Ready Article

Test

2010-04-11T09:35:00.001-07:00

Test

conference call

2010-04-06T08:02:00.001-07:00

A conference call is a telephone call in which the calling party wishes to have more than one called party listen in to the audio portion of the call. The conference calls may be designed to allow thecalled party to participate during the call, or the call may be set up so that the called party merely listens into the call and cannot speak. It is often referred to as an ATC (Audio Tele-Conference).

Conference calls can be designed so that the calling party calls the other participants and adds them to the call - however, participants are usually able to call into the conference call themselves, by dialing into a special telephone number that connects to a "conference bridge" (a specialized type of equipment that links telephone lines).

Companies commonly use a specialized service provider who maintains the conference bridge, or who provides the phone numbers and PIN codes that participants dial to access the meeting or conference call.

Three-way calling is available (usually at an extra charge) for many customers on their home or office phone line. To three-way call, the first person one wishes to talk to is dialed. Then the Hook flash button (known as the recall button in the UK and elsewhere) is pressed and the other person's phone number is dialed. While it is ringing, flash / recall is pressed again to connect the three people together. This option allows callers to add a second outgoing call to an already connected call.

Car insurance

2010-04-06T08:01:00.001-07:00

United Kingdom

In 1930, the UK government introduced a law that required every person who used a vehicle on the road to have at least third party personal injury insurance. Today UK law is defined by the Road Traffic Act 1988, which was last modified in 1991. The Act requires that motorists either be insured, have a security, or have made a specified deposit (£500,000 as of 1991) with the Accountant General of the Supreme Court, against their liability for injuries to others (including passengers) and for damage to other persons' property resulting from use of a vehicle on a public road or in other public places.

The minimum level of insurance cover commonly available and which satisfies the requirement of the Act is called third party only insurance. The level of cover provided by Third party only insurance is basic but does exceed the requirements of the act.

Road Traffic Act Only Insurance is not the same as Third Party Only Insurance and is not often sold. It provides the very minimum cover to satisfy the requirements of the Act. For example Road Traffic Act Only Insurance has a limit of £1,000,000 for damage to third party property - third party only insurance typically has a greater limit for third party property damage.

It is an offence to drive a car, or allow others to drive it, without at least third party insurance whilst on the public highway (or public place Section 143(1)(a) RTA 1988 as amended 1991); however, no such legislation applies on private land.

Vehicles which are exempted by the act, from the requirement to be covered, include those owned by certain councils and local authorities, national park authorities, education authorities, police authorities, fire authorities, health service bodies and security services.

The insurance certificate or cover note issued by the insurance company constitutes legal evidence that the vehicle specified on the document is insured. The law says that an authorised person, such as the police, may require a driver to produce an insurance certificate for inspection. If the driver cannot show the document immediately on request, then the driver will usually be issued a HORT/1 with seven days, as of midnight of the date of issue, to take a valid insurance certificate (and usually other driving documents as well) to a police station of the driver's choice. Failure to produce an insurance certificate is an offence. The HORT/1 is commonly known - even by the issuing authorities when dealing with the public - as a "Producer".

Insurance is more expensive in Northern Ireland than in other parts of the UK.^[vague]^{[citation needed]}

Most motorists in the UK are required to prominently display a vehicle licence (tax disc) on their vehicle when it is kept or driven on public roads. This helps to ensure that most people have adequate insurance on their vehicles because an insurance certificate must be produced when a disc is purchased^{[citation needed]}.

The Motor Insurers' Bureau compensates the victims of road accidents caused by uninsured and untraced motorists. It also operates the Motor Insurance Database, which contains details of every insured vehicle in the country.

[edit]United States

In the United States, auto insurance covering liability for injuries and property damage done to others is compulsory in most states, though different states enforce the requirement differently. The state of New Hampshire, for example, does not require motorists to carry liability insurance (the ballpark model), while in Virginia residents must pay the state a $500 annual fee per vehicle if they choose not to buy liability insurance.^[8] Penalties for not purchasing auto insurance vary by state, but often involve a substantial fine, license and/or registration suspension or revocation, as well as possible jail time. Usually, the minimum required by law is third party insurance to protect third parties against the financial consequences of loss, damage or injury caused by a vehicle.

Some states, such as North Carolina, require that a driver hold liability insurance before a license can be issued.

Some states require that you carry proof of insurance in your car at all times, while others do not enforce this law. For example, North Carolina does not specify that you must carry proof of insurance in your vehicle; however, NC does state that you must have that information to trade with another driver in the event of an accident. Whether a state specifies you must have proof of insurance in your car or not, it's always advisable to have the information on hand in case an officer should request it.

Arizona Department of Transportation Research Project Manager John Semmens has recommended that car insurers issue license plates, and that they be held responsible for the full cost of injuries and property damages caused by their licensees under the Disneyland model. Plates would expire at the end of the insurance coverage period, and licensees would need to return their plates to their insurance office to receive a refund on their premiums. Vehicles driving without insurance would thus be easy to spot because they would not have license plates, or the plates would be past the marked expiration date.^[9]

How to Donate Your Car

2010-04-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

Donating to charity is a relatively painless way to get rid of a car when you don't have the time to sell it or don't think you can get what it's worth. While not every car is acceptable, donating a car to a charity lets you deduct its fair market value from your taxable income.

Find a charity that accepts cars without charging a large removal fee. Make sure the organization is a registered 501(c)(3) charity or qualified religious organization that can lawfully accept your donation and from which you can lawfully claim a deduction.
Step2
Determine the fair market value of your car. According to the IRS, you are responsible for determining this; use the Kelley Blue Book or IRS Publications 526 ("Charitable Deductions") and 561 ("Determining the Value of Donated Property"). If it's worth $5,000 or more, have the car appraised by a certified professional.
Step3
Get a tax receipt with the charity's name and federal tax ID number, donor's name, date of donation, as well as the year, make and model of the donated car.
Step4
Notify the DMV and your insurance company that you no longer own or insure the vehicle. Follow state regulations on what to do with the title and plates. Keep your receipt and completed IRS Form 8283 for tax time

Kwik Fit

2010-04-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

Kwik Fit, the British car servicing and repair company, opened in 1971. In response to customer demand, Kwik Fit Insurance, part of Kwik Fit Financial Services, was formed in 1995 and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading car insurance distributors.

Originally employing 130 staff at a single site in Lanarkshire, Scotland, Kwik Fit Insurance has expanded to host almost 1200 employees and now incorporates a second site following the 2007 acquisition of Birmingham based Express Insurance.

Kwik Fit Insurance core business remains car insurance but they have added consistently to their stable in recent years and can now boast a strong home insurance book, an extensive range of additional car insurance products alongside van, motorbike, pet and travel insurance.

Arsenal Set To Sign Bordeaux Striker Marouane Chamakh In The Summer

2010-04-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

Arsenal Set To Sign Bordeaux Striker Marouane Chamakh In The Summer - Report

By Sumeet Paul

04-Apr-2010 12:44:00 PM

Arsene Wenger has ear-marked Marouane Chamakh asArsenal's first summer signing according to the Mail on Sunday.

Having been linked with a move to the Gunners in recent months, it's believed the long running saga for Chamakh's signature will finally end with him joining Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract expires at Bordeaux in the summer.

Chamakh, who scored in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Lyon, will add much-needed goals to an Arsenal squad which has been lacking a real cutting edge up front following the injury to Robin van Persie and several other key first team members.

The news of injecting additional firepower into the ranks will be met with some relief by Arsenal fans, who have seen Nicklas Bendtner as the only striker capable of leading the line this season in Van Persie’s absence.

Having helped his side to the French Ligue 1 title last season, while topping the goal scoring charts, Chamakh will be hoping to ensure back-to-back titles as Bordeaux currently sit third, just a point behind joint-leaders Lyon and Montpellier with two games in hand.

Zlatan to miss Arsenal return after calf injury

2010-04-03T18:47:00.001-07:00

Zlatan to miss Arsenal return after calf injury
By Soccernet staff
April 3, 2010

Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal through injury.

• La Liga: Barca reserves blow away Bilbao
• Palmer: Bendtner spares Walcott's blushes

GettyImages
Ibrahimovic scored two goals against Arsenal in the first leg
The Sweden international suffered a calf injury whilst warming-up for Saturday's Primera Division clash with Athletic Bilbao and, after being replaced in the line-up by Bojan Krkic, underwent initial tests this evening.
According to the Barca website, those tests confirmed that Ibrahimovic has suffered a small tear in his right calf and is out of the return meeting with Arsenal and is a doubt for next weekend's 'Clasico' with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Ibrahimovic scored both goals as Barca drew the first leg of their quarter-final tie with Arsenal 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium last Wednesday, taking his tally to five goals in four games.

Centre-back Gerard Pique, who is suspended for the Arsenal match, is also a question mark for the match against Madrid as he suffered a thigh injury that could keep him sidelined for up to seven days.

Aston Villa: Martin O'Neill tells players to follow Barcelona and Arsenal's example

2010-04-03T13:37:00.001-07:00

Aston Villa: Martin O'Neill tells players to follow Barcelona and Arsenal's example
Apr 3 2010 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
O’Neill, along with the rest of football, was captivated by the quarter-final tie at The Emirates on Wednesday evening.MANAGER Martin O’Neill has challenged Villa to aspire to the level of Barcelona and Arsenal after instructing his players to watch the Champions League classic.
And the boss believes all teams should be inspired by the feast of football which ended in a 2-2 first-leg draw.
O’Neill has told his top-four contenders they must strive to replicate Barcelona’s style and Arsenal’s spirit.
“I’ve been thrilled with a lot of progress of the players at the club who are, despite everything, showing enormous character and ability,” he said. “I said to the players ‘whatever you do, do not forget to tune in and watch Barcelona and Arsenal and that is where every single football club worth its salt wants to go’.
“They want to play like Barcelona and show the character that I believe Arsenal showed. But for Arsenal to be out-Arsenaled by Barcelona, that is the stuff of dreams, and that is what every single club should aspire to and that would be the ambition for these players.”
O’Neill believes qualifying for the Champions League is still a realistic prospect for Villa this season.
“The team is improving and despite the poor result (at Chelsea), we shouldn’t be put off by that,” he added.

Life insurance: why there’s no need to be a desperate housewife

2010-04-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

Life insurance: why there’s no need to be a desperate housewife

by: Rachel Lane

Contemplating what may happen to your wife (or husband) and children if you die is not likely to be a thought you wish to contemplate. However, avoiding the issue may make life more difficult for your family after your death.

Life insurance looks set to make a comeback in the UK, after a period of neglect by consumers who were simply occupied with affording a home. The stabilising of the UK house market has made many consumers take a broader view to their personal finances.

LifeSearch (a life insurance broker), in the September issue of Money Observer, highlighted a few common mistakes people make when purchaseing life insurance:

* Believing life insurance is relevant to everyone
Life insurance is only relevant to people who have financial dependents. If you have no financial dependents, it might be more appropriate to consider income protection or critical illness insurance.

* Paying too much for life insurance
According to Money Observer, research for Sainsbury’s Bank Life Insurance revealed that many people take life insurance policies from their mortgage providers and as a result could be paying too much.

* Opting to purchase joint life insurance policies instead of single life insurance policies
The advice to married couples is to avoid taking out joint life insurance policies which pay out when the first spouse dies over the term of the policy, but not on the second. Single policies could provide additional cover by paying just an extra £3-4 a month.

* Missing out on a trust
The Tax Man can claim up to 40% of your life insurance payout as inheritance tax. According to Money Observer, those with assets totalling £275,000 or more (including a house) are especially prone to tax inspection. Writing your policy in trust is a way to avoid this and as a trust does not have to go through probate, beneficiaries of the policy will receive the payment without delay.

* Only insuring the main earner
Whilst it is important to cover the main breadwinner, by neglecting to additionally insure the housewife or househusband may result in extra child care costs. Family income benefit (FIB) may be an appropriate policy to put in place.

* Opting for a lump sum over income
If your dependents are likely to require an income, then purchaseing a policy that pays out a lump sum is a mistake. Many people invest lump sums for an income, but when they invest it, they have to pay tax. Family income benefit provides a larger payout – tax free, though the majority of banks and building societies do not offer FIB, so ask an Independent Financial Advisor for recommendations.

* Not proving full medical records or detailing comprehensive medical history
Failure to disclose a complete picture of your health, no matter how trivial, could invalidate a claim later on.

There’s no excuse for not conducting your own homework, as there is an abundance of information available online. Sites such as moneynet, provide not only price comparison research on difference life insurance products, they also offer downloadable consumer product guides. Lowermybills.com proffers a similar service stateside.

Resources:

http://www.moneynet.co.uk/insurance/life-assurance/index.shtml
http://www.moneynet.co.uk/life-insurance-guide/index.shtml
http://www.lowermybills.com/

About the author:
About Rachel:

Rachel writes for the personal finance blog Cashzilla.

After Barcelona, Has Cesc Fabregas Played His Last Game for Arsenal?

2010-04-03T02:33:00.001-07:00

After Barcelona, Has Cesc Fabregas Played His Last Game for Arsenal?
BarcelonaArsenal vote to see results
On Wednesday night Cesc Fabregas broke his leg in the 2-2 draw with Barcelona at the Emirates. He has been ruled out for the rest of the season and is now a major doubt for Spain in the World Cup. But has he played his last game for Arsenal?

Speculation linking Fabregas with a move back to Barcelona has been doing the rounds for the last couple of seasons. With the club's presidential elections this summer, that prospective transfer has become one of the major talking points of respective campaigns as each delegate cites Cesc as the player they would most likely sign first.

Earlier this year, Cadena SER, the largest radio station in Spain made claims that Arsenal and Barcelona had already agreed terms on a summer move for the midfielder. Both clubs moved extremely quickly to distance themselves from such speculation, but as everyone knows, transfers involving Spanish teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona are rarely straightforward and are more often than not played out in the media.

Fabregas has made no secret of his desire to return to Catalunya one day, and there is a growing clamour in Barcelona for him to link up with their famous "Class of '87" team.

As a youth, Fabregas was the linchpin to what many reckon is Barcelona's greatest ever youth side. Teaming with the likes of Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi, Marc Valiente, Victor Vazquez, and Marc Pedreza they swept all before them and won every honour available to them.

Of that team, three players had already been earmarked for greatness, and it is ironic that both Pique and Fabregas found their route to the top by leaving La Masia and heading to England while Messi, alone, remained at home.

In the summer of 2003 Barcelona were a club in turmoil. Fabregas fresh from being named as the best player at the FIFA World Youth Championship was having a crisis of his own. There was a long line of world-class players ahead of him in his position and they were all young.

While the Fabregas family debated over whether to sign a new deal or not, the club put off all contract talks until the new president had taken over and before new Joan Laporta had installed sporting director Txiki Begiristain, Fabregas, 16, had moved to Arsenal.

While in the Gunners youth team he continued his phenomenal goal scoring record from Spain, where he was known to notch up 30+ goals a season as their defensive midfielder. Such was the quality of his play, Arsene Wenger gave the homesick youth his debut a couple of months later against Rotherham in the League Cup, where he became Arsenal's youngest ever first team player at 16 years and 177 days. He then went on to become the clubs youngest goal scorer of all time in the next round of the League Cup, as the Gunners cruised past Wolves with a 5-1 win.

The following season Fabregas now aged 17 became a regular with the first team, playing 33 times, but it was not until the following season in 2005/06 that he tied down the central midfield berth after Patrick Vieira was sold to Juventus.

So far this season, the 22-year-old Fabregas is easily the stand out midfielder in the English Premier League, if not Europe. Weighing in with 19 goals and 19 assists in only 36 games. A brilliant record for any player, but made all the more special by the fact that Fabregas plays in midfield and would not be considered the main source of goals at the club.

He is blessed with all the tools any great player should possess. Incredible vision, a phenomenal range of passing with laser like precision, a desire to always do the right thing, and an abhorrence at giving the ball away cheaply. And what he lacks in stature, he makes up in determination and an attitude that has carried his team to victory when a result looks least likely.

Such is his maturity on the ball it is very easy to forget that he is still only 22, even though it feels like he has been around for years.

In short he is easily the most important player in the current Arsenal team, and one of the most important players in the EPL. However, Arsenal have not won a trophy since installing Fabregas as their central piece.

It is little wonder that Pep Guardiola wants to bring back the player he signed a no.4 jersey for all them years ago with the adage of "one day you will wear this for Barca's first team."

Barcelona let a child leave, but they are looking to re-sign a man.

On Wednesday night he was part of the Arsenal team that fought back from 2-0 down to a highly creditable 2-2 draw, scoring the crucial penalty that levelled terms.

With the club confirming that the player suffered a crack to his fibula, either in taking the penalty or in the challenge that gave the penalty away, and will be ruled out for at least six weeks.

Alfons Godall, the current favourite to win the election is already a serving official at the club in his role as vice president. His chance of election has been strengthened by the persistent rumour that former Barcelona Economic Vice President, Ferran Soriano, is about to join his campaign. Godall has also received the backing from outgoing president Joan Laporta, who described him as the best candidate and the man who would bring more success to the club than he did.

Godall is quoted in Spanish media as saying "Sooner or later Cesc will end up coming back."

Sandro Rosell, another candidate, has promised to use his friendship with the Fabregas family as a tool to engineer the return of their prodigal son.

So it begs the question: Have Arsenal's fans seen the last of Cesc Fabregas in their famous red and white jersey?

Apart from money, why would Fabregas want to go back to Barcelona?

On a professional level, Los Cules are guaranteed to challenge for both the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League over the coming seasons, while Arsenal remain outside bets for either.

He has seen the two teams play against each other and has been given the unique chance to measure his current employers against his prospective ones. There is little doubt that Barcelona are a better side, having seen their incredible display during the first hour of the match. But Arsenal showed a resilience that few thought was possible and came back from the dead to draw.

The summer is going to be an incredibly busy one for the 22-year-old Arsenal captain. First he has to get fit and help his country through the World Cup in Spain. Being one of the favourites, they will be expecting to be around for at least the month of June, during which the Barcelona presidential elections take place.

What colours will Cesc be wearing by August? I guess we'll know by summers end when the young man makes the decision that will not only affect him, but the fates of two massive clubs.

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Clash of the Titans

2010-04-02T19:05:00.001-07:00

Plot
Half-man, half-god Perseus (Worthington) is raised by kindly fisher folk, but when they are killed by Hades (Fiennes) - collateral damage in the war between men and gods - he sets forth on a perilous revenge quest to find his destiny, rescue a princess and resolve his issues with his father Zeus (Neeson), king of the gods.

Verdict
Poorly written nonsense, but lovers of beefcake action will be happy enough with the heroes gymnastically vaulting monsters and slicing and dicing their way around the ancient world. An extra star for Ralph Fiennes, who is a god.

3D Pub Finder launched by BSkyB

2010-04-02T18:44:00.001-07:00

3D Pub Finder launched by BSkyB

by David Allen

The satellite broadcaster wants the launch of Sky 3D tomorrow to be massive success and in order to get the maximum out of the event BSkyB will be using the Premier League title clash between Man Utd and Chelsea as its launch pad.

According to current estimates there are around 1,500 pub and clubs that are 3D Ready, but for the average football fan wanting to see their club in 3D, Sky has come up with a handy online guide that will held them locate their nearest venue offering the 3D coverage.

Football fans wanting to know where the nearest 3D match is being shown need only to visit Sky’s 3D Pub Finder at http://3d.sky.com/pubfinder in order to find out the venue details.

Security essential for wireless broadband users

2010-04-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

Security essential for wireless broadband users

by Janet Harris

With online banking fraud on the increase, Get Safe Online has called for wireless broadband users to step up their security measures.

The UK Cards Association reported a 14 percent increase in online banking fraud in 2009, with £59.7 million lost as a result.

With cybercrime become more sophisticated, as well as more prevalent, Tony Neate, the managing director of Get Safe Online, emphasised the importance of anti-virus, spyware and operating system updates.

With more and more people using wireless broadband connections, Neate also emphasised that users should make sure that their connections are encrypted.

He also highlighted the danger of using other people’s wireless access points, as these may not be secure.

Apple iPad sells out on US pre-orders

2010-04-02T18:20:00.001-07:00

Apple iPad sells out on US pre-orders

by Darren Allan

Over in the States, the wi-fi version of the iPad is set for release this weekend, although customers who haven't already pre-ordered won't be getting the device that soon.

It seems that Apple has now run out of stock for the initial launch, meaning that those ordering this week may not have their iPad shipped until April 12th.

The option to pick up an iPad in-store has also been removed.

This indicates pretty strong demand for the device, which runs contrary to some of the slightly lukewarm consumer reaction surveys we've seen of late.

The Guardian reports that the estimated number of pre-ordered iPads is 130,000.

An exact UK release date and price are still yet to be confirmed for the iPad, although the former should be late April sometime.

Why Chelsea will beat Rooney-less Man United in Saturday's title showdown

2010-04-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

Why Chelsea will beat Rooney-less Man United in Saturday's title showdown, by Oliver Hol
Manchester United escaped their tie against Bayern Munich on Tuesday without quite as much damage but it didn’t feel that way when the final whistle went.
Arsenal didn’t need a dressing room after their epic with Barcelona on Wednesday night. They needed a field hospital.
The sight of Wayne Rooney being helped from the pitch, unable to walk properly, sent a shiver through United and England fans everywhere.
As they watched on their television screens, the emotions of Chelsea players must have switched from envy to excitement.

Because even though they did not kick a ball in anger this week, events at the Allianz Arena and The Emirates swung the domestic title race in Chelsea’s direction.
I’m backing Chelsea to win in the title showdown at Old Trafford tomorrow now that Rooney’s missing. I think he’s that important.
It would be wrong to say that without him, United are an ordinary team. They’re much better than that.
But still, it is Rooney who has made the difference to them this season, Rooney who has dug them out of trouble on plenty of occasions.
Without him, they’re still a fine side but they are far more vulnerable, particularly to a team like Chelsea that is fresh from its 7-1 thrashing of Aston Villa.
Rooney brings an intimidation factor with him. He brings an aura. He spreads confidence in his own side and uncertainty in the opposition.
He was in unstoppable form until Tuesday and now United will have to try to find a way to play without him in their biggest match of the season.
They are fortunate that they have a striker of the quality of Dimitar Berbatov as a ready-made replacement.
But even though Berbatov has played well recently when he has been drafted into the side for lesser matches, you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get.
He’s oozing with class but sometimes a strange kind of diffidence takes over and he disappears. That’s why he’s the most expensive substitute in the Premier League.
And Rooney’s absence will have given Chelsea a huge psychological boost even before they run out at Old Trafford.
It felt as though they were stuttering in recent weeks. The Champions League defeat to Inter Milan was followed by a draw with Blackburn Rovers.
But then Chelsea smacked five past Portsmouth at Fratton Park and seven past Villa.
It was crucial for Chelsea that Frank Lampard scored four of those goals because he is still the heart and soul of the midfield.
If his confidence is high, United may find it hard to stop the combination of him and Didier Drogba when Chelsea have the ball.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said today that he feared United might play even better without Rooney to prove they can still excel in his absence.
I don’t think it will work like that at Old Trafford. United will still be reeling from the way they threw victory away in Munich.
They also know they have a hell of a match on their hands in Manchester on Wednesday night when they play Bayern in the return leg.
Sir Alex Ferguson is a master at coaxing fine performances from his side when they need it most.
He’s got plenty of work to do with Michael Carrick this week because he had a particularly poor game in Munich.
But Chelsea have not got European competition to worry about any more. They do not have to worry about conserving energy or managing their resources.
So they’ll go for it at Old Trafford. They’ll give it everything they’ve got. And against a United without Rooney, that should be enough to get a result.

Barca gave Arsenal a taste of their own medicine, says Mick McCarthy

2010-04-02T18:10:00.001-07:00

Barca gave Arsenal a taste of their own medicine, says Mick McCarthy

Published 23:00 02/04/10 By MirrorFootball

The Wolves boss reckons it’s high time Arsene Wenger’s men were given a taste of their own medicine and now hopes his team can take advantage of their tired legs.Mick McCarthy thoroughly enjoyed the run-around Barcelona gave Arsenal on Wednesday night.

“Barcelona were awesome for the first 20-25 minutes and Arsenal got to feel how the rest of us feel,” said McCarthy.

“It was nice to see them getting a taste of their own medicine. They did not see the ball for 20 minutes.

“They have been doing that to the rest of us for long enough, so I had a wry smile at them chasing it.

“I hope there are some ramifications for their game against us. If there’s some tiredness and it can help us get something, brilliant.

“We will probably need all the help we can get. Nobody expects us to get anything. There is one thing that would be worse. It could be Barcelona waiting for us.”

BIRMINGHAM CITY: WE WILL MAKE IT BLUE FOR BENITEZ

2010-04-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

BIRMINGHAM CITY: WE WILL MAKE IT BLUE FOR BENITEZ

Alex McLeish: Red warning

Saturday April 3,2010

By John Wragg

BIRMINGHAM City are ready to end Liverpool’s season and send manager Rafa Benitez into despair.

The Blues, who are having their best season for years, have drawn at home against the top five in the Premier League and are now poised to wreck Liverpool’s bid for fourth spot and Champions League qualification.

“I think our home record is pretty amazing anyway, regardless of the top teams who are expected to go anywhere and win,” said Birmingham manager Alex McLeish.

“It’s testament to the players I’ve got here, the will to win and the determination to play to their very best.”

Benitez has said Liverpool need to win all their remaining games to finish fourth, but McLeish thinks they will come unstuck at St Andrews.

“I thought Liverpool were unlucky in their Europa League game. They were in great form last week and they have to go for it, don’t they? They have to try to get fourth,” said McLeish.

“I expect them to be at their strongest against us because they have to win a lot of games.

“Whether it’s about Liverpool’s season or anybody else, we do it for ourselves. We’ve now earned a reputation of being a very tough team to beat at home but Liverpool are a top team and, on their day, they can beat anybody.”

Birmingham are heading towards their best season since 1956, when they finished sixth in the old First Division.

McLeish has had to cope with a change of ownership and the aggravation it caused and thinks off-field difficulties have contributed to Liverpool’s poor season.

“It’s a distraction and it can take away the focus,” he said.

Theo Walcott keen to be a regular component of Arsenal's Plan A

2010-04-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

Theo Walcott keen to be a regular component of Arsenal's Plan A

• Englishman poised to capitalise on Arshavin's injury absence
• Focus is on Wolves tomorrow rather than Camp Nou return

David Hytner
The Guardian, Friday 2 April 2010

Arsenal's Theo Walcott celebrates his goal against Barcelona, only his third of the season. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Theo Walcott took in the majesty of Barcelona's first-half performance from the substitutes' bench on Wednesday evening and he was not alone in sensing a dreamy, other-worldly quality. "It was like someone was controlling them on a PS3 at times," said the Arsenal winger, a serious gaming fan. "It was fantastic to watch."

Arsenal have wilted in the face of less extravagant displays. They have been traumatised this season by the cut-throat professionalism of Manchester United and Chelsea, losing home and away to both in the Premier League.

Yet as Wednesday's storm eventually abated at around the hour mark, with Barça having added two second-half goals, something extraordinary happened, something to galvanise not only Walcott, in what has been a frustrating season for him, but also the whole club.

In front of the watching England manager Fabio Capello, Walcott came on in the 66th minute and, almost immediately, he had embarrassed Maxwell, the stand-in left-back, to claw Arsenal back to 2‑1. It was Walcott's third goal of the season. The crowd were energised and, rather abruptly, Barcelona looked mortal, their defenders distinctly so. Having suffocated Arsenal with their pressing game, they began to huff and puff.

Arsène Wenger delved into Japanese to describe the penalty that his team won for the equaliser. The Swiss referee Massimo Busacca's decision was "ma-ma", the manager said, or "so-so", the strictest interpretation of the law.

"It was fantastic to come back from 2-0 down," Walcott said. "A year or two ago, or even four years ago, we might have put our heads down and it would have been a different result. But the experience of the last few years, the Manchester Uniteds, showed definitely.

"Last year, the fans might have got on our backs because we didn't have a Plan B. But we have so much experience now, having had so many disappointments in recent years. I think we showed the character that we want to win something and go that one step further."

Walcott has searched for touchstones during an injury-ravaged season and when he has seemingly found one, with performances such as that against Burnley at home last month, he has frequently been forced to confront disappointment. After that game, in which he scored and dazzled in the second half, he was returned to the bench. Only once this season has he started in back-to-back Premier League fixtures – the matches at Liverpool and Burnley in mid-December.

The worry for the England player could be that Wenger's Plan B involves using him as an impact substitute. Walcott noted that Barcelona had "died off for the last 30 minutes; playing at that sort of tempo is very hard to do for the whole game" and his pace is precisely the sort of weapon to make capital in such situations.

No player relishes being a substitute and Walcott is desperate to start the second leg of the quarter-final at Camp Nou on Tuesday, when Barcelona hope to welcome back their first-choice left-back, Eric Abidal, from injury. Andrey Arshavin, whose arrival at Arsenal has been a contributing factor in Walcott's frustrations, suffered a calf injury in the first half against Barcelona on Wednesday and will probably be out for the season. But Walcott's focus is on a more immediate challenge.

"I am not thinking about Tuesday, it is all about Saturday and the title race," he said. "Wolves [at home] will be a tough game and we have got to show that we are still in the race. Every single game is a cup tie now.

"As for Barcelona, we need to play our football, get the ball down, keep it and frustrate them at times – like they did to us, especially in the first half. If we can get a goal, their fans will be right at them."

Arsenal can draw a degree of encouragement from their Champions League last-16 tie against Milan two seasons ago. After a home draw, albeit a scoreless one, Wenger's team travelled to San Siro to record a memorable 2-0 victory. Walcott played his part.

The parallel he may not appreciate, though, was that his impact came as a 71st-minute substitute.

Europe Takes Heavy Toll on Manchester United and Arsenal as Chelsea Look to go Top

2010-04-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

Premier League: Europe Takes Heavy Toll on Manchester United and Arsenal as Chelsea Look to go Top
04/02/2010

A bruising week of Champions League football has left Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United and third-placed Arsenal stripped of their star assets as Chelsea prepare for their crucial trip to Old Trafford.

Both Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas received bad injuries during their sides’ respective clashes with Bayern Munich and Barcelona in mid-week, and though Chelsea are no longer involved in the competition, it is they who benefitted the most.

The Blues head to Old Trafford in the early kick-off on Saturday fresh from their 7-1 home thumping of Aston Villa last week – and Carlo Ancelotti will be further buoyed by the news that the hosts will be without their talismanic striker for the huge clash.

As such, Titanbet are offering odds of 2.80 on Chelsea emerging victorious from their trip to Manchester, with the hosts still slight favourites at 2.60 – though their £30m stand-in Dimitar Berbatov will have to put in a shift in order to justify those odds.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will be without their captain for their home tie with Wolves amidst fears that he may have broken his leg so – with William Gallas and Andrei Arshavin also out – it is a severely depleted Gunners side that will take to the field.

That said, if you are to play a team without a host of key players, you could do worse than drawing 14th placed Wolves at home and Titanbet clearly fancy Arsenal to overcome their difficulties and bag all three points after rating them at odds of 1.20.

Certainly this weekend’s top-of-the-table clashes will have a huge bearing on the destination of the title come May, but they will also serve as a reminder of the heavy cost pursuing trophies on multiple fronts has on a team’s ambitions for the season.

Successful after school programs

2010-04-02T16:14:00.002-07:00

Successful after school programs

What marks a successful after school program? What are the things that you

should look for when enrolling your child into one such program? Other

than the obvious advantage of learning something new, successful programs

incorporate many things that help the development of the child.

Development of social skills is one of the more important objectives of a

good after school program. In a recent survey, parents indicated that

while they do want their children to respect others, they also wanted them

to imbibe skills like getting along with other children and getting used

to children outside the immediate circle of friends. Many children find it

difficult to make new friends and get along with people outside their

group.

Good after school programs place special emphasis on security and safety.

They keep children out of trouble and keep them safe. A good after school

program should be fun, especially when the children are young. If the

activity is fun, you will not have to worry about keeping him interested

or motivated. To be effective, programs should be organized and

structured. They must also suit the age of the child. The child must be

aware of the purpose of the program, and must be convinced that they are

attending the programs to accomplish something.

School based after-school programs

2010-04-02T16:14:00.001-07:00

School based after-school programs

In an effort to keep children motivated and safe, the U.S. Government

sets aside a good amount of fund for financing after school programs every

year. A report by the U.S. Department of Education and Justice points out

that after school programs are very effective and is in the interests of

the society as a whole. Interestingly, it was found that Americans liked

providing school-based after school-programs in their community.

Other than safety, boredom and loneliness, the poor performance of many

students also led to the need for after-school programs that are based on

the school curriculum. Children coming from low-income families were found

to lag behind in reading and grammar after a long break in the summer.

Statistics prove that if school-going children are left unsupervised after

their school, the chances of poor grades and drop out are considerably

higher. The funds provided by the Government will allow rural and

inner-city schools to provide activities during the summer, over the

weekends and after school. These activities will take place in a

drug-free, safe and supervised environment.

Positive augmentation of critical skills is the prime focus of these

school-based after school activities. Thus they enhance the skill level of

the child. Most school-based programs offer assistance in math tutoring,

reading, comprehension and problem solving. Many programs provide engaging

activities that seek to prepare the students for college. Hands-on

experience is provided for children who want to invest in a career in

teaching. Access to telecommunication and technology and involvement in

music and art are other benefits of these programs. This becomes

invaluable, especially in low-income sectors where such activities are

considered to be a luxury.

As far as children are concerned, the snacks provided in after school

programs are an added incentive. School sponsored after school programs

are entitled to receive funds for snacks. The National School Lunch

Program is designed to do just this. Free or reduced price snacks will be

provided for children from schools that apply for it. The CACFP reimburses

expenditure depending upon the child's income status. But this is

applicable only till the age of 13. The funding that schools get depends

upon the area in which they are situated. A low-income area gets more

funding. Supper can be served to children below the age of 19. Longer

programs can provide both supper and a snack. With the participation of

non-profit private organization, it is possible to feed deserving school

children breakfast, supper and a snack.

Recreational after school programs

2010-04-02T16:13:00.006-07:00

Recreational after school programs

After school programs can be divided into 3 broad categories: academic,

recreational and social. Balanced development takes place when there is

compatibility between the physical, mental as well as the educational

achievements of the child.As the name suggests recreational after school

programs are based on a sport or recreation. Some of the more common

physical activities include football, swimming and basketball.Some clubs

offer programs like gymnastics, trekking and hiking. In this case,

youngsters are often given a short class in first-aid class also.

Recreational after school programs offer children an opportunity to let

off some steam and to destress themselves. The closed classroom atmosphere

and a day full of textbooks and writing cause the child to repress his

natural enthusiasm. He curbs his energy when he is required to sit quietly

in class and learn. Physical activity is an all-time low during such

times. This physical lethargy and inaction is countermanded by

recreational activities. Growing concerns of obesity and child diabetes

make it necessary for children to indulge in some strenuous exercises that

will allow them to work up some sweat.

Unlike educational programs, recreational programs do not tax the

mental processes. But, they do aid the learning process by making the

child more active. A child who is physically active is mentally fit, and

is able to focus his thoughts on the work at hand. Additionally,

recreational programs teach discipline, mechanics of teamwork and fair

play. These are important lessons in the growing process.

As more and more nuclear families emerge, the child faces greater

isolation. Many children shuttle between their classroom and their

bedrooms and do not have any meaningful relationships outside these.

Recreational programs offer ample avenues for socialization. This is a

place the child can go to and play even when his neighbor is not the most

welcoming. The Boy / Girl Scout programs are excellent recreational after

school programs. Lately, survival classes and camps have devised to

combine important survival skills with sports and games to educate

children on how to handle emergencies.

Like any good after school program, recreational programs are designed to

give children a safe area where they can indulge in some group activities

that interest them. This is one of the most effective ways to keep kids

out of the streets and out of trouble. But, one has to be careful when

enrolling children for recreational classes. The age of the child, his

temperament and his physical caliber has to be taken into account before

you choose the right program for your child.

Reading activities

2010-04-02T16:13:00.005-07:00

Reading activities

In a world that is slowly but surely turning away from books and getting

glued to monitors or television screens, the importance of developing a

passion for reading cannot be overlooked. Reading is a habit and should be

established when the child is relatively young. What can you do to foster

this habit?

Enroll your child for reading classes:

There are many well structured after school reading classes that aim to

draw the children to books. They help kids with diction, idioms and

phrases. For young children, these classes can be fun with animated

characters and pictures. Illustrated picture books, rhymes, silly songs

and pretend stories all attract the young child. Use creativity to capture

the child's vivid imagination.

Pique your child's interest:

If your child has a favorite character, pick a series of books that

features this character. For my son, it was Spiderman. Thanks to friendly

neighborhood spidey, my son latched on to comics fairly early in his

childhood.

Build a home-library:

A skill like reading cannot be learnt in isolation. Do not leave all the

hard work to the after school program. Pick up books that you think your

child will like. The Internet is also a rich resource of reading games

that will attract little children to the fine art of reading.

Quirky after school programs

2010-04-02T16:13:00.003-07:00

Quirky after school programs

With the growing interest in after school programs shown by the Government

as well as parents, new and hitherto unheard of programs are being

explored. In an attempt to make a child aware of his responsibilities as

an individual and as a citizen, these after school programs make use of a

child's natural curiosity and his irrepressible energy.

Investigative Skills:

In some schools in Kernersville, children are developing their

investigative skills. Children meet with adults who introduce them to the

details of fake non-violent crimes. They take notes, visit the scene and

gather information. Students learn to listen to alibis, collect

fingerprints and gather any other pieces of evidence. According to the

principal, these activities challenge her students' problem solving

skills. Children learn to think critically and to form informed judgments.

Fisheries and sciences:

In North Carolina, children who are interested get a chance to win a

scholarship through their after school activity. Here, students are given

a chance to face hands-on fisheries science experiments in a freshwater or

marine setting. Professionals, educators and experts from the world of

Fisheries act as mentors. Students accepted into the program get a $3,000

scholarship.

The above examples go to show that after school activities are becoming

serious. They are slowly morphing into important parts of a child's

education and moving away from the fun-and-frolic-only programs of the

past.

Potentials of after school programs

2010-04-02T16:13:00.001-07:00

Potentials of after school programs

With children becoming the primary focus of society, ways and means to

ensure their safety and development are being researched. The Government

too has pooled in to make a success of such programs. Here are some of the

reasons why after school programs have become so popular:

1) Preventing Juvenile Delinquency, crime and violent victimization:

About 10% of juvenile crimes happen between 3 P.M. - 4 P.M. Children need

to be kept safe and out of trouble at such times

2) Preventing alcohol, drug and tobacco use.

Risk-taking behavior that seeks to establish superiority in a clan is

mostly seen in 'latchkey' children. Children in their pre-teens, if they

have a meaningful relationship with a mentor, are less likely to indulge

in these kinds of destructive behavior

3) Decreases appetite for Television:

An average child watches about 23 hours of TV per week. When enrolled for

some activity, the child utilizes his mental and physical skills to meet

challenges.

4) Improving academic achievements

5) Improving school attendance:

More confidence in self and increased interest in school leads to greater

attendance in school. A program that helps children with their homework

also gives the child a much-needed feeling of self-achievement.

6) Improved behavior and inter-personal skills

Children who attend after school activities handle conflict better and

cooperate more with authority figures.

7) Closer family and community ties.

Over-scheduling kids

2010-04-02T16:12:00.003-07:00

Over-scheduling kids

Several studies are expressing a growing concern that after school

programs are pressurizing kids to do too much too soon. They point out

that when a child's afternoon is filled with classes, trips, sports and

other forms of organized activities, kids do not really get the time to be

just kids. They are even being deprived of the cherished family time.

Undoubtedly, there are children who are being burdened with a schedule

that places too much demand on their time. This leads to increased levels

of stress on the child and the family. As regular studies cannot be

ignored, children are almost always on the run to achieve more. Such

children are really bearing a burden that is too heavy for their frail

little shoulders.

In an ideal world, all children would go home directly after school to

loving and caring parents who are waiting for the children to come home.

But the social and economic realities show that many children have to

attend after school courses because there is no one available at home. For

such children, these classes are a boon.

Parents should however restrain themselves from reading too much into

these activities. After school programs are complimentary in nature. They

give additional support. Therefore, their importance should also be

limited.

Need for after school activities

2010-04-02T16:12:00.001-07:00

Need for after school activities

When children are literally up to their gills with the learning and sport

activities in school, it may seem superfluous to enroll them for after

school activities. In spite of this, after school programs are sprouting

up in large numbers and most of these are booked full. This shows that

there is a real need for after school activities.

The unavailability of parental supervision is the leading cause for the

surge in after school programs. It is seen that many children spend about

20-25 hours a week unsupervised and alone at home. And as the saying

goes, "An idle mind is a devil's workshop". Children who are left alone

to contend with too much free time invariably fall into the wrong

company. Drug abuse, alcohol, tobacco and crime come knocking at their

doors sooner rather than later. Parents enroll children to various after

school programs to keep them occupied in a productive manner. This way,

the kids are free to enjoy themselves in a supervised activity.

Crime is considered to be at its peak during the after school hours,

between 3- 4 p.m. During such a time, children need protection. Getting

the children together under one roof and encouraging them to participate

in a group activity is protection enough. It diverts the children from

ennui too.

Obesity is a matter of growing concern in this country. It is noticed

that more and more children are becoming couch potatoes. After school,

many of them relax on the sofa with packets of chips, cool drinks or

chocolates while they watch T.V. 30 % of the kids below the age of 19 are

considered overweight, and about 15% of these are obese. An after school

program ensures that the child shakes off his lethargy and keeps himself

busy. This also helps to reduce the child's fascination for T.V and

computer games.

After school activities that promote social awareness develop the

individual's sense of social responsibility. It is seen that these sorts

of programs not only keep kids out of trouble, but also help to produce

responsible citizens. To that extent, they are valuable building blocks

in a child's personality.

Times are changing and parents want their children to excel in academics

as well as in other activities. This may be a reflection of the parent's

unfulfilled desire to excel - a remnant from his own childhood. Whatever

the reason, parents today encourage their children to enroll themselves

in various programs and develop the various facets of their

individuality. Children too seem to be comfortable learning many things

at the same time, and gain satisfaction from this.

Keeping children motivated

2010-04-02T16:11:00.002-07:00

Keeping children motivated

Initial enthusiasm in after school activities tends to wane after the

first excitement is over. This is but natural. The trick is to keep up the

hard work even after this. How do you keep your child motivated? This is

of particular importance when the child goes in for educational after

school programs.

Make the career-academics connection early on:

Let your child understand how important studies are. Let him know that

an excellent career is wholly dependent on wholesome learning. To develop

his interest in studies, plan family activities that are connected with

his studies. Emphasize the real-world connection to academics whenever

possible.

Set goals:

Let your child know, through example, that hard work will be rewarded. If

your child believes that achievement is a natural by-product of effort, he

is more likely to put in hard work. Such children are also less likely to

drop out of programs and college at a later stage.

Reward success:

When a child achieves something, it is necessary to praise his hard work.

Positive reinforcements enhance confidence and increase self-esteem.

Conversely, beware of criticism. It can ruin the frail ego of children and

play havoc with their minds.

How to find after school activities

2010-04-02T16:11:00.001-07:00

How to find after school activities

Start off by making enquiries. Nothing can beat the power of information.

Approach the school authorities first. Find out if they are offering any

after school activities. Get a list of the various classes that are

available in your school. In case the school does not provide any

extracurricular activities for the child, approach your neighbors. Collect

information about any after school programs, the quality of the courses

taught and the timings etc. Also, check out some of the community

resources. These may include places of worship, community centers,

Museums, libraries, the YMCA, The Boys and Girls Club etc.

After you have colleted all the necessary information, discuss the various

options with your child. Find out what his interests are. The best way to

find out what is most suitable is to ask your child. When little children

are too small, you cannot completely rely on their feedback. In this case,

monitor the development of the child on a regular basis. If the child

shows excessive resistance to an activity, it may be necessary to look for

other options. Always consider your family's schedule when planning the

extracurricular activities. If it is difficult for you to chauffeur your

child, you may want to employ tutors at home or conduct some activity at

home itself.

How much is too much?

2010-04-02T16:04:00.001-07:00

How much is too much?

Should your child go for the football practice 5 days a week? Are 3 days

enough? It is common for parents to be a little confused when it comes to

deciding how much is too much with reference to after school activities.

They argue that since most of the activities are fun (as different from

studies), children will simply lap up these classes. But, too much of fun

can also make a child sick. Here is a simple guide that will help you

decide how much is too much for your child.

Kindergarten:

Your child is just beginning to learn to interact and get used to

discipline. His or her after-school life should be simple and carefree.

One or two classes per week are enough at the beginning. Once the child

settles down, look for more challenging activities like a music program.

Grade 1:

One or two activities per week, play dates and playground visits are

recommended. Avoid competitive sports activities. The child is still too

young to have to worry about winning and losing. After the rigors of a

full day at school, he or she needs a healthy outlet for pent up energy.

Physical activities and noncompetitive sports are best for this age.

Grade 2:

Your child is old enough to voice opinions on what activities he or she

wants. Sports, skating, swimming or computers - steer him towards things

he likes. Many children begin lessons on a musical instrument around this

age. But, allow your child some 'alone time' during which he can unwind

and just do whatever he wishes.

Grade 3:

Socialization begins to take center stage. Team sports are a good choice.

Developing motor skills, painting, drawing etc are good too. Let the child

explore areas of interests. But leave aside enough time for the family and

for fun activities.

Grade 4:

At this age, the child will tell you what he likes. He needs to get

involved in activities that will boost his confidence. This will also help

him manage stress as this is the time when social pressure is beginning to

build. But, beware of the homework demon. Your child needs more time with

his studies. Balancing his schoolwork with other activities is very

important.

Grade 5:

The fifth grader is bubbling with energy and will want to do just

about everything. But she or he may conveniently push studies to the

background. So, close supervision is needed. Keep one or two days free for

family time and other activities. Now is a great time to get your child

interested in community service.

Middle school:

Steer him away from TV. Get him engaged in activities that reinforce

learning. Academic performance can be improved by encouraging your preteen

to join clubs like the Girl/Boy Scouts program, language clubs, chess

clubs etc. As a thumb rule, 16-20 hours a week of extra activity should be

more than enough. But look out for signs of burnout.

What you select for your child and how long he should work at it is

basically decided by the child's temperament. As a parent, you should

closely observe your child and base your decisions on feedback from the

child himself.

Effective after school activities

2010-04-02T16:02:00.000-07:00

Effective after school activities

When there are so many activities on offer, and each one looks as good as

the next, how do you gauge the worth and effectiveness of these

activities? Sure, you want an activity that junior enjoys. But, we really

cannot afford to waste time on pleasure for pleasure's sake, do we? There

needs to be a grain of gold somewhere in there. Given below is a list of

characteristics that any good after school activity must possess.

Clarity in objectives and goals is the first important thing. What does

the course offer? How does it propose to achieve the results? How many

kids make up a batch? Ask questions. After all, when you are dishing out

the dough, you really need to understand what you are getting in return.

A good after school activity will provide lots of opportunities for the

young to increase their level of understanding of complex concepts. This

is true of recreational activities too. Learning to pitch a ball, or dance

to a tune - regardless of the activity involved, the child should be

encouraged to grapple with and conquer new concepts. This not only keeps

boredom at bay by challenging the child, but also builds up his

self-confidence. Development of academic, personal and social skills is

one of the prime aims of an after school activity. As the skills develop,

the child's self-esteem also increases.

After school activities are all about boosting a child's sense of

competence. Good and effective after school activities promotes the

resilience of youth and encourages them to grow stronger, be it mentally,

emotionally or physically.

Safety is one of the first requirements of an after school activity. The

staff should be qualified, adequate and alert. Never put your child in a

program where safety is a matter of accident instead of a matter of

priority. The staff should be friendly and should have a positive

relationship with the child. Therefore, the program should have

professional and trained staff that loves to interact with children. The

program should maintain a cooperative and supportive attitude and a

structured environment. Participation and collaboration as opposed to

competition and antagonism must be encouraged.

Some programs involve the children in planning activities and making

decisions. Adults often forget to get the opinion of their children. By

giving the children an opportunity to voice their opinion, programs become

fun activities that children are motivated to participate in. Young people

thrive when they are listened to, respected and allowed to contribute

their mite.

Routine evaluations are an important part of after school programs. If the

child does not benefit from a class, don't waste time being

over-optimistic. Try something new.

You are now ready to look for the perfect after school activity for your

child. But don't let us forget that having fun is also an important part

of growing up. The child deserves a few hours of pure delight. Remember,

all work and no play, ……

Developmental after school programs

2010-04-02T15:56:00.001-07:00

Developmental after school programs

As a child grows into an adult, different aspects of his physical,

emotional and mental self needs development. To help a child reach his

full potential, it is necessary to recognize the child's developmental

needs and abilities. To be effective, after school programs should assist

children with tasks they must accomplish during each stage of development.

A child's growth curve can be divided into three main parts:

1) Young child (ages 3-5)

2) Middle school (ages 6-8)

3) Older school (ages 9-12)

The four important domains of development are: The Physical Domain, the

Social Domain, the Emotional Domain and the Intellectual Domain. Each of

these domains needs to be separately addressed during the various phases

of a child's growth. After school programs should concentrate on

developing each domain as applicable to the age of the child. Although the

children participating in these programs may have similar developmental

needs and age, do not expect development to be uniform. Children will

develop as and when they are ready.

Physical Domain:

When children are young, they want to perfect skills that they have just

learnt to control. A variety of movements such as jumping, catching and

throwing delight them. The middle school child, on the other hand, wants

to learn more complex skills and get involved in team sports. This is also

the best time to learn about rules and discipline in sport. The older

school child is ready for more adult-like activities that need greater

structure and discipline, like dancing, gymnastics, music classes etc.

Social Domain:

Young children are observing others and will be interested in games where

they play the roles of family members. They develop short-term friendships

and need an adult's presence to assure them. The middle school child is

intrigued by society and will love trips to factories, public buildings

etc. They want to know the 'how' and 'why' of things. The older school

child is ready to learn about different cultures, food and customs. They

want to do some amount of social work too.

Intellectual Domain:

Young school children will practice what they are learning. Middle school

children want to learn more skills and will show interest in reading,

drama and problem solving. The older school children are ready to research

and probe. They enjoy getting a puzzle and pondering over it.

Any after school program needs to address the interests of the child depending

on the category he belongs to. Knowing the children in your program and

appreciating their needs and interests will help staff to plan and

structure programs that are most useful to that group.

No sympathy for Gunners from Wolves boss...

2010-04-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Wolverhampton Wanderers Boss Mick McCarthy Not Bothered By Arsenal Squad Rotation

No sympathy for Gunners from Wolves boss...

By Alex Richards

02-Apr-2010 10:39:00 PM

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Mick McCarthy - Wolverhampton (PA)

Teams

Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Mick McCarthy will have no problem should Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger rotate his players for the clash between the two sides at the Emirates on Saturday.

William Gallas, Cesc Fabregas and Andriy Arshavin are all certainly out of the match between Arsenal and McCarthy’s resurgent Wolves side, who are unbeaten in their last four games.

And McCarthy, who was criticised by Wenger following his decision to make 10 changes against Manchester United in December doesn’t care which eleven makes up the home side tomorrow.

“They’ve a big squad and I’m sure Mr Wenger will rotate it accordingly as he deems fit,” said the Wolves boss.

“I haven’t got a problem with it [squad rotation], but some of the high and mighty were the first to change their team, or rather utilise their squads to the best of their ability.

“Have I a problem with that? I never have, have I?!

“It’s just other people that whinge at me when I do it. But I hope no-one is looking for an outpouring of sympathy from me towards Arsenal because it won’t be forthcoming

“They’ve got a big enough squad to be able to take care of Wolves, that’s for sure.

“Perhaps they’re tired and they’ve got a lot of injuries.

“But that doesn’t mean we’ll get anything out of it because it could still be a really difficult afternoon.”

The issue of teams rotating players and fielding ‘weakened’ sides has again appeared this week, after Fulham rested six players at Hull causing West Ham to complain, but the Wolves boss has no problem with managers utilising squads.

“Good luck to them. We’ve got them [Fulham] to play. If they want to play a weakened team against me, I’ll be delighted.”

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Arsenal VS Barcelona, A Fans View

2010-04-02T15:46:00.003-07:00

Arsenal VS Barcelona, A Fans View

Akhil Vyas

Correspondent

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Sitting in the tube on my way to the Emirates, I was full of excitement as I was seeing in my opinion, the best two footballing sides in the world.

Barcelona were amazing in that first twenty minutes. They kept the ball and passed it around for what seemed like an eternity. Barcelona showed why they are the masters of this type of football and rightly so. As a Gooner at the ground, I feared the worst; we just could not get the ball. It took us twenty minutes to string five passes together.

Manuel Almunia was outstanding in that first twenty minutes and kept his side in the tie. Barcelona had around four very good chances and on another day could have scored them all. Almunia, who has been slated in the media and by fans, produced some fine world class saves. As I have said before, we must support the players we do have and Almunia proved that in the first twenty minutes.

Alex Song was very bright in the first half but had to drop back and was clearly not as comfortable there; however his replacement in midfield Denilson had a solid game.

Arsenal got through the first twenty minutes and then put a shot in for themselves with Nasri and a good effort at that. Arsenal did slowly get into the game but then lost momentum again when Andrey Arshavin went off injured. This was a major blow because I think Arshavin could have made a difference later in the game. Arshavin himself believed he and Arsenal could do something in the game.

After the injury, Barcelona once again took over and kept the ball very well. They did not create the chances they did in the first twenty minutes but still looked very dangerous.

Arsenal needed half time to come and to re-assess but before half time came another big blow. William Gallas, who only had two training sessions before the game, broke down. His calf had gone again and he had to be stretchered off.

Half time came, but Arsenal had been battered by Barcelona and lost two players through injury and had made two forced subs, however, Arsenal were still in the tie and a tie they probably didn’t deserve to be in.

The start of the second half was when Barcelona finally took their chances and went two up. Xavi who had covered the most distance in the game and had the most number of passes was pulling the strings.

The tie seemed over. Losing by two goals at home against a team like Barcelona, most people would have though the tie was over, but was it?

Arsenal showed passion and determination. They had been battered for the best part of two thirds of the game but did not give in. Theo Walcott made a huge difference and perhaps changed the game. He scored a goal and was involved in the other. Let’s not forget Nicklas Bendtner who provided an assist for the first goal and won an important header for the penalty.

At 2-2, Arsenal is still in the tie. Barcelona will be super favourites having the two away goals but at 0-2 down, just to be in the tie is something I was praying for.

At 0-2, I though we just need to give our self a chance in the second leg and we did that.

The loss of Fabregas is a huge blow. The yellow card he picked up was unfair, as he clearly got the ball. Injury would have prevented him from playing but did the yellow card affect his game slightly? Perhaps, His mind could have been on the fact that he will not be at the Camp Neu and also worried that he doesn’t get himself sent off.

I must be a little critical though; playing Fabregas and Gallas who were both doubts was always a risk. Perhaps, Fabregas should not have played because he clearly didn’t look fit and was not in the game much. Gallas had only a few days of full training and broke down. Arsene Wenger admitted that the Gallas decision did back fire.

Arsene Wenger, who see’s the players in training, can only make these decisions and perhaps both players were fit enough to play and it was just luck that they both broke down during the game.

If someone had said to me whether I would take a 2-2 draw, I would have not taken it, but after bring 0-2 down, a 2-2 does seem a good result. Off course Barcelona are favourites to win at home but Arsenal are still in this tie.

The injuries do not help, losing Arshavin and Fabregas along with the long term injury of Van Persie; we are losing in my opinion, our three most creative players. We do have Nasri, who is very close to joining that group. Nasri is key in the second leg and can really make a name for him self. Theo Walcott showed that Barcelona cannot handle him. Will he do the same if he starts or is he better as a super sub? How big will the loss of Gallas be?

Coming home from the Emirates, I felt privileged to have seen this great Barcelona side play at their best, however, I was pleased at the sprit Arsenal showed and at 0-2 down against Barcelona, we could have just lost all hope, but we didn’t and are still in the tie.

Let’s just go and play at the Camp Neu and play without fear, we are not expected to go through and the pressure will be on Barcelona to go through. They see themselves as the masters of the beautiful game and will be desperate not to lose to Arsenal who perhaps are still the pupils, but a win at the Camp Neu could change all that.

Come on you Arsenal.

Boring after school activities

2010-04-02T15:44:00.006-07:00

Boring after school activities

Why does Lisa grumble when it is time for her to go for her piano lessons?

How come Johnny abhors the sight of his skates now? After all, these

children were very enthusiastic about the programs when they started off.

What happened? Parents are often confused by the disturbing and often

incongruous signals they receive from their children. One day the kids are

excited about the new theatre class and in just a few short weeks they

wail and moan when it's time to go.

The first thing a family should do when a child begins resisting a

previously loved activity is to listen and investigate. Do not jump into

conclusions. A little bit of intelligent sleuthing is required. Ask your

child what he or she does in the class. Find out what exactly is the cause

of the problem. Then ask the teachers the same questions. Compare notes.

You may stumble on some important clues. Usually, children start out on an

activity thinking it's all fun. But when they realize that they cannot

just hang out and that they need to follow rules etc, they begin to

resist. Your child may feel stifled if the program is too structured. If

the discipline is too rigorous or the activity too painful (like a karate

class) some children balk. Use your own instincts. Does the program feel

like fun? Would you want to attend it yourself? Are they offering enough

motivation to keep the child interested?

The teacher-to-child ratio is also an important factor. Children need

attention. If the number of teachers is just enough to handle a class, it

is possible that your child is not receiving enough attention. State

recommendations usually specify that there must be 1 teacher for 15

children.

Children try to avoid problems they cannot solve. If there are no

perceivable problems with the class and the teachers, perhaps you need to

have a chat with your child. If your judgment says that the place is good

and the activity engaging enough, then it's time to work with your child.

More often than not, social pressures may be at work here. Does your child

have friends there? If she is lonely or miserable because of the lack of

friends, help her find a friend. If she finds a friend, she will get more

involved in the activities

If your best efforts do not pay off, and your child still resists that

fantastic guitar classes, then it's time to let go. Shift your child to

some other program. If he or she still retains interest in guitars, you

can take it up after a few months. Never force the child, especially when

it comes to extra-curricular activities. Since they are 'extra', they must

bring in extra happiness and extra enthusiasm too.

Benefits of a good after school program

2010-04-02T15:44:00.005-07:00

Benefits of a good after school program

Children grow up in a society that demands expertise in everything. You

really cannot sit back and decide that learning from textbooks is enough

for the overall development of your child. It's the age of specialization

and your child cannot afford to miss out on this window of opportunity.

So, scour your locality for the most advantageous programs and enroll them

for the ones you think are the best.

After school programs are basically designed to develop a talent or a

skill that is ignored by regular schools. These programs could be

educational or recreational in nature. Whatever type they are, they

basically aim to keep the child active and interested.

The most important advantage of a good after school program is that it

widens your child's area of interests. He or she is introduced to new

things, sometimes interesting, sometimes challenging. Mastering a new art

form or a new skill increases the child's self-esteem. It also allows you

to introduce your child to new career options. A child attending a music

class may decide that she likes it so much that she wants to make a career

out of it in the long run.

Socialization is another great advantage of after school programs.

Children get to meet others who share their interests and make new

friendships. An acting class or a soccer class can be lots of fun. Many of

these programs coach children for performances or matches. Performing on

stage or playing a match can be a great experience for a young child.

After school programs keep your teenager busy. He or she thus has some

amount of protection from destructive habits like drugs and alcohol.

Surveys indicate that children who are kept busy through diverse absorbing

activities are less prone to abuse, depression and burnout. Significant

increase in achievement and attendance and a reduction in drop out rates

are other advantages of a good after school programs.

Most after school programs have children interacting with one or more

adult. This allows them to benefit from positive relationships with

adults. Children often find it difficult to confide in parents and

teachers, but may open up with other adults.

Many children are put into recreational after school programs so that they

reduce weight and remain healthy. A newly emerging trend shows that about

15% children below the age of 16 are obese. Parents who cannot put their

children on a strict diet resort to sports and games to burn fat. With

cases of child diabetes on the increase, this has become a prime focus of

many after school programs.

A good after school program has many benefits. It keeps the child

entertained as well as busy, and thus prevents children from becoming

addicted to TVs and PCs. By giving them ways to burn up their excess energy

and explore their creativity, after school programs help to shape the

overall personality of the child.

Art-based activities

2010-04-02T15:44:00.003-07:00

Art-based activities

A recent report by several independent researchers concludes that

participating in the arts nurtures the development of social, personal and

cognitive skills. Programs based on Arts can improve academic achievement

and decrease the tendency towards delinquency. It helps youth form

positive attitudes about themselves and build self-esteem.

Arts programs involve communication, interpretation and understanding of

complex symbols, much like mathematics and languages. Thus it fosters

higher-order analytical skills and skills of evaluation and synthesis.

Many of the programs make the child regularly use multiple skills thus

making him dynamic and versatile.

Development of imagination, judgment and philosophy are fringe benefits of

an arts-based activity. As opposed to the short 45-minute duration of the

art classes at school, the extra time allowed in after school activities

allows the child to get more involved. This results in more satisfactory

opportunities for development of latent capabilities in the child. In

turn, the child learns to set high standards of achievement. He

understands what sustained focus is and learns that regular practice is

the way to excellence.

In the shy or the withdrawn child, theatre, speech or drama lessons may be

an outlet for pent up emotions. As drama entails getting into the 'skin'

of another person, the child learns to verbalize emotions and express

thoughts. These reasons account for the popularity of arts-based

activities.

A home-based after school program

2010-04-02T15:44:00.001-07:00

A home-based after school program

So, your son's school does not offer any extracurricular activities. You

are worried of depriving your child of all that extra knowledge and fun.

What should you do?

After school activities need not be taught in a school-like environment by

professional teachers in a structured and timely manner. There is a lot

YOU can do to support your child's academic, physical and social

development. Do not be too concerned about formal programs, as many of our

children are already over-scheduled.

Obviously, school is top priority for children. They need to go to school,

and finish their homework. They should then do their daily reading or

writing work etc. This may take about 30-60 minutes. In the course of his

daily work, your child may develop certain academic preferences and

interests. In that case, you can try and find a program in a college or a

community center that will help him and encourage him. In the age of the

Internet, information is really not a rarity. Allow him to use the net to

find more information about thing that he likes. Encouraging the child to

do independent research to gain in-depth knowledge is something that no

formal program does.

If you are concerned about the lack of social life, enroll him or her in a

club - a reading club maybe. Visit public libraries or even the theatre,

if your child is interested. It is not necessary for your child to make

friends with children his own age. A parent-child book club is another

interesting option. If you can round up a number of like-minded children

and their parents, you may well start your own after-school program.

When there is no organized group activity, look to your community. Many

children love to get involved in social problems. They get their first

real taste of suffering, charity and community help from such experiences.

Volunteering for clean-up sessions, adult education programs etc could be

a real eye-opener for your child. The lessons thus learnt are invaluable.

If physical activity or the lack of it is your major concern, enroll your

child for some dancing classes. If organized sports are impossible to get,

try to enroll her in a gym. She may find friends there and may take to the

treadmill.

Your child does not necessarily have to be a part of an organized group to

benefit from after-school activities. There are various avenues open in

front of you. Roping in the enthusiasm of your children in daily household

activities like cooking, cleaning etc can also provide them with a

refreshing extracurricular experience. Moreover, it will improve family

ties too.

After school safety - tips and reminders

2010-04-02T15:43:00.001-07:00

After school safety - tips and reminders

When parents send their children for after school programs, they take it

for granted that the child is safe. But since the number of children

participating in these activities has increased, it is necessary to look

into safety issues.

Children are vulnerable when they are outside the classes. While going or

returning, they should know the safest route to take. Many kids hang out

with their friends just after these classes. Find out 'danger zones' from

your neighbors and make the children aware of these.

The child has to know how to handle emergencies. It is better to discuss

various scenarios with your child. Tell her what she should do in case the

class is suddenly cancelled. Show her the first-aid kit at home and make

sure she knows whom to call in an emergency. Post any important contact

information in a place that is easily accessible to the child. If the

child will be alone at home, discuss a few unexpected things with her.

Tell her to use the safety chain ALWAYS.

Relay on your neighbors and friends when needed. Let your child know who

can be contacted at times of emergency. Ask your child to check in by

phone. Above all, always tell the child to be in a group. Visiting toilets

all alone or going home via isolated streets must be avoided.

After school programs and discipline

2010-04-02T15:38:00.002-07:00

After school programs and discipline

How important is discipline when it comes to after school programs? Since

most of the activities are recreational, does a program have to adhere to

strict rules? Discipline is just as important here as it is in

activities that pertain to the school. The child is sent to a program

because you want him to learn more. Discipline in one form or the other is

necessary to facilitate learning.

Every program should begin by laying down the rules. The supervisor or

teacher should explain each rule and can thus prevent future mishaps.

Misbehavior should be addressed as and when it occurs. Deal with the

problem in such a manner that it causes the least disruption. It is unwise

to turn a blind eye to misbehavior because it catches on like fire, and

soon you will have a bunch of unruly children on your hands. Besides,

however much they resist it, children like to operate within the safety

net of strict guidelines and rules.

When a child misbehaves, it is mostly due to a craving for attention. A

supervisor should observe the children and find out what the child wants.

Talk to the child so that you can understand what he or she wants.

Appropriate disciplinary measures should be taken if there are no apparent

reasons for bad behavior.

After school program - recreational vs. educational

2010-04-02T15:38:00.001-07:00

After school program - recreational vs. educational

So, your child is beginning to get restless and make you restless. He has got more time than is good for him, and you are now considering after school programs - anything that will keep him busy for a few life-saving hours! Most after school activities can be broadly classified into three - recreational, educational and society-oriented. The last bit usually comes in when your child is already a bit grown up and can voice his own interests.

Educational activities aim at furthering the knowledge of your child. His general awareness, his understanding and his memory are targeted and he is given various techniques that will help him improve one or all of these. Programs such as intensive memory training and speed mathematics are educational after school activities. There are academic programs that will go over your child's homework and class work and help the child gain more in-depth knowledge in the various subjects. Thus academic programs have a definite edge over the fun and games, especially if parents feel that their child has a lot of catching up to do.

Recreational activities include sports and games, fine arts, painting etc. The main thrust here is to have fun. Of course, classes become more competitive as the child climbs up the ladder. Many sport events, competitions, stage performances etc are held to encourage the child.

When we compare the merits of the two kinds of activities, I believe that the recreational programs have more meat. Firstly, children do not enjoy learning unless they themselves feel curious about something. Most academic programs are standardized courses that are not too flexible. They have a general purpose and a well laid out methodology. After a number of hours at school, the child may feel bored. Further study may overwhelm him and make him feel frustrated. Burnout is very much a possibility here.

Recreational programs provide a welcome break from the monotony of learning and studies. The mental challenge and the physical exertion make the child feel a renewed zest and a pleasant sense of fulfillment. Group activity teaches him social skills, discipline and patience. It is a proven fact that children involved in extra curricular activities get better grades than others. Sometimes closing the textbooks and playing a game may be the best way to handle your studies.

Whatever program you choose for your child, regular evaluation is the key to success. You will have to measure the child's progress. If progress is unsatisfactory, shift your child out of the program. The child should also have the freedom to reject an activity if and when he feels bored with it. Generally, programs that combine the educational with the recreational are best suited especially for younger children. This way, children can have fun while they learn.

After school activity for the hyperactive child

2010-04-02T15:29:00.004-07:00

After school activity for the hyperactive child

ADHD refers to attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. Most children who

suffer from this disorder suffer from attention problems as well as hyperactivity. Parents of such children are well aware that inattention and hyperactivity continue throughout the day. Keeping such children busy after school hours can be as difficult as keeping them safe during the school day.

The first step while choosing the right after school activity for your child is to understand how ADHD affects him. Is your child interested in sports? Is he put off by the fierce competitiveness, or does he find it hard to get along with teammates? Does your child vocalize his feelings, or is communication a problem?

For a child suffering from ADHD, physical exercise is always beneficial. Exercise takes up the extra energy and helps to stimulate the brain. Team activities teach social skills and discipline. But, if your child shies away from team sports, you may want to look at activities like dancing, cycling, swimming or gymnastics. Martial arts not only teach techniques of self-defense but also teach self-control and patience.

If your child shows aversion to sport and shows inclination towards the fine arts, you may need to look at some other options. Acting classes are a wonderful form of creative exercise. It also provides the child with ample opportunity to develop his social skills. Music, art or dance can help the child to keep himself busy and entertained.

In case the child is not interested in any of the above, you may want him to join a Boy Scouts club or other community oriented clubs that take up social work. Cleaning a park, putting on a show, helping out in an old age home are various activities that may pique your child's interest.

Whatever form of activity you choose, make sure that you monitor your child's progress periodically. If you feel that there is no progress, you may need to change the activity. Anything that increases your child's self-esteem is good. You may enlist the help of the coach or teacher to assess your child's development.

There are certain activities that are detrimental to a child suffering from ADHD. Computer and video games are a definite NO. Since these games need no interaction, children will feel all the more isolated. These children also find it difficult to distinguish between the good and the bad messages. They may therefore show an inclination to stick to messages that are not needed. Games that need the child to sit and wait for his turn patiently tax his patience and will not be a success.

Although you would want these children to be as near to normal as possible, understanding their needs and limits will help you select the right after school activity - one that is fulfilling, tiring as well as challenging.

After school activities for the overweight

2010-04-02T15:29:00.003-07:00

After school activities for the overweight

Research and studies show that our children are growing fater by the

day. Many families all over America are struggling to keep the weight of

their children within reasonable limits. As a parent, I know that it's

nearly impossible for me to look into the tear-filled eyes of my son and

refuse food.

So, what's the alternative? Studies show that the number one reason for

obesity in children is not junk food and colas. It's actually TV.

Children tend to plop themselves on the sofa and munch away happily when

they are in front of the TV sets. But, once the set is off, their natural

buoyancy will lead the children to do stuff and to move their body. THey will then be diverted from eating.

Recreational after school activities are a must if you feel that your

child is beginning to put on undesirable fat. It is better to begin these

activities as early as possible. The more weight the child gains, the

harder he has to work to shed it. Football, swimming, skating and Karate

are just some activities he can participate in. Structured and disciplined

exercise is possible only when one is put into a formal environment. That

is why an overweight child simply HAS to be put into an after school

program of this kind.

After school activities and relationship building

2010-04-02T15:29:00.001-07:00

After school activities and relationship building

After school activities are the rage of the day. With about $500 million

invested in these programs and more than 10 million children attending

them in America alone, the popularity of these activities cannot be

overlooked. Everyone understands the need to develop new skills, gain more

knowledge and keep the children safe when parents are working.

The most important factor in the success of any program is the

relationship between the children participating in the program and the

adult members who work with these children. Often, children may confide in

an adult member who is not a teacher. This kind of emotional interaction

is a must when children are struggling to make sense of the whirlpool of

emotions that assail them.

Direct contact with professionals can be an inspiring experience. Children

are very much impressed by the knowledge and experience of these adults.

Young people gain a lot of knowledge and experience when they deal with

experienced adults and older youth who serve as teachers or mentors in

these programs. These mentors are different from the teachers in the

school and children are more likely to draw inspiration from them.

After school activities that are managed professionally by people who are

successful in their own fields of expertise will produce children who are

more enthusiastic and successful. Meaningful interaction with adults is a

learning experience in itself.

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After school activities and burnout

2010-04-02T15:28:00.002-07:00

After school activities and burnout

For millions of parents around the world, the day does not end with the school bell. There are still pictures to be painted, songs to be sung and games to be played. This all adds up to keeping children happy, safe and out of trouble. But, parents have to steer away from going overboard.

After school is not baby-sitting:

After school activities thrive only if it is backed by sufficient parental involvement. What would a soccer match be without parents cheering their little heroes from the sidelines?.

Research and choose:

Instead of convenience being the decisive factor, find out things that will interest your child. Once you select a program, get the fine print and find out what you have to contribute.

Free time:

Many children attend piano classes, followed by ballet and squeeze in some time for play dates in between just before they rush home in time for bed. This rigor is too much for a child. So, go slow.

When to quit:

Often, parents enroll their child in an activity to discover that he may not be the prodigy they thought he would be. This is the time to let go. Your child may not become the next wonder-kid. But, let him cultivate an interest that he enjoys. Remember, happiness and fulfillment are all that matter.

Which Affiliate Networks To Look Out For When Promoting

2010-04-02T15:28:00.001-07:00

Which Affiliate Networks To Look Out For When Promoting

There are many horror stories about affiliate programs and networks. People have heard them over and over again, that some are even wary of joining one. The stories they may have heard are those related to illegal programs or pyramid schemes. Basically, this kind of market does not have real, worthy product.

You do not want to be associated with these schemes. It is obvious you want to be with a program that offers high quality product that you will readily endorse. The growing number of those who have joined already and are succeeding immensely is proof enough that there are reliable and quality affiliate programs out there.

Why participate in an affiliate program?

It allows you to work part-time. It gives you the opportunity to build a generous residual income. And it makes you an owner of a small business. Affiliate programs have already created lots of millionaires. They are the living testimony of how hard work; continuous prospecting, motivating and training others pay off.

If ever you are deciding to join one, you must take note that you are getting into something that is patterned to what you are capable of. This will be an assurance that you are capable of doing anything to come out successful.

How do you choose a good affiliate program to promote? Here are some tips you may want to look over before choosing one:

1. A program that you like and have interest in. One of the best ways of knowing if that is the kind of program you wish to promote is if you are interested in purchasing the product yourself. If that is the case, chances are, there are many others who are also interested in the same program and products.

2. Look for a program that is of high quality. For instance, look for one that is associated with many experts in that particular industry. This way, you are assured that of the standard of the program you will be joining into.

3. Join in the ones that offer real and viable products. How do you know this? Do some initial research. If possible, track down some of the members and customers to give you testimonial on the credibility of the program.

4. The program that is catering to a growing target market. This will ensure you that there will be more and continuous demands for your referrals. Make inquiries. There are forums and discussions you can participate in to get good and reliable feedbacks.

5. A program with a compensation plan that pays out a residual income and a payout of 30% or more would be a great choice. There are some programs offering this kind of compensation. Look closely for one. Do not waste your time with programs that do not reward substantially for your efforts.

6. Be aware of the minimum quotas that you must fulfill or sales target that is too hard to achieve. Some affiliate programs imposes pre-requisites before you get your commissions. Just be sure that you are capable of attaining their requirements.

7. Select one that has plenty of tools and resources that can help you grow the business in the shortest possible time. Not all affiliate programs have these capacities. Make use you decide on one with lots of helpful tools you can use.

8. Check out if the program has a proven system that can allow you to check your networks and compensation. Also check if they have it available online for you to check anytime and anywhere.

9. The program that is offering strong incentives for members to renew their membership each time. The affiliate program that provides continuous help and upgrades for its products have the tendency to retain its members. These things can assure the growth of your networks.

10. Be aware of the things that members are not happy about in a program. Like with the ones mentioned above, you can do your checking at discussion forums. If you know someone in that same program, there is ho harm asking if there are many downsides involved.

Have a thorough and intensive knowledge about the affiliate program and network you will be promoting on.

Knowing the kind of program you are getting yourself into will make you anticipate and prevent any future problems you may encounter.

Using Product Recommendations To Increase Your Bottom Line

2010-04-02T15:27:00.004-07:00

Using Product Recommendations To Increase Your Bottom Line

In affiliate marketing, there are many ways in which you can increase your earnings and maintain the account that you have worked so hard for already. Most of the techniques and tactics can be learned easily. No need to go anywhere and any further. They are available online, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

One of the more important ways of increasing affiliate marketing bottom line and sale is through the use of product recommendations. Many marketers know that this is one of the most effective ways in promoting a certain product.

If the customers or visitors trust you enough, then they will definitely trust your recommendations. Be very careful in using this approach, though. If you start promoting everything by recommendation, your credibility will actually wear thin. This is seen especially when recommendations are seemingly exaggerated and without much merit.

Do not be afraid to mention things that you do not like about a given product or service. Rather than lose any points for you, this will make your recommendation more realistic and will tend to increase your credibility.

Furthermore, if your visitors are really interested in what you are offering, they will be more than delighted to learn what is good about the product, what is not so good, and how the product will benefit them.

When you are recommending a certain product, there are some things to remember on how to make it work effectively and for your advantage.

Sound like the true and leading expert in your field.

Remember this simple equation: Price resistance diminishes in direct proportion to trust. If your visitors feel and believe that you are an expert in your niche, they are more inclined to making that purchase. On the other hand, if you are not exuding any confidence and self-assurance in endorsing your products, they will probably feel that same way and will go in search of another product or service which is more believable.

How do you establish this aura of expertise? By offering unique and new solutions they would not get anywhere else. Show proof that what you are promoting works as promised. Display prominent testimonials and endorsements from respected and known personalities, in related fields of course.

Avoid hype at all costs. It is better to sound low key and confident, than to scream and seek attention. Besides, you would not want to sound unprofessional and have that thinking stick to your potential customers and clients, now would you? Best to appear cool and self-assured at the same time.

And remember; prospects are not stupid. They are actually turning to experts and may already know the things that you know. If you back up your claims with hard facts and data, they would gladly put down hundreds, or even thousands worth of money to your promotions. But if you don’t, they are smart enough to try and look at your competitors and what they are offering.

While recommending a product, it is also important that you give out promotional freebies. People are already familiar with the concept of offering freebies to promoting your won products. But very few people do this to promote affiliate products. Try to offer freebies that can promote or even have some information about your products or services.

Before you add recommendations to you product, it is given that you should try and test the product and support. Do not run the risk of promoting junk products and services. Just think how long it took you to build credibility and trust among your visitors. All that will take to destroy it is one big mistake on your part.

If possible, have recommendations of products that you have 100% confidence in. Test the product support before you begin to ensure that the people you are referring it to would not be left high and dry when a problem suddenly arouse.

Have a look at your affiliate market and look at the strategies you are using. You may not be focusing on the recommendations that your products need to have. You plan of action is sometimes not the only thing that is making your program works.

Try product recommendation and be among those few who have proven its worth.

Top 3 Ways To Boost Your Affiliate Commissions Overnight

2010-04-02T15:27:00.003-07:00

Top 3 Ways To Boost Your Affiliate Commissions Overnight

The ideal world of affiliate marketing does not require having your won website, dealing with customers, refunds, product development and maintenance. This is one of the easiest ways of launching into an online business and earning more profits.

Assuming you are already into an affiliate program, what would be the next thing you would want to do? Double, or even triple, your commissions, right? How do you do that?

Here are some powerful tips on how to boost your affiliate program commissions overnight.

1. Know the best program and products to promote. Obviously, you would want to promote a program that will enable you to achieve the greatest profits in the shortest possible time.

There are several factors to consider in selecting such a program. Choose the ones that have a generous commission structure. Have products that fit in with your target audience. And that has a solid track record of paying their affiliate easily and on time. If you cannot seem to increase your investments, dump that program and keep looking for better ones.

There are thousands of affiliate programs online which gives you the reason to be picky. You may want to select the best to avoid losing your advertising dollars.

Write free reports or short ebooks to distribute from your site. There is a great possibility that you are competing with other affiliates that are promoting the same program. If you start writing short report related to the product you are promoting, you will be able to distinguish yourself from the other affiliates.

In the reports, provide some valuable information for free. If possible, add some recommendations about the products. With ebooks, you get credibility. Customers will see that in you and they will be enticed to try out what you are offering.

2. Collect and save the email addresses of those who download your free ebooks. It is a known fact that people do not make a purchase on the first solicitation. You may want to send out your message more than six times to make a sale.

This is the simple reason why you should collect the contact information of those who downloaded your reports and ebooks. You can make follow-ups on these contacts to remind them to make a purchase from you.

Get the contact information of a prospect before sending them to the vendor’s website. Keep in mind that you are providing free advertisement for the product owners. You get paid only when you make a sale. If you send prospects directly to the vendors, chances are they would be lost to you forever.

But when you get their names, you can always send other marketing messages to them to be able to earn an ongoing commission instead of a one-time sale only.

Publish an online newsletter or Ezine. It is always best to recommend a product to someone you know than to sell to a stranger. This is the purpose behind publishing your own newsletter. This also allows you to develop a relationship based on trust with your subscribers.

This strategy is a delicate balance between providing useful information with a sales pitch. If you continue to write informative editorials you will be able to build a sense of reciprocity in your readers that may lead them to support you by buying your products.

3. Ask for higher than normal commission from merchants. If you are already successful with a particular promotion, you should try and approach the merchant and negotiate a percentage commission for your sales.

If the merchant is smart, he or she will likely grant your request rather than lose a valuable asset in you. Keep in mind that you are a zero-risk investment to your merchant; so do not be shy about requesting for addition in your commissions. Just try to be reasonable about it.

Write strong pay Per Click ads. PPC search engine is the most effective means of advertising online. As an affiliate, you can make a small income just by managing PPC campaigns such as Google AdWords and Overture. Then you should try and monitor them to see which ads are more effective and which ones to dispose of.

Try out these strategies and see the difference it can make to your commission checks in the shortest of time.

So Many Affiliate Programs! Which One Do I Choose?

2010-04-02T15:27:00.001-07:00

So Many Affiliate Programs! Which One Do I Choose?

Ask questions first before you join an affiliate program. Do a little research about the choices of program that you intend to join into. Get some answers because they will be the deciding point of what you will be achieving later on.

Will it cost you anything to join? Most affiliate programs being offered today are absolutely free of charge. So why settle for those that charge you some dollars before joining.

When do they issue the commission checks? Every program is different. Some issue their checks once a month, every quarter, etc. Select the one that is suited to your payment time choice. Many affiliate programs are setting a minimum earned commission amount that an affiliate must meet or exceed in order for their checks to be issued.

What is the hit per sale ratio? This is the average number of hits to a banner or text link it takes to generate a sale based on all affiliate statistics. This factor is extremely important because this will tell you how much traffic you must generate before you can earn a commission from the sale.

How are referrals from an affiliate’s site tracked and for how long do they remain in the system? You need to be confident on the program enough to track those people you refer from your site. This is the only way that you can credit for a sale. The period of time that those people stay in the system is also important. This is because some visitors do not buy initially but may want to return later to make the purchase. Know if you will still get credit for the sale if it is done some months from a certain day.

What are the kinds of affiliate stats available? Your choice of affiliate program should be capable of offering detailed stats. They should be available online anytime you decide to check them out. Constantly checking your individual stats is important to know how many impressions, hits and sales are already generated from your site. Impressions are the number of times the banner or text link was viewed by a visitor of your site. A hit is the one clicking on the banner or text links.

Does the affiliate program also pay for the hits and impressions besides the commissions on sales? It is important that impressions and hits are also paid, as this will add to the earnings you get from the sales commission. This is especially important if the program you are in offers low sales to be able to hit ratio.

Who is the online retailer? Find out whom you are doing business with to know if it is really a solid company. Know the products they are selling and the average amount they are achieving. The more you know about the retailer offering you the affiliate program, the easier it will be for you to know if that program is really for you and your site.

Is the affiliate a one tier or two tier program? A single tier program pays you only for the business you yourself have generated. A two tier program pays you for the business, plus it also pays you a commission on the on the sales generated by any affiliate you sponsor in your program. Some two-tier programs are even paying small fees on each new affiliate you sponsor. More like a recruitment fee.

Lastly, what is the amount of commission paid? 5% - 20% is the commission paid by most programs. .01% - .05% is the amount paid for each hit. If you find a program that also pays for impressions, the amount paid is not much at all. As you can see from the figures, you will now understand why the average sales amount and hit to sale ratio is important.

These are just some of the questions that needed answering first before you enter into an affiliate program. You should be familiar with the many important aspects that your chosen program should have before incorporating them into your website. Try to ask your affiliate program choices these questions. These can help you select the right program for you site from among the many available.

How To Become A Super Affiliate In Niche Markets

2010-04-02T15:26:00.002-07:00

How To Become A Super Affiliate In Niche Markets

Over the past years, web hosting has grown bigger than it used to be. With more companies getting into this business and finding the many benefits it can give them, the demand for web hosting has never been higher. These seem to be the trend of today.

38 million people have put up their very first websites online this year 2005 alone. It is estimated that by 2008, the internet sales industry will top then dollar bank. And to think, majority of those sites will be offering different affiliate programs for people to choose and participate into.

This only means one thing. It is easier now to find the right web host for your application. The possibility of quality web hosting companies separating themselves from the rest of the industry is anticipated. If this is done, the unprofessional and incompetent ones will suffer.

Support will be the number one consideration for people when choosing a web host. It will be obvious that traditional advertising will become less and less effective. Most people would rather opt for the web host based on things that they see and hear. Also based on the recommendations by those who have tried them and have proved to be a successful.

This is a great opportunity for web hosting affiliates and resellers alike. There would hundreds of web hosting and programs to choose from that the difficulty in finding the right one for them is not a problem anymore.

How does one become a successful affiliate in the niche markets using web hosting?

If you think about it, everyone who needs a website needs a web hosting company to host it for them. As of now, there is really no leading hosting industry so most people choose hosts based from recommendations. Usually, they get it from the ones that have already availed of a web hosting services.

With the many hosts offering affiliate programs, there is the tendency to find the one which you think will work best for you. Think of the product you will be promoting. Pattern them to the site and see if they are catering to the same things as you are.

When you have been with one host for quite some time and seem not to be making much despite all your effort, leave that one and look for another. There is no use in trying to stick to one when you would be before off in another one. Things will only have to get better from there because you already have been in worst situations.

Try this out. If you are quite happy and satisfied with your web host, try to see if they are offering an affiliate program you can participate on. Instead of you paying them, why not make it the other way around; them paying you. The process can be as easy as putting a small “powered by” or “hosted by” link at the bottom of your page and you are already in an affiliate business.

Why choose paying for your for your web hosting when you do not have to? Try to get paid by letting people know you like your web host.

Always remember that when choosing a web host, choose the one that is known for its fantastic customer support. There are also many hosting affiliate programs. Residual affiliate program is also being hosted. This is the program wherein you get paid a percentage every month for a client that you refer. This can allow you to have a steady source of income. With perseverance, you can even be quite successful in this field.

There are a lot of niche markets out there just waiting for the right affiliate to penetrate to them and make that dollars dream come true. Knowing which one to get into is being confident enough of your potentials and the good results you will be getting.

Web hosting is just one affiliate market you could try out and make some good and continuous income. Just remember that to be successful on your endeavor also means that time, effort and patience is needed.

Nobody has invented the perfect affiliate market yet. But some people do know how to make it big in this kind of market. It is just knowing your kind of market and making the earnings there.

Here's Why Using Camtasia Can Increase Your Affiliate Checks

2010-04-02T15:26:00.001-07:00

Here's Why Using Camtasia Can Increase Your Affiliate Checks

Since there are already lots of people getting into affiliate marketing, it is no wonder that the competition is getting stiff. The challenge is to try and outdo other affiliates and think of ways to be able to attain this.

There are also many tips and techniques being taught to these affiliate in order to best plan their strategy for their program to work effectively so that more earnings will be achieved.

What better way to wow your prospects and customers than to record and publish top notch, full motion and streaming screen-captured videos. Nothing like feeling your hard work getting paid by having your customers jumping up excitedly in great anticipation to buy your product right there and then.

This is Camtasia in action. It is a proven fact; giving your customers something they can actually see can explode your online sales instantly.

You do not need to have trainings and education to be able to know how this system can work for your affiliate program. Anyone can create stunning videos, from multimedia tutorials and step-by-step presentations available online. The process is like having your customers seated next to you and looking at your desktop, as you show them the things they need to see and hear. All this done step by step.

For those who does not know it yet, how does Camtasia works?

1. It can record your desktop activity in a single click. No need to have to save and compile all your files because it is recorded right there and then.

2. Can easily convert your videos into web pages. Once converted you can have your customers visiting that certain page. Videos are easier to understand and take in unlike reading texts which oftentimes is a trying thing to do.

3. Upload your pages. Publish them through blogs, RSS feed and podcasts. You may want your Camtasis videos to get around and reach out to other people that may be potential customers in the future. Nothing like being visible in many sites and pages to advertise yourself and get your message through.

There are other things you can do with your affiliate program using Camtasia. You can…

Create stunning multimedia presentations that are proven to increase sales because all the senses are engaged. This also has the tendency to reduce skepticism among hard-to-please customers.

Reduce refunds and other customer issues by demonstrating visually how to use your product and how to do it properly. Complaints will also be minimized because all the facts and the presentation are there for the customers to just see and hear about.

Promote affiliate products and services using visual presentations. This is an effective way of redirecting your viewers straight to your affiliate website after they are finished with the video. Make the most of the presentation by putting your site location in the end and make them go there directly if they want more information.

Multiple your online auction bids exponentially when you give your readers a feel of what you have to offer. Based from reports, auctions that includes pictures increases bidding percentage by 400%. Imagine how much higher it will be if it were videos.

Publish valuable infoproducts that you can sell for a much higher price. It will be all worth the price because of the full colored graphics menu and templates that you will be using.

Minimize miscommunication with your customers. Instantly showing them what you want they wanted in the first place is making them understand clearly the essence of your affiliate program. The good thing about multimedia is, nothing much can go wrong. It is there already.

These are just some of the things you can do with Camtasia that can be very helpful in your chosen affiliate program.

Note that the main purpose of using Camtasia is to boost the income that is generated from your affiliate program. Although it can be used for entertainment and enjoyment purposes, which is not really a valid reason why you choose to get all through that trouble.

Try to focus on the goal that you have set upon yourself to and achieve that with the use of the things that may be quite a lot of help in increasing your earnings.

Here's How To Avoid The 3 Most Common Affiliate Mistakes

2010-04-02T15:25:00.003-07:00

Here's How To Avoid The 3 Most Common Affiliate Mistakes

Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective and powerful ways of earning some money online. This program gives everybody a chance to make a profit through the Internet. Since these affiliate marketing programs are easy to join, implement and pays a commission on a regular basis, more an more people are now willing in this business.

However, like all businesses, there are lots of pitfalls in the affiliate marketing business. Committing some of the most common mistakes will cost the marketers a large portion taken from the profit they are making everyday. That is why it is better to avoid them than be regretful in the end.

Mistake number 1: Choosing the wrong affiliate.

Many people want to earn from affiliate marketing as fast as possible. In their rush to be part of one, they tend to choose a bandwagon product. This is the kind of products that the program thinks is “hot”. They choose the product that is in demand without actually considering if the product appeals to them. This is not a very wise move obviously.

Instead of jumping on the bandwagon, try top choose a product in which you are truly interested in. For any endeavor to succeed, you should take some time to plan and figure out your actions.

Pick a product that appeals to you. Then do some research about that product to see if they are in demand. Promoting a product you are more passionate about is easier than promoting one for the sake of the earnings only.

Mistake number 2: Joining too many affiliate programs.

Since affiliate programs are very easy to join, you might be tempted to join multiples of affiliate programs to try and maximize the earnings you will be getting. Besides you may think that there is nothing wrong and nothing to lose by being part of many affiliate programs.

True, that is a great way to have multiple sources of income. However, joining multiple programs and attempting to promote them all at the same time will prevent you from concentrating on each one of them.

The result? The maximum potential of your affiliate program is not realized and the income generated will not exactly be as huge as you were thinking initially it would. The best way to get excellent result is by joining just one program that pays a 40% commission at least. Then give it your best effort by promoting your products enthusiastically. As soon as you see that it is already making a reasonable profit, then maybe you can now join another affiliate program.

The technique is to do it slowly but surely. There is really no need to rush into things, especially with affiliate marketing. With the way things are going, the future is looking real bright and it seems affiliate marketing will be staying for a long time too.

Mistake number 3: Not buying the product or using the service.

As an affiliate, you main purpose is to effectively and convincingly promote a product or service and to find customers. For you to achieve this purpose, you must be able to relay to the customers that certain product and service. It is therefore difficult for you to do this when you yourself have not tried these things out. Thus, you will fail to promote and recommend them convincingly. You will also fail to create a desire in your customers to avail any of what you are offering.

Try the product or service personally first before you sign up as an affiliate to see if it is really delivering what it promises. If you have done so, then you are one of the credible and living testaments aware of its advantages and disadvantages. Your customers will then feel the sincerity and truthfulness in you and this will trigger them to try them out for themselves.

Many affiliate marketers makes these mistakes and are paying dearly for their actions. To not fall into the same situation they have been in, try to do everything to avoid making the same mistakes.

Time is the key. Take the time to analyze your marketing strategy and check if youa re in the right track. If done properly, you will be able to maximize your affiliate marketing program and earn higher profits.

Easy Profits Using PPC In Your Affiliate Marketing Business

2010-04-02T15:25:00.001-07:00

Easy Profits Using PPC In Your Affiliate Marketing Business

PPC is one of the four basic types of Search Engines. PPC is also one of the most cost-effective ways of targeted internet advertising. According to Forbes magazine, PPC or Pay Per Click, accounts to 2 billion dollars a year and is expected to increase to around 8 billion dollars by the year 2008.

Let us take a quick look at how PPC Search Engines work.

These engines create listings and rate them based on a bid amount the website owner is willing to pay for each click from that search engine. Advertisers bid against each other to receive higher ranking for a specific keyword or phrase.

The highest bidder for a certain keyword or phrase will then have the site ranked as number 1 in the PPC Search Engines followed by the second and third highest bidder, up to the last number that have placed a bid on the same keyword or phrase. Your ads then will appear prominently on the results pages based on the dollar amount bid you will agree to pay per click.

How do you make money by using PPC into your affiliate marketing business?

Most affiliate programs only pay when a sale is made or a lead delivered after a visitor has clickthrough your site. Your earnings will not always be the same as they will be dependent on the web site content and the traffic market.

The reason why you should incorporate PPC into your affiliate marketing program is that earnings are easier to make than in any other kind of affiliate program not using PPC. This way, you will be making profit based from the clickthroughs that your visitor will make on the advertiser’s site. Unlike some programs, you are not paid per sale or action.

PPC can be very resourceful of your website. With PPC Search Engines incorporated into your affiliate program, you will be able to profit from the visitor’s who are not interested in your products or services. The same ones who leave your site and never comes back.

You will not only get commissions not only from those who are just searching the web and finding the products and services that they wanted but you will be able to build your site’s recognition as a valuable resource. The visitors who have found what they needed from you site are likely to come back and review what you are offering more closely. Then they will eventually come back to search the web for other products.

This kind of affiliate program is also an easy way for you to generate some more additional revenues. For example, when a visitor on your site does a search in the PPC Search Engine and clicks on the advertiser bided listings, the advertisers’ account will then be deducted because of that click. With this, you will be compensated 30% to 80% of the advertisers’ bid amount.

PPC is not only a source of generating easy profits; it can also help you promote your own site. Most of the programs allow the commissions received to be spent for advertising with them instantly and with no minimum earning requirement. This is one of the more effective ways to exchange your raw visitors for targeted surfers who has more tendencies to purchase your products and services.

What will happen if you when you integrate PPC into your affiliate program?

PPC usually have ready-to-use affiliate tools that can be easily integrated into your website. The most common tools are search boxes, banners, text links and some 404-error pages. Most search engines utilize custom solutions and can provide you with a white-label affiliate program. This enables you, using only a few lines of code, to integrate remotely-hosted co-branded search engine into your website.

The key benefits? Not only more money generated but also some extra money on the side. Plus a lifetime commissions once you have referred some webmaster friends to the engine.

Think about it. Where can you get all these benefits while already generating some income for your site? Knowing some of the more useful tools you can use for your affiliate program is not a waste of time. They are rather a means of earning within an earning.

Best know more about how you can use PPC search engines into your affiliate program than miss out on a great opportunity to earn more profits.

A Day In The Life Of An Affiliate Marketer

2010-04-02T15:24:00.000-07:00

A Day In The Life Of An Affiliate Marketer

Being in the affiliate marketing business is not that hard now with the internet at your disposable. It is much easier now compared to the days when people have to make use of the telephones and other mediums of information just to get the latest updates on the way their program is coming along.

So with technology at hand, and assuming that the affiliate is working from home, a day in his or her life would sound something like this…

Upon waking up and after having breakfast, the computer is turned on to check out new developments in the network. As far as the marketer is concerned there might be new things to update and statistics to keep track on.

The site design has to be revised. The marketer knows that a well-designed site can increase sign ups from visitors. It can also help in the affiliate’s conversion rates.

That done, it is time to submit the affiliate program to directories that lists affiliate programs. These directories are means to attract people in joining your affiliate program. A sure way of promoting the affiliate program.

Time to track down the sales you are getting from your affiliates fairly and accurately. There are phone orders and mails to track down. See if they are new clients checking the products out. Noting down the contact information that might be a viable source in the future.

There are lots of resources to sort out. Ads, banners, button ads and sample recommendations to give out because the marketer knows that this is one way of ensuring more sales. Best to stay visible and accessible too.

The affiliate marketer remembered that there are questions to answer from the visitors. This has to be done quickly. Nothing can turn off a customer than an unanswered email.

To prove that the affiliate is working effectively and efficiently, inquiries would have to be paid more attention on. Nobody wants to be ignored and customers are not always the most patient of all people. Quick answer that should appear professional yet friendly too.

In the process of doing all the necessities, the marketer is logged on to a chat room where he or she interacts with other affiliates and those under that same program. This is where they can discuss things on how to best promote their products.

There are things to be learned and it is a continuous process. Sharing tips and advices is a good way of showing support. There may be others out there wanting to join and may be enticed by the discussion that is going on. There is no harm in assuming what opportunities ahead.

The newsletters and ezines were updated days ago, so it is time for the affiliate marketer to see if there are some new things happening in the market. This will be written about in the marketer’s publication to be distributed to the old and new customers.

These same publications are also an important tool in keeping up to date with the newly introduced products. The marketer has put up a sale and promotion that customers may want to know about. Besides, they have to keep up with the deadline of these sales written in the publications.

It is that time to show some appreciation to those who have helped the marketer in the promotions and sale increase. Nothing like mentioning the persons, their sites and the process they have done that made everything worked.

Of course, this will be published in the newsletters. Among the more important information that have been written already.

The marketer still has time to write out recommendations to those who want credible sources for the products being promoted. There is also time to post some comments on how to be a successful affiliate marketer on a site where there are lots of wannabees.

Two objectives done at the same time. The marketer gets to promote the product as well as the program they are in. Who knows, someone may be inclined to join.

Time flies. Missed lunch but is quite contented with the tasks done. Bed time….

Ok, so this may not be all done in a day. But then, this gives you an idea of how an affiliate marketer, a dedicated one that is, spends the marketing day.

Is that success looming in the distance or what?

Cell phones, do you really want to be available all the time?

2010-04-02T12:44:00.001-07:00

Cell phones, do you really want to be available all the time?

Do you really want to be available for anyone and everyone on a 24/7 basis? What do I mean? A famous person once said that the more available you make yourself; the more available everyone will expect you to be. People will actually be annoyed if you are not instantly and constantly available rather than being pleased when you do call. People expecting you to be available all the time may be annoying. Cell phone calls follow you everywhere you are including your bathroom. Even during nighttime when you want to rest, cell phones continue to ring and annoy you. If it is important, no problem but if it is very menial, why you need to be bothered so late.

3 Things All Affiliate Marketers Need To Survive Online

2010-04-01T18:32:00.001-07:00

3 Things All Affiliate Marketers Need To Survive Online

Every affiliate marketer is always looking for the successful market that gives the biggest paycheck. Sometimes they think it is a magic formula that is readily available for them. Actually, it is more complicated than that. It is just good marketing practices that have been proven over years of hard work and dedication.

There are tactics that have worked before with online marketing and is continuing to work in the online affiliate marketing world of today. With these top three marketing tips, you will be able to able to increase your sales and survive in the affiliate marketing online.

What are these three tactics?

1. Using unique web pages to promote each separate product you are marketing. Do not lump all of it together just to save some money on web hosting. It is best to have a site focusing on each and every product and nothing more.

Always include product reviews on the website so visitors will have an initial understanding on what the product can do to those who buys them. Also include testimonials from users who have already tried the product. Be sure that these customers are more than willing to allow you to use their names and photos on the site of the specific product you are marketing.

You can also write articles highlighting the uses of the product and include them on the website as an additional page. Make the pages attractive compelling and include calls to act on the information. Each headline should attract the readers to try and read more, even contact you. Highlight your special points. This will help your readers to learn what the page is about and will want to find out more.

2. Offer free reports to your readers. If possible position them at the very top side of your page so it they simply cannot be missed. Try to create autoresponder messages that will be mailed to those who input their personal information into your sign up box. According to research, a sale is closed usually on the seventh contact with a prospect.

Only two things can possibly happen with the web page alone: closed sale or the prospect leaving the page and never return again. By placing useful information into their inboxes at certain specified period, you will remind them of the product they thought they want later and will find out that the sale is closed. Be sure that the content is directed toward specific reasons to buy the product. Do not make it sound like a sales pitch.

Focus on important points like how your product can make life and things easier and more enjoyable. Include compelling subject lines in the email. As much as possible, avoid using the word “free” because there are still older spam filters that dumps those kind of contents into the junk before even anyone reading them first. Convince those who signed up for your free reports that they will be missing something big if they do not avail of your products and services.

3. Get the kind of traffic that is targeted to your product. Just think, if the person who visited your website has no interest whatsoever in what you are offering, they will be among those who move on and never come back. Write articles for publication in e-zines and e-reports. This way you can locate publications that is focusing on your target customers and what you have put up might just grab their interest.

Try to write a minimum of 2 articles per week, with at least 300-600 words in length. By continuously writing and maintaining these articles you can generate as many as 100 targeted readers to your site in a day.

Always remember that only 1 out of 100 people are likely to buy your product or get your services. If you can generate as much as 1,000 targeted hits for your website in a day, that means you can made 10 sales based on the average statistic.

The tactics given above does not really sound very difficult to do, if you think about it. It just requires a little time and an action plan on your part.

Try to use these tips for several affiliate marketing programs. You can end maintaining a good source of income and surviving in this business that not all marketers can do.

Besides, think of the huge paychecks you will be receiving…

Getting thrifty car rentals

2010-04-01T18:28:00.002-07:00

Getting thrifty car rentals

When planning to travel to other countries or even just to a different state, car rental has always been a must especially for traveling business men who need to go to one place to another. However, is spite of whatever “status” they may have, business men as well as ordinary travelers still opt to find and avail of the most thrifty car rentals that they could find. Thrifty car rentals usually abound, whether it be on directories, the internet or wherever it is that you can find service advertisements. It really just a matter of choosing the best thrifty car rental for you and your needs.

Convenience is always a must whenever a person travels, this is pretty much while a lot of people opt to avail of thrifty car rentals, aside from having the convenience of being able to go whichever place they want without the hassle of hopping from one kind of mass transportation to another, they still get good value for their money.

A good example of a reputable thrifty car rental service company in the country is the Alamo car rental company. A lot of people actually recommend availing its thrifty car rental service, because of aside from being practical, they provide good and efficient service to their customers. From providing their customers with a wide range of vehicles to choose from, cars, RVs, basically just whatever type of vehicle that you may need for you travels. They also have various travel programs that you can choose from, this thrifty car rental has actually created various customer programs to suit each and every one’s needs and demands. From corporate programs to government contractor programs, thrifty car rentals surely is their line of expertise.

Another good reason for choosing the Alamo car rental service as your thrifty car rental option, is their strict adherence to quality of service, they’ve really made a name fro themselves by making sure that their customers needs are always kept and they’ve made it a point to keep their good customer feedback by assuring their customers (as well as those who are just browsing) that they provide quality, yet thrifty car rentals.

Thrifty car rentals should never really be a hassle to your traveling needs (or demands), it is pretty easy to land on a huge list of companies that are able to provide quality yet thrifty car rentals. Just be sure to keep a keen eye on the companies that you are choosing from, unfortunately, is spite of a lot of thrifty car rentals who really do try to make an honest living by providing good, quality service to its customers, some sleazy thrifty car rentals still circulate in the market. Be sure to be cautious still when choosing, some may offer really low rates but their cars may be not of real good quality, simply put, the reason why they’re offering thrifty car rentals may be because of their defective cars.

Look out for "signs" when you’re choosing. Ask around, from your family, friends, colleagues and especially your travel agent in which of these thrifty car rentals would they actually recommend. Weigh out your options based on your needs, wants and most importantly, you budget. Of course, having a limited budget shouldn’t really just force you to end up settling with just any thrifty car rental service, shelling out a little more may not really hurt you. In the end, when it comes to looking for thrifty car rentals, it really is more of the quality of service that they provide which should matter to you.

National Car Rental, Quality Through the Years

2010-04-01T18:28:00.001-07:00

National Car Rental, Quality Through the Years

The National Car Rental is one of the oldest and the pioneer in the car rental business. In 56 years of business, the National Car Rental has pioneered amongst its most famous, the one way rental feature, for those people who’d want to rent a car in one town and leave it in another, which makes it more convenient for the renter.

National Car rental was also the first car rental company to computerize its reservation operations. With the introduction of “Telemax” computers to their system, reservation process ahs improved moving to a faster and more hassle free renting.

And since the airline industry deregulation in 1976, causing increase in airline travel costs, national car rental gave flat rates for car renters, who chose renting cars rather than flying.

National car rentals is also one of the earliest companies to start corporate account business back in the 70’s. Through this program, National has focused on the corporate traveler more so than any other company. It was also the first in the rental industry to start a frequent renter program. It was also the first to use paperless car rentals and use computers to make dealings faster; they called this the “Emerald Club” and the “Paperless Express Rental Agreement”. The “Emerald Aisle” program enables customers to select the cars that they want, with paperless ease, bypassing the rental counter, and getting them on their way faster and more efficiently. The “Choice Rental Process” in addition enabled customers to choose the exact car that they want, and “QuickRent” that gives non Emerald Club members to skip the rental counter when they complete the deal online.

National car rental is now affiliated with many different companies, all to improve the customers renting experience. These companies include, Air Canada, Air Miles, Air France, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, America West airlines, American Airlines, ATA airlines, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia airlines, Midwest airlines, Lanchile, United Airlines and Northwest airlines all having frequent flyer and miles/kilometer programs that can be applied to car rentals as well, some of these airlines even consider national car rental miles, for air miles.

Other affiliates include Coast Hotels and Resorts, which give lower rates for national customers that stay in their Hotels, Hilton Family of Hotels, which let you ear 250 HHonors form their Hilton Honors Points and miles, for every rent from national car rental, as well as American Express who lets you earn points when you’ve enrolled for their program for national car rental.

Aside from all the discounts a features that you will acquire through their affiliates, National Car rentals offer a wide range of vehicles for you to choose from, the classes of cars that you could possibly rent form national cars are endless, the types of vehicles that you’ll be able to rent are classified as subcompact, compact, intermediate, full-size, premium, luxury, sports utility, Mini van and convertible.

National Car rentals also have special offers for their customers, one of which is the “Last minute specials to go” which offers different specials every week at different locations. The other special, the “Great internet rates - Book ahead special’ gives discounts fro those that reserve their cars early in the internet. The weekend value Rates – Book ahead special offers lower weekend rates. National car also offers internet only discounts also a book ahead special, which applies to mini vans and SUVs.

The Ins and Outs of Europe Car Rental

2010-04-01T18:25:00.001-07:00

The Ins and Outs of Europe Car Rental

Europe, a continent filled with so much culture and history. A lot of people actually flock to Europe year after year to visit its sights and experience its rich culture. The modern yet still quite laid-back lifestyle that Europeans have been known for has always fascinated tourists, from being true-blue sophisticates who are very much adept to fashion, literature, history, culture and the arts, this is why a lot of people have been drawn to Europe’s simple yet elegant charm time and time again. Of course, traveling around Europe will be really much of a hassle if you don’t have the proper transportation to quickly and conveniently take you from one spectacular tourist destination to another. The most probable solution to this dilemma is a car, ever ready, you’re sure to get to where you want to go at your leisure. Europe car rental however may be quite tricky to some. Let’s face it, a lot of the countries in the European continent isn’t really comprised of English-speaking people and if they do speak a little English, it’s still highly likely that you won’t be able to understand what he/she is saying, it really is best, especially when it comes to Europe car rental, to book everything in advance. Even before your plane lands in the airport tarmac, make all the necessary arrangements that you need to have.

To help you get started on your Europe car rental quest, try to coordinate it with your trip. Which country/countries are you actually going to? Which one/ones will actually really need for you to rent a car (please be reminded that there are some European cities where it’s more favorable to walk instead of taking mass/private transportations)? How much will you actually need to spare for your Europe car rental fees? Is it worth it? Also, try to map out the places that you’re already planning to visit, calculate the distances that you’ll need to travel from one place to the next and if it’ll really be a lot easier (and cheaper) for you to rent a car than take mass transport then by all means, go check out the various Europe car rental agencies available in your area. You need to have everything fixed and taken care of before you embark on your great European adventure.

There are a lot of available Europe car rental agencies who are willing to lend you their services at really affordable prices – well to some extent. From small, typical European cars to luxury cars and RVs, you’re bound to get the vehicle of your choice since there are numerous Europe car rental agencies in the market.

Try to start your search for the ultimate Europe car rental agency by asking your travel agent on which Europe car rental agencies he/she can recommend. Also, if you have friends or relatives who’ve been to Europe, try asking them on which Europe car rental agency they prefer and if it really is a lot more convenient (and worth it) to rent around car for your grand European vacation. Also, help educate your self more with regards to Europe car rental by browsing through the internet. Surely, the internet really is best-known for easy-access research and it really is quite definite that you’ll land your self on a reputable Europe car rental service that will hopefully be able to cater to your needs, wants and budget. Plus, all the necessary transactions can even be done through the internet. So the hassles of trying to find a good enough Europe car rental specialist and booking their services, will clearly be not something that you have to go through anymore.

How to Get the Discount Out of a Discount Car Rental

2010-04-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

How to Get the Discount Out of a Discount Car Rental

Discount car rentals are so hard to come by, and in recent times, discount car rentals simply mean you pay less for something less, and lets face it, sometimes when you pay less for a car rental, you end up with something that looks more like a farmer’s truck than a car. It’s hard to come up with a budget friendly rental, so how do you get a discount car rental these days? Well here are a few tips to boost the value of your money, car rental wise.

1.A good way to essentially, get a discount car rental is to, once you return the car, fill the tank with the cheapest no-name gas you could find, not for revenge or anything, but because car rental companies, require customers to fill the gas tank before returning it, and it you don’t they’ll fill it for you with the company pump but at a higher price, now we don’t want that, so be sure to fill your tank before you return the car.

2.To get the discount off of discount car rental, make early reservations, some car rental companies give discounts or free upgrades for customers who reserve their cars early.

3.When you’re planning to use your rental car for more than five days, or longer, ask the rental car company if you can get discount car rentals for a weekly rate, most companies offer discounts for the sixth and seventh day for weekly rentals.

4.Ask your travel agency if you could get discount car rentals if you acquire packages like fly-stay-drive or fly-drive. Most travel agencies as well as hotels offer these programs at a discounted price, what’s good about this is that you get a discount and you shoot two to three birds with one stone.

5.When you go to a car rental company, ask them if you could get a discount car rental in exchange for your frequent flyer miles, this is good for those miles that are about to expire, so instead of throwing them away you’d get one last use for them.

6.One way to get a discount car rental or maybe just the best deal for your money is to look for sites or rental car firms that accepts a pre-determined budget. This is when you indicate the money you’re willing to spend for the car rental, most rental car companies will give you the program that has the biggest discount car rental and the best deal for you, of course it pays to know if the company has a history of fraud, in this day and age, you can’t really trust people that much with your money, check out the car before you reserve.

7.Ask the rental company for discount car rentals when you frequently rent a car at their firm, they’re most likely to give discounts or free upgrades if you always rent with them.

8.Get discount car rentals by reserving your car through the internet. Most rental firms have internet only discounts that can save you a lot of money, look up the rental firm that has the greatest discount for the same value.

9.To get a discount car rental upgrade, try going to pick up your car just as the shop is opening, there’ll be a shortage in the economy cars, and you’ll probably get a free upgrade when they can’t give you the car you reserved.

Cheap Car Rental

2010-04-01T18:21:00.001-07:00

Cheap Car Rental

In today’s world of competitive marketing and cutthroat competition, a customer can’t really predict whether the deal he/she is closing will benefit her or not, most of the time most, consumers, just go on with the deal just to avoid all the hassle of inquiring for more economic alternatives, or discounts. This also applies to car rentals, nowadays, it’s hard to call anything a cheap car rental, with the inflation rate of products, continuing gas price increase it’s hard to keep product prices down, so here are a few tips to keep your car rentals cheap, even if every other factor is making it expensive.

1.Reserve your cheap car rental internet sites instead of over the counter ones. Internet sites, offer internet only discounts which could very beneficial for you, cheap car rentals can be achieved by being witty, put discounts like these to your advantage and you’re sure to save a lot.

2.One way to get cheap car rentals is to try to get the most out of your rental. Most car rentals require you to fill the tank when you return it, so on your way to returning the rented car, fill it up with the cheapest type of gas you could find, you’ll save more than when they make you pay for the gas at an inflated rate.

3.If you can, always rent at only one Car Company, companies give you cheap car rentals for frequently renting their cars, discounts, coupons and sometimes even miles.

4.Ask the car rentals if you can exchange your flyers miles for car rental miles. This is especially useful when your flyer’s miles is about to expire, instead of just letting it go to waste, get a cheap car rental for it.

5.For a cheap car rental, try to make reservations as early as possible, car rental; companies give discounts for customers who reserve early.

6.To get your rental cheaper, pick up your car early in the morning, just as the shop is opening, so that there will be a shortage on the cheap car rentals, at this point, the renters may give you a free or a marked down upgrade.

7.Look for packages like hotels and rental packages or if you want a cheaper car rental find a package that includes air fare, car rental and hotel stay, these packages give you great discounts on all three, so if you’re planning to do all, I suggest you get a package deal to get the most out of your money.

8.To get a cheap car rental at your own, price, find rent-at-your-own-price internet sites that look for the best possible deal with the budget that you’ve given them, but be careful with this, review the company’s history first before you get into it, or make sure that there are no other cheaper means before you close the deal, remember, once you make a reservation, you can’t cancel it.

9.If you’re going to use the car for more than five days try to find weekly rates from car rentals, with weekly rates, the sixth and seventh day are almost always discounted, so look for this when you’re out for a cheap car rental.

10.Instead of picking up your rental at the airport, save money by picking it up at the shop, this’ll reduce airport surcharges.

Challenges of car rental in Germany

2010-04-01T18:19:00.001-07:00

Challenges of car rental in Germany

In spite of not being the common favorite among tourists, Germany, a country that is totally rich with culture and heritage has somewhat been able to generate a good following still. Still trying to forget about their gloomy past, Germany hasn’t quite been able to detach itself from the awful Holocaust era during World War I. Still, as being one of the most progressive countries in the world, Germany has somewhat been able to pick itself up from the ashes of its dark and awful past to show the world that they’re not a conceited and arrogant nation after all.

With the well-balanced mix of modernity and lush country sides, touring around Germany is sure to be a wonderful adventure that you’re sure to remember – if only you have a car to use for your sightseeing. Car rental Germany isn’t really that hard to book, well, just to be safe, a good piece of advice is to book you car rental Germany, way before you even set foot in the country.

As industrialized and urban as they may be, unfortunately, Germans aren’t really that fluent in conversing in English so it’s highly likely for you to not be able to be able to communicate well with them. It’s best that you find a good, reputable and affordable car rental for Germany while you’re still planning your trip, this way, you can spare your self the hassle of ending up with a vehicle that you’re not comfortable in, much worse, nothing at all. While planning out the places you want and most likely will visit during your stay in Germany, map out the distances from each of your chosen places, try to assess if it’s really more practical to avail of car rental Germany or if it’s still best (and cheaper) to just take the mass transportation vehicles.

Also, how long are you actually going to stay in Germany? Would your expenses actually allow you to still avail of car rental Germany? Also, another very important point to remember is, driving in Germany – as well as in other European countries, requires you to drive on the right side of the road. A lot of people have actually had some difficulty with regards to this so you might as well take note of this before actually booking for your self a car rental for Germany. If this proves to be a hassle for you, ask your vacation companions if they’re comfortable driving on the right side of the road, anyone who’s more than willing to act as your designated driver will solve your problem easily.

However, if you’re traveling alone or your companions can’t drive on the right side of the road, worse, if they can’t drive at all but you’re sure that car rental Germany is what will make your stay in Germany worthwhile, prepare your wallet for booking your self a professional driver. Ask the car rental Germany agency to book you with someone who speaks good English, doesn’t need to be superb nor remarkably fluent but someone who can at least understand what you’re saying and vice-versa.

There’s nothing worse than being stuck in a foreign country with a hired driver who you can’t communicate with, aside from being a total waste of money, you’re bound to leave Germany with a big headache. Don’t be daunted by this “little obstacles”, just plan ahead and you’re sure to be able to enjoy your vacation in Germany completely with no hassles plus you’ll be somewhat of an expert when it comes to car rental Germany.

How to get a car rental

2010-04-01T18:18:00.002-07:00

How to get a car rental

There’s more to renting the car than just reserving it and paying for it, to make sure that you get the best deal follow these steps and tips.

STEPS:

1.Choose three to four car rental firms that fit your wants and needs, do this either through the phonebook, or through the internet, remember to scan every possible firm before you make a choice, you don’t want to overlook the best car rental because you got bored from looking

2.Contact the agency and ask about their special offers, location, availability, pickup sites, rates, special rates, hotel and airline partnerships, extra charges, insurance, everything you can think of that can help lower what you have to pay for your car rental, or what would make the car rental more convenient for you.

3.Choose a pickup point; find one that is near you so it won’t be a hassle, some car rental companies pay for the cab ride you have to take, some pick you up at your home or at the airport to take you to your rental.

4.Pick a car, depending on your needs, find a car that could fit all the people you’ll have in it, and if you’re alone just use a compact, some rentals charge higher for larger vehicles.

5.The next thing to do, after you’ve totally decided on which to take, remember to reserve it, some car rentals include the reservation fee on the overall rent, some make it out to be an extra fee, you should also look out for this when get a car rental.

TIPS

For the best deals for your money here are some tips when looking, finding and taking out a car rental.

1.When getting a car rental check for available upgrades at no charge, you’d want the best deal so you’d want the best car, to do this, you should go pickup your car early in the morning, when the other cars haven’t been returned yet, this way there would be a shortage on economy cars and the firm might just give you an upgrade for a lower price.

2.Get an internet car rental. These types of rentals offer internet only discounts, and sometimes even accepts find a car at your own price methods where you just give them your budget and they’ll find the best deal for you, plus you wont have to go anywhere to get a rental.

3.Fill the gas tank before you return your car, car rentals will charge you, at an inflated price, the cost of the gas needed to fill the tank.

4.Look for packages like fly-drive-stay or fly-drive, these will get you great discounts on rentals, and what’s more you won’t have to worry about other details like a hotel or an airline, everything’s there. You can find these packages on must travel agencies.

5.If your frequent flyer discount or free flight is about to expire, there are some car rental companies that offer to exchange these discounts to discounts on your car rental, although its more cost effective to just fly with your frequent flyer discount, if its going to expire anyway, why wait?

These are just a few of the things you’ll need to know, but always remember to be pesky, ask questions, ask for discounts, the only reason why people don’t get better value for the things they buy is because they’re too shy to ask.

Sunny California car rental

2010-04-01T18:18:00.001-07:00

Sunny California car rental

California has been able to generate quite a number of tourists year after year, with its sunny skies, favorable weather and nice beaches, a lot of people have really been flocking to this golden paradise to enjoy and live their life to the fullest. Unlike other states, like New York for example, wherein it’s pretty to get around Manhattan even without the aid of a car, California however, with its wide and long streets, actually requires you to rent a car for your own vacation pleasure, independence and best of all, convenience. Here are some quick tips and reminders when it comes to California car rental.

For first time California tourists, its best if you have a friend or relative who can actually show you around the place but if not, a reputable California car rental service is what’ll help you make your vacation be an unforgettable one. Arm your self with the proper materials and information when it comes to choosing which California car rental that you wish to avail the services of.

To help get your self started onwards your quest to finding the perfect California car rental agency that’ll best suit your needs, wants and most importantly, budget, it’s best to consult your travel agent on which California car rental agency that he/she would actually recommend to you. The number of available California car rental agencies may tend to overwhelm you at the start, making you unsure whether or not you’re getting the services of a reputable agency. Well do try to heed my advice and ask around, it really won’t hurt you if you do. Apart from knowing what California car rental agencies are actually out there, you even get broaden your knowledge about travel prerequisites such as this one.

Try to map out the places, beaches, amusement parks or wherever it is that you want to go to, way before you actually embark on your trip. It really is much wiser if you plan things carefully and thoroughly way ahead of schedule because this way you get to free yourself from possible headaches and hassles that can be usually caused by not planning ahead. Try to see if the services of a California car rental is really what you need, if it’s actually a cheaper way for you to get around the city as compared to taking mass transport. Evidently, opting to take the California care rental will make your vacation a lot convenient, think about it thoroughly and assess what actually are your priorities when it comes to taking this trip.

There is really a lot that you can do to make your vacations worthwhile and fun, just always remember to plan, plan, plan ahead. Weigh out all the options that you can find and try to be practical in picking out the best possible one. California car rental, to be honest isn’t really that bad, you’re bound to get a good deal somewhere, somehow. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look and having the patience to canvass and compare prices for California car rental services. In addition to asking your local travel agent on which California car rental agency that he/she would like to recommend, you can also try asking for you relatives’ and friends’ advice. Ask them if they’ve actually availed the services of a car rental agency, more so, a California car rental agency, ask them how it went and which particular California car rental service agency would they recommend to you. Lastly, go to your ever-reliable PC and look-up California car rental in the internet. You’re bound to get a long, long list of service companies who are more than willing to give you a good and fair deal.

Tips on how to get the most off a budget car rental

2010-04-01T18:16:00.001-07:00

Tips on how to get the most off a budget car rental

Budget car rentals are a traveler’s savior from being stranded in one place and from expensive taxi rides. But with today’s competitive market, I won’t be surprised that from trying to rent a car you end up renting a lawnmower instead. Well maybe not a lawnmower, but sometimes, well most of the time, the people that assist you in car rentals just doesn’t have your best interest in mind, so you end up paying a truckload of money for a pool of frustrations. To avoid this here are a few tips to get the budget, out of budget car rental.

1. If you’re not choosy with a budget car rental, try to get a budget car rental through sites that let you rent cars at your own price. These firms will try to get the best deal for the car that you’ll get and might just toss in unlimited mileage and upgrades, all of that without spending an extra dime out of budget.

2. Look for package deals, fly-drive-stay, or fly- drive, most of these packages give great discounts for rentals, but don’t do it with an airline, airlines although convenient aren’t really the more economic way to go, their budget car rental prices are hardly budget, and tend to be higher than those of outside firms.

3. Use the internet to reserve a rental car. Ah, the internet, what other good can it provide? Yes there are budget car rentals on the internet that can give you a better bargain. Some budget car rental sites even go as far as internet only discounts. Aside from that you can easily get upgrades and depending on the season, at least one rental company is bound to have a special offer that can help you save money, plus, you can rent a car in the comfort of your own home, beat that!

4. Ask for discounts that can be applicable to you, remember even when you’ve scored the best deal, there is still that one last ditch of a possibility that one of your credit cards support the company and provide discounts or that your frequent flyer program or military service can put that budget in budget car rental, its along shot but its worth a try.

5. Most budget car rentals are low on maintenance so when you rent a car, check all sides for damage, and I mean every side and every nook and cranny of that car, make sure to inform the renter of these so that you wont have to pay for damages once you return the car. In addition, try to check out all the accessories, wipers, radio, brakes, seatbelts etc, to familiarize yourself with them, and also to check if they work, like the previous tip, you might be charged for this if you don’t inform them.

6. Now we pass the subject of insurance, sometimes your own car insurance covers car rentals, so have a look see before you buy insurance from the rental firm. Budget car rental insurance doesn’t cost much, but if you already have one why buy another? Car rental insurance is always required when you rent a car.

7. Another money saving tip is to pick up your car early in the morning, make it so that the firm is just opening, this is because at this time most of the budget car rentals haven’t been returned yet, and you may get an upgrade for a lower price.

Checking out the Alamo car rental

2010-04-01T18:13:00.001-07:00

Checking out the Alamo car rental

One of the more popular and reputable car rental service in the country is the Alamo Car Rental company. It is highly recommended not only thorugh word of mouth, but in the internet as well. The Alamo car rental company is actually a blessing to constant travellers, especially those seeking a way to make their travels be as comfortable as possible, it is best to check out the Alamo car rental company and find out for yourself if they really as good when it comes to their services as they claim to be.

The Alamo car rental company actually gives its customers varied service programs that they can choose from, from corporate programs to governement contractor programs to meeting and events probrams. Alamo car rental has your back (plus your head) covered. They can actually provide you with whatever vehicle that you will want (depends on what you actually need that time).

Aside from quality service, Alamo car rental actually prides itself for being able to deliver unbeleivably cheaper rates (as compared with their rival car rental services agency) which just goes to show how Alamo car rental has been devoted to its consumer public. By sticking to cheaper rates, Alamo car rental agencies actually give their clients a good value for their money.

Alamo car rental is also a good choice for businessmen who are jetting off from one state to another, rather, from one country to another (thus the need for the private vehicle). They actually provide businessmen an exlcusive and unique “business travel program” which obviously is just focused on delivering the needs of valued and busy businessmen.

Certain Alamo car rental policies and guidelines include the following:

Informing them about an additional driver as well as any disabilities or sickness and complications.

Your credit card number, basically how you’re planning fot Alamo car rental’s excellent service.

Proper papers, licenses and identification cards.

Well there are actually a lot more, But its really best to highlight the more important ones. The Alamo car rental service adheres these strict rules and guidelines in order to maintain service efficiency and their good reputation to the public.

Contacting them is actually just a breeze, if you’re not able to locate their listed number in the directory, you can just search for their number instead, on the internet. The internet has a varied and incredibly enormous array of lists that will inevitably lead you to the Alamo’s car rental service’s number. However, you can also reach them through electronic mail. Geared towards providing unparalled service to its loyal customers as well as those who are still looking for a car service rental that they want to try out, Alamo car rental has provided the public with various ways of being able to reach them.

And speaking of trying their best to give their curtomers great service, Alamo car rental has actually equipped their vehivcles with other services that might possibly prove to be very useful to their clients. Upon request, one may avail of the various “add-ons’ that only Alamo car rental can provide. From carphones to kiddie chairs. Alamo car rental service has prided itself for always being in the forefront of the car rental industry. Be sure to check the out once you’re having some car rental problems, they’re sure they can help you out.

Do You Need Accounting Software For Your Small Business?

2010-04-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

Do You Need Accounting Software For Your Small Business?

by: Jakki Francis

If you’re anything like me then you dislike with a vengeance doing your accounts and taxes.

So how can you make this process easier, less painful and cut your accountancy fees?

Well buying an accounting software package is one way.

First of all you need to decide whether you are going to keep your accounting records manually, that is using pen and paper, or whether you are going to computerize the process.

If you decide that computerizing the process is the way to go then you need to decide whether to buy an accounting software package, for example Sage or Quicken, or whether a spreadsheet, such as Microsoft Excel will suit your needs better.

As a general rule if you are a cash business that just needs to record income and expenditure then you are better off using a spreadsheet.

So, should you choose an accounting software package? Yes if:

· You have customers to whom you extend credit and you buy goods in the same way

· You process in excess of 50 transactions per month

· Your business is an Incorporated Company (Limited Company in the UK)

and

· You are computer literate or are willing to learn!

Before choosing the accounting software, speak to your accountants – they will be familiar with the various accounting software packages on the market and will be able to advise you. Most accountants use software in their office to process the bookkeeping for their clients and will have a working knowledge of the accounting software package they use. It may be cheaper for you to use the same one they do, because they can advise you how to get it up and running and will be on hand to answer questions, plus at your financial year end when your accounts need preparing it will be less expensive, believe me to have a compatible program.

I also recommend doing some research yourself, you may be able to obtain a demonstration disk or download of the most popular accounting software packages and this will give you an idea of how they work and if they are user-friendly.

The cost may also be an issue, so you need to decide on your budget. But consider how your business is likely to expand - you may outgrow that budget accounting software quickly and end up buying the more expensive one anyway.

Accounting software providers may also try and up-sell you a maintenance contract. Save your money! In my experience the established software providers will not have bugs in their systems. They will also try and upgrade you to the next version on a regular basis, but if the software is doing everything you need then there is no need to upgrade.

Of course, you could also pay someone to do your accounts for you, either your accountant or a bookkeeper – the payoff being you don’t have to do it yourself and it frees you up to actually run your business!

Copyright © Jakki Francis,(UK), 2005

About the author:
This article is copyrighted. Please feel free to use it in it's entirety including copyright information and information about the publisher. Jakki Francis operates the website

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Surprise! Accounting is the Hot New Major

2010-04-01T18:08:00.002-07:00

by: Donna Monday

There was a time when accounting was the boring college major that many people regretted signing up for. A constant barrage of numbers, statistics and spreadsheets was none too interesting.

Boy, have times changed! Thanks to recent accounting scandals by companies like Enron, there is a high demand for accountants and auditors.

According to the Job Outlook 2005 survey, accounting comes out on top as the most in-demand major on college campuses. Forget dot com start ups. Cleaning up a company’s accounting books is what’s in.

But can accounting be sexy?

“All the focus on accounting created a perception to students that accounting matters and is perhaps even sexy,” says Ira Solomon, head of the department of accountancy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Colleges are scrambling to find more accounting teachers and professors to replace those retiring. Not an easy task, since there are twice as many accounting faculty openings than applicants to fill them.

Here are the top 10 most in-demand college majors as surveyed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE):

1) Accounting
2) Electrical Engineering
3) Mechanical Engineering
4) Business Administration/Management
5) Economics/Finance
6) Computer Science
7) Computer Engineering
8) Marketing/Marketing Management
9) Chemical Engineering
10) Information Sciences and Systems

If you’re good with numbers and a stickler for details, you might want to consider accounting as a good career choice. However, you’ll probably have to take a number and wait in line behind all those other future accountant hopefuls.

About the author:
***********************
Copyright 2004
Donna Monday writes employment related articles for

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Accounting Police: Do They Exist?

2010-04-01T18:08:00.001-07:00

Accounting Police: Do They Exist?
by: John Day

Who created accounting principles? Who sets and revises accounting standards? What if you don’t follow all the rules, do you go to jail? Is there an accounting police force that investigates and arrests violators? It would seem that there must be some regulatory force to make sure that providers of financial statements conform to the rules. There is, up to a point, and here is how it works:

Mainly, it’s all voluntary and it works pretty well. First, double-entry accounting originated in Italy in the 1400’s, so its been around awhile. Accounting principles have evolved over the years just as have accounting standards. The reason why the system works is that the business community could not function if there was not commonality and consistency in financial statement reporting. It would be chaos, much like if there were no driving rules of the road.

Therefore, in the United States, a body of experts known as the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB pronounced Fasbee) was established in 1973, which superseded another board called the Accounting Principles Board (APB). The FASB members go through a lengthy process of analyzing and reviewing problems in the accounting field that are brought to them. After much thought, they will make a pronouncement as to what they think the new or revised way of approaching the treatment of an accounting issue should be.

They are a non-governmental organization that has private financing. A big supporter of FASB is the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Many Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) belong to this prestigious organization and are obligated to abide by its guidelines and principles of behavior. Other countries no doubt have similar organizations that require high levels of accounting professional conduct.

FASB established an accounting code called “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” or (GAAP). The assumption is that if a business financial statement is prepared according to GAAP, then the user of that financial statement could rely on or trust the information more readily than if not prepared according to GAAP. Those businesses that deviate from GAAP, and many smaller businesses do, cannot say that their statements are prepared under GAAP; in fact, they should inform the reader that they are not. However, let the buyer beware.

One governmental body that has a policing function is the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). It is primarily concerned with public companies because their job is to protect investors from unscrupulous acts. Recently, the SEC has gotten into the act of establishing accounting standards. It has its hands full today.

Since most businesses use their financial statements to prepare their required income tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may audit those tax returns and review the financial statements upon which the tax returns are based. Not following the rules can get you in trouble with this governmental body.

You can see that in many ways compliance to the principles and standards is a mixture of voluntary and regulatory behavior. Currently, there is an effort underway to set international accounting standards due to the inexorable globalization process. This is a massive undertaking that will take years, but it is obviously necessary and inevitable.

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