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African American hair extensions options have grown largely now compared to just the 1990′s. We must know the different qualities to ensure you are receiving the top quality hair extensions. Many African American women want the most natural looking hair. For many women who seek this level of quality need to purchase top grade 100% Virgin Indian Hair. We at Alwaysaffordablehair.com are owned and operated by African American women who also wear our hair extensions. This level of experience in owing and wearing our product gives us firsthand knowledge of what your customers will experience when they wear your product. Also we have a in-house stylist that also wears our products and helps us to create a very in-depth care sheet that is emailed to every customer. This care sheet will tell them what products to use and not use and how to care for the hair to give them the longest possible wear time.

This is a step above ordering hair or buying hair from the Asian or even Indian owned retailers. Since they do not wear the products for the most part their knowledge from a lasting ability is limited. We can say with certainty that our product last long and that it is of impeccable quality. So women if you are looking to receive top quality hair extensions at an affordable price visit Alwaysaffordablehair.com for all your hair extension needs.

I can’t seem to keep the inside of my car dry. I don’t have a garage so I just park it in my driveway. Every time it rains, there’s a puddle of water in the floorboards. I can’t understand it. There must be a leak somewhere, but I can’t seem to find one. Its not even a convertible. I’ve tried everything. I’ve parked it in different places. I’ve covered it with tarps. I’ve even sealed up the seams with duct tape. Somehow, the water keeps coming in. A friend told me to take it to a mechanic, but theyd probably just laugh at me. I’ve started keeping a small bucket in the car so I can bail it out if I need to. Its completely ridiculous. I think someone must be dumping water in through the windows or something when I’m not looking. I bet it is the neighbors kid.

Losing weight is one of the biggest challenges that most people are facing in this world. There are people who cannot take this challenge and just give up because of the fact that they can’t discipline themselves from eating too much calories. Gaining weight is a lot easier than losing them. To lose all your excess weight, you need to have self-discipline in controlling your appetite, not only that but also you need to burn those fats by doing some exercise routines. To effectively burn them, you need to use some gym equipment like treadmills, stationary bike and etc. But the downfall of owning this equipment is their price. This may cost you a lot of money for they really are expensive. But the good news is there are used treadmills that you can buy in surplus shops and garage sales. Try to check these stores in your place and check if they are selling used treadmills that suit your budget.

Due to the light weight character of the garage floor vinyl tiles, they are actually easy to use and they can be easily installed. Simple tools such as a knife may be needed for cutting down the edges. The tiles are designed to handle the weight of automobiles that are parked on them. If you decide to setup a workshop in your garage, then the tiles are the best since they can hold up the heaviness of an auto lifter.

You also have the ability to choose from a variety of colors and textures. No matter what you do in your garage, your garage floor tiles can withstand all forms of abuse and you still look great. Also, you can purchase the tiles based on the requirements of your own situation.

For example, the size of your garage really doesn’t matter all that much because the tiles come in one foot squares so if you need more or less area you just snap together what you need. You can also choose between sealed or not. This mean some tiles have a lip around the edge which channels any spilled liquids to a central location. The liquid has no way to collect on the surface of the concrete this way.

If you have searched all the possible land areas that you can possibly search on, then you should consider searching underwater. River and sea beds, docking areas, ponds, swimming sites and other waterways are some of the best Metal Detecting Sites. For one, people who normally drop things on water no longer bother to dive and recover their items. To make your search easier, get yourself a dependable metal detector that is suitable for water. Remember that not all metal detectors are waterproof or can be used underwater. Most underwater metal detectors are technologically advanced and can be complicated. Make sure that you can work perfectly well with the device otherwise, choose an equally reliable manual or simple metal detector. If you prefer to go for a high-end metal detector, make it a point to purchase it from a supplier that has an excellent and responsive customer service that you can call for assistance anytime.

While online marketing is currently the most effective way to promote any product or service online, there are still a number of businesses who do not apply search engine marketing techniques in their website promotion and marketing. In fact, there are quite a significant number of accounting firms that do not use seo for accountants and some do not have a website at all. While companies and firms are not forced to establish their name online, the benefits of doing so are simply too overwhelming to refuse.

Accounting firms refuse to use search engine optimization because of the mindset that their industry is basically a relationship business. Clients of accountants get their names from people they trust, whom they meet personally. But while there is a certain truth to that, online relationships are built everyday. On top of that, more and more people are starting to turn to the internet for reference these days.

Anything goes when it comes to hair color. You can experiment with highlights, go with a semi permanent color or find a more permanent solution should you be getting gray hair before your time. All it takes is for you to make the decision to take the plunge and then there’s no limit to the hair color ideas you can go with.

You can color your hair at home or if you can afford it have it done at a salon. Yet sadly if you are on a budget finding affordable salon coloring isn’t going to be easy.

But if you want to get a new look on the cheap, and you are braver than most, you can dye your hair at home. Sure you can. Here are a couple of tips to help you on your big adventure.

Remember to put a barrier around your hair line, on your neck and ears. While there are products made for the job you will find that a thin coating of Vaseline will protect your skin and prevent unsightly hair dye stains. And nothing says look at me for all the wrong reasons than tell tale stains from your hair dye.

Also rookies are advised to start small. In that you want to stay within your color family. You may even be better off to start with a semi permanent color since any mistake will wash out in as few as 10 to 15 shampooings.

Another in the many hair coloring tips to consider would be to color your hair in sections. You can even do this with long layered hairstyles although it can be more of a challenge. You want to start about an inch from the roots and work your way down the strands. The idea is to save the roots for last so you can avoid so called “hot roots”.

Just because you can’t afford salon services doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a new hair color. Just don’t do more than you can handle because if you think salon coloring is pricey, the price tag for fixing a botched home coloring job will make you faint.

It is important that you learn the right methods to build your MLM list quickly. There are many websites that will show you how to go about doing so. If you want to find out more, you can simply go to EzineArticles.com and read through the articles to find the information. Otherwise, you may also want to use Google to help you out. There are many things that you should bear in mind today. Sometimes, people join your business because they feel that you can help them. It is important that you learn learn how to go about doing ‘attraction marketing’. This means that you can get people to join you on their own accord. This will help you to build your list very quickly. You can then promote your business to those in your list. You might not be exactly sure what to do. Visit the website to find out more.

SAT, ACT, GRE and the list goes on. Standardized tests are hard. Why? Because most people don’t know how to study for them. In this short article, you will learn some tips on studying for preparing for standardized tests. Some people say or believe that you can’t study for the SAT’s or ACT’s, or similar tests, but you can.
The hardest part about standardized tests is knowing what to study for. In a math or science class, you always know exactly what will be on the test. But that isn’t exactly true for standardized tests. That is because standardized tests don’t really want to test your knowledge; they assess your skills at reading and solving problems. Some sort of reading portion is on almost every standardized test. So, can you prepare for that? Certainly. Magazines and newspapers are great ways to prepare for those sorts of tests. Practice for the reading portion by reading short newspaper and magazine articles. Allow yourself no more than about 2 minutes for a 1 page article, and underline or mark the most important ideas. Don’t worry about memorizing the article or remembering every detail; just concentrate on the main ideas. That is the basic skill that is needed to crack reading portions of standardized tests.
Math and science tests are difficult as well. There are many topics that test makers can pull material from. So, like the reading portion, do what you can, but don’t sweat all the details. For math, practice lots of problems. Most booksellers carry test preparation materials, from which you can find example problems. Buy a book that corresponds to your tests and practice: take a test and check your answers. By tackling those questions, you can see where your problem areas are. If you find that you have a particular weakness in an area or just need to brush up on a topic you haven’t practiced in a while, you’ll be more efficient in studying. Continue taking practice tests, though, so you can review your stronger topics as well.
Many people ask if there are strategies for standardized tests. One strategy is to make educated guesses whenever possible. Often times, you will get to a question on the test that just doesn’t make too much sense to you. Do you best to eliminate one or more answer choices before guessing. How to eliminate answer choices varies from test to test, but with practice, you can find a strategy that works best for the test and section you’re working on. For instance, if working on antonyms or analogies on an English section, eliminate choices that can’t possibly be the correct choice. If you have an idea of a word but don’t know its exact meaning, you can usually eliminate at least 1 answer choice. If most of the answer choices have roughly the same meaning but one means the opposite, that choice could be the correct answer. Another strategy is to hold off on hard questions until the end. Since, usually, all questions are worth the same amount of points, its better to do the easy ones first when you’re not pressured for time. It would be a shame to miss out on easy questions because you took too much time on harder ones that you’ll probably get wrong anyway! These are two basic strategies for getting better scores on standardized tests. As you practice more, you will find out what works best for you.
In addition to practicing, it is important to practice the correct way. It is best to practice under quiet, uninterrupted situations. Don’t take a break every 10 minutes to get something to eat or drink. You need to condition yourself to sit still for long periods of time. Your brain needs to be accustomed to concentrating without any disruptions. That is the only way you can get used to the length of the test. Also, and this was mentioned before, time yourself on the tests, that way you will get used to the speed at which you must work to finish sections of the test. If you can finish the test without leaving any questions unread, you’ll be in a great position to get the best score you’re capable of.
So, those are some basic preparation strategies. Also as important to studying is getting rest and exercise. Exercising is a great way to relieve stress and help your brain remember things. And, the days before the actual test, make sure to get plenty of rest. If you follow these strategies, you’ll do great!

In regular theater an actor may prepare a monologue that he has spent many hours memorizing, for a part that he will also perform at every audition. He’s spent a lot of time on this and has perfected his art and delivery. When going for an audition he is quite comfortable with his prepared lines. However, in a film or commercial audition the actor is expected to perform a script given to him that he has never seen before. This is when the art of cold reading is very important and can be a life saver.

The technical definition of cold reading is the auditioning for a part with a script in hand, one the actor has never seen. The profession says that the actor is supposed to be given the script at least 24 hours before the audition but all too often this just doesn’t happen. This is why cold reading is so important to actors who work in film or commercials.

So, how do you learn to cold read? Brute force. Pick up a script, read the first line, commit it to memory and then say the line without looking at the script. You’ve just done your first cold reading. At first you may only be able to memorize a few words at a time, but with a little practice you’ll soon be memorizing several lines at a time. Being an actor is kind of like being an athlete. The more you work at it the better you’ll get. After you feel comfortable doing cold reading by yourself try it with another actor. This is when it gets fun.

When you’re at your audition it’s very tempting to try to sneak a peak at your next line while the other actor is doing his lines. Don’t do this. How you listen to your fellow actor is just as important as speaking your lines. Wait until it’s time for you to respond and then look at your next line. Memorize as much of your line as you can in a few seconds. Then make eye contact with your partner and say your next line.

If you’ve got more to memorize than you can with just a glance, repeat the process until you have the line memorized. But keep your face out of your script. Never read your lines while looking at your script. This is a sure way to blow the audition. Make sure you stay in character while reading your lines.

When you’re actually at your audition even if you don’t get the script until you get there, try to read the script in its entirety at once and remember as much of it as you can. This way you’ll at least have some idea what the scene is about, who the characters are and how the conversation should go. If you have more time try to memorize the first and last lines. This will give you a strong start and finish, which is what the person auditioning you will remember the most.

When holding your script, hold with your left hand if right handed and at chest level. Never have your head buried in the script. Don’t wave the script around like it is a prop. Make believe it is just a natural extension of your body. The less attention you draw to the script itself the better.

A cold reading goes much slower and feels a lot more awkward than a normal reading. This is normal and there is no need to worry about it. The casting director knows this is the first time you’ve seen the script. He is more interested in what kind of personality you have as the character.

Sadly, you may be the greatest actor in the world, but without being able to cold read well you aren’t going to get many parts as you’ll never get past the first audition. So include cold reading in your training. You’ll find you’ll get more parts because of it.

You might be thinking as to how music can be used effectively for stress management. There are few basic principles that you should understand so as to tailor your favorite music for the purpose of stress management.

1. You should use your favorite category of music and in case you dont like Mozart or classical music then dont use it. Good and quality music can be found in most genre of music.

2. You should choose music that has pleasant associations for you or music that brings you cheerful memories.

3. If you want to try new music, then go for instrumental music tends that are more stress relieving than the music having lyrics because this doesnt requires you t o think.

4. You should choose music that is slow and has regular pulse or beat. This is because researchers discovered that music with the tempo of healthy resting heartbeat will synchronize your own breathing and heart beat to it thereby slowing down your racing body rhythms.

5. Racing thoughts can often lead to anxious and stressed out feelings and for this you should use rhythms of slow music so as to slow down your body and thoughts.

Music is even used for surgery whereby surgeons listen to their favorite music while operating the people. This is because they know the power of music and the profound effect it has on their ability to focus and concentrate on their work. Surgeons listen to Mozart, Wagner, and Handel or sometimes, rock, jazz or pop and claim that they have more energy while music is being played.

Patient is not provided with music because it is the patient who is sleeping and is not able to hear music. But the fact is that music has tremendous benefits for the patient such as he needs fewer anesthesias, less anxiety before, less pain after, faster recovery, less time in the hospital and many more. Patient can hear music with the help of lightweight headphones.

Visit our recommended website music-future.com

Whether youre a leisure jogger, or you plan on entering the next marathon, having the right running hydration gear can make a difference in your approach to the final destination you seek to achieve!

Hydration gear is starting to be an integral part of the athletes training as a runner, and when the runners limits are being pushed further and further to achieve certain personal goals your body needs the right equipment to seriously keep you fully hydrated throughout the day.

Unlike hikers and trekkers, individuals that take long runs or have intensive training programs not only need to replenish their body with cool fresh water, but they need the proper hydration gear that is lightweight and is convenient for them.

You may be able to wear a backpack style hydration system, but it may wind up too bulky, and for longer running programs, you may get very hot and sticky, which eventually will make you feel extremely uncomfortable.

Your Hydration System Should Be Designed For Performance And Convenience!

Running products on the market today are made to be extremely lightweight and have high-tech components that allow for proper airflow and evaporation. It should be no different when you search for quality running packs, and the more features you can find on a pack to help eliminate moisture, provide stability, and have proper design for your convenience, the better chance you will be happy with that product for many years of running.

Now whether youre searching the local running stores, or online, the best way to find out exactly what will work best for your needs is to compare the level of running and time you spend and measure it up to some of the current pack systems available. The last thing you want to do is spend money on an inferior water pack that will not fit your overall requirements.

The next thing you will want to determine is what youre more accustomed to using, because you may prefer bottle style packs over the bladder with the water tube style. Even though technology is advanced, you may be more comfortable using the older technology such as the basic water bottle.

Dont Buy Water Products That Have All The Bells And Whistles If Theyre Not Needed!

You want to make sure that you purchase the water hydration product that suits your style of running. If you decide to go with the super advanced system and it winds up not fitting your running style, you will waste your money and more than likely not use the pack because of the extra features getting in your way.

When you come to the hydration pack section, or the website that lists all the running packs, the first thing you should do to determine which one is right for you is see how much water capacity the bladder holds, or how many water bottles they carry.

Once you find the one with the exact ounce capacity that you require during your run, the next step is to make a list of items you need to carry on you during your run. This is an important question to ask, because there is a big difference between what you need to carry with you, and what youd like to take with you.

Im sure you would like to carry your Mini-Pinscher in your pack, but do you need to? On the other hand you may need to carry extra energy bars, dry clothing, and necessary running accessories. When you have this information readily available, it will help determine the exact size pack needed.

When running, whether it is on flat surfaces or uneven mountain trails, comfort will be a crucial part of your running packs features. Many overlook this and of course the more expensive systems have more comfort features available, however, it will come down to the level you run, and how much comfort you really need.

Many specific hydration designed running packs are produced with stable ergonomic features and are very well insulated to keep your water fresh and cool, plus they provide quality adjustable straps for complete comfort. If you decide to spend a little more money, you can get additional valuable running features such the lumbar attachment to prevent bouncing that can be very annoying to joggers, and also reflective belts for additional safety, as well as unique pockets for your pedometer, and other necessary jogging items.

I wish you all the best in finding the right hydration system, and if this summer is going to be an extremely hot one this year, keeping your body fully hydrated during an intensive run is even that much more important to you!

Beginning ‘bona fide’ aromatherapy, beyond burning a scented candle or soaking with a pleasing pre-packaged bath salt blend, can be a little daunting to many people. All those little bottles of pricey liquids, electric contraptions, and fancy-sounding blends – how does one actually use essential oils to improve their health, happiness and well-being? It’s easier than one might think – getting started can open a whole new world of fun and effective natural remedies that can lift your mood, calm your nerves, and support healing of a great many common ailments.

The basics of aromatherapy are simple, once a few fundamental concepts are understood. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils – the aromatic compounds of plants, extracted through steam distillation or other methods. The oils act as the chemical messengers and protectors of the plant kingdom. Each essential oil can contain hundreds of different ‘volatile’ (easily evaporated) compounds, most of which are very compatible with the physiology of the human body. What’s so wonderful is they can also do for us what they do for plants – act as chemical messengers through affecting our smell sense and limbic system, and defending the body against foreign invaders by their anti-bacterial and anti-viral actions. In this article, we’ll focus on the mental and emotional effects of aromatherapy, and address the physiological aspects at another time.

Essential oils are best used in one of two simple ways: through inhalation, where the oils can directly affect certain areas of the brain, and through topical application, where the oils are easily absorbed into the bloodstream. (Note: Oral ingestion can be an option, but only under experienced medical supervision – further, SOME OILS CAN BE TOXIC, and other even seemingly harmless oils should not be used under certain conditions. If you are pregnant, or have specific medical needs, consult a knowledgeable practitioner before continuing!)

Inhalation of Essential Oils

Essential oils when inhaled directly effect our limbic system, the brain’s emotional centers. Many oils have been found to sharpen concentration, reduce tension and anxiety, and even reduce depression. How can we reap these magnificent benefits? There are a few simple, cost-effective ways to prepare essential oils for inhalation – and experience these wonderful effects: the ‘handkerchief method’, making your own ‘smelling salts’, and making your own aromatherapy ‘mister’.

The handkerchief method is pretty straightforward – put a drop or two of an oil or blend on a tissue and inhale (careful with some oils though – peppermint, for example, can burn the sensitive skin around your nostrils if put in direct contact). You can even leave the tissue (or ‘handkerchief, or piece of cloth, or cotton, or whatever) in a room or your workspace and the oil will continue to evaporate and have its effects.

Making your own ‘smelling salts’ is similar, though your preparation will last a while longer. To make the salts, fill a small vial (dark glass with a good cap is best) with natural sea salt and drop essential oils into the salt. The amount of oil is not too critical – enough that there is detectable aroma, and not so much that the salt gets completely wet. Just unscrew the cap and inhale from the bottle whenever you need a lift, or, like the handkerchief, leave the vial open in your space, letting the aroma slowly fill the area.

A ‘mister’ can be used infuse a room with aroma – just add essential oils to water in a small spray bottle, shake (before each use) and spray!

Here are a few easy recipes for the inhalation method (Note: in all recipes, the number of drops of oil and/or amount of carrier can be used as a ratio, which you can increase or decrease as you need):

For uplifting the mood and brightening the mind – 4 drops of Rosemary Cineol, 3 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Lemon and 1 drop of Peppermint, OR 3 drops Clary Sage, 2 drops Bergamot and 1 drop Sweet Orange.

For calming anxiety – equal parts of Roman Chamomile, Bergamot and Orange, OR 3 drops Lavender, 2 drops Neroli and 1 drop Bergamot.

For creating a harmonious atmosphere – 3 drops Jasmine, 1 drop Ylang Ylang and 1 drop Sandalwood, OR equal parts Geranium, Patchouli and Bergamot.

Aromatherapy Massage

Now for the topical application method. Usually this is described as aromatherapy massage – ideally, this is done with a partner, but self-massage will work as well. Creating your own massage oil is a straightforward process – just dilute 10 – 20 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. There are a variety of carrier oils available, though Sweet Almond is a great all-around oil and is recommended for general aromatherapy massage. As for the massage, itself, any technique will do – let your intuition be your guide. When you wish to get a little more advanced, do a little further research to create synergy with certain essential oils and certain acupressure points.

The same blends for inhalation can be used for massage, though here are a few more fun recipes:

For a sensual massage, per ounce of carrier oil, add – 8 drops Sandalwood, 6 drops Rose, 4 drops Lavender and 2 drops Ylang Ylang.

For opening the heart, try 4 drops Spikenard, 4 drops Lavender and 2 drops of Rose.

Finally, for sheer relaxation, use 6 drops Lavender, 4 drops Neroli and 2 drops Bergamot.

Don’t be afraid to create your own blends! You will certainly find particular oils that you enjoy – and aromatherapy is like that. It is the oils you find most enjoyable that are likely those that are most effective for you. My only recommendation is to change the ratios of oils you are blending very slowly. Start with one drop of each oil in a small vial, mixing them and allowing a few minutes for them to blend before adding more oil 1 drop at a time. In general, citrus oils ( Orange, Bergamot, Lemon, Lime) tend to bring alertness while calming at the same time. Herb oils (Peppermint, Rosemary) tend to be invigorating, while floral oils tend to be relaxing (Lavender, Chamomile, Jasmine, Neroli). This is only a guideline – many oils have complex properties and will affect individuals differently – use your nose as a guide.

Conclusion

Getting started with aromatherapy is easy, and with these simple ideas, you will be able to create essential oil preparations tailored to your needs and enjoyment. This can lead to a lifelong appreciation of these wonderful gifts from nature.

Everybody knows that skiing and snowboarding have been the most highlighted sports of the winter, but what about snowshoeing? Have you ever tried it?

If you havent, then it’s about time you hit the mountain trails with some snowshoes on your feet.

Here are a few pointers to make your first snowshoeing trip go as smoothly as possible:

1. Try to get snowshoes that are correspondent for your weight. There is nothing worse than trekking out into the white powder and sinking in it up to your thigh, because you didn’t buy some snowshoes that fit you properly. Shoes can vary from weight ratings of as little as 30 pounds, up to over 300 pounds. Make sure you find the right size and fit for your own liking.

2. Choose snowshoes that are lightweight. This is probably the most important factor to consider while selecting snowshoes. These mean shoes can range from super light, not more than a pound a piece, to weighing several pounds for each shoe. Imagine lugging around a brick on the bottom of your foot for a couple of miles – is this any fun? Always try to choose the lightest snowshoe that seems to size your taste.

3. Make sure theres plenty of water and snack food while you snowshoe. While providing excellent protein and other natural goodness, pine needles won’t taste very good to you or your kids as a snack. A healthy trail mix, some granola bars, and a large bottle of water should be enough for a short trip. Remember to keep yourself hydrated, especially when the conditions are nice and sunny.

4. Although this is a sport your whole family can enjoy, you definitely do not want to be snowshoeing with your child on some difficult hills. So, start off by hiking on some easier trails and work your way up to more advanced trails as your skills and comfort level improve.

5. The most important thing is to wear layers of clothing that you can take off and put back on as you wish. A lightweight, waterproof shell is very important. Do not wear only a heavy, cold weather coat, unless you know or feel it is absolutely freezing. Why? You will sweat buckets and you will begin to experience mild heat exhaustion symptoms quickly.

The power of your body to stay warm must not be underestimated, while you are snowshoeing. While you are exercising in the snow, if it isn’t raining or actually snowing, your body temperature is going to skyrocket.

Your next clothing priority should be waterproof boots. Your feet will get wet with all of the snow bouncing around during snowshoeing. So do wear waterproof boots.

6. Finally, rest if you need to. Stop as often as necessary and give your body the time to regenerate. Don’t go so far that you can’t turn around and make it back to where you left from. Always be aware of matching your energy and skills to the weather conditions and terrain. Keep yourself and your family safe.

Stay on the right track and enjoy the experience of snowshoeing!

Contactless payments create a whole new field of payment options for merchants. Contactless payments are quick, simple and pave the way for greater profits. A smart computer chip, with data and an antenna is embedded into a credit card, debit card or fob. When the card or fob is tapped on a radio frequency reader, the reader sends out a radio signal that activates the card, the information on the card is read and the payment is processed without a signature for purchases less than $25.00 with no chargebacks to the merchant.

Merchants dont need to worry about compatibility with their present systems or security said, Mohamed Khan, President and Founder of ViVOtech, Santa Clara, Calif.-based developer of contactless software, transaction management systems and readers.

We have been working closely with processors, card issuers and terminal providers to create an open system using the IS0 14443 standard. It uses secure encryption technology. The contactless card doesnt leave the customers hands therefore it is more secure and theres no skimming of data, assured Kahn who sees contactless as a great opportunity for merchants to increase revenue. He envisions contactless payments as a replacement for cash because they are faster, more convenient and cost less due to less shrinkage and less labor involved.

There are two types of contactless readers available: Peripheral Contactless Readers (PCRs) that plug in to existing POS terminals, and Integrated Contactless Readers (ICRs) that replace traditional readers and offer both magnetic-stripe- and contactless-reading capabilities. Merchants can purchase either type of reader. The PCRs usually cost around $150. Some merchant service providers such as Acies, however, are offering deals competitive plans and free readers with terminals.

David Robertson, Publisher of The Nilson Report (Carpinteria, Calif.) estimates that there are 12 million contactless cards currently in circulation in the U.S. He predicts that first contactless successes will be at the brand name retailers and then merchants in the areas where cards are deployed will follow suit when their customers ask to use their contactless cards.

Customers are asking for contactless in the New York Metro area where many cards have been dropped, says Oleg Frier CEO and President Acies, Inc, a New York City-headquartered national payment processing and financial services provider. Other areas where there are substantial contactless readers and cards include Atlanta, Philadelphia, Denver, Dallas and Orlando, says Khan.

Studies show the speed and added value of contactless payments because typically when someone does not pay with cash the amount of the transaction increases. Visa trials showed their contactless card transactions were 25% faster than cash. MasterCard PayPass trials showed an increase in transaction amounts and 12 to 18 second reductions in payment times for drive-thru transactions. Aite Group reports that CVS, the drug store chain, has found the average contactless transaction takes 12.5 seconds, versus 26.7 seconds for magnetic-stripe card payments and 33.7 seconds for a cash transaction.

Merchants who have a small time frame to service customers, such as fast food restaurants, coffee houses, movie theatres, drug stores, convenience stores and drive-thrus can benefit greatly from contactless payment methods. McDonalds, AMC Theatres, CVS, Meijer, Duane Reade, Regal Entertainment, Ritz Camera, Arbys, Cold Stone Creamery, Eckerd, Carls Jr., Good Times Burger, KFC, RaceTrac, Subway, Sonic (Drive-In Restaurants) and Walgreens have installed contactless readers. Convenience stores are gearing up to accept contactless payments. Contactless readers are being installed in 5,300 7-Eleven stores and 350 Sheetz stores. WaWa markets is installing over 2000 readers in its 540 stores co-branded with a credit card and loyalty program.

Card associations are also gung-ho for contactless payments.

It takes a village to launch a new technology, at Visa, we have an absolute commitment to assure success of contactless payments, said Elvira Swanson, Visa spokeswoman. Visa, with four million Visa Contactless cards in circulation, offers collateral materials, online demos, and merchant support teams to help educate merchants.

This is the real thing. Contactless is beyond the chicken and egg concept stage now, when you look at how many financial institutions have made the decision to offer contactless and the number of national merchants accepting it, said T.J. Sharkey, Vice President, Business Development, U.S. Acceptance, MasterCard International. MasterCard is supporting contactless in many ways. Merchants who accept contactless payments are listed at the MasterCard Web site where there are demonstrations on how their Tap N Go, PayPass cards work. Television commercials illustrating their PayPass cards are airing nationally.

Banks issuing contactless cards include Citibank, MBNA, HSBC (debit cards), JP Morgan Chase, Key Bank (debit cards) and Citizen.

There have been several pilot contactless programs in sports stadiums including San Francisco, Seattle, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Recently, another form factor of contactless has been added into the mix, with the trial of NFC (Near Field Communications) contactless payments from cell phones at the Philips Arena in Atlanta. Season ticket holders with Chase-issued Visa credit accounts and Cingular Wireless accounts can make contactless payments by simply holding their Nokia mobile phones equipped with Philips’ NFC semiconductor chips and ViVOtech software near one of the 150 terminals. NFC is compatible with ISO 1443 readers has other features such as the ability to transmit a coupon to a reader.

Contactless payments are the wave of the future and will change the way the world pays for purchases, Khan said enthusiastically.
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How good are your spelling skills? Please dont say, It doesnt matter. I have spell checker! Remember, the spell check function will only catch misspelled words. It wont verify youve used the correct word. If you havent experienced an embarrassing situation where spell checker missed a mistake, Im sure you have a friend who has.

Spell checker is a great tool. But, since you cant rely on it completely, lets find out how well you can do on your own. Try this spelling quiz.

Spelling Quiz

Directions: In each statement, select the correctly spelled word from the choices given within the brackets [ ].

1.The attorney filed a tax [lean, lien].

2.The little boy tracked [allot, a lot, alot] of mud onto his mothers new white carpet.

3.He was [already, all ready] in trouble for putting a green frog in his little sisters bed.

4.The driver was going 95 miles per hour when he [passed, past] the police officer.

5.The server glared at the man as he made his fifth trip to the [dessert, desert] table.

6.She found a parking spot on her [forth, fourth] time around the block.

7.Please use the blue corporate [stationary, stationery].

8.The [cite, sight, site] of the worlds biggest ball of string is a great place to take your family.

9.That tie you bought is a wonderful [complement, compliment] to your dark blue suit.

10.His wifes opinion will [effect, affect] his choice.

Solutions

1.Lien is correct.

It is a legal claim on property for payment of debt.
Lean is incorrect.
A loan shark may lean on you for not paying a debt, or you could lean your ladder against a wall.
As a noun, lean refers to meat that is low in fat as in a skinny cow.

2.A lot is correct.

It refers to an amount or quantity.
There is no such word as alot.
Allot means to distribute or assign, I will allot $50 in the budget for new boxes.

3.Already is correct.

It means previously.
All ready means completely ready. She is all ready to go.

4.Passed is correct.

It is the past tense of pass.
Past means something is over or no longer current.

5.Dessert is correct.

If you add an s and read it backward, it spells stressed.
As everyone knows, desserts can cure any stressful situation.
As a verb, desert means to leave without permission, or to abandon.
As a noun, the word desert is pronounced differently.
The noun desert is a hot, dry place that is not well known for its sweet stuff, although you might go there if you desert your dessert.

6.Fourth is correct.

Simply use the number four and add th.
Forth means going forward.

7.Stationery is correct.

Remember that the word stationery has the letters er in it, the same as the words paper and letterhead do.
Stationary means not moving or fixed, as in a stationary bike.

8.Site is correct.

Site is a noun.
Site refers to the place where something is, or will be, located.
Cite is a verb meaning to quote or to mention.
Sight is the ability to see.

9.Complement is correct.

Think of the e because the words in the definition also contain es — that which completes or perfects.
To use compliment, think of the i in the word, to say, I want to give you praise.

10.Affect is correct.

This one is easy, once you remember that affect is always used as a verb meaning to influence.
Usually, effect is a noun.
If it is used as a verb, the word effect means to bring about, as in to effect a change.

Score:

10 = Youre perfect. (But, you knew that already.) Keep emailing!

7 – 9 = Youre okay. Be a little more cautious, though. You could learn a few tips from my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).

4 – 6 = You could use some help. Try my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).

Less than 4 = Ugh! Call me now! Well schedule your intense therapy immediately.

Spelling Results
How did you (do, dew)? Dont feel (too, to, two) overwhelmed if (you, ewe) didnt do (very, vary) well. (When, win) it comes to these words, you dont have to memorize all of (their, theyre, there) meanings. The (key, quay) is to use this quiz as a (cue, queue) to recognize which words to look up.

Rugby players spend considerably more playing time in physical contact and contest with opponents than players in other forms of football.

Much of this contact involves extended grappling and wrestling, but what is also characteristic of rugby is the amount of time spent attempting to drive forward under loads considerably heavier than bodyweight. Obviously this is so in the scrum and maul, but also at the tackle. Both ball-carrier and tackler may strive to drive one another backward for an extended time after engagement. American football and rugby league are also primarily collision sports, but their tackles tend to terminate much more quickly.

Recognition of the importance of physical strength has led to a tendency for rugby selectors to favour increasingly heavier players even for backline positions. A modern professional rugby team is likely to average over 100kg bodyweight, compared with less than 95kg and less than 90kg for rugby league and Australian football respectively. Increased bodyweight appears to confer no advantage in soccer.

No valid size comparison can be made with players in American football. Its use of specialist teams means that individual players are only on the field for limited periods and therefore really massive players can be employed for the more static areas of engagement.

For professional rugby, players are often chosen on the basis of their size and apparent strength but are then not really expected to work to become significantly stronger. Much strength training in rugby appears to have the aim of generating hypertrophy – increasing muscle size and thus body mass – or of maintaining strength levels rather than seriously exploring the potential for markedly increased power.

Soccer, Australian football and rugby league are continuous-flow type games, whereas rugby and, to a much greater extent, American football are characterised by frequent stoppages and thus require lower levels of aerobic fitness. But I see little evidence that rugby coaches have fully realised the potential this provides to gain a competitive edge by requiring their players, backs and forwards, to seriously train for strength.

I would suggest that, given the development of very well-drilled coordinated defensive lines, the next stage in the evolution of rugby is likely to involve a concentration on the identification of and development of heavy, very mobile players who possess very high-range explosive strength.

What scares you the most about your upcoming ironman race? What’s your fear-factor?

As fit as a person is going into the first career Ironman, the fear-factor is in the equation as the big day creeps ever closer.

As cool and confident as many participants may appear, there is almost always something that fills them with a certain amount of misgiving and anxiety.

For many, the fear-factor will be overwhelming self-doubt as they wonder to themselves what on earth they have gotten themselves into. Its almost like diving off a high cliff. Once you’re committed, there’s no turning back. After all, everyone in your circle of friends family and co-workers know all about it. For months they have observed as you’ve immersed yourself in your Ironman preparation. How can you possibly back out and face the people who have supported you as you’ve prepared for the race of your life?

Well, some people can and do back out. I recall one story in the early 80′s that took place in the Hawaii Ironman.

As the story goes……..At the conclusion of the swim portion of the race and all the swimmers were off the course, it was discovered that one person was missing. In other words, someone who was signed in for the swim had not arrived. Apparently they searched the entire course with scuba divers looking for the missing swimmer and fearing the worst.

As it turns out, the missing swimmer had never entered the water. He decided he just couldn’t do it and left the transition area and went for breakfast at a local restaurant. When he returned for his gear, he asked someone what all the fuss was about and then, much to the relief of all concerned, the mystery was solved. The lesson here— If you EVER decide to drop out of an Ironman race, be sure to let the organisers know as soon as possible! They care about you and your safety.

It seems that the swim is particularly terrifying for many first time Ironman athletes. People have been known to stand on the shore in tears, unable to face the swim even long after the gun has sounded. Some have been coaxed into the water by volunteers and ended up doing just fine. Normally, just a few hundred meters into the swim, your nervousness will disappear and you’ll settle into the race.

In my first Ironman in Hawaii, I’ll never forget the amazing euphoria in the transition tent after the swim. More than anything, I believe it was relief, because for many, myself included, a very big hurdle had been cleared. As far as I was concerned that day, there was nothing that would stop me from crossing the finish line once I conquered the swim. There was no doubt, the water way my fear-factor.

I believe that most who are considering their first Ironman are runners. Also, pretty well everyone has biked at one time or another in their life, but really few have had the opportunity or reason to swim in the open water. So it stands to reason that a lot of first time Ironman triathletes are going to be extremely apprehensive about the Ironman swim.

Some I suppose may fear the bike. Maybe steep hills or cycling around so many others will cause some concern. At least in the bike and run you have complete control. You can just stop or slow down. I think its fair to say, that in the swim, once you’re half a mile out in the open water, you’re pretty well committed.

Personally, I think much of the fear-factor grows all out of proportion as the race nears. Ironman preparation is much more than swim, bike, run. You must also prepare yourself mentally.

When you begin to have doubts about your ability, or when the fear of failure begins to haunt you, its time to take a step back and consider how far you have come.

It may not seem like it on race-day, as you are surrounded by hundreds of athletes, but in the big scheme of things, few people in the world will ever attempt what you’re about to do. Believe in your training, your preparation and ability. When the fear-factor is overwhelming as the race nears—regardless if its the swim or the bike or just fear of failing—remember this:

There are hundreds of other athletes who will feel the same as you on race morning. That’s one of the things that makes the Ironman so amazing. You are all on the same journey together. The goal is a common one. It is this united spirit that will help calm the fear-factor and take you through the day. You’ll understand what I mean as your first Ironman race-day unfolds.

There will be several thousand volunteers and thousands more spectators and friends and relatives who will all play a part in your amazing journey.

They will be behind you when your fear is greatest, your inspiration when you doubt and your strength when you tire.

You are truly amazing just to reach the start line of an Ironman triathlon. Just to have gotten to that point makes you a resounding success, so how can you possibly fail?

You have erased the doubts you once had that you would even find yourself on the beach on Ironman morning awaiting the starting gun. You are in the best condition of your life and have the admiration of everyone around you as you prepare for the greatest experience of your life.

If you are about to attempt your first Ironman, may the Iron Gods of Kona, who haunt the searing lava fields of the King K. highway smile upon you and very soon welcome you into the most amazing family on earth.