Life is a Song68856

Beach house rentals are all the rage for people who want to find affordable vacation getaways that have all of the comforts of home. There are plenty of options in the popular practice of renting beach property for a short (or long) getaway. You can even find wonderful beach house rentals right online.

There are a handful of sites that list beach house rentals for convenient vacation shopping. You can take virtual tours of the properties and you can even opt to make arrangements with the owners for a nice getaway. Many of these sites require a registration but there shouldnt be any fees involved unless you rent.

The whole process is pretty simple. Instead of trying to find beach house rentals in person all you have to do is browse through a well designed website that offers many properties organized by location. Some offer additional filtering by price as well. There are many reasons that you may want to consider using an online site to find beach house rentals.

First of all, you can save a lot of time in the process. The listings are well organized and simple to sort through. All you have to do in most cases is register, which takes a matter of minutes and you are well on your way to accessing hundreds and hundreds of beach house rentals for your vacation.

After you have registered you simply start browsing. The great thing is that you dont have to wander aimlessly around the site. You can select a location and start browsing for beach house rentals from there. In no time at all, you can find a lot of properties that suit your specific needs.

Once you have found a location or two that is interesting, you can contact the owner to discuss making arrangements and booking details. The contact information is offered right on the site so you can get your plans in gear in little time at all. Before you know it you can have a handful of beach house rentals to choose from.

This is a great way to find wonderful deals on beach house rentals but not everyone is looking to rent. If you are an owner of beach front property you might want to consider renting out your structure to interested families. Just list your beach house rentals on a site and watch the renters flock to you.

Renting a property for a vacation is a wonderful way to assure that you will have all of the comforts of home. Finding beach house rentals available in many different locations has never been easier.

Florida Beach Weddings have been getting a lot of press in the news, there have been a lot of movie stars getting married on the beach in Florida. And all the young brides and grooms love seeing the Emerald coast waters as their backdrops for wonderful Wedding Photos.

There is one area that is the hot spot for Beach Weddings and that is Destin, Florida. A lot of Couples will fly into the local airport and have a limo waiting to drive them to their Gulf Front beach house on the water, with the Sugar white sand on the beach, where a local Wedding Coordinator will meet with them to plan their Beachside Ceremony in Destin Fl. There are appx 10 thousand beach condos for rent in Destin and another five thousand beach houses for rent in the Destin area, so finding a great Honeymoon spot is very easy.

All you have to get for a Destination Beach Wedding in Florida is a Marriage license and a Officiant or a Minister to perform the ceremony. And after your ceremony you can go shopping at the local mall that has over 100 dept stores or the outlet mall that is over 1 mile long, or go back to your condo or beach house rental to enjoy the peace that comes at the beach. Most condo and beach house rentals come with a private swimming pool and are right on the Gulf of Mexico waters for your romantic Pool side wedding or Beachside weddings in Destin.

http://www.sugarbeachweddings.com

Coffee franchises are springing up in almost every town and city worldwide. It is a tough business to be in when you consider the long hours, health and safety regulations and numbers of staff required.

When potential franchisees first look at this business they are blown away by the profit margins. Surely any business that has such high margins built in must be profitable?

In reality it is not as simple as that. For a coffee shop to be truly successful it needs to generate a huge number of sales to cover the fixed costs. The fixed costs are very high primarily due to the fact that business premises are required in shopping malls and busy high streets. This means that over half the turnover goes towards covering the rates and rents.

A coffee franchise needs a higher number of employees then most franchises due to the number of hours the business has to be open. The majority of turnover is done either before work starts, at lunchtimes, after working hours and during the weekends. Unlike some other franchises this is definitely not a nine to five business!

Staff costs are very high and then there is the problem with keeping them. Most employees in a coffee shop franchise are only doing this work until they manage to get a better job! This means that there is a constant turnover with staff and this can be a nightmare to manage. Most new members of staff will require some training.

A coffee franchise usually sells a lot more then just coffee. Most also supply sandwiches, cakes, pastries and other snacks. On a busy day it is far too easy to run out of supplies too early whilst on a quiet day some of the food might have to be discarded. The regulations involved with selling food to the public means that detailed records have to be kept.

Competitive forces are also at play with a number of new fast food franchises entering the scene as well as speciality sandwich makers. These are all conspiring to take away some of the regular trade from the coffee franchises.

It is still possible to make money with a coffee shop franchise and to achieve this needs careful planning and the right strategy. Premises must be found that are on busy thoroughfares for the right terms.

Only the best coffee should be served. Not all coffee shop franchises adhere to this simple rule! Some even restrict you into buying coffee beans only through their own supply chain. This can be troublesome especially if the tastes in your area are varied and different.

The ideal solution is if there is a right balance between the coffee you have to buy from the franchisor and the flexibility to source it elsewhere. This also helps to make the business more profitable as most franchisors charge a premium compared to sourcing and buying quality coffee beans elsewhere.

If you are prepared to work unsociable hours and have people skills especially with regards to dealing with employees, then a coffee shop franchise might still be the right business opportunity for you.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Business Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.

Franchise Opportunity and UK Business Directory Business Opportunity & Franchises Ireland Business Franchises & Franchise Opportunity

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

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

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

Effective Team Structures

The fact that the sum of ideas produced by individuals working alone is greater than the number of ideas produced by those individuals working in a group, is an indicator that team and groups structures are important considerations:

a)Large teams benefit from intellectual cross-pollination, but factors such as groupthink, core and peripheral information channels, status interactions, social loafing and individual shut downs reduce overall performance.

b)Pairs reduce intellectual cross pollination but some of the above inhibitors are also reduced. However, pairs are very successful many comedy partnerships and creative teams in advertising working pairs.

c)Individuals are prone to path dependency, parochialism and competency traps. But many well known creations have been developed by individuals alone.

So what is the most effective team structure?

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

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

Kal Bishop, MBA

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

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

I think, therefore I am. Ren Descartes (15961650)

Whatever the philosophical cogitations might be on this statement, it begins to make real sense to me in the light of the relationship between parents and children. The parent is the single greatest influence on a child, and the words a parent uses can wield an awesome power. Parents are shaping people, and that is a huge responsibility. In almost every case - whatever the parent says, goes.

If parents call their children names - idiot, clot, butterfingers, jackass - then they should expect their children to live up to the names they are given. If we call a daughter "Princess" - even as a term of endearment - or if we highlight her bossiness, "Bossyboots!", we could well be consigning her to a life of living up to the label.

There is a saying that claims we teach people how to treat us both in our personal and well as in our professional lives. For that reason, smart professionals know that to achieve and sustain world-class supplier performance, we each must take an active role in asking for what we need and want. In other words, when we get involved in the process by truthfully sharing our needs regarding supplier performance, we open the way towards realizing a more successful business. If on the other hand, youre not getting what you want and you do nothing to explain your needs, you are actually teaching the supplier that it doesnt matter. Plain and simple, its up to you to take responsibility for excellent supplier performance by asking for what you want.

Improve Levels of Supplier Performance!

Based on my many years as a senior supply chain executive, business owner and consultant, I have discovered that there are specific ways to improve levels of supplier performance and one of those is using an effective supplier rating system. Without a good system in place, supplier performance is difficult to improve. Founded on that premise, not only have I achieved and sustained a great deal of improved supplier performance, but I feel safe in stating that using a rating system has proven to enhance levels of supplier performance significantly. In fact, my experience has led to the creation of a ten-step process that I use faithfully, and which has been instrumental in my consistently reaching upwards of 20% improvement in supplier performance.

Achieve Upwards of 20% Improvement!

In support of your efforts in achieving improvement in supplier performance, I am about to share this ten-step process, which will help in sustaining world-class supplier performance as well as achieving upwards of 20% improvement. But before presenting the ten-step process, I want to suggest that improving sustainable supplier performance takes more than just having the tools and strategies; it takes the application of an established and disciplined approach. Anyone can use maximum purchasing leverage or even twist the arms of suppliers in an effort to gain improved performance, but that isnt the way to go and its certainly not a means of sustaining excellent performance. In short, achieving consistent performance in delivery, price, quality and other areas requires diligence and consistency along with a well thought out strategy. The ten-step process I have outlined below will work as you diligently apply the principles.

The Ten Step Process To Sustainable Supplier Performance Improvement

Step 1. Involve Senior Management in the Process!

The first and one of the most important steps in the process is to involve Senior Management. What that entails is aligning supplier performance targets with total corporate targets within your business plan. In short, your goals can be centered on cost containment, new technology development, new markets, cost of quality and productivity, but approach Senior Management first, prepared with an initial plan to obtain their support in going forward. If and when Senior Management is involved, they are more likely to assist in resource allocation, thereby assuring that targets are achieved.

Step 2. Develop a Daily Measurement System!

The most powerful opportunities come about by communicating the standards expected, as well as conveying the achievement expected towards those standards every day. Based on this premise, when suppliers realize that you are tracking them on a daily basis, they respond with greater urgency. You know that old saying: Its the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Well, a sound rating system that is monitored both by you and your suppliers can definitely lead to at least a 10% improvement, even if you do nothing else. And that can be achieved in one to two years at the most. Improving long-term supplier performance comes about through a clear, easy to understand daily dashboard with just a few key performance indicators, (KPIs). Instead of measuring ten to twenty things a day, pick a few basic areas such as delivery or quality and display them for all suppliers to see. Keep in mind that it is the rare supplier who can focus all their energy on just one or two customers. Suppliers usually have many customers to keep happy so the customer who communicates their standards, and tracks them each day gets the suppliers undivided attention. With those in place, youre on your way to improving long-term supplier performance.

Step 3. Know What You Want in Supplier Performance & Then Communicate It!

My recommendation is that suppliers be given an annual scorecard. This scorecard should cover all critical areas of importance such as responsiveness, service, product management and sales support. The primary key is telling the supplier exactly what makes you happy and what you want and require in reference to supplier performance. I suggest developing a set of unique requirements for each supplier, rather than blanket type scoreboards. It may take a little more work, but in the long run, the effectiveness more than doubles that of traditional annual supplier report cards. I also recommend that the target for the following year be given along with the trend the supplier has been on for the last two or three years. In addition, blend numeric ratings and targets with written text describing your issues and requirements to the individual supplier. For example, many companies issue blanket statements or proclamations on targets such as cost savings of 5% are required for next year. Most suppliers file these away and dont take them very seriously! The bottom line is to make the scoreboard personal. In my experience suppliers find it harder to disassociate themselves when the targets are personalized! The scorecard works with the daily dashboard as they drive home clear standards and accountabilities.

Step 4. Develop a Total Gap Analysis of your Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Practices!

A true gap analysis will focus on known strengths and weaknesses thereby identifying the organizational changes needed to close the gaps. To get the most out of a gap analysis it should be thorough, candid, honest, and realistic. Never compare yourself to the big guys like Wal-Mart or Dells logistic system, particularly if you are a mid-market company. Instead, compare yourself with other companies that are in your competitive league. Plain and simple, benchmark your organization with other similar operations and look for areas of complacency, stagnation, and opportunities for improvement. And if you really want unbiased assessment, consider outside help.

Step 5. Develop a Commodity Team Approach to Supplier Management!

When using a commodity team concept, all functional areas responsible for various aspects of supplier performance are brought together under somewhat of a matrix work structure. In such teams, the buyers are usually the team leaders. Depending on how large and complex the supply chain is, quality, logistics / planning, engineering and other groups are all brought into the commodity team structure. To work well, these teams must have staying power. In short, this is not a temporary assignment to meet and work on a short-term set of goals, but instead commodity team members share in supplier management goals and plans. In other words, the members learn and act together to drive supplier improvement. An effective commodity team approach must become a way of life and become ingrained in daily management so as to drive supplier performance over the long term. The complexity of modern supply chains requires more resources than most purchasing organizations possess, but the gains I have personally seen from commodity teams have been enormous.

Step 6. Training, Training and more Training!

As a Consultant, I am often asked to evaluate a purchasing organization or total supply chain system. What I find is that basic training on internal systems, practices and long-term supplier improvement strategies, as well as the most minimum of industry standards, are usually missing. This translates into a loss of efficiency. Inefficiencies are tough to quantify, but my general experience shows that buyers and supply chain staff are on average 30-50% less efficient than their well-trained counterparts. Buyers need basic reviews on best practices and negotiations training and these should be centered on their supply base, not on some off the shelf course. Remember, improving supplier performance means knowing how to reach out to suppliers, showing understanding about their operations, their systems, their practices and helping them to reach new levels of achievement. Training must be centered on what you need from a supplier and how to get it!

Step 7. Know Your Key Suppliers Well!

When I say know your key suppliers well, I dont mean to audit a supplier and file the paperwork once every year or two. Your commodity teams must visit, and they must visit often. The more they know about the supplier and what goes into the suppliers process, the greater the chances of identifying further efficiencies in cost, quality, delivery, new product development and sustainable supply chain performance. I often find buyers conducting what I have coined as lobby supplier management. This type of buyer never really leaves his desk except to visit the lobby when the supplier comes in for a meeting. This is the closest the buyer gets towards understanding his supplier partner! For greater efficiency, buyers should be encouraged to travel and conduct a hands-on supplier management!

Step 8. Develop Best Practices Policies Among Suppliers!

Look for good ideas and spread them among the rest of the supply base! I have worked and lived in Asia and managed large supply chain operations and what I discovered is that Asian companies simply make it their business to know who has a better process. It is a standard practice among some of the best Asian companies around the globe and once they glean that information, they use it to learn and improve the rest of the supply base! Obviously, one must stay away from proprietary practices, but the concept is well known. I have to remind supply chain professionals that it is not always how well their internal systems perform; the highest priority is how well the suppliers systems perform!

Step 9. Align the Number of Suppliers You Manage to your Resources!

The one area I invariably find seriously out of alignment, even in very large multi-national corporations, is the number of suppliers used to manage resources. You can only effectively manage a finite number of suppliers with a significant hands-on approach. To manage suppliers productively, I would recommend the following. Either have enough staff in possession of modern performance measurement tools and resources from other areas, or shrink the supply base to a manageable level, making sure it fits your available capabilities!

Step 10. Consolidate All of the Above Steps into an Executed Roadmap Document!

A road map of this nature outlines all the steps that will and should take place. This road map must demonstrate who will do what, when and how, and with what resources. It should list the responsibilities, interim goals and targets along with the processes and systems that will be utilized. Most important, it should develop and describe in detail what the desired end state of supplier performance will look like along with all the steps and processes it will take to achieve. In short, involve everyone in the development of this document and then be sure to live by it!

Stay tuned for more articles on how to implement each of these ten steps as Keith Lawrence covers in more detail the process required to reach world-class supplier performance management.

Copyright2006

About the Author

Keith Lawrence is a seasoned supply chain professional, with years of executive level experience. As the owner of The Performance Score and The Transparency Group, he focuses on multi-national corporations in North America, Asia and Europe, and has served as a consultant as well as guest speaker and lecturer on corporate performance management. Keith has assisted numerous companies in achieving breakthrough supply chain performance such as Mitsubishi, FAG Bearings and others. Keith provides a host of corporate performance management software, strategies and tools that lead to significant return on investment. To learn more, you may visit his web site at http://www.theperformancescore.com or e-mail at keithL@theperformancescore.com

Students from all around Europe and the world at large come to UK to study hard. They aspire to make a sparkling career that would be brimming with possibilities. The students, coming from different parts of the globe would also like to explore around and spend time in getting familiar with the country.

Amidst all this, international students also need to take care of some of the basic requirements necessary for a decent survival. One of these basic requirements is a shelter. Not just any kind of shelter would do for a student. On the contrary, student should get maximum benefits from the accommodation provided to them. Students are best benefited when they are provided fully furnished apartment in the vicinity of their institute.

There are many fully furnished apartment designed for students who come to UK for further education. You can find them near different universities and colleges like University of Lincoln and Loughborough University. They are located in such proximity to the universities, so that students can reach their colleges in short time. This would help them to save more time which they can utilise more efficiently and effectively.

The fully furnished apartments provided to students are usually of high quality and are close to the city life. There are lively social scenes all around specially created to make the international students feel at home. Plus the events and shows organised for the students are great recreational activities in an otherwise hectic schedule.

Fully furnished apartments come complete with all the modern amenities and recreational facilities. They are not far from the city yet the students can remain unperturbed away from the hustle bustle of the city life.

When in Rome, do as Romans do. But when in London do what you want to! Live well, enjoy the weather which is neither too freezing nor too hot, stay active with the good food London offers and stay happy in fully furnished apartment specially designed for international students.

About The Author: Alexandria Deborah writes for Mezzino that offers modern student accommodation in Lincoln and Loughborough in the UK.

With so many wonderful and interesting U.S. cities, an increasing number of Americans are forgoing international travel in favor of road trips to the beach, mountains, and other domestic hotspots. If you count yourself among them, make sure your vehicle is in good condition before hitting the wide, open road. The following list of summer maintenance check points will help ensure a safe ride to your vacation destination.

1. Theres a lot riding on your tiresmake sure they can handle it. If your tires are still in good shape, prevent unnecessary wear by rotating them whenever you change the oil. (RK Toyota technicians recommend a rotation every 6,000 miles.) If the tread on your tires is fairly worn, consider replacing them before departing. If you see the "wear bars" (rubber strips that usually are darker than the tire), replace your tires immediately. RK Toyota technicians also maintain that proper tire inflation is vital. Follow the manufacturers recommendation for the proper pressure.

2. Like tires, brakes are crucial to your family's safety. RK Subaru technicians advocate having brakes checked whenever tires are rotated. If your brakes make unusual squealing or grinding noises when you hit them, or if the steering wheel pulls to one side, you might need new brakes. If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), as most recent models do, pay attention to your dashboard indicators. If, after about 2 seconds, the ABS light goes out, the system is in good working order. If the light stays on, have a mechanic check your brakes.

3. Pay attention to belts and hoses to decrease the risk of a breakdown. Fan belts, which used to last about a year, are now much more durable, so people tend to neglect them. However, RK Subaru technicians report that belts and hoses are the second-biggest cause of auto breakdowns after failed batteries. Have the belts and hoses checked during an oil change or other service visit.

For more tips on preparing your car for a summer road trip, continue to RK Auto Group Summer Maintenance check points 4-6.

2006 RK Auto Group

Tom Kline is Controller of RKAutoGroup.net (RK Buick, RK Chevrolet, RK Subaru, RK Scion and RK Toyota).

During his 15-year tenure Kline has worked in the Sales Department of RK Auto Group, Parts, Service and Body Shop, Leasing, Collections, and Management Information Services.

RK Auto Group, located in Southeast Virginia, has been recognized as one of the top 100 Chevrolet dealerships in the nation. Founded in 1964, this award-winning dealership sells approximately 9,000 vehicles per year.

RK Chevrolet is the recipient of Chevrolet Motor Divisions coveted Service Supremacy Award four years in a row. This is an award which less than 8% of the nation's Chevrolet dealers have won. In 1998, RK received the prestigious "Genuine Leaders Award" for excellence in sales, service, and customer satisfaction.

Barbecuing has long been a favorite pastime for many and the grills people are buying have only become bigger and better as the years go by. But, with so many grills to choose from, how do consumers know which company produces the best? Well, the Weber Grill company has proven itself to be one of the greatest choices when purchasing gas, smoke and charcoal grills. Not only are their products top of the line, but theyre made with quality materials and are complete with the latest and greatest inventions in grilling. So, when you buy a Weber grill, you know without a doubt that it will stand the test of time and that it will cook up fantastic food that will leave your neighbors in awe. What could be better than that?

When choosing which type of Weber grill is right for you, first decide if a gas, charcoal or smoke grill will fit best into your lifestyle. Charcoal grills are known for their convenience and for that great flavor they add to your food. Gas grills are great for backyards and for the family that loves to barbecue. Smoke grills are renowned for the unmistakable taste they infuse meat, vegetables and potatoes with. Whatever you want and expect from a grill, Weber has it. But, if you want to know some of the absolute best grills Weber makes, look no further than this article.

The Award for Top Gas Grill Goes To:

Weber Genesis Silver B Premium (LP) Grill

This is the best grill for backyard barbecues, parties or just for an everyday dinner! No matter if youre cooking corn on the cob, steak or hamburgers, your food will turn out perfectly every single time. This Weber grill is the top choice for those looking to invest in a grill that will last for life! Take a look at all it has to offer:

3 individually adjustable stainless steel burners

3 tool holders

Drip pan

Warming rack (At long last you can keep your food warm while its waiting to be served)

Fuel gage

Wheels that are all-terrain and all-weather. You can wheel this grill anywhere and not have to worry about rocks, pebbles or grass making it hard for you.

Storage! What grilling connoisseur hasnt wanted more space and storage around their grill at one time or another? The Weber Genesis has three areas for you to place your seasonings, meat or tools as well as plentiful storage below.

Easy cleaning

All in all, the Weber Genesis is the best gas grill on the market right now. It goes for around $420 but its worth every penny.

The Award for Best Charcoal Grill Goes To:

Weber Performer

Charcoal grills are a favorite of many, and the best one in the Weber line is the Weber Performer. Charcoal Weber grills cook up hotter, allow you to burn wood and light up with fire. Granted, they do require a little bit more attention and time than others and are a little messier, but the flavor cannot be beat. So, if a charcoal grill is for you, check out the advantages of purchasing the Performer.

Push button igniter

22.5 inch diameter cooking area

Dual-Purpose thermometer for perfectly cooked food every time

Bottom storage

All-weather wheels that are crack proof Weber Cookbook included One-Touch Cleaning System Heavy Duty Steel Cart This Weber Grill is ideal for those who love to barbecue and enjoy the aroma and taste of charcoal. The range for this grill is between $349-400

The Award for Best Smoke Grill Goes To: Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker 2820 The top smoker by Weber is the Smokey Mountain Cooker 2820. This Weber grill will last for years and will provide all of that amazing flavor you have come to expect from a smoke grill. Beginners and barbecuing professionals both will be able to fully enjoy the benefits of this grill because it works equally well for apartment renters and home owners. Easy to assemble Easy to clean Compact and easy to maneuver Fits large amount of food despite its size Weber grill cookbook Individually controlled vents Rust-resistant fuel door Heavy duty Vinyl cover This may be the cheapest of the Weber grills reviewed so far, but that doesnt mean the quality suffered for the sake of a lower price. On the contrary, the review for this grill is very positive and the price gives it even higher marks. Youll pay only $190-200 for this top-notch grill.

After youve decided which Weber grill will work best for you, it will be time to decide on all the extras you will be presented with. You will be offered all the add-ons, like brushes, basters and even talking thermometers. But, the top choice for an extra has to be the electric rotisserie. Not only is this a fun addition to any grill, its also a must-have for the seasoned professional. It will add something new to the everyday barbecue grill and will enable you to roast hamburgers and hot dogs. So, take a look at the rotisseries highlights and see how great it is for yourself!

Weber Basket Rotisserie, Electric 9891

High quality electric motor

Basket is made out of plated carbon steel

Easy to use

Fits most Weber grills

The Weber Basket Rotisserie, Electric 9891 will make your grill stand out and make your food more impressive than it already is. Its not the easiest to clean, but in the end, any effort on your part will have been worth it. Plan on spending $110-100 for this item.

Lastly, now that you have read a review on the best grills available, you can make an educated decision of your own. If youve used a charcoal, gas and smoke grill before, you probably have a pretty good idea which one you like the best. Some barbecue lovers will purchase a few different grills to match their moods, while others have only one that they are faithful to. So, no matter what grill suits you, make sure its a Weber grill if you are looking for quality that will last for years to come.

Copyright Jeremy Hier

PERMISSIONS TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in its entirety free of charge, electronically or in print, provided it appears with the included copyright and authors resource box with live website links.

Jeremy Hier is the Business Manager and Webmaster of http://www.gas-grills-4u.com

Shannon Willoby is a 25 year old freelance writer living in Phoenix, Arizona. She likes to offer her advice and tips to consumers looking to purchase http://www.gas-grills-4u.com/natural-gas-grills.htm and http://www.gas-grills-4u.com/electric-grill.htm

The Ragdoll cat breed consists of a variety of medium to long hair cats. Ragdoll cats are famous for their placid temperaments as well as their affectionate nature. Ragdolls are the most easy going and gentle cat you can own. These cats are not aggressive and should only be kept indoors. They do not have fighting instincts so they will not defend themselves when provoked.

The term "Ragdoll" comes from the way they go totally limp when picked up. The breed originated in California back in the 1960s. The first Ragdoll was a cat named Josephine. There are many myths regarding the history of Ragdoll cats; for instance, one account claims Ragdoll cats were left on earth by an alien race. Many of these wild claims were made by the breeds founder and are still passed around today.

Ragdoll cats are bred selectively for certain characteristics. These selective traits include size, characteristic limpness when picked up, as well as their easy going nature. The breed was created from a mixture of Birman, Persian, and Burmese cats. The Ragdoll breed has been imitated by other breeds such as the Ragamuffin; however, many of these competing breeds are not recognized by cat registries as there is little differentiating them from Ragdoll cats.

Ragdoll Cats come in a variety of patterns and colors. The pointed patterns fall into three categories: mitted, bicolor, and colorpoint. The varieties of colors are lilac, seal, blue, and chocolate. Additionally there are several nonstandard color offerings such as red and lynx point. A typical Ragdoll takes 2 years to fully mature; adult males weigh between 15 to 20 pounds. Female cats weigh in at 9 to 13 pounds. Ragdoll cats are the largest domestic cat and make excellent pets.

Ben Harper is a Ragdoll cat enthusiast and founder of the site Ragdoll Cats which was established to promote the Ragdoll cat breed. To learn more about this unusual cat visit: http://www.ragdollcats.info

If you're a cake decorator and have school age children, you've probably made more than your share of bake sale cupcakes. But have you heard about the cupcake sales at the Magnolia Bakery? This privately owned bakery is ringing up $40 K per week from their cupcake sales alone. Now that's some bake sale!

If you ever visit Greenwich Village's legendary Bleecker Street, you'll likely find yourself drawn to the irresistible aromas emanating from Magnolia Bakery. The shops ovens work nonstop to feed countless droves of customers. And they're not there only for the cupcakes!

Other favorites at Magnolia Bakery include old-fashioned desserts such as their signature banana pudding (a trifle style concoction of vanilla cookies, chunks of banana and vanilla pudding), key lime pie with gingersnap crust, nectarine cobbler, bread pudding and a delightful Southern style confection called Hummingbird Cake: a yellow cake with banana, pineapple, pecans and a cream-cheese filling.

Magnolia Bakery was opened in 1996 by Allysa Torey and Jennifer Appel in the heart of Greenwich Village.

Magnolia brings a sweet Southern feel to Manhattan with cool key lime walls and background jazz, white hammered tin ceilings and retro kitchen utensils.

While the bakery specializes in 1950's style desserts and decor, complete with Ozzie and Harriet artifacts, the cupcakes came as an afterthought.

The first batch of cupcakes was created from a last minute thought to use some leftover cake batter rather than toss it, so the story goes. The cupcakes were iced in cheery, spring colors, and then set in the windowsill - where the cupcake craze began.

With all sorts of cupcake shops opening from New York to California, the Magnolia Bakery is widely believed to be the one that most influenced the trend. And sweet Magnolia, situated on of the most beautiful blocks in Manhattan's West Village, is still one of the most trendy cupcake stops in NYC.

While the Magnolia Bakery has quickly become popular with those hungry for sweet carbs and more socializing after a night on the town, it no longer caters to early birds. The staff needs this time to bake and decorate the thousands of cupcakes that are purchased daily. Approximately 20,000 are sold each week.

Hollywood helped cement the landmark status of Magnolia Bakery when episodes of both Saturday Night Live and Sex in the City were filmed there.

The Magnolia Bakery is now a regular stop for the Sex in the City tour buses that deliver fans eager to sample the same type of cupcakes that they watched Sarah Jessica Parker and her co-star Cynthia Nixon enjoy, one after another. These stylish cupcakes have even made Vogue.

And the Magnolia Bakery has become so popular with locals out on the town, that the late night weekend crowds line up for blocks away. This is credited to the comforting atmosphere and comfort food, as well as to the popularity brought by Parker and Nixon's cupcake scene.

In 2000, the Magnolia Bakery%u2019s original owners, who have since parted ways, saw their book, Magnolia Bakery Cookbook: Old-Fashioned Recipes from New York's Sweetest Bakery, published. This guide to Magnolia's secret recipes became a best seller.

Just a final note if you visit Magnolia Bakery (401 Bleecker Street, near West 11th Street in Greenwich Village) , don't fill up on cupcakes. Save some room for their signature Peanut Butter Heath Bar Blondie! One layer is sort of a peanut butter cookie and peanut brittle hybrid, and this is followed by a rich, buttery cake layer, and then its topped with a crunchy caramel toffee concoction. Don't eat peanuts? Try one of the desserts listed above.

Samantha Mitchell, Co-Author Cake Decorating Made Easy! Vol. 1 & 2 The World's First Cake Decorating Video Books For more cake decorating tips along with step by step videos, sign up for our free newsletter at CakeAnswers.com

Full blown winter now. The fishing is not good now. I'M BORED!!! All I can do now is explain it bit more about the tactics and fishing tackle I use.

For edibles like cob, spotted grunter, white steenbras and shad a nylon line with a diameter of around 0.40mm will be sufficient. Thats for fishing from the beach on sandy areas. Of course for shad you will want to add a small piece of steel cable/piano wire just above the hook to stop them from biting off your hook with their razor like teeth.

Going for galjoen, white musselcracker or blacktail around rocky areas you will have to use a thicker line that is also more abrasion resistant. Musselcracker is a very strong and dirty fighter so a strong reel will be a good idea.

For most sharks around here it will be best to use a line of 0.55mm. And a reel with a big line capacity. I use a custom build 14ft 400/3 graphite fishing rod with a Daiwa Saltist reel. On the reel I have 300m braided line as backing with about 400m of 0.55mm on top off that. Thats in most cases enough to stop and turn a beast from the shore.

To get a big bait (1-5kg) out deep I use a non return sliding clip. I attach a 1mm leader of about 8meters to my main line by means of a bemini twist knot and then a cats paw or figure 8 knot. Then you tie on a stop ring with power swivel and a short sinker/lead trace. For sliding you must use a big grapnel sinker to make sure you your sinker stays firmly stuck while you slide your bait out.

Next step is to cast out the sinker alone as deep as possible. On rocky areas is normally easier but from the beach/sand you will have to wade/swim out to cast out behind the drop-off.

When you are sure your sinker is not going to move you can clip on your slide with two hooks and at least a 150pound breaking strain stainless steel cable. Now you just pull your line tight and rock your rod forwards and backwards. That causes your slide to slide out into the water. Doing that for at least 5 minutes and your slide will be at or very near to the stop ring and sinker.

Now use patience till your line goes tight and the fight begins. Remember your fighting buckle otherwise your back wont be lasting to long.

Happy fishing till next time

Can I share a secret with you?

Teleseminars are some of the easiest money I've ever made.

Chances are you've attended a teleseminar lately. Why not produce them yourself? These seminars by phone are fun and easy to do.

Giving FREE teleseminars is a fabulous way to promote your business, help your prospects get to know you better, increase your e-zine subscribers, and jack-up sales. I offer a free monthly teleseminar that gives people an introduction to what I teach (how to get business via an e-zine). These calls generate me tons of new e-zine subscribers and sales for my home study courses.

Giving PAID teleseminars promotes your business and generates revenues as well. I do one paid teleseminar at least every two months on a different marketing topic, and sometimes I invite a special guest. Each of these events grosses me between $5,000 and $10,000.

You should also consider offering an "intensive" or "bootcamp" series of multi-week teleseminars. You can break up aspects of one topic or do a series on multiple, related topics. My former "4-Week E-zine Launch Telebootcamps" went for $497 and sold out every time.

To get started, you'll need:

1. a bridge line. For less than 30 people, FreeConference.com has worked fine for me. (Yes, it's FREE.) For more people or for paid events, I use a paid line such as from Great Teleseminars, because they come with personal service and an operator if anything goes wrong.

2. an automated way for people to sign up. I use, LOVE, and wholeheartedly recommend AutoWebBusiness. It's an online shopping cart program that comes complete with e-mail autoresponders and link tracking. It also lets you do coupon offers for special groups, and you can automatically track commissions for affiliates.

3. a way to record your teleseminars. You'll want to provide the audio for people to listen to later online or you can make CDs. Record yourself with inexpensive software like Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge Studio, or hire someone to do it for you. I use AudioStrategies (http://www.AudioStrategies.com).

But there's a LOT more to it... How do you get signups, especially if you have a small list?
Where can you advertise your teleseminars?
What days and times will get you more people?
How much should you charge?
How can you get expert guests on your calls for free?
How should you prepare handouts and visuals?
Do people really want CDs, or are they happy with online audio?
WHERE do you start?
To learn MY step-by-step formula for producing teleseminars that REALLY make you money, see my program, "Insider Secrets to Making Money With TELESEMINARS."

Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," publishes the award-winning 'Straight Shooter Marketing' weekly ezine with 20,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at http://www.EzineQueen.com

The "real" cost of your car goes far beyond the purchase price. Therefore, should you go to the extra expense of having a used car professionally inspected before buying? Well, a look at the numbers indicate that this decision is a no-brainer. And it's an absolute, "YES!".

Many people don't bother with this because it adds an additional step to the already unpleasant task of car buying. Instead, they look over the car the best they can, or have a friend who knows a bit more do it. They then drive the car and everything seems in order. However, instead of purchasing the vehicle at this point, I would strongly suggest that this car has only passed the first test. Now it's time to have your opinion verified by a pro.

Here's why:

It's likely no surprise to you that the overall cost of a car is usually the second largest in the family budget, being surpassed only by housing.

According to AAA (American Automobile Association), the average total cost per mile for a vehicle driven 15,000 miles per year is $.522 (52.2cents), or $7,830 for the year. This total cost of car ownership includes such expenses as gas and oil, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and financing.

Remember, this is an "average". For example, the cost for a small sedan like a Ford Focus or Honda Civic is 41.4 cents. A medium sedan such as a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry is 52.5 cents. The cost for a large sedan like a Chrysler 300 or Nissan Maxima is 62.5 cents. A four-wheel-drive SUV has a cost of 66.6 cents per mile while a minivan has a cost of 57.6 cents.

And this study by AAA was done in 2006 when they used the price of $2.256/gallon for gasoline. Obviously, gas costs much more today so these numbers are actually understated.

But, for the sake of the point, let's use the average cost of $7,830 per year. If someone keeps their vehicle for four years, the total cost would be $31,320. Now that's a big investment.

Wouldn't it make sense to spend an extra $100 to $150 to have the vehicle inspected prior to taking on such a commitment? You don't want to add to this already large expense by purchasing a vehicle that may look good, but actually has some hidden problems indicative of potentially expensive repairs down the road.

True, bringing a car to your trusted mechanic can be a nuisance. But it is still well worth your time.

However, if you want to avoid this errand or the car owner is hesitant to let you take the vehicle, there are now vast networks of car inspection companies that will go right to the Dealership or the current owner's home to do the inspection. They usually can complete the job with 24 hours, and sometimes the very same day.

Just go to your favorite search engine and search for "car inspection service" or "auto inspection service" (without the quotes).

Joshua Rose Is an Auto Broker at Auto Broker Magic. For information on negotiating a great deal on a used car, please see his tips at Used Car Buying Advice.

Cranbrook, BC, is home to the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel and is the largest city and service center in the East Kootenay region. Many parts of the city date from 1898 and self-guided walking tours are available with maps obtainable from the Chamber of Commerce, or from the Museum.

The Canadian Pacific Railway played a major role in the development of Cranbrook. Much of the original railway infrastructure built in Cranbrook still survives, providing a good context for the development of the Railway Museum.

The renowned Canadian Museum of Rail Travel is one of the largest museums of its type in Canada, with a valuable national collection of luxurious trains from the golden age of railway travel. Open all year and located at 57 Van Horne Street South, which is Hwy 3/95 downtown. It is a must-see for any visitor to the region.

The museum contains vintage passenger train sets representing various eras from the 1880s to the 1930s. The cars are luxuriously appointed with exotic inlaid woods, brass fixtures, plush upholstery, wool carpets, period furniture, stained glass and other displays such as railway china and silverware.

The centerpiece of the train's displays is the only complete surviving 7-car set of the famous 1929 Trans-Canada Limited, a vintage deluxe hotel on wheels. The railway constructed 12 new complete train sets comprising "A" class dining cars, "R" series sleepers (8-sections, 2-compartments, 1-drawing room), combination baggage sleeping cars (for the dining car crews) and the unique "River" class solarium-lounge cars that were at the end of the trains and especially popular. The train staff for the Limited was a little army; besides the driver-known in Canada as the "engineer"-and the fireman, the Limited had a conductor, trainman, sleeping-car conductor, one porter to each sleeping-car, a parlour-car attendant and the dining-car staff comprising of the chef, stewards and waiters. The Trans-Canada Limited, reserved for First Class passengers only, traveled from Montreal and Toronto to Vancouver, a distance of 2,886 miles. Other trains on display include the 1907 ultra-luxurious Soo-Spokane Train Deluxe. There are also cars in the museum that were used by various visiting royalty over the years and interpretive cars.

Another highlight of the building complex is the spectacular Royal Alexandra Hall, the restored 3,000 sq. ft. and three storey high "Grand Caf" from the Canadian Pacific Railway's former Royal Alexandra Hotel in Winnipeg. Demolished in 1971, the complete caf was saved in hundreds of pieces and stored in a semi-trailer for 25 years before being purchased by the museum in 1999.

Besides the Railway Museum proper, there is included in the surrounding infrastructure a 10-stall Roundhouse with a 100-foot turntable from 1920 and still in use today, together with another 7 stalls from 1907 with the roof and walls removed. The Railway water tower that was built in 1946 and rebuilt in 1989 is still standing. There is also the original (from 1898) CPR Cranbrook station (although altered) and the 1901 station from Elko that was relocated to the yards in 1987. The railway Freight Shed built in 1898 forms an important part of the new museum complex of buildings, where it has two levels with a total of 10,000 sq. ft.

Just 16 kilometers to the east and north of Cranbrook, is Fort Steele Heritage Town, considered one of British Columbia's premier heritage sites. On a daily basis, Fort Steele brings to life the Victorian age in a Rockies' boomtown. The Fort Steele Railway takes visitors on a scenic ride behind a real steam locomotive.

The origins of Fort Steele are traced back to the small settlement of Galbraith's Ferry, created during the Wild Horse Creek Gold Rush of 1864/65. Galbraith's Ferry was founded after Fisherville, the white man's town in southeastern BC. Located six kilometers up the Wild Horse River from Fort Steele, the Fisherville historic site, is well preserved by a local heritage society and offers a fascinating glimpse into how this region began.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Canada Vacation

Surveys conducted indicate that in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people working from home. The result shows that about 30 million people now have home based businesses. The major factors that support these home based businesses are the affordable technologies introduced in the communication system by the telephony industries.

An impressive business address is essential for any business, even though it may be a home based business. Most people prefer to do businesses with or avail service of a well established company. An impressive business address can add a significant corporate image. A virtual satellite office can help those businesses operated from home to get the best in the market, all the advantages of working from home together with the services, accessibility and well-established image offered by a large conglomerate.

The remarkable advantage of a virtual satellite office is its flexibility. Virtual satellite offices are custom-made to meet the requirements of smallest home based businesses. As a result these businesses remunerates from having proficient services available at a fraction of the cost of a permanent staff. A virtual satellite office enables to enhance your business productivity.

The home-based business owners can stop thinking about about meeting customers and clients or potential employees at a cafe, hotel atrium or office table when they use a virtual satellite office service. There are service providers who offer a range of virtual office solutions to assist a home-based business with the very latest in telecommunication technologies. Many service provider suites offer video conferencing facility as part of their services to minimize the expenses required on business travel.

Although there are many telecommunication companies who provide virtual satellite office service, the cheap and best option is a hosted PBX system. The mode of implementation is cost effective, since servers and additional PBX equipments are not placed directly in your office premises or branch offices. The virtual nature of implementation makes it is easy to setup high accessibility and back-up-recovery for a virtual environment. Because of the shared nature, it is easy to manage accessibility in both local and remote locations.

There are some other advantages that enrich virtual satellite office. For instance, consider a company where most of its employees are working at multiple locations or far from the central region. This will let the company to get business deals from several regions. There will no need to post employees in various locations using virtual satellite offices. The geographical independence that the virtual satellite services provide will extend your companys presence and increase your bottom line. Customer care services and support is another aspect that can be managed efficiently by virtual satellite offices. With a virtual satellite office environment, you can be sure that land and property expenses are kept negligible as less work space is needed.

This article has been published by AccessDirect, providers of Hosted PBX phone System. Visit us at www.messagingservice.com.

John K represents AccessDirect, a leading provider of Hosted PBX phone systems.