Your Online Pill Shop

The pen is mightier than the sword, only in one circumstance: You have to write something that skewers someone.

If you fail to write, then bullying, force, and all of the other primitive tactics of the barbarians succeed.

Just this week alone, I experienced two rejections that were senseless, and ego-driven.

For a very short time, these setbacks bothered me, consuming some of my consciousness. But I thought, hey, I have better things to do with my thoughts, my attention, and my emotions, than to give them over to bozos!

So, I wrote two articles, one about each circumstance.

And you can’t imagine how much better I feel!

I vented my spleen, vanquished my vitriol, and valiantly did a lot of other “V” things, as well.

You get the point: I got that corrosive crud out of my system, flushed it away with my words.

You can, too.

Write what you feel, what moves you.

See the general point that’s lurking in your very specific, private experience, and then share it.

You’ll help yourself while you’re helping others.

To me, there’s nothing as enjoyable as impassioned expression. It simply makes my blood percolate, and I like that feeling.

So, the next time you’re scorned, rebuffed, rejected, stymied, or insulted, write about it, and happily, you’ll find that you’ve finally let your disappointment go!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

Many online article writers know that there are good online article submission sites to post you articles and bad ones. Take it from me with over 3600 articles online now it makes a big difference in your web traffic which one you choose. Do yourself a favor and go with a Premier Online Article Submission Site. Otherwise you will find out the hard way.

One online article writer recently stated about one of the websites he placed his articles on; “I work hard to promote the online article gateway hub writers site, but all I ever get is excuses. Whatever?”

After pressing further he stated that he had posted 18-articles which came out with no spacing between paragraphs and corrupted titles and the site was down tonight and two weeks ago for two days all weekend until the following Monday at 4 PM. Ouch. Unfortunately for this author his articles were current events and time critical and he wished then he never wrote them at all.

To find a good online article submission site look for one that already has over 10,000 writers and 100,000 plus articles. One with a track record that was not built on a whim or out of spite of competition, a site you know will be around for a while. I think this is why I have chosen EzineArticles.com. But do your own due diligence and check around, just do not get stuck with a dog, as that is no way to treat the quality articles you are writing. Think on this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

TX Auto Insurance Coverage Requirements by State Law

• Bodily Injury Liability for one person: $25,000 Limit
• Bodily Injury Liability for all persons involved:$50,000 Limit
• Property Damage Liability: $25,000 Limit

*Requirement for increased limits went into effect – 4/1/08

In Texas, a person must always be found answerable for causing an accident and they, along with their auto insurance agency, are financially accountable for covering subsequent damages. This follows the laws of the tort system – a system that has varying rules depending on the state.

You can get Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage to address bodily injury caused by an underinsured motorist (depending on the state). This type of auto insurance coverage isn’t necessary in Texas, but it is advocated to at least review if this specific auto insurance coverage would be good for you.

In Texas, drivers are paying more on insurance premiums than the national average In 2003, the average national rate was $914 while the average resident paid a bit below $1000. The state of Texas does not entirely control insurance premiums even though hundreds of Texans are under the wrong presumption that there is one set price for insurance. While there is some regulation, there are still plenty of ways you can get discounted auto insurance policies. Texans can take a defensive driving class to getting a price reduction based on your job or education you can get cheap Texas auto insurance.

To rapidly find lower premiums, you should compare auto insurance quotes using several different insurance websites.Internet services like these get quotes instantaneously, allowing you to view them beside each other. They can also give you extra posts on different methods to increase your discounts.

Sites like this can help you find the best premiums, but there’s no guarantee that they can help. Insurance Auto insurance costs generally go up over the years. From 1999 – 2006, insurance costs did not reduction. Finally, in 2007, average premiums did go down, but by only about 1 prcent. 2008 also was able to show some decreases in rates, however, they are expected to increase again in 2009 as the economy gets worse.

As the years go by the auto insurance premiums also shift and by ignoring the rate changes in Texas, you might be paying more than you need to. In 2003, average auto insurance expenses were $932. Just one year earlier, the average insurance rates in 2002 was about $882, that’s an go up of about 5.67% in just one year! Don’t waste your money paying high auto insurance costs, start saving now by requesting an online rate quote from multiple auto insurance comparison websites now.

Your transitions, well planned and strong, will add a smoothness and professionalism to your presentations that will wow any audience.

What is a transition?
A transition is used when we change from one state to another, from one thought/idea to another, from one topic to another, and from one method to another – in other words, a transition serves as a bridge for change. It can be smooth and effective. Or, it can be jarring and ineffective. Transitions need to be well planned and rehearsed, so that they help our listeners receive the full benefit of our presentations.

Why should we use transitions?

• Our listeners aren’t as familiar with our material as we are. Transitions serve as guides and bridges between the directions we are going.
• Participants are often busy and distracted. By using smooth and effective transitions, we can grab their attention, lead them into each new area with ease and help them to latch onto our whole message.
• When we move to a new thought or topic, a listener may still be thinking about our last statement. A well-placed transition will give him or her time to catch up.

When, where and how do we use transitions?

• The first and most important transition is our opening. We must transition our listeners from their daily lives, their conversations with others and their present concerns into paying attention to us and what we have to share. If we don’t make a striking first impression, we often lose them for the rest of the presentation.
• Don’t say anything for several seconds. Give them some time to settle down. Then, start with a compelling story, a meaningful quotation, an interesting question to start participants thinking, or a startling statement.
• If you have a sufficient amount of time you may start with an ice breaker. Just keep in mind that some participants may not be ready this early on to take part in an ice breaker, while others will be delighted, so choose carefully.
• The next transitions should occur between important points, thoughts and/or topics. These transitions can be as simple and straight-forward as, “And that brings me to the next point.” Or, they can be much more creative which takes prior planning. I love to use stories that relate to the next topic and I usually say, “Before I get into the next point, let me tell you a story.”
• Depending upon the time allotted and type of presentation, you may designate a question and answer period. Even in workshops, I feel that all of our transitions and strengths can be ruined if we let participants continually interrupt us. I have learned to tell my listeners/participants that, “There will be time for questions, so write them down as I go along.” Make sure that you know how long you have for questions and answers and plan a clever way to transition everyone back to your presentation when the time is up.
• The final, and important, transition is the close of your presentation. Consider the most important thought, idea and/or action you want your listeners to leave with. The closing should never give the impression that you have just run out of time and need to rush. So, have a rehearsed, memorized and strong, strong closing prepared.

Chris King is a professional speaker, storyteller, writer, website creator / designer, free agent, and fitness instructor. Sign up for her eclectic E-newsletter, Portfolio Potpourri, at http://www.PowerfulPresentations.net You will find her information-packed E-book How to Leave Your Audiences Begging for MORE! at http://www.OutrageouslyPowerfulPresenter.com and her business website at http://www.CreativeKeys.biz

If you are a writer, especially one who charges for your services, having a business plan in place is essential. Never mind that a business plan can help you run your business more effectively, but a plan should be one that passes IRS scrutiny as well as meets all state and local government requirements.

Sometimes it is nearly impossible to figure out what steps you should take in order to even meet the myriad requirements. You are an excellent writer; that doesn’t mean you are an expert at business administration!

My local technical/community college is offering on Tuesday nights this year to help business owners. Some of the topics they are offering include:

I plan on taking several courses this year as I want to make certain my business passes muster. Naturally, I want to concentrate on the writing aspect of the business, but the remaining “stuff” is necessary too. Check with your local continuing education office for a list of upcoming seminars. Many courses are free or require a nominal fee. In any case, you have nothing to lose, but a business to gain!

Copyright 2006 — Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Please visit Matt’s blog for absolutely stunning and humorous writings from the master himself!

Thousands of keen skiers will shortly be trying to find their salopettes and scooting off seeking the heaviest snow conditions. And doubtless the affect from your carbon footprint will be roughly as far down the list of vacation to dos as a xmas tree after the Christmas vacation. Just last year, a slow snowfall hit the headlines and holidaymakers were frightened about the flecks of snow disappearing nearly as soon as they landed.

Holiday organisation Chalet 1802, placed at the bottom of Mount Blanc in Chamonix France in the French Alps, is one of the first autonomous firms to go carbon negative and offer snowboarders an environmentally friendly option while reserving their ski trip. Chalet 1802 founder VARIK said: Last season was a bit of a shock with the warmest winter in 55 years in Europe. Ski ski fields such as Isola 2000, La Mongie and Gourette lacked clients.It was mild and the snowfall didnt last so a lot of the early snowboarding season in the Alps was limited. We chose to go carbon neutral to help preserve the snowboarding resort.

VARIK said: We are not attempting to dictate to punters only I consider it is valuable to provide the clients the selection without raising the cost of the holiday. If the customer book with us and visits our skiing chalet they can more than off-set their carbon footprint and we absorb the added costs. Of course we still have a sauna and a hot tub – holiday makers want luxuriousness but not at the expense of the alps mountains, so we considered means of decreasing the affect of someone traveling over here for a holiday.”

Chalet 1802 have also linked up with group Climate Care, which tackles climate change by providing carbon dioxide deductions on behalf of individuals and companies.

Looking for alternative avenues such as university scholarships to help finance a higher education can be challenging and frustrating. Scholarships are different from a student loan in that the funds are a grant, so it does not have to be paid back. While searching ways to finance your degree, investigate the many more special alternatives, such as scholarships especially for southpaw students.

Funding for Lefties: It may seem strange to extend a grant dependent on a predominant hand, but it’s worth looking at these facts: Albert Einstein was a left hander, as is President Obama. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Bob Dylan not to mention J.F. Kennedy Jr were also left-handed. Close to 11% of the population are left handed. Often believed to be much more talented in the arts and more intelligent, lefties have frequently been the victims of discrimination in the past. Discrimination is now a thing of the past, left handers are no longer believed to be unusual, and may have some qualities in common with the exceptional individuals identified above. If you’re a southpaw and researching scholarships specifically for lefthanded scholars, a lot of left handed scholarships are accessible which you could acquire. The Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship for anything up to a thousand dollars is currently available at Juniata College stuated in Huntington, PA. For students of Juniata College and it was set up in 1979, this bursary aids a lot of left-handed scholars obtain their university education. Many bursaries may have requirements and restrictions. This can include grades and financial needs. Multiple applications will give you a greater opportunity of graduating with a minimal amount of debt. Consider community organisations, clubs and groups associated with your hobbies. Grants for lefthanded students aren’t a isolated example; funds are even available if you are the child of a from a military household or have a disability, for example.

Researching scholarships may take some time, but the reward may be sizable. Used in conjunction with regular lending, they are efficient in cutting the student debt established by a university degree. Leave no stone unturned and research every source of funding. These funding is only one of many alternatives — be creative! Go for every last scholarship you consider you are qualified for, keeping any debt minimal, additionally you’ll be looking at better prospects when you finally finish school.

From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters….

The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero’s Journey:

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

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

c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more…

Sample Movie Deconstructed: Lord of War (2005)

FADE IN: context [the arms factory; credits; the journey of a bullet from the factory to the murder].

Introduce the antihero [Yuri Orlov's back story; Ukranian, immigrated with his family when he was young etc]

Introduce the Romantic Challenge [Ava Fontaine].

Antihero’s Ordinary World [Little Odessa; the end of the Q line; hero's family; enhance back story and characters; Russian gangsters etc].

Call to Adventure:

Yuri realizes his future is in selling arms (fulfilling a human need)]. Always wanted to do something big with his life. If he’s going into the gun trade, he’s gonna aim high.

Develop antihero’s capabilities and suitability for the journey [expert salesman; a natural instinct for smuggling contraband].

Refusal of the Call:

Yuri’s brother [Vitaly Orlov, the Shape Shifter] resists.

Refusal overcome [we're doing nothing with our lives].

Supernatural Aid:

Introduce the Mentor (Simeon Weisz) [mentor's status; background; reputation].

Meeting with the Supernatural Aid [mentor refuses guidance; forces the hero to go it alone].

First Threshold:

Yuri and Vitali in Lebanon and other parts of the World [selling to every army but the Salvation army; selling weapons in 8/10 of the world's top war zones; reference to the romantic challenge].

Antihero’s Inner Challenge [cares more for money than the deaths of the children].

Introduce the antagonism [the good guy - Jack Valentine; his character (zealous agent)].

Physical Separation (Belly of the Whale):

Antihero resists the physical change but it is forced onto him [getting shot].

Distance between his Old and New Self increases [trading guns for cocaine].

Celebrating the Physical Separation [with cocaine].

Realises he is on a journey ["doesn't know what he was running away from"].

Warning of the Dangers of the Journey [Vitali tells him that his business "kills from the inside"].

Embarking on the Journey alone ["from that point on this was a one man operation].

Transformation (Road of Trials):

Conquering the Romantic Challenge [meeting, wooing and marrying Ava].

Physical Marker of Change [the marriage].

Transformation into a family man with child.

The Ideal and Seizing the Sword [Meeting with the Goddess]:

The Cold War Ends and Yuri realizes he can be the biggest arms dealer there is.

Yuri’s inventory becomes the stockpile of the old Ukraine ["the hottest time in arms dealing"].

Obstacles to Seizing the Sword [Simeon Weisz, the rival arms dealer and could-have-been mentor].

Seizing the Sword [Yuri becomes so successful he can afford to become an art dealer].

Foreshadow of the Ultimate Boon [Ava doesn't now he's an arms dealer].

Foreshadow of the Shape Shifter’s turning ["why is Vitaly always screwed up?"].

Rebirth through Death:

Valentine almost catches Yuri.

Yuri has a name change [Valentine tells him he does not trade arms, but that he is an arms dealer].

Valentine’s African assistant is ready to kill him.

Yuri left in the heat for 24 hours.

Atonement with the Father:

Simeon Weisz is killed. Yuri faced with the fact that he deals with murderers and that his guns kill.

Apotheosis:

Yuri’s time in West Africa; “Sir, will my arms grow back.” The social consequences of his actions.

Ultimate Boon:

Eva learns that he is an arms dealer. Yuri no longer has to hide the truth.

Refusal:

Ava can’t wear the clothes, can’t drive the car etc. Disgusted with the Old Self.

Ava attempts to convince Uri to stop.

Magic Flight:

Uri attempts to sell timber, oil etc… anything except sell arms or to return to the Old Self.

Rescue from Without:

The President of Liberia stops by…

You can’t resist biology…

Crossing the Return Threshold:

Yuri and Vitaly return to sell arms in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Vitaly (Shape Shifter) sees what the arms sale with do – kill the innocents – and turns.

Master of Two Worlds:

Brother dies. Ava and child walk out. Mother and Father disown antihero.

Confronting Valentine.

Yuri knows he won’t go to jail; can operate with the blessing of the Western leaders.

Freedom to Live:

Yuri is free to operate.

“The art of survival in never to go to war – especially with yourself.”

Learn more…

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

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

Kal Bishop

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

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

You may believe that you don’t have to do anything after you medical interview is over…

you’ve taken the interview for the post and you can now breathe a sigh of relief!

Loosen up! Get a massage!

whether this is your calling or not!

Think – it doesn’t matter how it was; there are no failures only results.

You must strive to learn from each interview – you will get better if you reflect and refine your performances.

Resolve the following questions:

1. What facets went well from the job interview?

• Was your body language good?
• Did you present yourself distinctly.
• How did the first 15 seconds go?
• Did your answers have structure and were they delivered well?

2. What can I do differently if I could do it again?

• Do you think you concluded your answers properly?
• Could you’ve smiled more?
• Did you reveal your passion for the post?

3. Did I do enough preparation?

• Did you know the answers for the questions?
• Did you’ve enough background knowledge about the post?
• Should you have practiced more?
• Might you’ve gone on a course?

4. What questions did I struggle on?

• Which ones made you struggle?

5. What questions did I answer well?

• Which were the gems for you and why?

6. Did I sell my benefits?

• Did you sell yourself at all?

Think about these issues and learn from them so that you will be better prepared the next time