The Barbie Doll vs. The Bratz Dolls

There is no question, argument, or debate over the fact that the Mattel Barbie doll is the most popular doll of all-time. Barbie has been a favorite of little girls for nearly 50 years now and a constant top selling toy in retail stores everywhere. With that said, there seems to be another doll favorite in stores these days called the Bratz dolls.

The Bratz dolls have recently given Barbie some tough competition in the doll industry. Introduced in 2001, some of the many Bratz line of dolls include Bratz Babyz, Bratz Step Out, Bratz Rock Angelz, and many others as well. You can go inside any toy section of your favorite retailer and find a wide selection of these popular new dolls. Also included is a whole line of Lil Bratz which are designed for girls under 6 years of age.

Another factor in this doll rivalry is the fact that the Bratz dolls have fashions and accessories that include every ethnic group, whereas up until the last couple of years, Barbie had not. Could it have been the competition from Bratz that forced Barbie into this change? With Bratz closing the gap in sales, Barbie needed to come up with some fresh ideas. It should also be noted that Bratz dolls are also available in male models as well.

Over the past few holiday seasons we have seen the Princess Barbie and the Pauper Anneliesse become very popular and very good sellers. We are also seeing Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus. Included in the selection is Pegasus Annika, Cloud Queen Rayla, Prince Aidan, and Flying Horse Brietta.

The newest line of Barbie's is the Barbie Mini Kingdom. This line of Barbie,s is a miniature collection of dolls and accessories that are 6" in height.

Bratz has followed suit with a line called Bratz Forever Diamondz. At a price of $29.95 it is the most expensive Bratz dolls yet. The success this new collection is enjoying is very impressive. A new video game called Bratz Forever Diamondz is now on the market for Sony Playstation as well as Ninentendo. The company hopes this new video game will follow the success of the Rock Angelz game. Even more than this, there is talk of a full length animated motion picture in the works for release in 2007.

At no other time in Barbie's history has the competition been this fierce. Will Barbie survive? Only time will tell, but I wouldn't bet against her just yet. It would be hard to imagine life without Barbie. With nearly 50 years under her belt she has seen just about everything.

Does anybody see the similarities between this years Barbie range and last years Barbie range? Is it just a coincidence that Princess Anneliesse from last year is now Princess Annika, Pauper Erika is now Cloud Queen Rayla and King Dominic/Julian is now Prince Aidan. They also look pretty similar too! This is not to say that the new range is not fantastic because it is but maybe this explains the sudden interest in something new for children such as the new Bratz dolls which are exciting and different and not scared of causing controversy.

Maybe our children need toys that reflect the times and do not send us back to our past. Barbie maybe correct in trying to try a few different styles in order to compete with Bratz but diversification may be in order.

Terry EdwardsDacie Blog92922
Corny Blog27195

Shhh...How About a Little Quiet Time?

I often say that our world is very different than it once was. And when I do people often shake their heads knowingly I suppose that statement conjures a variety of ideas based on how old they are and from what vantage point they compare today with the past.

As our world continues to change, I believe there are some things getting lost that need to be re-found. The good news is many of these things can be re-discovered, and we have that power completely in our hands.

One thing we are losing is quiet.

We don't make room for quiet in our lives. When we are in the car, the radio is on. When we are walking or riding a bike or mowing our lawns or waiting for an airplane (add your own favorite activity here), we are listening to an iPod or something similar. When we are at home, or in many public places, the television is on. When we are working, the sound is turned up on our computers so we can hear the funny email, podcast, audio message from the CEO, or radio program on the Web.

These are all intentional activities and none of them include the ambient noise of traffic, other people and so much more.

And while we have all this noise around us, instinctively we know that quiet is a good thing.

We value the pause when a speaker gives us a chance to soak in his or her points. We enjoy the brief respite of quiet from a noisy conference. We enjoy a retreat to a quiet park or forest. While we know quiet is valuable and useful, we dont always take advantage of that knowledge we dont choose quiet often enough.

However, in order for us to choose quiet, we must first choose some other things. We must choose to slow down. We must choose to stop multi-tasking. We must choose to be introspective. We must choose to spend time by ourselves. And all of these choices come before the choice for quiet they are required prerequisites.

Think about it, how much time do you spend in quiet each day? While I haven't done a formal survey, I'll bet for the typical person, it is time measured in minutes not even closely approaching an hour.

Ways to Use Our Quiet

Once youve made the choice to turn off the TV or radio, to take the earphones out of your ears, or to (gasp!) not fill that last open hour on your calendar with one more meeting, youve got to choose how to use your quiet time.

Rather than prescribing a specific thing you should do with that time, let me suggest a smorgasbord of ideas for you to consider. As you read the menu, pick the one or two you feel most drawn to, and start with those.

Do stretching exercises.

Clear your mind.

Review your goals and your progress towards them.

Visualize reaching your biggest goal.

Think about your day reflect on the happenings and the lessons that can be learned.

Mentally preview tomorrow planning and visualizing great success.

Review material from a book or training session.

Meditate.

Pray.

Practice deep breathing.

Think of creative solutions to a challenge or problem you are facing.

Count your blessings.

Recall pleasant memories.

In school our teachers said Shhh when they wanted us to be quiet and pay attention. I encourage you to tell yourself Shhh to make time for quiet, to give yourself a chance to focus, to connect and to reflect.

Its time for me to be quiet and to give you a chance to do the same.

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.Cissy Blog83317
Charissa Blog21838

Give Your Home a Rebirth

Your home provides you not only shelter but it is a place where you spend your childhood, your good and bad days and many unforgettable moments. Your home is a matter of pride and respect for you. But in order to keep up with this feeling you need to give your home a proper shape and a kind of silhouette that brings out your essence in it. Secured home improvement loans are one such opportunity that can help you give a proper shape to your home and make it the most beautiful place you can live in.

With a secured home improvement loan, you can expand your home by adding extra rooms, repairing or renovating it, you can furnish your home, or make any changes for which require fund.

A secured home improvement loan gives you a chance to improve your home which you were unable to do because of insufficient fund. A secured home improvement loan offers you money by putting a security against it. Usually your home will be put as collateral for which you are taking the loan. This is the benefit which secured home improvement loans offer by keeping you from arranging for collateral. This is also the reason why these loans are difficult to avail for non-homeowners. However, if you do not wish to put your home at risk, you can offer any other collateral such as your car, important documents or any valuable paper.

Since you offer security, you can get home improvement loans at a much lower rate of interest. You can avail a secured home improvement loan with a range of 3000 to 25,000 and for a period of 3-25 years. The interest rate depends upon your loan amount and the repayment that you choose.

You can get a secured home improvement loan even with a bad credit history. That simply makes the point clear that you can avail this loan even if you had poor credit score, arrears, defaults, bankruptcy, CCJ or any other financial set backs. You will be offered with a low interest rate and easy repayment that will suit your financial circumstances.

Getting a good deal of secured home improvement loan requires a bit of researching. There are huge amount of lenders available that will offer you different loan rates and benefits. Going through all of them is nearly impossible. But with the help of online lending process, you can at least review the quotations that will give you an idea about the loan so that you wont fall into a false loan trap. With online borrowing, you no more need to meet lenders personally and ask for application forms. Online lenders provide you an opportunity to fill the application form online. Within a very short time your application will be approved and the money will be transferred to your account.

Now you can make your home like you always wished it to be. Avail secured home improvement loans and make your dream home come true.

Aldrich Chappel has been associated with Get secured loans UK, since its inception. Having completed his Masters in Finance from Lancaster University Management School, he undertook to provide useful advice through his articles that have been found very useful by the residents of the UK. To find secured home improvement loan,Uk secured homeowner loan,Homeowner loan personal secured,personal secured loan mortgage uk visit http://www.get-secured-loans.co.uk.Ddene Blog58549
Delcine Blog96298

Where Are The Scottish Clockmakers

The making of clocks in Scotland was not recognized as a separate craft until about 1640. In Aberdeen in 1618 there were but three clocks, "the Kirk Knok, Tolbooth Knok, and the College Knok, all out of repair because they are auld and worne and partlie for want of skilful men to attend them."

In the" Old Scottish Clockmakers" John Smith gives an account of the progress of the craft in Scotland. The clockmakers were recognized as a branch of the Hammermen in 1646 in Edinburgh, 1649 in Glasgow, 1753 in Haddington, and not until 1800 in Aberdeen.

After 1700 the art and craft of clock and watch making increased, so that by the close of the eighteenth century Scotland was able to turn out work of the highest class. For a number of years into the nineteenth century a high standard of craftsmanship of work was the rule; but with imports of movements and parts, the practice of assembling became more and more the rule, and so by 1850 or thereabouts the trade declined.

This and the cheap American and other importations, combined to extinguish an industry and a class of craftsmen who were as necessary in every village and town as the doctor or minister. The cheapness of these imported movements made it impossible for native Scottish craftsmen to compete, and with a wave of mistaken prejudice having arisen against the preservation of the long-case clocks, large numbers were destroyed for no other reason than that they were thought old-fashioned."

Like the German clockmakers, the Scottish applicant for entrance into the Guild had to make a timepiece to prove his ability and to gain entrance among the Freemen. There were a number of very distinguished Scottish makers: such men as Humphrey Mylne, 1661; Andrew Brown, 1665-1711; Alexander Brownlie, 1720-39; James Cowan, 1760-81; John Smith, 1770-1809; George Munro, 1750-99; Paul Roumieu, 1692-1710; Thomas Gordon, 1703-43; being but a few of them.

Far more Scottish clocks found their way to America than most people think and even today there are many longcase clocks not just bearing the name of the maker on the dial-plate but "Corbals" which is a suburb of Glasgow, where apparently there was a clock works.

During the eighteenth century the clock making centre of Edinburgh was Parliament Square, where the shops fairly clung to the walls of the great building, like swallows' nests. One of the many gifted Scottish clockmakers was James Cowan, of Edinburgh, who was know for his beautiful richly carved mahogany cases. He was apprentice to Archibald Straiton, Edinburgh, beginning February 4th, 1744 and was admitted freeman clockmaker to the Edinburgh Hammermen in 1754. Then he went to Paris and studied under Julien le Roy and to London to study his craft still further, returning to Edinburgh 1760 and opening his own business. His knowledge of the craft not only gave him a great and widely extended business connection, but brought him many apprentices. One of these, and probably the most celebrated, was Thomas Reid, successor to his business in 1781, at the time of Cowan's death.

Andrew Leadbetter was apprenticed to Andrew Clark, Edinburgh, 1764 and he settled later in Congleton, England, and made many good substantial clocks, some of which found their way to America. Another Scottish clockmaker, William Robb, of Montrose, who was working in 1776, made very handsome clocks, the shape of the case being somewhat in the French style, with two urns and an eagle in brass as ornaments.

Owners of these Scottish clocks are sometimes anxious to learn if they are by "good makers." as the Scottish clock making industry does not seem so well documented, but I say "any clock, no matter who made it, which will go two hundred years or more, is a good clock!"

In many cases, particularly with country makers who sent their clocks to customers abroad, it was expected that the joiner or cabinet-maker of the neighborhood would make the case. In the early years many Dutch movements were sent to England and Scotland without the cases, these were really bulky, and frequently the movements were hung up without the owner going to the expense and trouble of having a case made. Such clocks ran until the dust and dirt clogged their wheels and they stopped. If the owner was a handy man he could clean and set them going once more. Clocks such as these are often called in provincial communities by the quaint name of "wag-on-the-wall" and many Dutch clocks of this type, but much more elaborate, found their way across the Atlantic to America. The movements were boxed-in, the box and the bracket on which the clock stood being carved and elaborately painted. In some localities these were called Friesland clocks, although they came from other parts of the Netherlands as well.

Barry Share is the proprietor of Riversdale Clocks...Crysta Blog66663
Dara Blog11016

The Best Office Furniture For Your Space

Office furniture gets a lot of use, so it makes sense to create a work environment that caters to your specific needs and requirements. This is especially true for those who work at home if you choose office furniture that is comfortable, practical, and conducive to productivity, you and your family will reap the benefits.

Most jobs in the modern world require people to sit in a chair all day at a desk or in front of a computer. This type of work has its benefits, but it also has some drawbacks. Sitting for long periods of time staring at a computer screen can strain your body and may cause back problems. This is why its crucial to purchase a proper chair and install adequate lighting from the start, if you want to improve your office space. If you have the money, buy ergonomically designed furniture that is designed for comfort and to reduce the potential for common workplace injuries.

For the most flexible office environment, consider modular furniture as an option. If you have to make do with furniture you already own, try to set pieces up for use in various capacities. A good example is to use the top of a lateral file cabinet to store office equipment, such as a fax machine.

Remove office furniture that doesnt serve a purpose. This will reduce clutter and make your office much more efficient. Youll have everything you need right at your fingertips and wont be tripping over bulky furniture that has no job but to get in your way.

Make sure you have enough filing cabinets as well. Organizing the paperwork in an office is one of the best things you can do to eliminate stress and give yourself more time to get working.

Invest in sturdy shelves for proper storage of books, office supplies, and other necessities. This ensures that everything in your office has a place and youll be able to find items you need, when you need them.

You can find office furniture in many different price ranges, depending on the quality and brand of the piece. High-end manufacturers tend to offer furniture at steep prices, while discount stores cater to people working on a tighter budget. Whatever your financial situation, you should be able to find office furniture thats right for you without being forced to pay through the nose.

By Katerina Mitrou sponsored by http://www.officefurniture2go.com/ who sells quality office furniture: http://www.officefurniture2go.com/ such as desks, file cabinets and more. Please link to this site when using this article.Clarette Blog8548
Darlene Blog29347

'Tis the Season for Electronics: Gifts for Everyone's Budget

The holiday season is upon us, which can only mean one thing: electronics are at the top of everyone's wish list. Even if you can't snag a new PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii, there are still many electronics gifts that will delight your recipients. Here are just a few:

Cell Phones: Cell phone technology continues to improve, as do the features available on cell phones. A new cell phone, complete with a high-res camera, video functionality, and wireless adaptability, is certain to be a welcome gift. If that's beyond your budget, opt for any of the number of cool cell phone accessories that are available.

iPods: An Apple iPod makes the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys music or television, even if they're not tech-savvy. Not only can they download tunes, but increasingly, they can download television episodes that they may have missed. Again, if you can't afford an iPod, there are any number of accessories - from earbuds to "socks" that are adorable and affordable.

Home Theaters: This year, why not indulge the whole family with a home theater? Flat screen TVs have come so far down in price that they're more than worth the splurge. While you're at it, get a collection of DVDs that every family member can enjoy!

Car Audio and Video: Entertainment has most definitely moved out of the home and into transportation. High-quality car audio and video equipment make wonderful gifts for family members on the go. Everyone can enjoy the high-quality sound that great car audio produces, while the kids in the family will be entertained on road trips with car DVD players.

Computers: For many people, computers aren't a convenience - they're a necessity. Everyone from adults who bring work home with them to students who have to research school papers (and book some time on one or more of the social networking sites!) will treasure a new computer. Again, prices on electronics have come down so much that either a notebook computer or a desktop PC is affordable.

Games: If you're not able to nab one of the new gaming systems, don't worry about it. There are still great games that are made for the Sony PlayStation 2, the Nintendo GameCube, and the Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360. Final Fantasy XII, Guitar Hero II, Okami, LEGO Star Wars II, Madden NFL 07, and Viva Pinata, are all highly rated games for a variety of interests and age levels.

The bottom line is that, whatever the gift-giving occasion, you can't go wrong with a gift of personal electronics. Your best bet is to find an online source that has deeply discounted electronics, continually adds new items to their inventory, and provides you with the perfect online shopping experience.

Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.comDarcie Blog33246
Dalia Blog22974

What Is Fair Use Copyright Law?

Many people are interested in the Fair Use copyright law. The Fair Use copyright law enables people to use portions of material that is copyrighted for the purposes of criticism or as commentary. The hard part for many people is understanding what is permissible under the Fair Use copyright law and what is not permissible. Anyone who writes or publishes should brush up on what is allowed and what is not allowed. Using another persons words to make news reports, to use as a comment or criticism or to use for research, scholarship, or for educational uses that are nonprofit are generally considered Fair Use. In these instances, the Fair Use copyright law allows one person or author to make use of another person or authors work without asking permission to do so. In situations that do not fall within these specifications, you are probably violating someones copyright if you use their work especially if you are using another persons work for economic or commercial gain.

When you are trying to see if you can use anothers words, you should keep a few things in mind. The answer to the following questions will help you gage whether you would be violating a copyright.

First, are you transforming someone elses work or are you copying it?

Second, are you making any financial gains from your work that would compete with the original copyright holder?

Third, do you have the authors permission to quote their work? Just because you list the author and give credit to him or her does not protect you from infringing upon someones copyright.

Fourth, how much of the original authors work are you using? If you are using a substantial amount of anothers work, you are probably in direct violation of their copyright.

Many publishing companies have set rules on how much material they will allow to be quoted in other sources. Some of these ranges start at 100 words or less. However, there are truly no standards to go by, so be careful. You can not assume that keeping your copying fewer than 50 words will allow you to pass under the radar especially if the original piece is hovering around 125 words itself!

Lastly, what portion of anothers work are you using? If it is the meat of the book and the most important part of the book, you are probably in direct violation of the owners copyright.

With a little common sense it is not hard to decide if you are violating someones copyright. People who are truly interested in staying within the guidelines of the Fair Use copyright law usually do a good job of doing so. Many people push the Fair Use copyright law right up to the line, while others will blatantly cross over it without giving a second thought to the repercussions. When these people are summoned to court to answer for their vagrant disregard for the property and copyright of another, they are usually sorry. Sorry they got caught! It is very important that people who take advantage of the Fair Use copyright law are held accountable for their actions. Without accountability many more people would follow in their footsteps and use other creators works as their own.

Richard Cunningham is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com.Corine Blog27885
Clemmy Blog26324

How To Earn Part-time Income At Home

Many people are aware of the common ways to earn a part-time income at home. Babysitting or in home daycare centers are often the number one choice for stay at home moms who want to earn a second income for their families. Stuffing envelopes or making jewelry are some other commonly known ways of making a part time income at home. But, in the new age of computer technology and internet commerce, there are many other ways that you can make a part time income at home.

Anyone with basic computer skills can make money part time at home. There are many companies out there that rely on independent contractors to sell their products. Those with time on their hands can use internet marketing and call lists to make a part time income at home through sales and commissions. Some of the companies out there are scams, however, so watch out.

Those who are not interested in sales but have basic typing skills can make a part time income at home by performing data entry tasks online. There are many opportunities available with companies, both positions and as an independent contractor. You can also find work in data entry through bid for work web sites.

Those with more advanced computer ability can perform work as a virtual assistant. This can be a great way to earn part time income at home without getting bored from doing the same thing over and over again. As a virtual assistant you never know what type of projects you could get. You may be doing spreadsheets or you might be typing from scanned pages. Whatever you will be doing, you can be sure to earn a great part time income while staying at home.

If you have writing ability you can also look into getting a part time income working as a copy writer. Copy writers write much of the content that you see on web sites, in advertising, and even in many online magazines. You can make a very good part time income while working at home, exercising your creativity, and enjoying a variety in work.

There are many other ways that you can earn a part time income from home such as transcription, medical transcription, affiliate marketing, and through running a blog with Google AdSense. Whatever type of work you decide to do to earn a part time income from home, make sure that you check out the company thoroughly. For every legitimate income opportunity there is a scam. Make sure that you get involved in a legitimate income opportunity.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on Success and Happiness. For more information checkout http://www.successnhappiness.com.Charmaine Blog57732
Cristi Blog65249

The Future of Cars, Unleashed

Cars.com is singing a new tune for future car trends. Recently, it has reported the upcoming trends of cars that will hit the market in the coming years. 15 new innovations are predicted to wow car enthusiasts in the next 10 years.

According to Patrick Olsen, managing editor of cars.com, "You can find some of these innovations on the market today, and the technology exists to incorporate many of these innovations in the near future. Cost and consumer demand will help determine whether these innovations become standard, become options for select luxury vehicles--or never make it out of development."

Car innovations include advanced flexible fuel systems that could allow all types of fuel interchangeably. From gas, hydrogen, diesel, E85 to electric and battery power, name it and the fuel system can handle them. There is also the anticipated invasion of active tires. These tires are made from synthetic compound that can be transformed any time to manage various road conditions with just one push of the button. Another expected innovation is the autopilot where the driver does not literally drive because his car is guided by the navigation system.

Aside from the aforementioned, lane charger warning that monitors traffic, camless engines that demands airflow according to the cars workload, and self-repairing paint that prevents scratches are also expected to amaze the automotive market in the coming 3 to 5 years. Also included in this time frame are the launching of navigation systems with real-time traffic information, electric window tinting and self-parking cars.

Within 2 years expected car innovations include keyless entry and ignition, collision mitigation system which prepares a car for an accident, automotive black box, adaptive break lights, economy mode cars, and computer center cars that can manage calls, emails, music and music.

The automotive industry never fails to amuse car fanatics with its amazing innovations. In the coming years, expect more exciting and fabulous innovations from Toyota accessories, Volkswagen accessories, Volvo accessories and the rest of the renowned car manufacturers. Also expect that auto parts go with these changes.

Shane Morgay is a 34-year-old native of Ohio. She love cars and knows detailed information about them. She has a collection of miniature car collectibles and would love to have these collectibles become real ones. She works for a car part supplier most days of the week.Delcina Blog14895
Dacia Blog21757

I Love German Wine and Food - A Rheinhessen Dornfelder

If you are hankering for some fine German wine and food, you should take a look at the Rheinhessen region of southwestern Germany. Who knows, you may even find a bargain, and I think that you'll enjoy yourself on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local red Dornfelder.

Rheinhessen is a relatively small area, sometimes called the land of the thousand hills, nestled between the Rhine and the Nahe Rivers. It already was known for its wines in the days of Charlemagne. To some extent it is famous or infamous for Liebfraumilch, to be reviewed in another article in this series. It is the German region with both the largest area planted in wine grapes and the highest wine production. Rheinhessen alone claims over a quarter of the German wine acreage and wine production. It is also produces the highest percentage of generally low quality table wine, coming in at almost 12%. More than 60% of Rheinhessen wine is middle quality QbA wine, and a bit more than 25% is higher quality QmP wine. About seven of eight bottles contain white wine, but the percentage of red wine is increasing. The most widely grown varieties are the German hybrid Mueller-Thurgau and Silvaner. The usually higher quality Riesling represents about 10% of the total production. Dornfelder is the most widely planted red grape variety. The marketing materials, quoted below, present one viewpoint of this German-bred grape.

Mainz has a population of about eighty thousand. It is one of the centers of the German wine trade. It is the state capital of Rheinland-Pfalz which is the only German state government with a wine minister. The city is built on the site of a two thousand year-old Roman citadel. In this part of the world two thousand years is a short time; a local museum contains three hundred thousand year-old artifacts. In season the Marktplatz (Market) and Hfchen (Little Courtyard) buzz with farmers selling their wares on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Check the exact dates for the annual Sektfest (Sparkling Wine Festival) held in late May or early June and then Johannisnacht, another wine festival several weeks later.

Other sites to see include the Dom (Cathedral of St. Martin and St. Stephan) which broke ground shortly prior to the turn of the first millennium. Because of seven fires most of the Cathedral is newer, dating from the Eleventh to the Thirteenth Centuries. The cloisters contain a museum of religious artifacts. Right near by is the Gutenberg Museum. Other local museums are devoted to the Middle Ages, Roman warships, art, plants, animals, and fossils. If all this touring makes you thirsty for more than knowledge visit the Kupferberg Sektkellerei (sparkling wine cellars), the deepest on earth. There are several concert halls, theaters, night clubs, and wine bars. Not far from the city are the Mainz Sand Dunes, a tiny area home to plants and animals rarely seen in Western Europe.

Before reviewing the Rheinhessen wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Zweibelkuchen (Onion Pie). For your second course enjoy Haxen und Bratkartoffeln (Pork Hocks and Home Fries). As a dessert indulge yourself with Frankfurter Kranz (Buttercream Cake).

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Rappenhof Dornfelder Trocken 2004 13.0% alcohol about $15.50

Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. Dornfelder is a cross, bred in 1956 by August Herold. In its genealogy, the grape claims every important red vine grown in Germany. Fortunately, it has inherited most of the positive attributes and very few of the negative. The wines are deeply coloured, velvety in texture with hints of floral. Slightly off-dry, this example gives good aroma replays on the palate. Serve with Wiener schnitzel. Now for the review. (By the way, I found its color more of a dark rose.)

My first pairing was with a barbecued, marinated rib steak with potato patties, potato wedges, and a commercially prepared eggplant and tomato side dish. The wine was very short with moderate fruit when imbibed with the meat and potatoes. It crept back into the woodwork when faced with a fairly powerful eggplant dish.

The next tasting involved a cheeseless broccoli, mushroom, and zucchini quiche with mashed potatoes. The Dornfelder tasted sour and I sensed some sort of strange fruit in the background. I finished the glass with beer nuts. The wine was fairly flat but its sourness disappeared.

The final meal consisted of meatballs in a tomato sauce with rice and green beans. The wine was somewhat rounder than before but was still ever so short. I thought I was drinking an alcoholic fruit juice.

The initial cheese pairing was with a French goat cheese that really resembled a Camembert. While the wine was a bit flat it did taste lightly of black cherries. Then I went to a Swiss Gruyere. The Dornfelder became somewhat more robust but the fruit was less distinctive. I finished the bottle with a local, fairly sharp Asiago cheese that I prefer to its presumably more authentic Italian cousin. Finally a decent pairing; the wine was pleasant.

Final verdict. I didn't plan to be reviewing two Dornfelders in such short order. But we don't get many of them in our neck of the woods so I figured why not give it a try. There certainly won't be a third round in the near future. I fail to see why such a grape should cost more than many better grapes from German and other countries. Of course, if I had liked the wine...

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather just drink fine German, Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. His major wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com which links to his other web sites.Cindie Blog79937
Charmane Blog52746

A Brief History Of Music The United Kingdom

Music in Britain prior to the seventeenth century, or at any rate the latter part of the sixteenth, presents itself under very much the same aspects as on the Continent. On the one hand Church music, on the other Minstrelsy and latterly, the rise of a secular art, secular in spirit but hampered with Church traditions.

Church music in England at the time of the pre-reformation period moved along the same lines as that of the Continent, although probably existing in a far less advanced stage of cultivation. Minstrelsy, however, was highly regarded among English, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish; and among the Irish and Welsh the bardic caste enjoyed a degree of power and influence probably unknown in any other country of the world.

Thus in Ireland the three grades of minstrels or bards of the legendary period, the Oblansh-Re-Dan, or Filidhe, the poets; the Breithanhain, or Brehons, promulgators of the law, and the Seanachaidhe, the historians and genealogists exerted a tremendous influence among the princes and chiefs of Ireland. A similar, although lesser, measure of power and influence was 'enjoyed by the Welsh bards.

Unswayed by the imperfectly understood system of the Greek theorists, which, thanks to Boethius, were perpetuating a species of artistic cramp among Church composers, the folk-music of this country, governed solely by man's natural sense of fitness, made astonishing progress.

Giraldus Cambrensis, who lived in the twelfth century, in his Cambriae Descriptio says-

"In the northern parts of Britain, beyond the Humber and on the borders of Yorkshire, the people there inhabiting, make use of a kind of symphoniac harmony in singing, but with only two differences or varieties of tones or voices. In this kind of modulation, one person sings the under part in a low voice, while another sings the upper in a voice equally soft and pleasing. This they do not so much by art as by a habit, which long practice has rendered almost natural; and this method of singing is become so prevalent amongst these people, that hardly any melody is accustomed to be uttered simply, or otherwise than variously, or in this twofold manner"

With this should be combined another extract from the same writer, as illustrating the wide-spread taste for music in the British Islands at that early period. In 1171 Giraldus 'Cambrensis, or Gerald Barry, Bishop of St. David's, to give him his proper name and title in English, visited Ireland in the suite of Henry the Second; and in his Topographia Hibernia there are the following impressions of the National Music of the Irish :-

"The attention of this people to musical instruments I find worthy of commendation, in which their skill is beyond comparison superior to that of any nation I have seen ; for in these the modulation is not slow and solemn, as in the instruments of Britain, to which we are accustomed, but the sounds are rapid and precipitate, yet at the same time sweet and pleasing. It is wonderful how, in such rapidity of the fingers, the musical proportions are preserved, and by their art, faultless throughout, in the midst of their complicated modulations, and most intricate arrangement of notes, by a rapidity so sweet, a regularity so irregular, a concord so discordant, the melody is rendered harmonious and perfect, whether the chords of the Diatesseron, or Diapente, are struck together; yet they always begin in a soft mood, and end in the same, that all may be perfected in the sweetness of delicious sound. They enter on, and again leave their modulations with so much subtility, and the tinglings of the small strings sport with so much freedom under the deep notes of the bass, delight with so much delicacy, and soothe so softly, that the excellence of their art seems to lie in concealing it"

English literature of the Middle Ages is full of references to minstrels and minstrelsy, and abounds in quaint and curious details of their life and manners; and for the present-day reader, with a great desire for information concerning the early music of this country, no better authority exists than Chappell's entertaining "Popular Music of the Olden Time."

More distinguished in the Middle Ages for the cultivation of folk-music than that of the Church. Medieval England yet produced a very respectable body of theoretical writers, and to England belongs the credit of possessing the oldest piece of polyphonic and canonic composition known to be in existence, the old Northumbrian round, "Sumer is icumen in," which was transcribed by a monk of Reading called John of Fornsete, in the early years of the thirteenth century.

The earliest English writer on music was Walter Odyngton, an Evesham monk, who was born somewhere about 1180. He wrote a treatise, "De Speculatione Musicae," of which the only known copy is now in the library of Christ's College, Cambridge. Other writers were Simon Tunstede, of Norwich, born about 1310; Robert de Handlo; John Dunstable; John Hamboys, the first to hold the degree of Doctor of Music; and John Hothby, a Carmelite monk, who, however, lived on the Continent, and died at Florence in or about the year 1480.

With the coming of the Tudors, a new day began for English music, a day whose brightness was to culminate in the splendour of the Elizabethan Age.

Mike Shaw is an organist and music teacher who has produced a selection of downloadable music books for anyone who wishes to learn to play the piano, organ or keyboard. To find out more visit his websites http://www.mikesmusicroom.co.uk and http://www.keyboardsheetmusic.co.ukDaisy Blog44493
Corey Blog82241

Caribbean Travel Guides- Are They Worth It?

As well as being a raving shopaholic, Jane Morris is also a dedicated Travel Buff. This is just one article on her many visits to the lush clear waters of the Caribbean

Imagine all the stories and films you have seen on pirates in the Caribbean, Spanish galleons laden with gold, pretty girls all around, beautiful white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, clear blue seas, and reefs that have ripped the bottom out of many a fine sailing ship, now beautiful diving territory.

Well, this is what makes up the beauty, the mystery, and the attraction for many people as a dream holiday. In fact, there is so much to do that unless you plan your holiday carefully there is so much to miss.

That us why it is so important that you know all there is to know about the vacation destination of your dreams - that is exactly what a Caribbean travel guide offers.

But are Caribbean travel guides really godsend? Or are they just patronizing materials designed for commercial purposes?

Well, they're probably a little of both actually. After all, the people behind Caribbean travel guides do need a source of income in order to continue to publish their guides. But a tremendous amount of research has been placed in these guides so don't dismiss them as useless sales and promotion material.

What else is more nifty, informative and convenient than a Caribbean travel guide?

Sure, the Internet may prove more updated when it comes to information, but you can't carry the Internet everywhere. And believe it or not, it's always much more gratifying to pull out a Caribbean travel guide from your carry case, flip a few pages open, then slip it right back when you're tired of reading. It sure beats having to wait in the airport, sitting bored silly and wondering whether or not your flight's going to be delayed.

That said, don't cling to travel guides religiously. Many travelers make that mistake. They are not the bibles that they are made out to be by some people. You should know that published materials, including travel guides, are out of date the moment they are published, because by then, there would have been new updated material that came up and it would be too late to include them.

So, how are you supposed to use Caribbean travel guides then? How would you know which information to believe and which facts are outdated? Unfortunately, there is no exact answer to that. To get the most out of your Caribbean travel guide, use them sparingly for basic orientation.

So once you have the basics right down to a tee, go out there and discover the towns and cities on your own. That is, after all, what traveling is all about - adventure and discovery of new things. At the very least, when all other signs look foreign, the information on museums and places of interest are great.

Remember where such facilities exist, always try and look for the local 'City' tour. I did just that on my first holiday in Cuba over 15 years ago. After a 2 hour tour on a coach, I was fully oriented with the sites, and then settled down to a delightful tour on foot - clutching my trusty travel guide of course, so I didn't miss any of the delights that the beautiful but run-down city has to offer.

However, when it comes to hotels and restaurants, each to his own taste and budget. Remember that bargains rise in price with popularity, so there's every bit of chance that that hot new deal in your Caribbean travel guide isn't much of a deal anymore, considering how pricey it has become. And then sometimes, too, the places get easily full with foreigners and travelers like you, so you can't always expect your Caribbean travel guide to point you in the right place all the time.

Then, if you do wander around on your own, you will surely find quality rooms with reasonable prices. They may be located in out-of-the-way places that Caribbean travel guide writers may not know about. Remember that because you in the destination, you are in a far better place to get what you want out of your vacation.

So to close it off, don't be a sad type who writes to say that "it wasn't like what you said in the book".

Here's a tip: open your eyes, and if the island you are on is Spanish - make sure you can speak some of the local language, as you will get such a nicer welcome from the locals in the infrequently visited spots - and make sure you take your time to explore for yourself!

Jane Morris spends all her spare time visiting exotic locations around the world. Her favorite destination is any island in the Caribbean. Her OnLine Guide to the Caribbean can be seen at http://www.caribbeantraveller.info/Danielle Blog43418
Celinda Blog11862

Jerry Rice : 1983 Draft Day Picks

Jerry Rice was born on October 13, 1962 in Crawford, Mississippi. Although Rice never had the physical abilities of some other great athletes, he always had the work ethic and determination to get the job done. For this reason, Rice is widely regarded as the best wide receivers to ever play the game. And many people feel that he is the greatest football player of all time regardless of position.

In high school Rice played on the defensive side of the football, and was good enough to make the All State team. But although he accomplished a lot in high school, no NCAA Division I football programs offered him a scholarship.

With no other options, Rice decided to attend Mississippi Valley State University, an NCAA Division I-AA program. In 1983 Rice had a great season, and set many records along the way. He had 102 receptions, 1,450 yards, and was named to several All American teams. He followed this up with an equally good season as a senior in 1984. All of his college football accomplishments led him to being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in August of 2006.

Rice was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the 16th pick of the first round in the 1985 NFL Draft. Although Rice struggled with drops during his first year in the NFL, he turned some heads. He finished the season with 927 yards on 49 catches. And ever since that first season Rice was off and running. At the time of his retirement he held many NFL records including receptions, receiving yards, touchdown receptions, touchdowns, all purpose yards, and many more.

It is safe to say that Jerry Rice is the best wide receiver to ever play the game of football. In addition to his great football skills he had the heart of a champion, and the work ethic to match.

Bob Johnson writes for http://www.FanFrenzyZone.com and http://www.DraftDayPicks.com.Darleen Blog67523
Cynthea Blog7623

Chicago Classic Car Culture

Does Chicago have an active car culture? The answer to that question is a resounding "yes!" Anyone who has driven past McCormick place during the annual auto show can vouch for that. Just look around Chicago and you can see the love affair in action. No place is this more evident than in the local cruise nights that pop up in many suburban locations during the summer months. Whether you go there to show a car, see a classic hot rod, or just get out of the house, the Chicago classic cruise nights are some of the best.

During the summer months from dinnertime to dusk on practically every day of the week, you can wander streets from the far northern suburbs to the south side and check out vehicles from the past. Cars of all sizes, ages, and colors will be rolling down "Main Street" in the downtown districts of suburban Chicago.

"These shows are all about community and family" says the creator of a web site that promotes these shows. "People get out with their wife and kids, have an ice cream cone, and swap stories on ideas for next weekends garage tinkering project."

People find out about these local shows from their newspaper, car clubs, and online resources like ChicagoAreaCruiseNight.com. Members of such web sites enjoy the online format because it allows them to share photos, chat in the forums, and have a place to share stories when they cannot attend a cruise night. The web format is also popular in that dreaded Chicago winter season when all classic cars stay bundled up in their garages. ChicagoAreaCruiseNight.com has cruise night listings by each day of the week, as well as by suburban location.

Virtually all classic car shows welcome visitors free of charge. New visitors should keep a couple points in mind as they walk the shows as a little etiquette goes a long way.

- Don't touch the cars
- Don't reach inside a car (or get inside a car!)
- Keep strollers, buggies, and wagons a safe distance from the cars
- Keep a close eye on small children - Cars coming and going all the time can be dangerous.
- If you lean over too admire the engine or get a closer look, watch out for your belt buckle or the zipper on your jacket or other metal items on your clothing.
- Don't stand on running boards
- If you dont have something nice to say, dont say anything at all

While hot rod culture has diminished over time, it has never completely gone away. Groups of grease monkeys and car lovers have always gravitated to the classic American car and everything it stands for.

Today, whether it's because of an excuse to get the family out of the house, a reason to polish up the old jalopy, or just a love of classic cars, cruise nights are flourishing around Chicago.

Todd FredricksCissy Blog83317
Dacy Blog96289

How to Rebuild Your Credit After Bankruptcy, Or Getting Your Finances Back Together Again

If you are worried about rebuilding credit after bankruptcy, this article will help you with some general advice about how to find your way back to the top.

What filing bankruptcy is all about

Bankruptcy is a process whereby a person in debt can crawl out from under it and start again. The idea is to help out those who are in dire financial straits, and are in debt over their heads. The result is that you do not have to pay back most of your debts, you are debt free and can move on. The drawback is that it leaves a nasty stain on your credit report for the next ten years, making it hard to reestablish yourself and recover.

Do I really have to wait another ten years before I can get a loan again?

No. As a matter of fact it is possible to get credit again. However, it will be a bit more difficult. One possibility is to get a protected or pre-paid credit card which can be used by depositing money into it, like a bank debit card. This can help you rebuild your credit again, and establish yourself. After a while it can help you start to get loans and credit again before the ten years is up.

What about my debts?

One good thing about filing is that it gets rid of the creditors once and for all. They won't be bothering you anymore. Once all the paperwork is in and processed, it is illegal for them to keep harassing you. You have the law on your side!

Will everybody know that I filed?

No. Very few will actually know about it. However, since the file is accessible to the public it will be visible on your credit rating, and will be kept on file for ten years.

What are the changes I've been hearing about?

The original laws were passed in 1978, and were revised in 2005. The general idea of the new legislation is to make people who CAN pay some of their debts pay. The laws were being abused by those who could have paid. Here are the major changes that went into effect last year:

-You have to meet certain requirements in order to be able to file bankruptcy. Your family income will be checked to ensure that it is below the state average. They also want to make sure that your family is able to make the regular payments.

-You are required to submit your last year's tax return, in addition to all the other paperwork.

-They also require that you have lived in the state in which you file for at least two years. The reason for this is that some states have more or less lenient laws.

-Child support and alimony and are the debts that have to be paid first.

Donald Harris is a publisher of Bankruptcy Legal Information. You can go to http://www.1st-bankruptcy-lawyer.com for more.Christina Blog3570
Chrissie Blog50664

Franfurt Germany Tour

Frankfurt is one of Germany's important cities, being the biggest international financial and trade center of Europe. It's famous for it's skyline - a line of towering skyscrapers which is mostly consisting of banks and other financial institutions. Frankfurt is better known in the country as Frankfurt am Main, since there are 2 cities which are named the same. Main is the river which flows through the city thus the source for the city skyline's nickname Mainhattan.

The metropolis of Frankfurt is not that big. You can easily tour the main attractions in 1 day. But as most cities in Germany, it's normally divided into 2 attractions, the old and the new city. Unfortunately, due to the fact that Frankfurt was heavily bombed during WW2, there's not much left of the old city, but still something worth seeing.

OLD CITY

The Roemer - Frankfurt's city hall

One of the most important historical old buildings, housing the election of the former German kings and emperors during the early times. Since 1405, it has been used as the city hall. The area where the Roemer is, the Roemerberg, offers a surrounding of beautiful old houses, used nowadays as stores and restaurants.

The Kaiserdom - Emperor's Cathedral

As the name says, the Emperor's Cathedral. This church was used as the venue of the coronation of the new emperor or king. In front of this church is an archaeological finding of an ancient sauna used by the Romans when they were colonizing the area.

Paulskirche - Paul's Church

This church was built during the end of the 18th century. From damages during the war, it was rebuilt in the mid 20th century and considered one important attraction of the old city.

Goethe's House

Frankfurt is the home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of the world's most famous poets. The house of Goethe is located in the inner city and is open for public viewing. The Goethe Museum is just right next to it, housing a very rich Goethe collection.

A Walk Crossing the River Main

From the old city, you can walk down to the river then cross a pedestrian bridge called Eiserner Steg (iron bridge). From the other side of the bridge, you can properly see the skyline. The road parallel to the river is called Museumufer - Museums on the river bank - lining up a variety of museums. You can walk more until you arrive at another pedestrian bridge called Holbeinsteg. After crossing that bridge, look for the Nizza Garden. This garden is unique because it contains tropical plants and palms in an open German climate.

The NEW CITY

This won't be that difficult to find, just follow the new buildings. Towering banks and offices is a sight you won't miss in Frankfurt. Some bank buildings are combining both new and old architecture. You would see for example Dresdner Bank having an old building and two skyscrapers next to it. Around the new city, you can see modern arts like the hammering man and the inverted necktie, representing the city's trademarks, banking and trading.

Shopping in Frankfurt

There are several good shopping opportunities in Frankfurt but probably the most famous area to shop is the Zeil. If you're going for posh shopping then Goethestrasse is the right one for you. This street is lined up with boutiques from Chanel to Tifanny & Co.

Enjoy your stay in Frankfurt!

Manfred Richter has a passion for traveling and photography. He's an occassional contributor of the site http://www.capturedplaces.com/. View his Frankfurt picture gallery at http://www.capturedplaces.com/frankfurt/index.php.Davita Blog29219
Delora Blog83457

Choosing a Wedding Photography Package

Finding an affordable wedding photography package isn't easy. Every bride wants the best for her wedding, but the reality is that not every bride can afford the best. Many couples have limited budgets with which to work and all too often, they find themselves having to cut corners to avoid over-spending. The first aspect of a wedding that is slashed for costs is the professional wedding photographer.

The reason for this is that wedding photography prices are anything but standardized. Depending on the photographer you select, the format and style of photography and the length of the celebration, the base rate can fluctuate wildly. Added to this is the fact that there are almost limitless options in the wedding photography package. The more extras you add, the higher the price.

Many who are seeking budget wedding photography decide to spend their money on hiring a better photographer to do less work. Rather than selecting a lower priced photographer and ordering a huge photo package, they go with the photographer that they most trust and order a smaller package. Some couples even forgo the traditional wedding photography package altogether and simply buy the negatives or original digital images from the photographer. These couples then use their own technological savvy to create personalized albums and reprints that are meaningful to them.

Some professional wedding photographers maintain a traditionalist view. They feel that as the expert, the wedding photographer is the only one truly suited to put together the wedding album. This argument does have some merit. The photographer is the only one who knows what he or she was trying to convey in each shot. Additionally, the photographer works closely with trusted contacts at the developing lab and is able to judge when photos return with imperfections. He or she is familiar with color balance and stylistic concerns and is therefore quite adept at placing the photos within the album to create a pleasing whole.

On the other hand, scrap booking and other DIY projects have become extremely common option to a traditional wedding photography package. Today's couples are generally quite adept at working with photos, doing retouches and fixing color problems on their home computers. For these couples, their wedding album is just another fun home project.

Many couples opt for the best of both worlds. These couples purchase a basic wedding photography package that includes a small album and a few reprints. They also purchase the original media and create a personalized album as well. They may do reprints and reorders themselves, or they may order these items from their photographer, depending on how much time and money they have. This way, the couple receives a classic wedding album to show their children and grandchildren, as well as the ability to personalize and scrapbook to their hearts' content.

Whatever your feelings on wedding photography packages, you are certain to find a photographer who will meet your needs. The wedding photography market is changing rapidly and photographers are adapting to the times. Perhaps you want a traditional large wedding photography package that includes an album full of traditional posed photos. Maybe you want to purchase nothing but the photographer's time and the raw media. Or perhaps you want something in between, a small photo package that also includes the original media. The choice is yours. It is your wedding and you deserve a photographer that will work with the choices that you make.

Ellen writes for for http://GreatHawaiiWeddings.com which offers information to Maui wedding and honeymoon packages together with resources to beach front Maui vacation rentals ideal for your wedding party and honeymoon.Dedra Blog71957
Cornelia Blog15769

Considering a Condo Hotel? Here Are 20 Things You Need to Know!

1. What is a condo hotel or condotel?

Think of a condo hotel (also sometimes called a condotel or hotel condo) as buying a condominium, although one that is part of a four-star caliber hotel. Therefore, as an owner, when you are on vacation, youll get the benefit of more four-star services and amenities than you'd get in a typical condominium.

2. What types of services and amenities are found in condo hotels?

If you can imagine the niceties youd find in an upscale hotel, then you can picture a condo hotel. Among the features are often resort-style pools, full-service spas, state-of-the-art fitness centers, fine dining restaurants, concierge services and room service.

In some locations, like Las Vegas, youll find condo hotels with their own casinos, retail areas, and entertainment venues. In places like Orlando, youll find condo hotels with their own water parks and convention facilities.

3. What is the difference between a condo hotel and a traditional condominium?

The big difference between a hotel and a condo hotel is that a hotel typically has one owner, either individual or corporate, but a condo hotel is sold off unit by unit. Therefore, a 300-room condo hotel could have as many as 300 unit owners.

4. Is it evident to hotel guests whether theyre staying in a condo hotel or a traditional hotel?

A hotel guest will likely never know that the hotel has multiple owners because the property is operated just like a traditional hotel and often under the management of a well-known hotel company like Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood, Trump or W.

Also, each of the individual condo hotel units will look identical in design and dcor to every other, just as they would in a traditional hotel.

5. Who typically buys condo hotels?

Theyre primarily sold to people who want a vacation home but do not want to deal with the hassles typically associated with second home ownership such as maintaining the property or finding renters in the off season.

6. What is the demographic of the typical condo hotel buyer?

The spectrum of condo hotel buyers is pretty broad. There are families that want a second home in a vacation destination. There are baby boomers who are at or nearing retirement and want somewhere they can winter.

There are also plenty of investors who purchase a condo hotel unit with little intention of ever using it; theyre in it for the potential appreciation of the real estate.

7. Can you live in a condo hotel?

Condo hotels are not typically offered as primary residences. In fact, many of them limit the unit owner's usage of the condo hotel unit (typically 30-60 days per year) because the unit is expected and needed in the hotel's nightly rental program where it can be offered to guests and generate revenue.

8. Who gets the money when your condo hotel is rented out?

The hotel management company splits the rental revenue with the individual condo hotel owner. While the exact percentages vary from property to property, the typical rental split is in the 50%-50% range.

9. Who finds hotel guests and then cleans and maintains the condo hotel units?

The hotel management company markets the property and books hotel guests. It also maintains the unit and ensures the smooth operation of all of the hotels services and amenities.

10. What are the advantages / disadvantages of purchasing a condotel over purchasing typical rental properties?

Advantages include:

Hassle-free ownership; no landlord issues
Rental revenue to offset some or maybe all ownership expenses
A fantastic vacation home available for use whenever you want
A real estate investment at a time when other investments may seem less attractive
Strong likelihood of appreciation
Pride of ownership --"I own a piece of a Trump"

Disadvantages include:

Annual cash flow could be equal to or less than annual ownership costs
Pets are usually not welcome.
An owners condo hotel unit may be rented when the owner wants to it, so advance reservations are required to guarantee availability.
The condo hotel unit is subject to the same dips in the market that affect all hotels in the competitive market set: hurricanes, terrorist threats, warm winters up north, price of gas, etc., all of which can affect a unit's occupancy rate and the amount of revenue it generates.

11. Are condo hotel units difficult to finance?

Not at all, but they do take 20% down typically, whereas condos can be purchased with less cash down. It's also important to make sure you use a mortgage broker who has had success in getting condo hotel financing deals done. Not all banks offer financing for this type of real estate, but more and more are getting involved as condo hotels become more widely available.

12. How long have condo hotels been around and where are they located?

Condo hotels have been around for several decades, but the huge surge of four-star and five-star condo hotels that have been making their way across the country, started around year 2000 in the Miami area.

The Miami-Fort Lauderdale area currently has the most condo hotels, but areas like Orlando and Las Vegas are developing condo hotel properties at an even faster rate and will likely surpass South Florida soon. Outside the U.S., up-and-coming condo hotel areas are the Bahamas, Panama, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Canada and Dubai.

13. How much do condo hotel units cost?

Thats like asking how much a car costs. There are different quality condo hotels. Some require greater amounts of money than others, obviously.

There are inexpensive condo hotels out there for as little as $100,000. These are typically found in properties that have converted their use from an existing hotel. They are hotel room-sized, lack kitchen facilities, luxury franchises, and other first-class amenities.

Then there are the four-star or greater properties that may start in the $300,000 to $400,000 range, but can go all the way up to $800,000 just for a studio unit.

One- and two-bedroom units cost substantially more than a studio. Of course, the studios do come fully furnished and finished, and will be significantly larger in size than a typical hotel room, and may attract guests because of its name like St. Regis, Ritz or W.

14. What are typical maintenance costs?

On average about $1.00 to $1.50 per sq. ft., but the range can exceed $2.00 sq. ft. in the most luxurious properties.

15. Do you buy condo hotel units after they have been built, or can you purchase condo hotels in pre-construction?

Unless you are in a hurry to get started vacationing or you need to complete a 1031 exchange, it's best to buy condo hotels in pre-construction as early as possible. Thats when prices are lowest and unit selection is greatest.

You will likely wait two years or longer before closing on and taking possession of your condo hotel unit, but you will have locked in the price and will get the benefit of maximum appreciation.

16. Is there anything else investors should want to know about condotels?

There is more to buying this type of real estate than the old phrase, "location, location, location." While most condo hotels are located in desirable resort and business area locations, what is most important is a good franchise with a strong reservation system.

Also, do not be fooled by an aggressive rental split. One way or the other, the developer of the property will have to staff, maintain and operate the hotel and its services like the restaurants, bars, spas and pools from his share of the proceeds.

If he's giving you a very favorable share of the rental, he's also more likely to be charging you a higher monthly maintenance fee. Of course, this goes both ways. If the maintenance split that is offered is closer to 50-50, then your maintenance should be more reasonable too.

17. Any suggestions to investors in choosing which condo hotel to buy?

Get good advice. That means you dont want to rely only on the pitch provided by an onsite salesperson at a condo hotel.

You want to talk with a broker who specializes in condo hotels and who knows and understands the entire condo hotel market, not just the facts pertaining to a single property. He or she will listen to your wants and needs and then offer recommendations as to which properties best match your requirements. Youll have an opportunity to comparison shop and consider the pros and cons of each available property.

A good broker can be the difference between your buying a condo hotel that will be problematic and not live up to your expectations or one that will provide you with years of great vacations, good annual revenue and a substantial profit when you sell.

18. Does it cost more to use a real estate broker to purchase a condo hotel than buying a unit on ones own?

No! With new condo hotel properties, the prices are always set by the developer and are exactly the same whether you buy directly from an onsite salesperson at the property or using a broker.

The brokers commission is always paid by the developer and is already built into the price regardless of whether an outside broker participates in the sale or not. Since a brokers representation is free to buyers, it does make sense to enlist their aid and get the benefit of their advice before making a purchase.

19. How can prospective buyers find a good condo hotel broker?

Ask friends for broker recommendations or search online for condo hotel broker.

Also, visit condo hotel real estate websites and see if the information they provide seems comprehensive and unbiased. If their website seems to focus on selling homes or office space, and the condo hotel information appears to be an afterthought, steer clear. Because condo hotels are a unique type of real estate, your best bet is to work with a condo hotel broker who specializes.

20. How can buyers learn about new condo hotel properties coming on the market?

Condo hotel brokers can be good information sources as they often learn about properties prior to their release to the general public. Another option is to subscribe to a condo hotel newsletter such as the one we publish called Condo Hotel Property Alert.

We offer subscriptions for free on our website, http://www.CondoHotelCenter.com. It features a different condo hotel property coming on the market each edition, giving buyers an opportunity to invest when prices are at their lowest levels and the selection of available units is greatest.

Joel Greene is the President of Condo Hotel Center located in Miami Florida, which specializes in the sale of condo hotels. Visit his information-packed web site, http://www.CondoHotelCenter.com, for more facts on condo hotels and to see condo hotel listings, photos and prices. Corenda Blog78522
Christalle Blog2625

London: Party Capital of Europe For Weekenders

With London being the party capital of the united Kingdom, there is so much to do and so many places to see and an ideal place for any hen or stag party group. Home to our Royal Family, this historical capital is filled with culture, architecture and endless hours of entertainment.

If you are on thinking of booking a Hen or Stag weekend, then London is the place to visit! This party city has everything you could possibly need for an entertaining, hot rocking weekend! Wall to wall Restaurants, and some of the best clubs in Europe exist in this city.

The End club is one of London's favourite nightlife venues featuring music from hard hitting drum and bass nights to sexy, funky house and there is also the AKA bar upstairs. For the more refined party goer, there is Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club.

Established in 1959, Ronnie Scott's Club is a world famous venue and the home of British Jazz. Originally based in nearby Gerrard Street, the club moved to its current location in 1965. The roll call of legendary names who have appeared at Ronnie Scott's is almost endless, including Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery, Buddy Rich and Donald Byrd. The club remains a vibrant jazz venue, with nightly gigs suitable for stag and hens or any mixed groups. Also available at the club, a selection of modern English cuisine.

Whatever you are looking for in a weekend break or hen and stag weekend, London has it all! Wall to wall theatres, the home of west end productions is right on your doorstep. The Adelphi, The Dominion and The Lyceum are all but a few to visit if you are looking for a cultured evening of entertainment.

Daytime events are equally as entertaining offering a wide selection of activities for hens and stags. For the ladies, pampering at a luxury hotel is a wonderful way to unwind and take the weight off your feet and for the stags, a full day of karting and paintball is just what you need to get the adrenaline pumping!

For a full range of activities and more information on hen and stag weekends, please go to www.betterweekends.com .

My name is Erika Lindberg and I have worked in PR for the last 10 years. I am currently working for http://www.betterweekends.com and numerous other agencies analysing the travel and tourism industry, in particular, the hen and stag market and the festive industry of culture analysing celebrations of life.Cristin Blog77087
Celinda Blog11862

Why You Need To Pre-Launch Your Next Product

Have you noticed that most of the big product launches lately have first gone through a "pre-launch" phase? Have you ever wondered why?

I decided to give pre-launch a try on my latest product release, Article Builder, to see if a pre-launch really does sell more product. The numbers are in, and let me tell you, the pre-launch made a huge difference in my bottom line.

Pre-Launching Creates Buzz

Pre-launching a product means letting people know about the product 30 to 60 days ahead of the actual date that they can purchase the product. There is nothing new about doing this. Movie studios for years have heavily advertised their films many months before you can go see them. Recording artists often advertise their upcoming albums well before they can be purchased.

Letting people know ahead of time about your product creates buzz. It gets people talking about the product in the forums and to their friends and family. This causes more people to go to your pre-launch site to read about it, and builds anticipation for the actual release date.

Pre-Launching Allows For User Input

In the case of software products, pre-launching gives you a chance to show people how the product works and get feedback on it. For Article Builder, I collected as many opinions and comments as I could on the software during the 30 day pre-launch phase. I applied many of the suggestions prior to launching, so that by the time it actually launched, it was three times as good as what I had first created!

There is no better way to sell a product than to find out exactly what your customer base wants, and then sell it to them! Making the product the absolute best it can be before the actual sales date ensures a much higher conversion rate and a lot more sales.

Pre-Launching Helps You Build A List

If you supply a "subscribe for more information" box on your pre-launch page, then people who want to get more information or be notified when the product actually launches are added to your email list. This is great for keeping them up to date about coming changes and improvements in your product up to launch date.

To make sure you get the most number of subscribers, be sure and give them a reward for giving out their email address. With Article Builder I sent people the URL to a video where they could watch the software in action, if they were willing to get on the pre-launch list.

The benefits of having the person on that list doesn't stop after the product launches, however. Even if the person chose not to buy, you can still send other offers their way that they may take you up on. Its a great way to continue to earn from people who may have not even purchased your pre-launch product!

For Article Builder I was able to get over 2,000 people on the email list! You can imagine how that has helped me in selling additional back-end products. So you certainly will want to offer an opt-in box on the pre-launch page.

Summing It All Up

These are great reasons to pre-launch your next product: it creates buzz, it allows you to get feedback and improve the product, and it builds an email list of people interested in the subject area. All three are key points that boost your bottom line.

For me personally, I will not be launching any new products without a pre-launch first!

Jonathan Leger has a blog on Internet Marketing where you can find other informative articles like this one. You can find it at: http://www.jonathanleger.com/Charlotta Blog36649
Cynthea Blog36549

Video Games: They Way We Where

Video games have been around for more years than most people know. Most people today can remember the Pac-Man, Pac-Woman era. In reality video games have been in our daily lives for far longer than that. In fact one of the first video games on record goes back to 1947, where the first ever patent was filed in January of that year and that patent was issued in December 1948. Little did we know that this would come to be one of the hottest commodities to hit the American and International markets. One of the earliest video games was created by the same man who developed the atomic bomb.

In the 50s and 60s a video was being patented to run on computers. This became a reality, the problem was that little was known about computers and they were so expensive that few people had them, and this program was run on a platform called oscilloscopes, which was a piece of electronic equipment that could show two dimensional graphs. These were located at colleges and universities.

The 70s brought about new developments in the video industry. In 1972 a patent was granted for the release of a home video console. In was large and bulky, but it satisfied the video game demands of the gaming public. Later, in the 70s and early 80s, along came the development and release of Atari. This lasted for only a few short years, when the video market took a big dive. The reason for this was that there were so many entities producing these video games (most of which were the same game) that the market became flooded. The industry had really gone stale, because how many versions of the same video game can there be. One just seemed to be an updated version of the other. The public became bored with this and needed something fresh and new.

In 1989 the market once again had a new video game gadget, Nintendo Game Boy. This was new and exciting and the games were different, challenging and, best of all, you could take it with you wherever you went. There were several competitors who put their video games on the market by this time, but even today Game Boy seems to be the best selling hand held video game and console.

The 1990s came alive with new and improved versions of consoles for video games. Nintendo was overtaken by the newcomer, Sonys Play Station. The public went wild and now anyone who had the Nintendo switched and had to have a Play Station, with more bells and whistles than had been seen before.

Up until now all video games had been developed for computer type consoles, hand held consoles and computers. 2003 saw a new direction come to life with the development of video games on cellular phones, this came from none other that Nokia.

The video game industry has evolved into a multi-million dollar industry today. Almost every person in the world has at one time or another in their life either played a video game, whether it be on the old oscilloscopes, coin operated consoles, hand held consoles, home computers or the cell phone. It is an industry that is growing by leaps and bounds on a daily bases.

Taisha Grant writes about http://www.videogamesbox.com, http://www.videogamesbox.com/Coupons/eToys.html and http://www.videogamesbox.com/Coupons/MadCatzStore.com.htmlCherilynn Blog77562
Darsie Blog68305

Powerful Flexibility With Rollback Rx

PC maintenance is a challenge for businesses today. Most corporations spend millions every month to keep their computers operational and running, constantly fixing computer problems and recovering lost data. They constantly encounter new viruses getting into their systems in spite of seemingly adequate prevention measures. Every time they update with new software patches, they have to be careful and prepared to fix computer issues if it goes wrong. More than anything else, they must be prepared for disaster recovery if there are network intrusions and identity thefts causing computers to crash indefinitely. The IT support is sometimes unable to identify the cause for such repairs. One way to avoid all this is by installing Rollback Rx, system restore software and the complete PC maintenance solution.

Protection Against Disasters

Just as better solutions are on the rise, so are new viruses, spyware and Trojans. Every computer is in danger of being infected. When a corporate network is involved the risk is exponentially high. The Rollback Rx software works as a perfect mate with antivirus software, totally compatible with it, to repair computer problems. Together, the two make a strong defense against virus attacks. But there are times when spyware comes disguised and anti virus programs may not detect them. In such cases, Rollback Rx is particularly useful because it helps to rollback any system to an earlier operational state, totally cleaning the computer of the suspect spyware. What would otherwise have meant several hours of downtime for the system is now reduced to something like three minutes per system. Almost every bit of data is recovered, with the remote possibility of a five per cent loss. And even if some systems are remotely located, Rollback Rx can still trouble shoot over a network.

Boon To Beta Testers

It is always a tricky thing to test new applications. Theres the risk of causing total failure. But with Rollback Rx as a safety net to fall back on, IT administrators can securely test new applications. If the deployment fails, with Rollback Rx, the system can be quickly rolled back to the point before the test was begun. It might have taken hours without Rollback, but with Rollback it only takes seconds to do a pc restore. This makes the risk of new application deployment low, with Rollback Rx.

Maintenance becomes a smooth operation with Rollback Rx. Unwanted software and spyware can be easily removed by doing a pc restore, thus allowing minimum chances of damage to the corporate network. With instant system restore, Rollback Rx software strengthens the capability of every PC.

Jacob Henderson is the technical head of Horizon Data Systems and leading software development firm in the business of Desktop Security and PC performance enhancement software. During his more than 10 years of software development experience in various positions, Jacob Henderson has developed a large number of state of the art software and written numerous articles and reports. Jacob Henderson was one of the core team leaders, that is responsible for the development of user integration features of the flagship product of the Company-Rollback Rx Software.Clarine Blog24395
Dacey Blog20089

How to Double Your Sales Appointments in Half the Time; Part 2

Why is Setting Sales Appointments a Critical Sales Performance Competency and How Do You Build a Prospecting System to Set More Sales Appointments in Less Time?
By Jeff Hardesty

In Part 1, we summarized that you may have the best service in the world and the best widget in its category. But if you can't physically get in front of your targeted business prospects on a routine basis you wont meet your revenue objectives.

And we discussed these (3) realities:

If you double your new appointments you will double your revenue... regardless of your closing ratio

Not setting enough new business appointments leads to Sales employee turnover, sub-par revenue results and longer Ramp-to-Quota for new hires

The communication act of asking for a Business appointment should be internally declared a KEY sales competency and trained to individually

So logically, sales organizations should be willing to develop and provide Best Practice support systems to their sales teams for Measurable performance results in line with effectively setting sales appointments.

Why is a Conversation-to-Appointment Ratio a core sales competency?

Because its a sales skill set that is measurable around an essential task; sales prospecting and setting business appointments. It has a purpose and is directly tied to the end results; good or bad.

In this case, it is to introduce and education the value of your product or service to a specific individual or group. It initiates your selling process. It doesn't matter if you are having this conversation by telephone, cold-calling in person, on elevators, or just yelling from one rooftop to another; it is a communication skill set that is essential to your sales success. Its what you say and how you say it.

Here are a few prerequisites of whether or not something should be declared a core competency:

#1

Is it an essential component to the sales mission or is it just an ingredient in the recipe?

Think of a sports person. What are a golfer's essential competencies from tee-off to last putt? Are the ball and club core competencies? Or are the core competencies the golf swing and putting stroke?

How about a basketball player with the essential competencies of passing, dribbling, and shooting?

Hint: Don't relate an Indy car pit crew putting gas in the fuel tank as a competency.

#2

You must be able to be measure it routinely and accurately. Ask yourself if you could measure it with a napkin, pencil, and calculator?

That way youll be able to know if you're performing this business activity better than your competitors.
It's sort of like knowing if your team is "Blocking and Tackling" better than your opponent's team in a football game.

Because at the end of the day, its the individual (Or the team) with the best overall stats that wins.

#3

You should be able to apply "Timely Training" and "Powerful Routines" around each core competency.

We all know what sales training is. But do we understand why sales training fails?

And to understand thisit becomes important to understand what I mean when I use the term"Timely Training."

Timely Training means you have in place appropriate structures for learning and application. You have to be able to define useful short-term goals, long term objectives and performance benchmarks, but also measure each participants progress. Have participants work closely with qualified trainers for proper follow-up and support.

But most importantly"Timely Training" should be focused on only one key sales competency at a time.

That means you never move on to your next training objective (In-line sales competency) until your intended benchmark performance metric is realized.

"Powerful Routines" are Best Practices internal to each Core Competency that result in the highest ratio of success. Its a technique or communication process that through experience has proven to get the best result parallel to a particular sales scenario.

As an example, when a prospect says Just send me some information we identify that communication as an objection. 95% of the time its a polite way of getting rid of us. Deep down inside we know what happens to the information. It goes in the circular file. Bottom line, it keeps both the Post Office and the office Janitor busy. One delivers these 'information requests' and the other one throws them out.

Whats your current Powerful Routine to effectively communicate to a third solution, because none of us want to be in the Postal Business.

Key Learning Point:

There are only so many scenarios in any sales process. If you isolate them, train to each one of them with Powerful Routines and then measure the outcome, you are on your way to success.

Take for example setting Top-down business appointments. Weve already decided it would be a benefit to our sales success if we could reduce the time it took to achieve the necessary number of Top-down appointments.

In building an effective learning system to improve your Conversation-to-appointment ratio from the national average of 4-18%, you must first understand why that competency ratio is only 4-18%.

With that in mind, heres what I know to be true:

1. We dont seek to first (Before we pick up the telephone) understand the Prospects internal business objectives parallel to our solutions offering, then model our appointment approach around it

2. We settle for a business level of contact that has no direct fiscal authority

3. We sell our product/service instead of selling the diagnostic steps in our Evaluation Process

4. We fail to develop an effective Call to Action; strategic words and phrases that create a positive 'visual' reference to the Prospect of what happens during the initial appointment and how long it takes

5. We dont support our Call to Action with 3rd party valuators parallel to the Prospects business objectives; valuators like business statistics, appointment performance ratios, ROI figures and relevant success stories

6. We fail to document all possible Objections and develop Powerful communication templates to negotiate 3rd Solutions

These (6) Heres What I Know to be True factors are where you should begin your sales prospecting and sales performance improvement journey, because the definition of insanity is doing the same old thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

In Part 3 of How to Double Your Sales Appointments in Half the Time, we will take an in depth look at these 6 failure factors and flip them 180% into individual powerful routines to effectively set more Top-down business appointments in less time.

Jeff Hardesty is a National sales speaker, Sales performance improvement consultant and the Developer of the X2 Sales System, a blended sales prospecting training system that teaches sales professionals the competency of setting targeted C-level business appointments. Dacie Blog92922
Debra Blog89816

7 Reasons Why Our Love Of Theatre Will Never Die

Many of us are fascinated by theatre and its easy to see why because the whole experience can be such a memorable and touching event.

Perhaps for some theatre is about the fun and excitement of a great musical, for others its the intriguing story brought to life or simply a way to escape from it all? Whatever the reason, there is no denying theatre has a place in many peoples hearts, and here are 7 reasons why the love of theatre will never die:

1. Watching a musical can be totally absorbing as you appreciate the skill and craft that goes into a mesmerising production. The show stopping tunes seem to sink into your mind as your left with songs that you can sing for years to come or new dance moves you can try out with your friends.

2. Theres something for everyone all year round as the appeal of theatre is diverse. Its a place where great stories are brought to life - whether its through singing, dancing, riveting plot lines or fine acting delivered by a well rehearsed cast. With no one show being the same the chances are there is something unique being performed near you - whatever the time of year.

3. The Play is an important part of our ancient history. From as far back as the ancient Greeks the play formed a key element of our community, from story telling through to providing an outlet for entertainment and escape. The Play has always been a valued part of our culture.

4. Theatre performances are great places to go with friends and family. Youll have fun enjoying the show and recount the scenes that moved you afterwards. You can chat about the actors you couldnt take your eyes off as well as spend countless hours singing back all your favourite tunes from musicals.

5. Theatre is a great chance to see some of our favourite actors up close and in person. Having watched them for so many years from afar it can be a wonderful experience to take in a show and see your favourite stars take to the stage. From Richard Gere to Kim Basinger, from Sir Ian McKellan to Dame Judi Dench most great actors and actresses have graced the live stage.

6. Its a truly live experience. There is a charm and ambience that comes from a live performance in front of a live audience. This dynamic delivers an almost electrifying presence that just isnt possible in a cinema environment or on your wide screen TV at home [no matter how big it is].

7. Theatre offers convenient performance times. If youre looking for an afternoon event, so you can go out in the evening, then you can catch a matinee. Or if you want to make the theatre your main entertainment at night, then you can see the evening show. This flexibility means you can fit in a performance for when it suits you. This differs a lot from many other arts and music shows that offer only one performance time a day - usually in the evening.

With all this talk of theatre, many of us can recall a time when we picked up some last minute tickets with a friend, dashed to the venue and found ourselves watching from the Gods in the back of the theatre. Sure we still had a good time, but we couldnt help feeling If only we had those seats over there.

But what if it was possible to have tickets to some of the finest seats in the house, a mouth-watering dinner and perhaps stay overnight at a luxurious hotel?

Imagine how your close friend or partner would feel if this year on your anniversary or perhaps on their birthday they were given such a gift. A gift where they could have fabulous tickets to a West End show, paint the town red and an have a luxurious overnight stay at a first class hotel in the heart of a UK city.

Originally this may have been the pastime of the wealthy and affluent, however, these wonderful weekend escapes are now in reach of all of us for that special celebration. There are a range of theatre break packages available where you an enjoy a night at a fabulous London theatre at a show of your choice with two first rate seats plus an overnight stay in a 4 star hotel in either the West End of London or pick from a selection of other UK cities.

With all the appeal it has there is no doubt that our love for theatre will never die. It offers so much, with such diversity. Its easy to see why it makes for such a great escape and a perfect gift for that someone special this year. So what are you waiting for?

Janette Vince is managing director of the online company www.Thanksdarling.com For more information on a range of theatre breaks in London and across the UK simply visit http://www.thanksdarling.com/134-5.htm.Dari Blog19761
Celinda Blog11862