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By Jerry Aragon To attain my goals and my mission, was going to require taking chances. And, to take risks with my work would require that I be honest with myself. My confidence and self-esteem would have to be high and it would take courage, too! I took an inventory of my qualities (yeah, right!), to see if I had the right stuff to do this. Was my self-esteem and confidence relatively high? Did I have the courage to take chances out in public? Could I deal with rejection and failure? Can I get “egg on my face” and survive? Could I suffer through embarrassing moments? Could I eat a little “crow” along the way? The answer to all these questions was NO…I WANT MY MOMMY! To take chances with my work, I would have to “go against the grain” (woodcarver, get it?) I would have to go off the beaten path. (I was already off everybody’s beaten path) I really didn’t know the answers to all these questions I asked myself, but I wanted to do what pleased me FIRST, and then hopefully others would like my work as well. There’s a big difference in producing something that will never go before the public. It’s quite another thing when you produce something for public show, etc. I’ve always been a competitive person, and I don’t like to lose at anything! Checkers; ping-pong; basketball; football; golf; tennis; cards…you name it. I don’t like to lose, but if I do, I consider myself a good loser and a good sport. I don’t go off throwing a temper-tantrum all over the county because I lost a silly game of checkers! (I just call my buddy in the Mafia…Vinnie Testasterone, to put out a contract on the person who beat me and it’s all taken care) I started carving wood, when I was in the ninth grade in middle school. In the wood shop I was taking, just about all the students were building projects such as a coffee table; bookcase; chairs and because all these projects were made of hardwood, they could be expensive. Because my parents didn’t have much money for the class, I had to keep my projects affordable and simple. My wood shop instructor had an on-going project of carving little animal characters, and he kept a few of them on his desk. (show-off) Small carvings which measured about 5-6 inches tall…a giraffe; dog; cat; elephant and so forth. They were inexpensive to make, and I liked the looks of them, so I wanted to try wood carving. I got started on the animal pieces, and a few weeks after I completed a few pieces, I compared the same piece to my instructor’s wood pieces…and, I was surprised! MY INSTRUCTOR’S WOOD PIECES WERE ALMOST AS GOOD AS MINE! (Just kidding!) Let the chips fall where they may, was the cry for the rest of the year and I completed the woodworking class. Many years later, when I was thirty-something, I took wood carving up again. And, because I liked the little animals, I continued with them. I carved about a dozen pieces, and took them with me to the flea market, along with a lot ot other junk, and to get reaction from the public on the wood pieces. A woman stopped my my display and saw the little “critters” as she called them, and invited me to participate in an arts and crafts show in Santa Fe, New Mexico. During this period of time, I went down to Old Town (Albuquerque), where there were several shops and galleries, to show business owners my work, and to see if I could sell my work on consignment, etc. I only visited one shop and I decided this wasn’t for me. The shop owner liked my work, but she was interested in buying wood pieces of a southwestern nature…roadrunners; cowboys; bulls and so forth. I decided very quickly that I was not going to spend the rest of my life carving roadrunners and bulls just to make a buck or two! I didn’t go back to a shop again! I had already decided to do imaginative things, so I got started, and some of the ideas I came up were out in left field for sure, but these were the things that made happy FIRST and those pieces included: Donut: This is a simple piece to carve, and this piece I never sold because I had so much fun with it over the years. A chocolate donut, complete with frosting on top and was about the same size as a real donut. I placed the “donut” in a Dunkin donuts sack, complete with tissue, and some people were amazed at how real it looked. The person reaching down into the sack to get the “donut” wasn’t aware that it was made of wood, and they would always ask: “How old is this donut?” I had a lot of fun with it. Little black bear cub in a high-chair: Over the years, this was my best seller! The little bear cub measured about an inch tall and the red and white high-chair measured about 5 inches tall. As soon as I placed one of these out on my display…to was gone! I would usually take about ten of these with me and they would all sell. Lion sitting in a bathtub: This was my second best seller. At an art show, it didn’t take long for this piece to disappear either. Flu bug sick in bed with the flu! I figured if a person can get the flu, why can’t a flu bug get the flu? So, I carved the little flu bug (about 2″ long) out of redwood. I made a little bed out of masonite; complete with a tiny pillow and bed sheet. The little flu was covered with a blanket. And, the caption on a small piece of card stock read, “Flu bug sick in bed with the flu” Caterpillar wearing a brown derby: About as silly as it gets, right? I carved a caterpillar and painted it lime green, and mounted it on a branch about 10 inches long. And yes, I took it to a show and put it on display. A couple of hours I sold it to a fellow, and I asked him why he bought it, and the answer was; “Because I like it!” Volkswagen: I have no idea where this idea came from but I carved a Volkswagen in pine that had two front ends. (no trunk) Because most of my work was captioned, the caption read, “Make up your mind…are you coming or going?” I sold this piece to a woman, who said her boyfriend didn’t know if he was coming or going half the time, so this piece was perfect for him. A fawcett: The water fawcett was painted silver like the real thing, with a wood water drop coming out of it. The drop was painted a very light blue, and had a funny face on it. The caption on the very small piece of card stock read, “Whatever turns you on…or off!” I sold this piece to a woman whose husband was a plumber. Friendly octopus; I saw a picture of an octopus on a billboard and I wanted one. So I carved one. The legs were cut out of half inch redwood and the body out of 2″ redwood and all the pieces were glued together after they were carved. The octopus was painted a very dirty brown/dark green and it was shown at Octopus Car Wash for a while. Skunk: This piece was painted back and white like a real skunk and carried a sign which read: “Help Stop Pollution!” Basket Case: My wife bought some cookies that come in a small straw basket about 5″ long and two inches high. I carved a female patient wearing hospital pajamas to fit the little basket and now I had my “Basket Case!” These were a few of the over 200 different original wood carvings I produced over the years. And, as you can see, I took a lot of chances with my work. And, because I’ve been in the humor business most of my life, 90% of the pieces were cartoon-like characters in wood. So, take a few chances with your work and just use caution and common sense. If you have to eat a little “crow” in the process once in a while…trust me…it doesn’t taste so bad! Over the years, I’ve eaten a whole flock of “crow!” ARTICLES PUBLISHED; (70+ websites/includes links); Direct link: http://www.humordoctormd.homestead.com/articlespublished.htmlWebsite name; humordoctormd - Over 150 colorful pages; over 200 graphicshttp://humordoctormd.homestead.comemail; humordoctormd@yahoo.comCopyright; Jerry L. Aragon (The Humor Doctor); 2006 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Aragon http://EzineArticles.com/?Taking-Chances-With-My-Ideas&id=265651 generic phentermine no prescription buy phentermine on line buy cheap phentermine without a prescription low cost phentermine no prescription

By Andrew Marx I always remember thinking, whats the big deal, it is only college? These days, it is a big deal, and higher education is a competitive market for your attention. Just remember it is easier to pick a college than the high school advisors, college guides and your parents make it out to be. Relax, take a deep breath and keep in mind these four indisputable truths about choosing a college. 1. A Little Information Goes a Little Way I was not well prepared for selecting a college. My parents did not properly instill in me the need for selectivity and criteria, though they might be surprised to hear that now. All of my peers had dreams of a particular school, or a particular academic reputation, or they aimed for a certain city. I had distances. The minimum distance was 500 miles from my mother and 500 miles from my father. In order to meet these criteria, the school needed to be somewhere in Nevada, or somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. For the record, the vector did eventually land me at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. But looking back now, I realize that I did very little in the way of research then. I did not know the right questions to ask, much less whom to ask them to. You already have the resources, but you have to do the legwork. Parents are a good start. Assess their expectations, particularly how much they expect to pay. Then set that information aside and start researching specific schools. You should use your guidance counselor as a resource, but do not forget the internet. And pay the campus a visit during the school year. The only time it does not pay to do the research is when you already know exactly where you want to go, whether it is your only choice, or your parents alma mater, or you are going locally. If you do not know, it is always a good idea to arm yourself with as much information as you can. Otherwise you might end up at a university in the Pacific Ocean. 2. Rankings Are Relative Any college guide would have you believe that their publication, and only theirs, really has the definitive information on a wide swath of criteria to pick a college. Do not believe it. There are two things at stake here to keep in mind. Every college guide has a bias. And college rankings are dependent on that bias. Take the Harvard University of college guides, U.S. News and World Report as an example. Whats the bias? U.S. News wants to be an elite college guide, the cream of the crop. That means their ranking formula has to be the most complicated, has to utilize the most criteria and they have to devote a whole lot of space to the countrys elite universities. Which is great if you plan on choosing a school based on reputation. But there are other factors to consider. It is appropriate, a great idea even, to pick up a college guide and review the entry on some of your school choices. Better yet, do it online. Most guides have an online component, and so what if you have to register to view it. You are going to spread your name around liberally during the application process anyway. 3. It is not the size of the school but the number of kids that live there that counts Let me tell you a little trick when you examine your schools size. Look strictly at its percentage of students that live on campus. Particularly when you are starting out as a first-year student, you spend a whole lot of time on campus, and most schools require you to live there at least through your first year. The number of students that live on campus has a lot to do with the kind of experience you will have. I went to UNLV which only had an on-campus population of a little over 1,000 students. That is a relatively small population of students to live among. I looked at the overall campus population, over 20,000 students, and assumed I would be interacting with a diverse group. But the truth was, my social and educational circles were usually limited to the 1,000. Whichever population size you prefer, just remember that commuters are usually significantly less engaged in campus activities; clubs, intramural sports, and social nights. 4. Cost is a hill, not a mountain If you want to go to college, prepare to take out loans to pay for it. If your parents can afford it and are willing to pay, you are lucky. For everyone else, once you know the school you want to go to, just go. The cost of education is exorbitant and steadily rising. There is no way around it. Parents look at debt warily, and their opinion is to be respected. But when it comes to picking a college, cost should not be the determining factor. Think of your education loans as an investment in your future. Whatever you invest now compounds in your skill set, your experience and the assets that you develop for furthering your future earning potential. Picking a college is a process, but it should not be an overwhelming one. Make a list of criteria that are important to you and take that with you on your search. It is indisputably a big deal to choose a college for yourself, but the process has never been easier. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. —Andrew Marx is a prolific author and his expertise includes the practical and legal aspects of personal finance and higher education. His body of work is published at http://www.smartremarx.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Marx http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Indisputable-Truths-to-Help-You-Choose-a-College&id=298929 buy phentermine online with mastercard phentermine with no prescription phentermine 37.5 no prescription needed phentermine for sale without prescription

By Earl Beal When you look at your figurine, what do you see? Do you see just a figurine or just an object? If so, I invite you to take a new look. I suggest you see your figurine as art. Why art you may ask? Because, in fact, that is what it is. But in order to see your figurine as art you must first understand what art is. If you were to look up the word art in a dictionary you would find various definitions. One of the definitions that I found in The Merriam Webster Dictionary was, the use of skill and imagination in the production of things of beauty; also works so produced. From the above definition you should have no problem in acknowledging that your figurine is art! But to further clarify, permit me to give you my interpretation of the word. Simply stated, art is anything of beauty that is produced that bear resemblance to or has imitation of its model. It is important to realize that art (that which is produced) may have an exact resemblance to or an imagined resemblance to its model. Equally important to keep in mind is that beauty is in the eye of the interpreter. Can you think of a more perfect definition of a figurine than the one just given for art?A figurine is a thing of beauty (in someones eye). A figurine has resemblance (in someones mind). And a figurine has imitation (it mimics its model).Beauty + resemblance + imitation = art (or figurine). When I view a figurine as art, I see the figurine in a whole new perspective. It gives me the ability to see the figurine beyond the object that it is and to see it in the essence of that which it represents to me. If you have never viewed your figurine as art I strongly encourage you to do so. In a sense, it gives you an opportunity to become the artist of the art. It allows you to use your imagination to produce the beauty in the art as you see it. It grants you the opportunity to determine the resemblance of the model from your perspective. But more than that, it will permit you to connect with your emotions and experience the imitation of the art as it relates to you. So, if you have not done so, go ahead. Give your figurine a new look. The look of art! Earl Beal Own/Manger Figurines and Such http://www.figurinesandsuch.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Earl_Beal http://EzineArticles.com/?Take-a-New-Look-at-Your-Figurine&id=494631 cheap phentermine online prescription can i buy phentermine without a prescription phentermine on line without prescription need to buy phentermine

By Jonathan Perez One of the many reasons everyone and their mother seems to recommend eating a high protein diet to lose weight and burn fat is because of this “thermogenic” effect. People are under the misconception that you can lose a lot of weight real fast without if you eat a high protein diet. This is because protein DOES have a thermogenic effect on the body………..but not enough to make an impact! “Thermogenesis” or something that has a “thermogenic” effect on the body refers to anything that causes the temperature inside your body (sometimes your temperature on the skin is different from the temperature inside, your core temperature) to rise, to increase. Well, we all know from school that the average / normal core body temperature is 98.6 degrees. However, when your core temperature increases, even by just 1 or 2 degrees, it is said that this higher temperature causes the body to turn into a “furnace”, raising the metabolism, which results in fat being burned. Here’s where everyone is missing the point. Sure, protein causes the body to work harder to digest it, which causes the body’s internal temperature to rise, but it is NOT enough to really make a dent in burning fat or preserving muscle mass. Researchers at Arizona State University examined individuals that ate a high protein diet and compared them to another group that ate a high carb diet. What they found was that eating a high protein diet resulted in an average of 30 calories per meal being burned in digestion. Read that again…….30 calories per meal. Whoop-tee, doo!!! 30 calories! Okay, then let’s say you eat 5 meals a day. 30 calories per meal, 5 meals a day, that equals 150 calories. So, you would only be burning an extra 150 calories a day if you were to go on a high protein diet. Big deal!!!! 150 calories is 1 cup of milk. It’s 2 eggs. It’s half a candy bar. 150 calories isn’t going to make any difference whatsoever in helping you gain weight, build muscle mass, or burn fat. Everyone keeps saying, “Oh, but you can eat more protein lose a ton of fat weight because of the thermogenic effect”. Give me a break……..150 calories…..I rather just cut out 1 can of soda a day and get the same effect! Don’t be fooled by the “high-protein” fans. They just want you to go out and spend your hard-earned money on their bucket of protein. If you are looking to lose weight and tone up, concentrate on the overall calories. Copyright 2006 Jonathan Perez How did a Cleveland Firefighter discover how to lose over 50 pounds of fat weight and 10 inches off his waist in 3 and half months WITHOUT using any supplements, doing NO cardio, and no fad diet? Jonathan Perez has created the *ultimate* guide - “Fat To Buff!…..How To Lose Weight Eating Any Foods You Want Every 4th Day, Using No Supplements Whatsoever, and No Cardio”FREE Details: ——-> http://www.FatToBuff.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Perez http://EzineArticles.com/?Does-Thermogenesis-Help-You-Lose-Weight-Fast?&id=261146 buy phentermine without rx phentermine online consultation phentermine online no prescription required cheapest phentermine without a prescription

By Roanna Rose 1. When ordering invitations have them printed using the thermography method which costs only a fraction of the engraving method. You will also have many more choices of designs and papers when using thermography. 2. Have your invitations printed in black ink which is already included in the cost. There will be an additional charge for each type of item printed in colored ink or foil. When ordering invitations, reception cards, response cards, informals, etc. you can easily save $30 to $50 or more on the total cost. 3. Print your reception information at the bottom of the invitation. Center the reception location and address below the invitation wording for no extra cost. Put the information in one or both of the lower corners as a corner copy for an extra $10 to $25. This is a huge savings over ordering separate reception cards as invitation inserts. 4. Order your informals (thank-yous) when ordering your invitations. Choose informals which match your invitations and have your names printed in one line on the front of the card leaving the inside blank for your personal notes to gift givers. For even greater savings, order blank thank-yous from the invitation company in quantities to match the number of your invitations (or more). Compare prices and youll often find ordering thank-yous from the invitation companies less expensive than purchasing the packaged notes from the big discount stores. 5. Calculate the number of invitations youll need very carefully. The most expensive invitations are the first 25-50. The price falls drastically for each additional 25. If in doubt order an extra 25. When ordering additional invitations later, youll also incur additional shipping charges and colored ink charges if not using black ink. Not to mention the extra days you will have to wait for delivery which may delay the mailing of your invitations to your guests. 6. Save the cost of a calligrapher by having someone with pretty penmanship address your invitations or have the envelopes printed using your computer. Order extra envelopes (both inner and outer) with your invitations so you will have plenty in case of handwritten or printer mistakes. 7. Have an invitation party and ask friends and family to help you assemble your invitations. Hiring someone for this purpose might be an expense you can easily avoid. Author Roanna Rose has owned a full service bridal shop for more than 20 years. In 1997, the business was extended to the internet when the web site http://www.tjformal.com was created showcasing prom dresses and wedding party dresses. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roanna_Rose http://EzineArticles.com/?7-Ways-to-Save-Money-on-Wedding-Invitations&id=76355 get a prescription for phentermine phentermine without doctors prescription buy phentermine no perscription phentermine online orders

By Mike Hewlett The interviewer hopes that YOU are the right person for the job. They are under pressure to fill the position so that they can get back to their own work. Therefore you are in a greater position of strength than you think. Concentrate on what you have to offer in the way of qualifications and experience instead of feeling intimidated. An interviewer has 3 aims: 1) To learn if you are the right person for the job. 2) To assess your potential for promotion 3) To decide whether you will fit into the company environment. The key to a successful interview is in preparation Be prepared: For the types of questions you will be asked Be prepared: To ask questions yourself Be prepared: To research the company Be prepared: To look the part Be prepared: To turn up on time Questions you may be asked Example question: How would you describe yourself? Your answer: Should describe attributes that will enhance your suitability for the position. Have some ready in advance. Example question: What are your long-term goals? Your answer: Should be career orientated. Make sure you have goals to discuss. Example question: Why did you leave your last job? Your answer: Could be more responsibility; better opportunity; increased income. Do not be detrimental to your previous employer. He could be the interviewers golfing partner. Example question: Why do you want this job? Your answer: Your answer should be: more responsibility or better opportunity or similar. Not: because it is closer to home or the gym. Example question: What are your strengths? Your answer: Should highlight accomplishments and experiences that relate to the position for which you are applying. Also give examples of situations where your strengths have been demonstrated. Example question: What are your weaknesses? Your answer: Should not be a list of deficiencies. Dont mention anything that could make the interviewer question your ability to do the job, for example I am always late for everything. Instead, discuss a weakness that could also be a strength such as I am a workaholic! More Examples of Interview Questions Tell me a little bit about yourself. Describe your current / most recent position. What made you want to make this change? What do you most enjoy doing in your current /most recent position? Describe your future ambitions. How would you describe yourself? Questions for you to ask Asking questions at interview has a number of positive effects: It helps you find out more about the company and the position. It can be used to divert the interviewer away from a subject you may wish to avoid. It can help build a rapport with the interviewer. It demonstrates an interest in the job and the company. The questions must be about the position and the company. Avoid questions about salary, benefits and facilities until after you have been offered the job. You should already have researched the company and its products and services. Your questions should demonstrate knowledge of the companys history, successes and problems. If the interviewer is a representative of the personnel department the questions should relate to the company and be general. Specific questions relating to the position should be kept for the line manager who will have a more detailed knowledge. Example questions relating to the position What are the main responsibilities of the job? What are the most difficult aspects of the job? How did the vacancy arise? What is the career path relating to this position? How will my work be assessed? Example questions relating to the company What is the company hoping to achieve in the next 12 months? What new products are the company planning to introduce in the future? Are any major changes planned for the department/company? Who are your biggest competitors? Where to find company information Information relating to companies, financial data, industries and business trends is available in business magazines which often publish on the World Wide Web and allow you to order Annual Reports relating to specific companies. Companies often have their own web site. Newspapers search on-line press reports including archived articles. Local library Presentation Tips Obviously you should be clean and smart in appearance but you should also dress appropriately for the position, for example: a student placement that is more expensively dressed than the Managing Director may have a negative impact. Clothes should be on the conservative side, which is more acceptable to people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. After all, you are asking to be accepted into the company. Therefore always avoid extremes in hair, clothes, make-up and jewellery. Taking trouble over your appearance shows the employer that the job is important to you. Travel tips Arrive 15 minutes early. Make sure you have the correct address and know how you will get there: Parking? Public transport access? Do a dummy run if you are not sure. Make sure you have a mobile phone and a telephone number so that you can ring ahead if circumstances beyond your control are making you late. Be polite to everyone you speak to, it could be the Managing Directors cousin! Have a copy of your CV with you. Summary You should show interest in all aspects of the job and the company especially if shown around the premises. Do your homework on the company and the nature of its business. Take care in how you dress for the interview. First impressions still count! Some of the main influences on the interviewer are: Your experience in other employment or life situations Your personal presentation. How your personality comes across in the interview Your background and references Your enthusiasm for both the job and the organisation. Relevant qualifications for the position. E & O E - Copyright 2005 CVwriting.net CV Writing - How to Write a CV - We show you how to write a CV in minutes. Professional CV writing at a fraction of the price. Full instructions and helpful tips. Telephone support and Web CV options for your complete CV writing solution Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Hewlett http://EzineArticles.com/?CV-Writing—Interview-Guide&id=71688 cheap phentermine com phentermine online physician pharmacy phentermine 37.5 phentermine online with no prescription

By Peter Fisher Sooner or later, the interview invitation is going to say you are required to give a presentation as part of the selection process. And like most people you may dread having to do it. You may think that you cannot speak publicly because of nervousness but all good speakers are nervous, and you can overcome those nerves. What you can do is control those nerves and make them work for you rather than against you. There are several techniques for doing this which you should be aware of: Tension should be released first in the lungs: Short, panicky breathing should be replaced by slow, deep breathing - through the nose (to prevent drying out your throat prior to speaking). This can be done quite unobtrusively as you are being introduced, or asked to start your presentation. When the introductions are over: First slow things down - stand slowly, clear a place for your notes if necessary, arrange your spectacles or otherwise control your space. Second when about to speak - drop your shoulders: This will give a feeling of relaxation and of tension dropping away. If your body feels relaxed you will quickly become relaxed. Third smile at the audience generally: Or at individuals you know or have contrived to meet prior to speaking, and stand quietly for a moment or two. If you can communicate some degree of warmth for them they are most likely to return the compliment. When you have their full attention (and only then) you can commence your presentation. Again nerves may be encountered here so: know precisely what you are going to say in the first sentence; Always start with good morning/afternoon/evening ladies and gentlemen and introduce your subject; Let your audience know how long you expect to speak for; Say whether you will take questions during your talk or at the end. Some individuals find the sound of their own (projected) voice quite disturbing initially and one should be prepared for this phenomena. It is only off-putting if unexpected. Practise at home in front of the mirror as if you were talking to your audience, using your presentation or reading something out loud just so you get your voice muscles moving, and you get more used to hearing your own voice. The interview presentation is becoming more common and the sooner you come to terms with your interview nerves, the sooner you can relax and present confidently. With over 25 years running businesses; as a Career Coach and Consultant in many sectors; Peter Fisher is well placed to guide job seekers through the steps needed in order to achieve that all important new position. He has personally coached thousands of individuals to career success. His distillation of these years of experience with all the essential facts and actions you must complete in order to achieve your own success is outstanding. He is very clear that you shouldnt be misled into thinking of acing interviews or finessing your way into a business; the most sustainable and fulfilling roles are gained through understanding your own specific needs and creating your strategy accordingly. You can learn more about his dynamic and comprehensive approach to career change, with every page dedicated to helping serious career changers if you go to http://www.your-career-change.com/index.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Fisher http://EzineArticles.com/?Interview-Presentation-Skills:-Dealing-With-Your-Nerves&id=34155 buy sildenafil in the uk cheapest place to buy viagra where to buy viagra online buy generic viagra and generic sildenafil citrate

By Jerry Lutkenhaus Social Security Disability (sometimes called SSDI) and SSI are confused by many people. I have been a Virginia Disability Lawyer for over 30 years. None of my clients know the difference between the programs. These are the most important differences between these programs: First, in order to obtain Social Security Disability, you must have an earnings record and show you are disabled. Housewives come to me and say “Why cannot I get disability?” I reply, “Where is your earnings record?” Self-employed people call me and say, “Where is my disability?” I respond, “Did you ever file taxes and pay into Social Security?” People who are paid in cash or under the table contact me and request Social Security. I say, “You only get out what you paid in, it is not a free ride.” Second, for SSI, you do not need an earnings record. You only have to show you are disabled. But SSI is a welfare program and even though its full name is Supplemental Security Income it probably should have been called “Welfare Disability.” As a welfare program, there is a means test. This means even if you are disabled you cannot receive SSI if you have either assets or income. In 2006, you cannot have more than $2,000.00 in cash assets and expect to qualify for SSI. The same housewife who could not obtain Social Security may also not be able to obtain SSI because (1) she has other unearned income; (2) her husband has too much income; and (3) she or her husband has too many assets. Third, the Social Security benefit is dependent on the earnings the worker paid in and could be as high as $2,053.00 per month. Many ask me, “Why isnt my benefit higher?” My answer always is, “You get out what you paid in.” Working at a minimum wage job is not going to result in a very high benefit. Not working for a number of years is also going to result in a lower benefit. On the other hand, the maximum SSI amount an individual can receive in 2006 is $603.00 per month but this does not depend on earnings. Fourth, an individual on Social Security Disability can also expect a payment to dependent children up to age 18 or until the child graduates from high school. The dependent children share equally about 50% of the parents benefit. On the other hand there is no dependent care benefit for a recipient of SSI. People on SSI will often call me and say “Where is my childs check?” Regretfully, I have to tell them SSI has no child benefit. Fifth, Social Security Disability & SSI are similar in one way. The disability test is the same. Sixth, when you file for Disability, Social Security will first check if you are eligible for Social Security Disability before allowing you to apply for SSI. Generally, if your Social Security check is higher than $603.00, you would not be eligible for SSI. On the other hand if your Social Security check is lower than $603.00, you may be able to receive a small SSI check so your total benefit is about $603.00 per month. In Summary, when a person says I am on “disability” or I want “disability”, there is a big difference between SSI and Social Security Disability. Remember SSI is a welfare benefit & Social Security Disability is an earned benefit. Copyright 2006, Jerry Lutkenhaus. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This may be considered AN ADVERTISEMENT or Advertising Material under the Rules of Professional Conduct governing lawyers in Virginia. This note is designed for general information only. The information presented in this note should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Jerry Lutkenhaus is a practitioner of Workers’ Compensatoin and Social Security in the Richmond, Virginia area for over 30 years He was given an “AV” rating by Martindale Hubbell in 2003. Lexis Nexis listed him in the 2005 Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys. For more information, see our websites at http://www.geraldlutkenhaus.com & http://www.virginiadisabilitylawyer.com or call Jerry Lutkenhaus at 804-358-4766 for a free consultation on your claim. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Lutkenhaus http://EzineArticles.com/?SSI-and-Social-Security-Disability:-How-They-are-Different-(Virginia-Lawyers-Perspective)&id=266932 buy generic soft tab viagra buy viagra pill viagra cheap wholesale vigra cheapest generic o cheap viagra

By Dan Lobring When investing in sports, a marketer is often faced with the alternative to use exclusively media, or an integrated platform of media and sponsorship. One of the most valuable components of the sponsorship alternative is hospitality, which has long been an underutilized and misunderstood tool by marketers. The changing climate of hospitality at the marquee sports events in North America (The Masters, Super Bowl and Final Four) will soon change the lack of focus that hospitality has received by marketers. Traditionally most of the damage was done due to the confusion of hospitality as a marketing function or a sales function. Sales people grew too accustomed to sports tickets and often hosted friends or long term and stable clients for which they already shared a strong relationship. Marketers would stand at a distance and encourage high opportunity clients as guests, but would do little to help in the selection of guests or in the post event reporting of sales lift. This era is quickly coming to an end. Today, hospitality offers marketers a rare opportunity to accurately measure sales lift and in turn a marketing ROI. For sales people, the market for hospitality is maturing. Easy access to big sporting events is a thing of the past. Ticket allocation is monitored closely and access is limited. If you havent already heard about the Mike Tice incident (former coach of the Minnesota Vikings), he was heavily fined and reprimanded by the NFL for scalping his Super Bowl tickets which were provided by the league. The NFL was the first to launch an official program, unable to resist the secondary market pricing of their tickets for the Super Bowl. This level of regulation and surveillance is not limited to the NFL. The Masters, U.S. Open and now the NCAA have all followed suit by denying third party vendors the ability to profit from their product. In 2006, when the NCAA launched their own official hospitality program, dubbed The Tournament Club, they hired rEvolution to not only run the program, but to aid in their efforts to regulate third party vendors. The result is that significantly fewer tickets find their way to the public. This means more than increased prices for Joe Fan who wants to see his team in the big game. It means an increased risk in dealing with ticket brokers and third party vendors. In turn the hospitality component of a sponsorship has become that much more valuable. In this new hospitality climate if your sales organization wants to entertain at the most exclusive and premier events in the U.S., they have two reliable alternatives. One is a massive investment in an official sponsorship with the governing body of the sport (anywhere from $5 - $100 million per year) and the second is the purchase of official hospitality directly from the governing body (prices range from $3,000 - $8,000 per attendee). One option requires a Fortune 500 marketing budget and offers no solution for a B2B marketer. The second option, although not cheap, is fast becoming the reliable and cost effective alternative. So the question remains, is hospitality a sales or marketing function. If its not clear already, the answer is both. To satisfy the return on investment and accomplish your firms goals, marketing has to work in conjunction with sales to provide access to premier events. In turn, the sales organization must think and act like marketers conducting one on one brand building and in turn increasing sales. The necessary budget is large and the access has become increasingly scarce. If you are going to take the plunge, it would be wise to do your homework and start with the official governing body. If a sponsorship doesnt make sense and you cant gain access through an existing media buy, call the official vendor. And finally, make sure your marketing organization is communicating with the sales team. ABOUT rEVOLUTION - rEvolution is the only independent and fully-integrated sports marketing and media services agency in the industry. rEvolution utilizes a global array of sporting events, leagues, teams and athletes to enhance the growth of its clients consumer and business-to-business brands. Chicago-based with an international vision and reputation, rEvolution’s unique integrated capabilities model includes strategic consulting for program design, program activation and program measurement across a comprehensive list of services (including corporate hospitality, event management, media buying/selling/planning, mobile marketing, promotions, research, software solutions, and sponsorships ) and specialties (such as action/youth sports, collegiate sports, international sports, lifestyle sports, motorsports, Olympics, and professional sports). Unencumbered by a network of holding company interests to consider, rEvolution joins forces with clients in creating and implementing innovative business-building ideas. An unprecedented team of industry experts, collectively possessing more than 100 years of global sports-related, consulting and platform development experience and relationships, lead rEvolutions highly skilled team of professionals. More information about rEvolution and the unique experiences they have created and executed is available at www.revolutionworld.com. Dan Lobring is Manager, Public Relations, at rEvolution, a Chicago-based sports marketing and media agency. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Lobring http://EzineArticles.com/?Hospitality—A-Marketing-or-Sales-Function?&id=523408 viagra rx to otc switch application buy sildenafil citrate rxonline viagra cheap uk buy purchase no prescription viagra

By Maya Bailey, Ph.D. Do you go through the same slump every year? It begins somewhere in November. Your business slacks and you realize that your income is going to come way down at the very time when you want to be spending and buying. You get sad and then you get scared and before you know it, youre in a full blown depression. Somehow the thought , Desperation doesnt sell finds a way into your already crowded brain. How can you turn this around, or better yet, nip it in the bud? Here is a way to survive, even thrive this Holiday Season: Think outside the box: Heres an example: Its Tuesday afternoon and Im giving a coaching session to one of my clients, Sandy. I ask her how she is doing and she admits to not only being nervous about money but being downright panicked. Her fear was real. She wasnt even sure how she was going to cover her rent in January. Sandy is a new real estate agent and had planned to have some escrows to get her through the holidays which never materialized. When I questioned her on marketing strategies she said , I really think Im doing everything I can do. The voice of fear: When we dialogued with the nervous, scared part of her , we found out some useful information. Basically this was a very practical part of her. It wanted bottom line results. Nothing vague would do. It said loud and clear, Show me the money! Now Sandy had something valuable to work withthe only solution to calming down her fear was to manifest money and do it quickly. She looked at me, stumped. Im using every real estate strategy that I know and Im getting desperate. So I asked her what other skills, talents and abilities she had. Well , I used to do waitressing in the past. So I asked her about doing that temporarily to get her through the slump. Oh, I cant possibility do that, because everyone in my town would see me and think I was a failure in real estate. When I suggested that she find work out of her immediate vicinity she remembered she had some restaurant connections in a nearby city. Transforming fear into action: Her mood lightened and the worried expression changed to a smile. Yeah maybe I can do that but how do I keep from feeling like Ive failed at my major career? So I asked her, How many actors and actresses do you think waited tables in Hollywood before becoming famous? We put our heads together and figured more than 80%. So I said, What if they looked at their waiter or waitress job and labled themselves as failures because they had to do socalled menial work to survive? Sandy carefully considered what I said and decided that she would adopt the same attitude. Further she decided that this meant she really was successful because she was committed to success. She was willing to do whatever it took to succeed in her chosen career. Look for immediate feedback: When our session ended, Sandy was looking quite pleased with herself and I knew she was on the right track. What I wasnt expecting was immediate feedback. She called me about 10 minutes after the session , and very excitedly told me , I did it, I called my restaurant connections and I already have 3 jobs at 3 parties. They all sound like a blast! The last one is a masquerade party and Im really looking forward to it. She proved my point , you can always turn fear into action. Furthermore, if you focus on what gives you joy, youll find a way to get paid for what you love to do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With her 30 years of psychological expertise, Dr. Maya Bailey specializes in helping Real Estate Professionals who want more clients, more free time, and a better lifestyle to create confidence, a positive mindset, and a step-by-step blueprint for success. For specific ways to master your psychology about getting clients and growing your business, and your personalized step-by-step success blueprint, visit http://www.90daystomoreclients.com to receive your FREE special report and audio mentoring session: 7 Simple Strategies to More Clients in 90 Days. To contact Dr. Maya Bailey, call 707-799-5412 or visit http://www.90daystomoreclients.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maya_Bailey,_Ph.D. http://EzineArticles.com/?Real-Estate-Marketing-Strategies:–How-You-Can-Survive-and-Thrive-This-Holiday-Season!&id=105270 buy xanax usa pharmacy overnight order xanax no prescription buy xanax with no prescription where can i buy generic xanax