You’ve set up your Boingo account, you’re hanging out at the Home Turf sports bar in LAX and you figure you’ll do a little business or check your e-mail while sipping a Chardonnay. Well, that’s the point of Wi-Fi hotspots; being able to take care of a few things while in a relaxing atmosphere.

Don’t, however, get so relaxed that you ignore security and give all your confidential information to some unscrupulous hacker. Yeah, you see the guy. He’s over in the corner wearing that fake nose and glasses with the ridiculous Bozo the Clown cap. Yep, drinking a Blatz. Dead give away.

Sorry, they won’t be that obvious, I doubt they ever drink Blatz and very seldom wear clown caps. When you’re thinking back, trying to remember who was around when your password was stolen, you probably won’t remember the woman in the tastefully tailored business suit, and if, by chance, you do, she won’t be the one you suspect. The best defense is to implement some simple security practices and measures that will safeguard your business and personal information.

Hot Spot Security: Simple Stuff

Be aware of those around you.

When you’re considering Wi-Fi security in public places one of the first safeguards is anything but high tech. Remember a few years ago when people were getting huge phone bills because someone was watching as they keyed in pass codes? It’s still happening to Wi-Fi network subscribers. Do what you can to keep prying eyes from your keyboard and screen. You pay good money for your monthly subscription and there’s no reason to let anyone piggyback or steal your credit card number as you sign up for a daily use fee at Starbucks.

Speaking of passwords:

Those of us who toil and travel are prime targets for those who may be of the persuasion to purloin. In other words, it’s quite possible to be targeted for laptop theft. Use a complex password to protect your files, folders and laptop from access by those villains of concourse and lobby.

Don’t Share!

Yes, I know, mothers have been telling us to share for centuries but, at least while using a Wi-Fi hotspot, make sure you disable file sharing. It might be great for the home and good at the office but it’s disaster in the making at your favorite coffee house.

Use a Personal Firewall.

If you’re using a corporate laptop make sure you talk to your IT department before you install any firewalls but if the laptop you’re using is your own let me suggest downloading a copy of ZoneAlarm. There are others of course but, for personal use, since ZoneAlarm is free and seems to test better than the rest I can’t see a reason to recommend another.

Most of the reasons for using a firewall should be self-evident but, to say the least, you’ll want to be made aware of any traffic coming or going and any unusual communication between applications.

Hot Spot Security: Less Simple Stuff

Beware the Evil Twin

Otherwise known as ‘Rogue Hotspots’ or the ’soft AP attack’ this Wi-Fi version of the e-mail Phishing scam is perpetrated by hackers who jam and mimic the signal and SSID of a legitimate hotspot. They then serve up a sign-in page garnering usernames, passwords and, in some cases, credit card numbers. If they go so far as to allow a connection to the Internet they’re then in the position to intercept unencrypted traffic as well as any files open to sharing (Don’t Share!).

There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from ‘Evil Twins’:

• Don’t set your Wi-Fi card to allow automatic connection to any available network.

• Check the list of available SSIDs to make sure you’re connecting to the right one.

• Turn off the ad-hoc mode allowing other clients to connect directly to you.

• Turn off your Wi-Fi card entirely as soon as you’re finished.

• Use the personal or enterprise version of ‘AirDefense’, whichever may be appropriate.

• Although a firewall won’t keep you from connecting to an ‘Evil Twin’ it will help to safeguard your information should you inadvertently fall victim.

Encrypt Confidential Information

Data that’s transmitted between yourself and a secure Web site can be counted on to be safe from the Starbucks Snidely Whiplash so when you’re purchasing goods, or banking on-line, you can do so without fear. When you’re logging onto the secure portion of the site, however, you may be doing so without the protection of security so be careful to note whether or not the sign in page is secured (https).

When sending e-mail there are a few things you can do to safeguard yourself. For example, instead of using Outlook or Thunderbird, take advantage of your ISP’s Web interface which, in most cases, will be secure and should protect your data during transmission.

If you frequently encounter the need to send large files via e-mail then using a compression program will meet your need to reduce the size of the file and most compression programs will also secure the data with encryption.

Another option is to use a free encryption program like Cryptainer LE. Cryptainer LE can encrypt any or all the files stored on your hard drive, protecting them in case your laptop is stolen or compromised, as well as allow you to e-mail them with the security of encryption. Cryptainer PE is also offered for enterprise applications.

Use a Virtual Private Network

Think of a virtual private network (VPN) as a solid conduit, or tunnel, between your laptop and your company’s network. By using a VPN your communications will be as secure as they would be if you were sitting at your desk.

Mac OS X, Windows 2000 and Windows XP have built in VPN clients and if you’re a user of Windows 98, ME or NT you can download the free Microsoft® L2TP/IPSec VPN Client from Microsoft®. If you’re a Linux user you can download the free S/WAN VPN client.

While the use of a VPN is one of the best ways to protect your confidential data when you’re using a Wi-Fi hotspot it is, unfortunately, limited to communication between your laptop and your company’s server. If you want to conduct personal business with similar security levels the best solution may be the award winning GoToMyPC software.

Use Anti-Virus Software

It’s somewhat surprising that so many people are aware of the dangers of ‘net borne viruses and, yet, so many either fail to incorporate anti-virus programs like McAfee & Norton or fail to keep them up to date. When you’re using a public hotspot it’s more important than ever to have anti virus software installed.

Once you’ve got the software up and running make sure that it’s updated on a regular basis and update it anytime you hear about a new virus or a new version of an old virus. If you’ve got an auto-update feature built into your program make sure you take advantage of it.

Conclusion

By following these security measures you should be able to enjoy, with the confidence that your private information will remain private, your favorite Wi-Fi hotspots around the world.

Phil Haley is a technical writer and the editor of Refurbished Laptop Computer Info. For more information regarding buying, maintaining, upgrading or enjoying a laptop computer visit Refurbished Laptop Computer Info where you’ll also find the complete Great Wi-Fi Guide.

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Things Around The House
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Don’t feel that just because you don’t have any weights at home, that you can’t get a GREAT workout! Try using these items for the corresponding exercises. Change them around to increase or decrease the resistance to make it the perfect workout for YOU!

Backpack Swing- Take a backpack and fill it with books. (this is nice because you can add or take out books based on your needs). Stand holding bag in front of you with straight arms. Let the bag swing down between your legs and behind you a bit. Bend the knees naturally. Swing the bag forward and up, keeping arms straight until bag is overhead. Play with where you hold the bag to make sure you have control of it, especially when overhead. Let momentum happen. This is a fantastic full-body warm-up. *Watch for ceiling fans!

Milk Jug Bent Over Row- A full gallon milk bottle weighs about 8 pounds. Fill it to make it the weight you desire. Hold in one hand (or you can use 2 containers, one in each hand). Bend at the waist to about 90 degrees and slightly bend the knees. Let arms hang straight down. Pull your elbow(s) up, pulling the jug towards your chest, as if you were starting a lawn mower. This is a great back and bicep exercise! *I suggest using containers with a screw on cap rather than the kind that snap on. Don’t ask me how I discovered this!

Dog Food Squats- Grab a bag of dog food. Hug it close to you. Keeping your back as straight as possible (think “chest up”), bend the knees to about 90 degrees and stand back up. You are working quads (front of thigh), hamstrings (back of thigh), and glutes (butt), as well as abdominals! *Beware of dog!

Kid Press- Really! If you have a young child, lie on your back while you are holding them on your chest. Press them up until your arms are straight and still over chest. They will LOVE this! If you don’t have access to a child, push-ups will do fine! Great for chest and triceps (back of arms). *You may want to use a spotter or at least do it over a soft run or on a couch just in case!

Kitty Litter Carry- Bag or bucket, scoop-able or not, they all work! If it’s in a bag, hug it like the dog food; if it’s a bucket, hold it from the handle. Now, simply, walk! Go as long as you can carrying the litter. You can do it inside in a hallway, back and forth, or outside. Great for legs, shoulders, biceps, back, and muscular endurance. *Be prepared to explain rationale to neighbors!

Laundry Detergent Curls- Hold a box or bottle of laundry detergent and curl it like you would a dumbbell. Arms down straight and by your sides. Bend elbow to brink soap towards same shoulder. Working biceps. *Item can also be used for the “clean and jerk”. J

Couch Dips- Sit on the edge of the couch with your hands face down on the couch next to you. Slide forward so that your butt is hanging over the edge and you are supported only by your hands. Bend elbows to lower butt towards floor. Push back up and repeat! Great exercise for triceps! *Do it doing commercials.

Overhead Rock Press- Find a rock or large stone outside (or 2); ones that you can hold in one hand. Hold the rock(s) by your shoulders and press them straight up overhead. Lower and repeat! This exercise works the shoulders and triceps. *Make sure rock is not too heavy as you could strain your back!

Chair Hamstring Raise- Lie on your back with your heels on a chair that’s in front of you. Knees and hips are bent at 90 degrees. Pushing down through your heels, raise your hips up towards the ceiling. Pause at the top and lower. Great for hamstrings and low back. *Beware of dog!

Stair Calf Raise- Stand on the edge of a step so that your heels are hanging off (on the balls of your feet). Let your heels drop below horizontal and raise up as high as you can onto your toes. Great calf work! *May be done one leg at a time.

Couch Cushion Crunch- Put a couch cushion on the floor. Lie on your back on the cushion with your knees bent so that your feet, butt and low back are on the cushion, but your upper back and shoulders are on the floor. Cross your arms across your chest, and lift your shoulder blades off of the floor. Pause, lower and repeat. For abs of steel! *Put cushion back on couch.

Wes Norris, CSCS
http://www.AllAroundFitness.org
http://www.DesigningExercisePrograms.com

The typical hardcover or paperback book is not going anywhere.
The format shows no signs of ever dying off, even after
considering the many technological advances made in recent
years. It would, however, be foolish to deny the obvious and not
so obvious benefits of listening to audio books. Here are some
ways audio books could be put to use:

1. Do you like reading poetry? Then experience it in the
way it was meant to be experienced: with your ears! Back in the
good old days, it was not uncommon for poets to recite their
works before a swooning audience. The great Irish poet and
playwright, W.B. Yeats, was said to have written poetry in such
a manner that, when vocalized, it would have a certain effect on
the ears of its hearers. If you like the writings of T.S. Eliot,
there is actually available a recording, on compact disc, of Mr.
Eliot himself reading his own poetry. It’s obviously a
fascinating investment for fans of Eliot. It’s only one in a
series called The Voice of the Poet.

2. Fight road rage while listening to audio
books–seriously. Statistics show that violent crime
resulting from what is commonly known as “road rage” has
increased tremendously over the past couple of years. If you
happen to be one of those individuals with a bit of a
mean-streak when behind the wheel, then don’t take to the
boulevard without Waitley’s Optimal Stress Reduction in your
passenger seat–or simply check out a few of the innumerable
audio book titles available in your local book store in the
self-help section.

3. Revisit the “Golden Age of Radio”. It is now possible
to find a vast array of classic radio dramas on compact disc.
Fans of The Shadow radio program have known this, and are
undoubtedly pleased. Also, if you happen to like The Twilight
Zone television series, then try to get your hands on a copy of
The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas–Lou Diamond Phillips and Adam
West are among the talent contributing to these programs..

4. Struggling in child-rearing? Audio books just might
be part of the solution. Harry Potter and the Order of the
Phoenix is a hit with the kids (just as every other Harry Potter
book has been); and an obvious choice might be an audio book
from the Lord of the Rings series–these classic Tolkien works
are available in abridged and unabridged editions..

5. Learn another language … in your sleep. When you
fall asleep your brain doesn’t just turn off. On the contrary,
research has shown that the sleeping brain does receive, process
and perhaps even store information. So why not use your good
nights sleep effectively by listening to one of the many foreign
language audio books. And while this technique may not be the
only means of mastering a second or third language, it will make
things a little bit easier..

If these uses don’t seem practical to you, they might put you
in the mindset to think of your own ways to utilize audio books.
And although some may say that listening to audio books is no
substitute for reading, the growing popularity of audio book
rental services such as Jiggerbug.com may eradicate paper books
completely or at least come close!

Know your customer, know your customer, know your customer. Three very important rules of business. But let me ask you this: How well do your customers know YOU?

Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, asked himself this important question several decades ago. His answer: employee nametags. So, he rolled out an initiative that required all of his employees to wear badges, the purpose of which was to “help the customers get to know the people they bought from.”

But helping customers “get to know you” isn’t just about names, it’s about information. In other words, it’s about self-disclosure, which is the process of revealing your personal information to another.

This process starts with a small piece of information, i.e., your name. Then, as the relationship develops, it progresses into more intimate territory with the sharing of opinions, preferences and experiences. What’s more, because of its reciprocal nature, self-disclosure has incredible power. It creates comfort, establishes rapport, helps discover the CPI (Common Point of Interest) and builds trust between you and your customers.

I once worked at a mom-and-pop furniture store in Portland, Oregon. More so than any business I’ve ever walked into, the owners of City Liquidators leveraged self-disclosure to its fullest extent. You couldn’t step five feet into their store without seeing pictures of their family. The walls donned clippings from nostalgic newspaper articles and various personal memorabilia that brought the store to life!

As a result, shoppers who walked in the door felt like they personally knew the owners. Engaging conversations about children, families and growing up in Portland were frequent among the customers. And, the emotional connection sparked by these interactions helped the customers feel more comfortable while shopping – which ultimately secured their loyalty.

Not to mention, self-disclosure actually helps YOU get to know your customers better as well! Here’s another example. My friend Dennis is a doorman at the Ritz Carlton. He is a master of using self-disclosure to establish relationships with guests.

If a family with young children pulls into the front drive, Dennis always gets excited. (He has a young daughter himself.) And as soon as he extends his warm welcome to the arriving guests, he doesn’t hesitate to share information about his own family. Sometimes he’ll even show guests a picture! But Dennis knows that an effective way to learn about his customers is to educate them about himself first.

How well do your customers know you? Here are some ways you can use self-disclosure to create comfort and build rapport with buyers:

What’s Your Story?
How did you get your start in business? Did you “fall” into your line of work? Perhaps there’s an interesting anecdote or event that caused the birth of your business. If so, this is called “Your Story,” and it’s a fundamental tool for helping your customers get to know you.

Write it out. Practice saying it aloud. Make it funny. And tell it to everybody. Publish it on your marketing materials, and especially your website. Create a special page on your website called “Our Story,” or “My Philosophy” that shares this personal anecdote. On my website you can even watch a video of my story!

Start Blogging
A popular new medium through which to share your feelings, experiences and emotions is with a blog. I recently started HELLO, my name is Blog for my business, and it’s become a valuable tool to stimulate personal dialogue with potential customers. A blog is an online journal on which you can post comments, links, stories and articles. A blog is free and easy, and also a great way to let your customers know what’s going on in your life. And the best part about it is: they can post their comments too! Talk about self-disclosure!

For more information go to www.blogger.com; or do a search for any of the various blog providers in Google.

Recommend Resources
In your newsletter, on the phone or in person, recommend books, CD’s and other resources. Tell your customers how much these things have changed your life, your business and your relationships. If they take your advice, they’ll be more inclined to share their own experiences with you, not to mention you’ll soon have more things in common!

My friend Ed who works for Cornerstone Financial does this all the time. He spends a few hundred dollars a year buying copies of his favorite books for his customers. He tells them how the books improved his life in the hopes that his customers will reciprocate their similar experiences – which they do.

Your ability to educate your customers not only about your products and services, but about yourself, is critical to your success. If you follow these principles of self-disclosure and reciprocation, your customers will get to know you better than ever before! So, remember what my friend Jeffrey Gitomer says: it’s not what you know; it’s not WHO you know – it’s who knows YOU.

© 2005 All Rights Reserved.

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Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, “The World’s Foremost Expert on Nametags” and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators – one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at www.hellomynameisscott.com.

If you’d like to fulfill your long-held dreams, try a radical approach. Radical people create their own breakthroughs for getting the job, love and health they really want. Nonconformists open to options for achieving “extraordinary” goals that others don’t see.

Take Christopher Columbus for example. Columbus played outside the box. When conventional wisdom proclaimed as fact the world was flat, he held the extreme notion that he could sail over the edge and land in China instead of deep space. This rebel sailed his clipper ships where no one had ever gone before—and reshaped people’s view of the world!

Discovering Fresh Options

Five centuries ago, Europeans reacted with disbelief when they heard that the world is round. So mind-blowing—and threatening to their current belief system—was the discovery that people wanted to discard the news as rubbish.

What about enlightened people of the 21st century? If Columbus were to sail into our modern lives with revolutionary factual information about our world, would people believe him now? Let’s see how open we are!

Besides demonstrating that the earth is round, Columbus made another equally mind-popping discovery. His revelation is about the power of cultural belief systems and how people see only what they believe they will see. And, like the Europeans, most people of our time want to discard Columbus’ radical news as rubbish.

What information could be so extreme that our educators and media—our mythmakers—would try to exclude this vital data from schoolbooks and public knowledge?

A World of Beliefs

Columbus’ arrival in the New World revealed how cultural belief systems determine what people see—or don’t see. Columbus found that the native people in this new land couldn’t see his clipper ships. The natives were unable to see the big ships because they didn’t believe that big ships existed!

You See What You Believe

In 1492, Columbus landed on the island of Hispaniola, now the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Until Columbus’ arrival, the islanders had only seen and heard of small boats—like their own canoes. The tribe had never seen nor heard of large ocean-going sea craft. So when the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria arrived, the natives couldn’t see the big ships of Christopher Columbus! And the vessels were floating in plain sight right off shore!

“I Don’t See Any Big Ships!”

Why couldn’t the islanders see the big boats? Because nobody in their culture had ever seen big boats before. And nobody had ever written or talked about big boats in their society.

In any culture, the mythmakers—teachers, historians and media—decide people’s reality. The specific world that mythmakers talk and write about determines the aspects of reality that people are able to perceive. The world that these storytellers talk and write about creates a belief system unique to each culture. And this belief system acts as a filter, screening out realities that don’t fit into the cultural conditioning of the society.

The mythkeepers who shaped the islanders’ belief systems didn’t recognize the possibility that large ships might exist. And the filter of this belief prevented the natives from seeing the three large sea vessels. … At first!

3 Keys for Unlocking New Possibilities

The island shaman wasn’t able to see the ships when they first arrived. Like his tribespeople, the shaman medicine man wasn’t able to see past the filters of his cultural conditioning.

But unlike the common folk of his tribe, the medicine man was educated by radical mythmakers—shaman elders. These nonconformist teachers were always exploring “new worlds.”

From these elders, the shaman learned that a person only sees the elements in the world that the person’s mind has been exposed to. The ego-mind filters out realities that don’t fit its picture of what exists in the world. But the shaman also learned from his teachers how to bypass the limitations of the ego-mind.

The elders gave the shaman these 3 keys to help him see “outside the box” of his belief system—to perceive the world as it really exists.

Key 1 – Look for a Different Pattern

The 1st key, made famous in the movie Star Wars, is to notice “a disturbance in the force.”

Anchored just offshore, Columbus’ ships are creating out-of-the-ordinary patterns in the ocean waves. Even though he can’t see the ships, the observant shaman does notice unexplained variations in the waves.

Key 2 – Don’t Listen to Your Mind!

Curious, the shaman investigates the unusual wave patterns. As he begins his inquiry, he uses the 2nd key: “Don’t trust your mind!”

Generations of medicine men and women have passed down this key to happiness. The 2nd key alerts the shaman to the limitations of his ego-mind. The shaman understands that his mind only perceives realities that his mind has been exposed to by his culture. Limited by its belief system, the mind is unaware of a boundless world teeming with unfiltered possibilities.

Key 3 – Open to New Possibilities

From his elders, the medicine man learned that any unusual pattern in our world always indicates that something has changed in our reality. But, in this instance, the shaman is not yet seeing the specific element that has been added or taken away. In order to see what element has changed, he lets go of how his ego-mind “thinks” the world operates. He opens himself to making a fresh discovery—the 3rd key.

As a result of deciding to allow new possibilities into his life, the shaman sees the cause of the peculiar patterns: the never-before-imagined clipper ships! As soon as the shaman perceives the large ships, he tells his tribe the ships exist and points to exactly where they are. The rest of the islanders are then able to perceive the vessels.

Where Are Those Darn Car Keys?

This remarkable true story resonates with me as I recall comparable experiences in my life. There have been times when I haven’t seen my car keys sitting on a table—even though they were clearly visible.

The dynamics of my situation are similar to those of the islanders who don’t see the ships because of their limited belief system. At first, I don’t see my car keys on the table. So, I decide the keys aren’t there. Once I’ve decided the keys aren’t there, I’ve created a belief that “my keys aren’t on the table.” This belief then filters out my ability to perceive the keys sitting on the table in plain sight. Only when I let go of the belief that “my key’s aren’t on the table”—and decide to open to new possibilities—am I able to perceive the keys.

Freed of his limiting belief filter, the shaman was able to see the big ships. Then by pointing out the ships, he enabled his tribespeople to see the element—the ships—blocked by their belief filter. Free of my preconceived belief that “my keys aren’t on the table,” a friend of mine is able to see the keys on the table. Then by pointing out the keys, my friend enables me to see the element—the keys—blocked by my belief filter.

Live Your Dreams!

Columbus discovered a radical new world—a world that’s ever-changing based on what we believe is possible.

What “extraordinary” possibilities have you already decided don’t exist in your world? Have you quit looking for that dream job? Seeking great health? Searching for satisfying love? If you previously made up your mind that you’ll never have a terrific job, body or relationship, guess what … ?

Be Your Own Shaman

You don’t need a shaman to point out the opportunities you aren’t seeing in life. Become a shaman yourself! Use these 3 radical keys to see the world as it really exists—and to navigate onto a new, fun playground.

1st Key: Look for out-of-the-ordinary patterns in life. “A disturbance in the force” indicates that there’s an opportunity to see a solution or a course of action you haven’t yet seen in the situation.

2nd Key: Don’t trust your mind! The suggestions of your ego-mind are limited by what you’ve experienced in the past and learned from your cultural mythmakers—your teachers and media. The beliefs of your mind filter out many advantageous choices and options that are available in life.

3rd Key: Open to fresh possibilities. Invite the unexpected. Allow exciting new options to appear “out of nowhere!”

The island natives couldn’t see the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria clipper ships because the ships were filtered out by the islanders’ limited belief system. Why miss your boat because of the limited belief system of your island? Hop on board! Sail into a new world of fulfilled dreams!

As a personal life coach and vision quest guide, Sulana Stone assists people to discover and express their life purpose through private sessions and workshops. Find out how to get more love in life, a more fulfilling job, or find a purpose beyond the mundane with a FREE Prosperity Ezine and FREE Empowerment Tape at www.SedonaVisionQuest.com. Contact her at sulanastone@yahoo.com or 602.861.2631 for free coaching.

Circuit breakers and fuses
Electrical Safety in Your Home

Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company

Electricity is a wonderful part of our lives, clearly enabling us to do so many of the things we take for granted. Food preparation, entertainment, communication, and so much more are all dependent upon the delivery of electricity. And yet, coming into direct contact with electrical current can severely injure you. In some cases, it can even kill you. Here are some things you can do to keep safe. Some of what we suggest may seem obvious, but we include it here because we believe it\’s impossible to over emphasize the importance of safety.

Safety Outdoors
Undoubtedly, first and foremost, stay clear of all power lines, especially those on the ground. Consider a downed wire to be \”live\” with electrical current going through it.

Take these easy steps to keep yourself from coming into contact with overhead lines:

When you\’re using equipment outside, look up to make sure that the equipment isn\’t going to collide with the lines.

Do not try to remove anything caught in power lines, not even an animal. Instead, call your power company.

Be especially careful when you\’re doing any jobs that require you to use tools which might extend up over your head.

Keep electrical equipment on your property clear of all obstacles such as trees and bushes.

Downed Power Lines
Your power company wants to know about any outages or power lines that are down. Please call it immediately if you experience or see a problem. You can call them 24 hours a day and they\’ll send emergency crews out to make repairs.

Inside a Car Touched by a Power Line
Fallen power lines can be extremely dangerous. Never touch a downed power line or anyone who\’s in contact with it, and stay away from a vehicle if a power line is touching it.

If a power line touches your vehicle, stay inside and warn others to stay away and have them call the power company.

If you MUST get out of the vehicle for safety reasons, jump clear. Do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.

Electric Lines and Trees
Trees are certainly beautiful and enhance our neighborhoods. However, trees planted in the utility right of way must be tended to so that electric service can be maintained on behalf of all of our citizens.

If your tree encroaches into the utility right of way, it becomes your responsibility to keep it trimmed otherwise, the City will clear those trees that have not been maintained and threaten the electric service.

Trees that grow into or near the power lines which go to your house are also your responsibility and are only trimmed by the City when they threaten continuity of electric service.

To trim near power lines safely:
Call you power company if there is any question as to whether or not a tree is contacting the electric wires before trimming it. They can move power lines away from trees so that they may be trimmed safely. Call them a couple of days in advance of trimming so that they can coordinate with you.

Never hire unqualified tree trimmers or do the work yourself when trees are contacting high voltage electric wires.

Never cut tree limbs that are touching power lines or that could fall into them.

Electrical Lines and Flying Objects
Don\’t let metallic balloons or kites get away. Balloons and kites with shiny, metallic surfaces or strings can be very dangerous if they come into contact with electrical lines. As Benjamin Franklin discovered, they\’re excellent conductors of electricity, and, if they get tangled in the line, they can cause a short circuit. This can melt an electrical wire and cause it to fall, resulting in a power outage and possibly severe injury or even death.

Fly kites safely. Kites and electrical lines can be a potentially deadly match. Use common sense when flying a kite always use dry string, wood, and paper and never use wire or any metallic material. Don\’t fly your kite in the rain and never try to retrieve your kite if it gets caught in a power line. Call the power company.

Going Underground
Call before you dig. You need to find out if there are lines in the ground before you dig for any reason, such as planting trees and bushes or installing fences and posts. If you fail to call you could end up in JAIL or worse.

Safety Indoors
Be just as careful with electricity indoors as out. In fact, odds are you and your family are more likely to come into contact with electricity inside your home, so take precautions.

Cover all your electrical outlets and wall switches with cover plates.

Put plastic safety caps in all unused wall outlets to prevent children from pushing objects into the outlet openings.

Know when your wiring needs attention. Power company employees will check equipment when an electrical problem such as flickering lights is reported. If they are unable to find a problem on their end, then the wiring in your house may need to be repaired. Find a licensed professional to check your home\’s electric panel, circuit breakers, fuses, and internal wiring.

Do not use damaged or brittle electrical cords. They can cause shorts, shocks, or fires and should be replaced.

To avoid damage, remove cords from outlets by pulling the plug, not the cord itself. Never attach a cord to any surface with nails or staples, which can break the insulation. Also, kinking, twisting, binding, or walking on cords can harm them.

Never remove the third prong from a three-pronged plug. The third prong has been included to safely ground your electrical appliance. Most power tools and major appliances have three-prong plugs for safety. If you don\’t have three-hole outlets, adapters are available at your local hardware store.

Protect yourself from shock with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI\’s). These special outlets can help prevent serious injury by detecting electrical faults and shutting off electricity to the outlet when necessary.


Buying a home in New Jersey? www.NewJerseyHomeInspection.com has a listing of home inspectors in all counties of new Jersey. New Jersey Home Inspections are performed by the author of this artical Michael Del Greco in Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic Counties.

In the early stage of the ongoing war with acne, most people go to a pharmacy to buy an over-the-counter medication. There are so many treatments available for acne, that it can be a complicated decision. Advice from friends is not a reliable method for making a choice, because what worked for 1 person may not work for another. And advertising advice? Who trusts that?

You can make a more informed choice about which product to try just by knowing about the active ingredients in the various acne medications.

Benzoyl Peroxide

1 of the most popular ingredients in acne medications, benzoyl peroxide is available in gels and ointments. It kills the bacteria that causes pimples and helps remove dead skin cells that build up on the surface of the skin. These dead skin cells, when combined with sebum (oil), create blackheads and whiteheads. Dry skin is the only side effect, which can be minimized with less frequent application. It has a bleaching effect, so avoid hair and clothing when applying it.

Salicylic Acid

This is a popular acne ingredient which clears up dead skin cells that clog the pores. Continued use even after the skin has cleared up is necessary to avoid future acne outbreaks. Again, the side effect is dry, irritated skin.

Resorcinol

Resorcinol causes the top layer of skin to peel, which removes the dead skin cells that clog pores. It is often combined with sulphur.

Sulphur

Because of a strong, unpleasant odor, sulphur is usually combined with other ingredients. How it works is unknown, but it’s been used effectively for decades. Sulphur is often combined with salicylate acid and benzoyl peroxide.

Products

Of all these ingredients, benzoyl peroxide is probably the most versatile. It can be made into cleansing liquids, bars, gels, lotions and cream, all of which are applied directly to the skin. Cleansing products are usually used once or twice daily, with creams and lotions applied as needed. They are most effective when rubbed on the area surrounding the acne, as well as on the pimples themselves.

It’s always a good idea to discuss acne with a doctor before self-treating with any of these medications. Even though acne is a fairly harmless condition, a doctor can often offer better suggestions and explain the best way to handle your condition based on your particular kind of acne.

Visit Best Natural Acne Treatments to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer, see Website

Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

When Google Adwords first came on scene, it was not immediately apparent to most people how to utilize the system to create wealth, until John Carpenter popularised it with his Google Cash system, a book he wrote some time back.

Since then, Google Adwords has become one of the main traffic generation tools for most affiliates. It was the fastest way to generate traffic.

By now, most people would have learnt about the latest Google Ruling on their Adwords’ programs

Basically it goes like this:

1) Google will only display two ads for the same website at the same time AND only ads with the best click thru rate,

2) You can remove the three letter word ‘aff’ from your ads, if you are a reseller.

How do you ensure you are the top 2 ads besides having to bid up keywords until your nose bleed?

With this new ruling, there will only be 2 ads displayed at any one time, and only for ads that has the best click through rates.

The rationale is that there isn’t any value add to show multiple ads that all point to the same web site.

In any case, experienced affiliate marketers would
probably capture the email address of the person who clicked on the Google Ad, rather than directing the person straight away to the vendor’s web site;

So there goes an easy and fast way to get traffic

So how do we counter the latest ‘dance’ from Google?

I have a solution which targets to key areas of concern:

1. Offering Value Add content through the use of Blogs

2. Getting F.R.E.E Traffic with RSS Feeds

Thousands of blog communities are sprining up all over the Net, and depending on what you are trying to market (as an affiliate) you can easily set up a blog centered just around the topic which relates to that product.

If you’re selling slimming pills, you can have a blog just related to weight loss. Next, turn your blog into an rss feed and syndicate it all over the Net, by submitting to the 27 major blog directories and 41 major rss directories.

(There might be more at time of writing, but these are the main ones I submit to.)

Besides it’s ability as a traffic tool, blogs give your potential clients value add in terms of useful contents you make.

Since you have to make postings to your blog, you are in a way ‘forced’ to study the area in which you want to market (e.g. weight loss) and provide good value add information, very much like a ‘consultant’.

Which in a way is good for anyone wanting to build a sustainable business and stay in the ‘game’ in the long run.

Brandon is Author of Multimedia Ebook “Marketing Rampage with Blogs and RSS”. Learn how to leverage the power of blogs and rss feeds to drive more FREE targeted traffic, gain more leads and sales. Get Listed in Google and Yahoo for Free and save $299.

http://www.marketing-rampage-with-blogs-and-rss.com

Blu-ray is an optical disc format which is set to rival HD-DVDin the race to be the
de-facto standard storage medium for HDTV. The HD-DVD vs Blu-ray battle resembles
that between Betamax and VHS and DVD+RW and DVD-RW.

Currently, the major Hollywood film studios are split evenly in their support for Blu-
ray and HD-DVD, but most of the electronics industry is currently in the blue corner.

The key difference between these new players and recorders and current optical disc
technology is that Blu-ray, as its name suggests, uses a blue-violet laser to read
and write data rather than a red one. Blue light has a shorter wavelength than red
light, and according to the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), which is made up of,
amongst others, Sony, Philips, Panasonic, and Pioneer, this means that the laser
spot can be focussed with greater precision.

Blu-ray discs have a maximum capacity of 25GB and dual-layer discs can hold up to
50GB – enough for four hours of HDTV. Like HD-DVD, Blue laser discs don’t require
a caddy and the players and recorders will be able to play current DVD discs. Codecs
supported by Blu-ray include the H.264 MPEG-4 codec which will form part of
Apple’s QuickTime 7, and the Windows Media 9 based VC-1.

The BDA says that although blue laser discs and players are already shipping in
Japan, they won’t ship in the US until the end of 2005 at the very earliest. It is likely
that players will be very expensive initially, compared to DVD players. In Japan, they
cost the equivalent of $2000. However, as with all new technology, prices will
quickly fall – particularly as Blu-ray will be competing with HD-DVD for that space
under your TV.

Kenny Hemphill is the editor and publisher of The HDTV Tuner – a guide to the kit, the technology and the
programming on HDTV.

For your business web site, good search engine rankings and high user traffic depend on relevant content. More user traffic will mean more sales leads and then more sales. Beyond any technical tricks, content that meets the users’ need for three types of information is the best guarantee that search engines and users will find your site. The Google and Yahoo page rankings favor sites that have articles of about 1000 words and that use keywords relevant to the user’s search.

Once they find your site with a search engine, web users spend more time on sites where their needs are met. To understand why users come back to content rich sites, lets look at the ways that a successful website, like DVInfo, fills the three most important information needs of the website user.

The DVInfo.net online community boasts over thirteen thousand members and a quarter million posts. What makes users of DVInfo Community come back to the site on a regular basis? The users come back for relevant content that meets their needs.

Here everyone from Hollywood cameramen to new DV camera owners in Alaska meet to discuss digital video. Online communities can build powerful loyalty in users. Some unpaid users at DVInfo.net are posting their stories and answering other forum user’s questions nearly every day. What would happen to your sales if users were so loyal to your brand and your web site that they showed up every day to read new content?

At the Digital Video website (DVInfo.net), the presence of experienced video creators who can offer detailed explanations gives the site credibility. In this forum a rookie video camera user can learn from an experienced Director of Photography like Charles Papert, who has worked on TV shows like “The West Wing” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. Because of its highly relevant content and numerous links from other Digital Video content sites, the DVInfo.net site has a Google page rank of 6 out of 10.

For your business web site, the presence of reliable, helpful content builds the user’s confidence that they can trust your business. Reliable content and links from other relevant content sites also build the page rank of your business web site.

Now let’s look at what this means to a business web site that also wants to build more user traffic. Users have three major tasks they perform when using a content rich site like DVInfo.net Community or your business website.

Customer Need 1: Learn Enough About the Topic to Identify Needs

How does a new video camera user approach the DV INFO web site? A beginning video camera user may not even realize that the video he shoots can be edited to remove bad video shots, or tell a story. The new video camera user reads about the way more experienced users shoot video and edit video. Gradually he realizes that he can do more than just shoot home movies. He begins to want a PC that can edit his video. He learns because the web site community has rich content.

At first, your business web site customer may not even know he has a need for your service, or may not understand that need. Your website content should first focus on helping people understand their need without pushing a particular product at this point.

Customer Need 2: Learn About Alternative Solutions

Next, the DV INFO user studies the different ways to edit video. Should he get a PC or a Mac? He learns about video edit software by reading about other users and their experience with different brands of edit software.

During this middle stage, web site customers look for possible solutions and then narrow these down to make a decision. Website users need both rational and emotional reasons to make their decision, but content at this stage generally shows the benefits of a solution or compares it to other solutions. Many websites focus on the rational, technical description of a solution, although a study of Amazon.com’s product reviews found that the more subjective product reviews were as helpful to customers as the more objective reviews. This testimonial-style content helps alleviate fear and lets customers learn from other peoples’ experience with your product.

Commercial web sites, like Amazon.com, have User Reviews to allow purchasers to see how others liked a certain book. This reduces the customer’s fear of the unknown. The buyer at Amazon.com feels more confident buying a book about cave exploring, by Michael Ray Taylor, if 30 other users also liked the book. Good reviews or testimonials on a business web site overcome the buyer’s fear of the unknown.

Customer Need 3: Choose the Best Solution and Feel Comfortable

The DV INFO user settles on 1 or 2 video edit solutions and needs to learn more. If other users write about good experiences with the same hardware and software choice, the aspiring video editor starts to feel more comfortable. Especially if the cost is great, the good experiences of others reduce the user’s fear about making the wrong choice.

Finally, your business website customer chooses a solution, by purchasing a product, or choosing a service. Content at this stage helps people learn about their chosen solution and adapt to working with it. Technical support or sharing experiences and advice with other people who have also chosen this solution can help the customer use the product successfully. Good content at this stage strengthens the relationship with customers. This stage is ongoing and sometimes leads to more questions. This may mean additional sales for your web site.

This understanding of content could be the guiding force in creating different parts of your web site. Your website selling business services could have a web page that educates clients about the different problems that they may have in their business. Your second web page could offer several possible solutions to these problems. Finally, you could build consumer confidence in your services by showing user testimonials or case studies.

By writing your website content from these three client viewpoints your web site meets the three most crucial information needs of clients. This is the first step to earning good Search Engine rankings for relevant content.

Ed Hill does Search Engine Marketing and website promotion using PR methods. He works mainly with businesses, PR firms and web design firms.
Learn how search engine marketing can drive more traffic to your business website: http://www.edhillpr.com/