How to Buy Physical Gold and Why Not to Invest in Gold ETFs!

Gold: the ultimate store of wealth that has been used since time immemorial. A hedge or in troubled times, a 'safe haven' in the current crisis. If your wealth is stored in gold, then who really cares if the financial system implodes? Empires, currencies and rulers have come and gone... but gold has always retained value and purchasing power. Of the various precious metals, gold is probably the easiest, most liquid (easily traded) asset you can invest in.

Gold is a traditional hedge against inflation or deflation. Against currency devaluations. Against avaricious or incompetent governments or Central Bankers. Or shall I just say, in a less politically correct manner, that America is bankrupt and Gold is the only real money? If you invest in Gold, you no longer have to rely on the "full faith and credit" of the US government - which is declining sharply.

If you're reading this article, you probably don't need me to tell you why you should buy gold. It's actually an obvious decision in the current economic climate. The question is not so much should you buy gold, as can you afford to hang on to assets denominated in a declining currency like the dollar or the pound sterling or the euro...?

The US dollar typically rises or falls inversely with the value of gold. Recently, although there's been a slight increase recently, the trend of the US dollaris downwards. My view is that the dollar will continue to decline until the US economic fundamentals look better - till America comes out of bankruptcy, that is - and that could take some years.

In terms of your savings or retirement portfolio, this means that if you invest in things like bank deposits (CDs) the net return is most likely negative. Since the beginning of 2003, US dollars held in 3-month US Treasury Bills have yielded less than 3% per year (Source: Global Financial Data). Considering that the inflation rate over this same period of time has averaged more than 3% annually (Source: US CPI), the cash accumulated had less buying power in October 2008 than it did half a decade before.

The carnage on Wall Street, and the fallout around the world, looks far from over - despite what the Feds or the mainstream media might have you believe. Every time there is a new panic like another bank or insurer collapsing, a flurry of investors with dollars, euro and pounds start a new mini gold rush.

At the same time, demand for the yellow metal continues to significantly outweigh supply. The Chinese, for example, love gold and have plenty of dollars. China is keen to diversify its huge foreign currency reserves (by far the largest in the world) away from the dollar. A small increase in China's percentage of gold reserves would cause a huge increase in demand and consequently in the gold price. Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East (think Dubai) are also seeing large increases in domestic gold demand as disposable income increases. When people think that paper currencies will be worth less in the future, they have historically looked to place their net worth into a more stable vehicle. And gold is typically viewed as a safe form of currency, as its value isn't as affected by inflation.

Why Buy Gold Offshore?

So far, so good. There's nothing particularly new or controversial about the information above. But I have always believed in a more offshore, skeptical, pragmatic approach. Like it or not, we tell things as they are.

Can we trust government to manage our finances? I think the overwhelming evidence suggests no. History shows that gold is politically sensitive, and governments (read Central Banks, particularly the Federal Reserve) don't like to see individuals buying gold. Why? Because they can't control it. They can certainly try. For example, in an earlier article you will find here, we asked seriously Will the US Government Confiscate Gold?

Then suddenly, as of late September 2008, we saw the US Federal Government beginning to limit the access of ordinary citizens to gold bullion - by withdrawing new bullion coins from circulation. (Suddenly and unexpectedly in mid-crisis the IRS also introduced a new form FBAR for reporting of foreign bank accounts)

What we can see from all this is that the smartest strategy is to keep your gold holdings outside your home jurisdiction -- where they will be well protected against all sorts of threats from governments to predatory ex-spouses. So you need to know:

How to Buy Gold Bullion Offshore

Gold bullion is the most liquid form of gold. If you want to buy gold with the idea that you'll ultimately sell it, then you will want to buy gold bullion. Bullion means either bars or coins. Fortunately, you can easily buy gold this way and just as easily sell it again anywhere in the world. If you need to break it into smaller denominations, you can for example exchange gold easily for silver coins like Panama's old Silver Balboa or Mexico's silver coins.

You can buy gold bullion by looking for offshore dealers. If you have a particular kind of coin in mind - like the Canadian Maple Leaf or South African Krugerrand, to name a few of the most popular gold coins - then do a search for that particular coin, or find the official mint websites. For example, check out the South African Mint or the Royal Canadian Mint. An interesting and more private option for Americans is restricted circulation coins. When you want to buy gold, these sites all contain helpful tools for finding local and international dealers of gold coins.

Provided you don't 'look suspicious' and you can prove the origin of your funds with some documents, it is quite easy to buy gold bullion coins anonymously with cash. Some countries, like France, charge sales tax on gold and so should be avoided. Others place burdensome restrictions on export, like major gold producers Brazil and South Africa. Others, like San Marino, are simply too far from major gold markets for purchase there to be economical - you would be saddled with high transport and insurance costs.

So where should or can you go to buy gold offshore? The undisputed capital of the business is Zurich, Switzerland. There you can buy and store your gold in the free trade zone at the airport. Major Swiss banks like Credit Suisse will sell you gold directly from their branches in Zurich Airport.

Most countries in mainland Europe are good for buying gold. Luxembourg, for example, is a friendly little place where privacy is still respected in precious metals transactions.

In the Americas, Mexico is another country where you can simply walk in to a casa de cambio and buy gold 'centenarios' over the counter for cash. Mexico has suffered from so many devaluations and is also a major producer of gold and silver, so investing in bullion coins has become popular there. There has been a serious effort in Mexico to introduce silver coins as legal tender. (For info on Mexican gold coins, known as Centenarios, visit here...

Urgent Warning: Here's why you should absolutely NOT Invest in Gold ETFs

In September 2008, shareholders in ETF securities were left high and dry - unable to trade popular commodity securities, due to concerns over the future of their backer, insurance giant AIG. Overnight, banks and brokerages stopped making markets in the Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs) backed by the troubled insurer. The price of the stoc

Gold ETFs are vastly different to holding real gold. Turbulence, such as the above in the market, can affect the value of those gold ETFs markedly. When you buy an ETF you are buying electrons on a screen. It is not the same as buying real solid gold. What if the bank or fund manager goes out of business? What if trading in the shares is suspended, as for example short selling was just suddenly banned? What if the whole exchange is suspended as has happened in the past? Shares can be subject to massive manipulation and liquidity problems. I believe we will see dual gold prices from now on - one 'official' spot price, and another price dictated by pure supply and demand which will dictate what you can actually buy and sell real gold for in the real world.

If you own stock in an ETF, that means you own a stock that depends on the price of gold, rather than gold itself. No matter that corporations such as ETF Securities own gold. How much gold they own is not clearly discernable by the average "Joe Sixpack" who may own ETF stocks.

Even a downgrading by credit agencies like S&P or Moodies can drastically affect the share price in ETF Securities - as it has done! In September 2008 shares in ETF Securities products, which were backed by AIG, were down as much as 50% in one morning after the US insurer was downgraded by the rating agencies. The cold hard reality is that if the issuer of an exchange traded note goes bankrupt, investors holding exchange traded products backed by these notes will join the ranks of other creditors hoping to get their money back. With any gold ETF one does not own actual gold and cannot automatically or instantly redeem gold from the fund.

Indeed, to buy gold ETFs is adventurous and courageous - one might almost say dangerous - activity, in today's economic climate, with so many Wall Street firms going under.

The same is true, in my personal opinion, to the Perth Mint Certificate Program (PMCP). This program is run by the government of Western Australia, and is offered by many gold dealers and investment advisors around the world. The problem is, when you do due diligence on the Perth Mint program, you will see that you are not really buying physical gold. You are just buying papers or 'notes', and redeeming those notes later could involve substantial bureaucratic hassle. You are also reliant on the Australian government. If, for example, the US tried to confiscate all gold held by its citizens, do you think the Australian government would co-operate? Most likely yes!

Also be aware that if you hold shares in an ETF they are reportable for tax purposes. Physical gold however is not reportable. That's just another reason to consider real gold bullion bought offshore, rather than exchange traded funds.

Englishman Peter Macfarlane is an author and lecturer on offshore finance, investment, due diligence and wealth creation matters. After fifteen years advising high net worth clients on offshore asset protection structures such as companies, trusts and private interest foundations, he decided on a career change and now mentors individuals who are interested in creating, preserving and growing wealth in a secure offshore environment. Peter defines wealth in the broadest sense, believing that money is worthless if you don't have health and happiness. He is now joint editor of The Q Wealth Report, a publication dedicated to publishing freedom, wealth and privacy information for a select audience. More detailed articles about wealth creation are available at the Q.

Get the Best Deals on Gold and Silver Coins
Don't Pay Too Much for Gold and Silver Coins

General information on hearing aids

Hearing aids have been manufactured and designed for people who need assistance to make sounds accessible. They cannot correct hearing loss but can enhance and help you to improve your lifestyle. Not only could they improve on hearing sounds but may help with your speech.

Hearing aids are electronic and are operated with a battery sensing devices which can improve all levels hearing needs by adjusting the appropriate signal. Majority of hearing aids today have two appliances which work independently. The hearing aid could help with your speech as you should hear clearer and how the words are spoken.

When you go to choose a hearing aid the audiologist should look at your hearing ability, take into account home and work situations, medical conditions, any physical limitations and cosmetic preferences which should provide them with enough information and understanding to suggest the best hearing aid for you. Remember you must be comfortable with the hearing aid and be able to ask if you need a different one.

Amplification can be a reasonably effective treatment for people who are hard of hearing but it has been met with resistance. Amplification can assist with speech understanding even in a busy and noisy location.

Most people don’t understand loss of hearing whether it be sensor neural or conductive, they tend to speak slower or louder thinking this will help the person hear and understand. With a hearing aid no one will need to be treated any different which could save uncomfortable and embarrassing situations especially with strangers and help you to lead a normal life.


Hearing Aid Repairs St Louis MO

Marketing you web site - Part 4 - Using newsletters, search engines and the yellow pages

Using Newsletters to market your web site

As I stated before, it can take several times for a potential client to begin to trust you. You also want to keep the clients that you have. Part of your marketing plan will be to stay in touch with your clients. Letting them know what is happening, any sales that you may be holding, or new products/services that you may have. A great way of keeping in touch is with a newsletter.

What is a newsletter? Simply put it is a communication between you and your subscribers. By offering information that the client may find helpful, you are offering a service to them that is of value. Immense value in fact. Your information may save them time and money. Building a trust between you and the client. This trust will turn to sales over time.

So what does it take to get a newsletter off the ground so to speak? Two things: First is to have the clients/customer sign up for the newsletter. This can be a simple email or mailing program. RD Web hosting has a mailing list package that is part of the hosting plan. It is simple yet effective. Click here to see it in action. The second thing is a newsletter. This can be written in any word processing program or in your email software. It doesn't have to be long and complicated.

Let's say for example you have found a new recipe. Something that you think your subscribers would be interested in. You type up the recipe along with an introduction and paste it into your email program or mailing list software. From there you send it to each of your subscribers. Cost? A few minutes of time. No printing or mailing charges required. Oh, by the way, in that little letter you sent to each subscriber, you place a little advertising for your web site or store. Or maybe you have 'sold' some space to a friend or business associate who may have something of interest to your subscribers as well.

Newsletters are a great and inexpensive advertising medium. Just remember to place articles of interest in the newsletter and not all advertising. There is nothing worse than getting mail that is all ads. Over time people will stop reading it if they don't find the information useful.


Using Search engines and marketing your web site

Search Engines (SE) are the mystery of the Internet. So many different types even from the users standpoint. There are over 225,000 search engines and directories on the Internet. How do they work and why should you care?

Basically, a search engine is a database of web pages that contains information about that page such as: where it can be found (URL); what is on it (Keywords); when it was last indexed; and a description (Title) of the web page. When you go to a search engine and type in your request (query) the database engine pulls up the data that matches your request. So a search engine is only as good as the data in it. How do we get that data? Most search engines are copies of the major databases. There are only a few real databases out there. So lets talk general terms. Data can be entered by the owner of the website. This information is then indexed and your site is listed. In the past that is how things worked. But we soon found out that people will do anything to get their website listed at the top of the page where they will be more likely to have the searcher click on their site. The owner of the database needed a better way. So programs where written called spiders to go out on the web and find websites. Then catalog each page of the website and enter that information into the database. Today that process is still going on. However, again the owners of the database have tried to make sure that the website information is correct and have been constantly changing the formula used to determine how a website should be listed based on it keywords, headers, titles, content, alt tags, etc. Some database owners even have people visit the website and make a judgment call. All of this is to insure that when you enter a search phrase into the search engine you receive the type of information you want. If you are happy with the search engine you will continue to use it and the advertisements placed on the search engine will help pay for the site.

Search engine technology is changing daily. To try and cover it here would be a waste of your time as it will be out of date tomorrow. So I have listed a site that does nothing more than follow and report on this technology. It is:
Search Engine Watch

What is important for us as website owners is know how to make sure we are properly listed and learn how to get the best listing on the search engines. So lets see... there are 1440 minutes per day and 225,000 search engines. That means if we spend just 10 minutes per search engine entering in our website information it will only take us1562 days to enter the information. But you should submit your website at least every other month, so you can see that is not going to work. There are all kinds of software and website services that will do this for you. But remember there are really only about 4 major databases that feed all those search engines. Even when your website is listed you may not have a very good placement due to other factors. As I said the database owners are constantly changing the rules. So what can you do?

Start with proper design of your website. Good content that is kept up to date. The spiders will find you over time and your ranking will improve as your use of keywords and content are evaluated. Other things that will help is the linking to your site from others. If you have good information, others will point their website to yours which will help your ranking in the search engines. All in all, this will take months to accomplish. But you want to start making money today!

Another way to get listed on search engines faster and at the top of the rankings is with PPC or Pay Per Click. PPC Search Engines charge you each time a user clicks your listing and goes to your website. In addition, many PPC have made arrangements with other search engines to place the paying website URL at the top of the listing (these are called sponsor sites). What does that mean for you as a website owner? Well, it means lots of traffic to your website that you can sell to over and over again. What will it cost? Hmmm how many secrets to give away in a free book :). Oh well, why not! The cost is dependent on how many other people want to be in the top listing. For example: Overture.com has agreements with Yahoo, MSN, AOL and others that the 3 top bidders for keywords will be listed in the top 3 spots for that keyword on each of these search engines. By the way, as of December 2002 those 3 search engines accounted for over 80 percent of all searches on the web. Think that might be a nice place to have your website listed? Ok, back to the example. Let’s say I sell training, I research the keywords and find out that the top 3 positions go for $1.50, $1.45, $1.00 per click to my website. I have a product that sells for $795 per course. I could bid $1.51 and take the top spot. But remember I will have to pay the PPC for each person that clicks on my link. It can quickly run into the hundreds of dollars. I could also pay $1.01 and take the 3rd position saving me $.50 per click. Not all keywords are that expensive...some are more :). Actually you may find your keywords very inexpensive around 10- 20 cents per click.
PPC also do not care about keywords, titles, headers, content etc. So I can write a more compelling description here that will call to action the searcher to click on my site. BUT, once there I want to do everything I can to get them to leave their email address in exchange for my free product or gift. I do not want them coming back though PPC again. It will cost me more money that way. If I have their email address I can send them my link in other correspondence. We will talk about that later in auto responders.

Here is a list of some of the PPC. Since they drive qualified traffic to your site I would recommend using all of them. You will find your keywords cheaper on the less used sites but that is still traffic that you can sell to.

www.overture.com
www.google.com
www.findwhat.com
www.looksmart.com
www.7search.com

This is a lot of work. I know I have spent hours on Overture alone trying to monitor the website, keywords, and ranking.
I have said before in this course that automation is the key. The more we can automate the more time we have to spend on other things... maybe the family?

Using Yellow pages to market your web site

If you have a local business then you probably already have a business phone number. Most business phone services come with a listing in the local yellow pages. Be sure to list you website address. This is much more powerful form of advertising then just placing your address and phone number. Remember your site can offer specials, gather email or contact information, give away items or gifts to your customers to get them to visit your store, tell the customer so much more than you could afford to do in the phone book itself. Plus many people will bookmark your site and return time and time again once they see all the great information that you have available on the site.

I hope you have found some useful information in this package. I have strived to put together information about most of the different methods you can use to market you business.

Visit Philippine Business Directory an online yellow page in the Philippines.

Comparing Hearing Aids For the Better Sound Quality

If you have to get a hearing aid, you want to make sure that you are getting one that is going to keep the sound as true to life as possible. When you see the many different models that are available, you may think that you are shopping for a car instead of a hearing aid. Before you make a final decision, make sure you compare hearing aids for the best sound quality to suit your needs.

There are basically two different types of sound quality that you will have to choose from when you are looking at hearing aids. You can choose a more traditional hearing aid that has analog sound or you can go high tech with a digital hearing aid.

Conventional or analog hearing aids are very popular because of the price tag that comes with them. If you go back a few years ago, they cost as much as the digital ones do today. Because of the advances in technology, the best analog is still priced much lower that the digital.

The risks of using an analog are that you will not get the sound quality that you can with a digital and that you also run the risk of getting feedback on your device. As you can imagine, this can be quite annoying and painful if you don't have your device down low enough. Imagine being in a crowded bar and letting out a scream because the bands microphone is not getting along with your device.

The digital hearing aid will be more expensive, but the sound quality is much improved. Now keep in mind that if you have not had to buy a hearing aid in several years, you may want to upgrade to the digital because the price you paid for your analog is probably about the same that you are going to pay for the digital one today.

If not, the extra money will be well worth it if you are going to be using it every day. For someone that is only putting it in now and again, it could be a waste of money, but the clarity of sound and the lack of feedback make this a very desirable choice.

Again, it really all comes down to preference and need. When you want to compare hearing aids, the analog will give you the better price, but less sound quality. You will pay a few dollars more for the digital, but if you are using it every day, the money will be well worth it . . .

Be sure to visit the authors website where you can compare hearing aids.

Digital Hearing Aids

Chiropractors Who Learn Life Skills More Likely To Excel In Business

Are you living a life of excellence? Are you everything you aspire to be? Those are the questions life coach and mentor Terri Werner asks her clients, many of whom are chiropractors.

Werner, who has a background in marketing, financial planning and business development, recently spoke to a group of chiropractors at the Karl Parker Seminar in Dallas, Texas. Her message, in the words of one attendee was “tremendous.”

Werner does one-on-one coaching, public speaking and is the author of several books and recordings on building excellence in your life and business practices. Says Werner, “I help a lot of chiropractors market their practice, look at vertical marketing, and how to get their message out, but I do that after we first address the issues in their life.” Her vision is creating a culture of excellence, one life at a time.

When a business or individual engages Werner to assist them, she first looks at what is going on in their lives in general. She asks, “Are they living in excellence? Are they living in integrity? Have they forgiven?” All these things that have to do with the heart and head coming together to create a dynamic excellence in one’s life.

Werner feels that once a person finds what is lacking in their life, and what they could do better, then all things fall into place. “I really believe everything has to do with everything.” She recommends journaling as a way to discover areas where a person is lacking and can improve. Excellence, she says, comes once a person discovers these things and works to change them. “I don’t think excellence has to be difficult. I really define excellence as creating an environment where the propensity to excel is easy.”

Werner knows from experience that anything can be accomplished when you apply these principles. “I had gone through some really tough things in my life…and I just decided to implement and do everything I could to create excellence. Doing so meant forgiveness and releasing judgments.”

Werner’s pursuit of excellence paid off in the form of a new book, Train Wreck to Triumph, as well as a partnership with Dr. Denis Waitley and NFL star Tim Brown to create a kid-safe web browser. She is currently working on a new project called A Question of Change. “The premise is that no matter where you are in life – whether you’re in trauma or grand success – requires focus on getting the right answers. In order to get the right answer, you must ask the right question.” This new book assists readers in asking the right questions to get the outcomes they desire.

Werner has been instrumental in helping many people enrich their lives, grow their businesses and become outcome driven by living lives of excellence. For information on her writings, audio books, speaking schedule or coaching go to http://www.lifeskillsalliance.com or call 214-783-8908.



Chiropractor Manipulation

Chiropractic Service

A Few Tips to Consider When Buying a Hearing Aid

When you're in the market for a new hearing aid, wading through all of the information and resources can be a challenge. There are a few key points, though, that you can use to help guide your decision making process as prepare to buy an aid.

Overall Performance

First and foremost, you want to find a hearing aid that performs at a high level of success in amplifying and clarifying sound. Digital sound processing is a relatively new feature that offers directional amplification, and has the ability to distinguish different types of sounds. What that means for the wearer is that background noises will stay in the background, voices will be amplified, and the most accurately reproduced sound possible will be heard.

Background Noise Cancellation

The best hearing aids on the market are ones that successfully reduce the distraction of background noise. Individuals who are suffering from mild to moderate hearing loss very often complain that background noise makes hearing general conversations much more difficult. New hearing aids that are on the market are designed to cancel out ambient noise and clarify other sounds.

Cosmetic Appearance

Aids come in all shapes and sizes, but the best hearing aid for one person isn't necessarily going to the best for another's lifestyle. Cosmetic appearance plays a big role in overall satisfaction of those who wear hearing aids.

Cost & Value

The reality is that cost is a major factor in the type and style of hearing aid that you choose. Many name brand hearing devices can cost $3,000 or more for the device itself, with additional costs added on by the multiple doctor's visits often required to obtain the hearing aid. More affordable alternatives are available for much less, and offer the best value and high return on investment.

Hearing Aid Costs

Factors to Consider Prior to Buying a Hearing Aid

The Signature of Fashion With Barbie Games

You may often wonder why women are idealistic when it comes to fashion. Women like to read magazines, watch television, browse celebrities in the latest fashion look and so forth. Women like to adore other women but on the contrary these very women have the bitter days, bad hair days and consumed by hate and shyness. There are days where women cringe in self doubt and falter with their confidence. But how can these happen when women like and admire other women? Would this mean that they love others better than they love themselves? This may be for the reason that women do not find the fashion clothes fit their body or even their personality. They do not find individualism that others have achieved. To solve this dilemma, no matter what the fashion style for the time being, each woman should have their very own fashion signature like Audrey Hepburn, Jessica Parker or even the fantasy star, Barbie! Browse fashion items with Barbie games and you will surely develop your own fashion signature.

Creating your own fashion signature may not be as easy as you think. There are many things that you should consider and there are many items that you should have. These can b e a great problem especially if you do not have much at your wardrobe and have limited items to mix and match. You may think that buying a new wardrobe is necessary. While this may be true to keep up with the new trend, you do not need to always buy a new outfit. You can be fashionable and create your sense of individuality with Barbie games without too much of the trouble.

With this online game, you can experiment into creating your own style and incorporating it with the new fashion trend of the season. Barbie is one of the most successful celebrities in history and it is undeniable how much clothes that she have; maybe you can borrow some!

Try on different and cool outfits that Barbie have. The elegant LBDs can be your immediate solution for dinner events or cocktail parties. A funky tops and denim shorts will be great for adventure with nature while the classic long sleeve shirt in white is very pretty to match with a pair of trousers for formal events or for a day in the office. How about a silk, one shoulder strapped top match with stylish skirt for a date with your Prince Charming?

Along with the fashionable and sophisticated clothes at this online game, spruce up your own style by making it unique to yours like adding a hint of the color you love very much or some of your favorite accessories. With Barbie games, you can always be unique like how Barbie imprints her fashion signature!

Barbie Games

Barbie

Greg Reyes - Possessing a Good Character in Doing the Right Things

I write this letter as a son, a husband, and a father of three great children. My wife and I participate in many charities, primarily focused on helping abused or under-privileged children, and abused or sexually assaulted mothers. We also raise bison in Colorado and annually donate bison to Native American tribes that are interested in re-starting a bison herd. I also write this letter as a 22 year veteran and Executive in the high-technology industry.

Greg Reyes and I met roughly three years ago. I have known of Greg and have worked for a business partner of Brocade for the past nine years. We share many of the same friends and I was introduced to Greg socially by one of these mutual friends. My conversations with Greg over the past couple of years have focused on Greg's family, who I have been lucky enough to spend time with, and the impact the case was having on his family.

My impression of Greg is as a great husband, great son, a great father, and good, solid friend to many. From a business perspective, Greg was part of the leadership of a complete category within the data storage industry, the storage area network.

The allegations of this case have been surprising to me regarding the implications of Greg's character. In every discussion I have had with Greg, it is clear that Greg possesses a strong character to always attempt to do what is right as a husband, as a father, and in business.

Based on the facts presented during this case, it is tough for me to understand who the actual Victims are. It feels to me that the people receiving the greatest negative impact art Greg and his family. Respectfully, I ask that as you consider the sentencing in this case, that compassion to the impact to Greg and his family is a strong considering factor.

Gregory Reyes

Signs of Hearing Loss Must Be Consistent

Are you always wishing people would speak up or that they mumble? You may eve believe they are not speaking properly. Take a breath and realize that it could be you with the problem. You may be experiencing loss of hearing. Others may notice that you always have the volume of the television or stereo up high but to you it is normal. It may be a good idea to get a hearing test done and stop blaming it on that old equipment...

You may have grown used to asking those around you to repeat what they say. Are you regularly misunderstanding people? If you have to rely more on facial expression and body language to understand others it may be your hearing. These are very real indications of possible loss of hearing.

Have you worked regularly with firearms, in a factory or with power tools? These can be very noisy environments. If you have failed to use ear plugs there is a chance your hearing has suffered. Do you always listen to very loud music? Is the home cinema essential? All these things can take their toll over time..

Is it difficult to follow a conversation in a group? Do you find it exhausting trying to keep up? This could make you feel more nervous or stressed, in social situations, because you can't keep up with what's going on.

Is there a history of hearing problems in your family? It can be hereditary. This could mean you are susceptible. Heart, circulatory or thyroid problems could also mean you are more at risk. Diabetes can also lead to problems.

If you suffer from frequent ear infections or dizziness it might not be down to accumulated ear wax. Some problems are caused by disease as opposed to environment.

Loss of hearing can affect your work, social and family life. It is not just a health issue. If any of this seems familiar prices of hearing to you and you think you may be experiencing loss of hearing then consult your doctor. Like any other condition, the sooner it is diagnosed, the sooner it can be dealt with. Do not ignore the signs because advanced help is available.


Best Hearing Aid

Causes of Hearing Loss

The Ups and Downs of Downloadable DS Games

What is a DS?
The DS, or Nintendo DS, is an advanced technology apparatus that plays video games on a duel screen monitor. It is a handheld game system that allows gaming enthusiasts to bring high quality games with them when they are on the road or otherwise unable to play a counsel system. However, with the DS, has become a standalone system that has most gamers itching to try it. It was developed and produced by the Nintendo organization and was released in 2004 in multiple countries including Canada, Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom. The clamshell design is similar to the Game Boy Advance, which was the predecessor to the Nintendo DS, but the Nintendo DS has duel screens with the lower one being designed as a touch screen.

Download DS Games
Though there are some problems with downloadable DS games, they hardly outweigh the possible positives when it comes to these games. Downloadable DS games are games that can be downloaded off the wireless internet that is available for the Nintendo DS. These games are similar to WiiWare games in that they are not usually full length games, but they are still fantastically composed and capable of providing hours of gaming fun. There are even some free downloadable DS games available, but these are rarer than the purchased ones.
A few cons to downloadable DS games include the fact that the download speed is relatively poor. When downloading a game for the DS, it can take many minutes, even hours in some extreme cases. This can be more than a little frustrating for those that want to just play the game.
Another problem is that there is a possibility for an adware infiltration which can potentially do damage to the DS. However, this is only caused by poor usage of the wireless internet system.
These few cons are not enough to make the whole of the system poor. The Nintendo DS has many games online that may be downloaded on the SD card of the system. This can allow numerous downloadable games to be purchased or downloaded on a single system. The downloadable games for the DS are also very fun and very addicting. They can provide just as much if not more fun that any retail game for the DS or a consol alike. Once the games are downloaded there are usually no problems with operation.


Learn about the best DS Download sites. Find out where to download unlimited DS games without being afraid of viruses or adware. Go to DS Downloads

Has TV helped the Online Psychic Readings Industry ?

Moonwhisper.com as well as many other psychic reading websites has proven that the internet is a viable venue for professional psychics to display their services and provide an obviously very lucrative service to the major players in the online psychic reading industry. With an increasing demand for high quality and affordable psychic advice rising daily smaller websites are finding it easier to break into this niche market and take psychic service promotions to the next level with a complete line of co branded services on the web. You will find that the fires of this rise in interest in the psychic readings niche has been fanned in part by the rise of popular TV shows that have really brought the paranormal and psychic ability into main stream American homes. These shows have really taken a lot of the taboo previously associated with psychics and turned them into heroic figures solving mysteries, crimes as well as helping those in need with their psychic abilities.

You may be asking how has this helped online psychics? The answer is simple we are now more accepting and aware of these paranormal events that have always taken place and we have been desensitized to the previous stigma associated with psychics by the constant barrage of the paranormal on TV. It has now become normal to consult with psychics and to believe that a psychic has the ability to predict the future because we as Americans are so used to it from our exposure on television. May I add it is about time we have learned to accept psychic abilty instead of shy aware from it as the answers we seek could be just a click of a mouse away.

In my opinion we can look at the rise of online psychic popularity in two ways either as a sad cry for help by the public at large who are desperate to find hope anywhere or as a beginning of an age of enlightenment where we are finally at place where we are accepting of a higher spiritual plane and are not afraid to seek advice from a realm that is intangible but nevertheless very real. I find the latter to be a more optimistic and open minded way of thought and I really believe that psychics will no longer be shunned and mocked but be sought after and accepted as a genuine professional service. I see the future of psychic readings to be very bright and something that will continue to grow and blossom as our spirituality becomes more accepting and our rational minds let go and let the psychic mind be released.




Astrological Readings | Psychic Readings Online

How to Choose the Best Lighting for Your Greenhouse

Choosing specific greenhouse lighting can be somewhat tricky. Here are five important factors to consider when making your selections.

1. Type of greenhouse — Before buying greenhouse lighting, you must understand the kind of greenhouse that you have. Is it a commercial greenhouse or a personal one? Knowing what type of greenhouse that you have will determine what kind of lighting to choose. For instance, if you have a commercial greenhouse, it is best that you buy lighting that is created to endure humid, adverse conditions that are commonly found in commercial conservatories. Research your options before making any purchase.

2. Length of use — The duration of light use in greenhouses based on a “photoperiod”— the period in which the light will be used may vary. For example, you may use lighting for a “12-hour photoperiod.” This means that within 24 hours cycle, lighting will be used for 12 hours and 12 hours with no light at all. It is important to buy a light that meets your specific usage needs. Find out what your needs are before making your selections.

3. Purpose — Buy a light that will focus on your desired results. For instance, if you want to motivate the growth of your orchids, it is best to buy a light that will put more weight on the “spectrum colors” like the red, blue and the “far-red wavelengths.” The colors of the light have notable effects on the plant growth. Not all light will produce the desired results. Talk to experts before purchasing.

4. Electrical efficiency — Opt for lighting products that provide optimum effect without having to compromise the amount of energy that they consume. It’s better to buy lights that are efficient and can still conserve as little energy as possible. Ensure that the lighting you buy meets your electrical efficiency requirements.

5. Heat — Remember that lighting should only be used where it is needed. A light that emits more heat as it releases light can be very harmful. Too much heat on a plant will trigger its death. For example, it’s not a good idea to buy an incandescent bulb because it gives out too much heat. Make sure you understand how much heat each lighting option produces before purchasing.

Lighting is an important factor in a plant’s development. Carefully consider the kinds of light you use in your greenhouse in order to ensure the quality of plant growth that you want to achieve.




how to build a greenhouse | build your own greenhouse

History of Hearing Aids

Take a look at the colorful history of hearing aids, ear trumpets of the first electronic hearing aid (too bulky to be portable) to the invention of transistors into the digital age. You will also learn about some of the latest innovations, including the use of ADRO (adaptive dynamic range optimization) technology into new lines of hearing aids.

The history of hearing aids: A look at the technology of hearing aids

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From its size with its way of operating that way, the hearing aid technology that is used today is very different from what hearing aids used 100, 50 or even five years ago. The history of hearing aids is far reaching and colors - the first hearing aids worked without electricity, while the first electric models were simply too big to be portable. Today, digital hearing aids are discrete, lightweight, and have the ability to be adjusted for different environments and to amplify the sound without distortion. And the future has many improvements in hearing aid technology as a whole. But it is important to review the history of hearing aids to understand that only the industry is headed.

The early history of hearing aids

We began our look at the history of hearing aids two hundred years ago, when aid arrived in the form of ear trumpets - large horn in the form of devices used to direct sound into the ear of a hearing impaired person and provide very basic sound amplification without electricity. These trumpets were large and difficult, although some models can be worn on the head with a harness. There is a basic function - sound amplification - and could also improve the signal to noise ratio in a noisy environment, but were unable to do much more. In fact, Cupping his hand behind his ear gives a similar (but smaller) amplification. Hearing aid technology has come a long way from now.

The advent of electric hearing aids

Hearing aid technology began to change rapidly with two important milestones in the history of hearing aids - the advent of electricity and Alexander Graham Bell's work on the phone, which was essentially an electronic machine that could amplify the sound through a microphone carbon in combination with a battery. Modern technology is still Headset uses the concept of a receiver, a telephone, to describe the small speaker inside the hearing aid.

In the early 1920s, hearing aid technology incorporated the use of vacuum tubes, allowing a much more efficient method to amplify the sound. However, the first electric hearing aids are still too unwieldy to be carried around easily - many of them as big as the table radios, and just as heavy. Fortunately, an important event in the history of hearing aids is just around the corner.

Smaller batteries, smaller hearing aids

One of the first major changes in the history of hearing aids that led to a decrease in size was the miniaturization of batteries. Previously, batteries were large, heavy, and could not hold a charge for a long time, which makes them impractical for use by hearing aid. Battery packs must be used in the hearing-impaired person's body. In the 1930s, hearing aid technology has progressed so that aids could be portable.

The transistor changes everything

However, the most important event in the history of hearing aids had not yet arrived. It is the invention of the transistor in the 1950s that changed hearing aid technology completely. A transistor is simply a switch that has no moving parts and that has only two options: On or Off. Place several transistors together, however, and you can get increasingly larger combinations of on / off switches - the basic binary code, and, essentially, a computer in its simplest form. In addition, the conductivity of a transistor can be manipulated on the basis of the purity of silicon with which the transistor is, providing an infinite number of possibilities for the transistor can be used. Silicon transistors allowed hearing aids to shrink in size so that they can become "body aids," eventually leading to hearing aid technology available in a size that we are familiar today - with the aid that can be used discreetly behind the ear or even within the ear canal.

The Digital Age

In the mid-1990s, digital hearing aid technology is commonly used. Digital hearing aids allow for more precise configuration of sound in the ear of the user. With digital circuits, the sound could be expanded or decreased as needed. Programs could be created that could be used, depending on the user's location or needs - more amplification for quiet settings, for example, or specific amplification of certain frequencies in loud situations so that the user can clearly hear the voices of speech, even when surrounded by other noises. Digital products also took advantage of compression technology, the elimination of a annoying side effect that has plagued users throughout the history of hearing aids - the distortion of the sounds very strong.

Today the technology of hearing aid

Today, we are still shaping the history of hearing aids, hearing aids and technology is constantly being updated. For example, new technologies are being introduced that allow the user to be directly involved with the installation of your headset. Instead of using basic prescriptions based on a user's audiogram, testing can be performed, analogous to the optical test was conducted in an ophthalmologist's office, to fine-tune the hearing aid settings for specific user. Listening to a narrow band of sounds and the sound of sentences to fill out a questionnaire with specific information, end users are able to modify their hearing aid settings to suit their needs.

Rules that utilize "fuzzy logic" (a system of computer instructions that allow the team to face ambiguities1) are based on some of the hearing aids. This allows the use of these customized settings to make sure that the hearing aid output is constantly optimized to listen to the needs of each sound in every environment. Clinical studies show that this new generation of hearing aid technology can provide constantly improving the intelligibility of speech and in quiet noisy environments, more comfort for the user to the presence of loud sounds, greater audibility of soft sounds And improving the quality of sound in the conventional amplification schemes.

This hearing aid technology is not offered by all manufacturers, but worth it because search can greatly improve a user's view when you use the help. Newer hearing aids are also offered with limited ear occlusion, making them almost invisible to the user and allowing the audience to continue to improve.

In addition, a new hearing aid technology known as ADRO (adaptive dynamic range optimization) is starting to be available from some manufacturers. This is one of the most significant changes in the recent history of hearing aids, as it is a major upgrade of the traditional compression circuits that are most often used with digital hearing aids.

ADRO allows the audience to help make constant adjustments to its algorithms using fuzzy logic, delivering the user a higher level of sound quality and eliminating the inconvenience stronger sounds more easily. Echoes are also eliminated. The latest generation of ADRO, which goes a step beyond what was originally offered, is presented by some companies in an ultra low delay product that delivers up to 32 channels, a large increase from products that were previously only offer seven or eight. Some products in this new generation of hearing aids also incorporate a new, adaptive directional microphone. This exciting new hearing aid technology gives us a glimpse of what the future holds.

The future of the technology of hearing aid

As well as the history of hearing aids has seen many events, the future of hearing aids will bring extremely exciting new options for all users, just in time for the aging of the baby boom generation. Transducers are getting smaller and at the same time, circuitry is shrinking rapidly. This means that ever smaller, ever more powerful hearing aids will be capable of being produced. And consumers will find themselves in control of their own hearing again, as they become even more involved with the installation and adjustment of their hearing aids. We've come a long way from ear trumpets, but hearing aid technology continues to evolve with time, and we still have a long way to go.

Compare Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids Newton MA

Digital Hearing Aids Against Problems

Throughout the world the people more or less are facing with hearing problem. The problem is noticed at the time of miss hearing when talking personally or receiving calls through telephone or other sources. You can also experience it at the time of watching television or movies. If someone feels hearing problem the best remedy available is to consult audiologist at the earliest for proper treatment

In the beginning hearing aid devices were not so useful as today. Now the latest technology is available in the market & a person having hearing problem can hear precisely well by using Digital hearing aids. Digital hearing aids are an up-to-date technology. It is capable to analyze sounds as it has computer-processing power. After analyzing the sounds these are properly and automatically adjusted according to the suitability of the need of a person. It is the best latest device that has proved to be very useful for persons facing hearing problem.

On Market, Availability

For the last more than a period of few decades it has been experienced that innumerable qualities of digital hearing aids have appeared in the market being manufactured by number of companies which run in more than a digit of twenty. The digital hearing aids marketed fewer than 40 by different model names have proved very useful for hearing problems. It has further been observed that this solitary number is continuously flourishing which will go on with the passage of time.

Digital hearing aids, An Invention:

The invention of digital hearing aids was considered to be revolutionary one with regard to the related subject. The digital hearing aids were available on the market in the year, 1987. Irrespectively of its usefulness it could not achieve considerable recognition as its size was large size and high battery-drain was provided in the digital hearing aids. Due to such deficiencies in their formation these were at last deserted.

How Was Digital Hearing Aids Improved?

After that the digital hearing aids were modified with the improvement in technology and their formation. These were introduced after about ten years to the previous one. These hearing aids proved to be more useful and considerable recognition was given to such revised technology by audiologists, practitioners and users. These were liked far and wide although it had high price.

Technological Advent

With the passage of time the technology of digital hearing aids improved day by day. New techniques were introduced and efforts were made to make it more useful and responsive. Audiologists and users liked the digital hearing aids as compared to other hearing devices. The improved quality of digital hearing aids was well appreciated by beneficiaries.

Digital Hearing Aids: Striking Features

Digital hearing aids are designed considering the users’ requirements especially. These are provided with extra durability, high-tech operations and versatility. Digital hearing aids come with different functions by and by, which users can be served with. Some of these enlist as: Digital Speech Enhancement (DSE) the foremost one, Digital Noise Reduction (DNR), Digital Feedback Reduction (DFR), Signal Generation, Directional Microphone and Digital Static Protection (DSP). These operations make digital hearing aids very much adaptable and dynamical.

Change In Technology?

Now a days, dew to advancement in science and technology, great revolutionary outcomes can also be seen in the development of hearing aids. The present technology of digital hearing aids is, of course, tremendous. But the horizon of this front is becoming bright and bright. It cannot be foretold that what will be new achievements in this regard in future. Presently, digital technology is subsiding the analog technology, and same is the trend in hearing aids technology. It is preempted that the analog digital hearing aids will soon be superseded. This will be the outcome digital revolution. Above all, it is recommended that you should consult with an audiologist for the proper diagnosis, before the purchase of a hearing aid. With his consent, you will be able to buy the most appropriate hearing aid, which will be very specific to your ailment.


Hearing Aid Styles

Online Medical Assistant Degrees

It is not required that a medical assistant be certified to get a job in the field. However, if you choose to become certified you must complete an accredited education program first. Additionally, a good education increases your chances of finding a good, well-paying job as a medical assistant. Completing an accredited program is the only way to guarantee you are getting value for your education.

It is possible to become a trained medical assistant on the job. However, most medical assistants attend medical assisting school. So in order to be a competitive job candidate, you should consider attending as well. Most medical assisting programs last either one year (for which you will receive a certificate or a diploma) or two years (for which you will receive an associates degree).

Internships are often included in a medical assistant education program. While working in one of these internships you will gain valuable experience in a physician's office, hospital, or other health care facility.

Typically, candidates for admission to medical assisting school must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

There are two organizations that accredit MA programs, so look for these seals when reviewing programs. One is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the other is the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Graduation from a program that is accredited by either of these institutions is an acceptable pre-requisites for both the CMA (AAMA) and RMA (AMT) certification programs.

Receiving an online education can be an efficient, if not the only option for those for those wanting to pursue higher education. Many brick and mortar universities offer online campuses in addition to their regular programs. Also, there are some colleges that offer online degrees only. Additionally, there are some institutions that offer a hybrid of internet classes and physical classes. The following is a list of schools that offer accredited, online, medical assistant programs.

1. University of Pheonix
2. San Joaquin Valley College Online
3. Mountain State University
4. Penn Foster Career School - Healthcare
5. Ashworth University
6. ECPI College of Technology
7. Kaplan University
8. Stratford Career Institute
9. Colorado Technical University
10. Gibbs Schools
11. Missouri College
12. Sanford-Brown College
13. Western School of Health and Business
14. Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
15. Herzing College Online
16. Independence University
17. Indiana Business College
18. Jones College
19. Lincoln College of Technology
20. Minnesota School of Business
21. New England Institute of Technology
22. Penn Foster Career School
23. Rasmussen College
24. University of Cincinnati
25. Allied College

Things to consider when choosing an online college are:

1. is the school accredited and is the program I am interested in accredited?
2. what are the tuition and fees involved?
3. what is the teacher/student ratio?
4. is there an option for taking a course at a physical campus?
5. is financial aid available?
6. how long does it take to complete the program?
7. what are the reviews from others who have completed the program?

It would be beneficial to get the answers to all these questions before enrolling in an online medical assistant program.


Read here to know how to build certified medical assistant career Everything you should know about medical assistant training

Accessory Checklist For Stairlifts

Accessories You May Purchase For Your Stairlift Product

You know how cars are always adorned by all sorts of accessories, right? Men go ga-ga over the bling-blings for their wheels, almost the same way women go crazy over belts, brooches and the sorts.

Well, for stairlifts, the primary purpose these accessories serve is safety and comfort and not design. Stairlifts may already be costly as they are, but it would still do you good to purchase accessories to ensure the well being of your loved ones.

Frame type Sit And Stand – If the stairlift product that’s to be installed at your house would be used by more than one person, perhaps it’s better to purchase a sit and stand frame for your stairlifts, especially when neither have the same health problems. With this type of frame for your stairlifts, the user or passenger may be able to either sit or stand while he/she climbs up and down the stairs.

Seatbelt – Yes, just like when you’re riding a roller coaster or your ordinary Ford truck, it’s always advisable to wear a seatbelt…just in case anything happens. You can choose between a seatbelt that would be wrapped around your lap – the manufacturers describe it as an inertia reel lap harness – or one that would strap both your shoulders – this time, referred to as static type, 3 point fixing over shoulder harness. Either way, as long as you have a seatbelt for your stairlift, the chances of risking injury are less likely.

Hinged Rail – In a small or compact sized house where there’s little space available, stairlifts with hinged rails are quite ideal because you could fold the lower part of the rail when it’s not in use. This is also ideal if your stairway is right next to the doorway and the lower part of the rail of the stairlift just serves as another obstruction.

Power Folding Footrest – Let’s just say that you have a mighty big house and even with the dough rolling in nonstop, you still prefer to install stairlifts instead of an elevator, no matter that there’s about twenty feet worth of stairs to climb up and down.

Wouldn’t it be nice for the passenger to have a footrest while they’re traveling from the East to the West Coast? But seriously though, the footrest for the stairlifts can also be handy for users or passengers who have problems bending down.

Power Swivel Seat – This is more for the comfort of passengers as they enter and exit the stairlifts.



home stair lifts

home stairlifts

Finding Forex Trading Signals Services that are very profitable

Some Forex traders dream about finding great set and forget forex trading signal services which are easy to follow, profitable and convenient. They would then just copy the daily currency recommendations into their Forex broker dealing station and watch their trading account grow and grow.

A short while ago over 250 online Currency trading alert services were reviewed and alert services like the one described above do exist!

The big challenge to the average Forex Trader is firstly, finding forex trading signal services that fit the success mould and then secondly, making sure that the service is credible. This article will address the first question of how to find possible currency trading alert services to consider.

The technique mostly used by many forex traders is to search the Web using a good search engine and then to slowly search through the results to find say 20 alert services to consider for evaluation. This is a good starting point but remember to uses appropriate search terms. For instance currency trading signals, currency trading alerts and currency alert service bring up different results. This may seem like hard work but always use your trading dreams as a motivator. When on the search engine results pages do not neglect the paid adverts to further increase your chances of finding great currency trading signal services. You can find some unexpected gems by clicking on these.

An alternative good place to search for great forex trading signal services are Forex service review sites. Some of these sites give objective and paid reviews of many forex trading signal services on the market and allow users to post comments on their own personal experiences. Some of them list over a 100 forex trading alert services so your job can be reduced considerably. These are likely the best source of good forex trading alert services, as you get direct user feedback as well. We have also found these to be one of the best guides to the creditability of alert services. Use search engines to firstly find the review sites. Most of the review sites offer direct links to alert services providers.

Forex blogs are again a good source of alert service information. Going into discussion forums is a lot more time consuming and your return on effort will be less than the techniques already mentioned. We use this method to check on the credibility of a service rather than finding a service.

An often overlooked method is word of mouth. Use your network of other forex traders to enquire whether they have had any good experiences with forex trading alert services.

Using the methods above, alert services producing 27 000 pips a year and returns of between 200% and 1000% on capital used, have been found. Not a bad investment of time and effort but 250 alert services had to be researched to get there. You too can benefit from following the process described in this article and well as the articles to follow. It is well worth the effort.

The activities above should provide you with a list of between 20 and 50 Forex trading alert services to consider. How you then water these down to the few that will make you money is the subject of the next article to be published in the article directory. Make sure to watch out for them.

Check out our Stock Trading System

Sterling Silver Jewelry - Why and How Does it Tarnish?

Introduction

Man has been using silver jewelry such as silver rings, pendants, bracelets for various purposes since earliest civilizations. Silver, is one of the oldest known metals to man and has been in existence since time immemorial.

With the advancement in technology, complex and advanced methods of jewelry designing have been used to carve intricate jewelry out of silver. Yet, one major concern among the manufacturers, buyers and sellers of silver jewelry is that it corrodes easily if not taken proper care of.

Silver can get easily tarnished if it comes into contact with any substance that contains hydrogen sulfide. Some of the common substances found at home that contain sulfide include doormats, rubber bands, wool and latex gloves. It has also been observed that silver jewelry or silverware corrodes easily in places where coal is used as a fuel. The prime reason for this occurrence can yet again be attributed to the presence of high content of sulfur in coal.

Reason for corrosion

Corrosion or tarnishing of silver can primarily be characterized easily when it starts losing its gleam and its color gradually changes from bright silver to give a yellowish tint until it finally turns to various shades of grey or even black in some cases.

Other various factors which contribute to tarnishing of silver include weather changes, relatively high levels of humidity in the atmosphere. Certain edible items like eggs and oil present in the kitchen when in contact with silver utensils may also accelerate the corrosion process.

Methods to prevent corrosion

Various methods have been devised by scientists to mitigate the damages done to a certain piece of silverware or silver jewelry by various methods. Certain home made remedies are often advised to remove small amounts of corrosion from jewelry while it is advised to seek professional help from a jeweler when dealing with intricate pieces of jewelry or when the extent of damage caused by corrosion is really very high.

Some of the general methods prescribed to remove tarnish from pieces of jewelry like silver chains, pendants and silver rings include immersing silver in chemical dips, plating the jewelry with other metals like rhodium or copper which form a protective layer over it, stocking up silverware with silica granules as they are known to absorb any excess levels of humidity present in the atmosphere.

Popularity of corroded jewelry

Yet another contradictory stance to the methods being devised to restrain one's silver chains from being corroded is that tarnished silver jewelry is considered a rage nowadays among the jewelry experts. Jewelry manufacturers purposely tarnish silver in order to carve out jewelry items out of it which may give it a rustic and traditional appeal. Corroded silver chains and silver rings which sports a grayish or dark yellowish tint in it is often used by skilled craftsmen to shape enchanting pieces of silver jewelry from it, which smacks of traditional and artistic elements. The methods used to corrode silver are exactly the same as they are to prevent it from corroding, the only difference being that they are exercised in the reverse manner. Hence, no matter what form of silver jewelry one may choose to opt for- corroded or glazed, the trend for silver jewelry seems virtually unending!

Dreamland jewelry is the webs authority the care of sterling silver jewelry. They carry a complete line of Italian sterling silver chains at 70% off retail.

If you're a woman who loves Silver Rings check out Silver Jewelry Emporium!

What To Know About Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are devices that are used to aid in hearing. They are commonly used to help those who have a difficult time hearing. There are several different types of them. In many cases, they have been developed over time and the various versions of them are mainly due to the improvements that have been used.

One of the types of hearing aids is the body worn aids. These are the first type of aid to be used. Today, they are rarely used because there are better quality options available due to the improvements of technology. They use an amplification system that is connected to a mold that fits around the ear. They are large and this helps in some of the worst cases of hearing loss where other units cannot.

Another option is those that are behind the ear aids. A custom made ear mold is connected to a small case that fits behind the ear. They are used to all types of hearing loss and work well for children because of how durable they are as well as how capable they are of being connected to assistive listening devices that can be used within the classroom.

Yet another type of hearing aid that is commonly used is that of the ITE aids. These are also known as in the ear aids because that is the location that they are in. They are custom made for each person individually. They work for most all types of hearing loss as well. In most cases, a child can wear them after the age of 13 as their growing patterns have slowed down.

Although there are several other types of hearing aids on the market, it is best to speak to your doctor about which is the right device for your needs. In many cases, there will be special equipment to help you in hearing better.


Hearing Aid Styles

How To Clean Hearing Aids

Alcohol - Balancing Risks & Benefits

Humans have been drinking fermented beverages for over 10,000 years and yet, to this day, the debate about its merits and demerits still remains. Alcohol is both a tonic and a poison. There are many scientific studies showing the benefits of alcohol consumption, and at the same time, there are just as many that indicate its health hazards.

What Is Alcohol?

The active ingredient in alcoholic beverages is ethanol which affects the body in many different ways.

• It directly influences the stomach, brain, heart, gallbladder, and liver.
• It affects levels of cholesterol, triglycerides (fats), and insulin in the blood, as well as inflammation and blood clotting.
• It also alters mood, concentration, and coordination.

Whether alcohol is a tonic or a poison depends mostly on the dose. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend those who do drink alcoholic beverages do so in moderation. Moderation means no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. The recommended amount is smaller for women than men because women are usually smaller in size and they have less of an enzyme that helps metabolize alcohol in the body.

Health Hazards Of Heavy Drinking

If all drinkers limit themselves to one drink a day, we probably would not need as many cardiologists, liver specialists, mental health professionals, and substance abuse counselors. However, not everyone who likes to drink can stop at just one. Heavy drinking is the major cause of preventable death in most countries. In the U.S., alcohol is implicated in about half of all fatal traffic accidents. It plays a role in one in three violent crime cases.

• It contributes to depression, violence, and relationship issues.
• It causes inflammation of the liver (alcoholic hepatitis) and leads to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) which is potentially fatal.
• It increases blood pressure and damages heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).
• It is associated with various forms of cancer such as cancer of the mouth, throat, vocal cord, esophagus (tube that goes from mouth to stomach), breast, liver, colon, and rectum. The risk is multiplied for drinkers who also smoke tobacco.
• It causes fetal alcohol syndrome in an unborn child, including impaired growth and nervous system development.

Who Shouldn't Drink Alcohol?

People with the following conditions shouldn't drink any alcohol; even small amounts could cause problems:

• A history of hemorrhagic stroke
• Liver disease
• Pancreatic disease
• Evidence of precancerous changes in the mouth, throat, vocal cord, and esophagus.
• Family history of alcoholism
• Pregnant

Alcohol also interacts with many common prescription and over-the-counter medications:

• Antibiotics
• Anticoagulants (drugs that stop blood from clotting)
• Antidepressants
• Antihistamines
• Anti-seizure medications
• Beta blockers (drugs for managing irregular heart beats, heart attack, and high blood pressure)
• Diabetes medications
• Pain relievers
• Sleeping pills

Also, if you combine alcohol with aspirin, you face an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. If you use alcohol with acetaminophen, you increase your risk of liver damage.

Possible Benefits Of Moderation Drinking

We know for a fact that heavy drinking plays havoc on your health but many studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can in fact, reduce the risk of the following diseases:

• Heart attack (clot in coronary artery)
• Ischemic stroke (clot in artery leading to the brain)
• Peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of blood vessels outside the heart and brain)
• Sudden cardiac arrest (sudden loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness)
• Gallstones
• Type 2 diabetes

In addition, some studies have contributed the benefits of certain components in red wine such as reseveratrol in reducing heart disease risk. Resveratrol has shown to increase HDL("good") cholesterol, prevents blood clots, and relaxes blood vessel walls.

Risks of Moderate Drinking

In spite of the above benefits, moderate drinking also carries some risks:

• Alcohol is addictive, especially for people with a family history of alcoholism.
• There is convincing evidence that alcohol increases risk of developing breast cancer. However, studies also show that adequate intake of folate (a B vitamin), at least 600 mg a day, appears to mitigate this increased risk. Folate helps build DNA and is essential for accurate cell division. Alcohol blocks the absorption of folate and hence, increases the risk of breast, colon, and other cancers.
• Alcohol can disrupt sleep. Although alcohol has a sedative effect and help you fall asleep faster, it is metabolized rapidly in your body and it impairs your sleep during the second half of the night. You tend to have shallower sleep and awake more easily. Alcohol is also likely to worsen snoring and sleep apnea (a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep).

Should You Drink Or Shouldn't You Drink?

• If you don't drink, there is no need to start. For a pregnant woman and her unborn child, a recovering alcoholic, a person with liver disease, and people taking medication that interact with alcohol, drinking offers little benefits and substantial risks. There are other risk-free ways to boost your heart health and lower your risk of diabetes, such as becoming more active, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating healthy fats and a variety of vegetables and fruits.
• If you do drink, drink in moderation. There are no conclusive studies that indicate whether wine, beer, or spirits has more health benefits. So choose whatever you like. Moderation is the key - limit to no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. However, bear in mind that having 7 drinks on a Saturday night and then not drinking for the rest of the week is not the same as having one drink a day. Also, make sure you get at least 600 mg of folate a day.
• If you are a woman, it is trickier to balance the benefit and risk. Every year 10 times more women die from heart disease (460,000) than breast cancer (41,000). Therefore, if you are a woman at risk for heart disease, it is possibly beneficial to have a daily drink in spite of the small increase in breast cancer risk. However, studies show that women are far more afraid of developing breast cancer than heart disease, something that must be taken into consideration.

Carol Chuang is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and a Metabolic Typing Advisor. She has a Masters degree in Nutrition and is the founder of CC Health Counseling, LLC. Her passion in life is to stay healthy and to help others become healthy. She believes that a key ingredient to optimal health is to eat a diet that is right for one's specific body type. Eating organic or eating healthy is not enough to guarantee good health. The truth is that there is no one diet that is right for everyone. Our metabolisms are different, so should our diets. Carol specializes in Metabolic Typing, helping her clients find the right diet for their Metabolic Type. To learn more about Metabolic Typing, her nutrition counseling practice, and how to get a complimentary phone consultation, please go to http://cchealthcounseling.com/

Living with an alcoholic is very taxing on the non-drinker because it is so all-consuming and stressful, and wears tremendously on your self esteem. Visit http://www.livingwithanalcoholic.org for some dos and don'ts

Going Green without Spending Green

We have this mistaken idea that to go green, we have to spend green dollars. Well, actually, you do not need to strain your budget just to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle. In fact, you will be fattening up your wallets with these tips on going green without spending your green dollars. And trust us, these ways are easy, effective and convenient.

Reduce Food Waste

Your grocery bill may constitute more than 50 percent of your total household bills. Thus, any and all efforts to reduce food waste will add up to big benefits to your pockets and to the environment for many reasons. You can achieve this end by:

* Reducing your food consumption in terms of shopping for groceries.
* Using leftovers for new dishes and enforcing a no-dregs policy
* Planning meals in advance to avoid too many leftovers

Use Heaters Wisely

We are so dependent on hot water for many of our needs from washing our bodies to washing our dishes and clothes. Well, go green by choosing cold water for many activities in the house. Start by taking cold showers when the weather permits instead of hot tub baths. Then progress into using unheated tap water for washing your hands, dishes and clothes. Studies have shown that tap water is just as effective in killing germs as hot water. The trick is in washing your hands properly for 20 seconds, soaking the clothes for 30 minutes to remove stubborn dirt and washing off the dregs on the eating utensils before placing on a full dishwasher.

Unplug the Appliances

You can save as much as 10-15 percent of your electricity bill simply by unplugging the cords from their sockets when these are not in use. This is because so-called phantom electricity does not flow from the grid into your appliances. And speaking of appliances, you can save money by either buying ones with the Energy Star logo or ones that have been refurbished. Of course, make sure that the refurbished appliances are also energy-efficient. You ought to save money in the long run instead of sticking to your run-down appliances. However, do recycle said old appliances with the manufacturers or with the recycling centers.

Use Recycled Materials for Your Home

As much as possible, use recycled materials for your home. You can purchase scrap lumber from hardware stores, vintage wood and glass panels from garage sales and old houses, utensils and ornaments made of recycled materials from green stores and sites, to name a few options. You will often spend less on these items and yet get as much mileage as you possibly can from them. Better yet, you should adopt the motto of environmentalists everywhere - reduce, reuse and recycle. You will soon find that indeed being eco-friendly has its rewards for you and for your children's children.

Starting today, take a look around your home and see what else needs to be done to be as environmentally-friendly as possible.



Read about ways to start going green in the kitchen and more about the different ways to recycle.

Choose A Backup Software For Your Data Center Disaster Recovery Plan

A data center stores all the programs, files, applications and other digital information that a business needs to have, so they may reasonably compete against businesses using the internet. If their files where destroyed, this would bring the companies production to a halt, possibly causing a crushing blow to its positive cash flow. This is why it's absolutely critical to invest time and money in a reliable data center disaster recovery plan.

If you are already convinced that you must protect your data, then the next question is what exactly are we supposed to look for in a data center disaster recovery plan anyway?

It does not matter if you are a huge multinational corporation or a new business just entering your fast growth phase. Every business needs a first rate computer backup system.

Computer backup systems are a part of data center disaster recovery plans because they play the major role of safeguarding the pertinent data that keeps your business alive and restoring that data if a computer hardware failure occurs. Because of the importance of its function, selecting the right computer backup program is critical to your data center's disaster recovery plan.

Listed below are several facts to consider during your search for the best computer backup system:

Protection: How many levels of safety does the program have? Does it have a proper administrative login procedure? Can it keep your files intact in its own "vault" so they cannot leak out, get misplaced, or become erased? Determining what the program's security system can and cannot do is vital in making a selection. The program you want to choose must be capable of top-rate security.

Ease of Access: Even though you're backed up files have to be secure, at the same time they should be easily accessible. This encourages frequent updates and simplifies documentation procedures. An accessible system boosts the businesses efficiency, allowing more time to work on other important issues and responsibilities.

Storage Space: Storage pace is always a big issue for online computer backups. Even a small mom and pop business can have an amazing amount of data that needs to be stored. It's vital to know all your storage options and the limitations of your online computer backups, so you can confirm if it can, in fact, handle all or your valuable data.

Ease of Use: It isn’t a must-have requirement, but an easy to understand and operate program is a big plus for a number of reasons. A simple but effective program will be operated, verified, backed up, and given quality control checks more often. This minimizes the risk of file recovery disaster and increases the likelihood of a full recovery from computer crashes.

Dependability: Another important point to look for is if the program can store and restore your data completely when asked too without having to jump through any hoops? You should make sure it is easy to restore your data.

Don’t include yourself as one of the many businesses that do not pay enough attention to their data center disaster recovery plans. Neglecting to check if your computer backup system is up to restoring a file recovery disaster is going to be a painful experience when you most need it.

At all times you have to remember that depending on which computer backup system you select, it will make or break your data center disaster recovery plans. So be sure to take your time and pick wisely.


Data Center Migration

Data center migration services

Obama Energy Stimulus Package

President Barack Obama has put into effect a plan that will soon bring a part of the huge change he promises to bring our great country. The plan is a $825 billion economic stimulus package. A percentage of this package, equaling tens of millions of dollars, will be used to revamp the electricity industry; moving it towards a more "Green" enterprise.

An added bonus of this greener enterprise movement is the creation of nearly 500,000 jobs for Americans. These jobs are in no way going to be outsourced to foreign workers. These jobs are related to weatherization and insulation projects on over 2 million homes in the United States such as the sealing of windows, doors, and air ducts in homes, the creation and installation of insulated glass windows as well as producing radiant barriers in attics to counteract the heat of the suns rays. President Obama will not focus only on homes but also improve the efficiency of many federal buildings across the Nation.

Portions of the United States have been fortunate to take advantage of already installed green energy producers to power their families' home. In the West and Southwest both, companies like Green Mountain Energy are able to provide renewable energy sources at premium rates. Thus far, the majority of the country does not have a way to tap in to this wonderful opportunity. The stimulus plan that Obama is putting into affect will also provide for the buidling of several thousand miles of power lines to send energy collected from wind and solar farms to the rest of the country.

A huge benefit to producers of green energy and efficiency companies is that they can reap huge benefits that they were never able to achieve prior. Many times in the past, presidents have given huge tax cuts to try and help companies through rough economic times. Green companies do not have the large tax bills, so cutting taxes is not a viable way for them to prevail through this recession. The stimulus package is going to direct certain monies directly towards the green industry; in return creating jobs, improving efficiency while cutting dependency on foreign oil and allowing American families to use less energy and save more money.

Abigail Smith is a representative of Green Collar Operations. For more information on rebates, energy audits, and energy efficiency in Austin, TX, please visit http://www.greencollaroperations.com or call 512-986-7045

Get your Economic Stimulus Package Bill news at iTaxRebate.com

Comparing Online LPN Nursing Schools

Once you have made the decision to pursue an LPN degree online, it's time for comparing online LPN nursing schools. A few factors should go into your decision, such as your needs and career goals. The following information will help you in the process.

Accreditation

One primary factor when comparing online LPN nursing schools is accreditation. Any school you choose should be accredited by one of the primary nursing professional organizations. These are The National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission and The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Because an LPN program prepares you for state certification, this accreditation is essential. Your state may not accept an LPN degree from a non-accredited organization. Many schools post accreditation information on their websites. You can also contact these organizations directly. Before enrolling, be sure that your state will accept the program for preparation to take the NCLEX licensing examination.

Rankings and Reports

Another way for comparing online LPN nursing schools is by finding out how other organizations rank the school as well as the school's information on graduates. The U.S. News and World Report ranks many colleges including online nursing programs. This one place to look for information. However, keep in mind that rankings are only one way to determine a school's worth. Additional information you should try to obtain from the school is about its graduates. For example, you may be able to find out how many students pass the NCLEX examination on the first attempt and how many are employed. This information can give you a good idea of how well prepared you will be following graduation.

Word of Mouth

Comparing online nursing LPN schools by talking to those who have attended these programs is another way to learn more about each. If you are a member of a professional nursing organization, you can inquire about online programs. Other tools on the Internet, such as newsgroups, can also provide additional information on the best online LPN programs. One of the best ways to learn about a school is by talking to those who have been there.


Online LPN Programs

Online LPN Nursing Programs

iTunes Fails In Motorola Rokr Cell Phone Bid

Marrying iTunes capability with Motorola Rokr cell phones was theoretically quite sound.

MacNewsWorld has reported, however, that the new Rokr phones by Motorola are proving to be virtual hot potatos.

The mobile phone return rate is roughly six times the usual for these new iTunes phones, according to the article.

Apparently storage has proven to triumph over functionality with consumers, leaving them blindly apathetic to the over-hyped MPEG-4 playback of these devices.

The Rokr iTunes phone only stores roughly 100 songs, a tiny portion of the relatively gigantic iPod storage capability.

Pocket PC owners fortunate enough to have SDIO slots are laughing by comparison, albeit hobbled by a one gigabyte secure digital card.

Couple it with the fact that quite a few PDA cases can store an additional SD card, and it's easy to see what occurred.

Presumably, mobile phone owners simply couldn't stand the combined pointing and snickering of the iPod and Pocket PC masses.

When Pocket PC owners are bedazzling you with their devices' versatility and fifth generation video iPods are becoming increasingly commercially ubiquitous at the same time, a swap is definitely in order.

Throw on a Pocket PC iTunes counterpart like PPCTunes by the PocketMac Team, and you're off to the PDA races with iPod-like functionality, adding serious insult to injury.

If PPCTunes really does halve the storage space that iTunes music files occupy on your device like it claims (I've admittedly haven't tried this download yet-- too busy gaming), this completes this sorry picture of mobile Motorola emasculation.

Apple blames a poor marketing campaign, but it really seems like a case of bad timing with the video iPod newcomer knocking the Rokr to its knees.

I'm opting to stick with Windows Media Player on my iPAQ for the time being.

Damian Julien is a Pocket PC gaming authority and long time general gaming hobbyist and reviewer.

He is an IT specialist by trade and has posted numerous articles on Pocket PC emulators, gaming and trends in the industry.

http://www.pdagameguide.com/

Bestel iTunes Gift Card.

Why Content is Still King - Effective SEO Tactics

It was a year ago that I attended my first search engine strategies conference. It was also at this conference that I became a speaker.

Search Engine Strategies and PubCon are undoubtedly the two largest SEO/SEM conferences out there today so of course there’s huge attendance and lots of big industry names attending.

There’s also a guy there who you may have heard of. His name is Barry Schwartz and he’s from Search Engine Round Table. I bring his name up because he’s found one of the best ways to not only build an ever expanding content base up, but also a way to build quality relevant links. And it’s so simple one begins to wonder why others don’t do it.

Before I get into what he’s doing let me give you a little history. He started covering SES a few shows ago and would post summaries of the various seminars he attended at the SearchEngineWatch forum.

His posts were some of the most read posts during the conference. He soon also began posting longer summaries at his own site. Also very well read by those of us who couldn’t attend the show.

Now he’s become “the” reporter for the SES shows wherever they are. He even went into this one with a plan to cover as many of the sessions as possible, between himself and others known in the SEM industry. Some of the posts end up at the SEW forums but he also posts many on his own site.

Step one – there’s that ongoing content development.

You see, what the folks at SEO roundtable are doing is creating very long, but very detailed summaries of every seminar they attend. They then post these to their website daily or more often. Each post occupies it’s own static page, and most pages are well linked within the site.

Step two – relevant quality links and lots of them

Now here’s the great part. It is because of this coverage that people have come to realize that this site is the site to go to for SES coverage. Between this site and the SEW forums you can pretty much get your fill of SES in a very compact version. (Trust me for some of the sessions, a light summary is much better than sitting through 90 minutes of dry explanations of how ranking algorithms work :) ).

And because people rely on these summaries of the show that they begin to refer others to them. Either through word of mouth or, more importantly, links.

This is where the relevant quality links kick in. What is a link to an SEM site from another SEM site worth? What would you pay to have your competitors link to you with lots of one way links, many from high authority sites? Because of this article, they even have a link from here.

Plus they get links from Searchenginewatch, in both the forums and the blog entries, not to mention other high profile industry sites. What’s link from Matt Cutt’s blog with a photo worth to this site?

You see, this site is building its online reputation the way everyone needs to – by posting relevant timely information that others want to see. Then the others link to that content in a natural way.

Let me put it to you another way – of the over 3,000 links this site has, how many do you suppose are from content? More specifically, how many are due to the site’s summaries of the various SES shows they’ve attended? Links may not be directly to the topics in question. In fact many are not.

In fact, if you scan through the top 100 links or so listed in Google you see a virtual who’s who of the SEO industry. Let me point out a few of the more notable links: Links from Yahoo Search Blog, as well as the MSDN MSN search blog. Of course there’s many from Searchenginewatch, but also from other industry sites like searchviews.com, seomoz.com and searchenginejournal.com just to name a few.

So what has the site accomplished by attending all the SES shows since late 2003? Well, they’ve built lots of good content which helps relay their authority status to engines like Google.

Further, they’ve gotten lots of quality inbound links from high profile related sites that are also considered authorities. Plus they’ve also built a reputation for being the place to go to find out about SES which means increased traffic to the site. Not to mention that they’ve now probably got a well known brand.

In other words, if someone doesn’t already know how to find the site, but they know the name of it, a the person will search on an engine like Google looking for the domain name. Even if it’s ranked #7 or 8 for the search term the site will get the click because the searcher is looking for that brand.

How’s that for building quality content and links at the same time?


Bourne SEO offers Web Design in Sussex and other services.