Archive for January, 2008

Marketing Your Business With Newspaper Inserts

Monday, January 21st, 2008

By Rick Parrott Marketing is one of your businesses most important tasks. Make sure you are getting your message across. One great way to do this is to use newspaper inserts in your advertising campaign. First, decide where you are going to advertise. I use the smaller weekly newspapers instead of the bigger daily papers. The weekly papers are usually much cheaper. My weekly paper only charges about $40.00 per 1000 inserts. Another reason to use inserts is that you can target specific zip codes. For example, in the 78209 zip code you run an advertisement focused on businesses, while running an advertisement targeting residential customers in the 78248 zip code. This is a powerful method of targeting your marketing messages. The benefits dont stop there! With a display ad you only get a small space to promote your products or services. With inserts you get as much space as you need. You can produce a single double sided page or a multi-page insert. Which do you think has the greatest chance of getting your message to the most customers? Display Ads All Look the Same To me, almost all display ads look the same. How do you get your message to stand out from the crowd? You use bold text, borders, and huge headlines work to draw attention to your advertisement. However, they still must compete with every other ad in their section. Inserts Stand Out All of these tactics work with inserts, but you have much less competition. Tip: Use colored paper to make your insert stand out even more! How do you use inserts to promote your business? 1. Select the markets you desire to target and develop the insert targeting that particular market segment. 2. Locate those markets by zip code. 3. Print the inserts at your local printer. 4. Deliver your inserts to the newspaper and they will insert them into the papers going to the zip codes you select. For my business, a typical insert campaign looks like this. Five thousand insert divided between three zip codes. Each zip code receives a targeted message printed on bright gold paper with black ink. The cost is about $80.00 per thousand. Forty dollars to the newspaper and $40.00 to have the inserts printed. I write my own advertising copy. Total cost is about $400.00 per run. My experience is that I get a much better return with inserts than with display advertising. The key to an effective marketing campaign is to target your customers with multiple exposures. One shot marketing just doesnt cut it! Tip: Create an insert that gives your customers information they want to keep for reference later. Consider a short information booklet to accomplish this. One 11 x 17 inch piece of paper makes an inexpensive, but effective four page booklet! See my article Marketing Your Business with Tips Booklets. *** Secure Publications, is a San Antonio Texas publishing company specializing in “How To” books and special reports designed to enhance our quality of life. Visit our site to get your copy ofHow to Start Your Own High Profit Computer Services Business! An Essential Guide to Earning a Living as a Computer Services Entrepreneur http://www.securepublications.com or http://www.lulu.com/rickparrott For professional writing services visit: Parrott writing Services Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_Parrott http://EzineArticles.com/?Marketing-Your-Business-With-Newspaper-Inserts&id=175589 purchase xanax alprazolam buy or xanax how can i obtain xanax without a prescription cheap xanax online

Tips for Planning a Small Wedding

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

By Jennifer McCleary Well, the big day is approaching and there is so much to do. Even with the idea of small wedding its turning to such a big ordeal! Set the date, reserve the church, hire a band, get a dress, find a caterer, a photographer, a floristthe list goes on and on. Even if youre planning a small wedding, for many new brides planning a wedding can seem like an overwhelming task. Planning a wedding doesnt have to be overwhelming, especially if you are planning a small wedding. Follow my simple tips and you will be on your way to planning a perfect, personal, and meaningful wedding. First off, think about your location. When you are having a small wedding, a traditional church and banquet hall may be too large for your wedding party. Such a large building would seem overwhelming for a small group and potentially make your wedding seem empty. Instead, think outside of the box. You could host your wedding at your favorite restaurant, a garden, bed & breakfast, historic inn, wedding or meditation chapel, a museum, historic house, or even on a train or boat. Just because a place doesnt advertise weddings does not mean that it is not a possibility. They just may not have the space for a large wedding. Dont be afraid to ask, you may find a surprising, unique venue that will make your day very memorable. You might even consider having your wedding at your, or a loved ones home. This can be a very meaningful location, just be careful because often times this can end up being expensive. A private home may not have everything that you need and you could end up spending a lot renting tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, and other items. Another option, if your wedding is small enough, is a destination wedding. Many beautiful resorts and spas will offer wedding packages. This way you get your wedding and your honeymoon in one location, and your guests get a little mini vacation. There are also a lot of neat things you can do with your ceremony. Instead of a processional, allow guests to mix and mingle before the service over wine and cheese. Give a toast to start the event, and then have everyone proceed to their places. You could also give each member of your families a flower, and have them line the aisle. As the bride proceeds towards the altar, she takes each one and assembles her bouquet as she goes, symbolizing the contributions the family makes to this union. If you have a very small guest list you can ask each of the guests to say a few words about the couple, or ask them to write a few things down ahead of time, and assemble them into a document for one person to read aloud. When you have a small wedding, you can also do some very unique things with the reception. Instead of having a typical reception, you can have a “wedding supper” at a restaurant–as simple or as lavish as you prefer. Some restaurants will even print a special menu just for your event. You could also have a bar-b-que, or cookout where everyone can relax and visit. If the reception is in a historic home or museum, have a tour guide there to show guests the facility. Also, instead of a band or D.J., hire a string quartet, a harpist, or other unique musical performer. For a lot of couples, they dont get to spend enough time with their guests on their wedding day. Many times you will have a lot of people that are very important to you and some may have traveled a long way to see you. With a small wedding and reception, you won’t have this problem. There are a lot of benefits to having a small wedding. You can be very creative, and you will more than likely have more options than a traditional bride. For more information on planning a small wedding, visit http://www.we-review-for-you.com/rweddingplanning.html Jennifer is a full time teacher and has been planning parties and events on the side for years. If you found this article useful, check out Jennifers other party planning tips at http://www.we-review-for-you.com You can also visit all of Jennifers other articles on a variety of topics or e-mail her at bj@we-review-for-you.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_McCleary http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-for-Planning-a-Small-Wedding&id=264776 xanax prescription look like xanax order now buy xanax online mo prescription online pharmacy xanax ambien

The Bride of Frankenstein Chose the Bridesmaid Dresses

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

By Morgan Hamilton Weddings are lavish celebrations. A lot of money has to be spent on food, decorations, settings, and clothing. This became a concern for my daughter who has been attending more than a few weddings over the past couple of years. She came over to our house a few days ago seeking my help for a problem regarding the expensive prices of bridesmaid dresses. My daughter had just come from a shopping trip with a friend who is planning to get married. On this trip they were supposed to pick out the bridesmaid dresses. The first problem became evident when she saw the price of the dress that the bride had picked out. The price was very high so she and the other attendants pointed this out to the bride. However, the bride would not listen to her and maintained that this was the dress she wanted them to wear. The other problem was the color of the dress that the bride selected. My daughter was upset because the color was unattractive and she is concerned that she will look sickly in the photographs. She felt that the color would make her appear lifeless and washed out. She felt that the bride was purposely picking these bridesmaid dresses so that she would look a cut above anyone else in the wedding party. My daughter also shared that she had spent hundreds of dollars on bridesmaid dresses for previous weddings and simply cannot afford to spend more than eight hundred dollars on this dress. She was not very close to the bride and she did not want to hurt her feelings. On the other hand, she did not want to spend a ton of money on an ugly dress that she was only going to wear once. We discussed this problem for a long time and I suggested that she should simply be honest to her friend. She should explain to the bride that she could not afford the dress. She was unwilling to do this, but she could not come up with other alternatives. She also told me that she will inform me of how things went. She was fearful that she was damaging a relationship over the price of bridesmaid dresses. When she left my husband asked me why our daughter had been so upset. I told him about our daughters problem. He told me that we should offer to pay for the dress so that she wouldnt have to charge it. I explained to him that the problem went beyond the cost of bridesmaid dresses and that I thought it was important for our daughter to take care of the situation. After a couple of days, my daughter called me. She had spoken with the bride about the high cost and poor color of the dress. The bride became unusually upset and hung up on her. However, after a few hours the bride called back and apologized and asked our daughter if she would like to shop for a less pricey dress. It turned out that the other attendants had also complained about the dress to her. They all agreed to start over by finding new bridesmaid dresses. Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Bridesmaid Dresses. Visit our site for more helpful information about Bridesmaid Dresses and other similar topics. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Bride-of-Frankenstein-Chose-the-Bridesmaid-Dresses&id=345759 order valium online online valium sale canadian online pharmacy valium online pharmacy valium

Tricky Seed Sowing Techniques

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

By Doug Green Now is an excellent time to sow pansies and begonia seed to have them ready for planting out in May. Start with a flowerpot filled to within a half inch of the rim with good artificial or potting soil. Sterilize the soil by soaking it with boiling water. Allow the boiling water to pour out the bottom of the pot while continuing to pour in the top. This will kill most common problems before they get started. In the case of pansies, sow the pansy seed on top of the soil and then cover with a thin layer of soil right over top of the seed. The right depth is one that just barely covers the seed. If you plant too deeply, the seed will not germinate. Pansy seed does require darkness to germinate properly so you do have to cover it. Begonia seed is finer than fairy dust and has to be handled very carefully. I recommend mixing your seed with a package of kitchen gelatin and then spreading the gelatin equally around the flowerpot. Do NOT cover begonia seed. They are so fine that any covering will kill them. Keep the soil warm (I use a small plant heating pad unit available at garden stores to maintain 72F soil temperature) and damp. Use only warm water to water the seedlings, cold water chills the soil delaying germination. Have patience. Pansy seed takes several weeks to germinate while begonia seed can take upwards of a month (and be tiny green specks for the first month after that). You can see container planting tricks here to see how to use these plants in hanging baskets and deck containers. The key to success is to keep the soil warm soil sitting in a pot without supplemental heating will average ten degrees colder than your room temperature. Those heating mats will dramatically improve your success rate with all seeds. Doug Green is an award winning garden author with 7 books published, a syndicated column and a website for all things gardening at http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Green http://EzineArticles.com/?Tricky-Seed-Sowing-Techniques&id=126500 diazepam online overnight buy valium wholesale online buy xanax valium zolpidem ambien buy cheap valium without a prescription

Paper Craft Profits

Monday, January 14th, 2008

By Kelle Arvay Alot of people may not realize just how much society utilizes printable products. I think printable items can be one of those products we take for granted at times. There have been many times I myself have been in need of a chart or record keeping template and have been hard pressed to find a good one among the free ones that are offered online. So I found myself creating my own. I also become interested in designing printable products for crafting. In the crafting industry printable products can take on many forms. With the computer crafting industry booming printable items are in sought out by crafters. Products such as: Altered Art Decoupage Tags Collage Gift Tags Greeting Cards Book Marks Printable items for fabric printing Scrapbook templates and elements Templates for gift boxes, envelopes, and various paper crafts. Just to name a few. Besides the crafting industry there is also a market for other types of printable items like business related products such as: Charts Templates Calendars Stationery Thank you notes Organizational printable items Supply list templates Contact list templates There is also a growing need for home schooling printable products as well as those geared towards children in general in the form of color pages, skill building products and many more. With a market only limited by ones imagination it’s easy to see that profits could be achieved from designing and offering printable products. Some of the benefits of offering printable items are: 1. The ideas can be limitless and the only limit is your own imagination. 2. Once created they can be sold over and over, thus creating a product that has endless resell value. 3. There is a growing need for a variety of printable products. 4. Printable product sales can be automated on the internet through various sites that offer this service. 5. Automated sales of printable products create less work for the designer. The price of printable products can vary depending on the printable itself. If its a simple business template or single printable image, the price may be between $2-$3 dollars. More complex products such as a premade scrapbook page may cost anywhere from $10-$15 dollars. The great thing about designing printable product though is once you have a product designed and ready for sale, the work is done and the product can be resold repeatedly. So if you have always wanted to expand your current business by designing printable items or start a new business now is the time! Kelle Arvay is the founder and developed http://www.InstantPrintables.com a website where customers can purchase and download printable paper craft templates, patterns and free printables. In addition she is the co-publisher of Creative Times magazine, http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com. She has developed a multiple effective ways of marketing her business with great success. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelle_Arvay http://EzineArticles.com/?Paper-Craft-Profits-&id=473107 buy valium online without prescription buy valium online with mastercard buy valium online with mastercard getting valium online

Of Super Mice and Supermen- and the Magic Apples of Avalon

Monday, January 14th, 2008

By Katrina Kern Recently, a Japanese study showed dramatic results of organ fat loss and increased muscle strength, in test rats fed rare phytochemicals from baby green apple skins. Without additional vitamins or supplements, these rats lost 27% of their internal organ fat — “belly fat” in you and me– and increased in muscle strength by 16%, in just three weeks. Should these findings translate to humans, we could be looking at a true health breakthrough of the new century. Belly fat in mice and men is a signature of aging. The body deposits additional fat around the organs and raises blood levels of cholesterol in response to uncontrolled oxidative stress (aging) in the organism, because body fat and blood fat are the natural protectors of every cell in our bodies. Exercise, which elevates human growth hormone, was the only proven way to reduce organ fat before the discovery of the remarkable water-soluble polyphenols given to these test animals. What could this mean for you? It means that a concentrated natural apple extract, with no side effects, may reverse some of the aging markers in the human body. It is also worth noting that every drug which is given to humans has first shown its effectiveness and safety in mice and rats. Ancient Supermen In ancient mythology, the apple was considered to be the Goddesss sacred heart of immortality. The Celts called the western paradise Avalon, which means “Apple-land.” The Irish kings received the Goddess’s magic apples of immortality. King Arthur was taken to Avalon (Apple-land) by the triple Goddess, in the form of the three fairy queens. The Scandinavians thought apples essential to resurrection. The Greeks said Mother Hera kept the magic apple garden in the West, where the tree of life was guarded by her sacred serpent, represented by icons showing the great Goddess offering life to her worshippers in the form of an apple. The Norse Goddess Idun kept all the gods alive with her magic apples. And now science is proving the mythic legends. In recent human tests, polyphenols from apples dramatically raise the biological activity of all three of the bodys anti-aging, disease-fighting enzymes- superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. No wonder the apple eaters were considered to be consorts of the Goddess. Such a man would be stronger, look better, and live in radiant health much longer than his non-apple-eating peers. Modern Medical Marvels Phytochemicals in baby apple skins may be the closest thing to “magic” to come out of the labs since penicillin. The list of health conditions that these botanical compounds improve or prevent is truly impressive. Apple phytochemicals are showing promising test results in 3 of the 5 leading disease killers of Americans, including seven types of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Apple polyphenols are 6 times more powerful than vitamin C against human cancer cells in lab tests. They may prevent asthma attacks, inhibit dental carries, lower cholesterol, and stabilize insulin response. Recently, scientists from Cornell University proposed that extracts from apples “could reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disease such as AD (Alzheimers Disease).” But unfortunately, an apple a day wont keep the doctor away. Polyphenols in ordinary grocery store apples are lost through ripening, storage and processing. Immature green apples, which are too bitter to eat, contain up to 10 times more polyphenols than mature fruit. And in nearly every study, the test animals are not eating whole apples. They are given dehydrated, highly concentrated powder extracted from the apple skins, the richest source of these phytochemicals. The blessing of these natural botanicals are our inheritance as children of the legendary Goddess, Gaia. Her crown jewels are the fruit of the trees, and the blossoms of the rain forest. And her most precious emerald gems– baby apples– may one day reverse aging, cure disease, and help her children realize their ultimate perfect health and longevity. ______________________________________________________ Katrina Kern is an author, women’s health counselor and former practicing nurse. More information on these exciting health discoveries, and her new e-book, “How to Absolutely, Positively Know When Your Body is Burning Fat,” are available now at http://www.applepoly.com/bellyfat/. You can find a link there for current medical studies and breaking news on apple phytochemicals. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katrina_Kern http://EzineArticles.com/?Of-Super-Mice-and-Supermen–and-the-Magic-Apples-of-Avalon&id=18632 internet prescription valium buy valium roche online pharmacy no prescription valium valium where to buy

Drug Side Effects: Combivent Dangerous - You Bet It Is

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Carr] Tim Carr Drugs have side effects. Period. So does Combivent, a drug that I use. Is Combivent dangerous? I think it is. First, I need to give a little history here, and then we can talk shop. In 2000, I moved home with my mom to begin assisting her with her care because she had developed cancer. Her ordeal was terrible, and primarily it was because in addition to the effects of the cancer itself, the drugs therapies she was on were horrendously brutal on her health and constitution. One of the drugs she used to combat her lung cancer was something called Combivent. I had been using Albuteral since the early 90’s to help manage some of the symptoms that come with having Cystic Fibrosis. My doctor prescribed it as a quick fix for times when allergies made my chest tight, or when I felt particularly congested… Well, when I moved in with my mom I eventually became curious about her inhaler. I asked my doctor if I might try the use of Combivent every so often, and when I tried it I liked it. It had a two-pronged benefit of both opening my lungs and reducing inflammation. For some reason, it helped me clear more congestion more easily. So, I began to use it as a replacement for Albuterol. It should be noted that Combivent (a play on the word “combine” perhaps?) is a combination of Albuterol and a steroid known as Ipratropium. My problem with all drugs, and Combivent in particular, is that all drugs have side effects. Doctors play them down, but I am here to tell you that you CANNOT and MUST NOT minimize the importance of these side effects. Read up on Combivent. You will see what I am talking about. Do your own research. Combivent can be fatal if you overdose on it! At the very least it can cause adverse reactions that you need to be aware of. In fact, I believe that I have systematically been OD’ing on it since 2000. The way in which an overdose takes place is simple, especially when you consider the symptoms that Combivent can create. If you do you research you will see that Combivent can cause increased congestion and shortness of breath as a side effect. So, with that as a side effect, and given the nature of CF itself, a vicious cycle can begin whereby a person can accidentally OD on Combivent. Let’s say you take two hits on the drug. Initially you get relief of your symptoms. It really helps open your airways, right? You feel better, right? But in a few minutes you notice you are coughing more. You think to yourself, “OK, I have CF, coughing is what I do. Maybe the Combivent just loosened up something.” Well, maybe. And maybe not. It could also be that you may be having a reaction to the drug. In another hour, your chest feels tighter. So, you take another hit. You don’t get the relief you got earlier, so you take one more just to be on the safe side. It helps some, but in 30 minutes you are coughing more, you fell poorly and your lungs begin to hurt. So, you take one more hit. Next thing you know, you have full blown symptoms that look like pneumonia for Pete’s Sake! And if you are lucky, that’s all that will happen, but it can get MUCH worse. I have OD’ed on Combivent several times in my life without realizing what was happening. The most recent time was 3 days ago, Monday this past. Since I had just gotten over what my doctor thought was pneumonia (and he could have been right, but who knows for sure, because I may have been having a reaction to too much Combivent), I assumed that the pneumonia was coming back, even though the Ciprofloxacin he had given me had taken care of it. My lungs were hurting as they had been before. I took another hit on my Combivent and the symptoms worsened and it was then that I began to think I was hurting myself with the drug. I had used it several times that morning, to deal with symptoms that got increasingly worse as time passed. So, even though I was unable to breath, I stopped the Combivent. Within an hour, my lungs had returned to normal and I was feeling fine, but after an ordeal that lasted nearly 3 hours, I had had an epiphany of sorts. Combivent is not necessarily a good thing. It can even create the very symptoms it is formulated to alleviate. Since then, I have made sure that at least 4-5 hours pass between doses, and I feel good. I am less congested and for the time being I am breathing better. My who point is that drugs do not always help us. Few drugs, if any, come without a price in the form of side effects. Do your research on your drugs. Always consider the risks of using a drug vs. the risks of not using it. Pay close attention to your doses. Monitor how you feel. And discontinue the use of a drug if it makes you feel worse. Even something as seemingly harmless as an inhaler can be dangerous. To learn more about [http://totalphysiqueonline.com] Strength Training For The Management of Cystic Fibrosis and other forms of CPOD, click here. Article Source: [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Carr ] http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Carr [http://ezinearticles.com/?Drug-Side-Effects:-Combivent-Dangerous---You-Bet-It-Is&id=205388 ] http://EzineArticles.com/?Drug-Side-Effects:-Combivent-Dangerous—You-Bet-It-Is&id=205388 buy xanax online from us pharmacy xanax prescription look like order xanax online from mexico crossing the border to buy xanax

Identifying US Coins with Bullish Futures

Wednesday, January 9th, 2008

By Daniel Goevert Okay, lets get something straight I do not advocate the purchase of United States coins strictly for investment purposes. Like most traditional collectors, I believe coins are to be primarily appreciated for their artistic beauty, historical connections, and the joy of pursuing them. However, it should be no secret that a significant number of us do add to our numismatic holdings while simultaneously peeking at the payback angle, too. In truth, there are probably substantial numbers of traditional collectors who prefer to acquire coins destined to increase in esteem and value over time; treasured heirlooms and a source of pride to be passed from one generation to the next. On the flip side of this equation, it seems implausible that anyone would buy a coin with the hope or expectation to see it stagnate or decrease in value. Indeed, any commentator who suggests the words investment and coins should never appear in close proximity to one another is ignoring a heavily populated segment of our hobby. Now that weve established that its not numismatic heresy to seek coins with strong upside possibilities, lets get down to basics. The guiding principle is simple: Any coin that has demonstrated solid, consistent gains over a long period of time is likely to show continued growth in the years ahead. Easily said, but as we shall soon see, not so easily put into practice. So exactly how does a one identify coins with a potentially bullish future? The best clues are revealed by analyzing the retail value trends over a long period of time for a given coin. Observing current prices alone does not yield enough information to correctly evaluate prospective price movements. What was the coin selling for two or three years ago compared to today? Dig deeper, and find the market price for the same coin 5-10 years ago. While youre at it, get something from 20-30 years or more in the past, too. The more good data researched, the more reliable will be your final conclusions. Now whip out your spreadsheet and chart the numbers, or compute annualized rates of return. Flat or negative trends are bad. Positive trends are good. Steep positive trends are best. Any coin displaying a proven annualized growth pattern of at least 5-10% over a span of many years qualifies as an attractive option for the collector desiring coins headed for much higher price levels a few years down the road. During the course of my lengthy numismatic career, Ive researched the long term value trends of most collectible US coins. Thanks to my trusty computer, Ive calculated annualized compounded percentage return rates and honed in on a handful of coins that have consistently beaten the overall coin market averages. Unfortunately, the blue-chippers are scarcely encountered. Perhaps it is this fact that explains why so many well-intentioned hobby purists scorn the idea of blending coin collecting with the profit motive. Individuals whose objective is to satisfy their numismatic pleasure by assembling a collection certain to be the envy of tomorrows collectors must do their homework today. Remember to research historic value trends and evaluate growth potential based on previous performance. One last word of advice never loose sight of the fact that you are handling artifacts of Americas past, and that all of us are merely their temporary custodians. Respect these coins and the history they represent, and youll always discover new avenues of adventure not found in most other investment opportunities. Daniel J. Goevert is the webmaster of US Coin Values Advisor (http://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com), specializing in coin value trends and listing bullish US coins. Other offerings include detailed coin collecting advice plus an illustrated history of the United States and the US Mint. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Goevert http://EzineArticles.com/?Identifying-US-Coins-with-Bullish-Futures&id=37971 xanax 2mg buy buying xanax online buy xanax usa pharmacy overnight 2mg xanax order

A Primer on Commodity Trading

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

By Joshua Kunken Although most investors are solely familiar with equity trading, such as stocks or mutual funds, or investing in debt, such as bonds, commodity trading tends to be ignored despite the fact that it possesses many advantages over other types of investment instruments. Let’s begin by defining what a ‘commodity’ is in the first place. Commodities can come in many forms. Most commonly traded commodities include lean hogs, live cattle, oats, wheat, metals, and even currencies. One of the attractions of trading commodities is the potential for gaining large profits in a considerably short amount of time. Nevertheless, commodity trading is considered by most as being extremely risky since most investors tend to lose money. However, by performing your due diligence and determining whether the commodity that you’re interested in is either under- or overvalued, say if you want to go long or short, respectively, you may be able to minimize the risk involved in commodity trading. It may also help to have an experienced commodity trader by your side to guide you. When you’re trading commodity futures, you’re not truly purchasing nor owning anything, unlike other types of investments, such as stocks or bonds. You’re simply speculating on where the price of a given commodity will be headed. If, after doing your research, you believe that the price of coffee is going to rise, you would purchase future contracts, or go long. On the other hand, if you were under the impression that the price of sugar was going to drop, then you would sell future contracts, or go short. As was mentioned earlier, one can also purchase futures in currency or market indices, in addition to buying or selling futures on commodities like cattle and hogs. One advantage of trading futures on market indices is that you don’t need to invest a lot of money, as opposed to having to invest a considerable chunk of capital if one were to purchase individual stocks. Let’s illustrate with the following, a $10,000 futures contract on the Nasdaq is equivalent to about $200,000 dollars in stock. Let’s assume you expect the market to rise shortly, you could potentially buy many of the stocks that form part of the Nasdaq stock index (the herd mentality) or you could purchase a Nasdaq futures contract. Suppose you invested $200,000 in stocks in the Nasdaq, and if the index had risen, you would have made a profit of say, $25,000. However, if you instead purchased a $10,000 futures contract simultaneously, rather than investing $200,000, you would have made the same $25,000, by investing with a lot less capital in the first place. A disadvantage to commodity trading is that it is usually done on margin in order to leverage your investment, so a small drop in the price could potentially cost you your whole investment. It is for this reason that one must perform his/her due diligence and decide for him/herself if a given futures contract will be a prudent investment. Although commodity trading can be fun, albeit not without risk, it offers investors another way to diversify their investment portfolios. Joshua M. Kunken is Chief Currency Analyst for ForeignMarketWatch.com.His articles have also been featured at ForexTrack. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joshua_Kunken http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Primer-on-Commodity-Trading&id=28066 ordering xanax online xanax without prescription cheap xanax online consultation buy xanax in canada

All Souls’ Day: Unbiblical, Mere Invention, and Money-Making Festival

Monday, January 7th, 2008

By Sustines Laplana I was serving the Roman Catholic Church, particularly the St. Augustine Parish, Diocese of Surigao del Sur (Philippines) as a Sacristan from 1985 to 1991, and as Sacristan Mayor from 1991 - 1993. And during those times, the observance of the All Souls’ Day was one of the busiest days for me. I was the one who prepared things which would be used in the celebration of Mass held in one cemetry to another. When everything was done, I felt the happiness, the joy which strengthen my tired body, for I believed that what I did glorified God. But when I discovered the truth recorded on the Bible, regret filled my heart. I was really sorry for my self for wasting my strength, my time and my life doing those vain things in front of God. To let you know, never in the bible that All Souls Day mentioned and was observed by the first century Christian. Christ never taught doctrines behind this festival. The observance of All Souls’ Day is actually based on the invented doctrine of the roman Catholic church on Purgatory.”All souls’ Day, in the Roman Catholic Church, a day for commemoration of all the faithful departed, those baptized Christian who are believed to be in purgatory because they have died with the guilt of lesser sins on their souls, celebrated on Novermber 2 or November 3 if November 2 is Sunday…” (The New Encyclopeadia Britannica, Micropeadia, 15th Ed., s.v. ‘All Souls’ Day’)And those said souls in purgatory have nothing to do for themselves to shorten their sufferings:”The poor souls in purgatory cannot do anything for themselves to shorten their suffering. But Christ, their Redeemer, is always speaking to the Father for them, and Mary and the other Saints are also praying through Christ and with Christ.” (A Catholic Catechism, p. 337)So Christ, Mary and the other Catholic Saints, according to the Catholic Catechism, are praying for the souls in purgatory. And not only that, the living should help those souls in purgatory too:”We should be generous in helping the poor souls in purgatory, who long for God. The best thing we can do for them is to have Masses offered for them. The church puts no limit to the time during which we may pray or offer Masses for the suffering souls in purgatory. If we cannot have a Mass said, we should at least hear Masses for our dead departed. If God so wiulled, a single Mass could release all the souls in purgatory. We should offer Masses especially on All Souls’ day and on the anniversary of the death of our relatives and friends.” (My Catholic Faith by Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., p. 258)That’s why Catholics observe the All Souls’ Day to help the souls that are suffering in purgatory. But what is purgatory? According to the book “A Handbook of the Catholic Faith”, purgatory was derived from the word ‘purgatoin’:”The word Purgatory is derived from purgation, which means purification as well as penance. It is consequently a state which purifies and cleanses the souls as with fire.” (p. 460)Catholic authorities are teaching this doctrine to the Catholic Church eventhough they do know that purgatory is not written in the Bible.”Scriptures and Christian tradition undoubtedly affirm that heaven and hell exist, but what about that mysterious ‘third state’ that Catholics and some other Christias call ‘purgatory’. The term itself is not found in the Bible…” (Catholic and Christian, by Allan Sckreck, p. 195)The purgatory doctrine is based only on men’s tradition:”THE IDEA OF PURGATORY finds its roots in buddhism and other ancient religious system, long before the existence of the Roman Catholic Church. Evidences of its introduction in Christian thought are found in some of the writings of the early church Fathers, as far back as the third and fourth centuries of the Christian era, but it had no officially recognized place until the time of Gregory I.” (Roman Catholism in the Light of Scriptures, p. 107)Since this doctrine is not coming from Christ nor from the Apostles but from the tradition of men, we should condemn it because the Bible said so:7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.[a] 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men[b]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do. 9 He said to them, All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. (Mark 7:7-9, NKJV)The Roman Catholic Church couldn’t condemn the doctrine of purgatory that they invented because through it they will earn much. The Bible, of course, know about this “Merchandise of Souls” of the Roman Catholic Church: 11 And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. (Revelation 18:11-13, ibid)This “Merchandising of Souls” is done through the marriage of Purgatory and Mass doctrines:”Purgatory had been invented by Rome in A.D. 593 but it remained a very unpopular doctrine for many centuries. When Mass came into being however, these two innovations of the roman Church became inseparably connected with each other. The question came up in Roman circles: ‘Can Mass of an alleged infinite spiritual value deliver the Souls in Purgatory?’ The Pope soon accepted this new idea and the Mass imposture in connection with Purgatory was born. Today our readers know what a financial success the marriage of Mass and Purgatory has been. There is not a single product in the world today that has been more successful financially than these two religious doctrines, Mass and Purgatory.” (I Was A Priest, by Lucien Vinet, p. 43-44)This money-making doctrines became successful because all Catholics are told to help the poor souls in Purgatory by offering Masses for them, especially on All Souls’ Day:”We should be generous in helping the poor souls in purgatory, who long for God. The best thing we can do for them is to have Masses offered for them. The church puts no limit to the time during which we may pray or offer Masses for the suffering souls in purgatory. If we cannot have a Mass said, we should at least hear Masses for our dead departed. If God so wiulled, a single Mass could release all the souls in purgatory. We should offer Masses especially on All Souls’ day and on the anniversary of the death of our relatives and friends.” (My Catholic Faith by Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., p. 258)So, on November 2 or November 3, the Roman Catholic Church will again gain much money as Traders of Souls, merchandising the lost souls. About the Author: Sustines E. Laplana (SELaplana: http://www.selaplana.com ) is the first Pinoy Blogger and EMarketer in Southern Leyte, Philippines who blogs on Technology, Society and Reviews/Promotions of products and owns the Cellphones For Sale blog ( http://cellphones-for-sale.blogspot.com ). Writing articles is his passion. And writing religious articles is his love, so that everyone will learn the truth taught by the Bible. 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