Archive for August, 2009
Become a Freelance Writing Superstar
by OurChapters on Aug.26, 2009, under OurChapters
I started off my online marketing career as a freelance writer. Although that was more than 3 years ago, my freelance writer gigs helped me quit my full time job and launch my Internet marketing business as well. I highly recommend everyone who can write, or want to write, to get a few writing gigs as a legitimate and sustainable way to improve your cash flow.
Although there a really good freelance writing tips available, in this article let me give you and idea of what you can do:
- Gost write for other people’s books and ebooks
- Write web content for website / blog owners
- Become a regular columnist for offline / online media in various topics
- Become a paid blogger using paid blogging services like Review Me
- Become an editor / proofreader and help improve someone else’s work
- Become a web copywriter and charge for every web copy written
Being an editor requires more of a critical eye and amazing grasp of grammar and writing styles. This is a skill not everyone, even world-class writers, possess. Copywriting is another highly paid skill that requires creative thinking and therefore it not really in the reach of most people. Every other type of writing however, is a great opportunity for anyone who can construct a proper sentence in English.
Therefore, you should focus on ghost writing, content writing and paid blogging.
Ghost writing can potentially add between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars into your bank account every month, but the flip side to this is that no one will ever know who you are or appreciate the work you’ve done. A lot of content publishers and ebook sellers are on the lookout for ghost writers or ghost writing services.
Writing for blogs or other online media is a good idea since you usually get credit for your work. If you write for blogs, chances are you get a link back to your own site. This helps other people know who you are, and get addicted to your style of writing, ideas, and personality. For the sake of your freelance writing career, writing on blogs is actually much better than ghostwriting.
Another way of making money from freelance writing is get paid to blog. The basic idea is that you have your own blog, and look for pportunities in paid blogging networks. Advertisers want to get the word out about their products, and they are willing to pay bloggers to write about them on their blogs. The popularity of your blog determines how much you earn per post.
The plus side to this is that technically you own the web content you have written, which means you can always earn money from your growing blog with Google Adsense or even affiliate offers.
Renting To Buy a Property In Australia
by OurChapters on Aug.26, 2009, under OurChapters
When you rent to buy a home in Australia is actually not that much different to rent to buy systems in other parts of the world. The methods are all very similar and cover areas like instalment terms contracts, lease with option to purchase and seller financing the buyers deposit.
Before you decide to buy or sell a house using a Rent To Buy Australia system, you first need to determine what systems are allowed to be practiced in your state or territory. Some states don’t allow instalment terms contracts for example, so you need to have this data well understood before you leave first base.
These days, the most common form of rent to buy deals that happen in Australia are instalment terms contracts and lease with the option to purchase.
The instalment terms contract is basically a standard contract for sale of land being exchanged between a buyer and seller, with a financing terms (amortisation) schedule, to work out principle and interest payments between the buyer and seller of the property being sold.
The lease with option to purchase deal has the property owners and future buyer (or tenant / buyer) enter into a standard residential lease agreement as well as exchange a Call Option Deed (with a contract for sale of land attached in the annexure).
Most people who buy property this way in Australia normally do so, because they don’t have enough deposit to satisfy a lender, or they may have some spotty credit history. That is why the rent to buy houses system becomes so popular with people who have these financing issues.
There are problems associated with this method however. Many (not all) investors who practise this form of investing tend to take advantage of buyers needing this method of purchase, because they know their choices are limited. They tend to charge very high interest rates and inflate the property prices they are selling way more then the real market value.
There are better alternatives however, like the DIY Rent To Buy Houses Manual, where you can teach yourself how to setup a rewarding rent to buy deal directly with a seller who wants your help. Visit the home page of this web site to discover more about setting up your own wholesale rent to buy deal.
Tips on SSL certs for business.
by OurChapters on Aug.25, 2009, under OurChapters
SSL Certificates were created to validate the genuineness of a web site because it is so easy to counterfeit a business on the web. In 1995, when they were invented, a standard SSL certs provided adequate protection for consumers. SSL certs secure your website and protect transactional data. Need a secure logon for your site or online store? SSL certificates must be signed by a trusted authority or more commonly known as Certificate Authorities (CA). CA’s confirm your identity by adding their signature to your SSL certs.SSL Certificates bind an identity to a pair of electronic keys that are used to encrypt and decipher digital information. A public key encrypts the information, whereas a private key decrypts the information.
Security remains a moving target, however, as researchers have also started to find weaknesses in SHA1. Although there are no attacks as advanced as those against MD5, it is likely that SHA1 will also be increasingly threatened by collision attacks as research in this area continues. Secure Sockets Layer, SSL, is the standard security technology for creating an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data passed between our web server and your browser remains private and secure. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology protects your Web site and makes it easy for customers to trust you. SSL creates an encrypted link between a web server and a web browser to ensure that all data transmitted remains private and secure.
Certificates can be reissued as needed in development situations. Certs may need to be reissued when upgrading or changing server software or operating platform; if migrating your site from one server to another, or if an existing private key has been lost, destroyed or otherwise inadvertently overwritten. After re-validating cert information online, the new certificate is issued immediately and is valid from the date of reissue until the original expiration date. Certs are issued by certificate authorities (CAs), which are either trusted because they are a top-level, or root, authority or because they have been granted the ability to issue certificates by a root CA. All Web browsers maintain a list of trusted root certificate authorities as a way to verify certs issued by those CAs.
Web servers have been built to support it and web browsers have been built to use it. SSL provides the ability to secure customers transactions transparently without the customer having to do a thing! Web server certs (also known as secure server certificates or SSL certificates) are required to initialize an SSL session.
Training Your Dog Properly
by OurChapters on Aug.25, 2009, under OurChapters
Be sure to have all of your papers organized. Also be sure to have a current passport. Basically, you can never be over prepared when it comes. Because of this idea of discounted air travel, a lot of people would just grit their teeth and pay for regular tickets, even if they have to stretch their budget in order to accommodate the expenses. If a medical emergency arises, your costs will be paid. It doesn’t cost much to get this type of insurance. Actually, the regulations and restrictions are aimed to protect travelers even though these rules can often seem like a pain.
There have been some frightening revelations when it comes to the ingredients contained in most commercial dog foods that pet owners are turning towards the natural way to feed their pet. A lot of commercial dog foods aren’t giving your pet the nutrients it needs and, pet food isn’t covered under the same regulations that human food is. They often don’t carry the proper vitamins or nutrients needed for a growing puppy to continue growing on the dog food alone. After the dog food scare in 2006, many people had a public outcry for regulation of where their dog food came from and what kind of enforcement they had behind it.
Is it your dog that occupies the couch, the bed, the chair, and many other possessions that truly belong to you? If you suffer from the same fate, then, might as well consider these simple dog training tips. Don’t take dog training school too seriously, dogs love to play, and when they are in that mood, take advantage, because they are more receptive to you and are eager to learn. You can put it in a grate to train. Give it a treat after you have encouraged it to do something and it does it. Starting out as a puppy, you can build a long trusting relationship.
Do Your Feet Hurt?
by OurChapters on Aug.25, 2009, under OurChapters
Make sure you and your children have the right kind of shoe that will support running, walking, and your weight.
Most people suffer from some kind of foot pain throughout the day. There are many treatments and tips to get rid of serious foot pain relief if you follow expert advice.
Are your feet in agony? From poor fitting shoes, to inherited toe woes, foot pain is no laughing matter. We rarely take care of our feet until the pain has become so severe we can’t ignore it any longer.
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, 84% of women have suffered from at least one painful foot problem.
Do you purchase shoes because they’re cute or fashionable? You wouldn’t think about putting shoes that hurt on your child’s foot! Don’t do it on yours, either!
Here are six of the most common ailments women experience and smart tips to help alleviate their foot pain. Take this advice and you’ll soon feel as though you’re walking on air!
How To Put Your Best Foot Forward:
Disclaimer: These foot ailments are the most common, but for serious foot pain, please consult your podiatrist or a podiatric surgeon.
1. Do you have Plantar Fascitis? This feels like a sharp stabbing pain in your heel and it is worse when you get up in the morning.
· Cause – The plantar fascia is a that thick band of tissue running along the bottom of the foot from heel to toe and people with all types of insteps (arches) are prone to this irritation. If you wear very flat or really high heels, the problem will get worse.
· A shoe should support the arch. If not, the fascia will stretch and that will cause further inflammation. Does your Achilles tendon feel tight? That is also one of the symptoms.
· Treatment – Choose shoes with some structure. Pairs of shoes that have some arch support and enclose your heel will be much better than flip flops or flats. Avoid going barefoot as much as possible.
· Stretch Your Foot In the Mornings – When you sleep, your plantar fascia is relaxed. It gets a real wake-up call of tension when your first put your weight on it. Before beginning your busy day, wrap a towel around your feet and pull the toes back, gently stretching the tendons.
· Reduce Swelling – Using a plastic bottle filled with water, freeze it, and then roll it under your foot for a few minutes to relieve the pain.
· Consult a podiatrist for custom orthotics – I know you may not think it makes a difference, but these special inserts are molded specifically to your foot’s shape! This will help control foot motion and decrease the daily strain on the plantar fasciae when added to the inside of your shoe.
2. Ingrown Toenails? This feels like a throbbing sensation and is most often located on the side of one of your big toes. Is it swollen and red?
· Cause – When the nail edge grows sideways into the skin of the toe, it forms a toenail that is growing inward instead of straight outward. The pressure on the nail bites into the surrounding skin and can really cause some pain or infection. If your shoes are too tight or narrow around the toe area, you are at risk for getting an ingrown toenail. If you cut your toenails incorrectly, you could also get an ingrown toenail.
· Treatment – Don’t wear pointy toed shoes. If you’re going to be walking a lot, carry your dress shoes and walk in structured walking shoes.
· Use moisture cream on your feet daily – Reduce callus formation by keeping feet well rubbed and moisturized. Before wearing shoes, make sure the lotions and creams are absorbed and your feet are dry. When a callus develops, it causes more pressure on the ingrown nail or other parts of your foot.
· Cut toenails strait across. Don’t file the corners down. If you get pedicures, make sure they follow these procedures, don’t assume they will or know what they’re doing. Choose a reputable salon or go to a podiatrist.
· See a podiatrist if you think you have an infection! Don’t delay! No “self-surgery” as digging around on your toenails or skin can lead to serious infection and deeper injury to the nail or foot.
3. Bursitis – This feels like a painful bump and is located on the back of the heel.
· Cause – This can occur when you have an enlarged heel bone. If you wear stiff-backed shoes, this can worsen the bump further, inflaming the bursa, which is a protective sac of fluid.
· Treatment – Wear shoes with open backs, until the irritation has lessened, or all the time, whichever is necessary.
· Use Dr. Scholl’s Foam Cushions (donut shaped pad) – Place this pad over the bump to alleviate pressure and use ice at the end of the day to soothe the inflammation.
· Consult a Podiatrist – If you have chronic and constant pain in this area of the foot, consult a podiatrist for advice and possible removal of the bump.
4. Stress Fracture? This feels like a tender area, frequently on the front part of the foot, along the 2nd or 3rd metatarsal, the long bones in the top middle of the foot.
· Cause – Any repetitive stress on the bone, like walking and running on hard surfaces and while wearing shoes that are not absorbing enough of the shock.
· Treatment – See a doctor! You will need a surgical shoe while you heal. That shoe has a hard bottom that will keep the affected bones from bending.
· Be Patient – Stress fractures heal in about 4 – 8 weeks, normally. Don’t over stress the foot, no running or long walks.
· Prevent re-injuries – Keep your weight at a healthy level and wear supportive shoes.
5. Bunions – These are sensitive and protruding lumps or bumps at the heads of the big-toe joints and can pull your toe to an angle.
· Cause – These might be hereditary, and can be developed if you have low arches, or your feet tend to roll inward. Your bone actually moves as the bump seems to get larger.
· Pointy toed shoes can make the bunions worsen.
· Treatment – Shoe choice is critical. Best choices are shoes with a wide toe area and a lower heel but not flat.
· Gel Pads – Placing a gel pad over the bunions to cushion them and reduce the pain is helpful.
6. Neuroma – This is a shooting pain in the ball of the foot.
· Cause – This pain is caused by pressure on the nerve in the underside of the foot. Swelling can occur. Narrow, pointed shoes put more pressure on an already irritated nerve so pick shoes with wider toe room.
· Treatment – Wide toe areas, and low heels.
· Use anti-inflammatories. Ibuprofen is good but if you don’t experience relief see a podiatrist.
· Surgery – For chronic neuroma that doesn’t get better, surgery such as cryotreatment can help . Your podiatrist can make that determination.
Take care of your feet, they need to carry you through the rest of your life!
Visit Sikkim, the former kingdom in the Himalayas
by OurChapters on Aug.25, 2009, under OurChapters
Of the three former Himalayan kingdoms – Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan – Sikkim is today least visited and known in the West. This is unfortunate as Sikkim’s original inhabitants, the Lepchas, call their land Nyemael , “Paradise,” and though one of the legendary “bayul” or Shangri-la valleys was said to be only behind the mighty Kanchenjunga, Sikkim, now the 22nd state of the Indian Union, has much of the same to offer as Bhutan, its neighbor to the east.
Trip to Sikkim is best combined with a stop in Darjeeling, the Queen of the Hill Stations. The key air access point for the region is the Bagdogra airport in the foothills of Darjeeling. There are direct flights to Bagdogra from Delhi or Kolkata and thus Sikkim can be easily added as a side trip to your India itinerary.
The ideal way to visit Sikkim is to tailor it into Nepal or Bhutan itinerary. You can fly into Bagdogra, tour Darjeeling and Sikkim then enter Bhutan overland via Phuentsholing in the south-western corner of the country. Another alternative is to exit Bhutan by air from Paro to Bagdogra and proceed to Darjeeling and Sikkim from there. Druk airways added the Bagdogra flights recently and the option shortens the journey by two days. There are indeed number of viable options how best to tour and travel Bhutan, where to enter and exit the country.
Sikkim can also be easily visited as a side-trip from Kathmandu. The fastest connection is to fly to from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, an airport in far Eastern Nepal, practically on Nepal – West Bengal border, and then travel overland from there to Darjeeling.
The Nepal to Sikkim option opens up many possibilities as one can then tour the Indian subcontinent by flying into Delhi first, visit the Golden Triangle, tigers at Ranthambore, then Varanasi and the Ganges region, from there continue to Kathmandu, then proceed to Sikkim, and finish in Bhutan, thus seeing all of the former Himalayan kingdoms on the same trip.
Examining The Human Form With Jack Vettriano, Darren Baker & Todd White
by OurChapters on Aug.24, 2009, under OurChapters
Artists have always been facinated by the human body and produced figurative based art. The natural curves and features of the human body are a frequent source of inspiration for a number of artists from Beryl Cook to Banksy. This is some thing that has spread from the art world to every magazine cover in the country, so there must be a basic intrigue for humans to examine our own and other people’s bodies. Three of the top contemporary artists in this genre are Texan painter Todd White and British artists Darren Baker and Jack Vettriano, although there are major differences between their painting styles. One thing that is the same is their love for painting the human figure and in particular females.
Painter Todd White comes from Texas and has had a varied career path. He started life working in Los Angeles for Warner Brothers and was part of the artistic creative team behind Sponge Bob Square Pants. This could explain the cartoon like features of the people he paints in his contemporary artwork. Todd White’s artwork often shows people in black clothing, socialising and drinking wine and this could be down to his location in LA. It would seem that Todd White is surrounded by LA schmoozers and social climbers and from his artwork, I’d say he is not a fan.
Darren Baker is a young yet established British artist, that has already commanded a great deal of respect from his peers. Darren Baker has received numerous awards from the art world and has private and public collections in the House of Lords and Downing Street. He has also been approached by many sports personalities to paint portraits, this is probably because he was appointed official artist of The Professional Footballer’s Association when he was 23 years old. Darren has a contemporary style that combines realism and classics and he is fond of painting figures. Darren Baker frequently paints female figures often in relaxed, seductive positions and he often uses a mix of reds and blacks.
Jack Vettriano comes from Fife in Scotland and has won countless awards for his figurative and nude pieces. Jack Vettriano pieces have a film noir feel to them, painting many of his subjects in a 50′s style. He often features women in his paintings often in relaxed poses or in the middle of doing something like leaving a room through a door. Jack Vettriano often paints characters that appear distracted, many of his pieces feature people staring off into the distance or focused on some thing else.
Jamplay Review And Jamplay Coupon Code Discount
by OurChapters on Aug.24, 2009, under OurChapters
JamPlay.com is hitting it big in the guitar world. Their website is a membership only service which broadcasts high-definition video guitar lessons. They have brought together guitar instruction with interactivity… even allowing you to ask questions to their video instructors. They feature 4-5 guitar instructors to give you a selection in teaching methods, which is a big plus.
A JamPlay.com membership gives you access to all lessons in our database, by each and every JamPlay instructor! Learn everything to master the guitar: from beginner lessons teaching the raw basics. The multi-instructor approach allows you find a guitar instructor whose teaching methods you understand, and personality you enjoy.
Averaging 41 minutes per lesson, all of the filming is completed and broadcasted in in high-definition. Not only do they look fantastic, but they are broken into chapters, all selectable by you! Seeing something that you already have mastered? Skipping ahead in our lessons is simple. Videos are also available in 3 sizes, allowing uninterrupted video streaming to users with a slower internet connection.
Other guitar videos or instructional DVDs simply lecture you on guitar techniques, and worse yet, most instructors give you NOTHING once your face-to-face guitar lesson has ended. Not at JamPlay. For each lesson and each topic of guitar, Jamplay Online Video Guitar Lessons give you a full printout to reference and study. Keep the documents for life, regardless if you cancel your membership.
For a limited time, you can enjoy an Exclusive Special Jamplay Coupon Code here. You can also check out the Jamplay Review here.
Duvet Covers: Quality King Size Comforters
by OurChapters on Aug.24, 2009, under OurChapters
I could see where this was headed right off. Nathan, my son, and Liberty, my little princess, were both in moms face about sleeping with us tonight, and there was only room for one of them. As a matter of principle, we didn’t like either one of them to crash with us on a regular time frame, and in this instance, we were attempting to practice what we taught.
Nate, who was seven now, had completely got to the spot where he was not hurrying to our bed on a weekly schedule. Liberty, on the other hand, who was just becoming four was having a real hard time not leaping in bed with us every time. Now , don’t misconstrue me, I truly care for my kids, but I had strong convictions about what you teach your little ones when you let them sleep with you after a certain age and both of them where already past that age. And as petty as it sounds, we had also just bought a sixty clam duvet cover set.
Now, hind sight being what it is, we could have waited a few more years to spend that much money on a discount king duvet cover. However, in my defense, it was Sherry that consisted we “needed” one. Well, what can you do, sometimes you have to select your battles carefully to win the war. Anyway, back to our current dilemma. Nathan, come down and listen to me son. Your a big boy now, and your sister needs you to show her you like her, by letting her sleep with us tonight. Ok. Now tell your sister you love her and lets all go to sleep. It brings tears to my eyes to see these moments, really.
AARP Car Insurance
by OurChapters on Aug.24, 2009, under OurChapters
AARP Car Insurance
You’ll find the AARP Car Insurance Program offers a package of benefits and services you won’t find all together in most other auto plans. These features are specifically designed to reward you for your driving experience and make insuring your auto simple and hassle-free.
12 Month Rate Protection: Your rates are cannot be changedfor a entire year, not just 6 months like most other companies.
Lifetime Renewability: Once you become a policyholder, coverage will be continued as long as you meet a few simple requirements and are still able drive.
24/7 Claim Hotline: Claim professionals are available any time, day or night, with service that is backed by a 6 point claim satisfaction guarantee – this is part of AARP Car Insurance guarantee.
New Car Replacement: If you have a total loss of a new car with in the first 15 months or 15,000 miles after purchase, we’ll pay the replacement cost of any new vehicle- of the same make, model and equipment-with no deduction for depreciation.
*Depending on the AARP Car Insurance or auto plans available in your state you may be eligible for the following benefits. In the event that you do have an accident, having these additional features could save you a significant amount of money.
First Accident Forgiveness: We will waive any premium increase that would normally be charged with your first accident, provided that all drivers on the policy are free of accidents and major violations for the previous 5 years.
Disappearing Deductible: Maintain a clean driving record we’ll reduce your deductible by $150. It will continue to go down by $50 each additional accident free year until it reaches $0.
Waiver of Deductible For Not At Fault Accident: In most cases if the accident isn’t your fault you won’t pay the deductible. We’ll pay the full amount of covered charges and the deductible as well.
$100 Deductible Waiver For Choosing an Approved Repair Shop: If you choose an approved auto shop $100 of your deductible will be waived and you’ll receive a guarantee on the workmanship of claim repairs.