Billiards parlor. that s a name we don t seem to hear very often

First of all, what is the definition of Billiards Parlor?

According the the online dictionary, it is a room where billiards is played.

This is a pretty self explanatory definition. The dictionary also referred to billiard room, billiard parlour, billiard hall and billiard saloon.

We here in Colorado never refer to it as a parlor. We will say let’s go to the pool hall, or let’s go to the bar and shoot some pool. Sometimes we will just refer to the billiards hall by name. (Let’s go to Side Pocket or Let’s go to Diamond Jim’s.)

I guess it doesn’t matter which name you use, they are all a room where billiards is played.

I came across the phrase or name billiards parlor while doing some billiards research. It is very interesting that there were 95,546 searches done for the phrase last month. This came in second to the search term billiards which was 416,838 searches for the month.

The name makes me picture an up scale pool hall. Maybe even a pool room that isn’t a bar. You know the good old fashioned pool halls that only sell soda pop and charge for the tables by the hour. It seems we find these billiard rooms few and far between these days.

I owned a little non alcohol pool room back in the late 80’s. We had some good action there. You could usually find a money game and we held Saturday weekly tournaments that filled the house.

When I saw the term billiards parlor, I just had to write an article about what that means to me. I typed the phrase into Google search and it returned 551,000 search results. There was one on the first page talking about pro player John Schmidt and his new pool room which is named “Nine Mile Billiards Parlor.”

I guess even though the name is not as common as it once was, people still have it on the tip of their tongue when thinking about pool halls. I am just sitting here writing about it and I feel like shooting some pool now.

Wouldn’t you say the term even adds a touch of class to the game of pocket billiards?

I have a league match tonight in a small tavern with one 7 foot Valley table. I would say that we can’t refer to this as a parlor. Would you agree with that?

Post your comments questions and stories below. I would love to hear from you.

To Your Run Out Success.

Ted

Hpv virus

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Human Papilloma Ciruses (HPV) is a virus that infects humans. Some of the effects of the virus are associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STD's).
Over one hundred strains of the virus have been identified by Scientists. Most of these strains are harmless. Some of these strains can produce common skin warts which appear on the hands and feet. Approximately thirty strains are spread through sexual contact. Some of these thirty can cause visible warts known as genital warts, while others can cause cervical and genital cancer.

HPV greatly outnumbers other std's making it the most common sexually transmitted infection. An estimated 80% of sexually active adults are infected with one or more genital HPV strains at some point in their life. The vast majority of infected people suffer no side effects from the virus, which means that most of these people don't even know that they are infected. This lack of knowledge doesn't stop them from infecting others though. The immune system is usually able to clear the virus from the body within a year. After the virus is cleared from the body, that individual person is immune to that particular strain of HPV.

HPV is almost an unavoidable and invisible result of sexual activity. For this reason, most health authorities recommend that women have an annual pap smear following their first sexual activity, to ensure early detection of cervical cancer.

The only safe way to prevent HPV transmission is to abstain from any contact with the genitals of others. Not even "safe sex", the use of Condoms, can provide complete protection from the virus. It's not advisable to just practice safe sex. Perfect Abstinence!

Effective small business credit card management

The use of credit cards in small businesses is gaining popularity. An industry study conducted by a research group reports that more than two-thirds of small businesses are making use of credit cards to cover expenses. However, only two-fifths of these credit card using businesses employ business credit cards.

Since these small business owners are already using credit cards to provide financing for their businesses, they should consider converting to business credit cards instead. With prudent usage and wise management, the small business credit card could be an effective business tool to help small business owners “grow” their businesses.

Among other things, a business credit card allows you to separate business transactions from personal charges, thus avoiding potential problems in managing your funds and preparing your tax reports. A business credit card also conveys the message to third parties who take an interest in your financial transactions, such as the IRS and creditors, that you are managing your business and its financial accounts in a professional manner.

A significant benefit of having a business credit card is the year-end statement summary that business credit card issuers provide to their cardholders. This detailed listing helps you to itemize and classify your business expenses.

The small business credit card is a good way of building your business credit. By being judicious in the management of your business credit card accounts, you will strengthen your credit standing. This will be an important factor when you need additional financing for growth or expansion purposes.

The responsible management and sensible use of your business credit card cannot be overemphasized. Some ways of achieving this include:

• Make use of your local bank. There is much to be said in favor of engaging with your existing bank when you need to apply for a small business credit card - especially if the difference is not overly significant between your banker and the other card issuers’ offerings. Your existing relationship will make the card approval process easier. It will also help with your other financing transactions.

• Avoid missed or late payments. You should be judicious about making your monthly payments on your business credit card in a timely manner. Failure to make payment by due date, leaves you vulnerable to higher interest, costly fees and a blemish on your credit record.

• Capitalize on grace periods. Business credit cards give you a 21-day grace period before you need to pay your purchases. You can maximize this to improve your cash flow.

• Pay your bill online. Most of the business credit card companies accept payments online. Their websites are secure, which means that that your online transactions will not be compromised. This will save time and avoid the extra costs normally incurred when making use of other modes of payment. It also ensures that your payments will not be subject to delays.

•Limit having multiple cards. There is some advantage to having a couple of business credit cards. If you sign up for too many cards though, your credit scores will suffer. It may also make management of your accounts more difficult.

Given the salient benefits of using a business credit card as opposed to using a personal credit card, converting to a business card will be an astute move. Your business credit card is a worthwhile business enabler for as long as this credit line is dealt with responsibly and in a circumspect manner.

A journey through the grand cayman islands

The Cayman Islands, made famous for their incredible diving, white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and year round Caribbean sunshine, are made up of 3 different islands. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman; a fuse of Caribbean allure and American efficiency made complete with an inescapable charm from the friendly locals who will welcome you anytime. Although very small, the total landmass of the 3 islands is just 100 square miles, the grand Cayman Islands offers you the best of all worlds.

Cayman Islands weather is almost perfect year round. The winter months, Nov-Apr, the temperature ranges from 72-86 degrees during the day and 64-72 degrees at night. In the summer months, May-Oct, the temperature during the day ranges from 85-90 degrees and 73-85 degrees by night. Also, most people don’t realize just how close to the equator that these islands lay and that means that the sun is HOT. The islands are cooled by the prevailing trade winds but don’t let this fool you, take the sun in small doses and always wear lots of sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Given the beautiful Cayman Islands weather, do be aware that it does occasionally rain there! You might want an umbrella just in case. The rainy season starts in May and ends in October with the 2 rainiest months being May and October. March and April are usually the driest.

One of the things that you will experience on the Cayman islands, is world class dining. With over 150 places to eat that range from elegant fine dining to budget fast food and take out, there is something for everyone. Traditional Cayman cuisine has a strong Jamaican influence. Traditional dishes feature seafood cooked in a variety of ways, lobster and conch. Local dishes are often served with coconut, plantain, yams, rice and peas, along with other West Indian side dishes. You can also find many other alternative choices that include; Italian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, German and so many others! When it comes to tipping, keep in mind that most hotels add a 5-10% service charge and many restaurants add a 10-15% service charge but some don’t. It’s best to check your bill to see if the service has been added and feel free to reward those who give what you feel is exceptional service.

Shopping and nightlife; there is certainly no shortage on the Grand Cayman islands! You will find a wide variety of nightlife and entertainment from lively nightclubs, to watching live international and local bands perform, to pool halls, lounges and the theatre. Bars, clubs and dancehalls close at 3am during the weekdays, midnight on Saturdays and there are no nightclubs open on Sundays. When you arrive, you will be able to find local informational magazines, free of charge that will list all the special events and current happenings on the islands. The Cayman Islands enjoy tax free status which also means they have duty free status. You will be able to find items such as fine jewellery, watches, crystal, perfumes and china that can be as much as 30% cheaper there. One of the best places to go shopping is in the capitol of George Town in Grand Cayman, it is home to one of the nicest shopping centers in the Caribbean! The local currency is the Cayman Islands dollar and it is equivalent to $1.25 USD. It is a fixed exchange rate and never changes. American currency is generally accepted, as well as all major credit cards, and the CI dollar.

There are many options for getting around on the Grand Cayman Islands; taxis, public transportation, car rentals to mopeds and scooters. Upon arrival, you will find many taxis that are available from the airport and are readily available from all resorts. You will find fixed rates per vehicle or per person to all points on the island. This information is available from the taxi driver and there is also a sign with current rates posted at the cruise ship dock in George Town. One of the Caribbean’s most extensive fleet of modern rental cars are found here in the Cayman’s. Driving is on the left hand side of the road but you can find many rentals that feature right hand driving. Visitor’s need to obtain temporary driver’s licenses from the rental agency but this is easily done by presenting a valid driver’s license from your country and being over 21, although not all agencies will insure you if you are under 25. Rentals are readily available from Grand Cayman while there are more limited numbers of them on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Car rentals can be booked before arriving on Grand Cayman and it is advisable to do so during the winter months. A public bus terminal is located in downtown George Town and serves as a dispatch point to all the districts, service starts at 6am. There are also several mini buses that are operated by licensed operators that serve 8 routes.

The Cayman Islands have so much to offer and possesses unsurpassed beauty under the sea due to their protected Marine Parks. You can easily see why so many people realize their dreams here and love visiting this tropical paradise.

What is low blood pressure

Apart from the technical interpretation, low blood pressure is a sort of disease that saps energy from all parts of your body and mind. Your spirits are down and your body starts shivering. You get a feeling of sinking — and you need a rescue mission immediately!!

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood within the arteries of the body. Blood pressure is the driving force that causes blood to flow through the body from the arteries (where the pressure is high), through organs, and into the veins (where the pressure is low). Blood pressure is generated by the pumping of blood by the heart into the arteries as well as by the resistance to the flow of blood by the arteries. The systolic blood pressure (the top number) represents the pressure in the arteries as the muscle of the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. And the diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) represents the pressure in the arteries as the muscle of the heart relaxes after it contracts.

Systolic blood pressure for most healthy adults falls between 90 and 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal diastolic blood pressure falls between 60 and 80 mm Hg. (By convention, an individual’s blood pressure is written as systolic/diastolic blood pressure, e. g., 120/80). Current guidelines define normal blood pressure as lower than 120/80. Blood pressures between 120/80 and 140/90, which used to be considered “pre-hypertension,” are now considered too high. High blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart disease, kidney disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke.

When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidney, it is referred to as Low Blood Pressure. When this happens, the organs are unable to function normally and can be permanently damaged. It should be noted that unlike high blood pressure, which is defined on the basis of blood pressure alone, low blood pressure is defined primarily by signs and symptoms of low blood flow. In fact, some individuals may have a blood pressure of 90/50 and have no signs or symptoms of low blood pressure, and, therefore, not have low blood pressure while others who normally have a blood pressure of 130/80 may develop symptoms and signs of low blood pressure if their blood pressure drops to 100/60.

There are certain traditional medicines that can help to cure low blood pressure. Butter milk is good for both high and low blood pressure. Using asafetida in various articles of food regularly, also helps to cure low blood pressure.

Pay now or later - debit vs. credit

Which is better, debit or credit? Can't decide if you should shop with a debit or credit card? This article will discuss some of the similarities and differences between shopping with a debit card versus shopping with a credit card.

When you use a debit card, the bank subtracts money from your bank account. Debit cards allow you to spend only what is in your bank account. It is a rapid transaction between a merchant and your personal bank account. Debit cards can have monthly or per transaction fees so review the cardholder agreement carefully.

One type of debit card is a check card that can be used as a credit card or as a debit card at grocery stores, gasoline stations, restaurants, or drug stores. When used as a credit card, you sign the receipt as you would a regular credit card. When used as a debit card, you enter your PIN. Some banks may charge a fee for using a check card as a debit card. A check card is identified by the word 'Check Card' across the top of the card. Visa has created a line of check cards with a Visa logo that can be used at all locations where Visa is accepted. Most, but not all, transactions are verified to see if there are adequate funds. Instead of using a PIN number, you must sign a receipt, as you would with a credit card.

Credit is money made available to you by a bank or other financial institution, like a loan. The amount the issuer allows you to use is determined by your credit history, income, debts, and ability to pay. You may use the credit with the understanding that you will repay the amount, plus interest, if you do not pay in full each month. You will receive a monthly statement detailing your charges and payments. Credit cards are protected under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, but debit cards are not. The Visa™ check card is linked to your checking account. Visa™ check cards have a zero liability policy that protects consumers, but not all banks have this protection.

If your debit or check card is lost or stolen, report it to your bank immediately. Government regulations require debit card issuers to set a maximum liability of $50 if the debit card is reported lost or stolen within two business days of discovery. Your liability increases to $500 if the lost or stolen debit card is reported within 60 days. If you don't notify the bank of the theft within 60 days after a bank statement is sent you could lose the money in your checking and overdraft accounts.

Here are six tips for protecting your debit card or credit card.

1. If your card is lost or stolen, immediately notify your bank.

2. If you suspect your card is being fraudulently used, immediately report it to your bank.

3. Always verify how much money you have available in your account. Be mindful that your debit card may allow you to access money that you have set aside to cover a check that has not cleared your bank yet.

4. Save your receipts from your debit or credit card transactions. A thief can use your receipt to get your name and debit card number to order products by mail or over the telephone. Your card doesn't have to be missing in order for it to be used.

5. If you have a PIN number, memorize it. Do not keep your PIN number with your card or in your purse or wallet. Also, don't choose a PIN number that a can be easily guessed such as your phone number or birthday.

6. Keep all of your receipts in one place so they can be easily retrieved later to verify against your monthly bank statement.

Be cautious when using a debit card, because some banks process debit charges although insufficient funds are in the account, which converts the debit transaction to a credit transaction. This is because there are no laws requiring prior approval to process the transaction. A consumer will be charged $30 for every transaction that occurs when the account is overdrawn. So think twice before using a debit card or credit card. I have used both debit and credit cards, but I am old-fashioned, and I pay for everything with cash. Happy spending!

Why is hoodia such a sought after weight loss supplement

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Hoodia Gordonii is an unambitious little South African desert cactus type plant that has a big future ahead of it. A gift from the native San people who live in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa, this tiny plant the natives' call "Xhoba" has already began impacting the world of weight loss with its extraordinary hunger stopping traits. What the Aboriginal San Bushmen have known for a long time and the rest of us are merely beginning to realize is that Hoodia has appetite suppressant qualities distinguished by plant scientists and named P57. This P57 active element has been examined, tested and identified to have the power to reduce calorie intake by up to 1,000 calories a day.

So will any South African cactus do when it comes to helping you to stay away from snacks? Indeed not, don't go to the local florist and buy yourself a desert cactus to eat. Of the succulent and asclepiad genus there are 2,000 species of ascleoiadaceae, divided into 300 genera, half from the succulent category. Hoodia Pseudolithos and Trichocaulon are members of the Trichocaulon sub-section from the Kalahari Desert region of S. Africa that touches Angola, Botswana and Namibia. Hoodia Gordonii is the name of the cactus you will want to get but don't plan on taking a outing to the South Africa and getting some Hoodia cacti for yourself; the Hoodia desert cactus are under strict control by the S. African government. It is considered an endangered plant and only Hoodia cactus farmers with certification may produce and sell the Hoodia.

Can Hoodia affect the world's obesity problem and help the planet be a slimmer place? Business organizations including, Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Phytopharm, Pfizer and most recently Slim Fast all believe so. All of these companies have banked on Hoodia's success and together have invested millions of dollars, wanting to corner the marketplace on weight loss. Looking at Hoodia's journey from Xhoba, plant of The San Bushmen to being today's miracle plant for weight loss we need to first look at where Hoodia's been over the past thirty plus years. The greatest amount of time, CSIR analyzed Hoodia to isolate the molecule p57, once they eventually obtained it; they then sold the rights of p57 to Phytopharm. In 1998 The Phytopharm Company leased marketing rights to Pfizer, who invested thirty-two million only to subsequently drop out of the scene because p57 was too expensive to synthesize as a pill. Pfizer's situation has now been taken over by The Unilever Corporation, the parent company of Slim Fast. Slim Fast at present plans on delivering a Hoodia weight loss supplement to nutritional stores in a couple years.

Almost a year ago, on November of 2004, the Hoodia plant contracted big media coverage when CBS's Sixty Minutes did a show on Hoodia's appetite suppressant qualities. With the 60 minute TV exposure, Hoodia was now wanted plant by dieters all-round the globe. People having a hard time staying on their diets desired Hoodia now, not in a couple of years, the secret was out and Hoodia was becoming an indispensable plant. I'm sure after that 60 minutes program was aired, numbers of dieters looked into moving to the Kalahari Desert and making themselves a tiny Hoodia garden of their very own. Luckily, as it is today there isn't a reason to go to that extent, where there is a consumer need; there are many businesses happy to fill that request. There were a few businesses that were informed of Hoodia before the news coverage broke and were in the right place at the right time. It didn't take long though for numerous other organizations to create associations with South African Hoodia Gordonii growers and get Hoodia supplements into stores.

Nowadays there are numerous brands marketing both Hoodia powder form and extracts; how long will the Hoodia plant supply last is the question on dieter's minds right now. The Hoodia Gordonii succulent is a very hard plant to grow; the plants need very much care and management with irrigating, temperature and sunshine. Where it stands today there are only a couple of Hoodia harvesting centers in the South Africa and the Hoodia plant takes two to three years before it's ready to be exported. Taking this into account, the multi-million dollar question is, for how many months can the Hoodia succulent plant export continue? Because of this situation buyers should be aware if the Hoodia they are getting has been independently tested and certified to be pure Hoodia Gordonii from South Africa. A few of the companies that have been certified authentic are Desert Burn, Hoodoba Hoodia and the Hoodia Max Brand. There are companies out there taking advantage of the great demand and interest in Hoodia and supplying a low quality product. For more information about Hoodia go to hoodiagordonii. totalink. com

Does counting work

If you're a Blackjack player or striving to become one, it won't be long until you hear about counting cards-if you haven't already heard.

Counting cards in Blackjack will give the good Blackjack player better odds to come out ahead in the long run. It's not some super-secret formula for winning millions of dollars at Blackjack overnight.

Also, when you count cards, you're just trying to get a read on what type of cards are left in the deck and not trying to guess what exact card is due next-ala the Rain Man.

Here's the basic premise. When there's a great chance that big cards will come out, the win meter swings to your favor. When there's a great chance that small cards will come out, the win meter swings harder to the dealer.

So, the ideal situation is one in which lots of large cards are left in the deck and in which the probability of those cards coming out is greater. When this happens, you bet larger than normal.

And that's really the main philosophy. When there are greater numbers of small cards left, reduce your wager. When there are greater numbers of large cards left, bet bigger. That doesn't mean you bet $5 on one hand and $5,000 the next. A typical swing might be $5-$15. But, you'll need to decide this for yourself.

Counting cards doesn't work online. Why? Well, online casinos shuffle their deck(s) for each hand-unless noted somewhere. Since they do this, counting is of no value.

In the real world, you'll typically find that counting pays off as decks get smaller. But here's the catch. To count successfully, you must be able to see all the cards. That's right. If the player next to you just tosses in his or her card face down, you've lost an edge. The more it happens, the worse your count will be.

Let's dispel one false misconception about counting cards right now. You don't need to be a math genius to do it. Can you count from 0 to 2 and from 0 to -2? If so, you're talented enough. All you need to do is practice.

The first time you go out to count, it's best to play with a small table. Also, if you can find a game that deals the cards face up, you'll have an easier time learning.

Remember, counting cards by itself does absolutely nothing. If you're a poor Blackjack player, counting cards won't help you win. In fact, it can help you lose more money and faster. Counting cards in Blackjack is a tool to aid those who understand the game and can play it properly.

How do you count cards? We'll go over that in another article.

Saving and investment options at the bank

Your bank can do more for you than simply hold your money and issue checks. Many banks, especially larger national banks, also offer investment and savings options for customers. Here are some of the more common ones:

Bonds: A bond is a debt security certificate. In simple terms, when you buy a bond you are lending money to some enterprise. That might be a corporation or it might be the US itself. In exchange for lending the money, you get a specific interest rate which is paid to you either at maturity of the bond or at intervals during the life of the bond. The principal is paid back to you at maturity.

The Certificate of Deposit (CD) is perhaps one of the most well known investment options sold at banks. They are a unique type of deposit account with special requirements. They pay a higher rate of interest than a regular savings account which is why people use them as investment options. In general, you put in a specific amount of your money into the account and you receive a fixed amount of interest in return. An important distinction with CD's is that they are covered by the FDIC up to $100,000.

Brokered CD's are another form of CD's. These are sold through brokerage firms and they will often have a higher interest rate than those issued by banks. These may be callable, which makes them a riskier investment. Although brokered CD's are sold through brokerages, they are issued by banks. You should check to see if they are insured by the FDIC.

Interest bearing checking account is another way to make some money through your bank. These accounts are just like regular checking accounts but they usually require a minimum deposit as well as a certain minimum amount to be kept in the account in order to draw the interest. These are sometimes called NOW accounts. NOW stands for Negotiable Order of Withdrawal.

Many banks offer a Christmas club feature that is helpful for setting aside money for holidays. The details of these vary from bank to bank and some will assess penalties if the money is taken out early.

You have probably heard of money market funds. These are mutual funds that are invested in high-quality, short-term corporate and government debt securities. These accounts will usually earn a variable interest rate that is often similar to the interest earned on CD's. With money market funds, you can withdraw money at any time without penalty. Keep in mind, however, that the FDIC does not insure your principal or the earnings in a money market fund.

A money market account offers consumers higher interest rates than a standard savings account, but they almost always require a minimum balance, and there are limits to the number of checks that can be written per month. Most carry a monthly service fee if the minimum balance is not kept. The FDIC does insure these accounts.

An interest-bearing savings account is another easy way for consumers to earn interest from the bank. Details on these vary from bank to bank so it is a good idea to shop around for the best rates.

Some banks offer premium savings accounts. These accounts usually have tiered interest rates that are tied to higher balances. The more money you keep in the account, the higher the interest rate you receive.

See your bank for more ideas on how to save and invest with them.

Lower your medical bills by finding medical hospital bill errors

If you have been admitted to a hospital and find yourself owing a substantial amount of money there are a few things you can do to substantially reduce your bills. With a little perseverance and investment of time, you can uncover costly overcharging errors you're not responsible for. After you're done, you can negotiate what you legitimately owe and the payment terms.

Here's what to do:

Request both the hospital and your insurance company to audit the hospital and doctor bills.

Demand an itemized bill (you are legally entitled to an itemized bill if you request one) and review your self for the following:

Duplicate Billing: Make sure you haven't been charged twice for the same service, supplies or medications.

Number of Days in the Hospital: Check the dates of your admission and discharge. Most hospitals will charge for your admission day, but not for your day of discharge. If you have been charged for the day of discharge, ask the hospital to waive the charge for that day.

Incorrect Room Charges: If you were in a semi-private room, make sure you're not being charged for a private room.

Operating Room: It's not uncommon for hospitals to bill for more operating room time than you actually used. Compare the charge with your anesthesiologist's records.

Unbundled Charges: This is when a group of tests are billed individually, when they should have been billed together. Surgical procedures and tests frequently consist of several parts. For instance, you could have received a cervical MRI and a lumbar MRI. A hospital or MRI facility can bill $1,200 for each MRI if they were done at different times, however, if they were performed on the same day the total amount that the facility will be paid by an insurance company may be only $1,400 or $1,800 instead of $2,400. Many times, MRI's will be scheduled on different days, frequently one day after the other, in order to bill at the higher rate. Do not allow a hospital or MRI facility to charge you the full price if they did this. An example of a procedure could be where you fractured two fingers or two ribs and you were charged the full price to set each finger or rib individually, instead of the full price to set one finger or rib and a discounted price for the second finger or rib.

Up Selling: This occurs when a doctor orders a generic drug which is readily available, but the hospital provides you with a more costly brand name drug without your knowledge or consent and bills you for the more costly medication. Since you are not an expert at determining whether or not a drug use generic and you may not have even been in a mental condition to make that determination; your doctor ordered the generic drug; and it was readily available in the hospital drug store, you are not responsible for the increased charge.

Fraudulent Coding Also Called Up Coding: Hospitals may change the charge for a lower cost service or medication to one that's more costly. For instance, a doctor may order a generic drug, but the hospital "accidentally" bills the patient for a much more expensive brand name drug when the generic is actually provided. If done intentionally, this is fraud. Where this occurs several times on one bill or occurs with multiple patients, this could constitute intent.

Fraudulent Coding/Weird Charges/Fake Language: Hospitals may invent confusing language to cheat patients. They use medical sounding names for everyday items and charge you an astronomical price. For example, an "oral administration fee" is really a charge for the nurse handing you pills. You do not have to pay for that because it is part of the room and board. Other items that have been reported as appearing on hospital bills are: "disposable mucous recovery systems" (a box of Kleenex tissues); "Thermal therapy" (a plastic bag filled with ice); "Gauze collection bag" (a trash bag); and finally, a patient who was given a teddy bear by the hospital and charged for a "cough support device." Not only is this fraud, but if it wasn't requested, the teddy bear was a gift.

Keystroke Error: A computer operator accidentally hits the wrong key on a keyboard which can result in an incorrect charge or a charge for a service you didn't get.

Canceled Services: You may have been charged for expensive services or tests which your physician ordered and then canceled or for some reason was never rendered.

Assignment: Check to see if the hospital or doctor accepts assignment of your insurance payment. This means that the hospital or doctor is allowed to bill your medical insurance and to receive payment directly by your insurance company, without a check going to you. This is a good thing. You can find out if the medical provider accepts assignment by asking your insurance company. When a hospital or doctor accepts an assignment, you are assigning to the hospital or doctor, your right to the reimbursement check from your insurance company. By accepting assignment, the medical provider is now in your position and has whatever legal rights you had to collect the payment, and no more. When accepting assignment, a hospital or doctor may not legally seek any payment from you. This means that if the medical provider bills your insurance company for $3,682 and you were only entitled to be reimbursed $1,136, the medical provider must accept this amount and you are not responsible for the remainder of the bill.

Why do hospitals and doctors accept assignment? Because when the check goes to the patient, many patients keep the money which requires the hospital or doctor to sue the patient. Accepting assignment allows the medical provider to know that they will be paid and to avoid the costs of litigation if the medical provider must sue the patient to recover payment for services rendered.

Negotiating: Finally, after eliminating all of the errors you can find, try negotiating your bill. If you are able to pay a lump sum settlement to the hospital, you can usually negotiate the amount you owe. You should be able to deduct at from one third to one half of the bill, which is probably the amount that the hospital would have to pay a lawyer to collect a fee from you. Keep in mind, that collection agencies routinely settle bills for 50%. Depending upon your income, you may even be able to settle for as little as 10%. If you are unable to pay a lump sum settlement, you should be able to negotiate a payout over a period of years. If you do not earn much money, you can remind your medical provider that if they obtain a judgment against you, the court may award as little as $25 per month, even if the bill is thousands of dollars.

The secret to skydive in new jersey

Whether you're up north toward New York or down south toward Philadelphia, you can expect to find excellent opportunities for skydiving New Jersey.

There are some important considerations to make when you're choosing a skydiving center, especially if it's your first time making a jump. If you're skydiving New Jersey, though, you can rest assured that it'd be hard to make the wrong decision. That's because New Jersey parachuting

is some of the best on the East Coast. When you skydive in New Jersey, you have great options to pick from, no matter where you happen to live in the south or north of the state.

When skydiving New Jersey, though, you'll want to keep the following in mind for your safety and enjoyment. Your first choice if your New Jersey parachuting experience is your first, is to decide whether you want to do a tandem jump, a line jump, or an accompanied jump.

Tandem jumps may be your best bet when you first skydive in New Jersey, just because you, the beginner, has no responsibility. You can just sit back, figuratively speaking of course, and enjoy

your skydiving New Jersey experience as your tandem master worries about altitude and pulling the cord. The best thing about tandem skydiving, as well, is that you don't even know that the tandem master is attached to your back. You're too busy enjoying the freefall.

Serious skydivers can also consider taking skydiving lessons at a New Jersey location. Many places allow you to participate in the eight-jump skydiving student program offered by the United States Parachute Association, or you can choose to take skydiving lessons lesson by lesson.

Either way, be sure to call around at the following New Jersey skydiving locations or more information:

Freefall Adventures/Skydive Crosskeys is situated just outside of Philadelphia in southern New jersey. Located in Williamstown, it is considered one of the top skydiving schools in all of the

northeast.

Skydive Jersey Shore is up north toward New York and located on the picturesque Jersey shore. This skydiving center takes pride in catering toward first-time jumpers.

New York Skydiving School/Skydive Sussex is, you guessed it, located in Sussex near the Big Apple. It offers the unique experience of a first-jump altitude of 13,500 feet, which you won't find at too many other locations.

How to spend less when you find your hotel in rome

Before booking your hotel accommodation in Rome, you do not have to disregard the weather conditions and the months in which tourists are packed when visiting its monuments.

Rome has a nice weather and this makes the eternal city visitable year-round; however, spring and autumn is without doubt the best times to visit, with generally clear skies and mild temperatures (even if late autumn, November, can be rainy). July and August are humid and hot (many Romans desert the city in August so many businesses close at this time); from December to February there is briskly cold weather, although it's rarely grey and gloomy.

In Rome the toursit season starts generally from the first of April to October and again for the two weeks around Christhmas and new year's Eve.

August is a very nice month in Rome, because you can find the city empty and you can discover the treasures of the eternal city, like the vatican and the ancient roman ruins.

During the Holy Week (Easter) Catholics from around the world make pilgrimages to Rome's various basilicas and to hear the Pope give his blessing from the window of its apartment in sixty languages. On Good Friday there is the pope's procession of the Cross from the Colosseum to Capitoline Hill that is worldwide broadcasted: you do not need tickets to attend it.

Making a reservation at the hotels of Rome during easter period is really very hard and you can have the unpleasant surprise to change your hotel accommodation very often due to the overbooking system.

How to write your op-ed piece

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Op-ed articles, also known as opinion/editorial articles, are a great way for aspiring writers to publicize their work and, in exchange, receive an amazing amount of publicity for free. You can write an op-ed piece and get it publicized provided you follow these simple rules.

Before you begin to write, you need to target which newspaper you would like your article to appear in. You stand a greater chance of getting into your local paper than in a national publication like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, or USA Today. Still, if one of the national publications appeals to you, then give it a try.

1. Follow the rules. Every newspaper has guidelines on what their specific requirements are. Familiarize yourself with these guidelines and stringently hold yourself to their requirements. Failure to do so will mean you will be rejected.

2. Write with precision. Newspapers do not like verbose writers, unless it is for a feature piece and it is for a high end publication, such as The Washington Post. Short, crisp, and to-the-point sentences are the order of the day.

3. Write with persuasion. Whatever your point of view, write persuasively. Do not muddy the waters by giving vague answers. If you are discussing a problem, count on offering the solution. Expect that your article may occupy one half of the op-ed page; the other half may feature a rebuttal or an opposite point of view.

4. Double space. As with any submitted writing, you must double space your text. Expect the editors to work their magic on your piece, including removing entire paragraphs to make everything fit.

5. Submit a cover letter. Yes, you more than likely will have to snail mail your letter, so send it off with a cover letter to the appropriate contact person.

6. Your contact information. Your name, address, city, state, country, zip, contact numbers, and email address are all needed. More than likely none of this will be included in the piece, but they do need a way to get back to you.

7. Resource box. Unlike ezine sites where you can write a lengthy discourse on who you are and have links to your site, it is likely that only a one or two word sentence about "who you are" will be included. So, consider writing your own resource box and hope that they like it. [You can count on it being changed if they do not.] It could be written something like this:

John Doe is a Detroit based freelance writer affiliated with Writer's Write.

Yes, that may be about all the information they want to share about you with their readers.

More than likely you will know within two weeks time if your piece will get published. Some papers will contact you to let you know if you have been approved/rejected, while others will simply publish your article. Do not hound them as you may want to become a regular contributor.

What is the next step?

1. If you are approved, you can expect letters to the editor -- from readers -- in response to your piece to begin appearing in subsequent editions of the newspaper. Do not be surprised if letters begin arriving in your home or place of business too. Expect phone calls from people who may want to discuss your point of view further, or invite you to speak in front of their group, etc.

2. If you are rejected, consider modifying and resubmitting your piece or forwarding it to another publication. Accept criticism about your writing style, if offered.

3. Op ed pieces are sometimes picked up by syndicators such as Reuters or Google News; your piece can have a life well beyond the local newspaper. If you hit the national press, you can count on your article having widespread coverage. Do a search on Google a few days after publication and you may discover how wide a net your piece has cast. If that is the case, good for you!

Above all, op-ed article can help shape local or national opinion, so think of the greater good you can do as well as the publicity you just may receive when crafting your article. Although newspaper circulation continues to drop, online versions of these same newspapers continue to grow, thereby giving you exposure far beyond the intended market.

Ezines and customer respect

The primary purpose of an electronic magazine (ezine) is to market a product or service.

OK, there, I’ve said it.

If you are an Internet ‘publisher’ you want people to come to your site to see what you have or to fund the process by visiting advertisers.

If you are an online ‘business’ you want to develop a comprehensive opt-in ezine that presents compelling information that in turn results in sales from an ‘informed’ customer base.

When an ezine publisher pushes too hard or adopts practices that are less than reputable the result is a reputation of being a spammer.

One of the first questions any online business should ask themselves is “Why should I develop a company ezine?”

If the answer is simply because it’s a marketing tool and you want to give it a whirl you may want to rethink your answer.

Developing an ezine can be labor-intensive correlate with a distinct objective. You need to know what the intent of the ezine will be before you can really get things rolling.

If you can develop a meaningful plan for your ezine you will likely find it better received among your opt-in list.

Business owners can often wrongly assume that they should develop an ezine for marketing purposes and just send whatever information strikes them at any given moment. If that is your approach you will likely find customers that opt-in will opt-out rather quickly.

Because you understand the value of time it is equally important to respect the value of the time your client-base may spend with your ezine. The more planning and point to the ezine the better it will be received.

Look at it this way, if you have 1,000 motivated customers on a list that has 5,000 and each person spends five minutes reading the material you send, the accumulated time your customers spend with your ezine is just over 83 hours or about 3 Ѕ (24 hour) days. If you send a weekly ezine you will likely find your customers spending nearly half of the year reading your material. To put that in perspective your children will not be in school as long as it takes motivated customers to collectively read your material.

If your customers are going to spend that much time reading your ezine you can do no less than make sure it is worth reading. Develop your own material, but don’t be afraid to use material from other experts. This information can be obtained through your vendors and can also be obtained through the use of free-to-use articles available on multiple websites.

Nclb program should take its cue from dallas schools

Failure to educate our country’s most disadvantaged students is the most glaring and abiding social and moral problem of the United States. For nearly 20 years, our nation has worked to improve our schools and student achievement levels. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act was to be the answer to this dilemma by holding all schools accountable for student performance using high-stakes testing.

The error in thinking is the belief that the NCLB test ratings are fair and accurate. The system does not factor out the disadvantages and/or advantages of wealth and demographics, creating an inequity in the rating of schools. Low-income schools must provide programs, such as preschool, tutoring, remedial classes, and bilingual services, to their students, as well as the cost of more administration required by the state and federal grants that make up the largest percentage of their budget. Wealthier schools that primarily depend upon local funding (generally from property taxes) for their budget have few government constraints, few low-income students requiring special programs, and flexibility in how their budget is used. This means wealthier schools can provide more educational opportunities and enhancements (i. e. access to technology, fine arts and music, extracurricular activities, teacher professional training and improvements, and teacher administrative support) that impoverished schools cannot afford.

The Dallas Schools have developed their own rating system that factors out these disadvantages/advantages, putting all Dallas schools on an even playing field. Available funding, government requirements, the educational level of students entering kindergarten, and the demographics of the community are all factored out of the Dallas schools test rating metric.

Under NCLB, all schools across the nation must test children in reading and mathematics annually between third and eighth grades. The state, using NCLB mandated measures for school performance, calculates the percentage of various student populations that annually meet or exceed the state’s academic standards. Otherwise, they must measure the progress of student “groups” towards a universal fixed point.

Dallas schools use a “value added” school rating system that provides more accurate information, measuring individual student progress from a relative starting point. They then compare the scores with the same student’s scores from the previous year. Dallas schools score higher if students on average score higher than predicted by the previous year’s test scores and if the schools’ overall performance is better than that of other Dallas schools within the same demographics. If Dallas schools perform lower than predicted, they earn a low rating.

Herbert Marcus Elementary, part of the Dallas schools system, is the ideal candidate for the NCLB program. It is located in the inner city of Dallas, the building and grounds are run down, classes are overcrowded, and it is positioned on the edge of a grimy industrial zone. With 1,140 students, almost all are from low-income families and two-thirds speak English as a second language. Even the parents average a seventh-grade education.

Under Principal Conce Rodriguez, the school has done everything right in recent years — students wear uniforms, teachers submit weekly progress reports on every student in every subject, an expanded preschool program, teacher attendance incentives, and a large tutoring project, just to name a few. A community liaison, hired by Rodriguez, has increased the PTA membership to 700 (the largest in Dallas schools) and typically 50 parent volunteers daily at the school. Student attendance is at 97 percent, one of the highest in the Dallas schools system.

Under the Dallas schools rating system, Marcus placed 19th out of 206 Dallas schools, a significant accomplishment with such difficult demographics. Under the NCLB mandated rating system, Marcus placed 76th as only “acceptable”, one step away from being rated as failing. Needless to say, the Marcus educators, students and parents are none too pleased with the NCLB rating system. Some teachers have left Marcus from sheer frustration with the NCLB system and gone to wealthier Dallas schools, where they believe their accomplishments will meet with some recognition. A terrible loss to Marcus or any impoverished school, where quality teachers are scarce.

Other Dallas schools are being similarly penalized by the NCLB rating system. Dallas schools that ranked 2nd, 5th, 8th and 16th under the Dallas schools rating system were ranked 94th, 77th, 83rd and 107th, respectively, under NCLB. Additionally, the school that placed third under the NCLB rating system in the Dallas schools ranked 25th under the Dallas schools rating system. This shows the inequity of the NCLB rating system.

Since shortly after its passage, the NCLB has been under heavy attack by Congressional democrats, Texas republican legislators, and teacher unions. Though Dallas schools educators and parents support the high-stakes testing, they see the unfairness of the rating system used. They wish to see NCLB take a cue from the playbook of Dallas schools to accurately measure improvement in student achievement and factor out the demographics.

Birth control patch the patch of death

A lot of different birth control devices have been created over the centuries and are now being marketed to the public. All of them supposedly have been tested by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) if it is safe to be marketed to and used by the public. However there is an ongoing controversy regarding the birth control patch.

In the United States, a number of women in the San Francisco area have filed complaints about the adverse effects they experienced since they started using birth control patches. A lot of these women have developed blood clots on different parts of their bodies, and a few women have died from complications brought about by this contraceptive patch.

The Birth Control Patch

The contraceptive patch is a transdermal patch attached to the skin that is used to release synthetic estrogen and progesterone hormones into the body to prevent pregnancy. This means of contraception can only be acquired through a prescription and is acclaimed to be just as effective as the combined oral contraceptive pill. At the moment, the only available brand of birth control patch is Ortho Evra. It is informally referred to as “the Patch”.

Birth control patches work by releasing hormones into your system through your skin. It prevents eggs from being released from the ovaries, it thickens the cervical mucus lining to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, and it changes the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation. It is worn for one week at a time and it is placed directly on the skin of your abdomen, upper arm, upper torso, or buttocks. It is replaced once a week on the same day each week for a three-week period. The birth control patch is not worn during the fourth week to allow for the menstrual flow to occur.

Side Effects

Just like any other medication, it has side effects to go along with the benefits it provides its users. Here are some of the noted side effects from using the birth control patch:

l Skin irritation at the site of application

l Headaches

l Breast tenderness, swelling, pain

l Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting

l Moderate weight gain

l Nausea and vomiting

l Bloating

l Yeast infections

l Depression

The scariest side effect of using a birth control patch is its thromboembolic risks. All combined hormonal birth control products poses a really small increased risk of severe or fatal clot formation and migration (thromboembolism). It has recently been documented that birth control patch users may double the increased risk of developing a non-fatal venous thromboembolism as compared to women who use oral contraceptive pills. At present there have been a few reported cases of fatalities directly pointing to the birth control patches as primary cause of death.

A Cry For The User's Safety

On November of 2006, a group of 40 women filed a lawsuit against the only that manufactures birth control patches, Ortho-McNeil. They wanted the product to be pulled out from the market to protect other women who are not aware of the severity of its side effects. The FDA said that any hormonal contraceptive may cause blood clot as estrogen is also responsible for blood coagulation, however too much blood clot may indeed lead to other medical complications which may end in fatality. Because of the piling complaints against Ortho-McNeil, they re-tested the product and re-hashed the product label, indicating that it may cause blood clotting.

Choosing the right contraceptive product is not as simple as going for the most convenient or the cheapest one your money can afford. The first and most important factor that you should consider is your own health. Using a birth control patch may be convenient for you, but in the long run, will you still find it convenient after you've experienced all its adverse effects?

Bbc banned music top singles banned by the bbc

The British Broadcasting Corporation also known as the BBC is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it allows itself to ban materials that deviate from certain standards of civility. During the years, many singles that were seen as too explicit, distasteful or bear the potential for offending the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here you can read about some of them.

In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the national anthem title with fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose.

The single was found to offensive to be air played by the BBC, but it did not stop it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to the myth, God Save the Queen was the top selling single in the UK at the time, but it was held back of number one to avoid controversies.

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin scandalous duet Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus, translated: I love you... me neither, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.

The BBC ban and The Vatican denounce, did not stop Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus from being a top selling single in the UK and worldwide. In October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in the BBC official singles chart. At the same time, it had reached number 69 at the US singles chart.

Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus was a major influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers disco pioneer from 1976 titled Love to Love You Baby. After counting 23 faked orgasms performed by Summer in Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the song. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart.

Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles as well as commercially successful singles in history. The BBC did not only ban the song it also did not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express his feelings of disgust from the single's explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, it stayed in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and it is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it gained such a huge success despite the BBC ban or the BBC ban helped promoting it have not been settled yet.

Paul McCartney and the Wings response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events titled Give Ireland Back to the Irish, was banned by every media resource in the UK. It was forbidden from being broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the song title was not allowed to be pronounced on the air, so when it arrived to the BBC Radio 1 chart show it was presented as a record by the group Wings. However, Give Ireland Back to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles charts.

Why do some people suffer from excessive blushing

For most people, blushing is a normal reaction to being embarrassed. However, for people who have a problem with excessive blushing, embarrassment is far from the only trigger for blushing. For problem blushers, blushing occurs frequently and in response to all types of situations and events.

People who blush excessively seem to blush randomly, with no visible triggering event. However, blushing is always a physical reaction to some type of mental trigger. It can be triggered by embarrassment, being in the limelight, being concerned about perceptions of other people, and even by simply being fearful of blushing. People who blush excessively tend to be hypersensitive to being judged by other people, and so frequently blush any time they feel that other people are watching or thinking about them.

Problem blushers become even more self conscious as a result of their excessive blushing, and so frequently develop a phobia associated with blushing. Unfortunately, being afraid of blushing often becomes a self fulfilling prophecy for problem blushers that exacerbates the problem.

When problem blushers become aware that they have tendency to blush more frequently than other people, their first reaction is often to try to control their blushing. They become fixated on trying to control blushing, and thus come to live with a constant dread of blushing. Such a reaction leads to efforts to resist blushing, which are often futile and counterproductive.

The more a problem blusher tries not to blush, the more likely the person is to blush. The act of mentally focusing on blushing, or trying to avoid blushing, can be a mental trigger that brings on a physiological blushing reaction. When blushing is on a person’s mind all of the time, blushing is likely to occur with a greater frequency and intensity. Therefore, the more a person tries to ward off blushing, the more problems the person is likely to experience with blushing.

The fear of blushing can be a tormenting experience for someone people who blush excessively. Excessive blushing that one cannot control is both stressful and frustrating, and can lead to serious self esteem and social problems. Problem blushing and the fear associated with it can even lead to depression if it continues unchecked.

One of the best ways to reduce problem blushing is to stop fighting it so much. There are many useful tips and suggestions that can help problem blushers learn to let go of the fear that intensifies their problem blushing behavior.

One excellent resource is Blushing Free, a downloadable audio book by author Gary Ambrosh. To immediately begin learning how to reduce problem blushing, visit BlushingFree. com. Your quality of life will be greatly enhanced when you learn to control the problem blushing that causes unnecessary social stress and anxiety in your daily life.

Cats dogs - soul mates

Soul Mates?

I had heard more than once how Chows are very cat like in their demeanor and attitudes and since I have had two of them in my life I can confirm this! Given this similarity I was still unprepared for my current Chow’s love of cats. My last dog chased cats like every genetically correct pup should do, so I was amazed at my current pup and her feline fascination.

My pal Keisha was only five months old when she met her first cat. His name was Pongo and he was also five months old. We were visiting with family in Omaha Nebraska for Christmas and Keisha was determined to make friends with Pongo.

Pongo would have nothing to do with her!

They tip toed around each other for three days even coming nose to nose eventually. Then on Boxing Day we had just finished our lunch of leftovers…you know turkey sandwiches and such, when we heard a crash in the kitchen. Assuming nothing serious we were slow to react.

When we finally moseyed into the kitchen to get going on the post lunch cleanup they were caught in the act! There they were…Pongo and Keisha nose to nose eating the turkey that someone (?!?!?) had pushed off of the counter onto the floor. They had a fine feast together and even after their tag team mischief, Pongo was still reluctant to become fast friends although I think he was beginning to warm up to the idea, after all Keisha had eaten the turkey and not him!

Unfortunately we had to leave before the relationship was cemented. We have not seen Pongo since but Keisha responds most enthusiastically to his name still, over three years later.

Keisha is almost four years old now and since meeting Pongo she has tried to make friends with every cat she meets. They have all wanted absolutely nothing to do with her. And then came MOJO.

Mojo is owned by a neighbour and is an outdoor cat. He totally suits his name and struts through the “hood” as though he owns it and has complete control over all that goes down in it. He definitely has his MOJO goin on!

At first Keisha approached him cautiously, and he would bat at her with his paws, but never with claws out. Slowly but surely they came closer and closer to each other. There was the dancing around each other period that looked really funny as each would take their turn jumping forward then backward not unlike some ritual. Then came the purring and then the rolling over and belly sniffing. After that Mojo began to walk around and under Keisha strategically putting his tail in her face. She managed to maintain her aloof dignity when he does the tail in face thing. All of this has progressed to Mojo coming for walks with us, he come to visit and waits at the door for Keisha to come out to play. Keisha will put her paw on his bum to get the game of chase going and if Mojo is in the mood he will start the game by running or he will roll onto his back and swat at Keisha with all four paws. Mojo is the alpha in the relationship in spite of his 10 lbs to Keisha’s 60!

It is the most wonderful thing to observe and the neighborhood is mesmerized by these two fast friends.

To see them together one wonders why some cats and dogs get along and others want to destroy each other. Is it perhaps a past life spent together? Early influences like Pongo? Maybe Keisha was a cat in her last life and thus the affinity for cats and cat like behaviour? Or are they just all very different souls with very different personalities and perspectives? Who knows for sure? All I know is that my heart always warms when I see them together and am awed by this amazing friendship that truly looks like soul mates in action.

The chase free cash rewards visa card offering great cash back rewards

J. P Morgan Chase & Company is successfully serving millions of institutional, private and corporate customers in the United States. Chase is a company of repute and functions in over 50 countries.

Chase has brought for its customers the Chase Free Cash Rewards Visa Card, which provides you cash back facilities. If you are looking for a credit card with such a rewarding option, you can try out this card.

The Card Rewards

The Chase Free Cash Rewards Visa Card offers its customers a fabulous rewards program that makes it possible for you to obtain one point for spending one dollar. This is not all; on reaching the 2500 point-mark, you will get a $25 gift check.

The cardholder also has the option of selecting a $25 gift certificate from a range of retailers and merchants. Furthermore, the credit card gives you the opportunity of earning an extra 1000 bonus points for making your first purchase using the card. The maximum number of points you can earn in a 12-month time-period is 60000 points. The rewards have no expiration period.

The card enables you to be on the fast track for receiving cash back facilities. If you have fabulous credit and desire to have a credit card with a sound rewards program, you can go for the Chase Free Cash Rewards Visa Card.

This credit card, however, might not be suitable for you if you want to carry an occasional large revolving balance, as the card uses the ‘Two Cycles Average Daily Balance’ method for determining finance charges. The makes the card a little expensive in comparison to credit cards using the ‘Average Daily Balance’ method.

Other Benefits

On qualifying for the Chase Free Cash Rewards SM Visa Card, you can get to enjoy a 0% introductory rate, which is applicable for a full year’s purchases and balance transfers. However, with the expiry of the introductory period, you can still enjoy the low rates on purchases and balance transfers. These facilities along with the no annual fee feature are certainly very beneficial for the customers.

The card also comes with other enjoyable facilities, like travel accident insurance, rental car insurance and extended warranty. It also offers access to the usual Chase platinum services and benefits, such as extended warranties for purchases, auto rental insurance and travel accident insurance.

The card also offers facilities like many Internet account related services, many travel and emergency assistant services, and lost and stolen card reporting.

You can also enjoy emergency card and cash replacement, no liability for unauthorized transactions, a financial statement at the end of the year and other benefits. However, it is advisable to be cautious about the applicable limitations, and exclusions.

Help your kid cope with separation anxiety

By the time your baby is aged eight months and up, you may notice that she is like a character straight out of the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One moment she is the affectionate, outgoing and full of smiles Miss Wonderful in your home, and another moment, she is Terry terrible who’s anxious, clingy, cranky and easily scared when around things and people that are unfamiliar or new.

Don’t be dismayed. This definitely does not mean that your kid will develop multiple personalities. It’s just that she has developed a skill that enables her to distinguish familiar from unfamiliar situations.

Anxiety around strangers and when she does not see you is a normal milestone for babies around this age and should never be a cause for worry. While she has become a little too clingy and wails when you leave her or when someone she’s not familiar with approaches her, there are ways you can do to help her cope with separation anxiety.

First tip: Don’t leave your baby who’s not yet napped or who’s hungry. A baby is more vulnerable to separation anxiety when she’s hungry and tired. If you plan to go out, be sure she’s taken her nap and is full.

Second tip: Play peek-a-boo with your kid to teach her about object permanence. This means that when Mommy or Daddy went away, they’re not gone and will still come back. Do a variation of this game by playing peek-a-boo with her toys. Try hiding her Baby Einstein Puppet under a pillow or behind the couch and surprise your kid by making it reappear with a cheery shout of peek-a-boo! This will teach your kid that objects still exist even if they are out of our sight and that when Mommy or Daddy goes out, there’s nothing for baby to be scared about because they’ll return.

Third tip: Practice short sessions of separation at home. For example, leave your baby alone in a child-proof room with a couple of safe toys for a few minutes. If she cries, don’t hastily come back to comfort her. Let her comfort herself for a while and then come back when she’s calmed down. If you immediately rush to her side at her first cry, she will get the idea that that is the way to call on you. When she sees that being alone is not so bad after all, she will be able to cope with separation anxiety more easily.

Fourth tip: When you leave, don’t try to escape through the back door. Be honest to your kid by telling her that you’ll be gone for a few hours and say goodbye. Always reassure your kid that you’ll be back by showering her with lots of hugs and kisses. If you constantly disappear suddenly, this will only do more harm than good and cause more anxiety on her. However, if she learns to trust and be confident that you’ll be back, she won’t have a hard time with you leaving.

Fifth tip: Protect her from strangers. If you’re kid is anxious about a stranger pinching her cheek, admiring how cute she is, thank the person for the compliment but also politely tell her that your kid is uncomfortable around strangers.

Even though a child’s world may seem so carefree with no problems and only play and games to work on, a kid also goes through some hard times. Because they’re helpless and only depend on their parents, they have this fear of losing that comfortable shoulder to rely on. That’s why it is important that you help your kid overcome separation anxiety.

Martial arts definition

Martial Arts are the various forms of self-defense, usually weaponless, based on techniques developed in ancient China, India, and Tibet. In modern times they have come into wide use for self-protection, as competitive sports, and for exercise. Jujitsu teaches skills that enable one to overcome a bigger, stronger opponent. A popular style of jujitsu is aikido, which uses wrist, elbow, and shoulder twists and graceful falls; it is noncompetitive and incorporates various spiritual concepts. Other popular forms of martial arts include kung fu, karate, and tae kwon do, all of which emphasize blows with the feet and the side of the hand, and kendo, in which leather-covered bamboo "swords are used. All styles emphasize allowing ki (cosmic energy) to flow through one's body. This belief in ki connects aikido with t'ai chi ch'uan, a meditationlike discipline that emphasizes slow, graceful body movements. The most popular form of individual exercise in China, t'ai chi is often performed publicly in large groups; it has been claimed to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Judo, a Japanese sport created in 1882, makes use of jujitsu principles. Capoeira, a dancelike Brazilian discipline, is gaining in popularity.

martial

Pronunciation: 'mдr-shl

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin martialis of Mars, from Mart-, Mars

Date: 14th century

1 : of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior

2 : relating to an army or to military life

3 : experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKE

- mar. tial. ly / adverb

Martial Arts

The term "martial art" is used in (at least) two different ways. This can be confusing. Some dictionary definitions only make things worse.

The dictionary definition handy at the moment defines a martial art as "Any of several Oriental arts of combat or self-defense, as karate, judo, or tae kwon do, usually practiced as a sport."

Typically this group uses "Martial Art" in one of two ways:

1) The first definition is a generic one, which defines a "Martial Art" as the study of any kind of combat and/or self-defense techniques.

This definition includes non-oriental arts like boxing. This definition includes both those arts practiced primarily as a sport, and those arts practiced primarily for self-defense. This definition includes those arts that emphasize only physical technique. This definition also includes those arts that emphasize a philosophical or mental aspect in addition to physical techniques. In its broadest usage, this definition includes learning how to drive a tank or drop bombs out of a plane as a Martial Art. This explains the somewhat facetious references you will see to "Gun Fu", the martial art of learning how to use firearms (implying, as the dictionary definition does, that a martial art must be oriental to be legitimate).

2) The second definition is much narrower, and draws a distinction between a "Martial ART" and a "Martial WAY". To offer a gross simplification:

A martial art is the study of an art that emphasizes only physical techniques. Perfection of technique is the primary concern. A martial way emphasizes the study of both physical techniques and a philosophical or mental aspect as well. Perfection of the self is the primary concern. The emphasis on this distinction is very clear for those arts that have Japanese names. Typically, Japanese martial *art* style names end in "jutsu", such as "jiu-jutsu", "aiki-jiujutsu", or "ken-jutsu". Typically Japanese martial *way* style names end in "do", such as "ju-do", "aiki-do", or "ken-do".

art

Pronunciation: 'дrt

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin art-, ars -- more at ARM

Date: 13th century

1 : skill acquired by experience, study, or observation

2 a : a branch of learning: (1) : one of the humanities (2) plural : LIBERAL ARTS b archaic : LEARNING, SCHOLARSHIP

3 : an occupation requiring knowledge or skill

4 a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced b (1) : FINE ARTS (2) : one of the fine arts (3) : a graphic art

5 a archaic : a skillful plan b : the quality or state of being artful

6 : decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter

synonyms ART, SKILL, CUNNING, ARTIFICE, CRAFT mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised. ART implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power . SKILL stresses technical knowledge and proficiency . CUNNING suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing . ARTIFICE suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature . CRAFT may imply expertness in workmanship .

Martial Arts

A martial art is any skill that can be applied in warfare. The word martial means "military." So, a martial art is a military art. Most people don't really consider that when they think of the martial arts. The first things that usually come to mind are leaping, kicking, punching, blocking, inverting elbows, twisting necks, throwing, and sword fighting. That is a very narrow view of the martial arts, though. Did it occur to you that horsemanship, javelin throwing, archery, spear fighting, halberd fighting, wrestling, knife fighting, rifle, shotgun, and pistol shooting, demolitions, logistics, and battle strategy are all martial arts? Anything that a soldier might do in battle is a martial art.

Online sports stock market

So I am sure you know a little about stock markets…but what about an online sports market? With many sports books having to shut their doors to United States customers, an idea which has been around for years is beginning to get more and more publicity. A program in which users are able to trade shares of certain sports teams. The concept is simple – buy low and sell high. There are also several other methods in which people can make money using this new system. One of these methods is to simply own shares of a winning sports team. When a team wins a game they collect a percentage of the losing team’s current dividend reserve. Then the winning team pays a dividend to all share holders from a portion of their dividend reserve. It may sound complicated, however it is really an easy concept to grasp.

Just like researching real stock, users are able to use tools to track the performance of the various sports ticker symbols. Users can look at previous dividend payouts, 52 week highs and lows, and 30 day average prices just to name a few. With more and more people joining programs like this across the internet, it may just be the best method to currently make money using sports betting knowledge, but without actually sports betting! In some ways it may be easier to profit using a system like this rather than using a traditional sports betting bookie.

One such system that is available online offers great incentives to join as they have setup their system so that anyone can start with as little as $25.00. There are multiple funding methods available making it easy for anyone to fund their account. Some of the deposit methods include Neteller, PrePaidATM, Credit Card, MoneyBookers, Western Union, and E-Gold. Members are able to withdraw the funds at any time which is another great feature of this program. Commission must be paid on each trade that is made on the site. This fee varies between 2.5 and 5 percent of the total transaction amount. There is also an additional fee of $0.50 if you were to cancel an order before you specified it to expire. So anyone who is already big on sports betting should check out this new trend that is growing rapidly all over the internet!

Just to clarify a few things I would like to make sure that everyone understands this program is not really like a stock market in that the owners do not truly own part of the sports team like a shareholder of a company would in the real stock market. The way this system works is that people own sports derivatives which are perpetual instruments in the online sports market. Owners can hold on to them forever or decide to sell them at any time.

So if you are interested in learning more about these online sports stock markets please visit the website linked below.

Honda bumpers prove to be great

Most people do not realise how effective your Honda bumper can be. And you probably do not even think twice about them. However it would be beneficial to you if knew how great they were. Why? So that you can appreciate them more. You might think they do not have much of a purpose, but you are wrong my friend. The Honda bumper provides you with a lot more than you think.

Honda bumpers are shock absorbers. If and when you ever have any kind of accident, collision or crash, they can help save your life. You may not think they are an important part of the vehicle, but they are. They can decrease the amount of damage to your car during an accident. The bumpers shield the front and rear areas of your vehicle. And as great and interesting as that sounds, your bumpers are not actually considered safety devices. How weird is that?

The Honda bumpers are manufactured in many types of materials. Some of these materials include aluminum, steel, plastic and rubber. Don’t forget you can always have custom built bumpers if that is what you wish. Having your Honda painted, designed and what not can drastically change the look of your car. Whatever you desire can be yours. So you can be styling and be more safe at the same time.

If you want to purchase some bumpers you can always check out Auto Parts Online. They have many parts and products for every thing your Honda needs. They can even give you great deals on the bumpers and any of your future purchases. So go check them out, they can save you bundles. And they will help keep you safe at the same time. Who ever knew that something like bumpers could do all that?

It pays to be prepared

Having diabetes can change to life of person entirely. From the way one chooses the foods that he will eat to the way he lives his daily life, everything will change. For someone who doesn’t know much about diabetes there are a lot of webs sites, magazines, and books that can help you understand better of the nature of diabetes.

The greatest problem for diabetics is not being able to access medication when emergency situations occur. That is why, it is important to always have an emergency kit at hand. To keep the medicines from expiring, use them from time to time and replace them with new refills. The emergency kit can include cold medications, antacids, cough syrup, test strips and insulin with syringes if you use one and blood glucose monitoring supplies. If you will purchase over the counter medicines, make sure to read the label before using it. If there is a warning that diabetic people should consult their doctor before using the product, then do so. If you have these emergency kits at home, try to also have it at work or at school.

It is also essential to include in the emergency kit your medical history, prescription medications and emergency contacts. To keep them from getting wet, keep them in a water proof bags. If you are using insulin keep extra syringes, glucagons emergency kit and urine ketone strips. A glucagon emergency kit consists of a syringe filled with liquid which must be mixed with a powder. This kit is only used in case of a Severe Hypoglycemic Emergency. Try also to keep the insulin in a cool place as much as possible to keep it from being damaged.

For people who got caught in the Katrina and Rita hurricane disaster, being prepared made the difference between life and death. And for people with diabetes, being prepared is important to their own personal safety and health. Hence, the best thing a diabetic person can do to prevent any problem with diabetes is to live a healthy lifestyle. It is important to eat healthy foods and have a regular exercise to keep blood pressures at normal and reduce the risk of heart disease and other serious conditions. And most importantly, have emergency kits close at hand at all times.

Homeschooling - getting started

There are more and more parents every year who have reached the conclusion that educating their children at home has become a much better option than what the public schools today have to offer. The advantage is to homeschooling are many among the top that homeschooling has to offer is the flexibility of the scheduling and knowing that your child is be presented with and learning the values and morals that are important to your family.

When it comes to homeschooling there are many different types of homeschooling approaches that you will no doubt come across in your research. Probably the most common type of approach taken today would be best described as an eclectic approach. This is where the parents over time have come to use various components of several different approaches and combined them into an overall educational process that works best for their child and their family.

Many parents when they just start out seem overwhelmed by all of the information available. And believe me, there is a vast amount of information available. Don't panic, you'll sort through it in time and find what works best for you and your family. Don't grind to a halt and suffer from paralysis by analysis just because you try to gather more information than anyone could possibly process.

For this reason, many families choose to go with a packaged curriculum. Although initially you might feel as though a packaged curriculum is not within your budget, if you are just starting out this may be the best and most organized way for you to begin. You can always take what you learn from a packaged curriculum and develop your own model.

As you look through all the possibilities for homeschooling your child and all of the programs out there, keep in mind that any homeschooling program under its packaged for your own needs to follow the natural growth pattern of your child. In other words, you'll want to find or develop a package that contains not only a natural progression in the subject matter, but you'll also want to be mindful of any documentation that is required by your state and local regulations.

I would think that it would be safe to say that for the majority of homeschooling parents their curriculum has developed over time. Don't worry if you feel like you don't have everything perfectly aligned in the beginning. This is one of the great advantages to homeschooling... you don't have to be perfect and you don't have to follow a perfect schedule.

Save yourself from the terrible ear infection

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Ear infections and earaches are common illnesses that plague just about 10 million Americans a year. They can cause immense pain that make it tough on you to concentrate and complete tasks. So what can be done to get rid of ear infections and earaches? Better yet, what can you do to prevent ear infections and earaches before they become a problem? Here, I’ll tell you the most common reasons for ear infections and list some basic methods that will help you and your friends escape the dreaded earache.

Who’s most affected by ear infections?
Children are the most common group affected by otitis media (ear infection). Three out of four children experience an earache or ear infection by the time they are three years old. Why is this important for you to know? It’s important because you’ll be able to recognize the signs of an impending ear infection for your children and do something about it before it becomes a problem.

How do earaches occur?
Did you know that swimming or taking a shower can lead to an ear infection? Ear infections are caused by trapped water, moisture and bacteria growth in the inner ear. This build up in the inner ear irritates the Eustachian tube and causes it to swell. The swelling of the Eustachian tube then puts added pressure on the inner ear and that leads to the aching that we feel. The pressure in the ear constantly builds as water and moisture are not able to drain from the ear through the nose. Alas, the inner ear infection is born. Allergies and cleaning your ear with a cotton swab can also lead to earaches and ear infections. All of the pressure in the ear eventually leads to hearing loss, itching, swelling in the ear, and pain. That’s when an earache occurs and causes discomfort. All of these ear infection symptoms can be treated and even prevented before you have a full blown earache.

Stop the pain before it starts
Having an earache is never any fun and that’s why you should take preventive measures before experiencing the pain of having one. Did you know that cleaning your nasal passage actually reduces the chance of suffering from an ear infection? The best way to rid yourself of chronic ear infection and earache is by keeping pollutants and irritants out of the Eustachian tube so that water can drain through the throat. Also, chewing gum or doing some other kind of chewing motion with the jaw will help reduce chances of getting an earache or ear infection. Other than these suggestions, there are only a few ways to rid yourself of an ear infection after getting it. If you’re already experiencing the pains from an ear infection, go to your local doctor for antibiotics.

Remember, just because you feel an earache coming on, doesn’t mean you have to live with the pain of it. Take the proper measures to ensure that you and your children don’t suffer the pains of an ear infection. Now, you know what to do to rid yourself of the pressure and pain that earaches and ear infections cause almost 10 million people a year.

5 myths about rhinoplasty revisited

With rhinoplasy being the second most popular plastic surgery procedure performed in 2004 (according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons), nose surgery is moving from the realm of the rich and famous into the homes of regular people like you and me. Now that this procedure is more accessible than ever, it’s only natural that you will be exposed to a lot of information about it – some true, some doubtful, some downright false. In this article, we’ll try to address some of the most popular misconceptions surrounding rhinoplasty.

1. Every plastic surgeon can do a rhinoplasty surgery – Technically, yes. Most plastic surgeons will have rhinoplasty on their list of performed procedures. However, that doesn’t mean that every plastic surgeon can achieve good rhinoplasty results. Rhinoplasty is a challenging procedure, both from a medical and an artistic point of view. A plastic surgeon must have a thorough understanding of the internal anatomy of the nose and the workings of the respiratory system, so that the reshaped nose is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also fully functional. Since the nose is such a major factor in our face’s overall appearance, the plastic surgeon also needs to have a strong sense of artistry, to create a nose that fits beautifully with the rest of the patient’s face.

2. Rhinoplasty is motivated by vanity – Despite the widely-held belief that people get nose surgery solely for cosmetic reasons, it’s not uncommon for this procedure to correct breathing problems (e. g. a septum deviation) in addition to enhancing the appearance of the nose. At the same time, it has been established that in patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their nose, having rhinoplasty may lead to a physical and emotional transformation that will enhance their self-confidence and ultimately their quality of life. From this perspective, the effect of rhinoplasty is comparable more to a therapeutic treatment than a selfish gratification for the patient’s vanity.

3. Rhinoplasty is painful – Unlike other plastic surgery procedures like breast implants or tummy tuck, rhinoplasty is not usually painful. Most surgeons perform rhinoplasty under general anesthesia, so you will be fully asleep and will not feel a thing. After the surgery, you will have a small nose cast for 7 to 10 days, during which you will most likely feel congested, as if having a cold. The area around your nose and eyes may be swollen and bruised (especially if your nasal bones have been reshaped); however, the overall discomfort you will experience after the surgery is minimal.

4. Everyone will notice you had a nose job – If your nose requires a major change – like removing a large bump – people around you might indeed notice the difference in your nose. However, if your nose needs only a refinement of the bridge or tip, chances are the perceived change in your appearance will be less dramatic than you anticipate. After all, nobody is as intimately familiar with your facial features as you are, so making a minor change to them may not be very obvious to the outside world. Also, keep in mind that a good surgeon will avoid providing you with an “operated-looking nose”, and instead will strive to achieve a balance between your reshaped nose and the rest of your facial features, so they naturally complement each other.

5. Rhinoplasty will get you the nose of your dreams – While having rhinoplasty can dramatically improve the appearance of your nose, there are certain limitations to what a plastic surgeon can do, based on your given bone and skin structure. At the same time, there is a chance that you won’t be fully satisfied with the results of your surgery. Statistics show that between 10% and 15% of rhinoplasty surgeries require a secondary procedure, to either enhance or correct the results of the first. This is sometimes due to the nose healing and developing in ways that the surgeon cannot predict or control. In other cases, the patients’ dissatisfaction with the final results is due to poor communication with the doctor about the intended outcome of the surgery. However, this occurrence is an exception rather than the rule, since most patients report to be happier with their physical appearance after the surgery than before.

So what is the key to successfully achieving the nose of your dreams? Going back to point one – it’s carefully researching, selecting and communicating with your surgeon! How long has he or she been performing nose surgeries? What is their surgical accreditation? What does their safety record look like? Take a good luck at images of his or her rhinoplasty patients – does their reshaped nose measure up to your idea of beauty? Can you picture your own nose looking like that? If you do, the next step consists in ensuring that both you and your surgeon have a very clear understanding of what you expect your nose to look like and what is attainable from a medical point of view. Armed with good knowledge and a positive attitude, you’re on your best way to achieving a more attractive and confident YOU!