Cumino Blog

For those pet owners who do not know what a pet registration service is, or the benefits they provide, this article will try to explain these services. Pet registration is how lost pets get returned to their owners, it as simple as that. The owner of a pet registers their pet with a service provider, and the owners contact information is available if the pet ever gets lost. Now, there are many companies that offer this type of service, and we will try to compare the services of RecoveryPets.Com with other companies that offer this type of service to find the one that provides the best benefits for its clients.

The goal of registration services is to provide a location where the finder of lost pets can go the get the contact information on the pets’ owner. The majority of these services use the pets veterinary vaccine number or county pet tag license number to register the clients pet. But, with this type of registration the finder does not know where to go to find the owners contact information, because the registers information is not contained on those tags. Whereas RecoveryPets.Com provides a special pet tag with a unique identification number that the pet is registered under on the tag, and the web address to where the pet owners contact information is contained, by doing this the finder has immediate access to the pet owners contact information.

The next benefit provided by these companies is the ability to provide a description and photograph of the pet, so that it can be identified when found. All services give their clients the ability to list the pets description and post a current photograph, but RecoveryPets.Com also gives them free lifetime contact information updating. This feature is very important because contact information tends to change over time, and by providing free lifetime updating service, any time their contact information changes it can be updated immediately on the website.

Contact information is the reason that pet owners register their pets with these services, and having a large selection of ways to contact the owners is vital to the safe return of a lost pet. Registration services allow the client to list their contact information, but RecoveryPets.Com gives their client the option to register up to ten contact phone numbers or email addresses. One of the advantages to this type of information being displayed is that the client’s home address is not displayed, and the pets unique id number is needed to access the phone and email address information, which provides security that protects the clients confidentiality.

The last topic discussed will cover the global recognition of the service. The only way a service provider will be able to benefit their clients is to have a one-stop source for everyday people, and rescue agencies or shelters to go to get information about the lost pets owner. This should include general marketing to the average consumer, and special efforts to make rescue agencies and shelter aware of the service the register provides. Pet registration services may be the greatest tool to help owners of lost pets recover their pet, but if the service does not provide a means to alert everyone that the pet is registered with their service, it defeats the purpose of the service.

Thaddeus Collins is the owner of RecoveryPets.Com and they specialize in the global recovery of lost pets using a unique tracking number. For more information visit http://www.recoverypets.com

Giving an eco-friendly or environmentally friendly bath and spa gift basket is a great way to help the environment. Whether you buy the gift basket or make it yourself, the environment will be better off for it. Think recycled paper (100% post-consumer, waste/process, chlorine-free paper), organic where possible, and recycling. Just follow these simple instructions for making your bath and spa gift basket.

First of all you’ll need to decide whether you’ll be using organic items or products, fair-trade items like soaps, items of clothing like new socks made from recycled cotton, or recyclable used items. You probably won’t want to use any chocolate or food items in this basket. They generally don’t go well with fragrance items. But use your judgment.

Next decide on what items will go into the environmentally friendly bath and spa gift basket.

For an organic and vegan bath or spa gift basket you can use: natural fiber sponges, pumice stone, towels, scrubs, organic and vegan soaps, fair-trade soaps, all natural toothpaste, organic lotions and shampoos without hormone-disrupting methylparabens or other toxic preservatives or additives, terry cloth and other types of bath pillows (very popular), spa pillows (very popular too), spa supplies, natural hair brushes, natural foot brushes, candles, aromatherapy goods, organic cotton socks, CDs of nature sounds or other soothing music, handwritten poem on recycled paper, birthday poem, inspirational book, book of poetry, Zen alarm clock, fair-trade art, handmade costume jewelry, stones, crystals, beautiful rocks, homemade items or a no-expiration gift certificate to a store that specializes in environmentally friendly items.

Now that you know your theme and what items to use it’s time to put your environmentally friendly bath and spa gift basket together.

For gift containers — some ideas: fair-trade baskets, wooden baskets, wooden bowls, fiber baskets, straw baskets, locally made pottery, buckets, non-aluminum, non-Teflon cooking pots and pans, large tea pots, potted plant holders, wire baskets, large pasta bowls, large popcorn bowls, clay pots, colanders, fabric gift bags, used baskets and containers from Goodwill Industries and Salvation Army stores or anything recyclable.

For gift basket liner — some ideas: shredded newspaper, organic cotton tea towels, organic cotton dish towels, organic cotton hand towels, colored recyclable napkins, organic cloth napkins or fabric pieces.

For gift basket filler, if needed, you can use: crumpled newspaper comics, straw or use your imagination.

And for gift basket wrap and tie — some ideas: recyclable paper, butcher paper, newspaper, newspaper comics, or reusable brown paper bags. Also check with the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries stores for inexpensive recyclable wrapping paper. Tie with jute or raffia twine for a simple rustic look or leave the gift basket unwrapped.

Now the instructions for putting your environmentally friendly bath and spa gift basket together — first start with your chosen container. Place the liner inside and add the basket filler. Arrange the items with the tallest in back. If needed, fill any holes with organic wrapped candies or crumpled shredded recycled paper. Cover with wrap and tie with jute or raffia twine. Don’t forget the personalized, recycled card. If you’re using a homemade card include a great, happy, positive uplifting, spine-tingling favorite quote or saying. That’s it! You should have a fine-looking eco-friendly or environmentally friendly bath and spa gift basket!

Helen Hecker heads Twin Peaks Press a 25-year-old PR, marketing, publishing co., publishes “Helen’s Hecker’s Biz Hotline” for small/home biz/entrepreneurs, publishes books, gift basket DVDs, “Helen Hecker’s Health Secrets Hotline,” websites include http://www.howtomakebeautifulgiftbaskets.com

Although not the most obvious of beach resort destinations, Galicia is actually in possession of more beaches and more miles of coastline than any other region in Spain. It also has every combination of sand and sea characteristic that you can think of, with one exception that is.

The exception is of course the sea temperature. Galicia faces the Atlantic Ocean and does not benefit from the warmer waters of the Mediterranean like so many of Spain’s southern resorts. There are however compensations and one of these is the ability to relax on a near deserted and sometimes totally abandoned stretch of sand. Other pluses are the cleanliness of the beaches, fewer people mean little if any litter and the lack of commercialisation means that all but the most popular beaches are devoid of “pedaloes”, jet ski’s and wind surfers.

The rambling coastline of Galicia results in there being two distinct types of beach. The first group lie in the protected bays or “rias”, whilst the second category occupy the more exposed positions looking out towards the open ocean. Beaches that nestle in the small bays tend to have calm seas that rapidly encompass the sand when the tide comes in and this, combined with the shallow waters of these bays, keeps the sea temperature higher than in the more exposed areas.

If you want waves, then the ocean facing beaches are ideal and Galicia has several surf clubs whose members are adequately challenged by the motion of the sea. Equally, if you would like a beach with lifeguards, showers and hospitality facilities, Galicia will have no difficulty meeting your requirements. Many of the region’s larger beaches, especially the ones close to the cities and bigger towns, are similar to those on Spain’s southern Costas and have all the amenities you are likely to require.

The location of Galicia’s beaches, whilst not a closely kept secret, may sometimes appear that way. The relative lack of English speaking tourists mean that you will not see beaches clearly sign posted. In fact you may not see any signs at all and those that you will see will be in the local language of gallego and not Spanish. This means that the word beach, or “playa” becomes “praia” and even then often appearing on nothing more than a wooden “T” bar a foot or two off the ground.

Finding the smaller and often more appealing beaches can become a mini task in itself, but it tends to be these “hard to find” beaches that you will want to go back to. It is also on beaches like these that you have the best chance of spotting dolphins. Many of the bays are visited by them and if you see a fishing boat collecting lobster pots there is a good chance that the dolphins will be somewhere nearby.

Finally if nothing here appeals remember that Galicia, unlike many other Spanish regions, does not stop at the end of the beach. This is an area rich in culture, history and gastronomy. Galicia does not have a parched landscape, in fact quite the reverse. If you want green meadows, dense forests or inland mountains, Galicia is the place and if you want to get off the regular Spanish holiday trail, then this region may be the next Spanish holiday destination for you.

For more information on Galicia’s beaches go to http://www.galiciaguide.com. From here you can find out about many of Galicia’s beaches, large and small.

Webmaster of galiciaguide.com, the internet’s largest English language destination guide about the region, its provinces, cities and towns.

Perhaps you have driven past the road signs for new developments proclaiming they are “Master-Planned”. Maybe, you live in one. Master-Planned Communities usually incorporate extensive recreational amenities like lakes, golf courses, and expansive parks with bike paths, and jogging trails. The original planners may even incorporate office parks and hotels/motels into the community’s plans. This balanced plan enhances the value of the properties and makes them more valuable and enjoyable to live and work in.

The Sales Planning Question

If you stepped back with me for a minute and took a bird’s eye view of your sales plan, would it be considered a Master-Planned Sales Plan? Let’s imagine that your original sales plan was to support 550 core customers. The strategy was to develop a community of customers that would increase your bank account and capitalize on the capabilities of your business. The balanced sales plan would include accounts that would preserve you from the rise and fall of individual markets and not rely on one single market sector. Your customers might have recurring needs for your services and they might be involved in a growing industry themselves.

Adjusting Your Sales Plan

If we stick to your sales plan you will certainly make adjustments along the way. After all, there isn’t any plan that is perfect from the beginning and all plans need to be corrected based on changes in the environment and surroundings. One of the things that will happen to us in outside sales is that we get too close to the situation and it becomes difficult for us to see that change is needed. We must step back to gain perspective.

One question we should ask ourselves about our customers is, would they qualify as the ideal customer. This question is based on our original sales plan. If they qualify, they should be a thriving business using us for multiple lines of services. If we can’t answer this, we should meet with our customers and learn how their business has changed to identify opportunity areas. The goal is to discover where some of our new services might support their needs in a more direct way.

The Challenge of Change

If you get bored with the same challenges everyday, you are probably missing something. Most industries embrace change and challenges us to find creative solutions our customer have. We can’t say to someone “that isn’t our problem” because they usually are. Change is part of what we live for. If we are performing our role in sales to its fullest we look for problems and changes in the markets.

Does your sales plan include changes in your market that are both positive and negative? In my neighborhood the driving time it takes to get somewhere by car takes longer than it did just a few months ago. Because of this people are embracing and discovering new ways to get business done rather than to drive to a place of business. This opens the door to digital communications and using improved delivery services. Is this something your business plan has adjusted for? If not, perhaps it should. The main point is to evaluate customers and ensure they are they type of clients you want for your sales Community of clients and adjust your sales plans to meet the changes in your area.

Steve Martinez is the founder and CSO (Chief Sales Officer) with Selling Magic. The Business Development company is sales oriented and a CRM pioneer in automating and customizing ACT or Outlook with the best practices of sales management for increased sales. http://www.sellingmagic.com

If you are renting a car or other vehicle, the process will be the easiest and smoothest if you have a credit card to use for the transaction. Some car rental companies won’t even rent you a vehicle if you don’t have a credit card for payment. If the car rental company does allow you to rent without a credit card, you may have to pay a large cash deposit to cover any potential damage to the vehicle you are renting. If you are using a travel agent and do not have a credit card, ask your agent about using pre-paid vouchers to pay for your vehicle rental. A voucher is typically easier to use than cash when renting a vehicle.

Be aware that a large part of your credit line on your credit card may be tied up while the rental vehicle is in your possession. The car rental company may place a certain amount of money on hold on your credit card for possible additional charges such as late return fees and damage fees. The charge won’t be processed unless you incur those additional expenses. But because that money is on hold you won’t have it available to you for other purchases so you may want to use for other purchases such as your hotel.

Your driving record may be a factor when you rent a vehicle. Not all car rental companies check driving records but some do. If your driving record doesn’t meet the car rental company’s standards they will not let you rent from them. To prevent this from happening check with the car rental agency to see if they check driving records and what their standards are.

Twenty five is the magic age when renting a vehicle. If you are at least twenty five years of age you will not incur additional fees to rent a vehicle. If you are between the ages of eighteen and twenty five you will likely be required to pay more money for renting your car than a twenty five or older driver. If you are under 18 years of age you will not be able to rent a vehicle in the US. Although those rules may not seem fair, it is just the way it is in the car rental industry

Rental car companies will offer you various optional insurance and waiver options, but you may already be covered. Before you go to rent a vehicle, check with both your personal auto insurance agent and with your credit card company. You may already have protection if you have an accident, lose, or damage your rental vehicle. If you do have protection, you shouldn’t need to purchase the collision damage waiver or CDW offered by the car rental company because it will be a duplication of coverage you already have.

If you do purchase a CDW, keep in mind that it is not insurance but an agreement between you and the car rental company stating that you will not be liable for loss or damage to the rental vehicle as long as you comply with conditions stated in the agreement. Those conditions are common sense ones such as not driving while under the influence of alcohol, not driving the vehicle off-road, and not allowing an unauthorized person to drive the vehicle. A CDW will almost always not cover you though for personal injuries or damage to personal property sustained while using the rental vehicle. If you are renting overseas though, you may not have a choice of whether or not or purchase a CDW. Some countries require you to purchase it.

If you are renting a vehicle overseas you may need to obtain an international driving permit. Check on this before you show up at the overseas rental car counter.

After you get to your rental vehicle walk around the outside of it and inspect it for any possible damage. If you notice damage such as a dent or noticeable scratch report it to the lot attendant right away and get it noted on your rental agreement so you won’t be liable for that damage. I learned this lesson the hard way. On one of my first rentals I noticed a dent in the vehicle, told the lot attendant about it who told me not to worry about it. I didn’t insist he write anything on my rental agreement stating the damage was already on the vehicle when I picked it up. When I returned the vehicle the rental car company wanted to charge me for that dent. I eventually got my money back but it took time me quite a bit of time and frustration to get those charges reversed.

If you find you are going to return your rental vehicle more than 4 hours late, call the rental company and arrange for an additional day’s rental. Although most companies allow you a one hour grace period before they start to charge you additional money, the hourly rates can quickly add up to more than the cost of an entire day’s rental. Usually when you get to the 4 hour mark, renting the vehicle for an additional day is cheaper than paying the hourly late fees.

D Ruplinger is a featured writer for www.autorentalpro.com. For more information about vehicle rentals visit www.autorentalpro.com.

Does space exploration shed any light on the theory of evolution? Not exactly. It “sheds” more darkness than light.

The phrase most often used by evolutionists is probably “billions and billions of years:” “life evolved over billions and billions of years,” “the solar system developed over billions and billions of years,” “the universe has been expanding for billions and billions of years.” It almost seems as if these accounts of the evolution of our universe are intended to keep people from questioning unverifiable statements. That is, how do you go about disproving what allegedly happened so long ago? It’s quite difficult to construct a planet in a laboratory and let it lie around for billions and billions of years to prove that life will not create itself. Unless, of course, you have a long lease.

If your lease expires within the next four and a half billion years, the following may be of interest to you:

* In 1977 two scientists, in search of hot water spewing from the ocean floors, crammed into a small research submarine named ALVIN and descended to the bottom of the ocean near the Galapagos Islands. Finding the first hydrothermal vent, an opening where water heated by earth’s molten interior is released into the ocean, was not nearly as fascinating as what they discovered by accident — the vent was surrounded by animals never seen before. Closest to the vent, in the midst of water which sometimes exceeds 450 degrees Fahrenheit, were tube worms, some of which were up to eight feet long.

For any living creature to thrive this deep in the ocean and in such scalding water was mind boggling enough. But there was more. Most animals need sunlight to survive; this part of the ocean gets no sunlight whatsoever.

Then, as if to laugh in the face of what’s considered “normal” for biological life forms, these tube worms had no eyes, mouth, or intestinal tract. There may not be much to see in the dark, but how did these creatures eat or digest food?

It took scientists years to figure out how tube worms receive their nourishment. Without getting too involved with the details, these tube worms have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria which grow in profuse quantities near the underwater vent. The bacteria find their way into the tube worms, literally between their cells. The tube worms receive nutrition from the bacteria, and the bacteria in turn receive some vital functions from the tube worm.

If you think this sounds too bizarre, I don’t blame you. Such creatures really do exist. And you haven’t heard the most astonishing aspect of these creatures.

An additional factor in the area around the vent makes it an even more hostile environment than described above (if you can imagine that). The bacteria on which the tube worms depend, thrive on a chemical called hydrogen sulphide, which is found in the water coming from the hot vent. To most higher animals, hydrogen sulphide is as poisonous as cyanide!

We’ve just described a world which before its discovery was hard to imagine and certainly impossible to predict. The hostile environment in which the tube worms and their life-sustaining bacteria exist is truly “out of this world.” It makes one wonder if biological life forms are limited or restricted in any way whatsoever to any kind of environment.

* Since 1977, several more vents have been discovered on the ocean floors. Besides tube worms, other exotic animals have been found thriving in the immediate vicinity of the vents — pink fish, snails, shrimp, sulphur-yellow mussels, and foot-long clams. Similar animal populations have since been discovered in waters only a few degrees cooler than freezing. Scientists have since found quite a few totally new forms of life and species.

In addition to the adverse conditions under which these creatures live, life apparently can also survive in a wide range of temperatures.

* Cacti are known to survive the most difficult and unusual climates. Their ability to sustain themselves in areas of little rainfall, hot dry winds, low humidity, strong sunlight, and extreme fluctuations in temperature is nothing short of phenomenal. It’s almost as if the physical structures of these plants, which help conserve the little water they receive and shed some of the excess sunlight, were designed by someone. Some cacti can survive internal temperatures of near 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Most plants haven’t got a chance where some cacti prosper.

* Lichens, a combination of fungus and algae, have been found thriving in an area of Antarctica where temperatures sometimes get colder than 70 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. As far as hostile environments go, this seems to be the extreme opposite of deep, dark, hot waters.

* There are insects in the Antarctic which produce natural “antifreeze” to keep from freezing at lower temperatures. Another insect in the Antarctic produces anti-antifreeze. When temperatures get so low that other insects freeze to death, this natural compound allows this insect to freeze gradually. When temperatures get warmer, the insect thaws and lives on.

* Bacteria have been found growing an amazing 25 feet underground. For life to survive such depths is incredible, to say the least.

* There are animals and insects which carry venom strong enough to cause disease and death in other living organisms, yet these carrying organisms are unaffected by the venom. Mosquitoes spread yellow fever, malaria, dengue, and encephalitis to animals thousands of times their size. But no mosquitoes have been known to die of these diseases. Snakes, too, discharge venom which kill other animals, yet they themselves are unaffected by the poisons they carry.

* Earth now has millions of species of plants and animals. The sheer number of species is overwhelming. The precise number of living organisms is nothing short of mind boggling. And the diversity of these creatures — from such monstrosities as whales right down to microscopic life forms such as the amoeba — is probably beyond the imagination of even Steven Spielberg.

IT IS BELIEVED . . .

In the course of earth’s history, about a half billion animal species have been in existence. That’s a half billion before you even bring plant life into the picture.

IT IS ALLEGED . . .

The sun, earth, and the other planets in our solar system, according to scientists, were formed about four and a half billion years ago. It is further alleged that the most primitive forms of life already appeared on earth about three billion years ago. Huge creatures such as dinosaurs roamed our planet as far back as 200 million years ago. They ruled for an enormously long period of over 100 million years. Finally, humans appeared about two to three million years ago. That is, something as complex as the human brain has allegedly been around for at least a staggering two million years. An optical instrument as sophisticated as the eye (of the non-human variety) has been around even longer.

VERIFICATION

Now, how does one verify how all these living organisms came into existence? That is, if you can’t build your own planet and cultivate it for billions of years, what’s the next best thing? Finding a planet in outer space which has been around for as long as earth? No, that’s not the next best thing. That’s even better.

Why?

Because the science of planetary evolution, if you can call it that, is far from an exact science, to say the least. After many years, scientists still question the generally accepted view of the composition of earth’s atmosphere in that alleged period of three and a half billion years ago. For a long time scientists believed that earth’s primordial atmosphere contained little or no oxygen. Then, some studies suggested that earth’s atmosphere may have contained one million times more oxygen than previously believed, and the ultraviolet rays of the sun may have pounded earth at levels thousands of times higher than today.

Whether the new interpretations make any more sense than the old assumptions is irrelevant. What is relevant here is that laboratory simulations and scientific deductions of primordial conditions on earth are obviously based on much guess work and unverifiable assumptions. So why resort to such vagrant concoctions when a real “living” planet tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

LIFE ON MARS

Two Viking spacecraft landed on Mars as early as the summer of 1976. Viking 1 landed in the Chryse Planitia region and Viking 2 landed in the Utopia Planitia region. One goal of these missions was to find life or evidence of life on Mars. The spacecraft spent months analyzing the Martian soil and atmosphere, with no luck. More recent spacecraft on Mars produced the same results — no life on Mars. Not a trace of past or present life was found. No dinosaurs. No microorganisms. No carcasses. No bones. No fossils. Absolutely nothing. It’s become obvious to scientists that for evidence of life to be found on Mars, they’d have to send KFC up there to pluck their chickens.

Of the planets we’ve explored to date, Mars seems to resemble earth more closely than any other planet does. If life were to have existed anywhere else in our solar system, Mars would probably have been the place. But no trace of life has been discovered on Mars, or any other planet, for that matter.

FAVORITISM IN NATURE

Now take what is known, what is “believed,” and what is “alleged,” about earth and compare it to what is known about Mars. What do you get? Verification of theories? No. You get inexplicable contradictions! We live on a planet where life proliferates in virtually every nook and cranny. You’d be hard pressed to find a place on earth where there is no life whatsoever. And the environment doesn’t seem to matter either. Life on earth thrives under the most adverse conditions.

Yet, when we look at a planet right next to us in space, what do we find? We find a barren world with no trace of life ever having existed. How’s that possible?

Are we to believe that this god called evolution, who has given earth such a sophisticated organ as the human brain as far back as two million years ago, has to this date not managed to put forth on Mars so much as a dumb ass? Are we to believe that the same evolution which has given earth living creatures the size of dinosaurs 200 million years ago has in a staggering four and a half billion years not given Mars even simple one-celled organisms? Are we to believe that this glorious evolution which has to this date given earth an astronomical total of literally millions upon millions of plant and animal species has in the same period not given Mars even one species of plant or animal?

Sure the Martian environment is hostile. But then, here on earth, two miles down at the bottom of the ocean near vents which spew hot water mixed with hydrogen sulphide in total darkness is not exactly my idea of a summer vacation spot, either — it’s about as hostile as an environment can get! But life thrives there in complete defiance of what are normally considered ecological adversities.

Antarctica is also a hostile environment. So is 25 feet underground. So is the desert. Furthermore, in that alleged period of three and a half billion years ago, the entire earth, according to scientists, was hostile. Life on earth allegedly began in an environment which would be hostile to many of today’s life forms. And many of today’s life forms live in conditions which would have been intolerable to the organisms which allegedly brought life into existence billions of years ago. But life on earth thrives in spite of it all.

Life on earth goes even a step further. Some organisms do not simply thrive in adverse conditions, they actually become immune to conditions which are designed to kill them. Many bacteria become resistant to antibiotics as a result of being overexposed to the very drugs which have killed them in the past. In some cases, bacteria even transfer this resistance to other bacteria which have not had such exposure to the drugs.

There is a species of South American bee which has become immune to DDT. The bees can carry doses hundreds of times the amount needed to kill other bees without suffering ill effects. Some mosquitoes are also immune to DDT.

So, you see, life on earth is as potent as it is diversified. It pushes forward, overcoming many seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and sometimes in spite of these obstacles. Looking at the diversity of conditions under which life on earth thrives, looking at the life forms which have learned to fight environmental hazards and man-made poisons, it’s hard to imagine life on earth ever being completely wiped out by any kind of disaster, natural or manmade. But somehow, life on Mars has either been completely wiped out — and the telltale traces mysteriously hidden — or something prevented life from coming into existence. How do you account for the complete absence of any trace of life on Mars? Does evolution have favorites? It is totally inconceivable that something as powerful and as diversified as life has not left its mark on Mars. Where is all the evidence of an evolutionary process? If not currently living creatures, at least bones and fossils.

Some find it difficult to explain. But is it really difficult to explain? Maybe some people are just looking for the wrong explanations. Maybe they’re looking for preconceived explanations and discounting the facts. The fact is there is no sign of life or evolution on Mars.

NEW LIFE FORMS

Let’s take this one step further. Who made the life forms on earth the standard for life? That is, why does life have to have anything to do with oxygen, carbon dioxide, or even carbon compounds? As accidentally as life allegedly formed of what was available on earth, life could have formed of what ever happened to be available elsewhere in space. After all, we’re still having problems grasping the limits to which biological life can go — as is acutely demonstrated by tube worms and other unusual biological life forms — we’re certainly not close to understanding consciousness and intellect on a scientific level. We may know that consciousness and intellect “attach” themselves to certain biological systems, but we haven’t the foggiest clue as to how or why; no scientist has yet shown any physical relationship between a biological system and the psyche. So why isn’t there life on the moon? That’s right, the moon’s own version of “biological” life. Perhaps intelligent creatures made up of lunar soil which receive their nourishment through cosmic rays?

And what about Venus? Sure it’s 900 degrees there. But by astronomical standards, when you talk about stars which burn at temperatures around ten million degrees, Venus could be the “Siberia” of the Milky Way. Why are there no creatures there which live in a 900 degree environment and drink sulfuric acid for nourishment

If some of this sounds a little facetious, it is not meant to be. Remember, we’re not talking about a Supreme Intelligence with a plan, design, and purpose, which would imply that life was put precisely where it was meant to be and nowhere else for reasons we may or may not fully understand. We’re talking about a mindless force of nature which purportedly creates life at random out of inanimate matter. What made life on earth so “feasible” and life elsewhere so “impossible?”

A PROBLEM IN LOGIC

To say that it is “difficult to explain” why life is in such abundance here on earth yet nonexistent elsewhere in the universe is just another case of sticking one’s head in the ground. Explaining why a cigarette lighter will not work underwater is only difficult for someone who for some insane reason remains convinced it will work in spite of all contradictory evidence. Why it will not work is not difficult to explain. The difficulty lies in explaining why one continues to believe it will work. Similarly, why there is no extraterrestrial life is not difficult to explain. Our space explorations have found the irrefutable answer: the process we call evolution simply does not work. The difficulty lies in understanding those who prefer to ignore the facts.

According to NASA, microorganisms were inadvertently taken to the moon by an unmanned spacecraft. When the equipment of this spacecraft was brought back to earth more than two and a half years later by our astronauts, it was discovered that an earth microbe had survived the lunar environment, which is harsher than the Martian environment. Obviously, for life to have thrived on extraterrestrial bodies there was no need for nature to even resort to biologically “strange” creatures. In spite of the hostile environments of these spheres, life forms with which we are familiar could have survived. Yet, these worlds show absolutely no signs of ever having been inhabited by any forms of life — normal or strange. So, where does all this leave evolution? Not on very solid ground.

A HOSTILE EARTH

Strangely, even earth today, which is considered a hospitable environment to present life forms, only gives that appearance superficially. It took a twentieth-century epidemic — AIDS — to make us aware of the true hostile nature of the very environment modern man thrives in. AIDS is caused by a virus which attacks the immune system and leaves the body susceptible to a host of deadly diseases which are caused by other viruses and microbes. AIDS accentuates the grim reality that earth today is so contaminated with deadly viruses and bacteria that were it not for a complex and ingenious immune system, the average human being, and probably a host of other living organisms, could not survive beyond infancy. Is outer space really more hostile than this? Hard to imagine. So why hasn’t life in outer space evolved and developed an immune system to ensure its survival? Hostile environments apparently do not deter life. Obviously, this process we call evolution is purely the product of imagination — it belongs in a Steven Spielberg movie, not in a science textbook.

Josh Greenberger: A computer consultant for over two decades, the author has developed software for such organizations as NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies, AT&T, Charles Schwab, Bell Laboratories and Chase Manhattan Bank. Since 1984, the author’s literary works have appeared in such periodicals as The New York Post, The Daily News, The Village Voice, The Jewish Press, and others. His articles have ranged from humor to scientific to topical events. Visit his site: shopndrop.com

Most of us want a good credit report to obtain vehicle financing, credit cards for emergencies and luxuries, and to finance a home mortgage. However, beyond these consumer loans, a great credit report makes your life easier.

Having a credit card means that you can order tickets, rent a car, and reserve hotel rooms. Your strong credit score makes it easy for you to arrange cell phone service and necessary utility services, without large deposits.

Besides these conveniences, your credit report can mean that you must pay higher deposits and rates for everyday services. Did you know that poor credit history can keep you from getting utility connections, good telephone rates, the best auto insurance, high-quality home owner’s insurance, or even prevent you from getting hired?

Some utility companies set minimum standards for service connections. If your report shows collection accounts for prior utility bills, you may not be eligible for service at all. And if they do agree to connect your service, you’ll need to pay a higher deposit than another customer with good credit, who may not need to make any deposit. The same requirements exist for telephone services. People with high credit scores don’t need to pay deposits for home telephone or cell phone services.

What many people don’t realize is that good credit enables them to get better insurance rates. High-quality, low-cost home owner’s insurance, auto, and life insurance companies set minimum credit standards for their policy holders. This means that consumers with poor credit have to pay more for less coverage. Many automobile insurance companies now base monthly premiums on credit scores. These companies offer a 17% discount if your score is over 625 and a 25% discount if your score is over 725. Why? Because according to consumer surveys, people who care about their credit also take care of their property and drive with caution.

Terrible credit can cost you a job. More and more employers look at a candidate’s credit report and hire the person with better credit, assuming that better credit equals better integrity and character.

What you don’t know about your credit could be hurting you. Don’t wait until you need your credit to work on any problems. Strong credit translates to personal reputation.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Jeanette Fisher, author of “Credit Help! Get the Credit You Need to Buy Real Estate,” helps people buy their dream home or finance multiple investment properties. Jeanette teaches real estate investing and Design Psychology. For help with your credit or answers to your questions, visit the Real Estate Help Credit Center at http://www.recredithelp.com – Get the credit you need to buy one house or twenty!

Subscribe to Credit Help! Tips. Send a blank email to CreditTips at recredithelp.com

Thanks to the low charge of domain names and hosting fees it is conceivable to own many websites without breaking the bank. There are a few ways to handle multiple domains so it is vital to understand what your options are and the benefits and disadvantages of each approach.

The most elementary selection when managing multiple domains is whether to do so with the identical hosting company. Most hosts offer packages which can allow several sites to be attached to one account, or allow single sites to run under separate accounts.

You may own an existing website and be delighted with the services your host provides. If you resolve to start a new website using the identical host, dealing with a company you are familiar with and trust will comfort you. You may also get a discount for each added account you open with the same host. On the other hand, using a new host for a second (or third or fourth) website can allow you to compare the quality of hosting offered by different companies. In addition, separate hosts will provide each of your web sites with a different IP address.

Having different IP addresses can be critical if you intend to link the sites together to aid in search engine optimization. Incoming links are an important pointer of how consequential a website is, so a site with many incoming links can get a higher position in search engines like Google . If all the links are coming from the same IP address, however, Google may reduce their value. Hosting your numerous sites with different hosting companies guarantees that each site has a different IP address. Individual IP addresses, however, are available at an extra cost from most web hosts. For a yearly fee each website can have its own unique IP address. This can help with search engine ranking and if you want to have a secure connection (https) on your site.

If you decide to host all your sites with the same company, there are three basic ways to go. Each site could have its own account; you could sign up for a reseller account; or you could get a dedicated server account.

As a reseller you are acting as an agent for the hosting company. They apportion some disk space and bandwidth to you which you use as you please. There may be a limitation to the number of websites you can host with your reseller account. If you have space left after using this account for your own sites you could earn some extra income by selling accounts to other people. The advantage of a reseller account is the hosting company taking care of all the technical details. Some will even provide gateways for billing your customers.

A dedicated server account gives you command of all the resources of an entire server. You are free to setup as many websites as you wish and assign disk space and bandwidth as you see fit. The disadvantage to this account is that you are responsible for maintaining the server. This requires significant technical know-how so if you don’t have that knowledge or don’t feel like learning about it, dedicated servers are not for you. You can, of course, go with a managed dedicated server. The disadvantage of this is the higher cost involved.

Hosting all your sites with one host can offer many advantages but there is one chief drawback : if your server goes down, all your sites go down. If you are depending on your sites for income this can be catastrophic. So, it is a good idea to have at least one of your sites with a different host. If your sites are essential for your livelihood and you can’t manage any down time whatever, it is better to host everything with (at least) two hosts.

Llewellin RG Jegels has been a contributing author for this
website and has written various beneficial pieces of information
related to web hosting. He can be found on the internet at this website:
http://www.domain-hosting-solutions.com

No Time to Finish your Book?
Judy Cullins ©2004 All Rights Reserved.

This number one complaint keeps many a professional from expanding their business through a book. As a book-writing coach, the Number One Question I get is, “How can I find time to write?” Here’s encouragement and how to’s to get your book finished.

1. Write a short book for your first effort.

Expand an article, talk, or report by adding a few stories, anecdotes, quotes, tips, or how-to’s. This book may even be just one chapter idea you have for your longer book. Focused writing sells well too. People Online and off want easy-to-read short information because they are so busy. They don’t want to spend a lot of time reading. Make your first book 10-50 pages.

2. Write your print book and eBook at the same time. It’s like cooking–you create a dish that you can serve twice for a one-time effort.

Make two word files, one for each format.

As you lay out your chapter titles and their theses, decide what components to leave out in your eBook version. You don’t need long stories or a lot of quotes. Give your potential buyers the meat they want. Short, but useful information!

In your print version that you may want to publish via Print on Demand for much less cash outlay, offer more client examples or other stories to illustrate your point. Add extra, useful information in tips, sidebars, charts or graphs. Make your perfect bound print book from 100-120 pages. That’s substantial enough for traditional minds, yet financially fruitful and time saving for the busy entrepreneur. Now, you have two products for the time price of one.

3. Check your daily calendar. What do you spend the most time on? How is that working for you?

What’s happening in your daily life that stops your book?

Do you have too much to do on your daily list? Do you feel guilty you aren’t doing enough? Do your present efforts pay off in new clients or other sales? Perhaps you focus on putting out the fires, email checking time, and other barely important things to help you succeed. If so, look to what to move to the top of your list–your book. Work on it and finish it before you slide away to other interests.

Notice where you spin wheels that don’t bring you new clients, a balanced life or sales. Always focus on what you do and enjoy best and for business, what makes you the most money for the smallest effort.

4. Write down in your daily to do pages of your organizer 2-3 High Level Activities (HLA’s) you need to do to move your book to the finish line.

Include a whole week of HLA’s at a time

Example: Monday.

-List topics and questions to answer for the whole book 2. –Categorize just one chapter’s questions and topics-ie. ch. 2.

Example: Tuesday.

-Write a rough draft of the middle of ch. 2–what questions you will answer
-Answer those questions (now headings)
- Note: If you answer 5 questions, you will have about a 5-page middle of the chapter.

5. Finish the high priority activity before you move on to a lower priority. That means phone calls, emails, and requests from others. Give yourself a definite time each day that is sacred to the cause. Your finished book.

6. Remember the payoffs.

Put less important things on the back burner. Know why your book will payoff. It brings you new clients, it illustrates your savvy expertise, it connects you to others to make their lives better.

Writing a short book can be the most powerful marketing activity. If you don’t work well alone, join a phone coaching session with other book writers. When you get feedback on what you write from a professional group, your writing improves and moves faster to the finish line. Your book coach will gently nudge you to do each assignment before you move on.

7. Don’t buy into the myth, “Writing a book takes too much time”

Actually, the best chapter writing happens fast! With the “Fast-Forward Writing Technique,” the template to write a chapter helps you write it right the first time. Then your book is easy-to-read, compelling, and well organized. Another great benefit is that you only need to edit 3-4 times. Writers without his help spend more time revising than writing the first draft. Get help from people who have been there before. Check out book writing teleclasses and small group “book achievers” coaching groups.

About the Author

Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including “Write your eBook Fast,” and “How to Market your Business on the Internet,” she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says…and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 140 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com.

Increasing security concerns have led to increasing numbers of security cameras. Public buildings, stores, banks and private homes have all stepped up the security of their property and installed video cameras. Now, technology has made it easier than ever to look after your property.

Protecting your property is just one use of security cameras. People also use them to watch over their children, or employees while they are away. They can also monitor home workers like maids or cleaning companies, or even spy on someone.

There are many different types of security cameras on the market today. If you are not good with wires and would not like to deal with the hassle, then a wireless video camera is a good choice. Wireless cameras are easier to set up, and they don’t have the hassle of the wires. A wireless camera is also small enough to hide easily. A disadvantage to wireless video cameras is that the locations where you are able to place these cameras are limited. There are many factors you have to consider, like how far the camera is away from the recording device and power source. Placing the camera outside could prove to be a challenge, yet it is not impossible. A wire camera can be placed wherever, and moved whenever. This is one advantage to these.

If your motive for the camera is for spying, then I wireless camera is your better choice. You have to find a way to hide the wires in a mini wire camera, while a mini wireless camera can be hidden anywhere.

There are two different types of wireless security cameras. Some come with an installation kit, and some are similar to an IP camera.

The first type of camera comes usually as part of a package with a transmitter and a receiver. This type of camera works much like a regular TV camera. In this case the transmitter and the receiver replace the regular TV cable. The camera connects to the transmitter while the receiver connects to the recording device. That way the transmitter can be received and viewed from the camera.

The second type works somewhat like an IP camera. This type of camera is also easier to use then the first type. These cameras have a network adapter that connects to a router or a switch. They can be accessed from any computer in the world, but are also more expensive.

When choosing between a wired or wireless camera, the better choice would be a wireless one. They are easier to use, and are also easier to place and hide. You wont have to deal with the wires, and overall will have better security.