Against Closed Eyes In Marketing

What Is Spam?

When referring to emails, according to the NCES (National Centre for Education Statistic), “Spam refers to electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. Some people define Spam even more generally as any unsolicited e-mail. In addition to being a nuisance, Spam also eats up a lot of network bandwidth. Because the Internet is a public network, little can be done to prevent Spam, just as it is impossible to prevent junk mail. However, the use of software filters in e-mail programs can be used to remove most Spam sent through e-mail.”

Some search engines use the term to describe websites that try to attain a high listing rank by submitting identical or mirror pages. In this article I am going to give you a few tips about email Spam.

If we give a too general definition to the word, we might end up taking for Spam perfectly legitimate emails. Not “any” unsolicited mail is Spam. Spam means unsolicited bulk email.

If a message is unsolicited that doesn’t make it Spam. The same goes for bulk. A message is Spam only if it is both unsolicited and bulk. When you receive an unsolicited job enquiry, you do receive an uncalled-for email. But is that Spam? No. What about a newsletter? That is bulk, but no Spam if you are a subscriber.

Why Do You Get Spam?

Have you posted your email address online in forums, chat rooms, on your website? Than why do you marvel? Spammers gather the addresses from the Internet; so no wonder your own found its way onto a spammer’s list. Besides, spammers use different other means to get what they want: viruses, Trojans, buying from other spammers.

Spam Scams

How many times have you received an “update your account” email from paypal, a bank or ebay? How many times have you received a “warning message”? Maybe it didn’t look suspicious to you as it came from an institution you work with, but was it really that way? This kind of emails is referred to as “phishing scam”. There is not much you can do when this happens. Just don’t click on any links in that email, don’t give away any confidential information such as social security number, bank account or credit card number. There are some free tools that can protect you against known phishing websites. For example download the free EarthLink toolbar and report the scam to the Anti-Phishing Working Group.

What about the emails from different Nigerian (or other nationalities) citizens offering you a percentage of a vast sum of money? Yes, you’ve got that right: scam. You’ll only loose your money on this one. Better don’t be curious. They will ask you to pay a fee in advance – a so called transfer tax, and guess what: some complications will appear, you have to pay more and more and end up with nothing. And don’t believe the “you won money” lottery sweepstakes either. You’ll only spend. The same goes for the Nigerian purchase scam: they want to buy something from you, pay by check and they wish the goods to be sent in Lagos, Nigeria.

A Major Don’t

Don’t reply to spammers… ever! Don’t send any “remove me” message. By doing so you confirm your address is active, you show you read bulk messages, you prove your ISP doesn’t use Spam filters. You are the perfect candidate. You will never be removed. On the contrary…

Spam Fighters

If Spam really bothers you and you want to fight against it, than you have plenty of possibilities. If you are an American, join Cauce at:
http://www.cauce.org/
If not… check out Cauce’s international partners (example: EuroCAUCE for Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, France, Norway).

Associations such as to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, the American Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or other volunteers’ organizations are there to help protecting you against scam or other illegal emails (children pornography for example). Detailed information about Spam, Spammers and ways to fight against them you can find here:
http://spamhaus.org/

Mihaela Lica is a skilled journalist and PR consultant, founder of Pamil Visions – http://www.pamil-visions.com/

Previously she used to work as a military TV redactor for Pro Patria and the Military Media Trust within the Public Relations Directorate of the Romanian Ministry of Defence.

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I Want to Do an Ezine! Part 3 What is Content? Copyright Terri
Seymour

When you publish an ezine, you most definitely want to provide
useful, and original content as well as promoting your business.
Some things you might want to include:

*Original Articles/Guest Articles - If you are not writing your
own articles, please try it. Although guest articles can be very
effective, it is always a good idea to have some original
content as well.

There are lots of places to get articles:

Article Announcement Lists:
mailto:aainet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com;
mailto:reprintedarticles-subscribe@yahoogroups.com;
mailto:aabusiness-subscribe@egroups.com;
mailto:aageneral-subscribe@egroups.com;
mailto:articles_archives-subscribe@egroups.com;
mailto:QC_Reprint_Articles-subscribe@yahoogroups.com;
mailto:ap-shorts-subscribe@yahoogroups.com;
mailto:article_announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com;
mailto:articles4you2use4promotion-subscribe@yahoogroups.com;
mailto:articlesubmission-subscribe@yahoogroups.com;
mailto:Free-Content-subscribe@yahoogroups.com;
mailto:Free-Reprint-Articles-subscribe@yahoogroups.com;

Article Directories: http://OpportunityUpdate.com/articles/
http://amazines.com/ http://ezinearticles.com/add_url.html
http://marketing-of-training.com/motoarticles.htm
http://www.womans-net.com/submit.php http://www.MakingProfit.com
http://www.articlecentral.com/suggest.asp
http://www.articlecity.com/article_submission.shtml
http://www.bestparentingresources.com/Article.html
http://www.boconline.com/sub-art.htm
http://www.businesstoolchest.com/articles/submit.shtml
http://www.connectionteam.com/art.html

You could also ask for article submissions in your ezine and on
your website. Provide a special email to receive the articles
such as: mailto:ter02@newnorth.net?subject=articles

*Freebies - downloads, tools, ebooks, and any other useful
Freebie you can find. Freebies can be found all over as well. Do
a search for Free Downloads, Freebies, Free resources or
whatever type of freebie you are looking for. There are also
freebie ezines and email lists you can subscribe to.

*A Forum for Your Readers - A place where readers can vent,
question, complain, interact, whatever comments or feedback they
might want to send in. This also helps in starting that all
important connection between reader and publisher.

*Human Interest Items - Inspirational stories or poems, people
helping people, survival stories, whatever you think your
readers might enjoy reading about.

*A Little Fun/Humor - We all need to laugh, so why not have a
little fun with your readers!

Note: I would put the last two items together in one section
because you do not want to get too far off the subject matter.

*Editorial/Personality - This is where you can let your readers
get to know you so they can begin to trust you. Talk about
interesting news items, things you have learned or experienced,
relate to your readers. You need to make a connection with your
readers. Make sure your personality shines through in your
ezine. Make your ezine warm, friendly, and inviting while being
informative and helpful.

*Ad Swaps/Ezine Ads - You want to make sure and have a section
for ad swaps. Ad swapping is a great way to get free advertising
as well as making new contacts and friends! I have a Free Ezine
section which I use for my ad swaps.

To start swapping: http://www.freezineweb.com/ad-swaps1.html
http://www.ezinelocater.com/
http://www.internetmarketing-success.com/ad-swaps.htm
http://www.topica.com/lists/Ezine-Ad-Swaps

*Thank You Section for Your Readers - Take a small section for
your readers to get some free exposure as a “Thank You” for
subscribing. Appreciate them as they will appreciate you!

*Resources - Of course you want to provide lots of good and
helpful resources. There are lots of places to find resources.

Do a search at your favorite search engine. Mine is
http://www.google.com

Join discussion lists - I get numerous resources from email
lists. I just save them all in an email resource folder.
mailto:digital-women-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
mailto:hbj_chat-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ideasbypost-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Spam - Yes, spam. I have found lots of resources from spam that
I have received. Sometimes the sender has some useful
information to check out. ( Some spam is just plain junk) You
can soon learn to tell the junk spam from the “might be useful”
spam!
Announcement Lists - Also a good source for resources.
mailto:lists_for_all-subscribe@YahooGroups.com
mailto:Lists-4-u-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ListYourAds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
mailto:listyourgroups-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
mailto:Mail-Lists-Only-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
mailto:mailman-subscribe@topica.com
mailto:misterlister-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
mailto:netwrite-publish-announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
mailto:New_List_Announcement-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

*Tips & Tricks - Provide shortcuts, helpful hints and ideas to
save your readers time and money! Ask your subscribers to submit
their tips and tricks and use your own as well.

There are so many things you can have in your ezine! You will
learn to keep your eyes open for useful items for your ezine.
They can pop up anywhere at anytime! Make it a habit to save
useful things you come across in folders in your email or on
your desktop. Keep them organized so whenever you need them, you
can get to them right away.

Ezine publishing is not hard, but you need to be able to
organize and provide a quality ezine for your readers to stick
with you. Be available to help and support your readers if/when
they need you. This will go a long way in strengthening the
reader/publisher bond!

You will find publishing a quality ezine to be very rewarding,
not only financially, but personally and emotionally. Good luck
with Your Own Ezine!
In the next part of the series we will cover ezine promotion.
See you next week!

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Universal Brotherhood is a wonderful ideal, a marvelous concept.
Yet, how little is it understood, and how often misapplied. The
concept of brotherhood involves tolerance; but, tolerance is
neither acceptance nor rejection; it is just a camouflage of
conflict which results from the opposition between the ‘I’ and
‘You’.

In the tolerance of brotherhood one believes in many facets of
the truth, but one does not know what truth is. Then the idea of
brotherhood is an invention of the mind which seeks the firm
establishment of ’self through the united strength of others.

As long as the idea of brotherhood is a means to bring and keep
together in faith and discipline what is essentially divided, it
is a mere camouflage for hypocrisy, an escape from fear and
doubt, a cover for exploitation and opposition.

Then, as soon as brotherhood does not serve the common interest
in business or in politics, the individual resistance will break
through in hate and cruelty.

And so, the concept of brotherhood is made use of for private
ends; and that in itself already is the seed for conflict.
Brotherhood as an institution to bring individuals together in
striving for a common goal cannot bring about the change of
heart and mind without which all striving is for self-interest
and security, even when ‘the other’ is the moans thereto.

If this is truly understood, then there is no need for
tolerance, because in love which is not possessiveness, there is
no opposition. Without personal attachment there is freedom of
understanding of need; and such understanding does not require a
united brotherhood in tolerance, nor a united organization for
political or religious ends. Only when there is opposition and
hate and conflict, the idea of brotherhood arises.

This is article was donated by http://www.maithri.com/ -
Online Buddhist Bookstore. You may republish this article in any
form by crediting the source and author. © Copyright 2005
Maithri Publications

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You can read the following article online at:
http://guzmansgreenhouse.com/seasons/septembergardentips.htm

Well it is now September, and the mornings are great aren’t
they? It is now beginning to be the best time to plant trees and
shrubs. It is a great time because the above ground temperatures
are dropping and the below ground temps are still warm.

This helps plants get a jump on next spring because the roots
still develope in the warm soil while the tops slow down in
growth. Also, there are less winds and typically more moisture
during this time of year, which of course reduces stress on
newly planted shrubs and trees. You should be able to plant just
about anything, including pansies, (which will last thru next
May) mums, winter veggies (starts), most trees and shrubs.

There are a few exceptions: Palm trees might be better planted
in the spring and summer, in order to get a good root
establishment before the winter sets in. (For the lower
elevations of the southwestern U.S. States)

Oleanders may experience some winter kill if planted too late in
the season, especially the 1 gallon size. The larger sizes seem
to suffer the least winter kill. This is usually for the the
first winter, after that they will have even less winter or no
winter kill as they age. Using a winterizer fertilizer with
plenty of potash will help increase winter hardiness just about
all shrubs and trees.

It is recommended for valuable plants that may suffer from
winter damage. Use this product before October 30th. Don’t
forget to use compost, peat moss, or soil builder and root
stimulator on all plantings, and make sure plants have adequate
water.

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What is Depression?

The Oxford Reference Dictionary says that depression is “as
state of extreme dejection often with physical symptoms”. There
are, as with anything, different types of this condition which
range in duration and severity.

The human condition is one that brings with it what is often
called “moods”. You can be in a good, bad, high, low or
indifferent mood. It is normal to experience all these moods at
different times. Some of these moods can be started by conscious
events in our lives whilst at other times we may be unaware of
why we feel a particular way. Sometimes there may be a physical
reason for feeling one of these moods.

The word ‘depression’ or ‘feeling depressed’ is often used to
refer to feeling ‘blue’ or ‘down’ even though this may state may
last for only a short period of time. Referring to this short
time of feeling down as depression is not accurate and it is
important to distinguish between occasional low moods and
depression.

Depression is when someone experiences a sustained period of
dejection or feeling low that seems to have little respite or it
can be a low mood that seems to continue to return on a regular
basis. To this end there are categories of depression ranging
from what is considered mild depression to the heavier and
longer lasting low moods of chronic, clinical or manic
depression.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

Typically a person with depression may experience any or all of
the following:-

1) Loss of appetite

2) Broken sleep or insomnia

3) A constant feeling of dread

4) A lack of motivation

5) Feelings of guilt

6) Low self esteem and self confidence

7) A sense of being trapped with no means of escape
A sense of shame and failing

9) A pessimistic outlook on life (always expecting the worst to
happen)

10) A lack of energy

11) A hunched stance, unhappy expression and negative attitude
to any or everything

12) A sense of being a victim or always having bad luck

13) A high level of stress or anxiety

In the mildly depressed person only some of the above may apply
for only a short period of time. In the person with manic
depression many more of these symptoms may be true and can be
coupled with psychotic episodes of delusions, hallucinations and
a loss of a sense of reality. Anyone with manic depression
should be under the supervision of a psychiatrist and will
probably be prescribed drugs to help the condition.

It is the mild forms of depression that other forms of help such
as counseling, hypnotherapy and EFT may be useful. Certainly if
you do feel that you are depressed, even if it is only a mild
form of depression and has been with you for a only few days or
keeps returning sporadically you should go and see your doctor
first. It is not the intention of this article to address
anything other than mild depression.

There are a number of events that can trigger mild depression.
These can be :-

1) A divorce

2) Shock or upsetting news

3) Loss of a job

4) Loss of the home

5) Being assaulted (mugged)

6) A burglary

7) Rape or constant abuse
Physical, verbal or psychological abuse at home or at work

These ‘life event’s’ happen to all of us. It is how we perceive
them and ultimately deal with them that make the difference
between someone who handles the crisis and someone who feels
unable to cope. Even children can suffer with depression, which
may be due to factors in the home or at school.

For those people with mild depression which they know has been
caused by a particular event or events, self
hypnosis cds on the subject of depression may help.
Sometimes all it takes it a different way of viewing or
perceiving matters for the person feeling low to gain a new
sense of perspective and proportion. Certainly the relaxation
qualities of any self hypnosis cd will help the stress that
often is felt with depression.

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Cyndi Joiner had been responsible for GMAC’s Corporate Real Estate and Facilities Management group for three months when she faced a major challenge: The large support operation appeared to be at a crossroads. The division needed to cut costs, manage suppliers’ performance better, and clean up the chaos engendered by a lack of internal controls, standards, and up-to-date technology.

Joiner presented top management with three options: continue the present course, reengineer the division, or outsource the entire operation. Management selected “Door No. 3,” Joiner says, primarily to reduce head count and improve processes quickly. But Joiner got more than she bargained for: GMAC executives were so excited by outsourcing’s potential cost savings and apparent ease of execution that they decided to shrink the standard timeline. Whereas many firms would have allotted more than six months to complete an initiative of this magnitude, GMAC executives asked Joiner to do it in six weeks.

In spite of notable obstacles, Joiner met the challenge. In doing so, she and GMAC learned valuable lessons about launching an outsourcing initiative.

The decision to outsourceCompanies outsource noncore business functions to third-party providers for various reasons: to reduce head count, to cut expenses, and to improve service. In GMAC’s case, the company believed it could not only trim personnel and other costs during a tough economic time but also might better fulfill its core purpose: ensuring that customers have a positive home-ownership experience. That meant focusing more on selling mortgages and properties. Thus, the real estate and facilities-management arm of the business became an ideal candidate for outsourcing. “The talent pool in our core competencies,” Joiner says, “was much greater than in this other function. We needed a deeper ‘bench’ in facilities management, and outsourcing would let us get that.”

Selecting an outsourcing partner As a first step in selecting an outsourcing partner, Joiner recommends canvassing your industry to come up with a handful of candidates. GMAC hired a consulting firm to handle the search, owing to the accelerated timetable. The consultants served as advisers on several levels:

Suggesting potential partners Helping GMAC develop a picture of what the new organization should look like after the software outsourcing was complete Offering recommendations for defining the partnerships Assisting GMAC in interviewing potential partners’ former and current customers Then look at each company’s standing in the industry, its flexibility, and its track record with firms similar to yours. “Look for companies that make a good cultural match with your own,” she adds. “Find out what you can about their portfolio of talent. Make sure they’re willing to explain the reasons behind both their successes and failures.” Savings and speed In proposing an outsourcing initiative to senior executives, managers need to do more than just stress the potential cost savings. Why? “Savings come in three forms,” Joiner says. “Immediate dollars on the P&L, eventual improvements in processes, and avoidance of costs. You won’t see all the savings show up immediately on your P&L, and some of them will always be hard to quantify.”

Moreover, overemphasizing the financial benefits of software outsourcing can cause firms to set too short a timetable. A rapid execution has pros and cons. As Joiner discovered, speed enables a company to get through the most painful part of the change process quickly and minimizes friction created by resisters. It also forces people to adapt quickly. As Joiner puts it, “You can’t know till you jump in the middle that you don’t know how to swim. But you learn how—really fast.”

Jim
Tatvasoft - Software Development India
http://www.tatvasoft.com

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I’m not a very sentimental person. I don’t think we ought
to save whales because they’re cuddly or pettable. But it’s
simply an amazing experience having those whales roll over
and look at you eye to eye. There’s really an interspecies
contact there. There’s an intelligence…. That’s about as far
as I want to go with that, but it’s… extraordinary.
—Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.,
National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Lawyer
(from Eye of the Whale by Dick Russell)

I watched as a long, thin, gray-knuckled ridge rose to the top
of the water from the aquamarine depths below. Like some
great primordial water dragon, it slowly widened to reveal a
patchy gray and white exterior that extended about eight feet
across and the length of two boats. It was a California gray
whale that had just surfaced about nine meters to the port
side of our panga, a small motorized skiff operated
by one of the locals.

I was in Magdalena Bay, near Boca de Soledad on the Baja
Peninsula. The bay is one of three lagoons on the Pacific
side that have been safeguarded as sanctuaries for the gray
whales who migrate here every year to breed and birth their
young. It was February, and I was here on a weeklong
expedition to kayak along the mangrove estuaries and to
see the whales.

In the summer of 2004 I had traveled up to the lush isles of
British Columbia on a paddling adventure with the orcas.
Now, six months later, opportunity had brought me south to
the cacti and arid vistas of Mexico. I had heard about the
“friendly” whales of Baja — the mother whales and their
babies, especially — who would approach visitors in their
boats seeking contact. Here was my chance to experience
firsthand the truth to these whale tales. I was curious to see
how the whales’ interest in humans compared to that of
dolphins.

There is a remarkable story about how a human is first
reported to have touched one of Baja’s “friendly” whales. In
1972, a man named Pachico Mayoral and a friend were out
in a small fishing boat in Laguna San Ignacio, another wide
bay along Baja’s western coast. Quite unexpectedly, they
were approached by a large gray whale that rubbed up
against the side of their boat. At first, the two men feared for
their lives, but as the whale continued its attentions, Pachico
finally reached over the side and touched it. Later, he talked
of this event as being a profound and life-changing
experience, similar to that of holding his first-born child. The
gigantic whale seemed to relish the contact and continued
to submerge itself and reappear on the other side of
the panga for at least another two hours. Pachico
returned to his village, and the story spread about how the
two men had touched a whale. This was the beginning of a
whole new change in attitude toward the whales and the
start of a new industry in whale-watching and whale-petting.

The story of the first “friendlies” stayed in the back of my
mind as our group of eleven kayakers and three guides
quietly paddled by the tangled roots of red and white
mangroves. We were headed for our campsite on a remote
and windswept island in Bahia Magdalena. Great white
heron and snowy egrets roosted in the thick branches on
either side. Pelicans, ospreys, cormorants and gulls flew
overhead and lined the edges of sandy coves. In the
distance we could see the feathery spouts of whales as they
surfaced for air. As we skirted a final bend in the channel,
we saw the rounded white domes of two spacious tents on
a wide beach. We had arrived at what would be our new
home for the next week.

Tomorrow would be our first day on the water for a closer
look at these gentle giants. Instead of using our kayaks, we
would be adhering to whale-watching regulations by
traveling in two open-air pangas driven by licensed
operators. That evening, as we sat in a circle under the
flickering light of a lantern in one of the domes, we heard a
retelling of the account of the first “friendly” whale. As the
story ended, I knew we were in for a rare treat when we
learned that our guide Poncho was one of Pachico’s sons.
Growing up as a fisherman, he had witnessed the gradual
shifts that had taken place in his community as a result of
the changes in attitude towards the whales and as
awareness grew for the need to preserve the environment.
This led him to work with several organizations whose aims
were to protect declining species and to train locals in
language and leadership skills. Today, he does what he
likes best — being a guide and introducing people to the
beloved ballena gris, or gray whale.

As the evening continued, and over the days ahead, we
familiarized ourselves with whale facts and history. For
centuries, the gray whales were hunted — first by the native
hunters of North America and Asia, and later by the Yankee
and European whalers. Whale bone and baleen were used
to make hoop skirts and corsets, and although the oil from
gray whales was of poorer quality than that of other whales,
it increased in value as the whale population declined. With
the evolution of whaling technology, and the use of explosive
harpoons and steam-powered ships, it was estimated that
less than 1,000 Pacific gray whales were left by the 1930s.
With extinction imminent, an international agreement was
finally reached in 1946 that banned all commercial whaling.
The treaty was signed by most whaling nations. Today, the
Pacific gray whales have undergone an unprece-dented
recovery, with an average annual increase of 2.5 percent.

Gray whales are part of the subclassification of cetaceans
known as the Mysticetes, or baleen whales (which use a
fine rubbery fringe on the upper and lower jaws to filter
plankton and other tiny aquatic animals). This is different
from dolphins, who are classified as Odontocetes, or
toothed “whales.” Toothed whales are considered
predatory, feeding on fish or other marine mammals. For
the most part, the gray whales graze in shallow waters,
scooping up mud along the bottom, which is then pushed
and filtered through their baleen with a giant tongue. Small
invertebrates are left trapped inside their mouth and then
swallowed.

Another peculiarity of the grays is the fact that they are hosts
to several species of barnacles and amphipods, or whale
lice, which feed on the whale’s skin. These tiny crustaceans
give the gray whales their characteristic mottled
appearance. Born a shiny black, the whales are soon
discolored by large distinctive patches of crusty white. The
small parasitic creatures that attach themselves seem to
assist the whales by keeping them clean.

An additional characteristic of the baleens is the presence
of two blowholes on the top of their head, as compared to
the one blowhole of a dolphin. When a gray whale surfaces
to breathe, it exhales with a tall heart-shaped spout.
Appearing like a faint mist from afar, this watery plume
actually rises up to over twice the height of a human. Later
that week, some of us would be lucky enough to see the
rainbows that sometimes blink in the sparkling haze of the
whales’ breath.

Finally, the gray whales do not have a dorsal fin like
dolphins. Instead, a series of six to twelve bumps traces the
length of the whale’s spine, making them at first glance look
like some ancient and primitive creature that has come back
to life from another age.

What the Pacific grays are perhaps most known for is their
extraordinary migratory route, one of the longest of any
species of mammal. Taken each winter from the
nutrient-rich arctic waters of the Chukchi and Bering Seas
off Alaska, they traverse the entire length of the North
American continent to the southern reaches of the Baja
peninsula. It’s a round-trip journey of about 10,000 miles —
almost two months of travel each way. To prepare for the
trek, the whales accumulate from six to twelve inches of
extra blubber over a summer of intensive feeding. Then, with
the gestation period of a baby whale being about twelve
months, the goal of the mothers by midwinter is to reach the
tropical waters of the south where their young can be safely
born.

On our first morning of whale-watching, we gathered in the
faint early light wondering what lay ahead. After pulling on
our life jackets, and loading up on our cameras and film, we
motored out into the center of the bay. There, among a
euphony of spouts, we had our first close-up view of the
long, speckled bodies of several mamas as they rose to the
surface, and nearby their babies, whose small heads
looked like little antique dinosaurs with long downturned
mouths etched along their jaws. Gingerly, we puttered
closer, transfixed by the gentle rise and fall of their giant
bodies and the soft whooshing sound of their breathing.
One mother/baby pair, who particularly caught our attention,
quickly received the nicknames “Scarface” and “Bubbles.”
The mama had a distinctive white scar near her blowhole,
and her baby, we noticed, seemed to enjoy blowing big,
round bubbles that came tumbling up to the surface
in short bursts. A few people were able to just reach
the whales from the boat for a brief touch. Otherwise, the
whales remained a discrete distance away from us.

As our session went on, we navigated out to the choppier
waters at the bay’s mouth, where a number of juveniles
frolicked in the waves, breaching and spy-hopping. I couldn’t
help wonder, as I had with the dolphins and the orcas, how
much their behavior was purely for themselves and how
much might have been for us. Either way, the air was soon
filled with our delighted shrieks as these giant leviathans
came crashing down in thunderous displays of water
theatrics, or as they stood vertically, apparently eyeballing us
with curious consideration. Some of the whales would swim
alongside us about ten meters out before disappearing into
the watery depths. On our return trip we cruised into what
appeared to be a whale nursery, a quieter area off one of the
islands. Several mothers floated motionless for long
periods of time, as if they were sunbathing. Then, we would
see the small spout of a baby next to one of the mamas,
and we guessed that her calf had been nursing.

On the day of our second excursion, there was a heightened
feeling of anticipation among the group’s participants.
Traveling with Poncho, our boat soon made contact with a
mother and baby. Interestingly, the mom did not interact, but
hovered protectively nearby as her youngster bumped up
against the panga and went from one person to the next
receiving scratching and caresses. Its rostrum was covered
with circular white barnacles and short little hair bristles.
When it was Poncho’s turn, he ran his hands along the
baby’s mouth, which then opened to reveal a feathery fringe
of baleen that he combed with his fingers, much to
everyone’s delight and amazement. Soon afterwards, we
encountered Scarface and Bubbles again. While Bubbles
interacted with each of us along the side, his mom swam
slowly back and forth beneath our boat, rubbing her back
against the hull.

Later, as I rinsed my hands in the surf after a picnic lunch, a
sudden plopping sound caused me look up and see the
graceful silhouettes of two dolphins leaping out in front of
me. It was as if they were sending a quick “hello,” wishing
me well with their large mammalian friends.

On the last day of our whale adventures, a few of us decided
to pay our driver for some extra time. We headed back out
into the lagoon with Poncho, knowing that this would be our
last encounter. Almost right away, we met Scarface and
Bubbles. With great enthusiasm, Bubbles bobbed from
person to person. As he slid along the edge of the boat,
sideways in the water, I could see his eye looking directly
into mine. Despite his size, I felt profoundly struck by his
vulnerability and apparent trust. Shyly, he opened his mouth
and allowed me to stroke his tongue. I had the feeling that if
given the opportunity, he could easily learn to recognize
simple gestures and respond to certain voice intonations,
much like bottlenose dolphins.

As our motor idled, we were joined by several other
pangas seeking a closer look. Perhaps most
impressive, the whales took care to greet each of the
newcomers, swimming from one boat to the next, giving
everyone a chance to pet or stroke them. Several times, as
the mama approached, her giant spout would douse the
passengers with a cloud of whale’s breath as they shrieked
with laughter. A couple of the pangas carried Mexican
visitors, and it was particularly endearing to see them, with
ear-to-ear smiles, reaching over to pet what had once been
known as a fearsome devil-fish.

As we headed back to camp and I stared out at the large
expanse of bay with the many spouts that appeared at
regular intervals, I couldn’t help but wonder how it was that
we had managed to find the same whales on each of our
excursions. Did the whales recognize and remember us
from one day to the next? Did they seek us out especially?
Of all the whales in this vast lagoon, were there only a few
interested in making contact with people? Days later, when I
perused a wall full of colorful whale photos for sale, I found
myself saying, “No, that’s not Bubbles. That’s not him.” I left
the kiosk empty-handed, relying instead on the photography
skills of myself and our group.

At the end of the week, we loaded our gear into our kayaks
and later traveled by van through the desert landscape of
central Baja to the city of Loreto, a small tourist town on the
Sea of Cortez. Gradually, we re-entered a more “civilized”
way of life, with our metal vehicles and glass window panes,
our currency and our ice cream. I fit myself back into the
closed security of four walls, hot running water and flush
toilets. As much as we humans have come to enjoy our
creature comforts, I knew that a price comes with it — the
risk of forgetting our intimate connection to the rest of the
natural world.

As I boarded the plane, I took in a few more long breaths of
warm, moist air. Then, gluing my face to the tiny window by
my seat, I looked for the delicate spouts of the whales in the
sparkling sea below me. Inwardly, I thanked them for
offering me an experience of such disarming trust and
vulnerability. If the whales harbored any residual memories
in their cells or DNA of their earlier relationship to man, they
seem to have decided to forgive their former enemies,
offering instead a new way of relating that was both
compelling and profound. I decided to keep my personal
snapshot of Bubbles safely tucked away in my heart.

Karin Kinsey is a Bay Area freelance travel writer
and graphic designer. She leads dolphin encounter trips
and has explored such places as Hawaii, Mexico, the
Caribbean and British Columbia in search of marine
mammal life. Excerpted from Dancing on Water:
Adventures with Dolphins, Whales and Interspecies
Communication (Dolphin Press, 2005). See
http://www.dolphinpress.com/DancingOnWater/

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What happen during the first month of your newborn, does your baby need check up? In the first weeks after birth, your newborn begins a series of routine check ups. These are called well child visits. All healthcare professions have individual approaches to the timing and frequencies of these visits. In general, you should take your baby for a checkup within a week after delivery and thereafter, one or two visits during the first month as recommended by your doctor.

During the well child visits, the doctor will perform the following:

• Measure weight, length, and head circumference of the baby. The doctor will plot these measurements on a growth chart for comparison of previous and later markings to ensure normal, expected growth of your baby.
• Check your baby’s eyesight and hearing.
• Examine if the cord has fallen off and the belly button is healing well.
• Evaluate the baby’s reflexes and general development. He will give some insight into your baby’s feeding, and sleeping and will ask you if you have noticed any changes in behavior. Changes in caring and feeding of your baby will be suggested if necessary.
• If your infant is a boy and was circumcised, the doctor will examine his penis as well.
• He/she might also take a sample from baby’s heel to test for phenylketonuria (PKU). Although your baby might have been tested for PKU at the time of birth, it is advisable to repeat the test during first well baby visit as the test bears risks of inaccuracy when done within 48 hours of delivery.
• He/she will also give your baby a hepatitis shot during one of these visits and will provide you with a schedule of immunizations your newborn is to be given during the subsequent visits.

These routine well child visits will assure you about your baby’s progress and give you the opportunity to ask questions concerning your child’s care.

How do I choose the best doctor for my newborn? Some parents are familiar with their pediatric practitioner even before they become pregnant, while most, especially the first time parents are not. If you were unaware of the doctor and service, you would like to avail for your coming baby, do not get overwhelmed and relax! With a little hard work, you will be able to reach a pediatrician you can rely on and respect. However, commence your search well in advance of your delivery. An optimal way to do it is to seek the names of pediatricians from your reliable sources, which may be your obstetrician, gynecologist, midwife or even relatives, friends, colleagues or neighbors with kids who share your parenting and perspectives. You may consider asking them the questions like, “Do their kids respond well to the doctor?”, “Is the doctor an experienced pediatrician?”, “Does he have knowledge of recent medical advances?”, “Does she welcome your queries and take time to discuss them?”

Once you are ready with your list of potential pediatricians, start interviewing them, preferably in person, as it gives you a feel of their style, how they run their office, what the staff and nurses are like and if you feel comfortable with them. Ideally, you should accomplish this task about three months before you are due and take your birth plan along. You may address the following queries to the doctor in the interview:

• Is she is licensed by the state, in which she practices?
• What are her viewpoints on child-rearing issues such as breast-feeding, weaning and nutrition?
• What she thinks about the use of antibiotics? (Due to adverse effects and questionable benefits of antibiotics, some pediatricians have restricted their use on kids).
• What will happen if baby needs to transfer to the intensive care nursery?
• Is she available in evening hours and on weekends?

• Does she have a group or solo practice so that your child can see one of partners in the absence of her doctor?
• Is she covered by insurance?
• Various other issues like vaccination, nearness to your home, hospital affiliation, etc. may be important to you and must be addressed.

While you interview the doctor, pay attention to how well she considers your needs. And also if you feel comfortable with her or not. Your choice of the doctor should be the one who best meets all these criteria!

Amy Fadden, author of “Newborn Guide, Nursing A Baby in Its First Month.” Visit her Website at http://www.newbornbaby101.info
and http://www.newborndevelopment101.info

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Burning fat from the abdomen through exercises specially destined to the abdominal muscles was, is and will always be one of the most resistant myths.

Almost all the people with a big belly take up, with a lot of determination, sit-ups, crunches, side-bends, twists, etc., hoping that every new series or set of exercises, every session of repeating them, will help them get rid of the ‘ring’ of adipose tissue around their waist, also called ‘the ring of death’.

Besides the fact that it is probably the most anesthetic ‘deposit’ of adipose tissue, abdominal fat involves many risks for the health of the person which possesses it (related to diabetes, high blood pressure, cardio-vascular diseases, cancer, impotence, etc.).

We must keep in mind, once and for all, that when we refer to the melting of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, there is no spot reduction. No matter how much we strive to locate effort in the areas we are focused on, we will only fortify the muscles under the fat, but the reduction of the fat itself will be insignificant. The explanation is simple and is connected to the energetic support of the anaerobic effort, which uses, for the exercises, muscular and hepatic glycogen, and not fat acids from the adipose tissue. For getting to the deposits of fat, what we need is cardio training (running, biking, fast walking, swimming, etc.).This type of exercises must be maintained for a long time (45-60 minutes) and they must be intense (60-70% from the maximum of heart rhythm).

An alternative is cardio training with periods when intensity varies, although the total volume is not smaller than in the case of uniformly cardio training.

A very important role in burning fat is held by the diet. It is said that the most effective of training can be sabotaged in the kitchen.

The nutritionists say that a diet which maintains caloric deficit, but keeps a balanced proportion of the basic principles (proteins, lipids, blood sugar), with a slight increase of the protein part, will always have as a consequence losing weight. Physical exercises like sit-ups, crunches, etc., without other exercises meant to involve bigger groups of muscles (thighs, chest, back) and to fortify the abdominal muscles, do not increase very much the basic metabolic rate.

As a consequence, indirect burning of calories (during breaks, post-training) is very small in comparison with the burning due to aerobic effort (especially the ones with alternative periods) – in their case, during effort taking more than 20 minutes, the energetic support is exactly the adipose tissue.

The magic formula for burning abdominal fat is a combination of hypo caloric diet and exercise – especially aerobic, but also anaerobic (focused on all the body, not only the abdominal muscles).

Isabel Curini is a fitness trainer and editor at www.healthfitnessworld.com. HealthFitnessWorld.com - Health, Fitness, Body Building, Weight Loss, Nutrition - Articles and Resources.

HealthFitnessWorld.com is dedicated to providing high-quality, free advices, tips and resources on health, fitness, body building, supplements, nutrition, weight loss, beauty, massage, acne, medicine, depression, massage.

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