February 2008
Monthly Archive
Real Estate29 Feb 2008 08:52 pm
Taking Title When You Buy
Taking title to a home can seem like a boilerplate event during escrow, but it is very important. The prime question is how you take title.
Taking Title When You Buy
If you are a first time buyer, you are probably wondering what taking title refers to. It is not the act of accepting a piece of paper from the seller. Taking title refers to who is listed on the title and HOW they are listed. If you are not married and are buying the home alone, you can stop reading now because you simply take the title in your own name. If you are married or buying the property with another person, things get a bit complex.
Most buyers take title in one of three ways - joint tenancy, tenants in common or as community property. Here is a closer look at each.
Joint tenancy is a popular method of taking title. Joint tenancy simply is a co-ownership situation where the purchasing parties are both listed on the title. The advantage of this form of ownership is each person on title has the right of survivorship, meaning that if one of the owners dies, title passes automatically to the surviving owner. Joint tenancy also offers tax benefits in the form of a stepped up basis. It is beyond the scope of this article, but the general idea is that the surviving owner gets to step up the cost of the home, which saves on capital gains taxes.
Tenants in common are essentially partnerships to own a property. They are generally disfavored because of tax issues.
Taking title as community property occurs often, but the buyers often do not realize it. If you are in a community property state, such as California, you pretty much take title as community property unless you hire a lawyer to find a way not to. Community property states have an overriding policy that funds from a married couples estate, not to mention assets, are jointly owned by both regardless of anything in writing. There are, however, some advantages to this approach. Upon the death of one spouse, the other gets a major stepped up basis on the cost of the home. When the property is sold, this results in substantial savings on capital gains.
So, which title should you choose when buying a home? There really is not one correct answer. You simply need to analyze your specific circumstances to make the best choice.
Raynor James is with the FSBO site - FSBOAmerica.org - homes for sale by owner.
TIES that BIND
I have no idea how it started or who launched it. Nevertheless
years after all of the women in my family died (they were the
initiators of all of our major family events and thingamajigs.
After the demise of these women our family unit was left largely
comprised of men). In recent years, I started paying attention
to remarks that I’d heard growing up and today continually hear
from other family members about how our family is considerably
dissimilar or substantially distant from each other and how we
were markedly contrasted from that of other families. As a young
adult, I sold into that inconsistency and I eventually started
to believe it. Now, from top to bottom I fervently want to know
how this mis-perception spawned. I had to see for myself if this
“assumption” holds water.
For years, we never even batted an eye when someone described
our clan as being “distantly different” or because we were just
“living our own lives” and rarely visited or even spoke to one
another on more of a consistent basis. (Some live in different
cities within Chicago or have moved from Illinois altogether).
That action or lack thereof was justified by some with the
remark of “well you know how we are”. Only recently have I begun
to exasperatingly resent whenever I heard that comment.
As I frequently do when a believable answer is not plausible
enough to curb my ever-voracious appetite for the curious, I
allow my mind to journey into an objective mode. Consequently, I
intellectually remove myself from my customary “family
character” sanctioning a view of my kinfolk with an unprejudiced
angle.
I am returning from a trip to Windy City Chicago where I grew
up. During my visit with my family, my eyes were opened to a
host of existing modifications although some were new ones to
me. I say with resounding pride, the changes that I witnessed
were heart-rending.
First and foremost, two of my cousins have recently married
amazing women who support and love them very much.
It seemed only yesterday when my sister, cousins and I were the
ones running around during family get-togethers. We were the
cores of attention and all of our uncles, aunts and senior
cousins were doting on US. Here and now WE are the ones who have
traded places with those elders (some have passed on while
others are well into retirement years and/or in ill health), and
now WE dote on OUR offspring and grandchildren. This new-fangled
exchange of ranks swiftly required me to come to grips with my
own mortality. These scenarios were continually restated inside
my psyche and I was once more reminded that time waits for no
one.
My only niece (the ravishing beaut that she is, used to stick to
me like glue back in the day and always wanted to follow me
EVERYWHERE) now has a bubbly daughter of her own! I am still
coming to grips with THAT one because it seemed to have happened
over night.
It’s reflective to see my cousin (who can be described as eye
candy and is as fine as the Denzel Washington’s and the Shamaar
Moore’s all skillfully wrapped in one crisp package, and has
deep dimples just like my sister), who is the Editor of his OWN
newspaper. He sat and interfaced with our relatives and
articulately discussed in meticulous terms “grown folk” talk
with the best of em. (I’m sure he will love reading that I used
to change his diapers!).
When I gaze into the faces of my niece and this particular
cousin, I still envision them as they were in babyhood. Inasmuch
as I try not to view them in that manner, I am helpless. It’s as
though I’m lovingly gazing into the faces of my very own son and
daughter when I first brought them home from the hospital.
Another cousin is writing a book (no I am NOT the only writer in
my family by a long shot!!). He and I were as thick as thieves
when we were teens and we were always getting into mischief.
Although when we were caught, he was the one who was able to
maintain a straight face (same holds true today) hence, since I
did not have as much restraint as he, I’d always burst into
tearstained laughter and ultimately end up taking the fall for
our blunders.
He and I enjoyed a heartfelt tear-jerking laugh about an OLD,
OLD joke. The familiar vibe that we shared as teenagers still
remained as comfortable and familiar as an old pair of socks. I
finally had the opportunity to finally meet his wife along with
his three sons. He has a family to be proud of. He has done well
for himself and I am proud of him.
Yet another cousin has his own sound production company. He does
the “sound” at concerts of popular recording artists and a lot
of his clientele are the ones that we see and hear on videos and
radio. I had the opportunity to sit and talk at length with his
daughter (who is named after one of my favorite aunts who passed
away a long time ago). She is furthering her education and is on
her way to success. I beam with pride when I hear the strides
that the young people in my family are making.
Because of the geographical distance that I created in my life
the family-tie, as I knew it back then will never be the same
with my cousins and my niece. People grow up, procreate and
begin to build a life interdependent of the lives that they
experienced with their immediate family. But aren’t these types
of transitions supposed to happen? Due to the “modernity” in and
of my family tree, I have accepted this latest trend along with
the new position that it puts me in realizing it’s not worse,
nor better, it’s just different. Hey it is what it is and life
goes on.
A few of the aged and pre-existing changes were not immediately
recognizable from the naked eye. Maybe it was because they
weren’t CHANGES at all, but had always been an actuality amongst
our family. All anyone needed to do to see it clearly was to
take a visually detailed gander and there it was in full view.
The reality of what I saw pertaining to my family as a whole is
that the women as well as the men have ALWAYS maintained steady
employment. I’m not talking about 5 years here, 3 years there.
I’m talking employment of the fixed kind. You know the types.
The ones who have been at the very SAME job for 30 plus years.
THOSE FOLK. I know you have a few of those in your family too.
Most families do. These people have spent protracted years at
one job. Today they have retired from their places of employment
and are living the remainder of their lives in harmony and
repose. This is what people naturally do after no longer being
able to do what they’ve been accustomed to doing for a great
portion of their lives. Others have left one job and taken on
another. God Bless em. When I retire from one job that’s it for
me!!!!!! Everyday I am trying to ensure that my retirement will
be just that. RETIREMENT!
With that said, I fail to see how my family “differs”. Where is
the true dysfunction? I say “true” because all families exhibit
some sort of idiosyncratic behavior within itself. Each family
has lapses of time that they go without seeing or speaking,
especially if distance is a factor. Each family has members that
they don’t like or don’t like as much. There are always gonna be
quirks, behavior or personality differences or traits amongst
relatives that agitate some. The fact of the matter is that we
will never like all of our relatives. There will always be one,
two or maybe a handful of our kin that irks the heck out of us
no matter what they do or don’t do. I am sure that I drive
others to the brink of combustion with the idiosyncrasies that
I’ve had all of my life!! Those are just the factual realities
of having family. Nevertheless we indulge or ignore them and
make no material issue of it. We tolerate these differences or
minor annoyances because we ARE family and we are all tied. The
importance of the closeness that we all share should outweigh
the insignificant irritants. The end result is the difference
between what matters most and what matters much.
The most dominant virtues that really caught my attention were
that none of us are drug abusers. None of us have been in jail,
or have criminal records. None of the men or women were
physically abusive to or abused by their significant other. Not
one of my family members even smokes cigarettes, not ONE!!! In a
distressed world such as we live in today, the former
characteristics are momentous and say an awful lot about a
person, more importantly an entire family. Are we unusually
different because we live our lives as productive members of
society? Beats me.
I’ll admit that we were all guilty of being distant for a while.
When most of the women started dropping like dead flies no one
knew how to behave as “family” anymore I surmise. For years we
remained in devastation. We are guilty of that. So sue us.
Sentence us if you will because for years every woman (who was
the glue that normally kept the reunion that is coupled with
FAMILY in tact) got sick and eventually died a slow, painful
death from cancer of some sort. Therefore, leaving the men to do
what those women who passed on did best. The men that were left
had no interest whatsoever in calling relatives to plan a
thanksgiving dinner, a birthday party or a weekend hob knob.
They didn’t have to. They simply moseyed on over to a
girlfriends house, or a neighbors house or your local diner and
grabbed a meal. What I’m trying to say is, it was the women, at
least in my family back in the day, that orchestrated
EVERYTHING. With them no longer amongst us, the men were at a
loss.
The points of view to remember here are the relatives that I
have are family members of mine. I claim them with all of their
eccentricities, peculiarities, quirks, foibles and
unconventional behaviors. We all have them and no one is
perfect. We are all woven from the same threads of cloth. They
are part of who I am today. They are the blood that travels
inconspicuously throughout my veins that thrusts life into me.
They are my roots and my end and my beginning. They are my
sounding board and my cushion.
I had to travel back to Windy City Chicago and I thought I was
going back to visit an ill uncle and to establish some semblance
of a re-connect with those that distance and time pulled me from
and I’m glad that I did travel back.
I realize that I have a family that anyone in their right mind
would be fortunate to admit and recognize as being their family.
I have people that are part of me who are editors, musicians,
soundmen and writers. Correct me if I am wrong but aren’t these
the some of the same job titles that we see when credits are
being rolled at the end of a movie? Aren’t these some of the
positions that most rattle their brain spending countless hours
studying to become while attending Ivy League Schools across the
United States? And here I am lucky enough to have members of
such within MY very own family. Sure we might not see or speak
to each other every day. But I guarantee you if I needed them I
mean REALLY needed them, they would be there for me in a
heartbeat. I can say that now but TRUST ME I didn’t always feel
this way.
When I was married I naively believed that I no longer needed my
biological family. (I was harboring resentment for my mom
because she told me when I was a young girl that my biological
dad was dead. A lot of my family knew the truth and since no one
told me any different I was angry with everyone when I found out
the real deal behind this “daddy business”. Years later, and
with profound heartache and disappointment, I found out not only
was my dad alive but within the last ten years, he was released
from prison for murdering the husband of a woman that he was
seeing when he was supposedly dating my mom. My mom didn’t want
us to associate with him and that is why she told us that he was
dead. I have to admit this was the one time that I was sorry
that I was always so inquisitive. To this day, I do not even
know my father’s name nor do I want to. Luckily, my mom and dad
never married so I can thankfully say that he is not part of my
wonderful family unit). I had buried my ” natural family” in my
hurt and tears. Hadn’t I experienced enough hurt and pain in my
OWN life? I thought.
I blamed my entire family for a bad judgment call on the part of
my mother. They all thought that I knew my dad was alive, at
least. Imagine MY devastation when THAT news was laid on me!!
Whew!!!!!!!!! But true to form, eventually I bounced back. Lots
of families are full of drama but mine was full of death and
trauma. No wonder we were taken aback. It took years for us to
recover after loosing so many women so quickly. We needed a
minute to regroup, refocus and invent another game plan wouldn’t
you say? What family wouldn’t?? But we all managed to survive. I
come from an entire generation of survivors.
My wake-up call came when I divorced and the family that I
thought would always be there for me ultimately was not.
Eventually I was slowly ostracized from them. After that
happened I didn’t feel as though I belonged to “anyone” or
“anywhere”. I didn’t feel I belonged to a “family” unit.
If you’re married and you think the family that you married into
will be there for you, get a divorce. On second thought go for
the gusto and just get separated. There is no other way to
remind one that blood although often doubted, is ALWAYS thicker
than water. I encourage you to e-mail me and let me know the end
result if you so desire.
Point being is I was drawn back to the very same biological
family that I tried unsuccessfully to deny and ignore. It just
goes to show you that we are always drawn back to our roots for
something. It is an inevitability that we cannot deny. I know I
could not and no longer want to deny mine. Thank God there is a
lesson to learn every day. Where would I be without MY family???
Today, this writer doesn’t care how it started or who launched
it. It doesn’t matter how “dysfunctionally dissimilar” people
think we are, be it a relative or someone on the outside. We are
all part of the same gene and love one another. Maybe we have a
quiet way of showing it. Maybe we don’t exhibit our love in
terms of how society dictates that we should. But the bottom
line is we are all linked as one no matter how much some fight
it, hide it, run away from it, disown it, cover it up, ignore it
or deny it. WE ARE FAMILY. As far as I’m concerned, my family is
a great-big-deal. My family is the one bind that I don’t mind
being tied to for these are MY TIES that BIND.
© 2005 by C. V. Harris. All rights reserved.
Miscellany29 Feb 2008 02:46 am
Never Get Married Because You’re In Love
I’ll repeat that. Never get married because you’re in love.
Sounds crazy?
It’s not.
Let me tell you why.
Ever been to a single’s bar? Mosey on over to the one nearest you and watch what happens. When a man approaches a woman in a singles’ bar - or a woman approaches a man - they each know exactly one thing about the other: how they look. She’s attracted to him, he’s attracted to her. And that physical chemistry forms the basis of whatever relationship may or may not develop. Now, they may think they’re in love. But in fact, they are simply infatuated with each other.
Here’s one to remember: Chemistry ignites the fire, but character keeps it burning. Chemistry - physical attraction - is not something to be ignored. But a deeply loving relationship based on mutual respect cannot stand on chemistry alone. That can only happen with someone whose character you can value and appreciate.
The best way (actually, the only way) to have a lasting relationship is to really look at the quality of the person you’re dating. That means being on the lookout for specific character traits, both positive and negative. The top four qualities to look for are humility, kindness, responsibility and happiness.
Humility. What is humility? Well, it is not being a doormat. Letting people walk all over you is not necessarily a sign of humility. It’s a sign of weakness.
Humble people are not weak. Humble people want to do the right thing rather than their thing, and that takes a lot of confidence and inner strength.
Someone who is humble will put values above convenience.
They can accept criticism without being defensive, because they’re committed to personal growth rather than to comfort.
A humble person will not get angry easily, because they don’t feel that anybody owes them anything. That’s the reason they also tend not to be materialistic.
Now, you may think that the above description applies only to angels. And it would be a mistake to narrow your search down to someone who has mastered all of the above qualities that go along with humility. Nobody’s perfect. But you should look for someone who values humility and is striving to achieve it. At the very least, ask yourself if the person you’re dating is arrogant. You definitely do not want to marry an arrogant person who feels that people owe him or her the world.
Kindness. Kindness is more than just being a nice person. If you ask most engaged couples if their intended spouse is kind, they’ll probably say yes. But the divorce rate is over 50%. If everybody is so kind, then why is the divorce rate so high? Because although people think that they’re kind, they really lack a depth of kindness.
So, what’s kindness? Being a kind person means being a giver, someone who’s committed to giving pleasure and minimizing other people’s pain. If two people like this get married, they are much less likely to suffer serious problems in their relationship. That’s because each one is dedicated to the other’s well-being.
How do you know if someone is truly a kind person? Look at how they treat the other people in their lives. How do they treat their parents, siblings and grandparents? Do they feel a sense of gratitude to their parents? If not, what makes you think they’ll feel any sort of gratitude towards you after you’re married?
Watch how they treat the “little people” towards whom they have no obligations - waiters, busboys, doormen, secretaries. How do they treat their employees? What’s their business reputation like? Are they ruthless?
Does the person you’re dating do volunteer work? If not, do they give charity? If the answer to both questions is no, that isn’t a good sign.
Do they drive courteously? What happens when they drink, when they lose control a little bit? How do they act?
Take note of the answers to these questions. Write them down so that you’ll have a whole picture in front of you when you need to make a decision about whether or not to continue a relationship.
Responsibility. First thing, ask yourself: Is this person irresponsible? If the answer is yes, be careful. You do not want to marry an irresponsible person. If your first, off the cuff answer is no, then check them out.
Do they have a stable work history? Do they have stable friendships? Do they have long-term friendships, or do they need to move around a lot?
Ask yourself: Can you rely on this person? Do you feel safe and secure with them? Another good question is to ask yourself is if you can trust what the other person says. Do they stand behind what they say? Do they live up to their commitments?
Happiness. You might be stumped on that one. Since when is happiness a character trait?
That all depends on how you define happiness. A happy person is someone who is basically content, who focuses on what they have, not on what they don’t have.
Life has no guarantees. Anyone can be dealt a hard blow. But a person who is internally happy will be able to get past life’s obstacles, whereas someone who is constantly focused on the negative will have a much harder time. And you want to be married to someone who can smile at life.
So remember: Never get married just because you’re in love - focus on character, not on chemistry. Look for a quality person to share your life with, someone humble, kind, responsible and happy. You deserve no less!
David LeVine, the director of Warm Wisdom Press, works on publishing projects that bring more happiness into the world.
www.warmwisdompress.com/dating/
Animals, Pets29 Feb 2008 01:40 am
happy dogs
Feed the dog good food
About the Author
freelance writer
Miscellany28 Feb 2008 03:25 pm
Successful Dating Begins With Successful Flirting: 11 Flirting Tips For Work and Play
Why are some people born natural flirts and others couldn’t charm the backside of a bus if their life depended on it?
The power of flirting goes beyond attracting the opposite sex. Master the art of flirting and you also become a friend magnet and can use your skills to influence business relationships.
“You’ve either got it or you haven’t!” is often what you will hear men saying when they boast about their conquests. Women, on the other hand, are more coy when talking about a man they have met. So as not to appear full of herself, she will often say to her friends “Oooh, I don’t think he likes me, what do you think?” If she is a successful flirt, however, she will be thinking along the same lines of a man, “Yeah, he was putty in my hands!”
Flirting is an art requiring confidence without being OTT. A successful flirt knows how to get the balance just right; too much and there is a real danger you will be labelled as “slimy” (if you’re a man) and “tarty” (if you’re a woman).
If flirting doesn’t come naturally to you, you can learn to flirt by building your confidence, believing in yourself and interacting with other people.
Here are some basic flirting tips which can be practised at work and/or on a social scene.
1. Have Fun!
First and foremost flirting is fun! Whether you are the flirter or the flirtee it makes both parties smile (on the inside as well as the outside!). Don’t take it seriously; be playful, be light-hearted, be infectious!
2. Ooze Confidence
The best flirts have a positive outlook on life and are happy with themselves. To successfully flirt you need to feel good about yourself before you are able to transmit this “feel good” factor to the opposite sex. If you display a positive and optimistic attitude to life you will find yourself connecting with people who are right for you.
3. Make the first move
Don’t wait for someone to approach you. If it’s someone at work you’ve got your eye on, wait for them to go to the kitchen and then make a beeline for the coffee machine. The same applies in a bar, wait for them to go to the bar and then squeeze in next to them. Start with a simple “Hello” and take things from there. What have you got to lose?
4. Pay a compliment and receive a smile
A genuine compliment costs nothing and yet can make someone feel so special. If someone looks great, tell them! If someone has achieved something to be proud of, tell them! Once you start making someone feel good about themselves, they are more likely to want to spend more time with you! And if someone pays you a compliment, be proud of the compliment and say “Thank you”!
5. Eye to Eye Contact
Eye contact is one of our most powerful communicating mechanisms. Most people don’t have a problem making eye contact with someone they don’t find attractive but they become awkward in front of people they are attracted to. If you tend to look away at people you like, practice making eye contact with people on your way to work, a quick glance and then turn away. This is a good way to build up your confidence. Don’t stare, however, this will make people feel uncomfortable!
6. Pitch your voice
Learn to vary the tone, pitch and speed of your voice. A voice rich in tones sounds far more interesting than one dull note!
7. Listen
A good flirt has the ability to get people to open up and talk about themselves. Pay attention when someone is talking to you and ask questions to show you are interested. The best questions are the ones which will lead to someone remembering a positive experience about themselves.
8. Move your body!
There are many positive body language signs: lingering eye contact, smiling widely, touching someone, head tilting to one side, running fingers through hair, undivided attention but if you really want to let go and flirt openly - dance! Dancing is a great form of self-expression allowing you to interact with someone and connect.
9. Smile, Smile, Smile!
Make your smile contagious! The more you smile the more people will want to know you and be around you!
10. Don’t be rude!
Flirting does not involve being sexually explicit! Nor does it involve being offensive if someone rejects your advances. If you have been flirting with someone and are not receiving positive feedback don’t get disheartened or take it personally, move on to the next person! You may want to consider a different approach if you are getting a lot of rejections.
11. Send an email
Emails are a great way to communicate with someone if you’re too shy to approach them face to face. Whether it’s someone you are interested in at work or you want to try internet dating, emails and instant messaging allow you to flirt without blushing or getting tongue-tied.
Be careful not to become intimate online too quickly though; it’s easy to paint a rosy picture of the person behind the monitor but until you have met them you don’t really know them. My message here is get to know someone online before arranging a date, but don’t fall in love before meeting them! The reality could burst the bubble!
Alison Edwards runs www.SnappyDates.com/ a UK based dating site. SnappyDates.com is an active community where people of all ages meet looking for a relationship, friendship and even marriage!
World Of Gambling28 Feb 2008 03:03 pm
How To Win Money In Freerolls
Freerolls can be good practice, and even better practice when
they provide you with real money to play with. So how can, or
can a person win money playing in freerolls? Really? I mean
everyone has heard you get what you pay for, and nothing in life
is free. That usually is the case, but luckily, for those of us
who enjoy poker, freerolls are an exception to the rule. First I
should probably explain what a freeroll is. A freeroll is a
tournament that costs nothing to play in, but pays out real
money to the winners. They are usually no-limit texas hold’em.
There are also omaha, seven card, five card, and some razz as
well. I have found about 90% are no-limit texas hold’em. Now
freerolls vary in a few ways. Namely: 1. Prize Pool - The total
amount of money that will be paid out to the winners. 2. Maximum
Number of Entrants - The maximum number of people that can
register for the tournament. 3. Positions Paid - This is how
many people will win prize money. (Top 40 positions paid means
if you finish 40th or better you win money.) 4. Game Type - This
is the type of poker that will be being played in the
tournament. (e.g. No-Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Low etc……
Now here is the key to finishing in the money. First you need
to familiarize yourself with some of the different strategies
and statistics of texas hold’em. You may understand poker and
have played 5 card draw and 7 card stud before and figure you
know enough to play. Your wrong. Learning what you need to know
doesn’t mean you have to read a bunch of books over the course
of some months, but you do need to spend some time learning some
basic concepts. The example I use to illustrate my point to
people who say they don’t need to know statistics to play is
this. Say your hole cards are 2 clubs, and you get 2 more clubs
on the flop. Don’t you think it would be a good thing to know
how likely you are to get another club on one of the next 2
cards? I don’t mean you have to understand complex mathematical
concepts, but rather real world situations like drawing for the
fifth flush card, open-ended straight draws, or pocket pairs
drawing for trips.
After having a good understanding of hold’em comes the most
important part. Selecting a good freeroll. So what is a good
freeroll versus a bad freeroll? In one word. Probability. How
likely are you to finish in the money? By taking the number of
people in the tournament and dividing that by the number of
positions paid you get the ratio of entrants to winners. For
example you have three freerolls that you are thinking of
entering, but your not sure which one would be best. Here are
your choices: a. Prize pool is $500. Maximum number of entrants
is 2600. Positions paid are 70. b. Prize pool is $250. Maximum
number of entrants is 1500. Positions paid are 40. c. Prize pool
is $100. Maximum number of entrants is 150. Positions paid are
10.
So in which one would you have the best chance of winning? You
may think well example a. has $500 and pays 70 which sounds
pretty good. Here is how it breaks down. Assuming that the
tournaments do fill up to the maximum. Actually example a. and
example b. are almost the exact same. Example a. is 1 in 37.
example b. is 1 in 37.5. Ah but now we get to example c. which
you will find is by far the best at 1 in 15.
This is the key. By choosing good freerolls with a high
probability of finishing in the money, and understand some of
the fundamentals of hold’em you will have a very good chance of
placing in the money. Now in these freerolls you won’t win
enough to retire on, but you will win money. Then by playing
with that money you can practice in real money games with real
money players, and without risking any of your own money. This
is the best type practice of course, and is really the point of
playing the freerolls.
Weather you’ve never played before, or would just like to
improve your game all of the resources you will need, including
where to play, can be found at the link at the bottom of this
article. I encourage you to visit it.
Good luck at the tables.
Ads + Plugs27 Feb 2008 03:25 am
The Truth About AdSense Placement - Getting More Clicks
If you are depending on Google AdSense for revenue for your website, you need to learn the truth about AdSense placement to ensure that you are getting a high number of clicks on the ads. When it comes to Google AdSense, not getting clicks means your website is not earning revenue! However, by learning the truth about AdSense placements, you will soon see a higher number of clicks on your Google AdSense reports.
The truth about AdSense placement is that there is a trick to it. You want to do several things to make sure those ads get clicked on - especially if you are depending on that income! Start by determining where to place the code on your pages. There is no one spot that is right for all websites and all webpages. It just doesn’t work that way. Each website and each page is unique, and the goal of the page is unique - therefore, the placement of the ads must also be unique.
If possible, you should use “tricks” to get your ads clicked on. The more the ads look like actual content on your page, the more they will get clicked on. For instance, if you have a directory of listings on your site, you would want to make the font and colors the same, so that the Google ads actually looked like part of the directory listing. A good way to integrate the ads into content is again to use the same fonts and same colors, and to place the ads in the middle of the pages content.
The more you can integrate the ads into your pages in a way that looks like it is part of the content, as opposed to ads on the pages, the more clicks you will receive. You definitely need to match your ad fonts and font colors to your pages fonts and font colors. Retain the same look and feel of your website wherever possible. If you are making the ads part of the content or part of a directory listing, choose not to use a border around the ads. This customization can all be done through the Google AdSense control panel when you login to your Google account.
If you can’t make the ads appear as part of the actual content, you have to determine where your visitors attention is focused on your pages, and place the ads in that general area - where they can be seen. Again, you want to match the look and feel of your website, but in this instance, you should probably use a border around the ads.
The truth about AdSense placement is that you should place the ads where they will be the most visible to your visitors. You want the ad blocks to look like they belong on your pages, but at the same time, you want them to draw attention as well, so that your visitors will click on them. Furthermore, if you can include the ads as part of the content itself, you will find that you are getting a higher number of clicks - almost overnight!
You’ve probably heard that putting your AdSense ads in certain spots on a page increases clicks. This is not necessarily true. Although some places generally are “hotter” than others, the ads need to be located where they will get the most clicks. Depending on the content on your pages, the layout of your pages, and your visitor’s attention, this will vary from website to website, and from web page to web page.
This brings us to another fact that you need to know. Placing the ads in a particular spot on one page is no indication that the ads should be placed in the same place on a different page on your website. Again, think about how you can integrate the ads into your content, and where your visitor’s attention will be focused. This will vary from page to page in many cases.
Just remember that there are many factors to consider when determining the truth about AdSense placement for your pages. What works well for one website may not work for another. What works well for one website page may not work well for all pages on that website. Experts are great for a lot of things, but when it comes to placement of AdSense ads on your website, you have to be your own expert!
Jason is a successful Internet Marketer, and posts regularly on his Adventures In Internet Marketing blog. Take a minute right now to sign up for his newsletter for more great information!
Gardening Tips26 Feb 2008 10:57 pm
Japanese Beetles in the Roses
Adult Japanese beetles are one quarter to one half inch long with copper colored wing covers and a shiny metallic green head. Between the green head and tiny tufts of white hair along their side you’ll recognize them easily as they happily munch on your roses.
While they generally don’t eat dogwood, forsythia, holly, lilac, evergreens and Hosta, they’ll eat darn near everything else. These beetles feed on flowers and fruits making a skeleton of the leaves by eating the green parts and leaving the veins. Adults are most active from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on warm summer days. These voracious pests prefer plants in direct sun, so shady areas are usually less damaged.
The bacterial spore, sold as ‘Doom’ or ‘Grub Attack’ is generally used to control these pests. Using a hormone lure in your yard simply attracts more beetles to your yard. Put the lure somewhere else a hundred yards away encouraging the beetles to go elsewhere. Unfortunately, reducing the beetles in your yard will not reduce their attacks in succeeding years. These beetles are great fliers and can travel upwards of ten miles from where they hatched.
Handpicking is also effective on your prized plants - drop the beetles into a bucket of soapy water to kill them. There is some data that suggests hand picking is as effective as spraying noxious chemicals and you know you have killed the beetle when it drowns in your soapy bucket. One trick is to hold the bucket of soapy water under the plant and then shake the plant. Beetles will fall off the plant right into the bucket and you’ll get more beetles if you do this in the early morning before they start feeding and flying. Several birds (grackles, cardinals, meadowlarks) feed on the adult beetles so encourage birds in your yard.
If you decide to use a lure, place it at least 100 feet away from your garden. Lures attract beetles and if you place one in your garden, you’ll have all the neighbors beetles visiting as well. Find a neighbor who doesn’t garden to host the lures and traps.
Doug Green, an award winning garden author with 7 books published answers gardening questions in his free gardening newsletter at http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com
The Basics of a Remanufactured Engine
Even if the commercials seen on TV might make you believe that an engine can run forever, that is not really true, any engine wears out eventually. The engine under the bonnet of your car is composed of many moving parts that are projected to work together and harness the internal combustion power under those brutal conditions. When the engine fails, a good idea would be to think about a remanufactured replacement engine.
A remanufactured engine can be a way to keep driving your trusty car even after an engine failure. Before making a decision whatever you want a remanufactured engine installed or not you must make sure the rest of the vehicle is in good condition, as well as other systems on the vehicle. If you replace the engine on a car that has a damaged fuel of cooling system then that would be a very time consuming and expensive mistake if not correct. If your vehicle is in good shape, or you have recently made an investment in major components on the car and the engine died, then a remanufactured replacement engine is the option you need to choose.
Rebuilt engine is a very relative term; slip-shod methods of rebuilding the engine can not be trusted when it comes to rebuilding the engine. If you want your engine to be properly rebuilt you need to make sure the job is done by professional machinists. Not everybody has the capital to purchases the proper machines and equipment required to correctly remanufacture an engine and the skills that are required are not easily learned. If the engine is correctly rebuilt it might even be better than the original one.
The engine removal and replacement is not an easy job and a proper facility and experience are required. If the engine comes with a warranty then you’ll need to make sure that proper installation and break-in procedures are followed to validate and stay in compliance with the warranty. Cleaning and checking the reused components is a must. The oiling system of the engine must be primed properly before staring. There are many variables that if not checked and done properly might spell the end of the engine before it even gets a chance to start, such an example is a loss in oil pressure.
If you choose to install a remanufactured engine in an otherwise good vehicle, it will provide years of uninterrupted service at a very low cost compared to purchasing a new vehicle.
Visit Hiperformer.com today to get your remanufactured engines. Hiperformer Rebuilt Engines are built to last.
Animals, Pets26 Feb 2008 12:16 pm
Shih Tzu Topknots, Eyes, And Ear Care
The standard coat of a Shih Tzu should be luxuriously long and dense with a good wooly undercoat. The hair on top of the head may be tied up. When a Shih Tzu is completely brushed and combed the Shih Tzu should have a sleek look. The beard come to a point and a long, luxuriant moustache flows over the beard.
Method of making a Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy topknot:
1. Part the hair from the ear on both sides of the head.
2. Gather up in one hand the hair in the middle and slip on a latex band at the base.
3. The band may have to be wrapped around twice to make it secure.
4. A ribbon or barrette is recommended to be attached to latex band.
How to make your own Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy bows:
1. Cut one yard of ribbon. The ribbon can be any width you desire.
2. From this yard of ribbon, cut another piece about 5″ long. Splice this in half lengthwise.
3. Cut the remainder of the yard in half. This material should give you enough for two ribbons or bows.
4. Wrap one of the long pieces around two fingers. Slip the folded ribbon off your fingers and double it over.
5. With a utility scissors, snip off a piece at the corners in a “V” shape, but not a sharp V, for you will lose any thread of support. There should be a piece of ribbon left at the centerfold to hold it all together.
6. Take one of the spliced pieces (5″) and tie the ribbon at the centerfold securely.
7. Separate each fold by gently pulling out and twisting each fold out from the center. Do both sides. When all the folds are pulled out and twisted, the bow is completed. All that remains is to fasten the bow to a tuft of hair, using the ends of the center splice to tie the knot. Cut off any excess ribbon that remains.
Care of the Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy’s ears:
Because of the long hair covering the Shih Tzu puppy’s ears, problems can develop when the ear gets little air. Clean the excess hair out of your Shih Tzu puppy’s ear canal (not the ear flap) to improve air circulation and help prevent infection.
Care of the Shih Tzu’s eyes:
Shih Tzu generally have large eyes with shallow sockets. A Shih Tzu’s eyes are more prone to injury than most other breeds. If your Shih Tzu puppy’s eyes are red or cloudy or tear excessively, or if your dog squints and rubs at his eye, have a vet look at your Shih Tzu puppy’s eye to determine the cause.
Professionalism in Shih Tzu grooming:
The word professional means “one skilled in a profession, craft, or art. The word professionalism is defined as “the methods, manner, or spirit of a profession.
To become professional at anything, one must have the skills appropriate to the art, craft or profession and must conduct themselves professionally.
Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
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