Feminism sometimes gets a bad press. Feminism is often presented as a homogenous group where the radical is viewed as the norm. This is not the case. There are many different types of feminists. This page gives you an overview of some of these groups.

From a sociological viewpoint most feminism (with the possible exception of postmodern feminism) can be viewed as a macro theory because it gives a view of society as a whole.

WHAT IS FEMINISM?

This is not so easy to answer as it might at first appear because there are so many different types of feminists. Feminist groups argue against patriarchy, subordination, oppression and androcentrism but what do they mean by these terms? Each group may have different ways of using the terminology. Taking a very generalised view patriarchy is about structuring society according to male domination whereas androcentrism is a male dominated way of viewing the world. However what consititutes structuring the world according to male domination is a matter for debate.

TYPES OF FEMINIST THEORY

Liberal Feminism

Liberal feminists may speak about justice in gender issues. There are two main ways they understand this. Firstly, a classical liberalist may argue that we should remove discriminatory laws to allow equality of opportunity. Whereas a welfare liberalist may argue in favour of so called ‘positive discrimination’. According to the welfare view society ought to compensate women for centuries of discrimination by treating women more favourably than men.

Radical Feminism

This form of feminism is still evolving and can take many forms but it nevertheless holds that the oppression of women is the most fundamental oppression in that it is: rooted in history, the deepest form of oppression, the cause of the most suffering and the conceptual model for understanding all other forms of oppression (Alison Jagger and Paula Rothenberg as explained in Rosemary Tong, Feminist Thought, Westview, 1989, p. 71)

One issue frequently under discussion by radical feminists is reproduction. Feminists such as Firestone argue that reproduction forms a class distinction between men and women. Firestone advocates a biological revolution where the ultimate goal is an androgenous society. Other radical feminists such as Adrienne Rich argued that reproduction is empowering for women.

Marxist Feminism

A key theme in Marxism is the alienation of the proletariat or workers. Marxist feminists generally see women as a class and argue that women are, like the proletariat, alienated in society. Marxist feminists are divided regarding how this imbalance may be rectified. For instance, Engels argued that men retain power because of their access to work. His view was, broadly speaking, that inequalities would reduce once women access work. Modern Marxist feminists often view the traditional roles adopted by women (mother and wife) as unproductive in that being a wife and/or mother is about the production of people (care for others), rather than the production of money or goods. Some Marxist feminists have therefore advocated paying women for adopting a mother-wife role. Others advocate women working outside of the home. The main problem with the latter being that far from freeing women, this often results in women getting caught up in the capitalist system, juggling the demands of work and family.

Psychoanalytic Feminism

Again this is a very broad category, with several feminists criticising Freud for his failure to challenge the patriarchal institutions of his time. For instance, Firestone claimed that Freud ought to have found ways to free women and children from the tyrrany of the father. However Alfred Adler argued that patriarchy drives women literally to madness as neuroses are ways in which women protest against their oppression (Tong, p. 147).

Postmodern Feminism

Postmodernism rejects the idea that there is one singular true view of the world and in this way it may be seen to be a micro theory. Postmodern feminists may argue that no-one, including other women, may speak for all women. However they mostly argue that each woman should have the opportunity to become herself. Postmodern feminists include diverse theories such as those of: Helen Cixous, Luce Irigaray and Julia Kristeva.

Sexual Difference Feminism: Luce Irigaray

Sexual difference feminism (SDF) differs from the difference feminism that Haralambos introduces. The latter holds that different groups of women are exploited to different levels. SDF is about how men and women are different and as such ought not to be treated the same. Perhaps the best known exponent of SDF is Luce Irigaray. One of her arguments focuses on the plurality of women as opposed to the singularity of men. For Irigaray one problem for women is that our view of the world is not so valued as that of men.

Sue McLean is a high school teacher with nearly 20 years of experience. She is currently completing an MA at Lancaster University whilst running a busy web design business.

What is Hives: The skin becomes covered with pinkish or red bumps or swollen areas of skin. Sometimes they itch real bad, and at other times they don’t. You can get hives over most of your body, or sometimes just on your stomach, or arms. The medical name for hives is urticaria.

What causes Hives: Hives are usually caused by being allergic to something. But they can occur when a person is exposed to anything that causes his body to release histamine. Releasing histamine causes liquid to leak from blood vessels under the skin. When this fluid collects or ‘pools’ together it creates the bumps that are called ‘hives’.

My daughter and I both have had hives, and we both got them from the same reasons, we were allergic to medications given for other illnesses. I got hives from taking penicillin, even though I took penicillin most of my life with no side effects, I now find myself very allergic to it. My daughter got hives from taking ‘Ceclore’, a prescription antibiotic, for an ear infection. You can also get hives from insect bites and stings and from allergic reactions to eating fish, shellfish, nuts, and eggs. Strangely, you can eat a food item all your life, then suddenly develop an allergy to it, like I did to the medication Penicillian.

Treatment for Hives: When my daughter and I both developed hives from medicine allergies, we were given Benadryl, and stopped taking the medicines that caused the hives to first appear, in a day or two they were gone. They are usually treated with an antihistamine or the prescription medicine Atarax.

There is a website that provides cures, facts and other great information on Hives and numerous medical conditions, the website is called: All About Health, and can be found at =>http://www.rb59.com/medical-health-info

Copyright © 2007 Robert W. Benjamin

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970’s-80’s.

Stop The Fleas

http://www.stopthefleas.com

In this article you will learn to identify the symptoms that people with anxiety and panic attack have. You will also learn how anxiety and panic attacks are developed.

You and me and every other human being think thousands of thoughts every day. We react to thoughts differently. One thought may bring up positive and happy feeling while another thought brings up negative and unhappy feelings. What you need to understand is that thoughts and feelings are connected. If you think happy thoughts you will soon feel happy, the opposite are also true. If you think negative thoughts you will soon feel negative.

Anxiety are caused by a struggle between a fearful thought and your conscience. When this thought appears you think. I dont like this thought, i dont want to think this thought anymore. Make it go away quick. This struggle is like a tug of war and the tension keeps building as you try to force away the negative thought. So the more you react to a thought and try to think the negative thought away, the worse it becomes.

So now when you know how anxiety and panic attack are developed you should be on the lookout for the following symptoms that have been proved connected with anxiety and panic attack.

• Raging heartbeat

• Difficulty breathing, feeling as though you ‘can’t get enough -air

• Terror that is almost paralyzing

• Nervous, shaking, stress

• Heart palpitation, feeling of dread

• Dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea

• Trembling, sweating, shaking

• Choking, chest pains, distress

• Fear, fright, afraid, anxious

• hot flashes, or sudden chills

• Tingling in fingers or toes (’pins and needles’)

• Fearful that you’re going to go crazy or are about to die

So you see which symptoms that are connected with anxiety and panic attack. You have also learned how anxiety and panic attacks are built up. What you dont know however are how you could use this knowledge to your advantage. What you can do to avoid build anxiety when these fearful thoughts appear.

David is an expert on anxiety and panic attacks. He have suffered from anxiety in the past but have learned to eliminate them. Did you know that you can successfully stop your anxiety and panic attack if you learn not to react to your fearful thoughts. For more information about this and many more techniques. Visit this link. Panic Attack Anxiety Symptoms.

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO’S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details)

****Mentor’s True Nature*****

It is during the First Threshold Outer Cave Trial that the Mentor’s True Nature often becomes apparent. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Clyde gets attacked by the shopkeeper, knocks him out and says “..I ain’t against him…”

*****Evolution*****

The First Threshold has distinct phases of evolution. When the Hero first arrives in the First Threshold, he (or she) is a Fish out of Water, by the time he (or she) leaves, he is less so. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack learns to control the horse.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

The Managing Creativity and Innovation MBA dissertation, DIY creativity Audit, Powerpoint presentation and Good Idea generator software can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO’S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details)

*****Road of Trials (1)*****

The Road of Trials is all about the dissolution of the Old Self (the dissolving away of the Old Self). The first part of this is the Letting go of the Old Self. The Hero must pull away from his Old World and Old Self. In An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Zach accepts Paula.

*****New Creatures of the New Domain*****

Arrival in any New World involves being unfamiliar with the creatures of that world. In Straw Dogs (1971), David and Amy arrive in town, only to be watched and smirked at.

*****Demonstrating the Magical Gift*****

One often missed stage of the Hero’s Journey is the demonstration of the Magical Gift. In the Bond franchise, Q also demonstrates the gadgets. In Star Wars (1977), Ben fires up Luke’s light sabre. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie dares Clyde to use the gun.

*****Familial Dislocation*****

Familial dislocation is a common backstory for the Hero. Harry Potter’s parents were dead, as were Luke Skywalkers. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), “…my old man was a bullriders; never taught me a thing, never once came to see me ride…”; Ennis tells his family story.

*****First Threshold Guardian*****

Before the Hero et al enter the First Threshold, they must pass a Threshold Guardian. In Star Wars (1977), Luke and Obi Wan must pass the Storm Troopers into Mos Isley. In Goodfellas (1990), the young Henry Hill gets arrested.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

The Managing Creativity and Innovation MBA dissertation, DIY creativity Audit, Powerpoint presentation and Good Idea generator software can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO’S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details)

*****Rescue from Without*****

The Hero is pulled away from [the stage that is called No Mans Land]. That is to say, the Hero refuses to return (or cannot return) to the Final Conflict and the world must come and get him. Often the antagonist will force him to pull out of No Mans Land - kidnaping the Romantic Challenge is not uncommon. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), they’re shot at in the morning. In Spiderman (2004), the Green Goblin kidnaps MJ. In The Godfather (1972), Barzini gets Tessio to turn against Michael.

Ultimately this is a battle that is as much to do with the Hero’s psychology as anything else..and it must be engaged in.

*****Atonement with the Father*****

The Atonement with the Father is the confrontation with the Inner Challenge. This stage often contains some mentor / father figure representative. In Straw Dogs (1971), David and Amy are in the church hall, the priest lectures and Amy has flashbacksabout the rape.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

The Managing Creativity and Innovation MBA dissertation, DIY creativity Audit, Powerpoint presentation and Good Idea generator software can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

“FREE” — You see it everywhere on the Net. When you dig deeper, you always find that whatever the offer, it is not really free. It will usually cost you your name and email address on a sign up form for a newsletter or some such offer. At the very least, it takes your time to even check it out.

A classic use of “free” on the Net is in web hosting. There are many sites that advertise free web hosting. Now who can turn down a bargain like that? Being a frugal person of Scots heritage, I for one considered it until I really dug down past the top layer.

Historically, many of these hosts have started up and disappeared quickly. Poof, there goes the hard work you invested in setting up your website. Now you have to find another host and go through the process again.

Another group of the free web hosts began as free hosts, and then started charging for services with the hope that the users would pay rather than go through the hassle of moving their website.

Still others require the right to put some form of advertising on your web pages. This does not project a professional image to your viewers.

This is still not the major hidden cost of a free web host.

The real hidden cost of a free web host (or a budget web host) is the lack of services that the host provides.

Put yourself in the position of the CEO of the free web host. How much can you pay for support personnel if you are not charging the user for your services? How solid a hardware system can you afford to host the websites? How much can you invest to guarantee no downtime on the servers?

If the web host does not provide the services as part of your hosting agreement, then you have to provide the services yourself. This causes you to pay for the services or work long, hard hours to compensate for the free web host. Your time is worth money. You should be realistic in your accounting for your time as part of the costs of your business.

If you are not familiar with SEO (if you do not know what SEO means, then you definitely need support); if you do not know how to program in HTML; if you do not know about Google site maps; if you do not know what the new XML sitemaps file at Yahoo looks like; if you do not know about blogging; (the list goes on and on); then you should not be on a free web host.

Unfortunately, if you remain on the free host, odds are you will find that you are included in the over ninety percent of individuals who start out to make a living on the Internet and fail.

The ideal web host should provide you with a multitude of services that all but guarantee that you will be successful. Do you think that a free web host will do that?

The old adage, “You get what you pay for” applies on the Net just like anywhere else.

If you have a small website that is a personal toy or you need a one page site for a landing page, then perhaps a free web host is your answer.

When your website is a serious site that you intend for your income for years to come, be realistic, bite the bullet, and pay for the services that will give you every chance for success.

The decision on which web host to use is the most important decision that you will make as you launch your Internet business. It will spell the difference between success and failure.

Make this decision wisely.

For a review of the best web hosts go to http://tinyurl.com/3ahjkj

Copyright 2007 John Howe, Inc.

John V. W. Howe is an entrepreneur, author, inventor, patent holder, husband, father, and grandfather. He has been involved in entrepreneurial activities for over 40 years. He supports Baby Boomers who are looking for online retirement jobs.

Visit his web host review site at http://www.boomer-ezine.com/Only_the_Best/Web_Site_Hosts.htm

When cigarettes first came out, everyone thought they were safe. When the first studies appeared linking cancer to cigarette smoking, there were mild warnings on the boxes letting people know this, like “may be hazardous for your health”. Twenty years of study later and after millions have suffered and many died, we finally have strong statements: “Cigarette smoking causes heart disease, lung cancer….” Many have finally woken up and stopped smoking so they can live healthier, but millions still smoke around the world because it is hard to break a habit, or simply because they don’t care - they say “we all gotta die sometime…” They are constantly sick - but they fool themselves by saying it is not from smoking cigarettes.

In the past, being obese meant you were prosperous. If you had lots of fat on your body, it meant you were rich and had plenty to eat. Today we know for a fact that being obese causes a lot of health problems - high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and hundreds of other problems. When you are obese, it is hard to walk, let alone exercise everyday, and you get knee problems and back problems and are in constant pain. However, many still don’t care. They think they are just doomed and just accept pain and suffering as a part of life. They can easily stop being in so much pain and stop taking so many pills if only they lost weight. However, adopting a healthy lifestyle after so many years of living unhealthy is not easy. It has become a habit to go out to eat junk food at fast food chains - it is just so convenient. It has become a habit to reach for a candy bar, a quart of ice cream or a bag of chips when we feel depressed or we are bored. It has become a habit to say “I am just too busy to exercise”. People would rather get back from work and fall asleep on the couch watching T.V. then exercise for a half hour so they can get in better shape and not have a lot of health problems. Sad but true. Just like those who smoke cigarettes, habits are hard to change.

Now we are looking at 125 ingredients in common use products that are suspected of carcinogenic activity (can cause cancer). One, DEA, has been tested and proven to cause cancer in rats when applied to the skin. That is only the first ingredient tested and proven and there are 124 more to go. But what about the evidence linking it to cancer and other diseases - do we just dismiss it? Do we just overlook it and WAIT for the FDA to give us concrete proof before we decide to start using safer products? It has been 20 years since the Surgeon General’s report that cigarette smoking causes cancer and just now we are finally seeing legislation restricting tobacco use. That was just ONE product they had to test - tobacco. We are now dealing with 124 chemicals - it will take decades to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that these ingredients cause cancer. We have concrete evidence, though, that Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Propylene Glycol, talc, aluminum and hundreds of other chemicals are linked to diseases, but people would rather wait for the FDA to show concrete proof that they do. How long will they wait?

How long will YOU wait? Are you waiting to become another statistic before you actually change the products you use? The evidence is there -see for yourself. If you don’t’ believe me, do the research yourself. The evidence is everywhere. The FDA and other organizations will take a long time to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that these ingredients do cause cancer, Alzheimer’s, etc. Are you willing to wait that long? Our bodies are rebelling against the chemical invasion. Will you take action and stop using products that are harming it?

Mirdza Hayden
Helping People Lead Healthier Lifestyles
http://www.MirdzasHealthSite.com

In my years as a private tutor, I’ve heard this phrase again and again. Parents who seek my services are usually their wits’ end trying to figure out why their “smart” kids are doing poorly in school. The critical mind may first ask one of these parents, “Why do you think your child is so smart?”

First, let’s take a step back and look at that word: “smart.” This word is so overused and broad in definition, that I think it’s just useless. Am I smart because I can instantly multiply 23 and 8? Was your high school class valedictorian the smartest person you knew back then? Was Einstein smart because he discovered the theory of relativity? What about savants, who can memorize tens of thousands of years’ worth of dates but can’t tie their own shoes? Almost everyone in the world can be classified as “smart” in their own respect, so let’s just keep that in mind as we further explore the question posed in the title of the article.

I think the real definition of “smartness” has nothing to do with IQ or the ability to do mental gymnastics such as quick math or fact memorization. We are ALL born with our own limitations. We can work to expand those limitations, but, in some regard, they are always there. It is simply ignorant and incorrect not to acknowledge this. That being said, everyone can succeed despite their own limitations. However, in order to do this, one must understand his own limitations and figure out how to best use his own natural instrumentalities. For example, I’ve seen a lot of students watch me do quick math in my head, and then they try to emulate me. Some succeed, while some just end up taking longer than if they had written it down or used a calculator. I encourage everyone to try new techniques to see what works for them - that is the heart of really being smart. There are often many ways to do something - each student should do what works for THAT student. Sometimes that means working extra hard to understand a principle or memorize a fact, sometimes it means looking at something several different ways, and sometimes it means just taking one look at something and understanding it immediately.

OK, so we’ve had a brief discussion of what makes someone “smart” - now how can we help your smart kids get better grades?

First, the easy stuff: homework. Most kids I see who are doing poorly are either not doing or turning in their homework! If this is a problem, get on your kids’ back to JUST DO IT. Some techniques I’ve seen help are: threaten grounding, check teachers’ daily homework websites, or request your childrens’ teachers to sign off on the daily homework assignment. I would NOT recommend positive reinforcement here because homework is the absolute bare minimum of what a student is expected to do. By this, I mean reinforcement like, for example, “If you turn in all your homework this semester, I will buy you a Playstation 3.” NO NO NO NO NO. “If you turn in all your homework this week, then I won’t ground you this weekend” is far more appropriate. Homework just isn’t a bonus, I can’t stress that enough.

Next on the list is attitude. This can be a substantially more difficult hurdle to overcome if your child has apathy or animosity towards school. A mild case of bad attitude could be cured by a simple, realistic explanation of why school is important. You need credibility, so don’t say something like “Trust me, I’m your mother.” If you want your child to get good grades, explain why. Be honest, and speak from the heart. If you got bad grades when you were that age, think about how your life would be different if you had gotten good grades, if it would be different at all. You can use yourself as either a positive or negative example. A child with more severe attitude problems is tougher to deal with - you may want to consider a tutor. In most cases, I would shy away from sending your kid to a psychotherapist because I’ve rarely seen them actually connect with kids (that being said, I do think they can work if there are other things wrong - just don’t send your kid to a shrink for bad grades, that’s what tutors are for).

Effort is the number one key to good grades. Students need to spend the time and seek the help they need to understand EVERYTHING they are expected to know. Teachers tell the students what will be on tests and quizzes, and there is usually no excuse for being surprised by a test question. Teachers want their students to succeed. Effort on the part of the PARENTS is important too - get involved! See what your children are studying, see if they need help. If they do, try to help them yourself, it’s great bonding! Otherwise, take them into school early or pick them up late to get help from the teacher, or hire a tutor.

Which brings me to the last point - I’ve found that good teaching is the “X-factor” in academic performance. I’ve never tutored someone who thought their teacher was good at teaching. I personally think this is a little unfair, because teachers have the VERY difficult task of teaching 20-40 pupils, each of whom might have a different learning style. But I do believe that when a student tells me they have a “bad” teacher, they just have a teacher who is not reaching them for one reason or another. Like I said before, certain concepts can be explained numerous different ways, and it is simply impossible for one teacher to explain every concept every possible way. This is where outside help can come in very handy. A good tutor can quickly figure out what a student’s learning style is, and cater to that particular student in a one-on-one situation. I call this the “x-factor” because 10 minutes with a tutor can be more valuable than 2 hours in the classroom. Tutors can help save time by explaining concepts in ways that students just “get.”

So as you can see, “smart” kids can get bad grades for a reason. Hopefully you can identify what the problem is, and help your kid start getting As asap.

Sadiq Ansari holds a B.S. in Computer Science from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, and expects to earn a J.D. (May 2007) from Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, CA. He has been a tutor for over 6 years, and runs Peerless Tutors. Their website -> Malibu Tutor http://www.malibututor.com

The best professional advice!

All of your possibilities from this moment, are located in your own personal expectations. All of your expectations are located in the very personal relationship you have with yourself. The relationship you have with yourself is the relationship you will have with others.

What matters most is how you see yourself! Take very good care of the relationship you have with yourself at all times.

I was a member of Toastmaster International and in 1984 Caroline Sander RN introduced me to the National Speakers Association. I went to all the local chapter meeting and to the National Conventions. The first meeting I attended, I felt a little uneasy about being in this new setting. Billy Arcement came up to me and introduces himself from Donaldsonville Louisiana. Billy knew that I was uneasy about being at this meeting. He said, “If you have a dream in your heart long enough, you have what takes to realize that dream.
I never forgot those words.

Ginger Bondi was the president of our local chapter. Ginger was tough love. I listened and took notes of everything other speakers in the chapter said that I must do to convince people to hire my topics. I practice all of these ideas.

I called Ginger Bondi and ask if I could come and speak with her. I told her that I did not want to do anything to hurt the speaking profession. That I wanted to abide by the code of etitics of the National Speakers Association.

I shared with Ginger how I just signed a contract for a speaking engagement in Tampa Florida. This was my first really serious paying engagement. I told her I was nervous that they would find out that I was just a Bicycle Shop Owner. This audience was to executives of the steel industry. Ginger said, “Knock it Off, Mike Marino; I want you to go to Tampa and just be yourself! If you go there thinking they are better, you will not do well. If you go there thinking you are better than they are, you will definitely not do well.

You must go to Tampa and be who you are and allow them to be who they are, and you will do just fine.” I embraced Ginger’s advice. I did well and was privilege to speak with many of the other chapters in the steel industry after that.

The next best advice that I received was from Michael Lebouf PhD. I was attending a local chapter meeting of NSA and everyone was sharing what it took to be a full time professional speaker. When it was Dr. Lebouf’’s turn to share he said, “Just be good!”
If you are good, people will say she is good! He is good!”

Rick Phillips sales & staff trainer gave me this advice. “Never beat a dead horse!” All good things come to an end and then something better begins. Get on a new horse to take you the rest of the way. Forward ever, backwards never!

All of this advice applies to any profession. Keep your dream in your heart. Be yourself, and be good at what you do. Never beat a dead horse. It’s over! What are you going to do about it?

The room for improvement is still the greatest room in the world. You can improve on your dreams. You can improve on your relationship with yourself and others. You can improve on your proformance in your profession. You can get a new horse. It does not cost anything to think big. It pays to be good.

All advice translates into the same thing. Take care of yourself. If you want to do twice as much for yourself, your family, your profession, community, take care of yourself twice as much.

Mike Marino, Jr. aka “In Person,” is the co-author of two books and a Distinguished Toastmaster who helps people fall in love with learning. He speaks and writes on the love of Knowledge is the root of all good!. To book Mike for your next association meeting, conference or corporate event, contact Mike Marino, Jr. In person 504 833 4405 or email marinojr@bellsouth.net
Proud member of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau. All presentations are available in PowerPoint or Keynote.