Let’s be honest, if you’re still using a pink Princess rotary phone, the explosion in communication technology has really passed you by and you’ve got a major learning curve to overcome. But if your only association with the Princess phone is viewing it in faded pictures from your on-line family photo album, VoIP could have a place in your life.

For those new to this acronym, VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol - which means nothing more than sending your call through your Internet connection instead of through telephone lines. What takes place behind the scenes is complicated, but for you the changes are pretty simple: Yank the phone cord from the jack in the wall and plug it into a port on your computer, install some software, and start saving money. That’s right - SAVE money.

The biggest selling point for VoIP is its lower cost. You save money because your provider is sending your calls over the Internet using software that sends your call along the least congested and least expensive route. They pass these savings along to you. For many, the cost of VoIP for both local and long distance can be less than the cost for local service alone. In addition, you save money directly because calls sent over the Internet are not subject to communication taxes. To see what you can save, check your last telephone bill.

Because your outgoing and incoming calls are now digital, computers can capture, manipulate, and store information about the call. This enables VoIP communication companies to offer more features — such as voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding, and speed dialing - at no additional cost.

For more information about how VoIP can save you money and make your life easier, contact your local carriers.

Tony Gattuso is an Authorized Agent for Cavalier Telephone Service. As an agent he provides Cavalier VoIP service throughout the east coast.

Comments Off

A gentleman and researcher Mr. Warren Powers has come up with a brilliant way to take out an entire Locust Plague while in transit, while in mid-flight. His concept appears to be sound. That’s right sound. Using harmonic and acoustic waves of directed sound to defeat the locusts as they swarm.

But how can we power up the Warren Powers concept? Well, if we use the sound from the Locust Plague, which is said to be nothing short of the sound of a freight train, like a Tornado, then we can use it to generate the energy we need to reflect back a modified sound beam to cancel out the sound of the swarm. If the Locusts are using the sound they create to assist in their ability to stay aloft and we delete this sound then Warren Powers suggests we defeat their ability to swarm. If this is correct we can defeat these devastating locust swarms.

But how can we collect this sound energy to re-use? Well lets collect it thru electromagnetic induction. For instance these concepts I have thought of:

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=1801

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=1212

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=1199

We can use this energy source to power up the noise-canceling device and sure we will lose a little bit of energy in transference, but not much and this should be enough to stop the swarm? And perhaps we can use laser light to do the same thing in disrupting the swarm? If we use laser light and that works, we could follow this methodology?

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=1491

Perhaps this will take care of the power problem on the Barge or Truck units used to fire the sound weapon? Because we will need a lot of power and will need to bring it with us. But there will be issues with all the other needs; fuel, Air intakes clogging, generators and the system itself, so the power issues are a consideration as well. Think on this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Comments Off

Strangely the Nokia 3120 classic never sold particularly well, which strange as it is actually a pretty good phone. Like other similar models from Nokia the design is quite modern and would appeal to a wide range of users.

There are countless special offers on offer to possible mobile handset customers. For instance, using a mobile phone comparison site you may get a free line rental for 12 months or a mobile phone with a free Moet Pink Champagne.

The Nokia 3120 classic is equipped with Polyphonic, MP3 ring tones along with a vibration alert . The 3120 classic has support for 2G GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and 3G UMTS 850 / 1900 . This phone has a 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, video(VGA); secondary VGA video call camera. A WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML compatible browser is also included. The Nokia 3120 classic comes equipped with bluetooth, making it as easy as possible to integrate with devices, like hands free sets or even a computer. In terms of the the display the mobile phone is fitted with a 2 inch screen, which is a disappointingly sized display for the money. The screen is a TFT, 16M colors. The Nokia 3120 classic is that is supplied with a Standard battery, Li-Ion 1000 mAh (BL-4U) battery. The Nokia 3120 classic has a battery usage of 290 hrs standby time and talk time of 1:30. Compared to other models, the 3120 classic is compact and lightweight. In terms of colours the 3120 classic can be bought in, Graphite, Plum, Powder White, Deep Red and Chestnut Brown. The 3120 classic weighs in at 85 g. There are also a number of additional features on the 3120 classic like:

Although this is one of the latest mobile handsets on the market, it remains possible to pick up a bargain on the 3120 classic.

Comments Off

Chris held the mug of steaming coffee in both hands - and he grew gradually more animated as he described the various successes he had enjoyed during his five year career as a life coach.

In his early forties, Chris liked the fact that he could combine his previous experience of sales and financial services with his more recent training in coaching. One of the most satisfying aspects of his new career, Chris told me, was seeing his clients achieve their long-term goals.

However, Chris was beginning to feel frustrated as his own business, while successful, was not as prosperous as he believed it could be.

Talking with Chris, it soon became clear that he had fallen into the trap that bags so many coaches and consultants. I told him of the maxim my grandfather had taught me when I first started working for myself more than ten years ago.

“There is a limit to how much money you can earn,” my grandfather had told me, “but no limit to how much you can make.”

I suggested to Chris that he was at the stage in his career when he needed to take a little time out to work “on” rather than “in” his business. While he was working very hard each day, he was busying himself swapping his time for his clients’ money.

However, if he wanted to make a successful business - rather than merely be self- employed - then Chris needed to create some mechanisms for earning money even when he wasn’t working.

Chris looked bewildered. I explained that he might start thinking about ways to make “knowledge-based” products - using the unique skills, talents and techniques that he had amassed over the years.

Together we brainstormed several ideas. Chris particularly liked the idea of writing a “tips booklet for top salespeople” - which he could sell at the back of the room when he was giving talks. And, by making the product visible during his coaching sessions, clients might also buy the booklets for themselves or as gifts for friends.

But there could be greater dividends still, I told Chris. For example, by tailoring the contents of the booklet, he could contact companies that specialise in financial services and persuade them to buy his product to help their salespeople become more successful. By making bulk sales, Chris could seriously enhance his wealth - with minimum effort.

The beauty of making knowledge-based products, Chris agreed, is that the hard work is only done once! The real money comes through replicating the product - which is a relatively cheap process. Indeed, as Chris pointed out, if he were to sell his booklets on the web, he could get customers to pay to download his knowledge - without the transaction costing him a penny!

Olivia Stefanino is a leadership development consultant and executive coach, who works with blue chip organisations, SMEs and individuals. To find out more - and to download your free e-booklet “128 ways to harness your personal power”, visit http://www.beyourownguru.com

© Olivia Stefanino 2004

Comments Off

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, collectors are not allowed to disclose a consumers past due debt to anyone other than the debtor and in some cases a spouse. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act would have required collectors to identify the registered name of their business in any pre-recorded messages to consumers or debtors. Since the name of many collection agencies indicates that they are a debt collection agency or that they are calling for the purpose of collecting a debt, this would have caused them to violate the FDCPA. The TCPA creates unworkable contradictions with collectors and creditors who are following the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 was created in response to consumer concerns about the growing number of unsolicited telemarketing calls to their homes and the increasing use of automated and prerecorded messages. The FCC has rules to aid consumers who wish to limit these uninvited calls. On June 26, 2003, the FCC revised its rules implementing the TCPA and established, in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a national do-not-call registry.

The term “telephone solicitation” does not include calls or messages placed with the receiver’s prior expressed permission, by or on behalf of a tax-exempt non-profit organization, or from a person or organization with which the receiver has an established business relationship, such as a creditor or a collection agency. An established business relationship exists if you have made an inquiry, application, purchase, or transaction regarding products or services offered by the person or entity involved. Consumers, who add their number to the Do Not Call list, will not stop collection calls. This will only stop unsolicited telemarketing calls.

Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be reducing the abuse of the legal system through frivolous lawsuits. Also, the U.S. Senate approved a bill to reform class litigation. ACA International has been instrumental in getting these changes made. ACA International has used its over 5,300 members to help build support for this bill in order to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits filed against companies and collection agencies including ACA members.

Michelle Dunn is the Author of the FREE e-book How to Help You Get Paid, Credit & Collection Forms and Letters. She has also written and published How to Make Money Collecting Money, Starting a Collection Agency that is available from http://www.michelledunn.com and all major bookstores. For more information on Starting a Collection Agency, order her book for immediate delivery or sign up for her consulting services to start your own agency. Michelle opened and ran her own very successful collection agency for 8 years. She has over 17 years experience in debt collection. To sign up for Michelle’s FREE online networking group visit http://www.credit-and-collections.com. Get FREE forms and tips for starting your own agency.

Please visit http://www.michelledunn.com for information on her consulting packages for Starting a Collection Agency or Starting a Home Based Business.

Comments Off

Eating properly can help keep you healthy and fit. As long as you eat nutritionally your overall life will be more rewarding. Learning to eat nutritionally will keep you fit and usually you will be able to keep the proper weight for your size.

There are six food groups that you should add to your diet. These six food groups form the food pyramid as some people refer to it.

The base of the pyramid is the Bread, Grain, Cereal and Pasta food group. These foods provide complex carbohydrates, which are an important source of energy. You should have 6 to 11 servings of these foods in a day. Examples for one serving include 1 slice of bread, 1/2 cup of rice, or pasta, and 1 flat tortilla.

The next food groups going up the pyramid include the Fruits group and Vegetables group. In both groups, these foods will provide you with important nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, folate or potassium. They are also low in fat and sodium and high in fiber. You should have 3 to 5 servings of vegetables or fruits each day. Examples of one serving of fruit include one medium size apple, orange or banana, cup of canned fruit, and cup of fruit juice or about 4 ounces. Only count 100 percent real fruit juice. Examples of one serving of vegetables include 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables, cup of other vegetables either cooked or raw, and about 4 ounces of vegetable juice.

The next food group above the Fruits and Vegetables are the Dairy Items and the Protein Items. Dairy items provide your body with protein and vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. You should have 2 to 3 servings of dairy products in your diet each day. Examples of one serving of a dairy item include 1 cup of cottage cheese or cup of whole milk. Protein items provide your body with much needed protein, iron and zinc. You should include 2 to 3 servings of protein daily in your diet and each serving should be between 2 and 3 ounces. Examples of one serving of protein would include 2 to 3 ounces of any type of meat, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 1/2 cup cooked dry beans, and 1/3 cup of nuts.

At the top of the food pyramid are the Fats and Sweets. The foods in this group do not provide much in the way of nutrition. They do provide calories, which is one culprit for weight gain. Examples of this food group include salad dressings, oils, cream, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies and sweet desserts.

For different types of diets, refer: http://www.vitaminsdiary.com/diets.htm

Nitin Jain for www.vitaminsdiary.com. Descriptions and information on various vitamins, amino acids, minerals, herbs and nutritional supplements and their possible uses. You are free to publish the above article in your ezine or website, provided the credit is given to the author and a hyperlink (HTML clickable) is given to www.vitaminsdiary.com

Comments Off

Do you remember when laptops for gaming were a specialist breed? Before the lack of sales alleviated by the profit margins. I am pretty sure everyone would have liked to have possessed one but could not seriously justify it. They were evidently the best laptop computers that the technology could offer at that time. I reckon they would give us a taste of what’s to come but no one would seriously buy laptop computers for gaming back then. The main companies have recently begun taking advantage of large opportunities in gaming laptops, so that is all altering.

Compared to the tiny system builders these companies are aware that they can generate even more revenue. These manufacturers have probably been losing some money on standard units so this should be an attractive opportunity. This was perhaps the last sector left where everybody would buy laptop computers from smaller system builders. I have no idea what this will do to smaller companies but it will have a bad effect on them. Basically what I see taking place here is that the established manufacturers dropping prices at first to remove the competition from smaller retailers. Obviously the value of an established brand name comes in here.

The notebook computers being introduced by brand name companies are all competing for the best laptop crown. Still though, for the local players this should turn out to be positive. I don’t think people would prefer to have a similar specification as everyone else in this form of sector. These prospects have the technical knowledge and would decide which notebook computers are best. In my opinion I believe consumers care more about the performance instead of looks.

All consumers agree that its a favourable development. As this forces down the prices even more, high end technology will become even more affordable to the market. Though I say that, I am not so confident with my claims. I doubt if the overall price of notebook computers will decline but new laptops are usually at particular price points. As the gaming notebook sector becomes saturated with established companies, the majority will utilise a wait and see strategy.

I found this reseller that is selling gaming laptops at extremely cheap prices. They seem to be providing some good offers. Visit http://www.rizeon.com/gaming_laptops/page.php

Comments Off

Specialized mortgage rate arrangements are for a lot of mortgagors in particular professional employment. A good number of agencies have arranged for heightened income multiples plus, of course, positive rates in particular to architects and others. Unfortunately, just addressing the local bank in a blue-eyed manner generally will not be your most prudent opportunitiy! Very likely they will not really be able to propound the most favourable rates currently to be had too easily. At the Mortgages for Professionals enterprise you will be introduced to particularly trained mortgage advisers who are able to aid you discover the most commendable deals.

“Mortgages for Professionals” can boast a great number of years of brokerage proficiency and have built sound associations with all renowned English mortgage brokers. As you’d expect this allows them to provide the most prudent professional mortgage products presently available. Their accomplished counselor will actually execute the package on your behalf.

There are so many boons to commission the Mortgages for Professionals enterprise to help you with the mortgage; the only thing to recall is that they will be able to be of help in any case! “Mortgages for Professionals” can be of help to you in many ways, extending to mortgage loans, reduced rates for both mortgages and re-mortgages and heightened income multiples (potentially five times your salary and more) — to name only some of the most popular here. Expectably there’ll be a lot of reasons for someone to choose that accomplished counselor, but in case you happen to be tied up by other issues and could do with a bit of extra help this accomplished counselor may prove to be very valuable for you. “Mortgages for Professionals” for special re-mortgage rates currently available for solicitors and many other professionals.

“Mortgages for Professionals” is a most booming finance concern because they are prepared to listen and shoppers will only have to sign on the dotted line. They can spell out spot-on which docs to deliver and who to contact for mortgage bridging loans available for dentists, pharmacists and many other professionals.

Comments Off

A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 8 percent. Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 9 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly. Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.

Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately. Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.

In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 11 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable. Although most mortgage experts say that rates 4 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 4 percentage. It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.

And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 10 percent. To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering. Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 4 percent offered by competitors will change.

While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 8 percent. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower.

Translated in Ducth is says: Woon je in Westervoort of Twenterand en heb je BKR codering’ Lenen met een BKR notering is nergens zo eenvoudig. Verwen jezelf met een nieuwe auto met geldleningen met negatieve bkr notering, 400100 euro is gewoon mogelijk om te financieren. Van Meerssen tot Zijpe, geld lenen met een BKR notering is altijd mogelijk.

Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses. See which lenders are charging fees 10 percent and for how much. So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust’ Different lenders charge different fees. Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others. See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property.

Comments Off

Read essays, articles, or books on creativity and you will more than once you will read that you can heighten your creativity and create new ideas by reading magazines that you wouldn’t typically read. The suggestion is to go to your local newsstand and pick up magazines you wouldn’t ever read and read them for ideas, connections and trends.

This is an often repeated example of using outside stimulus as a way to jumpstart our creativity.

I have read this suggestion many times. I’ve suggested it myself. I’ve even done it a few times. But I’ve never seen anyone show someone an example of doing it.

Until now.

Earlier this week I found the April edition of Wired Magazine in my briefcase as I traveled. I had picked it up a couple of weeks before in an airport because I was drawn to the cover, which suggested that the main focus of the issue was “The New World of Games.”

While I am not a current subscriber to Wired Magazine (used to be) and you might not be either, I think you will find both the process and my results enlightening and fun.

My Process

Reading a magazine for creative insights is pretty easy. Get a magazine, a highlighter, and perhaps some paper or your Journal. Then begin reading. Don’t skim or read only the things that are immediately or naturally interesting to you. Read everything. Read the articles AND the ads. And while you are reading, be asking yourself things like…

What does this remind me of?
How does this relate to my situation, problem or challenge?
What did they do that I can do?
How could I use this?
How can I learn from the experiences or suggestions in the article (or ad)?

These certainly aren’t the only questions you can ask, but they are enough to get you started. You can go into this creative journey with a very specific challenge or problem in mind, or you can just do it to see what serendipitous ideas you generate - either way is fine!

In this case, my journey was a random one - I wasn’t thinking about a specific issue or challenge, I was just reading to see what I might find.

How to Read the Rest of This Article

The rest of this article will provide some of my ideas and what spurred them. I encourage you to read on observing my process and seeing what ideas or insights you get from my insights. In other words, I encourage you to use the process I just described on the rest of this article!

You may also decide to go to the library and get the April 2006 Wired Magazine to see all of what I am describing.

My Journey

… page 26 - a side bar asks the question, “Is a half hour show too long for today’s viewers?” Three people answer with different perspectives. My first reaction is that this is an interesting question…. And my second was that the answers given basically come down to the quality of the story. If a good story is told, people will watch (hey, we sat through 3 + hours for Titanic!) So while this is an interesting question, it is a bit backwards. The relevant question is, how good the story? This relates to my work in terms of training - how long do people want to learn at one sitting, etc. Do I think that times are changing? Sure I do. But people are still people. They will worry less about time is they are engaged. In the end - whether through story or great interaction in a learning situation, the right question is how can we engage people, not how long is the experience.

… page 29 - Lexus presents a four page advertisement for a PBS series with Charlie Rose. It contains very interesting excerpts from two shows in the series. This content was so compelling to be almost worth the price of the magazine itself - far better than many articles I have read in the past. It reminds me that advertising can be relevant and that when we educate and inform others in a valuable way, we might do a better job of marketing, persuading, or selling, than by trying to market, persuade or sell.

… page 56 - talks about a feature film based on a Beastie Boys concert. This movie was created from footage recorded by 50 fans from cameras the band gave them for the length of the concert to film their entire experience. Over 100 hours of raw amateur footage was edited together for this movie. Though I don’t own a Beastie Boys album and haven’t been to their one of their concerts, I am completely captivated by this idea! It appeals to me because the band got this idea and implemented it (the collection of the footage) in 3 days - from conception to footage. 3 Days. This has been challenging my thoughts about how long it takes me to implement or being willing to implement something . . . fast. It also speaks to the power of getting your Customers involved in the experience of your product or service. This two thirds of a page has had me thinking a lot in the last few days.

… page 66 the Play section of the magazine shows pictures and brief descriptions of new products. One on this page is called the Storm Tracker (This is an umbrella that has a bulb at the end of the handle that collects forecast information from local forecasts (wirelessly) and tells you if you need to carry it, based on how much it blinks. The more it blinks, (up to 100 times per minute) the more likely rain will fall. While I don’t see many people paying $99 for this, I was intrigued by the use of a small “non computer” device to give us data that we might be able to use. While I don’t design products like this, I am fascinated by how these types of technologies might be able to aid, impact or influence performance and learning in the future. The Storm Tracker has opened my eyes to be watching and thinking about this question.

These examples get me through less that half of the magazine, and I didn’t even share all of my insights from the first 66 pages!

Rather than continue in this article, I encourage you to read more on my blog, as I will be sharing more of these snippets there.

I hope that riding along on my journey has been interesting, and I hope that you got an insight or two through my examples above. More than that though, I hope that I have convinced you to pick up a magazine you’ve never read before, and try this process for yourself. If you do, I promise you will learn something, and you may solve a vexing problem or identify an amazing opportunity along the way.

Kevin is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (KevinEikenberry.com ), a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.

Comments Off