Wishing You a Happy New Year

Household Tricks

Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

Squirrel Away
To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with
cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge, add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser. Works better than a cloth.

Reopening an envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside , just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. It unseals easily.

Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass and fill it 1/2 way with
Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever.

Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it
home, can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works

IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS

If you use dryer sheets, they cause a film over the lint filter mesh and that can burn out the heating unit. Dryer sheets feel 'waxy' and that's what builds up on the lint filter. This is also what makes dryer units catch fire and could burn your house down.

Test your lint filter: Remove filter, under your kitchen faucet, run water through the mesh. If the water doesn't go through the mesh and puddles on top of it...you have the waxy film buildup. Wash it with hot soapy water and use an old toothbrush (or other brush) and scrub the film away. Do this every six months to keep your dryer working longer, keep your electric bill down and save yourself from a potential fire.

Are You Due a VAT Refund?

According to Wikipedia,Value added tax (VAT), is tax on exchanges. Consumers who buy personal products and services cannot recover VAT on purchases, but businesses are able to recover VAT on the materials and services that they buy to make further supplies or services directly or indirectly sold to end-users.

A VAT is an indirect tax, in that the tax is collected from someone other than the person who actually bears the cost of the tax (namely the seller rather than the consumer). VAT was invented because very high sales taxes and tariffs encourage cheating and smuggling.

Has your company paid for services or travel expenses outside your country? Have any of your employees attended conferences or trade shows in Europe? You may be entitled to a vat refund for the following expenses if incurred for business purposes:

. Hotel/Accommodation
• Restaurant/meals
• Car hire
• Car fuel
• Professional services
• Exhibitions/Trade fairs
• Advertising /Marketing
• Workshops/conferences/seminars/meetings/training
• Costs of running a representative offices
• Telephone and communications etc…

Did you know that if you use Google Adwords for your business you may also be eligible for a refund? This is due to the main office of Google's billing department moving to Ireland. Google can charge the VAT tax of approximately 21% on their accounts unless you inform them of your VAT registration number.

The items which are eligible can vary and the tricky law of VAT can be confusing for some. To get expert advice, up to date information and have a company which specializes in reclaim and management of VAT,
I suggest visiting www.globaltaxreclaim.com.

A Quote Full of Wisdom

A couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with the world the secret of his success.

Never leave that till tomorrow, he said, which you can do today.

This is the man who discovered electricity. You would think more people would listen to what he had to say.

I don't know why we put things off, but if I had to guess, I'd have to say it has a lot to do with fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, sometimes the fear is just of making a decision, because what if you're wrong? What if you're making a mistake you can't undo?

The early bird catches the worm. A stitch in time saves nine. He who hesitates is lost. We can't pretend we hadn't been told. We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to seize the day.

Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore.

Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant.

That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than
sleeping,and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beat the hell out of never trying.

Source: Grey's Anatomy

Who Would of Thought?

My friend has family in Iowa. Her brothers' son (her nephew) was born with a heart defect, which makes his health critical on a daily basis. The little one must be monitored 24 hours a day. This condition causes other side effects, but makes his heart stop for no apparent reason.

The parents living in the middle of no where were concerned that if the baby's heart stopped, how would they get to the hospital in time for the medical care immediately needed. Of course the parents were trained in CPR and other procedures necessary to respond to this situation, but his life depends on medically trained doctors at the hospital.

They were introduced to an air ambulance service which would be immediately available to them if the situation was necessary.

Who would of thought airambulance.net was available on the Internet to provide resources to people needing emergency air transportation 24/7 to the hospital throughout the United States?

AirAmbulance.net are specialists in medical flight. They provide trained Flight nurses, Paramedics and medical equipment on board this chartered flight.

This has been a godsend to my friends family. They now feel more secure knowing that a potentially life threatening situation can be attended to quickly. This has calmed their fears and they have confidence knowing this service is reliable, has been in existence for 21 years and will provide quality care if needed.

I wanted to bring this to the attention of others who may be in the same situation as my friends family or in the future may find themselves needing an air ambulance.

Take Time to Reflect On The Past Year

2008 will be here in just a few days. I can’t believe how fast time is going by. I guess my mother was right when she said... "wait til you get older, time will fly by". How true!

Instead of just focusing on how you will ring in the New Year…who you will kiss at midnight or which party you are going to…look back over the past year and remember.

Remember accomplishments, regardless of how small. Remember to count your blessings and remember to be thankful. Some of us might have experienced some hard times, difficult situations or even losing loved ones, but all and all, you (we) are alive and still have many things to be grateful for. My usual saying comes to mind… things can always be worse.
And, they could be.

Did you learn from making a mistake or two? Mistakes can be a very useful learning tool, as long as you do learn from them.

Congratulate yourself if you made a positive change in your life that you will carry over into the New Year. Be proud of yourself for starting a new business, taking a chance, any new lessons learned.

Did you find a new way to make money? Continue with your efforts into the new year and don't give up! Be thankful the opportunity come to you.

Did you join a charity? Volunteer your time? Work on becoming a better person? If you answered yes to any of those... be proud of yourself. Remember that you gave your time, gave a bit of yourself to help someone else, gave yourself time to focus on personal growth.

We take so many things for granted. If you look back over the past year, you will find many things to be positive about.

Here's to 2008, which I hope is an even better year for all of us. Wishing all good health, much wealth, loving friends and family, true happiness and peace.

Cheers!

Decorating With LED Christmas Lights

As you disassemble your Christmas Tree and before you pack away the LED Christmas lights, think about the various other uses for them.

I am using them in my kitchen. On top of the hutch I have, I decorated it with ivy. Stealing the idea from my favorite local eatery, I have strung the lights through the ivy, creating a warmly lit, romantic area. A touch of Tuscany. Perfect for a romantic dinner and also useful as a night light in the kitchen. The cost to operate these lights is minimal.

The other places you can use these LED Christmas lights are accenting your landscape, outline the walkway, as decorative lighting when entertaining outdoors. String them through your trees, hang them on your deck when having parties. These lights add that special sparkle and create atmosphere. Your guests will love it.

I am sure you have seen these lights used at many businesses, including Restaurants and wedding halls. Why not bring this decorative idea into and around your home? Be creative and accent the interior of your home.

If you have an idea for the use of these lights or have already incorporated these LED Christmas lights into your decor, please leave a comment and share with us.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, between 28 and 30 million natural Christmas trees will be sold in the US during this holiday season.

With Christmas being over and New Years right around the corner, it will be time to take the decorations and tree down. 93 percent of consumers who purchased natural trees will recycle. Some trees will be collected and chipped for mulch and others end up at a large composting facility.

Jefferson Parish, La, uses Christmas trees to construct underwater 'fences' which prevent saltwater from invading freshwater marshes. Many states use the trees to create fish and bird habitats. They are also used to slow erosion on beaches and riverbanks. There is also a Canadian pharmaceutical company that has discovered a way to harvest a flu vaccine component from the conifers.

Some people recycle their Christmas tree and don't realize it. Trees are processed in their own backyard, using the trunk for firewood. When putting their tree out for trash collection, their tree is actually being separated and given to tree recyclers.

To find a Christmas Tree recycler in your area, check www.christmastree.org. Earth 911 maintains a searchable national database of more than 3,500 recyclers and collection events.

Source: Waste Age Magazine

Does Your New Year's Resolution Include Weight Loss?

Sharing a special holiday with family and friends often includes a feast with all the trimmings and then sampling the many desserts. One can easily over eat, which can lead to gaining a few extra pounds.

When the holidays are over, we realize just how much we actually did over eat. Our bodies feel bloated and then we feel guilty.

How many of us include a New Year's resolution that consists of losing weight with the help of weight loss programs and exercise?

Before starting any diet or exercise program, it is important to get all the
diet information possible, so you can make the best decision on which program is right for you. Your goal should be to become successful in losing weight and keeping it off in a healthy manner.

There are so many diet plans available. Medifast, Nurtisystem, Weight Watchers, Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet and so on, which can easily get you confused.

Weight-Loss-Diet-Help.com is the perfect solution to finding information on multiple diet plans. As the site's name suggests, you can get help through the many motivational and informative articles on weight loss and diets plus receive healthy diet and nutrition suggestions. This site is also providing coupons, so when you join you receive a discount.

This year don't just make a New Year's Resolution, Keep one...

Teach The Children the Symbols of Christmas

Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten.

Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man' s thoughts turning toward heaven.

Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise.

Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.

Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.

Teach the children that Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.

Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.

Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.

Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men.

Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put Santa in the center, for he is but a humble servant of the One that is.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
May you all have a peaceful holiday, filled with Love, Happiness, Faith and Hope

Rebuild Damaged Credit

Has your life been touched by the recent financial turmoil of the US economy? With mortgages adjusting making payments higher, there have been more delinquencies. Due to the prices of houses dropping, the chances of refinancing can be more difficult.

This all can affect your credit if due to a higher monthly mortgage, it made it harder to keep up timely on your other bills.

Have you fallen into the trap of buy now, pay later? This too can cause you to easily fall into bad credit by having a large balance and not paying on time.
There are programs available for people touched with bad credit issues.

If you are suffering from credit problems, you may want to consider having one major credit card that helps rebuild your credit while getting back on your feet. Good payment performance when reported to the credit bureaus can help rebuild damaged credit.

Choose wisely and thoroughly read through the terms and conditions. There are many programs available and a wise choice would be to compare all offers that are available and not take the first offer you come across.

Get The Skinny

Here's something that's interesting and enables you to get the demographics by zip code.

Zip Skinny gives you social indicators such as education and marital status. Economic indicators regarding household income and occupations in the town you live in.

Also provided is information on schools, race, ages and lets you do a comparison of up to 20 different zip codes. This information is provided to Zip Skinny by the Census bureau.

This can be useful information if you are considering relocating or conducting business in a certain location.

Do You Know About Pixel Protector?

If you have recently purchased an expensive large screen TV for yourself or as a holiday gift, you should be aware how you can protect your investment.

It may not have occurred to you that to get the best quality and prolong the life of your TV, you need to correctly set up the TV's calibration, keep your TV free of screen burn and fix any stuck pixels. Doing this will provide optimal performance.

With Pixel Protector,you can now maintain your large screen TV and/or Home Theater system. This DVD includes removal tools for screen burn, ghosting, sharpens picture quality, provides a set up guide and alignment tools and will help recalibrate pixel levels,

If you take owning a Plasma,or Conventional TV seriously, this product is something you should look into to provide a longer lifespan and achieve the best quality possible.

When Bloggers Write A Negative Post

All it takes is a single negative post on a blog and it can spread like fire. Although a post can disappear as quickly as it appears, but what would you do if you found a blogger writing something negative about you or your business?

Just because someone is blogging it doesn't mean there are people listening, but what if a lot of people are paying attention? One slam can do some damage.

You can be prepared for any such slam if you know which blogs are following you and/or your business. According to Technorati, there are more than 100 million blogs worldwide as of November.

You can sign up for a free account with Technorati or Google and see what blogs are linking to you that mention you, your business, your service or products. These services also track which blogs are linking to those blogs, which gives you an idea how many people read a post.

If a negtive post about you appears on a blog that doesn't get much traffic, your best strategy might be to monitor the blog, but make no comment...do nothing. A more poplar blogger may cause more attention to the negative post, but you might not want to respond with a negative reply on your own blog or on the bloggers page. That sort of back and forth is likely to draw more attention to the original post and provoke more negative responses.

You can also contact the blogger and try to sort out your differences. But, what if a blogger has an legitimate complaint? Try to resolve it. Chances are the blogger may consider posting something positive about how you addressed the problem.

Have you ever found yourself in this sort of negative light? If so, how did you handle the situation?

Free Web Hosting Directory

If you are thinking of having your own web site, whether for personal or business, you will need a web hosting service.This is a service which allows you to have space on their server and Internet connectivity.

With many companies to choose from and so many options, how do you know what it right for you? The scopes of hosting services are varied. At http://www.webhostingchoice.com, I found a free guide and directory for choosing the right company.

Don't worry if you are new to web hosting. This site gives you the basics and a questions/answers page that will help you along. There is even a link to the web hosting scams that you surely want to avoid.

Everything you need to learn about web hosting, including domains, bandwidth, server information and other resources are right at your fingertips.

If you currently have web hosting with another company, this information can also be useful to compare rates if you are thinking of switching from your current company. With the use of their quick web host search you can find out the monthly cost, set up fee, diskspace and bandwidth in one click.

So whether you will have a small site or a large business site or even an e-commerce website, I would suggest going to www.webhostingchoice.com and bookmark it for future use, so you can make an informed decision.

Dog Owners Beware: Raisin & Grape Toxicity

If you own a dog, you may not be aware that giving your dog as few as 7 raisins or grapes can be extremely toxic causing renal failure.

After I received an email regarding this, I did some investigating and found it to be true. If a dog eats raisins or grapes, aggressive treatment is needed as well as fluids and close monitoring for survival.

Be careful leaving raisins and grapes in places where your dog can help themselves to these delicious treats.If you suspect your dog did ingest raisins or grapes, contact your vet immediately.

Also toxic to dogs are onions, chocolate and macadamia nuts. Chocolate contains Theobromine. This chemical is used to make all kinds of chocolate and can also be found in cocoa mulch, which is sold in garden stores. This is lethal to not only dogs, but to cats as well. Please read the ingredients of your mulch purchase before using outdoors.

See below the email I received and a link to snopes to read further.

Written by:
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , Ohio

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7AM.

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject
We had her bring the dog in immediately.

In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but.... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give I V fluids at 1 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 ( 1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids.

Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production after a liter of fluids. At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as overnight care.

He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have continued to increase daily . He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting.

Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220.. He continued to vomit and the owners elected to euthanize.

This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk.

Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern.

Snopes article

Free e-Cards

With so many having 'Internet' friends and associates, I'm sure you want to include them in your holiday card list.

Since Christmas is right around the corner, you can send fast, FREE online greeting cards to family, friends and associates.

These online greetings cards are available in flash, animation, or a simple image. You can add your personalized text and the best part is being able to reach your recipient anywhere around the globe.

Have friends or family living in another country or speak another language? Not a problem....these greetings can be sent in French, Italian, Spanish and German.

Kissemo.com has an assortment of free e-cards in other categories, so keep them in mind for another occasion or simply...just because.

Entrepreneur Trends to Watch

Trends Entrepreneurs Should Watch For

Those who have technologies and services aimed at reducing carbon emissions will be in luck. Climate change is a major issue across the globe. If you are able to do creative things around reducing carbon emissions you should be able to find great openings for doing well in business.

Big opportunities will be experienced for those who export to Europe and Canada. Continuing fallout from manufacturing troubles in China could give an edge to companies that manufacture in the US. More and more entrepreneurs are blooming in Latin America and more US businesses will hit those markets. This gives you a chance to partner with entrepreneurs in that region.


Some Stats

72 percent of Americans dream of starting their own company

37 percent of small business do not recycle

43 percent of small business have registered their trademarks with the government

Jury Duty Scam

This has been verified by the FBI (their link is also included below).

This scam seems to be spreading fast, so be prepared should you get this call.

Most of us take those summons for jury duty seriously. A new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced. The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. The caller claims to work for the local court and then claims you failed to report for jury duty. The caller then tells you that a warrant has been issued for your arrest.

If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth, so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant.

Give out any of this information and bingo, your identity was just stolen.

The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado.

This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system.

The FBI and the Federal Court System have issued nationwide alerts on their
web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

Snopes site: says this is real fraud.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp

FBI site: warns about the fraud.
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm

The Mind Body Connection

It is fact that what people think and believe can affect their health. Research shows that keeping the body in a calm state is crucial to well-being and optimal health.

Relaxation and stress management techniques will help you reach a calm state to achieve physical and mental health. Relaxation decreases wear and tear on your body and also helps self-control to handle stressful situations at work and home.

My father introduced me to self-hypnosis for relaxation a very long time ago. He always told me that the influence of the mind on the body can be used in a positive way to improve the way a person feels (mentally or physically). Self-hypnosis methods can be used in many areas. Reduce feelings of anxiety or stress, fears, phobias, manage pain, weight loss, quit smoking, self improvement and any other area you feel you need help in. Hypnosis uses affirmations which are positive statements that we make ourselves counter stress and unpleasant thoughts.

Hypnotizing yourself requires only that you have a private quiet area and a place to sit or lay down. You relax yourself as completely as possible, but not falling asleep. You then can deepen your relaxation, usually by counting down from 100 or by thinking of yourself slowly sinking downwards. When you are very relaxed, you can think about a relaxing image, or an image of yourself as successful and happy and not worried.Once you reach this state of relaxation, you can repeat your affirmations.

An alternative to using self-hypnosis is to listen to hypnosis downloads. The benefit of these is that you can listen to them and relax when you are too tired to want to hypnotize yourself.
A good source of these is http://www.instant-hypnosis.com

This site offers over 300 available sessions for immediately access. Some topics include: self improvement, body image, business success, phobias, overcoming illness, spiritual,women's health, addictions, love, mental health and so many more.

You can learn how to focus from the outside to inside, control stressful emotions and anxiety, increase energy and awareness, harmonize your nervous system, keep you attention in a safe place and center your mind and quiet the 'mental' chatter.

Repetitive Stress Injury: Hand/Wrist

Over 60 percent of all workplace aliments are repettive stress injuries. They can be healed with early diagnosis. If you expereine constant pain in the hands, wrist or forearms, you may want to see a physician for advice.

Hand and wrist warm-up and stretching exercises are beneficial in preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and relieving chronic and intermittent pain. If you use the computer for most of the day, these exercises can help and should be done before starting work.

Typist Warm-up:
Make a fist with both hands, then relax. Repeat this 5 or 6 times. Wiggle your fingers up and down. Rub your hands together as if you were putting hand lotion on.

Finger Stretch:
With both hands, extend and flex your fingers, sprending them apart as you do.

Thumb Stretch:
Raise your hands to should height with your palms facing outwards. Move your thumbs into the center of your palms. Hold for a few seconds then relax.

Wrist Stretch:
Hold your arms out in front of your body with the palms outwards and fingers pointing up. Allow your fingers to relax and drop to horizontal. Bend the wrists down. Hold for a count of 5 and then return your hands to horizontal position. Hold for 5

Palm Press:
Make a loose fist, palm up. Gently press your other hand against the fist. Resist the force for 5 seconds, keeping your wrist straight. Repeat with other hand.

Praying Hands:
Put the palms of your hands together as though in prayer. Elbows out and wrists bent at right angles. Press your palms together, aloowing no movement in either directin. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds, feeling the push in your wrists. Repeat several times. Do not hold your breath as you push your hands together.

Second Act Saves You Money

Our thoughts are now on holiday shopping and getting the best deals. With that in mind, I wanted to make you aware of Second Act. This is an online retailer that offers the lowest prices on factory refurbished, factory closeouts, overstocks, end of life products and open box products. Who doesn't like saving money?

I know that there is some doubt when purchasing these kinds of items, but I myself saved a bundle on an open box item. I couldn't believe the discount I was given. Better for me...

At Second Act you will find HDTV's and related items. They are an authorized dealer of some major names in the electronics world. You will also find they offer the "deal of the day" feature that gives a deeper discount on an item for a 24 hour period.

Whether you are looking for an IPOD, flat screen TV's, home stereo systems or computer monitors, you can find it all at Second Act. Maybe you thought you couldn't afford to buy that someone special such a great gift, but chances are you can at Second Act.

NJ Is The Fourth In People Leaving The State

Since I currently reside in New Jersey, I found the following information to be of interest.

New Jersey is the fourth in people leaving the state. In recent studies and polls it shows that more people are leaving the state than coming in. More than half of those who remain would like to leave also.

A study produced by Rutgers University professors James Hughes and Joseph Seneca reported that in 2006, 72,547 more people moved out of New Jersey to other areas of the United States than moved in.

The study also showed those moving into the state were less wealthy than those moving out.. The study predicts that as a result of the pace of the out-migration, New Jersey may experience a net decline in total population in 2008.

In another poll conducted in September by the Monmouth University Polling Institute and Gannett found that half of New Jersey's residents would like to move out.

According to the study released in the Asbury Park Newspaper as well as other Gannett newspapers last month, more than half of the 801 adults surveyed expressed a desire to leave New Jersey, with half the group saying they are very likely to leave.

Nearly 60 percent of those indicating they would like to leave stated financial issues, such as: property taxes, high costs of living and housing costs. This is evidence showing that New Jersey's high costs are a problem for both businesses and residents alike.

How far will your salary go in another city? CLICK HERE

Do It Yourself or Search Engine Marketing Agency?

Search Engine Marketing, or SEM, is a form of Internet Marketing that seeks to promote websites by increasing their visibility in the Search Engine result pages. This method is effective in driving targeted visitors to your web site.

There is quite a bit involved in SEM and it could be overwhelming to a newbie. You can do research and learn for yourself, but this takes some time on your part. Have you ever tried SEM yourself? If so, what results have you achieved?

The many aspects of SEM are Keywords and search terms, web design, search engine optimization, search engine submission, link building, paid inclusion, pay per click search engines, log file and traffic analysis and page rank.

If you are using the Internet for marketing or have a website that relies on visitors, your goal should be having the best listing possible within search engines. Great listings have great SEO. This will bring targeted traffic in the form of visitors, which in turn, can bring customers.

If you have tried SEM or SEO yourself and have received so-so results you may want to consider a search engine marketing agency. It is important to discuss your SEO plan directly with a qualified search engine representative. An agency will help you learn about and use the advertising opportunities offered by search engines. These agencies are a good source in providing you with excellent tracking of campaigns and keep you abreast of the ever constant changes in Google, Yahoo and MSN. Something you alone may not be able to keep up with.

Have you used a search engine marketing agency? If you have, which agency have you used and what was your experience.....positive/negative?

Bottled Water vs. Tap Water

Which one do your prefer? It seems this is a question with many different answers as to why one likes either bottled or tap water. Personal reasons, scientific or aesthetic reasons.

Water comes from many different sources. It can come from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs and wells and the treatment process for each source varies. When water travels over the surface of land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals. The water can also pick up various substances that have been touched by human or animal activity.

When tap water is treated, necessary chemicals are added to combat any contaminants and/or bacteria.
Tap water is highly regulated by State and the Environmental Protecting Agency (EPA). As a result, you can be sure that your water meets or surpasses all state and federal guidelines.

On the other hand, the State Health Department and the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) regulates bottled water. The FDA sets limits like the EPA, but there are differences with process controls. Such as bottling controls, sampling protocols and testing frequencies. Bottled water is not environmentally friendly.

It takes millions of gallons of oil to produce the plastic bottles used for bottled water each year. After the water is consumed, the bottle is usually recycled and end up in the garbage where it takes years to break down. Many cities and towns are taking an active role in educating their residents about the environmental aspects of plastic containers

Although one may feel that bottled waters' main value is the convenience, but isn't it just as easy to fill a water bottle with tap water? What is the biggest difference? The cost of course. Americans have spent approximately $15 billion on bottled water in 2006 alone. Tap water is much less expensive at approximately $.08 to $8.00 per gallon, but the average cost of tap water is about $.02 per gallon.

You could refill a water bottle hundreds of times with tap water for the cost of a single bottle of bottled water.
So maybe the choice is purely a personal one?

Education here regarding the facts and environmental issues may help consumers think twice about bottled water.