The Jeffrey And Tracey Info Emporium

As a parent you have many important priorities when it comes to your child. You need to keep your child safe, healthy, and loved. In today’s hectic world, we often spend so much time engaged on those priorities we forget another important area — mental stimulation. As parents we need to engage our children’s minds as well as their bodies in order for them to grow and learn. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is through reading.

There are a number of reasons why you should read to your child. If you are already reading to your child on a daily basis then these reasons should strengthen your resolve and if you are regularly reading to your child they should challenge you to do so:

1. A carefully selected story challenges and engages your child’s mind. Through books your child can not only re-live experiences in their own life but also learn and experience cultures and events far removed from their current scope.

2. Reading out loud demonstrates what good reading sounds like and provides a goal for the child’s literacy efforts. As your child learns to read, he or she will need role models to follow. Shouldn’t you be one of them?

3. Sharing a variety of books improves your child’s knowledge of language including vocabulary, sentence structure, and pronunciation. The more your child knows about words and language then the more knowledge and experience she will have to draw upon while learning to read and the easier it will be for her to learn.

4. Reading with your child helps the child connect print words and meaning. Children learn to read many words simply through repeated exposure. It is not enough to simply provide words and instead the words must also be placed in context.

5. Reading demonstrates how a book works, such as that we read a book from front cover to back cover and a page from top to bottom, and a line from left to right. Those of us with long experience with books take this knowledge for granted but young children need to learn these simple rules.

6. A well-written story stimulates your child’s imagination and creativity which can foster their own creative efforts and play.

7. Reading a variety of stories helps children learn how story structure and narrative works which will help in literacy as well as social interaction. Human beings use story telling and narrative in our professional and personal interactions and the people who have the best grasp of narrative technique are often the most successful in these areas. Give your child an edge.

8. Making literacy a priority in your life will demonstrate its importance to your child so they will make it a priority in theirs. If your child never sees you read then why would they think it is important?

9. Reading to a child also promotes physical contact as your child sits on your lap or cuddles beside you. It provides another opportunity to strengthen your bond with your child.

10. Listening to the human voice can be very soothing and especially when it is the voice of a loved one. It can help lower stress levels and bring comfort. Children face many stresses during the day just as do adults. You might find taking the time to read to your child not only reduces their stress level but yours as well.

You should make reading to your child a part of your regular daily routine but also include spontaneous opportunities as well. Not only will these moments draw you closer to your child and provide lasting memories but you are also giving your child benefits that will impact their entire life.

Writer, educator and mother Deanna Mascle shares more articles and resources about Teaching Your Child To Read at YouCanTeachYourChildToRead.com

That Morning Cup o’ Joe May Do More Than Perk You Up: It Might Destroy You

With a Starbucks on virtually every block, and “a grande iced triple-shot, extra-whipped skim mocha” a normal way to ask for an afternoon drink, it’s not always easy to remember what it was that we drank before the caffeination of Manhattan. With a couple of cups of java just to get going in the morning and a double espresso to concentrate better in the afternoon, coffee is becoming synonymous with energy. And New York is all about energy.

But is it good for us?

Symptoms of caffeine overuse include depression, anxiety, restlessness, stomach upsets, nausea and vomiting. Moderate to heavy coffee consumption may even lead to heart disease. Addiction to sugary coffee drinks or sweet colas may also lead to extreme mood swings or even diabetes.

Coffee may also cause an increase of stress hormones, according to Stephen Cherniske, author of “Caffeine Blues.” Everytime we drink coffee, the adrenal gland produces adrenaline, the same thing that happens when we are afraid or angry. After a prolonged period of excessive caffeine consumption, the adrenal gland doesn’t have any more adrenaline to produce. This leads to chronic fatigue, constant exhaustion and susceptibility to disease. Dr. James D. Lane, who studied caffeine for 15 years, found that stress hormones produced by a cup of coffee did not leave the body of the participant for 24 hours after consumption.

“If your eating is imbalanced, you are going to require another stimulant, following your cup of coffee, to get your adrenaline back, Manhattan-based Dr. Craig Fishel says. Most people reach for a cookie or a piece of chocolate after their skim latte precisely for this reason.

Caffeine is a substance found naturally in the leaves, seeds, fruits and nuts of more than 60 different plants, and is added to food and many over-the-counter medicines. It is absorbed and distributed very quickly into the body; it passes directly into the central nervous system or the brain. Often combined with vast amounts of sugar in beverages, caffeine can be hard to quit for some.

“I had headaches for a week after stopping drinking coffee,” says retired New Yorker Bill Choney.

Eighty-five percent of all Americans drink coffee on a daily basis, according to the Duke University Medical Center — maybe whether they want to or not. “Caffeine is similar to nicotine in its addictive properties,” Feishel says.

But caffeine can be kicked.

“The best way to quit caffeine is to replace half of your morning beverage with a decaffeinated alternative, gradually decreasing the caffeinated portion,” Fishel says.

Sometimes quitting coffee brings quite unexpected results.

“My taste buds became more sensitive after quitting coffee,” says Nina Mineyeva, a manager at Ernst & Young. “I discovered a whole world of herbal teas and other delicious beverages, instead of just mechanically gulping coffee.”

Since everyone has a different tolerance level to caffeine, the key is knowing where to draw the line and how to get that New York-energy buzz while staying healthy, physically and emotionally.

Here are some ideas to help beat the cuppajoe jones.

Take natural supplements with anti-inflammatory properties to decrease the risk of heart disease: turmeric, an herb used as a spice in many Indian dishes, has a compound called curcumin with strong anti-inflammatory properties; ginger root is a spice with many medicinal properties, including being an anti-inflammatory; omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in deepwater fish, have been shown to reduce inflammation.

Coffee alternatives in New York do exist. Try going to your local health food store, to try multiple varieties of herbal teas. You can also experiment with chicory root and barley drinks. As always, don’t forget to be hydrated by drinking water.

Anastasia Dorohova is a certified yoga instructor and holistic health counselor. She teaches workshops on caffeine withdrawal, yoga, nutrition, relaxation and healthier living. http://www.steadybliss.com

Freibourg, Germany 05.27.2006

Luxembourg is one of the tiniest countries in Europe, and is also one of the ones with less or none achievement at all in soccer. Luxembourg last made it to a European Soccer Championship in 1963, and to date this is the greatest claim to soccer fame for Luxembourg sandwiched between France, Germany and Belgium.

The Luxembourg Soccer Association’s naming of former Danish star Allan Simonsen as head coach in January 2002 indicates a new level of commitment. The European player of the Year in 1977 was asked to nurture young talent and build a strong national team for the future.

Luxembourg has participated in every qualifying stage since 1934 and it has not qualified in any. In this year qualifying stage they ended with no points and no goals in last place of their group.

Among the accomplishments Germany has gained over the years we can quote; three times world cup winner, four times vice world champion, two third places in a World Cup, three times European championship and two times runners up in a European championship. Also they participated in all the World Cups since 1954 and have played in all European championships since 1972.

With a quick look at the history of this country it’s easy to figure out why they’re one of the favorite teams to win this year edition of the World Cup. On top of that, they’re the hosting country, which adds more in their favor; since all the games they play will count with the support of the entire country.

So with that said we can add that Germany like all the other national teams will use these friendly matches to fine-tune those last minutes details that can make a big difference when it comes to important tournaments like this, mostly when a team is so young like this they can’t leave any room for error.

The Germany team needs to give a good performance in this World Cup in order not to let their fans and their country down. In order to do that, they need to make the best of this friendly match to be fully prepared for the tournament.

These matches are fun to watch since there’s are no points at stake the teams play lose and without pressure; that’s why if you like sports betting this is a good chance to bet on your favorite team.

WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Nice is in the south of France. The Queen of the French Riviera,
which the French call ” la Cote d’Azur” (AzureCoast or Blue Coast).
It is a wonderful city with lots of charm and character; a mixture of French and Italian cultures where the people are easy-going and friendly even if you don’t speak French.

Although you might think it is a summer resort, you can visit Nice at any time of the year and still have a good time.
If you happen to go in the winter, you will be surprised to see
flowers in their numerous parks and gardens. Nice has a Mediterranean winter, so the temperature stays around 40 to 50 degrees during the coldest months but if you like skiing, ski resorts such as Valberg and Isola 2000 can be reached by car in one or two hours.
If you go in the summer, get ready to share the city with lots
of tourists. The popular streets where most restaurants and cafes are, can get crowded, but they can be a lot of fun if you enjoy people watching; and since most of the streets are closed to traffic, it is not hard to just walk around and enjoy the upbeat atmosphere.

Nice has a major airport and its close location to the city makes getting there a cinch.

Finding a hotel should be easy, since there are plenty of accommodations for all kinds of budgets. The author is a frequent guest of the Meridien Hotel, a 4 star hotel located on the Promenade des Anglais, facing the Bay of Angels (Baie des Anges).

-Things to see in Nice:

-Promenade des Anglais.

The Victorian English residents of the 1800’s provided the funds to build the beautiful boulevard, hence its name.
It is a wide avenue that follows the bay’s coast line and it’s lined with beautiful palm trees and flowers.

-Hotel Negresco.

Beautiful and glamorous, it is located at 37 Promenade des Anglais and if you are not rich enough to stay there, you must go and see it.

-Old Nice.

Winding narrow streets with Italianate buildings painted in earthly colors, describes this old part of the city. You will
enjoy strolling. people watching and quaint little shops full of
charming provencal crafts.

-Marche aux Fleurs.

Located on the Cours Saleya, the flower market is
Open Tuesday through Sunday, 7am-5pm, but if you decide to
go, check with your hotel for the hours of operation. You can also have lunch or dinner there, where a large variety of restaurants set up tables and chairs outside where you can dine in a pleasant and fun atmosphere.

-Marc Chagall Museum.

If you like modern art, you can catch a glimpse of the painter’s most important collection. The hours of operation vary depending on the season so check with your hotel clerk before you go.

Nice is so well located that you can take half-day and full-day
trips either by car or by public transportation.

Easily reached towns by car or public transportation are:
Monaco, Eze, Grasse, St Paul de Vence, Cannes and St Tropez.

-Monaco-

A symbol of glamour and elegance, Monaco sits on a beautiful stretch of the Mediterranean coast. Its most famous town Monte Carlo, has much to offer with its casinos, boutiques and exotic gardens.
Don’t forget to visit the village of Monaco, located high on “the rock” as it is affectionally called by the locals. It is a charming town with shops and cafes and a wonderful view of the sea.

-Eze-

This small medieval village perched on a hill is a must see.
Both tourists and artists flock to Eze during the summer months
because of its picturesque setting and magnificent vues.
If you are staying in Nice, you can make it a half-day trip or just stop there for lunch and continue to Monaco for a full-day trip.
If you are feeling rich, have lunch at the Chevre d’Or. The restaurant offers fine cuisine and breathtaking panoramas. The restaurant is only open for lunch.

-Grasse-

Considered the perfume capital of France Grasse is a small hilly
town with beautiful parks and panoramic views.
I you go to Grasse, you must visit the perfume factories. The
biggest is Parfumerie Fragonard. An English speaking guide will show you the process of extracting the perfume from hundreds of pounds of flower petals.

-St Paul de Vence-

A picture perfect medieval town, sitting on top of a hill, St Paul de Vence has been painted by many artists and photographed by thousands of tourists. It is located 19 miles from Nice.
Enjoy a meal at the famous Colombe d’Or Restaurant or sip a beer at an outdoor cafe while watching a local game of petanque.

-Cannes-

Cannes sits on the shores of La Napoule bay, sorrounded by a backdrop of Mediterranean hills.
While Nice has the Promenade des Anglais, Cannes has la Croisette
Boulevard, an elegant promenade, lined with palm trees and and gardens.
Cannes hosts the famous Cannes Film Festival every year and it is
most favored by celebrities. So if you go, make sure to do a lot of people watching, because you never know…

-St Tropez-

Once a small fishing village, St Tropez is now a summer place for the jet set. Its setting on the southern shore of France, made it
attractive to turn-of-the-century artists who were then followed by writers, poets and eventually movie stars and their fans. It is now internationally famous.

So get your tickets, book your hotel and go to the south of France. I promise you will have an unforgettable experience

Alice Flowers is a former airline employee and now writes articles on travel.
Visit the author’s website at: http://www.traveltips101.com

Avoid the pain

Which would you prefer - root canal dental surgery without
an anaesthetic or a bit of public speaking? According to the
people who research these things, most of us would prefer
the former.

Public speaking is still one of our greatest fears and it
turns grown men and women into nervous wrecks. The mere
thought of it turns our tongue to cotton wool, causes our
internal plumbing to act up and our kneecaps to start
knocking lumps out of each other.

The problem is that Public Speaking catches up with many of
us at some time both in our business and personal life.
You’re asked to do a short talk at Fred’s “leaving do”. The
organisers of your business club want fifteen minutes on why
you make “kafuffle” valves. A potential client wants a
presentation on why they should give you the contract.
Of course there’s always the confident people who think “I’m
real good at this, lead me to the podium.” The only thing
is
that some of these people could bore your socks off and do
more for insomniacs than the strongest sleeping pills.
Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to be sent on a Public Speaking
course by your enlightened employer. But more likely, when
asked to make a presentation you’ll get hold of a book on
speaking, start writing the speech and lose sleep until the
event.

Well, there’s no need for all of this because help is at
hand. All you need to remember are your P’s and Q’s. Let’s
start with the P’s

Preparation -

When you sit down to write what you’re going to say, bear in
mind who you’ll be speaking to. Will they understand what
you’re talking about; will they understand the technical
stuff and the jargon? If in doubt remember the old saying
“Keep It Simple Stupid”. To quote Aristotle - “Think as the
wise men do, but speak as the common man”.

Make sure that what you say has a beginning, a middle and an
end. Think of some anecdotes that help reinforce your
story.

People think visually so paint verbal pictures for your
audience. And always remember, people want to know what’s in
it for them - so make sure you tell them!

Place -

Have a look at the venue before the event if you can. It’s
not always possible, however, even if you get there half an
hour before, you can check out where you’ll be speaking.
Stand at the point where you will deliver from, imagine
where the audience will be and check that they can see and
hear you. You may even wish to place a glass of water where
you’ll be able to find it.

Personal Preparation -

Before any speaking event, think about what you are going to
wear; when in doubt dress up rather than down. You can
always take things off for a more casual look. Men could
remove their jacket and their tie. Women could remove items
of jewellery.

Part of your personal preparation should include some mouth
and breathing exercises. Practise saying some tongue
twisters to give your speaking muscles a good work out. Take
a deep breath and expand your diaphragm. Then breathe out,
counting at the same time, try and get up to fifty and not
pass out.

As part of your personal preparation, write your own
introduction. Write out exactly what you want someone to say
about you, large font, double-spaced and ask the person
introducing you to read it. Believe me they won’t object and
will probably be pleased and impressed.

Poise and Posture -

Whenever you’re called to speak, stand up or walk to the
front quickly and purposefully. Pull yourself up to your
full height, stand tall and look like you own the place.
Before you start to speak, pause, look round your audience
and smile. You may even have to wait until the applause dies
down. Remember, you want the audience to like you, so look
likeable. Practise this in front of a mirror or your family;
I’ve heard that children make pretty good critics.

Pretend -

I’m suggesting you pretend you’re not nervous because no
doubt you will be. Nervousness is vital for speaking in
public, it boosts your adrenaline, which makes your mind
sharper and gives you energy. It also has the slight side
effect of making you lighter through loss of body waste
materials. The trick is to keep your nerves to yourself. On
no account tell your audience your nervous, you’ll only
scare the living daylights out of them if they think you’re
going to faint. Some of the tricks for dealing with nerves
are:

Get lots of oxygen into your system, run on the spot and
wave your arms about like a lunatic. It burns off the stress
chemicals. Speak to members of your audience as they come
in
or at some time before you stand up. That tricks your brain
into thinking you’re talking to some friends. Have a glass
of water handy for that dry mouth. Stick cotton wool on your
kneecaps so people won’t hear them knocking.
One word of warning - do not drink alcohol. It might give
you Dutch courage but your audience will end up thinking
you’re speaking Dutch.

The Presentation -

This is it, the big moment when you tell your audience what
a clever person you are and have them leap to their feet in
thunderous applause. Okay, let’s step back a bit - if you
want their applause then you’re going to have to work for
it. Right from the start your delivery needs to grab their
attention.

Don’t start by saying - “Good morning, my name is Fred
Bloggs and I’m from Bloggs and Company.” Even if your name
is Bloggs, it’s a dead boring way to start a presentation.
Far better to start with some interesting facts or an
anecdote that is relevant to your presentation.
Look at the audience as individuals; I appreciate that this
can be difficult when some of them are downright ugly.
However it grabs their attention if they think you’re
talking to them individually.

Talk louder than you would normally do, it keeps the people
in the front row awake and makes sure those at the back get
the message. Funnily enough, it’s also good for your
nerves.

PowerPoint -

And for those of you who haven’t heard of it, it’s a
software programme that’s used to design stunning graphics
and text for projection onto a screen. As a professional
speaker, I’m not that struck on PowerPoint. I feel that too
many speakers rely on it and it takes over the presentation.
After all, you’re the important factor here. If an audience
is going to accept what you say then they need to see the
whites of your eyes. There needs to be a big focus on you,
not on the technology.

Use PowerPoint if you want but keep it to a minimum and make
sure you’re not just the person pushing the buttons.
Why not get a bit clever at using the faithful old Flip
Chart, lots of professionals do.

Passion -

This is what stops the audience in their tracks. This is
what makes them want to employ you; to accept what you’re
proposing and make them want you to marry their son or
daughter. Couple this with some energy, enthusiasm and
emotion and you have the makings of a great public speaker.
Just think of our old friend Adolph Hitler, boy could he
move an audience to action. It’s just too bad he was selling
something that wasn’t to everyone’s liking.
Give your presentation a bit of oomph and don’t start
telling me - “I’m not that kind of person.”
There’s no need to go over the top but you’re doing a
presentation to move people to action, not having a cosy
little chat in your front room.

That’s the P’s finished with so let’s look at the Q’s.

Questions -

Decide when you’re going to take them and tell people at the
start. In a short speech it’s best to take questions at the
end. If you take them as you go then you may get waylaid
and
your timing will get knocked out.

Never - never - never finish with questions; far better to
ask for questions five or ten minutes before the end. Deal
with the questions and then summarise for a strong finish.
Too many presentations finish on questions and the whole
thing goes a bit flat.

When you’re asked a question, repeat it to the whole
audience and thank the questioner. It keeps everyone
involved, it gives you time to think and it makes you look
so clever and in control.

Quit -

Quit when you’re ahead. Stick to the agreed time; if you’re
asked to speak for twenty minutes, speak for nineteen and
the audience will love you for it. Remember, quality is not
quantity.

One of the most famous speeches ever - “The Gettysburg
Address”, by President Lincoln, was just over two minutes
long.

Right, that’s my cue to quit when I’m ahead. Public Speaking
will never be easy for most of us but we can all do it a
whole lot better.

Alan Fairweather is the author of four ebooks in the “How
to get More Sales” series. Lots of practical actions you
can take to build your business and motivate your team.-
http://www.howtogetmoresales.com

This article is intended to give anybody looking to book a mobile disco, some ideas of what questions to ask, and what areas to look for, when choosing a Mobile Dj for their Wedding. Although written to advise a client looking to book a Mobile Disco for a Wedding Reception, the various points made within, may also be suitable for many other family functions where the services of a Mobile Disco may also be employed.

One of the first things you should look for when choosing a Mobile Disco, is the information which is given in the Brochure / Website. Has the Dj taken time to provide pictures of his / her roadshow, have they written in detail about the services that they provide and taken the time to publicise how long they have been in business, what music they play, and any testimonials or professional affiliations they have. What are your first impressions of the DJ and the business they run?. Even at this early stage you should trust your instincts.

Another area, you should look for is the availability of information, does the DJ clearly advertise their contact information. DJ’s who conduct business purely through a hotmail or yahoo address, or those who choose only give a throw away mobile phone number as a sole point of contact, should perhaps be avoided.

The next is to contact the Mobile Disco by email or phone, to assess their suitability for your fuction. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions which you feel are important to you, and it is often a good idea to either email these, or have them written down when you make the call. The DJ is a service provider, and will have allowed plenty of time to address any questions or concerns which their clients may have. Look for descrepencies in areas where the information provided by the Dj doesn’t quite match up with that given on the website!.

When considering booking a Mobile Disco, you should expect the DJ to play a mixed music selection suitable for all of the age groups attending. At most Wedding Receptions, with family present this usually means a wide and varied evening of music suitable for young and old tastes alike. Avoid booking any DJ who seems only interested in playing one type of music, or who will play music which may be unsuitable for the age groups in attendance. Ensure that the DJ has a comprehensive music collection, and seems knowledgable and confident on all eras of music. Again, any Dj who askes you to describe what Motown or 70’s music sounds like, is not really experienced enough and should perhaps be best avoided for this type of function.

If required, your DJ should be able to incorporate a playlist, containing your favourite requests into the evening disco. However don’t make this list too long or specialised, since a lot of DJ’s work by “reading” the dancefloor reaction and ensuring continuity of music depending on which types of music the audience are responiding to. Since all people and audiences are different, and all individuals have different musical tastes, it is impossible to create a playlist of music before the actual function with a guarantee that running order will work with your guests.

Most DJ’s like to also invite and include the requests of the Wedding Guests too, as well as those requested in advance by the Bride and Groom. Remember, when booking a DJ, you are also paying for his / her experience as an enertainer, so please be prepared to allow a little flexibility and continuity in your personal music choices, and any request list which you may choose to provide your DJ with.

At most Weddings it is often a custom for the Bride and Groom to choose the first dance, and this signals the start of the actual Evening Function. At some Weddings the Bride and Groom may also choose a second track too, and this can be used to invite other guests onto the dancefloor to join the happy couple, or for the Bride and her Father to share a dance. Occasionally a third track for another key family member could also be incorporate as well, if required. Remember to ensure that this information and any request list is sent to the DJ, well ahead of the actual function date.

When choosing a Mobile Disco, don’t just base your requirements and expectations on price alone. At many Wedding Receptions, large amounts of money have usually already been spent on the venue, the venue decor, flowers, food, and of course the Wedding Cake and other services such as a photographer, and some may think nothing of spending hundreds on extras such as a chocolate fountain whilst skimping on the entertainment!. Whilst these areas are important, many clients do make the mistake of booking a cheaper disco as a way of saving money and are then disappointed with the results.

Realistically, it is false economy to just book the Mobile Dj who comes in with the lowest quote. Don’t forget that the evenings entertainment, will play a big role in the success of any Wedding Reception, and an inexperienced DJ, or one who doesn’t turn up at all, may ruin an otherwise pefect day. Equally a Dj who plays too loudly or who plays unsuitable music may chase away your guests early and ruin the enjoyment of those who do remain until the end. When bookng a DJ, you are paying for the difference between a jukebox in the corner and a professional entertainer, and the latter will of course expect a professional fee for their services.

A Good Dj will be able to create a positive atmosphere and have the experience to make the function work. Remember that it is the Dj’s experience you are paying for, and not just the flashing lights.

When booking a Mobile Disco also ask them if they have public liability insurance. This is important, should any accidents occur between the Disco Equipment and your guests, which is at the liability of the DJ you have the reassurance that they are covered. Just as importantly, a lot of venues and hotels will not allow a Mobile Disco to enter their premises unless this certificate can be produced. Therefore it is in your own interests to make sure that the DJ who you book, has this minimum requirement, otherwise you may see your disco being refused entry and be unable to carry out his obligations, leaving you without a dj, on the evening of your function. In the UK, Mobile DJ’s are also required at some venues to produce PAT (Electrcal Safety) certificates and so, if you live in the UK or other countries which require this, then make sure that your mobile disco has the level of requirements expected by your hotel or Wedding venue.

Most DJ’s will dress accordingly depending on the formality of the event, at Wedding Receptions the usual dress for a function would be a Tux or a suit. If you have any special requirements for attire, such as black tie or if the function has a theme or fancy dress, then any DJ worth their reputation will dress suitably for the function or theme if instructed.

This is YOUR function and YOUR special day, so any mobile disco should be flexible as to the arrangements and your music requirements, so it is important to discuss these requirements prior to making a confirmed booking. Most DJ’s structure their fee according to how many hours they work, so give some serious considerations to the timescale of the event. Remember that the Evening Function and its start time is reliant not only on other earlier activites such as the ceremony and the wedding breakfast running to schedule, but also the arrival of any guests for the Evening function who may be running late. So don’t book your disco to start too early in order to allow for some inevitable over running and late arriving guests.

When considering the finishing time for your disco, also consider how long most of the guests have been in attendance, will they have the energy to dance until 1AM, if they have been at the ceremony since 1PM?. Do you have a function with a lot of young children or elderly relations who may leave the venue early? have any relatives travelled a long distance to be there, and who may too need to leave early in order to return home?. All these are important considerations which decide whether your Wedding Disco finishes at Midnight or runs on well into the early hours!, and again the duration of the function will reflect in your DJ’s fee.

Also remember to mention to the DJ any special requirements. Do you want the use of the Microphone and P,A system for the speeches?, Do you want background music during any meal or buffet breaks?, is the DJ sharing the reception with a band?. Is the Dj expected to set up in a marquee?, is there limited space at the venue or limited access to set up?

Above all, always trust your insticts when contacting Mobile Discos, consider how much interest the DJ showed in your function, did they ask any questions?, did they appear professional and courteous?, how long did it take them to respond to your enquiry?, did they answer your questions in detail?.

Remember that how long a Mobile Disco has been in business is an important factor, if in doubt you should always remember to ask the DJ if they can provide references from clients who have booked them for similar events. Please remember that is not always practical to see a Mobile DJ working, especially if that DJ only provides mobile discos for weddings, and of course in this situation it would not be ethical or professional for a working Dj to invite potential clients to other peoples private functions for viewing purposes

When you choose your Disco and book the event, then expect to pay a small deposit in order to secure the date of the function. It’s also very important that your booking details and terms are sent to you in writing, and that you have some form of contract with the DJ.

I hope that this article has proved useful in giving some basic information on what questions to ask, what to look out for, and the various areas of planning which should be considered when booking a mobile disco for your event.

Chris Pointon is a Working Mobile DJ based in the UK, and with over 18 years experience at providing entertainment at private and corporate events. Please visit his website at http://www.mobiledisco.org

Chris also runs a forum aimed at helping and advising those who want to start a mobile disco. The community can be found http://www.dj-forum.co.uk

Perhaps you already know that it is possible to get a free
domain name. However, have you ever wondered how a country
can afford to give away its domain names for free? Why
would a country just give away its domain names instead of
charging for them?

1. Free Domain Names from Dot TK

It is possible to get a free top-level domain name from
Dot TK (www.dot.tk).

According to their website, “Dot TK is a joint venture of
the Government of Tokelau, it’s communication company
Teletok and Taloha, Inc., a privately held company. The
Government of Tokelau has appointed Taloha, Inc. as the
exclusive registration entity.”

Of course, for free .tk domains, ownership remains with
Dot TK. This means that you can’t sell it. As well, there
are other restrictions and disadvantages of free .tk
domains, including:

• You can register only a maximum of three free domain names;
• You need 25 visitors within a ninety day period;
• You need to have existing web content somewhere so that
  your dot tk name can be forwarded to it; and
• Dot TK uses frames to show your website. This being the
  case, you may have issues with navigation (bookmarking or
  finding specific pages) and search engine friendliness.

For serious business use, you might want to pay the
nominal cost for a domain name.

2. Why Do They Offer Free Domain Names?

Still, it is free. Why would they do this when they
could make money from the sale of domain names?

According to their website: “Why does Dot TK give away
free domain names? We believe that the Internet was
supposed to be ‘Free’. Meaning no charges, payments or
expected return favors.”

3. How Can They Afford to Give Away Free Domain Names?

This logically leads us to our next question: How can
they afford to give away free domain names?

Dot TK makes money from paid domain names, including
some special and trademarked names.

To help support Dot TK, you can optionally have an ad
displayed on your website. Thus, they do receive some
advertising revenue from this. However, the big money
would be in the sponsorship by large corporations.

4. Other Free Top-Level Domain Names

By the way, this is not the only ccTLD (country code
Top-Level Domain) that gives away some domain names
for free.

As just one example, cg is the ccTLD for the Republic
of Congo. Each of its citizens and lawful residents
are allowed one free .cg domain name.

5. Free Subdomain Names

Additionally, subdomain names are also available for
free. For example, eu.org states on their website
that their goal “is to provide free subdomain
registration to users or non-profit organizations
who cannot afford the outrageous fees demanded by
some NICs, especially in Europe.”

As well, nr is the ccTLD name for the Republic of
Nauru. You can receive a free subdomain name from
co.nr. Thus, your domain name could be something
like yourcompany.co.nr.

Why do countries give away free domain names? They
want their citizens and others to be able to enjoy
the benefits of domain name use without cost being
an issue. It can also be a promotional method
designed to get the word out about their ccTLD.

How can these countries afford to give away free
domain names? Advertising revenue and the sale of
paid domains are two ways of funding free domain
names.

RESOURCE BOX:

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc.,
has been helping clients to earn maximum business
profits for over twenty-five years.

For profitable Work at Home Small Business Ideas,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

For more information about domain names, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/domain-names.html

About Being a Christian
What is a Christian? According to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, the general definition of a Christian is “One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.”

There are many Christian denominations, each varying slightly in its interpretation of the Bible teachings. But, the basic, fundamental trait of all Christians is their belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. Christians believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, died on the cross for the sins of mankind, was resurrected, and returned to Heaven. Christians also believe in the literal Second Coming of Christ. The Bible is regarded as Holy Scripture, the Word of God.

“l am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Fellowship with other Christians and make new friends at ChristianMingle.com.

Bible references to consider:
Jesus Christ was, and is, the eternal Son of the eternal God
Isaiah 7:14 ; 9:6 | Matt. 3:17 | Luke 9:35 | John 1:1-3,14 ; 10:30 ; 14:9 ; 17:1-5 | I Tim.3:16

He came from Heaven, was born of a virgin called Mary, lived a sinless life on earth yet died for our sins at Calvary’s cross.
Isaiah 59:2 | Gal. 4:4,5 | I John 4:10,14,19 | I Peter 2:22-25 ; 3:18

He was buried, rose again the third day according to the scriptures and is now seated at the right hand of His Father, God, in Heaven.
I Cor. 15:3,4 | Acts 13:30 | Romans 4:24,25 | Hebrews 1:3 ; 8:1 ; 10:12 ;1 2:2

Bible is divinely inspired word of God.
Psalms 119:89,105,140 | II Timothy 3:16 | II Peter 1:21

Existence of a literal Heaven to gain, as well as a literal Hell to shun.
John 14:1-3 | Luke 16:23 ; 23:43 | John 3:16-18,36 | II Corinthians 5:8

Christians should be gathered unto the name and person of the Lord Jesus Christ for public worship, praise and ministry of the word of God.
Matthew 18:20 | I Corinthians 5:4 | Psalms 50:5 ; 100:4 | Hebrews 13:13,15

About the Author

Tracy Jones was always active in local and international ministries. She was a faithful member and treasurer of the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for many years. Tracy graduated from FSU in 1987 and has earned 18 years of business experience. Since 1997 she has built business in the technology industry with Yahoo!, Inc. and was recently recruited by Spark Networks to build ChristianMingle.com personals service.

ChandigarhITHub.com is an e-marketplace for buyers, sellers,
venture capitalists and knowledge seekers of ICT (Information &
Communication Technology) based products & services. The
objective of ChandigarhITHub.com has been to introduce latest
products & services to business-to-business (B2B),
business-to-consumer (B2C) and consumer-to-consumer (C2C)
fraternity which enables them to explore the market and transact
business from their desktop.

ChandigarhITHub.com spans across Northern India that has 4 out
of top 10 states namely; Punjab at no.1, Himachal Pradesh at
no.2, Haryana at no.5 Jammu & Kashmir at no.10 (source: India
Today Survey “India’s Best States” August 2004). The ICT based
products & services market for Northern India is expected @ 200
crores per annum which is 35% of the total Indian market
potential.

ChandigarhITHub.com under its B2B initiative has provided
manufacturers, distributors and service providers an opportunity
to electronically discover & appoint value-added-resellers
(VARs) and franchisees. This functionality has not only helped
new players to establish their network in short-duration but has
also given immense insight to the established players about
market share and business performance index so that they are
able to realign their business strategies to get the best
results.

ChandigarhITHub.com under its B2C initiative has given buyer the
prerogative to procure the products & services in the ICT domain
swiftly & economically. ChandigarhITHub.com provides the buyer a
competitive analysis of the desired products & services. The
buyer has the option to select vendors depending on how closely
they meet buyer’s procurement criterion and these vendors are
intimated immediately through e-mail so that vendors can contact
the buyer and a logical conclusion is given to the transaction.

ChandigarhITHub.com provides C2C interaction opportunities for
consumers to share, partner and transact business;
special-interest-consumer-forums on different subjects that has
been created for the consumers to eliminate their apprehensions
& do good decision-making. ChandigarhITHub.com being a local
entity understands the business culture, buyer-seller
sensitivities and the positioning strategy for established as
well as new business ventures; therefore ChandigarhITHub.com is
a MUST for any ICT player to perennially maintain its visibility
in this part of the country. ChandigarhITHub.com team
understands that for the growth of this portal it is imperative
to e-enable business establishments and for this purpose
ChandigarhITHub.com has built a team to provide services in
terms of domain registration, website development & management
and e-business enablement.

What does the word “Gamble” mean to you?

For the average player the word “gambling” means much more than a risky bet. It can stand for just about anything from vacationing, Las Vegas, and even fun. Devised earlier than 3000 years ago, gambling was well documented to have existed in many civilizations. The games we know today are the incarnations of former ones, with adjusted rules. For the length of time gambling was invented, players have always seemed obsessed with trying to use various gambling strategies for games. However, Casinos have always had the mathematical advantage along with an adamant need for stopping the smart player. It has forever become a vicious cycle of exploitive players vs. casinos catching up.

Today, gambling doesn’t even need to be played at Las Vegas or any other casino chains.

Now for those of you who live under rocks or live in a time warp may say, “Wait….outside of Casinos?”

Well you see…

1. In-flight Gambling: Eflyte has been developing in-flight gaming and continues to spread its influence on many airlines. Currently they have the world’s first Multiplayer Poker Tournament along with over 60 games for airplanes. Ceo of Ryanair will also attempt use in-flight gaming by next year. Now casino gambling may be common on cruises, but it’s a breakthrough for airlines.

2. Mobile phones can also be used to buy lotteries and sports betting nowadays. If certain restrictions are lifted, it could even mean much more growth in its use.

3. Internet Casinos are also another medium in which gambling doesn’t seem to stop growing; despite being forced to open offshore from the US. This isn’t necessarily bad of course.

The gambling industry is on a growing trend and it doesn’t seem to stop anywhere in sight. Of course, this naturally means that more and more people will be hooked and continue losing to the casinos.

Even the strategic players are screwed over at times with certain technologies being developed. Some casinos even started to implement tracking devices in chips to catch card counters. Those days of Ken Uston and counting machines are getting harder to come by since casinos already know about the gambling strategies used. New mediums such as electronic gambling can stop card counting dead in it’s track.

Winning through strategy can still be done, just as internet marketing can still make some rich. Yet being particular savvy to news and gambling strategy alike can immensely help the professional gambler. That is, unless gambling is only treated as a simple recreation. Otherwise, the best a player can do is to read up on forums and reference news sources for any changes in their gambling strategy.

Owner of a gambling strategy site known as http://www.gambling-wizard.com. Covering gambling news, blackjack, casinos, sports betting, and more.