Alphabet 26 Project

Dell

2009-07-18T02:28:00.001-07:00

Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL, HKEX: 4331), a multinational technology corporation, develops, manufactures, sells, and supports personal computers and other computer-related products. Based in Round Rock, Texas, Dell employs more than 76,500 people worldwide as of 2009^[update].^[1]

Dell grew during the 1980s and 1990s to become (for a time) the largest seller of PCs and servers. As of 2008^[update] it held the second spot in computer-sales within the industry behind Hewlett-Packard. The company currently sells personal computers, servers, data storage devices, network switches, software, and computer peripherals. Dell also sells HDTVs, cameras, printers, MP3 players and other electronics built by other manufacturers.

In 2006, Fortune magazine ranked Dell as the 25th-largest company in the Fortune 500 list, 8th on its annual "Top 20" list of the most-admired companies in the United States.^[2] In 2007 Dell ranked 34th and 8th respectively on the equivalent lists for the year. A 2006 publication identified Dell as one of 38 high-performance companies in the S&P 500 which had consistently out-performed the market over the previous 15 years.^[3]

Dracula

2009-07-18T02:25:00.001-07:00

Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker, featuring as its primary antagonist the vampire Count Dracula.

Dracula has been attributed to many literary genres including vampire literature, horror fiction, the gothic novel and invasion literature. Structurally it is an epistolary novel, that is, told as a series of diary entries and letters. Literary critics have examined many themes in the novel, such as the role of women in Victorian culture, conventional and conservative sexuality, immigration, colonialism, postcolonialism and folklore. Although Stoker did not invent the vampire, the novel's influence on the popularity of vampires has been singularly responsible for many theatrical, film and television interpretations throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

Deutschland

2009-07-18T02:22:00.001-07:00

Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland, pronounced [ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant] ( listen)),^[4] is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The territory of Germany covers 357,021 square kilometers (137,847 sq mi) and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. With 82 million inhabitants, it accounts for the largest population among the member states of the European Union and is home to the third-largest number of international migrants worldwide.^[5]

A region named Germania inhabited by several Germanic peoples has been known and documented before AD 100. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire that lasted until 1806. During the 16th century, northern Germany became the centre of the Protestant Reformation. As a modern nation-state, the country was first unified amidst the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. In 1949, after World War II, Germany was divided into two separate states—East Germany and West Germany—along the lines of Allied occupation.^[6] The two states were unified in 1990. West Germany was a founding member of the European Community (EC) in 1957, which became the European Union in 1993. It is part of the Schengen zone and adopted the European currency, the euro, in 1999.

Dumb and Dumber

2009-07-18T02:19:00.001-07:00

Lloyd: The first time I set eyes on Mary Swanson, I just got that old fashioned romantic feeling where I'd do anything to bone her.
Harry: That's a special feeling, Lloyd.

[after Lloyd trades the van in for a moped]
Harry: Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!

Harry: So you got fired again, eh?
Lloyd: Oh yeah. They always freak out when you leave the scene of an accident, you know?
Harry: Yeah, well, I lost my job too.
Lloyd: Man, you are one pathetic loser. No offense.
Harry: No, none taken. You know what really chaps my ass though? I spent my life savings turning my van into a dog. The alarm alone cost me two hundred.
Lloyd: Hey, chicks love it. It's a shaggin' wagon.

[to the dogs in his van]
Harry: OK gang, you know the rules, no humping, no licking, no sniffing hineys.

Lloyd: All we need to do is show a little class, a little sophistication, and we're in like a dirty shirt.
Harry: No problem, Lloyd. We can be classy and sophistic-Oh check out the funbags on that hosehound.
Lloyd: I'd like to eat her liver with some fava beans and a nice bottle of Chianti.

Harry: I expected the Rocky Mountains to be a little rockier than this.
Lloyd: I was thinking the same thing. That John Denver's full of shit, man.

Lloyd: If I know Mary as well as I think I do, she'll invite us right in for tea and strumpets.

Harry: Hi, Lloyd.
Lloyd: Hi, Harry.
Harry: How was your day?
Lloyd: Not bad. Fell off the jet way again.

Harry: I can't believe we drove around all day, and there's not a single job in this town. There is nothing, nada, zip!
Lloyd: Yeah! Unless you wanna work forty hours a week.

Harry: Skis, huh?
Beth: That's right!
Harry: Great! They yours?
Beth: Uh-huh.
Harry: Both of 'em?
Beth: Yes.
Harry: Ah... cool!

Lloyd: We got no food, no jobs... our PET'S HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!"

[Harry and Lloyd are spending the evening in a romantic-themed motel]
Harry: I don't know, Lloyd. These places always seem to bring back a lot of bad memories.
Lloyd: What's the matter, Har? Some little fillie break your heart?
Harry: No, it was a girl.

Lloyd: Mary... I desperately wanna make love to a school boy.

Lloyd: Excuse me, Flo?
[Harry and Lloyd crack up]
Lloyd: Flo, like the TV show. Uh, what is the Soup Du Jour?
Flo, Waitress #1: It's the Soup of the Day.
Lloyd: Mmmm. That sounds good. I'll have that.

Lloyd: That's a lovely accent you have. New Jersey?
Lady at bus stop: Austria.
Lloyd: Austria! Well, then. G'day mate! Let's put another shrimp on the barbie!
Lady at bus stop: Let's not.

Lloyd: This isn't my real job, you know.
Mary: No?
Lloyd: Nope. My friend Harry and I are saving up to open our own pet store.
Mary: That's nice.
Lloyd: I got worms!
Mary: I beg your pardon?
Lloyd: That's what we're gonna call it. "I Got Worms!" We're gonna specialize in selling worm farms. You know, like ant farms.

Lloyd: Well suck me sideways!

Harry: Yeah I called her up. She gave me a bunch of crap about me not listening to her, or something. I don't know, I wasn't really paying attention.

Desperation

2009-07-18T02:17:00.002-07:00

des⋅per⋅a⋅tion

–noun

1.	the state of being desperate or of having the recklessness of despair.

2.	the act or fact of despairing; despair.

Origin:
1325–75; ME desperacioun < class="ital-inline">dēspērātiōn- (s. of dēspērātiō). See

Daniel Craig

2009-07-18T02:17:00.001-07:00

Daniel Craig, one of British theatre's most famous faces who was waiting tables as a struggling teenage actor with the NYT, is now starring as James Bond in Casino Royale (2006).

He was born Daniel Wroughton Craig on March 2, 1968, at 41 Liverpool Road, Chester, Cheshire, England. His father, Tim Craig, was a merchant seaman turned steel erector, then became landlord of 'Ring O' Bells' pub in Frodsham, Cheshire. His mother, Carol Olivia Craig, was an art teacher. His parents split up in 1972, and young Daniel Craig was raised with his older sister, Lea, in Liverpool, then in Hoylake, Wirral, in the home of his mother. His interest in acting was encouraged by visits to the Liverpool Everyman Theatre arranged by his mother. From the age of 6, Craig started acting in school plays, making his debut in the Frodsham Primary School production of Oliver!, and his mother was the driving force behind his artistic aspirations. The first Bond movie he ever saw at the cinema was Roger Moore's Live and Let Die (1973); young Daniel Craig saw it with his father, so it took a special place in his heart. He was also a good athlete and was a rugby player at Hoylake Rugby Club.

At the age of 14 Craig played roles in 'Oliver', 'Romeo and Juliet', and 'Cinderella' at Hilbre High School in West Kirby, Wirral, UK. He left Hilbre High at 16 to audition at the National Youth Theatre's (NYT) troupe on their tour in Manchester in 1984. He was accepted and moved down to London. There his mother and father watched his stage debut as Agamemnon in Shakespeare's 'Troilus And Cressida'. As a struggling actor with the NYT, he was toiling in restaurant kitchens and as a waiter. Craig performed with NYT on tours to Valencia, Spain, and to Moscow, Russia, under the leadership of director 'Edward Wilson' . He failed at repeated auditions at the Guildhall, but eventually his persistence paid off, and in 1988, he entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at the Barbican. There he studied alongside Ewan McGregor and Alistair McGowan , then later Damian Lewis and Joseph Fiennes , among others. He graduated in 1991, after a three-year course under the tutelage of Colin McCormack , the actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company. From 1992-1994 he was married to Scottish actress Fiona Loudon, their daughter, named Ella, was born in 1992.

Daniel Craig made his film debut in The Power of One (1992). His film career continued on television, notably the BBC2 serial 'Our Friends in the North' (1996). He shot to international fame after playing supporting roles in 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' (2001) and Road to Perdition (2002). He was nominated for his performances in the leading role in Layer Cake (2004), and received other awards and nominations. Craig was named as the sixth actor to portray James Bond, in October of 2005, weeks after he finished his work in Munich (2005), where he co-starred with Eric Bana under the directorship of Steven Spielberg .

Craig's reserved demeanor and his avoidance of the showbiz-party-red-carpet milieu makes him a cool 007. He is the first blonde actor to play Bond, and also the first to be born after the start of the film series, and also the first to be born after the death of the author Ian Fleming in 1964. Four of the past Bond actors: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan have indicated that Craig is a good choice as Bond.

Darts

2009-07-18T02:15:00.000-07:00

Darts refers to a variety of related sports, in which darts are thrown at a circular target (dartboard) hung on a wall. Though various different boards and games have been used in the past, the term 'darts' usually now refers to a standardized game involving a specific board design and set of rules. As well as being a professional competitive activity, darts is a traditional pub game, commonly played in the United Kingdom (the first country to officially recognise darts as a sport), across the Commonwealth, the Netherlands, Ireland, the Scandinavian countries, the United States, Canada and elsewhere.

Dolomites

2009-07-18T02:14:00.000-07:00

Mountain group lying in the eastern section of the northern Italian Alps, bounded by the valleys of the Isarco (northwest), the Pusteria (north), the Piave (east and southeast), the Brenta (southwest), and the Adige (west). The range comprises a number of impressive peaks, 18 of which rise to more than 10,000 feet (3,050 metres). The highest point is the Marmolada (10,964 feet), the southern face of which consists of a precipice 2,000 feet high. The range and its characteristic rock take their name from the 18th-century French geologist Dieudonné Dolomieu, who made the first scientific study of the region and its geology. Geologically, the mountains are formed of light-coloured dolomitic limestone, which erosion has carved into grotesque shapes. The resulting landforms include jagged, saw-edged ridges, rocky pinnacles, screes (pebble deposits) of limestone debris, deep gorges, and numerous steep rock faces at relatively low levels. Glaciated features occur at higher levels; 41 glaciers lie in the region. Many of the lower and more gentle scree slopes were once forested; only patches of woodland remain, however, interspersed with grassy meadows.

Dalmatian

2009-07-18T02:13:00.000-07:00

The Dalmatian is an active, energetic and creative dog that enjoys lots of exercise and loves to play. They were bred to run for hours alongside a horse or carriage, and have almost endless stamina.

Dalmatians are very people-oriented. They thrive when they spend lots of time with and around their family. Dalmatians are wonderful family dogs, and are great in multi-pet households. Dalmatians can also get along well with cats if introduced appropriately.

This cunning creature who demands (and gets) your love is also an accomplished thief who steals food at every opportunity. It is a good idea to move precious ornaments out of tail wagging reach as one lash from their tail and your family heirlooms will be for the dustbin.

Dalmatians are not suited to living outside. Their short coat gives little protection from the cold. They are much happier indoors for comfort and for the companionship of their family. They like nothing better than a good walk and then to lie in front of the fire!

Dog or bitch?

Both sexes are equally as loving and intelligent, dogs tend to be stronger and slightly bigger than bitches. An unneutered dog will lift his leg to mark his territory. An unspayed bitch can attract all the dogs in the neighbourhood and be messy while in season. The unspayed bitch also runs greater risk of mammary tumors, likewise a neutered male is highly unlikely to develop testicular cancer. Neutering may also assist his temperament and trainability, and will minimise wandering and his need to mark everything he passes.

How long do they live?

Kept in optimum conditions and barring problems you can expect your Dalmatian to live approximately 12 - 15 years

Dennis Bergkamp

2009-07-18T02:10:00.000-07:00

Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp (born 10 May 1969 in Amsterdam) is a retired Dutch professional footballer. He was named after Manchester United footballer Denis Law (although the traditional spelling had to be observed for the legal satisfaction of the registrar). At club level he played for Ajax, Internazionale, Arsenal and also represented the Netherlands at international level. Bergkamp played most of his best games as a support striker, where his tactical awareness and deft passes made him a great exponent of the game from the 'hole'.

He was selected by Pelé as one of the FIFA 125 greatest living players and is widely regarded as one of the English Premier League's all-time greatest players. In 2007 he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame, the first and thus far only Dutch player ever to receive the honour. He has also finished third in the FIFA World Player of the Year award twice.

Cleopatra

2009-07-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

Cleopatra VII (ruled 51-30 BC) was illustrious, intelligent and politically astute, and was reputedly the only Ptolomaic ruler to have actually learnt the Egyptian language. Cleopatra VII first shared a co-regency with her father Ptolomy XII (ruled 80-51 BC). Pharaoh Ptolemy XII died in March 51 BC making the 18 year old Cleopatra and her 12 year old brother Ptolemy XIII joint monarchs. These first three years of their reign was difficult due to economic difficulties, famine, deficient floods of Nile and political conflicts. Relations between the sovereigns completely broke down and her brother Ptolomy XIII actually ousted her from power for a time in the year 48 BC. Cleopatra tried to raise a rebellion, but in the end had little choice but to flee.

Crustaceans

2009-07-17T07:51:00.001-07:00

Crustaceans are a type of Arthropod. The name may not sound familiar, but you probably know them. You may even have eaten one.

Crustaceans live mostly in the ocean or other waters. Most commonly known crustaceans are the crab, lobster and barnacle.

Crustaceans have a hard, external shell which protects their body. Crustaceans have a head and abdomen. The head has antennae which are part of their sensory system. The abdomen includes the heart, digestive system and reproductive system.

The abdomen also has appendages, such as legs, for crawling and swimming. Many crustaceans also have claws that help with crawling and eating.

Coin

2009-07-17T07:50:00.001-07:00

A coin is a piece of hard material, usually metal or a metallic material, usually in the shape of a disc, and most often issued by a government. Coins are used as a form of money in transactions of various kinds, from the everyday circulation coins to the storage of vast numbers of bullion coins. In the present day, coins and banknotes make up the cash forms of all modern money systems. Coins made for circulation (general monetized use) are usually used for lower-valued units, and banknotes for the higher values; also, in most money systems, the highest value coin made for circulation is worth less than the lowest-value note. The face value of circulation coins is usually higher than the gross value of the metal used in making them, but this is not generally the case with historical circulation coins made of precious metals.

Exceptions to the rule of coin face-value being higher than content value, also occur for some "bullion coins" made of silver or gold (and, rarely, other metals, such as platinum or palladium), intended for collectors or investors in precious metals. For examples of modern gold collector/investor coins, the United States mints the American Gold Eagle, Canada mints the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, and South Africa mints the Krugerrand. The American Gold Eagle has a face value of US$50, and the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins also have nominal (purely symbolic) face values (e.g., C$50 for 1 oz.); but the Krugerrand does not.

Historically, a great number of coinage metals (including alloys) and other materials have been used practically, impractically artistically, and experimentally in the production of coins for circulation, collection, and metal investment, where bullion coins often serve as more convenient stores of assured metal quantity and purity than other bullion.^[1]

Coins have long been linked to the concept of money, as reflected by the fact that in other languages the words "coin" and "currency" are synonymous. Fictional currencies may also bear the name coin (as such, an item may be said to be worth 123 coin or 123 coins).

Cramp

2009-07-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

Leg cramps are a common problem, especially as people get older. The term cramp is used to describe various pains, but mostly refers to a painful spasm of the muscles.

If the cramps occur during or immediately after exercise, they may be a sign of atherosclerosis, when the arteries are clogged by fatty deposits, limiting the supply of blood to the muscles.

When you exercise your leg muscles need more oxygen. But because the arteries are narrowed, they can't get enough and so switch to anaerobic metabolism. This results in the build-up of chemicals that can trigger pain and spasm, usually in the calves. When you rest the pain gets better. This is called intermittent claudication.

In mild cases, you may notice your legs are cold, with dry skin and few hairs. As it gets worse the limbs may become blue, ulcerated and even gangrenous. Smokers, people with high cholesterol or diabetes and those with a family history of heart disease are all at particular risk. Intermittent claudication needs thorough investigation, so see your GP.

Cramps may also occur when a muscle is injured. Although the cramp or spasm may be felt in the legs, the underlying problem may be elsewhere, such as the back or knee.

Very rarely leg cramps are caused by medical conditions, such as an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), Addison's disease and kidney problems.

When cramps persist it's important you see a doctor, who'll be able to check for these underlying causes.

Many people find that leg cramps cause particular trouble at night, when the pain stops them from sleeping or wakes them up. These night cramps are rarely serious, but can cause a lot of discomfort.

Avoiding cramp

Before exercise, warm up gently and stretch the muscles out. You should also stretch after exercise too. Stretching also helps relieve the spasms of cramp.

Dehydration upsets calcium and phosphorous levels in the body, which may trigger cramps. So make sure you drink plenty of fluid before and during activity. Non-phosphate calcium supplements may also help reduce cramps.

If night cramps are a problem, sleep under a light, loose duvet. Heavy or tight covers can force the toes downwards, straining the leg muscles.

Sometimes quinine is used to prevent cramps. However, its use is controversial and potential side effects include dizziness, blurred vision and blood problems. Tonic water contains very small amounts of quinine, which may be enough to relieve night cramps.

Some people recommend vitamin E creams for cramp, but there's little evidence that they have any effect other than that of a good massage.

If cramps persist, get advice from your pharmacist about simple over-the-counter treatments. If these don't help, talk to your doctor.

Cambodia

2009-07-17T07:44:00.001-07:00

There’s a magic about Cambodia that casts a spell on many who visit this charming yet confounding kingdom. Ascend to the realm of the gods at the mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, a spectacular fusion of symbolism, symmetry and spirituality. Descend into the hell of Tuol Sleng and come face to face with the Khmer Rouge and its killing machine. Welcome to the conundrum that is Cambodia: a country with a history both inspiring and depressing, an intoxicating place where the future is waiting to be shaped.

Just as Angkor is more than its wat, so too is Cambodia more than its temples. The chaotic yet charismatic capital of Phnom Penh is a hub of political intrigue, economic vitality and intellectual debate. All too often overlooked by hit-and-run tourists ticking off Angkor on a regional tour, the revitalised city of Siem Reap is finally earning plaudits in its own right thanks to a gorgeous riverside location, a cultural renaissance, and a dining and drinking scene to rival the best in the region. And don’t forget the rest of the country: relax in the sleepy seaside town of Kampot and trek the nearby Bokor National Park; take an elephant ride in the jungles of Mondulkiri Province; ogle the Mekong dolphins at Kratie or simply choose a beach near Sihanoukville.

Camerlengo

2009-07-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

(Latin camerarius).

The title of certain papal officials. The Low Latin word camera (chamber) means the treasure of the prince, monastery, etc.; also in general the royal treasury (fiscus), the temporal administration of a monastery. The term camerarius was, therefore, very frequently equivalent to civil treasurer, and in the case of monasteries meant the monk charged with the administration of the monastic property. This is also the sense of the Italian term camerlengo, still borne at Rome by three ecclesiastics, (1) The Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, (2) the Camerlengo of the Sacred College (of Cardinals), and (3) the Camerlengo of the Roman Clergy. The Roman confraternities have also an officer similarly entitled.

Chastity Belt

2009-07-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

Probably everyone knows what chastity belts are - those devices that look like iron underpants with a lock. Well, the story goes that the chastity belt was invented in the middle ages by some paranoid Crusader who didn't want to leave his wife 'fully functional' at home while he was busy butchering people in the Holy Land. Naturally, all his Crusader pals thought this was a good idea, and had chastity belts manufactured for all their mistresses, daughters and wives (in that order, most probably).

Myths and Facts

Chasity Belts are from medieval times...

As plausible as it might sound, the chastity belt is not however a medieval invention - the romantic stories outlined in the paragraph above are nothing but a product of the over-active 19th Century imagination. There are, in fact, no genuine chastity belts dating from medieval times: all known 'medieval' chastity belts have been produced in the first half of the 19th Century. These fake-medieval chastity belts are too heavy and the workmanship is too crude, even for medieval standards. The oldest design for a chastity belt that can be taken seriously dates from the 16th Century - but it's just a design, with no real working models believed to have ever been constructed. The concept of a chastity belt itself is a lot older, but it was usually used in poems in a metaphorical sense. According to Dr Eric John Dingwall, who wrote a deeper study on the subject in 1931, 'the chastity belt probably made its first appearance in ordinary use among the Italians of the period of the Renaissance or perhaps somewhat later.'

Most of the 'medieval' chastity belts on display in museums have been tested to confirm their actual age. As a result, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg (Nürnberg), the Musée Cluny (officially known as Musée National du Moyen Âge, or the Middle Age Museum) in Paris and The British Museum in London have all either removed the chastity belts from their medieval displays or corrected the date.

Men used them to control their women...

Despite the common misconception, the use of the chastity belt was not usually imposed by men on women in order to force them to be faithful. If we use medieval poetry as a reliable source, we discover that the use of chastity belts was often in consensus between both parties. The use of the chastity belt in these poems is a metaphor for a pledge of fidelity. No locks or iron parts are ever mentioned - these metaphoric 'chastity belts' are usually made of cloth. Real chastity belts became available later, and the majority of chastity belts were bought in the 19th Century, in England, by women. Often they would use the apparatus to avoid the consequences of sexual harassment in the workplace. Furthermore, the chastity belt was not imposed on people to avoid sexual intercourse. Medical reports describe the prescription of chastity belts (or similar devices, which might have no resemblance at all with a chastity belt¹) to prevent youngsters (of both sexes) from masturbating (alternative link), which in the 19th Century was thought to be both physically and morally harmful.

Summary and Conclusion

Looking at chastity belts from a safe distance, and with this analysis in mind, it ends up losing its rough, yet kind of romantic, historic touch. It also defuses the notion that the average medieval Joe would force his lover to use this apparatus - even though some men might have sympathised with the idea. So, in conclusion, chastity belts and their usage are rather recent phenomena, and in the vast majority of the cases, women were not forced to use it. In the 19th Century it was mostly used to avoid sexual advances of horny employers, and today it can sometimes used by people (in dominant/submissive and sado-masochistic relationships) as a sexual toy.

Colourblind

2009-07-17T07:36:00.002-07:00

At the back of the eye in the retina, you have receptors that enable you to see called cones and rods. Rods allow you to see black and white and cones allow you to see colour. There are three types of cones, green detecting, red detecting and blue detecting. For more information please see the how the eye works section.

There are Three main versions of colour blindness. A red-green colour deficiency, blue-yellow deficiency and total colour blindness. Red-green deficiencies are the most common form of colour blindness. About 8% of men and less than 1% of women have a red-green deficiency. A red-green colour deficiency occurs when a person has an absence of red cones (formally called deuteranopia) or green cones (formally called protanopia). Their remaining 2 cones are still able to see all the other colours, they may just get confused with green and red. There are different degrees of severity, some people may not be able to tell green and red apart and others will be able to.

People with a blue-yellow deficency have an absence of blue cones. This is quite a rare form of colour blindness.

Total colour blindness occurs when a person has no cones, only rods and can see only in black and white. This form of colour blindness is extremely rare.

Charlie Sheen

2009-07-17T07:36:00.001-07:00

Charlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estévez on September 3, 1965, in New York City. His father, Martin Sheen, at the time was an actor just breaking into the business with performances on Broadway. His mother, Janet Sheen, was a former New York art student who had met Charlie's father right after he had moved to Manhattan. Martin and Janet had three other children, Emilio Estevez, Renée Estevez, and Ramon Estevez, all of whom became actors.

At a young age, Charlie took an interest in his father's acting career. When he was nine, he was given a small part in his dad's movie The Execution of Private Slovik (1974) (TV). In 1977, he was in the Phillipines where his dad suffered a near-fatal heart attack on the set of Apocalypse Now (1979).

Carmen Electra

2009-07-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

Tara Leigh Patrick (born April 20, 1972), professionally known as Carmen Electra,^[1] is an American glamour model, actress, television personality, dancer, and singer. She gained fame for her appearances in Playboy magazine, on the MTV game show Singled Out, on the TV series Baywatch, and Summerland, for her appearances dancing with the Pussycat Dolls and has since had roles in the parody films Scary Movie, Date Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, and Disaster Movie.

Bahamas

2009-07-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

Scattered like precious jewels over 1,500 square miles of clear tropical sea at the top of the Caribbean, the chain of 700 islands, uninhabited cays and large rocks that make up the The Bahamas covers just 5,382 square miles of land. Formed mainly of flat coral, with just a few gently rounded hills, the highest point in the entire archipelago is just 206 ft. But despite this shared topography, the character of each island is as individual as the 300,000 people who live here. And as unique as the holiday you'll enjoy here.

A different experience on every island

With each island in The Bahamas offering something different, your best plan is to hop on a plane or push out a boat and visit as many as time allows. Sample city living, island-style, by spending a few days in cosmopolitan Nassau with its duty free shops, golf, museums and restaurants. If it's romantic seclusion you're after, lie back and relax on the pristine white sand of Long Island's deserted beaches. If you're looking for adventure, experience the dive of a lifetime, exploring challenging wreck sites off the coast of San Salvador, snorkelling the clearest waters in the world or taking up the local sport of bonefishing. Get closer to nature and hop over to Inagua National Park to witness the unforgettable spectacle of nesting flamingos and other exotic wildlife. And if you've come in search of paradise, charter a sailboat and indulge in a blissfully tranquil voyage through the Exumas' 100 mile-long string of pristine cays.

Wherever you go you'll enjoy a welcome that's as warm as our tropical climate and hear stories that are as rich and colourful as our culture. But as to discovering which islands to visit, well you won’t know until you find out more about our 14 main islands which serve as 'jumping off points' for the other 686!

Butterfly

2009-07-16T09:08:00.001-07:00

The 25th Anniversary of the Large Blue reintroduction was celebrated on 16th June 2009 at Montacute House in Somerset. Following a welcome reception, we were treated to presentations from Sir David Attenborough, Professor Jeremy Thomas (Professor of Ecology at the University at Oxford and Fellow, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology), Professor Lord May of Oxford (Past President of the Royal Society) and Dr. Helen Phillips (Chief Executive of Natural England). The event was ably chaired by Professor Debby Reynolds (Chair of the National Trust Nature Conservation Panel). The presentations were followed by a trip to a Somerset site to see the largest Large Blue colony on the planet. This report is my record of this wonderful day.
- Pete Eeles

Bananas

2009-07-16T09:04:00.001-07:00

The true origin of Bananas, world's most popular fruit, is found in the region of Malaysia. By way of curious visitors, bananas traveled from there to India where they are mentioned in the Buddhist Pali writings dating back to the 6th century BCE. In his campaign in India in 327 BCE, Alexander the Great relished his first taste of the banana, an usual fruit he saw growing on tall trees. He is even credited with bringing the banana from India to the Western world. According to Chinese historian Yang Fu, China was tending plantations of bananas in 200 CE. These bananas grew only in the southern region of China and were considered exotic, rare fruits that never became popular with the Chinese masses until the 20th century.

Eventually, this tropical fruit reached Madagascar, an island off the southeastern coast of Africa. Beginning in 650 CE Islamic warriors traveled into Africa and were actively engaged in the slave trade. Along with the thriving business in slave trading, the Arabs were successful in trading ivory along with abundant crops of bananas. Through their numerous travels westward via the slave trade, bananas eventually reached Guinea, a small area along the West Coast of Africa. By 1402 Portuguese sailors discovered the luscious tropical fruit in their travels to the African continent and populated the Canary lslands with their first banana plantations. Continuing the banana's travels westward, the rootstocks were packed onto a ship under the charge of Tomas de Berlanga, a Portuguese Franciscan monk who brought them to the Caribbean island of Santo Domingo from the Canary Islands in the year 1516. It wasn't long before the banana became popular throughout the Caribbean as well as Central America. Arabian slave traders are credited with giving the banana its popular name. The bananas that were growing in Africa as well as Southeast Asia were not the eight-to-twelve-inch giants that have become familiar in the U.S. supermarkets today. They were small, about as long as a man's finger. Ergo the name banan, Arabic for finger. The Spaniards, who saw a similarity to the plane tree that grows in Spain, gave the plantain its Spanish name, platano.

It was almost three hundred and fifty years later that Americans tasted the first bananas to arrive in their country. Wrapped in tin foil, bananas were sold for 10 cents each at a celebration held in Pennsylvania in 1876 to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Instructions on how to eat a banana appeared in the Domestic Cyclopaedia of Practical Information and read as follows: "Bananas are eaten raw, either alone or cut in slices with sugar and cream, or wine and orange juice. They are also roasted, fried or boiled, and are made into fritters, preserves, and marmalades."

Note: The banana plant is not a tree. It is actually the world's largest herb!

Baptism

2009-07-16T09:03:00.002-07:00

In Christianity, baptism (from Greek baptizo: "immersing", "performing ablutions", i.e., "washing")^[1] is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted to membership of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered.

The usual form of baptism among the earliest Christians was for the candidate (or "baptizand") to be immersed totally or partially.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] While John the Baptist's use of a deep river for his baptism suggests immersion,^[7] pictorial and archaeological evidence of Christian baptism from the 3rd century onwards indicates that the normal form was to have the candidate stand in water while water was poured over the upper body.^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11] Other common forms of baptism now in use include pouring water three times on the forehead.

Baptism was seen as in some sense necessary for salvation, until Huldrych Zwingli in the sixteenth century denied its necessity.^[12] Martyrdom was identified early in church history as baptism by blood, enabling martyrs who had not been baptized by water to be saved. Later, the Catholic Church identified a baptism of desire, by which those preparing for baptism who die before actually receiving the sacrament are considered saved.^[13]

Some Christians, particularly Quakers and the Salvation Army, do not see baptism as necessary. Among those that do, differences can be found in the manner and mode of baptizing and in the understanding of the significance of the rite. Most Christians baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (following the Great Commission), but some baptize in Jesus' name only. Most Christians baptize infants,^[14] many others do not. Some insist on submersion or at least partial immersion of the person who is baptized, others consider that any form of washing by water is sufficient.

Bashful

2009-07-16T09:03:00.001-07:00

Main Entry:: bash·ful
Pronunciation:: \ˈbash-fəl\
Function:: adjective
Etymology:: obsolete bash (to be abashed)
Date:: 1548

1 : socially shy or timid : diffident, self-conscious 2 : resulting from or typical of a bashful nature bashful smile>

synonyms see shy

— bash·ful·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb

— bash·ful·ness \-fəl-nəs\ noun

Breasts

2009-07-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

So are breasts sexual?

Breasts are just a part of the "whole package" that makes a woman. Obviously they are beautiful, feminine body parts, yes, but merely looking at them in some everyday context (SUCH AS BREASTFEEDING) shouldn't make men instantly think about sex.

We are not saying that men can't appreciate women's breasts as feminine and beautiful body parts, or that a man and a woman can't enjoy touching each other's bodies during their intimate relationship. We are saying breasts are NOT supposed to be an immediate "turn-on", a special obsession point for men.

The advertisements and media images play to the idea that men are supposed to be "all ready" the instant they get a flash of a breast. However, it is not entirely men's fault if they are, because they have been culturally conditioned to see the situation that way. On this website we want to fight back against this sad trend.

We're saying: LET breasts be like legs, hips, neck, face, and all the other body parts of a female - not like some almost inanimate objects that automatically "click" men's brains to the "turn on" mode. Some people mention to us Song of Solomon, which mentions breasts in a sexual context. HOWEVER, it is easy to see Song of Solomon clearly places breasts on the same level as other body parts, such as the teeth, neck, and hair.

Batman

2009-07-16T08:57:00.002-07:00

Great Geek Debates: Who’s the Best Batman?

image: Fox

There can be little doubt that comic book geeks have been picking over film and television depictions of Batman for as long as they’ve existed. The first Batman film hit the screen in 1943—a mere four years after the character first appeared in comic books—and he’s appeared in countless films, TV shows, and videogames since. Over the years Batman has undergone many transformations, and so have comic book geeks, but the basic question can still provide many fun hours of geeky discussion: Who’s the best Batman?

In attempting to answer this question, I’m going to concentrate on modern portrayals, with the exception of Adam West’s campy sixties Batman, because his exclusion would automatically invalidate any debate on the subject—not because of the quality of his performance, you understand, but because of his iconic status. The only exclusively-voice actor I’m choosing to consider is Kevin Conroy, even though I really enjoy Diedrich Bader’s performance on Batman: The Brave and the Bold, because Conroy’s voice acting skills are in no small part responsible for the success of the nineties animated Batman series, without which modern superhero cartoons would look vastly different (if they even existed at all).

Working chronologically, then, we begin with Adam West. West was certainly not the best of actors, and had a physique that nobody could possibly believe belonged to an athlete of Batman’s caliber. Yet he was right for the character within the context of his show, observing even the most preposterous goings-on with a serious countenance. West’s lack of range as an actor made him a perfect Batman and Bruce Wayne for his time, a sort of regular straight man for a revolving cast of comedian villains.

Next we come to Michael Keaton. Twenty years ago, Tim Burton took Alan Moore’s “Batman: The Killing Joke,” added a bit of Frank Miller’s “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns,” and made a very good, if flawed, movie. He began by picking Jack Nicholson to play the Joker, a move that virtually everybody thought brilliant, and Michael Keaton to play Batman and Bruce Wayne, a move that virtually everybody thought was bizarre. What the heck was Beetlejuice doing playing Batman? But it worked pretty well, all things considered: remember that, until The Dark Knight, Keaton was the last actor to play the role in more than one movie. Speaking for myself, I thought he made a quite credible Batman and a decent if dull Bruce Wayne. One could argue that Wayne is supposed to be dull, of course, so that might not be a strike against him.

image: DC Comics

With the popularity of the Keaton films, and with a new live action movie on the way, Kevin Conroy was hired to do Batman and Bruce Wayne’s voice for “Batman: The Animated Series,” which kicked off with the movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. I’m sure people will argue that Conroy had an easier job than the others because he was doing voice acting, but anyone who’s done voice acting knows it’s a lot harder than it sounds. Plus, he didn’t get the benefit of getting to wear an awesome costume. And Conroy did a very good job, lending the role the gravitas it needed for the dark mood of the series, without making his Batman a caricature.

After Burton left the franchise and Keaton went with him, Val Kilmer was hired to play Batman and Wayne for Joel Schumacher’s film Batman Forever. Yes, Val Kilmer, who had hit his acting peak as Chris Knight in 1985’s Real Genius, ten years earlier. I will never understand why this choice was made, nor why anyone would watch this film more than once. Still, bad as that was, Schumacher’s next (and, thankfully, final) Batman movie was worse: Batman and Robin, starring George Clooney. This terrible movie is made all the worse for the fact that Clooney is a genuinely good actor, though he has never quite seemed suited for action hero roles. If you have never seen this movie, I envy you, for I only wish I had not. It is one of those films so truly appalling it is better to pretend it had never been made at all, like Star Trek V.

images: Warner Bros. Pictures

And so we come to Christian Bale. I am quite fond of both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, but I think Bale is a much better Bruce Wayne than he is a Batman. I mean, I know it makes sense that Batman would disguise his voice to help keep his identity secret, but he sounds like he has severe laryngitis every time he opens his mouth. If I were Gordon, I know I’d say something like “Great job, Batman! Can I get you a lozenge?”

So now comes the time for a choice, and I’m torn. A large part of me wants to pick Keaton, because he really was pretty good, but I’m not sure he was good enough. Bale is certainly good, but the weird voice keeps me from picking him. Kilmer and Clooney are non-starters. So that brings it down to West and Conroy. I think I’ll have to give the nod to Adam West, who was the perfect Batman for his time. A great actor he was not, but he made questionable scripts with ridiculous plots watchable, and funny, and did so with his utterly implausible body stuffed into that suit. And he gave us the Batusi.

Botany

2009-07-16T08:57:00.001-07:00

Botany, plant science(s), phytology, or plant biology is a branch of biology and is the scientific study of plant life and development. Botany covers a wide range of scientific disciplines that study plants, algae, and fungi including: structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism, development, diseases, chemical properties, and evolutionary relationships between the different groups. Botany began with tribal efforts to identify edible, medicinal and poisonous plants, making botany one of the oldest sciences. From this ancient interest in plants, the scope of botany has increased to include the study of over 550,000 species of living organisms.

Belize

2009-07-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Belize

Spectacular natural attractions and the excitement of discovering Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret draw travelers from around the globe, promising both relaxation and the richly rewarding authenticity they seek in a genuine Caribbean getaway. Nestled between Mexico and Guatemala on the Caribbean coast of Central America, Belize is one of the few remaining unspoiled places on earth.

Come enjoy:

The longest barrier reef in this hemisphere, home to the Great Blue Hole, hundreds of islands, snorkel and dive locations.
Hundreds of ancient Maya sites both excavated and jungle-covered.
Lush tropical rainforest with many species of birds, and exotic tropical flora and fauna.

Over ten friendly, English-speaking and diverse cultures of Belize invite you to share our natural and cultural heritage served with warm Belizean hospitality as we:

Share delicious local dishes, colorful arts and crafts, foot-tapping music, and local traditions.
Guide you on bird-watching treks, river kayaking trips and cave-tubing expeditions.
Lead you through coral gardens on a scuba-dive or hold your hand on your first snorkel excursion.
Climb with you on the highest Maya temple of Belize or share the artifacts in our museums.
Pamper you at a spa or fine restaurant as you quietly relax.

Whatever aspect of Belize piques your interest, we will do our best to ensure that your experience is a positive and memorable one – enticing you to return to Belize again and again.

Bacon

2009-07-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Bacon is a cut of meat taken from the sides, belly, or back of a pig, and then cured, smoked, or both. Bacon may be eaten fried, baked, or grilled, or used as a minor ingredient to flavour dishes. Bacon is also used for barding and larding roasts, especially game birds. The word is derived from the Old High German bacho, meaning "buttock," "ham," or "side of bacon," and cognate with the Old French bacon.^[1]

In continental Europe, this part of the pig is usually not smoked like bacon is in the United States; it is used primarily in cubes (lardons) as a cooking ingredient, valued both as a source of fat and for its flavour. In Italy, this is called pancetta and is usually cooked in small cubes or served uncooked and thinly sliced as part of an antipasto.

Uncooked strips of bacon

Meat from other animals, such as beef, lamb, chicken, goat, or turkey, may also be cut, cured, or otherwise prepared to resemble bacon, and may even be referred to as "bacon".^[2] Such use is common in areas with significant Muslim populations.^[3] The USDA defines bacon as "the cured belly of a swine carcass"; other cuts and characteristics must be separately qualified (e.g., "smoked pork loin bacon"). For safety, bacon must be treated for trichinella,^[4] a parasitic roundworm which can be destroyed by heating, freezing, drying, or smoking.^[5]

Alphabet

2009-07-05T07:00:00.001-07:00

An alphabet is a standardized set of letters — basic written symbols or graphemes — each of which roughly represents a phoneme in a spoken language, either as it exists now or as it was in the past. There are other systems, such as logographies, in which each character represents a word, morpheme, or semantic unit, and syllabaries, in which each character represents a syllable. Alphabets are classified according to how they indicate vowels:

the same way as consonants, as in Greek (true alphabet)
abbreviation of consonants, as in Hindi (abugida)
not at all, as in Phoenician (abjad)

The word "alphabet' came into Middle English from the Late Latin word Alphabetum, which in turn originated in the Ancient Greek Αλφάβητος Alphabetos, from alpha and beta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.^[1] Alpha and beta in turn came from the first two letters of the Phoenician alphabet, and meant ox and house respectively. There are dozens of alphabets in use today. Most of them are composed of lines (linear writing); notable exceptions are Braille, fingerspelling, and Morse code.

Alabaster

2009-07-05T06:58:00.001-07:00

Alabaster is a fine-grained, massive gypsum that has been used for centuries for statuary, carvings, and other ornaments. It normally is snow-white and translucent but can be artificially dyed; it may be made opaque and similar in appearance to marble by heat treatment. Florence, Livorno, and Milan, in Italy, and Berlin are important centres of the alabaster trade. The alabaster of the ancients was a brown or yellow onyx marble.

Adam

2009-07-05T06:57:00.001-07:00

The mythical man made by god.

Adam אָדָם in Biblical (as well as modern) Hebrew is sometimes used as the personal name of an individual and at other times in a generic sense meaning "mankind".^[2] According to some scholars, in Gen. i. its use is wholly generic.^[2] In Gen. ii. and iii. the writer weaves together the generic and the personal senses of the word.^[2] In all that pertains to the first man as the passive subject of creative and providential action the reference is exclusively generic.^[2] Indeed, it is doubtful whether "Adam" as a proper name is used at all before Gen. iv. 25 and v. 3 .^[2] Here the same usage is manifest: for in the two opening verses of chap. v. the word is used generically.^[2] It may also be observed that the writer in Gen. ii., iii. always says "the man" instead of "Adam", even when the personal reference is intended, except after a preposition.^[2]

The usage of the word as personal name appears to predate the generic usage. Its root is not the standard Semitic root for "man" which is instead '-(n)-sh but is attested as a personal name in the Assyrian King List in the form Adamu showing that it was a genuine name from the early history of the Near East ^[3]. The generic usage in Genesis meaning "mankind" reflects the view that Adam was the ancestor of all men. Etymologically it is the masculine form of the word adamah meaning ground or earth and related to the words adom (red), admoni (ruddy) and dam (blood)^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] Gen. ii. 7 explains that the man was called Adam because he was formed from the ground (adamah).^[2] Compare Gen. iii. 19.^[2]

Amazon

2009-07-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

The Amazon is a region of superlatives. It spans the borders of eight countries and one overseas territory, is the world's largest river basin and the source of one-fifth of all free-flowing fresh water on Earth. Its rain forests are the planet's largest and most luxuriant, and home to - amazingly - one in ten known species on Earth.

In the last decades, scientific research has established a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the integrity of the global environment, but still only a fraction of its biological richness has been revealed. Today, rapid deforestation threatens the Amazon. At current rates, 55 percent of its rain forests could be gone by 2030—a looming disaster not only for the region’s plants and animals, but for the world.

The immensity of the Amazon's challenge, like the scale of its landscape, requires a long-term conservation vision backed by strong scientific expertise. WWF has been at the forefront in protecting the Amazon for more than 40 years. Our approach is succeeding because we engage local communities and partner with governments to identify mutual solutions that can bridge the needs of economic development and conservation.

Acupuncture Business Tips

2009-07-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

With all the financial doom and gloom out there it’s easy to get worried about the impact of the recession on your practice. This article covers some of the best strategies to beat the recession and ensure a constant stream of clients coming into your clinic. I have personally used these techniques to ensure my own acupuncture clinic has stayed thriving. I have also taught many others how to do the same. The strategies work whether you are just starting out in practice or if you are well established. Not only are they easy to implement but once set up many of them run themselves, drawing in a constant stream of new clients, leaving you free to get on with doing what you love - helping people feel well.

So in reverse order here are the top 5 tips for keeping your practice thriving during the recession:

5 - Offer a free consultation

Offering a free consultation (either in person or over the phone) is one of the best marketing strategies you can use. It effectively takes all the risk away from prospective clients and means they have nothing to loose by paying you a visit. It also shows willingness on your part and builds trust and rapport.

I offered a free consultation on my website and the number of enquiries tripled overnight. At another acupuncture clinic, we brought in free telephone consultations and again the number of inquiries skyrocketed. I have found that 90% of people who come for a free half hour consultation in my clinic sign up for a course of at least 5 treatments. Now you may think that offering something for nothing is a waste of time and money but I guarantee you that people will be much more willing to make a financial commitment, once they have met you and sampled what you have to offer. In the therapy world, more than anywhere else the rapport and trust between the practitioner and the client is vital, and people know this. You can even be very upfront about this in your website and say that this is a chance “to find out if I am the right practitioner for you”.

The key is to offer something of real value that you would normally charge for. When I give a free consultation I simply give a shortened version of my diagnosis session. I ask the person about how they would like the acupuncture to help them and give a realistic evaluation of the benefits they can expect. I also offer any advice that they can implement straight away. By asking questions and really hearing the person, I am almost always able to gain rapport and trust. At this point, the person will be more than happy to book a full session. Do not attempt to push your services, instead focus on giving and listening. You will immediately set yourself apart from the crowd.

4 - Reward your clients for referring their friends

Every acupuncturist knows that referrals are one of the best sources of new clients for your practice. But how can you encourage your existing clients to recommend you to their friends? The best way is to set up a referral system. You can set up a referral system so that every time one of your clients refers someone to you, they get a discount on their next treatment.

You can easily do this by sending out a letter or email to all your clients thanking them referring their friends to you. Explain to them that from now on every time they refer someone to you they will receive 40% (or whatever percentage you choose) off their next treatment. Set it up so that they receive the discount once their friend has attended the first session.

You can also make discount vouchers for your clients to give to their friends. This way both the person referring and the person being referred can receive a discount when a referral is made. Using both of these incentives together will massively increase your referrals. We implemented this strategy at an acupuncture clinic in London and the number of referrals tripled from one month to the next.

3 - Keep in touch with your clients via Email

Keeping your practice thriving isn’t just about attracting new clients. One of your best sources of new work is your existing client base. If someone has used your services before they are much more likely to do so again than someone who has never met you. That’s why emailing your clients with your latest tips, advice and offers is a great way to encourage people who haven’t come to see you for a while to get back in touch.

The best way to do this is to start a monthly email newsletter. Fill it with useful information that will enhance your clients lives. Do not overtly sell to them or they will soon ask to be removed from your mailing list. Instead use it to build credibility and trust with your clients by giving them useful information. Newsletters also act as a gentle reminder that you are still there. Often people simply forget to book back in with you and an email from you is all they need to get them to pick up the phone and book another appointment.

2 - Communicate the benefits of your treatment in your promotional material

It doesn’t matter whether its a leaflet, a website or an advert in the local paper. The text you use to promote your acupuncture practice can either make or break your promotional efforts. I see so many acupuncturists who try one form of advertising or another, only to be disappointed by the lack of response to their advert, leaflet or website. Nine times out of ten this is because their approach to writing the text is fundamentally flawed.

The golden rule of writing any promotional material is that you must communicate to the person reading exactly how they can benefit from using your services.

Most acupuncturists make the mistake of focusing on the features of their service such as how acupuncture works, how old it is, or how long they have been practicing for. This is great but it does not explicitly explain how the person reading can benefit from your treatment. For example are they likely to feel more relaxed, invigorated or suffer less pain? These are the issues that are uppermost on people’s mind when they are looking for an acupuncturist and you must address them. Think about it, if you're buying a stereo, you don't want to know about the gold plated wires, you want to know how great the music is going to sound! Believe it or not, the same goes for acupuncture. The first thing people want to know is how it can enhance their life. If you can provide proof in the form of testimonials or scientific evidence, even better.

The most important place to communicate the benefits of your treatment is in the headline of your website or leaflet. Your headline will either grab the person’s attention and make them want to read on or .... not. If you spell out how they can benefit, right from the outset your prospective clients will be much more likely to read on to find out more. If they then see that you offer a free consultation, they can see that they have a lot to gain, and nothing to loose by giving you a call.

1 - Get good at using the internet to attract new clients.

This is the single most valuable investment of time and energy you can make to ensure the long term success of your practice. Most people now use the internet as their first port of call for researching products and services of all kinds and this includes acupuncture. In May 2009 alone there were 2 million searches on Google using the word “acupuncture”.

Four years ago I learned about really effective internet marketing for my acupuncture practice. Today I still get a constant stream of people contacting me for treatment via the internet, even thought I hardly touch my website anymore. This is one of the major benefits of internet marketing - once you set it up it runs itself. It is also the most effective, and cost-effective form of marketing you can do, if you know how to do it properly.

So what do you need to know to be effective at online marketing? Well the first thing you need to know is who your target market is online. Who is looking for your services online? What are they typing into the search engines? Where do they live? What problems do they have that you can solve? Finding this out is pretty easy if you know how.

Probably the best tool for finding your target market is Google’s keyword tool. This is an online tool that tells you exactly what search terms people are using in Google to search for your services. For example you can find out how many people are typing in the phrase “acupuncture Boston” into Google each month. The keyword tool will also give you all the relevant ways people are searching for your services that you wouldn’t have thought of. Pretty useful! You can access the Google keyword tool by clicking on the link below

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Once you know how people are searching for your services online, you can start to build a website based around what people are actually searching for, not what you think they are searching for.

You can get more information on exactly how to do this by downloading my free guide “How to use the internet to create an endless stream of new clients”. This is exactly the same information I used to double my acupuncture practice in 2 months. To access the free guide simply click on the link below:

http://www.therapymarketingtips.com/

So I hope you can see there is no need to worry about the recession. There are still plenty of people who want to have acupuncture treatment. It just means you have to put a little effort into smart marketing that sets you apart from the crowd. Most acupuncturists don’t like marketing but if you know how to do it properly you can set things up once and leave it on autopilot to keep your practice thriving for literally years to come. You can then get on with the real work of helping people get well.

Angelina Jolie

2009-07-05T06:51:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth

4 June 1975, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name

Angelina Jolie Voight

Nickname

Angie
Catwoman
Ange
AJ

Height

5' 8" (1.73 m)

Mini Biography

Growing up in Los Angeles, Jolie was no stranger to the film industry, being the daughter of Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight. She later trained and performed at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, where she was seen in several stage productions.

She worked as a professional model in London, New York and Los Angeles, and has also appeared in music videos for such artists as Meat Loaf, Lenny Kravitz, Antonello Venditti and The Lemonheads. In addition, she has acted in five student films for the USC School of Cinema, all directed by her brother, James Haven.

Aardvark

2009-07-05T06:49:00.000-07:00

Physical Characteristics

The name aardvark comes from a word meaning "earth pig." Although the aardvark, endemic to Africa, shares some similarities with the South American anteater, the two are not related. The last survivor of a group of primitive ungulates, the aardvark could more accurately be called a near-ungulate that has developed powerful claws.

The aardvark has a short neck connected to a massive, almost hairless body with a strongly arched back. The legs are short, the hind legs longer than the front ones. The head is elongated, with a long, narrow snout and nostrils that can be sealed. The long, tubular ears are normally held upright but can be folded and closed. The short but muscular tail is cone-shaped and tapers to a point. The thick claws on the forefeet are well adapted for digging.

Habitat

Aardvarks are found in all regions, from dry savanna to rain forest, where there are sufficient termites for food, access to water and sandy or clay soil. If the soil is too hard, aardvarks, despite being speedy, powerful diggers, will move to areas where the digging is easier.

Behavior

Aardvarks are mostly solitary and nocturnal, but sometimes will come out during the day to sun themselves. When aardvarks sleep, they block the entrance to their burrow, leaving only a very small opening at the top, and curl into a tight ball. Especially during the rains, aardvarks may dig themselves new burrows almost nightly. Many animals, including ground squirrels, hares, civets, hyenas, jackals, porcupines, warthogs, monitor lizards, and birds use abandoned aardvark holes as shelter. When pursued, an aardvark will furiously dig itself a hole, and when attacked, may roll onto its back and defend itself with its large claws or use its thick tail to somersault away from its attackers.

As it is nocturnal and has poor eyesight, the aardvark is cautious upon leaving its burrow. It comes to the entrance and stands there motionless for several minutes. Then it suddenly leaps out in powerful jumps. At about 30 feet out it stops, raises up on its legs, perks up its ears and turns its head in all directions. If there are no sounds, it makes a few more leaps and finally moves at a slow trot to look for food.

Aardvarks give birth to one offspring at a time. The pinkish, hairless newborn stays inside the burrow for about 2 weeks and then begins to follow its mother in her search for food. The young first eats solid food at 3 months of age and is suckled until 4 months.

At about 6 months the young male becomes independent and goes off on its own, while the young female stays with the mother until after the next baby is born. The young female may then dig its own burrow a few yards away from its mother but still joins her to forage for termites.

Americas

2009-07-05T06:47:00.002-07:00

The Americas, or America,^[1]^[2] are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, comprising the continents of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions. America may be ambiguous in English, as it is more commonly used to refer to the United States of America.^[3] The Americas cover 8.3% of the Earth's total surface area (28.4% of its land area) and contain about 13.5% of the human population (about 900 million people).

Vitamin A

2009-07-05T06:47:00.001-07:00

Vitamin A, a bi-polar molecule formed with bi-polar covalent bonds between carbon and hydrogen, is linked to a family of similarly shaped molecules, the retinoids, which complete the remainder of the vitamin sequence. Its important part is the retinyl group, which can be found in several forms. In foods of animal origin, the major form of vitamin A is an ester, primarily retinyl palmitate, which is converted to an alcohol (retinol) in the small intestine. Vitamin A can also exist as an aldehyde (retinal), or as an acid (retinoic acid). Precursors to the vitamin (provitamins) are present in foods of plant origin as some of the members of the carotenoid family of compounds.^[1]

All forms of vitamin A have a beta-ionone ring to which an isoprenoid chain is attached. This structure is essential for vitamin activity.^[1] The orange pigment of carrots - beta-carotene - can be represented as two connected retinyl groups, which are used in the body to contribute to Vitamin A levels. The retinyl group, when attached to a specific protein, is the only primary light absorber in visual perception, and the compound name is related to the retina of the eye.

Vitamin A can be found in various forms:

retinol, the form of vitamin A absorbed when eating animal food sources, is a yellow, fat-soluble, vitamin with importance in vision and bone growth. Since the alcohol form is unstable, the vitamin is usually produced and administered in a form of retinyl acetate or palmitate.

other retinoids, a class of chemical compounds that are related chemically to vitamin A, are used in medicine.

ABBA

2009-07-02T02:42:00.001-07:00

"Andante, Andante"

Take it easy with me, please
Touch me gently like a summer evening breeze
Take your time, make it slow
Andante, Andante
Just let the feeling grow

Make your fingers soft and light
Let your body be the velvet of the night
Touch my soul, you know how
Andante, Andante
Go slowly with me now

I'm your music
(I am your music and I am your song)
I'm your song
(I am your music and I am your song)
Play me time and time again and make me strong
(Play me again 'cause you're making me strong)
Make me sing, make me sound
(You make me sing and you make me...)
Andante, Andante
Tread lightly on my ground
Andante, Andante
Oh please don't let me down

There's a shimmer in your eyes
Like the feeling of a thousand butterflies
Please don't talk, go on, play
Andante, Andante
And let me float away

I'm your music
(I am your music and I am your song)
I'm your song
(I am your music and I am your song)
Play me time and time again and make me strong
(Play me again 'cause you're making me strong)
Make me sing, make me sound
(You make me sing and you make me...)
Andante, Andante
Tread lightly on my ground
Andante, Andante
Oh please don't let me down

Make me sing, make me sound
(You make me sing and you make me...)
Andante, Andante
Tread lightly on my ground
Andante, Andante
Oh please don't let me down
Andante, Andante
Oh please don't let me down...