Pricing experts are a rarity in the marketing field. If firms cannot find exactly what they are looking for, the question becomes one of finding the best potential candidate.

There are sub-specialties of pricing that correspond to the four Ps. Most companies have developed expertise that corresponds to these areas. Pricing expertise is missing in many organizations, partly because it lacks appeal to those who enjoy relationship building more than number crunching. Finance departments, while focused and expert at analysis can lack customer insight having had little professional contact with customers. Detail orientation often makes it difficult to imagine the impact of various pricing strategies on the business and industry. It is rare to come across someone who can conceptualize pricing models and their implications for the business on a grand scale, get right down to the detail and actually choose prices. Finally, the ideal candidate needs to communicate the justification for the pricing schemes to win the approval of the sales and marketing teams.

There are even greater complications when one considers the expertise required for new product pricing. The more immense the product or service breakthrough, the more ambiguous is the pricing problem. This is because a completely new innovation lacks other comparable products against which to reference price. Pricing represents a huge risk that can make or break a new product introduction. Done incorrectly, it can open the doors for competitors to enter, eliminating the coveted first mover advantage. Your pricing candidate must be able to deal with uncertainty and be comfortable executing on educated guesses, backed by business acumen. An entrepreneurial spirit is an indicator of this potential, however, hard to find in a large corporation. Monsanto provides an example of excellent pricing for new products when it introduced its Round-up Ready seeds as it was able to gain significant market share by understanding how the value of its product could be translated into appropriate pricing.

So, the ideal pricing candidate knows the industry, can see the big picture. Is interested in delving into details, understands customers and their issues, is an excellent communicator, has knowledge of pricing models and can deal with ambiguity, in cases where new product pricing is required. How do you find this “Wonder Person”? We suggest some solutions.

Preferably, choose from a pool of internal people. This gets you over one hurdle- the person knows the business and industry. Next, is there a sales and marketing person who has an inclination to numbers? Conversely, is there anyone in finance who has a background in sales and marketing? The latter may be preferable since analytical skills are cultivated over time and the impact of various pricing models on the financial statements requires professional training such as that of an accountant; shareholders will be pleased to know that revenue management is in capable hands. Keep in mind that understanding customers can be largely intuitive and some of this intuition can be found in the right personality. Deficiencies may be resolved relatively quickly through a short stint on the sales side. This candidate probably has little pricing expertise in terms of knowledge of models and their consequences. To deal with the situation, there is a range of options and the choice will depend on urgency and budget constraints. On one hand, the internal candidate may be developed over years with the hope that s/he remains with the firm long enough to benefit from this investment. The learning process can receive a jumpstart for more immediate results. Waiting may damage revenue generation prospects. An example of such an approach was used by Roche which recruited a very experienced director who had not only been cycled through its finance and marketing and sales groups but also had spent a number of years in its European offices.

Faced with new product pricing issues, we advise to jumpstart the learning process. Big pricing mistakes may result in huge losses, even to the point of a failed product launch. A jumpstart can take many forms. Seminars are offered by pricing consulting organizations and these may be customized to your specific requirements. Pricing organizations can help you get up to speed quickly. These are good solutions in the case of strict budgetary constraints. For firms that have larger budgets and would like to complete customized solutions to put them on the right path, pricing consultants can provide a wide range of services and solutions. Look for a consulting process that is cooperative such that the client team will be well versed in the pricing strategy after completion of an engagement. Look for an approach that will assist in the implementation of the strategy and the training of your people. Large companies such as IBM which have experience in training teams at their customers provide examples of large companies that have recognized the need to build pricing teams using such external expertise a described above.

A small pricing department composed of employees with the range of expertise described above may be created. The advantage of this approach is that initially, team members can make up for each other’s deficiencies. All of them should be team players, good communicators, quick learners, and interested in expanding their capabilities. Someone who is highly competent at analytical work and financial modeling is needed. Another may be strong at software. Additionally required is a conceptual thinker with well-developed business acumen. As they work together, they will learn from each other and each will become competent pricing analysts. This allows individuals to make later career choices. Either they can stay or move on to related areas in the company. A few may decide to make pricing and longer-term career, but it is not to be expected. What is important is that they train their replacements so that hard won organizational pricing capability is not lost.

The latter strategy requires much more coordination, including management expertise to set up and run the new team. There will be issues as to the responsibilities within and outside the team. How will the group fit into the new organization and how can you ensure that they are accepted and not bypassed? We advise a respected senior manager take on the task of creating the new group, acting as a sponsor and change manager who can sell the team to the rest of the organization and gain support for them. Sometimes, inviting third parties to evaluate firm requirements with respect to pricing lends credibility to later actions.

Conclusion:

• search inside and train.
• ensure that learning is jumpstarted – use outside groups for this
• ensure that new organization and pricing groups are not lost as new skills prompt employees to look elsewhere for work.

Alain Meloche, M.Sc., M.B.A.
Alain has over twenty years of experience advising executives on strategic issues. He began his consulting career at Larson & Company, a strategic consulting boutique that was an offshoot of McKinsey, later acquired by Mercer Consulting, where he also worked. He has developed strategies for high technology companies in the software, internet, telecommunications, logistics, medical products and financial services industries. A key element in Alain’s consulting practice has been the combination of analytical approaches such as decision analysis and game theory to develop and implement a range of strategies. In addition to an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School, Alain also has an M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering and an Honors B.S. in theoretical physics.

Like it or not, you are judged by how you look. In your social life, in business, and in opportunities—career and personal. Not fair, you cry? Oh well, if you want fair you are residing on the wrong planet.

Looks can open doors, and looks can close doors. It’s as simple as that. Of course there must be substance behind the door once it’s open, but how you look is the front-line secret code to “open-says-me.”

Let’s face it. When we look around, and in the mirror, most of us don’t resemble those drop-dead gorgeous faces and rock-hard, perfect bodies we see on screen. If most of us fall into the average Jane or Joe category, what makes one person an attention-grabber and door-opener and another person not?

Why can one person attract, just like a magnet, the right people, circumstances, and opportunities at the right time, while another person, with comparable looks, smarts, and credentials, continually self-sabotages success and smashes his or her nose into shut doors?

People appeal is not just about physical features. It’s about that intangible something that changes ordinary looks into an opportunity jumpstart.

One ingredient that magically transforms looks into magnetism is energy. Think about it.

It takes energy to radiate and smile from the inside out and to bounce instead of step.

It takes energy to hop out of bed in the morning with delight and wonderment for the simple gift of a brand new day.

It takes energy to work hard with a good attitude, whether at the office or at home.

It takes energy to focus and to stay on purpose for the long-haul with determination and courage.

It takes energy to organize and lead effectively, whether it be a multi-billion dollar empire, a classroom of twenty-five kids, or a household.

The question remains: what fuels energy?

Transition these eight energizers into your life every day and experience the ultimate super-high on every level:

1. Fill-up on lots of whole, unrefined fruits and vegetables.

Regardless of the hype and confusion, unrefined carbohydrates (no, not protein or fat) found in whole fruits and vegetables are our most efficient sources of energy. Raw fruits and vegetables are even better.

Want no-fuss, fast food? You can’t get faster than fresh fruit - wash, open mouth, bite and chew. A green-leafy vegetable salad or cut-up veggies can quickly be prepared the night before, ready to zip out the door in the morning.

Today’s energy comes from whole plant foods that you ate yesterday.

2. Drink homemade fruit and vegetable juices.

The best nutrition comes from the juice in fruits and vegetables, not the fiber. Yes, we need fiber and get it from all our other whole fruits and vegetables. However, juice separated from the pulp is a quick shot of energy that fuels into your system within fifteen minutes. Normally, it takes 24 hours for fruits and vegetables to process into usable energy.

Juice fruits of your choice and vegetables like carrots, celery and apples at home and bring them with you to work or while running errands. Remember that “juicing” is not the same as “blending” – a juicer is needed to separate the juice from the pulp. Instead of filling your cup with coffee in the morning, how about filling it up with the best pick-me-up there is – fresh juice.

3. Exercise aerobically (pumping the heart and lungs) a minimum of 60 minutes a day. Exercise forces oxygen, a primary source of energy, into all the cells. Moderate walking is an excellent, easy energizer.

4. Sleep from 7 to 8.5 hours a night.

The importance of sleep cannot be overstated. Uninterrupted sleep is necessary for the body to heal, restore, and re-energize.
Minor shifts in your habits and lifestyle will help you get a full night’s sleep. Give yourself two hours from the time you last ate to the time you go to bed. Daily exercise, ideally 60 minutes, is a must for a good night’s sleep, but avoid exercising right before you go to sleep. Be sure your sleep environment is quiet and peaceful. And of course, stimulants, such as coffee, caffeinated teas and soft drinks are not conducive to a good night’s sleep.

5. Avoid or, even better, eliminate processed and refined foods.

White sugar and white flour products are some of the foods that deplete energy. They are commonly found in 99% of all breads, bagels, baked goodies, pastries, desserts, candy, condiments, snack foods, and packaged and even canned foods (read labels).

6. Avoid foods laden with added oils, fat, and cholesterol.

Dietary fat and cholesterol from animal products and processed oils (yes, even olive oil) clog blood vessels, making the heart beat harder, zapping energy. Blood flow gets sluggish immediately after eating a meal loaded with fat and cholesterol.

You can tell that by paying attention to yourself. How do you feel after eating a big meal centered on meat and dairy products? In a word, tired.

7. Eliminate artificial depressants and stimulants.

Alcohol, whether one glass of wine or several cocktails, is a well-known depressant. Depressants do just that—depress energy.

Coffee is a drug-like stimulant. It offers a quick pick-me-up, but is followed by the inevitable “drop-me-down.” With regular use, coffee exhausts the adrenal glands, which are critical for sustained energy. Coffee also makes the bladder, kidneys, liver and other organs work harder, draining energy.

8. Breathe fresh air.

Don’t smoke. It goes without saying: smoking robs your body of oxygen. Less oxygen equals less energy. No energy equals no life.

Do you have to incorporate all eight energy boosters into your life? Of course not. You don’t “have” to do anything. You “get” to make your own choices, and you “get” to experience the consequences of those choices.

Maybe we can’t all be super models, but you can energize yourself into a super magnet that attracts the right thinking, the right actions, the right people, and the right chain of events into your life to create your ideal life.

The choice is yours.

By Dr. Leslie Van Romer and Dr. Narinder Duggal of MD/DC Connect

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a health motivational speaker, writer, and lifestyle coach. Visit http://www.DrLeslieVanRomer.com for more inspiration.

There are many unanswered questions I have about 9/11. As someone who worked on ground zero, in New York City, the first week immediately after the attack, I can truly say I love my country and am patriotic. I drove a rental car from Florida up to ground zero to work, when all the airports were shut down.

Minutes before President Bush arrived days after the attack and gave his ground zero speech, the response of the firemen, NYPD, and rescue workers was electric. They were all gathered around, some standing on bulldozers and heavy equipment, shouting “USA! USA! USA!” It was undoubtedly my most patriotic moment as an American.

President Bush said, “Whoever knocked these buildings down is going to hear from all of us.” What is eery about 9/11 are all of the unanswered questions, inconsistencies of information, and the Bush administration’s concealment of the truth. By withdrawing and withholding information about Saudi Arabia and Venice, FL pertinent to the events surrounding 9/11, President George W. Bush and Governor Jeb Bush of Florida make themselves equally suspect.

It is no news that President Bush likes to kiss and hold hands with the Saudi royal family. The Bush family has always been drawn to and involved with oil. Considering Saudi Arabia was particularly interested in Iraqi oil and protecting their Sunni brothers in Babylon, it was they who gave Bush & Co. the idea to invade Iraq in 2003. President Bush was considering invading Iraq long before 9/11. VP Cheney consistently answers to the Saudi royal family. Remember his rush visit in 2006, when he was beckoned by the Saudi king to bring Thanksgiving leftovers on Friday - a one day emergency visit to discuss Iraq and Saudi interests in the region.

This being said, it is no surprise why the Bush administration would want to remove documents detailing Saudi involvement in 9/11. The other unanswered questions of importance to me are why Mohamed Atta and his men were frequenting in Venice, FL. Venice is 2nd in the State of Florida for an elderly populace. Why would Mohamed Atta and his men choose to base their operation out of Venice?

Go to Blockbuster and rent the DVD “Conspiracy - The Secret History: Mohamed Atta & the Venice Flying Circus” and see for yourself.

It is known fact that Atta and the boys liked to frequent strip clubs in Miami, Sarasota, Daytona Beach, and Las Vegas. These guys weren’t your typical Muslims and by no means were devout in their faith. They hung out at Harry’s Bar in New York by the piano. They drank rum and vodka for hours.

Atta and his flying circus spoke very good English, dressed impeccably, carried briefcases, and were the perfect consumers. Before the attack of 9/11 they returned the rental car they had got at Warwick Rental Car Enterprise, which interestingly isn’t listed in the yellow pages, neither is it registered as a business in the state of Florida. Warwick sounds like a business operation the CIA would be involved in. Atta & company rented two cars over five weeks from the rental agency.

Arab pilots flooded Venice, FL to attend two flight schools for a year. Both flight schools were Dutch owned and operated. Interestingly enough, the FBI’s timeline on Mohamed Atta and his conspirators in aviation never mentioned Venice. The FBI knew of terrorists training at Rudi Dekkers flight school for quite some time.

Just how badly did the CIA want to cover up Venice in their investigation? Pretty earnestly by the looks of Florida Governor Jeb Bush on board of a military cargo plane with two Rider trucks full of documents from Rudi Dekkers flight school where Atta and the gang were flying. The FBI never got to finish the investigation of Venice and the Dekkers flight school as President George W. Bush halted their investigation and redirected their attention to working on anthrax. It kind of makes you wonder if just maybe the CIA was behind the anthrax debacle to sidetrack the FBI elsewhere away from the biggest 9/11 crime scene in Venice?

Some aviation companies to investigate which use each others names often “doing business as” (DBA) who were involved with Arab pilots and have very probable CIA links are:
- Casablanca Air
- FLAir
- Huffman Aviation
- Jones Aviation (Sarasota, FL)
- Florida Flight Training Center
- Sunrise Airlines (Las Vegas, NV)
- Express Air (Phoenix, AZ)

The Washington Post on September 15 verified Mohamed Atta attended aerospace school in Alabama and a naval air station in Pensacola, FL.

Some say the foreknowledge issue is a red herring. Many allege the “Islamic Brigades” are a creation of the CIA and that Al Qaeda is categorized as an “intelligence asset”. It is believed by some that supporting to terrorist organizations is an integral part of U.S. foreign policy, legitimizing and necessitating our ongoing clandestine operations.

The Venice Municipal Airport sure shut its mouth when investigations about Ruddi Dekkers became commonplace. It kind of suspiciously reminds me of Barry Seal and the drug dealings of Mena, Arkansas. Rudi’s big backer in Naples, FL enabled a guy who was behind on his rent to quickly become a successful businessman rolling in the millions. As for the two Dutch nationals, they both purchased their flight schools the same year before all the Arabs began showing up for training. Interesting coincidences indeed.

The Gondolier Sun in Venice, FL called it “Evil in Our Backyard.” A Sarasota county interdiction order told everybody to stay away from the Venice operation as it was “governmentally protected.” It seems the Bush’s also vacation in Venice. Perhaps this explains for the 23 helicopters that disappeared over time in Charlotte county.

Ironically Rudi Dekkers was later called upon to advice Congress on how to combat terrorism within the aviation industry. Not bad for a guy charged of sexual harassment of an 18 y/o girl.

It seems Ringling Brothers Circus, the OSS (a precursor to the CIA), and the Italian American Club all have strong ties to Venice, FL.

According to Ex-Director of the CIA, Richard Helms, who testified during the Cold War, the agency has the largest aviation company and fleet in the world.

Maybe this explains why President George W. Bush sat quietly and read “My Pet Goat” for several minutes after being informed of the attack in New York City (NYC). He thought it was more important to smoke cigars with Prince Bandar of Saudi before he went to ground zero to assess the damage.

Marvin Bush headed security at the world trade center in New York City. Go to YouTube and watch videos of the attack and you can hear an explosion several minutes after the planes had already crashed. Many firemen and people down below in the towers also mention hearing explosions. Moreover some people who worked at the world trade center mentioned security keeping them out at night for about two weeks preceding the attack while special security “procedures and protocol” were being taken.

Some believe the building was demolished and an inside job altogether. Building # 7 was unnecessarily “pulled’ as demolitionists call it. No planes hit it, but since a sizeable insurance policy had been taken on the towers and the classified documents of stealth organizations were located therein, many had good reason to “pull it” to cover themselves.

When things don’t seem to make sense, remember maybe they do in another way.

If you have any further insight, info, interesting links, data, and documents concerning 9/11 please send them to me.

Paul Davis is a worldwide minister, advocate for truth & justice, and investigative journalist.

Paul is the author of several books including his pre-9/11 book A State of Emergency; Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.

Paul’s compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has served in many war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His Dream-Maker Inc. is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.

Paul’s Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Contact Paul to minister, speak at your event or for coaching:

RevivingNations@yahoo.com, 407-284-1705.

http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com
http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV

Most Forex firms offer sending their subscribers Forex signals, which are used to buy and sell currencies. Forex signals are referred to as entry and exit signals.

Forex firms do a tremendous amount of in-depth research and analyses dealing with the currencies their dealers are trading in. Signals are usually sent out and only are active for a short period of time.

The first signal is sent out at 08:30 and remains actual until 12:30. The second signal is sent at 12:30 and is actual until 16:30. Lastly, the third signal is sent at 16:30. These times are all given in GMT, so be sure to adjust for local time changes.

Forex trading and dealing is an extremely competitive business. Investors tend to subscribe to Forex dealers and companies with great references and background.

Their information tends to be more accurate and genuine than their less experienced competitors. Institutional clients and individual investors alike can receive Forex-trading information and data from Forex dealers and other Forex experts.

A Forex trading platform or hub is used to give Forex dealers signals or Forex indicators. These signals or indicators are specific entry and exit strategies.

Due to the fact that Forex has exploded across the Internet, most Forex dealers get the information delivered straight to their computer or by email.

After they receive that information, it is then that they decide if they want to buy, sell, or hold the currencies until they are provided with more information.

Companies take extreme care and pay specific attention to detail when sending Forex signals to the currency dealers.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Forex Trading and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Forex Trading web site. For more articles and resources on Forex related topics, online forex trading, trading tips, forex software and much more visit his site at:

=>http://forex.need-to-know.net/

This is written with the parent in mind. Projects should be supervised by an adult.

Plant Reproduction Project:

You will need:

1. A plant. Preferably a fast growing tree or shrub such as a willow or better yet a weeping willow.
2. Very sharp pruners.
3. Some fine potting soil.
4. Some planting pots.

What will be doing, is making new plants from existing ones. This is sometimes called “cloning”, which is exactly what it is. Some of the more technical terms are, asexual reproduction, and propagation. This has been done almost from the beginning of time, but is as fresh and new, as genetic engineering, and tissue culture reproduction. Cloning a plant by making a cutting, is really not much different from the tissue culture process, it is just using more cells. Tissue cultures take a few cells, and reproduce an entire plant from them in laboratory conditions. What we will be doing is taking a pretty large number of cells, and reproducing a tree in your garage, or classroom.

The Steps:

1. Fill your pots with soil. Make more than you want to keep, because some of them will not make it. and you may want to use some of them to demonstrate what is happening to your student.
2. Take cuttings from your plant material. These should be fresh, woody tissue ( green cuttings can often be rooted in a glass of water) about 4 to 6 inches in length, and have a bud no more than a quarter inch from the bottom of the cutting, and one or more buds, closer to the top. Make the cuttings at an angle, and make sure there are no ragged edges, or loose bark. A sharp knife can be used to trim them back if needed.
3. Poke a hole in the potting soil inside the pot, and insert the cutting. Pack the soil gently but firmly around it and water it, being sure that there are no voids or air pockets. You should try to make sure that there will ultimately be an out door destination for these trees, so that they can grow with your students. The results of a child watching a living thing that he or she had a part in, is amazing!

This is what happens:

1. In a few days, you will notice the upper buds beginning to elongate and create shoots.
2. Below the soil line, and a little later in the process, the bud near the bottom will begin to heal the cut, and produce callous.
3. The calloused area will begin to produce roots. and soon, a viable new clone, with all the genetic characteristics of the parent plant will come about.

Why this happens:

The science behind this is, that the growth, reproductive, and healing mechanisms embedded in the genetic code of the cutting take over, and try to heal the plant, finding the need to reproduce leaves for photosynthesis, and roots to get nutrients. This occurs more readily at the plants growth points, such as junctions and buds, these areas contain a higher concentration of growth cells, and therefore heal and reproduce more quickly.

Lessons: Plant growth, Genetics, Cloning, genetic engineering, and a wide variety of other subjects can be used for further research for your child. This opens up a world of topics!

NOTE: It may also be of benift, to explain that this plant now has all the genetic characteristics of the mother plant, both good and bad, and help them understand the need for bio diversity. It could also be used as a springboard into a history discussion about such events as the Irish potato blight, and the North American chess nut blight, both events being the result of not having bio diversity.

James Burns is a licensed pest control professional, has been a Certified Professional Turfgrass Manager for more than 16 years, has a lifetime of experience in horticulture and agriculture, and is the owner of Rational Environmental Solutions, an IPM based pest control company in East Texas. He also has many helpful gardening tips at http://www.texpest.com.

Saving money is probably one of the most misunderstood topics in personal financial history. One of the most effective ways to be able to save money is to be able to go hand-in-hand with a strict household budget. In order to start saving, one should be able to take a thorough inventory of the different needs that one has. If one is able to do that, then it will follow that you will be able to take off the extra dollars that could go into the bank instead of the “unnecessary expense” list. One should be able to begin with the most expensive or the biggest items on the list. If one could have moderate savings on the house and car and accompany it with savings on the smaller items such as food and clothes, one will be able to find that the financial savings that will follow after will be quite rewarding.

One of the most important things to follow is to be able to distinguish one’s wants from one’s needs. It will follow that if you lessen your wants and never substitute it for your needs, you will not have to incur an unnecessary expense. For example, the needs of someone is pretty straightforward to define. These are the things that are essential and they are the things that nourish and maintain. These are shelter, food, clothing and transportation. On the other hand, wants are those things which enhance or improve one’s family life or comfortability. A car is essentially a need however a $35,000 sports car is most likely a want unless it is actually necessary for the individual’s business trips, etc. There are instances that a phrase like this is heard, “Without a doubt, I absolutely need to get the newest iPod.” And if the people who talk like that hears themselves, they will actually hear themselves say, “I want the newest iPod.” It will be extremely difficult to save up if this essential difference is not resolved in the consumer’s mind.

For the most part, it only requires a change of lifestyle. Instead of going to that fancy restaurant with the $100 meal, then a $20 alternative could prove to be much more practical. Besides, the food could be as delicious as the expensive main course in the trendy restaurant. Rather than watch ever blockbuster movie that Hollywood coughs up, it would be better if one would limit his or her movie viewing to just about 2 movies per month. This will go a long way if it is continued through an extended period of time. It would very well be practical and the money that you save will surely go a long way in any case of an emergency. As much as it is pleasurable to keep up with the Joneses, it is much wiser to have extra money for your family and for yourself. Forget about the ego and the branded shirts. They won’t be of any use to us when we desperately need the money for some other expense. Saving money starts with the little things and, if done correctly, it ends in a big paycheck which is well worth the little sacrifices.

Please visit us at http://www.investology.com and http://www.retirementincome.com

Distance learning is one of the flavors of the cyber highway. The coming has been fast and furious. Those that do not embrace it will be left behind. For those that are still quick to dismiss it, these are the reasons I think online learning will continue to explode.

1. Distance Learning simply makes economic sense. It is way cheaper than traditional learning. Since most distance learning schools don’t have build and maintain vast array of buildings, they are able to offer cheaper tuition to students. Any student (most students are) who is money conscious will prefer distance learning to traditional learning for this reason.

The cost to commute back and forth to school and home can be saved by money conscious students. The cost of a gallon of gas today makes this a no-brainer. Imagine being able to save all that gas money. This is music to the ears of most online learning students.

2. The flexibility to learn when you want appeals to distance learning students. Students are no longer constrained to learning at a certain time period. They can simple learn when they are ready. This could be as late as midnight.

This flexibility also applies to the time it takes to complete a degree program. You can take as long as you want to complete your program.

3. Distance learning has become the ultimate learn and earn. While I’m an advocate for some people to get their first degree through traditional colleges, it does not make sense to get your graduate degree this way. There is no reason you can’t get a graduate degree, especially master’s degree, while holding a job.

Doing it this way, gives you the opportunity to earn money while learning. While the job is putting money in your pocket, you are also gaining valuable work experience and seniority on the job. Your paycheck will continue to grow. You will also be getting promotions on the job. These things are on hold for those that wait till they get all their desired degrees before getting a job.

Most people are doing this today. This is one of the things that is fueling the distance learning explosion.

4. Distance learning provides you with valuable time with the family. Now, parents do not have to deal with studying and helping their kids with homework at the same time. They can spend this quality time with the kids while the kids are awake. Then when the kids go to bed, they can do their online classes. Believe me, with the time pressure parents are under today, this is a welcome relieve.

Because the arrival of distance learning has made our lives better, it is here to stay. Those that have not embraced it will be wise to do so. Otherwise, they maybe left behind. And being left behind in this cyber age could be detrimental to your earning power.

Copywrite Kenneth Echie. Kenneth is a writer for Criminal Justice Schools and Degrees. Get a free info packed report on how to get free grants, scholarships, and loans by sending blank e-mail to: cjfans (AT) getresponse.com.

Affiliated websites are:

http://www.continuingeducation4u.info

http://www.online-degree-guide.org

Jogging strollers have been around for probably longer than we think. A great idea, they afford greater freedom and hands-free flexibility for active mums and dads. Kids think they’re great; in fact it can be quite some job to prize them away from their life-style of effortless transport. Dads love them too; some are demanding super-sized jogging strollers so their wives can push them to the week-end ball game or even just to the fridge.

Most jogging strollers on the market today are of good quality, but it still pays to do a little research to know what your looking at and recognize the most crucial points when considering your purchase. Here are some handy tips:

Jogging strollers should ideally not exceed about 10 kilos (22 pounds) in weight. Bear in mind that you will be collapsing and storing it regularly, at home, to put in the trunk and so on. Often you’ll only have one arm available, so weight and ease of collapsibility really are quite important. So try out your intended purchase to evaluate how easy to collapse it and reassemble it actually is in practise.

A jogging stroller must be robust and hard wearing. Most are constructed from an aluminium frame but make sure it’s strong enough to take the inevitable heavy use it will get. And do remember to check out its stability. Babies move about a great deal and often try to grab things just out of their reach, thus overbalancing. So assure yourself that the stroller is designed to avoid tipping.

Jogging strollers should have seat recliners and guard bars that are adjustable. They should be designed to be adapted to the changing size of your child.

Essential for safety are a sturdy multi-point harness, a robust fender, a bicycle style handbrake and rear wheel brakes. A safety bell is more a bit of fun than a prerequisite.

Test carefully how much the handlebar is adjustable depending on who you know will be doing the pushing. A painful back due to stooping leads to fatigue, if not worse, thus rendering the whole idea of a jogging stroller pointless.

Make sure your child won’t become cramped in the stroller as he or she grows. To be comfortable a child needs a little bit of room to wriggle when necessary.

Look for the amount of storage available on the stroller; the whole point is to have your hands free of encumbrances, so you won’t want a couple of bags slung round your wrists as you stroll.

Finally, take a good look at the multifarious optional extras on offer. Try them out; some a great, others quite useless. Suppliers may also be willing to include certain extras within the base price. As always, shop around!

For more
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Jogging Strollers

It is very possible that you may need life insurance even after all your children are gone from the house.There are many different reasons why you made need life insurance once your children leave home. Your children might be in college or not be fully independent financially, life insurance may aid you in this scenario. You might already have enough saved up for tuition, your children’s living expenses still continue though, social security benefits for surviving children and spouse will not continue though.. they are stopped once the children are out of high school.

There might also be other dependents that you need to support. Parents, disabled older children and others that are dependent on you financially would be helped out if you had life insurance if you died before them. You may want to offset a survivor’s reduced social security benefits. If the dependent dies early, this means they did not receive any promotions or salary increases which may have increased the Social Security benefits. A life insurance policy will often help ease this concern.

Being financially devoted to mortgages, leases and car loans is an affliction that two incomes have. Life insurance on each earning spouse will help the requirements on joint mortgages stay afloat. It is wise to obtain life insurance even if you do not have dual operating financial dedications, as it will offset any losses that may occur.

In good practice, each family should have a reserve of money for rainy days. This emergency fund should be around two thirds to one half of the total yearly take home income. If this reserve of money doesn’t exist, the family who loses the family member will be very financially exposed and sensitive without a decent fund or life insurance plan to compensate for these after death expenses and taxes.

Your children (and many young adults) usually do not have any plans for their funeral costs or other after death medical bills and estate alteration costs. State income and property taxes will be a burden that they will not think about in the short term. Thus life insurance provided by you will cover these obscene costs which can vary greatly but are most often very expensive.

Good life insurance will help prevent the reduction of income if one spouse is deceased after receiving Social Security retirement benefits. Both people in a couple receives the benefits, however the one who earns more gets one based directly on his or her income, while the one who earns less before retirement gets half or much less than the larger earning spouse. If a spouse dies and it happens to be the spouse who earned more before receiving retirement benefits, having good life insurance will help the single spouse recover from this loss of income.

You can even signify some of your life insurance premiums can be given to heirs or your favorite charities. This is commonly well thought of if your assets would have been liquidated without this option set forth.

Mike Bell is the owner and operation of the Insurance Options Guide. A site dedicated to providing users with appropriate information to make informed insurance decisions.

We all know that sleep is absolutely critical to feel your best, look your best, and perform at your best—every day. Quality and quantity sleep take front and center stage, along with the other major health players: lots of whole, fresh fruits and vegetables, sixty minutes of exercise every day, fresh air, clean water, and an uplifting outlook on life.

Sleep is important—that much we know. Yet there is lots of confusion about our bodies’ sacred time to rest, recuperate, and reenergize. Sometimes confusion is harmless; sometimes it is dangerous.

Here are 7 myths about your daily zzzzzzzzzz’s:

1. Myth: Snoring may be annoying to a sleep partner, but it is never harmful.

Fact: Snoring may be harmless, but it can also be a symptom of a life- threatening sleep disorder called sleep apnea, especially if it is accompanied by severe daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea, or pauses in breathing while sleeping, preventing air flow, reduces oxygen levels and strains the heart and cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. People with sleep apnea awaken frequently during the night. Obesity can contribute to sleep apnea.

Solution: Lose weight and, if you suspect sleep apnea, get it checked out. It is treatable. Newer, medical advancements can assist in getting a good night’s sleep.

2. Myth: You can “cheat” on the amount of sleep you get.

Fact: Sleep experts say most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimum performance, health, and safety. When we don’t get adequate sleep, we accumulate a sleep debt that can be difficult to “pay back.” The result: sleep deprivation, linked to obesity, high blood pressure, mood swings, decreased productivity, and safety issues in the home, on the job, and on the road.

Solution: Put your body and health first and get to bed early enough for your eight hours of rest.

3. Myth: Insomnia means difficulty falling asleep.

Fact: Difficulty falling asleep is only one of the four symptoms associated with insomnia. The others include waking up too early and not being able to fall back asleep, frequent awakenings, and waking up feeling unrefreshed. Insomnia can be a symptom of a sleep disorder or other health problems. According to a recent National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America poll, 58% of adults in this country reported at least one symptom of insomnia in the past year.

Solution: Daily exercise, loading up on lots of whole, fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoiding or eliminating stimulants from the diet, such as caffeinated drinks, chocolate, and refined sugar foods and drinks. When insomnia symptoms occur more than a few times a week and impact a person’s daily lives, the symptoms should be discussed with the appropriate health care provider.

4. Myth: Health problems such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and depression are unrelated to the quantity and quality of a person’s sleep.

Fact: Studies have found a direct relationship between sleep and many health problems. Insufficient sleep affects growth hormone secretion that is linked to obesity. As the amount of hormone secretion decreases, the chance for weight gain increases. Blood pressure usually falls during the sleep cycle. However, interrupted sleep can adversely affect this normal decline, leading to hypertension and cardiovascular problems. Insufficient sleep impairs the body’s ability to use insulin, leading to the onset of diabetes.

Solution: Losing weight and building up health with whole fruits and vegetables, reducing fat-loaded foods, such as meat, cheese, and hydrogenated fats found in many processed foods, 60 minutes of daily exercise, and avoiding stimulants, such as caffeine, chocolate, and white sugar found in drinks and foods.

5. Myth: The older you get, the fewer hours of sleep you need.

Fact: Just like most adults, people over the age of 65 need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. While sleep patterns change as we age, the amount of sleep we need generally does not. In fact, National Sleep Foundation’s 2003 Sleep in America poll found that older adults typically do not sleep less than their younger counterparts, but an average of seven hours. Poor health, not age, is a major reason why many older people report sleep problems.

Solution: Building healthy, lifelong habits every day is a must to getting a good night’s sleep and enjoying life as a senior. Daily walking, deep-breathing and stretching exercises, spending time with family and friends, and jumping into a hobby can contribute to a good night’s sleep. Eat the best-for-you foods and avoid caffeine, refined and processed foods, and fatty/oily foods. Napping in the very early afternoon, noonish, is less likely to interfere with sleeping at night. And, of course, get down to your ideal body weight.

6. Myth: During sleep, your brain rests.

Fact: The body rests during sleep. However, the brain remains active and gets “recharged.” During sleep, you drift between two sleep states, REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM, in 90-minute cycles. Non-REM sleep, when our minds can still process information, has four stages with distinct features, ranging from stage one drowsiness, when one can be easily awakened, to “deep sleep” stages three and four, when the most positive and restorative effects of sleep occur. REM sleep is an active sleep where dreams occur and eyes move back and forth under the eyelids.

7. Myth: If you wake up in the middle of the night, it is best to lie in bed, count sheep, or toss and turn until you eventually fall back asleep.

Fact: If you wake up in the middle of the night, relaxing imagery or thoughts may help to induce sleep more than counting sheep, which may be more distracting than relaxing. Most experts agree that if you do not fall back asleep within 15-20 minutes, get out of bed, go to another room and engage in a relaxing activity such as listening to music or reading. Return to bed when you feel sleepy. Avoid watching the clock. The bed should be associated with sleep and sex only.

By Dr. Narinder Duggal and Dr. Leslie Van Romer, MD/DC Connect: “The Med-Free Solution”

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a health motivational speaker, writer, and lifestyle coach. Visit http://www.DrLeslieVanRomer.com for more inspiration.