During the course of our daily lives we make plans. We make plans for dinner, for trips to the grocery store, and for cleaning our house. We also make long-term plans for our education, our finances, our businesses, and our vacations. However despite all the planning that we do very few of us actually make a life plan and this is a critical oversight as a life plan would encompass all those areas as well as our self development, personal relationships and happiness.

We all have the capacity for happiness and success in every area of our lives including our personal development, our relationships, and our professional lives but happiness and success do not just happen. We must actively seek them out and set in motion plans and actions that will make them not only possible but probable.

That is why you need a life plan, but actually creating one takes time and thought — something so many of us have little to spare. However don’t begrudge the time you could spend on a life plan because in the end that time is a very good investment that will help you save time and stress once you have your life plan fully developed. And isn’t anything that can help you achieve happiness and success a worthwhile investment of your time and energy?

Where Are You Now

Before you can begin crafting your life plan you must evaluate your current status. Reflect on the realities of your life including your commitments, finances, and dreams. What about your life makes you happy and what makes you unhappy?

Where are you now in terms of work, recreation, relationships, finances, and anything else you consider important. For example, I consider it important that my life contribute to the greater good and I have friends who consider the long-term impact of their life is an important measure.

Rate each of these areas with a letter grade with “A” of course being the highest score for the best possible life. Then calculate your overall life grade. Obviously if you have a 4.0 then your life is on track, but anything less means there are some areas you will need to work on.

It is important to identify the areas of your life that you consider successful or at least on track to success as well as the areas that you would like to improve.

Let Your Dreams Out

A big part of creating your life plan is letting yourself dream of what your ideal life would include in all the key areas you identified above (career, relationships, etc.).

Don’t worry about realities or impossibilities. Just give your heart and mind free reign to picture everything you wish your life could be in terms of relationships and family; profession and career; finances and retirement; and how you’d like to spend your time (travel, hobbies, etc.).

If money and other considerations were not a factor what would you do with your time and your life? What gets you really excited? What have you always wanted? What do you love to do (professionally or personally).

Step Back Into Reality

Note the abilities, experience and strengths you already possess that can help you live your ideal life.

Make a list of the accomplishments you are most proud of in your professional and personal life. Can any of these help you achieve your idea life?

Evaluate your work style and habits. Do you work better alone, in a group, or as a manager? What time of day is your peak performance? How many hours a day or week are you capable of working at a high level of performance?

Now Make Your Plan

Once you have created a vision of your dream life and evaluated your strengths and weaknesses then you are better able to create a plan that will help you achieve your ideal life.

Perhaps your dream is to own your business but currently you don’t have any experience with management So find a way to gain that experience through your professional work or in a volunteer capacity.

Now that you know where you want your life to go and you know how far along that path you have progressed then it is simply a matter of working toward your goal to achieve that life of happiness and success you desire.

Deanna Mascle writes a variety of inspirational, motivational and self improvement articles for her ezine Words Of Inspiration Online which can be found at http://WordsOfInspirationOnline.info

Acne is a term that is used for pimples and lumps that form on face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. Some people think that it’s a disease for the teenagers only but this is completely wrong. Acne affects people of all age groups young or old. This is a disease that can cause a lot of discomfort and stress for you. The only lasting effect acne produces is in forms of scars.

Acne type is classified into following different types.

1. Comedo: a comedo is also known as black head; the surface of this type of acne gives out a blackish look. This is the case when the comedo is open. In its closed form it is called whitehead.
2. Papule: a small bump of around 5 millimeter formed on the surface of the skin is called a papule. They are visible but can be felt when touching your skin.
3. Pustule: it’s of dome shaped and filled with bacteria and pus. If they get healed at a premature stage than there wont be any scars left on your face. They can be painful at time.
4. Macule: it’s the spot left by a healed acne. It is of a pink or red color with visible borders. It can take a couple of days or week before it is vanished from the surface of the skin.

One of the first decisions you and your fiancé will make following your
engagement will be the location of your wedding. There are so many locations
available that the decision can seem overwhelming. Many couples decide to have
their wedding ceremony in a church, followed by a reception at a different
location. Others have their ceremony and reception at the same location. It is
very popular today for wedding ceremonies and receptions to be held in private
homes, at poolsides, in a garden, a hotel banquet room, and in a natural scenic
setting. To assist you in selecting a location, we will take a brief look at each one
of these. However, I am certain whichever location you choose your wedding day
will be the most beautiful day of your life!

At Home:
Wedding ceremonies that take place at the home of a special friend or family
member are truly wonderful and are usually filled with a cozy warmth you may
not find elsewhere. Just remember to first check with your religious institution to
make certain it will recognize a non-church wedding ceremony. Also pay attention
to the number of invitations you plan to send out, since the seating will be
limited. I would also keep the decorations and refreshments to a minimum since
the setting may be more confined than other locations, and these items usually
take up a good deal of space. Keep it simple, and it will be magnificent. Make
certain to use your local bakery and catering service for your home wedding, as
the entire community will want to be a part of your celebration. To thank your
guests for sharing your special day with them I suggest wedding favors, which
are very popular today, but are not always easy to find within smaller
communities. A very large and popular collection of wedding favors is found at
Royal Wedding Favors, an Internet based wedding favor business that offers
unique and elegant wedding favors to fit every budget. Please take a look at our
wonderful collection located at www.RoyalWeddingFavors.com

At Poolside:
A reception planned for the poolside will truly be a special event. This allows you
to bring out all the tropical and beach themed items on the market today, and
there are many to choose from at www.RoyalWeddingFavors.com. You will
definitely want a bar set up serving tropical drinks. Your decorations should be
bright and breezy. Float tropical flowers in the pool, or hand out leis to your
guests, and when evening comes float lighted candles in the pool and on your
reception tables in bowls. Make certain to anchor lightweight items with shells or
other item of your choosing, so the wind will not blow them away. I believe buffet
style food stations will be best for your poolside event, using non-breakable
items if possible. Then, relax and enjoy! This is one of the most fun and creative
settings you can choose, and your guests will remember it forever.

In a Banquet Room:
Banquet rooms are the perfect location for weddings and receptions for larger
crowds. Banquet rooms whether they are located in hotels, country clubs,
mansions or museums are very popular, so it would be best to book this location
as early as possible. The good thing about these large rooms is that it is quite
easy to decorate using just about any theme. You can choose to be as simple or
as elegant as you want; however, a good rule of thumb is the larger the room
the more extravagant the decorations should be. A sit down dinner is ideal for a
banquet room reception, especially when there is an on-site staff ready to handle
all the details. Fully stocked bars are popular at these locations, as well as a full
menu and a lively band. Though this type of wedding and reception site may
seem daunting in size, it can actually turn out to be a warm and cozy setting with
the proper decorations and seating arrangement. So don’t hesitate to select a
banquet room, and invite as many guests as you want to help you celebrate the
most special day of your life.

In a Garden:
Garden weddings and receptions are simply gorgeous. There is nothing more
divine than to be married in a garden setting surrounded by flowers, birds and
your friends and family. Whether it is a friend’s manicured lawn or a lush
botanical garden, this is an ideal setting. Don’t overdo the decorations with a
garden wedding or reception; let the beauty speak for itself. This is actually the
perfect setting for the budget minded bride, since the scenery will be so
beautiful, and is usually free. It would be a good idea to set up buffet style food
stations under tents if you are concerned about the weather. Otherwise, a
seating arrangement of white tables and chairs would be perfect for your guests
to enjoy the menu you have planned. You can go with our without tablecloths,
using only a small arrangement of flowers as centerpieces. As evening comes
lighted candles will be the perfect touch. To keep the atmosphere romantic you
can hire a strolling violinist to wander among your guests playing soft music. And
when it is all over, you will be amazed at how beautiful your wedding
photographs are with the beauty of flowers in bloom, green grass and fresh air in
every shot.

In a Natural Setting:
The beauty of an ocean or the majesty of the mountaintops is just a few of the
many dramatic sights available for your wedding. If you are interested in a
natural setting you will need to plan well in advance of your wedding date,
especially if you have a certain location in mind. More than likely, there will be
guidelines and rules you will need to follow in order to secure a location such as
a national or state park. For example, what are the park hours and beverage
restrictions? Are there cooking facilities available, or must the food be prepared in
advance? How will you, your guests and the caterers get to the location, and is
there ample parking as well as overnight accommodations nearby? A natural
setting can be an economical choice for a wedding or reception because of the
abundant nature available. This makes elaborate flower arrangements and other
decorations unnecessary. For refreshments a simple menu will work best, and
you might even consider a picnic-style reception with baskets and Mason jars. For
the wedding ceremony select the best possible view and make certain you
discuss all the beautiful photograph opportunities with your photographer.

These are only a few of the many locations available for your wedding and
reception, so select one that fits your personal style and enjoy the wonderful
ambiance throughout your wedding day!

Brenda Daube is the founder and CEO of RoyalWeddingFavors.com, a supplier of elegant and unique wedding favors, including a beautiful collection of homemade wedding favors and wedding party gifts, all at affordable prices. Please visit us at http://www.royalweddingfavors.com

Living with multiple health problems can complicate things. As a diabetic balancing the levels of carbohydrates, (starches and sugars) with the level of insulin requires thought and discipline. You should always consult your doctor and dietician for specific advice.

People with type 1 diabetes are at greater risk of developing celiac disease. It follows that they will need to manage a diet which controls both conditions. The diets do sit perfectly well together, but it needs careful planning.

In principle the same rules apply to your diet, whatever the problem. As a diabetic you need to eat a well-balanced diet. The one area of difficulty is managing your carbohydrate intake with gluten-free versions. You can find gluten-free carbohydrates in potatoes, rice, wild rice, buckwheat, maize, millet, sago, tapioca, corn flour, soya, polenta, flax, sorghum, linseed, gram flour, cargeenan, urd, channa (chickpea flour), quinoa, arrowroot, codex wheat starch, corn pasta, pure rice noodles, gluten-free pastas are available, as are gluten-free versions of bread.

The principles of planning ahead and the need to be well informed and to take control are exactly the same for celiac disease and diabetes. Confidence grows out of knowing what you can and cannot eat. Instead of tackling the conditions as two sets of restrictions, combine the needs of both. Having both diabetes and celiac disease is unfortunate but it is important to be positive and take control.

Always take a supply of suitable gluten-free carbohydrates and insulin with you. Plan ahead and involve school, friends and other organizations of your needs.

Gina Gardiner author of “Live Well Eat Well With Celiac Disease” writes from first hand experience of being a celiac. For more information go to http://www.celiacliving.com

Works as a professional life coach working with people developing their leadership skills, preparing people for promotion and supporting their ongoing development once in post. For more information contact gina.gardiner@ntlworld.com

1. How do I love myself?

2. How can I feel like I don’t need approval and validation from anyone else anymore?

3. Why is it so hard for me to love myself?

4. What can I do to really feel happy inside?

5. Why is it so hard for me to take a compliment?

6. How can I know if someone loves me for who I am?

THE ANSWERS

1. How do I love myself?

Love of Self is simply a view of Self. If you view yourself with a great deal of compassion, and suspend all judgment, then replace that judgment with understanding, and compassion, you will come closer and closer to love your authentic self.
So many people have taken on the views of others during their earlier years, and have not learned how to replace those views with the pure truth.

The way to do this is to immediately stop insulting yourself, cutting yourself down, and degrading yourself.
This is paramount! Instead of saying: “I stink at this” say: “I am doing my best, and that is all that is needed.”
You have to bring all of the small insulting lies that you tell yourself up to your conscious awareness.

Once you NOTICE what you are actually telling yourself, and if it is degrading, simply notice it without any judgment whatsoever, and then replace it with something more compassionate and understanding.

Speak to yourself the way you would to someone that you have great respect for.

Love for Self, and love for any other person comes from our views and perceptions. It is all within the mind. Our mind is governed by our thoughts. Our thoughts create our feelings. Our feelings urge us into action, and the cycle continues.

So in order to truly love yourself, you must change how you view yourself, and that can only be with complete compassion, care, respect, and honestly taking a conscious effort to change the verbal abuse you dish out to yourself when you are not even aware of it most of the time.

People that love themselves do NOT degrade themselves. I wouldn’t dare degrade YOU, so please immediately stop degrading yourself, and come to embrace your unique qualities. You chose those qualities and attributes for your unique contribution in this world.

Honor what makes you “different” because that is your unique Light that you are on this Earth to shine!
Treat yourself the way you wish someone else would treat you, and always give yourself a heartfelt hug for the sacred person that you are.

2. How can I feel like I don’t need approval and validation from anyone else anymore?

If you are going to base your sense of self worth on the changing views and perceptions of others, then it is like building a house on shifting sand.

Every person has the right to their own views and perceptions, and no one has the right to judge you.

It is solely your view of self that matters, because only you can live your truth!

You know what feels true for you inside and what does not. Another person cannot ever live your truth, or tell you what is true for you.

Once you start to honor what feels true for you in your heart, and simply go for it without even speaking about it to anyone else, you will come to feel a great measure of inner confidence that grows each time you honor what feels right to you in your heart - not your head, or your fears, but in your heart.

It takes practice, like anything else, and once you get used to honoring and following your own inner truth, you will no longer feel the need to receive validation and approval from anyone, ever.

3. Why is it so hard for me to love myself?

It is hard because no one ever taught you how to honor yourself, your preferences, your talents, abilities, strengths, inner gifts, and areas of self expression that are uniquely yours.
So if you were never taught how to do something, why are you being so hard on yourself?

Now, all you really need to do - which is actually quite simple, is to tell yourself every good quality you have on the inside in front of the mirror, each day, based on your observable actions.
Begin a dialogue to become friends with the person you see every day.

So if you fed your pet, that is being caring. If you called a friend that is going through a hard time - that is being compassionate. If you went to work so you can pay your bills - that is being responsible.

So you are to walk up to that face in the mirror, and as hard as it will be for your ego to do this dialogue, what will happen is that you are slowly, day by day, going to become your own best friend. You are going to feel more self-appreciation. You are going to feel more care for yourself. This mirror process truly works! I have taught it to countless people over the last decade, and I also had to go through it myself for over two years, every day, to chip away at the lies I was told growing up, and replace it with authentic truth, based on my observable actions, so my big ego would actually believe me.

Trust that there will be fierce resistance to this from your ego in the beginning. I actually cursed at myself my first time in front of the mirror over a decade ago. I wouldn’t dare curse at myself now!

I can attest that every single person I teach this to, and share this with, now loves themselves genuinely. The ego is melting away, along with the self-degrading lies.

If you really want to love yourself, the old beliefs must be transformed. It is like cleaning out an inner closet with an old belief system, and replacing it with authentic truth.
No one can give this to you but you.

No one can love you and make you feel lovable.
You have to know and believe you are lovable.

This is just one technique that cost nothing, and brings about astounding change every single time.

You have to also realize that it is your responsibility to learn how to appreciate yourself, no matter what circumstances are facing you, and never seek to validate yourself from the outside in, because you can only be validated from the inside out. This will get you there a LOT faster than anything I have ever come across.

4. What can I do to really feel happy inside?

First, do the mirror technique that I outlined above twice a day, for two years.

Then, imagine that you have a clean slate before you - called your life - and that there was a guarantee that if you followed your truth, you could NOT FAIL.

What do you really want to do with your days and nights? If you had twelve million dollars in the bank, and you already owned every THING that you have ever wanted to own, what would you love to do so much that you would do it for free?

What are the natural talents and abilities that you have? What are you naturally good at? What makes you feel so alive?

These are the questions that you have to ask yourself, so that you can get to the core of who you are on the inside, and then you will be able to live it, and love every minute of it on the outside.

The only things that make me feel happy are when I am with my children, when I am giving my private consultations and intensives, writing (this for you : )) working (in absolute JOY) on inspire! magazine, going out in nature, doing my hobbies, really enjoying the night sky, or a sunset - they are simple pleasures. Being with friends and laughing - that’s something we could all use more of! Bringing through information from Divine Source in my writings - I love every minute of it! I love to travel (sometimes) and there is so much in life that I love. So I create time to do it all during my days and nights.

I had to CREATE my life, no one gave it to me.

You have to create the life of your dreams, based solely on what you love, and on how you can serve from your heart so that you are really making a difference.

For me, personally, there is no greater joy than when I am making a difference - that’s why I love the work (joy) that I do so much!

Many times I am volunteering and do NOT get paid for my work - like right now. And I still love it just as much as if I was paid ten thousand dollars for the few hours it takes to put this together.

You came into this life for a purpose. The key is to find out what that purpose is, so you CAN move in that direction, and live your life in-joy!

It is then that you will be doing everything that will make you happy, because you will be living from the inside out, rather than looking for an answer from the outside in.

5. Why is it so hard for me to take a compliment?

Probably because you are so used to taking insults. I was there too! If someone complimented me I would say: “Oh, that’s not true.” Because what I really wanted was more validation. I then learned a simple technique that actually changed that. I learned to simply say Thank You.

For the first dozen or so compliments, it was really hard for me to do that. Then, I began to feel more comfortable accepting a compliment.

NOW, I learned NOT to take a compliment seriously at ALL - because it is based solely and completely on the views of another person, and what is in their mind - which has nothing to do with me!

Additionally, I don’t take an insult personally either - how freeing!

I can be completely open to constructive critique, such as when I’m working on a project, however, I no longer take it into the core of my being like I used to.

Just say “Thank You” when someone compliments you, and should anyone ever insult you, just know that it is coming from their own perceptions, and never take it seriously.

Moreover, people do like to express their views. So if someone does share their views with you, just know that they are entitled to them, and maintain your own view of self with a lot of loving compassion, and zero self-judgment - that is the key!

6. How can I know if someone loves me for who I am?

By your keen instincts, the subtle things you pick up on, and really being honest with yourself. Perhaps someone adores you and you may not feel worthy of that. So you may doubt that anyone can really love you for you.

When you really love and value yourself, in a genuine way - without all of the ego, you will come to trust your feelings and perceptions. You will instinctually “know” if someone is for real or not. The trick here is are you being real with yourself, or are you playing games with yourself, and not following your own truth?

We tend to doubt others when we doubt ourselves. We also pick up on the authentic feelings other people have for us when we are being authentic with ourselves.

Trust your feelings, and get your head out of the way. Move more into your heart center and dare to expose how you really feel - even if it just to yourself. You will find that when you are completely honest with yourself, and the feelings in your heart, you can then learn to trust what you are picking up from other people. You will trust yourself, and you will be able to follow what feels true for you. You will also know if someone really does or does not love you - you will know - once you come to know and honor what you feel inside fully.

© Copyright by Barbara Rose. All Rights Reserved.

Barbara Rose, PhD. most widely known as “Born To Inspire” is the best selling author of “Know Yourself“, “If God Hears Me, I Want an Answer!“, “Stop Being the String Along“, “If God Was Like Man” and Individual Power. She is an internationally recognized expert in the field of personal transformation, relationships and spiritual awakening. Barbara is a pioneering force in incorporating Higher Self Communication, the study and integration of humanity’s God-Nature into modern personal growth and spiritual evolution. Her highly acclaimed books, public speaking events, tele-seminars, widely published articles, and intensives have transformed the lives of thousands across the globe. She is the founder of IHSC -Institute of Higher Self Communication, inspire! Magazine and Rose Humanitarian Alliance.
Barbara holds a Ph.D. in Metaphysics and works in cooperation with some of the greatest spiritual leaders of our time, to uplift the spiritual consciousness of humanity. Visit her website http://www.borntoinspire.com

Promoting your Business to Venture Capital Investors is an attractive
proposition. The investments are larger than you would get from
friends, family and Angel Investors, and often they are more willing
to invest in subsequent fund raising rounds.

But Venture Capital investors are not always the easiest to get.
If you don’t grasp the realities of the Venture Capital
environment, you may sabotage even an interested potential
investor. Here are five important keys to working with Venture
Capital investor.

Venture Capital Investors are busy. This is just as true
in economic downturns as during a boom. When business is slow,
business plans and propositions still come pouring in through
the post.

Busy people ignore unsolicited email and letters, and will not
return your phone calls. Even when you are in the final stages
of closing a deal, your contact may not return your calls for
weeks.

If you accept this as normal behavior instead of obsessing about
how you may have caused it, you will sleep better at night and
use your daylight hours more productively.

Hot buttons open doors. If you want to capture the
interest of a busy person, you need to tell them exactly how you
can help them. Calling just to introduce yourself will not get
their attention.

What do the people in your target market perceive to be the
greatest problems they face, or the biggest goals they wish to
achieve? Ask these questions of the people you serve and the
other businesspeople who serve them.

Read trade literature or special interest publications and
educate yourself on the key issues in your marketplace.

Then tell your investors in every communication how your idea or
business can help address these needs.

Every choice must be justified. When you raise money from
a family member, friend or an Angel Investor they are free to
make investment decisions based on instinct, whim, or gut
feeling. But every Venture Capital investment must be justified
to someone else in the organisation.

A junior associate within the Venture Capital firm must justify
choices to a manager,

The manager to an executive,

The executive to the CEO or Senior Partner, The CEO/Senior
Partner to the Investment/Credit Committee,

The Investment Committee or Board of Directors ultimately to the
shareholders.

Each one of these people wants to look good to the next link up
the chain, and dreads making a public mistake. If you want your
investment to be concluded, you need to provide your contact
with EVIDENCE why you and your business solution are the best
choice for investment.

The bottom line rules. When you provide your evidence, it
had better include euro/dollars and cents. If you are more
expensive than your competition, what added value will you
provide? What unique tangible benefits will they receive that
make the added investent worthwhile?

Friends, family and Angel Investors invest in the category of
nice-to-have, often to improve their quality of life. Venture
Capital organsiations don’t. You must convince them that your
business idea is something they actually NEED and prove how it
will enhance their bottom line and deliver a profitable EXIT. Real-life examples of results, proof-of-concept
at least, can speak volumes. Illustrations with charts and
graphs are more convincing than any brochure and understanding
the F
inancial Calculations goes a long way to convincing your
investors that they will find that EXIT.

No budget; no investment. Even when the Venture Capital
firm would like to be part of what you have and thinks you’re
the best idea they have seen all month, the deal won’t go
through if there’s no money in the fund. No free cash usually
means your project will be deferred until the next investment
fund is raised. Always ask if the Venture Capital fund has free funding at the first
meeting. Don’t necessarily expect them to tell you how much is
available. But if your contact can’t answer funding questions,
it’s also a strong clue you are not talking to the
decision-maker.

Finasteride was initially marketed to treat prostate conditions under the name Proscar in 5mg pills. It was known to inhibit the formation of DHT, a major contributor to both prostate cancer and male pattern hair loss.

Subsequent research showed that a 1mg daily dose of the same drug was sufficient to control hair loss for 83% of men after two years of treatment. Since 1998 this version has been marketed under the brand name Propecia and it remains the only prescription drug approved by the FDA specifically to treat hair loss. This approval extends only to men’s hair loss because of the dangers finasteride presents to unborn male fetuses. Women of child bearing age should therefore consult with their physician before considering the use of this drug.

The main purpose of Propecia is to halt hair loss and maintain what hair coverage is left. It is therefore popular with younger men who want to control hair loss at an early stage. Men of all ages use it in combination with minoxidil to achieve a hair loss strategy that both halts hair loss and encourages new growth.

Propecia works by interfering with the process of androgenetic hair loss which usually follows this process:

1. High levels of an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase occur in cells of the hair follicle.

2. This enzyme converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes miniaturization of robust terminal hairs.

4. This results in fine, soft vellus hairs that provide limited scalp coverage.

5. The growth phase gradually shortens until these hairs are lost permanently.

Propecia inhibits the formation of DHT and over a period of several months reduces levels of DHT sufficiently to minimize its effects on the hair follicle.

As with any drug, finasteride can cause side effects to a minority of users. The FDA trials reported a 2% incidence of varying side effects but these tended to lessen as the body adjusted to the drug over a period of months. Although Propecia or cheaper generic versions are easily obtained on the internet it is strongly recommended that you seek the advice of your doctor, at least in the first instance.

You can find out more about Propecia and other hair loss treatments at the site listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com, website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Propecia to learn more about the issues covered in this article.

For women, calcium is one of the most important nutrients required during all
stages of life. It is essential to the health of our bones, teeth, skin, heart, muscle,
nerves and for proper blood clotting. Between age 12 through 35, the body
accumulates most of the calcium it will use to prevent bone loss common in post-
menopausal women. During this time intake should be between 1000 and 1500
mg/day (adolescent and pregnant woman requiring the most).

Meeting these requirements through our diet can be difficult. Vegetarians tend to
assimilate calcium more efficiently therefore their daily requirement may be lower.
Factors such as a diet high in phosphorus and refined sugar (pop, junk, and
convenience foods) and high protein intake lead to calcium depletion. Caffeine
tends to interfere with absorption as does hormonal changes such as a drop in
estrogen during menopause.

During pregnancy, a woman’s body ensures that the baby receives an adequate
amount of calcium. Throughout weeks 20-40, the fetus will accumulate up to 28g
of calcium daily. Luckily the body develops the ability to retain greater amounts of
calcium from our diet as well as absorb more through the intestinal lining.

Well known for preventing bone loss, this mineral also has a relaxing effect on
muscle. Leg cramps, menstrual pain, and back problems all benefit from calcium.
Some studies show that it lowers blood pressure and helps to strengthen the heart
beat. It also strengthens the transmission of nerve impulses and can there fore be
used in the treatment of stress-related illnesses and nervous disorders. It has a very
calming effect and works well when taken at bedtime for insomnia.

Good vegetarian sources of dietary calcium include broccoli, kale, almonds,
blackstrap molasses, sesame seeds, kelp and tofu. Non-vegetarian sources include
dairy products, salmon (with bones) and sardines. Because dairy may contain
residual amounts of hormones and antibiotics, and fish has a possible risk of heavy
metal and toxic chemical (PCB’s, DDT) contamination, vegetarian sources are
recommended, (especially during pregnancy).

Calcium supplements can help protect against deficiency. Look for calcium citrate
on the label and avoid bone meal, dolomite, and oyster shell as these may contain
high lead levels. Liquid supplements are absorbed well and are recommended if you
take calcium to prevent cramping and insomnia. Make sure it contains equal or half
the amount of magnesium. The addition of vitamin D is good, but don’t exceed
400mg of it per day. For best absorption, divide doses of calcium throughout the
day and take no more than 500mg at a time for best absorption.

It is important to look toward good nutrition to provide the bulk of your daily
requirements, then supplement the remainder. 1 cup broccoli, 1/2 cup tofu, 1/4
cup almonds, 1 tbls basil, plus a 600mg supplement furnishes enough calcium for
one day - and your body benefits from the countless additional nutrients your meal
provides!

Stacelynn Caughlan is a Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Herbalist who specializes
in pregnancy, birth and childhood. She is currently the editor of http://www.motherandchildhealth.com an online resource for women looking for
information on natural health and healing for themselves and their families.

Virtual Networking 101 for freelance translators and small translation agencies

by Christian Hansel, SiteFounder of babelport.com

This Article gives a little insight into the mechanism of online networks and
their benefits for self-promotion and marketing of freelancers and small businesses

This is an edited reprint of an article written for babelport.com,
the Translation Industry Information and Project Portal, and nakedtranslation.com,
Céline Graciets excellent Translation web-log. The article offers a little
insight into techniques of virtual self-promotion and networking for freelancers
and small companies, especially in the translation industry. As a self-employed
programmer and project manager I’ve had my share of experience in this but still
I am far from being an expert. Nonetheless, here’s my compacted knowledge of
what networking means and how networks are created, maintained, and extended.

What is networking?

Technically, a network is a collection of interconnected unique entities allowing
for and generating multilateral transfers with redundant ways and strategies
of interaction. Translating this techie-jibberish: a network is made up of individuals
communicating with each other. To use an analogy: like a spider in his web you
can go from one spot to another using the paths that connect the individual
positions: The more connections are established in a web the more stable it
is. In fact, personal and business networks very much resemble the web of a
spider.

Through networks, new contacts are made: Imagine, your best friend’s friend
introduces you to one of her acquaintances who will at a later point introduce
you to your future chess club fellow whose cousin will turn out to become your
wife/husband/friend - or may be a new client. There is a theory, called The
Six degrees of Separation (more information) which basically says that you only
have to know seven people who know seven others and so forth to know everybody
on this planet. By making use of personal contacts you create and maintain networks
daily.

In real life everybody has social networks: your family, your friends, your
business partners etc. Networks are the most valuable resources we have - not
only in business. When it comes down to business, however, it is vital to understand
that you cannot have enough of them. As a professional in your specific field
you are most likely already networking daily: Making sales contacts, calling
colleagues, showing up regularly at your local professional association meetings,
knowing your links to the Chamber of Commerce etc. Through this, you certainly
have gotten most of your jobs so far and will in the future. If you are experienced
in this kind of networking you may also be a member of a business group, which
usually only allow a small number of each profession to join. This is real life
networking you are most experienced with if you have not just started freelancing
yesterday.

This article will concentrate more specifically on on-line marketing or self-promotion
instead of repeating what everybody most likely knows. On-line self-promotion
works along the same principles as its real-world sibling: You need to create
networks, leave positive first impressions, and make sure your connections are
redundant. In order to go into detail, however, it is necessary to have an idea
about user behaviour and of how search engines work.

Search engines and your virtual self

Search engines gather addresses from header information sent by browsers when
user point their browsers to Google and Co, as well as from threads in Usenet
groups, news services, and, of course, web sites they have previously indexed.
These addresses are stored into databases and spiders or robots, little programmes
that browse these sites automatically, are sent to these websites regularly.
My own site, for instance, is indexed by robots daily for new content (1.000
views per day) and every 5 or 6 weeks completely (25.000-40.000 views per day).

When indexing websites robots usually call pages more than once depending on
the number of internal links. In that sense, a website is its own little network.
Search engines distinguish between internal, incoming, and outgoing links. Internal
links help to evaluate the ‘weight’ of the single page and its content, outgoing
links are relatively unimportant for the evaluation of the site itself but represent
incoming links for the sites linked to. Incoming links, however, represent the
most important factor, apart from content, of course. The more incoming links
a website gets the more valuable it becomes: it is represented in Google’s internal
database and robots will index it more frequently. Like an introvert in real
life a website without incoming links is practically isolated and virtually
unable to network, hence it becomes vital for a business website to get as many
incoming links as possible.

Apart from links a major factor that helps to promote your website - your virtual
self - is well represented content. Search engines build their catalogues of
key words from textual information you offer and combine them with the number
of incoming links registered for your website. Of course, the information about
you, your experience, expertise, products, services, and prices represent the
core content. But surplus you offer on-line may be the key for virtual success.
A news section, a web-log, or a glossary of your expertise represents such additional
information. Larger companies offer forums, references, dictionaries etc. The
important fact is that the content needs to be original - continuously reprinting is rather harmful. Blogs are good examples: Many offer little original content
apart from copying texts found elsewhere; others, however, paraphrase and comment
on recent publications, news, and events - thus, they create a surplus of information
- an expertise. Remember, robots index your content regularly. It pays off to
regularly provide up-to-date surplus information since more content will get
your site being linked to more keywords in search engines.

Another way to easily produce a little bit of content is integrating news feeds.
Some websites offer xml-based or javascript-generated news specific to your
industry. Babelport.com, for instance, offers a News Feed for the translation
industry that can be configured according to your needs. Babelport.com
News Feed covers topics including translation markets, workshops & events,
news about CAT-Tools and PC-Security relevant information up to six times a
week. Using the Configurator
you can generate html/php/javascript code that allows to integrate new and up-to-date
content on your website easily and according to your layout-needs.

Content is best represented as text in plain html, with a well-done but simple
design. Company websites should not have the most fancy design - in fact this
may influence your ranking negatively. Flash driven websites are more difficult
to index and don’t forget that many users disabled such features. Also robots
only index plain html-links no popup, javascript, or flash-based links (See
Google for more information how search engines index sites). Furthermore, as
in real life a positive initial impression is everything: Users not getting
the important information immediately will turn elsewhere - don’t expect them
to spend minutes searching. Now that Google & Co have something to index
you need to make sure they will findA your virtual self. Here networking and
on-line self-promotion starts.

Creating networks online

If incoming links are so important to your site - how do ensure you get them?
First, by regularly providing content: if you provide valuable information visitors
will link to your site. Second, virtual business networks allow you to create
profiles and get promoted for free or little money. Third, find means to demonstrate
your special knowledge: engage in expert exchange forums, publish articles about
your area of expertise on portals like babelport.com, etc.. Whatever you do
make sure you provide your unique signature and your URL. Thus people will remember
you more easily and you also become more visible (and your search engine rankings
are improved).

Moreover, put a tagline to your signature in emails, forum posts, etc: A short
but catchy slogan that represents what you do and how you feel about the kind
of work you do. For some good examples you may have a look at the user profiles
visible at babelport.com. Make sure, however, you don’t put superlatives in
there - calling your self the fastest, most reliable, or best begs a challenge
to this claim.

Joining business organisations and business portals is another major keys to
successful virtual networking, whether you wish to bid for jobs or not. There
are some out there addressing translators (including babelport.com) and some
excellent general ones (e.g. www.openbc.com). Apart from the direct benefits
of such platforms (creating personal networks, getting access to information,
and, possibly, a job) you can only profit from signing up with such business
portals. The reason is simple: Due to the amount of content, keywords, and incoming
links portals like these are more frequently indexed than the website of a small
business or freelancer. If you have a profile page on these portals, participate
in forum discussions, or publish articles thAere your name, profile, résumé,
tagline, and your URL will be indexed every time robots crawl the site completely.

Lastly, ensure a steady visibility on business platforms. Being advertised
as featured member for only a day creates additional incoming links valid for
some weeks if a robots indexes the page during that time (remember the daily
indexing by robots). This will have more effect than paying for keywords on
Google or banner ads in general web-directories. Also, the more articles and
forum threads you post the more incoming links are generated for your own website.
Redundancy only helps to strengthen your virtual networks (remember the spider
analogy?): Be listed and engage in more than just one business portal. By creating
profiles on and actively participating in multiple platforms your virtual self
will be ranked higher in search engine results and connected to more keywords.

Continuous investment

As in real life, maintaining virtual networks is time and, sometimes, money
consuming. You do not need to provide original content daily - but do it regularly.
Give yourself at least three hours per week to write some content for your website
and to participate in online forums. If you have gathered unique information
in your business, or written essays on translation, tips for freelancers, or
wish to publish new linguistic research results, contact our administrators
who will put them online for free at babelport.com. Doing this you gain expertise
and reputation directly and add to your virtual network at the same time.

Joining business portals does not need to cost money - there are many benefits
you get for free. Investing in annual member fees for two or three portals,
however, may cost you a couple of hundred Euros per year, but remember it is
investing into your business and may earn you more reputation than spending
the same money in printed newspaper advertisemenAt. It certainly creates more
lasting links immediately and pays off in the long run. Especially if you are
running a business with global reach - and as a freelance translator you most
likely are - you will need to promote yourself as heavily internationally as
locally. Business portals offer great opportunities for this.

Creating, maintaining, and extending your personal and virtual business demands
continuous engagement and investment with success often not immediately visible.
The benefits, however, will be measurable in steadily increasing website-traffic
in the long run.

Christian Hansel

CEO cpi service, Leipzig, Germany

SiteFounder of babelport.com

About the Author

None

1.A New Start - Tomorrow start with a new perspective know in
you mind that you have missed a great deal of opportunities in
abandoned properties that were in front you all the time. Drive
slower, look at every property you go by with your new eyes.
Drive a different way each day.

2.Bird-dogs - Hire a bird dog; pay by the lead or by commission.
Just get someone out on the street actively looking for vacant
properties. They are out there ready for you to make an offer.
Banks and dead-tired owners are waiting for you.

3.Real Estate Agents - Don’t waste your time they have already
had these properties listed and couldn’t sell them. These are
the dogs that nobody wants anything to do with. No commissions
for agents here.

4.When You Find One - Now the real work starts. Sometimes it is
easy to find the owner through the tax records, no problem. If
that doesn’t work try the neighbors’ maybe they know something.
What’s next how about hiring a skip tracer private investigator
could be expensive $400 or $500 to make $25,000 you do the math.
Abandon run-down properties are usually that way for a reason,
nobody can contact the owner.

5.Found The Owner - Find out what they know about the property.
It may be Uncle Charlie’s house left to them in his will and
they don’t want anything to do with it, an opportunity for a
good deal. Again it could be the whole family knows about it and
they have been waiting years to get their piece of the pie,
maybe not such a good deal.

6.Offer an Embarrassing Amount - Remember it’s abandoned nobody
wants it. To get your point across use photos with your offer,
maybe the City Building Dept has notices posted, danger signs.
Use anything ugly, photos of other ugly properties near by or
newspaper articles about the neighborhood.

7.Closing the Deal - Use your real estate attorney to prepare
the paperwork and close the transaction. Before money changes
hands, do your due diligence, have it appraised, order Title
report and insurance, a survey, research building code and
health code violations. You should be ready to go.