Electronic picture frames are the digital cousin of the traditional picture album. These electric wonders of technology are remarkable presents and are also remarkable when it comes to treating your buddies and family members, therefore get a move on and dive head-first into the electrical photo frame excitement.

Why would I need a digital photo frame: If you are like me then you snap lots of digital photos of your relatives and the kids. The original way people displayed these pictures was obtaining photograph album after photograph album. Nevertheless, with the advancement of digital camera technology, taking those holiday pictures became dramatically more affordable therefore meaning even more snaps are being captured today than before. A digital photo display enables you to show 100s or possibly thousands of photographs inside a single piece of technology that seems more or less the same as a traditional picture-frame.

Which dimensions are on offer when it comes to digital photo frames: Right now you can acquire frames ranging from 5″ through to 13″ in size. Digital picture frames are available in a variety of designs in order to compliment any residence and any requirement. They are transferable and can with no trouble can be put anywhere you may need them. Capturing pictures of your children and your family has never been so simple.

Which features should I be looking out for in a digital photo frame: Standard qualities you will need for your digital photo frame include a massive quantity of built-in memory alongside a memory card slot with the ability of working with high capacity storage cards. The majority of picture frames are capable of using SDHC, MMC, SD, MS, CF, XD memory sticks plus a USB slot that can be used with the items internal storage and pre-installed memory card. You should also be on the look out for a long-lasting battery and rapid battery charging system. The majority of the latest picture frames come with the ability to play videos and include integrated speakers. The resolutions of the displays are improving and with each generation of digital photo frames you should always look out for the greatest resolution on offer so that your photos permanently appear their best.

Which digital picture frame ought you decide one: Which model and what size digital photo frame you eventually purchase depends completely on what you want to utilise it for. If you need a compact one to cart about in your baggage then you probably should consider getting one of the more compact frames since they are smaller and much easy to transport. On the other hand, if you happen to be looking for a centrepiece frame for your mantle piece then you are surely going to be looking for the biggest digital frame that will fit on top of your mantle. No matter what the interior decoration of your household, you are still able to procure a digital photo frame that fits in with the surroundings naturally. Find a substantial number of technology products such as; digital photo frames, iPod Touch and TVs from leading brands online.

What amount of money could I look to shell out for a digital photo frame: Value as a rule is dependant on size therefore you may discover prices spanning from fifty pounds to £250. As with any technology products if you buy cheap, you may buy twice so focusing on costs now might result in frustration at a later date.

Just imagine how it would feel to be successful…., to
have sufficient money finding its way into your bank
account on a monthly basis, to have absolutely no sleepless
nights about income and how you are going to pay all the
bills at the end of the month. Just imagine how it would
feel to be able to take a vacation when you want to. Just
imagine how it would feel to pay cash for your next
vehicle…….

It is good to dream! But, are we always just going to dream
about doing things, dream about taking action, dream about
making that move, dream…?

I saw an article tonight by Mike Litman. He described the
difference between successful and passive persons. What
struck me though was his statement at the end. It took him
7 years to “find his focus”. Now this is what I have been
looking for – you see: He did not quit. He kept on trying
’till he became successful – He did not quit.

Here are some of Mike’s differences between successful and
passive people:

They’re always passive at their jobs.
They go for their dreams very “safely”.
They “La De Da” through life.
They “hope” something good happens.

From my experience, this is not the right attitude for
success.

“No way, Jose”.

Let me share with you an ACTION of success.
Let me share with you a PERSPECTIVE of success that I’ve
seen through people who are living their dreams, both
personally and financially.

**Successful people…
ACT from a sense of URGENCY.

Let me say that again.
**Successful people ACT from a sense of URGENCY.

There’s an URGENCY to accomplish tasks.
There’s an URGENCY to live their dreams.
There’s an URGENCY to get things done.
They’re ATTACKING vs. WAITING.
Big difference.

Huge difference.

You have to go to dreams with a SENSE OF URGENCY.

None of us are going to live ’till 150 years old.

You have to ignite that part of you that can CATAPULT you
to GREATER productivity and ACTION.

Ask yourself:
If I was going to act from a sense of URGENCY, what 2
actions would I take today?

Write them down and then DO IT.

Come on, YOU can do more than you EXPECT of yourself.

You can do it.
YES, you can!

Are you ready or really ready to make your next 7 days
awesome?

I thought so, let’s go!

Have a GREAT day and never give up on your dreams! (It took
me 7 years to find my focus, it’s not over until you
quit).

Talk to you soon.

Mike Litman, #1 best-selling author of “Conversations with
Millionaires”

—————————————————————-
—————–

Thought you’d enjoy this.

A while ago I offered a young man the chance to run a
niche product website. He had been telling me for a while
how important it was to him to be “in charge” of his own
destiny and how serious he was about being successful. This
opportunity did not cost the young man anything, but his own
time – everything, including training, had been catered
for.

It is now 6 months later. We have been losing customers and
subscribers steadily from this site/product and our young
man shows no sign or sense of urgency.

We had a discussion about this last week. What did he speak
to me about – listen to this: He spoke to me about the next
project he has lined up!! He is not concerned about the
decreasing numbers on the current project. He is not
concerned about turning it around and making a profit or
success out of it. In his dream he is already living the
next successful project. In his dream…

Maybe this was too big for him, maybe he was not really
serious, maybe he did not realise how much work it
takes…. But you know what: He was not interested in
moving out of his comfort zone. Another passive indicator.

Talk is cheap. Dreams are easy, but what we need to do is:
“Actively live our dream”

Leon Williams runs eBusWiz and is “Actively living his
dream”. More articles can be found at:
http://www.ebuswiz/blog
and information at:
http://www.ebuswiz.com as well as at
http://www.ebuswiz.com/new

It’s hard to miss the fact that the last two winners of the World Series of Poker were not professional poker players and the fact that Chris Moneymaker (2003) and Greg Raymer (2004) are online players. It’s no wonder that online poker is exploding. With so many new players out there giving online poker a shot it’s feeding frenzy for the skilled player, or even the player with a modest amount of skills. Most of these newbies start out at the lowest limit tables until they either bust out or improve their skills and bankroll enough to move onto the higher limit tables. Even if you’re a veteran of the Friday night home dealer’s choice poker games, you most likely will have to change your playing style to win consistently online. But fear not, there are more unskilled players at the micro limit tables than there are skilled players.

So for all the new to limit Texas Hold ‘Em players who would like to improve their chance of winning at the lowest of the low limit tables, or micro limit tables, I’ve put together some very basic tips which should help you to win consistently. These tips will work for most online tables with limits of $0.50/$1.00 and lower. There are several online poker rooms with micro limits as low as $0.05/$0.10, which are excellent limits for honing your skills.

It’s important to realize that strategies vary for different limits, due to the amount of money involved and the general skill of the players at the table. Micro limit poker has some interesting dynamics and culture due to the fact that the amount wagered at any time is not a lot of money to most of the online players. It stands to reason that the majority of the players play at these low limits because they are beginners trying to gain experience or they are on a limited bankroll. Many of the significant cultural differences between micro limit and the higher limit tables can be broken down into these key observations. (Throughout this article I will use common shorthand to represent the cards. AK means, of course, an ace and a king. T8 means a ten and an 8. QJs means queen jack suited, while QJo means queen jack off suited. Kx means a king and a card of no significance to the hand. A common term used will be connectors, which means cards connected in rank, such as 76 or T9.)

• Typically 50% or more of the players at a table will pay to see the flop when the table if full. This is due, in part, to the very low limits causing many players to always call the big blind since it doesn’t cost too much; it’s low risk. The other reason is that these micro limit tables have many more players of lower skill levels. The often call with lousy starting cards when they should fold.
• Raising preflop does little to chase out players. Players who have not contributed to the pot yet may still call, even though they shouldn’t. Players who had already called will not typically fold after they’ve been raised. A single raise preflop does little except to increase the size of the pot, which is good if you have a strong hand.
• Very few players will fold an Ax (ace and a low card). Unskilled players also like to hold any hand where they have paint (face card).
• After the deal there are 20 hole cards (10 players x 2 cards). Probability says that there is approximately 1.5 of each card rank. There will be 1.5 Aces, 1.5 Kings, 1.5 Queens, etc.
• Unskilled players will hold any two suited cards in hopes of a flush, even something as bad as 72.
• Unskilled players will call to the river with a weak pair no matter what.

Now that the observations are out of the way, I can get on with the strategy of how to win playing at these micro limit tables.

Preflop

The objective here is to go into the flop with a strong position or fold. Do you want to be a gambler or a poker player? There is a difference and not playing anything but strong hands preflop makes you a gambler. Unless you are getting a streak of good cards, you should be folding preflop 60-70% of the time.

1. Fold all but strong hands preflop. Strong hands are any pair, AK, AQ, AJ, AT, Axs, KQ, plus high suited connectors. The more players who see the flop, the lower your odds are of winning. So if you are going to put money into the pot, put it in when you have a strong hand. The exception is when you can call a big pot. For example, if you are in the small blind and everyone calls around to you there will be 19 small blinds in the pot already (big blind and 8 big blind calls = 18 small blinds, plus your original small blind). That means you are getting 19:1 odds to call the bet with one additional small blind size bet. Any time you can get huge odds like that preflop you can play just about anything, if you like.

2. Don’t protect your blind. If you are in the small blind or big blind and you don’t have a strong hand don’t call a raise. Too many players in the blinds will call a raise because they’ve already invested the blind. But since most players like to limp in (call the big blind) preflop, a raise is a good indication the player is sitting on a strong hand, like AK or a pocket pair.

3. If you have a very strong hand preflop, raise. First of all, if you do happen to chase out a player or two with the raise then the odds of your strong hand winning have improved. Second, a strong hand has a good chance of winning the pot, so you want to get as large a pot as possible. Third, you show strength, which can help you to chase out players later on.

Postflop

So now you’ve made it to the flop with a strong hand. Does the flop help you or hurt you? Arguably there is not much in between because with five or more players seeing the flop there’s bound to be someone that benefits from the flop, and if someone else benefits and you don’t, then the flop hurt you.

4. Know what a draw drawing hand is. For example, a flush draw or a straight draw means that you need one card to complete the flush or the straight. Many unskilled players make the mistake that needing two cards to complete your hand is a drawing hand. This is called a runner-runner draw, and is not a drawing hand. If that’s all you got then you should fold, otherwise you can typically call when you have a drawing hand. For example, you have KQo and the flop is JT5. You are sitting on an open ended straight draw where an A or 9 will give you a straight. You can bet out or call with this hand, but be very careful about calling raises. The reason has to do with the odds of making your hand and the amount in the pot, which is called pot odds. There are many fine poker books that explain the details of pot odds, but as a quick example, in the case of your open ended straight draw there are 8 unseen cards (four aces and four nines) that will make your hand and there are 47 unseen cards total (52 minus the 2 in your hand minus the flop). Your odds of getting your straight on the turn is 8/47, or about 6 to 1 that you won’t get the straight. So for you to call any bet or raise, the pot (which includes the bets in front of you) when you call should be at least 6 times the amount of the call. But it’s not that easy, because you actually have two chances to get the straight, on the turn and on the river, so looking forward your odds improved to 3 to 1 against. If you don’t make it on the turn, then your odds jump back up to about 6 to 1 against. (Pot odds are a very import part of winning a poker, and I suggest that while you are cleaning up at the micro limit tables that you read a good poker book in preparation for moving up to the higher limits. At the end of this article I list a few of the better ones.)

5. Know what a check-raise is. A check-raise is when a player has a good hand, e.g. a set (three of a kind) after the flop and he checks hoping that someone will bet out so that he can raise to get more money in the pot. Micro limit players overplay the check-raise. Most of the time a player who check-raises in micro limit has a great hand and they want to exploit it, but this is a tip to you that perhaps you should fold. You should check-raise when appropriate, but mix up your play or else you will be seen as predictable and will have trouble driving the pot up.

6. Know what slow play is. Slow play is when a player has a likely wining hand but calls or check-calls, trying to keep as many players in, hoping they make what they believe is a winning hand. Many times a player will slow play on the flop and turn, but then spring the trap on the river where many players will not fold after coming this far. For example, you have AKo and the flop is QJT. You have made the nuts — the best possible hand so far. You could slow play this by checking or calling hoping to keep players in. If you raise then the better players will probably put you on a straight and may fold. What you are hoping is that one or two other players have paired or maybe someone has 9 for an open ended straight draw. If the table checks around on the flop then consider betting out on the turn, otherwise you can continue the slow play on the turn and then on the river spring the trap. Some players will think your made you hand on the river card and maybe they think they have you beat. On the other side of the coin, now that you know about slow playing, try to identify if someone else is slow playing and avoid the trap. Look out for scary boards. If the board has three, and especially four, connectors the pot most likely will be won by a straight. Three or four cards of the same suit might indicate a flush is going to win the pot.

7. Don’t fall in love with small pocket pairs. You will see the pros on TV betting their small pairs as strong hands. But, you have to keep in mind that small pairs are really only strong in heads up (1 on 1) play, which is often the case when you observe the high stakes games. A 22 vs. AK is sometimes referred to as a coin toss, meaning that the odds are about even as to which hand will win. But if you have 5 players who are going to see the flop then pocket 2s is not so strong because of the odds that one of the other 4 players will draw a pair on the flop, turn, or river. Go ahead and call to see the flop, but if you don’t get a set, don’t be shy about folding. Lee Jones in his excellent book “Winning Low Limit Texas Hold Em” says that you should look for a reason to fold. I interpret this to mean, in this case, that if you have 44 and the flop is T82, you might want to consider the possibility that one of the other 4 players with the 8 cards between them paired up with the T or 8, eclipsing your 44. In a case like this if one of the other players shows strength throw that small pair into the muck.

8. Don’t assume that just because the table checks around that no one has anything. Many players are timid about betting out when the have a middle pair. For example, a player has K7o and the flop is A74. He may be scared to bet on his middle pair of sevens because he’s afraid of someone pairing up with aces. Typically this player will check/call through the river in hopes that his pair hold. Also, some unskilled players are so afraid of telling their hand that they will check when they pair on the flop or turn. For example, a player has AK and the flop is K75. He checks and calls, if necessary, because he’s afraid that if he gets aggressive he will be telling everyone he paired kings.

9. Be aggressive when you have a hand that may get outdrawn. Continuing with the example above, suppose you had the AK with the flop of K75. The problem is, even though a pair of kings with an ace kicker is a strong hand, if you let 4 or 5 other players stay in by checking there is a good chance that you will get outdrawn. What if one of the unskilled players called preflop with Q2o, even though this is a weak hand? Now, if everyone checks around after the flop, then Q2o with that K75 flop has absolutely nothing, but gets to see the turn because no one bet. Now the turn is a Q and suddenly Q2o likes her hand. You still have her beat, now she’s probably going to pay to see the river, especially since no one bet on the flop’s king. Now the river is a 2 and your pair of kings is beat by two pair. With this kind of hand you want to scare as many players off as possible.

10. Look for the obvious tell from the check-caller. Many times in these micro limit games you will see the table check around past the players in early position and some player in late position bets out, then the early position player(s) call the bet; they check-call after the flop. Then on the turn one of the early checkers bets out. Why? After the flop this player checked then called a bet by a player in later position. More often than not the player who bet out in the previous round will bet out in the next round. When the earlier player bets out after the turn when he checked the after the flop is usually a tell that he made his hand. Look at the board. Many times this player has just made a straight or flush. The player gets excited and wants to get a bet out, not thinking that the player who bet out after the flop will probably bet out again giving the player who just made his hand the opportunity to check-raise.

11. Don’t be afraid to lay down a hand. So many unskilled players will play out two pair, trips, or even a straight when they should lay it down. Suppose you have a straight but there are four clubs on the board and none in your hand. Is it possible that another player has a flush? Is there someone at the table who is betting out with 4 clubs on the board? You should probably lay down your straight when someone is betting like they made their flush. I know it’s tough to do, especially if you have the nut straight, but more often than not, the flush was made.

Bluffing

12. Bluffing rarely works in micro limit. This is due to a couple reasons. One, many players will play out the weak hands in hopes of getting the pot. Many times you will see a player call all the way through the river and all they have is a low pair. It’s very difficult to get these players to lay down their weak hands. The other reason is there may be players who want to keep you honest. Maybe they’ve called all the way to the river on a draw, did not make their draw, but decide that since they came this far, it’s only one more bet to keep you honest. Bluff sparingly and do it right.

13. Don’t be the one who calls just to keep the other player honest. A lot of players realize that bluffing doesn’t work too often in micro limit so it’s used sparingly. Yes, once in a while you will catch a player bluffing, but you will lose more than you win.

14. Know when to bluff. Sometimes it’s unavoidable. Suppose you have been fast playing a drawing hand to try to drive others out. You have AKo and you correctly raised preflop. The flop is 754. Most of the time players are going to remember your preflop raise and check around to you. You can check to get a free turn card, letting all the preflop callers see the turn also, or you could bet because you have two very strong overcards. You should bet out with that flop because you are likely to get a couple players to fold before the turn. Now on the turn you still don’t pair up and everyone checks to you and now you have the same decision, check for a free river card or bet to show strength. You should bet out in most cases. Let’s recap. You raised preflop and you bet out on the flop and turn. This is a semi-bluff because you don’t have a hand except ace high and if someone has paired up then you are dead, but you could still make your ace or king on the river, which may very well end out being the winning hand. Many times your show of strength up to this point may drive everyone else out or maybe one or two players follow you to the river. Now the river comes and you still don’t pair up your ace or king. As a beginner your instincts may be to check because you didn’t make your hand, but that would be a mistake if one of the other players were sitting on a low pair. Your only chance of winning may be to bluff at the pot, and since you’ve shown strength all along the weak pair may put you on a stronger hand and fold, giving you the pot. You will probably lose as many pots as you win when this happens, but if there were several callers along the way, the pots you do win will normally exceed your loses on the others. It’s worth it at this point to put in one more bet to try to steal the pot, because if you don’t you will probably lose the pot for sure unless the other players can’t beat ace high. Also when you check on the river after showing strength it’s a tell that you were on a draw and did not make your hand, opening the door for one of the other players to bet out with strength.

General

15. Observe the other players. Pay attention to their style of play. Is there a calling station? That’s a player who will call almost every bet to the river hoping to catch something, anything. These guys can suck you out (beat your good hand by making their hand at the river) from time to time, but over the long haul they are going to lose. You can take advantage of these players, but don’t let it put you on tilt when the do suck you out, because it will happen. Is there a loose aggressive player? This player will play just about anything aggressively. She will consistently raise, given the chance, and will drag some large pots, but playing loose will not win in the long run. Is there a timid player? This is common at micro limits because there are many new players. This player will check-call with great hands. You won’t believe your eyes when you see this person drag a tiny pot with a full house. The timid player is a problem in one sense because it’s hard to get a read on him. On the other hand, by showing strength, many times you can get this player to fold, even though they shouldn’t. Are there any tight players? This player will only play good hands preflop and will fold often post flop when the chance of making her hand is not supported by the size of the pot. This player may go the showdown only 10%-15% of the time. This is the worst player for you because they are your best competition, the type of player you should be, in all levels of Limit Hold ‘Em.

Your next step should be to learn about pot odds and playing situations. I believe you can win at the micro limit tables with the tips I have outlined here, but to go beyond micro limit you will need additional skill, so if you’re anxious to play, pull up a seat at a micro limit table and have some fun. In the mean time pick up one of these books, which are excellent for learning low limit Hold ‘Em.

“Winning Low Limit Hold ‘Em” by Lee Jones

“Hold ‘Em Excellence” by Lou Krieger

“The Complete Book of Hold ‘Em Poker” by Gary Carson

Mike Hellmer is a poker enthusiast and the webmaster of Molly’’s Poker and Gambling Portal (http://www.mollyspoker.com)

Analyzing traffic to a site is a key factor in tweaking search engine optimization and marketing campaigns. Determining how people get to your site is critical. Surprisingly, few sites take advantage of the data available on their servers.

Server Logs

Typically, there are two server tools available to you. Server logs are on your server and analyze site activity. The log keeps track of the files created on the server, the number of times there is a request for the file, where the hit came from and the exact phrase typed in by the person accessing the page of the site. Every system is different, but these basic elements should be included.

The second tool, a traffic analysis program, is pretty standard for most hosting companies, but you may have to ask them to turn it on. The programs analyze the raw data from your server and convert it into fascinating charts, diagrams and statistics. Most of the information is overkill. You have to be careful not to get overwhelmed by numerous ways to look at the data. Try to focus on the following information:

1. What sites are sending you visitors?

2. What search engines are sending you traffic?

3. What keyword phrases are people using to find your site?

4. How often are major search engine indexing robots visiting your site?

As you access the data, you are going to find some very surprising things. Actually, you are probably going to be stunned.

Initially, you are going to be amazed when you see which keyword phrases that are sending traffic to your site. Many of the keywords will not match your meta tags. Instead, they will be a combination of various keywords on a particular page. This is reflection of the fact that search engines mix and match your keywords as they see fit. So, should you change your meta tags to reflect the phrases shown in the data? No. The data you are seeing typically reflects keywords with little competition. Since you are already getting traffic from them, keep focusing on your original goals.

In looking at your data, the second key piece of data is identifying where the traffic is coming from. This data often falls under the “referrer” heading. By reviewing the data, you can see what search engines are producing data for you. If you are running advertising on a site, you should also be able to track the campaign.

The final area to analyze is the robot visit information. Depending on the program, the robot information may appear under “robots” or “user agents” headings. Robots are programs used by search engines to index web sites on the net. In reviewing your data, you should be able to determine how often the robots are coming to your site. If at all possible, make sure you add new content to your site before the next visit. The robots for the top search engines are Yahoo – Slurp, Google – Googlebot, and MSN – MSNbot.

In Closing

Analyzing the traffic to your site is a key element to marketing your site. The more you know about your customers, the more you can cater to their needs.

Halstatt Pires is with the Internet marketing firm – www.marketingtitan.com – a San Diego Internet marketing and advertising company.

Copyright The Quipping Queen 2005.

HAS AMERICA GONE TO THE DOGS?
– Or, “Woofstock” Here We Come! –

Canucks take a good deal of pride in their hockey, beer, and cellular telephones (especially those Fido commercials about perky pet-owners who bear a striking resemblance to their posh- or pathetic-looking pooches).

Recently in Toronto, (the capital of everything BIG in Canada), they held a weird and wonderful event, aptly called “Woofstock”, to celebrate man’s best friend plus push every imaginable product and service to pamper one’s hip-looking hound.

The most fur-friendly towns in Canada are probably Dog Creek or Poopoo Creek (British Columbia), Dog’s Nest (Ontario) and Dog Pound (Alberta). Perhaps, the only place where they’ve actually waged a war over the issue of freedom for Fido is in Victoria, British Columbia. Elected officials there recently passed a bylaw permitting off-leash perambulating and piddling, (with free doggie-doo-doo bags as an incentive for well-behaved pet-owners who care to stroll along the scenic seashore and tourist-trap trail known as “Dallas Road”).

In fact, America is home to some unusual pastimes such the enduring love of its citizens for bigger-than-life spectator sports. One of the most popular forms of entertainment involves media-hungry politicians who simply adore any opportunity to “mark their territory”, “get their paws on a bone”, and “let a little fur fly” (as long as they’re not caught on tape “barking up the wrong tree”).

Come to think of it, if the current President of the United States needs canine confidantes in the Whitehouse, (two Scottish terriers named “Miss Beasley” and “Barney”) to help him guide the affairs of state, (in return for a free run of the red carpet), then you know things must be hunky dory in the “Land of Lassie” and friends. And he is not alone in seeking the companionship of a cuddly canine. At least 200 pooches have resided at this prestigious address since the birth of this pet-friendly nation.
And for those who can’t get enough hair-raising facts to stimulate their minds, there are 28.4 million web pages devoted to these marvellous mutts. As if that were not enough, more than 1,086 geographic features (including airports, bars, bays, beaches, bridges, buildings, canals, capes, cemeteries, channels, churches, cliffs, crossings, dams, flats, gaps, glaciers, islands, keys, lakes, mines, oilfields, parks, pillars, post-offices, ranges, reservoirs, ridges, schools, springs, streams, summits, swamps, valleys, and wells) have been named after these blessed bow-wowing creatures (according to the U.S. Geological Survey – National Mapping Information website).

It may be a “dog-eat-dog world” out there but judging from the plethora of pet-inspired U.S. place names, the most fido-friendly towns to hang out in are probably:

- Big Lick (North Carolina)
- Canine Gulch (Alaska)
- Dog Bluff (South Carolina)
- Dog Canyon Estates (New Mexico)
- Dog Corners (Maine), Dogs Corners (New Jersey)
- Dog Creek (Oklahoma, Kentucky)
- Dog Ear Lake (Florida)
- Dog Hill (Tennessee)
- Dog Pond (Arizona)
- Dog Hole Lake (Florida)
- Doggie Island (South Carolina)
- Doghouse Junction (California)
- Dog Island (Florida)
- Dog Island Corner (Maine)
- Dogpatch (Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona), Dog Patch (West Virginia)
- Dog Ridge (Texas)
- Dogtail Corners (New York)
- Dogtown (Alabama, California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee)
- Dogsboro (Georgia)
- Dog Walk (Illinois, Kentucky)
- Dogway (West Virginia)
- Gnaw Bone (Indiana)
- Licking (Mississippi)
- Mutt (Virginia)
- Paw Paw (Illinois)
- Poocham (New Hampshire)
- Tick Bite (North Carolina)
- Township of Dog Ear (South Dakota)

Americans currently spend close to $34 billion annually on their pets. While ornery owners sometimes find themselves in the proverbial “doghouse”, millions of mischievous mutts and misbehaving mongrels enjoy a life of ease as someone’s favorite “animal companion”.

It is estimated that 64.5% of American adults are now categorized as overweight according to the American Asssociation Obesity. As if that’s not enough, more than 40% of household pets today are said to be obese, (causing alarm among the nation’s pet-insurance providers as health-related illness claims for “Max” or “Minnie” spiral out of control).

Meanwhile back in Emerald City, vets are trying to capitalize quickly on the latest canine craze among celebrity pet-owners — tummy tucks, face-lifts and extreme-makeovers. So rest assured “Petunia Plump”, “Ms Piggly-Wiggly” and “Fat Freddie” …you too can be slim and trim (just like Toto for pete’s sake!)

According to Amazon.com, (a remarkable database of delightful doggie doodads for canine consumers), there’s something for everyone who enjoys a bit of “Rufus retail therapy”. Forget about “letting sleeping dogs lie”, or “teaching old dogs new tricks”, because if one’s keen about making sure “every dog has his day”, then “putting on the dog” is all that’s required (plus a valid credit card of course).

Here’s a hint of just how important these pooch products and dandy “dogs” of all kinds are to the economy of the world’s richest country. According to the folks at Amazon.com, they have more than 96,000 canine consumer products in 38 categories to choose from! Judging from these statistics, some might conclude that America has definitely gone to the dogs — and they could be right!!

Meanwhile across the pond in England, professionals from “PetPlanet” point out that one insurance company has collected file cabinets of doggy data about which mutts have the highest accident-rate. So do take care and avoid naming the silly scamp Rush, Fagin, Heinze, Berty, Ruskin, Jena, Cagney, Captain, Brook, or Radar please.

Lest anyone think that everyone’s gone completely bonkers, one only has to read the amazing anecdotes of Aesop (whom it seems had a penchant for pooch platitudes judging from his wildebeest works entitled “The Dog in the Manger”, “The Dog and the Wolf” and “The Fox, The Cock and the Dog”).

May the Force of Fido be with you and yours forever and ever!

PS…and don’t forget to celebrate the 55th anniversary of “Snoopy”, (the best-known, blinking beagle in town), and all the gang from the “Peanuts” cartoon-strip this year!

About the Author

Thor Trewoofe, a glad-handing globe-trotter with a keen interest in those virile vikings who once ruled the world of whacking, whomping, and perhaps far too much whoopdedoing for their own good, and an accidental tourist in the Court of the Quipping Queen at www.quippingqueen.blogspot.com

About Being a Christian
What is a Christian? According to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, the general definition of a Christian is “One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.”

There are many Christian denominations, each varying slightly in its interpretation of the Bible teachings. But, the basic, fundamental trait of all Christians is their belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. Christians believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, died on the cross for the sins of mankind, was resurrected, and returned to Heaven. Christians also believe in the literal Second Coming of Christ. The Bible is regarded as Holy Scripture, the Word of God.

“l am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Fellowship with other Christians and make new friends at ChristianMingle.com.

Bible references to consider:
Jesus Christ was, and is, the eternal Son of the eternal God
Isaiah 7:14 ; 9:6 | Matt. 3:17 | Luke 9:35 | John 1:1-3,14 ; 10:30 ; 14:9 ; 17:1-5 | I Tim.3:16

He came from Heaven, was born of a virgin called Mary, lived a sinless life on earth yet died for our sins at Calvary’s cross.
Isaiah 59:2 | Gal. 4:4,5 | I John 4:10,14,19 | I Peter 2:22-25 ; 3:18

He was buried, rose again the third day according to the scriptures and is now seated at the right hand of His Father, God, in Heaven.
I Cor. 15:3,4 | Acts 13:30 | Romans 4:24,25 | Hebrews 1:3 ; 8:1 ; 10:12 ;1 2:2

Bible is divinely inspired word of God.
Psalms 119:89,105,140 | II Timothy 3:16 | II Peter 1:21

Existence of a literal Heaven to gain, as well as a literal Hell to shun.
John 14:1-3 | Luke 16:23 ; 23:43 | John 3:16-18,36 | II Corinthians 5:8

Christians should be gathered unto the name and person of the Lord Jesus Christ for public worship, praise and ministry of the word of God.
Matthew 18:20 | I Corinthians 5:4 | Psalms 50:5 ; 100:4 | Hebrews 13:13,15

About the Author

Tracy Jones was always active in local and international ministries. She was a faithful member and treasurer of the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for many years. Tracy graduated from FSU in 1987 and has earned 18 years of business experience. Since 1997 she has built business in the technology industry with Yahoo!, Inc. and was recently recruited by Spark Networks to build ChristianMingle.com personals service.

Do women going through menopause experience depression differently. “I never know if depression is what I’m really experiencing, or if it’s something else and how long will it last” Sara told me. ‘Menopause made that process even more confusing at times.”

When I heard these words from a friend of mine, I realized that unless someone ‘diagnoses’ you as depressed, how do you really know that is what you are experiencing? Most of us have been or seen someone depressed in our lives, so we are at risk for labeling ourselves something that might not even be true, or worse yet, become a limitation to us for no good reason!

So let’s get it straight. What does depression feel like? How does one know if they should be concerned about what they are feeling or thinking?

Feeling down once in awhile is considered normal for most people. But it passes quickly. If these feelings of sadness persist, however, and possibly become stronger or more intense over prolonged periods of time, and they aren’t naturally resolved, it’s time to look at the reasons and see what can be done about it.

Here is a checklist of symptoms related to depression during menopause: gloomy, sadness, loss of interest and pleasures, fatigue, loss of vigor, extreme restlessness and irritability, loss of concentration and attentiveness, loss of self-respect and self-confidence, guilt, lack of self-worth, hopelessness, thoughts of suicide, insomnia, and a loss of appetite.

Depression that goes untreated can become “clinical” and requires professional treatment. If you think you are “clinically” depressed, do not hesitate to get help from a therapist or doctor.

What I’m referring to here is a condition that is brought on by hormonal changes in the body particularly during the menopausal years that is often linked to a decrease in estrogen levels. However, some doctors believe symptoms are caused by a decrease in progesterone and resultant rise in estrogen (but more about that in the progesterone article).

If that is what you are experiencing, you have a few options. One is the traditional Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Hormone Replacement Therapy and the other is new alternative medicine that include herbal remedies, dietary supplements such as 5-HTP, or something called Bioidentical Hormones.

Other things you can do to support yourself through menopause are:

Exercise, do a little every day

Learn to manage your stress carefully so you do not get overwhelmed

Promote good sleep by avoiding things that stress you out and indulging in things that relax you like hot baths
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Eat a well-balanced diet, avoid refined sugar and high carb foods

Make time to do something you enjoy EVERY day

Be realistic about the expectations you put on yourself

Menopause can be time of great change and depression may play a factor for some women and men. Be sure to get help if you need it.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting www.everythingmenopause.com, www.howtoconquermenopause.com or www.internet-marketing-small-business.com

Digital photo displays are the electronic relative of the conventional picture album. These electrical pieces of technology can be perfect stocking fillers and are also smashing when it comes to giving to your close friends and family members, therefore pull your socks up and dive head-first into the electrical photo frame craze.

Why do I need a digital photo frame: If you are similar to me you most likely snap a great number of digital photos of your close relatives and friends. The traditional way photographers displayed these pictures was by obtaining photograph album after photograph album. Yet, with the growth of compact digital cameras, photography instantly became considerably cheaper which has resulted in even more photos are being captured today than ever. A digital picture display means you can save hundreds or possibly 1,000s of photos inside a single device that looks more or less the same in appearance as a classic picture frame. Find a substantial number of technology products such as; digital photo frames, 32 LCD TVs and iPod speakers from leading brands online.

What dimensions are on offer when it comes to digital picture displays: Currently you are able to acquire picture frames varying from 5″ all the way through to 13″ in size. Digital picture displays can be purchased in a plethora of styles to compliment any residence and any requirement. Digital photo displays are portable and can with no trouble can be transported anywhere you might need them. Taking images of the children and the grandparents has never been so easier.

What qualities ought I be looking for on a digital picture frame: Traditional features that you will certainly want for your digital photo frame are a large amount of quantity of storage space and the addition of external memory capable of integrating with high capacity memory cards. The majority of frames are capable of working with SD, SDHC, MMC, MS, XD, CF memory cards on top of a USB interface to be used with the internal storage and pre-installed storage card. You should also certainly look for a long-lasting battery and quick battery charging unit. The majority of the modern digital picture frames include the opportunity to play video and include speakers built in. The quality of the screens are improving and with each development of digital picture frames you should purchase the highest resolution available so your snaps constantly look their greatest.

Which digital photo display should I purchase: Which item and what size picture frame you eventually pick is dependant completely on what you want to use it for. If you need a small device to cart about in your shoulder bag then you should look into obtaining something like one of the smaller picture frames as they typically are smaller and much easier to carry. However, if you are trying to find a showpiece frame to be placed on your mantle piece then you are surely going to need the biggest digital frame that will fit on top of your mantle piece. Irrespective of what the interior decoration within your house, you will still be able to purchase a picture frame that fits in with the surroundings naturally.

What price can I anticipate to pay for a digital frame: Cost normally varies according to frame size therefore you may stumble upon prices varying from thirty pounds anywhere through to two-hundred and fifty pounds. As with any products or services if you buy cheap, you may buy twice therefore cutting back on costs now may result in regrets later on.

Through a notable majority of July UK pounds gave standing against the single European Currency as weak UK numbers persuaded the bulk of industry analysts that the Bank of England ought be coerced to extend its procedure of Quantitative Easing (ordering the production of currency) in a stunted effort to improve credit conditions with the intention of trying to kindle the country. Usually QE has a unhelpful upshot on the money implicated and in previous time periods the Pound has forfited significant amounts of ground and this belief was pushing down on Pound Sterling. Yet, somewhat more constructive information lately has meant the argument about whether or not the B of E shall actually do anything practical to enlarge the one hundred and twenty five billion pound asset securing programme on the Thursday continues. Adam Cole, a currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets is of the opinion that they certainly will not “While the committee is expected to vote to use the remaining 25 billion pounds of QE headroom, a slowing in the pace of bond purchases … and no suggestion that the 150 billion pound ceiling will be increased, effectively signals the imminent end of QE.” Unpredictability during this 7 days is thus, very much to be forecast as supposition regarding the publication on Thursday goes on unabated and also, with the ECB (European Central Bank) monetary plan decision on the very same time, whether you are thinking about buying or feasibly selling on Euros it will be a good idea very much to be equipped to pounce remarkably at once.

Pounds in addition made hefty jumps forward next to the Aussie, Kiwi, and Canadian Dollar, despite a situation where each of the 3 currencies were previously enjoying an uplift from higher product price tags due to the significant amounts of unprocessed materials the previously noted countries generate. The shift was a plain signal of UK pounds potency as it outperformed the other currencies though they certainly in turn were making up standing on the United States $. In truth the Loonie (Canadian Dollar) was in addition at a ten month high next to its American rival. the previously noted Australian $ has also been given a push in the right direction through its pretty attractive interest rates as investors look for improved profits the noted RBA was projected very much to keep interest rates on hold once more this morning but a rise in the very near future has not been ruled out. Before rushing headlong into currency exchanges talk to someone with knowledge of current market conditions.

Are you ready to learn more about an online business merchant account? Most likely you have heard something about this type of e-commerce from your colleagues and peers in the local business community. Or perhaps you have read about a merchant account with its attendant benefits in a financial publication. But even if you have heard nothing at all, here is an opportunity to find out why so many company owners are applying for a merchant account to upgrade their business services.

An online business merchant account can be processed for your company in a matter of hours. You will first have to compare lenders’ offers to get the best possible deal for your business. Then you need to make sure you understand all the prices that could apply to your account. Some may not be clearly apparent on the home page of the lender’s Website, if that is how you are researching the financial underwriters who offer this service. Upon approval, you will be ready to set up various types of credit card processing options to facilitate customers’ payments for goods and services and to make your job of collecting payments that much easier.

How can you use an online business merchant account to increase profitability? One way is to install a credit card processor in your store or shop if you are a retailer. Your customers will appreciate the option of paying by credit in addition to offering cash or a check. Another way the merchant account can help is to provide you with a wireless credit card processor for use in your travels. If you deliver goods, for example, your customers can pay by credit the same day, thus eliminating the need for billing or waiting. At other times you may wish to attend a conference or a special event like a trade show where you may be able to sell company products using a credit card payment processor. This can save you money by letting you pay the lower retail rate with a swiped card as opposed to the higher rate required when you call in the customer’s credit card for approval and someone in the office must key in the account number.

Many business owners will agree that the chief advantage of your online account is to set up a company Website and sell products there as well. You can draw customers from around the world that will be ready to pay with a credit card when your Website is ready to accept credit payments. The site can be operational around the clock with no need for constant staffing, although it is a good idea to have technical support available as needed. When your Website works as it should, the home page can be easily located by many search engines and will bring customers to your location for browsing and possible purchases. When they key in their credit card numbers in real time, your lender, who has coordinated this service with a gateway entity, will deposit the funds in your account promptly. Business doesn’t get much better than that, so inquire today about an online business merchant account.

Shane Penro is the owner of www.merchant-account-quotes.com A site where you can shop and compare multiple quotes from national leading merchant account providers. www.merchant-account-quotes.com