BORN OF BODY AND SPIRIT

We are born of the body and of the Spirit. The soul dies to one body of existence and is born unto another. Death, the illusion, carries no fear, as we die to the Holy of Holies daily, consciously and with exacting purpose. We, as Spirit-Humans, are in a perpetual state of transformation and transmutation. The Divine Self is a constant living expression of Universal wonders and ever-changing forms through evolutionary processes of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies that ascend through eternity as a spiraling source of sacred consciousness. In other words, we are alive and eternal through the sacred Will of G-d, The Creator; even unto death within this third dimensional reality. The Body Temple purifies unto ash and the Spirit ascends to the worlds beyond. There is no greater Truth and no higher freedom. This is, indeed, a peace that goes beyond understanding and is eternal.

Humanity’s birthright on this earth plane is the process and progress toward the return to our most natural state, Spirit. The soul evolves through continual renewal and the promises of G-d are made manifest through the individual and collective soul(s) of humanity. This overlighting covenant cannot be broken. It is the birthright of all humanity without prejudice, emotional attachment or struggling mental gymnastics. The veil of unconsciousness and the ‘trail of tears’ due to unrealized, unfulfilled life purpose and spiritual vision may only hide this covenant. It cannot be distroyed.

THE BRAIN AND THE MIND; IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

The realities of human experience go far beyond the physical and yet most of the world identifies with what they see, hear, touch, smell and taste. Ask yourself as a discerning measure, “Am I a one dimensional being or a multi-dimensional being? “ Then ask yourself, “Am I greater than the sum of my body or my emotions or of my brain?” If you answered in the affirmative to these questions, then continue by asking yourself this potent question, “Do I know my Mind and is Mind something different than the physical organ we call the brain?”

First of all, humanity must recognize through spiritual and scientific knowledge that each individual human is multi-dimensional as we ‘live and breath and have our being’ while simultaneously working within and between many levels of consciousness. This is the Transcendent Mind. The Transcendent Mind Consciousness is G-d Consciousness. As Humanity penetrates what is known as the ‘cloud of knowable things’ in the Acient Wisdom Teachings, we gain the mystical understanding of life. It is this understanding that we begin to consciously connect with the Source of all life-giving creation. We begin the cognizant journey of our birthright through a purification process as we meet the joys and challenges that arise out of the healing alignment between Spirit and matter. What a wondrous and inspiring spiritual pilgrimage as we begin to consiously understand the covenant of our birthright and the purpose of our lives on earth in this dynamic and critical time in Humanity’s evolution.

Let us seek the probabilities of distinguishing the human brain from the ever transcending and ascending Spirit-Mind. The brain is a physical organ that serves the Human Being in experiencing the mortal physical, emotional and mental levels of third dimensional life-form. The brain is a functional instrument of multiple voluntary and involuntary processes. It can be analogized to a computer. The brain stores information, calculates, objectifies, formulates responses or reactions and is the hard-drive that seeks pleasure, fears pain and discomfort as it calculates the fruition of life experiences born of the soul. The Transcendent Mind or the “non-local mind,” is a separate yet inclusive entity known as the Creative Life Force. “Non-local mind” is pure consciousness, unqualified and full of potentiality. It works directly in conjunction with the physical processes of the brain, yet it is not the brain. The creative force, the “Transcendent Mind, is the blue-print of perfection that permeates the life-giving power of G-d, the Creator of All life and defines the omnipresent Divinity as the Light of our purest nature. This Light in all its beauty and glory is synonymous with the Mind, the Creative Source, the consciousness of G-d within Humanity.

THE MYSTERIES OF HUMAN NATURE & THE TRINITY

All of nature, which includes sanctified Human, is the reflection of the Divine Presence. As the sanctified Human, we encounter, ponder and explore through the limitless Mind. What we begin to perceive with greater clarity is illuminated Knowledge that activates Spiritual Wisdom and Purifies all illusion. Living a life full of illusions separate us from the wedded Truth that all of life is connected and all of life is One with the Creator.

Is life a mystery or is it a remembering? Is it both? Is it neither? Can these mysteries be taught or must humanity experience the mystical to actually know the sacred? Are we receiving from the Mind in full clarity or are the experiences of life, the woundedness we carry, the fear that paralyzes and the doubt that falls prey to what I call our Brain Filter, leave all humanity in chaos and confusion?

The Brain Filter responds through the conscious and unconscious self-created life experiences that seem to loom so forebodingly across our lives and yet, in truth, we create experiences to learn, to expand and to reunite with Onesness. Our Brain Filters edge out the subtle yet greater power of the Mind and we find ourselves lost in a maze of confusion, illusion and living desperate lives without direction, purpose or prayer.

We are creative consciousness utilizing the brain as a tool for the Mind as we display both the positive and negative, depending upon our direct focus, concentration and either disciplined or chaotic thoughts, feelings and actions. We are G-d Consciousness. We are the reflective Light in H/Her image. We are Co-Creators through the free-will gift of the sacred Trinity of G-d, The Creator, G-d in Man, and G–d, The Holy Spirit. The communion experience of the Trinity is Humanity’s birthright. It is the responsibility (ability to respond) of all humanity, as we become aware, regardless of religion, spiritual practice, race, creed or colour to esteem the Trinity through the Oneness of this communion. The Triune Communion reflects the inclusiveness of G-d, Man and Spirit; the blessed fruit of ‘The Tree of Life.’ Seeking the powerful discharge of its scholarship within the hearts and minds of all beloved seekers is the method of esteem revealed.

Let us open our Spirit-Human senses to the world of regenerative life. Let us open our hearts to the profound awareness that we are more than mere flesh. ‘We are the soul…’ May we encounter consciously the mystical Mind. May we remember the covenant of the soul; the trinity of Truth that belays any and all separation that the “local mind,” even in the attempts of the brain and the brain filter to convince us through third dimensional illusion, that it is real. The “non-local mind” is the expanded cosmic mind-space where the soul knows that the dimensions of life are limitless, boundless and eternal. The soul is forever seeking, transforming and transmuting for realignment with the wholeness of G-d. It is the integration of the Human-Soul with the Holiness of Spirit that instantaneously unveils and reveals the Truth of Life in the hearts and minds of uncommon thinking humanity.

To live a lifetime without the exploration of the Mind is to live in constant fear, as the brain is limited in its capabilities and yet functionally profound. Nevertheless, to live solely. in one dimensional brain is to waste the essence of Truth of who you are. You are Divine. You are Spirit-Human. You hold undeniable spiritual purpose and fusion. You are in consecrated process and at the same time in ultimate Perfection throughout eternity. The microcosmic human demonstrates its life giving potential in h/wholeness of the macrocosmic heavenly body. Identifying singularly with the physical and not recognizing the bounty of humanity’s birthright as Divine, “human universalis,” as coined by Barbara Marx Hubbard, is dismissing the value of life. In so doing, we create a life veiled from the Truth. It is the joy-filled discipline (discipleship) and conscious free-will (knowledge in action) to either remain veiled or to remove the illusion of separateness. We achieve this with love, gentleness, patience and compassion for our Humanity. How else are we to remember the Sacred Self and live a life fulfilled in its Perfection? Socrates has taught through the ages to “know thyself.” To deny the humanity within yourself is to deny the birthright of Spirit and to disown the very wholeness in which you strive to know. Acknowledge (act with knowledge) and “know thyself” as Spirit-Human; as eternal Mind and BeCome the BeLoved on earth as you are heavenly perfected, from above.

WHERE ARE YOU IDENTIFIED?

Are you ash upon the earth or are you conscious cosmic Mind that lives eternal? The cycle
of life awaits human awakening and transforms the most sincere atheist or doomsday fatalist into an ever budding lotus of creative Love and Inspiration; a Co-Creator with G-d. Is it the illusion of fear that we hold onto so convincingly when all the spiritual and scientific knowledge of contemporary and ancient society suggests consistently what the Holy Texts of
the World Religions and spiritual practices teach, that life is everlasting; that the temple or physical body breaks down and turns to ash, yet Spirit lives.. It is the essence of humanities evolutionary process from one century to the next, from one life to the next.

“There is no beginning and there is no end.” This is the W/Holy Truth of Eternal Life. Why is this so difficult to accept, to know and to reveal in every day life experiences? Why is this? “…to those who are given, much is expected…” Is it the responsibility that holds us back? Is it a sense of worthlessness and fear of failure?

Do we look upon higher Mind as a burdening responsibility that we fear? What is it? We cannot be in-Love and in-fear, simultaneously, therefore one or the other must be an illusion and one or the other must be Living Truth. We each must individually answer these questions as the Truth, unveiled, will be unique to our G-d given individuality, soul experience, life expression, emotional esprit de corp and mindful agility.

Free will, itself, is a responsibility so many of us try to escape living openly and consciously. It seems too easy to blame others for the choices we make. The innate power of balance or imbalance that is offered to us through this potentially benevolent treasure of free will, cannot be ignored. Denial of this tremendous freedom is to create disruption and chaos; ignorance and fear. Ultimately, there is nowhere to hide. The consequences of every thought, feeling and action perpetuate the basic nature of free will.

There are always consequences to our free will. Free will and the empowered responsibility we face require courage. When we face ourselves and accept the responsibilities of our life’s creations, the seeking of our wholeness can no longer result in betrayal, no matter how hard we try. Wholeness cannot be embraced until we learn to understand and nurture the heavenly gift of free will. The bounty of spiritual empowerment received through accepting the personal freedom of free will becomes a sacred responsibility toward a renewed intimacy with all that is Holy. The Wholeness of the Universe awaits our coming. The remembrance of the Holy of Holies, recognizes Itself in the wholeness of the “All That Is.” We are that h/wholeness. Remember the Trinity.

The Christian Bible shares that faith and belief in G-d is necessary to propel h/himself into eternal life. Faith and belief are essential keys to the heavens. It is a part of the wholeness in which we urgently seek, whether consciously or unconsciously, Yet, it is only the base steps on the majestic mountain we are climbing. Faith and unquestioning belief are merely embryonic steps on the path of spiritual knowledge and should not be confused with the end-all of Christian responsibility. Do not misunderstand my words, I am not suggesting that humanity is to follow one decidedly correct religion or faith and that one separate and particular congregation of people have the singular right-knowledge of G-d. It has been the impulse of humanity’s lower nature from the genesis of the Christian Church to gain power and control with an elitist and fear-ridden agenda. Look at the breakout denominations and sects within the Christian Church and throughout all major religions. Learn to recognize man’s ego structure that denies, defies and denounces the Human Spirit.. Learn for yourself where deceit lies and with love and compassion, transform and transmute this ego driven insanity into the well of spiritual alignment.

ARE YOU CALLED TO REVELATION?

Whether you are called to the Christian Faith, Buddhist Faith, Jewish Faith, the Islamic Faith or any other religious or spiritual faith, G-d lives. Seek the knowledge within them all and discover for yourselves the fragrance of heavenly Light that weaves Truth in all Holy Texts of the World. You need not be a scholar nor do you need to study World Religions in depth, if this is not your calling.

Yet, a basic knowledge of the major religions and spiritual practices of the world will unify all people as G-d teaches the same wisdom throughout all major non-violent religious documents as well as the mystical experiences that shake up our world of conscious realities. The language may be different. The symbology may appear different, however, the essence remains consistently the same. The sum and substance of G-d speaks to Hearts and Minds without separation of race, creed or colour. We are of One race, the Human Race and it is to this remembrance that peace, compassion and eternal vitality thrives.

Reveal yourself, oh, Spirit-Human. Follow your Heart as it is aligned with consecrated Mind. Do not follow mindlessly and certainly do not follow another human, no matter how seemingly knowledgeable, competent or charismatic a presence. Meet your own powerful Presence. You will then ‘know thyself’ as knowledgeable, competent and charismatic. These are qualities of The Christ that live within you. Hone those qualities. Tune yourself to the vibrational frequencies that will lead the way toward world service. These qualities already exist. Unveil them. Develop them. Seek knowledge, wisdom and Truth within your own Holy Being and the intimacy of experiencing your blessed Self will build a foundation in which to be sanctified through Universal Christhood. Boldly go where few have tread and serve humanity with high consciousness through your beloved indwelling Spirit. The thread of Universal Spiritual Truth will be discovered when you allow for the expansion of knowledge through conscious willingness to explore, investigate, and question the grand covenant of G-d’s promise, “…ask and you shall receive.” Don’t be afraid. Challenge the sacred promises of G-d within your Mind and throughout all religious texts. Ask with conviction and expectation. As you receive each piece of the mystical and scholarly puzzle, you will discover that each question and response requires another question and then another and another. Thus, the evolution of our Mind’s awareness transcends level upon level of revelatory knowledge as we seek the h/wholeness of life within the Spirit of consecrated reality.

THE MIND IS A SACRED PLACE TO LIVE

How many religious sects throughout the world have bellowed throughout the ages of their
righteousness in holding ‘The Truth?’ How many ‘followers’ have merely become sleepy
sheep without thinking Minds of their own? Remember to be lukewarm is to be spiritu
desolate and unfulfilled. It is better to be proactively and provocatively ignorant than to live without passion for Truth, whether we are able to hold it but for a moment and live it but for an instant. Discover your passions. Re-flame your inspirations. Question life and in so doing, you are no longer milk toast, aimlessly following what you do not “know” yet have blindly accepted. If you are bored with life, you have lost your fire. The essence of your Spirit is not openly expressing Itself. You are Spirit. Rediscover your passions and your inspirations. Let your Mind Light the way. Imagine, Create, Inspire and Serve. These are the four major keys to the expansion of the Mind; your G-d Consciousness in action.

The Mind is a sacred place to live. The journey is a fountain of inspiration. There is no burden in creative service that pulsates through life-giving Spirit. There is no oppression as we freely take ‘the yoke of The Christ’ and seek to express this wondrous union with all life. When Master Jesus urges humanity to ‘take the yoke of The Christ upon us,’ He is not asking us to take on a weighty load upon our shoulders to grudgingly carry throughout eternity. He is teaching humanity to accept a conscious union with G-d in service to the Light. Jesus teaches over and over again, “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.” This is our birthright. Know yourself as ‘the Light of the World’ and know the lightness of true freedom.

The wisdom within the teachings of Master Jesus is asking all of Humanity to recognize, remember and respond to our Divine Birthright and become the Masters of Light; the spiritual leaders of the 21st Century. We are eternal Mind. May we each take upon us the liberating yoke of Life, whatever religious faith and spiritual practice(s) we cherish as our expression to the world. We are a “…point of Light within the Mind of God…” Take up the Cross of Ascension while laying to rest the Cross of Crucifiction and be Born to the Light of your Sacred Self. Embrace your birthright and BeCome the BeLoved.

THE GREAT INVOCATION
Author Unknown

From the point of Light
within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into
the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.

From the point of Love
within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ return to Earth.

From the centre where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men–
The purpose which the Masters know and
serve.

From the centre which we
call the race of men
let the Plan of Love and Light work out.
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

Let Light and Love
and Power
restore the Plan on Earth.

July 1999 Copyright: A. James Hillelson; All Rights Reserved
Contact Ultimate Living Transformations at ajh7223@juno.com for Copyright Approval

About the Author: Jim Hillelson is an Ordained Minister, Author, Business Consultant & Leadership Coach who has 30 years in service toward the evolving human Spirit. Whether he is Consulting, Coaching, offering Seminars/Workshops, or presenting an Interfaith Sermon or dialogue in Diversity, his passion is achieving for himself and teaching others to reach their highest potential. Please feel free to contact Rev. Hillelson (Jim) at ajh7223@juno.com for further information on his services and products that elevate the human condition. He offers a FREE 30 MINUTE COACHING SESSION AND 1 HOUR FREE BUSINESS CONSULTATION SESSION for those who are serious about their personal and business success. His warmth and inspiration is a transforming presence.

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Rising. Soaring. Skyrocketing. These are the words that seem to begin every article about college tuition costs – and they are words guaranteed to make every parent cringe. According to the College Board, costs for the 2004-2005 school year at four-year private colleges are up 6%, while costs at four-year public colleges are up 10.5%. Scary? Yes. Impossible to handle? No!

The good news is that there is more financial aid available than ever before. One of the most interesting financial aid options is the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students, or PLUS Loan.

What is a PLUS Loan?
PLUS Loans are federal loans taken out by parents to help pay their children’s college costs. PLUS Loans offer several advantages:

•Interest rates are adjusted each year, but are consistently kept low. For the 2004-2005 school year, the interest rate is 4.17%. It is capped to never exceed 9%.
•Financial need is not a determining factor in receiving a PLUS Loan.
•No collateral is required.
•There is no penalty for early repayment.
•Loans can be consolidated.
•If you are eligible, up to $2000 in interest may be tax-deductible under the Hope Education Tax Credit.

Who is eligible for a PLUS Loan?
If you are a parent with dependent students attending college at least part-time, you are eligible to receive a PLUS Loan. You do need to have a good credit history. The following credit issues will reduce your chances of getting a PLUS Loan:

•Bankruptcies
•Defaulted loans
•Payments overdue by 90 days or more
•High debt-to-income ratio

If you are turned down for a PLUS Loan because of poor credit history, you can find someone to co-sign the loan with you and then apply again.

How much can I borrow with a PLUS Loan?
You can borrow up to the total cost of undergraduate education expenses, minus other financial aid already received. Expenses can include tuition, room and board, supplies, lab expenses, and travel.

How do I apply for a PLUS Loan?
You can apply for a PLUS Loan through the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. FFEL loans come from private lenders or loan servicers, such as your bank.

PLUS Loan applications are available from your school or your lender. To apply for an FFEL PLUS Loan, you complete the application and then submit it to your school. The school completes its portion of the application and sends it to the lender for approval.

Direct loans come from the U.S. Department of Education’s Direct Loan Servicing Center. To apply for a Direct PLUS Loan, you complete a Direct PLUS Loan application and promissory note and submit it to your school’s financial aid office. This form is available from your school’s Financial Aid Office.

You can take out one loan per enrollment period for each eligible student in your family.

PLUS Loans do require an application fee of up 4% of the principal of the loan. These fees are deducted from the loan principal, so no up-front money is required. The fee includes a 3% origination fee charged by the federal government and a guarantee fee of up to 1% charged by the guarantee agency. However, most guarantors waive the guarantee fee.

How are PLUS Loan funds disbursed?
Funds are sent directly to the school’s financial aid office for scheduled payments over the course of the academic year. As with other federal loans, there are usually at least two disbursements, one for each school term.

The funds are first applied to tuition, fees, room and board, and other school charges. If any money remains, you can receive it as a check or you can put it in your student’s school account. This remaining money must be used for education expenses.

When do I repay PLUS Loans?
You start paying back PLUS Loans 60 days after the final disbursement of the school year. So, if the final disbursement is made in January, as is typical, repayment generally begins in late February or early March. PLUS Loans are the financial responsibility of the parents, not the student. If the student agrees to make payments on the PLUS Loan but fails to make the payments on time, the parents are held responsible.

What is the difference between PLUS Loans and other student loans?
The other student loan generally available to students is the Stafford Loan. The table below illustrates the similarities and differences between these two loan programs:

PLUS Loan
Federally guaranteed
Made to parents of dependent students
Interest rate is low, but not as low as a Stafford (currently 4.17%)
Repayment begins 60 days after final disbursement for the academic year
Loan borrowing can be up to 100% of college education costs

Stafford Loan
Federally guaranteed
Made to students themselves
Interest rate is lowest available (currently 3.37%
Repayment begins six months after graduation or leaving school
Loan borrowing is capped:
• $2,625 for first-year undergraduates
• $3,500 for second-year undergraduates
• $5,500 for third- and fourth-year undergraduates
Loan can be needs-based and requires a FAFSA
Interest charges do not begin until repayment begins, after graduation

This article is distributed by http://www.NextStudent.com.

About the Author: My goal is to help every student succeed - education is one of hte most important things a person can have, so I have made it my personal mission to help every student pay for their education. Aside from that, I am just a pretty average girl from SD.

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This story comes from the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York. It is interesting that although I first heard this story almost a decade ago and haven’t thought about it for several years, this story was sent to me last week by two different people, one from New Jersey and one from Florida. I have decided to share this story with you.

This story was first told at a funding raising dinner for Chush, a special needs school in New York, catering to the Orthodox Jewish community. One of the speakers at that dinner was the father of Shaya, a learning disabled boy about whom this story revolves.

The father started his speech like so many others, praising the school and the dedication of the staff. But then he went off on a tangent in a way that touched the lives of everyone in that room.

“We know that God is perfect. We all believe this. But I ask you, look at my son. He can’t learn like other children. He can’t remember facts like other children. He will never understand things that they can understand. Look at my son and tell me, where is God’s perfection?”

The shocked audience sat silent, facing the pain of a father in anguish.

“I believe,” the father continued softly, “that when God brings a child like my son into the world, the perfection that He seeks is in not what the child might do, but the way people react to this child.”

The father then told this story about his son, Shaya.

One Sunday afternoon, he and his son were walking by a park where the Orthodox Jewish boys in the neighborhood were playing baseball.

“Do you think they would let me play?” Shaya asked.

Shaya’s father knew that his son didn’t know how to play baseball. His son couldn’t play baseball. But he also knows that these boys have always been kind to Shaya. If he as Shaya’s father didn’t speak up for his son, who would?

So he walked over to one of the boys and asked, “What do you think about letting Shaya in the game?”

The boy didn’t know what to say. He looked around to his teammates for guidance. He didn’t get any.

Finally the boy answered, “Well, we’re about to start the 8th inning, and we’re losing by six runs. I don’t think we’re going to win this game, so what’s the difference? We’ll get him a
glove and he can play on our team behind second base. We’ll let him bat in the ninth inning.”

Shaya’s face beamed. His father helped him put on the baseball glove and Shaya joined his team, playing short center field.

But things began to change. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shaya’s team scored three runs. They again rallied in the ninth inning. Now in the bottom of the ninth inning, Shaya’s team had bases loaded with two outs. It was Shaya’s turn at bat.

They will never let him bat, thought the father. But without hesitation, one of the boys shouted, “Shaya, you’re up!” and he handed Shaya the bat.

Shaya had never held a bat before. Shaya walked to the plate. The pitcher moved in a few steps and lobbed the ball so Shaya could make contact.

Shaya swung the bat clumsily and missed the ball by a wide margin.

“Hold on,” said one of the boys. “Let me help him. Let me show him how to bat.”

This boy came and stood behind Shaya, and put his arms around him so together they were holding the bat.

The pitcher moved in a couple more feet and lobbed the ball as softly as he could.

The two boys swung the bat together and managed to make contact with the ball, tapping it gently toward the pitcher.

“Run, Shaya, run to first!” shouted Shaya’s teammates.

Run to first? Shaya run to first!? Shaya had never run to first in his life. But Shaya began running to first.

Shaya was not even half way to first base when the ball reached the pitcher’s feet. The game was all but over. The pitcher picked up the ball. He now had a choice. He could throw Shaya out at first and end the game that way or he could easily outrun Shaya and tag him out. However, the pitcher decided to end the game in a different way.

He took the ball and with all his might threw it as far as he could over the first baseman’s head far into right field.

“Run, Shaya, run,” the pitcher shouted.

The right fielder was still chasing after the ball when Shaya reached first.

“Shaya, run to second!” his teammates shouted.

Shaya began to run to second, some of his teammates running with him. The other three base runners had already scored. Now the game was tied.

Shaya was only a quarter of the way to second base when the right fielder had the ball. Instead of throwing the ball to second to tag Shaya out, the right fielder took the ball and threw it way over the third baseman’s head and out of the park.

When Shaya reached second, the opposing shortstop ran up to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, “Run to third!”

Shaya began to run to third and his entire team came onto the field and was running with him. Shaya reached third base.

Now all eighteen boys were running behind Shaya.

“Shaya, run home! Shaya, run home!” everyone shouted.

Shaya stepped on home plate to the cheers of eighteen boys. They picked him up and carried him on their shoulders. He had hit a home run.

Shaya, the special needs boy who had never played baseball before, was the hero of the game.

——————————————-

None of us know why we were put on this Earth. Many teach that part of our job is to try to emulate our Creator’s perfection. Many of us have difficultly with our children. Some of these children have ADHD. Some of them have other problems. However, our children and we have a purpose why we were created. Most of us will probably never really know what that purpose is.

Still, I wanted to share this true story with you that took place about ten years ago: The story of eighteen boys who for a few brief moments one Sunday afternoon, at a playground in Brooklyn, were able to give us a glimpse of God’s perfection.

Anthony Kane, MD
ADD ADHD Advances

About the Author: Anthony Kane, MD is a physician and international lecturer. Get ADD ADHD Child Behavior and Treatment Help for your ADD ADHD child, including child behavior advice and information on the latest ADHD treatment and medication. Share your views at the ADD ADHD Blog. Sign up for the free ADD ADHD Advances online journal. bodhranCeltic Harp Sitarhighland bagpipe bagpipe sitar celtic harp bodhranpractice chanter

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In the past, pop-ups and banner ads have been easy enough to avoid with the right software installed (incidentally, am I the only one who finds pop-up ads that advertise pop-up blockers tremendously amusing?) but now the software developers have worked their way around that little problem. The solution was simple; sell advertising space in your software, not just on your web page.

As much as I like to complain about this new idea, it does come with a significant upside. These days, not all Shareware applications drop out after a limited period of use, nor do they constantly remind you to register. Having ads in the software provides the application developers with the necessary funding to live but leaves the user free from having to pay to use the software. It ends up being in the developer’s best interest to ensure that the user continues to use the software for as long as possible, because that means an increased income. In my opinion this was a brilliant idea, and I wholeheartedly supported it until they started building unblockable pop-ups into the software.

The gaming world is getting in on the act as well, which could be both positive and negative. The Internet provides the functionality for games to constantly update the virtual world with new billboards, TV ads, clothing and so on, keeping the content fresh and the ads current. From an advertising standpoint it’s an amazing idea, people are spending less and less time watching TV and more and more time immersed in virtual worlds. The interactive nature of the ads means that they will remain in a player’s mind for a lot longer than the TV ad break that can be walked away from, flicked over or simply ignored. The game developers on the other hand now have an added source of income, meaning that they can take more risks without the fear of losing money.

Advertising in games is not a new idea, the soft drink ‘7-Up’ created a game many years ago called ‘Cool Spot’, which had the player controlling a red dot with sunglasses in his quest to collect 7-Up logos. The game was remarkably solid, leaving the players to enjoy the game while still getting its message across. I played it a long time ago as a child, but I still remember how much fun it was and exactly what product it was pushing.

Pepsi released a Playstation game called ‘Pepsi Man’ that involved a blue and white striped super-hero running around collecting cans of Pepsi. Red Bull got in on the game with ‘Wipeout’ featuring ‘Red Bull’ banners and a loading screen bearing the phrase “Increase your reaction time with Red Bull”. ‘Worms 3D’ featured Red Bull as a power up. ‘Crazy Taxi’ had customers jump in the player’s taxi and holler “Take me to KFC!” or any of the numerous other licensed locations in the game. ‘True Crime’ had the characters dressed in ‘Puma’ attire, with the main character changing his outfits several times throughout the game. Until now I’ve always thought that the ads in games were amusing and, so long as they didn’t interfere with the playing of the game, I was all for them. However, there are new ideas afoot that seem set to change my mind.

The main problem I have with ads in games now is the same as my issue with Pay TV. You’re shelling out a lot of money for a product (new games being sold for upwards of $50.00 U.S.) and you’re still getting ads. If developers are going to start flooding my entertainment with advertising, I’d like to see a significant drop in the price of games.

The other big issue is that of spyware. Until now, spyware has been a hated part of existence. This malicious software digs its way into your system and collects information about you: your Internet surfing habits, the contents of your hard drive(s) and even the unblocked ports available on your computer. This has lead to the necessity of loading a system with anti-spyware utilities to run alongside the pop-up killers, anti-virus programs, firewalls, registry guards and whatever other protective measures a paranoid PC user has to implement. Now paradoxically, someone has had the ‘fantastic’ idea of building spyware into software, and games in particular.

In the future the games that you’ve just paid such a high price for will sit there monitoring you in the background, watching your every virtual move. Then they can target ads that are more likely to have an impact on you based on the contents of your hard drive or your Internet surfing habits. The best part about it is that as soon as you click ‘I Agree’ and install the software, it becomes legitimate and you’ve agreed for them to access information about you. Many software products already feature clauses in their license agreements that have the user permitting the developers to collect ‘anonymous information in order to provide the customer with a better experience’. The other part of this that irks me is the fact that I’m going to have to have my computer connected to the Internet and chew through my download limit just to play a single-player game.

In the end, I suppose that there’s no way to avoid advertising in our current world. Having it implemented into software and games was simply the next logical step. I suspect that I will be looking to download the inevitable ‘Ad Blocker’ cracks that I imagine will appear shortly after the wholesale introduction of advertising into the gaming industry, but I do believe that with appropriate tact and respect for privacy, advertising could turn out to be a positive addition to the interactive experience.

About the Author: Daniel Punch,M6.Net,http://www.m6.net

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Complacency is one of the deadliest diseases you face in your life. It stifles growth. Kills companies. Destroys the economy of your Country. Changes and destroys your relationship with your partner, friends, children and colleagues.

If you:

have a feeling of self-satisfaction.

find you are low in energy and enthusiasm.

have become unaware of danger, trouble, or controversy in your life.

find it difficult to accept positive criticism and acknowledge your mistakes.

take ages making a decision, especially those that will change your future or may be unpopular.

go through the day with an attitude of ‘ that’s good enough’ or ‘that will do’.

Then, in a nutshell, complacency has you in it’s hands and is destroying you.

Complacency is taking away your spirit.

How do you overcome complacency? What’s the treatment?

Napoleon Hill says the treatment is: Control Your Own Thoughts.

“You are searching for the magic key that will unlock the door to the source of power; and you have the key in your own hands, and you make use of it the moment you learn to control your own thoughts.”

The magic key is NOT to focus on and control your negative and wasteful thoughts but to develop your necessary and positive thoughts.

Negative and wasteful thoughts, like blame and worry, have no useful purpose. Their job is to reduce your energy and your potential.

To make you weaker than you really are. Therefore DO NOT concentrate your thinking on your weaknesses because the more you think negative and wasteful thoughts the further and further you will get from your potential. You cannot change negative thoughts to positive ones.

So, what can you do?

There are two strategies that you can adopt to be successful:

1.Focus on your necessary and positive thoughts.

Necessary thoughts: those that keep your life working naturally and Positive thoughts are those that move you forward with the intention of forming win/win relationships. Both are invaluable. They bring you energy and success. They are your seeds to a successful life. They drive your feelings, words and actions. The more you can think in the positive the more your feelings, words and actions are positive and you are successful.

2.Stop asking yourself ‘why’ whenever you don’t get the results you want..

‘Why’ only causes you to respond with ‘because’. And any sentence starting with ‘because’ means that you are now defending your past behaviour and change is impossible. Instead ask yourself; ‘what caused it to happen’ or ‘how did it happen’. Now you have something strong to base your future on.

These strategies are the antidote that finishes complacency and give you freedom.

You have the freedom to choose your behaviour. You don’t have to continue following others and what others say to you. All you have to do is focus on your natural and positive thoughts. These give you power and enable you to find what you are truly capable of.

The most courageous people in the world are those who overcome the disease of complacency and strive to be all they are capable of being.

“Only those who risk going far can possibly find out how far one can go”
(TS Eliot 1888 - 1965)

Graham and Julie
www.desktop-meditation.com

About the Author: To see more of our work please go to:www.desktop-meditation.com

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Nancy’s principal area of expertise is Alaska, British Colombia, and the Yukon Territory. Nancy is co-author of Going Places Family Getaways In The Pacific Northwest.

Good Day Nancy and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

Norm:

Please tell our readers something about yourself, your educational background, and the books you have written and are now in the process of writing.

Nancy:

I’m a 5th generation Pacific Northwesterner. My father had a profound wanderlust and an enthusiasm for discovering new people and places that rubbed off on me. A university professor, he held jobs around the U.S. and Brazil. I lived in California, Brazil, Washington and Oregon before moving to New York at age 17 to attend Sarah Lawrence College. My upbringing allowed me to feel at home in widely different milieus and engendered deep curiosity about other lands, and I’ve had a passion for travel since childhood. Although I did cherish dreams of writing a great novel as a kid, the passion for travel writing came later.

After college, I moved to Canada and worked a few years before attending York University Law School. On graduating, I worked at public interest law firms first in Toronto, then Vancouver where I wrote and edited legal self-help materials before moving to the US to marry. At that time I made a strategic decision to abandon law and become a full-time writer.

My first venture into authoring a book was when I wrote Adopting Your Child was published in 1993.
This opened the doors for me.
I contributed the British Columbia section to the fourth edition of Going Places: Family Getaways in the Pacific Northwest, published in 2000, and went on to write Going Places: Alaska and the Yukon for Families, which comes out in April 2005. Both titles are available from Sasquatch Books.

I just completed a new Alaska travel book, Activity Guide to the Inside Passage: Whether You Have Four Hours or Four Days. Sasquatch will publish it in January 2006.

Norm:

Where is the Yukon Territory and Alaska, and how easy is it to travel from the United States, Canada or Europe to these areas?

Nancy:

Yukon Territory is bordered to the south by British Columbia, to the east by the Northwest Territories, to the north by the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic and to the west by the state of Alaska. Most of Alaska sits to the left of Canada, but the gorgeous Alaska panhandle, a narrow coastal strip with widely separated communities, many on islands, runs several hundred miles south, bordered to the east by BC. At the top of the panhandle, the towns of Skagway and Haines offer road access to the rest of Alaska, the US and Canada.

The easiest way to get here is by air. International air carriers serve Vancouver and Anchorage. National carriers serve these destinations and Whitehorse (the Yukon capital). Alaska Airlines serves major Alaska cities and many smaller communities. Air Canada and its partners serve BC and the Yukon. Throughout the region, huge distances make plane travel essential. Smaller airline, charter and air taxi service is widely available across the north. From Seattle, a non-stop flight to Anchorage takes 3.25 hours. From Vancouver, a non-stop flight to Whitehorse takes 2.5 hours.

Highways run north through BC and Alberta, connecting to the Alaska Highway, which starts officially at Dawson Creek, BC, and runs through the Yukon into central Alaska. It is 817 miles from Seattle to mile zero of the Alaska Highway; and 548 miles from Calgary.

The Alaska Highway itself is 1,390 miles long, ending at Delta Junction, Alaska. Another 98 miles brings you to Fairbanks. The road is paved all the way, and services are rarely more than 100 miles apart–usually closer.

Once in the Yukon, motorists can drive to Dawson City, ground zero of the Klondike Gold Rush, and over the Top of the World highway to Alaska. The Dempster Highway leads north from Dawson to Inuvik, through the Northwest Territories. It’s not paved but in good summer weather can be driven comfortably.

In Alaska one can drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park, home of the continent’s highest mountain, spectacular Mount McKinley, in eight hours on good paved highway. Four more hours brings you to Fairbanks, with road access to the Yukon and points north. Many northern highways offer good driving conditions, breathtaking mountain and ocean views, and very little traffic apart from the occasional moose or bear ambling across the roadway.

Norm:

Would you consider Alaska and the Yukon Territory a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

Nancy:

The answer is a resounding yes–for the right couple. This region contains the world’s largest protected wilderness, spanning Alaska, British Columbia, and Yukon Territory and designated a UN World Heritage site.

The scenery is magnificent, access to wildlife unequalled, and despite its ever-increasing popularity as a tourist destination, has many all-but-undiscovered destinations to explore. Native cultures, largely eclipsed down south, are major players in the north, and are glad to share their world with visitors. However, if your idea of a holiday or honeymoon is lying on a tropical beach, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Let’s look at weddings first.

Getting your wedding party up north can be a challenge, although it could also be a magnificent experience. Alaska has several five-star hotels in the Anchorage area; otherwise most choices can be characterized as comfortable but rustic. A large wedding party and guests–more than 100 people–could be accommodated in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks or Whitehorse. The Captain Cook, in Anchorage, or the nearby Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, would be top choices. Smaller wedding parties can be comfortably accommodated in many places.

For honeymoons and romantic getaways, options are endless. Cities offer the usual urban amenities; but to experience the unique attractions of Alaska and the Yukon, try:

·An out-of-the-way spot like the Boardwalk Lodge on Prince of Wales Island, a great choice for fishing enthusiasts. In recent years, visitors have clamoured for a look at the world’s largest brown bears (AKA grizzlies).

·An August trip to Katmai National Park & Preserve, with a stay at the Brooks Lodge, a short walk from brown bears fishing for salmon, is unforgettable.

· The lovely Windsong Lodge near Seward on the Kenai Peninsula makes a great home base from which to explore Kenai Fjords National Park where you can get up close to beautiful Exit Glacier, hike some of Alaska’s loveliest trails, and kayak among glacier-carved fjords.

·The Yukon, especially Dawson City and Whitehorse, come to life in summer. A trip at the start or end of the season is recommended. Even in August, fall colours are rampant and yet temperatures can rise above 25C/77F. Take a day trip up the Yukon River to Eagle, Alaska.

Norm:

You mentioned to me that you have traveled to the north by just about every means available: plane, cruise ship, sailboat, motoring. Which one did you prefer and why?

Nancy:

I enjoyed all of them. Driving is great because it allows the most access to the region. If you have the luxury of time, the options are infinite! For visiting southeast Alaska, travel by water is my top choice. The variety of options grows every year. At the high end are small luxury cruise lines, or you can book a sailboat, complete with captain and crew, for your party and go exploring. For most visitors, especially those unfamiliar with the region, large cruise-ship travel is often the most comfortable choice. To experience Alaska as Alaskans do, I suggest taking the Alaska ferry up the Inside Passage; it combines the most access at the least cost in time and money. And to simply get north fast and start exploring, nothing beats flying.

Norm:

When is the best time to visit Alaska and the Yukon Territory from the point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada and Europe?

Nancy:

The most affordable time to visit is the so-called “shoulder season.” Up north, that’s May and September. Attractions are open and flights are available, but crowds are thinner. Mosquitoes, which can be a trial throughout the north, are scarce in those months, yet days are still long. Thrifty-minded visitors can find cheaper flights and often bargain for lower hotel rates at this time. Cruise fares tend to be lower as well. For a winter trip, avoid Christmas holidays and school midwinter breaks to obtain the best rates.

Norm:

How safe is it to travel to Alaska and the Yukon Territory?

Nancy:

Quite safe. The crime rate is low and human-generated risks are few. However, if you plan to get into the wilderness, you’ll need to be prepared, inform yourself and take sensible precautions. Read up on the terrain and the wildlife. Learn how to handle bear and moose encounters. If you’re visiting in January, you’ll need cold-weather clothing suitable for average low temperatures of -22C/-9F. It’s not unheard of for temperatures to reach -40C/-40F. On the other hand, it comes as a nice surprise to many summer visitors to the Alaska and Yukon interior that summer temperatures can soar to 27C/81F or even higher.

Norm:

Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA or Canada?

Nancy:

·Given the wide variety of travel options, it’s hard to be precise. If you can be flexible, you can often find a return flight from Seattle to Anchorage for around $250. Although it’s closer, flying to Juneau will cost more, from $50-100 usually–US dollars of course. From Vancouver to Whitehorse, return; expect to pay at least $200, Canadian.

·Drivers will find gasoline prices moderate in Canada and low to moderate in Alaska, thanks to the oil pipeline.

·Restaurant prices run higher everywhere; budget about 20% more than you’d need in urban Canada or the U.S. Motel and hotel costs are similar to those down south; don’t be afraid to bargain during the off or shoulder season.

·Cruise fares are complex and bewildering, but if you’re prepared to do the homework and cost comparison required, you can obtain remarkable deals. It’s possible to snag an inside stateroom for a seven-day cruise between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, for under $700 per person. This includes stateroom and meals, but no alcohol or shore excursions. Still, it’s a deal that’s hard to beat. For a romantic getaway, consider traveling in the early shoulder season and apply the savings to upgrading to an outside stateroom with a veranda.

Norm:

If you had to choose 6 unequalled venues in Alaska and the Yukon Territory for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, which would you choose and why?

I noticed that you had mentioned to me there is some great hot springs just south of the Yukon border on the Alaska Highway and in central Alaska. Perhaps, you would like to elaborate as how this venue qualifies as a unique romantic destination?

Nancy:

Only 6? That’s not easy; I’ll have to commune with my inner travel agent! OK, here goes.

For more information, my book Going Places: Alaska and the Yukon for Families explores each of these destinations in greater detail. Government Web sites are another good resource.

·Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Alaska

It’s accessible (Alaska Airlines offers service to Gustavus, just outside the park) and offers a taste of just about everything the north has to offer. Although Gustavus has excellent B&Bs, for honeymooners I recommend staying at Glacier Bay Lodge, the only accommodation inside the park, which offers rustic comfort (get a room with a view of Bartlett Cove), fine dining, and activities like kayaking, fishing, biking, guided boat tours of Glacier Bay, and free guided hikes with park rangers. Go flightseeing high above the bay to get a look at the enormous icefields that generate the glaciers. If time allows, extend your trip to Juneau (a gorgeous, 3-hour ferry trip south) to visit Mendenhall Glacier, tour superb museums, shop for Tlingit art and take a boat tour to Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness. The lodge is open and tours are offered between late May and early September.

·Haines Junction, YT

Come again? You may never have heard of it, but this tiny town perched at the edge of Canada’s spectacular Kluane National Park has a lot to offer–location, location, location, as they say in real estate. It’s highway-accessible from Skagway (4.5 hours), Haines (3 hours) and Whitehorse (1.5 hours). The national park’s main visitor centre is in town along with a superb small European-style inn–the Raven–with 12 spacious rooms and one of Canada’s top restaurants. Also in town are several decent motels and an excellent bakery and cafe. From here, you can access excellent hiking trails for all levels of fitness, and explore the largest protected wilderness in the world. You will need a vehicle. If you don’t have one with you, rentals are available in Haines, Skagway and Whitehorse. Or book a stay with one of the area’s full-service resorts and let them take you exploring. NOTE TO CANADIANS: For reasons no one seems able to explain, Canadians are not permitted to bring a vehicle into Canada, which they have rented in the US. Luckily, Whitehorse has many rental outlets.

·Homer, Alaska

On the southwest of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer is the better part of a day’s drive from Anchorage. It’s tiny (about 4,000 residents) but with city-sized amenities–such as one of Alaska’s best bookstores, a first-rate museum, and exceptional arts and crafts galleries. Homer Spit, which extends 4.4 miles into scenic Kachemak Bay, is studded with cafes and shops. At the far end, with Homer’s best view, is Land’s End Resort, a great destination for honeymooners. Book a suite or rent a luxurious condo. The restaurant is first rate. Soak in the hot tub at the water’s edge and watch the sea otters float by.

·Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska

First the bad news: Unless you are lucky enough to win the road lottery that allows you to drive deep into the park in mid September, you will have plenty of crowds to contend with. The good news is that it’s worth it. Not only is this closest you can easily get to Mount McKinley, wildlife viewing and spectacular scenery are among the best in Alaska, and accommodation choices are superb and varied. At the park entrance you can find many choices at all price ranges, some with views to die for. To get away from the crowds and closer to the natural world of Denali, consider a stay deep inside the park at the beautiful, rustic Kantishna Roadhouse or Denali Backcountry Lodge.

·Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska

This Japanese-owned hotel offers sheer, unabashed luxury. Plus it’s 40 miles from Anchorage and a day trip from Portage Glacier and the Kenai Peninsula. In winter come for skiing, tubing and snowboarding; in summer, for golf, hiking and wildlife. Any time of year, enjoy the first-class amenities that include a superb health club and pool and a tram up to a mountaintop restaurant This is a popular spot for weddings, well equipped to handle even lavish affairs. The high season here is winter; summer stays can be quite moderately priced. For a cheaper romantic getaway,

·Muncho Lake, BC

OK, it’s not in the Yukon, but so close! This gorgeous turquoise lake lies in the northern Rocky Mountains–a little-known but enchanted region where caribou and stone sheep wander the highways, fishing is excellent, and crowds are nonexistent. The Northern Rockies Lodge offers fine accommodation and European dining and arrange fishing and other excursions. Hiking and fishing are great here, but the number-one romantic attraction is nearby Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park, 34 miles up the Alaska Highway. A boardwalk trail leads from the park’s parking lot to two large hot springs pools. TIP: A short walk from the first, most popular pool is the second hotter and deeper pool that’s more secluded and less visited, a great destination on a drizzly day. Stopping at the springs is a tradition for just about everyone who drives the Alaska Highway. If you don’t want to bother with a vehicle, the lodge (it’s owned by bush pilots) will fly you here from the US or Canada.

Norm:

You have also mentioned to me that Asian tourists in recent years have been flocking north in winter on aurora-viewing packages. Could you elaborate as to what these entail and what can someone expect to see?

Nancy:

These are great fun and growing in popularity every year. For some years, Chena Hot Springs Resort, a rustic but delightful spot a few hours drive from Fairbanks, Alaska, has been offering such packages.

The resort has always been a favorite getaway for Alaskans for winter sports like cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The resort has several indoor hot pools, but the favourite is its hot-springs lake outdoors. Bask in the warm waters, surrounded by snow and subzero temperatures, while you gaze up at the aurora overhead.

Winter packages include rides on a “snow catch” to view the aurora. The “aurorarium,” nicely heated, offers a comfortable vantage point to watch the light show. Yukon and Alaska tour companies now offer aurora-viewing tour packages, usually three or four nights.

Norm:

In recent years cruises to Alaska have become very popular. Could you tell our readers why and do you have any preferences as to which cruise to take?

Nancy:

·The answer is simple. Some of Alaska’s most spectacular attractions are to be found along the Inside Passage. Yet, because they are separated by water and most are inaccessible by road, the only way to reach them is by plane or boat.

·Another reason: cruise travel is a remarkably flexible way to plan a vacation. No matter your age or fitness level–honeymoon couples, large wedding or family-reunion parties, toddlers, college students, and retirees–anyone can enjoy a cruise. There is onboard entertainment (usually casino gambling, art auctions, Vegas-style shows, and gala dining), programs for kids, shore excursions to sample the principal attractions of major ports of call and whales, bald eagles and other wildlife to view, all from the comfort of the ship.

·Cruises permit access to a beautiful but remote and rugged part of the world in sheer luxury. Visiting Alaska, I often encounter visitors who are making their third or fourth trip, but whose first was by cruise ship. Considering the bargains available, it’s also one of the most cost-effective ways to visit the north.

·For those unfamiliar with Alaska, I recommend taking a one-way cruise from Vancouver, BC, that includes a visit to lovely Sitka (round trip cruises rarely stop at Sitka). Finishing at Skagway, Whittier, or Seward, visitors can make their way to Anchorage for a couple of days and even tack on a short 2-3 day train trip to Denali before flying out of Anchorage back to Vancouver or the point of origin. TIP: check out one-way airfares offered by the cruise lines. They are often cheaper than anything you can arrange on your own.

·Amenities among the biggest cruise lines tend to be similar. For a romantic getaway on a major line, I like Royal Caribbean, Radisson or Silver Sea. If you can do without a pool and gambling, try one of the smaller lines like Cruise West or, Lindblad (if your wallet can handle the strain).

NORM:

How far in advance should a couple prepare themselves for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in Alaska and the Yukon Territory?

Nancy:

·We’re trending out of my area of expertise here, but let’s take a wedding first. If you need lodging for 20 or 30 people, you’ll find a wide range of options, many of which can be booked with no more than 6 month to a year’s notice–the amount of advance planning most weddings require. If, however, your guest list includes 80 or more, you’ll find fewer suitable destinations and those you do find will need to be booked as soon as possible. A popular choice for weddings, such as the Alyeska Resort, can be booked far in advance.

·For a honeymoon, if you want the top suite at the Captain Cook in Anchorage, a remote but popular resort such as the Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali or a first-class suite on a popular cruise ship, the sooner you book the better. Otherwise, six months should be adequate.

·And for a romantic getaway, surprisingly you can often make spur of the moment plans–especially if you’re willing to travel in May or September–and find topnotch options. TIP: if you’re looking for a great place to roost during the summer high season, try towns along the Inside Passage. Because most tourists visit via cruise ship or ferry and don’t spend the night, you can often find excellent accommodation in Ketchikan (try the WestCoast Cape Fox Lodge with a spectacular view of Tongass Narrows), lovely Sitka (the Westmark Sitka is a good bet) or Haines (the historic Hotel Halsingland has several antique-studded suites). But in Juneau, the state capital, if the legislature runs a summer session the top hotels–the Goldbelt and the Baranof–are likely to be booked solid.

NORM:

What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in?

Nancy:

Again, this is not my area of expertise. The ALYESKARESORT.COM has a wedding and reception planning page on its website. Anchorage has several wedding planners, but I’m not aware of any in Whitehorse. However, a nice thing about the north is the informality and ease of booking and planning a trip. And maybe it’s the long cold winters, but even tiny communities in the Yukon and Alaska usually have up-to-date web sites and are more than happy to help you find what you’re looking for.

NORM:

Is there anything else you would want our readers to know about Alaska and the Yukon Territory?

Nancy:

Just one more tip–for adventurous-minded couples with more taste (and wanderlust) than money, consider touring the Inside Passage via the Alaska ferry.

Ferries run north year round from Bellingham, in Washington State, 20 miles south of the Canadian border, and from Prince Rupert, BC, up to Skagway, stopping at Ketchikan (Bellingham-originating runs only), Sitka, Juneau and Haines. Their website (www.dot.state.ak.us) is handy for trip planning.

Amenities are admittedly Spartan–but private–staterooms for two or four passengers, with bath. Bring your vehicle and pet with you. Food is good and free naturalist programs are offered in summer. It’s easy to craft an itinerary allowing you to get off and stay a night or two in each destination before continuing on. If you want a stateroom and/or you’re bringing a vehicle, you’ll need to book six months in advance. Or you could do as Alaskans (even some honeymooners) do–pitch a tent on deck and enjoy the wild beauty of Alaska at a remarkably low cost.

Thanks Nancy

About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of the book reviewing site, www.bookpleasures.com and the travel site, www.sketchandtravel.com.Bookpleasures.com comprises over 25 international book reviewers and author interviewers who come from all walks of life.Sketchandtravel.com is a travel site wherein Norm’s words are melded with his wife’s art work focusing on romantic and wedding destinations.

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Many companies have invested in CRM systems to retain customers who demand more and better services by the day, but why? Due to recent trends, consumer behavior has changed dramatically in the last couple of years, and even more with current market conditions. According to a study made by The Center for Customer Strategy, consumers are less concerned with minor price differences, but choose companies based on their value-added services. They want to be able to get what they need, quickly. With tools like the Internet, it’s now a lot easier for both consumers and businesses to compare offers, and switch over if their needs aren’t met. This is especially true of high-value customers that produce the most profit for the business.

Businesses are scrambling for ways to retain these customers, and attract new ones in the process. So how is CRM an answer to keeping up with these trends? CRM is a strategy (no, not software) to transform your business to be customer, not product, focused. The CRM software is just a tool that helps the company carry out this strategy. Depending on its implementation, it can help your business identify who your customers are, what they need and anticipate what could want. It allows businesses to tailor offers to their current customers, building closer relationships that make them feel valuable. It can help eliminate contact and data overlap between departments and improve consumer service. For example, Leah Holzman, Marketing Manager of TradeCard Inc, explained how the marketing and sales departments in her company had problems tacking each others’ progress and customer data. They spent “hundreds of hours managing disparate data across multiple systems. That is, until they implemented a CRM initiative with the help of Salesforce.com. Overall, CRM can make your company more efficient and customer-friendly to capture greater market share, increase customer loyalty, and attract more customers.

So far, CRM sounds like a dream come true. Yet studies show that more than half of CRM initiatives fail. Despite rising spending in CRM, a survey of 1,200 businesses executives conducted by the Data Warehousing Institute showed that 41% considered their CRM project “a potential flop.” Only 16% were satisfied with their CRM software implementation. As one senior marketing executive claimed, “We turned a manual mess into an automated mess, and as a result we just made the same mistakes faster and more efficiently.”

The problem with these companies is not that CRM automation fails to meet expectations. There are several reasons why these systems don’t always generate the desired results. And most times, it has nothing to do with the software.

The biggest mistake that a manager can make is think that once the software is installed, all problems will be solved. To be successful, a CRM initiative must be a company-wide strategic culture change and process design. It entails getting all your employees (not only customer service) to change the way they perform their every day tasks so that the appropriate information is collected and used in a productive way. The software is just a tool that keeps things organized so that a successful CRM is easier to accomplish. As any change in a corporate culture, this project requires complete support from senior management.

One of the most common problems is that data collected isn’t used. Great sums of money are invested in collecting all different kinds of information on clients, yet many times this information is never analyzed, never used to understand the customer or provide all the benefits that CRM can deliver.

For better results, a company investing in CRM must first evaluate their current situation. They should determine what problems need to be solved, and what type of data are needed. Since implementation is often a complicated process (especially in large companies), it is vital to get input from all departments. It is also a good idea to include your customer in the process to get a better idea of what changes will be embraced. Often when a CRM initiative is left up to the IT department, it is harder for other areas of the company to accept any changes in processes (which are usually substantial). To be successful, the initiative must take place throughout the entire company. Employees must be trained to function with the new technology and processes.

When considering a vendor and/or product, it’s imperative that any software, system or processes implemented are flexible. They can then adapt, along with a company, to changing times and trends. This is especially useful in growing businesses, where needs might change as client bases grow and business expands.

No matter what precautions you may take when planning and implementing a CRM initiative, the only thing that can assure its success for the company are your people. After all, the whole concept of CRM is based on relationships. And those can’t be completely automated. There is no technological substitute for a friendly voice or face that understands a customer’s troubles and is willing to go above and beyond to provide the best service. CRM can only help a company manage these relationships to provide a more personalized service to loyal customers.

About the Author: Mark Levit is managing partner of Partners & Levit Advertising and a professor of marketing at New York University. For more information visit http://www.partnerslevit.com or call 212.696.1200.

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Part One: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-05-05_inventory_procedures.html/?ART78

Part Two: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-11-05_accounts_receivable.html/?ART79

Next Week: Accounts Payable

We’re sprinting toward that million dollar mark…and we’re only a couple strides away…

Decreasing inventory carried us over the first hurdle, and last week reducing Accounts Receivable sped us through the half-way mark. We’re making great time, so let’s bring on the next mile marker – marketing and sales.

Increasing Overall Sales and Marketing Effectiveness

If you are an organization spending $500,000 or more on marketing expenses (e.g. advertising, trade shows, print materials, direct mail, etc.) then STOP! We found it again. Why you ask…? Because marketing has the greatest potential of being very unproductive. In fact, many marketing programs struggle to break even, and actually frequently lose money. So if we increase the overall effectiveness, then we can eliminate 50% or more of your wasted marketing efforts, which translates into $250,000 in cash.

So now, let’s see how this actually works in a real-life scenario.

Sales and Marketing Company Policy Case Study

An organization with $500,000 in marketing expenses needed assistance. We examined their sales and marketing process to understand and quantify the lead flow, follow-up, and demand forecasting issues. Then we designed and implemented a process to improve their sales cycle efficiency and tie it closer to their customer’s buying cycles. After the marketing reductions, we then reinvested $100,000 back into new processes for public relations and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), both of which were suffering badly.

The metrics we developed reduced their marketing expenses by 60% overall and increased their sales cycle efficiency from 40% to 60% within 6 months of implementing the new procedures. With these new processes and reports, the company now tracks sales cycle efficiency and life-time value rather than just sales quota achievement, as the measure of their sales & marketing effectiveness. The result: an extra $300,000 in cash plus a 50% increase in process capability (capacity).

As we have seen time and time again, time can be our best friend, if only we let it.

Methods to Design the New Sales & Marketing Process

•Improve Follow-up. Only about two percent (2%) of sales occur on the first contact. Eighty percent (80%) of sales will require five to eight contacts before the sale closes. This means that if you are contacting the prospect less than five times or more than eight times, then you could have a problem with follow-up.

•Sales Cycle Efficiency. Time kills deals. The speed at which a prospect is converted into a customer and the number of prospects required to make that conversion determines your sales cycle efficiency. So ask yourself, are you taking the right steps to measure and reduce lost sales?

•Life-Time Value. How profitable a given customer is over time defines your LTV or Life-Time Value. Companies spend ten times more to acquire a customer than to keep a customer. However, existing customers are more likely to purchase again, spend more money, and therefore become more profitable. If you don’t know your LTV, then how do you know how much money to spend and on which customer segment?

•Demand Forecasting.

Every customer buys on a cycle. So this means that you should track cycle times and variance to increase the accuracy of your forecasting and the loyalty of the customer. Do you know when your customers need to reorder?

•Improve Lead Quality. Do you have methods in place to measure the conversion potential of each lead? Lead generation activities (i.e. forms) should pre-qualify every new lead so that you can take the right follow-up actions for the marketing offer. Strong leads produce strong sales.

•Increase Awareness. To keep the sales pipeline full of good quality leads you must continuously increase the awareness of your company and the solutions that it provides. Public relations is more efficient at building awareness than advertising, yet many companies spend wildly on advertising and trade shows while neglecting to fund public relations efforts much at all. Increase your name recognition, not your budget.

•Reduce Discounting. Discounts represent deficiencies in the sales & marketing processes, which means that you should use them sparingly. Instead, determine the root cause and then fix the process that’s causing the need to discount. Show customers the added value, and they won’t focus on price.

•Train Personnel. Provide your sales & marketing personnel with regular formal training. This will arm them with better product knowledge, as well as presentation, negotiating and selling skills that will improve effectiveness. This will boost both employee morale and the bottom line – a win-win.

Control of Sales and Marketing Policy and Procedures

Improve your sales cycle efficiency. Reduce your marketing expenses. Tie it closer to your customer’s buying cycles. And take control of your sales and marketing program to let it work for you.

Improvement with Well-defined Policies and Procedures

With well-defined processes and procedures in place, you will increase efficiency by reducing ineffective sales and marketing programs. And, again, we make such improvements to create more cash on hand – all toward that million dollar goal and to cross the finish line.

Next week, we will hurdle the final $250,000 mark with the Accounting Payables function – so close you can see it.

About the Author: Chris Anderson is currently the managing director of Bizmanualz, Inc. and co-author of policies and procedures manuals, producing the layout, process design and implementation to increase performance. To learn how to increase your business performance, visit: http://www.bizmanualz.com/?src=ART80

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The danger is that the company can become just another faceless entity that the customer deals with every day. This danger increases in this era of reliance on computers to handle communications with customers. Think about instituting a policy of sending a personal thank-you note to each customer. It’s not that difficult to do if you stick with it. Just sit down one evening per week and work through your list of customer contacts from the previous week.

Savvy companies will track customer contacts in their contact-management databases, but you can get away with keeping a simple Excel spreadsheet of all thank-you cards sent. Trust me, your customers will not forget it!

To really kick the personal touch into gear, spend one day per month doing nothing but making “courtesy” calls to your existing customers. Don’t have any plans to do real business – just call to say hello. Your clients will be pleased and astounded that you took the time just to check in. To ready your mind to play the role of friend rather than business associate, make the calls from home that day.

Really any little thing that you can do to make your customers feel that you remember them and care about them is priceless. I have a particular customer that mentioned to me one day that she was a tremendous Ray Charles fan. Months later when Ray passed away, I sent her a little note of condolence. I don’t think she will ever forget that gesture. She later told me that I was the only one who mentioned anything to her that day. She had been feeling like nobody knew or cared until she received my note.

What opportunities to make personal contact with clients are you missing each day? Sure, it’s easy to use convenient excuses like “I just don’t have the time,” or “I’ll get to it next week.” Just remember how much more difficult and time-consuming it is to find a new client rather than to keep a current one.

In the end, taking time to keep in contact with your customers will pay a lifetime of dividends both personally and professionally.

About the Author: Tony Valle is founder of Promethius Consulting, LLC, a unique web design and marketing firm. Learn more at http://www.promethius.com

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Does This Apply To My Business?

The 1099-MISC forms must be issued to any person that youhave paid at least $600 in rents, services or other incomepayments. Typically, you should issue the form to anyindependent contractor that you paid $600 to during 2004.For example, if you paid a designer $1,500 to build andmaintain a website in 2004 for your business, a 1099-MISCfiling would be required. As with practically any IRSfiling, there are additional situations that require a 1099filing [ex: any fishing boat proceeds], so make sure youcover your bases by looking at the relevant instructions.Generally, you are not required to report payments to acorporation.

When and What Must Be Filed?

The 1099-MISC form is a multi-layered carbon form, so makesure the information you provide appears clearly on all ofthe copies. Once you have filled out the form, you mustprovide Copy B to the person that you are reporting to theIRS by January 31, 2005. Using our previous example, youwould mail Copy B to your website designer before the end ofJanuary.

Copy A of the 1099-MISC form is intended for the IRS. Youare required to file it by February 28, 2005 if you aresending the form by mail. If you prefer to fileelectronically, you have until March 31, 2005 to file theform.

Revealing a particular flair for red tape, the IRS requiresyou to file an additional form if you are filing Copy A ofthe 1099-MISC by mail. In such a situation, you must file an”Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns”form. This summary is better known as Form 1096 and youshould have already received a copy of it in the mail fromthe IRS.

Where To Find These Forms

To the surprise of many people, the IRS has an excellentwebsite containing information and tax forms.

Unfortunately,the site is fairly useless when it comes to obtaining taxforms that you can actually file. You cannot download anduse any 1099 form from the website. If you try to printforms from the site and use them, you run into two problems.First, the IRS computers will not be able to read the formsand will reject them. Second, it is doubtful that you willbe printing on multi-layered carbon paper, which means youwill have no Copy B of the 1099. Obviously, either situationcan attract unwanted attention from the IRS.

You can order forms from the IRS by calling 1-800-tax-formor ordering them off of the IRS website [do not download].The IRS suggests it typically takes at least two weeks forthe forms to be delivered, but keep in mind that it may takelonger. If you need the forms sooner, you usually can findthem at libraries and post offices.

About the Author: Richard Chapo is CEO of http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - Obtaining tax refunds for small businesses by finding overlooked tax deductions and credits through a free tax return review. He can be reached at richard@businesstaxrecovery.com.

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