Way, Truth, Life Dice - A Super Bible School Activity For Memorizing John 14:6

John 14:6 is probably one of the most beloved and memorized Bible verses of all time. It says, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father accept through me." Simple, but most profound. Help your kids memorize this amazing Scripture by playing this very fun Bible school activity, which I call "Way, Truth, Life Dice."

Here's what you do: This game takes some preparation, but your kids will appreciate the time you spent. First, you want to make 5 large dice. I went to my local box store and bought 5 - 7" cubes. I then went on my computer and created some nice words: way, truth and life. Place 2 of each word on each die. Therefore, each die will show 2 of each word. Next, make 12 cards. Four will say "Way", four will say "Truth" and the last 4 will say "Life". Place these in a bucket or hat. Now, have ready your list of multiple choice questions found below. Finally, before playing the Bible review game, have the children memorize John 14:6. The faster they memorize it, the better their team will do.

Here's how to play: Divide your class into 2 teams. Show the class the dice and show how each die has the words: way, truth and life on them. Have one child come up from the first team. Let him pick out a card from the bucket. This card will tell you what type of question to ask. If the child answers correctly, let him roll each of the 5 dice. He wants to roll as many of the word that he picked out of the bucket. For example, if he picked a "Way" question, he wants to roll as many "Ways" as he can. For each "Way" he rolls, he gets 100 points for his team. Finally, he can earn an extra 100 points if he can correctly recite John 14:6. Play until both teams have answered the questions. The team with the most points wins.

Way Questions

Proverbs 4:11 says this: "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths." Life can be difficult sometimes. It can be easy to lose your way and get lost and forget what's really important. This verse says that God will guide you with His wisdom so you'll always know what to do and where to go.

God will guide you with His: A. seeing eye dog B. lies C. wisdom

Isaiah 30:21 says this: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" This verse shows that God will never steer you wrong. If you will only listen to Him, He will show you the right and true ways to take in your life.

God will: A. show you the right and true way B. get you lost every time C. forget to ask for directions

I Corinthians 13 is the famous chapter on love written by the apostle Paul. The Bible says in I Corinthians 12:31 that love is the most excellent way to follow. The Bible also says that God is love. So, it makes sense to always follow God who is the most excellent way.

God is: A. love B. uncaring C. not worthy of following

Proverbs 14:12 says this: "There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death." It's important to understand that you will not always know which way to go in life. In fact, life can sometimes get very confusing. You might think you know the right way to go, but until you get God's direction, you better stay put. Not following God can lead to danger.

Not following God: A. can get you all the ice cream you want B. can lead to danger C. is the best thing to do

Truth Questions

Psalm 43:3 says this: "Oh, send out your light and your truth - let them lead me." Is there any leader in your life that you follow? Maybe it's your mom or dad or teacher. You probably follow them because you trust them to be truthful and honest. God wants you to follow His truth. You can always trust Him to lead you in the right direction.

God wants us to follow: A. His angels B. Dishonest people C. His truth

Proverbs 12:19 says this: " Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed." Have you ever told a lie and were then found out? Unfortunately, most of us can say,"Yes", to this question. Here's another question. Have you ever noticed how things that are true are told over and over again through every generation whereas most lies fizzle out over time? For example, it is true that God made you, God loves you and God will always take care of all your needs. These are truths that will never go away, but will always stand the test of time.

God's truth will: A. eventually become lies B. always stand the test of time C. make me grow wings

In Isaiah 30:11, there were some stubborn people who didn't want to hear the truth of God. Instead, they were willing to hear lies! God's truth made them uncomfortable. God's truth might make you feel uncomfortable too sometimes, but I hope you'll always remember that when God speaks truth to you it's because He loves you and wants what is best for you. Never ignore God's wonderful truth.

Sometimes God's truth might make me: A. feel uncomfortable B. fall asleep C. have the hiccups

John 8:32 says this: "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Have you ever noticed how lies can get people's lives tangled up in a mess? God's truth does just the opposite. It frees us and allows us to live lives that are not only pleasing to God, but also pleasing to those around us.

God's truth: A. is not important to know B. locks us up in chains C. frees us to live lives pleasing to God and others.

Life Questions

Proverbs 8:35 says this: "For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself, all who hate me love death." This Bible verse is very clear in describing where true life comes from. It can only come from God. And when we find God our life will be blessed.

True life only comes from: A. God B. believing in yourself C. taking your vitamins every day

In the book of Jeremiah 10:23, Jeremiah wrote this prayer: "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." Jeremiah understood that even though he could walk and talk and breathe and eat on his own, every part of his life belonged to God. And since his life belonged to God, he should let God lead his life. Without God, you wouldn't have a life.

According to Jeremiah 10:23, a man's life: A. isn't worth very much B. is not his own C. belongs to the President of the United States

John 1:4 says this: "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men." This Bible verse is talking about Jesus. Jesus is both life and light for those who believe in Him. For the Christian, our life does not end here on earth, but continues in Heaven forever and ever.

Jesus is both: A. hot and cold B. short and skinny C. life and light

John 6:35 says this: "Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Have you ever been hungry and thirsty? Of course, we've all experienced growling stomachs and parched throats now and then. But did you know that this Bible verse says that if we believe in Jesus we don't ever have to be hungry or thirsty? It's not talking about real food or water. It's talking about all the things in life that really matter like love and friendship. When we believe in Jesus, our lives will never go hungry for anything we need.

This verse is talking about: A. believing in Jesus B. spaghetti and meatballs C. believing in ourselves to get what we need.

Game Tip: You will notice that some of my answers are silly. I have found this to be very effective with my kids. They are listening to the truth being told them as well as waiting for the "funny bone" line.

What Are You Doing to Reduce Staff Turnover?

In November I wrote an article entitled, "Is Staff Turnover Keeping you Poor...Costs and Affordable Solutions". The article identified eight simple tips to reduce turnover and related expenses. The tips detailed: 1. Involving staff in turnover reduction planning 2. Evaluating your hiring process 3. Addressing communication issues 4. Recognition and praise 5. Staff training and development 6. Positive relations among staff 7. Starting the campaign with successful actions 8. Tracking actions

Business and human service leaders everywhere understand the importance of reducing turnover. Clearly, turnover is an expense as well as a threat to the maintenance of quality products and services. Can we manage this problem or is it just part of the cost of doing business? Unfortunately there is very little data to substantiate what works. But experience and employee surveys tell much about the roots of job dissatisfaction. Staff retention is related to two factors:

· Wages at market rate or above. · Employers who treat their employees very well!

This article examines organizational operations in seven areas. In each area we will identify practices that speak to hiring and retaining qualified and dedicated staff. How many of these practices does your organization have in place?

1. Hiring Process · A marketing oriented statement spelling out why a candidate would want to work for you. · A hiring process that eliminates bottlenecks or proceeds so slow that candidates are lost. · Clear descriptions of the requirements of your ideal candidate. · Don't "settle" by hiring someone who doesn't really meet your needs, just to get the position filled. · Look for candidates with flexibility; today's job requirements may change. · Encourage in-house referrals; you will get them if your employees like working for you. · Have candidates observe the work environment...to see what is working and what isn't. · Give candidates the opportunity to interact with current staff and consumers of service.

2. Supervision · Hold high performance standards with a low tolerance for inadequate performance; stress continuous improvement. · Each employee should regularly receive at least one hour of private supervision. · The results of supervisory conferences should be recapped while together. Any assignments and progress against goals and objectives should be identified and memorialized. · Provide specialized training and development for supervisors. · Ensure that supervisors carry out their role in a professional manner.

Supervisors should: o Follow-up on commitments made to supervisees o Give supervisees honest, constructive feedback about their performance. o Ensure confidentiality of the supervisory relationship o Take responsibility for their own errors in judgment or behavior.

3. Respect for Staff · Listen and respond to staff suggestions; don't just tell staff what to do. · When developing new operational procedures give special weight to staff that will be heavily impacted by the change.

4. Staff Training and Development · Invest in the development and training of staff. · The development plan for each employee should consider what each staff person wants to achieve personally.

5. Diversity · Make sure your employees reflect the demographics of the community you serve. · Recognize that diversity involves more than race, culture and gender factors. · Use a professional measure to identify employee styles and temperaments. · Celebrate diversity and use it to strengthen the organization. · Help staff to understand that true cooperation and team work results when issues can be openly discussed and not seen as personal attacks.

6. Communication · Regularly survey staff to find out what they are thinking about the organization...positive and negative. · Follow-up on employee suggestions so that employees know their input is valued and used. · Hold exit interviews with all departing employees and regularly review the data that comes from these interviews. · Hold staying interviews to discover issues before turnover ramps up. · Gather employee input anonymously through surveys, focus groups, suggestion boxes. · Use technology to keep staff updated on organizational events and concerns.

7. Hardware and Equipment · Is your facility clean, safe, attractive and well-maintained? · Do all the toilets work properly? · Do vehicles operate properly and safely?

What would your score look like? Review the seven areas with other concerned staff. Pick out the areas where your retention program can be strengthened. Set a few goals for the year.

The alternative to implementing a measurable and effective staff retention program is to roll along, accepting turnover as a (rising) cost of doing business. The "do-nothing" strategy results in: · Employees leaving and taking their knowledge with them...maybe to a competitor. · Diminished workforce competency and lower client satisfaction scores. · Lower service levels and lost revenue. · A drop in employee morale resulting overburdening remaining employees with additional duties. · Increased costs for recruitment and training. Is there really a choice?

Which Modern Crib Should You Choose

Attention all expecting moms out there, there are lots of modern crib varieties on the market and you are bound to find one to match your style. Modern cribs are made to have flexibility but preserve the same whimsical look of the past. Modern cribs are versatile, attractive, can be found in several sizes and styles, while having price tags to fit any budget. The following are some options to pick from: convertible, round, portable, combo, sleigh, or standard.

So what are the primary advantages of a modern convertible crib? The ability to make use of your crib for an extended amount of time is undoubtedly the largest benefit. It can be transformed from a crib into a daybed to a normal bed and eventually even a bench. You always want to be sure that the crib is top quality. It must be durable enough to last until you transform it into a bed. Also take into consideration how difficult it is to build the crib since the reassembly needed to transform it could be a huge project. With that said, the modern convertible crib is a wonderful convenience simply because you get to use the exact same crib for several years.

An alternate version of the modern crib is the new and eye-catching round crib. Coming in wood or iron, it looks great capped with a full crib canopy as the showcase of the baby room. Remember that round sheets and mattresses are not quite as available.

A portable modern crib is great if you want to visit your friends and relatives who don't have any kids. Made of a mesh fabric, the portable modern crib simply folds into a case you could toss in the trunk of your car and bring to grandma's house. Then you and your husband can enjoy a romantic date together while your infant is nestled down in its comfortable crib. If you can prevent your portable crib from tearing it should last a long time.

The modern combo cribs come with both a crib and changing station. Changing tables are attractively mounted to the side of the crib. Compartments make it easier to store all the wipes and diapers out of sight for a tidy, organized look. Keeping the changing table right next to the crib and not having to buy a separate changing table certainly makes the modern combo crib a wonderful choice.

With wood head and foot boards, the modern sleigh crib is made with flare to look like a sleigh. Quite lovely with its curves and carvings, it may run at a higher price than your regular crib. However, the modern sleigh crib will most assuredly be a charming centerpiece for your baby's room.

Standard cribs are exactly what they claim to be, standard. Since there's no fluff, it's easy to find a bed mattress for them because they're intended for industry standard mattresses. Standard cribs accommodate your individual imagination to flourish by means of stenciling, installing a crib canopy, or perhaps an embossing of the child's name.

As a final note, drop-side cribs have actually been banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission since June of 2011 on account of un-safe design of the drop-side railings.

Living with a Connection

Living with a connection, is about living and loving all people, living through your spirit to create a world that is not only pleasant for you, but also for all the relationships and encounters you have.

Here are some questions for you to think about/ or journal down:

When you live your life from a place of love that is deeply rooted inside you, how do you feel?

When others around you live from this place, how does it feel?

What does it look like?

What does it sound like?

What are you doing?

How often is this?

Would you like it to be more often?

What would YOU have to do, to in order for you to live your life like this every day?

How will it look like, smell like, sound like, taste like when you live through your heart, and others all around you do to? What will the connection be like?

To live through this connection that joins every human being together is a powerful and personal experience. There are a number of things that each of us must work on to be fully alive, and present in order to live from this place.

Here is a Guided process to bring you to connection:

Read or practice one spiritual exercise a day

Read some that stretches your mind

Be creative for 15 minutes every day

Be willing to give

Be willing to receive

Focus yourself in what you are doing, with every activity

Commit only to what you can follow through on and write it down

Do not worry yourself over petty and trivial things, get busy instead

Take the first step

Life can be complicated, busy, and very technical at times. We are all connecting through a global community, but none the less we must still connect with each other the best we can. It can be as small as sending someone a handwritten letter, instead of an email or babysitting someone else's kids while they have a weekend away. What ever you find suits you do it, but don't stop there, do more that what is required. Say you are sending a letter to your friend, why don't you send him/her something small to go along with it that's personal and sentimental to them. This little extra touch does make a huge difference! We need to go out more, meet new people, and connect with who they are. What their hobbies are. How they arrived at their current job. Learn what makes this person unique.

If you want more love, first you must learn to give more love.

If you want to connect with someone, first you must learn about them.

Living your life through spirit also means excepting what you can not change, and changing what you can. Lets say you turn up to a friends party in order to connect with some new people. You are extremely worried and fearful though, about what they may think of you bigger than average feet. You can't do anything about it, so why not cast that doubt aside and enjoy why you are there. The people there aren't properly concerned with your feet, they are too busy worrying about themselves! Forget it, and enjoy your human connection.

What can you do this week to connect with someone in your life?

I dare you make that connection!

8 Ways to Succeed No Matter the State of the Economy

No matter the state of the current economy, you will find certain companies continuing to rake in the big bucks and certain individuals continuing to amass their wealth.  It doesn't matter the kind of business you are in, or if you work part time or full-time. In the end, creating a successful business is built on a number of time-tested principles.

1. Stay in touch with potential clients: Someone may have once mentioned they would be looking for a writer, designer, marketing consultant etc. in the near future. Nothing might have materialized from it, but keep them on your potential clients list and send them annual or bi-annual updates. They are more likely to contact you if you remind them of your existence.

2. Continue to build on existing relationships: Never hesitate to ask a current client if they need additional work. You'll be surprised at how many do, but have just been busy or sidetracked and have never come to you with a request. If you are too shy to ask, then send them a short reminder email to say that you appreciate their services and list the additional services you/your company offers.

3. Be competitive: You don't have to go down on your price, but you can offer extras in terms of regular communication and updates, quicker turnaround time and longer revision periods.

4. Expand your services: Having a niche is great. In fact, most people who specialize in a certain area find they can earn far more money doing this. However, keep in mind that you can also expand your niche to include related services.

5. Study and learn: You always need to update your knowledge. Take online courses, join evening classes or just read as many books you can. There's always something new that can be learnt.

6. Make excellence a cornerstone in your business: How can you exceed your clients expectations? How can you better yourself and your services? Customer service is the key to keeping clients and never slack off on it.

7. Explore underused avenues: Visit job sites and see if you can bid on projects where there's less competition. You may need to conduct indepth research into this subject  matter, but the returns should far exceed the investment you make.

8. Always have a goal plan in mind: You plans should include short-mid-long term goals. Revisit your plans frequently to see if you are indeed meeting your goals and exceeding them.

The Importance of Keyword Research in an SEO Campaign

Many people pretty much all comprehend that every last enterprise certainly requires a web-site as a way to reap some benefits from the thousands and thousands of people which check the online world for products and services almost every day, but the fact remains, the simple existence of a web page is not always enough. In order to implement an individual's web-site to its 100 % potential, the site will need to be promoted.

SEO refers to search engine optimization, which is the method of enhancing ones own web site for it to rank nicely within the search engines for ones identified search terms and phrases. Taking into consideration the actuality that seo is based entirely on the key phrases you need to place emphasis on, the keyword research phase is extremely important. It involves investigating search volumes, trends, competition, geography, together with other demographics. It also requires recognizing precisely what services and products you would like to present to what kind of buyer. While it's possible to complete your initial research step inside of a day, the actual operation is never ending. This is due partly to the fact that individual's tastes change as well as what individuals are searching for. There are several free sites and also software that can help you get started out in your planning. There are lots of paid web-sites with very good tools, and even agencies that will complete this step to suit your needs. Also you can have your own search engine optimization company achieve this for you, though it's going to be a good idea to give them a long list of keywords you know you'll be concentrated on aiming for for optimization.

A broad keyword is one a large number of consumers look for, granted that they may possibly have a vague idea of what exactly they really are looking for. Broad keywords and phrases are often rather short and usually are not really distinct (e.g. "shoes or boots" or maybe "sporting events"). These kinds of key terms tend to be tough to rank #1 for due to the fact plenty of other web sites could have a page or two which will refer to shoes. However, if you're able to rate effectively for the broad key phrase, you will be obtaining a great deal of website traffic.

A specific key word can be something which has a number of adjectives or terms which will make the search quite targeted. The public performing these kinds of queries know exactly what they need (e.g. "previously owned dark colored very high heel shoes"). These key phrases are less competitive and they are easier to show up for within search engines like Google. The down-side is that they receive a good deal less sum of queries per month. In terms of traffic, you've got to have several #1 rankings regarding particular search phrases to equal one particular #1 ranked broad key phrase.

These are the basic words that are specific to just your company. They tend to be one of the most simplest strategies for getting traffic. Then again, a number of companies will launch a fresh product, using a unique name, then fail to optimize for this key word on the actual web site. Their SEO knowledgeable competition can then pick up the slack and take control of the best ranks for these phrases. For those who have a popular brand or products, make sure that you have optimized regarding these giveaway keywords.

To put the optimizing strategies which we teach to good use, it is recommended that you try to target only 2 or 3 keyword phrases for each page. Perhaps the most common blunder by quite a few Website seo newcomers is always to stuff 400-500 totally different key phrases on a single web page and wait for #1 ranks to roll in. That would have proved helpful ten years ago, however algorithms which search engines like Bing use these days tend to be more innovative and therefore are certainly not deceived from this. That is why you need to start small, and stay to the point with the keywords and phrases which you pick. New internet sites in particular may find it nearly impossible to rank very well for the majority of key-phrases upon starting up.

These key phrases will help with both on-site as well as offsite portions of your search engine optimization efforts. As soon as you decide on between 10 and fifteen key terms and phrases you are sure that you would like to focus on, one thing to edit usually are all your title tags, meta tags, and header tags.

A Look At Cinnamon And Heart Health Research

While, there is no proven link between cinnamon and heart health, there are several reasons that friends, family and even those in the health industry may suggest cinnamon for heart health.

If you are interested in heart health, you should first understand the controllable risk factors. Type II, adult onset or diabetes mellitus, obesity, unhealthy cholesterol levels, physical inactivity and high blood pressure are among the risk factors that are considered controllable. This means that with proper diet, exercise and, in some cases, medication these factors can be treated or controlled.

Clinical trials in Europe in 2003 and 2006 support the use of cinnamon to lower blood glucose levels in patients with type-2 diabetes. Since this is one of the risk factors for developing heart disease, these studies may have lead to the promotion of cinnamon for heart health.

There is some confusion over which type of cinnamon was used in the trials. There are several types. In the United States, the most common type sold for flavoring is cassia. Some health agencies have advised against consuming high amounts of cassia, because of a component found in the plant which is toxic to the liver and kidneys.

Cinnamon is widely used in "fat-burners". You have probably seen them advertised in magazines on the internet or TV. They are typically sold in health supplement stores. These products are supposed to help you lose weight by helping your body burn more fat. There is no clear scientific evidence that they will work for everyone, but some research does support their use and some people swear by them.

The American Heart Association and other groups involved in collecting and researching information related to heart health has this advice about weight. If you are overweight, it is important for the health of your heart to lose the weight. But, it is also very important to keep the weight off. Gaining and losing twenty or thirty pounds over the course of your lifetime is believed to be unhealthy, possibly as unhealthy as chronic obesity. If someone has recommended that you try cinnamon for heart health and you are overweight, it may be because of cinnamons possible fat-burning attributes.

A study published in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology in 1999 seems to support the use of cinnamon as a fat burner, possibly supporting a link between cinnamon and heart health. In this study, the type of cinnamon used was Cinnamomum Verum, sometimes referred to as "true cinnamon". Southern India is one of the places where this plant was originally cultivated. Unlike cassia, no health risks are associated with the use of cinnamomum verum, but it may be harder to find.

In the study, rats were fed a diet high in fat, complemented with cinnamon. Researchers did not see the expected increase in cholesterol levels in the blood stream. This may indicate that cinnamon can help reduce or control unhealthy cholesterol levels, but more research is needed.

The Need For Website Traffic Promotions

There is a need for products, services or even events to be promoted. It is due to this fact that companies succeed or fail in their chosen business. Information is needed to make a choice between brands and products. Thus information dissemination plays a vital role in putting your product in your chosen market's list of options. A lot of advertising and promotion companies provide this kind of need from the consumer to the producer or manufacturer. This can also be applied to internet traffic thus web site traffic promotions.

THE NEED FOR WEBSITE TRAFFIC

Websites need traffic in order to flourish and that's a fact. The website may survive without traffic but it's pointless to have a website if it's not meant to be visited. Websites will have monetary value due to traffic. With that amount of money, no wonder many website owners or builders focus on generating traffic that runs by the million.

ARE THERE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Today, there are already available websites, download software and online programs that are aimed at increasing website promotions. In order to actually have these products and services would mean a considerable amount of money for some. Which is well spent money just as well but then not all of these sites are legit in view of the large number of scams and fraudulent website services. Even though there are testimonials from people who have had increased traffic, this will not automatically mean that it will also work for your website. Ultimately it will all boil down to the involved risk and how much money you are willing to part with. Now if the web site traffic promotion program truly delivered on its promise then well and good. Go ahead and promote the website and the program to others so as to avoid getting scammed. But then they may think that your testimonial is purely sponsor-based.

It is advisable to consider web site traffic promotions but it is well to keep in mind to choose wisely for the sake of your website and you.

Where to Stay in La Manga Del Mar Menor

Are you thinking of a Spanish holiday and where to stay in La Manga del Mar Menor? This area, on Spain's Costa Cailda, enjoys a temperate climate with over 320 days of sunshine each year. It's the perfect place to get that rest and relaxation you deserve. Before you book your vacation, take the time to examine the hotels, villas and apartments in the region.

The area of the Mar Menor or the "Little Sea" is almost completely separated from the Mediterranean Sea. The "La Manga del Mar Menor" means "the sleeve of the little sea." This 28 kilomenter strip of land forms the lagoon of Mar Menor, a beautiful natural environment.

Where to stay in La Manga del Mar Menor means choosing from places like the Hotel Mangalan in Gran Via de La Manga. This hotel opened in 2005 with 142 rooms on 10 floors. The nice thing about this hotel is that all the rooms have balconies with views of the sea. Hotel Mangalan has a café, a bar and an air-conditioned restaurant for its guests. It also has conference rooms for business travelers. The hotel offers a playground area for kids. For adults it has a spa, and for everyone it has indoor as well as an outdoor rooftop pool.

The Hotel Sol Galua in La Manga del Mar Menor is in Hacienda Dos Mares. On Galua Beach next to the Plaza Bohemia Shopping Center, it is near a sailing school and tennis club. It is a good central location from which to explore Cartagena and Murcia, which are 30 kilometers and 75 kilometers away respectively.

The Hotel Husa Doblemar is in Mar Menor in Gran Vía de la Manga. It is right on the shore of Mar Menor, only 250 meters from the Mediterranean Sea and 70 kilometers from Murcia. The hotel features a buffet restaurant, gardens, entertainment programs, an outdoor swimming pool, bars and the availability of water sports. Other hotels in La Manga del Mar Menor are Hotel Cavanna, in Gran Vía-Plaza Cavanna and the Hotel Los Delfines in Gran Vía La Manga, among many others.

Another option when thinking about where to stay in La Manga del Mar Menor is the Hotel Villas La Manga. This comfortable establishment has 60 rooms, a restaurant, a bar and a 24-hour front desk. They provide free parking, luggage storage, safety deposit boxes and free Wi-Fi Internet access to their guests.

Going the apartment route is also a choice you can make when thinking about where to stay in La Manga del Mar Menor. The La Manga apartments are luxury two bedroom and two bathroom beachfront apartments. It's only a skip and a jump from the large inlet which is Mar Menor. These apartments provide the highest standard in apartment furnishings.

The Tony Apartments are a few minutes' walk from the beach and only 10 minutes from the activity of the La Manga strip and La Manga Club Golf Resort. The apartment complex is close to the local market and a variety of excellent restaurants. The Tony Apartments feature an outdoor communal pool and a communal barbeque.

A newer two bedroom penthouse apartment with fabulous views of the mountains of Calablanque National Park is the Ribera Beach with its penthouses. The lighthouse at Cabo de Palos is also visible from the private balconies. Situated close to the beach, the complex also has a communal pool with a children's pool and a sunbathing area. The Ribera has a 50 square meter private rooftop solarium with a barbecue area to enjoy relaxing time in the Spanish sun.

Don't forget to consider the Euromarina Tower apartment with its sculptured pool and the Rydian Apartment in the seaside town of Lo Pagan. The Rydian is near the famous salt lake and Natural Park of San Pedro del Pinatar. The Calle Orozco in La Manga del Mar Menor is a new two bedroom penthouse that also has a large rooftop solarium.

All of the above and a host of others are there for you to investigate when you plan your Spanish vacation. Choose one that suits your needs and get ready to enjoy time well spent on La Manga del Mar Menor.

Ten Steps To Debt Elimination

Your Ten Step Debt Elimination System

The simplest systems are generally the best. This adage applies to debt elimination too. Over the years, I have evaluated many systems. Let me introduce you to the best one.

The Simple, yet Effective, Idiot proof, Iron Clad, No Holds Barred, Debt Elimination system, Devoid Of Any Fine Print.

Just take the following steps and your goal of debt elimination will be achieved.

1.) Check the recorded expenses for the last 12 months. One year is a sufficient period for checking personal experience. Check all recorded expenses, bank statements, cancelled checks, credit card statements, or whatever other record you have. For cash expenses, carry a small notebook with you for a few weeks and note down all expenses, however minor it may seem to be. At the end of the day, you will be amazed to see a molehill becoming a mountain. I have gone through this. It is a pain really.

2.) Find out the total monthly expense, by dividing the recorded expenses by 12 and adding the cash expenses adjusted for a month.

3.) Make a list of your debts. Do not forget to include mortgage. Call your creditor if you do not have this information handy. (However, it pays to keep the information handy.)

4.) Make a list of minimum payments on your debts that you have to make every month. Assume that the total comes to $2000 every month.

5.) Find out debt remaining repayment period assuming minimum installment every month.

6.) Rank your debts on the number of months for repayment in ascending order. That means, the debt with the smallest number of months remaining for repayment, is the first number. Go on until the last debt.

7.) Make a priority list for repayment of your debts. Your highest priority debt should be the one that you can pay off in the minimum number of months. Your lowest priority debt is the one that will take you the maximum number of months. Perhaps this will probably be your mortgage on your home.

8.) In step # 4. you have calculated your minimum repayment as $2000. Make up your mind to increase this by 10%.

9.) To have an additional $200 for repayment, reduce $200 from your expenses, and reserve it for additional debt repayment. Think of all the possible ways to do this. Make a determined effort and most likely you will exceed your target of $200.

10.) Use this additional $200 for repayment of first priority debt. If you were paying $100 previously, now you will be paying $300. This $300 will have a cascading effect on your repayment as soon as the first debt is paid off. You will now have $300 additional for repayment in place of $200 that you had from your savings.

This way you will be debt free in a few years. The beauty of this system is that it all came from just $200 that you have saved in years of your resolve to be debt free.

When you have paid off the final debt, you will find that you have a much larger amount in hand to spend than your original $200 a month that you saved initially from your expenses.

The cascading effect of your saving $200 will be evident in coming years.

Not only will you be just debt free in few years, but also will have built a substantial base on which to build up your dreams. All this for just $200 per month of your initial saving efforts.

Weather Forecaster For the Frequent Traveler

Originally, weather predicting was not so easy a task like now. Ever since our ancestors stopped their nomadic lives and started beginning to cultivate, they felt the need to predict the ever changing weather in order to keep their crops as well as livestock safe. Even now we are required to know what the future weather conditions are going to be like in order to plan certain activities as well as protect ourselves.

Today the most common source from which we obtain information on future weather conditions is from the local news channel. The newspaper also provides information on weather conditions for the rest of the day. The news channel or newspapers usually get their information from the local meteorological department that has a weather station. These weather stations are usually big and bulky, having many components that need to be placed indoors as well as outdoors in order to record things like temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, wind velocity and a few other things which need to be recorded in order to determine future weather conditions in a certain location.

But these sources are not always the best for people who are on the move quite often and especially if they are traveling in areas where the weather is rough. Families or individuals that travel a lot do not usually carry a television with them and sometimes do not have access to newspapers. Carrying a big weather station is definitely not an option since it would be quite a big burden to carry all those components. However, there is another alternative for the family on the move. Scientists and engineers have developed products that forecast the weather and that are not big like weather stations and some can even be carried in your pocket. This is known as the weather forecaster.

The weather forecaster is an electronic device that measures the indoor and outdoor temperatures as well as displays severe weather alerts. The weather forecaster is a wireless device that can even display long term weather forecasts to help you plan your activities for the rest of the week.

A wireless weather forecaster can be easily carried around and can be run by battery or from any AC power outlet. They are perfect for the family on the move or for a traveler who likes to go places where the weather can be quite a problem. They are extremely simple to use and the best part is the forecasts do not require any subscription and are all free.

Clomid and Other Fertility Drugs a Cause of Autism

On May 20, 2010, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health presented their findings from a study exploring the possible relationship between the use of fertility drugs and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The scientists reported to attendees at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Philadelphia that women who used fertility drugs to get pregnant had almost double the risk of having a child with ASD verses nonusers. The drugs studied included Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and Pergonal (gonadotropin).

This recent study is part of a growing body of research that strengthens the argument that Clomid and other similar drugs are a cause of ASD via their ability to deny cholesterol to a developing embryo shortly after conception. About 58% of ASD children have low total cholesterol (<160 mg/dL) and about 19% have extremely low total cholesterol (<100 mg/dL). The average level for children is 165 mg/dL. It has also been observed that a high percentage of children born with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), in addition to a wide array of birth defects are also born with ASD. Infants with SLOS are born with a defective enzyme that impairs the body's ability to convert a precursor (7-dehydrocholesterol) to cholesterol. About 71-86% of these children suffer from ASD. Cholesterol is essential for growth of the myelin membranes that cover the brain and abnormalities in the myelin sheath are believed to be a contributing cause of ASD. Many experts thus believe that low cholesterol during early embryonic development is one of the causes of ASD.      

Clomid has a long half-life and is present during the embryonic period (first 8 weeks) even when taken before conception. Studies have shown it to be biologically active for up to 54 days after ingestion and that it can accumulate over successive cycles of treatment. In the Harvard study they found that the longer the use of fertility drugs, the higher the risk of developing ASD. A critically important fact - and one not known by most physicians prescribing the drug - is that Clomid is a cholesterol inhibitor and impairs its production by acting upon enzymes in the body similar to Lipitor and other statin drugs. Its chemical structure is also similar to the cholesterol-reducing drug, Triparanol, which was briefly available during the 1960s. Animal studies have shown that Clomid and Triparanol both act on the same enzyme and affect developing organs in a similar way, with Triparanol being slightly more potent.

Pergonal (also known as human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG) likewise reduces cholesterol, but by way of a different mechanism. Namely, it suppresses cholesterol levels in early pregnancy via its ability to elevate estrogen production. Studies have established that following hyperstimulation of the ovaries by Pergonal, the resulting elevated estrogen during the luteal (post-ovulation) phase of the cycle suppresses the level of total cholesterol.  In fact, there is an inverse correlation between concentrations of estrogen and the level of total cholesterol - the higher the level of estrogen, the lower the concentration of total cholesterol.    

The GOOD NEWS is that many ASD children with low cholesterol, treated with cholesterol supplementation, have shown dramatic improvement. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, led by Dr. Richard Kelley, have shown such treatment resulting in improved mobility, verbalization, growth, behavior, sociability and alertness. More importantly, once we have a full understanding about a cause of ASD, we will be in a position to eliminate that cause and reduce the number of families impacted by this tragic abnormality.    

The Ten Most Important Wine Label Terms

For the average wine consumer, there is a plethora of intimidation associated with wine buying. This is a feeling that is most often associated with not understanding wine labels. New world wines tend to make it easier - wines bottled in Australia, South America and the United States are often more direct in their presentation of the type of wine and the name of the vineyard. On the other hand, old world wine labels like those from France, Italy, Spain and Germany carry with them loads of classifications, harvest-types, town names, vineyard titles and producer idiosyncrasies - all in a foreign language. While these labels embody the wonderfully classic aesthetic associated with a good looking wine label, they almost always cause a cocking of the head for the average wine buyer.

In an effort to make the process less of a mess and more fun for those unmoved with the prospect of memorizing a pocket dictionary worth of French, Italian, Spanish and German wine terms, here is a list of the top ten things to look for on a wine label. The first five are things you want to look for, and the last five are items that should raise a flag of caution or don't mean what you think they should.

1. Cru

If there's one term you should learn when looking for a good French wine, it's Cru. The infamous wine regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace in France will carry the term Cru somewhere on the label to indicate that the wine is from a town or producer of high quality.

2. Poor Soil / Deprived of Water

This will be something you read on the back of the wine label if there is a description. Sure - it sounds counter-intuitive, but wine that is grown in poor soil and deprived of water irrigation is actually likely to be of higher quality. Why? Because when a vine is deprived of excess water and nutrients, it will channel more of its energy into ripening the fruit rather than producing bright and vibrant leaves. The result is a higher quality grape harvest.

3. Methode Traditionelle (Traditional Method)

This applies primarily to sparkling wine made in the United States and Australia. If you see Traditional Method on the label of a new world wine it means that it is made in the same way as traditional Champagne, and will often be less expensive!

4. Vieilles Vignes (Old Vines)

Similar to the concept of vines grown in poor soil with minimal irrigation, vines that are considered old vines have more concentrated juices. The result is a vine that produces wines with denser, richer flavors. And as the juice is more robust, so usually are the other aspects of the grape, including the tannin and the acidity. A reference to Old vines either on the front or the back label is a positive indication of the wine's quality. This will be called Vieilles Vignes on French Wines.

5. Estate Bottled

On a bottle of French wine, you will see this labeled as Mis en Bouteille au Chateau, Mis en Bouteille au Domaine, or Mis en Bouteille au Propriete. The concept of an estate bottled wine is that it was grown, produced and bottled at the same location. There is an inference that the wine maker takes a great deal of pride in all aspects of the wine making process and wants the world to know that he or she oversees every element of the wine's production. As such, it is typically a reference to higher quality wine.

6. Odd Sounding or Unfamiliar Wine Awards

This is something that should raise a red flag. Australia notoriously has problems with wine makers placing gold, silver or bronze stickers on their wine labels that boast winning an award at an esoteric wine festival. Until very recently, there was no regulation in place for what type of award was worthy of placing on a wine label. If you do see award-winning stickers, make sure that the event sounds familiar or at least sounds large. You don't want to end up with a wine that won an award at a bake sale.

7. Flowery Marketing Terms

Most consumers have no problem identifying marketing adjectives from legitimate inferences to why a product is high-quality. Be wary of terms that a marketer developed while staying up late at the local café in the midst of a brain-storming frenzy. Anything that is trying to sound impressive by using words like exceptional, from wine maker's personal bin, or limited release is most likely trying to sell the wine based on gimmicks rather than on its quality.

8. Vague Geological References

High quality wines are usually a reflection of the unique characteristics of the small plot of land on which the grapes were grown. Wine makers will want to highlight this fact by referencing their specific region or town and the vineyard name. Be cautious of wine labels that reference a vague geographical space without getting more specific. South-Eastern Australia is a notorious labeling term you will find on Australian wines, which is about as specific as saying This Wine Was Made on Planet Earth. South-Eastern Australia includes the majority of the country's wine growing regions. Similarly, a wine that only says California Wine, or French Wine without honing in on towns or more isolated regions should be avoided.

9. Grand Vin

A Grand Vin term on a French wine label simply refers to the fact that the wine is the primary one produced at that vineyard. It is often confused with Vieilles Vignes (Old Vine), which is a reflection of quality. Grand Vin is a neutral term that will give you little indication either way.

10. Superieur

This labeling term causes confusion similar to Grand Vine listed above. It sounds cool but all it really refers to is the fact that a French or an Italian wine has a higher alcohol content than what it is traditionally known for.

The art of understanding the wine label can be the journey of a lifetime, but there's no reason why the average consumer can't get a leg up by understanding some of the key items to recognize. The most important thing is to have a sense of adventure and continue to explore new wines. Taste them and see how the label reflects what you like (or don't like) about the wine. If it was flat and watery, were there gimmicky marketing terms that were used in the description? If it was full, balanced and complex, did it have a reference to Old Vines? The terms listed here will help equally with choosing wine off of a menu at a restaurant as buying a bottle in a store. Listen closely to the waiter or sommelier's description. You never know what gems you can find by simply being aware of the terms listed here!

Building Or Remodeling in an Old Neighborhood

One of the biggest problems with building a new home in an area that's already built out is that you can't find any lots to build on. Your only option is tearing down the old house and building a new one. Your options are limited in areas where land is too expensive or are there aren't any vacant lots available.

This is where remodeling starts to become attractive. If you fall in love with the neighborhood, but can't find the exact home you're looking for, you should start to seriously consider remodeling. I don't recommend that you tear the entire home down and start from scratch, because this could get expensive.

Before you do any of this, check with your local building and safety Department to make sure that you're even allowed to do any remodeling or tear the entire house down. Some older neighborhoods are considered historical areas and you're not even allowed to change the building exterior with out someone's permission.

Another problem with building and remodeling in older neighborhoods is that the plumbing and electrical services to the existing house might not be sufficient and would need to be upgraded. One of the best things you could do is contact a few contractors in the area, to get their opinion about remodeling or starting from scratch and building a new home.

I've done it all, torn down new homes all the way down to the ground and remodeled homes all the way from the foundation up. If money is not an object, I would recommend tearing the entire house down and starting from scratch, but if funds are limited, remodel what you can and enjoy what you got.

Green Tea, Black Tea, Herbal Tea: Healthful Beverage Choices

The health benefits of green tea have been trumpeted in the media recently. Even though the claims may be exaggerated, if you're going to drink much of any beverage other than water, tea is probably your best choice.

Tea is water plus phytochemicals including caffeine, and very little else unless you add a lot of sugar. Both green and black tea come from the same plant, camellia sinensis. To make green tea, the leaves are steamed, rolled and dried. For black tea, the leaves are dried, then fermented and fired.

Both green and black tea contain phytochemicals that have been linked to reduced rates of certain types of cancers. When brewed at normal strength, both contain about half of the caffeine found in a cup of coffee. If caffeine is a concern, de-caffeinated teas are available.

Herbal teas are dried leaves of a wide variety of plants, which you steep in hot water as you would regular tea. They are generally caffeine free. Many claims are made for the phytochemicals found in herbal teas, but all we can safely say is: yes, they do contain phytochemicals, which may be beneficial or harmful, depending on the plant used and the amount you drink. If you have hay fever or other allergies, be aware that herbal teas made from plants in the family you are sensitive to can trigger the same reactions.

Tea appears to be healthful and may contribute phytochemicals to your diet that you would not otherwise get. So enjoy your tea, but remember, what is beneficial in moderation may be harmful in large amounts. That's true for all foods, not just tea. If you need to drink more than a few cups of a beverage, make it water.