“What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date” author discusses her ups and downs in online dating.

Author, Annie Earley, recently penned a book “What Was I Thinking? How Not to Date” about her experiences with online dating. Earley said that the book discusses the matter with humor, but also points out the dangers. I posed questions to the author.

Q: Why did you decide to join an online dating group?

A: I decided to join an online dating group because my close friend suggested it might be a good way to meet someone. She met her husband through an online dating service.

Q: What advice would you give to women thinking about online dating?

A: Try to meet someone through a friend or just try to meet someone out and about and in person. If they really want to try online dating I would advise them to be very careful. Set up some guidelines and rules for safety and stick to them. Unfortunately, you can’t believe everything in a potential date’s profile.

Q: Any story that sticks out in your mind as either the best or the worst date?

A: I think the story that sticks out in my mind the most is the story about “Peter Lorre.” This story is an example of how you can think you’ve gotten to know someone through email and on the phone, and feel that you really connect, only to find that when you meet them in person you are frightened and fearing for your safety and feeling vulnerable. When things like this happen it does not do much for your self-esteem. I found myself feeling foolish.

Q: Are you still an active member of the online dating community? Or are you in a relationship/ seeing anyone special?

A: Actually, at the end of the book it tells how I met someone special through a friend and we got married six months later. I could add that although I stated in my book that I do not believe in “head over heels,” I now know that there is such a thing as a “soulmate I met him nine months after I decided to take a break from dating and had decided to just put it in God’s hands, so there may be some truth to the philosophy that when you stop looking, that is when you will meet someone.

Q: Why did you decide to write the book?

A: I decided to write a book about my experiences because as I was telling these stories to my family and friends the response was always the same, “You should write a book!” So I did. I also hoped that in sharing my experiences I might give someone encouragement, or at least let some men and women who are dating and going through similar experiences know that they are not alone.

Q: Why do you feel people should buy your book and how could they get a copy?

A: I feel that someone should buy my book if they are interested in trying online dating or are dating at all. Each chapter tells a story about one of the men I met or dated and contains humorous cartoons depicting some of these meetings. Some of the stories are humorous and some are not so funny. I would like to think that anyone who likes to read about relationships would enjoy it.

My book is available through Tribute Books (Eynon, PA), Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Borders.

Q: Any final words of wisdom?

A: I don’t know if these would be considered words of wisdom but I would say the following to anyone out there who is dating: Set standards for yourself relating to what you want in a relationship; especially how you want to be treated. Don’t settle for less because you are afraid of being lonely. . If you are lonely, find things to do to fill your life. Have trust in yourself and put your trust in God.

ISBN: 9780979504587
120 pp.
$14.95

www.theabingtonjournal.com

Sedu simply means straight and sedu hairstyle refers to hair styled in a very straight and silky looking fashion. This straight and silky looking style is obtained with the use of flat iron called the sedu iron.

Sedu iron is a device with a completely new technology. The iron has ceramic plates which uses negatively charged ions to straighten the hair. The negatively charged ions reduce the kinetic and electrical charges that are most commonly found in the hairs of several people. The ceramic used for the plates of the flattener is actually a mineral composite called tourmaline which has some special properties. The mineral occurs in a crystal form and is naturally piezoelectric. Some electrical charge can be induced in it using some pressure and this slight charge is the remarkable aspect of the sedu iron. The term sedu itself comes from the use of this iron. The patented technology of this iron is a blend of science and innovation. It is effectively used to create longer lasting and better looking hairstyles to suit all occasions.

It’s human to get attracted towards the lifestyle and fashion trends of the celebrities. People watch celebrities on television, read about them and their fashion trends in the magazines and newspaper and often become curious to know the secret behind their beauty. One thing about the celebrities that anyone can achieve is their hair style. Sedu celebrity hairstyles are really easy to achieve.

The most popular celebrities who brought these hairstyles into the fashion world are Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez. Thereafter several women were infatuated towards Jennifer sedu hairstyles. Aniston pioneered these hairstyles and Lopez is known for her wide collection of beautiful hairstyles. Aniston sedu hairstyles became the most popular fashion trend ever since Aniston rose to stardom in one of her hit shows Friends. People were so much inspired by the celebrity that at a later stage sedu flat iron was globally known as Jennifer Aniston Hair Straightener.

Today in the fashion world sedu prom hairstyles are also rising with several variations, the best hairstyle for prom nights. Some of the most popular variations of prom hairstyles are natural, chic, vintage and formal. Natural sedu hairstyle is simply a straight hairstyle with some curls and twists at the bottom or the hairs are twisted into a loose bun. Formal sedu hairstyles are the best for weddings, formal dinners and most viable for the most awaited prom day. These hairstyles include low ponytails or tight buns. Having a vintage sedu hairstyle for the prom night is something very soothing and remembering the old times. Chic sedu hairstyles can be bit complicated with impressive hair accessories.

Although long and medium hairstyles are more common and popular, sedu short hairstyles also look professional, trendy and graceful. Great styling options are available for short hairs from funky and trendy to soft and feminine.

There are various sedu hairstyles how to care tips that should be considered for a longer lasting and beautiful looking sedu styles. Good shampoo and conditioner should be used along with good styling combs.

The shortage of skilled IT workers is not like global warming. We are certain the worker shortage is real, and we are definitely feeling its effects now.

Heavy users of technology tend to focus on how the worker shortage is affecting them most directly; that is, their present inability to fill open technical positions. Perhaps less obvious is the impact the IT worker shortage has on organizations’ use of outside vendors and consultants for their projects. Vendors and consultants are also finding it difficult to hire the talent they need, which is limiting their engagement capacity and growth opportunities.

Tips for technology buyers in a tight supplier market

If you are about to undertake a project that will rely heavily on an outside vendor or consultant (from this point I refer to both simply as “vendor”), consider the following tips and suggestions.

RFI/RFP Process. When you are ready to source any new project, think carefully about your RFI/ RFP process. In a tight market, vendors have less time for everything, including time for responding to RFIs and RFPs. Your goal is to get the attention of a number of qualified vendors, and now more than ever, you need to be creative in your approach.

The one-size-fits-all RFI (you tell a vendor very little about your project, but ask the vendor to tell you everything about itself and its products and services) is not an option. You need an RFI that is very specific and tailored to your current project. All-encompassing, fifty-page RFP documents are also not an option (except for agencies of state that must follow a statutory procurement process). Chances are that many good (busy) vendors, the very vendors you want to attract to your project, will not have the time to review and respond to an old-fashioned, one-shot, cover-the-world RFP.

As a continuation of a trend that started well before the current tight supplier market, you should try to break your RFI/RFP process down into smaller chunks that are more easily digestible by your vendor candidates. By “layering” your RFI/RFP process, you will win a first response and subsequent responses from a greater number of vendor candidates. Think of your RFIs and RFPs as living documents, subject to later amendment and supplement, and declare them as such to your vendor candidates. A layered approach maximizes vendor response rates and saves you and your vendor candidates precious time. You request the most detailed information only from the most qualified vendor candidates, and only the most qualified candidates have to prepare more detail.

Give prospective vendors a meaningful document, but one to which they can respond in a reasonable amount of time. Strike a balance between sufficient relevant content and the length of your document. Load up the most relevant information about your project and your needs in the first two or three pages, and save all the procurement boilerplate for later in your document or in a separate attachment (or better still, leave this clutter out of your document altogether and cite vendors to some private web pages containing this content). Limit the number of “exercises” a vendor must complete in order to respond; for example, self-scoring of base functionality for software. You may want this and other detailed information at some point, but be prepared to get it over time from select candidates instead of all at once from all candidates.

Pricing. If you are negotiating with a vendor for a new project, now is not the time to squeeze excessively on product price or a rate card. In many market segments, vendors are turning away work because they do not have the resources necessary to complete it. After a number of years of operating in recession mode, vendors are looking for higher margins, and they are getting them. They are in the enviable position of being able to choose which engagements they will undertake, and margin is one of their prime considerations. You could very easily, and perhaps unwittingly, ruin a deal with your preferred vendor because your costing expectations are more aligned with the recession period than the current market.

Different focus. If you accept that you do not have much pricing leverage in today’s market, try to negotiate into your deal things that provide value to you but do not diminish your vendor’s margins. The fact that your vendor cannot or will not budge much on pricing may mean that it will be more flexible on terms and conditions. Insist on more and better fee holdbacks, software buyback options, creative testing and acceptance models, penalties for milestone delays, etc. Whatever makes sense for your particular project. Simply put, if you are going to pay a premium price for your project, ask your vendor to put more skin in the game. Again, knowing that it has not offered you any real pricing breaks, your provider may put up less resistance to the buyer-side protections and vendor management tools you seek. Although these elements do not directly decrease your project spend, they may be valuable in terms of keeping your project on track, and they may be invaluable should your project run into trouble.

Bundling. If you are about to hire a vendor for a new project, and there is a chance you will need additional products or services from the vendor in the future, by all means, tell the vendor during the sourcing phase for your current project. The prospect of additional revenue for your vendor might allow you to obtain more favorable pricing for your current project, lock in a rate card and discounted product pricing for your next project, or both. You do not have to commit now to using this vendor for your next project, and you can reserve the right to renegotiate the rate card and product pricing for your next project (you are creating price ceilings, not price floors). When bundling is done properly, you have everything to gain, and nothing to lose.

Resources. It is fair to ask a vendor candidate whether it has the resources available presently to deliver your project on time and within budget (both are often a function of resource allocation). What is the vendor’s present utilization rate? Will additional resources be released from another project in the near future? What resources will be dedicated to your project and for how long? If you get some uneasy answers to these questions, think about using another vendor. If you want to work with a particular vendor and your project is not mission critical, think about delaying your project.

The A-Team. We have all witnessed the situation where a project seems to move forward at a good pace when the vendor’s A-Team is on site, but things bog down when it is not on site. If you have identified your chosen vendor’s A-Team through referrals, demos, test or use cases, or by whatever means, be sure to ask your vendor how much time the team will devote to your project. A vendor’s A-Team is its most valuable corporate asset, but it can be your most valuable project asset as well. It is not unreasonable to ask a vendor for presence of its A-Team at the launch of your project, for some stated period thereafter, and at other important times; for example, during unit testing or the commencement of a new project phase, and certainly during implementation. The promise of off-site monitoring and intervention by the A-Team is not as good as on-site presence. Unless you set expectations and get agreement from your vendor in advance, you may see very little of the vendor’s A-Team during these times of high demand and short talent supply.

Fixed cost projects. Given current market conditions, think twice about fixed-fee arrangements. Depending on how your project goes, your vendor might smell the aroma of higher margins down the street and move good consultants off your fixed-fee project. In a fixed-fee arrangement, a vendor will typically require more project control, including control over its resource deployment. The vendor’s A-Team may show up to start your project, and its B-Team may do the heavy lifting (as is usually the case). But if your project runs into trouble, or your vendor’s margin is otherwise being threatened, you may find the vendor’s C-Team showing up, then the D-Team, and then a subcontractor. You want a finished project, not a languishing project. This scenario happens with fixed-fee projects in all market conditions, but it may be more prevalent in a tight supplier market.

Outsourcing. Offshore outsourcing of all or a portion of your project might be a temptation during the current tight market given traditional vendors’ lack of capacity and the current pricing they command. However, in addition to all the other negatives associated with offshore outsourcing, consider that the current tight market might make it more difficult for you to obtain prompt domestic assistance, or additional domestic assistance, should your outsourced project go south.

Build versus buy. Consider buying an OTS solution instead of a custom build. Further, for any OTS purchase, consider changing your business rules and requirements to match the OTS functionality (to the fullest extent possible), as opposed to customizing the OTS solution to match your existing business rules and requirements. Both strategies can reduce your project expense in this tight market, and they will certainly reduce your project risk.

© 2008 All rights reserved. Nuckles Law Firm

Tim Nuckles is a Wisconsin technology attorney whose practice is dedicated to technology transactions and the workout of troubled technology projects. You may visit the firm’s web site at http://www.nuckleslaw.com

Timothy Nuckes is a Wisconsin attorney whose practice is dedicated to technology matters. You may visit the firm’s web site at http://www.nuckleslaw.com

This System Is Not A Joke And Should Be A Tool Every Network Marketer Must Have In Their Internet Network Marketing Tool Box. I have used most of the lead generation funded proposal systems out their. The PPS is by far the most effective out their. Let’s talk about what a funded proposal is. It’s a system that puts you in a position to generate the highest quality prospects that are exclusive to you and at the same time, those prospects will pay for themselves. It’s a super charged lead generation system that will build your own list of red-hot prospects. Their are many systems like this on the Internet. However none of them put the user in the spot light. The first lesson of marketing is to market yourself and not your primary company or anyone else. Other funded proposal systems are really branding the creator of the system every time you go out and promote it. The more you brand another individual, the more people will see them as the expert and not you. They will then seek them out for mentorship.

Power prospecting system and its components brand the user of the system in every way. In other words, this puts the user in a position as the expert. When you put yourself in that position then people will want to contact you. The whole point of a funded proposal system is to help offset your marketing cost, build a marketing budget, provide the highest quality of marketing and training and at the same time build your own customer list. Building your own customer list of targeted prospects that know you as the expert is the most important activity all network marketers should focus on. My question is this. Would it make sense to use all your time money and effort to brand someone else, and have them be seen as the expert so people seek them out or does it make sense to put yourself in that position. You be the judge!

Visit The Web Recourses Below And Learn More.

Joe LoBalsamo is the CEO of Internet Network Marketing Secrets. “Want To Learn More About A System That Will Generate Cash For Your MLM Even If No One Joins Your Business And Pays For Your Advertising To Generate Endless Red-Hot Targeted Prospects Who Want To Know More About Your Business?”

http://www.GenerateEndlessLeads.info

“A Business That’s Improving Lives”
http://www.SevenFiguresToday.info

“Stop By My Blog For A Visit”
http://www.BloggingSuccess.info

If you could do one thing to improve, your chances on securing a new position would you - of course, you would! Good news - creating an award winning cover letter could make all the difference in being successful in your quest for a new job or not. While it might not seem like much, this simple, one-page letter matters!

A common mistake made by job seekers is while spending adequate time on the resume, they quickly and thoughtlessly throwing together the cover letter. This one-page is your first introduction to a potential employer so you want to do everything possible to make it count. Before your resume is even reviewed, the employer will read your cover letter. By writing something compelling, you will capture the interest of the employer, thus giving you an increased opportunity.

Keep in mind that while all cover letters should be one-page in length; the content varies depending on the type of job you are seeking, as well as your specific qualifications. Therefore, it is imperative that you choose your formatting and wording carefully. To help you get started, we have provided two samples of cover letters that will get your resume noticed!

Cover Letter Sample - One

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name of Contact

With more than 20 years experience in senior management for large and international companies, I offer well-honed qualifications as a visionary and motivator of strategies that have delivered gains in profit and market share, thus exceeding company objectives.

As an expert with proven cross-functional qualifications that span operations and marketing, I feel confident that I would be an asset to your organization. I am currently exploring new opportunities that will allow me to use my dynamic experience and skills for future growth of the company.

Attached you will find my resume, which captures my background, qualifications, and education, showcasing my value. Over the years, I have been faced with a number of professional challenges, meeting each head on with positive attitude, anticipation, and direction, resulting in execution of the appropriate solution.

I am currently in a position for relocation both within the United States and internationally. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss opportunities further. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Susan Jones

Cover Letter Sample - Two

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name of Contact

I am writing to express an interest in joining (company name) in the position of (position).

As you will see from the attached resume, my background and qualifications are distinct to your industry. During the past 20 years, I have positioned myself within companies to learn and become more successful. Although I have gained tremendous knowledge and have found my position rewarding, I am now looking for a new opportunity, one where my skills can be utilized to their fullest while allowing me the chance to grow and improve the company’s bottom line.

I am confident that I bring to the table qualifications suited for the position within your organization, some of which I have outlined below:

Open Position,-Proven Management Experience.-
My Qualifications. Accomplished in delivering finished projects on time, within scope, and below budget

Problem Solving/Motivation. Direct involvement, taking a creative approach to think outside the box. Strong leadership ability and team motivation through meetings, awards, and team-building challenges

Sound Business Decisions. Strong negotiation using managerial strategies, as well as developing, budgeting, and logistics

The qualifications outlined above are just a few strengths I can offer, with the remainder listed in the attached resume. These combined with my dedication, enthusiasm, and desire to make a difference are what set me apart from other candidates.

Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to meeting in person to discuss this opportunity further.

Sincerely,
Susan Jones

“In Just 10 Minutes Flat, You Can Quickly And Easily Crank Out An Amazing Resume That Is Guaranteed To Have Your Telephone Ring Off The Hook With Hot Job Interviews And Top Job Offers…” www.Amazing-Resumes.com

Introduction:

Ask anyone who is into Ska music and most shall stare back blankly - it is a question regarding the America of the 1950s when American pop was the most influential entity on the bands worldwide. Thanks to the powerful, American radio stations without which the music wouldn’t have waded past the waves of the Caribbean.

The Ska Spawning:

So it is Jamaica that we shall now be concentrating upon. With the changing economy, the natives of Jamaica could no more be satisfied with the traditional Jamaican music; what they wanted at this point of time was what that blared out of the radios’ speakers. Call it adulteration or a corruption, but there’s no denying the fact that it laid the seeds for shaping the Ska that we hear today, but how many of us really know that where all these got started? To know that, we must dig up the annals of history to find out what was going on in the 1920’s and 30’s regarding the local Jamaican band scene.

Mento - The mentor of Ska

This rural music form dominated the compositions of the local bands during that era; from wedding ceremonies to concerts and house parties, Mento had been the omnipresent factor. But the ’30s heralded the decline of Mento that slowly transformed to Ska over a twenty-year timeline. So, by the late 1950’s, all that existed out of the authentic Mento were the token numbers, but nevertheless, the application of the Mento craft was something they couldn’t shun away completely. Instead, a balance was achieved and the Jamaican mobile Disco became the pivot of all the DJs who traveled all over the island of Jamaica. The sound was distinctly an American one, the perfect food for all the souls who were hungry for knowing things that were coming out of America. The chief influences were no doubt the then-contemporary bands - ranging from Fats Domino, Louie Jordan to even Ray Charles. Tom the Great Sebastian, V Rocket and Sir Coxsone’s Downbeat created the most dazzling examples in this regard.

From Rock to Riches

Things were not stagnant in America though; it was Rock-n-Roll that was outperforming the once Kings - R&B and Jazz. But Jamaicans could not identify themselves with Rock-n-Roll; neither could they dance to its steps. What proved worse was the scarcity of good, new R’nB and Jazz records in Jamaica as well as a diminishing number of quality Mento musicians. But Mento survived among a niche crowd, despite all the adversities.

The Metamorphosis

The other music form that co-existed was Calypso, a genre in which the entire world was interested. This was an opportunity a few of the record producers (the most notable being Ken Kouri, Stanley Motta, and Chin) grabbed; they gave the Mento musicians a chance. More and more LP records thus saw the daylights and today’s Jamaican music industry took birth, turning Mento into an international entity. It produced the conflict between big band jazz and Mento; between the upper and the lower class, musically. And just like too much of heat fuse disintegrable elements, Ska, a fusion style, was born.

SKAnning the form:

RnB melodies and a distinct, Jamaican Mento folk rhythm - this is what that defines the Ska as we know it today. Characterized by the influence of blues and swing jazz (the drums) in the second and fourth beats prove the American influence, followed by the guitar that carries the Mento sound. This lays the basic blueprint of Ska.

Ska and its influence

It goes without saying that Jamaicans latched on to Ska faster than a pregnant teen to her boyfriend. After all, it was Jamaica’s first indigenous and original sound, brought into shape by such talents like Rolond Alphonso (tenor sax), Rico Rodriguez (trombone), Lloyd Knibbs (drums), Jerry Haynes (guitar) and Dizzy Moore (trumpet), Lloyd Brevett (bass) and Aubrey Adams (keyboards). Singers like Laurel Aiken and Clancy Eccles also contributed generously to the genre.

The Aftermath

What we get to hear today is the Third Wave of Ska, incorporating equally the classic 1960’s sound along with Latin, Hard-Core, House, Rave, Funk and also, up to a certain extent alternative rock. And those who claim Ska dies during the 1980-s, would they be generous enough to SKAvenge its remains to prove the same?

Shilin Yin
Founder, Share user-uploaded original music and discover raw talents and Advertise freelance programmers, software developers, and babysitters.
Shilin Yin has an MBA in international business from California State University, Dominguez Hills, a Master of Music in piano pedagogy from Temple University in Philadelphia, and a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from Converse College in South Carolina.