Ain't We Wonderful!

It may come as a surprise to you to discover that customers don't buy your products or services because they feel that you have a right to make a profit. In other words, their motive for doing business with you is not to help you buy the latest Jaguar or put your children through college. You think this is a joke? Recent research shows that something like 60% of businesspeople place more importance on what they will get from a transaction than on what their customers will benefit.

In essence, their profitability is more crucial to them than is customer satisfaction. And it shows.

If you are in any doubt about this, cast your eyes over the myriad of ads, brochures, websites and so on that major on the successfulness of their organisation, as opposed to the benefit their products or services might be to the customer.

Certainly, they pay lip-service to customer satisfaction, but beneath this thin veneer of eye-shine is the belief, probably implanted at birth, that their bottom line takes precedence over everything.

Oddly, advertising agencies are among the worst offenders in this respect. Their promotional material illustrates what great work they have done, and states how many millions they billed in the last financial year, but none (and I mean none) tell you how much product their efforts have helped shift. To put it another way, none bother to demonstrate what benefit their services have been to clients.

While I am on the subject, there's something else just as puzzling which may have escaped your notice. I refer to the ubiquitous advertising awards handed out to agencies by various advertising organisations around the world. These awards are given, without fail, to campaigns that are outstandingly funny, or technically slick, or wonderfully realistic. Rarely, and I mean never, are these awards made on the strength of how much product a given campaign has sold. They don't even take into account response rates or conversion rates generated by a campaign.

Such figures, I agree, would involve a little trouble to collate, and there would no doubt be quite a bit of trickery in the shape of false returns to overcome. But I feel that a yardstick of this kind would be far more worthy - and more relevant - than one which considered only the creativity or the cutting-edge techniques involved in a piece of work

Over the years, I have won dozens of awards for my clients; and very grateful I have been for them. A copywriter who can tote a portfolio or a showreel filled with award-winning material is guaranteed work for life. Likewise, the ad agency that employs him will see its equity rise and rise. And the client? Well, who gives a damn about the client. His products and services are merely vehicles upon which an agency can ride to glory.

The moral is clear. Rather than thinking what your customers can do for you, think what you can do for your customers. With this kind of philosophy, your profits will take care of themselves.

Critique of Kenneth Amdahl's There Are No Atoms

Contemporaries praise Amdahl's effort to reduce electricity to its most simple dimensions and allegorical illustration. His peers offer the greatest recommendation: "We all feel somewhat dumb when it comes to electronics... a proper tonic for this ignorance... is a major breakthrough in teaching the elementary physics of electricity... should be required basic reading for high school science students...even a blockhead like me, who could never visualize the abstract, was able to penetrate the nebulous mists of amps, volts, current, induction, and conductors, and actually understand what the hell they're all about. But above and beyond the practical, Amdahl, with a magical energy all his own, has created a wonderful book about a beautiful and powerful mystery. Actually, this book is about electricity and everything else, too.

Amdahl introduces reality with an admmonishion to people who honestly believe they understand electricity -- but can no more explain the inner workings of electrical phenomenon than they can breathe life into a crescent wrench. This dire prediction opens a more modest pathway for students who might be intimidated but desirous of filling the gaps in particle science. Even now, after years of study and silent debate, we read of emerging theory for 'The Ultimate Particle' -- with offered dimensions -- basic to understanding this same force of electricity but heretofore unpublished.

The most basic understanding revolves around static electricity; where, like charges repel and unlike charges attract; which phenomenon results in the positive and negative assigns readily recognized in basic science. Realizing how man resorts to analogies or parables, he reverses technique by bringing the complex into simple uniformity. Thus, Amdahl converts the world of resistors, capacitors, diodes, current, amps, watts, and volts into easy conceptions of electrical magic transforming our utility and technological masterpieces.

One fault in Amdahl's science is his description of atom theory: he proposes electron theory to maintain everything in the universe is composed of tiny particles called molecules; and most are too small to be distinguished even when using the best microscopes in the world. This definition of universe particles is not entirely correct, according to the minuteness expected in basic particles; therein, we might expect the ultimate particle to be a tiny, small, nanometer fraction of molecule mass (molecule mass composing two or more atoms). Even so, this journey into ultimate physics is not important to the simplification of electrical terms and workability but is offered here solely as a basic energy constituent.

While electricity might be hard to understand, as to wellspring and discontinuance posits, there can exist no doubt as to workability. Home appliances, transportation, computers, and other electronic marvels attest to the electron's driving force. Truly, Amdahl simplifies a very complex subject -- worthy reading for the professional electrician or the homebody who only flips a switch to advantage this most basic boost to advanced living.

Amdahl's use of the biblical 'parable' to express electron mystery and complexity is well-used to magnify the hidden force in particle motivation, as was the use of kabala or cabbala in biblical communications. Cabbala and parables were extensively used to hide the real meanings of prophecy and principals in the legal-historicism giving rise to monotheism. Recent research converts the complexity into simple understanding. You are invited to further investigation and thus to compare these findings with traditional rote. And we must ask the question of Amdahl and other exponents of physics: What is the physical quality of the electron's ground state as opposed to its quantized maximum at the 204th orbital? Solution will determine size for the Ultimate Particle.

Amdahl's book is highly recommended reading for the budding physicist or career-minded electrical tradesperson.

Filtration System

Water is said to be the most important solution required by the human body. And by seeing its importance many poets have written famous poems on it too. One of the most famous poems is "Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink"! This poem was written by Coleridge and sarcastically it is very true, irrespective of your resident. Nowadays, safe drinking water is becoming a point of concern that requires the attention and commitment of everyone who wants to live a healthy life. That's the reason you can find certain boom in the filtration system and now water Filters are certain solution to this problem.

Market is said to be flooded with array of water filters coming with array of benefits and features. But it is wise to zero all the corners before choosing any filtration system. Filtration system is the process which ensures complete safety and purity of water and making water fit for drinking. But it is wise to do extensive market research to select the best one that suits your requirements. Now filtration system is so advanced that the water filter can be attached on the tap so that the consumer can get the instant clean drinking water. It is said that the installation and filter maintenance is the top priority and are also the points kept in mind while choosing a water filtration system.

Broadly, there are two types of water filtration systems. First is the Point-of-Entry filtration system and second is the Point-of-Use filtration system. The Point-of-Entry filtration system generally starts filtering the tap water when it first enters in your house. The report is that all the water in your house is completely filtered and made safe for drinking. But, it is safe and healthy option to filter the water before its consumption. POE water filters are best and powerful in removing impurities, chlorine and chemical toxins from the water.

The second category of filtration system is known as Point-of-Use water filters. This filtration system produces clean water for drinking, as well as for cooking. A POU filtration system eliminates all types of small or dissolved water impurities and chemicals, along with other microbes. It is equipped with one or more of the basic water filtration system, such as filtration, reverse osmosis, and distillation. Thus, if you are health freak and want to live a healthy life then simply install best filtration system in the market.

HIPAA Compliant FTP Site Hosting - Protect Your Business!

Many business owners are familiar with the security that FTP site hosing offers. FTP, File Transfer Protocol, is essentially uploading files via the internet for secure storage and the ability to share them with specified users.

Users can upload files to a site, assign access, passwords, and logon information to users and share the files they need to share.

FTP sites enable users to create any number of folders and accounts. They can assign any number of users and upload as many large files as is needed. The process is truly quick and easy. FTP has absolutely no restrictions on file size.

Unlike email and even digital file transfer, FTP file size limits are set by the user and the needs of their business or organization. Users choose the size site they need, from 600 MB to 100 GB, they choose the number of accounts and users necessary, and as business grows, users can increase the capacity with the click of a button.

In addition to FTP file sharing being extremely secure, and unlike digital file transfer, FTP site hosting has no time restraints. This means businesses and customers can access their files any time they need to and from anywhere. Digital file transfer files disappear after a specified amount of time.

When using an FTP site hosting service to share files, your files are always available. They're always secure. And they're always safe. When comparing FTP site hosting providers, traditional security measures like encryption, backups and firewalls are all important however it helps to look for the added HIPAA complaint provider for optimal security.

What does HIPAA compliance have to offer business owners?

HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, was created to establish a set of national standards for the protection of certain health information. HIPAA documentation is extensive to say the least. Compliance includes administrative procedures, business practices, employee education, and other areas.

When a FTP site hosting provider takes the extra steps to be HIPAA compliant users can be sure that their important and private documents, and the documents of their clients, are protected to the highest level.

Users can be sure that their data has complete integrity - that the quality of correctness, completeness, wholeness, soundness and compliance with the intention of the creators of the data. Users can be sure that systems and procedures have been put into place to make certain that their data will always be 100% available. That means no down time and no risk of clients and customers not being able to access their data when they need to. Users can be sure that all files, regardless of their content and nature, are 100% confidential. That means the only person who has access to them is the account holder and any designated users. Passwords and user identification are required to access files.

When comparing FTP site hosting providers to store and share important files, documents, and customer information take the time to find a provider that meets your budget needs, storage needs, and your ultimately security needs. This means looking for a provider that takes the extra step to ensure HIPAA compliance - the ultimate in privacy procedures and policies.

When searching for a HIPAA Compliant FTP site to store and share your confidential date, the best way to find one is by going to http://www.Google.com and searching on the terms "HIPAA Compliant FTP Site." A few of the HIPAA compliant FTP sites are www.HIPAAcompliantStorage.com

Flea Control - Getting Rid of Fleas in Carpet

Your carpets and rugs are the two places where fleas love to lay eggs. This is particularly unfortunate when one remembers that the average adult female flea is able to lay about 50 eggs each day. I shouldn't have to explain the need to get rid of these pests when you think of the plethora of illnesses that these fleas will bring into your life. They're responsible for everything ranging from worse allergies to severe scratching and the occasional bite!

If you want to get rid of these pests you will have to go through a series of steps. The first is to sweep the carpets and rugs in your house with a powerful vacuum cleaner. You will need to do this daily for the sheer sake of damage control. You will probably want to take advantage of some type of disposable dust bag since you won't want to let the little buggers get back into your house easily. There are many types available that will let you suck them up, seal them in, and finally throw them away.

The only problem with this is that the larvae won't be quick to jump to their deaths. The cleaner won't have much trouble getting the eggs and grown fleas out. Those sticky little larvae will hold on for all their worth. You will probably have to use a good shampooing to kill them off. If this doesn't do the trick you may have to step it up to diatomaceous earth. This is somewhat serious stuff though and I strongly suggest that you put on a set of goggles and a good mask for safety. It isn't too bad for humans but you'll have to work it into all the cracks and spaces to kill the fleas.

You won't want to leave it at that though. You will want to finish them off by throwing your rugs in the washing machine for a good hot rinse. All of your pet's beds will probably have to be seriously washed or even replaced.

Another option for you to use is a borate-based solution. This isn't particularly toxic to humans either and they can fix your problem for about a year. If you go this route you'll have to make sure that you get every spot though, since leaving one safe zone will negate the whole propose. If you want you can just mix it into a shampooing machine and clean the rug with the solution. The chemical will form a tight bond with your rug and it won't come out when you vacuum. This will wipe out the fleas, their larvae, and their eggs while killing any new eggs laid over the year. Don't accidentally use the wood cleaning variant as this is toxic enough to be dangerous to any children.

To properly use the borate powder you will need to wait about a week after spreading it to begin vacuuming. You will need to allow the powder to sit and kill the emerging larvae. Once a week has passed you can vacuum and clean up the dead fleas. You may wish to use the powder again after a couple weeks to kill any new pupae from the few survivors. Once you go through this process you should be fine for a year. Steam cleaning will negate the insecticide though. Another option for you to use is Mithoprene or possibly Pyriproxyfen. If you use these you can continue to vacuum and the specific insecticide may actually require it within a few hours.

Insectides always have the potential for danger. You should always check the instructions to make sure that you're using it properly. It also makes sense to talk to a pesticide consultant to find any hidden dangers. If you have an especially severe infestation you shouldn't try and handle it yourself. All in all, these strategies are some of the best ways to get fleas off your carpet!

Words of Affirmations

Words of affirmations, or simply affirmations, are fundamental self-management tools that you activate simply by choosing the right thoughts and words. These are messages that you can repeat to yourself every day to help you care for, and feel good about, yourself. You can also make up affirmations that you send to other people to let them know that you care about them.

The best method to practice your words of affirmation is to say them a minimum of three times a day at the outset. If you can do it more often, say, every hour or even every ten minutes, that would be even better. When you frequently repeat them, you block out the negative thoughts. Frequent repetition also helps to reduce anxiety, distress, guilt and fear. Perhaps the most important time that you make use of an affirmation is the moment you notice that your mind is once again entertaining some negative thoughts. Remember, saying your affirmations is similar to exercise: it should be done regularly to stay fit.

Guidelines for Creating Your Words of Affirmation

* Make sure that each affirmation is short and simple.

* Use only the present tense. For example, "I am a strong person" instead of "I will be a strong person."

* Phrase the affirmation in a positive manner. There are certain words that evoke feelings of negativity and shame. They are often considered as junk food for the mind. Some of the most common words to be avoided are: have to, never, can't, impossible, don't, won't, should, always, only, put-downs, not enough, and name-calling. Your computer-like brain will input negatively phrased words of affirmation as disaffirmations. Thus, phrase your affirmation as "I am a good person" rather than "I am not a bad person."

* When creating your affirmation, be clear and specific with what you want. "Today I feel great running four miles," rather than "Today I feel great running."

* Keep saying the affirmation to yourself, repeating it when you feel comfortable and for as long as you feel like doing it.

* Continue to repeat the affirmation to yourself. You may also begin to act as if your words of affirmation are true, even though you may not believe them at first. These are not gimmicks or acts of egotism, unless you (negatively) consider them as such.

Any positive action to anchor the affirmation will do, even if the action is different, or uncharacteristic of you, or feel peculiar and uncomfortable at the beginning. Just dig in and have faith in the process. As you keep practicing the words of affirmation, your belief will strengthen.

Shopping For An Engraved Gift

The Articles of Engraving - Information for the engraving consumer

Purchasing engraving or an engraved gift can be a daunting task. An inexperienced buyer is presented with more questions than answers. An unprepared consumer may be forced to make hurried decisions they later regret. A little preparation is definitely in order.

..(1) Have you selected your engraver?

You may find a store where you can purchase an item that also has limited engraving capabilities. This type of store usually relies on pre-programmed systems to perform their engraving rather than skill or expertise. This is a good option if the results meets your expectations.

A more common scenario is to purchase your item at one store and then look for someone to engrave it.

Unless you are knowledgeable on the subject, it is a good idea to select an engraver before you purchase your item. The engraver can advise you before you purchase as to what to look for and whether or not they would be willing to do the job. They may be able to refer you to a reputable dealer that you can trust, or talk to the dealer you are considering to ensure that the resulting product is as you expect it to be.

Many engravers and jewelers will not engrave articles they do not sell. There are valid reasons for this:

...a. First and foremost, they may not be able to replace the item if the customer is not satisfied or something goes wrong.

...b. The engraver may not have the necessary tooling to perform the task requested.

...c. The engraver may lack the confidence or expertise in the particular area of engraving required. There are many forms of engraving. Most engravers do not specialize in all areas. You may need to be referred to another engraver better equipped to perform the task.

..(2) Is the item worth engraving?

Professional engraving is expensive. It takes many years experience to develop the skill and to collect the tooling necessary to do the work. It is not unusual for the cost of the engraving to exceed the cost of the item by many times. Only the consumer can decide if the finished article will be worth it to them or not.

..(3) Is The Item Engraveable?

Items that lack certain qualities can be ruined by attempts to engrave them. Many items today are not solid metal but are cast in an inexpensive alloy and plated finish. In most cases quality plating can survive some engraving processes but more often than not the plating will peal or allow corrosion under the engraving causing severe problems down the road.

It can be difficult even for an experienced engraver to detect the quality of an item before the cutting begins. An item made of a poor metal alloy covered with a gold plating will look and feel real nice but when the engraving starts the plating separates from the base metal and the item is ruined.

Quality may be reflected in the cost of the item. If you are considering engraving an inexpensive item you will probably not be satisfied with the results. Do not be fooled because the item is expensive. Many marginal quality items have been sold to unsuspecting customers at to high a price.

Purchase your item from a reputable dealer who will guarantee your purchase is engraveable. One that will refund your money as well as your engraving costs if a quality problem occurs.

..(4) Can your item hold all you want to engrave on it?

Be realistic. The more engraving you put on a small area the harder it is going to be to read. We have equipment in our studio that has the ability to engrave letters so small they look like dots. This is interesting but what is the value? Engraving usually involves a sentiment the purchaser would like to be readable. Try to keep the message as short as possible. Font choice will play an important part as well.

..(5) Have an idea what you want to say...

It is not fair to expect the engraver to create your message. Most are more than happy to help you craft your words to fit the item but the you must have a good idea of what you want to say.

Have your ideas written down. You will be making many choices during your conversation with the engraver concerning fonts, layout or design, you do not want to forget what you want to engrave or be incorrect in your information.

With a little preparation, the purchase of engraving can be a very enjoyable and satisfying experience.

Copyright (C) Shayler Engraving 2004 All Rights Reserved

How to Know If You Have Lymph Node Cancer?

Different cancers affect about 1 in 3 people in the world. We all know someone who has had a cancer or is suffering from it now. Like with most diseases, it is easiest to treat if discovered early. But how should one know the signs?

Lymphoma is kind of a cancer that affects our lymphatic system and causes a tumor to develop in our lymph nodes, that is why it is often referred to as a lymph node cancer. When you are affected by lymphoma you will develop swelling in your lymphatic nodes. The swelling is often painless and can be anywhere on your body- in the groin, neck or even armpits. But be aware, not all the swelling in your nodes means that you have developed a cancer. Swelling in these areas of your body can develop also after other infections and is mostly harmless.

If these symptoms last for longer than few weeks, you should see a local doctor, who is able to diagnose you properly. If your doctor thinks that you may have lymphoma, he will send you to an oncologist, who will make the necessary test to find out if you have this disease and what exactly can be done.

Like most other cancers, lymphoma could be treated with either a bone marrow transplantation, chemotherapy or sometimes radiotherapy. Lymphoma is a secretive cancer that develops slowly over time and hits you when you least expect it. However like most cancers, if discovered at an early stage, it is mostly treatable.

To read more about Lymph Node Cancer please visit our website where you will find all the relevant information about this disease. Don't wait before it is too late, take action today!

Can I Send Free Faxes Using the Internet?

Yes, you can use the internet to send faxes, and some services can be used free of charge. However, these services may not be the right choice for everyone. You should find out which services are the most reliable by visiting websites, doing searches, and reading customer reviews of the providers. In general, internet fax services that offer free basic plans can be a good choice for individuals who don't normally send a large number of faxes. They allow you the ability to send a fax without the cost and hassle of buying a fax machine or paying for a service plan.

Look out for free trials that aren't always free. Free trials can be a great way to try out a service, but don't confuse with a service that is truly free. Free trial offers usually require you to enter your credit card number, so that the service can begin billing you as soon as the trial period has expired. This is fine if you wish to continue using the paid service, but many people may forget to cancel the service when the trial period has ended. Pay close attention to the terms of the trial period and any associated fees. It's fine to try these services if you are looking for a paid service to sign up for, but you should always read the fine print.

For services that are completely free, you will probably need to sign up with some information such as your name and email address. A confirmation code will be sent to your email, and you will probably have a link to click on in the email to confirm your account. This prevents bots from misusing the services. Once you have successfully confirmed your account, you should be able to log in to the service provider's website. Then you can begin to send faxes online for free. These services usually place a limit on the number of faxes you can send in a day, but they can be ideal for those who do not send many faxes. They usually put an advertisement for their services on your faxes in exchange for the use of their free service. They may have pay service plans as well, for those who want more faxes per day, no ads, or more options.

Businesses may be better off opting for a low priced pay service plan. Besides the ability to send faxes that do not have ads on them, this allows them to receive faxes as well. Virtual fax numbers are usually included in many pay service plans, and they allow you to receive email attachments of any documents that are sent to your virtual fax number. These numbers are usually inexpensive. It's usually also a lot cheaper to buy a service plan and use it to send online faxes than it is to send the same number of pages in a traditional fax machines. There are no long distance charges, and you can usually send a large number of pages per month with these plans.