How to Make Money with Arts and Crafts

I have been to many arts and craft fairs and festivals in my life and theres on thing I notice in all of them. They are busy. If you pay attention to whats going on at these fairs and festivals, youll notice that people buy these crafts. I thought to myself Why cant I do this? Well, guess what, I can do this and I do.

Let me tell you how I got started in doing arts and crafts. After I visited many of the arts and crafts fairs and festivals, I went home and decided get some e-books on making arts and crafts. The first e-book I got was about soap making. I got this e-book because at the last arts and crafts festival I was at, the soaps was the biggest sellers. I read the e-book and learned how to make soap. I got to work on making soap for the nest arts and craft festival. I didnt want to make a lot of soap at first for fear of not selling it all. Well, I made about 100 bars of soap and asked a friend if I can sell at his book. He said yes. I ended up selling 75 bars of soap. I made a nice little profit from selling the soap.

After that arts and crafts festival, I went home and got a few more e-books. I got about gel candle making, bath salt making and perfume making. I read all the e-books and got busy with making some more soap, and I started to make perfume, bath salt and gel candles. With the research that I did by going to the arts and crafts fairs and festival, I found out what was hot to sell now.

Anyway, I went back to another arts and crafts festival and ended up getting my own booth. I ended up selling all but 10 bars of soap, selling all the bath salt I made, selling all but 1 gel candle and I sold all perfume I made. That weekend I made about $500 with only putting in $100 in products. I was happy. So I went home and ended up get another e-book. I got how to make a wind chime e-book. Well, to make this long story short, I read the e-book made some wind chimes for another arts and crafts festival. I ended up selling all of the wind chimes.

Ernest Kent

Greed and Fear?

We have heard it: the market is not driven by money but by greed and fear. The two biggest emotions that move markets up and down at random; they seem to fluctuate without any logic behind them.

Why do we get these emotions when we trade? After all, it's stocks we're trading, not playing sports where our bodies are physically working to exert energy and sweat. So why then does it take to so much emotion just to click a buy button and a sell button and watch the screen with numbers moving back and forth?

When it comes to money, it's the master of us all. It doesn't matter what walk of life we hold, we are taught that money is the only way to reflect us as successful and accomplished people. But in the end, does it come down to money to become successful in trading?

The answer is no. Why? Success comes from loving what you do, not from doing what you're doing for the sake of money. There are people who work at jobs they don't like. Many do it just to get by but do not have the drive to excel. People who love their jobs have higher probability to excel in their work because they don't see it as work but something they love to do. Many of us enter the market to make money, not lured by the challenge of figuring out how the market works. It is the reason why new investors and traders start by placing a large position thinking the trade in monetary value, profit or loss. They think will be quick and easy, not really giving thought on how to figure out this complex but interesting market first before committing money in there. By committing money, its about the money, not the pleasure of learning about the markets.

This is where fear and greed comes in. This very first thought people make when entering is 'how much can I make?' and not 'I wonder how this market works?' There is a big difference in this mindset. When we don't worry about the money, we can view things in a more objective way. Believe it or not, there is a fine line from being in a trade and out of a trade, especially holding a big position. The emotions overtake judgment very quickly when a major loss is on the line with the prices fluctuating rapidly.

So how do deal with this? There are several things we can do keep greed and fear out of the trading plan:

1. Start trading smallest positions possible -The idea is to learn, improve and perfect trading while not thinking about the importance of gains or losses. This should subdue if not remove the fear and the greed.

2. Use stop loss order - Believe it or not, stop loss orders bring comfort and peace of mind that would otherwise bring many traders sleepless nights. Why? Not knowing how much the loss is, which can be unlimited, carry a major concern. This method will get rid of the fear factor.

3. Create a trading plan - Having a plan of attack, where to get in and where to get out in a certain market condition relieves the trader from having to think on his feet; without a plan will cause the trader to freeze and be indecisive and in turn cause more emotional stress.

4. Set target price - This may help in deciding before the trade when to take profits, not leaving to decide when to exit. Target profits helps against greedy feelings on thinking that the profits will continue to rise. When it doesn't and profits turning into losses, the tendency is to freeze and not take action. Having profit targets also help prevent the taking profits too early. This is also a fear stemming from being afraid the profits will disappear and turn into a loss.

This is the worst aspect of the trading: lack of self-control. Trading gives total freedom on deciding when and where to buy and sell but this is also why freedom becomes a hindrance. Discipline is the only method to alleviate fear and greed. Without it, it will set the tone a fear of losing everything and greed will prevent from taking profits when it's right the time to do so.

Larry Swing is the President of the popular day and swing trading site http://www.mrswing.com a place where you can find free daily articles and videos covering education, market analysis and picks from Larry and other well known traders in the industry.

Is Your Dog Fat?

Is your dog one of the majority whos getting loved to death? Overweight dogs face the same health problems as overweight humans; increased risk of heart problems, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, the list goes on and on.

One of the problems is the dog food companies themselves. The charts they offer on bags of dry food more closely reflect the amounts that top-athlete dogs should consume, not our everyday, couch-potato pets. Were not exempt from blame, but it is hard to resist those soulful puppy eyes.

There are some tips and tricks for treating your dog without packing on the pounds. First; use a food appropriate for your dogs activity level. Most of our dogs dont need the high-performance (read high-fat, high-protein) foods. Light, or senior dry dog foods provide all the nutrition our dogs need, without quite as many calories.

Another mistake many people make is to free feed their dogs. They leave dry dog food out all day, assuming that the dog will eat what it needs, when it needs it. Its just not true. And without regular meal times, its very difficult to housetrain a dog. You dont know when the dog needs to go because it has no regular eating/elimination timetable. Most veterinarians recommend feeding dogs twice a day, so give half in the morning and half in the evening.

Leave a measuring cup in the container of kibble. Measure a precise amount at a set time every day. Leave the food down for 15 minutes. If the dog doesnt eat it will have another chance next time.

Its not easy to do. Most of our dogs have us very well trained. They are wonderful actors who have perfected that lean and hungry look. But its our job as responsible pet owners to take control and do the right thing for our charges.

If your dog seems hungry all the time, there are low-calorie, healthful tricks experienced dog people use. One is to add canned green beans to the dogs dry food adding bulk to the diet with few calories. Another tasty, low-calorie addition is canned pumpkin. Most dogs love the taste and tolerate either one very well.

When you do give your dog treats, and we all do, make sure your dog works for the goodies. Use a toy designed to release treats as the dog plays with it, or use the treats as a reward for learning new behaviors and tricks. Make your dog earn his treats and use high-quality dog treats that are the right size for your dog. If its more than a one bite, its a meal, not a treat.

The best thing of all, for both of you, is to get moving. Get out and walk with your dog. Studies have shown that both owners and dogs health improves when we go walking with our dogs. Its just a coincidence that its fun, too.

Hope Saidel is the co-owner of Golly Gear (http://www.GollyGear.com), a bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun, affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a decade and is on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Dog Training Club. Check out her blog: http://www.gollygear.blogspot.com. She welcomes comments, questions and suggestions to Hope@GollyGear.com.

Revealed, You Need a US Bank Account to Make Money Online!

Yes, it has been revealed, that you need a US Bank account to make and retain money online. No matter where you live, if you are going to make any amount of money online and be able to retain or save same, you need to have a US bank account.

We all have Bank accounts in our respective home countries or residences. No problem with that - it is easy to get. We need this to run our lives, do our day to day activities off-line and so on. It is no big deal or a problem. So it is until I got online to make money two years ago.

When you get online and try to make money, then you realize that the rule of the game will change for you. Suddenly you will realize that you need a US Bank account with a Bank over there in the US. Why? Because 80%-90% of the Internet businesses is controlled by people in US / Canada. That is the way it is for now and in the foreseeable future. And I doubt if the equation is ever going to change at all.

When you want to make money online, in most cases the buyer will be a US native who is either using PayPal or a Credit card to pay for things online. You have got to hook up with PayPal by opening an account with them to receive your payments from other PayPal users. But PayPal only allows people from about 50 countries of the world to use her services. In other words, you can not open an account with them if you are not from these 48-50 countries. Then you realize you are stuck.

What is the alternative if this is your situation? Get a Merchant account or a third party payment processor to take credit and debit cards payments for you. From our earlier equation, 80%-90% of the time, the guys will be in the US. When it is time for the card company to transfer your money to you less their charges, you are going to receive a check which might take 2-4 weeks to get to you, depending on your location. You get the check, assuming you are lucky it did not get lost in transit, and deposit the same with your Bank in your home country. Your bank sends the check for collection in US - another 2-4 weeks. In US, your funds get cleared in 2-3 business days. Then you get your credit. Now your Bank will charge you about $25 - $45 for the check: remember they have to pay DHL / FedEx to transport your check along with other documents, plus they are in business. Get it?

Now for all they care, your check may be for an amount of between $100 to $200, especially if you are just starting out. If you get 10 - 20 checks in a year (yes you can be getting many checks from various affiliate programs) you might find yourself paying $250 - $900 for the year.

Now compare yourself with someone with a US Bank account. He gets paid by what they call ACH (Automated Clearing House) system. This is just an electronic fund transfer system initiated by individual account owners in US to pay others within a network of some banks in US / Canada. This takes just 2-3 days and bang, your money is in your US bank account. It is mostly free to go. In some case you pay a token. I pay $3 to receive ACH into my US Bank account. I live in Africa and I have access to my funds by use of the Card issued to me by the US bank. I can withdraw money daily at the ATM in my country, no problem! My problem is to make the money go into my US bank account:-

Also I can use my Card to buy things online, a privilege not enjoyed by many especially in the developing and under-developed countries.

Now you can see that it is a must for you to have a US bank account if you want to make and retain money from the Internet. But getting one is one of your greatest nightmare as a non-resident.

A non-resident refers to the non-US citizens, having no residential base in the country. It is generally put in to the use by the country's banking sector.

The banking laws as it concerns a non-resident is very strict. It is almost impossible if you do not know how to go about it. The thing is complex and complicated and most Banks will just avoid doing this for non-residents. For them it is a mine field which only a few have mastered. I spent 4 years researching this after I found myself in the above situation earlier mentioned. In my case I even had money trapped with PayPal, after opening my account in PayPal with a US mailing address (perfectly legal).

Now let us look briefly at how you can set up a US Bank account as non-resident of US.

First option is that you set up a company, incorporate one and have an office presence in the United States. Very expensive option you know. How many of us can afford this?

Second option is have someone do it for you for a fee ranging from $400-$800. Expensive also.

Third option is buy the info. They are a few good Reports that will show you how to do this by yourself. The price for the Reports ranges from $20 - $97. This was the option that I used to get my own US bank account.

Whichever option that you decide to follow is entirely up to you.

You can do some searching at a place like Google.

You could pay for the information or get a company or someone to do it for you at a fee. It depends on you and your pocket.

You need not to incorporate a US Company before you can get a US Bank account. That is an expensive approach.

So go ahead and get your own US Bank account now. Do not wait until tomorrow as the laws are constantly changing. What is possible today may not be possible tomorrow. ACT fast. Good Luck.


Godspower Daniel is an Internet Wealth Consultant, Writer and CEO - Ewealthsuccess.com. He has a Report about getting a US Bank account easily at: http://www.ewealthsuccess.com/us-bank.html

Using Your Health Savings Account to Pay for International Travel

Thousands of U.S. citizens are taking advantage of the low cost and high quality of foreign hospitals by traveling abroad for medical treatment. The savings are often 75 percent or more, and the entire cost of treatment may even be payable with tax-free money from a Health Savings Account.

Medical tourism first began to get popular in the 1990's, when people began traveling in large numbers to Brazil for cosmetic surgery. But as costs have continued to rise, thousands of Americans have been traveling overseas for real medical conditions, such as knee replacements, by-pass operations, heart valve replacements, and other serious issues. Many countries are seeing medical tourism as a good way to bring in foreign money.

In many cases the quality of medicine available overseas is equal to the top hospitals in the U.S. Patients are showing up at places like the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, India, part of a 36-hospital chain founded by a cardiologist from Massachusetts General. A heart valve replacement may cost $50,000 to $100,000 in the U.S., and only $12,000 in India, including travel costs.

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center, in Delhi, India, is another popular medical tourist destination. It was founded by Dr. Naresh Trehan, an authority on robotic cardiac surgery formerly based at New York University.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has just announced that they will pay for treatment at Bumrungrad International Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand for individuals from South Carolina. Over 80,000 Americans received treatment there last year. The hospital boasts that over 200 of its doctors are board-certified in the U.S, and will perform a knee replacement operation for 20 percent of what it would cost in the U.S.

Who Does This?

Dodie Gilmore is a 60 year-old rodeo barrel-racing champ from Oklahoma. She runs a 180 acre ranch, but could no longer ride a horse because she needed a hip replacement. Her health insurance plan had an exclusion that wouldn't cover her operation, and she really didn't feel like paying the $35,000 it would cost her. Instead she and her partner flew to India where she had the surgery at the Max Institute of Orthopedics and Joint Replacement.

Her physician was Dr. S.K.S. Marya, who averages one American hip-replacement patient every week. Dodie's total coast, including travel, was only $11,000. She even managed to take in a tour of the Taj Mahal.

Forty to Sixty percent of those surveyed say they would consider surgery abroad if it could save them $5,000 or more. Going out of the U.S. (perhaps even just to Mexico), could be a worthwhile strategy if you have an exclusionary waiver on your policy, if you'll be having elective surgery not covered by your health insurance policy, or if you have a high deductible plan.

What is the Risk?

According to the Institute of Medicine, over 100,000 accidental deaths occur in hospitals every year. And that's here in the U.S. Hospitals are a dangerous place to be, and you want to spend as little of your life in one as possible. So there are risks everywhere, and probably greater risks outside the U.S.

But the magic of the free-market does give you some protection. There is a lot of money flowing to countries and international hospitals that practice high-quality medicine. If a hospital does not provide quality service, you can bet its customers will go elsewhere, particularly if they are choosing among anywhere in the world.

The influx of foreign patients (and money) is enticing more western-trained doctors to return home, so the choices are actually increasing, and the quality and prices continue to improve. I believe that if you use care in choosing your provider and structuring your treatment, the risks are no greater than having surgery here in the U.S.

How to Research Your Options

Keep in mind that most health insurance plans still will not cover for treatment outside the U.S., particularly if you are traveling specifically to receive medical care. So check with your insurer if the cost of the treatment is going to exceed your deductible.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations certifies hospitals here in the U.S. Their international division, Joint Commission International, certifies hospitals throughout the rest of the world. Make sure the facility that you are considering has been certified by them.

Then check out your doctor. Confirm that he or she is English speaking, and was trained in the U.S., U.K., Australia, or Germany.

Finally, consider hiring a consultant to help you choose the best hospital and surgeon for your needs. A good service will not only set up the treatment, but can also arrange all travel plans, meet you at the airport, and act as your liaison while you are being treated.

If you spend money from your Health Savings Account to pay for international medical care, the amount you withdraw is tax-free. Health Savings Account regulations also allow you to cover the cost of your travel if the reason you are traveling to get medical care is not "for purely personal reasons."

When choosing how to manage your health, you should carefully consider all your options. International travel is a great option for people with Health Savings Accounts.

Wiley Long - President, HSA for America (http://www.health--savings--accounts.com) - The nation's leading independent health insurance firm specializing in individual and family coverage that work with Health Savings Accounts.

Things You Need To Know When Considering A Doggy Day Care

Is your dog home alone? Does your pup get excited as soon as you open the door? She probably does because she misses you; shes lonely and wants companionship as well as physical and mental stimulation. Doggy day care may be your answer.

Doggie day cares work the same as human day cares, with a drop off and pickup time, with a safe and healthy interaction with other dogs and people in between. You should tour the facility checking for health conditions and how their staff interacts with the dogs, what type of training do the staff members get etc..

Other considerations; is there an outdoor play area, is it fenced, does the facility seem overcrowded? Are the dogs required to follow basic obedience commands, will the staff feed the dogs and when, will they allow you to brig your own food if needed, does the facility have its own veterinarian if needed in an emergency? Make a list of your own concerns and questions.

Costs of doggy day cares are typically $8.00 to $15.00 a day, but can be much higher based on location, facility, and the level of care given. In home daycares are usually cheaper, but provide only the most basic level of care and attention.

Day care centers may also be combined with boarding kennels, training kennels, and grooming spas. But no matter how basic or how excessive, they all require proof of current vaccinations, and good health, with some requiring a Veterinarians examination.

However, day care may not be appropriate for every dog, especially those that are aggressive or over protective. They must be able to interact with the other dogs and the staff of the facility. Most daycare providers are listed in your local phone book and newspaper classifieds, and most local dog clubs and associations and their members can give you a personal recommendation.

Lastly, after placing your dog in a day care environment, take not of his or her behavior. Is it better, worse, or unchanged? Better or unchanged are ok, but worse is a red flag. Bad habits can be learned quickly, and an unhappy experience can leave your dog depressed, more aggressive, or just plain miserable. Dont hesitate to stop or change day cares when behaviors change.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars, dog clothes, pet supplies and more. Check them out at http://www.joncopets.com

Finding and Expressing Your Voice

Each of us has a unique and significant set of traits, abilities, passions, and skills that we offer to the world. This is our voice. When we are expressing our voice we feel significant, valuable, and joyful. We seek and find a sense of meaning in our work and in our lives when we are operating at this level. When we are expressing our voice we are in alignment with who we are. I have met many people in organizations who are doing this. They love their jobs; they are passionate about what they do; they love making a contribution; they are constantly learning and growing; and they feel fulfilled doing their work. When you have an organization where everyone has found their voice, you have one great choir--harmonious and magnificent. You have people supporting one another to express greatness.

Recently I read The Eighth Habit, by Stephen Covey. The eighth habit is: "Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs." This book is a must read for all of you who see yourselves as leaders. Dr. Covey presents some disturbing statistics that demonstrate that most of us are not in the choir. He presents the following data collected in a survey of 23 thousand U.S. people employed in organizations.

37 % have clear understanding of what their organization is trying to achieve.

20 % are enthusiastic about the organization goals.

20 % see how their tasks match up with the goals.

50 % are happy with what they have accomplished by the end of the week.

15 % feel their organization enables them to accomplish goals.

17% see open communication in their workplace.

10 % believe people are held accountable.

20 % trust the organization they work for.

Dr. Covey puts it into perspective when he imagines if a soccer team had these scores:

Only four of the eleven players would know which goal was theirs.

Only two of the eleven would care.

Only two would know which position they play.

Nine of the players would in some way be competing against their own team.

Covey attributes much of this to the fact that so many people do not find meaning or joy in their work. The answer, he says, is to help each person find their voice. I recommend you read the book. The Eighth Habit, through research and logic, presents a convincing case that the "carrot and stick" method of management is not effective. It is not effective in our workplaces, nor is it effective at home or at school.

Another recent book, Unconditional Parenting, by Alfie Kohn, cites numerous research studies that authoritarian and punitive parenting is ineffective. The results of highly controlling parenting are children who are either overly compliant, or overly defiant. It seems that whether we are dealing with children or adults, the use of rewards and punishments creates more problems than it solves. The problem is that controlling people doesn't really teach them. Controlling others doesn't bring forth their best selves. It doesn't help them find their voice. As a result people are not internally motivated.

As I listen to people in various organizations, and as I read the literature from various fields, this is what I find:

People don't feel respected.

People don't feel valued.

People don't feel listened to.

Many people feel directionless and powerless.

Many people are focused on external factors such as punishments, rewards, grades, approval, disapproval, criticism, profits, and social recognition rather than internal factors such as personal responsibility, compassion for others, the desire to contribute and serve, and finding/expressing one's voice.

The thought occurs, "Somebody should do something." But who is somebody? Who will lead us? I suggest that it is you. Yes, you the reader of this article, are the leader we have been waiting for. Yes, CEO's, presidents, Executive Directors, and managers need to change, but we are all responsible. We are all responsible for looking within ourselves and finding meaning, finding our voice. It's time to eliminate the excuses, to stop blaming management; to stop blaming your parents; to stop blaming the government and ask the big question: "What can I do?" Whatever the situation is, we need to accept that it is what it is, and now we need to figure out what we can do about it. Blaming managers, blaming employees, and blaming circumstances are a waste of valuable energy and serve as excuses for not taking responsibility.

You can find your voice. You can help others to find theirs. You can realize that a paycheck is a result of doing good work, but it is not the reason you were hired or the reason you are in business. You are there to serve. And when you are serving well, you enjoy your work. And when you serve well, most often you tend to be paid well. And if your organization doesn't pay you well in spite of your incredible service, your track record and your positive energy will get you work somewhere else where you are compensated well. Or, you can utilize your tremendous skill and service orientation to create a lucrative sideline business. If your real dream is doing something else somewhere else, stop waiting, start planning, and do it.

We wait for the right CEO or the right president to come in and "turn this place around" and start treating people with respect. The person who can turn this place around is you. Here is how:

Notice how you feel at work. The thoughts you think and the emotions you have are what you are giving to employees, managers, customers, and anyone else you meet. Is what you are thinking and feeling helpful to them? If not, are you willing to imagine and become a more positive you?

Dig deep and find your passion. Don't let anyone talk you out of it.

Be honest, and compassionate with everyone, especially your boss.

Ask your manager, or whoever is above you, how you can help make the organization stronger--how you can help him/her create a more successful organization.

Eliminate "I can't because..." from your vocabulary and focus your energy on creative ways to get it done anyway. This means working smarter--not harder. Ask your employees and coworkers how you can support them -- and listen to them when they reply.

Treat each person you meet, whether they are an adult or a child, as a highly respected being. Do your best to understand their needs and concerns.

Focus your day on helping, on listening, and on being present in the moment.

Make sure that each word you speak, each action you take, contribute to the success of the people you are with and to the overall success of the organization. That means stop the gossip and stop listening to the gossip. Move beyond complaining to creative action. With your speech and your actions you are either building or destroying. Which do you prefer?

Stop whining! It is unbecoming of you.

Help others find their voice. It is the most rewarding thing you will ever do.

Excuses, blaming, and "reasons" are all ways in which you give away your power. Claim your power by being a possibility thinker. Look at any situation and ask: "What possibilities can I find or create?"

Refuse to be a victim. Envision what can be and start taking action toward that vision.

No one you know needs fixing. They just need to learn who they are and find the confidence to be who they are. Help them be successful.

In conclusion, Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great, tells us about the most successful companies and why they are great. His comprehensive research shows that each and every company (there were eleven who had achieved greatness) all had what he calls Level Five leaders. Four of the traits exhibited by Level Five Leaders were:

1. They were humble and did not seek personal glory.

2. They were focused and driven to succeed, not for themselves, but for their company.

3. They refused to accept mediocrity, and took creative action.

4. They found successors who were as good or better than they were. These are leaders who have found their voices and helped many others to find theirs. These are leaders who created organizations that were not codependent on them, but who were empowered to succeed on their own.

You are capable of being such a leader if it is your intention. You are a light. When you bring your greatness forth you give others permission to be great too. It is a matter of choice--your choice.

William Frank Diedrich is a speaker, executive coach, and the author of Beyond Blaming: Unleashing Power and Passion in People and Organizations. William offers keynotes and workshops on leadership and moving beyond blaming. William also offers a free online newsletter, Transformation Times. Learn more about William at http://noblaming.com.

Gifts For Dog Lovers

Our passion for dogs can sometimes go to the extreme. We treat our pet like it was our own baby, not to mention the love we feel for newly born puppies. Is this just a case of "man's best friend"? Or is it something greater?

We'll let you be the judge of that.

Dogs are just so cute that some dog owners go to the extent of calling their pets "sweetie". Others call their dogs their "kids," or "babies."

Dog lovers are limitless in the terms of affection they can come up with for their pets. It is even common to see pets that look like their owners, and vice versa. This is probably just another sign of our love for them.

Dogs give unconditional love to their owners. This is a characteristic of all dog breeds. A lot of dog lovers return this love in the form of dog gifts. And the selection of dog gifts appear in all shapes, varieties, and sizes.

There is a wide selections of dog gifts. There are dog baskets, dog books, dog collars, dog crates, dog clothes, food, dog accessories, medicines, vitamin supplements, just to name a few.

Dog gifts can be any dog related item, from dog toys to dog supplies and to a program in dog training. Whatever the giver can imagine.

A common misconception among gift givers is that dog gifts are gifts for pet lovers or the owners themselves. In most instances, they are not. They are for the dog. But in a way, they benefit the dog owner by saving him or her from the expenses he/she would have incurred buying the items.

Dog books are great gifts, generally given to new pet owners. Normally, they contain details pertaining to dog breeds, guidelines in taking care of dogs, nutritional details on the specific breed, methods of dog grooming, tips, and everything in between.

Dog toys may be given as gifts as well. Like children, dogs are fond of playing. In fact, quite a number of breeds are recognized for their playfulness -- some are born ball chasers.

Obviously, in giving toys as dog gifts, you must be careful not to get a toy that could potentially harm the pet. It is wise that you choose those toys that are primarily made of vinyl or latex materials.

Also, avoid those that can be torn in smaller pieces, as they may stick in the dog's throat. One toy you can get is cheap tube of balls, but they must be large enough that they won't fit into the animal's mouth. Or it can be an old sack, or better yet, the sneakers that he likes to chew.

As these examples show, you need not always buy a gift made specifically for dogs. But if you choose to, there are many dog websites that can provide you with a good selection of products. Furthermore, you can also buy from a local pet shop.

Moreover, if you cannot choose a dog gift yourself you have the option of giving the dog owner a gift certificate. This is an ideal way of giving a gift, because in this way you are giving the owner the chance to decide on the gift he thinks would be best for his pet.

Robert Davis writes for several web sites, such as http://dicez.com and http://rosuf.com.

How To Become A Super Affiliate In Less Than A Month

How would you like to make money online as an affiliate? Better yet, how would you like to turn yourself into a Super Affiliate and make money online even more that you could not stop your money from filling up your bank account every month?

There is no doubt there are many affiliate marketers on the Internet. Some are very successful and some just earn enough to pay their bills every month. In order to make money online selling affiliate product, you need to adjust your mind set and become a super affiliate.

Super affiliate like Ewen Chia and Russell Brunson is making million of dollars each and every year. They don't do things like normal affiliate marketer did. If you want to make money online the same way they did, you will have to think like them.

So here's how, if you want to recruit some affiliates for one product that you have just launched, you will have to motivate them. One way is to create some samples for your affiliates, so they have something to give to prospective customers. For instance, with a video product, take clips from the video; and for audio, do the same thing. For software, you may want to create a demo version. Allowing your affiliates to distribute this demo and sample products will increase their conversion rates.

Consider setting up a multi-level commission system as a means to recruit affiliates. You will be making more money online if you implement this method. For instance, if one affiliate recruits another affiliate who makes 10 sales, that first affiliate earns a percentage on all of those 10 sales. This will give other business and list owners with a following an incentive to participate, even if they can't directly sell your product.

If you're planning to coordinate a massive launch with affiliates, always plan to purchase professional graphic headers and e-covers, too. If your sales page does not look professional, you will immediately lose a lot of potential affiliates. Like you, they want to earn a decent return from their efforts; and they also want to associate with good products, not amateur ones. They want to make money online with someone who they can trust without cheating them.

Use ClickBank as your affiliate program administrator and coordinate a massive launch. This will have an exponentially positive effect. The more sales you close, the faster your product or service will rise to the top of the ClickBank charts. As your product gets higher, more affiliates will pick up your product, further increasing your profits.

If you contact someone and ask them to become an affiliate for you, always remember to give them a free copy of your product or service. Not only will this increase their likelihood of actually becoming your affiliate, but it will also make them considerably more effective as an affiliate, since they will actually understand what the product provides.

They are just no boundary to make money online as a super affiliate. All you need to do is to think outside the box a little bit. Copy every method that has been mentioned above which is proven can make you more money online.

Izrul Fizal has made a living earning himself a residual income every month. Visit his website Make Money Online at http://make-money-online1.blogspot.com and http://www.highprofitbizz.com to find out how.

Dog Training: To Punish Or Not To Punish

Punishment is a controversial subject in dog training, though it is widely used by both traditional and positive trainers.

The most common punishment is positive punishment. It consists in stopping an undesired behavior by adding an unpleasant thing or situation. Therefore, leash tugs are positive punishments.

On the other hand, negative punishment consists in stopping an undesired behavior by removing a pleasant thing or situation. Thus, you would be applying negative punishment if you remove a food treat or a toy from your dog's sight.

Positive punishment is widely used by traditional trainers and seldom used by positive trainers. Negative punishment is mostly used by positive trainers and seldom used by traditional trainers.

Typical positive punishers in dog training are: a pinch from the prong collar, an unpleasant and perhaps painful sensation when the choke chain closes, the "No" command, water squirts on the dog's face, loud sounds produced by objects thrown near the dog, electric shocks produced by electric collars and electric fences, etc.

Typical negative punishers in dog training are: ignoring your dog, a food treat removed from the scene, a toy removed from the scene, the end of a game, the end of a walk, stopping the walk when the dog pulls the leash, etc.

Although punishment is so widely used to train dogs, even in positive training, most trainers are not aware of its risks and limitations. Both positive and negative punishments could produce collateral adverse effects which include stress, anxiety and a reduction of learning abilities. Besides, when used too often, punishments could also lead to shyness and/or aggression. Of course, negative punishment tend to have less (or at least less intense) adverse effects.

Another disadvantage of punishment is that it has no long term effects. While you can use punishment to stop your dog from doing an unwanted behavior, this does not ensure that the behavior's frequency will be reduced. Punished behaviors tend to be maintained when the punishment is not applied frequently. That is the reason why prong, choke and electric collars are used even on dogs that have already being trained.

Despite the short term span of punishment, punished behaviors' frequency seems to be reduced in dogs that have been trained in such way. However, this usually is an erroneous interpretation because those behaviors don't appear when the punisher (maybe the trainer) is present. Then, after the punisher has been removed, the frequency of those behaviors tends to increase again.

It is very easy to see what I explained in the previous paragraph. Just look for a traditional trained dog which has not been trained by his owner. The dog will work perfectly when the trainer is present but stop working when the trainer is absent. Therefore, you can infer that the dog experiences some kind of anxiety when the trainer is present, because that man is somehow associated with punishment.

This does not mean that traditional trainers are cruel or violent. Of course there are stupid and cruel guys who call themselves trainers, but most traditional trainers can train dogs that obey happily and without fear. However, to achieve this level of training while using punishment and negative reinforcement, you must be very experienced. It is not easy to become a good traditional dog trainer.

A similar situation occurs when using negative punishment. For instance, you can stop your dog from jumping on you just by ignoring him when that behavior is displayed. However, it takes just one reinforcing episode (giving attention to your dog when he jumps on you) to take back the unwanted behavior. Even worst, it is very likely that the jumping behavior will be strengthened by that reinforcing episode, so you will need much more time to retrain your dog.

Ok, at this point it seems that this article is just an anti-punishment propaganda. Please believe me, it is not such thing. Punishment could be useful to train animals, which has been proven by scientific studies on experimental psychology. However, it could also have really big drawbacks.

So, if you are thinking to use punishment to train your dog, please don't rely only on reading about it. Call an expert and ask him/her to teach you the proper way to use punishments. And please don't believe the false statement that "choke chains, prong collars and electric collars are not punishing devices, but corrective ones". They are punishers. Therefore, if you are going to use those devices to train your dog, learn it from an expert.

On the other hand, you have a lot of alternatives to train your dog without punishment. There are several proven methods to stop your dog from doing unwanted behaviors without using punishment: training an incompatible behavior, putting the unwanted behavior on command, reinforcing every behavior except the undesired one, changing the motivation, etc.

Rodrigo Trigosso is a biologist and professional dog trainer. His website at http://www.dog-training-tutorial.com provides objective and reliable information on dog training and behavior.

Hybrid Cars Save Money

Hybrid Cars Save Money If you have been sitting on the fence about deciding to purchase a Hybrid car, you no longer have any excuse to be squeamish. Consumer Reports just released a study this August that confirms that Hybrid cars will in fact save you money over the long run.

The combination of generous tax credits along with the fuel saving nature of these vehicles is what makes them a good long term value. The difference in up front cost between a hybrid and its traditional counterpart is often between $1200 and $7000. Thats a wide gap, and can be enough to leave you wondering if its worth it.

The good news is that if you act fast and purchase your new Hybrid car before the tax credits phase out in 2007, alot of that upfront additional cost will come back to you in the form of a tax credit. Meanwhile, you will enjoy long term savings on fuel costs.

Did you know that as of 2006, Hybrids account for only 1% of new car sales in the US? As gas prices rise, the ratio will likely change as people seek to cut costs out of rising fuel prices. Unfortunately, if you wait too long you will no longer be able to take advantage of the tax credits that are being phased out. If you are considering purchasing a Hybrid car, you are better to do it now.

The study, conducted by Consumer Reports assumes that you keep your Hybrid car for several years, long enough to notice the difference in cost of filling up. Of course, the more you drive to work, school, or on vacation, the faster and greater your savings will add up.

If you are researching Hybrid cars, be sure to check out http://www.hybridrevolution.org This site lists updated information on all makes and models of Hybrids available and soon to be available.
Amber Lowery is an author and webmaster. You can read more about Hybrid cars by visiting her site: http://www.netcarshopping.info/hybrid.html or by visiting: http://hybrid.autobuyerworld.info

Alternatives to the Downward Spiral

A very great dramatist, perhaps Ibsen, said that 'all happy families are the same, but each unhappy family has its own tragedy'. Several people have disagreed, notably those like me who have worked on the street and out in the community for many years. The sad fact is that unhappiness is depressingly similar wherever you go, (especially in an urban society like England). It usually involves bad housing, low income, lack of educational ambitions, poor health, petty crime and use of drugs. Unfortunately, where one of those bad things lives, another one lurks. When a woman said to me some years ago, 'Our family are poor but we don't use drugs', it wasn't much of a surprise to find out later that it wasn't true of the children that she had no control over. The fact is that drugs and poverty go together like apple pie and ice cream, or, to put it another way, if your family lives in run-down property that is surrounded by crime and drugs, it's damn unlikely you can stop it ruining your life.

Of course there are exceptions. I know a woman who works at Salford University. She's a cleaner there. However she hasn't let her own lack of education attainments stunt her interest in learning. She has three children, two of whom have gone to University. All three of them are working, in good jobs with good prospects. She is justly proud of them. If you ask her how she's done it, she'll tell you it was by realising early on that her kids wouldn't learn anything from the no-goods on the same block. She kept her kids in and made them do their homework. Their lives are prospering now, thanks to her single-mindedness.

It's easier to start slipping down the slope. Many respectable middle-class families got a nasty shock back in the 1980s when British industry started contracting and redundancy suddenly became common. People who lost their jobs found they couldn't afford the car loan, and their vehicle had to go back. They discovered they couldn't afford to eat out or entertain lavishly at home, so lost touch with their more prosperous friends. Eventually they couldn't pay the mortgage. Some lucky ones moved to cheaper accommodation. Some lost their homes and were forced to rent. Their health began to suffer. It was like one bad thing kept leading to another. They had discovered the downward spiral.

It's not a coincidence that young people who don't do their homework are the same ones who start skipping school altogether. Then they hang around on street corners and get dragged into petty crime. Then they are encouraged to try illegal drugs and move on to more serious crime to fund their newly acquired habits. They have no money to think about buying their own homes, but then, they can't hold down responsible jobs and are forced to make do with casual, low-paid work at best, or none at all. Some people talk about the 'ladder to success', but that's misleading. If you get your foot on the first rung, there's no guarantee you're going to start climbing. It's just as likely you will find the ladder leads you downwards.

Middle-class people are put on the ladder at an early age by their parents, so don't even see that it exists. They know (because they are told) that they have to do well at High School, followed by a move on to higher education, so that they can take up a 'good' job. They are then rewarded with the kind of salary that allows them to buy a car, get married and move into their own home. One thing leads to another, so naturally and without apparent effort, it's hard to believe how it works. It's an upward spiral. You can't jump into this life at age 28, if you haven't done the basics certificates from school, solid track record of involvement in your community and participation. No, but people can 'start again' after beginning life in the ghetto, they just find they have to go back to the 'Start' square, like in Monopoly. For adults living in England that may involve doing a 2-year Access Course, which gets you into University, no matter what other qualifications you lack. It's a 'new start', another chance, and the government happen to be pushing it rather hard at the moment. That's because they know it works. Once the person gets their foot on the ladder and is looking upward, they move effortlessly into society and start contributing. That breaks the downward cycle. They start seeking decent accommodation and start looking after their health. They get interested in the outside world and avoid criminal activity. Each facet helps the other. They are on the upward spiral, and they make progress until they retire.

Most important thing to remember is this. Most people aren't standing still. They're on a spiral, up or down, it doesn't matter. If you followed the acceptable path of education and career, you will find that you get a pay rise next year and promotional opportunities arise. You might feel that you've got the same old job, but if you work in education or the public sector, where things are highly structured, it's unlikely you will be in the same job in 10 years time, or on the same salary. (Some people say 'I've had the same job for 20 years', but that has to be their choice. No one can keep you from taking the next rung up.) So, those people are moving upward. People who are rich get richer. People who are already poor get poorer. Hmm, trite, but then, I don't think I invented that.

More noticeable is that the spiral always involves a list of items. It's education, job, house, location, health etc. etc. If you want to change your life, that's often the most daunting thing. Where do you start? There's so much to change! The answer, of course, is that everything has to change. Attack each item and work on each aspect of your life. Good news is that as one thing improves, so does another. You soon get onto the upward spiral, and that, truly, is 'an alternative'.

Mike Scantlebury is an Internet Author, currently domiciled in Manchester, England, the place to find the most famous soccer team in the world and home town of that iconic LA-based singer, Morrisey. Mike Scantlebury has written novels, stories and songs and can be found on YouTube. His writings are gathered on a number of web sites, but a good place to start is his download site http://mikescantlebury.biz

Shih Tzu Dog Shows

Shih Tzu dog shows and Shih Tzu dog breeding attracts the interest of people from all walks of life ranging from royalty to the lady next door. Ordinary family folk attend dog shows and compete successfully with top-quality dogs they have bred themselves. A good dog show judge will disregard all but the dogs themselves when making a final decision. Who you are or where you come from does not matter in good show dog judging. The Shih Tzu dogs have to prove themselves, not the people. The dog game is simply a love of dogs.

Most of the people you will meet at a Shih Tzu dog show share an appreciation for their dogs. As with any hobby or profession, however, there are many different opinions as to what a dog show truly is. You might hear things like: its a cult. You will definitely hear about the politics and the enormous amounts of money people spend on the dogs and how much the dogs hate it.

Where the dog game takes each participant depends wholly upon the individual interests in the sport. There is a place for everything in the dog game breeding, exhibiting, judging, training and teaching. The dog game is forever changing. To begin the Shih Tzu dog game journey, you will need a purebred Shih Tzu dog of course.

Where did it all begin? Dog showing actually began in England year of 1859. The first recorded formally organized dog show was held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. The Newcastle show was limited to Setters and Pointers.

Dog shows were originally organized as a place for breeders to gather to have their breeding stock evaluated by someone knowledgeable in their respective breed. The decisions were based upon the theory that superior dogs were the most likely to contribute their good qualities to their offspring. A written description of an ideal specimen of a breed was established. These descriptions are known as breed standards. Of all Shih Tzu dogs appearing before a knowledgeable judge or person, the dog that possessed most of the characteristics described in the standard won first place. The Shih Tzu dog closest in quality to the first-place dog was placed second, and so on. This same process continues today at dog shows.

If you live in the United States you will most likely be showing your Shih Tzu dogs under the American Kennel Club. The organization maintains offices in both New York City and Raleigh, North Carolina. The AKC is the largest purebred dog registry in the United States, but other domestic registries also exist.

The American Kennel Club is devoted to the advancement of purebred dogs and maintains a registry of recognized breeds. They adopt and enforce rules for dog events, dog shows, and obedience trials, field trails, hunting tests, lure coursing, herding, earth dog trials, agility and the Canine Good Citizen program.

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

The Shih Tzu Tibetan Heritage

There has also been opinions that the Tibetan Lion Dog is the result of a cross between the Lhassa Terrier and the Pekingese. The dogs of each country, the Lhassa Terrier from Tibet and the Pekingese from China had been taken to the other country from time to time. The cross in Tibet that was taken out of that country through India has been called the Apso, while the Chinese cross has more of the Pekingese. It is the opinion of some that all these breeds were interbred to create the first Shih Tzu in China.

When first Shih Tzu imported into England in 1930, the Shih Tzu were classified as Apsos. The two breeds were distinguished as separate in 1934.

The Shih Tzu of Scandinavian background were in an even different category during this same time period. It is not documented anywhere of any of the Shih Tzu Scandinavian lines being mistaken for Lhasa Apso, even after importation into the United States. Their appearance was so different of the Lhasa Apso that there was no likelihood of confusing the Scandinavian Shih Tzu lines with the Lhasa Apso.

There was a considerable amount of fear expressed by the British Shih Tzu Club of potential disastrous crossbreedings in the United States. They encouraged future American purchasers to avoid any further confusion between the Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso in the U.S.A.

The American Shih Tzu Club code of ethics plainly states that crossbreeding a Shih Tzu with any other breed, whether it be with Lhasa Apso or the Pekingese breed, is strictly prohibited. This code of ethics should be adhered to by all Shih Tzu Purebred Breeders.

The two breeds of the Lhasa Apso and the Shih Tzu have been kept separate now for many years. A suggestion to help distinquish the two breeds from one another is to always show the Shih Tzu with the long sweep of hair on the top of the head tied with a rubber band into a top knot, the hair above the head then fanning out into a palm tree. The Apso has its long hair of the head styled as parted n the center, then mingling with the ear featherings.

The fact that both Shih Tzu and the Lhasa Apso have common ancestry is highly probable according to all the documentations found in our history of the two breeds. However, one should continually look for and appreciate the subtleties of the different characteristics of Chinese Shih Tzu and Tibetan Apso. They have become two quite distinctly different breeds.

The earliest Lion Dog in Tibet were probably long-haired and small and somewhat similar to the Maltese in type. As the cultural and religious ties between Tibet and China flowed over the centuries, the exchange of dogs no doubt became mutual between them. The Chinese have been most certainly known to interbred their small dogs, of which were more varieties than the Shih Tzu, with the long-haired Tibetans, and something similar occurred in Tibet without much reason to doubt this fact.

Again, however, I want to emphasize here: The crossbreedings mentioned in this article is a part of our past Shih Tzu History. The Present Day American Shih Tzu Clubs Code of Ethics clearly states that crossbreeding a Shih Tzu with any other breed, is strictly prohibited and against the Shih Tzu Purebred Ethics for a Shih Tzu Breeder of the Purebred Shih Tzu. We must all adhere to this Code of Ethics.

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

College Basketball Milestones

Basketball is a favorite pastime of kids and adults alike. American kids grow up with dreams of earning scholarships and reaching fame in the college league.

Basketball owes its origin to Dr. James Naismith, who invented the sport in 1892. Before long, the popularity of the game caught on and it was being played in American colleges. The first official game involving a college team was played between Geneva College and the New Brighton YMCA in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania on April 8, 1893. On February 9, 1895, the first intercollegiate game was played between the Minnesota State School of Agriculture and Hamline College. Minnesota won that game, 9 to 3.

The introduction of the five-player format was the next major college basketball milestone. This happened during an intercollegiate game in Iowa City on January 18, 1896. By the early 1900s, the basketball was being played in ninety colleges, mostly in the East and Midwest. This number continued to swell, and by 1914 as many as 360 colleges were playing college basketball.

In 1915, the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, the NCAA and the YMCA banded together to streamline the game. A committee was organized to frame rules and during this time, a number of regional conferences were formed.

The first NCAA Men's College Basketball Championship tournament was organized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and held in Evanston in 1939. A crowd of 5,500 cheering basketball fans watched the University of Oregon with the game. After this, the NCAA took over the national basketball championship tournament, and another college basketball milestone was realized.

In 1940, college basketball made it to the small screen. The first televised college game was played between Pittsburgh and Fordham at Madison Square Garden. This was the beginning of a national obsession with basketball and since then, the game has drawn huge crowds. The most-watched event in the United States is March Madness, when nearly 350 American colleges come together to compete for the NCAA basketball crown.

The NCAA tournament had relatively humble beginnings, with just eight teams competing against each other representing each of the eight NCAA districts. In 1951 the number of teams doubled to sixteen. In this format, ten conference champions qualified automatically, while the remaining six teams were chosen on the basis of their performance. In 1954, the number of teams went up to 24, and a 32-team bracket was adopted in 1975. Further increases saw the number of teams jump to 48 in 1980, and to 64 in 1985.

Over the years, college basketball has gone through remarkable changes. Many players have showcased their talents on campus courts and risen to become basketball superstars, and most NBA stars trace their origins to college basketball.

More than 120 years after it was first invented, the game of basketball is more popular than ever. Who knows what college basketball milestones lay ahead?

Daniel Thomas contributes to several online magazines, such as http://bivec.com and http://kesaw.com.

Your Guide To Housebreaking A Puppy

A puppy is a young animal that is only just beginning to have control over the sphincter muscles that control his functions. This control is weak, and has been building up largely due to the fact of his unwillingness to soil his own quarters. Your job now is to concentrate his attention on further control, and to extend his unwillingness to soil his sleeping area or anywhere else in the house.

Any pup younger than 3 4 months old will not have enough muscular control to do what you want him to. Almost any attempt to house-train a puppy before he his physically ready will only confuse him and set back all your training efforts. The most practical method of training involves paper training. He first learns that newspapers spread out on the floor are the place to go. Then his attentions are progressively directed to the outside.

Despite popular lore, housebreaking is neither a hard or extensive job. Ten days to two weeks will see the worst of it out of the way. Keep in mind that the job requires a constant vigilance, but if you do it right, there is a great feeling of accomplishment and its done for his lifetime.

You should exercise control over the intake as well as the outgo. The puppy will be fed at regular intervals and he should be watered only at specific times. Give him his water bowl about an hour after he has finished eating and let him during as much as he wants. About half an hour after the watering, start watching or take him out for time to go.

The ideal housebreaking room is the kitchen as it usually has a linoleum floor and in most cases a back door leading outside. Wherever you choose as his room, put down several layers of newspaper or training pads are now available. When he relieves himself, praise him, and pick up the sheets he used right away.

If he doesnt use the papered area, take him gently over to the spot, push his nose at it, but not in it, and tell him No, bad dog, and then take him outside immediately. Have faith in him and praise his accomplishments, if youve done everything patiently and well up to now, you may never have another moment of trouble with him.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://www.Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars, dog clothes, pet supplies and more. Check them out at http://www.joncopets.com

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Playing Online Poker Vs. Playing At A Poker Table

The differences between online poker and more traditional poker table games are sometimes not as obvious as they may seem.

Unlike sitting down at a poker table with friends, online poker has an added dimension these days. There is a lot of pressure from many quarters to make online poker illegal, particularly in the United States. You will almost always know if the table game you are playing is in an area where poker is legal, but it is getting harder to know if this is true about poker played online.

In spite of these gray areas, millions in the U. S. and around the world regularly enjoy participating in online poker games from the comfort of their own homes. Just to give this some perspective, in 2005, the revenue from online poker was reported to be in the vicinity of $200 million.

Not only is online poker generating huge amounts of revenue and creating new millionaires, among players, site owners, and affiliates of poker sites, but, due to its pervasive influence, the appeal of poker in general is growing. The public is not only gaining knowledge about poker, but is showing an interest in all things poker. From the tables to the chips at the table, to the people who play at the tables, poker is huge.

Poker players such as Chris Ferguson (Jesus), Annie Duke, and her brother Howard Lederer (The Professor), and Hoyt Corkins (The Alabama Cowboy), to name a few, had never been heard of by the public a few months ago. Now they are celebrities in their own right. Even people who have been celebrities, such as Jennifer Tilly, Ben Affleck, and Mimi Rogers have traded in the bright lights of Hollywood for the green felt of the poker table - at least on occasion.

While many of these famous people play in tournaments sitting at the table with the celebrities of poker, most mortals enter the poker arena via online poker websites such as partypoker.com, pokerstars.com, ultimatebet.com or fulltiltpoker.com.

Sitting at a poker table can be intimidating, particularly for the new player and just is not that inviting for the beginner. They are apt to feel out of their league, and, if others at the table have more experience or are strangers, they are apt to feel intimidated.

The online poker experience is quite different. There is an anonymity which protects the psyche of the "newbie". They can watch games as long as they want before actually taking part. Additionally, most online venues will have tutorials and practice games for beginners that help ease the learning process. Sometimes the main site will actually have a completely separate site set up strictly for the beginner. Another helper for the beginner is that online games tend to have buttons labeled for the various actions and often include on-screen prompts for the appropriate action.

Internet poker sites also offer a range of limits so that the beginning player can actually start betting pennies. Not only is the betting easy, but so is the access. Unlike a table game, an online game can be found 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world that there is a computer and an Internet connection.

There are, however, two drawbacks to playing online, particularly if one's goal is to eventually participate in the highly televised poker tournaments occupying more prime time slots on TV. First, there is the hurdle of actually sitting and playing at the table itself. No amount of online preparation can duplicate or offset the first few times you find yourself in a chair across from a Doyle Brunson, Chris Moneymaker, or Daniel Negreanu.

Second, although it IS possible, it is exceedingly difficult to bluff at an online poker game and even harder to learn how to read your opponents.

Look on the bright side, however. It IS easy to learn basic poker skills and improve your technique online, and you won't have to worry about your poker face!

Copyright 2006 Donovan Baldwin

Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer and Unversity of West Florida alumnus. He is a member of Mensa and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. Find information on how to play poker at http://donovanbaldwin.com/cbmall/poker.html.

How To Use Golf Training Aids To Improve Your Putting

Drive for show, putt for dough. Relax the nerves, trust your line. Eyes over the ball, smooth take away. Accelerate through the ball, and...

Klinka tinka tinka -- yes! The sweet sound of a birdie putt, or even a 6-footer for par, dropping into the cup. It's a great feeling, especially if you just finished the 18th for a personal best round. Or if you just won 5 skins to make your buddies shell out some serious coin. A hot day with the putter can make you feel like a million bucks. Actually, in the case of a PGA tour pro, it can earn you a million bucks.

Too bad that for the average golfer those days seem to come so infrequently. The average Joe uses up anywhere between 32 and 40 putts per round, while the best pros average around 30. Tour pros make just under 90% of their putts from 4-5 feet, while average guys make around 50%. That's a lot of shots to give up! Think about this: if you are a thirteen handicapper, your average score is around 85, and you average 36 putts per round, then 42% of your shots are putts! And what do you spend most of your time doing at the range? If youre like most guys (and gals) then you spend most of your time beating balls with your driver or mid-irons. Yet, according to the numbers you should be spending almost half of your time on the putting green.

So how can busy people with little time for golf practice still improve their putting game without doubling practice time or drastically reducing the amount of time spent practicing their full shots? Golf training aids are the answer. Many training aids exist that can quickly improve your putting stroke and green reading without spending hours on the putting green. Just 10 to 15 minutes per practice session is required for most golfers to drop strokes quickly. Here are some tips for finding right training aids or a combination of training aids to maximize your results:

1. Look for training aids that allow you to easily see the following things: square clubface, shoulder alignment, eye placement (over the ball), foot alignment, and stroke path. Some devices use mirrors, some use low-power lasers. Most training aids have physical barriers that keep the putter on the right path during the stroke.

2. For eye alignment you can always do this: line up the putt and address the ball as if you were going to hit the putt. Then take a ball from your pocket, put it between your eyes, and allow it to drop straight down. Wherever the ball lands is where your eyes are lined up. They should be directly over the target ball.

3. Whatever device(s) you choose, make sure that they are not too large and/or awkward. My experience is that you don't use the device unless it is convenient.

4. Follow through is also important, so make sure that the training aid gives you feedback for the whole stroke. You need to see that your stroke path is straight and putter face releases properly after contact, otherwise you will have consistency problems.

5. Use the golf training aid consistently, every time you practice. You need to groove the stroke and you can't do that unless you keep at it. Also, if possible, use the device at home or at the office when you have a spare minute. This extra practice time really helps.

I wish you good luck and a hot blade!

Mike Gelhaus, once racquetball professional and published author for Racquetball Magazine, has turned his attention back to the game of Golf. With the use of golf training aids, he achieved a handicap of 3 only weeks before back surgery. Check out his site at http://the-best-golf-training-aids.com.

7 Ways To Help Stop Your Dog From Digging Up Your Garden

Dogs love to dig, let's face it, it is a very natural and instinctual part of their makeup, and "it is a very enjoyable behavior for them" says Deborah L. Forthman, Ph.D. digging is something that dogs have been doing from the beginning, but there are ways to reduce the amount your dog digs.

Here are 7 different methods to help train your dog not to dig.

1.Before you begin with your dog obedience training on how to stop him from digging, try to figure out exactly what is causing your dog to behave that way. If he is very persistent into digging in one area, you may use the dog training command leave while using treats to distract him. You can also distract him by using a particular smell that excites him. These dog behavior modification methods typically work very well.

2. Try not to do any type of gardening and digging when your dog is around because remember that your dog looks up to you and wants to obey you, that being the case when your dog sees you digging and playing in the yard of course he will also think that is what he should be doing.

3. Exercise is a very important aspect of your dog's health, and not only that, the more exercise your dog gets, and the more energy the expends, the less likely that your dog will be able to muster up the energy, or the desire to go digging up your yard. If you find that your dog tends to like to dig at particular times of the day, then make sure you give him plenty of exercise around those times if possible so that he just can't be bothered digging.

4. Make sure that you are more understanding and less scolding with your dogs digging habit, particularly during the winter months. Often during the winter months dogs will dig more than the rest of the year the reasons that these years that your dog has a natural instinct for finding warmer places and dogs sense that by digging, they will get into a warmer area and this is certainly correct. If and when you do notice that your dog is digging more frequently when the temperature is cooler outside, then it is very important to be understanding and not to scold your dog for doing that, but relieve the situation by providing the right environment for him.

5. There are some dogs that absolutely positively can't resist digging, so rather than trying to go against nature and stop them altogether, let's take a different approach and create a special spot for your dog to dig in. Most dog experts agree that for some breeds it is almost impossible to prevent them from digging 100% of the time, and because your dog enjoys digging so much, train him to only dig in his special spot. The area you provide for him to did in doesn't need to be that big, something around three or four foot by six-foot should do the trick nicely.

6. Having your dog neutered or spade is one sure way to reduce their desire to dig because their drive to mate is drastically reduced, and without your dog having a strong desire to mate you almost certainly have a lot less holes in your yard.

7. Be very careful that if you do correct your dog when you catch him digging in the yard that you only do it with warmth and compassion, and that you absolutely must do it at the moment in time that he is digging and that you don't wait for him to stop and then correct him. This will reinforce whatever he is doing with your response, if you wait until he is finished and you scold him then he will get the wrong message.

Instead when you catch him digging try to immediately replace one activity with another, so therefore distract him from his digging and replace it with an enjoyable activity for him to do. If you continually do this it will help modify his behavior and reduce your dogs digging adventures.

Michael Weber is a passionate dog owner who studies the psychology of dogs, Michael helps people communicate properly with their dogs and to fix dog behavior problems fast. Visit here for Your Free Multi Media Mini Course: http://www.doginfoworld.com.

Should You Get A Dog?

So the time has come and you are thinking of buying a new pet. http://www.petmillions.com is the leading pet contest online supporting pet charities across the globe. Dogs and cats remain the most popular household pet, with 39% of US households owning at least 1 dog and 6.1 million in the UK. However every year close to 20% of animals find their way into animal shelters.

It's true what they say - dogs are mans best friend. They have qualities that cats simply don't. Dogs are intelligent, faithful and fun, unlike cats they will take up a lot more time and energy. Depending on the size of your dog you may also find they take up more space are quite expensive to look after.

So is a dog right for you? Here is the http://www.petmillions.com checklist...

Q) Are you out most of the day?
Q) Are you buying this dog for teenage children?
Q) Are you elderly and buying a puppy?
Q) Do you live in a flat or small house with no garden?
Q) Do you live in a city or area with little green/outdoor spaces?
Q) Do you have a limited income?
Q) Do you move around a lot?

If you answered yes to most of these questions you need to rethink having a dog.

So what do dogs need? http://www.petmillions.com offers some key things you need to remember if taking a dog as a pet.

Companionship - to be with other dogs or people and not to be left alone for too long.

A balanced and nutritious diet, and the occasional bone from the butcher or left over from sunday lunch to gnaw on

A constant supply of fresh, clean water, which is easily accessible to the dog

A bed, blanket and toys such as ball, dog rope and chew bones. Visit http://www.petmillions.com for loads of pet retailers and offers.

A strong fenced garden to play and exercise in, the bigger the dog the bigger the garden. the key is if they can't run and have to pant the garden is probably not big enough.

Short and Long hair dogs need to be brushed and groomed, at least once a day.

Like humans dogs need to see the vet dentist.

Regular walks and a lead for walking near traffic or farm animals.

Dog mess is pretty awful, but you MUST pick it up with a pooper-scooper.

Never leave a dog in an enclosed space like a car or small room, even with the window open.

A collar with identity tag Plus vet microchip.

To be properly trained.

To be neutered,if you want a puppy remember you won't get just one with your dog and pregnancy will be costly!

To be taken to a vet if they are ill.

Regular and necessary injections to prevent serious diseases.

Worming and regular flea treatments.

To be looked after when you are on holiday by a professional career or someone who can give your dog the time and attention it needs.

So if you think you have what it takes to look after a dog, then go for it and remember an animal shelter is a good place to start. Please vote for Coco in th epetmillions contest - http://www.petmillions.com/vote.asp?vote=1033 you will be supporting charities and animal shelters across the globe PLUS you can get a chance to win up to a $1,000,000 in cash!

Henry Jackson hails from Ill. and has a brace of beautiful retrievers, including Coco. You can vote for Coco in the petmillions.com pet phot contest - her pet ID is 1033 (http://www.petmillions.com/vote.asp?vote=1033)

Housebreaking 101

Remember that dog who just knew you didn't want her piddling in the house? Some dogs just need a slight sense of disapproval from you, and they virtually housebreak themselves.

But you dont have one of those dogsor you wouldnt be reading this!

So how do we house train the dog who just doesnt seem to get it? Believe it or not, its simple.

I have two key words for you:

Confine and Observe.

While there is a great deal to know about food and water scheduling, timing can vary from dog to dog. So well just concentrate here on the main concept which is to confine your dog to an appropriately sized crate when you cannot observe her.

A properly sized crate is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around, but hardly bigger than that. If you have a puppy in a large crate, shell think shes got a bedroom with a bathroom built in. Shell wee in one corner and sleep in the other.

The correctly sized crate consists of bedroom only with no bathroom. So if your crate is too large, go to the pet store and purchase a crate divider so you can temporarily reduce the accessible area.

Fido should be in her crate unless you can observe her 100%. This means that when the dog is loose, she has your undivided attention. Consider attaching a 6 foot light cord to the collar so you can more easily locate the dog, and prevent her from leaving the room without you. Simply step on the cord to stop her.

At the first sign your dog needs to go, whisk her outside. Those signs include circling, sniffing, anxiousness, whining among other symptoms.

When youre not observing your dog with full attention, you confine her to the crate. That being said, you do need to ensure your dog has liberty periodically so shes not all day in the crate. By being diligent now, youll be able to give Fido years of liberty with no worries. So its well worth the investment in time at this stage.

Be sure you spend time playing with your dog, and also let her wander outside the crate. Avoid tossing her in the crate as punishment. Alleviate your guilt feelings by placing bones smeared with peanut butter in with her.

This method makes it impossible for your dog to have an accident. Youre either right there to take her out, or shes in the crate where she wont want to go. When youve had a month with no accidents, you can begin to let the dog earn a little more liberty, five or ten minutes at a time.

That means she can be out of your sight for a few moments at a time. But only a few. You want to build slowly on a record of success until your dog literally forgets that the house ever contained a bathroom.

For each week with no accident, you can give Fido a few more moments of liberty at a time. However, if there is an accident, go back a step, and reduce that liberty. One accident in the house erases progress made for the several previous days.

Confine and Observe your way to house breaking success. In the course of just two or three months, youll have a dog you can trust in the home. Its going to be worth the effort!

Marc Goldberg is a dog trainer specializing in the rehabilitation of difficult dogs and improving relationships. He is Vice President of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and Editor of SafeHands Journal. The author also educates professional dog trainers in his techniques. Visit him on the web at http://www.chicagodogtrainer.com or http://www.dogtraininginchicago.com.