Tips On Planning A Successful Video Conference

Planning a successful video conference can actually be harder then it sounds. There are several key factors you want to make sure and get right or your conference could become a total nightmare. This short article gives several tips on making sure you succeed with your next video conference.

Nobody likes long-winded meetings and video conferences are no different. Always plan your conferences to last no longer then 1 or 2 hours long. Longer sessions will leave participants tired and bored.

Make sure you prepare an agenda before the event. Double check to make sure you have all of your graphic aids, teaching materials and any other important or relevant materials on hand. Prepare a suitable seating arrangement and ensure that nameplates or tags (if you use them) are clearly legible and nothing is misspelled.

Try to plan your video conference as far in advance as possible. Make sure you do the necessary coordination with your company's IT department for any support you may need in order for your conference to be a success. If your dealing with an overseas location early preparation and coordination is vital to your success.

Attend all test sessions to make sure that your video link is clearly working properly. Use this time to also familiarize yourself with the equipment that will be used during the session. Hand any and all materials for transmission to the video conferencing site technician at least two days in advance so that he/she can get familiar with it. For optimum readability, use large and clear fonts. Use a wide margin, as the sides will be slightly cut off on screen. Keep to the landscape format, with simple pictures and few words.

Prepare a list of questions and answers prior to the conference in order to keep the session flowing in a smooth, quick manner. Arrange for participants to assemble at the video conferencing venue 10 minutes before the session begins so that you will have time to hand out all materials.

Some final tips include:

? Dress appropriately

? Arrive 15 minutes early to spot any last minute glitches

? Avoid wearing intense colored cloths to include all-light or all-dark clothing

? Avoid distracting gestures during the conference to include finger tapping and facial expression

? Test the microphones to be used during the conference in order to find any that may have flaws.

A successful video conference can be done all it requires is an attention to detail prior to and leading up to the minute the conference actually starts. Spend the necessary time needed to do the things this article outlines and you'll have everyone talking about how professional you are when it comes to setting up a video conference.

Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides insurance information and offers discount auto, life and home insurance that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Other websites operated by Tim

Cellular-Phone-Solutions.com - Free information and resources regarding cell phones and cell phone plans.

Military-Loans-Online.com ? Which provides free money saving loan quotes on all of your loan needs to include home equity loan information.

Will Science Get Closer To God Than Religion Has?

A subject of debate for thousands of years, spirituality will no doubt spark much debate for another thousand years. That is how it should be. Once spirituality becomes 100% defined by 100% of the human population, then uniformity and rigid boundaries take over. Should that ever occur, then there is no spirituality, for spirituality cannot be locked in a box and confined within its walls.

The exception to that view would come if individual human beings eventually became absorbed within a collective consciousness and sub-consciousness; a bodiless existence, where all knew 100% and there was no need to define. What would be the point of defining when everyone knows?

That will not happen within a thousand years. It could be, though, that within a thousand years, science will move closer to God than any religion ever has. Once science accepts that it is naive in understanding the human mind, the universe, and life itself, then it may move forward at a greater pace than it has over recent centuries.

Metaphysics and quantum physics may then assume their rightful position of prominence in the human scientific world. Thereafter, science may move towards better understanding the universe, or universes, and the way they relate to each other and the human subconscious.

Such a transformation in scientific attitude could happen at any time: the next decade, the next century, the next millennium. The first step is to show humility and accept the fact we are ignorant. I am not a scientist, and have no wish to be. I am not an expert on the human brain either. But I do have common sense, and humility, against a backdrop of a stunningly beautiful, and intricate, natural world. Everything around us, if you make the time to look, is a miracle, which we do not really understand beyond scratching the surface of knowledge.

Twenty years ago, anybody who said there may be life on other planets was considered as some kind of mental case, locked in a fantasy world where Captain Kirk ruled. Such a view was, to my mind, an ignorant one. The universe is so vast, and we knew so little about our little corner, how could we say there was no life on another planet? It was just a plain silly belief that there was no such extraterrestrial life, but it was the scientific norm. It was arrogance mixed with ignorance, with neither being acknowledged by the scientists of the time. Those who spoke of life on other planets were ridiculed, while science wallowed in an "holier than thou" mire of ignorance.

Now, science has shifted in its "belief", accepting that the sheer volume of planets in the universe, billions and billions of them, means that other life is inevitable. We are ignorant of what's on those planets, but the scientific consensus now is that there must be life elsewhere. Well, I could have told them that 20 years ago, not because I had knowledge, but because I accepted that I was ignorant, and had common sense and perspective. Also, maybe, I allowed my spirituality to flow unfettered, to tell me in no uncertain terms: there must be life on other planets. To me it was never a question of "if". I knew. It was not clever. I had no proof. But, I knew.

Could such a shift happen in the views of science on spirituality itself? Could scientists attitudes change just as rapidly as they did with the life on another planet debate? After all, nothing much new has been discovered about life on other planets. Proven volumes of planets in existence has increased, but common sense, applied to what existing knowledge there was, could have achieved that end 20 years ago.

When it comes to spirituality, I accept that I am ignorant, at least in the eyes of a scientist. But I am open. I am also aware of perspective, and again apply common sense. It is a simple fact that we know practically nothing about the human brain, and we use such a tiny portion of it. The rest of the brain would not be there if it did not have a use. While science has devoted extreme effort to computers, other high technology, weapons and dangerous drugs, that vast capacity of human potential is left untapped.

Why has science not concentrated on learning about the human brain and how to use it? Each one of us is far more powerful than the fastest and biggest computer. Maybe such a shift will take place in this century, and focus will be on the true potential of the human mind, the collective subconscious, and the truth about the universe.

It needs a shot of spirituality into the scientific world for it to happen. More scientists need to be receptive to the possibilities, then those scientists need to take a critical mass of other scientists with them. That's what happened in the life on another planet debate. I hope it can happen with spirituality.

Roy Thomsitt is owner and part author of the self improvement website: http://www.routes-to-self-improvement.com

Interactive Sales Letter Skyrockets Conversions with 2 Simple Questions

There are many tactics and techniques that go into converting visitors into buyers. However, this article will prove to you why creating an "interactive" sales letter will be the most critical weapon in your modern marketing arsenal to accomplish this.

Most Internet Marketers rely on their savvy copywriting techniques and persuasive skills learned over the years from the offline print world. These concepts go back to the 1920's, where person-to-person dialog took a backseat due to the new mass media platform to push the sales message in various advertising forms. Today, Internet Marketers assume this is still the only option when it comes to "online" sales letters, since the reader is not physically present and cannot give immediate corrective-feedback.

In a minute, I'll tell you why this will be their downfall?

Your sales letter is your voice to convey your benefits and offerings to the masses. The only reason a visitor is even at your site is to see if you have a solution to their problem. Effectively convince them that you have the solution for a reasonable price, overcome any objections and you get the sale! Simple. Right?

"Wait a minute! How do I know what's most important to each different visitor. How do I convince an unknown reader that I have their solution?"

Good questions. You may have one product with various benefits, or many different affiliate products which you promote. Which benefit or product should you focus on so that each specific visitor has no choice but to rip out their wallet and start spewing out credit card numbers?

Read this part carefully ?

All persuasive sales letters (no matter how hypnotic and enticing) must anticipate the mindset and views of the visitor. As a copywriter, you've been given the task of being a mind reader. You are forced to write your sales letter in such a way that it answers every possible question and objection. And when possible, trigger the emotional desire that was brought with each visitor. This can be quite daunting, considering that each visitor has their own specific desires and questions relevant to their unique situation. But the bottom line is -- you must satisfy the visitor's quest for meaningful, relevant information before they will say "yes!"

Now I am going to unveil a powerful and exclusive formula to do just that. Discover the hidden desires deep inside the minds of each and every one of your visitors. You will have the all-knowing power of what each wants from you.

All that you have to do is master the "super-amazing-advanced-top-secret proven technique" real live salespeople all over the world have used for years to dig out that elusive customer desire. They ask!

That's right. The "corrective feedback" to strategic questions allows any sales person to drill-down to identify and focus on exactly what the customer is looking for and not waste each other's time in the process. The main goal in any corrective feedback dialog is to narrow down the customer's problem -- and to provide a solution.

"STOP! Hold on.... I thought we were talking about sales letters here. Sales letters can't ask the visitor what's most important to them and just morph itself to focus on that!"

Well, if that's what you're thinking, I have no choice but to believe that you are not keeping up with new technology. Remember I said I would tell you what will be the Internet Marketers' downfall? Here it is -- They forget that they are on the Internet. Plain and simple.

By posting a web page and some great copy, Internet Marketers feel that's the best they can hope for. They forget about the underlying technology running the show. They are riding a vehicle of interactive communication that is still evolving. However, the horse-blinders are only showing them a new place to display a once-printed direct mail sales letter, without exploring the possibilities.

Don't fall into this trap!

An ecommerce website should be an interactive conversation to communicate relevant information for each visitor's questions and eventually persuade a sale. It is not just a digital billboard.

FACT: Yes, with today's advancements in technology, YOU CAN convert your static online sales page to a fully interactive sales letter that asks the reader questions, and in turn, dynamically generate specific, relevant offers dependant upon the reader's answers. This is all done instantly, without linked pages, without page flashes, and most importantly -- without the reader ever knowing.

Are the bells going off yet?

Can you see the potential of being able to ask each of your readers a question and have a special suitable benefit or offer waiting for them to read ? before they even get to it -- automatically? What do you think will happen to your conversion rate if your interactive sales letter actually spoke differently to each reader -- knowing what each wanted, and offered it?

In fact, you'll be able to deal a knockout blow to your competition by having the only access to your reader's mind. While your competition is analyzing their data and graphs from another "day-late-and-a-dollar-short" survey, you're reaching into the minds of your readers, and pulling out sales on the spot!

The purpose of this article is to open your mind. Be proactive in creating different techniques of online promotion. There is something new that can be developed every day. Just use your imagination. Be creative and remember that you can make money by solving a customer's problem. The goal is to find out what each potential customer is looking for and offer a solution to satisfy that. Period!

Copyright 2004 Scott Stevenson

About The Author

Scott Stevenson is the creator of the Interactive Sales Letter. Dedicated to bringing your business to the next level of online interactive marketing, he provides a more detailed in-depth eCourse on his exclusive "Interactive" technique, at no cost, just by visiting http://www.InteractiveSalesLetter.com/course right now!

I Cant Afford A PR/Publicity Campaign -- Can I?

It's a phrase I hear over and over again from many entrepreneurs, small businesses owners and inventors: "I'd love to hire someone to launch our publicity campaign professionally, but we can't afford it, so I'm just going to have to do it on my own."

Over the past several months, I have been conducting an informal survey among entrepreneurs and business owners who have contacted me about my services. I have found that due to their lack of information or knowledge on the topic, many businesses typically over-estimate or over-budget the cost of a prospective public relations/publicity campaign. During my PR consultation with them, I asked: "How much do you think it will cost to launch a solid, effective PR/publicity campaign for your product/business?" Of the 102 people I've queried:

• 11% - Thought a professional PR campaign would cost $10,000+ per month

• 32% - Thought a professional PR campaign would cost $5,000-$10,000 per month

• 39% - Thought a professional PR campaign would cost $3,000-$5,000 per month

• 12% - Thought a professional PR campaign would cost $1,000-$3,000 per month

• 6% - Thought a professional PR campaign would cost less than $1,000 per month

The truth is -- you can get a publicity/PR campaign in all of those price ranges. What you get for your money and how effective the campaign will be is the real question. It is true that the more you pay the more you get. But getting the most publicity/PR exposure doesn't mean you have to get most expensive PR agency or specialist.

A good rule of thumb is to align yourself with a PR business that best reflects your business size. Most times their rates will be in line with your prospective PR budget. If you are a small business owner with two employees, you need not hire a high-dollar PR agency with dozens of employees. Find a PR business whose office size and capabilities closely resemble your business.

Case in point -- there is a large PR agency in a fancy building downtown a few miles from my office. Frankly, we are not even competition to each other ? in fact we have even referred clients to each other. Why? They typically work with large corporations and implement campaigns of around $10,000 per month. My business works with smaller businesses/individuals -- a PR/publicity campaign with my company would be about $10,000 for an entire year ? not just a month. Mechanically, the downtown firm and my business do the same thing when it comes to PR campaigns: professional media release composition; extensive media market research; articulate personalized distribution to the media; months of media relations (article placements/interview scheduling/media request fulfillment, clipping/tracking of media placements, etc.).

Signing up with the big firm doesn't mean you'll necessarily get an experienced associate working on your campaign. So are you getting what you are paying for? A friend of mine who works at a major PR firm gave me the following breakdown of billing fees in his office:

• Interns/Junior Executives ? bill at $75 / hour (Very little, if any professional experience)

• Account Executives ? bill at $100 - $125 / hour (1-3 years of professional experience)

• Senior Account Executives ? bill at $125 - $200 / hour (Multiple years of professional experience. Agency decision makers.)

Compare those prices to many small PR shops or individual PR specialists. Many have started their own PR businesses after years of experience in the industry and typically charge $50 - $100 per hour to professionally launch and maintain your campaign. Many times, you can get a seasoned PR veteran who will work directly with you and your staff for cheaper than the "Intern/Junior" executive rate at a downtown firm.

However, one word of advice -- when choosing a smaller firm or individual to do your PR, make sure they have the same tools that the bigger agencies do: updated media lists/contacts; personalized media distribution capabilities; professional clipping/tracking services to get copies of each of your media placements (articles, tapes from TV/radio shows) as well as the intangibles of expert communication/media relations skills and professional pitching prowess. If they are cheaper, but don't have all the tools to help you in the best manner possible, you are probably better off spending a little extra money to make sure your campaign is launched and maintained correctly.

The major benefits of hiring a professional (individual PR specialist or PR firm) to launch your campaign are:

• Proper Campaign Implementation ? Improperly composed or poorly pitched campaigns are the major downfall of many PR efforts. Poorly written, over-commercialized media releases; uncalculated, misdirected mass e-mailing of the release pitch; no follow-up media relations/media request fulfillment; etc.. Your first impression to the media is a lasting one ? make sure it's a good one.

• Media Contacts ? Most PR agencies have established multiple media contacts over several years that can lead to much better and more numerous media placements for your campaign. Let their foot in the door benefit you.

• Efficiency and Effectiveness ? PR specialists/agencies generate publicity full time, 8-12 hours per day and know the ins and outs, shortcuts and secrets to getting the job done better and quicker. Sure you could hang your own drywall or do your own plumbing, but do you have the tools, the time and the expertise to make it cost effective. I always tell my clients, "You do what you do well, I'll do what I do well and we'll collectively move this business further up the ladder."

One caveat when it comes to choosing a professional PR agency or individual to work with ? signing up for a higher priced campaign doesn't necessarily mean you will get better results than a cheaper campaign. And the inverse is true as well. Over the past year or so, many "low-cost PR/publicity services" have begun to pop up all over the Internet. Ones that promise to write and launch a press release for as low as $99. They are low in cost ? because frankly many are low in quality. Bigger is not necessarily better, and cheap does not always mean a good bargain.

If you have the time, tools and talent to launch and maintain your own campaign, you should definitely do so. If not ? there are a number of public relations/publicity firms, specialists and services out there. Research to find the one whose services and fees match your business plan. Once business owners, entrepreneurs, and inventors learn more about their options when it comes to launching a PR campaign -- many find that they can't afford NOT to have one.

About The Author

Todd Brabender is the President of Spread The News Public Relations, Inc.. His business specializes in generating media exposure and publicity for innovative products, businesses, websites and inventions.

(785) 842-8909, todd@spreadthenewspr.com

http://www.spreadthenewspr.com

Jammin with Your Kids: The Wonderful World of Music

Does music need to be "dumbed-down" for kids? The answer became quite clear to me and my husband as we observed how our own child responded to complex melodies and varied musical styles in the first months of her life.

When I embarked on the recording of my children's music CD ("Wake Up & Go To Sleep", Artsong Music) shortly after my daughter was born, it didn't occur to me to create a happy little watered down collection of songs made just for young listeners. The songs simply evolved as the experiential narrative of a new mom.

My husband, jazz guitarist and composer Pat Kelley, arranged and produced the CD bringing his rich diverse musical experience into play and giving the CD a broad stylistic range. Our daughter Katie seemed delighted by the whole project, which took four years to complete. She even contributed song writing and vocal performances.

It was only later, when the CD was released and people began to listen, that we discovered how much parents were moved by it. We have received many thanks for creating music that is a pleasure to listen to alone and with children.

Children have a more innate ability to absorb music than most adults. At a young age they have minds that are open to everything rather than filled with influences telling them what they should and should not like. Our daughter feels joy listening to Mozart, Hawaiian music, The Beatles, or Glenn Miller. Music only requires an open mind to find enjoyment in its beauty.

The earliest experience of music is in a child's first cry. Crying has tone and is the earliest sound that expresses emotion. For many infants, the next experience of music is the intimate songs a mother sings as she rocks and soothes her baby to sleep. Indeed this is a mother's own sound language that is completely unique to her and her baby. These may be some of the most meaningful and bonding moments of the mother/infant relationship.

But where do you go from here? If you begin to expose babies to myriad musical styles, you can witness early responses. Even in the early weeks of life, a baby will respond to complex classical works. Our daughter at three weeks old reacted to a Rachmaninoff piano concerto, eyes searching, facial changes pronounced. Clearly these sounds had a dramatic and positive effect. After having been very active kicking and fussing, she became still, seemingly enthralled in the music.

By exposing kids to a variety of musical styles, they begin to develop their response to what moves them to sing and dance, or be calmed, and even what turns them off. Critical listening can start early. And by exposing them to varied music they will develop the ability to appreciate many different styles. Your kids are completely open and ready to absorb anything new. There is no reason to limit what they hear just because you might think they are too young to understand it. Great music does not require understanding to be enjoyed and absorbed on the most organic level.

Sometimes music helps children express what they aren't able to articulate. In the earliest days, it is often simply the sheer joy of singing and using the voice that enables a child to begin to develop a love of music. Singing just feels good, both emotionally and physically to a child. Dancing or moving to music is a natural expression of rhythm, which is part of life. Encourage your children to sing and dance and they will be more free and expressive.

As you explore the world of children's music, also introduce the music you like to your kids. This can be a time for both of you to explore new musical styles such as jazz, classical, bluegrass, blues, funk, and a variety of world and ethnic music. If you aren't sure what to buy, visit your local library. Most libraries have a very good section of CDs in a broad range of styles. Ask the librarian for suggestions. Try checking out a different style CD each week. Of course you can browse the Internet and visit your favorite on-line music stores. Many sites offer downloadable music samples.

Music is at the heart of a child's spirit. In our CD "Wake Up & Go To Sleep" we celebrate that spirit and the preciousness of childhood. We make music for fun and for interaction. Music should inspire little souls to think outside the box!

As your children develop a musical vocabulary, let them take you along for the ride.

Attend outdoor concerts where kids can dance and run around to the music. Many venues offer free concerts in the summer, in a variety of styles. Get Jammin' with your kids. It's a blast!

Let music fill your children's hearts with joy, and in return it will do the same for you.

About The Author

Francie Kelley is a singer, songwriter, art dealer and mom. Her CD "Wake Up and Go to Sleep" is the winner of a prestigious 2003 Parent's Choice Award and is available on Amazon.com and CDBaby.com. For more info about Francie and her music, visit http://www.franciekelley.com

An Introduction to Text Messaging

Why Text?

Text messaging is a quick way to stay in touch with people for personal or business purposes. With text messaging, you can chat with a partner by typing on the keyboard and reading what they write to you on the screen. Many text messaging products can work with cell phone text messaging (aka SMS or Short Messaging Service) so you can chat with people who aren't in front of their computer. So, why not just pick up the phone and talk?

It's faster than e-mail and phone calls. And you don't have to pay anything to text. If you need to chat with someone briefly or ask a quick question, it's much less intrusive than calling someone. As with most developing technologies, several types of text messaging are available and each one is incompatible with the others. But don't let that keep you from trying it out. The main text messaging products are ICQ (www.icq.com), MSN Messenger (www.msn.com), AIM (www.aim.com), and Yahoo Messenger (www.yahoo.com).

btw (By the Way...)

Each one is free and simple to download, install, and sign up. You can locate your "buddies" by searching in an online directory by their screen name, e-mail address, name, or telephone number. Once you get the hang of it, text messaging can be extremely addictive. As you continue to use text messaging, you will find yourself learning to abbreviate words and sentences. When you leave an online chat, you might say BRB (Be Right Back), I'm afk (away from the keyboard), or TTYL (Talk to You Later). See glossary below.

Some text messaging products are beginning to offer voice and video chat. The future of digital communication is an integrated product, since voice, video, interactive text messaging, and e-mail are all effective means of communication. In the future, you will be able to switch between text, voice, and video with ease. Until then, we will continue to use different methods for different communication needs :-(

Glossary

:-) Smiley face. Means that someone is happy

;-) Smiley face with wink.

:-( If someone sends you this in an e-mail, they're probably not having a good day

BTW - By the Way

FYI - For Your Information

FWIW - For What It's Worth

IMHO - In My Humble Opinion (or IMO) TIA - Thanks in Advance

WRT - With Respect To

LOL - Laughing Out Loud

ROTFL - Rolling on the Floor Laughing

AFK - Away From Keyboard

TTYL - Talk To You Later

CYA - See You Later

About The Author

Deryck Richards is the founder and managing partner of Desktronix. With an extensive educational background in computer information systems, Deryck currently manages hosting and data center operations for Desktronix. He also provides system administration and technical support directly to small businesses as he has since 2000. His areas of expertise include networking, Windows, Linux, and Macintosh systems and he is the author of The Guide to Technology for Small Business. For more information on Desktronix, visit www.desktronix.com.

Easy Cash Advance - Payday Loans Online are Quick

Cash advances have become quicker to process with online payday loan applications. In as little as a minute, you can be approved for a cash advance and have the money in your checking account the next day. Cash advances can save you from life's sudden financial emergencies.

Payday Loans Or Cash Advances

Payday loans go by several names including ? cash advance, check loan, or post-dated loan. These are all the same type of short-term loan for amounts between $100 and $1000 depending on your financial situation.

Payday loans are for small financial emergencies. You can save money on late charges or bounced checks by securing a cash advance against your next payday. You usually have thirty days to pay back the loan, although with additional fees you can take longer to pay back the loan.

Easy Application Process

Applying for a cash advance can be completed anytime from your home. Through an online website, you enter your contact information and employment history. Most payday lenders require you to be at least 18 years old and employed for at least the past 90 days. Within five minutes, your application will be reviewed and you will receive notice if you are approved.

Quick Cash Advance

With an approved application, you will need to supply your lender with your checking account routing number so they can deposit your money. Through a wire transfer your money will typically be available by the next day.

No Fuss Payments

Payments for your loan are also handled online. Most payday companies offer at least three payment options you can choose from. On your due date, you can choose to pay only financing charges, the whole loan amount, or a portion of it. You can also change your payment plan, but you will pay more fees the longer you take to pay back your loan.

Convenient Help

Payday loan companies can be contacted through a variety of means. Typically lenders can be reached through phone or email. Increasingly, payday lenders are also using fax and instant messaging to answer questions. Payday websites will also post general information, including their rates, payment options, and answers to generally asked questions.

To view our list of recommended sources for payday or cash advance loans online, visit this page: Recommended Payday or Cash Advance Loan Sources.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.

Planning for the Unexpected

Unfortunately, most people fail to plan until it is too late. History tells us that for centuries humans have been witness to tragedies, and often times have been the victim of them. A cursory study points to one inescapable fact: a tragedy always produces another tragedy.

Consider: all the wars, past and present, carried on in the name of some "sacred" or "national" cause, has always brought about death, destruction and ruin to countries, their armies and their citizens ? a tragic loss of lives but also a tragedy to the person(s) left to deal with the loss of a loved one while at the same time needing guidance as to what to do, beyond a Will, about personal effects and business matters.

Witness: the tragic deaths of people owing to disease and epidemics and the tragic effect such disasters have had on the survivor(s) ? the person(s) who must bear the brunt of their own personal tragedy and loss, attempt to go beyond any Will, put things in order and go on with life.

Recall, if you will, the natural disasters - floods, fires, tornados, hurricanes, earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, almost always resulting in the tragic loss of lives ? and for every life lost there is a person, or persons, who must face their own personal tragedy at a difficult time when they must also try to find guidance , in addition to a Will, and establish what should or must be done.

We have only to look at the recent horrendous catastrophe that happened in the Pacific where the tsunami devastated entire towns and villages; claimed in excess of 220,000 lives, wiped out entire families and left thousands homeless. Closer home, the lives of thousands of tourists, away from home and family to enjoy a warm and happy holiday, were suddenly snuffed out. All of them expected to return to their respective communities to resume their daily life. For each life destroyed by this tragedy there is a person, or persons, at home who must deal with the tragedy by shouldering the burden of being the executor of their estate by seeking help after the reading of the Will.

And then we have the hundreds of individuals whose lives are curtailed on a daily basis because of sudden heart attacks, strokes, car accidents, or other unanticipated events ? a tragedy to each family but an even greater tragedy to the person who is likely to be totally unprepared for making the required decisions beyond those that may have been given in a Will.

Throughout this article emphasis has been placed on the person left to deal with the tragedy, regardless of its magnitude, because whatever the situation(s) described above, not one of the individuals could ever have anticipated the timing of his/her demise. But then one cannot help but wonder how many of those individuals had taken the time to not only execute a Will, but put pen to paper so as to guide the person who survives them as to how they would, or should, handle their affairs.

As brutal and callous as it may sound, quite likely less than 20% of the individuals who were victims of the tragic situations were considerate enough of their significant others to talk to them at some point about their wishes much less actually doing something about it. No one likes to think about death, much less their own - but it is something of which we must all be aware and, as best we can, prepare for. This means that in addition to a Will, we should give, or at least leave, detailed, written guidance for the person who survives us. Not doing so would indeed create and be a tragedy.

Julian Huffer, though not a lawyer, served many years as Executive Director of a major law association until his retirement. He has continued his interest in legal affairs and, based on his experiences at the association and personally, has been greatly concerned with the lack of attention individuals give to leaving their significant others all the information possible about their personal wishes, financial matters, key medical and legal contacts as well as the locations of important documents. To that end he developed a lengthy but concise non-legal, do-it-yourself document for use by the average person. It was created to be used as an adjunct to a properly drawn Will and to serve as a guide for those who must see to the "winding up" of affairs. For more information http://www.willandestateinventory.com Copyright 2005 - 780588 Ontario Inc. All rights reserved.

The above article may be used in Web and Print media as long as it is not altered in any way and the unaltered

Trout Species ? Cutthroat Trout and Golden Trout

Cutthroat Trout: Cutthroat Trout are generally found only in high alpine lakes or in some selected areas of the Pacific Northwest.

The Cutthroat Trout is the original trout of the Rocky Mountains. Unlike Brown Trout which were originally introduced to the Eastern United States, Cutthroat Trout are originally from the Western half of the United States.

What separates the Cutthroat Trout from other trout is that Cutthroat Trout are found primarily in remote and pristine locations. Unlike their larger cousins, the rainbows and the browns, Cutthroat Trout tend to fare poorly in highly competitive environments ? especially when predatory fish like Pike are introduced into their waters. As such, the range of the Cutthroat Trout has been driven back over the years.

While Cutthroat Trout are still found in good numbers in many of the rivers in Montana (such as the Yellowstone), the best Cutthroat Trout fishing will usually now be found deep in the backcountry - in isolated mountain lakes and streams. This requires lots of effort by the angler just to reach the Cutthroat Trout, because they are often found in very remote areas. Cutthroat Trout do not receive as much fly fishing pressure as their rainbow and Brown Trout cousins. As such, they are generally easier to catch and found in greater numbers. However, Cutthroat Trout do not get as large as rainbow or Brown Trout, and generally lack the aerial abilities that other trout display when hooked.

Cutthroat Trout can be easily identified by the two red slashes under and on the outside of its lower jaw. The sides of the Cutthroat Trout are brownish yellow and are highlighted with black spots. Other colorings of Cutthroat Trout can occur, but only as a result of crossbreeding between Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout, and are called cut-bow trout.

Golden Trout: Rare and elusive, the Golden Trout inhabit some of the most remote lakes in the United States.

The Golden Trout is one elusive species of trout. Golden Trout have very limited range, as they are only found in high alpine lakes and streams found in the Rocky Mountains and the Cascades. Because of this, reaching good Golden Trout waters is no easy task ? usually requiring a long hike or horse pack in.

Additionally, due to the environment in which the Golden Trout live in (very cold, low nutrient water), Golden Trout are generally quite small, as there is just not enough food to support larger trout.

Despite the relatively low fishing pressure they receive, Golden Trout can be somewhat difficult to catch, as they tend to be fickle about what they eat. Moreover, not all high alpine lakes and rivers contain these trout ? so simply locating waters that have good Golden Trout populations can be an effort in and of itself.

That said, since Golden Trout live in the most beautiful scenery in the United States, a day spent looking for or fishing for Golden Trout can never be wasted ? even if you don't catch any. For an angler looking to catch trout in a splendid and scenic environment, chasing the Golden Trout is the way go.

It's hard to miss a Golden Trout, as their name conveys. These beautiful trout are golden in color, so are hard to mistake for other types of fish. The Golden Trout also has a scattering of black spots and a red striping along its lateral line, belly and gill plates.

Since Golden Trout are not very common, it is recommended that anglers who catch Golden Trout release them instead of eating them. If you're looking for a fish you can eat, go hook some Brook Trout instead. Brookies are usually found in the same waters as Golden Trout are, but are not nearly as rare. Most agree they taste better too!

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Good Credit -- Essential for the Prospective Home Buyer

Credit is a funny thing. It can be a useful tool in the hands of an informed individual, or a weight of burden to the unsuspecting. One thing is for certain, you must have a decent credit score to attain a quality mortgage loan.

We speak to hundreds of individuals each month that are in the market to buy property. Unfortunately, many of them have less than desirable credit scores, and because of this, are not able to get prequalified for a loan.

There are numerous reasons for bad credit scores: bankruptcies, late payments, large credit balances, and a host of others. There are many legitimate reasons a person may have bad credit, but frankly, most of the people we talk to have simply made poor financial decisions.

In most cases, bad credit can be easily avoided:

1. On revolving credit card balances, make sure you pay your minimum balance each month. You will even receive a slight credit boost if you pay over your minimum amount, so do it if you can.

2. Avoid "maxing" out credit card accounts. Credit cards are good to have to build your credit, but make sure you keep your spending under control. Preferably, you should be able to pay off any CC balances completely in the same month you spent the money.

3. If you need to make any big purchases, avoid the temptation to place the entire purchase on your credit card. Instead, put money aside each month until you have enough for the purchase. Remember, just because you have a big spending limit on your cards, doesn't make it your money! You have to pay every penny back plus interest!

4. Try to think of a credit card as a tool for building credit as opposed to a tool for buying the things you want. You spend a small amount each month, and pay it off immediately. This will spike your credit score, and keep you out of CC debt.

5. Make sure to pull your credit rating at least twice a year. This will give you a good feel for what your score is, and most credit score reporting services will give you a detailed explanation for why your score is where it is. If you find any errors, make sure you report and resolve them immediately. It can be long and gruesome work to get a negative mark removed from your credit record, but it can be well worth it when it comes time to buy a house.

I hope some of these tips will be helpful for you as you try to be a good steward of your finances.

You may also want to check out these free resources:

www.FamilyCredit.org
www.DebtFreeChristian.org

Justin Smith is the President of the Christian Real Estate Network - http://www.HisMove.com