First, I would like to mention that each item listed below are not in any particular order. They are all essential elements to being a good husband or boyfriend.

1. Pay attention to your woman. This means, undivided attention. Include eye contact and verbal prompts to let her know you are listening.

2. Be a good listener. That means actually hear what she is saying, because she may bring the topic up again. In addition, if the topic is about you, you need to see if you can fix/solve whatever problem/issue she is referring to.

3. Pamper your woman. By pampering I mean running her bath water (you may bath her, but some women don’t like to be wasted), pay for her nails and hair to be done. (These are only some examples, creativity is the key.)

4. Write small notes and leave them in common areas where she will see them. The notes should be compliments or cute messages to her (ie. I love you, you are beautiful, have a nice day, etc.). You can also send text messages that will have the same effect. Love letters are great. And if you have that artistic side, write poems.

5. Buy her gifts. The size and cost of the gifts aren’t important components, unless she is materialistic. But random gifts are attention getting agents, which show her that you care and love her. In addition, it will make her feel special and appreciated.

6. Take your woman out. Each woman is different as to what she likes, but some examples would be: dinner, lounge, dancing, movies, museums, festivals, etc.

7. Cook for your woman. Generally speaking the woman does majority of the cooking, if not all. So, sometimes it would be a relief as well as a surprise to cook for her. You don’t have to be a chef, you could make simple meals like breakfast in bed, or meals that are already made that just need to be heated. However, if you use meals that are already made, I would suggest that you make the dining table and light some canddles to make it more romantic or appealing.

8. You should participate in the house duties. However, only do what you are capable of, don’t do something that you are going to mess up. Some easy duties would be vacumming, dishing, or taking out the trash. Try to make these things a regular routine, so that she doesn’t have to do them.

9. **THIS IS A BIG ONE** Avoid looking at other women in front of your woman. This is commonly perceived as disrespect. Plus, it’s can affect her self-esteem or self-image. She may think that she’s not appealing to you. To assist yourself in this action, don’t look at other women when your woman is not around. This allows you to get in the practice of not looking. It is common for men to look out of habit.

10. *THIS IS ANOTHER BIG ONE* Control your inner urges. Be self-disciplined and able to retrain your inner feelings for action. Your hormones. This will help from you not getting upset and showing it, when she isn’t in the mood. Which in turn will avoid conflict.

11. As a man you should be able to admit when you’re wrong. This should be self-explanatory.

12. You should be committed to resolving differences. Solutions to problems helps to keep peace. If problems aren’t resolved, then they will keep arising as an issue for discussion/argument.

13, Finally, remember that love is a series of actions such as: patience, tolerance, endurance, sacrifice, etc. Love also gives off a by–product or side–effect which is an emotional feeling. Many people mistaken the side–effect/ emotional feeling as love. For further definitions of love, refer to your spiritual or religious manuals/books (ie. bible).

In closing, I believe that if you apply these simple 13 elements to your relationship, you will be a great husband or boyfriend. Love is the most important element, because when you love someone it will be easier to implement the other elements. Thanks for reading and I wish you the best.

Article written by: Keith D. Gray Jr. I work from home. For information please follow the link:

http://graysmusic.blogspot.com

Karate, or Karate-do, loosely translates empty hand (”kara” means empty and “te” means hand). This art is indeed predominantly concerned with fighting with bare hands and feet. The basic principle is to turn the body into an effective weapon to defend and attack when and where it is appropriate.

History:
Karate is one of the most widely practised of the oriental martial arts. It evolved during one of the Japanese occupations of the island of Okinawa, part of the Ryukyu chain of islands, in the 15th century. Its roots, however, can be traced back much further than this - all the way back to ancient India. Many people hold the view that what we regard today as the oriental martial arts have their roots in India. In fact, when we look at such disciplines as yoga and the breathing techniques that originated in India, there does seem to be a great similarity between those and many of the modern martial arts systems.

Zen Buddhist monks took the Indian fighting techniques to China from as early as the 5th century BC. Bodhidharma, an Indian monk, travelled at the end of the 5th century AD from India to China, where he became an instructor at the Shaolin monastery. He taught a combination of empty hand fighting systems and yoga. This became the well-known Shaolin Kong Fu - the system on which many Chinese martial arts systems are based.

In 1470, the Japanese had occupied the island of Okinawa. The law of the land dictated that anybody found carrying weapons would be put to death. In order to protect themselves from local bandits, who largely ignored the prohibition on weapons, Zen Buddhist monks developed the empty hand system known as “te”, importing new techniques from China. Eventually the new art was translated as “t’ang” (China hand), but was familiarly known as “Okinawa-te” (Okinawa hand). It was not until the 20th century that t’ang became known as Karate-do. The suffix do was added by Gichin Funakoshi’s son Yoshitaka Funakoshi, in friendly opposition to his father’s Okinawa-te style. Practice and demonstrations until that time had been extremely violent. Punches were not pulled and full contact was an integral part of the Okinawa-te style. Yoshitaka Funakoshi transformed the techniques of Okinawa-te into a gentler system, seeking not to deliver blows fully, but to focus strikes at skin level. The do suffix expressed the move away from the aim of the warrior and towards physical and spiritual development.

Styles:
There are numerous styles of karate practised. Wado Ryu and Shotokan are just 2 of them. Other popular systems include Shinto Ryu, developed in 1948, and now one of the main systems in the world. It is also important to realise that the various styles of Karate are the results of the personal ideas of many individuals about how each basic technique should be carried out or applied. The different techniques within the styles of Karate also dictate whether strength, speed, hand or leg techniques are emphasised.

Competitive Karate:
Karate has been a self defense system and a form of physical exercise. The competitive and sporting elements have a further part to play in the individual’s enjoyment of this activity. It is because of the possibility of participation in competition that many people take up this art.

Competition is not the only reason for engaging in this art. It is possible to learn Karate without participating in competitions, however for some people, competition provides motivation and stimulation for training. The sense of achievement that comes from just taking part can be carried over into everyday life.

- Thanaseelan, click on http://www.worthofwordplay.blogspot.com to view his main blog. Don’t forget to check out the categories on his blog.

Florida is your home state and you have resided in Florida your whole life. Ever since you was a little girl you have always dreamed of getting married in your home town with all of your family and friends. Well your dream has finally arrived. You have found the love of your life and you and your partner have started planning your dream wedding. You have purchased and booked just about everything you need to make your wedding run smoothly. The only problem is you have not found a banquet hall for your reception. Well do not worry I have went through and hand picked a few banquet halls that you will just love.

Gaspar’s Grotto

Gaspar’s Grotto is one of the world’s great watering holes. Strong Drink and tasty grub. Your trip to Florida is not complete unless you visit Gaspar’s Grotto. The quirky and electric atmosphere, customers and employee’s, will surely send the visitor home with a story and a smile. Their have been many famous entertainers, artists, politicians, sports figures and other celebrities frequent Gaspar’s Grotto. Do not miss out on their world famous bar cat extraordinaire, Tanker Ray. He is undoubtedly this generation’s most famous living feline. Sample some of Tanker Ray’s BARCAT BEER for a real treat! Keep a weather eye out for Captain Ehab, the piratical re-incarnation of the owner’s deeply supressed alter ego.

Don Vicente De Ybor Historic Inn & Restraunt

The founder of Ybor City, Vicente Martinez Ybor, constructed this remarkable building, located in the heart of Tampa’s entertainment district, Ybor City, in 1895. Developer Jack Shiver has transformed it into Florida’s Premier boutique hotel, offering guests the opulent splendor of traditional Europe.

The Don Vicente Inn is a magnificent location when you are looking to “get away” or do a formal function. Join them for a memorable experience they can create just for your group including weddings, rehearsal dinners, cocktail parties, ceremonies, & even birthday parties. Add a luxurious B&B suite for the night or all week-end. Nestled in the center of Tampa Bay’s Ybor City Historic District, this is a perfect spot for fantastic nightlife.

These are just a few of the many different banquet halls and facilities that you can choose to host your event in Florida. I suggest that you take your time in choosing the right facility for your event.

Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas Wedding Favors. She sells many different types wedding favors such as beach gel candle favors, spread the love spreader sets, wine bottle stoppers and much more. So whether if you are looking for party favors or cheap wedding favors we got you covered.

So many times we have been taught by many schools of thought that being vulnerable is being weak and powerless. Vulnerable by Webster’s definition is susceptible, defenseless, helpless, at risk, and in a weak position. A perfect Duality or Third Dimension definition to keep you positioned in a weakened stance in life. This definition promotes and supports the victim mentality and all the mental and physical characteristics of that consciousness. A perfect control mechanism to keep you in fear and from living your life to the fullest!

Picture or imagine, if you will…looking out a peephole in a door….a very narrow range of sight. You really can’t see much. You really can’t experience much either from that restricted point of view. Life enfolds on a limited road that holds you back, wasting time and missing opportunities that come along.

“Putting up walls around yourself” to protect yourself is the same narrow mental picture that has been taught as a way to survive the experiences of life. WOW! What a concept that keeps on ticking like the energizer bunny….the survival modus operandi, existing but never really living life to the fullest. Living through the survival and protection consciousness is not conducive to living fully and creating your life to its fullest potential and possibilities. That’s not fun nor rewarding.

From a different view, take down the walls with that narrow peephole perspective, and see the greatness of your life. Being vulnerable will not only allow you to see life from a 360 degree range of sight, you now have the ability to pick and choose how you participate in your daily life. Yes, you can choose this and No you don’t have to choose that! You are in charge of your life.

You don’t have to get caught up in the traumas and dramas of other people. You have a clear range of vision. You have a clearer perspective of where and how you use your energy to design your life. You can’t be blind sighted by that old narrow perspective of life.

Vulnerability is your strength. Look all around you. There are opportunities everywhere. Open yourself up to the experiences. When you allow yourself to see the “more” in life, you will benefit from life’s abundance instead of less. Being vulnerable allows you to “feel” energized by life. Being vulnerable supports you to “stretch” and go beyond those limiting fears that have held you back from expressing yourself and “seeing” for yourself how much you are capable of being and doing.

Fragility is really the consciousness of weakness not vulnerability. Be open, be accessible, be responsive, be vulnerable and watch what happens. Be vulnerable, pay attention to all that life has to offer. You don’t want to waste or miss the opportunities that life has waiting for you. Those illusional walls with the narrow peephole were not protecting you, they were preventing you from living. Go out, be vulnerable and seize the opportunities. They are waiting for you.

Published in AZ Net News, Phoenix AZ JUN/JUL 2005

Sherry Anshara, is the Founder of the QuantumPathic Center of Consciousness, Creator of QuantumPathic Cellular Therapy, Educator of QP Energy Medicine, has her Medical Intuitive Practice in Scottsdale, AZ, Author of The Age of Inheritance, the Activation of the 13 Chakras. Sherry Anshara hosts Conscious Healing, 5:00 PM MST Live every Wednesday on http://www.achieveradio.com Website: http://www.quantumpathic.com Email: sherryanshara@quantumpathic.com or Phone: 480 609-0874.

Taekwondo is derived from several martial arts with the main influence being tae-kyon - Korean kick fighting. “Tae” means to kick. “Kwon” means to strike using the hand, in most cases the fist. “Do” refers to the way of the art, like in the examples of Hapkido, Karate-do, Ninjado etc. Thus, the foundation of the art is the use of the hands and feet to overcome an attacker swiftly.

History:
Taekwondo was originally developed in Korea in the 1950s, when a group of leading martial arts exponents came together to unify their respective disciplines under a single fighting system. The inauguration took place in South Korea on April 11, 1955, with Major-General Choi Hong Hi, a 9th dan black belt, being credited as the founder. However, its roots date back nearly 2000 years ago when it was born from an art known as hwarang do, meaning “the way of the flowering manhood”.

The hwarang were young noblemen, influenced by Confucian teachings, who formed a patriotic society during the unification of Korea, in the Silla dynasty, around 600AD. The Silla kingdom was the smallest of 3 within the Korean peninsula and was constantly under attack from its two stronger neighbours. It was these constant invasions that led the Silla nobility to develop a fighting system to protect their kingdom.

Towards the end of the 10th century, following the unification of Korea, learning Taekwondo became compulsory for all young men. However, in about the 16th century, the military traditions of the country fell out of general favour and the practice of Taekwondo was kept alive only by Buddhist monks. Following the Japanese occupation in 1909, the suppression of any form of martial art only served to further its decline. The few remaining dedicated practitioners emigrated to China and Japan and hence, the art survived.

Following liberation in 1945, many Korean exiles returned to their homeland and reintroduced an improved version of Taekwondo. The Korean government, as part of its canpaign to reassert national identity after years of Japanese occupation, supported the practice of Taekwondo by officially sponsoring it. This led to a more formal approach to the teaching and grading of the discipline.

Taekwondo spread worldwide from Korea in the 1960s and the first world Taekwondo championship took place in Seoul, South Korea, in 1973. Since 1988, Taekwondo has been listed as an Olympic sport.

Competitive fighting:
Competitive fighting in Taekwondo is purely optional. For those who participate, competitions are split into 3 sections - sparring, patterns and destruction.

Sparring involves 2 practitioners practising fighting techniques to develop their timing, focus and speed. It is performed in a controlled environment so that no unnecessary injuries occur. In competition, the aim is to score points through the delivery of correct techniques to target areas.

Patterns are a set of series of combination techniques performed in a sequential order against an imaginery opponent. This is similar to Karate, which refers to patterns as kata, or Kung fu, which uses set movements called forms.

Destruction refers to breaking techniques in which practitioners learn to break, for an example, a piece of wood about 0.5 to 1 cm thick. The aim is to ensure that the power and skill of the technique are truly effective. It is also designed to focus the mind.

- Thanaseelan, click on http://www.worthofwordplay.blogspot.com to view his main blog. Don’t forget to check out the categories on his blog.

There are varied industry opinions around search marketing contests, some feel they are a dime a dozen and others feel it is part of the evolution of the web. So in the dawn of web 2.0 – are search marketing contests hot or not?

I think it depends on who’s putting on the contest and what they are measuring. As a search marketer myself, I am not so keen on the search marketing contests that weigh ranking alone.

No good can come from this type of contest. A ranking contest only invites entrants to utilize one of many search engine spamming techniques. True search marketers believe there is a lot more to successful SEO then ranking alone.

The Birth of Search Marketing Contests

Search marketing contests have been going on since 2002. I have never been interested in entering until a search marketing contest from Marketing Pilgrim caught me eye.

This is not your ordinary search marketing contest, the emphasis is on “writing” not necessarily “ranking”. Contest entrants compose a 400-1000 word article on any aspect related to search. Once the article is published on the Marketing Pilgrims Blog, you have 4 weeks to raise awareness and drive “unique visitors” to your article.

The winner is awarded 10,000 worth of prizes, most of which is educational in nature;

Subscriptions to SEO tools, search marketing conference passes, and one on one time with some of today’s nationally known search marketing experts. Search marketing contests like this in my opinion are definitely HOT.

I decide to enter this years Spring search marketing contest. My article topic is: “So You Wanna Be a Search Marketer” My reason for entering was simple; the scholarship is a great opportunity. The prizes allow you to refine your search marketing skills, something that I spend a lot of time and money on.

So for all of you who think such contests are a waste of time and not professional you’re truly missing out on a wonderful opportunity.

Nicole St. Martin is the founder of SEMGirl
a search marketing company. Nicole recently entered Marketing Pilgrims, Spring SEO contest with her article entitled,
so you wanna be a search marketer
Nicole has 6 years of search marketing experience and has created successful search marekting strategies for companies like Digital River, Findlaw and most recently for HotGigs and Jobs2web.com

Who loves money? Well, most of us do to be honest. Most of us would like to earn a little more and many of us would like to earn a lot more. Perhaps we’ve also considered using the Internet as a means to do that. One of the problems, though, is that many Internet businesses need an investment up front - in advertising, web space or domain names - before you can make money. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a form of zero investment marketing where you could make money without having to fork anything out at the start?

Actually there is. And it’s staring you in the face. It’s Article Marketing.

The principle is simple. You write an article about something that interests you and then you link to a related product - of which you are an affiliate - in the ‘Author’s Bio’ section at the end. There are one or two things you need to know about doing this, but I’ll get to those points later.

Writing An Article

A lot of people don’t like writing, but it’s really not that difficult if you find a subject you’re interested in. I think it’s very important to find such a subject because you need to make your article useful. People should want to read it. If you are interested in a subject, you will be more likely to find it easy to write about.

The pattern for writing an article is quite simple. You need an introduction, a main body to the article and an ending. One common way to do that is to first tell the readers what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them.

Brainstorming

If you’re really struggling to know what to write, just take a blank piece of paper and write down 10 words or phrases that relate to your subject. Write more if you can - don’t stop at 10 if you can go on - but try to write at least 10. Then take each word or phrase and create a sentence out of it. Then take each sentence and make a paragraph out of it.

Before you know it you’ll have the makings of an article.

I like this method as it enables you to build an article up gradually, in small steps. It usually needs a bit of editing and some shuffling around of sentences afterwards, but you have the crux of an article.

The Edit

Once you have your core article, go through and edit it. What you’re looking to do is to tidy it up a bit. Make sure there’s no unnecessary stuff in it that drifts off the point. Check that it reads well.

Then leave it alone. I like to sleep on it, but I think you should leave it for a few hours at least. When you come back to it, you can do a final edit with fresh eyes and submit it to an article site.

Article Sites

There are hundreds of article sites - just do a search on Google. I think there are some rules you should follow when submitting to article sites; these keep you on the right side of the site owners and also, I believe, ensure you provide better value to your readers.

1. Submit original articles. The temptation is to submit the same article to many sites, but I urge you to avoid this. Article sites like original content and, anyway, Google will just drop your duplicate content down to the supplemental index where it won’t get seen.

2. Keep your outgoing links for the Author’s Bio box and don’t put direct affiliate links in there. Instead, link to a blog or a site you own - it is from there that you can direct the user to a vendor via an affiliate link.

3. Don’t make your article a sales pitch. Provide valuable information for the reader. It you do that, they’re more likely to follow your links all the way to a sales page.

Conclusion

Article writing offers a great way to start earning some money on the Internet without any start-up costs. Even if you just write one article a week, that’s 52 a year. When you get into the swing of it an article a day is certainly not out of the question. The more you write, the better you’ll become at it and the more the creative juices will run.

—–

How about something quite revolutionary in the area of zero cost marketing? For example, would you like to find out how two Internet millionaires made $60/minute in a single niche? I’ll bet you would!

Keep an eye on my Who Loves Money Review site for some staggering information.

AQUARIUM WATER CONDITIONERS; their ingredients (where available), what chemical functions they perform and uses based on my opinions of each based on using these products in a professional capacity (27 years of aquarium maintenance and research)

STRESS COAT;
Stress Coat contains a special non-toxic polymer that is attracted to the skin of the fish forming a synthetic slime coat envelope. Stress Coat also contains sodium thiosulfate electrolytes such as sodium and sulfides which helps reduce loss of electrolytes through the skin, gills, and damaged tissue. The Aloe Vera in STRESS COAT reduces inflammation of damaged fish tissue.
The effectiveness of Stress Coat with Aloe Vera has been proven by independent studies conducted at the University of Georgia, School of Veterinary Medicine. Researchers found that Stress Coat helped heal wounds and speed tissue re-growth. Dr John Gratzek summarizes the results: “Personally, I am satisfied with the results since my initial thoughts were skeptical to say the least. These definite statements can be made without equivocation: Stress Coat in no way harms aquarium fish, alters pH, or affects the biological filter. No ammonia or nitrite was detected in the test aquariums. The results indicated that the Stress Coat formula reduced the wound size compared to untreated fish tissue.” Aloe Vera is high in mucopolysaccharides, an essential component of many tissues and believed to help in the healing process.

Use;
An effective water conditioner for the removal of chlorine, breaking of the chlorine/ ammonia bond (in water containing chloramines) and adding an aloe slime coat.
This is my favorite slime coat treatment for direct application to a fish that is wounded from transport or other reasons. I however have found it less effective for overall slime coat generation after a water change.
Ingredients are safe for both fresh and saltwater.

AMMO-LOCK;
Ammo-lock contains sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate. Ammo-lock works in both fresh and saltwater, to detoxify ammonia and remove chlorine and chloramines. Locks up ammonia in a non-toxic form (ammonium) until it can be broken down by the tank’s natural biological filter and/or used by plants.

Use:
For the removal of chorine and chloramines. This product is useful for the detoxification of ammonia, especially in new aquariums. I usually only use this product when the aquarium is new, ammonia (NH3) is high (please note, most ammonia test kits will still show ammonia present in the form of NH4 after using this product) or in areas where chloramines are used.
Ingredients are safe for both fresh and saltwater.

START RIGHT;
Start Right contains allantoin (5-Ureidohydantion; Glyoxldiureide 2, 5 - Dioxo - 4 imidzolidinyle – urea) which is used in humans for the treatment of : skin ulcers, wound, scalds, burns and sunburns, carbuncles, acne and skin eruptions, fissures and abrasions, impetigo, eczema, psoriasis. This is a naturally occurring chemical even found in earthworms.
Start Right is a multi-beneficial water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramine, neutralizes heavy metals, aids in cell regeneration and in the additional production of the fish’s natural slime coat, adds beneficial. It also contains chlorides of sodium and potassium, and polyvinylpyrrolidone.
which helps reduce loss of electrolytes through the skin, gills, and damaged tissue. It is a complete water conditioner that stimulates the natural secretion of slime to protect fish from the harmful effects of handling, shipping, fish fighting and other forms of stress. Removes chlorine and chloramine instantly, neutralizes heavy metals, adds beneficial electrolytes and guards against secondary infection.

Use:
For the removal of chlorine, breaking of the chlorine/ ammonia bond (in water containing chloramines), adding of electrolytes for stress, and the natural generation a slime coat.
This is probably my favorite basic overall water conditioner for established aquariums (I use this the most), Start Right will not remove ammonia or interfere with plant growth by removing nitrogenous compounds needed by plants. This product is also very economical.
Ingredients are safe for both fresh and saltwater.

SEACHEM PRIME;
Prime contains complexed hydrosulfite salts which removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. Prime also converts ammonia into a safe, non-toxic form (ammonium) that is readily removed by the tank’s nitrifying bacteria. Prime may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/nitrite toxicity. Prime detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria to more efficiently remove them. It will also detoxify any heavy metals found in the tap water at typical concentration levels. The ingredients of Prime also promotes the production and regeneration of the natural slime coat and are non-acidic and will not impact pH.

Use:
For removal of chlorine, chloramines, and the de-toxifying of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. This product adds electrolytes that aid in natural slime coat generation and proper osmotic function. This is my favorite conditioner to use in newer aquariums, aquariums with high ammonia or for use in areas where chloramines are in tap water. One reason I like this product is that is does what it claims!
Ingredients are safe for both fresh and saltwater.

NOVAQUA;
The formula of NovAqua is proprietary, so not all ingredients are available. It is assumed that Novaqua contains sodium thiosulfate (a common Redox Reducer) and Edetates. Novaqua also contains phosphates for buffering to stabilize water after water changes (often when water is added from the tap it immediately picks up O2 and CO2 and is unstable in pH, this aspect of Novaqua helps here). The phosphate buffer system of Novaqua produces a 5 mg/L of phosphates in the aquarium as compared to the 30 mg/L shown in labs tests to grow algae. NovAqua also contains electrolytes; cations (Positively charged atoms or molecules) and anions (negatively charged atoms or molecules) that are required by freshwater fishes. Freshwater fishes remove these ions from water via the gills. The need by fish for these ions is increased during times of stress.

Use:
The original conditioner that adds a slime coat, adds electrolytes buffers water, and removes chlorines. NovAqua is useful for use water changes where buffering is needed do to pH drops after water changes. The level of phosphates used for buffering are not usually a problem for most aquariums, however if you already have high phosphates or algae problems I would avoid this product. Otherwise this is an excellent product when one desires a conditioner that adds a slime coat and buffers a well.
Ingredients are safe for both fresh and saltwater.

AMQUEL;
The active ingredient in Amquel is hydroxymethanesulfonic acid, sodium and salt. Amquel converts ammonia to a non-toxic form (ammonium) until it can be broken down by the tank’s natural biological filter and/or used by plants. Amquel works by virtue of the hydroxymethane- end of the molecule reacts with ammonia to form a non-toxic, stable water-soluble substance which is acted upon by the bacteria in biological filtration.
This reaction effectively removes the toxic ammonia from solution. Even in water of low pH (under 7.0) the above reaction proceeds to completion. This is because even at pHs below 7.0 there is always some “free” ammonia (NH3) and the AmQuel will scavenge it from the water. This is why AmQuel works faster at higher pH’s and in saline waters.

Use:
One of the first products for chloramine and ammonia removal. It is very effective in binding the ammonia (NH3) where that it stays non toxic even when nitrifying bacteria are not fully active. Although safe for saltwater, I have seen this product lower pH (although use with Novaqua counters this), for this reason it is not my first choice in this type of conditioner (Prime is my favorite as stated earlier).
Ingredients are safe for both fresh and saltwater (when not over used).

AMQUEL +;
Since this is a new product, the ingredients are proprietary and not yet disclosed.
AmQuel+ (also known as AmQuel Plus) is a recent chemical invention that has the ability to make the “Nitrogen Cycle” (involving ammonium/ammonia/nitrites/nitrates) totally nontoxic in aquarium and pond keeping, without interfering with its process in any way, and without interfering with the beneficial bacteria that are involved with the cycle. Further, AmQuel+ detoxifies/removes all of the toxic nitrogen compounds that can appear in aquarium and pond water over time.

Use:
A new product without a lot of practical experience (including by me). The claims by Kordon sound very promising, and this may turn out to be an excellent product for new aquariums in particular, although use in established aquariums seems unnecessary.
Ingredients are safe for both fresh and saltwater.

NOVAQUA +;
Novaqua + is a new product and again has proprietary ingredients that the company will not totally divulge. NovAqua+ claims to provide, in a single product, everything necessary to handle all of the needs when treating tap water for aquatic life (except for handling nitrogen compound removal such as ammonia, nitrites, nitrates). For the removal of toxic nitrogen compounds, Kordon recommends the use of AmQuel+

Use:
Again a new product without a lot of practical experience (including by me). If this product lives up to claims such as aiding in osmotic function as well as chlorine removal and heavy metal removal, this may be a very useful product as well. Due to claims of iodine removal, I would not recommend use in marine reef tanks (as many soft corals need iodine)
Ingredients are safe for freshwater.

CONCLUSION;
This is an incomplete list that I will add to as time goes on and I will also update as new products and information becomes available (especially in relation to Kordons new Amquel + and NovAqua +)
Also it should be noted that most water conditioners of all types (basic, artificial slime coat replacer, and chloramine/ ammonia remover) have similar properties and ingredients and some of the outrageous claims I have read on the internet such as “Start Right is not safe for marine aquariums while Novaqua is” are without any scientific merit (if anything the phosphates in Novaqua can cause more problems than any ingredient in Start Right!

Please also note that some of the ingredients can expire with time especially when left in an unsealed container (sodium thiosulfate is a reducer and will be affected by air borne oxidizers). The time this will take will vary, although personally I would not use an open bottle after one year based on the degradation of sodium thiosulfate.

For my full article including pictures and product and manufacturer links, please visit this URL:

AQUARIUM WATER CONDITIONERS; their ingredients (where available), what chemical functions they perform and uses

By Carl Strohmeyer

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/

”If You Believe You Can Or You Believe You Can’t, Either Way You’re Probably Right…”

You may have heard someone say this about beliefs. It sounds contradictory, even ridiculous, but you had better believe that it’s right! Understanding your beliefs, how they control your life and the traps caused by beliefs is a key ingredient in the mental game of success.

What are beliefs?

Very simply beliefs are those things that we believe to be true.

The first trap is that beliefs are personal – what we believe is not the same as what other people believe – two people can look at exactly the same thing and have different beliefs about it… and both can be right.

Yet we all fall into the trap of believing that our beliefs are right while anyone who holds different beliefs is wrong!

Some beliefs are built from shared experiences – we all believe that gravity will cause objects to fall to the ground – most people recognize this one! These basic beliefs which come from incontrovertible external facts are shared by the whole of humanity.

However, the majority of beliefs are not so clearly defined. They are about ourselves and the world we live in- who we are, how we should react, what is good for us, what is bad for us, who we should trust, who likes us… These beliefs are more likely to be shared by smaller groups of people – our friends, family, our cultural groups – or be personal to you as an individual.

Beliefs are formed throughout your life, in childhood, by copying people you respect, as a result of repetitive events, or even single, very emotional or traumatic events. You can also pick up beliefs from your culture and your environment. You will have some beliefs for your entire life while beliefs about some things may be changed several times during your life.

It is also important to realize beliefs are not values. Values are more fundamental statements about what is important for you and often underpin your beliefs. You can find out more about values in my article “Are Your Personal Values Aligned With Your Path to Success?”

Values frequently support your beliefs, although you can also hold beliefs that conflict with our values. Getting beliefs and values lined up is important if you want to be successful.

While you have maybe a few tens of values, you certainly have thousands of beliefs about every subject under the sun.

What do beliefs do for us?

Beliefs are like a lens through which we look at the world. Like a lens they fundamentally distort, reshape and change the importance of the information that we take in through our senses creating the view that we really have of the world.

Beliefs have a strong effect on your behaviour, if you believe you should do something or think something then you usually end up doing or thinking it!

Beliefs strongly influence both what we do and what we learn from our environment - it is difficult for you to learn anything or do anything that you believe is going to be unpleasant or bad for you.

“If you believe you can or you believe you can’t, either way you’re probably right…”

Beliefs not only shape our view of the world but they also control the way that we react, for example if you believe that someone does not like you, you are not going to react to them in same friendly way that you would to one of your friends.

Of course it may be that your belief is completely mistaken, that person may actually like you. However because you have decided that they don’t like you, you continue to react to them as if they were hostile and little by little their opinion of you becomes more negative.

If only you had started with a more positive belief…

Another example is the well known medical “placebo effect” in which something as simple as water administered in a way that causes you to believe that it is the drug that is going to cure you can in fact be as effective as the real drug.

==>Beliefs can have a shockingly powerful grip on your mind!!

Warning – limiting beliefs can ruin your life!

We’ve seen that beliefs can shape our world by affecting the way we perceive it and by affecting the way that we react to it. We have also seen how powerful they can be. This can make them a fantastic tool for you or a mortal enemy.

Positive beliefs that support your goals and values will produce very positive results for you. However, through no fault of your own, you have almost certainly acquired some limiting beliefs during your childhood.

Limiting beliefs often begin with you saying to yourself “I can’t…”. They may even have been true, or are still true at some time in your life. The danger is that you are likely to automatically apply these beliefs to the rest of your life – jeopardising your future and your success.

For example it may be true that you don’t know how to do something today, but so often, the way that this is expressed is as “I can’t do…”. If you say that often enough it becomes a belief and as you’ve seen, this belief becomes the truth.

Even worse are limiting beliefs that are not based on the truth but on some belief that has been instilled into by your parents, your friends, your society… If you believe that you’re destined to be poor or that you’re not capable of making money, well the outcome is inevitable.

Give Your Beliefs a Check-Up

Think very carefully about your beliefs, for the next seven days, watch yourself as you interact with people. Look for those “I can’t…” statements. Identify them, write them down, ask yourself just how much harm are they doing you. Do you really want to let them kill your chance of success?

Every time you find yourself making one of those “I can’t…” statements, turn it into a “How can I…” statement – “I can’t make more money” becomes “How can I make more money”. Can you feel the difference? If you do this consistently you’d better believe that you will find a difference in your life!

You can get a free, 5 part e-course “Achieving Your Dreams” for more useful tips on success. Discover more resources, articles, and support materials that will help you on your journey of personal growth.

Kevin John has spent many years helping businesses owners, aspiring business owners, and private individuals to develop the understanding and skills that they need to achieve the success that they want.

Recent headlines brought to light a scary reality. Identity theft can happen to anyone…even if you are careful.

Here is what happened: Turbotax online had a huge breach in their system that allowed people to access all sorts of information from anyone who had filed with them using the online program. Tax returns often contain not only your name and social security numbers, but also your address, bank accounts and balances. Someone could easily use that kind of information to steal your identity.

Turbo tax is not alone in this problem. Many of the larger banks have had similar issues in the past year! So even if you shred documents, opt-out of prescreened offers, and are diligent about protecting yourself, it may not be enough.

Fortunately there is a new company out there that says it can help you relax and know that your identity is safe. It is called LifeLock. Will it work? Their service even has a million dollar guarantee if it doesn’t.

In fact, LifeLock is the leading provider in the field of Identity Theft Prevention. The company is led by experienced and successful entrepreneurs and industry experts located in Tempe, Arizona. They serve tens of thousands of consumers all over the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. They are so confident in their services that their CEO regularly publishes his real Social Security number and he’s perfectly comfortable with it. Why? Because he knows that they have guaranteed his good name.

It is not a credit monitoring service where you are notified of unusual activity on your accounts. This program is more proactive. Your identity is safe before anyone has the opportunity to use any of your information at all.

Therefore, we can be scared by recent headlines or we can take action to protect ourselves from identity thieves. Thankfully, there is now a new service to help us protect it.

Eden Paul is a CPA and small business owner who strongly suggests using resources like LifeLock to protect you and your family. For more information, visit http://www.safeidentityreview.com