:Wise Money Tips

Pssst…! Wanna know a secret?

How about the secret to remembering true odds?

When you play craps, you probably know the pay offs for most numbers on place bets. For example, the odds on the six and eight are 7:6 (bet $6, get $7), the odds on the five and nine are 7:5 (bet $5, get $7) and the odds on the four and ten are 9:5 (bet $5, get $9). But, when you want to add odds to your pass or come bets, the payoff is different. This is because they are true odds, which means that the casino has no advantage on these odds bets.

Wanna know the secret that craps pros use to remember the true odds?

Let’s find out!

The true odds for the numbers six and eight are the same, 6:5. The odds for both the five and nine are 3:2 and the odds for the four and ten are 2:1. If you just subtract one from the smaller of these numbers and relate it to six (the number of times a seven rolls) you get the true odds.

So, to get the true odds for the four or ten, just subtract one from four (four is smaller than ten) to get three. So the true odds of the four or ten are 6:3, or 2:1. To get the true odds for the six or eight, subtract one from six (six is smaller than eight) to get five. So the true odds for the six or eight are 6:5. And finally, to get the true odds for the five or nine, subtract one from five (five is smaller than nine) to get four, so the odds of the five or nine are 6:4, or 3:2.

Here are some examples with some typical added odds bets.

If you have $10 on the come or pass line and your point is a five or nine, and you want to add some odds, just subtract one from five to get four. The true odds then is 6:4, or 3:2, so if you bet $20, you’ll win $30. For double odds you can add $20 odds to your $10 flat bet and win $10 from the flat portion and $30 from the odds portion, for a total of $40.

If the point is four or ten, subtract one from four to get three. The true odds then is 6:3, or 2:1 so if you bet $20, you’ll win $40. For double odds, you can add $20 to your flat $10 bet and win $10 on the flat portion and $40 to the odds portion, for a total of $50.

The six or eight is a little different. If you subtract one from six you get five, which means the true odds are 6:5. If you have a flat bet of $10, you would be able to take $20 in odds, (on a 2X odds table) however, this would mean a $24 odds payout, which is awkward for most casinos. So, to even things up, most casinos let you place $25 in odds behind the 6 or 8, (which really gives you 2.5X odds instead 2X), giving you $10 for the flat portion and an even $30 for the odds portion, for a total win of $40.

This true odds method works on don’t-come and don’t-pass bets as well, except the odds are reversed. This is because on the don’t side you have the advantage rather than the house, so you have to bet more to get less.

If your don’t-pass or don’t-come flat bet is $10 and the point is five or nine, subtract one from five to get four, giving you odds of 4:6 (instead of 6:4), or 2:3. This means you have to bet $30 (on a 2X table) in odds to get a $20 payout, winning you a total of $30 ($10 flat + $20 odds).

If your don’t number is four or ten, subtract one from four to get three, so the odds are 3:6, or 1:2. You would have to bet $40 in odds to get a $20 payout, winning you a total of $30 ($10 flat + $20 odds).

For the don’t six or eight, subtract one from six to get five, so the odds are 5:6. You would have to bet $24 in odds to get a $20 payout, winning you a total of $30 ($10 flat + $20 odds).

The next time you play craps, remember this simple method to calculate the true odds. This way, you’ll know what odds to give the dealers, and what the correct payoff should be.

And if things aren’t going well on the pass line for you, you can always switch to the don’t side. Cold tables can be very profitable for the “dark side” player!

Pssst…! Now you know the secret of remembering true odds!

(c) 2005 by Larry Edell

You can get a FREE issue of The Crapshooter, the only newsletter devoted exclusively to craps! Just send two first class stamps to The Crapshooter, Dept EZA, PO Box 421440, San Diego CA 92142, or you can subscribe at http://www.TheCrapshooter.com. You’ll also receive a FREE catalog and a special FREE offer!

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Minerals are essential nutrients that serve the body in many ways. So important in the function of the human body that insufficient supply, or even over supply, of these can lead to numerous health problems and complications not to mention a disrupted life. Minerals have good effects to the body individually but for them to give out the best results they must therefore work in partners and even in groups. Most minerals complement each other thus serving as cofactor to each other in the body’s most essential processes.

One of the numerous beneficiaries of minerals teamwork is the skeletal system, as do teeth and nails. Calcium and phosphorus, the two minerals that are present in the highest amounts in the body, are the key mineral players for the hard surfaces of bones, teeth and nails with the mineral magnesium serving to help the body metabolize the calcium and the phosphorus. The mineral manganese serves a purpose in this process as well and the mineral zinc is also essential because it is needed in metabolizing the phosphorus. This group of minerals also combine and work together to protect the health of the nerves and to enhance the ability of the nerves to communicate with each other and the other body parts as well as ensures the ability of the muscles in the body to contract smoothly and regularly, contributing to, among other things, a regular and steady heartbeat.

The mineral iron, on the other hand, is responsible for the production of hemoglobin (or red blood cells) in the blood which is where the oxygen is stored as blood circulates the body. Oxygen is very vital for it is needed by the cells, not only to function properly, but also to live. But without the mineral copper, the human body would be unable to absorb and use the iron. A deficiency in the mineral copper results in an anemia that is very much similar to that caused by a deficiency of the mineral iron.

Minerals also serve as cofactors in a variety of chemical combinations in the body that are essential processes of everything from food digestion to oxygenation of the body’s cells. The entire functioning of the body is built upon chemical and electrical reactions. These depend primarily upon the nutrition we consume and once broken down to its basic elements, the chemicals needed to complete the various interactions. The balance of the complex system is delicate but must be maintained to ensure health and peak performance of the human body system.

Nowadays, food and water alone cannot give the much needed daily mineral supply of the human body. It is therefore also important to take up nutritional supplements for the effective and safe means of ensuring that each day the body achieves the standard recommended daily intake levels of the minerals it needs to be able to properly perform the essential operations of the body. Because the balance of nutrients in the body is so important, not only for a normal health but also for a normal, healthy lifestyle, it is also a great idea to engage in a consultation with a licensed nutritionist who will be able to assist you in devising a mineral supplement plan that is best suited to your individual dietary needs and concerns.

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Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR’S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.
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About the Author

Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

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The method know as three dimensional ultrasound is used during early pregnancy, it can provide 3d pictures of the fetus. Most of the time these ultrasound images are collated and joined together and made into a movie to produce a 4d ultrasound scan.

Three dimensional scanning works in a similar way to the normal ultrasound scanning methods except that the ultrasound scanning pulses can be directed from multiple directions. The ultrasound waves can be reflected back and captured and provide information to construct a 3d image in in the same way as 3d movies. 3d ultasound scanning was started by stephen smith and olaf von ramm.

It’s important to understand that sonologists around the world always pictured three-dimensional images of the body in their minds while doing their 2d scans. However, until recently it was impossible to do this kind of reconstruction on on data using ultrasound. With the introduction of baby scans for the first time allowed us a peek into the mechanics of thinking of a sonologist and so letting us see the images on the ultrasound machine.

The 3d/4d ultrasound image should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. While there is no information of harm due to 3d ultasound scanning, its use in none essential situations should be undertaken with the understanding of the risks.

Please remember to archive your new born childs cord blood by involving people such as cells4life.

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Stutter or stuttering can have a dramatic effect on somebodys
confidence.

Fluent people really can not comprehend how hard it is to live
your life with a speech impediment or stutter.

I run one to one speech courses in Birmingham and one of my
clients once told me about a situation he was involved in. He
and his friends went to a bar one Saturday afternoon to have a
few drinks. After a couple of pints he went up to the bar to
order himself a drink. Unfortunately he could not speak all of
the words fluently and the bar man accused him of being drunk
and refused to serve him. He tried to explain that he was not
drunk but had a stutter but the bar man said “That’s what they
all say”

He returned to his friends who asked him where his drink was. He
told them what had happened, this itself was very embarressing.

This is a typical situation people who have a stutter find
themselves in.

Stuttering can affect many aspects of a persons life including:

confidence

friendships

careers

relationships

school

Now that I have overcome a stutter it is like a weight has been
lifted from my shoulders and life is so much easier.

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Valencia is the third city of Spain, by number of inhabitants. It is located to the east of the Iberian Peninsula, next to the Mediterranean Sea.
If you plan to visit this lovely city, read this tips:

Which is the best time of the year to visit Valencia?

Valencia has a warm climate so you can visit us all the year.
If your objective is to enjoy our beaches, I recommend you to visit us from June to September.
If you want to know the fallas, you’ll have to come between the 15 and the 19 of March.
For the rest of activities: visits to monuments, the city of the arts and sciences, routes, etc, any day is good.

How many days should I stay in Valencia?

I recommend you to stay 3 days:
The first day dedicated to know the city and its monuments. In the morning, visit la plaza de la Reina, the Cathedral, the Miguelete, the palace of the Generalitat, the central market, the city council, the towers of Serranos and Quart. Go to eat to the beach of the Malvarrosa, and in the evening, walk by the marine stroll and reach the port to contemplate the preparations of the America’s Cup, that will be disputed in Valencia in the 2007.

The second day, leave the city and go to the beach of the Saler and the dehesa, narrow piece of land that separates the sea of the Albufera (Lagoon), populated with dunes and pines. Go to the town of the Palmar to eat and, in the evening, take a stroll in boat by the natural park of the Albufera and contemplate the sunset on the lake.

The third day, dedicated to know the city of the arts and sciences. Visit L’umbracle, the oceanographic museum, eat in his restaurant surrounded by aquariums, and in the evening, visit the museum of sciences, and L’Hemisferic.

Where can I eat the real valencian paella?

The Valencian paella is a dish universally well-known, but also prepared of so many different forms that paella is called to almost any dish that contains rice.

The authentic Valencian paella can defraud if you expect to find seafood, or ribs, or blood sausages, or other exotic ingredients that are used in some places of Spain (olives, potatoes, etc.). You’ll only find vegetables and meat (of chicken and rabbit), in addition to the rice, of course.

Consider that this dish arose in the Valencian rural atmosphere, and the agriculturist used the ingredients he had by hand: the vegetables of the familiar orchard, and the animals of corral (duck, chicken and rabbit). In spite of its simplicity, you’ll find it exquisite.

If you like the seafood, ask for a “paella de marisco” (seafood paella), or a “arroz a banda”. Also you can request the “mixed paella”, of seafood and meat, although I do not recommend it.

In almost any restaurant of Valencia, you’ll find great variety of rice plates. I advise you to visit the restaurants of the Malvarrosa beach, where you’ll be able to eat good paellas (although noncheap) and later you can walk by the promenade at seaside.

Also I recommend you a visit to the Palmar, a town of fishermen. Almost an island surrounded by waters of the Lagoon. There you will find also good surroundings to enjoy a paella and, later take a boat by the Lagoon.

What is the arts and sciences city (”ciudad de las artes y las ciencias”)?

It is a complex of buildings dedicated to the culture and built by several architects of reputation, among them Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candle. It began to be constructed in 1998 and is made up of 5 buildings.

Due to his futurist architecture, the visitor feels in a space of different leisure, that allows him to alternate different atmospheres in “a reduced” space. We can submerge in the marine depths in L’Oceanografic and right away following we can enjoy a three-dimensional film in the L’Hemisferic or can take a walk by a mediterranean forest in L’Umbracle and continue with a exhibition on the Milky Way.

Which beaches do you recommend?

The first beach that you should visit is the beach of the Malvarrosa. It is the city beach and you’ll arrive easily. You’ll find a very long promenade at seaside that begins in the port and extends during several kilometers.

Also visit the beach of the Saler, next to the natural park of the Albufera (the Lagoon), protected by the environmental laws. Illegal constructions were demolished and the dunes were reconstructed to give them back their original state.

What are the “fallas”?

The fallas are the celebrations of Valencia. They take place from the 15 to the 19 of March and transform the city totally.

During that week, hundreds of monuments (that we call fallas) are placed in the streets and seats of practically all the city. These monuments are constructed with cardboard, elaborated and painted of such form that they become true works of art, whose life is ephemeral. Day 19 at night, all the monuments burn simultaneously (except the winning falla and the one that the city council sponsors, that burns a little later).

The origin of the fallas was a celebration of the beginning of the spring, in which piles of old objects were burned in a ceremony of renovation. With time, these “piles of objects” became the present works of art.

The fallas celebrations are totally opened to the visitor. Most of the activities are developed in the street. We emphasize “mascletaes” (symphony of explosions which gets passionate to the Valencians), the fireworks, the parades, the offering of flowers to the Virgin of the Abandoned ones, and the “burning”. In addition to verbenas and celebrations during all the night.

Article submitted by R. Sanchis, the owner of Valencia Info and Web Valencia where you can find a lot of information about Valencia, a great photo gallery of the city, tips, recipes and more.
Also, he is the web-master of a Valencia hostel:
Pension Lyon in Valencia
a hostel located in the heart of Valencia that offers cheap accommodation.

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Are you homeless?
Does your Soul have a Home? - By Joseph Ghabi

How do you feel when you see homeless people on the street? Many of us feel disgusted when we look at them and others do not even acknowledge their existence as if they’re worthless and irrelevant. Some of us even consider them as being nothing but drunks and junkies. We all have different ways of interpreting the lives of these people, but in the end, we all believe that they are less fortunate than ourselves.

Some of us already understand that perhaps something in a homeless person’s life went wrong and forced them to be where they are. Some people might even say that a homeless person became that way because the pressures of living in society drove them to it. Perhaps they felt misunderstood because they were too ‘open’ and in touch with their deeper soul essence, when unfortunately our limited society is yet unable to recognize philosophies and life ideas from the nature of a soul perspective. Those people likely ended up lost and feeling ‘out of place’ wandering around with a feeling that nothing in their lives really matters in terms of their understanding from a higher level. It can be very difficult to survive in a world where the ‘mundane’ seems to matter most.

It has even been discovered that some of the homeless are rich! So it is not always the case that they are less fortunate than us in a financial sense. I recall a situation that happened some time ago, a homeless man was discovered dead and they found out he had over 3 million dollars stashed away in his bank! In the end, whether they are rich or poor, these people are still homeless right now and why?

I checked the internet for the definition of the word ‘home’ and I found this interesting definition “An environment providing security and happiness”. So there are many of us in the world who have a roof over our head, yet we neither feel secure or happy. Do we think we are any more fortunate than the people living on the streets who do not have a building to live in? Are we any more human in essence than those people because we claim to own a few slabs of concrete? Tell me, don’t we still have many issues to deal with even though we have a place to live in, probably even more issues to deal with than those people who do not have the responsibility of maintaining a ‘home establishment’. As an example, what is the difference between a homeless person drinking alcohol to compensate for his or her problems and doing the same thing in the comfort of our own dwelling? If you ask me there is no difference at all, it is only a matter of status!

How do we define someone who is homeless? A homeless person is simply a person without a place to live. The number of homeless people is growing rapidly all over the world and what are we doing about it? Nothing really! It seems to be more important to us to go to the moon or mars and creates bombs worth millions of dollars! What the hell, if we can’t solve any of our problems then let’s just blow ourselves away!

In terms of the rest of us who consider ourselves fortunate for having a roof over our head, would you ever think of yourself as being homeless? I bet most of you are now saying “NO, HELL NO! What are you talking about? I have a home, two cars, a home theatre, a Nintendo machine or an Xbox, many games. I go out every week and have fun!” Let’s now consider the definition of the word ‘home’ once again ‘An environment providing security and happiness’. Now with that in mind, let me clarify my question again. With all that you have materially and aesthetically in your life today, are you sincerely happy in your life? How many times per day are you aware of a deep sense of loneliness? Do you ever feel an inner emptiness and as though there is something missing in life, yet you do not know what it is?

Most of us do feel this way on a regular basis, but are unable to determine what the problem is. We keep buying more and more stuff; we keep ourselves busy eating, drinking, smoking, entertaining and getting wasted on alcohol and drugs in order to avoid dealing with life. We can deny it for as long as we like, but in the end it is us who suffers and regardless of how we try to suppress things, that feeling that we are lonely, unhappy and that we are missing something will not go away. How many of us have bought stuff, yet in reality we don’t really have space for any more stuff in our life? How many of us are bored with life? How many of us feel a prevailing sense of lack of purpose?

The reason we came to this plane in the first place was because our Soul made the decision to do so. Then we were born. On the other hand, had your soul decided not to come to spend a life in this plane, you would not be here today. So if your soul decided to come here for a purpose and you are not living up to that and carrying out your souls task, then you will always feel you are missing something in your life. You will always feel that inexplicable void and loneliness deep inside of you; you might not feel truly happy.

What is it that prevents us from fulfilling our Souls task? It is quite simply our human limitations, our stubbornness, our fear of experiencing humility, our pride, our ego and our resistance to change that prevents us. When you try to fulfill your life with material things as a substitute for connecting to your Soul, this will never substitute for the need to look more deeply into your life and its purpose.

Making yourself appear happy on the outside in front of everyone, yet when you are alone you are as miserable as can be, serves no purpose at all. After all, is it just about appearances?? Who is getting hurt in reality? Living superficially will never bring harmony into your life for a simple reason, you are contradicting yourself. The funny part here is that many of us are somehow aware that we are living in this way, yet we still keep on doing it! My question is just how long are you prepared to keep it up? Will it be until the day you die and leave this earth life without accomplishing much of what your soul had intended in the first place? That is a waste of a lifetime.

My questions to you now are very simple. Are you homeless? Does your Soul have a home? Take a deeper look at your self, into your own being and take a good look at what you are doing with your life. Is this the life you really want to live and the path you desire to continue walking on? In reality, life is simple, yet on most occasions, we make things more complicated than necessary. From now on, just set yourself free and begin doing things for yourself and for the right reasons and always with a pure intention. Try to discover what is good for your soul and then do it! Most of all, always remember you are never ever alone!
Copyright © Joseph Ghabi
http://www.freespiritcentre.info

About the Author:

Joseph Ghabi is an author, lecturer, and healer. Joseph provides Intuitive Numerology Consultation, Healing Childhood Experiences Consultation and PhD Candidate living in Montreal.
At the age of eight Joseph discovered his clairvoyance. Joseph is natural medium. Joseph started the ‘Free Spirit Centre’ website at www.freespiritcentre.info. A community centre devoted to personal growth, self help, soul growth, eating disorders, relationships, healing and human issues. You can find over 650 articles on the site.
Joseph task is in bringing Souls back to realization of their own personal power and into alignment with their own soul purpose and path of evolution.

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Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

As innovation is characterised as a break with the past, it is useful to analyse the potential take-up of new creations. These categories apply to organisations as much as people.

One useful model is Rogers Curve. It identifies five types of users:

a) Innovators - 2.5% of the population; are prepared to invent or try something new, high risk takers, accept high levels of uncertainty and imperfection.

b) Early adopters - 13.5% of the population. Opinion leaders, will try out new ideas but in a careful way.

c) Early majority - 34% of the population, will wait until innovations are tried and tested and can see the benefits.

d) Late majority - 34%, risk averse, cautious and often sceptical.

e) Laggards - 16% of the population, parochial, insular, resistant to change and suspicious.

These topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com.

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop MBA, is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com

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This free list of fat burning foods will help you make the right choices to burn off more fat than you ingest by eating them. The fat burning secret to losing weight is to eat and drink until you are full and satisfied, choosing foods that burn more calories than you consume. This helps your body burn up the excessive stored fat.

This free list of fat burning foods contains mostly fruit and vegetables and if you compare it to other lists you will notice a definite trend. If you eat these fat burning foods and add a good exercise workout program to it you will increase your metabolism and burn calories at a faster rate even several hours after your exercise is done.

apples
apricots
artichokes
asparagus
beets
blackberries
blueberries
broccoli
Brussels sprouts
cabbage
cantaloupe
carrots
cauliflower
celery
cherries
chives
cod
corn
crabs
cranberries
cucumbers
eggplant
flounder
garlic
grapefruit
grapes
green beans
honeydew
kale
leeks
lemons
lettuce
limes
lobster
mangoes
mushrooms
nectarines
okra
onions
oranges
papaya
parsley
peaches
pears
peas
peppers
pineapple
prunes
pumpkin
radishes
raspberries
red cabbage
sauerkraut
scallions
spinach
squash
strawberries
string beans
tangerines
tomatoes
turnips
watermelon

A recent report from Michael Zemel, Professor of Nutrition and Medicine at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville reports, “If you compare a dairy-rich versus a dairy-poor diet you can nearly double the rate of weight and fat loss with the same level of calorie restriction.” It states that the calcium in dairy products can boost weight loss by increasing fat breakdown in fat cells. Therefore, dairy products could be termed as fat burning foods. These include milk, cheese and yogurt and might be considered a fat burning secret.

The best way to approach fat burning food is to start by implementing a sensible eating plan with the help of this free list of fat burning foods and begin an exercise workout program that you enjoy and will stick with.

Copyright © 2005 Treadmill Info.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by http://www.treadmill-info.com where you will find valuable information, ratings, reviews, articles and buying tips before you make the investment in quality fitness equipment. For more fitness related articles go to:
http://www.treadmill-info.com/articles_1.html

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“If seeds in the black earth can turn into such beautiful roses, what might not the heart of man become in its long journey toward the stars?” G.K. Chesterton

I woke up today with achy muscles and hamstrings that felt
stretched to the max. Too much time at the gym? Too many miles
on my bike?

Nope. Just lots and lots of gardening.

This week I joined hundreds of others who, pulled by Spring
Fever, sunshine, and fresh air, flocked to nurseries and garden
centers in search of the perfect annuals, shrubs, planters, and
garden ornaments. And boy oh boy, did we find them. We came in
droves, fellow gardeners and I, driving way too many miles in
this gasoline-crisis-environment of ours, looking for the best
prices, the best selection, and the best accessories.

And you know what I mean by garden accessories, right? It’s a
business reaction as befitting this gardening frenzy as hot dog
buns are to hot dogs. And we’re not just talking planters,
birdhouses, and birdbaths anymore, either. We’re talking benches, arches, baker’s racks, shutters, statues, sundials…with bunnies and roosters in all shapes and sizes to boot. Do you want those in bronze, black or antique white? Distressed? Shiny? Whatever your fancy, they’re yours for the buying.

And buying them we are. What with cocooning becoming the “in”
lifestyle of the 90’s, it’s no wonder that we’ve attacked our
yards with passion. And our wallets. Americans spend just under
$40 billion-yes, that’s a “b”-on lawn care annually, according to the National Gardening Association. And the annual rate of growth in the industry has been at 8% for the last five years. In fact, eight out of ten households in the U.S. actively participate in indoor and outdoor lawn and garden activities of the do-it-yourself nature in one way or another, a degree equal to the highest level of participation in the last five years. Sales of bulbs to consumers have nearly doubled within the past five years, too. And retail sales of floral products come in around $13 billion.

We can hardly help ourselves. Researcher Mike Steven established
in a research project in Australia entitled “The Congruent
Garden: An Investigation into the Role of the Domestic Garden in
Satisfying Fundamental Human Needs,” that gardens have the
potential to satisfy nine basic human needs, including, in
addition to subsistence, affection and creation, which resonate
most closely with my own experience there.*

Gardening allows me to forget the troubles of my everyday world
and become immersed into creating something of beauty. Gardening
allows me, as I mindlessly pull weeds, arrange potting soil into
containers, and pat dirt gently around freshly planted flowers,
to sift my thoughts through a filter energized by sunshine and
fresh air. It gives me the freedom to enjoy the wild songs of the birds, the bubbling of the brook….and the humming of the
lawnmower of a neighbor I hadn’t previously recognized.

Gardening forces me out of my comfort zone behind the computer
screen at which I stare seven days a week, and into the world of
perennials and annuals, the names, sunlight requirements, and
bloom cycles which continue to escape my memory. It forces me to
get my hands and fingernails dirty (I hate wearing gloves) and
celebrate the tactile pleasure of running damp soil through my
palms and pressing it into the earth. Gardening stretches me. It
helps to illuminate my innermost thoughts. It forces me out of
the cerebral nature of the work that I do, and pushes me into the physical nature of work in which I feel so incompetent.

As we celebrate Spring….and fight the Fever together…engage
in work of your hands by working the earth beneath your feet.
Allow yourself to become intoxicated by the beauty and aroma of
flowers. For as it was so aptly said in the TV show A Gardener’s
Dairy: “What grows in the garden, so lovely and rare? Roses and
Dahlias and people grow there.” Yes. People grow in gardens.
Robert Ingersolll wrote: “Every flower about a house certifies to the refinement of somebody. Every vine climbing and blossoming tells of love and joy.”

And growing in love and joy is, after all, what growing in one’s
garden is all about.

*Note: Mike Steven, Lecturer in Landscape Studies, University of
Westen Sydney, Australia

Carolina Fernandez earned an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were born about the role of the arts in child development; ten years of homeschooling and raising four kids provide fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is widely available online, in bookstores or through 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via seminars, workshops, keynotes and monthly meetings of the ROCKET MOM SOCIETY, a sisterhood group she launched to “encourage, equip and empower moms for excellence.” Please visit http://www.rocketmom.com.

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Have you ever been in a department store and known exactly what you were looking for but couldn’t locate any staff to help you find it? Think of your website as your very own department store, and your contact numbers, email addresses, and FAQ’s navigational buttons as your staff. Without these handy interaction tools, your purchaser will get frustrated and E-shop somewhere else.

It is important to provide your customers with ways to ask questions or give feedback. We are a curious bunch of people in this world; everyone has an opinion and thinks someone should hear it. So give them the opportunity to voice their feelings on your merchandise, encourage dialogue with your customer and then use their opinion to better your product.

A speedy response is important to keeping the sale, whether it be a question, comment, or criticism, respond to your customer in a timely manner to let them know that what they say matters.

Your staff should show a great desire to help your clients with their questions; this is an easy way to turn an inquiring customer into a buying customer.

Being attentive to your clients needs will also reduce the number of returns on your product.

Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book “Wake ‘em Up Business Presentations” and “Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing.” It is important to Tom that his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly committed to his client’s needs.

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