However, Xuma kept on thinking about Paddy's woman.

The atmosphere at Paddy's house made Xuma thought he knows what Eliza wants. Paddy came in with food and when they had finished eating they drank more wine. Xuma and Paddy talked about the mines. Paddy took the things away. And Xuma forgot that they were white and even spoke to the woman.

On his return, Paddy asked his woman what she thinks about Xuma. The woman replied "he is just a mine boy". The man and his woman arguably extensively about Xuma as the woman spoke favourably about Xuma. Paddy looked at her. His face clouded. And Di got up and went into the kitchen but the argument continued.
Xuma was glad to be away from the two white people. It had been uncomfortable there. Only when he had been with the woman had he felt all right. He crossed the street and went his way back to Malay Camp.

Gradually he left the heart of the city behind him.

He turned down Jeppe Street where he came across people standing at the lower down the street. A man being chased by the police has climbed a rooftop. The roof sloped steeply. One wrong move and the man would be plunged down, either to death or a broken body. Fear rose from the crowd. The man had lost his hold and was slowly sliding down. For a minute the man was in space. Then with a dull thud, he fell to the ground. But the doctor was there to administrator help.

The doctor tried to lift the man up but could not. Xuma however stepped forward but the policeman tightened his grip on his club and washed it from side to side. Xuma lifted the man. The first policeman prodded Xuma with his club. Xuma got up. His body trembled and bunched his fist into hard ball.

Xuma picked up the wounded man to the doctor's car. The doctor pleaded with Xuma to go with him to help him.

At the other end of Malay Camp the doctor folded up. Between them they carried the man into a house. A colored woman met them at the door. They carried the man into the surgery where the doctor worked on the man. Xuma sat on a little chair and watched.

The wounded man was revived. The man expressed fear that the police would arrest him.

The doctor and Xuma left him behind as they went for some tea. The two men entered a room where Xuma felt as he had felt in the place of the Red One.

Emily reported that the wounded man had escaped through the window. The doctor got up and went to the surgery while the others followed. The doctor spoke harshly to Xuma. This made Xuma felt hurt. He was angry but more the anger he felt hurt. He turned abruptly and walked to the door.

Are You Buying Sports Seats For Your Car?

Purchasing sports seats for your car is considered as one of the ways of sprucing up and upgrading your vehicle. In fact, it is one of the not so used ways to customize a vehicle. You see, for most people, the common ways of upgrading a vehicle would be to change wheels, wheel covers, car seat covers, carpets, bumpers, and grilles.

Changing your car's seats to sports seats may not be so popular, there are some matters to take into consideration when you have decided that sports seats may be the best thing that could happen to your vehicle. After all, overlooked as they may seem, sports seats actually do not just provide your car with a sporty and aesthetic appeal but they also give you and your passengers comfort through long or short drives.

Before doing anything else, you should ask yourself how much are you willing to spend and how much could you really afford. By answering this first question, you would be able to check and ask around as per any sports seats that would fall within your budget range. Remember that sports seats come in a variety of options - each more sophisticated than the next. In fact, there are even sports seats that come with electronic adjustments of the lumbar support.

If you have no idea whatever as per the kind of sports seats that you would like for your car, you can check out automotive magazines. Or you can also visit automated websites. If you choose to do so, you can also try contacting manufacturers to get the names of dealers of sports seats in your locality.

Upon visiting an auto parts store that offers sports seats, make sure that you ask the store's personnel to show you their collection of these. That way, you can personally inspect the seats so you could choose which ones to purchase. Consider the seats' safety features. Make sure that you choose those that has a high and close back rest which has the capacity to support and protect your back. Also make sure that it supports not only your back but your whole body as well.

Looking For a Logo Design Company?

Few people realize the value of a proper logo and the impact that a good one can make to their business. You must have observed the logos of multinational companies and must have looked at them in awe. Well, they were planned and designed meticulously to make them awe inspiring. After they are the largest representatives of the company and can make or break them. While your representatives work 5 days a week, these logos keep promoting your business 365 days a year without complaining. Most leading companies have logos that speak for themselves. Still not convinced about the power of graphic logo design that keeps on pushing the sales of a company silently from the background?

A properly designed graphic logo speaks more than words and being graphic in nature, they transgress the barriers of the written language. Even a person who does not know English will recognize the graphical representation of 'IBM' Such is the power of a worldwide recognized and accepted logo. There are many new companies who are on their way to becoming famous worldwide and they are very looking for a renowned logo design company that will help them with their logo design problems. Just do a search on the net and you will be flooded with organizations that offer logo design services at rates that will amaze you. You had always thought that a logo design company has high overheads and charge a good sum of money, but these rates?

However, do not accept anything till you have seen it yourself. Not even if the company you found on your online search proclamations that they are the best logo design company on the face of the earth. A reputed logo design company does not have to advertise itself itself so aggressively. They prefer to play quietly and they know that all the major companies know about them and will call on their services whenever required. After all these companies need the help of these advertising agencies every now and then. With the special effects used in TV ads capturing the minds of the people like never before more and more organizations are converting their logos to flashy ones.

You might find them lighting up in all their glory or you might find them surfacing from the depths of the sea. Regardless of the special effects, the basic logo remains the same and the logo design company takes great pains to see that the main logos of organizations are not contained when they are used in conjunction with special effects. So what should you do if you are looking for a reputed logo design company that can provide you with a logo that will make the competition stare at it with awe? The best option is to seek out a friend who is working in the public department of leading multinationals. They know all about advertising and logo designs.

In fact major companies recruit these specialists and most of them have a rock solid background in the advertising industry. Once you have been able to locate such a person ask him or her about the best organization that can do justice to your organization's logo. Once you have been able to settle on a logo design company, it is the time to get a few things in order and to call for a meeting with a few of your senior executives. Explain to them that you are going to entrust the portfolio of designing a logo for your organization to the certain organization and explain the costs to them. Getting a logo designed from scratch costs a tidy sum of money and it might well mean recruiting 2-5 adverting professionals for 2-3 weeks.

You can be assured that these guys do not come cheap. Never try to undertake the design of your company's logo all by yourself or never give the responsibility to people who have no experience in this field. There are many people who claim to be expert logo designers, but the fact is that they hardly know even the rudiments of designing. These so-called, single person logo design company are fresh young people out of high school looking for an avenue of learning. They have dabbled for a few days with special software that are provided to create excellent logos. These programs can not create logos. No software can create logos.

These programs depend on a database of logos that have been sourced from different magazines and then cleaned up of print debris and scanned. People using these programs will just select a logo from the software's database and then alter the same slightly. They may even change the color of the logo and add some special effects to it. While the special effects might look good when you see it at first glance, you can be rest assured that they will not look good when they are finally printed on your company's stationseries and products. The logo design company charges you money for the time and research they will be spending for your product and not for messing around with some readymade logos.

If you still do not believe why these professionals of the logo design company charge so much money for designing a simple logo, just check them out while they are working on your logo. Each and every element that constituents the final logo are calculated mathematically and each of them are proportionate to each other. A well-designed logo should look like a work of art. Do you have any idea of ​​the 'X height' of a character? Do you know what are the 'whiskers' in Serif types and what are Serif types? Do you have any idea of ​​'leading and kerning' and what does 'white space' and 'color balance' means? If you do not know about these things, ask the specialists at the logo design company and they will provide you with the answers and may show you other things too.

Numerology Magic Square Talismans as Money Charms

Magic Squares make a potent talisman or charm for enhancing certain talents and abilities of their bearer. Numerology provides us with a powerful way to construct a personal money charm just for you. Let's see how this can be done.

Date of Birth as a Sigil

In numerology and astrology, your Date of birth is a defining signature element for you. Your entire reading in both disciplines is built around this number. So, if I wish to construct a magic talisman using numbers and associate it's power with you, using your date of birth in the charm is a natural way to build this association.

There are other means, such as using your name or signature in the talisman, but since I'm using numbers to construct the charm anyway, your date of birth makes a perfect sigil to represent you.

Yantra Magic Squares

Yantra magic squares are magic squares built using your date of birth, and your Life Path number as the top row of the square. They are powerful good luck charms for the person they are constructed for. But, they don't necessarily attract wealth and riches to the person.

Eight - The Money Number

In numerology as well as other physic disciplines, eight is associated with money and riches. To specifically attract more money to a person, I can construct a magic square talisman where the rows and columns sum to a number which reduces to (8) using fadic addition. The numbers: 26, 35, 44, 53, 62, 71, 80, 98, and 107 all have this properity.

So, in order to create my talisman, I start with someone's Yantra magic square, and then change the last box in the top row from their Life Path number, to a number which produces a square where the rows sum to (8).

Let's look at an example to see my meaning.

Johnny Depp's Money Talisman

Actor Johnny Depp was born on June 9th, 1963; so his Life Path number would be (7) as shown below.

Life Path = (06 + 09 + 1963) = (1978) = (1 + 9 + 7 + 8) = (25) = (7)

The first row of his Yantra Magic square we be his Month, Day, Year (less century) and his Life Path number, and would look like this:

( 6 )( 9 )( 63 )( 7 )

The row totals (85) which reduces to (4) by fadic addition. If I substitute a (2) in the last box on the row for his Life Path number of (7), then the resulting row will sum to (80) which will reduce to and (8) using fadic addition.

Making the substitution, and then calculating the rest of the Magic square by formula, I get the following:

( 6 )( 9 )( 63 )( 2 )

( 61 )( 4 )( 4 )( 11 )

( 3 )( 64 )( 8 )( 5 )

( 10 )( 3 )( 5 )( 62 )

Summary

So with a little work, I can create a (4 x 4) Yantra magic square focused on a particular person, and targeted to draw money and financial success to them.

Sexual Hauntings 2 - How To Get Rid Of An Incubus Or Succubus

Are you experiencing strange sexual assaults at night, in your bed, from an unseen force? Are you becoming scared to go to bed now for fear of a recurrence of these horrible attacks? If so, then it is a strong possibility that you have either an incubus (if you're female) or a succubus (if you're male) haunting your house. You therefore need to take urgent steps to get rid of this entity. Divine Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare are the only weapons that can be employed to stop the incubus and succubus.

But how do you actually get rid of such a formidable and frightening demon completely?

Well, the first thing you need to do is to have a good look around your house to see if you have any items or ornaments relating to the occult or witchcraft. You need to pinpoint exactly which items you have bought recently which may have sparked off these paranormal activities. There have been many cases in history where the victim of an incubus or succubus attack has brought into their home, or been given, an object - an item that may have been cursed, or even been used in actual black magic rituals - totally unaware that that object may be carrying dark, malevolent powers. And if you think you have found the likely source of your hauntings, then the best advice you could take would be to get rid of that object immediately.

If, however, there are no possessions in your home which you could reasonably attribute to paranormal activity, then your next step would be to research the history of your home - that is, of course, if you have not long moved into the property and have only just started to experience these night demon attacks. You need to find out everything you can about the place, either from official records or by making enquiries within the neighbourhood: who were the previous residents, did they too suffer similar sexual assaults from demonic entities, and so on.

Once you have solid proof that you do indeed have an incubus or succubus haunting your home, you can then take the necessary steps towards driving out the entity for good. If you a Christian, you must use all your faith to make you strong, and call on the power of The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ - with the assistance of a priest or a similar spiritual leader - to command this evil entity to depart, to leave you alone in peace and never bother you again. As powerful and threatening as the incubus and succubus can be, it is certainly not indestructible, and can quite easily be vanquished, with the help of God and prayer, as easily as Satan himself can be.

If you are not a Christian, then there are alternative methods you can employ to expel your sex demon: aura cleansing with an experienced practitioner, a process which involves "amputating" the cord that ties the entity to you repeatedly; Wiccan rites, which are good for charging the air with positive energy and eliminating the negative energy; and even psychic energy employed by yourself, under the guidance of an experienced medium or psychic, which involves you summoning up all your will power and mental strength to deny the entity all access to both your body and your mind, with a view to eventually causing it to leave your home completely.

Incubi and Sucubi can not force sexual intercourse on an unwilling person strong enough to resist them. They can also be repelled by certain powerful amulets, including the Quabbalah amulet containing the Holy Angelic names Sanvi, Sansanvi Semnageolf.

So next time you are lying in bed and are suddenly awoken, in the middle of the night, by a cold breath on your cheek, a lustfully wandering hand, or the pressure of an unseen body pinning you down to the mattress, please do not feel too afraid, for given the methods of protection I have highlighted, then you can rest assured that this incubus or succubus assault on your body will be a - mercifully - transient one.

7 Tips for Learner Drivers

What is the most important thing that any learner driver should have in him / her: It is very much expected that if you are beginning to give your best because like anyone else, you also believe that driving your own car yourself gives a sense of independence and freedom. But, what most people forget that driving lessons are at the very least, humanly daunting and can break or shatter your confidence level in no time. Here, self-confidence is the most important attribute.

Few non-theoretic and experimental guides for any learner driver:

• Take it at a pace you can adapt to : There is no rush to get your driving license; rather you should take it one at a time. So why hassle yourself to get to the test stage faster than your friend and extremely fail miserably because in this chaotic hurry to learn fast, you forgot to pay attention to minute details.


• Practice, as much as it is possible for any human being : Do not push yourself to read the facts more and more, but push yourself to go out and actually become adept at small and easy drives on the road, be it a highway or near your colony. All you need is someone from your friend circle or family who holds a driving license to sit around you and guide you so that before taking the driving test and trying your level best to ace it, you actually have experienced real life driving lessons and boosted up your trust in yourself which will come handy in your foreseeable driving temperament.


• Stick to an instructor what you can respect: It is universally accepted that get an instructor who teaching style does not bust up your confidence. If you feel that the rapport you share with your driving instructor is not building up your self-reliance and fortitude, then do not hesitate to hire another someone. If your assertive and positive feelings about your driving skills are crumpled down before taking the test, then rest assured, not only you will fail, but that feeling of being a failure will stick around for years.


• Find out the way you learn better : Everyone is a different kind of learner. Someone is methodical; someone learns better when the tricks and tips are explained theoretically while someone might be the hippy who wants to just hit the road and experience bit by bit slowly. So it is your duty to find out how you will work out the steps that need to be learnt.


• Insurance coverage is essential : Advice is to avoid the big-budgeted premiums and opt for the learner driver insurance policy so that you stay protected and yet you do not have to spend a huge amount during the learning phase.


• Ignore the drivers who are nothing but impatient : When you are driving on a busier road, the most important thing that you have to teach yourself is not to get controlled by drivers who for no cause are determined to bother you inconveniently.


• Save yourself from unnecessary anxiety and be aware of traffic rules : This is something very basic and yet very much because because if and when people do not follow the traffic rules, the risks of occurrence of unwanted and unintentional accidents get up a notch.

Home Theater - Your Personal Silver Screen

Home Theater Projector Screens and Surfaces

The recent increased popularity of home video projectors and the large, clear images they can produce has led many new arrivals to the Home Theater real to choose a video projector as their display device of choice. Video projector images look best when directed onto a properly matched screen surface. Although some anxiously new owners may premierely start by aiming their new projector on a white wall - they soon will want to get a projection screen for best results. Video projection screens come in many varieties - from the simple Do-It-Yourself (DIY) homemade screen to the most elaborate, manufactured remote control electric models and those various models in between. Video projector screens also come in a variety of surface finishes and reflectivity ratios. All of these factors should be considered when selecting a screen for your Home Theater.

Screen Surface Types

Home Theater projector screens come in a multitude of surface finishes. The variety of surface finish you will need depends upon your projector model. Screen surfaces vary from matte white, slightly silver or gray-ish, to reflective glass beaded models. Glass beaded models increase the effective brightness of your projector's image similar to the way a highway sign reflects car headlights. Lower lumen-level (lumens = light output) projectors such as CRT models benefit most from higher reflectivity (or gain) of a screen's surface. Higher gain surfaces increase the perceived brightness of the projected image. Conversely - a brighter projector looks best with a matte white or even a silver / gray surface. That is because the glass beads on higher gain screens have a tendency to "splatter" the brighter light waves produced by a high lumen output projector. A silver / gray surface will also enhance the perceived contrast level of LCD projectors which do not have the best contrast / black levels. So first you must decide the type and lumen output of the projector you are purchasing and that will help help determine the surface type of the video projector screen you will need.

Model Types

Projection screens come in three basic styles - manual pull-down, electric and fixed variacies. Manual pull-down models are operated much like a window shade. Electric models have a motorized mechanism that does the work for you and fixed screens are motionless and stay right where you place them. Fixed screens also provide the flattest of all screen surfaces. Pull-down and electric screens can be suspect to a slight waves on their surface. Although not obtrusive if properly cared for, some may prefer the absolute flat surface of a fixed screen model. The drawback to fixed screens is that you must live with them in place whereas retractable models can be deployed for viewing and afterwards be hidden from sight until next use.

Aspect Ratio

There is another very important factor to consider when shopping for a screen - that of the screen's aspect ratio. The aspect ratio of a projection screen refers to the shape of the available screen surface. Screens come in two basic aspect ratios --- 4x3 which is your normal television aspect ratio and 16x9 which is the normal widescreen or HDTV aspect ratio. The aspect ratio of your screen is an important decision to make prior to its purchase. That's because of the fact that once you buy it there's no way to change the aspect ratio - other than masking portions of the screen. You can mask the surface with material or curtains if you want to get creative and that can temporarily change the aspect ratio of your fixed screen.

You will save a lot of time and trouble by thoroughly researching your screen choice prior to its purchase. Whatever your application and needs --- rest assured there is a projection screen surface and model available to fit your particular situation. For further and more detailed information on video projector screen applications for home theaters please refer to the section on projector screens which can also be accessed from the navigation bar at http://www.Home-Theater-Systems-Advice.com .

Save Money On Car Buying

Buying a new car is an adventurous journey, especially when you are purchasing your first car. It is one experience which you will cherish for the rest of your life and there is no doubt that the car we own is a very prized possession which we admire and appreciate. Buying a car is a really exciting affair, yet the entire procedure can be a stressful one, especially since we are making a huge investment to experience luxury.

Purchasing a home, paying for higher education and purchasing a new car are all the heavy investments in our life which makes our dreams come true. There is no doubt that purchasing a car is a costly affair yet there are steps which you can follow that will help you to save money on your car buying process and will surely ensure that you need not give up your dream of owning a car.

Tips to Follow to Save Money during Car Buying

1) Firstly, you need to go and search for both new and used cars. In case your aim is to buy a second or a third car for the family, then you can go in for a used car which will help you to save money on its purchase as well as on the cost of insuring it. There are specific car dealers who are known for offering certified pre-owned cars which is sold with the manufacturer warranty and these cars are available at a fraction of the new cars.

2) You should have an idea of ​​the features you would like your car to possess and ever, you can select the car which has all the relevant features which you would like your car to have. Most of the standard car models are known to have safety and comfort features and the adding of options such as a navigation system and the presence of alloy wheels will certainly assist in decreasing the overall cost of the car.

3) Most of the dealers are known to offer great incentives and you can check out these deals which are provided by various dealers. You can either go in for a low interest rate loan or for cash back incentives which is bound to save you lots of money. Most of the dealers can come up with amazing incentives as per your requirements so you need to analyze the incentive offers which are able to offer you the maximum savings on your car purchase.

4) You need to have a good idea of ​​what kind of financing options is open in front of you. Do not be under the assumption that there are only auto dealers who are able to provide you with car loans. You will be surprised to learn that even banks offer you great terms on their car loans.

5) It would be a wise decision if you visit car dealerships at the end of the month as salesmen need to meet their sales quotations at this point in time and they would like to canvas new customers by accepting genuine incentives which you may put forth.

Seven No-Money Gifts You Can Give Everyday

This year the money has been kinda tight in many families, including ours. As our son turns a teenager (13) and our daughter, turns 15, we've been scratching our heads about exactly what to do for these two teenagers' birthdays. It does not make it any easier that both teenagers' natal day fall on the same day. Attribute that to perfect family planning techniques on our part. Or chuck it up to chance, and you'll be closer to what really happened.

At any rate, I have been thinking of low-cost or non-cost gifts that each of these teenagers can proudly call "cool". Clearly, no easy challenge. But whereas we may actually spend some money giving our children a birthday celebration worth the name, it is my hope that one day they will discover those special gifts in life that cost no money but mean so much more. There are at least 7 such no-money gifts I can think of and ramble about in no particular order.

1. Gracious words: These can be words of thanks, like "Thank you." They can be words of encouragement: "You can make it. Do not give up." What about words of praise or compliment: "You did great! You look sharp. That's a brilliant observation." Words of affirmation: "You are important to our family. You make a difference in our school, company or church." How about words of comfort? "I do not know what it's like to experience what you're going through, but I'm standing with you; I'll support you through this. I'm praying with you." Words of appreciation: "We could not have achieved this without you." What about humor, like a good joke? Or words of greeting: Please say "Good morning" every day when you wake up; yes, "Good morning", even to each person who lives in the same house with you.

2. You can give your ears at no cost to you. How? You listen. Simply listen. You come across as caring, concerned, and wise when you listen to another human being with that feel of empathy, which says, "I understand, I care, I know, I want to know."

3. How about giving your eyes? This is the gift of attention or eye contact, and it does not cost money. Do you know that 'love is in the eye'? A good look can seal the deal between two people as one falls in love, and the other confirm the feeling is mutual. Your eyes, if you are blessed with the gift of sight, are a wonderful gift; use them to give someone special that special look engenders love, confidence, compassion, and the like.

4. Forgiveness: More than a gift to another person who has hurt you or offended, the free gift of forgiveness can heal you and free you just as much as it releases your offender. "I forgive you" is one of the most powerful sentences one person can utter for another to hear. It says you are ready to move on, and so can the other person. Forgiveness sets two prisoners free, though they may still head in different directions from the cell of grudge, bitterness and resentment.

5. Presence: This is one of the most undervalued gifts in our world. Your presence, just being there can make a whole lot of difference. Presence makes a difference in the lives of millions of children. Do you know that a son may drop out of school, use drugs and alcohol, engage in pre-age sex, commit crime, and end up in jail, simply because his dad was 'not there'? Never underestimate the power of 'being there'. The gift of presence is also essential for organizations like a sports team, a church, or a company. What good is a team, a church, or a company if no one shows up, if the players, members, or employees do not attend, if they are never 'there'? Attendance is just another name for the gift of presence. For those who are religious, one of the beliefs that keeps many of them going is a simple promise from the Almighty: "I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I am with you, even to the end of the world. " Presence. What a gift!

6. Smile or Laughter: Few things communicate "I'm on your team" like a genuine smile, or a good laugh. For years now, I have made it a point every day to have one good 'laugh of the day'. If the day wears on, and I have not yet gotten my laugh of the day, I will surf the Internet until I locate a good laugher. But on most days, I get my dose of laughter with a family member, a friend, or even over the phone. By the way, laugh relieves stress and conditions your mind like you know what. By the way, we are speaking of a "laugh with" someone, not a "laugh at" anyone.

7. The Gift of Touch: The Mother Teresas of this world have understood the great gift of that human touch, the tender kind. That gift can shape the personality of a baby for the rest of that child's life. A child that is often touched will develop differently from one who never gets a hug or kiss. A gentle touch from a nurse or doctor can cheer up or even speed up the healing process for a patient, or make the difference between a peaceful death and a traumatic exit from this life. Jesus the Rabbi distinguished himself from other religious leaders and endeared himself to the common people by being a tourer rather than just a detached teacher. He touched the epileptic, those with leprosy, the prostitute, the hated, and he touched his disciples. The touch of Jesus changed lives and brought tears to the eyes of the most macho of men, including Simon Peter, that strong fisherman of Galilee. Never regard a handshake, a hug, an empire, a kiss on the cheek or lips as anything less than a precious gift.

There is little chance that our son or daughter will be impressed with any of these cost-less gifts for their birthday. The good news is that, as their parents, we know that it is these gifts that they will remember the most once they leave our nest. And thankfully, we can dump these precious presences on them just about any day of the week, whether it's their birthday or not.

The Easiest Way Grow Your Online Business Opportunity With Article Marketing

Whether your website is selling a product or a service you need constant exposure to get new visitors to your site. The only way you'll move up the search engine ladder is to learn how to grow your online business opportunity with article marketing. It's really an easy way to find new customers and make more money on the internet!

Search engine optimization, also known as SEO, is essential for moving your site into the top ranked postings on every popular search engine. After all, what's the point of listing keywords and key-phrases associated with your business if you're not going to optimize them?

Your friends are right! Article banks are filled to the brim with back-linked articles that not only get more visitors to the originator's website or blog, but also serve to increase and optimize their site's all important search engine rankings. Aside from providing a greater chance for your business to turn into a viral online success story, marketing through social networks and article data banks just makes good sense.

Article marketing began to gain strength as more business owners began using self produced prose to help promote their business. News editors began frequenting article databases for story leads and the number of hits to the sites grew to enormous proportions.

Article marketing services will write and post informative prose for you all over the web! You won't have to become an internet or SEO-guru to figure everything out. Article marketing services can have the articles written for you and post them to all of the popular article banks.

In fact, simply by providing a keyword or key-phrase, these fee-based services can have a professional writer prepare your articles in as little as twenty-four hours for proofing. Then the article marketing service does the rest of the work.

In fact, there are many services available now that will write your articles and post them for you. All you need to do is supply a small fee and a keyword or key-phrase and Voila! In a day or two your articles are appearing all over the web and your search engine rankings increase accordingly.

You'll get all of the important backlinks needed to get your site noticed for just a few dollars. It's like getting big business level assistance for the price of a few Venti Lattes! What could be better than that?

Article writing and submission services range from $15 per unposted article to as much as $3,500 or more per posted article or prepared press release. There is a service to fit every budget and meet every unique marketing objective.

Whether your enterprise is large or small, you can grow your online business opportunity with article marketing. If you know how to write using keywords and key-phrases properly, the process can cost you nothing more than a little time. But if you would prefer to concentrate on your core business, there are many cost-effective article marketing service approaches that are available.

Tips For Driving A Rental Car In The Rain

Although the rest of the country may be dry in winter, we all know when it rains it pours in the Western and Northern Cape. We also know that driving in the rain can be dangerous and quite disastrous. Moreover, we understand that driving an unfamiliar rental car is not just infuriating, but perilous as well. However, if you were to drive in such inclement weather conditions, here are a few tips to help you prevent accidents caused by rainy climate. Who knows? You might even save yourself from having to pay car hire damages.

The road is slippery:

Without a doubt, the roadway you'll be driving on will be slippery, and the biggest issue with driving in the storm: is traction. Traction mostly occurs when the pavement is wet and develops a firm slick surface which causes tyres to lose grip, making it difficult to stop quickly. Should your rental car slip or hydroplane, it is advisable that you avoid abruptly stepping on the brakes as this can spin your car. Instead, firmly grip your steering wheel and slow down.

By all means, avoid using cruise control.

Don't drive through puddles:

It's storming, so chances of coming across a huge puddle in the roadway are high. You might have an impulse to drive through it. Please, resist that urge. The danger here: that water could be hiding a gigantic pothole. Even more hazardous: water splashing up into the car's engine compartment could damage the electrical system. You don't want to damage a hired car, right? Right.

Your headlights must be on:

Turning your lights on will not only assist you see the road clearer, but it will also help other drivers see you. But, you must try to avoid turning on the high beams as they can actually obscure your vision further. If you're driving a car equipped with fog lights, try to flip them on. The low light from these headlamps may help upsurge your visibility in the rain.

Keep at a distance:

When it's raining it takes longer to have control over the car. You won't be able to stop, brake or turn as quickly. The other vehicles on the road won't as well. So driving slower and keeping a distance between you and other drivers is crucial.

If you can, keep your tyres and steering ranged with the car driving in front of you. Why? Because, the car in front of you is shifting and pushing water away, clearing the roadway, while, it creates a better driving surface for you.

Avoid driving next to big cars:

Trucks and buses make big water splashes that can hit your windshield and briefly block your sight.

Driving on a muddy road:

Now, you've ventured from the wet tarred roads of the city, into the mud-coated country roads. In this case, two things may happen: you might get through it without an incident, or you may get stuck.

One thing is guaranteed though, you will skid. But, don't hit the brakes. Be aware of where your front wheels are pointing. Drive slowly. Driving slowly will decelerate your vehicle, and ensure you gain traction. Once you're in control of the rental car again, keep going.

What if you get stuck? Keep a steady pressure on the gas pedal. Press your accelerator. Doing so will create a light wheel spin, which will whirl the mud from the tread, giving the tyres a grip again. If that doesn't work, turn the steering wheel back and forth. Moving the wheels, may allow the tread a chance to gain enough grasp to keep your car moving.

Should your car be unable to move forward, try to throw the transmission into reverse. Chances are: you might return to a dry roadway. Slowly ease onto the accelerator, and hopefully, out of the mud. Once you're out - before resuming to normal speed, give the tyres a chance to kick the sludge out of the tread.

Clean the rental car:

You don't want to pay for car rental damages! So clean the car, because mud holds moisture against metal, which leads to rust and corrosion. Dried mud on a drive shaft, may throw it out of alignment and cause damage.

Fenugreek Breast Enlargement - 3 Things Needed For Fenugreek Breasts Augmentation

Rather than to merely ingest breast enlargement supplements and pray for miracles to occur, it is far better for you to know the facts about Fenugreek breast supplementation. Particularly, in the current worldwide marketplace for natural breast enlargement without surgery, one of the most common ingredients you will find included within top-notch breast augmentation supplements is Fenugreek.

Thus, it can become a great benefit for you to know exactly what Fenugreek breast enlargement should truly comprise. Now, you will encounter one problem when you attempt to gather research data on the success rate of this nutrition enhancing herb.

The reason why the above rings true is because worldwide or even United-States-only statistics about Fenugreek breast size remain generally lacking. The greatest supportive details happen to originate from foreign countries like China, Egypt, or India, for example, where usage of this supplement has a much longer history and people speak out about its actual and lasting benefits.

For the most part, Americans are still guessing and hoping that at least SOME partial benefit can come from herbal breast supplementation or utilization. On that note, here are the basic facts about WHAT the Fenugreek breast enlargement herb basically comprises.

-- Fenugreek contains "saponins" that also tend to inhibit the absorption of bad cholesterol.

-- Within the body, absorbed Fenugreek molecules create a fiber very similar to mucilage, providing a helpful "stickiness."

-- The Fenugreek herb can offer possible benefits in blood sugar and body weight lowering.

Yet, for purposes of natural breast enhancement, here is the reality:

Fenugreek intake tends to increase breast size plus milk production primarily for nursing mothers. Thus, only very partial perks like these can come to ordinary women who simply want to expand their breast tissue for non-feeding purposes.

However, the very slight feelings of fullness that DO come from using this breast enhancement herbal supplement are enough for many women to appreciate. Normally, ladies tend to rely upon ONLY ONE SOURCE for comprehensive breast augmentation -- and, especially in regard to Fenugreek breast enlargement, herein lay one of the central problems that cause countless individuals to miss the mark of natural breast enhancement achievement.

Enhancing your breasts in a natural way calls for MULTIPLE holistic approaches. In order to maximize your success, you must combine these techniques in a synergistic plus intentionally combined way.

The previous explanation about the PHYSICAL properties of Fenugreek provides you with a clearer understanding of its herbal foundation; however, be it known that breast enlargement supplements do NOT work successfully in an "isolated" mode. Meaning, there are at least three other things you must do in order to make herbal breast augmentation work for you.

You can use the following three tips to secure your Fenugreek breast enlargement goals:

ONE: NUTRITION -- It is possible for breasts to shrink because of poor nutrition. Therefore, consume the types of foods that tend to enhance breast appearance, fullness, and growth. Here, even Fenugreek is a food-based nutrient, and its mucilaginous consistency tends to apply an appearance of fullness over time.

TWO: EXERCISE & WEIGHT LIFTING -- Support the very foundation of your breast tissue by pumping up the muscle layers upon which they rest. You may be hearing this tip very often; however, there is one missing element. That is, while BUILDING up breast tissue via exercise, you can also use AEROBIC exercises to REDUCE the midsection of your body. Thus, a thin and firm waist line does wonders for the appearance and contour of your entire body.

Continuing with your three tips for Fenugreek breast enlargement...

THREE: Apply phyto-estrogen cream topically to the skin of breast regions; yet, using such creams in combination with thorough and safe breast massage stroking is the best way to apply them. In this way, you will be giving your breasts the PHYSICAL activity they need, plus stimulate the mild inner workings of breast hormonal function.

HEPA Vs. HEGA Filters - What's the Difference?

Many of us retreat to our homes for security and relaxation, only to find that our senses are constantly being attacked by a variety of asthma and allergy-related culprits.

The EPA has repeatedly warned the public of the dangers of poor indoor air quality, and unfortunately, even the most immaculate home can be teeming with pollutants. Virtually every home is affected by indoor particulates, and this is especially true if your home was built in the last 20 years or so, as energy-conservation efforts enacted in the 1970s required homes to be built especially air-tight. Common sources of indoor air pollutants can include dust, carpet, furnishings, household cleaning products, pets, and cigarette smoke. Unfortunately, exposure to these contaminants can result in a range of health problems such as asthma, allergies, respiratory disorders, and even cancer.

One way to combat these airborne irritants is to use a high-quality air purifier to clear the air. Air purifiers can also help remove vapors from carpets and textiles, cleaning products, and other pollution particulates that can jeopardize your health.

Studies have shown that clean air helps you sleep better and breathe easier, and looking for an air purifier may seem confusing at first. One of the most effective ways at controlling particulates is through the use of a high-efficient particulate filter, but finding the right kind of filter can even be difficult. Two popular types of air filters are HEPA and HEGA, and while these two terms may seem interchangeable, they are also quite different, as they are used to filter out different types of pollutants.

HEPA technology has been around since the 1930s and is essentially a type of filter media that allows air to pass through. This type of filter is highly efficient at particle abatement, and is 99.97% effective in capturing particles 0.3 microns or larger (including common pollutants such as dust, hair, dander, and pollen). HEPA technology was originally developed by the Atomic Energy Commission to create clean and safe environments for troops, researchers, and scientists.

Because of a HEPA filter's ability to remove particles from the air, it is the most common method of air purification. When purchasing an air purifier with HEPA filtration, look for True HEPA filters, as these must pass independent tests and perform at a certain standard to receive the distinction of a True HEPA filter. Also, when deciding on a HEPA air purifier, pay close attention to the filter's construction. Warm-roled HEPA filters are best, as these are not prone to cracking, and air purifiers utilizing warm-rolled and pleated HEPA filters also increase filtration efficiency.

On the other hand, HEGA filters serve a different purpose. HEGA stands for High Efficiency Gas Absorption, and this type of filter was developed about a decade ago by the British Army as a defense against chemical warfare. HEGA filters are composed of a carbon cloth and are considered to be many times more efficient than granulated activated carbon at adsorption of gaseous pollutants, chemicals, and odors. Because of their efficiency, light weight, and easy workability, air purifiers with HEGA filters are now becoming more popular, especially in air purifiers geared towards allergy, chemical, gas, and odor control. In fact, some air purifiers even use HEGA filters in combination with HEPA filters to provide complete air purification.

Therefore, by choosing a HEPA or HEGA air purifier, you can rest assured that you will get the same purification technology used by the government and have complete and thorough filtration of particulates, gases, and VOCs.

The True Meaning of the Word Freedom

Freedom is a very powerful word. Webster's dictionary defines freedom in many different ways, but this is the one that really stuck out to me. Freedom is the state of being free - liberated from slavery, restraint or the power of another. When I read this definition, the Bible verse Acts 12:7 ran through my mind- And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. Can you imagine the delight in Peter's heart as those chains released his hands and he was no longer in captivity?

You too have the opportunity to escape captivity and live in freedom for the rest of your life. Can you imagine actually being free financially, spiritually, socially, emotionally and physically? For most people that seems completely unrealistic, but I'm here to tell you it can be your reality. Remember, inside the word impossible is possible. It is possible for you to have freedom in every area of your life!

In the United States, we observe Independence Day on the fourth of July. There are fireworks exploding in the air across America in celebration of our freedom, which was made possible by the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. When that document was signed, it was "declared" that America was free. Let me ask you a question. When will you declare your independence? When will you declare your freedom? Before you can achieve it, you must believe it so say it out loud now... I DECLARE THAT I AM FREE IN EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE! THE SHACKLES ARE GONE! I AM FREE!

After you declare that you are free, you need to understand exactly what freedom is to you. If you don't know what it is, then how are you going to achieve it? What is freedom to you? I'm going to break down each letter of the word F-R-E-E-D-O-M, and I want you to visualize what it really means to you.

The first letter in the word freedom is 'F', which stands for focus. Are you focused on being free in every area of your life? If not, then you need to shift your focus and become focused on your freedom. Most people don't become truly free in their lives, because they are comfortable or simply aren't courageous enough to stretch themselves beyond their current life boundaries. Take advantage of getting uncomfortable and stretching yourself, because to be free you have to do things differently than most people.

Just imagine standing inside of an average size circle every single day. Your current job, friends, habits and overall way of life are also in the circle. Can you feel it getting tight? Don't you have the urge to step outside the circle? Now, imagine extending your foot, stepping outside of the circle and feeling an ultimate sense of relief. You have room to move and make decisions that you couldn't make inside that circle. Sadly, you will never get to leave that circle because it's the limit that you've placed on your life unless you make the decision get focused on your freedom and stretch yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Whatever you focus on everyday will determine whether or not you achieve freedom in your life. One of the main objectives that you should focus on is taking advantage of every single minute in your day. If you are scheduled and plan your day, then you are forging forward towards freedom. On the other hand, if you lay in bed at night, reflect back on your day and have no idea what you did all day long, then you are allowing time to take advantage of you. I often hear people say, "I have no idea where the time went." It's one of those moments when I have to bite my tongue, because I want to tell that person that they are wasting their time instead of investing it.

Time is our biggest form of currency so we must spend it wisely. If you focus on freedom and invest your time wisely, then you are one day closer to being free instead of remaining entrapped. While working with one of my coaching students, I asked her to show me her planner. I wanted to know where she was investing her time, because she was stuck in a rut. Surprisingly, she had every single minute of her day scheduled. This woman knew where she was every minute of the day and led an extremely busy lifestyle. However, I looked closer at the actual activity and saw the issue. I explained to her that just because she was active didn't mean that she was productive. She filled her day with meaningless tasks that created activity instead of accomplishment. Just because your calendar is full doesn't mean that you are investing your time wisely. I encourage you to sit down and take a good look at where you're spending your time and how some of those insignificant, waste of time activities are pushing you further away from your freedom.

Another determining factor in whether or not you become free is what you actually look at on a daily basis. I love to take photos with other champions at events and have built a Why wall in my office in South Florida. This wall is filled with not only pictures but also letters, art, cards and many more positive, inspirational things that I have received from people all over the world. In my home office or as I prefer to call it my "construction zone", I have pictures of my own dreams and goals. I focus on these things every day as I sit in my construction zone and build my business. No matter the obstacle that I encounter, I'm constantly reminded of my Why in life, because I see it in front of me.

What are you looking at? If your answer to that question is "nothing", then that's exactly what you are doing to achieve freedom in your life...NOTHING. In my favorite book, The Bible, it states that a man without a vision will perish. Another way of saying it is that a person without focus in pursuit of his dream will fail. I cringe when see someone reading those garbage books and magazines that highlight all the gloom and doom in the world. Can you really expect to achieve freedom in your life if you are focusing your mind and eyes on that trash? I challenge you to throw out the garbage and start reading positive, inspirational material. You can also take it a step further and hang some pictures of your dreams and goals in your construction zone. You won't believe how quickly your results will skyrocket when your focus is shifted!

If you're saying, "That sounds easy. All I have to do is organize my planner and hang a few pictures then I will be focused on achieving freedom in my life." YOU ARE WRONG! It's not a one step process. It's daily focus in every area of your life. When I say that you have to be focused, I don't mean that you just simply think about freedom sometime during the day. You need to be focused like a sniper with a laser pointed at his target...laser-focused! If you let anything or anyone distract you, then your target (freedom) will no longer be in sight.