CHRIS NORMAN - Breathless Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Chris Norman (born Christopher Ward Norman, 25 October 1950, in Redcar, North Yorkshire) is an English soft rock singer. Norman was the lead singer of Smokie, an English glam rock band from Bradford, which found success in Europe in the 1970s.That part of his career took off in 1986 with the song, "Midnight Lady", which was a hit throughout Europe holding the number one spot in Germany for six weeks. Written by Dieter Bohlen, it sold 900000 copies in Germany alone. Album: Coming Home (2006).



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByamDOe_7MI&hl=en

Safety First On Halloween Night

How many times have you seen on your local news, stories about children being hit by a car on Halloween night because they dashed out into the street without thinking or ran out between parked cars? It breaks my heart when I hear something like that. For a child Halloween is such an exciting and fun night that sometimes they forget all the safety rules you've ever taught them. They are so excited to get to the next house that they shoot across the street without even thinking of looking both ways. I've seen it many times in my neighborhood (thankfully no cars were coming); especially when kids are following each other and one falls behind. They dart across the street just trying to catch up with their friends.

On a normal day, most parents know what safety precautions to take when it comes to their child's safety, but do you know the extra lengths we should go to on Halloween night? It is our responsibility to make sure the children are safe. Even the littlest precautions can mean a lot.

• If you're driving, you have to be aware of the children. Drive SLOWLY! Watch for children to run out between cars or in the middle of the street. This is so important to stress if you have a teenage driver. When backing down your driveway be careful to make sure it is clear. Do not pass stopped cars, they may be unloading children.


• Have your child wear clothing with reflective markings or tape. There are also glow sticks, pumpkin flashlights and other similar items that you can buy to have your child wear around their neck or pin to their costume so that they are clearly visible to motorists after dark.


• Accompany your child around the neighborhood. If you can't, make sure another adult is with them to supervise. As a parent you know if your child is "old" enough to go around the neighborhood with their friends without you, however it helps to have them wear a watch so they know when the trick-or-treat hours are over and when to head home. Always know exactly where they will be and what route they're taking.


• When picking out a costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material. Avoid loose-fitting costumes or billowing material which could accidentally come into contact with a flame. Make sure they have on comfortable shoes that fit.


• Check your child's costume and make sure it's not dragging the ground where they could trip and hurt themselves. Face paint is always a good substitution for a mask, however if they do have to wear one make sure they have nose and mouth openings and large enough eye holes so as not to block their line of vision.


• Make sure they know to only go to houses that are well lit and ones that they know someone is home. They should never enter a stranger's home.


• Have them bring their candy home first before eating anything. Go through it with them and throw out anything you're not sure about. Have them eat dinner before they go out trick-or-treating. That way they're not as hungry and won't fill up on too much candy.

On Halloween night it's tradition in my family to order pizza and have it delivered. It's such a hectic night with trying to get everyone situated into their costume that it's easier than fixing a big dinner - plus the kids love it. But remember to order early because apparently it's not just a tradition in our household. Pizza has become the new "Halloween night dinner" and is among the top five nights of the year for home deliveries along with - the day before Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Super Bowl Sunday.

All parents want their children to be safe. Just use common sense on Halloween night. It's really important especially for younger children, that you go out with them so that you can be their eyes and ears. To them safety is not their top priority - so it has to be yours!

Anna Bradford is an author and blogger for Halloween Express where you'll find the absolute largest selection of Halloween costumes and costume accessories available anywhere including the latest Teen Costumes and Sexy Costumes. Halloween Express is the costume authority.

10 Tips For Booking Family Package Holidays Tuesday, September 28, 2010

If you're thinking about going away this year and are contemplating on of the many family package holidays available, then you'll want to make sure that you're getting the best deal, and going to the right destination for you and your family.

Here's what you need to think about.

1. You'll want to establish when you'll go on holiday. Will you choose the summer holiday when the children are off school, or will you choose earlier or later in the year when the prices aren't as high, and the availability might be better?

2. You might be limited as to how long your holiday can be. Can you only take a certain amount of time off work? Do you have other commitments that mean you can't be away too long? There's no point in looking at going halfway round the world for a week's holiday.

3. Perhaps you'll want to establish why you're going on holiday. It might be to relax by the sea for a couple of weeks, or to go site seeing.

4. It's important that you establish where you're going on holiday. You'll want to get all the family involved in this, so that they all have a say in where they go on holiday. You might want to consider that visiting certain places might be beneficial for you children's school work, such as history or so that they can practice their language skills.

5. Perhaps not all family members want to go with you, or there may be a compromise involved. Younger children are likely to be very exhibited about going on holiday, whereas teenagers might not like the idea of going on holiday with mum and dad again.

6. You and the rest of your family will also want to see what there is to do at your destination. You might want a pool or a beach, or more exciting or adventurous activities.

7. Perhaps you'll choose somewhere that offers the best of both worlds, so that those who want to relax can do, and those who want to explore more of their holiday destination will find plenty to see and do.

8. When it comes to booking family package holidays, you'll be faced with the choice of booking online or at a travel agent. Depending on your needs, and how complicated your requirements are, you might be better off booking online and saving time and money. Alternatively, you might want to seek the expertise of an established travel agent if you have any questions.

9. The cost of your holiday is important, although you'll want to make sure that you and the rest of your family have a good time, and enjoy the change of scenery, rather than thinking about holidaying on a budget.

10. When thinking about your holiday budget, you might also need to factor in family holiday travel insurance, a hire car, airport parking, or taxis to and from the airport.

Now you know more about how to choose and book your holiday, the only hard decision is to choose which of the many family package holidays is right for you.

Discover incredible benefits and exclusive Family Package Holidays only for Candis members, at Candis.co.uk. Whether you're looking for a UK holiday, want more information about Cheap Family Travel Insurance, or want to save money on your next cruise or coach holiday, you'll find everything you need at Candis.co.uk. Why not see how much you could save on your next family holiday by joining Candis?

Business And The Recession - How Full (Or Empty) Is Your Glass? Monday, September 27, 2010

....It's getting worse!

Recession has been the spectre looming over us all since 2008 and it's getting worse again.

But what is a recession? The technical definition of a recession is a decline in GDP (gross domestic product) for two or more consecutive quarters. By that measure, Southern Ireland is now officially in a recession and the UK is nervously looking over the precipice. We're not there yet, but it could be coming.

But the problem is that psychologically, we are already in meltdown mode and everyone's new favourite phrase is "credit crunch." In 2008, our eyes and ears were continuously assaulted with overwhelming evidence of doom;

• 
  UK retail sales dropped to a 25-year low in July,
  


• 
  US investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed after 160 years in operation,
  


• 
  AIG, the world's largest insurer, was nationalized by the US government to prevent its failure,
  


• 
  Bradford and Bingley, the UK's biggest buy-to-let mortgage lender, was nationalized,
  


• 
  Mortgage lending and house sales were at the lowest levels for years,
  


• 
  In October 2008, the UK stock market had its biggest falls for 21 years...
  

OK, STOP!

It's too easy to listen to the doom and gloom every day and sink into a sea of negativity, but let's look at this thing from another angle; we are going through difficulties, which are likely to get worse, but we know that at some time in the future, in the words of the song, "Things can only get better."

So the key, both personally and if you own a business, is to think long-term - and think positively! Stuff happens - it's how you react that's important. For business owners, mindset is key to success, so here's a thought to consider...

RECESSION IS GOOD!

It sounds a little brutal, especially if your business is struggling, or you have recently lost your job and are struggling to pay bills. But it's true! Over the long-term, recession is good for an economy, cooling down overheated market sectors and removing weaker operators. For an individual business, recession can be good because;

• 
  It eliminates laziness - businesses and their employees have to work harder to survive in difficult times.
  



• 
  It removes complacency - it's often too easy to make money during the good times. In hard times, businesses need to be smarter and more focused in order to succeed. A client who runs a small carpet retail outlet recently told me that, although his sales were not increasing, his profits had improved because the difficult trading conditions had forced him to run the business more efficiently.
  



• 
  It creates opportunities - weaker competitors will fail, certain types of business will thrive (discount supermarkets, pawnbrokers and gold traders are currently seeing record levels of business) and changing times and customer needs will create potential market opportunities for new businesses to be launched.
  

So plan for the long- term and stay positive. And to increase your chances of riding out the downturn, here are few suggestions:

1. 
   Act quickly. Look for ways to reduce costs and inefficiency, without compromising the business.
   


2. 
   Reduce debt levels, avoid taking on other debts and reduce the cost of existing debt.
   


3. 
   Get closer to your customers. Find out what they really want from you.
   


4. 
   Get closer to competitors. Copy their successes, avoid their errors and pick up their business if they fail.
   


5. 
   Diversify - look for opportunities created by the changing economic environment.
   


6. 
   Keep marketing and selling. If you are not making enough revenue, sell more.
   


7. 
   Keep working on your business and looking for ways to improve it.
   


8. 
   Get help. Organisations such as Business Link are there to help - use them.
   

Keep a sense of perspective - it's only a recession, not the end of the world. At some time we will start coming out the other end, so stay optimistic, deal with the problems now and start making preparations for a healthier future...

Michael Barrows is a business consultant, providing business consultancy services in Birmingham. Get some great advice on how you can improve your business, including tips on surviving the recession, by going to the Matrix Marketing & Management website.

Makeup Class Music Video Sunday, September 26, 2010

Music video from our last day of Makeup Class at ISU. I DO NOT OWN LADY GAGA'S MUSIC OR ANYTHING ABOUT HER!!!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZk__SIMRMw&hl=en

DOG FIGHTING!!!

Old vs. Young fighting dogs



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn6rLYk6ZY8&hl=en

Career Coaches - Why Do I Need One? Friday, September 24, 2010

Wondering if you should hire a career coach? How about a "virtual career coach?" These are coaches that are trained to help you "virtually" - meaning you don't have to get in a car or hop on a plane for them to help you! Here are seven benefits you stand to gain from hiring one:

Benefit One: Virtual Consulting WORKS!

You receive coaching via phone and information either through e mail or hard mail. Resumes, career assessment tests and custom coaching guidance is easily delivered through these mediums.

Benefit Two: It's Super Easy and Convenient

You simply cannot beat having instant resources and support delivered to you- in the comfort of your home or office!

Benefit Three: It Saves You Time

Get the information - right when you need it!

Benefit Four: It's Flexible

You gain your coaches expert advice, motivation, tools and resources consistently - no matter where you are or where you relocate to! No need to find another career coach you can trust if you move!

Benefit Five: It's Affordable

Most executives gain distinct career advantages in the form of meeting their professional goals including salary goals and securing key positions as a direct result of the help they gained through a modest investment in themselves (i.e. hiring a career coach, resume writer or marketer) Working "virtually" yields a tremendous value and immediate help. Additionally, career services are often tax deductible - though you will want to check with your CPA on this!

Benefit Six: Nationwide and Industry Expertise

Most "virtual" coaches have loads of experience virtually in all areas of the Nation and in a multiplicity of industries.

Benefit Seven: It's GREEN!

You are using a limited amount of natural resources through hiring a "virtual" coach!

Would you like to learn how to quickly and easily get more interviews, shorten your job search and increase your salary? Check out my website: http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com, for free articles, free resources and to sign up for my free audio mini-seminar "5 Simple Steps To Find, Focus On and WIN Your Dream Job - Starting Today!" Career marketing expert and nationally certified advanced resume writer Mary Elizabeth Bradford is "The Career Artisan."

Bradford & Bingley - How to Bungle a Share Issue Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The problems besetting Bradford and Bingley started on 14 April 2008 when it denied reports that it intended to raise funds through a rights issue of new shares and sought to reassure depositors, shareholders and the market that it had a strong capital and liquidity base.

On 22 April, Mr Stephen Crawshaw, the Chief Executive, stated that he saw 'excellent growth' during the first quarter of 2008 and that the bank was well funded.

However, on 14 May, B&B announced a rights issue, priced at 82 pence a share in an effort to raise GBP300 million from shareholders. Mr Crawshaw apologised.

This attempt to mislead the markets had backfired, and the share price, which stood at around 185 pence at the end of April, went into free-fall.

On 2 June, B&B issued a profits warning. Mr Crawshaw resigned and was replaced by Mr Rod Kent. At the same time, B&B announced that it planned to sell a 23% stake in the bank to TPG for GBP179 million, by way of new shares. TPG, formerly Texas Pacific Capital, is a global financial institution. A further GBP258 million was to be raised via a revised rights issue at 55p per share. The rights issue was to be underwritten by Citigroup and UBS.

On 23 June, an alternative offer was made to B&B by Mr Clive Cowdery, who represented four of B&B's largest shareholders - Legal & General, M&G Investment Mangers, Standard Life, and Insight Investment. Mr Cowdery was offering to buy stock at 72 per share. The talks stalled due to B&B's refusal to open its books to Mr Cowdery. At the time, B&B took the view that the proposal by TPG was more attractive and described Mr Cowdery's bid as 'uncertain' and criticised it for ceding too much control to his Resolution investment group.

On 3 July, TPG stated that it intended to withdraw from the deal due to Moody's reducing the credit rating of B&B from A3 to Baa1. The credit rating agency cited B&B's obligation to buy mortgages of up to GBP350 million per quarter from GMAC, a global finance company, until 2009.

The general reaction to this news was one of hysteria and an avalanche of criticism from UK institutions. However, B&B admitted that TPG did have an option to withdraw, should there be a downgrading of its credit rating. Therefore, TPG was not only well within its right to withdraw, but probably correctly concluded that B&B had severe problems of which they had not been previously aware.

The quality of this dubious GMAC portfolio continues to attract severe criticism from shareholders. Moody's also expressed reservations about B&B's buy-to-let mortgages and self certification loans, although these were overshadowed by the GMAC commitment. Several independent commentators have suggested that B&B could lose in excess of GBP400 million, due to write downs, in a final reckoning of its unwise commitment to GMAC.

In addition, the bank remains tied into deals with Aire Valley Master Trust, who have some GBP13 billion of mortgage assets. B&B has GBP11 billion of mortgages in its Aire Valley securitisation programme, which is triple A-rated.

However, Moody's downgrade of B&B's own credit rating means the bank does not enjoy the sufficiently high rating required under the interest rate swap that it provides to the Aire Valley trust.

B&B has to address this matter within 1 month. There are three possibilities - firstly, it could inject an undisclosed amount of extra cash, secondly, it could nominate an intermediary as a counter party, or thirdly, it could find a guarantor.

On 4 July B&B claimed that it had a renewed commitment from the four major institutions who were originally part of the Clive Cowdery offer. This would enable the GBP400 million rights offer to proceed at 55 pence a share.

Behind the scenes, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) was working hard to ensure that B&B did not collapse, as had Northern Rock.

The FSA rescue on Thursday 3 July made an undisclosed facility available to B&B. It has been described as a classic bank of England lifeboat operation. The lifeboat refers to the activities of the Bank of England in lending funds to small financial institutions in the 1970s.

At the same time, the Bank of England has exerted influence, some would say pressure, on some of the largest British banks in an effort to ensure that the underwriting of the rights issue by Citigroup and UBS goes ahead.

At the current market price, which is considerably less than 55p, the underwriters will end up purchasing all the new shares. However, due to the Bank of England's efforts, these losses will now be shared with HBOS, Lloyds TSB, Barclays, Abbey, RBS and HSBC. This will amount to purchasing some GBP230 million or a 33% share in B&B.

Meanwhile B&B has disclosed that the chaotic rights issue of GBP400 million will now cost GBP54 million. This is because the prospectus is now in its third version. Worse still, Goldman Sachs will receive a fee for introducing TPG to B&B. This is despite the fact that no deal was done and TPG walked away.

It now looks that B&B is safe, for the moment, from bankruptcy or being taken into public ownership. However, the rights issue will place the other leading UK banks into a loss making situation. The disaster at B&B was precipitated by a lack of honesty in the statements of the Chief Executive. Once his attempts to mislead the markets were publicised, the share price went into free fall.

Duplicity, or lying, by chief executives of banks is a most dangerous and unwelcome development. Banks operate on the basis of trust, namely depositors entrust them with their life's savings. Bank managers have traditionally advised borrowers to be cautious and ensure they can meet their commitments. This is now exposed as a sham. B&B issued self certification mortgages to anyone who could fill out an application form, and engaged in ill considered deals with global giants such as GMAC.

The embarrassment of announcing a rights issue of new shares was unfortunate, but the fact that the prospectus had to be revised on two successive occasions demonstrates incompetence and ineptitude.

The only player who has emerged from this saga with an untarnished reputation is the Bank of England. In the aftermath of their disastrous handling of Northern Rock, they have regained some credibility.

This has not been achieved by the granting of any new powers to the Bank of England. On the contrary, they have reverted to their traditional and historic role as a lender of last resort. Bankers who were in trouble would arrive in Threadneedle Street at 3pm and drink tea with the Governor. After talking about, Ascot, Wimbledon, Eton or whatever, the banker would indicate that his bank was insolvent and would be forced to declare bankruptcy on the next day. At this point, the Governor would offer a loan, and the matter would be concluded with a handshake.

It is gratifying to see that the Bank of England understands its role in turbulent times.

Leslie Hardy is a noted writer on North Cyprus Property and the UK Chairman of Wellington Estates Ltd. Read more about North Cyprus Investments

Man In A Suitcase - "I just have a thing for small boats"

Scene form 1968 "Man in a Suitcase" episode just after McGill (Richard Bradford) gets a beating. He's out to recover some oceangraphic papers from a researcher whos gone AWOL.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz4usfON6_k&hl=en

My sis has released an EP! Saturday, September 18, 2010

check her out at : www.myspace.com follow her : twitter.com check out her youtube: www.youtube.com and if you really love her check out her blog (yeah she's everywhere) alwaysbwithu.tumblr.com I'm sure you're all on facebook so become a fan! bit.ly



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjcbNvomKxE&hl=en

A Gift For Mother Thursday, September 16, 2010

In the south, Spring is beginning to show up in beautiful blossoming trees and flowers. That means Mother's Day almost here, and it falls on Sunday, May 9, 2010. If your mother loves collectible figurines, then shopping is easy as you can simply add to her collection.

Suppose, however, that you're totally out of ideas, and your mother just doesn't seem the collectible figurines "type"? Maybe you should reconsider - or maybe you just have no idea of the amazing variety of available figurines. From cute to elegant, from whimsical to moving, there really is something for every taste and every personality. Here are some thoughts and ideas to help get you started finding a gift for Mother.

First, you need only think of what your mother enjoys. Is she a sports fan, nature lover, military mom, nostalgia queen? You name it! You're probably aware of figurines such as angels, cats, dogs, fairies, birds and other wildlife. Did you know that you can also find collections such as football, fishing, motorcycles, Gone With the Wind, lighthouses, patriotic, Disney, dragons, Native American, Betty Boop, John Deere, John Wayne, and Elvis?

For a gift that gives back, several lines offer figurines for which a portion of the sales proceeds goes to charity. Give your mother a sleek pink motorcycle figurine, and you'll be contributing to breast cancer foundations. Thomas Kinkade offers a collection called "Commitment to Caring" that supports Alzheimer's research. These days I don't know anyone who hasn't somehow been touched by one of those dread diseases. What a wonderful way to give to mother and humankind at the same time.

If your search is for the more traditional figurines styles, you may want to look at lines such as Precious Moments, Lladro, Nao, and Goebel Hummel. For emotion and sentiment, Willow Tree Figurines are very expressive. More whimsical yet still touching styles can be found in collections such as Boyds Bears. Stepping completely out of the box, check out The Bradford Exchange for that cool pink motorcycle and lots of other unique figurines that just might suit your mother perfectly.

Of course, only you will know what's exactly right for your mother, and for the message you want to send. Our mothers are all so very unique with such different interests and personalities. Even so, whether you want to touch your mother's heart or make her laugh, you can find the perfect gift for your mother in the world of collectible figurines.

Happy Mother's Day!

Susan LaBorde is a Web Designer and Internet Entrepreneur who is passionate about spirituality, helping others build success in their lives and businesses, all things family, and anything geeky (technology related, that is).

Mother's Day is May 9. It's never too early to shop! Find a gift for Mother among the beautiful selections available from Susan's Collectible Figurines.

Don Bradford made Kalamazoo Gibson Guitars Sunday, September 12, 2010

Bradford worked at Gibson until 1982, doing a number of jobs, including filing frets and final adjusting. He was one of several employees who could play guitar, and play well. One of his favorite parts of the job was the impromptu jamming at the end of the day. Since several employees played, they'd pick up an instrument and a group jam session would break out. "We were like a happy family," Bradford said. Bradford plays Chet Atkins "Windy and Warm" Video by Mark Bugnaski / Kalamazoo Gazette Mlive



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFEWlCgc1cU&hl=en

Collagen and Health

Six years ago the captain of the British modern pentathlon team, James Greenwell, suffered a tendon injury to his ankle just at the peak of his career. Experts told James that it would take three months to repair the damage, so effectively ending his career. He felt there had to be an alternative so began research to find a faster acting treatment.

James ended up at the door of Professor Greg Whyte, Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at John Moore's University, Liverpool. Professor Whyte had been researching the use of collagen hydrolysate so suggested James went on a treatment of fifteen tablets a day. The injury improved so markedly that after an amazing 22 days, James resumed training. His experience means that other Olympic athletes use collagen tablets to treat similar injuries.

Collagen makes up about 76% of the skin, muscles and connective tissues in the body so is the most common structural protein we have in our bodies. Problems arise with age: at the age of twenty-five the human body starts to lose collagen at an annual rate of 1.5%. By the age of forty-five 30% has been lost.

Such a loss of collagen shows itself in a loss of peak physical performance (it is more noticeable the more vigorous the activity) and the ageing of the skin. Clearly lessened support for joints results from a reduction of collagen in ligaments, tendons, muscles, cartilage and connective tissues and explains such conditions as muscular skeletal injuries and arthritis. A reduction can also affect the immune system. The body therefore benefits from good collagen health.

Several studies back these theories. Recently a study jointly undertaken by the University of Munich and Stamford University examined two thousand sufferers (both male and female) of osteoarthritis in the knee and hip joints. 75% of those studied who used a collagen supplement reported increased mobility and a reduction of pain.

A study of four hundred American, German and British patients experiencing arthritic knees was made by Cape Western University. Some patients received collagen and the rest a placebo. Of those treated with collagen, 93% showed positive results, some after just two weeks. There was a general reduction in pain and an improvement in mobility. Similarly a project at Harvard Medical School showed 90% of those treated in this way had an improvement in mobility.

Supplementing the body's collagen has taken several forms including creams and injections but probably the most efficient method of delivering the protein is in capsule form.

James Greenwell teamed up with Professor Greg Whyte on his retirement from athletics and marketed a collagen health supplement capsule. Together they created a company, Party On, and a brand, Proto-col, and distributes the capsules from their head office in Bradford-Upon-Avon in Wiltshire along with a range of other health and beauty products.

Perhaps it's not surprising the beauty industry and celebrities are taking a great interest in their collagen health.

Keith Braithwaite has had twenty years in and keenly observing direct selling. He is an accredited Proto-col affiliate. Other passions include personal development, painting, drawing, photography cycling, walking and the outdoors generally.

Come over to Be Ravishing to find out more about collagen health and natural mineral cosmetics, natural dietary supplements and natural skin treatment.

Please - Be Ravishing

Anneke Soetaert / Denk er nog eens over na! (1965) Friday, September 10, 2010

Belgian girls in the garage: www.facebook.com ANNEKE SOETAERT (aka Ann Soetaert, Ann Gogo) was born on November 7, 1947 in Flanders. She took part in the BRT (now VRT) TV program "Ontdek de ster" in 1963. With her soulful version of "Knock On Your Door", she immediately won the first prize. 1967, she took part in the pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, where Louis Neefs eventually won in the final. In the meantime, she cut 2 singles sung in German under the alias ANN GOGO. In 1970. she got married to Scott Bradford, American pianist of Jess & James/JJ Band and moved with him to Florida.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO9HnTXoJCc&hl=en

How to Choose Good Books Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Good books show their standing through high sales figures and high search figures on the internet. The 5 most popular categories based on these criteria (in descending order of importance) are Children's books, Management books, Fiction books, Books on Business and, Sales books.  

Children's books are a popular choice as gifts. They are valuable as they help develop the child's reasoning and imaginative abilities and expand his/her vocabulary. They also aid in instilling sound moral values.  

But choosing the right book for a specific child can be a challenge and the following guidelines should help.  

Children can be grouped into categories according to their approximate age and a useful grouping is that of preschool, junior school, high school and young adults. This broad grouping should allow the preliminary elimination of certain books.  

Next, any book with sensitive content can be eliminated. This would include all books which would not be in line with the family's values e.g. those which promote a specific religious point of view and those which require maturity to handle such as gratuitous violence and sexuality.  

The gender of the child will further eliminate additional types of books.  

Management books relate to the effective and efficient activities involved in the operation of a business. They cover the common activities of  Business Intelligence Management, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Information Technology Management, Marketing Management, Production Management, Service Management and, Strategic Management,  

It should be noted that most of the books are either heavily skewed towards theory, which makes it difficult to put their content directly into practice, or are based on case studies of organisations which were successful in the past.  

Case-study based books are also normally those which make the bestseller lists but suffer from two basic defects. Firstly, their content reflects the author's definition of success and success factors. Secondly, they use the past to suggest future "success" managerial actions. These two defects are reflected in the fact that the majority of these so-called successful companies used as examples are usually no longer so successful when looked at today. Further, that the application of these identified "success" factors in similar organisations rarely result in the required improvement.  

Management books are nevertheless important and serve a valuable function as long as the reader realises that their content has to be adapted to his/her unique situation and uses their content as broad guidelines.

Fiction books are those which feature invented stories and consist of the following sub-categories:  

• Horror fiction whose aim is to frighten the reader by exploiting his/her conscious and/or unconscious fears. The best known authors are Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Clive Barker.  


• Mystery fiction which are usually based on a main character trying to solve a crime. It has three sub-categories which are crime, detective and spy. Successful authors in this category are John Sandford, Michael Connolly, Robert B Parker, Sue Grafton, Kathy Reichs and James Lee Burke.  


• Romance fiction which usually feature a lover having to overcome great hurdles to be with the love of his life. Authors in this category are Danielle Steele, Barbara Cartland and Daphne Du Maurier.  


• Science fiction/Fantasy books which have stories set in imaginary worlds using advanced technologies. This category has increased in popularity due to films such as Star Wars, Star Trek and, more recently, The Matrix and successful authors include J.K. Rowling, Arthur C. Clark, Ray Bradbury and J.R.R. Tolkien. 


• Suspense/Thriller fiction which commonly features a character exposed to constant threat whilst up against a villain. The best known authors in this category are Clive Cussler, Lawrence Sanders, Frederick Forsythe, Richard North Patterson and Tom Clancy.  


• Western fiction about life on the American frontier. Louis Lamour is the best known author of western fiction.  


• Woman's fiction which tends to focus on relationships. They usually feature a strong woman character that triumphs in extremely difficult circumstances. Authors in this category are Judith Krantz, Rebecca Wells and Barbara Taylor Bradford.

Books on Business are distinguished from Management books in that they are slightly more of an academic nature and cover subjects which are universal  Common recent examples of these are ethics, organisational structuring, the state of the world markets and international financing. 

A predicted future factor whose implications will have to be catered for by all organisations is the growing counter-reaction to "Human rights" in the form of "Human responsibilities" for which a Universal Declaration has already been formulated by the InterAction Council of Political and Religious Leaders.

On a local level they also include all the books related to the legalities of running a business which are published by all relevant authorities.

Sales books cover the spectrum from organizing and managing a sales team to sales skills and are especially popular during economic downturns.  

An important distinction must be made between the sales activities required when selling an object and when selling a service as it is apparent that there are two totally distinctive skill sets and procedures involved. Would you trust your friendly local car salesperson to obtain and administer your personal financial investments?  

Despite this obvious difference many authors tend to adopt a "one size fits all" approach to sales and then e.g. advocate the use of their developed "closing techniques" for all sales types.  

Interesting enough when you go back in history you will find that the common sales approach underlying most of the sales models today was developed for pharmaceutical representatives in the past whose job it was to deduct stock level quantities on a pharmacy shelf from their recommended levels and then to replace the sold numbers of items.  

A single approach to both types of sales is doomed to failure and this must be kept in mind when buying sales books.  

Used books or second-hand books vs new books: In the past buying used or second-hand books tended to have a stigma attached to it and it was not the "done thing". However, if you consider that the only difference between a good quality used book and a new book is the price then it is obvious why these types of stores have mushroomed.  

Besides the cost savings, which allow you to buy even more books, an avid reader could use the opportunity to browse the store, whether it is a physical or virtual store, and thereby identify other books by his/her favourite authors. It is also a chance to become acquainted with new authors or new characters by current favourite authors.  

 It also allows you to buy those books which have been out of print.  

Books on sale. If you still choose to buy new books then it is wise to continuously keep an eye out for sales held by the larger bookstores during which they sell new stock at a lower price. This is usually when their sales projections have not been realised and they are left with excess stock. You can either physically visit their stores, or visit their websites, on a regular basis to find out when they are having sales.  

Mike Wannenburg writes on how to choose good children's, management, fiction, sales, used/second-hand books and, books on sale. You can get more specific guidelines from my blog

How to Choose Good Books

http://howtochoosegoodbooks.blogspot.com

Charlene.m4v Monday, September 6, 2010

So I was up biking in northern PA when I came across this very chill young doe.. Meanwhile plenty of little deer went bounding away into the woods during this ride, this young lady was totally fine with me standing about 10 feet away...and then even followed my for 1/4 mile upon my departure.. A nice moment for my 33rd bday ;)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky2NT1-PuYA&hl=en

Thomas Bradford, Joel Yoshonis & Kevin Kozel - Foxy Lady Friday, September 3, 2010

Thomas, Joel and Kevin rock Mojo's Coffee House in Grand Haven, Michigan.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Eou4f05po&hl=en

Making Money While Travelling - Helpful Tips For Backpackers to Stay on Budget Wednesday, September 1, 2010

If your travelling on a budget, lets say backpacking around the world, the idea would have crossed your mind... I wonder if I can make a little money while I'm travelling, so I can travel for longer? With the internet in every corner of the world now it's becoming easier and easier... Depending on how much work you want or how deeply you want to integrate into a foreign country there plenty of options. A great place to start is in Travel writing. It's free to do and while your backpacking around you will most definitely form your own observations and opinions, why not share them with other travellers and make a little money along the way. If this idea is music to your ears then here's a few options I've found:

Writing for Travel Websites: This can an easy way to make a little cash, sharpen your writing skills and get deeper into the countries you travel through. Sites like Matador and Boots n All will pay somewhere between $25 -$50 for articles, that's not a lot but look at it this way - if your already in a country then why not think of an angle and write a story about it, what's to loose? Plus it will almost certainly get you off of the tourist trail and into the heart of that place.

Keep a Travel Blog or Website: This way is a little more involved than the last but it can pay off if your prepared for a little hard work. Starting your own Blog couldn't be easier and there is a wealth of great resources available on the internet that can help. This approach require more Admin and you will need to be a writer, a marketer, deal with advertising and website design... But I'll say it again, the rewards can be big. I know Travel Bloggers that earn in excess of $2000 a month doing just this and I keep my own Blog about Backpacking around the world on a budget

Learn to teach English: Again a wealth of resources are available about this but your best bet is to get accredited with someone like TEFL - the best placements often go to TEFL certificated people. This is more of a long term option but it will give you the chance to really get under the skin of a community and as time goes by you'll only get better at it. It would be a great way to pay for yourself while you backpack around the world and make a difference to the people you meet.

Use Your Own Skills: this is something many people often overlook, they leave home not expecting their current set of skills to apply... Not true! Take hairdressing for example, many western travellers won't want to tackle the language barrier with a local hair stylist and instead let it hang low... But there is plenty of money to be made at busy guest houses a keen backpacker on a budget...

This is my no means comprehensive but it's a starting block that needs to be considered by any backpacker or traveler on a budget. Team these ides with saving money like using CouchSurfing.com and Skype and you will see your budget stretch much further than you ever expected.

Ever wondered what it's like to sell it all and go travel the world? - That's just what we did. Aaron and Georgie have been travelling the world since April 2008. We sold our house, our car and even our cat so we could go forth and backpack around the world on a budget. We Blog about our travels, our adventures, our love and our life from the road as we go - http://happytimeblog.co.uk Mucho Mucho LOVE... Come Join In... If you want to read more about making money while you travel then why not have a look at other articles we've written http://happytimeblog.co.uk/travel-tips/how-make-money-while-you-travel/

Thank for reading

Aaron.