Only the Best

A Home Based Business Online

2007-09-06T05:58:00.000-05:00

I know that many people who visit here are looking for legitimate ways to make a living online. The best program I have found is called Blogging To The Bank. I've devoted a whole web site to it here. Or, you can go directly to the source to find out more.

Kayaking: Book recommendation

2006-06-17T14:34:00.000-05:00

In a previous post I noted that I've taken up kayaking. The basic kayak stroke came pretty easy to me and I thought I had "this paddling thing" conquered. But on my first lake outing, I once found myself heading straight into some trees with tangled limbs bending low over the water. With plenty of time (I thought) to make an evasive maneuver, I began stroking on just one side of the kayak, assuming that this would turn the kayak in the opposite direction and away from the hazard. That hoped-for result did not materialize, though. Instead I continued, but even faster, straight into the trees, which almost knocked me out of the boat. Clearly I needed some instruction on how to turn a kayak, or how to stop, or how to back ... preferably all three. When I got home I picked up my copy of Kayaking Made Easy, recently purchased through Amazon but only partly read. Sure enough--in the unread part of the book--author Dennis Stuhaug explained all the essential kayak strokes, and many others for special situations. On my next kayak outing I practiced turning, stopping and backing, and to my delight and self-satisfaction found that none of those things is particularly difficult--you just need to thing about what you want to do and then select the proper stroke to accomplish your ends. The turn stroke, for example, is not immediately intuitive, as witness my first unsuccessful experiement. Yes, you do stroke on the side of the kayak that is opposite the direction in which you wish to turn, but it is not the long, close-to-the boat draw stroke used to propel you forward when you have a clear path ahead and are concentraing on speed and directness. Instead, it is a much shorter stroke, but one that describes an arc, mostly well off to the side. As for stopping the kayak, that turns out to be a cinch--you just dip a paddle blade straight into the water for a couple of seconds (of course, the angle of the blade and the placement in relation to you and the boat also count in how well it works). I really like Kayaking Made Easy. Stuhaug's tone is engaging, friendly and encouraging toward beginners. He meanwhile conveys a great deal of information. Not the least of it is the detailed descriptions of the strokes (many of which I have yet to try; who knew there were so many?), accompanied by clear, easy-to-grasp diagrams. He also covers the types of kayaks, how to select one, how to outfit yourself and your boat, how to navigate a kayak in open water, how to make kayaking a family activity, and more. Be advised that if your interest lies in whitewater kayaking, this book will not be of much help to you. It is aimed at flatwater (lakes, sounds, slow rivers) and sea kayakers. The third edition of Kayaking Made Easy just appeared this past April. Here's what a reviewer at Amazon has to say: A complete and thorough "how to" guide to the sport and recreation of kayaking, June 4, 2006 This newly expanded and revised third edition of Kayaking Made Easy: A Manual For Beginners With Tips For The Experienced by Dennis Stuhaug is a complete and thorough "how to" guide to the sport and recreation of kayaking. Providing readers with a concisely presenting approach to preparing for and engaging in kayaking, Kayaking Made Easy offers a truly "user friendly" guide to everything from choosing the right hull for individual needs, outfitting the kayak with seat, flotation, spray deck and other fittings, mastering basic maneuvers from the sweep stroke to the sculling brace, and assembling a kayaking wardrobe that is both comfortable and affordable, to safe navigation through the hazards of wind, fog, eddies and rip currents, and ensuring that all companions, including kids, enjoy the active and fun ride. A welcome addition to personal and community library reference collections, Kayaking Made Easy is very strongly recommended reading for novice kayakers, and has much of value to offer even seasoned kayakers. Technorati Tags: kayaks, kayaking, boats, boating, water, lakes, seas, sounds, how-to, books, manuals, beginning kayaking, outdoors, paddle sports, outdoor sports, water sports Search Stomper links: kayaks, kayaking, boats, boating, books, book reviews, outdoor sports, water sports, paddle sports, adventure

Lean, Mean Searchin' Machine

2006-05-08T14:15:00.000-05:00

OK, it isn't likely to overtake Google, Yahoo, MSNSearch or any of the other search engine big boys any time soon, still, we really like Search Stomper (www.SearchStomper.com). This is a small but spunky search engine with a nice look and a refreshing way of presenting search results.

Technically, Search Stomper is a meta-search engine -- it draws upon the capabilities of existing search engines for its results. Nevertheless, we like how it displays those results in a clean yet attractive manner, and we especially love the tabs -- there's one for web pages, one for images, one for local resources, one for products, one for news and even one for videos.

Rather than have us describe it, we encourage you to try it out for yourself. For some examples, take a look at how it handles these currently hot search terms:

American Idol
Supermax Prison
Hubble Space Telescope
Stephen Colbert video
Jessica Alba
Karen Elson
Kentucky Derby
Larisa Oleynik
American Inventor
NBA
Osama Bin Laden
Cynthia Watros
Shakira
Kaavya Viswanathan
Chris Brown
Mother's Day
Ivanka Trump
Britney Spears
Axl Rose
Michelle Rodriguez
Pussycat Dolls
Hanso Foundation
America's Next Top Model
Hebrew Month
cute puppies
Paris Hilton
Stephen Colbert
Megan Fox
American Idol
soccer
Da Vinci Code
Jodie Marsh
Thefacebook
Survivor: Panama
Naruto
Pope Benedict XVI
Opus Dei
Oprah Winfrey

Best Site for Wireless Speakers

2006-04-22T12:04:00.000-05:00

Wireless speakers are all the rage these days--pushed on the large end of the scale by the popularity of home theater systems, and on the small end by the proliferation of tiny mp3 players such as the iPod.

With todays technology you can enjoy your favorite music while sitting on your back porch away from your house and away from any electrical plug. This is true audio freedom.

Wireless speakers add to the enjoyment of a house party or your home theater system without having to worry about speaker wires getting in the way.

You can now place your stereo speakers or your home theater speakers wherever you prefer.

The advent of the wireless speaker era provides an immense range of products and ways to incorporate them into our lifestyles. But it also brings a welter of choices and confusion. What are the best product solutions for one's particular needs? Where can you find the highest quality wireless speakers at the best prices?

The Audio Freedom Wireless Speakers Guide is the best site we have found for answering these questions and point you to the best sources for discounted but brand-name and top-of-the-line products. If you're even thinking about buying a wireless speaker product, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

This site can help you find the right information for your wireless speaker needs. There are many articles posted that talk about many of the different aspects of speakers. Visit the wireless speakers article page for a list of the many articles.

Best Numa Numa Videos

2006-04-08T12:57:00.000-05:00

Are you a numa numa fan? The numa numa song and dance have taken the Internet by storm. "Numa numa" is actually a reference to a catchy Romanian pop song whose real title is "Dragonstea Din Tea." But no matter -- when a teenager from New Jersey videoed himself lip-synching the words, a phenomenon was born.

Now there are so many numa numa videos on the web that you could spend (waste) weeks or maybe months of your life viewing them in order to find the most creative or cleverest of them. Now you don't have to. A father and daughter team have started a new blog where they promise to present only the absolute best of the many numa numa videos--both amateur and professional.

Of course, "best" is based on their subjective opinion, but we think by and large they've made a good start with their initial selections. We'll be checking with them frequently to see what new numa numa versions have made their cut. You should check it out, too, at their site, Numa Numa: The Best.

Low-Interest Loans, Unsecured Credit Cards - Even with Poor Credit?

2006-04-01T09:31:00.000-06:00

Are You A Bum?

After a long time spent searching, we've found an organization that knows you're probably not one--but that bad luck or a few poor decisions in the past have led to your present situation. Further, they believe that a bad credit rating should not keep you from getting the financial help you need and deserve.

The organization is called You're Approved -- and if poor credit or a bankruptcy is weighing you down and keeping you from moving on with your life, I urge you to visit their web site and learn more about them.

Personal loans, business loans, unsecured credit cards and mortgages are all within the reach of You're Approved members. No matter how bad your credit situation is, you will not find a better resource, in my opinion.

When you become a member of You're Approved for a one-time membership fee of only $25, you receive immediate online access to their exclusive Bad Credit Lender List and Credit Repair Kit. That alone can be worth many times the membership fee, in my experience.

You also receive free updates to their list of bad credit lenders -- for a lifetime.

You're Approved has over 80 little-known banks and companies that offer bad credit loans, bad credit home loans, bad credit auto loans, and bad credit personal loans to people with bad credit or even a bankruptcy. Many require no collateral and no co-signer. Home ownership is not required.

They also have over 50 banks and companies that offer bad credit unsecured credit cards and merchant cards to people with no credit, bad credit, or even a bankruptcy--with no security deposit.

It is even possible through You're Approved to receive a vehicle or home with no money down and no credit check.

You can also find many government resources within their member's area to help you get that loan you need.

Even with bankruptcy, using their resources you can receive auto loan financing, personal loan financing, mortgage loans and credit cards.

I recommend that you to check out You're Approved today at this link.

Also, you can find some great information about credit repair, including a 17-page online guide, at Credit-Renewal.com.

Fantastic Resource For Real lenders!

"I highly recommend this site. The lenders really do make the loans happen. After trying, unsuccessfully for about 4 months, to find a loan, I became a member of this.Within about 2 days, I had more real offers to get my loan that I thought possible! What a wonderfull surprise, something that does what it says it will!! My funding happened just like they said it would. -- Testimonial from a You're Approved member

Downloadable Spanish Courses: Best of the Best

2006-03-11T17:53:00.000-06:00

There are so many Spanish language learning courses and systems around these days that it will make you want to yell ay caramba! tryng to figure out which one is best.

In the past we've recomended some--like the Transparent language series--that we still thinkg are pretty good.

Of all the books, audio tapes and CDs, DVDs and software-based Spanish courses that are out there, Transparent Language is one of the two or three that stand out above the rest, in our opinion.

Now there are language courses--particularly for Spanish--that can be downloaded from the Internet so you can start using them right away.

The best of the best of these downloadable products is one called Rocket Spanish.

This innovative course has greatly expanded our ideas about what it is possible from a Spanish course.

So what is Rocket Spanish?

Basically, it's a really huge bunble of Spanish language learning tools that you download. (Alternatively, you can also have physical CDs and printed books sent to you, but the download version saves money, so that's what we recommend.)

The core of Rocket Spanish is an interactive audio course designed to get you speaking conversational Spanish fast. With the audio Spanish course are four e-books of grammar lessons, useful words and phrases, and vocabulary and exercises.

Unlike those in many other Spanish courses, we found the interactive audio exercises to be really fun. It's almost like you're sitting around socializing with new friends who bring you right into their world--into their way of speaking, thinking, and enjoying themselves--so gently yet quickly that you'll amaze yourself with how much Spanish you're learning through the course.

Between listening to the different audio segments you can study the corresponding chapters in the conversation and beginners' books that come with the course.

The audio and books are just the beginning, though. There's also MegaSpanish, consisting of the MegaVocab and MegaAudio software for playing games to accelerate your ability to learn Spanish.

The games are challenging and engaging. But what is best, we think, is that you can modify the vocabulary of the games to use the words that you need to learn.

The Rocket Spanish course is quite substantive, which is what matters most. It's comprehensive, and flexible enough to take you about as far as you would care to go with any course in Spanish.

But aside from content, we do want to mention the production values of the Rocket Spanish course package--they're top notch. (Check out the screen shots on the web site.)

The skeptic speaks ...

There's one thing about the Rocket Spanish course that we must question, though. Its makers claim that it will give you Spanish fluency in just three months.

That might be true for that minority of people who seem to be born with a natural gift for language.

Realistically--if you diligently apply yourself to learn the entire Rocket Spanish course, and if you then go out and find people to practice conversing with--this course could have you speaking pretty fluent Spanish in much less than a year's time--maybe six months for the average learner, longer for some.

We are confident in stating that this Spanish course could take you farther toward fluency--and faster--than anything else on the market. It just might take longer than three months!

Here's something neat: You can sign up for six free mini-lessons from Rocket Spanish to get a taste of the course before you make a decision to buy it. Would that more language learning companies would let you sample their wares like this!

The author of Rocket Spanish is a guy named Mauricio Evlampieff. He's a native Spanish speaker (from Chile) who's passionate about his culture, language and heritage and enjoys sharing his love of the Spanish language with others. His enthusiasm definitely comes across in the course.

The editor of Rocket Spanish is Amy Waterman, who became fluent in Spanish while living and working in Ecuador. It was she who formulated the concepts behind the interactive audio part of the course.

Recently, one of us went to Guatemala to study Spanish in one of the Spanish language schools there. "I just wish I had had this course before I went. It would have given me a leg up, as it were, and permitted me to begin my immersion study of Spanish at a much more advanced level," he commented.

We could go on and on about this course, but we'll stop there. Suffice it to say that if you're looking for something that can really help you to learn Spanish at home, we urge you to look at this course.

Links:

Rocket Spanish
Learning Spanish Like Crazy (also recommended)
Learn Spanish

Ivory Billed Woodpecker Found; Binocular Sales Soar!

2005-04-28T07:10:00.000-05:00

Join the Binocular Hunt

Today is a tremendous one for scientific discovery and probably the most exciting ever for obsessed bird watchers or "birders," as they are called. The ivory-billed woodpecker lives!

As the Reuters story tells it:

The ivory-billed woodpecker, long feared extinct, has been rediscovered in a remote part of Arkansas some 60 years after the last confirmed U.S. sighting, bird experts said on Thursday.

Several people have seen and heard an ivory-billed woodpecker in a protected forest in eastern Arkansas near the last reliable sighting of the bird in 1944, and one was captured on video last year.

"The ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), long suspected to be extinct, has been rediscovered in the 'Big Woods' region of eastern Arkansas," researchers wrote in the journal Science in an article hastily prepared for release.

Undoubtedly this will fuel interest in birding among the general population, even among people who have no interest in rushing to Arkansas to stomp around in the woods and swamp looking for the elusive ivory-billed. Many will be content to take up in the bird watching hobby in their own back yards and neighborhoods.

In any case, look for binocular sales to soar.

If you decide to buy a pair of binoculars for your own birding expeditions, here's what you should know:

The most popular binocular sizes for bird watching are 8x40 and 8x42. Binoculars with these specs are small and light enough to carry with you all day while large enough to gather plenty of light.

Other things to look for in birding binoculars are a close focus for near observation of birds, a wide field of view (enabling you to track quick-flying birds and to see more individuals at a time when counting or observing large flocks or groups), and good depth of field so you don't need to keep adjusting the focus to keep a small bird in focus, and don't need to turn the focus adjustment too much to go from near to far.

The best source of the widest variety of binoculars at the best prices is Binoculars.com. The people behind this site don't just sell binoculars, they clearly understand optics and the different requirements for the many different uses to which people put them.

I recommend a visit to Binoculars.com even if you're just researching the topic at this time and gathering information.

Meanwhile: Long live the ivory-billed woodpecker!

Here's the Reuters article Reuters article on the discovery of an ivory-bill in Arkansas. And here's my friend Steve's post on this same topic over at his blog, Future Perfect.

Technorati Tags: ivory billed woodpecker, ivory-billed woodpecker, woodpeckers, birdwatching, birding, birders, ornithology, binoculars, optics, science

Make Big Money As A Super Affiliate

2005-04-23T10:04:00.000-05:00

Super Affiliate Handbook

As you might have noticed, the Web is practically choked with offers and come-ons offering to teach you how to get rich online. As you might guess, many of these--perhaps the vast majority--are more about someone getting the money that's already in your pocket than about helping you to make more money. Some are outright scams.

Not Rosalind Gardner, though. I've checked her out and she's for real. She's not like those folks who make money by "teaching" what they've never done. In fact, she made tons of money through online affiliate marketing—selling other people's products—before she ever put her knowledge and experience in her Super Affiliate Handbook to make them available to people like you and me.

Of all the people teaching how to make money on the Internet, she's one of a handful that really knows what she's talking about. My friend Steve Smith, owner of such sites as Tops 4 Tennis and Golf in the Year 2000 (with its Future Perfect blog), says the advice in Gardner's book saved him months of trial-and-error learning and helped him rocket his own online income.

"Rosalind's Super Affiliate Handbook really got me going in the right direction with affiliate marketing, after years of messing around with it and not making much money. Now I'm doing better than ever." Steve says.

If you're looking for honest, real advice about working online, this book will set you on the right path and could even change your life. In my opinion, you owe it to yourself to check out what Gardner has to say and make your own decision.

As she actually proves, it's possible for almost anyone to make big money by promoting other people's products online. Thousands of people have even been able to quit their jobs this way.

Some history: Gardner began promoting affiliate programs online in January, 1999. When she quit her day job a little over a year later, her web sites were raking in $30,000 to $50,000 every month. Since 2002 she has earned approximately a half-million dollars each year, every year!

Gardner recently updated her Super Affiliates Handbook for 2005. This one promises to be even better than the original edition, and I'm looking forward to getting hold of it myself as soon as I can.

So, if you're interested in working for yourself and making real, honest money online, you can't do better than the Super Affiliates Handbook.

Tags: money business business opportunities cash work jobs education Internet books ebooks marketing advertising affiliates affiliate marketing freedom independence working telecommuting

India Goes Auction Crazy

2005-04-22T21:53:00.000-05:00

eBay India

India has one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

In fact, prognosticators say that the 21st century will belong, economically speaking, to two countries: India and China.

A huge middle class is being created in India right now. The members of this class, many of whom are young and eager to enjoy the fruits of new-found affluence, are in turn driving a demand for consumer goods never before seen in that ancient land.

Online shopping in India is rapidly growing, too. If you want to get in on this boom, whether as a buyer or seller, the easiest way is to join eBay India (formerly known as Bazee). Registration is free.

eBay, of course, is the world's leading web shopping destination, the company that pioneered the online auction concept. At eBay India you can buy and sell brand-new or second-hand goods across more than 1,500 categories.

Although eBay's India site closely resembles its American counterpart, it definitely has its own flavor. For example, where else but on an Indian auction site could you have access to an exclusive collection of original Bollywood costumes (see banner below)?

The debut of eBay India is an exciting and significant moment for India's online presence and for its booming consumer culture. If you want to get in on the excitement, just register for free on eBay.in.

Also featuring: Red hot lingerie

Tags: India ebay auctions business money Asia Internet Delhi Bangalore Mumbai Bombay China economics news

Resources on Occupational Illnesses

2005-04-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases

New York State Workers' Comp Explanation

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Occupational illnesses, or industrial diseases, affect people the world over.

Some 860,000 illnesses and 60,300 deaths from workplace exposures occur annually in the U.S. Studies show that 75% of hospitalized and ambulatory primary care patients report hazardous exposures, and 17% suspect that their illness is linked to their job.

You've probably heard about malignant mesothelioma, a cancer in which malignant cells grow in the lining of the chest, the abdominal cavity or the heart.

Most people with mesothelioma worked in jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others were exposed to asbestos in their home.

The frightening thing is that an exposure over as little as one month can result in mesothelioma many years later. People exposed in the 1940s through 1970s are even now being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is just one of many occupational illnesses, though. It's probably impossible to catalog them all. However, there are a number of organizations and agencies that provide accurate information on the major occupational diseases.

We'll point out some of the best web resources for general information on occupational illnesses as well as places to learn specifically about some of the more important ones.

If you suspect you have one of these conditions, see a doctor. If you believe you have a legitimate claim for legal damages arising from an occupational diseases, seek the advice of a lawyer--preferably one who specializes in this area.

In the U.S., an occupational illness or disease is defined by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) as, "any abnormal condition or disorder, other than one resulting from an occupational injury, caused by exposure to factors associated with employment."

A less formal definition is that occupational diseases are illnesses caused by or made worse by work.

Common types of occupational illnesses include asthma and other respiratory problems, industrial dermatitis, poisoning from gases and vapors, pesticide poisoning, lead poisoning and cancers like liver angiocarcinoma and mesothelioma.

How can you tell if you have an occupational illness? General indicators include:

For some conditions such as industrial dermatitis and occupational asthma, your symptoms may seem worse when you at work.
The symptoms disappear or improve when you are away from your workplace or on leave.
Co-workers performing the same job may share the same symptoms.

Some conditions, such as excessive chemical absorption, may be detectable only through medical examination. It's crucial to see a physician if you have the least suspicion that you may have an occupational illness.

In the U.S., all states have workers' compensation laws. Many have special agencies or commissions to deal with complaints relating to occupational illnesses.

New York is a good example. There, workers who suffer occupational disease are entitled to compensation for lost wages and medical treatment under the law. Compensation benefits are awarded to workers by a Workers' Compensation Board.

Even if you do not live in New York, you can gain knowledge of how the law views occupational diseases at this official web site. You will see that workers have both rights and responsibilities when it comes to reporting occupational illnesses.

Common occupational and industrial illnesses, diseases and conditions (with selected informational links):

Airborne infections (e.g., tuberculosis)
Aplastic anemia
Arsenic poisoning
Asthma (triggered by animal products, wood dust, certain metals and oils, etc.)
Birth defects
Bladder cancer
Bloodborne infections (HIV, hepatitis B)
Bronchitis (from acids or smoke)
Byssinosis (from cotton dust)
Cadmium poisoning
Carpal tunnel syndrome (caused by repetition, vibration, abnormal postures)
Cervical strain (caused by static posture, such as during computer work)
Chromium poisoning
Chronic beryllium disease
Chronic encephalopathy
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis
Cobalt-related lung disease
Contact dermatitis
Contact urticaria
Coronary artery disease
De Quervain's tendinitis (caused by repetition, high force)
Developmental abnormalities
Hard metal disease
Hearing loss (frequent in many occupations)
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Infections transmitted fecally or orally (e.g., hepatitis A)
Interstitial fibrosis (through inhaling coal, asbestos, silica, etc.)
Irritant-induced asthma
Lead poisoning
Lung cancer
Manganese poisoning
Mercury poisoning
Mesothelioma
Neurotoxic syndromes
Occupational acne
Occupational bone diseases (include osteonecrosis, acro-osteolysis, osteomalacia, and skeletal fluorosis)
Occupational cancer
Occupational eye diseases (includes chemical or radiation induced cataracts)
Parkinson’s disease, secondary
Peripheral polyneuropathy
Pneumonicoses
Raynaud’s phenomenon, secondary
Silicosis
Skin cancer
Sperm abnormalities
Spontaneous abortion
Thoracic outlet syndrome (due to static posture and repetition)
Upper airway irritation (from "sick building" syndrome)
Zoonoses (caught from outdoor work; e.g., Lyme disease)

Tags: occupational illness health medicine science safety disease health care OSHA mesothelioma cancer asbestos asthma dermatitis poisons pesticides angiocarcinoma occupational medicine New York tuberculosis birth defects anemia HIV hepatitis bronchitis carpal tunnel encephalopathy pneumoconiosis lung disease urticaria tendinitis pneumonitis silicosis osteonecrosis acro-osteolysis osteomalacia fluorosis Parkinson’s polyneuropathy Raynaud’s zoonoses Lyme disease workers comp biohazards

How to speak a new language like a native

2005-04-10T23:52:00.000-05:00

Transparent Language

Learning a foreign language is difficult for most of us. Happily, modern technology-- in the form of videotapes, CDs we can play in our cars, or computer software--has greatly expanded the choices we have for learning a language.

Language study has become a lot more convenient and even fun. But are these modern methods effective? And which company makes the most effective language learning products?

This is one area that I had some experience in even before I started researching it on the Internet. You see, I've bought and tried at least a half-dozen language learning programs and a handful of audio courses over the years.

All language programs have their good points, and I've learned something from every one I've tried. The ones that helped me the most, though, have consistently been those bearing the Transparent Language name.

I've been impressed with Transparent Language since they entered the software market years ago--before all the graphical enhancements made possible by today's technology

Even back in the days of text-based language software, they were far ahead of the competition. I spent many enjoyable hours with their Spanish program, being guided almost effortlessly to a reading command of the language through stories supplemented by quizzes, games and context-linked dictionaries and grammar points.

Software has come far since then and Transparent Language has not only kept up with the changes, it has stayed out ahead. Its current LanguageNow! line uses video and audio as well as interactive text to shoot your language abilities through the roof.

Pick a language and start your journey!

The top-rated Transparent Language method takes you from beginner to fluent speaker. And it's guaranteed.

From basic speaking skills to a mastery of the language, LanguageNow! is truly a comprehensive language learning program.

Their "Listen & Speak" activities, grammar tools and vocabulary games provide you with a solid foundation. As you advance, authentic conversational video lets you interact with your new language like a true native.

You participate in real conversations, read interesting articles and watch intriguing videos to interactively build all of your language skills. You'll find yourself in a compelling, interactive environment where learning authentic language is made easy.

Hundreds of thousands of people, students and educators and universities have successfully learned a language through this revolutionary method. I believe that LanguageNow! is without a doubt the best language learning software for Spanish, French, German, Russian, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, Dutch, Irish, Polish, Portuguese and more!

Since 1989, Transparent Language has provided its award-winning language learning software to over 500,000 consumers, 12,000 schools, thousands of businesses, and government agencies and embassies around the world.

Transparent Language calls their programs "software that makes learning a foreign language fun!" I agree. What language do you want to learn? In my opinion, Transparent Language has the products that will get you there the fastest.

Tags: language languages langauge learning linguistics travel foreign language Spanish French German Swedish Norwegian Irish Portuguese Italian Polish Romanian computers education software Japanese Chinese Hindi Arabic Swahili English learning Icelandic Cherokee Russian Vietnamese students audiobooks CDs DVDs videos Turkish self-improvement Esperanto international travel international relations translation interpreting countries nations Greek Bulgarian Dutch Indonesian Afrikaans Urdu Pushtu Latin interlinguistics language education tongues world Korean Mandarin tourism language study language school study aids high school university college educational software

London on the cheap

2005-04-10T19:52:00.000-05:00

The London Pass

London is one of the great tourist destinations in the world ... and, truth to tell, one of the most expensive.

This is especially true for visitors from the United States, who have seen the value of the dollar drop in recent months against the British pound. Don't let this keep you from visiting London, though. It's truly an experience of a lifetime.

Smart travelers know that the best way to save money on a vacation is to arrange for accommodations, in-country transport and sightseeing passes before leaving home.

Last year London attracted over 22 million visitors. The city and its environs boast some of the biggest, "don't-miss" attractions in the world. So we did some scouting and discovered what we believe to be one of the best values available anywhere for saving significant amounts on London sightseeing admission fees.

It's called The London Pass.

You purchase The London Pass via a web site (or by phone) when you plan your trip. It gives you free entry to over 50 top London attractions, and big discounts on many others. It allows you to cut to the front of line at those attractions, too!

Among the attractions you can see for free using The London Pass are The Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral and Kensington Palace. You also get access to free transport on buses, tubes and trains, and numerous restaurant and theater discounts.

Even at attractions where admission is normally free anyway, The London Pass gives its holders something extra, such as special guided tours not usually available to the general public.

Ads for The London Pass call it "the modern way to experience the capital in the new millennium." We agree, and would only add that it's also the thrifty way to experience the sights of London.

Tags:
London England Britain U.K. travel tourism holidays vacation tours sightseeing attractions sights Europe British Isles money discounts currency exchange pound dollar cities English underground tube subway transport transportation restaurants dining guided tours buses Tower of London Buckingham Palace Parliament Big Ben Trafalgar Square pubs public houses personal finance budgeting overseas families Picadilly Circus Madame Tussaud's London zoo London Bridge Greenwich Wimbledon City of London Stonehenge

The artist's place

2005-04-09T20:44:00.000-05:00

Dick Blick Art Materials

I have several artist friends, and one complaint I hear from them is how difficult it is to get just the right art tool or a particular paint at the moment that they need it.

We live in a moderately sized city with a major college, yet the couple of art stores here are often out of essential supplies, not to mention the more exotic and hard-to-find items.

Ordering art supplies online is the obvious solution. With that in mind, I researched the "big names" in art supplies as well as some of the smaller online suppliers. It turns out that the best of these, in my opinion, happens to be the biggest name in art supplies, Dick Blick.

Dick Blick has operated a mail-order business since long before the Internet was invented, as well as retail stores. Their online operation carries on the great business practices that they began in 1911. Those practices include quick shipping, friendly and knowledgeable customer service, and low prices.

Dick Blick's catalog is huge, and it's all online. You can get an idea of just how extensive it is by noting the names of the major sections into which it is divided: Adhesives, Airbrush, Archival/Conservation, Audiovisual Equipment, Books/Media, Brushes, Canvas/Surfaces, Ceramics, Cleaning, Crafts, Cutting Tools, Drawing/Illustration, Colored Pencils, Markers, Pastels, Pencils, Colored Pencils, Easels, Educational Materials, Framing, Furniture, Graphic, Arts, Mosaics, Outdoor Studio, Painting, Acrylic Paints, Oil Paints, Watercolors, Papers/Boards, Presentation/Display, Printmaking, Safety/Health, Scrapbooking, Screen Printing, Sculpture, Signmaking, Special Needs, Storing/Organizing, Studio Environment, Transporting/Carrying.

In case you're wondering (I did!) if Dick Blick was a real person, the answer is yes.

Dick Blick's first catalog originated in 1911 as a small pamphlet issued by its two founding partners, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Blick. The warehouse was located in their kitchen and shipping was done through the local post office. Their first product was a lettering pen, which quickly became a best seller.

Thirty-seven years later, Robert Metzenberg purchased the Dick Blick company from its founders. Metzenberg loved serving artists and he had an eye for quality merchandise.

Today, Dick Blick remains the premier art supplies source for professional artists, students and teachers, and continues to be a family-owned business. A full-color sale flyer is mailed monthly to millions of customers. The company also publishes annual school and artists' catalogs, as noted above, their web site features the widest range of art materials available at the best prices.

The Dick Blick web site recently added an updated gift section, tips for artists and lesson plans for teachers, a clearance center and other extras.

Tags: art artists art supplies painting paint drawking sketches art instruction acrylics fine arts visual arts design humanities beaux arts pictures artistry art materials images shopping portraits modern art art tips artist-to-artist sketchpads art business pens pencils easels palettes colors art appreciation art school art accessories

Breathe easier!

2005-04-09T17:30:00.000-05:00

NIH Fact Sheet on Breathing Problems

Access Repiratory Supply

Millions of people suffer from breathing problems. These can result in anything from minor discomfort to life-threatening attacks, depending on their cause and severity.

An umbrella term for breathing problems is dyspnea. The National Institutes of Health has an excellent fact sheet called Living with Dyspnea: 4 Ways to Breathe Easier.

Of course, you should see a doctor for any persistent breathing problem. Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are not things to treat lightly.

If you've been diagnosed with a breathing problem, your doctor may have prescribed a nebulizer or respiratory medications for you. Did you know that you can get most of your respiratory supplies over the web--and save money doing so?

Even better, many of your supplies may be paid for by Medicaid.

We looked at a number of online respiratory suppliers and determined that among the best--if not the best--is Access Repiratory Supply.

This company is quickly becoming a known leader in the mail order respiratory supply industry. Recently they ranked #25 on Entrepreneur Magazine's list of Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies.

The company currently provides free home delivery of respiratory medications and neublizers to thousands of people nationwide.

They also can bill your insurance directly which means you'll never have to wait for reimbursement or fill out confusing insurance claim forms again. Really, they're one of the easiest online medical suppliers to deal with that we've ever seen.

A few of the brand name medications that they supply include Albuterol, Altrovent, Acetylcysteine, Cromolin, Duonab, Pulmicort and Metaproterenol. You can even go to the Access Respiratory site and fill out a quick, no-obligation form to see if you qualify for a free portable nebulizer.

Remember, because Access works directly with insurance companies, you can receive respiratory medications and nebulizers with no out-of-pocket expenses. Access files all the insurance paperwork for their customers, making their service easy and convenient.

Tags: breath breathing lungs health medicine illness doctors health care medications asthma respiratory supplies prescriptions nebulizers insurance health insurance dyspnea apnea pulmonary Albuterol Altrovent lung disease Acetylcysteine Cromolin Duonab Pulmicort Metaproterenol

Speed up, clean up & protect your computer - now!

2005-04-08T21:52:00.000-05:00

System Mechanic

Threats to your computer are on the rise, despite the best efforts of the best minds to combat them.

Threats from the Internet merely add more frustation to dealing with the glitches and breakdowns that affect most computers sooner or later, even those that are never placed online.

Many software programs have been developed to clean up your hard disk, fix file glitches, optimize your computer and guard against the nasties. We've used a number of them. For our personal use, we always find ourselves returning to System Mechanic.

System Mechanic 5 is now available, and it's the best by far.

System Mechanic will clean and optimize your registry, fix broken shortcuts and eliminate Internet popups, junk files and Internet clutter (such as cookies and chached web pages you might not want on your hard drive).

System Mechanic will protect against spyware and shield your private data from being stolen or destroyed.

The program will also speed up and optimize your hard disk and memory, and will add blazing speed to your web surfing and Internet downloading.

One of the features we particularly appreciate is its maintenance wizard. You can use this to schedule your system upkeep, so important maintenance tasks are performed on a regular basis, even while you sleep.

What's New in Version 5?

Lots!

Version 5 contains a multitude of new and improved tools, such as:

a boot-time defragmentation tool
a universal software uninstaller to completely remove applications
a software relocater to move any program from one location to another
Startup Guard to prevent rogue programs from automatically starting with Windows
SafetyNet, a multi-level undo tool that can reverse tool actions
and much more

I want to discuss a couple of System Mechanic's features in a bit more depth.

One of the features that impresses me is the high-speed disk defrag and optimization routine, which uses a proprietary technology called Caterpillar.

This routine can perform boot-time defragmentation, allowing you to defragment system files before Windows starts. That's something new in this field.

There's also something called Startup Guard that prevents rogue programs from adding themselves to Windows startup.

I also really like Spython, a component of System Mechanic that eliminates spyware and adware on your computer. Spython comes with an uninstaller that completely removes any program, even if it doesn't have its own uninstaller.

There's also a nice, integrated popup stopper to eliminate annoying Internet pop-ups and web advertisements.

Another new component is Software Relocator. With this you can easily move programs to a new folder or drive on your system. Remove junk and duplicate files, ensure your privacy, fix shortcuts, tweak settings, and more.

Speed up your PC and optimize for top performance

Many programs advertise that they can speed up your computing without the need for additional hardware. Some of these work, at least a little, and some don't work at all--at least not on every computer.

On the computers I've run it on, though, System Mechanic shines, boosting Internet and download speeds up to 300%.

One of the tools it uses to really speed things up is called NetBooster. NetBooster optimizes an important group of Windows configuration settings that directly affect your network and Internet connection speed.

You see, when Windows is initially installed, these settings are in most cases not optimized for the Internet or for your particular network connection and actually prevent you from reaching
potential download and upload speeds due to information fragmentation and other delays.

Previously, there was no simple way to edit these settings manually without dangerously exploring and modifying the Windows registry by hand. But NetBooster solves all that. It now makes it ridiculously easy for anyone to reach maximum Internet performance with a few clicks.

If you surf the Internet, you need this!

Some of the benefits you'll experience: faster, more reliable downloads and uploads, e-mail, web-browsing, on-line gaming, and more.

NetBooster works with more than just modem connection, too. Whether you are connected via DSL, cable modem, ISDN, or other LAN connection, NetBooster can maximize your performance.

Finally, I must tell you about this great feature of System Mechanic:

It helps you to cover the tracks you leave behind -- on your computer or in cyberspace!

Many things you do with your computer are tracked, stored, and sometimes exposed to prying eyes over the Internet or through other methods without your knowledge.
other individuals.

System Mechanic's privacy tool can cover up your tracks so you can rest assured that your computing habits are not stored and available to prying eyes.

I could go on and on, but that you be enough to make you seriously consider System Mechanic if you're looking for an all-in-one utility for cleaning and optimizing your computer, speeding up your Internet activity, protecting your system against viruses and worms, and putting up a privacy shield between you and the rest of the world.

Give System Mechanic a look.

Tags: computers Internet World Wide Web viruses worms optimization firewalls downloads privacy software

Bras gone wild

2005-04-06T19:34:00.000-05:00

My wife tells me finding a good bra can be a hassle. It's an ongoing battle between comfort, looks and having proper support, she says.

With her help and that of other women willing to provide personal guidance, I began scouting bra sources on the web. My goal was to find the best source from among the several online stores stocking a large variety of brands, styles and sizes.

The winner: Freshpair.

Freshpair--sponsor and promoter of National Underwear Day!--has variety, for sure. And comparison shopping shows they have, overall, the best prices ("rock bottom" in most cases, as they say). Speedy shipping and responsive customer service round out the picture.

It's impossible to list, much less describe, their entire stock of bras. So I've spotlighted a handful here to you give a small idea of their variety:

The Wonderbra Love it Lace Demi Bra features "soft and sexy" stretch lace over foam cups to create a line with the lift and shape Wonderbra is known for. This lace demi bra is lightly padded but has no cookies or support panels. The plunging center front allows for wear under low-cut fashions.

Ad copy for the Wonderbra Love it Lace Demi Bra says, "Try this feminine find with matching boy shorts." (Yes, you can buy "boy shorts" at Freshpair, too.)

Then there's the Bali Seductive Curves Deep Plunge Underwire Bra, which offers "a daringly bare" silhouette. Cups are seamless and foam so there is no show-through, but rather create a natural sexy line under form-fitting clothes. The foam creates a slightly padded effect, and the underwire provides lift and shape.

Says the description, "This bra is smooth and comfy, creates a fabulous bustline and looks amazing under nearly everything!"

All I can say is ... looks great to me!

The Goddess Cantilevered Strapless Bra is billed as "a wonderful option for full figure brides or anyone looking for a stay-put strapless option."

The cantilevered technology of this bra provides support and shaping without support panels, cookies or lining.

Each cup features two-strip boning for a lovely shape, and the fine lace along the top adds femininity. The bottom cups are opaque, but the tops are sheer to create a lovely bustline.

Here's one specifically for full-figured ladies: Olga Sheer Tapestry Full Figure Minimizer Bra, which promises "elegant detail in a seamless supportive design."

The Tactel Tapestry lace provides amazing support and works well under more form fitting tops. Gently molded cups are lined and the wider shoulder straps add additional comfort.

This bra also features gold metal strap hardware and four-hook back closure with three adjustments to ensure a perfect fit.

OK, this is not a bra exactly but when I saw the picture I knew I wanted to put it under my spotlight, too: the Magic Silk Chiffon Camisole & Thong Set with Lettuce Trim.

Made from 100% silk, the top has adjustable spaghetti straps and a cropped midriff. The thong has a cotton crotch for wearability and smooth stretch elastic that doesn't pinch or bind.

This outfit, which is available in a variety of prints and solids, will "make you feel as beautiful as you look," the description promises.

Feshpair carries these brands of bras: Bali, Calvin Klein, Chantelle, Cosabella, Donna Karan, Fantasie, Goddess, Hanky Panky, Leading Lady, Lily of France, Magic Silk, Natori, Olga, Playtex, Rago, Va Bien, Vanity Fair, Wacoal, Warner's, Wonderbra, and more.

By the way, they sell more than bras, including men's as well as women's underwear. Check them out for yourself.

And if you're wondering about National Underwear Day, it comes around on Aug. 11. Freshpair launched this celebration in 2004, when they sent models out on the streets of New York City clad in only their underwear, to petition for official recongition of National Underwear Day.

"The response was overwhelming," says Freshpair. "Everywhere they went, the models were greeted with bemused smiles and handshakes. ... A lot of good people not only told us what they wear but showed us too. Men ran across 34th street with briefs on display, while women offered a peek at the garments they normally hide."

This year they're going to push National Underwear Day even harder. They urge: "Go on an underwear shopping spree to dress yourself. Dress from the inside out. ... Treat yourself to that new thong you've been eyeing. Break out your favorite pair of boxers. Don't be shy about it. Underwear is one thing we all have in common (unless you're one of those people who don't wear any)."

Tags: bras brassiers underwear panties thongs apparel clothing fashion style clothes women's underwear briefs camisoles teddies shopping National Underwear Day undergarments support bras underwire bras breasts women

You can drink the water

2005-04-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

USDA Fact Sheet
Katadyn Water Bottles & Filters

Steri-Pen

Drinking or cooking with water from the wild is an iffy proposition, but if you camp or hike it might be necessary on occasion.

Similarly, when you travel overseas, especially in the third world, you might be warned not to drink the water--or even to brush your teeth with it. Yet sometimes you have little choice.

Harmful pathogens may be found in water that appears, smells and even tastes clean. These bacteria, viruses and protozoa can cause mild nausea and fever or can develop into more serious illnesses, such as severe diarrhea, hepatitis or typhoid fever.

For occasional, emergency or short-term disinfection, try bringing water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. Also, a few drops of unscented household bleach will disinfect most water (be sure to let the water stand for 30 minutes after adding).

Good information on food safety while hiking, camping or boating may be found in this fact sheet from by the USDA. It covers drinking water safety as well as food.

Modern Technology to the Rescue

In recent years, portable filtering devices have appeared on the scene to render questionable water safe to drink and cook with.

There are many brands of portable water filter bottles available, with a wide range of features. Probably the best known brand is Katadyn. Katadyn has a well-deserved reputation for the quality and efficiency of its water filtration products; some will treat thousands of gallons before you need to change the filter.

You can find Katadyn water bottles in outdoor stores and sporting goods outlets. An online source we recommend is Explore64. Explore64 currently offers free shipping on many of the products it sells, including water bottles.

An Even Higher-Tech Solution

This device honestly amazes us. It's called the Steri-Pen (long name: Hydro Photon Steri-Pen Ultraviolet Water Purifier) and it's so compact you can throw it into the smallest, tightest backpack and take it with you anywhere.

To use it you just stick it in a glass of water and swirl it around. Using an ultraviolet (UV) treatment technique found in water bottling plants and hospitals, the Steri-Pen destroys 99.99% of the bacteria, viruses, Giardia, and other nasty bugs that wreak havoc on your stomach.

As with the Katadyn products, we recommend Explore64 as a good online source for the Steri-Pen.

More Ideas on Making Drinking Water Safe

These days, natural water sources are nearly always home to invisible threats such as Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, and other nasty “bugs”.

Usually, these bacteria, protozoa and viruses won’t kill you. They just make you wish you were dead. The worst of these probably get into the water from human and animal wastes.

What to do? If you can’t carry all the water you need from home or another known source, here are your options.

Boiling. We mentioned this, but to repeat: just bringing a pot of water to rolling boil to wipe out most bacteria and viruses. This does little for mud or chemicals in the water, though.

Water filters. We mentioned a couple of our favorites above. Some are designed for backwoods use and other, larger ones, are great for vacation cabins. These will eliminate most bacteria and chemicals and will also make the water clearer.

Chlorine. This will kill bacteria and viruses if you use enough of it, but will not do anything for chemicals and sediment and some protozoa. Unfortunately, if you enough to be effective, it can make the water smell bad. Try unscented household bleach, as mentioned, to minimize chlorine smell.

Iodine. This also kills bacteria and viruses, but gives limited protection against Cryptosporidium. Also, you have the same smell problem as with chlorine.

Most of the time, in most situations, a good water filter is all you need. To be extra safe, try adding a few drops of chlorine-based treatment solution or household bleach to the filtered water.

And there you have our best ideas for ensuring that the water you drink on a backpacking trip or in another country is as safe as can be. If you have knowledge or experiences to share on this subject, feel free to enter a comment below.

Tags: water water filters water bottles hiking camping safety travel overseas diarrhea gadgets technology filtration Montezuma's Revenge shopping vacations security recreation outdoors backpacking bacteria outfitters Katadyn Steri-Pen purifiers Giardia Cryptosporidium hepatitis typhoid fever pathogens

Just sit ... and massage your tensions away

2005-04-04T19:50:00.000-05:00

iJoy Massage Chair

You've seen massage chairs, maybe sat in a few and enjoyed the relaxing vibrations as aches and tensions drain away. You might have considered buying one for your own living room, where you could enjoy it every night.

Unfortunately, most of the really effective massage chairs--the ones that feel like they have the hands of a trained massage therapist hidden within them--are rather expensive.

We scoured the current offerings in massage chairs to find one that will knead tired or sore muscles as well as the higher-priced chairs, yet still cost less than a thousand dollars, and preferably around half that. Our hands-down pick: the iJoy chair.

Built by the world's leading robotic massage chair company, the iJoy uses a so-called Human Touch Technology (HTT) mechanism that simulates the hands, arms and wrists of a professional massage therapist.

The iJoy features three automatic programs: full, upper or lower. There's also a manual mode that lets you customize your massage, positioning the rollers to the exact spot that's best for you.

The iJoy massage chair also looks great--even though it's therapeutic, it's appearance is anything but "clinical." Made in a soft, brushed velour and nylong, it's offered in six colors to match most decors.

The iJoy has a backrast that reclines from 110- to 155-degrees, a wired remote controller and an adjustable lumbar/cervical pillow to provide extra support and comfort.

We've been waiting for someone to bring out an attractive, high-quality massage chair that fits in the average person's living room--and within the average person's budget. The iJoy meets those criteria.

We recommend it, and we also recommend the Ultimate Back Store as the best source of the iJoy because of their superb customer service. (The Ultimate Back Store also sells the Herman Miller Aeron ergonomic chair, which has taken the office world by storm.)

You can view the iJoy user's manual here (PDF format).

Tags: chairs massage massagers massage chairs physical therapy furniture loungers relaxation stress relief back massage

Play lots more golf, spend lots less money

2005-04-04T17:30:00.000-05:00

The Golf Card

Golf might be America's #1 fastest growing participatory sport. People of all ages and means are taking it up in droves.

If you're an avid golfer, then you know how greens fees and other expenses can take a bite out of your budget. Also, you know how difficult it can be sometimes to find a course to play at the time of your choosing--especially if you travel a lot.

With these issues in mind, we checked out something called the Golf Card. Simply stated, you join up for just $59 a year, then use your card to play more golf for less money.

Golf Card members receive up to 50% off greens fees, pro shop discounts, discount car rentals, lodging discounts, a quarterly magazine and a three-day, two-night hotel stay with their membership.

With more than 3,600 participating courses nationwide, you will find lots of places to enjoy these savings, whether close to home or on business trips or family vacations.

We're frankly surprised no one thought of this before. See, the club has the power of numbers behind it--nearly 100,000 members, with more joining every day. That's why golf courses and resorts are willing to provide those memebers with genuine discounts of such size.

You can easily recoup the nominal yearly membership fee on what you'll save during a single golfing weekend. For anyone who plays golf, we think the Golf Card is a no-brainer.

Here's a recap of some of the benefits:

Free green fees, or up to 50% discount on golf at over over 3,600 golf courses in the US and abroad.
Largest course network in the world with courses in all 50 states and Canadian provinces.
Year round savings, no seasonal restrictions.
Discounted weekend play at most courses.
Member web site with trip planning, course search and more.

Click here to find out more or to sign up.

Tags: golf golfing Golf Card discounts bargains sports vacations resorts recreation golf courses

Diabetes: Best sources for information, supplies

2005-04-04T00:07:00.000-05:00

If you have diabetes, or know someone who does, then you know that it's a serious medical condition that can affect every aspect of one's life.

We have friends who must adhere to a strict daily regimen to control their diabetes; if they don't, they know the consequences can be severe.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy.

It's estimated that more than 18 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. Of concern to health care providers, some 5 million of those are unaware that they have the disease.

The cause of diabetes is still a mystery. However, both genetics and environmental factors appear to play parts. Among environmental or lifestyle factors are such things as obesity and lack of exercise.

For the most thorough and accurate information on diabetes, we recommend the American Diabetes Association.

Many companies specialize in supplying the medical needs of people with diabetes. One that we give our highest rating to is called FreedoMed. FreedoMed carries all of the leading brands of diabetic testing supplies, including Freestyle, Accu-Check and OneTouch.

Most of FreedoMed's customers receive their supplies, delivered to their door, at no cost. The company's web site has a simple interactive form you can use to find out if you qualify for free diabetic supplies.

Click here to view the FreedoMed web site.

Welcome

2005-04-03T21:57:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Only the Best. Our name really says it all. We'll be lookng at hundreds and eventually thousands of web sites and other web-based resources, as well as the myriad of products and services clamoring for your attention. We'll be telling you about some of them, too ... but only the best. Always.