The Songwriting Habits – by: Mahmoud Ibrahim

Some songwriters just wait for inspiration, those are not likely to succeed. Inspiration comes as a result of work; to get inspired you have to work hard and practice. So, how can you practice songwriting?! The habit of sitting down to actually think about a subject, to look up words in rhyme dictionaries, to play the piano for just the right chord…etc. All this is just the habit of practicing.

As you practice more, HIT IDEAS will suddenly come to you out of the blue!! Writing hit songs is the inspiration that you worked hard to get. For example, you might spend a lot of nights wearing your brains out writing melodies (that is practicing, and organizing your songwriting thoughts), and then while shopping for shoes an amazing melody starts echoing in your head: That’s your hit song.

This means that practicing doesn’t get you hit songs or hit ideas, instead it trains your brain to function better musically and to become more aware of “songwriting potential” in things occurring in your environment. There are other habits, besides practicing, that are useful too. These habits are tools to help the songwriter collect the fruits of practicing. Here they are….

Habit One. Have a notebook with you at all times:

Any time a song idea hits you, a good verse, creative metaphor..etc. Write it down for review later.

Habit Two. Have a digital recorder with you at all times:

You can use any thing to record sound with…Your “hit” melodies will not be lost. (Sometimes I use the notebook to write the notes of the melody -like D B A G..etc.-, you can do that too and save yourself the trouble of having to sing in a supermarket .

Habit Three. Ask people what they think about your creations:

Showing them to friends is always a good idea. However, showing them to other songwriters means great advice and “professional” comments that would go beyond “Good work, where are we going to eat?” .

Habit Four. Keep your hit ideas organized:

Now that you have kept every amazing melody and every interesting lyric that hit you on paper, It’s time for you to put them together in a great song. But how are you going to keep track of every single melody, title, chord progression or lyric that you think of or write?!! The answer is to have them organized in a way that makes them easily searchable and accessible. You can still do your organizing the old way using paper put in folders besides the folder-sub folder organizing on your computer. There are softwares that might help, like “TrackNotes” from “Virtual Studio Systems”.

Habit Five. Practice:

I have talked about this a lot. It’s really important…You will not be musically inspired unless your brain gets used to music. Inspiration is HARD WORK!! Practice by reading for successful lyricists, by listening carefully to great songs, by struggling for days with one line to get the right word for meaning and rhyme, by experimenting with chord progressions…etc. There are lots of stuff you can do…PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!

Now that I have let you in on the songwriter habits, there remains a warning: Not every idea that you get is an inspirational moment, you will get a lot of “junk ideas”. Nevertheless, do not try to judge your ideas the same moment you get them; record every thing and keep track of every thing you think of. You can later review these ideas, save the good ones and throw away the bad ones (you can better keep them in a safe place too, every thing may come in handy!).

Finally, you don’t have to go with all these habits. They are habits that I developed because they were comfortable to ME. You, also, can discover and develop your own useful habits. The only habit that is crucial is!?!! You guessed right: PRACTICING.

**This article is part of “How To Get Started” free songwriting online course. (http://www.songwritingfever.com/songwritingtips/getstarted.html)

About The Author Mahmoud Ibrahim is a young songwriter from Egypt. He is the owner of http://www.songwritingfever.com, the first website to be dedicated to songwriting collaboration.

Free Online SEO Tools – by: Arif Hanid

For anyone wanting to do a bit of their own Search Engine Optimisation, there is an abundance of free online SEO tools available on the internet. Most of them provide some pretty impressive statistics and information to help you optimise your website, analyse search engine positions, research your competitors, plus much more!

There are two ways these free online SEO tools can be used:

(1) For those who are new to the area of search engine optimisation, these tools provide excellent insight on how a website is performing and ranking. They can quickly highlight issues and trends with their current website and provide a good insight as to where optimisation work is necessary.

(2) For the more experienced search engine optimisers amongst us, these tools will act as a complement to the more specialised SEO tools, like WebPosition Gold or SpyderOpts. They can even be used to supplement an SEO’s internal knowledge base and experience.

Here is a selection of some choice tools for both the novice and the experienced search engine optimisers:

Keyword Research Tool

http://www.webmaster-toolkit.com/keyword-research-tool.shtml

This helps to research appropriate words and phrases to include in your webpage’s body text to aid promotion. It’s simple and to use and requires the user to enter the sort of word of phrase you wish to be found under, the tool will then suggest some additional words and phrases you can think about using. One of the great things about this tool is that it gives you the option to select from a range of top search engines, e.g. Google, Yahoo, MSN, Teoma, etc.

Keyword Analyser Tool

http://www.webmaster-toolkit.com/keyword-analysis-tool.shtml

This tool reads the body of the page you specify and gives a report on what words are used, and how many times they are used.

This is a valuable tool as most engines will rank your site depending on your keyword density (which typically ranges between 3% and 9%).

Search Engine Position Checker Tool

http://www.webmaster-toolkit.com/search-engine-position-checker.shtml

This tool checks whether your website appears in the first fifty results in major search engines for your chosen keyword or phrase.

If the URL is present, it will output what position it occupies. As an additional feature, the tool also informs you if any other URLs from your domain appear in the search results.

Link Popularity Tool

http://www.instantposition.com/link_popularity_check.cfm

This tool measures the total number of links or “votes” that a search engine has found for your website.

This is a pretty cool tool because as well as tabulated data it also produces a nice graph of the resulting data. One final key element of this tool is its ability to compare your website to your competitors to help you with your overall marketing strategy.

Meta Tag Generator

http://www.webmaster-toolkit.com/meta-tag-generator.shtml

This automatically generates a Meta Keyword tag by reading the page you specify, removing common words from it, and picking the most used words on the page. Extra weight is given to words in a heading tag ( etc.)

Search Term Suggestion Tool

http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/

Displays how many times a certain keyword was searched for at Overture.com. Shows all related searches for the entered keyword. A good measure to use in determining frequency of search among related keyword phrases

Search Engine Optimisation Tool

http://www.instantposition.com/seo_doctor.cfm

A very impressive tool that tests the performance of a web site, by analysing a page on the important elements of web page creation, such as its title and content. It then scores the page against given criteria for the top search engines, followed by some valuable SEO advice to improve overall ranking. The report produced is well laid out and easy to follow for anyone doing their own optimisation.

A freebie tool that works better than many costly SEO tools I know!

The area of online SEO tools is an exciting area of growth as SEO developers come up with more and more tools to represent website positions on the internet. No doubt we will be revisiting this area again…

About The Author Arif Hanid Internet Marketing Manager for Ambleton Computing. Experts in all areas of Internet Marketing, inc. SEO and Web Design. arif_hanid@ambleton.com www.ambleton.co.uk

Baby, It’s Cold Outside – And Dark! – by: William Wittmann

Seattle and the Puget Sound is the most sun starved metropolitan area in the US with the exception of Anchorage, Alaska, who wins the award by a rain drop. Puget Sound is renowned for having weeks on end where it rains every day. We sometimes don’t even see the sun for days.

Surely, where you live has more sun, but you would probably enjoy a trip to the Caribbean and beyond as much as we would.

I gain relief by watching warm weather movies. These films promote the illusion of warm weather and serve as a reminder of times to come.

In order to be included on the list, the location has to play a role. That location needs to be sunny and pleasant, which isn’t too hard to accomplish.

Additionally, to make the list they have to be good movies defined as ones I am willing to view repeatedly. This is much harder to accomplish.

In no particular order, this is my private reserve of movie titles.

• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Room with a View
• Much Ado About Nothing
• My House in Umbria
• French Kiss
• Enchanted April
• Under the Tuscan Sun

Here is a list sent in by readers, again in no praticular order.

• Stealing Beauty
• Lawrence of Arabia
• The Sheltering Sky
• Thelma and Louise!
• English Patient
• Juliet of the Spirits
• Black Stallion
• Shirley Valentine

William Wittmann Copyright 2004 All rights Reserved.
Web site: http://www.vitalarts.net
Blog: http://www.vitalarts.net/art/blog.html
RSS Feed: http://www.vitalarts.net/williamsfeed.xml

You may “reprint” this article free of charge provided you use it “as is” including these last paragraphs with permission, contact information and copyright remain intact, and you send a copy of your reprint to mailto:william@vitalarts.net. Thank you.

About The Author William Wittmann Copyright 2004 All rights Reserved “I am not the creature in the fairy tales who unlocks hidden secrets to reveal unimagined treasures, but I can introduce you …” mailto:william@vitalarts.net http://www.vitalarts.net

The Top Five Writing Mistakes Professionals Make – by: Judy Cullins

Yes, you know your subject. You also need to think about entertaining your audience, and making your book or other writing easy to read. If your writing lacks organization and compelling, vital sentences that convince your readers to keep reading, they will leave your book or Web site immediately. There goes your “word-of-mouth” promotion.

Try my “Check and Correct” for These Top Five Mistakes

1. Stop passive sentence construction.

When you write in passive voice, your writing slides along into long sentences that slow your readers down, even bore them.

Before you put your final stamp of approval on your writing, circle all the “is,” “was” and other passive verbs like: begin, start to, seems, appears, have, and could. Use your grammar check to count your passives. Aim for 2-4% only.

Correct: “Make sure that your name is included on all your household accounts and investments.” “Make” and “is included” –the culprits. Create more clarity with this revision,” Include your name on all household accounts and investments to keep your own credit alive after your divorce.”

2. Stop all pompous language and phrases.

Well-meaning professionals often use the word, “utilize.” You see this criminal in resumes, military directives and medical or lawyer documents. “Utilize not only puts people off because we don’t relate to “jargoneze,” but because we want simple language. Think of Hemingway who knew that one or two syllable-words work better than longer ones.

When you aim at 10th grade level, you make it easy for your audience to “buy.” Attempts to impress your audience with research babble or long words fail because they sound unreal and create a distance from the audience. Your reader wants a savvy friend, not an expert.

3. Show, don’t tell to keep your audience reading.

When you take the lazy shortcut using -ly words like suddenly, or the adverb “very,” your telling makes your reader yawn a “ho hum” and stop reading. Instead show “suddenly.” For example, “When she saw the pistol, she ran and slammed the door behind her, shows “suddenly.” Instead of “Alice was fat,” say “Alice’s girth prevented her from buying just one airline seat.”

Circle the -ly and very words and sit down with your Thesaurus and replace them with power words that describe or show emotion.

4. Reduce your passive -ing constructions.

Think of a title that inspired you in the past. I like “Jump Start your Book Sales” by Marilyn and Tom Ross. “Jump Starting” lacks power because it doesn’t ask for action. “-Ing” construction implies passive. Next time you think heading, title, or even compelling copy, think command verbs as sentence starters as well as using other strong verbs and nouns. Keep your sentences active using verbs in either present or past tense.

5. Take the “I” out of your writing to satisfy your reader

Whether you write a book introduction, biography, chapter or web sales message (did you know these are part of the essential “hot-selling points?”), keep the “I’s” to a minimum. Your audience doesn’t care about you, only what you can do for them. Think about where your audience is now–their challenges or concerns. Remember to answer their question, “Why should I buy this from you?” Put a big YOU at the top of each page you write. Write three or four paragraphs. Then, circle the “I’s” and vow to replace them with a “you” centered sentence or question.

So instead of telling your story, (I know that’s important to you) put your story in the third person. Use another name, maybe a client’s or friend’s. If you think your bio is important, instead of placing a long passage on your home page, place it instead, on your “About Us” page. On your book’s back cover, put your longer bio and photo inside the back cover page, so you can put more of what sells on your back cover–testimonials and benefits. Get everything you write checked by a book or writing coach to make sure it sells.

You cannot only get more sales from what you write, you can put yourself out there as the savvy friend to your audience who wants a problem solved. In the long run, these satisfied readers will return to you again and again–even buy your products and services.

Judy Cullins © 2004 All Rights Reserved

About The Author Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people’s lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including “Write your eBook Fast” and “How to Market your Business on the Internet,” she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says…and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and 140 free articles. judy@bookcoaching.com

Family Life or How to Buy: Chair for a New Baby – by: Elen Meerovich

Even if your baby is just weeks old now, you’ll soon see how amazingly quickly she develops. Most expected parents want to buy their new baby the world.But you don’t need to spend a lot of money.Before you blow the budget check out online sources for reviews and recommendation and then selectively purchase new items with safety. Go Online.You’ll be able to find almost everything you need. Browse the bargain hunter’s guides like “Baby Bargains” and “Bargain Buys For Baby’s First Year”. Consult websites: ConsumerReports.org and DrSpock.com. So buy the best quality you can afford.

Today you’ll see “Svan High Chair” with infant kit(for 6 months and older). THe beautiful chair comes from Sweden.

How It Grows With Your Child

The Svan™ Chair grows with a child at every age and size. Since the seat and footrest can be freely adjusted along main beam the chair can be adjusted to alwais fit the precise needs of a growing child The Svan™ Chair is so flexible that it adjusts all the way to meet the needs of a teenager or even an adult. As it adjusts, the chair can hold up to 250 pounds. Chair comes in your choice of three wood finishes and five color cushions.

http://www.allaboutdress.com/svan.html

About The Author Elen Meerovich.Raised two children. You can visite her website for Mom to Be. http://www.allaboutdress.com email:914gml@videotron.ca

The Role of Private Enterprise in Putting Man into Space – by: Thomas Sullivan

Has NASA, the monolithic space agency, failed in it’s quest to put man out into the cosmos? Will profit coupled with man’s need to explore be the driving engine which sends man into the cosmos? Think about what has moved technology forward within the American society over the past 100 years or so. Was Orville and Wilbur Wright employed by the government. Of course not. Most of their research and development for the invention of the airplane took place within a small bike shop in western Dayton, Ohio, the birth place of aviation. Thomas Edison, who is accredited with 1,093 patents earning him the nickname “The Wizard of Menlo Park” used his own money to build the Menlo Park research labs in New Jersey. In 1889, Thomas Edison established the Edison General Electric Company. Thomas Edison is considered the most prolific inventor of our time and his inventions were created within the realm of private enterprise.

Did the seed for the invention of the personal computer germinate within a government lab? The invention of the personal computer came from an assortment of various inventions and from the tinkering of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in Job’s garage in an area now called Silicon Valley, the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in northern California. Their tinkering led to the development of Apple Computers. The story of Bill Gates and the development of the Microsoft family of operating systems took place within private enterprise. The Windows family of operating systems is the most widely used on earth and has been a major player in bringing information technology to the developed world.

Examples of major technological advancement within the realm of private enterprise are numerous. Most major technological advancements within society have occurred outside the purview of government intervention. Governments were intended to govern the people. The governments role is to preserve the environment of freedom and democracy so that intellectual curiosity can flourish within this environment. The governments role is also to provide funding, and should not be in the nuts and bolts operation of putting man into space. The ingenuity of man within the realm of private enterprise has resulted in most of the technological advancements we enjoy today.

The cosmos will be explored by man operating from the base of private enterprise and the technology needed to explore the cosmos will be developed within that enterprise. Why is this so? NASA is an agency driven by fear of tragedy. More mishaps will decrease the probability of sufficient government funding. This cycle of fear, mishaps, and the hope for continual funding is one that seems to have no end. But mishaps are part of the business of putting explorers into space. What can better withstand the expected mishaps. A government agency or private enterprise. If a private enterprise fails, it’s competitor can step in to fill the gap and the engine of private enterprise can continue to push man into space. NASA is not a private enterprise competing within the world market place.

NASA is not what it used to be during the Apollo days. Given it’s current mind set and culture, it will be difficult within this framework to send man out into the cosmos as true explorers. They have given the nuts and bolts of putting man into space to private contractors. But these NASA contractors have the same NASA mind set because they are under the dominion of NASA. There is a fear of mishaps within contractors without true competition within the market place. NASA awards contracts to the lowest bidder. Does the lowest bidder provide the highest level of safety. Once a company is awarded a contract, they remain a NASA contractor for many years and simply become an extension of NASA. Therefore NASA becomes a autocratic agency with it’s arms extending outward to many companies. NASA’s manned space flight program can do no more then low earth orbit. Year after year of low earth orbit does not excite the American people. Astronauts today are no longer household names. An American president here and there will give a speech saying we are going to Mars. Even President Bush’s January 14, 2004 speech seems to have already been forgotten by the American public.

When we went to the moon this was the start of an exploration. A goal was set on May 25, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, during a speech before a Joint Session of Congress, to reach the moon before the end of the decade. NASA kicked into high gear and achieved one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of mankind. We took the first step into space and then just stopped. Since then all of the manned space missions have never gone beyond low earth orbit, and the American public becomes bored easily. To gain the American interest and support of the Apollo days, we must send true explorers out into space. NASA wants to take such small, time consuming incremental steps that by the time comes when the really exciting work begins, the American support and interest may be eroded to the point where NASA may no longer have the financial means by which to accomplish such an endeavor. Hence, the need for private enterprise to accomplish such an endeavor. If we are going to go into the cosmos, then lets do it and stop the futile activity.

A private enterprise is not a bureaucracy. If safety issues arise from qualified personnel within a bureaucracy, these issues may not resonate to the proper people within the organization. A case in point, the knowledge of a strong potential for a O-ring failure at low temperatures between the segments for the solid rocket boosters of the space shuttle, existed within the bureaucracy of NASA before the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. More specifically, this critical information in terms of probability of O-ring compromise was expressed by engineers at Morton Thiokol, the contractor for the development and production of the solid rocket boosters. This information never percolated upward from Morton Thiokol to the proper people within the NASA organization.

In private enterprise, which is non-bureaucratic by nature, a relatively small group of people are working toward a common goal. In this situation, safety issues which arise will be known by all members of the organization. Safety issues will not get lost in a bureaucracy. NASA depends on it’s contractors to deliver a high level of safety. A private enterprise depends on itself to provide a high level of safety. The structure of a private enterprise is more suited to the endeavor of sending out explorers into space. The government should award grants to the most promising companies with the understanding that the sending out of explorers into space does indeed benefit mankind.

Americans are at their best when they compete. Competition is an integral component of American society. What was the driving force that put us on the moon. It was the competition with the Russians. At the present moment in time, this type of competition does not exist. Although, it appears as if China may be a future competitor. Americans need to compete to accomplish something. It is competition which drives the advancement of technology. Why not let companies compete for government funding and let the research and development occur within these companies, and most importantly let them compete. These companies can have the same characteristics of any company that wants to produce a viable product. They will not be under contract from NASA and will operate as a separate private enterprise entity. A company can make money from space tourism and the same company can be involved in sending explorers out into space. Government grants can be awarded based on how strong the potential exists for space exploration. A company can be involved in space tourism, exploration, or can provide a research and development platform. This is the future of man’s endeavor into space.

Man will be exploring the cosmos with private enterprise being the driving engine. If one enterprise fails, one of the competing enterprises will win out. Sure there will be some disasters and risks will be taken because that is the nature of the business. But when unfortunate disasters or mishaps do occur, the private enterprise engine will not grind to a complete halt. Burt Rutan and his Scaled Composites team have taken the first steps toward this archetypical dream of exploring the cosmos, and they did it with a fraction of the budget that NASA uses and with a team of 130 or so people to boot. They won the Ansari X-Prize by sending a man into space and returning him safely to earth and then they repeated this within two weeks. An absolutely unbelievable accomplishment given the facilities and resources which were available to them. This could only occur within a society where freedom and democracy are regarded as a right to all individuals. The United States is such a society.

Burt Rutan has said that he has never worked a day in his life. He only plays. His passion for his work is what produces results. Burt Rutan and his team represent the core of what makes the United States the greatest country in the world. May be terrorist can get it through their thick heads that freedom does work. Most importantly, Scaled Composites has shown the world what private enterprise can accomplish. Even if Scaled Composite’s endeavors never go beyond earth orbit, they have taken the first step within the proper mind set and culture, and this is what will put man into the cosmos. This mind set and culture of pure unadulterated intellectual curiosity is what really will put man into the cosmos. Not NASA’s mind set of fear.

NASA has played it’s important role by lighting the torch in sending man to the moon. We are now at a point in the history of mankind where that torch should be passed to private enterprise. The developer of the Ansari X-Prize I’m sure shares my thoughts. God has placed the planets and all the stars within the universe there for a reason. It is God’s intention for us to move outward into the final frontier. We do this to fulfill the natural curiosity that God has given to us and in the process we better the lot of mankind. Lets go…

About The Author Copyright 2005 Thomas Sullivan Thomas Sullivan, the author of this article is an IT Consultant/Search Engine Optimizer, Pilot, and Space Enthusiast. He has two aviation related web sites that he manages. These are http://pilotportalusa.atspace.com/ and http://weatherforpilots.atspace.com/. Send questions or comments to Thomas Sullivan. His email address can be found on his websites.

I Know I Can, I Know I Can – by: Michael Dixon

I’m sure most of you remember the children’s book about The Little Train That Could. I have to admit that at my age, I don’t remember the exact title or exactly how the story goes, but I don’t recall the idea in the story.

Basically, if you think you can, you can, but if you KNOW you can, you WILL.

By setting a goal, having a burning (I said BURNING) desire to achieve that goal, and daily affirming that goal, there is no way you can fail. You must stay focused on your goal and remain commited to reaching it.

Write your goal(s) down on paper and place them where you can read them every day. Remember, we are staying focused here. Read them out loud to yourself. If you memorize them, read them anyway.

Visualize your goals. Find pictures to represent your goals and put them up where you can see them every day. Can’t find a picture? Draw one!

The more you commit yourself to a goal, the easier it is to discover the steps you need to take to reach it. Look at steps that fail as successful learning tools, stepping stones along your chosen path.

Take charge of your life NOW! It’s the only one you have.

About The Author Michael Dixon is the owner and webmaster of http://www.moneyferret.org , and editor of The MoneyFERRET Monthly Newsletter. Both the site and the newsletter are devoted to providing valuable information to the beginning online entrepreneur. editor@moneyferret.org

The Magic of Design – by: Melody Foster

P>There was a time people thought the world was flat. At another point in history it was believed that women didn’t have the know-how to run a business or change a tire. Then there was the one about man not being able to fly. Over time all of these fairytales have proven untrue.

So it is with interior design. Until recently, many people held the belief that having their home decorated by an interior designer was reserved for the rich and famous. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Fact is, many people of average income who live in a middleclass neighborhood are frequently surprised to learn they can easily afford the services of an interior designer. In other cases, many folks prefer to learn tips about design so they have the flexibility to redo a room on a whim. Either way, you have more choices today then ever before.

It is not uncommon to completely redo a room for a one time social event such as a birthday celebration, a graduation or a wedding. With some simple tips, even the most inexperienced person can easily spruce up a room.

Before you begin, think about the style you are interested in. Is it art deco, traditional, Mediterranean, western, modern, or contemporary? These are only a few of the multitude of choices you have. Think through how functional the room will be with what you have in mind. Avoid rugs and chairs that stain easily if there will be a lot of traffic in the room.

Be very careful to scale your furniture to the size of the room. If you have a very large space you can break up the area into little sitting groups or area groups. You can easily shift the “feel” of a room with the use of lighting and/or plants. Area rugs are another tool many designers use to break up large spaces. A variety of paint colors and wall textures can make even the most mundane room come to life.

Small space decorating is fast becoming a favorite topic for many people as real estate prices rise. Think priorities when it comes to small spaces. Do you need to use an area of the room for more than one reason? In some cases you can easily convert the kitchen table to your workspace provided you have cabinet space handy for supplies. A chest of drawers can easily serve this purpose by holding office supplies, linens, or even computer components.

If you are considering utilizing the services of a designer, do your homework. Check their portfolio and references. Find out how they are to work with, did they deliver on time, were they easy to work with and did they listen to the homeowner. If you get an affirmative answer on all of these and their fees are suitable to your budget, then take the leap. Often, interior designs services are provided at no additional cost to you, and will give you the extra edge you need to create exactly the feeling you want for your home.

A great designer can make recommendations you may not have thought of. Ultimately, their goal is for you to be ecstatic with what you were able to accomplish together. After all, you are the one that has to live in the space long after the designer has done their magic.

Copyright: © 2004 by Melody Foster
Web: www.thecozyhome.net

Publishing Guidelines: You may publish my article in your newsletter, on your website, or in your print publication provided you include the resource box at the end. Notification would be appreciated but is not required.

About The Author Melody Foster is the proprietor of The Cozy Home. The Cozy Home recently received the award for Best Interior Design for 2004 from the Parade of Homes and Salt Lake Home Builders Association for homes in the $400,000 – $700,000 range. Located in historic downtown Draper, Utah, The Cozy Home has a retail outlet that offer a unique selection to those who want the ability to furnish and accessorize their homes in a very individual way, with one-of-a-kind pieces that cannot be found elsewhere. The Cozy Home also focuses on interior design for homes in the $200,000 and up range, specializing in the enhancing the average American home. Contact Melody Foster at mfoster@speakeasy.net Web: www.thecozyhome.net

Heart Attack Warning Signs – by: News Canada

(NC)-Heart disease is a leading cause of death for Canadian men and women.1 Chest pain (a classic symptom of angina or heart attack) occurs when not enough blood is reaching the heart muscles due to the narrowing of the heart’s coronary arteries or complete blockage of these arteries. Learn the signs of a heart attack and the steps to take if you or a loved one experience these signs:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the centre of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
• Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck or arms
• Chest discomfort with lightheadness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath
• Atypical chest pain, stomach or abdominal pain; nausea or dizziness
• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
• Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue

Not all of these signs occur in every attack. Sometimes they go away and return. If any occur, get help fast.

If you or someone else is having heart attack warning signs, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Speak to your doctor to determine your level of risk and to discuss what measures you can take to reduce the risk of heart attack.

1 Selected leading causes of death by sex, Canada, 1997. Statistics Canada. www.statscan.ca (November 22, 2002).

About The Author News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Avoid Getting Ripped Off By A Hosting Company… – by: Dave Young

Chances are if you host multiple domains or websites you are spending too much money at your current hosting provider. Other hosting companies increase their profits by forcing you to create an additional hosting account every time you want to host a new domain or website. Let’s say you have five (5) websites and they each cost you $10.00 a month. It is obvious you are spending $50 a month to host those five (5) websites, but did you know that you are getting ripped off?

Hosting companies are smart and they take full advantage of you. If you’re an existing customer and they’ve got you hooked, they know you’ll spend an additional $10 a month to host an additional website. What they don’t tell you is they are ripping you off. Not only are you spending too much, but aren’t you tired of having to signup for a new account every time you want to host an additional website or domain? Aren’t you tired of having to keep up with login information for multiple accounts? And above all, why are you spending an additional $5, $10 and even $20 or more a month just to host an additional website?

You should be spending your time growing your business, not having to administer multiple accounts. You should be saving your money to foster the growth of your company. And you should know you’re getting a good deal with your hosting provider, not getting ripped off.

You can easily avoid getting ripped off by a hosting company…

To read the entire article, visit http://www.gp-host.com/article2.php.

About The Author Dave Young is the President/CEO of GP-Host, a division of Gluepoint, LLC. GP-Host provides multiple domain hosting entrepreneurs and business owners. info@gp-host.com