Did you know that more than 47% of US households are headed by unmarried individuals? The American Association for Single People projects this figure will continue to rise in the coming decade. Therefore, if you are single you are not alone. And … if you have single adults in your social circle, don’t assume alone means “lonely.”

As Thanksgiving approaches and we start making holiday plans, here are some things to keep in mind.

Perception: That it’s terrible to be alone for the holidays.
Reality: This is mostly a projection of married people who fear the unknown or could not tolerate being alone before they were married. The reality is that single people who observe what goes on at holiday get-togethers between couples, 50% of whom are destined to be divorced at some point, think there are worse things than being single.

Perception: That single people are desperate to be invited over for Thanksgiving dinner.
Reality: Single people have myriad options and no one to consult. I can go on a cruise, stay home in my bathrobe and declare it a non-holiday, do meaningful volunteer work at the homeless shelter, invite friends over, or get a dinner reservation at a hotel. Or I can accept any one of the numerous invitations I get. Contrary to what you might think, we single people are popular at the holidays. Most of us have accomplished social skills and are welcome additions at holiday gatherings

Perception: Single people don’t know what to do for holidays.
Reality: We’re used to planning our social lives actively, good at generating options, used to making unilateral decisions, and accomplished “mixers.” We’re pros!

Perception: Anyone who’s single is fair-game to perform certain social tasks during the holiday celebration.
Reality: We like to be cherished guests, just like everyone else. “Can you come for Thanksgiving dinner. I need some help with Aunt Edna?” is not an invitation. If your family doesn’t get along and you’re inviting the single person to “throw a steer in with the bulls,” that’s not nice either. It’s your problem; solve it yourself.

Perception: Single people are available to do certain physical tasks.
Reality: This isn’t an invitation either: “Can you come over early and help out in the kitchen. I’ve got my hands full.” What about her husband? Her sisters? As best-friend, yes; as the only working-guest, absolutely not.

Perception: That the only “happy” way to spend the holidays is if you are a
couple or part of a family.
Reality: If that were so, half the articles on the Internet this time of year wouldn’t be about how to cope with family at the annual holiday get-togethers.

Perception: That single people are miserable during the holidays.
Reality: Yes, it can be difficult if it’s their first Thanksgiving after a divorce or after a spouse has died, but the majority of single people are no more miserable than anyone else, and perhaps less so. Since being single (with grown children), I’ve had the same levels of pleasure, the same good and better holidays, but there’s one thing for sure – I’m more rested, and that in itself goes a long way.

So if you’re thinking about including a single person in your family gathering, make sure it’s because you want them there, not to fulfill a function or because you think they’d be miserable if it weren’t for your invitation. A guest is a guest, whether they’re single or married, and good manners prevail.

©Susan Dunn, MA, EQ coaching, http://www.susandunn.cc , mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc . Individual coaching, business programs, EQ Alive! #1 rated program to increase your EQ – simple, no memorizing, it works. Email for information, and free ezine.

Bluetooth—one of the hottest, fastest-growing communications technologies on the market today—is a short-range system that enables mobile phones, handheld devices and computers to wirelessly interconnect. Users can completely coordinate all of their mobile and fixed computer devices while eliminating the cables that usually connect them.

This innovative system has been around for years in the form of wireless headsets, speakerphones, earpieces and more. All are designed to maintain a quality connection while giving users the true mobility and freedom they seek.

Despite the engineering wizardry Bluetooth brings, rare flaws may occur with these products. That’s why consumers need to ensure they’re purchasing Bluetooth accessories from a reputable company that provides strict testing of all of its products before offering them for sale.

“The sale of underperforming Bluetooth devices is a slowly growing issue,” says Jennifer Bean, IS Director of eCommerce for eAccess, the parent company of Treo-Gear.com, an online retailer of Treo devices and Treo accessories. “That’s why we quality check every Bluetooth-enabled device that’s on our site before we will sell it.”

Bluetooth technology is globally available, applies to a wide range of devices, is easy to use, features secure connections and is a globally accepted specification. The built-in security, low power consumption, small size and low cost of the chipset solution make it functional for the tiniest of devices, and thus, minimizes the likelihood of technical problems with Bluetooth accessories.

Still, according to Bean, Treo-Gear.com wants to assure the highest quality for its customers. Therefore, the company’s rigorous testing methods include checking for defects and usability issues. But they also test for compatibility, fit, finish, ease of use and quality.

“If I can’t provide customers with a quality product, I won’t carry it period,” says Bean.

Treo-Gear.com also tests all Treo Bluetooth accessories to ensure that they meet compatibility and all other specifications. Physical testing is performed on every accessory—and every device that goes with it.

“We are very selective with the Bluetooth accessories that we choose to carry,” says Bean. “We want to make sure that we only provide the best Bluetooth and Treo accessories for our customers.”

This article brought to you by www.treo-gear.com. Treo-Gear.com is owned and operated by eAccess Solutions, Inc. eAccess is a global provider of mobile data products, software and consulting services, Headquartered in Chicago, IL., eAccess has over 50,000 customers worldwide and proudly serves over 65% of the US Fortune 100, major branches of the US Government, US Military, Educational Institutions, Small Businesses and Individual consumers everywhere.

Like so many other times in the business of real estate, I’m absolutely amazed at how people affiliated with For Sale By Owner companies can write off the value of a state licensed Realtor and suggest paying Realtor commissions is not a good idea. There are many articles that promote the For Sale By Owner approach to real estate and that’s fine. Like many people, I like to get the facts before making an important and financially sensitive decision when it comes to large investments in real estate.

Many FSBO companies question why a home seller has to pay 6% realtor commission when they can simply pay $25 per month to place their home listing on a FSBO website. Now I’m not saying FSBO website exposure is a bad thing. I feel any exposure when selling your home is obviously a good thing. But, exposure alone is only part of the process necessary when selling a home. What the FSBO sites don’t tell you upfront can be quite scary.

If you weren’t selling your home, would you allow a bunch of strangers in your home to look around at each room, opening all closets and essentially taking note of all your worldly possessions? Most of us would get nauseous at the thought. Well, by utilizing a FSBO service to market your home, that is exactly what you are doing. They offer no screening process to ensure the strangers coming to your door are qualified buyers. Most don’t offer any assistance with writing contracts or negotiating them which leaves the homeowner fending for themselves. Unless you are a skilled negotiator, you are in for a rough ride.

When you list with a licensed Realtor, you are getting much more than just marketing. A licensed Realtor is bound by certain ethics and rules that are in place to provide the home seller a plan of action to help reach their goals. Marketing is only one part of what a Realtor provides. A state licensed Realtor is also responsible for negotiating not only the price of an offer on the home, but also the terms of the offer. Terms can include:

***Amount of escrow deposit

***Amount of additional escrow deposits

***Financing terms

***Closing date

***Who pays title search and insurance? What if a title issue comes up? What if there are liens on the property?

***Home Inspection periods and what the seller will or will not include if repairs are needed. What if inspections turn up termites or other damage caused by wood destroying organisms?

***What if a buyer defaults on a contract? How are you protected against lost time and how do you get the escrow money they deposited.

These are only a few parts of a contract that a professional and licensed Realtor negotiates on a seller’s behalf. Again, I’m amazed how anyone that is not highly skilled and knowledgeable in real estate sales and transactions would not highly consider interviewing several Realtors and reviewing their qualifications. I guess the closest thing to representing yourself in a real estate transaction would be representing your self in a court of law without using an attorney. Not a good idea. So, why would you pay a Realtor 6% commission? Quite simply to keep you out of trouble and protect your best interests. After all, we pay accountants, lawyers, doctors and consultants to advise us and keep us out of trouble. Why not a licensed Realtor?

If you are considering selling your home and are not sure if you will proceed as a FSBO or hire a professional and licensed Realtor, please visit my website for more information at http://www.SeanLSpencer.com. You can also call me personally to discuss the options and what is best for your particular situation.

Sincerely,

Sean L. Spencer
866-383-0707
http://www.SeanLSpencer.com

Passion. Focus. Dedication.

What Sean brings to his clients is a commitment and dedication to provide quality service. He does what it takes to make things happen and you always know he’s working with your best interests in mind. He offers reliable communication and follow through that will guide you in the right direction when it comes to your most important decisions. You’ll receive the one-on-one attention you deserve, with a warm and caring style that is all his own.

Most importantly, Sean knows what counts: Passion. Focus. Dedication. To Sean, these are the key elements for success and the foundation for the way he approaches all your real estate needs. You owe it to yourself to give him a call today. You’ll be glad you did.

Computer repairs are being done by computer novices at a higher rate than ever before. More and more people do their own computer repairs. Whether it is installing a hard drive or installing an operating system. Is the computer repair business dead?

The computer industry is evolving. It is always changing. In fact, if there is one thing that is sure in the computer repair industry it’s that change is going to happen. Companies like Microsoft have gone out of their way to make their products as easy to use as possible. Where does that leave the computer repair business? What can you do to stay in business and be competitive?

Offer outstanding customer service. Look for different ways to package your services. Take the time to research your competition. What could you offer that no one else is offering? One area that matters to your customer is time. Are you in a position to guarantee fast computer repairs? Maybe a same day repair service? Think about how you can take care of your customer while they wait. You could create a comfortable waiting area for them with good reading material, free coffee, computers with internet access or something similar. Don’t be afraid to get creative. Think outside the box.

Keep your prices reasonable without under or overcharging. When pricing your services, it is generally a good idea to go with the industry average for your area. If you offer something unusual like same day repairs, you could charge more money. On the other hand, if you charge the same as everyone else but get the computer repair done quickly, this can easily result in an increase in business.

Don’t overcharge for computer parts. Most customers are price savvy. If you are charging a premium for the computer parts you install over what other places are charging, you will most likely find your customer base dwindling. Here again, the industry average is your friend. Find out what your competitors are charging for general computer parts and look to stick around that. Getting known as the most expensive place in town won’t exactly help business.

Whatever you do, treat your customer with respect and you’ll have more business than you can handle. Is the computer repair business dead? I don’t think so. It’s simply evolving.

Joe Duchesne is the webmaster of GreatComputerInfo.com a website dedicated to pc computer repair related topics. Reprint freely as long as you keep the live keyword rich link in this resource box with the article.

Copyright 2006 Bill Naugle

Improve the Search Engine Ranking of Your Website in 3 easy
steps!

SEO or Search Engine Optimization is a buzzword that is around
for a long time. There are as many misconceptions about SEO as
there are webmasters. Some webmasters are afraid of SEO,
thinking it is too complex and not worth the effort. Others
believe that SEO will get your website banned from the search
engines and there are the few that actively practice SEO.

Fact #1: SEO can be complex if you want to compete with the big
guys. SEO is all about outperforming your competitors. That
means the less competitors the better your success rate will be.

Fact #2: SEO can ban your website from the search engines if you
break the rules. I will not tell you the dark tricks of SEO that
will ultimately get you on the blacklist of the search engines.
This way you will not be able to break any rules and keeps you
out of trouble.

Fact #3: SEO can be simple and effective. I will show you a few
easy steps to increase the ranking of your website. You will be
amazed about its simplicity.

Ok, here we go.

1. Choose your niche keyword phrase

SEO is all about being a little bit better than your competition
on a single keyword phrase. You need to focus your website on a
single keyword phrase. 2 or 3 words in a keyword phrase work
best. Make sure that people are actually searching these phrases
as well. Wordtracker and Overture are just two methods out of
many to check for usability. If you optimize your website for
the wrong keyword phrases you’re wasting your time.

2. Set your html tags right

Your keyword phrase has to be in the -title tag. You can ignore
the keyword and description meta tags for now. They are not as
important anymore as they were a few years ago. Make sure to
have an h1 tag with the keyword phrase. Avoid having an h2 tag
with the keyword phrase. Take control over the look and feel via
cascading style sheets (CSS). This way it is much easier to
control your website’s appearance and keeps the html code
clutter free.

Sprinkle your keyword phrase throughout the webpage. Place your
keyword phrase 2-3 times closer to the top, once within the
first 25 characters and once in the last 25 characters of your
text. Change the style variation of the keyword phrase. Make
sure you have at least one underlined, one bold and one italic
variation of the keyword phrase.

3. Check for errors

Spell checking is a must. Search engines don’t honor spell
errors on your webpage very well. Check for broken links as
well. Nothing hurts your ranking more than broken hyperlinks.

Well, here you have it. The 5 minute drill to improve your
website’s search engine rankings. Ok, I admit it, it’s not this
easy. On-Page SEO is only half the battle, maybe only one third
of the battle. To really dominate the search engines you need to
practice a well planned and executed linking strategy. This is
also called Off-Page SEO. Off-Page SEO is your most important
task as a webmaster.

The details of a successful Off-Page SEO strategy are too much
for the content of this article. But here’s a little example on
how effective Off-Page SEO is: Logon to Google and type in the
keyword ‘click here’. To your surprise you will see that Adobe
holds the #1 position for this keyword. Now analyze the Adobe
page for a minute. There is no ‘click here’ anywhere on the page
or within the html code. How in the world can they be #1 for
‘click here’? Millions of other web pages have a link to Adobe
with the title ‘click here’ to download the Acrobat Reader.
That’s why.

Nothing makes me happier than if you can improve the search
engine ranking of your website by just a few positions by
following my simple advice. 90% of all webmasters don’t bother
and that’s the window of opportunity for you. Of course a short
article cannot explain the total picture of SEO. However it is
meant to give you some ideas on how to approach SEO. Have fun
while practicing SEO with your website. By: Bill Naugle Visit:
websiterankingtop.com

Cycling is the sport which needs like any other sport time, sacrifice and dedication. Cycling nowadays is still considered a recreation or a professional sport. Millions of people find that cycling is a great way to move faster and without any fuel problem.

A bicycle has different components which are: the wheel, gears, brakes. The wheels is an important element which allows the rider to move with great speed and efficiency. The gears allow the cyclist to pedal at an efficient and comfortable way. The first widely used breaking system was known as the plunger. It first appeared on the high-wheelers of the 1800s.

Other known breaking systems are: coaster brake and caliper. The coaster brake is still used throughout the world and it works by reversing the motion on the pedals. The most popular brake for road and mountain bicycles is the caliper rim brake. The caliper brakes are lightweight and inexpensive.

An important place in cycling is wind resistance. The efficiency of the aerodynamic is (the force air pressure and direct friction) the element which permits the cyclist to travel much faster, with less effort. But the faster the cyclist goes, the more wind resistance he experiences, and the more energy he must exert to overcome it.

The bicycle has played a great role in changing the women’s fashion in the late 1800s. A very important element in the performance of a cyclist is the food he eats. It requires a proper balance of nutrients. An important place has the water. Losing as little as 2 percent of the body’s fluid can affect cycling performance and severe dehydration can cause heat exhaustion, stroke and sometimes death. Cyclists drink a few cups of water before riding and during exercise All the cyclist’s power are in the legs. Muscle attached to the thighbone and the shinbone do almost all the work.

Cycling opened up new horizons for people in the nineteenth century especially for women, and can be seen now also in the developing world. Finally, competitive cycling provided one of the earliest forms of mass spectator sport in modern times.

If you find this information useful you should visit the site http://first-cycling-online.info where you will find lots of interesting articles related to this topic, all original and wrote by Michael Lastun.

As you probably know all to well, the cost of healthcare and health insurance premiums continue to increase at levels substantially above the general inflation rate. The reasons given for these extraordinary cost increases are numerous and include: technological advancements in the medical field, increased demand for medical services and prescription drugs, the aging of the population, cost shifting caused by the uninsured and governmental reimbursement rates, state and federal mandates, and costs associated with medical related lawsuits.

As individual consumers, we have very little control over some of the factors contributing to the cost of healthcare. However, all of us have control over lifestyle related health insurance claims. A simple formula of eating a balanced diet, getting the appropriate amount of daily exercise, participating in annual physicals and other recommended routine care, limiting alcohol consumption, and eliminating the use of tobacco products will no doubt reduce our personal healthcare costs. In addition to reducing medical costs, the other benefits of following such a formula include more energy, self confidence, less stress, and increased productivity. If you are not doing so already, I encourage you to consider practical ways to promote a healthy lifestyle for you and your family. For example, one of the individual health insurance companies my organization works with has an option that will offset 25% of the annual cost of a health club membership. Simple things such as taking a walk, bike ride, or going swimming promote both a healthy body and mind. If you have a sweet tooth, consider limiting yourself to eating desert once a week. You will enjoy it more and your body will thank you.

Health insurance premiums will continue to increase as long as the cost of healthcare continues to go up. The best way to reduce the overall cost of healthcare is to decrease our need for healthcare. Healthy lifestyle choices and prudent use of the healthcare system are the best and easiest ways to get a handle on our healthcare expenditures. Perhaps the greatest benefit of a healthy lifestyle is our ability to enjoy our precious time here on earth to the fullest.

Michael Ertel is the President of Ertel & Company, Inc. and has over 15 years of experience in the health insurance business. He is the founder of MedicalInsuranceNow.com which is an internet based service that assists individuals, families, and small business owners by providing side by side comparisons of health insurance alternatives and the convenience of applying for health coverage online.

If you master these nitty-gritty website promotion
tactics, you’ll be able to increase orders at your
website:

1. Express the same views as your target audience.
Bring up common likes and dislikes in your ad. This
will create instant rapport with your audience.

2. Add viral marketing into your promotional plans.
Allow your visitors to give away your free stuff,
just include your ad somewhere on all the freebies.

3. Design your web site to be less confusing. Don’t
use a lot of graphics, links and anything that takes
away from your sales message.

4. Give your visitors the option of viewing your web
site by autoresponder or printing it out. They might
not have the time right then to look it over.

5. Increase your opt-in e-mail list quickly by giving
away a product at no cost. Just require people to
subscribe to your e-zine in exchange.

6. Joint venture your web business with other offline
businesses. Look for businesses that have the same
target audience and create a win/win deal with them.

7. Expand your target audience by adding a new
product line or packaging your main products with
other ones. You could also add-on extra services.

8. Persuade your visitors to like you. People buy
from people they like. You could tell them a joke,
give them a compliment, give them a freebie, etc.

9. Submit the free stuff you offer to online freebie
directories. They usually get tons of traffic because
people like to get things for free.

10. Use headlines and sub headlines that are aimed
directly at your audience. If you’re selling things to
lawyers use a headline like “Attention All Lawyers!”.

May these website promotion secrets help you to
make a lot of money and succeed.

Warmly,

I-key Benney, CEO

I-key, a Millionaire CEO from New York City is the creator of “Mscsrrr: Millionaire Secret Cash System”, (forex ebook), which has helped thousands of ordinary people from all over the world to attain financial security and shining success during the past 2 yrs.

Mscsrrr Millionaire Secret Cash System helps you to generate $1,500+/Week for life, from home or office, part time or full time. No large investment or hassles. Win $1000-$2000 free “cash”…

With all the decisions to make when buying a cell phone, it can get pretty confusing at times. After all, you have to decide on which cell network to join, which one of their service plans to choose, which phone to buy, and more. But here is a step-by-step guide to how you can buy a cell phone the smart way and save money too.

1. The very first step in buying a cell phone is to decide on which carrier network you plan to join. This is necessary because specific phones that work with one carrier will not work with another one, so the first place to start is with the carrier and not the phone.

2. To decide on which carrier network will work best for your needs, you need to do some research in advance. The first place to go for information is the internet as there are web sites available that help rate the individual cell phone networks by service and performance. But another way to get good information on which cell phone carrier works best in your area is to simply ask your family and friends about their experiences with cell phone networks. Usually, you can get plenty of valuable information very quickly with this method.

3. Of course, you also want to check on the coverage area for each cell phone carrier to be sure that they offer complete service in your local calling area.

4. When you have selected the cell phone carrier that you feel will be the best choice, it’s time to select your plan. Remember too that all cell phone service providers will allow you to easily upgrade to more minutes on a plan, but very few of them will allow you to downgrade. So when choosing your plan, try to estimate the number of minutes that you will need overall through the month and then choose a plan that fits that need as closely as possible. Most cell phone users don’t come anywhere close to using all of their minutes in a month, so you can save money on your plan by simply buying the minutes that you need and then upgrading later if you have to.

5. Although most cell phone companies will try to sell you a lot of extra features with your cell phone plan when you first start out, you can usually save a lot of money by just starting with a basic plan first and then adding extra services later on if you decide you need them.

6. You can also save money on cell phone plans if you only plan on using the cell phone for local calls. Most cell phone service providers have plans that allow you to just call locally without adding in long-distance calls. These local service plans often cost much less than the full service plans that they usually promote more heavily. So only buy the cell phone service that you really know that you will need.

If you follow these simple suggestions on how to select a cell phone service provider, a cell phone plan, and the cell phone itself, you should be able to find exactly what you need and save money when you do.

Steadman Issenburg writes on many consumer related topics including communication. You can find a cell phone plan comparison and cheap cell phone plans and more by visiting our communication website.

A work of art is a timeless treasure and an eternal source of joy. While the functional utility of posters has been exploited for ages, the aesthetic appeal of posters has elevated their status and transformed them into a unique form of art. Poster production is done by lithographic printing on paper, which is a relatively inexpensive form of printing. However, poster art has found its own class of collectors and admirers. Moulin Rouge made history when it sold for a record-breaking $200,000 at a fine art poster exhibition. After the success and popularity of the 1970s vintage poster market in France, posters have caught on among the masses across various countries.
A piece of poster art is not just a visual treat; it speaks out and conveys a message. An individual piece is conceived by an artist through the creative execution of his/her insight, but these are not necessarily decoded by another. The message varies depending on individual perception. Art posters are used as unique pieces of decor. They create a particular mood, define the ambience of the room and reflect the possessor’s personality. Apart from personal purchases, it can be purchased as a special gift item. Both the online and offline market provides numerous options to a lover of poster art.
Many poster exhibitions, auctions and museums showcase art posters. Collectors can get information from various collector’s magazines like Jon Warren’s price guide, Movie Poster Price Almanac, and many more. Online guides give a good idea about the pricing of various posters and collectibles, and how to get a good deal. The collectible value of a piece can be determined to some extent by some standard parameters, like the demand for the poster, its condition (weather damaged, stained or not), and what issue the poster is. However, the decision about the collectible value of an art poster is subjective.
Art posters can be of various kinds, like vintage original posters, specialty prints, fine art, movie or music posters, posters of nature, abstract posters and many more. Alice in Chains, Fallout Boy and Avenged Sevenfold are few of the rare music posters. Limited edition posters are also popular. The magical charm and ambience created by the classic movie posters of the golden era can hardly be resisted by any one. Art posters have a charm and loyal following of their own that is hard to resist.

Posters provides detailed information on Posters, Nature Posters, Movie Posters, Art Posters and more. Posters is affliated with Old Movie Posters.