May 2008

Maandelijks archief.

Business Management (and the Action Man)

Gepost door admin op 31/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: Management Hub

In the stock market there is this saying: “paralysis by analysis”

This is about taking risk. Everything in life is about taking risk and more it is in business.

When designing your investment portfolio you will reach some point of taking a decision and most of all - to take some actions. The unpleasant issue about investing is that you can never be sure. You can pursue strategies - “do you solemnly declare to buy and to hold for ever” - but before this, you will need to analyze.

Analysis is safe. When dealing with business issues, there are always more people who know what is wrong (including me) than there are people who will tell you what to do instead.

In beginning of new business development, projects, changes, thinking is fine. Along the path, thinking is also fine, but it must be accompanied with a lot of action. In fact, the more balanced the better.

You should be aware when dealing with business projects that you always think that you have enough time. Which you have not. Never.

So think and analyze. But know also that you can never develop the perfect solution. You will always have to take the risk.

If you hear - and this is difficult to measure, but you might set a parameter in your balanced score card; we timebox all our plannings - that there is too much analysis, and that the paralysis will soon follow, do not forget this investment rule.
Unless you are representing an insurance company. Than it is different. There insurance is the main process. Investment is not.

© 2005 Hans Bool

Hans Bool - EzineArticles Expert Author

Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management advice. Astor Online solves issues in hours what normally would take days.
You can apply for a free demo account.

PEAK 10 of Breckenridge Ski Resort

Gepost door admin op 30/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: Travel Hub

The Super Falcon chair lift in Breckenridge, CO opened in 1985, this made peak 10 the third mountain to be opened at Breckenridge Ski Resort. Peak 10’s double black terrain is plentiful. All the extreme double diamond terrain is on the south side of the mountain. With great runs like mustang which offers moguls, trees and more. The top part of Mustang is relatively flat, but don’t be fooled. This flat part suddenly drops into the steep part of the mountain

Towards the end of the run, there is huge natural hit and the landing is perfect but be careful not to go to big or else you will land of the flat. After the hit make sure you get enough speed for the cat walk. If you snowboard, beware, the traverse to the lift can be exhausting. There are five other double black runs on the southside all are pretty similar to Mustang with steeps and mogels. Quiver, Elan, Trinity, Black Hawk and Darkrider will challenge even the most experienced skier.

If you’re riding the Southside don’t forget about the brilliant Cimmaron ski run. If you like speed with a lot of rollers, You’ll love Cimmaron. This ski run has a giant slalom feel to it with good reason. They actually hold world cup races on this run. Once you pick up speed with this run, you’ll have a much easier traverse at the bottom. The southside is the absolute best on a powder day, but I recommend you avoid the double black runs on sunny days.

The north side of peak 10 has less vertical than the south side, but the north side has two of the greatest tree or mogel runs in Corsair and the Burn. Corsair is a little steeper than the burn, and it also has a tighter trees, but if you want to get the most bang for the buck, try starting at corsair and traverse skiers right and I promise you a long fresh run. When you pull up to the corsair mogul run, go left into the trees and I promise it all opens up into an amazing powder field.

The Burn is just below Corsair and offers wide open tree runs with absolultely perfect spacing of the trees. If you keep going to the right side when coming down the Burn, your run will be much longer.

One more run worth mentioning is the Crystal . This runs straight down the middle under the Falcon Chair. This run is a great run for an intermediate skiers looking to take that next step towards being a more aggressive skier. As a warning and tip, if you happen to be riding Breckenridge on a Saturday or Sunday, the lift lines can get extremely long. So my advice to you is to tryout peak10 early in the morning and by 10:30am, you can go to other lifts on Peak 9 or Peak 8 and there won’t be much of a line.

Enjoy your ski vacation in Breckenridge, CO. Go to www.yourskivacation.com to book your room today.

Scott Palat makes it easy to learn about skiing. To read more articles by Scott Palat, visit: www.yourbreckenridgevacation.com

Budgeting Tip - Give Every Dollar a J-O-B

Gepost door admin op 30/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: Finance Tips

If someone were to ask me to give them one piece of advice regarding their money I would tell them one thing (and I wouldn’t hesitate at all in telling them): Get on a written budget.

And if that someone wanted a tip about budgeting specifically, I would tell them one thing (and I wouldn’t hesitate at all in telling them): Give every dollar a job.

Some other budgeting tips may be to make it simple, ensure that both spouses (if married) are on board, write down everything, etc. But the grand-daddy of all esteemed budgeting strategies is give every one of those grubby little dollars a job to do.

In the old days, devoted budgeters would use envelopes to assign jobs to their dollars. That was pretty straight-forward. That dollar, sitting in the “groceries” envelope, knew exactly what to do, and when to do it.

In our much-more-modernized society (not so much improved on the budgeting front, I might add), we don’t seem to manage too well with a lot of cash. I personally have tried the envelope system with a few select spending categories (groceries was the big one) and failed miserably. I would forget the envelope. Have I ever forgotten my debit card? Not one time.

But must our dollars go unemployed?

Heavens no. Quite the contrary. With spending apparently easier now than in the past (access to credit), it has become even more important that we assign each dollar that comes into our hands a job to do for the month.

For instance. Let’s say that $2,000 comes into your hands during the month. You take every, single, solitary dollar and you assign it a job. Some will go toward rent, and do their job in the month. Other dollars will go to savings, where their job is to recruit new employees and train them to do the same. Some dollars have the job of just being “ready” for an emergency. You’ll have some dollars that sit around for six to twelve months before finally doing something (Car Insurance Premiums, and Christmas come to mind).

Every dollar still does something. No dollar goes unassigned. Ever.

Well, almost never.

You might consider a realistic unemployment rate for your personal economy. Is unemployment better? Certainly not. But it’s realistic. And I’ve found too often that when people are unrealistic with their budgeting, they crash and burn. They give up. Why? Because you can’t do unrealistic things when you’re living in a brutally realistic world.

So what does an unemployed dollar do? Well, my wife gets a few of them, I get a few of them. And we can basically do whatever we want with them. They’re unemployed. They might go buy a book for me from Amazon.com, or some protein powder. Julie may purchase some crochet hooks, or a new shirt. It really doesn’t matter to me what she buys. She doesn’t even have to tell me when she has. Unemployed dollars don’t report to any boss except themselves. (Because of our habit of budgeting, she tells me anyway, but it’s not required and that’s the important point).

When you’re employing every dollar of your personal economy, make sure to unemploy a few too. It will more closely align your ideal world of money with the real world of money.

Where do you eventually want most of your dollars working? In the Savings Department. In that deparment they’re extremely useful. They find other dollars to employ on their own, and teach these new dollars the ropes (find more dollars, and teach them to find more dollars). The Savings Department is a beautiful thing.

Where do you absolutely need dollars? In the Emergency Department. These dollars aren’t there to find other dollars. They’re simply in charge of your Disaster Relief Plan. They maintain it. They make sure it’s functioning. They shouldn’t be employed in other departments. And they should never, ever be unemployed.

Because we’re in this technologically progressive (and fiscally-irresponsible) society, you need to use something that will allow you to assign your dollars their jobs with ease. I use an Excel Personal Budget that has worked well for me and my wife. We know what dollars have come in:

  • Employment
  • Self-Employment
  • Birthday Money (these dollars are unemployed for us)
  • Found-on-the-Sidewalk Money
  • Sold-Something-on-eBay Money
  • etc, etc.

And we assign them jobs. This one budgeting tip will do more for your finances than any other. I guarantee it.

Jesse Mecham is a personal budgeting coach, creator of a unique and powerful personal budgeting system, husband, and father.

Read more of his writings at the You Need A Budget Blog

‘Net Testing Your Luck — Learning All About It

Gepost door admin op 30/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: Baker's Dozen, Lady Luck

The discomfort of having to drive to a physical gaming room should be reason enough to give it up as a bad job if it’s not unavoidable. Because all those miles of driving, the discomfort, and task list this entails will not vindicate the inconvenience only for the prospect of placing a wager at physical gaming room, yet provided you are the type who is the ideal fan of betting halls then going virtual is likely an excellent option.

You don’t have to leave your house to go for online texas holdem or other games of choice since you’ll do everything from the comfort of your home if you have a functional laptop or pc with a reliable Internet connection. But, you’re advised to read on as there are numerous hints that you must first fathom about online texas holdem or other games of choice, particularly so should you happen to be green regarding this field. So, chill those hormones of yours and scrutinize what comes next. Here’s our rough which guides you how to ferret out a trust-worthy online texas holdem or other games of choice website. The top priority that your clever web player will pursue is an online texas holdem or other games of choice establishment of the kind that is prepared to guarantee the best winning odds. See below for sundry supplementary cues about singling out your online texas holdem establishment.

You positively must confirm that the online texas holdem establishment holds a valid license, such as by searching out the government certified operating permit on the casino site. If you can’t detect any government certified operating permit on that targeted online texas holdem establishment, don’t remotely think of spending on that site. As a next step I would advise you scrutinize circumspectly the particular bonuses and promos that the online texas holdem establishment provides.

NBA Lobbies Congress Against Internet Gambling

For some more advice, is obviously to risk a game as a start in small amounts instead of loosing big dollars straightaway. Check out the status of the online texas holdem operator before triggering some grave menace- particularly so financial ones! Finally, here is another remark about online betting. It can only be this– always to remind yourself that online wagering should really be concerned with amusing yourself and not about becoming rich. Betting is definitely no vocation, but, rather a hobby that intends to make you bright and your life as a whole fun.

Then, having observed all these instructions, you are now free to go ahead bow to the temptation of online texas holdem… :)

Get Pleasure from the Magic of the Capital’s Illustrious Shopping Outlets

Gepost door admin op 30/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: World Of Shopping

For your shopping expedition in the City it’s a cleaver plan to have some manner of inventory to guarantee that you do not forget to visit any of the most well known shopping avenues, centres and boutiques in the Capital, as there are thousands to drop in at.

The Capital’s downtown regions which includes places like Piccadilly Circus & Leicester Square presents masses of memorabilia and collectables at the nearby stores and newsstands on the corners, simple swing by many of the trolleys positioned outside the underground and bus stops for the day’s hot deals. Oxford Street is ideal for outdoor shopping with every shoe store you can perhaps fancy on just one single street. When you are in the proper mood for some full fledged shopping activity and really want to splash out, there are only really two shops that you undeniably must visit. These include Harrods and Selfridges.

Harrods is a certain stop in Knightsbridge, standing tall in all its fame at 87 to 135 Brompton Rd, London. Harrods is the only authentic department store where the glorious hotel style service walks hand-in-hand with marvellous manufactured merchandise & an amazing setting. The several floors & departments offer merchandise from different countries around the globe. There are a few diverse restaurants & hair shops and hairdressers inside, this store is only all for extravagance and will not at any level tolerate being anything but only the best it can be. Time Out have details on a whole range of shopping guides that will assist your shopping spree.

Selfridges on the other hand is also wonderful although it’s slightly more up to date than Harrods. What attracts scores of people to take a trip to Selfridges is immediately having their window displays changed weekly they are always so well stocked & wonderfully themed to attract consumers to new product ranges that they may have within the store. It’s just as pleasant inside the shop & when you enter through the main door you will walk instantly into the beauty hall that is full with every brand of cosmetics products you can possibly believe. There is also a bistro with a considerable collection of counters offering everything from cheese, meat, fish, wine, spirits and dairy goods. There are brilliant book shops, technology halls, cigar & tobacco stores & each and every fashionable designer product you could possibly wish for. It will take you no less than a day to get through both Harrods and Selfridges so it is critical to make sure you have some time to go to some of the City’s numerous other well known treasure troves.

Turn Holiday Hassles into Holiday Happiness

Gepost door admin op 30/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: Baker's Dozen

All too often we look forward to the Holidays only to become overwhelmed, stressed out and ultimately lose our joy. Here are a few things you can do to stay in the spirit of the season and enjoy it to its fullest.

First, ask yourself and your immediate family, how would you most enjoy celebrating the holidays?

This question will help you figure out what is most important to you about celebrating the holidays. It will also help you determine if you may be stressing yourself with false guilt, “should do’s” and fears of disappointing others. Take some time to talk with your family about what is really important to you and to them. Often times when we stop to ask the “how question” we discover what we thought was important to others really is not.

Next, begin looking at your schedule. Do you realistically have the time to do all the things you would like to and still maintain your sanity! Start by penciling in events on your calendar to help yourself manage your time effectively. Include things like decorating, cooking, shopping and wrapping gifts.

Be willing to compromise. For example if you have your heart set on decorating your house like Clark Griswald in “Christmas Vacation,” but time is of the essence, consider something simpler or eliminate something else.

Avoid perfectionist tendencies. For example: you want 12 ounce disposable cups for your party. But, when you get to Wal-Mart you can only find 8 ounce cups. Consider the time, energy and frustration you will expend traveling to other stores, in the holiday traffic, to find those 12 ouncers!

Finally, to turn holiday hassles into happiness you can do some very practical things like: set a budget and stick to it, pay in cash and avoid the New Years credit card blues and choose recipes you can prepare ahead of time. However, if you really want to make holiday memories this year focus on relationships rather than activities. Consider giving the gifts of kindness and service. And keep your mind on the Reason for the Season…celebrate Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all!

Jean LeStourgeon, MA, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Palm Bay, Florida. She also operates the website Christian Counseling Online where you can find lots more information and tools on topics like Stress Management College Students Guide and Marriage Problem Resources, all from a Biblical perspective.

Random Word Brainstorming

Gepost door admin op 29/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: Management Hub

When I was first exposed to this method, I was somewhat skeptical. The occasion was a brainstorming evening to generate new ideas for my book’s title. As our group gathered, A hypnotherapist colleague of mine, suggested this innovative brainstorming approach.

With the topic identified beforehand, the process began with a member of the group being asked to open a dictionary to any page. He then randomly selected a common noun, which was written on a flip chart. Each person was asked for a single word that he or she associated with that noun. The group was then asked to suggest associations between each of these words and the topic, accelerated learning. The words flowed in amazing quantity. We repeated this process a few times.

Why did this technique work so well?
It’s really quite simple. In a typical brainstorming session, when members of a group are asked to come up with ideas or solutions to a problem, their minds access their memory banks and download what is already known about the issue. Introducing the random word method forces the mind to find a link between dissimilar things. Because of the gap between the random word and the topic, ideas may be quite unusual, or even off-the-wall. As the group members build on each other’s ideas, they generate more creative solutions.

This method is fast and simple, and usually leads to ideas that are more creative than those generated from the classic brainstorming format.

Brian Walsh - EzineArticles Expert Author

International speaker, Dr. Brian E. Walsh, is the bestselling author of Unleashing Your Brilliance. For much of his 30-year corporate career he was involved in human resources, specifically training.

While living in the arctic, Brian studied anthropology and Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), which prepared him for working with other cultures. He was then transferred to China where he served as his company’s GM.

After his return to Canada, he elected early retirement to further his earlier interest in NLP and hypnotherapy. He returned to formal study, and within four years had achieved his Ph.D. His dissertation, which focused on accelerated learning techniques, inspired his passion and his book, “Unleashing Your Brilliance”. Information is available at http://www.UnleashingBook.com

Dr. Walsh regularly conducts workshops on accelerated learning. He is a master practitioner of NLP, an acupuncture detoxification specialist, an EFT practitioner, and a clinical hypnotherapist.

Subscribe to his monthly eZine, “Enriched Learning” at http://www.UnleashingBook.com

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Gepost door admin op 28/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: Travel Hub

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina smashed into a heavily populated part of the USA, specifically the city of New Orleans in the state of Louisiana.

The city was ruined. Over 1,100 people died.

Known as the “Crescent City”, the city of New Orleans, in the US state of Louisiana, had a population of just under half a million people, with Greater New Orleans bringing the figure up to 1.3 million. One quarter of the population was under the age of 18, according to the 2000 census, and one-third was aged under 25.

“New Orleans” is usually pronounced by locals as “Noo Aw-lins”.

It was home to some of America’s poorer citizens - more than one quarter of the population was considered to be living below the poverty line. Household income was 35% below the national average, and individual income 20% below the national level.

The US federal government has a significant presence in the area. The NASA Michoud Assembly Facility is located in the eastern portion of Orleans Parish. Lockheed-Martin also has a large manufacturing facility located in the Greater New Orleans area that produces external fuel tanks for space shuttles.

New Orleans is in the Mississippi River delta and has always had a history of flooding. The first levees were built by French prison labour around 1718 and were only three feet tall.
The founding site was a rare selection of higher ground along the flood-prone lower Mississippi. Still, much of the city is located below sea level between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain.

Despite its economic and geographical disadvantages, New Orleans was famous for being a city of entertainment and excitement, both exuberant and hedonistic. It was a genuine world-class tourist destination, attracting visitors with the annual Mardi Gras (held on the iconic Bourbon Street) and the college-level “Sugar Bowl” gridiron match. Areas of the French Quarter and Central Business District in recent years began catering to booming tourism rather than residents and local businesses. The city’s charm increased when streetcar upgrades in Canal Street were completed as recently as 2004.

The city is also world-famous for its food. Specialties include beignets, square-shaped fried pastries that are sometimes called French doughnuts (served with coffee and chicory “au lait”), Po’boy and Italian Muffaletta sandwiches, Gulf oysters on the half-shell and other seafoods, etouffee, jambalaya, gumbo, other Creole dishes, and the Monday evening favourite of red beans and rice.

Only time will tell if the desire exists to resurrect this famous city. The hurricanes, the flooding and the problem of the disappearing wetlands have not been defeated.

Written by Darren Robinson, author of “Hurricane Katrina - The Destruction of New Orleans”, available from Amazon.com
This article may be freely reprinted provided this resource box is included. Copyright Darren Robinson 2005. http://www.book.moviesearch.com/

High Thread Count Bed Sheets” What It Means

Gepost door admin op 28/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: Best Gardening

High thread count bed sheets are much advertised, but what exactly does “high thread” count mean? You know that it means quality and comfort, but if you have ever wondered what the term means technically, or how high a thread count should be, then read on.

Cotton and silk are woven fabrics. The number of threads used in their weaving are counted by the square inch. For example a thread count of 180 is a weave of 100 vertical threads per square inch, called the warp, and 80 horizontal, called the weft. Thread count can go as high as 800 or 1000 threads, but you can buy perfectly good bed linen with a thread count of 100.

The thickness of the thread is also a factor in this equation. The finer the thread the more of them there will be in one square inch, giving a higher thread count.

Another thing to be aware of is ply. Two ply fabric is made by twisting the yarns together before weaving, whereas single ply uses a single thread. Using two ply yarn doubles the thread count. So to compare the two remember that a single ply with a thread count of 100 is equal to a two ply with a count of 200.

A higher thread count is not necessarily better because the higher the thread count the thinner the fibers will be, unless it is 2 ply. Since 2 ply doubles the thread count the bed sheets will be heavier-not necessarily what you want. A thread count of between 100 and 400 is really quite sufficient, there is simply no need to pay for anything higher. if you are buying pure linen bed sheets, rather than cotton, a thread count of 100 is excellent since linen has thicker fibers.

A high thread count is not the only determinant of quality in bed sheets. The treatment that the cotton fiber has received, for example mercerizing, and the way in which the bed linen is woven and finished, all contribute to the quality of the finished product. Mercerizing cotton gives it strength and a sateen finish which accepts dyes more readily.

Now the only other information you will need before you buy is your mattress size. Check standard bed sheet sizes here: www.all-bed-linens.com/bed-sheet-sizes.html

About the author:

Liz Beresford is a writer and publisher of several web sites including All Bed Linens. To find some wonderful bed linen online visit her web site at http://www.all-bed-linens.com/

A Gift Idea For Those Who Love to Fish

Gepost door admin op 27/05/2008
Toegevoegd onder: Lifestyle Stuff

Anyone, male or female, young or old, that loves to fish would
appreciate a gift idea that honors their passion. Gifts that are
useful during a fishing trip are always welcome, but there are
also many other selection for those who love to fish.

Rods and reels are ever popular gifts for the hobby fisher.
These can be inexpensive, light-weight or heavy-duty, even deep
sea, more expensive gifts. Lake fishing requires a lighter
weight rod and reel and is therefore a less expensive selection.
However, top quality rods and reels, even light weight, can cost
as much as you want to spend.

Every fisherman, whether they love to fish in the pond down the
road or far out in the ocean, needs a cooler for cold drinks.
These can be found in sizes from ones that hold only two or
three drinks to huge ones that have wheels and a pull-out
extended handle for easy transport to the right spot.

A good filet knife in a leather scabbard makes a wonderful gift
idea for the fishing enthusiasts who eats their catch. Filet
knives have long, thin blades that are perfect for cutting
bone-free filets. The leather scabbard makes carrying the knife
easy because it slips over the belt, making the knife at hand’s
reach at all time. This knife can also be used to cut tangled
line and when rigging tackle.

Fly fishing is one hobby where the equipment can be as much fun
as the sport itself. If you need to give a gift to someone that
fly fishes, you might consider a nice selection of fancy flies.
A good book about fly fishing or how to tie flies would also be
welcomed. T-shirts featuring images of colorful flies can be
another great selection. A fishing hat to stick a few flies into
will thrill most fly fishing enthusiasts.

If deep-sea fishing in your friend or loved one’s passion, a
gift idea is a certificate for a trip on a charter boat that
will thrill them. Some charters provide food, drink, bait,
tackle, rods and reels in an all-inclusive package price; others
provide fishing gear only. Be sure to include a brochure from
the charter boat in the gift so they know the details on what to
bring. This gift allows the recipient to select the time and
date of their fishing trip. This is one gift where the
anticipation of the trip can be just as much fun as the charter
fishing trip itself.

Fish buckets, especially the aerated buckets, make gifts that
any fishing fan will love. Tackle boxes are also wonderful If
you have the gift idea of tackle or other fishing gear, a gift
certificate for an online fishing shop can be perfect for
someone to select exactly what they need in fishing gear.

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