How To Shop For Portable DVD Players

If you’re always on the go, traveling or taking long road trips with the children, portable DVD players are likely one of the most important accessories to take along for the ride. The convenience of being able to watch movies anytime, anywhere is a huge benefit. If you are taking a long flight, experiencing delays on a commuter train or just want to keep the children entertained in the backseat during a road trip, portable DVD players are more than convenient – they are a sanity saver.

Before looking at portable DVD players, take the time to create a realistic budget. Most units range from $100.00 and up to several hundred dollars. If you know that there is an occasion coming up and you may want to purchase a unit, consider placing it on layaway at your local retail store. A layaway program typically consists of 10% down and convenient monthly payments until the balance is paid. At that time, the layaway ends and you take the product home. It’s fully paid and you own a brand new portable DVD player. This is especially helpful if you don’t have the cash on hand to pay for the unit all at once, but still want to secure the purchase. If you have the cash to pay upfront, that’s great. If not, try layaway as opposed to charging the purchase on a credit card. With interest, you will likely end up spending a lot more in the long run unless you pay the balance off over a few months.

Now that you know how much you can spend, start looking at portable DVD players and their features. When making any type of investment in a product, you will want to check out the warranty. Most quality units offer 1 year labor and up to 3 years for replacement parts. Always be sure to save the original receipt, along with the warranty information. Portable DVD players offer a variety of screen sizes, so be sure to select one that is convenient for travel, easy to see and offers good quality images. Another important feature is that most portable DVD players offer the capability of both music and video playback, which means you can insert a music CD or movie on DVD and either can be enjoyed in a single unit.

With most portable DVD players, weight is not going to be an issue. They are designed to be lightweight because they are portable and the manufacturer expects that you plan to travel with the unit. But, some products are more lightweight than others, so shop around until you find one that isn’t going to add a lot of extra bulk and weight to your travel bag.

***Inspiration and Motivation will Overcome Anything***

I have a heart warming success story. You all know how I believe that we can succeed in what we do if we decide to do it and ‘take action’. Each week when I write the bulletin I have to take action and sometimes there is no inspiration. So what do I do? I take action, look for inspiration and think what I can write. I get my inspiration from newspapers, journals and conversations etc. It seems when my brain is alerted to the need something comes to me.

My inspiration has just arrived, as it always does. This time by reading an article in my local paper. This is a true article about a young man called Mark. Mark has for most of his life worked at jobs in the manual trade. Recently he suffered a bout of ill health that prevented him from working. He was advised that he may never work again.

He spent some time talking with local information and advice workers and they jointly came up with a plan of action.

Reading and writing are a struggle for Mark because he is dyslexic. So he decided to ‘get to grips with using computers’. He successfully completed courses in word processing and spread sheets. In his spare time he did a First Aid and Health and Safety course.

Now it gets more inspirational.

Here is a young man taking action to improve himself after being told he may never work again. In the process of completing his studies he was so helpful to other students that it was suggested he might like to take a qualification in teaching adults. Which he did and passed.

It gets better!

Mark’s confidence and self esteem is now such that he is employed by THREE organisations. One as a ‘learning support worker’, one as a ‘learning assistant’ at a junior school, and also as a ‘community Information Technology tutor’.

I am moved by this true story because it shows yet again what the human spirit can achieve if we let it. By his positive action Mark has created a future for himself and he is helping others in the process. Truly inspirational!

Tip: Those who ‘get there’ do so through their own achievements, not through their dreams.

***************************************************************** **** Resource Box: Article by Michael Harrison, Author, Publisher and Business Consultant. Learn from an expert: Go to: http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/ Subscribe for your Free weekly newsletter. Information for career and business minded people. Subscribe today http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/Bulletin.html Access our archives when you subscribe. ***************************************************************** **** **Attn: Ezine Editors / Site Owners / Webmasters / everyone** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above. You can use other articles similarly from http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/Articles.html OR subscribe to our FREE newsletter issued weekly. Each issue is packed with motivational, business and personal development material. Subscribe now at http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/Bulletin.html When you subscribe you will access our archives – no matter what your interest/specialisation there will be information there to help you. Subscribe today to receive the very next issue of ‘byobe Bulletin’ – Do you get it?

Internet Tip of the Week: First Impressions

First impressions are extremely important if you hope to do business on the Web. After you refine your ads, and if you make your pitch to a targeted group, you will start to get visitors to your web site. Here is where many would be entrepreneurs drop the ball.

Putting up a web site is not a difficult task, but designing a good one is, and if you don’t pay attention, it might be working against you. Think about it, the web site is not only the first impression of you and your business, it is crucial to your success or failure.

People don’t waste a whole lot of time when visiting a site. If it isn’t professional looking, they may just “click away”. While looks are important, you must spend time on developing good copy.
Copy written by affiliate programs has been seen over and over, and while it may have been effective at one time, it is so overused that people immediately recognize it for what it is.

In addition to good copy, which of course has no spelling, grammar or punctuation errors, it has to clearly state what you are offering. Many web sites offer a real challenge to try to figure out what they are trying to sell. The offer should be the first thing they see. The information must also flow logically, and not leave a lot of questions unanswered.

In addition to complete information on your offer, it must have a call to action, which entices the visitor to purchase from you.
It must also have an order form, or instructions that are easy to follow. It is also a real plus to let the prospect know a little bit about you. Your picture on the site can go a long way to help instill confidence.

There is some confusion on the value of links. Some advocate that a good web site should be divided into separate sections connected by links. Others feel that a single long web page will score higher in the search engine rankings.

There are basically two types of links. One goes to a completely separate web page, and is considered an external link. Another type is referred to as an internal link. These point to different “parts” within the same web page. Both have value, however internal links are a little friendlier. If someone clicks on one and the next “part” logically flows from the previous one, people will be more inclined to read on.

While it is a good idea to have your links on the side of the page, you should avoid the use of frames, which divides the page into two logical pieces that can be independently manipulated.
At the current time, sites constructed with frames are not search engine friendly, although this could change.

Links should be clear as to where they will take you. It is crucial that the titles of the links, not only make sense, but actually take someone to that information. Each site should have links that are unique, and it is not a good idea to have information in the target, that is not specified in the link.

If you have someone design the site for you, remember that their expertise is in web site design, and most likely they will know little, if anything, about what you are doing. They can construct the site and make it look good, but the copy and information flow is your responsibility. You should always take a break from the copy writing, and if at all possible, have someone else proof your work for grammar. Also you have to be careful of words that pass spell check, but are actually an error. Don’t confuse words like “there” and “their”.

Once you have the basic framework finished, it is now time to test it. Try to corral as many people as possible to review it.
Is it clear and an effective presentation? You should probably avoid friends unless you are sure they will give you an honest evaluation.

The first impression your web site makes is crucial to success.
If people have to “jump through hoops” to find out about your offer, or if it doesn’t portray a professional image, the odds are they won’t buy.

Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby’s Free Ezine the “Tip of the Day” get a Free Ad for their Business at his Web Site? Great Business and Computer Tips – Monday. Wednesday. and Friday. Instructions on how to place an ad are in the Newsletter.

Subscribe at: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm.

The Juicer For Time and Health

The juicer has become one of the most necessary kitchen appliances in recent years largely due to the public’s growing concern for their health. Having a juicer means people can enjoy beverages that are fresh, tasty, pure and healthy whenever they want. They can also enjoy drinks that the average grocer never even dreamed of. This means that even for those who have never tasted a homemade blend of fruits and vegetables, the potentially awful yet rewarding taste is widely known.

But why the awful taste? Because not all of these things really go together, but the juicer was never just about health, it was about time. While it is by far one of the handiest and healthiest things to have around the kitchen, the juicer still owes its popularity to more than health trends. While that is by far the motivations end result, juicers are here to keep us healthy with less effort.

On their own, eating all the fruits and vegetables necessary to keep our bodies content each day can take time. Eating a banana, slicing an apple or dreaming up recipes in which you can include whatever vegetables are left in your fridge doesn’t always fit into the busy schedule of the average day. Enter the juicer.

Healthy time crunched people can throw whatever they want in their juicer, push a button and then gulp it down. Most concoctions should taste great but, because time and health is the main concern for so many, thinking up the best tasting combinations is not always a concern.

However it’s used in the end, for time saving, health or convenience, the juicer is still one of the best things to have around. Even if you’re like me and use your juicer for nothing but your morning orange juice.

Van Whitsett has published a number of articles, both online and offline. To learn more about juicers, please visit: Juicer

Kansas City Based Shick Tube-Veyor Selects ETO ERP Leader En

Shick Tube-Veyor Corporation became Encompix’s latest customer when they recently purchased a 35-user license for the ETO ERP software and several “Best of Breed” products. Encompix will be a strategic partner as Shick are in the midst of reengineering their business to adopt industry best practices. Shick plans to go-live with Encompix in January 2006.

Shick Tube-Veyor Corporation was founded in 1956 by William F. Ungashick, an aeronautical engineer. Today, Shick is an industry leader in providing single source automated ingredient handling systems and equipment. Shick designs, manufactures, installs and services systems for customers primarily in the baking industry. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Shick has approximately 165 employees located in Missouri and Singapore.

According to ETO Institute (www.etoinstitute.org) spokesperson, Thomas R. Cutler, “Encompix continues to take the leadership role in technology solutions for the Engineer-to-Order manufacturing sector. Too many providers claim to have solutions for this specific process. Encompix has consistently demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the ETO process and nuances and it’s little wonder that they hold the position of ETO marketshare leader.”

Encompix (www.encompix.com) has filled the manufacturing software requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since 1992. The company name reflects the commitment to developing business application solutions that encompass the complex areas of project-based and job-based manufacturing.

Encompix provides ETO manufacturers with a competitive advantage by improving bottom line results.

# # #
Encompix
www.encompix.com
Roger Meloy
513-733-0066

About the Author

Professional Marketing Firm

At-Home Relief For Ingrown Hairs

#1 Use Antibiotic Soap

Antibiotic soap helps to clear up and prevent the infections caused by ingrown hairs. There are a number you can purchase on-line or at the drugstore, two are PanOxyl (with 10% hydrogen peroxide) and Reviva (which makes a whole line of hydrogen peroxide products).

#2 Exfoliate, But Be Gentle

Exfoliation with a wash cloth or a loofah can be a great way to get rid of dead skin cell, and can help prevent ingrown hairs. However, if you already have a number of ingrown hairs (especially if they are infected) clean them up before you begin exfoliating. Otherwise, you may further irritate your skin and make your condition worse.

#3 Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Since hard, bristly hairs more easily penetrate the skin than soft hairs, make sure you use a lotion to keep skin and hairs soft. Moisturizer is also good for providing a barrier against the outside world, whether it is clothing (legs, pubic area) or the face (beards, scruff).

For the legs, I like lotion with tea tree oil (which is a natural antiseptic). If you are adding your own to your lotion, don’t use more than two or three drops at a time, as tea tree oil can be very drying. Tea tree can now be found at a number of drugstores now, or you can look for it on-line at Amazon (there’s several sizes you can buy, click here) or at any store selling essential oils.

For the men, the only beard/scrubble lotion I know is made by Bluebeards Original. It is made to soften bristles and help prevent ingrown hairs (this is what my husband uses, you can get it online or at some natural food stores).

#4. If Your Condition Doesn’t Improve, See a Doctor

As always, see an expert if your condition does not improve or worsens. Doctors can evaluate your individual needs and prescribe medication, if necessary.

Alice Kay is the product tester and expert at Ingrown Hair Relief (http://www.ingrownhairrelief.com), a hub for ingrown hair sufferers who are looking for product information and articles about their specific skin condition.

Buying A Treadmill – 3 Essential Tips

If you’re buying a treadmill, chances are you’ve done lots of research already. You probably know exactly what makes up a high quality treadmill and have an idea of which features you want in your unit.

But even with this knowledge many people still fall prey to slick treadmill deals that end up costing them in the long run.

In order to keep that from happening to you, here are 3 essential buying tips to make sure you choose the very best treadmill for you.

#1) Not All Treadmill Brands Are Created Equal

I recently had a gentleman e-mail me asking for advice on which treadmill he should buy. He had narrowed it down to 3 choices:

Choice #1: Brand A: 2.5 HP motor $999

Choice #2: Brand A: 1.75 HP motor $899

Choice #3: Brand B: 2.0 HP motor $1099

He asked me which treadmill I would buy. He was clearly leaning towards Choice #1.

This was the natural choice for most people and it makes sense: get the most for the least. Or get the most motor power for the least amount of money.

However, my answer surprised him. I told him if it were my choice, I would go with Choice #3: Brand B for $1099. Here’s why:

Although the motor power is lower than Choice #1 and the price is higher, Brand B makes an overall better treadmill. Why?

Brand B has a reputation for making high quality treadmills and backing them up with extensive warranties, including 10 years on the motor. It can afford to give such lengthy warranties because it knows that it makes a quality product that probably WON’T break down – even in 10 years.

Brand A on the other hand offers a 90-day motor warranty. What does that tell you about the quality of parts?

Although motor power is a good feature to consider when buying a treadmill – you have to be careful. Look at it in the context of the whole treadmill – including the brand.

Not all treadmill brands are created equal. Some treadmill brands use extremely high quality materials. Others well, don’t.

Make sure to look beyond just the bare numbers when choosing a treadmill. Look at the whole picture to find the best treadmill for you.

#2) Don’t Always Believe What The Salesperson Tells You

Get it in writing. This isn’t to put down any salesperson – but they are human. They do make mistakes, and sometimes this can end up costing you.

I had another lady e-mail me asking for advice on choosing a treadmill. She’d narrowed it down to several and was leaning towards one in particular (let’s call it Treadmill X).

She had been told by a salesperson in the store that this Treadmill X (for $899) came with a lifetime warranty on the motor.

This lady was smart. She was looking at the whole treadmill picture. The price was excellent. The motor power was average (1.75 HP). And who can pass up a lifetime motor warranty?

But wait a minute.

I was fairly familiar with this treadmill brand and knew something was off.

This particular treadmill brand never gives lifetime motor warranties – ever. Not even on their commercial treadmills. So why would they offer a lifetime motor warranty on one of their economy treadmills?

I voiced my concerns to her and wasn’t surprised to hear back a couple of days later that the salesperson had actually been mistaken about the lifetime warranty.

If she had bought this treadmill simply based on what the salesperson said, she might have gotten a nasty surprise – especially since this particular treadmill brand is known for being extremely costly to repair.

Don’t always trust what the salesperson says. Make sure to get it in writing before you buy!

#3 Forget the Price Tag – Look at the REAL Price Of The Treadmill

Price is probably one of the most important factors when buying a treadmill. But sometimes the price of the treadmill can be misleading.

For example, let’s say you’re looking at Brand A in a store with a price of $799. Pretty good price right?

A much better deal than Brand B – sold online – at $999.

But look closer at Brand A. Brand A only comes with a 90 day parts and labor warranty so you need to buy added coverage. You pay $50 for a 2 year extended motor warranty.

So Brand A’s total cost is now $849 (with a 2 year motor warranty)

Brand B is still $999 (with a 10 year motor warranty already included)

Overall, you figure that Brand A is still the better deal since it’s cheaper.

But look closer. You need to pay shipping costs for Brand A. Shipping costs from most stores usually run you about $150.

Brand B, since it is sold online offers free shipping (most online treadmill sellers do).

So Brand A’s total cost is now $998 (with a 2 year motor warranty)

Brand B is still $999 (with a 10 year motor warranty)

With Brand A, $799 has gone to buy the treadmill, $50 has gone to buy the warranty and $150 has gone into shipping.

With Brand B, $999 has gone to buy the treadmill (warranty included).

So which treadmill do you think actually gives you the most value for your money?

And don’t forget that many online treadmill stores don’t charge sales tax. The store that sells Brand A does. That technically makes Brand A MORE expensive than Brand B.

So when comparing treadmills, make sure to consider the TOTAL COST of each treadmill before you buy.

By keeping these 3 tips in mind when purchasing a treadmill:

- Not all treadmill brands are created equal

- Don’t believe what the salesperson tells you – get it in writing

and

- Look at the REAL price of the treadmill

you’ll be well on your way to choosing the best treadmill investment for you. Good luck and have fun!

Looking for more treadmill buying tips?

Treadmill Review offers you original treadmill brand reviews, best buys and buying tips to save you hundreds of dollars on your next treadmill.

Visit http://www.treadmillreview.net for more information

Superb Winter Snowfalls in the Southern Alps

Climate change and the recession, these twin threats have spared the French Alps, at the least for Christmas. But it could have been so altogether polar. Ahead of Xmas hamlets in the Meribel area were isolated as heavy snow came down. Dual carriage way passes such as the important Col du Les Contamines-Montjoie were shut. At that place there was no electricity or telephones, home owners had to be moved out to pro tem accommodation, it seemed like a double of 1995.

It seems that all publicity is good publicity. Val-d Isere appeared every evening on national French news. Immediately power was reconnected bookings commenced to come in, pulled in by the first class skiing conditions.

La Mongie and nearby Val Thorens lay claim to almost four feet depth on the top pistes at 2000 metres elevation and 2 metres at the bottom of the pistes. Currently the deepest in the Alps. La Plagne alleges that there is 4 meters at the the highest point of the resort. Unluckily a snow storm has knocked over a pylon of the lift which accesses the sector. It is out of commission until the middle of Mar.

In other resorts in the French Alps inquiries have increased 18% in La Chavanette, Espace Killy and La Rosiere. Val Thorens has 99.7% occupancy and traded a record breaking number of passes during Monday. That is timely for luxury ski chalets and large snowboarding businesses.

Academic Gown Preschool

Graduation Gowns

Graduation Regalia

Gordon International
200 William Street
Port Chester, New York 10573
Phone: 800-352-6121

Graduation Products

Graduation products are a must have for any graduation ceremony. These products encompass the basic fundamentals that are designed to make each and every graduation ceremony a long and up held tradition. Graduation products are available in a wide array of assortments that will include but no be limited to class rings, graduation head gear and gowns, yearbooks, honor cords, graduation announcements and invitations to the ceremony for friends and family alike. Graduation products will moreover circumnavigate to include products catered for all levels of learning whether for kindergarten, middle or high school and colleges. Moreover, they can also cater for corporate activities.

Gordon International
200 William Street
Port Chester, New York 10573
Phone: 800-352-6121
Email: info@gordon-intl.com
Gordon International has been outfitting the world’s graduates since 1960. Customer Service, High Quality Products and Guaranteed Low Prices. Visit us on the web and see why we’re considered the #1 graduation company.

Graduation Information On The Internet

Graduation information is available all over the internet. You’ll find multiple links which can assist you in your research. Gordon International offers a lot of information which can be useful to anyone ordering graduation regalia but if you’re looking for specific history please see the link provided below.
The Following Site Offers Great Information About Graduation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_dress wikipedia provides the searcher with a great information source for any type of search. You can go to their search wiki and place an random search in the engine and you’ll come across a few useful sources & articles.

Natural Doesn’t Contain As Much Nature As It Used To

“Natural,” what does that mean? Within the confines of each of us is a place where we are all certain that we have an active, working and accurate definition of what the word “natural” means. In truth, the different ways that “natural” is qualified, quantified and cajoled has more to do with the perspective of the person using it than the context in which it is used.

The average consumer sees the word “natural” as a panacea for all that is good and right in the world. To them something that is natural comes directly from nature. It is raw, unrefined. It becomes a component of magical proportion because we often believe that “natural” is equivalent to “perfect.”

I don’t dispute that nature has myriad examples of perfection. It is important for us to recognize that the most magnificent examples of nature’s perfection are only perfection because they are imperfect. Don’t we secretly all love snowflakes because we are certain there are no two that are alike? The Hope Diamond is famous for the perfection of its beauty. Lets not forget; it is the contamination of the pure carbon by boron that makes it so elegantly blue. The perfection of a pearl is the solution of an oyster to an irritation, a less than perfect circumstance. Don’t the most fabulous rivers meander to their destinations? I have lived on a farm for many years and I know you all aren’t gonna get on board for this one but water that has been purified to the extent that there is nothing in it other H2 and O can never be compared to the taste of cool, crisp and refreshing good ole dirty well water.

It is these types of images that are conjured in the average consumer when they see the word “natural” on a label. Too often they do not exercise reasonable thinking. Nature is full of compounds that are lethal in their original states. Nature can be bad. We know this; still, we find it difficult not to be romantic.

Big business knows that we find it difficult to resist the romance of nature. You cannot turn around without seeing the “new reformulated natural” concoction. It often will have some rare botanical you have never heard of that is the latest miracle thing. The fact that we haven’t heard of it makes it exotic. It’s just all so seductive. Corporations have even taken to breaking synthetics down to their component parts so that they can appear natural. Who has time to really decode what they tell us?

It’s time for humanity to find the time to consider ingredients and the ramifications of what they do. We have let the convenience of products that have indefinite shelf lives coddle us into turning a blind eye. We have let the pursuit of the fountain of youth (the timeless euphemism for our fear of death) convince us that injecting toxins, plastering toxins all over our bodies and ingesting toxins is a fantastic idea. We have let supply dictate our demands. We have abdicated the power of the consumer to the manufacturers. Manufacturers are more than willing to sell us the shiny, the pretty, and the obtuse even if it kills us. They do so without regard for whether they hasten us to that point which we so desperately abhor.

Special interest label readers, people with allergies, vegans, vegetarians and some dieters are typically vigilant about their specific interests. They are the best consumers in some ways. Unfortunately, the general public because of their enthusiasm discards some of the important knowledge they can share. An avid omnivore might not heed the warnings of a zealous vegan because they assume because their dining habits are not the same that they somehow don’t have anything important to say on the subject. To be trite, it’s the baby going down the drain with the bathwater. Vegans should not allow themselves to become complacent. A product can be strictly vegan and still be poison.

To the marketer, “natural” is just another term equivalent to “buy me!” Was it one of the big manufacturers that told us that all of the mainstream skin care products had ingredients that appeared in the breasts of women with breast cancer? This fact has not translated into direct causality in all instances but it is darned suspicious. It is enough to raise a drawn on eyebrow.

Nature provides us with many solutions to several challenges of the modern world. They are not generic solutions. A botanical that has antibacterial properties may be effective for its appointed use at one amount, ineffective at other amounts and toxic or at least irritating at others. One size never fits all.

We can’t all be chemists but we can at least be skeptical of what a manufacturer tells us on their label. We all think we know that ingredients are listed in order of their quantity. If we knew that at the 1% level ingredients can be listed in any order and we recognized that we don’t know where the 1% level begins on the list, wouldn’t we be a bit more hesitant to purchase the aloe lotion just because it has aloe at the end of the list and a big picture of an aloe vera plant on the cover.

In short, (I know it’s a little late for that) we have to find a way to not allow marketers to exploit our fears and ignorance to the extent that we are willing to leap head first into the abyss. Be careful; read labels.

Dawn Worthy, owner of Fresh From the Farm, is devoted to integrating human health and comfort with the natural world through 2 product lines, Aunt Ann’s Garden Soap and Grandma’s Love Afghans. “We think poisoning our customers is bad and we have taken a strong stand against it. We think lying to our customers is bad too. We are also against that.” http://www.FreshFromtheFarm.Us