International Markets

It's China's world. (We just live in it) - Oct. 8, 2009

2009-10-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

It's China's world. (We just live in it) - Oct. 8, 2009

Official Gmail Blog: Update on today's Gmail outage

2009-02-24T18:33:00.000-08:00

Official Gmail Blog: Update on today's Gmail outage

What happened to Gmail?

2009-02-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

High tech - Low tech - everything is possible !

Always have a back - up plan !

Did you do a back-up recently of your files?

What's going on? Economic crisis, turbulence on the money markets....

2008-12-20T07:04:00.000-08:00

I have to get back with my open comments, even if I decided a year ago - not to get involved because you cannot change the mess - just to adjust to it.

But, certain situations are dramatic and awful not to make your comments heard.

First ; look at this one - what happened in Vancouver - the Olympic City
We take care of the future Olympians, but we cannot deal with a daily problem.

Homeless BC woman burns to death while trying to keep warm

No comments.

The next one is a perfect example why the economy is in such a bad shape.

There is no more loyalty and the example is set by the companies.

EA cuts jobs, moves Black Box studio
Globe and Mail - 7 hours ago
Electronic Arts Inc. dealt another blow to the game industry in British Columbia yesterday when it announced plans to shutter its famous Black Box development studio in downtown Vancouver and increase the number of layoffs as part of the company's ...

Young, enthusiastic, passionate about what they do are hit hard by the company - Money hunger and profits. These young people worked hours - they did not care how many - and hours to meet the deadlines. Day and night - always someone in the studio.

I NEVER WORKED FOR EA - just to clarify your question.

Absolutely, you have to profit - we are in business to make money.

Can we make money with a human face?

Let's ride together the storm - otherwise the damage will stay longer than we expect.

I hope that the science fiction movies of years ago - they will not become a reality in the days ahead.

Let's get back to reality that the human bodyit happened - cannot adjust to changes as fast as it happened.

There is no way to change a business plan within a period of few months.

But, wherever there is a crisis, there are as many opportunities.

The question is: Do we learn from the situation, or we are bound to same mistakes in the future?

Setting Goals for Your New Years Resolutions

2007-12-26T19:24:00.000-08:00

Setting Goals for Your New Years Resolutions
In order for resolutions to actually fit into your life and
become completed, they first need to become goals. Here are
some basic goal-setting guidelines to help you with your
resolutions.

Begin by setting up short and long term goals. Then devise a
means of accomplishing both and evaluating your progress along
the way towards completion. Because once you chart your
progress, you will be able to see the different levels or
stages needed to accomplish each step towards completing your
resolution; i.e. you’ll know what exactly you need to do to
complete your goal.

Then mark off minor accomplishment rewards along each step of
the way. For example, if you are trying to stop smoking, maybe
you’ll stop smoking in your car first, then your living room,
then your family room, etc. until you finally quit smoking
everywhere. So after quitting in each room, take a time out to
reward all your hard work. Invite a friend out to lunch.

Redecorate an old smoke filled room with fresh curtains and a
nice clean rug. This way your road to resolution success won’t
seem so long and like drudgery. Plus by enjoying each step of
the way, you are actually helping push yourself to your goal
completion with powerful, positive giant steps forward.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND ALL THE BEST !!

International negotiation

2007-11-14T13:29:00.001-08:00

Time, time to read all the information available to you - we are just trying to summarize for just few of them.

International negotiation - challenging and rewarding
Patience and perseverence to negotiate.

clipped from www.itxcellence.com

International Business Negotiation

Entrepreneur, business - Negotiation Tips for Startups

Entrepreneur, business - Negotiation Tips for Startups -
Entrepreneur.com ... Asheesh Advani: Startup Financing Negotiation Tips for
Startups Follow these suggestions for ...
www.entrepreneur.com/money/financing/startupfinancingcolumnistasheeshadvani

Material 53 - Business Negotiation

Material 53 - Business Negotiation We all negotiate each day, and this course applies what we know to the ordinary business situation. REVISED AND POSTED 10/3/02faculty.deanza.edu/groverichard/classes/course2 · 11/11/2007 · Cached page

Harvard Business Online | Newsletters

Harvard Business School Publishing is no longer publishing the Negotiation Newsletter. The newsletter is now being published by the Program on ... harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/relay.jhtml?name=negotiation · 11/13/2007 · Cached page

VitalSmarts - ::

How to Magnetize Your Target Market

2007-10-11T22:36:00.000-07:00

How to Magnetize Your Target Market

I'm sure you've heard over and over the importance of having a "target market," a specific group of people who share similar qualities and have a problem that you and your business can solve. Now, this is important because you want to have a clear message that speaks directly to potential clients, which has them saying, "Yes! That's what I want! I'll hire you NOW."

The importance of this is very true because we honestly can't serve everyone. If you feel resistance (a.k.a. fear) beginning to bristle, perhaps because you believe you'll lose business by not being willing to work with everyone, just pause for a moment and ask yourself, "Would I really want to work with everyone?" My guess is your answer would be no because everyone is not your energetic match. Just bring to mind for a moment someone you really can't stand. Now, imagine your whole business filled with this person-every client/customer. Kind of shifts the whole "I want to work with everyone" perspective, right?

Understanding who your energetic match is is the secret to magnetizing your target market. This is what we're going to do together today, my friend.

First, let's look at why, if you recognize that having a target market is important, do you resist it? Well, after having coached with tons of entrepreneurs around this, I've come up with what's missing in most of the traditional "target market" talk:

It only addresses the outer. (And this doesn't get us excited, but rather has us feeling limited.)

When asked to define your target market, you may have been asked in the past to get clear about your target market's: Age Gender Marital Status Occupation Problem they need solved

Let's pause for a second...does this really guarantee to help us get narrow and specific so our message stands out to what they need? Well, not necessarily. I bet we could get a room full of: 35 years old female single nurses

...and they aren't all going to have the same problem.

So what we're really interested in is the situation your target market needs solved and we make YOU the situation solver. Then we tap into the energy that is the essence of attraction between you and whom you WANT to work with.

It's this "inner part" that moves you into the excitement of creating your "Ideal Client" rather than just "Target Market."

You can begin to better understand who your ideal client is by asking yourself: What are the qualities of my ideal client? What jazzes my ideal client? What does my ideal client expect from me?

Really, just let the answers to these questions flow and FEEL what would have you excited about working with this person. Answering these questions connects you to a situation or type of person with whom you are a natural energetic match. This way, you're drawn together like magnets and your ideal client recognizes right away that working with you is a must. They just feel it.

Golden Nugget: Your ideal client is usually someone like you who shares your journey. However, they're in a different, earlier phase of the journey. To understand this truly is gold: when your ideal client is looking to hire you, they're looking for a solution to their situation or problem. They recognize you've been where they are and have successfully made the change. This ignites belief that they can do it too. It's a reassurance they're investing their time, energy, and money in the right person and process. It's easy for you to talk to them because it's kind of like talking to an earlier version of yourself, yes? Just think about what you would've wanted to hear.

So when you get clear about who your ideal client is, and can effectively share the experience of your journey (whether in person or in your marketing materials), in a way that ignites the energetic match that the two of you naturally are, then you've just accelerated the whole process of bringing on new clients. (This is the whole point of having a target market in the first place).

Call-to-Action:

Focus on the qualities of your ideal client: what jazzes them (hint: it will jazz you, too!) and what they expect from you. This sets you up to be an energetic match.

Get clear about your journey. What did it take for you to get where you are? Be willing to share it. You'll be setting up an automatic path of connection and understanding. You'll be confident in your work because you both recognize you've done it and now it's their turn to do it, too.

Give yourself permission to work with your ideal client. Nothing good comes from working with non-ideal people out of fear. You deserve to be jazzed in your business-it's the magic water for continuous business (and income!) growth.

------------------------

Heather Dominick, Solo-Entrepreneur Expert, has over 10 years of teaching and coaching experience. Heather’s primary focus is in coaching entrepreneurs to partner the inner and outer workings of business for increasing profit and making successful business changes. To sign up to receive your free business building e-course go here now http://www.energyrichcoach.com

Ten Negotiating Mistakes That Cost You Thousands

2007-10-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

Success in negotiating is a lot like becoming proficient in martial arts. You must learn to use of timing, power and leverage to your advantage. In bargaining contests, Americans tend not to do very well when compared to people in other countries around the world. There are some real black belts out there and here are some common mistakes that often keep us from getting the best deals:

MISTAKE #1: Being Afraid To Bargain: If a martial artist enters the ring and is the least bit afraid of his or her opponent the contest has already been decided in the other person's favor. Some of us are a bit timid when it comes to haggling because we're afraid to be rejected. In reality, there is no rejection in negotiating. If you ask for a discount on your laundry from a dry cleaner that you patronize on a regular basis and the owner says, "no" what have you lost? Nothing! However, the power to choose is now in your hands. You have the choice of continuing to pay full price or take your business elsewhere. It's totally in your control.

MISTAKE #2: Forgetting That Everything Is Negotiable: Master martial artists take every opportunity to practice whether in a tournament or just by themselves. Master bargainers are constantly aware that anything is negotiable under the right circumstances. I have gotten discounts on gasoline for my car, substantially reduced peoples' IRS tax bills and even obtained deals on medical care. You would be surprised to find what others will do to earn your business as long as you keep in mind that there must be a benefit to them of doing business with you.

MISTAKE #3: Believing It's Not Worth Haggling Over Small Items: Martial artists do not become black belts overnight but rather one day at a time. Many Americans only think about negotiating when it comes to big-ticket purchases like cars and houses. The real savings come when you get discounts on things you buy more frequently. For example, if you and your spouse eat out at nice restaurants once a week costing eighty dollars and you negotiate a thirty percent discount that saves over $1,200 a year. I generally only pay half price for meals saving even more. I get discounts on trees and plants at my local nursery, parking at the airport, food at the nearby Chinese restaurant and dozens of other establishments who value my business.

MISTAKE #4: Thinking About Ourselves First: There's an ancient Chinese saying, "To defeat an opponent you must first think like an opponent." Many people only consider the benefits they'll get out of a negotiation. Master bargainers are always thinking about what's in it for the other person to accept a deal, not what's in it for themselves. They know that if there isn't a clear benefit to the other party they will never seriously consider an offer. Finding ways to help people solve their problems will make it easier for them to give you what you want. Most businesses make their money on repeat business because this eliminates their marketing costs. If you are a regular customer you deserve a discount for saving them money.

MISTAKE #5: Making The First Offer: Martial artists try not to make the first move when sparring because it immediately reveals their speed and timing to their opponent. Try not to make the first offer anytime you bargain because it limits your options. Even if the price is clearly marked, you can always ask, "Would you take less to sell this today?" If you are a buyer and you make the first offer it sets the lower limit because now you can only raise your price. If you are a seller and you name a price you can only go down from there.

MISTAKE #6: Being Too Nice: If a martial artist has to make the first move he is likely to be pretty aggressive in hopes of scoring a few early points. If you must make the first offer, make it a low one if you're buying and high if you're selling for the reason stated above. It sets the lower or upper limit and reduces your options. Being aggressive with your first offer leaves room for negotiating. Don't worry about being nice as the other party can always say, "no." You never want the other party to agree to your first offer because that leads to the next mistake.

MISTAKE #7: Being Too Eager: A martial artist always starts a contest by testing his opponent. Take your time when bargaining. In America "time is money" but in other countries it is used for building relationships. There is one word that a black belt negotiator never wants to hear early in the bargaining process - "okay." This means that you paid too much or asked too low a price because you got impatient. Take your time and don't put yourself under any undue pressure. When I was in Japan negotiating a television sponsorship contract, my hosts and I spent two weeks just eating sushi, drinking sake and singing karaoke (badly) but not one word was mentioned about the reason for my visit. It wasn't until we had built a mutual level of trust that the talks began.

MISTAKE #8: Not Doing Your Homework: Most martial arts tournaments are won or lost before they ever begin and it's the same with negotiating. Just like a fighter would never step into the ring without finding out everything he can about his opponent, you should too. If you're buying a car, search the web to find the dealer's invoice, when the new models will be coming in and if there are any bonuses or cut-rate financing available to you. No matter what you are buying or selling you can find out valuable information such as: what's the current demand, the profit margin, and other priceless data.

MISTAKE #9: Not Playing To Win: Martial artists never enter the ring hoping for a tie. Everyone has heard that in negotiating you want to develop "win-win" solutions but, in reality, nobody believes in tying. You don't want your opponent to get the better end of the bargain and neither do they. This is not to say that you try to take advantage but you should always try to get the best deal you can and assume that the other party will do likewise. You don't need to be concerned about fairness because if they agree to your offer they must feel it benefits them as well.

MISTAKE #10: Missing Opportunities To Negotiate: Every time you pull out your wallet to pay for a purchase you should ask yourself, "Is this a chance to practice my bargaining skills?" This is not to say that you absolutely must bargain on everything but every transaction adds up and the more you bargain the better you become. Black belts practice every day and so should you. Start by going to garage sales and then moving up to flea markets where the sellers are generally more experienced. After your skill and confidence have grown then go to antique and collectible stores where prices are generally not set in stone. Eventually, you'll be ready for the ultimate test - haggling over large appliances, cars and houses. By negotiating more often you not only put more money in your pocket but also increase your negotiating skill. You'll also find that bargaining can be a fun and profitable way to spend a couple of hours.
------------------------
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Soon Lee, MBA, is the author of the new book “Black Belt Negotiating” (AMACOM Books, 2007), a world class negotiator and martial artist. He has bargained on everything from major real estate purchases to discounts on gas for his car. Michael shows people how to use martial arts secrets to gain leverage in any bargaining situation. You can assess your negotiating prowess on his website at http://www.SeminarsUnlimited.com and his phone number is: (800) 417-7325.

Tips on Making the Best Digital Wedding Photography even Better

2007-08-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

Brides and grooms alike are now enlisting the expertise of professionals to get the best digital wedding photography for that special occasion. And why not? They would surely want to have the best photo taken so that the memories will be preserved as long as they live.

More and more people are now shifting to the use of digital cameras to take pictures of their wedding. One of the reasons for this is that the quality is better compared to the traditional camera. Another reason is that the photos can be stored not only in their hard-bound albums but also on albums online.

Today, people are more dependent on their computers than ever before. With computers, they can easily upload their wedding pictures and share them with family and friends all over the world. You do not have to rely on snail mails just to send your pictures. They are being sent and viewed the minute you have them in your computer.

This is one of the many advantages of digital photography. If taken properly, you are assured that you and you partner will never regret having used digital photography for your wedding pictures.

Below are some of the tips to get the best digital photography for your wedding.

1. Choose the right background.

Photos can really look great once they are shot with the perfect background. You can use the decorations in the church and in the reception areas as a back draft for your photos. Be sure to fix some scattered decorations so that they will appear simply perfect on photos.
Always remind the photographer to check if the view is good when taking pictures. It does not mean that you have to stand on the same corner or place. The best photographer is able to make even the simplest of background look great on photo if it is taken in the right angle.

2. Look out for any kinds of glass.

Glasses tend to cause reflections in photos. May it be an eyeglass, window or wine glasses. One way or another, they will cause a reflection or brightness to reflect back on the camera it is included in the picture.
To avoid this, the position of the camera can be altered so that it will not directly hit the glass. The photo can be taken sideways or downwards but never on eye level.

3. The perfect timing.

Persons being photographed should not always be looking at the camera. And they do not have to be smiling at the lens too.
One way of doing it is to wait for the right moment so that you can have a candid shot at them. You will see that catching persons on film when they are in their candid state is much better than having them wearing a fixed expression. Candid moments make photos look real and natural.

4. Review each photo.

To maximize the memory that your digital camera has, it is best to review every shot taken. There might be duplicates that can be removed so that you can free more space for a different shot.

You will probably want the best and the maximum number of digital wedding photography shots so you need to make the most of the capacity of the digital camera.
The best wedding photography is made even better now with digital cameras. This is one thing that you definitely should have on your special day.

A Guide to Professional Styles and Techniques in the Art of Digital Wedding Photography

2007-07-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

When people get sentimental, they usually flip albums and look at the pictures that depict the things that happened in their lives. These pictures are not simply pieces of colored papers with images for they can trigger deeply-seated emotions. Emotions vary depending on the memories attached to these images seen and preserved.

One of the moments that most people would really love to preserve is the tick of events on their wedding day.

ebooks for everyone

For this reason, people even decide to hire professional photographers to capture the important moments of their lives. However, these photographers may not always advise the client to strike a pose. They are expected to wait patiently to be able to catch memorable portraits. Most photographers that are employed for weddings have assistants so that they can maximize their strategy in creating an album that will not regrettable.

What if you would also want to take pictures of a friend’s wedding?

ebooks for everyone

Here are a few basic techniques and styles for anyone who wants to capture the said event using a digital camera:

1. If you want to take a picture of a couple or any intended target, make sure that the background is good and the environment is not so crowded.
2. If there is a nice background but it is hard to focus on the couple, you may shoot them from shoulder up.
3. If some of the guests are wearing glasses, they can be advised to stand tilt their heads a little down or sideways to avoid the glaring effect that normally appears when the flash is used.
4. If there is a couple or a group that you wish to include in the picture, you should zoom in or out of the picture.
5. You must not shoot a couple or any guest against the light so that dark images will not appear
6. Candid shots are also dramatic. These portraits reveal more than the quality of the picture itself. In fact, many professionals do this to capture intimate and memorable moments.
7. You should be alert at all times since you can seldom ask individuals to pose
again for you.
8. Your digital camera should be equipped with appropriate memory cards or sticks to ensure that no great moment is missed.

In other words, you have to have an extra memory card especially when you want more moments to preserve. The following suggestions should be considered before buying a memory card:

a. for 3 mega pixels – a 256 MB memory card
b. for 4 mega pixels – a 512 MB memory card
c. for 6 mega pixels – 1 gigabyte memory card

9. You are not advised to use low resolutions if the images will be displayed and
hung later.

Just always remember that the higher the resolution utilized, the larger the size of prints that can be made.

10. Keep a copy of your best works so you can use and reuse the techniques that
made your viewers smile and appreciate your creation more.

You can do this by saving albums on your personal computer to free up the space in your memory card. You may also use other software to enhance the quality of the prints to be made.

Photography is truly a wonderful art. Wedding is a wonderful event. The union of these things will trigger emotions and memories in the long run more so if images are captured and preserved well. They all depend on your camera and your love for this art and the couple.

Exploring The Diverse Supply Of Hotels In The Caribbean

2007-06-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

The Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) was formed in 1959, as a committeee of the Caribbean Tourist Association. It was intended to promote the Caribbean region, and became an autonomous body in 1962. The Caribbean Hotel Association focused on the tourism market and aspects such as the airlines controlled access, hotel reps controlling communication with travel agencies, and wholesalers which controlled traffic and payments. At that stage, the hotels themselves were not a part of the Association's operations.

Eventually, it was realized that in order to fix any problems, the entire Caribbean hospitality industry would have to work together, and hence the Caribbean Hotel Association developed and implemented several programs over the years.

Caribbean hotels offer acommodations that suit all tastes and budgets. They offer everything from inns and guesthouses to private villas and luxury resorts. Families have the option of self catering, or full service hotels that offer special meals, programs and activities targetted towards children. There are also resorts that cater towards singles interested in meeting other singles, and small quiet resorts for those seeking solitude, relaxation, peace and serenity.

ebooks for everyone

Another growing trend is eco-tourism, with environmentally friendly resorts springing up throughout the Caribbean. Another grat option are the all-inclusive resorts, where you pay once and forget it. These are high-service activity filled vacation ersorts with something for everyone, from mom and dad, to grandma to baby Jill. Then there are resorts with a thriving nightlife, where you can party until you drop!

The high season in the Caribbean is December through to April, where the weather is at its best with little to no chance of rain. Prices during this time period are much higher, and it can be difficult to find accommodation unless you book well in advance. There is no time like the present, so if a caribbean vacation is in your future plans, the best time to book your caribbean hotel reservation is now! Get ready to add some spice to your life. Your piece of paradise awaits!

About Author:
Add some spice to your life with a Caribbean vacation and enjoy the many hotels in the Caribbean. When was the last time you got away? Visit http://vacation.every1loves2travel.com and book your well deserved vacation today!

Article Source: http://www.bharatbhasha.com

China's new Beauty Business

2007-06-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

China Cultural festival

2007-05-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

Booking Your Summer Vacation: What Are Your Options

2007-05-21T21:47:00.001-07:00

Booking Your Summer Vacation: What Are Your Options

This year a large number of couples and families intend to take a summer vacation. Summer vacations are popular. In fact, they are so popular that it is likely that you are interested in taking one. When it comes to booking a summer vacation, there are a number of ways that you can make your reservations.

Before making summer vacation reservations, you will have to select a summer vacation destination. Without a destination in mind, it is impossible to make reservations. When selecting a summer vacation destination, it is important that you consider a number of factors. These factors should include whether you are traveling with children, the age of your children, and the cost of travel. Keeping these factors in mind will enable you to select the summer vacation destination that will best fit your needs.

After you have selected a summer vacation destination, you can begin to make reservations. A large number of amusement parks, campgrounds, and hotels in the United States do not require reservations. Despite the fact that reservations may not be required, it is still advised that you make them. Popular summer vacation “hotspots,” quickly fill up with vacationing tourists. Without the proper reservations, you may be left without the necessary accommodations.

When it comes to booking a summer vacation, a large number of travelers use the assistance of a travel agent. Travel agents are individuals who specialize in researching and arranging vacations for their clients. Travel agents are popular because they allow clients to spend more time completing their daily activities, instead of having to research and plan a summer vacation.

If given the opportunity most families would prefer to use the services of a travel agent. Unfortunately, services of a travel agent do not come free. If you are interested in planning a summer vacation, on a budget, you may want to consider making your own reservations. In a few simple minutes, you could easily make reservations online or over the phone. Not only should your reservations include hotel accommodations, but travel accommodations as well.

Aside from car travel, air travel is one of the most preferred methods of travel for arriving at summer vacation destinations. If you are interested in booking your airline reservations online, you need to find the online website of the airline you wish to fly with. Popular airlines include, but are not limited to, Delta, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Northwest Airlines. Each of these airlines has an online website that should allow the online booking of reservations.

Unless you are camping outdoors, it is likely that you will need to reserve a hotel room. Unless you plan on staying at smaller resort, you should be able to make online reservations. Most of the well known hotel chains, including Holiday Inn, Hampton Inns, Super 8, and Motel 6, have online websites. Specialty resorts that are located in popular summer vacation destinations, including California or Florida, are likely to also allow online booking.

When it comes to overnight stays, most individuals would prefer to stay at a hotel, but not everyone. A large number of families enjoy vacations that are centered on the outdoors. These vacations often involve camping outdoors. Even if you plan on vacationing at a state park or a public campground, you are still urged to make a reservation. Public campgrounds and state parks are often limited on the amount of camping space they have. Making a reservation will ensure that you are guaranteed a place to set up your tent or park your RV trailer.

To book a popular vacation destination, but at a discount, you may want to looking the services offered by online travel websites. These websites tend to offer discounts on popular hotels, airlines, and restaurants all around the world. The only downside to using the services offered by an online discount travel website is that they tend to focus only on popular summer vacation destinations. If you are looking to vacation at an unknown resort, you may be unable to use the services of a discount travel website.

Whether you choose to use the services of a discount travel website, a professional travel agent, or you intend you make your own vacation reservations, you are encouraged to take the appropriate steps. Anticipating room at the hottest summer vacation destinations is a costly mistake that could possibly ruin your vacation. Don’t make that mistake; book your reservations ahead of time.

Vacation tips in fishing

2007-04-30T23:28:00.000-07:00

When summer time comes and salmon are starting to run, many people who like fishing visit Alaska. Tourists tend to know when the salmon run starts. This may not be on purpose but they do know the best place to catch salmon is in Alaska.

Alaska’s waters make their tourists get the Alaska fishing guide and provide the tourists the best spots in Alaska for fishing. First, you have to know what kind of fish you want to catch. You can choose from different varieties of fishes like silver salmon, arctic char, steelhead, Alaska king salmon, rainbow trout, or any other fish.

The Arctic, Southwest, South central, Southeast and the interior are the five known geographical places in Alaska. These are the sites where you can maximize your fishing expedition. You have to hire a fishing guide since you do not know the area. They may give the best spots for you and accompany you to your fishing.

Here Are Some Things You May Want To Ask From Your Guide

1. You have to know how long they have been doing their work in Alaska. It is good if they have been staying there for a long time already. The reason is that they have much knowledge about the different yearly cycles of Alaska.

2. Be aware of the time you will spend during the trip. Also, make note of the time that you will need during the actual fishing. The amount that you will pay your guide might only be consumed on the time of the boat ride rather than the fishing itself.

3. Ask how much a particular guide would cost, because they have different rates depending on their skills, experiences and length of stay in their job. A guide that would cost cheaper than the average rate of the other guides might not have enough experience and skills.

4. It is recommended that you have your references. This will help you narrow down your choices in selecting a fishing guide. Most people who have been there are willing to share about how satisfied they were during the fishing vacation. They can also give you some advice on what you need to do during the adventure.

5. Remember, this is a chance for you to ask about particular issues that concern you. Do not hesitate to gather information from your guide. By this time, you should be able to have your final choice for your Alaska fishing guide that will be perfect for your plans and make the most out of your trip in Alaska.

Why watch Aikido clip video?

2007-04-02T21:28:00.000-07:00

Aikido was developed by as a martial art by Morihei Ueshiba who studied several martial arts since 1912. Known to many aikido practitioners as "O Sensei" or the "Great Teacher," Ueshiba was able to develop the martial art based on a purely physical level using techniques and movements such those of "Jujitsu" and "Kenjutsu" called "aikido."

It is believed that aikido was first introduced to the Western culture way back in 1951 by a martial arts practitioner Minoru Mochizuki when he visited France. Then, he introduced aikido and several aikido techniques to judo students in different areas of France. After this introduction, Tadashi Abe, who cane as the official Aikikai Honbu representative in 1952, remained in France for less than seven years and continued the pursuit.

The following year, Kenji Tomiki conducted a tour along with various martial arts delegates in 15 continental states in the US. And in that same year, Koichi Tohei of Aikikai Honbu was sent by for a year to Hawaii just to set up a number of dojos. After invading the US, Aikido gained patronage in the UK, Germany, and Australia. Today, thousands of dojos are set up for those who would want to learn the practice of the martial art.

BITS AND PIECES OF AIKIDO

If you are interested with aikido but do not have the time and money to go to a dojo and enroll for an aikido class, then you should find other means to do so. One of the easiest ways to introduce yourself into the exciting world of aikido is to browse the Internet and look for aikido video clips.

Being a limitless source of any information, browsing the Internet for various aikido video clips can give you better options and the specific details you would want to learn. Today, there are so many websites that offer aikido clip videos for free for those who would want to learn the basics and for those who would want to get an idea how the martial art works before enrolling to it.

Usually, aikido video clips contain loose form training or popularly known as "ki nagare." Here, the aikido practitioners are just playing around even and after the martial art presentation. The most viewed aikido video clips are those of famous aikido practitioners while conducting their classes or during their practice. But since these are just clips, it is not possible for you to learn everything about the techniques of the martial art.

Amateurs who document the practitioner's lessons and stunts during practice usually take these aikido video clips. Since these are taken in impromptu, you cannot expect high quality resolution and sound. The most common problem would be is that the aikido video clip has a noisy background due to the noises created by people from neighboring gym hall or from the enthusiastic audience inside the dojo.

After filming, they upload these files into the Internet so others can see it. Although these are just short clips, there is a possibility that you pick up aikido techniques that you can practice. Unlike in full-length aikido videos, the variety of aikido techniques is limited when you watch an aikido video clip.

Aikido video clips are available in various aikido sites or from yahoo, google, and u-tube. There are many more websites that offer free aikido video clips but expect that limited amount of information can be gathered.

Into the world of Aikido martial arts

2007-03-22T22:55:00.000-07:00

With the visible convergence of East and West cultures, more and more people are discovering and rediscovering new means self-discipline especially in the field of martial arts. One of these means is called "Aikido," a very popular Japanese martial art.

KNOWING AIKIDO

“Do not fight force with force,” this is the most basic principle of Aikido. Considered as one of the non-aggressive styles in martial arts, Aikido has become popular because it doesn’t instigate or provoke any attack. Instead, the force of the attacker is redirected into throws, locks, and several restraining techniques.
Since aikido uses very few punches and kicks, the size, weight, age, and physical strength of the participants or the opponents only partake only a small role. What's important is the skilled Aikido practitioner is skilled enough to redirect his or her attacker's energy while keeping him or her in a constant of unbalance.

The history of Aikido as a martial art can be traced when Morihei Ueshiba discovered and developed its principle of aikido. Known as "O Sensei" or the "Great Teacher," Ueshiba made sure to develop a martial art that is based on a purely physical level using movements like throws, joint locks and techniques derived from another martial arts like "Jujitsu" and "Kenjutsu."

Technically, aikido was stemmed out and developed mainly from "daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu" while incorporating several training movements similar to the "yari" or "spear, "jo" or a short "quarterstaff" and from "juken" or "bayonet". Although these jujitsu movements are prominent while practicing the martial art, many practitioners agree that strongest influences of aikido is that of kenjutsu.

When he finally developed the minor and major principles of Aikido, Ueshiba emphasized that the martial art does not only pertain to self-defense techniques but can also play a major role in the enhancement of the practitioner's moral and spiritual aspects eventually leading them to place greater weight on the development and achievement of peace and harmony. In fact, because of the great emphasis in the development of harmony and peace, seasoned aikido practitioners say that "the way of harmony of the spirit" is one phrase that could describe or translate the term "aikido" in English.

Just like any other martial art, aikido has various techniques that include ikkyo or the "first technique," "nikyo" or the "second technique," "sankyo," or the "third technique," "yonkyo" or the "fourth technique," the "gokyo" or the "fifth technique," the "shihonage" or the "four-direction throw," the "kotegaeshi" or the wrist return, "kokyunage" or the "breath throw," "iriminage" or the entering-body throw, "tenchinage" or the "heaven-and-earth throw," "koshinage," or the "hip throw," "jujinage" or the "shaped-like-'ten'-throw," and the "kaitennage" or the rotation throw."

Although aikido is not about punching or kicking the opponent, it is not considered as a static art. It is still a very effective means of martial arts because it requires the aikido practitioner to use the energy of their opponent so they can gain control over them. When you will look at the martial art closely, you will realize that aikido is not only a means of self-defense technique but can also serve a means of spiritual enlightenment, physical health or exercise or a simple means of attaining peace of mind, concentration, and serenity.

Although different aikido styles gives great emphasis on the spiritual aspects to varying levels—some to greater or lesser degrees—the idea that the martial arts was conceptualized in order to achieve peace and harmony remains the most basic ideology of the martial art.

Downtown San Diego Gaslamp Quarter

2007-03-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

The Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego contains some of
the most extensive and dramatically designed
historic buildings in the area. Constructed between
1873 and 1930, these Victorian style buildings are
truly a sight to behold.

The Victorian era buildings found in the Gaslamp
Quarter are home to night clubs, restaurants,
theaters, and shops. A simple stroll down 4th
and 5th avenue will put you at the heart of the
Gaslamp Quarter.

Also found in the Gaslamp Quarter is the Horton
Plaza and Horton Plaza Park. The Plaza is the
first place in the United States to feature a water
fountain containing electric lights; a true
tribute to the designer Alonzo Horton.

The Gaslamp Quarter received its name from the
gaslamps that were used in the area around the early
1900's. During those times, gaslamps were the
main source of light for the area that is now
the vision of Modern Day San Diego.

Now days, there are more than 130 stores and shops
filling the Gaslamp Quarter. With everything from
Macy's to Mervyns, Gaslamp Quarter has plenty for
you to see and do. In Horton Plaza, you can find
a multi screen movie theater that is sure to please
movie lovers.

For a wonderful experience, the Gaslamp Quarter of
San Diego shouldn't be overlooked. There is a lot
you can do here, from fine dining to excellent
shops. For a family vacation, San Diego has a
little bit of something for everyone.

Visit the World Down Under

2007-03-05T01:32:00.001-08:00

Most people love exotic locations, and nothing is more exotic, then the land down under; Australia. Many people love to read and look at pictures of Australia. Australia is a beautiful country and continent all to itself and has amazing people, landscapes and nature. If you are planning an exotic adventure this year, here are some tips on visiting Australia, the land down under.

The only downside of visiting Australia is that it is extremely far away from the states. Many people usually don’t like to fly to Europe for 6 or 8 hours. A trip to Australia usually takes about 24 hours non stop. However, once you get over the flight and the jet lag, you will be amazed of what Australia has to offer. Australia is so far away from other regions in the world, that it has its own eco system with strange and beautiful animals. Most people love to see kangaroos, koala bears and crocodiles to name some of the most popular Australian wildlife. Australia was originally inhabited by Aborigines which still practice their own way of life and culture mostly in Australia’s outback.

There are a few main cities in Australia, most notably Sydney and Melbourne. Most people stay in the main cities and then take trips to great locations such as national parks, beautiful beaches and great snorkeling and diving locations. So if you are looking for an exotic location to visit, check out Australia.

Diamond Flaws and Inclusions

2007-02-27T01:36:00.000-08:00

Internal Diamond Flaws

When a diamond is considered to have a flaw, it is an imperfect gem stone. Something about the diamond did not form correctly, or there are tiny imperfections within the stone. Diamond flaws and inclusions are often not noticeable to the average person, and you need not worry about the small inclusions that occur in most diamonds. There are actually only very few diamonds which can be labeled “perfect”, and if they are placed in the category of no diamond flaws and inclusions, chances are the diamond will be extremely expensive!

There are some minor inclusions which cause a diamond to appear slightly dull. The inclusion within the diamond can affect the stone's clarity because as light passes through the stone, it is intercepted by the inclusion. Many of these flaws and inclusions can be reduced or fixed with the various forms of treatment processes that gemologists and jewelers have learned to do over the years.

Other diamond flaws and inclusions may be large enough to cause weakness within the gem stone, and the stone could shatter or break much more easily than a stone without the weakness. These are the flaws you want to be careful with, since they reduce the value of your stone.

Pinpoint Inclusions

When a diamond has speckles of dark crystals in groups or scattered throughout the stone, it is said to havea form of diamond flaws and inclusions called pinpoint inclusions. If the dark crystals are all clustered together in the stone, the clarity of the diamond is effected, and it appears to have a “cloud” inside the stone. These types of diamond flaws and inclusions may cause the diamond to be worth less, as it greatly effects the appearance.

Problems from Laser Treatments

When an imperfect diamond is treated with lasers to remove dark diamond flaws and inclusions from within the gemstone, sometimes a line is left through the diamond that looks much like a thread. The laser line begins at the outer edge of the diamond, and moves inward to the area where the dark inclusion was treated by the laser. These diamond flaws and inclusions are unsightly and easily spotted by most people, making the diamond less desirable.

Mineral and Crystal Inclusions

While most diamond flaws and inclusions are negative, there are instances when the diamond flaws and inclusions are actually an eye catching aspect of your diamond! For example, diamonds typically have smaller crystals inside the diamond, often so tiny they cannot be seen without some sort of magnifying device. The clarity of the diamond can be effected by these crystals, if there are enough of them and if they are all grouped together in one area of the diamond.

There are a few rare instances when another gem stone is actually inside a diamond, and could certainly not be seen as a diamond flaw or inclusion. For example, if you had a ruby or emerald that was surrounded by a diamond, you would see that as a special piece of jewelry- not a flawed one!

What Are Dirty Diamonds?

2007-02-23T00:05:00.000-08:00

A dirty diamond is one of two things: a rough
diamond, or a diamond that hasn’t been
cleaned in a while. Rough diamonds are
uncut and unpolished – hence, they are dirty.
But that type of dirty diamond will soon be
cut and polished and sitting in a beautiful
jewel box in a display case. Then someone
will purchase it, and before long, it will
become a dirty diamond once again.

Diamonds become dirty. When you wash
your hands with a diamond ring on, soap
scum clings to it. When you put on hand
lotion, it gets grease on it. Shower with your
diamond earrings or necklace, and again,
you get soap scum. In one short day, your
brand new diamond could be dirty!

Purchase an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner the
same day that you purchase your diamond
jewelry, and use it every single day, without
fail. The clarity of the diamond changes
when the diamond is dirty – it loses its
sparkle. By taking one minute each day to
clean your diamond jewelry, you can avoid
this, and your diamonds will never be dirty!

How to Care for Your Diamond

2007-02-19T21:19:00.000-08:00

Caring for a diamond takes more than
occasional cleanings. Diamonds are forever,
but they can be damaged if you are not
careful. By learning how to properly care for
your diamond, you will ensure that your
diamond is indeed forever.

First, you should take your diamond jewelry
to a jeweler once a year. Have him check the
mountings and prongs that hold your
diamond in place. Have him make any
needed repairs. This will prevent your
diamond from falling out of its setting and
becoming lost.

Diamond jewelry that is not being worn, or
diamonds that are loose should be stored in
a fabric lined jewel case, or in a jewelry box
where it can be kept separate from other
jewelry. Each piece should have its own
compartment. This will keep diamonds from
becoming scratched, and it will also keep
your diamond from scratching other jewelry
as well.

Remove your diamond jewelry when doing
physical work. Diamonds can be chipped
and scratched easily. Also avoid allowing
your diamond to come into contact with
bleach or other household cleansers – this
can damage or change the color of the
settings and mountings, and it may even
irreversibly change the color of the
diamond!

2007-02-18T22:13:00.000-08:00

Relevant pics from Flickr

Related News
IDEX 2007 international arms show opens in Abu Dhabi
Open Polytechnic leads international research proj
Oman varsity to hold international conference
Wpcs International To Acquire Atc
Annual International Fair comes to BSC

Powered by StuffaBlog

How to Spot A Fake Diamond

2007-02-16T21:06:00.001-08:00

In this world of advanced technology it is
almost impossible to simply look at a
diamond and determine whether it is real or
not – especially if you don’t know much
about diamonds. There are some steps that
you can take to avoid buying a fake diamond,
however.

First, only deal with reputable jewelers, and
when you find a reputable jeweler, stick with
them. Avoid buying diamonds or other
jewelry from jewelers that you have never
dealt with before in the past. Ask to see the
certificate for the stone. If no certificate exists,
walk away.

Look at the setting that the stone is in. Fake
diamonds, such as zirconias, are usually set
in low quality metals. Take a close look at the
stone. Fake diamonds are not durable –
natural diamonds, on the other hand, are the
most durable stone on the planet. Look for
scratches or nicks.

After purchasing a diamond, take it to
another jeweler for appraisal. In fact, take it
to two or three other jewelers for an appraisal
to make sure that the appraisals are all fairly
close. If you find that you have purchased a
fake diamond, you may be accused of
making a switch when you return to the store
of your purchase; therefore, it is important to
have a certificate for the diamond. No two
stones are alike.

How Diamond Prices Are Determined

2007-02-11T22:38:00.000-08:00

Pricing most products is quite easy.
Determine how much it costs to make the
item, how much it costs to market that item,
and then mark it up by 15 – 30% or more.
Simple, right? Well, pricing diamonds isn’t
quite that simple. There are many factors
that are considered when diamonds are
priced.

Diamond prices are determined first by
adding the cost of the rough diamond, the
cost of cutting the diamond, and all other
costs necessary to turn the rough diamond
into a marketable diamond. Depending on
the importance of the diamond, an
independent company may be called in to
certify the grade of the diamond based on
color, cut, clarity, and weight.

At this point, the diamond becomes more
expensive each time it changes hands, until
it finally reaches a retailer, where the price is
raised a bit more. Before reaching the
retailer, however, the diamond must travel
from the mine, to the cutter and polisher, to
the independent grading company, and
then to the Primary market. Once it has
reached the primary market, it will be
purchased by diamond dealers and
wholesalers, and from there it will be sold
to retailers.

As you can see, the earlier you can purchase
a diamond in the process, the lower the cost
of the diamond will be – but not the value.
The value is based on what the diamond will
sell for in the market place – through a retailer.

If you own a diamond, and you have no idea
how much it is worth, you can have it
appraised, but the appraisal may not be
accurate. You will be better off obtaining a
certificate through GIA – Gemological Institute
of America. With the information on this
certificate, you can use a cutter’s guide to
accurately determine what your diamond is
worth.

There are also many diamond price
calculators available. These can be found
on the Internet, and many diamond dealers
use these as well. You must realize, however,
that before you can accurately price a
diamond, without a Diamond Grade Report,
you need to know quite a bit about diamonds,
such as different cuts, clarity, color, and weight
– and how each of those aspects adds to the
value of a diamond, or decreases the value of
the diamond as the case may be.

Again, you will be better off if you get a
Diamond Grading Report on the diamond,
and use that information to look up the price
in one of the guides that the diamond cutting
industry uses. This will give you the most
accurate value of the diamond in your
possession, or of the diamond you are
considering purchasing.